US09379457B2
A radome for a feed horn includes a cover and at least a protrusion having an elliptic protruding portion shaped as a part of a hollow ellipsoid and provided with a convex surface and a concave surface opposite to the convex surface. The radome is defined with a plurality of first and second cross-sections. Curves of the convex and the concave surfaces in the first cross-sections are different from those in the second cross-sections. The convex and concave surfaces are substantially perpendicular to an advancing direction of a co-polarization wave and unperpendicular to an advancing direction of a cross polarization wave. As a result, the radome can be so thick as to be easily manufactured and not easily damaged and enhance the performance of the feed horn covered by the radome in sending and receiving signals.
US09379440B2
A first radiation electrode is formed on a bottom surface of a no-ground conductor formation area of a board, and second radiation electrodes are formed on a top surface of the no-ground conductor formation area. A longitudinal electrode of the first radiation electrode is electrically continuous with a ground conductor. A first end portion and a second end portion of a transverse electrode of the first radiation electrode extend toward the ground conductor. The transverse electrode of the first radiation electrode operates as a radiation element for radiating a signal at a first frequency. The second radiation electrodes each operate as a radiation element for radiating a signal at a second frequency, and also as a capacitive feed electrode for the first radiation electrode. This enables to strengthen directivity toward an antenna portion side (forward direction) of the board, and further enables multiband use.
US09379439B2
A phased-array antenna system includes an array of antenna feed elements that produces a radiation pattern to provide spot beams within which to receive a signal in a frequency band and carrying communication from a terminal at a known geographic location. A beamformer forms the spot beams; and a channelizer divides the frequency band into frequency subbands, and measures power levels of the signal over respective frequency subbands. And an antenna controller selects a frequency subband based on the measured power levels indicating that the signal includes an identifiable interference, and calculates a set of beam weights based on the measured power level over the selected frequency subband, and based on the known geographic location of the terminal. The beamformer, then, forms the spot beams based on the calculated set of beam weights to thereby suppress at least some of the identifiable interference from the signal.
US09379422B2
A method of electrode hydrogenation for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation is provided that includes annealing a PEC electrode in air, and annealing the PEC electrode in hydrogen to form a hydrogenated-PEC electrode, where PEC performance is improved by enhancing charge transfer and transport in the hydrogenated-PEC electrode.
US09379417B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for discharging a Li—S battery having at least one battery unit comprising a lithium-containing anode and a sulfur-containing cathode with an electrolyte layer there between. One method comprises electrochemically surface treating the sulfur-containing cathode during discharge of the battery. A method of electrochemically surface treating a cathode of a lithium-sulfide battery comprises applying at least one oxidative voltage pulse during a pulse application period while the lithium-sulfur battery discharges and controlling pulse characteristics during the pulse application period, the pulse characteristics configured to affect a morphology of lithium sulfide forming on the sulfur-containing cathode during discharge.
US09379413B2
An electrolyte solvent for a cathode active material composed of lithium oxo acid salt. The solvent is used for a lithium ion secondary battery using the lithium oxo acid salt as a cathode material. The electrolyte solvent includes an ammonium ion which includes two or more alkoxyalkyl groups.
US09379410B2
Embodiments of methods for preventing internal short circuits in a lithium-ion battery cell. In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a lithium-ion battery cell may include providing a cathode, providing an anode, providing a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, and covering an edge of the cathode to prevent a short between the cathode and the anode through the separator. The method may also include winding the cathode, the anode, and the separator into an electrode roll.
US09379404B2
An electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes: an inorganic ionic conductor including a trivalent metal element, a pentavalent metal element, phosphorous, and oxygen; and a polymer.
US09379403B2
A polymer electrolyte membrane includes: (A) an ion exchange resin comprising cation exchange groups which comprise protons; (B) a cerium ion; and (C) at least one second ion selected from the group consisting of a cesium ion and a rubidium ion. A proportion of the cerium ion to the number of the cation exchange groups (100 mol %) is from 0.7 to 30 mol % such that some of the protons in the cation exchange groups are ion-exchanged by the cerium ion. A proportion of the at least one second ion to the number of the cation exchange groups (100 mol %) is from 0.2 to 15 mol % such that some of the protons in the cation exchange groups are ion-exchanged by the at least one second ion.
US09379398B2
Disclosed herein are catalyst degradation detection assemblies and methods of catalyst degradation detection that can be performed in-situ. One embodiment of an in-situ fuel cell catalyst degradation detection assembly comprises a humidified hydrogen supply configured to supply humidified hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell, a humidified nitrogen supply configured to supply humidified nitrogen to a cathode of the fuel cell, a collection cell containing a liquid, the collection cell configured to receive either cathode exhaust from the fuel cell through a cathode exhaust line or anode exhaust from the fuel cell through an anode exhaust line and means for detecting a gas.
US09379390B2
In a direct-liquid fuel cell supplied directly with a liquid fuel, a process for producing an electrode catalyst for a direct-liquid fuel cell is provided which is capable of suppressing decrease in cathode potential caused by liquid fuel crossover and providing an inexpensive and high-performance electrode catalyst for a direct-liquid fuel cell. The process for producing an electrode catalyst for a direct-liquid fuel cell includes Step A of mixing at least a transition metal-containing compound with a nitrogen-containing organic compound to obtain a catalyst precursor composition, and Step C of heat-treating the catalyst precursor composition at a temperature of from 500 to 1100° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst, wherein part or entirety of the transition metal-containing compound includes, as a transition metal element, at least one transition metal element M1 selected from Group IV and Group V elements of the periodic table.
US09379384B2
A method for producing a non-graphitizable carbon material includes providing a raw material of a non-graphitizable carbon material. The raw material is cross-linked to obtain a cross-linked product. The cross-linked product is infusibilized to obtain an infusibilized product. The infusibilized product is baked to obtain the non-graphitizable carbon material. A mechanochemical treatment is performed on the cross-linked product or the infusibilized product.
US09379376B2
A method for producing a positive electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention includes the steps of: (1) producing a positive electrode precursor by applying a positive electrode slurry including a positive electrode active material comprising a lithium-containing composite oxide including nickel, a binder, and a conductive agent on a positive electrode core material, the positive electrode active material including secondary particles having an average particle diameter of 8 μm or more, and then drying the positive electrode slurry to form a positive electrode material mixture layer; and (2) rolling while heating the positive electrode precursor to produce a positive electrode in which 3.5 g or more of the positive electrode active material is included per 1 cm3 of the positive electrode material mixture layer, and the positive electrode active material includes secondary particles having an average particle diameter of 5 μm or more.
US09379375B2
To provide a lithium secondary battery which has high capacity while maintaining excellent cycle characteristic. The lithium secondary battery cathode of the present invention includes a cathode collector formed of a conductive substance, and a cathode active material layer formed of a sintered lithium composite oxide sheet. The cathode active material layer is bonded to the cathode collector by the mediation of a conductive bonding layer. A characteristic feature of the present invention resides in that the cathode active material layer has a thickness of 30 μm or more, a voidage of 3 to 30%, and an open pore ratio of 70% or higher.
US09379371B2
A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly including a plurality of first and second electrode plates, and a plurality of separators between the first and second electrode plates; a first electrode tab on the first electrode plate, and a second electrode tab on the second electrode plate; a case housing the electrode assembly, and the first and second electrode tabs; and first and second external lead terminals at an outer side of the case and electrically coupled to the first and second electrode tabs, respectively.
US09379369B2
Disclosed herein is an integrated electrode assembly including a cathode, an anode, and a separation layer disposed between the cathode and the anode. The cathode, the anode, and the separation layer are integrated with each other. The separation layer includes 3 phases including a liquid-phase component containing an ionic salt, a solid-phase component supporting the separation layer between the cathode and the anode, and a polymer matrix in which linear polymers and cross-linked polymers form a viscoelastic structure with the liquid-phase component and the solid-phase component being incorporated in the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix is coupled to each of the cathode and the anode. The liquid-phase component of the separation layer flows into the electrodes (i.e., the cathode and anode) during preparation of the integrated electrode assembly to greatly improve wetting properties of the electrodes and to increase ionic conductivity of the electrodes.
US09379344B2
The invention belongs to the field of display technology, and particularly to a display panel and a display device. The display panel includes a driving substrate and an OLED provided on the driving substrate, the OLED includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and further includes an electron transporting layer, a light-emitting layer and a hole transporting layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a plurality of color conversion units are uniformly distributed in the electron transporting layer, the light-emitting layer or the hole transporting layer. Advantageous effects of the invention are as follows: with the configuration that the color conversion units are directly doped into any one of the hole transporting layer, the light-emitting layer, and the electron transporting layer, structure of display panel and corresponding manufacturing procedure are simplified, and color purity of the display panel and carrier mobility are efficiently increased.
US09379329B2
An organic semiconductor compound including a structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1.
US09379327B1
A method includes depositing a first photoresist layer having a first thickness above a substrate, defining a first opening in the first photoresist layer by exposing the first photoresist layer to radiation, the first opening having a first width. The method includes depositing a conformal passivation layer directly on the first photoresist layer, and depositing a second photoresist layer having a second thickness on the conformal passivation layer. The method includes defining a second opening in the second photoresist layer by exposing the second photoresist layer to radiation, the second opening having a second width greater than the first width, and depositing a metal layer above the first photoresist layer and the substrate to form an electrode, a dielectric layer being provided to contact the metal layer. The method includes removing the first photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer. The first photoresist layer can include a positive photoresist.
US09379323B2
The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising light emitting materials and/or charge transporting materials and one or more organic solvents having a viscosity at 25° C. of at least 10 mPas and a boiling point of at most 400° C., to their use as inks for the preparation of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices, to methods for preparing OLED devices using the novel formulations, and to OLED devices prepared from such methods and formulations.
US09379316B2
One method includes forming an anti-ferromagnetic layer on a substrate. A ferromagnetic layer may be formed on the anti-ferromagnetic layer. The ferromagnetic layer includes a first, second and third portions where the second portion is located between the first and third portions. A first ion irradiation is performed to only one portion of the ferromagnetic layer. A second ion irradiation is performed to another portion of the ferromagnetic layer.
US09379314B2
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes a free layer. The MTJ also includes a barrier layer coupled to the free layer. The MTJ also has a fixed layer, coupled to the barrier layer. The fixed layer includes a first synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) multilayer having a first perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and a first damping constant. The fixed layer also includes a second SAF multilayer having a second perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and a second damping constant lower than the first damping constant. The first SAF multilayer is closer to the barrier layer than the second SAF multilayer. The fixed layer also includes a SAF coupling layer between the first and the second SAF multilayers.
US09379312B2
A magnetoresistive effect element of the present invention includes: a domain wall motion layer, a spacer layer and a reference layer. The domain wall motion layer is made of ferromagnetic material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The spacer layer is formed on the domain wall motion layer and made of non-magnetic material. The reference layer is formed on the spacer layer and made of ferromagnetic material, magnetization of the reference layer being fixed. The domain wall motion layer includes at least one domain wall, and stores data corresponding to a position of the domain wall. An anisotropy magnetic field of the domain wall motion layer is larger than a value in which the domain wall motion layer can hold the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and smaller than an essential value of an anisotropy magnetic field of the ferromagnetic material of the domain wall motion layer.
US09379309B2
A flexible piezoelectric energy harvesting device includes a first flexible electrode substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the first flexible electrode substrate, and a second flexible electrode substrate disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer may include a plurality of first piezoelectric lines spaced apart from each other in one direction and a plurality of second piezoelectric lines respectively filling spaces between the first piezoelectric lines.
US09379307B2
A gyro element as a vibrator element fulfills the relationship: |fd−fy1|>|fd−fy2|, where fd is a drive vibrational frequency of first through fourth drive vibration arms, fy1 is a y1-mode vibrational frequency of a y1 mode, in which a base section and the first through fourth drive vibration arms vibrate in the same direction along a first direction (a y-axis direction) in which the first drive vibration arm extends, and fy2 is a y2-mode vibrational frequency of a y2 mode in which the base section vibrates along the first direction and the first through fourth drive vibration arms vibrate along the first direction in an opposite direction to a direction in which the base section vibrates.
US09379304B2
There is provided a piezoelectric device, including: a multilayered body in which a piezoelectric layer having a first internal electrode formed thereon and a piezoelectric layer having a second internal electrode formed thereon are alternately formed; a first insulating via formed in the first internal electrode layer; a second insulating via formed in the second internal electrode layer; a first conductive via formed in the multilayered body and penetrating through the first insulating via; and a second conductive via formed in the multilayered body and penetrating through the second insulating via, wherein a diameter of the first insulating via is larger than a diameter of the first conductive via, and a diameter of the second insulating via is larger than a diameter of the second conductive via.
US09379302B2
In a thermal sensor with a detection part and a circuit part formed on the same substrate, an insulating film for protection of the circuit part causes problems of lowering in sensitivity of a heater, deterioration in accuracy due to variation of a residual stress in the detection part, etc. A layered film including insulating films is formed on a heating resistor, an intermediate layer is formed thereon, and a layered film including insulating films is formed further thereon. The intermediate layer is specified to be a layer made up of any one of aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, titanium nitride, tungsten nitride, and titanium tungsten. This configuration enables the layered film on the upper part of the detection part to be removed using the intermediate layer as an etch stop layer, which solves problems of lowering in sensitivity, a variation in residual stress, etc. resulting from these.
US09379300B2
A floating heat sink support with copper sheets for a LED flip chip package may include at least two copper sheets and a flexible polymer for fixing the copper sheets, where the copper sheets separated from each other, and where each of the copper sheets is electrically connected with a positive or negative pole of a LED flip chip. Further, a LED package assembly may comprise the floating heat sink support mentioned above and one or more LED chips welded in a flip chip manner on the floating heat sink support. A number of copper sheets in the floating heat sink support are heated separately and expand separately to avoid breakage of a chip substrate resulting from the thermal expansion of a whole bulk of copper sheet, thereby improving the reliability of the LED package structure and prolonging the service life of a LED light source.
US09379291B2
The invention provides a lighting unit comprising a light source and a light conversion layer, wherein the light source is configured to provide light source light and comprises a light emitting diode (LED), wherein the light conversion layer comprises an alkali silicate matrix containing a particulate luminescent material, and wherein the light conversion layer is configured to convert at least part of the light source light into luminescent material light.
US09379288B2
There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device comprising a semiconductor stack having first and second main surfaces opposing each other, and comprising first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers respectively defining the first and second main surfaces, and an active layer interposed between the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers; a plurality of contact holes penetrating the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer and the active layer, and one region of the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer; a first electrode layer disposed on the second main surface of the semiconductor stack, the first electrode layer extending and being connected to the one region of the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer through the contact holes; a second electrode layer disposed between the semiconductor stack and the first electrode layer and connected to the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer; and first and second interconnected bumps.
US09379287B2
A light emitting device is constituted with a semiconductor light emitting element on which a support member is disposed on one surface provided with a p-side electrode and an n-side electrode and a fluorescent material layer is disposed on the other surface which is an opposite side of the one surface. The support member includes a resin layer, an electrode for p-side external connection and an electrode for n-side external connection disposed exposed at a surface opposite side of a surface where the resin layer is in touch with a light emitting element, and internal wirings disposed in the resin layer and electrically connecting between a p-side electrode and the electrode for p-side external connection respectively. The internal wirings include a metal wire and a metal plated layer, and a metal wire and a metal plated layer respectively connected in series.
US09379285B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device. A light emitting device comprises a plurality of N-type semiconductor layers including a first N-type semiconductor layer and a second N-type semiconductor layer on the first N-type semiconductor layer, an active layer on the second N-type semiconductor layer, and a P-type semiconductor layer on the active layer, wherein the first N-type semiconductor layer comprises a Si doped Nitride layer and the second N-type semiconductor layer comprises a Si doped Nitride layer, and wherein the first and second N-type semiconductor layers have a Si impurity concentration different from each other.
US09379281B2
A light emitting structure may include a light emitting element(s) arranged in a transparent dielectric material. The light emitting element(s) may include a semiconductor nanostructure arranged in a display orientation different from a growth orientation of the semiconductor nanostructure. The light emitting element(s) may also include a well layer on the semiconductor nanostructure. The light emitting element(s) may further include a capping layer on the well layer. The light emitting structure may also include a contact layer coupled to the light emitting element(s).
US09379278B2
A method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion element includes: forming a first electrode film such that a first conductive film is connected with a substrate and a second conductive film is connected with the first conductive film; patterning the second conductive film in a predetermined shape using wet etching after the forming of the first electrode film; and forming a metal compound film to cover the first electrode film after the patterning of the second conductive film.
US09379272B2
A light receiving element includes: a semiconductor layer; an insulating layer; an interconnect layer; and a film. The semiconductor layer includes a light receiving unit configured to convert a signal light incident on the light receiving unit into an electrical signal. The insulating layer is provided on the semiconductor layer. The interconnect layer is provided on the insulating layer. The film is provided on the insulating layer to cover the light receiving unit and be connected to the interconnect layer, the film being made of a metal or a metal nitride.
US09379261B2
Improved solar cells are provided by nano-structuring the solar cell active region to provide high optical absorption in a thin structure, thereby simultaneously providing high optical absorption and high carrier collection efficiency. Double-sided nano-structuring is considered, where both surfaces of the active region are nano-structured. In cases where the active region is disposed on a substrate, nano-voids are present between the substrate and the active region, as opposed to the active region being conformally disposed on the substrate. The presence of such nano-voids advantageously increases both optical and electrical confinement in the active region.
US09379259B2
A device and method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a double layer transparent conductive oxide on a transparent substrate. The double layer transparent conductive oxide includes forming a doped electrode layer on the substrate, and forming a buffer layer on the doped electrode layer. The buffer layer includes an undoped or p-type doped intrinsic form of a same material as the doped electrode layer. A light-absorbing semiconductor structure includes a p-type semiconductor layer on the buffer layer, an intrinsic layer and an n-type semiconductor layer.
US09379252B2
A thin film transistor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an oxide semiconductor. A source electrode and a drain electrode face each other. The source electrode and the drain electrode are positioned at two opposite sides, respectively, of the oxide semiconductor. A low conductive region is positioned between the source electrode or the drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor. An insulating layer is positioned on the oxide semiconductor and the low conductive region. A gate electrode is positioned on the insulating layer. The insulating layer covers the oxide semiconductor and the low conductive region. A carrier concentration of the low conductive region is lower than a carrier concentration of the source electrode or the drain electrode.
US09379251B1
A method for forming a TFT includes providing a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, an electrically insulating layer on the substrate to totally cover the gate electrode, a channel layer on the electrically insulating layer, a first photoresist pattern on the channel layer, a metal layer on the electrically insulating layer, the channel layer and the first photoresist layer, and a second photoresist pattern on the metal layer. A middle portion of the metal layer is then removed to form a source electrode and a drain electrode and to expose the first photoresist pattern and a portion of the channel layer between the first and second photoresist patterns. The exposed portion of the channel layer is then processed to have its electrical conductivity be lowered to thereby reduce a hot-carrier effect of the channel layer.
US09379244B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, a first MOS transistor including a first fin structure and a first gate electrode in the first region, the first fin structure having a first buffer pattern, a second buffer pattern, and a first channel pattern which are sequentially stacked on the substrate, and a second MOS transistor including a second fin structure and a second gate electrode in the second region, the second fin structure having a third buffer pattern and a second channel pattern which are sequentially stacked on the substrate. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US09379241B2
In various method embodiments, a device region in a semiconductor substrate and isolation regions adjacent to the device region are defined. The device region has a channel region and the isolation regions have strain-inducing regions laterally adjacent to the channel regions. The channel region is strained with a desired strain for carrier mobility enhancement, where at least one ion type is implanted with an energy resulting in a peak implant in the strain-inducing regions of the isolation regions. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US09379236B2
A lateral double-diffused MOS (LDMOS) bulk finFET device for high-voltage operation includes a first-well region and two or more second-well regions formed on a substrate material and one or more non-well regions including substrate material. The non-well regions are configured to separate well regions of the second-well regions. A source structure is disposed on a first fin that is partially formed on the first-well region. A drain structure is disposed on a second fin that is formed on a last one of the second-well regions. One or more dummy regions are formed on the one or more non-well regions. The dummy regions are configured to provide additional depletion region flow paths including vertical flow paths for charge carriers to enable the high-voltage operation.
US09379232B2
The invention relates to a magneto-electric spin-FET including a gate film of chromia and a thin film of a conductive channel material which may be graphene, InP, GaAs, GaSb, PbS, MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, WSe2 and mixtures thereof. The chromia, or other magneto-electric, and conduction channel material are in intimate contact along an interface there between. The resulting magneto-electric device may be voltage-controlled and provide non-volatile memory.
US09379229B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer formed above the substrate and including a nitride semiconductor, an electrode formed above the semiconductor layer and including gold, a barrier film formed above the electrode and a protection film formed above the semiconductor layer and including one of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, and a silicon oxynitride film. The protection film is formed on the barrier film. The barrier film includes a metal oxide material, a metal nitride film, or a metal oxynitride film.
US09379224B2
A semiconductor device in which a diode region and an IGBT region are formed on a same semiconductor substrate is provided. The diode region includes a plurality of first conductivity type anode layers exposed to a surface of the semiconductor substrate and separated from each other. The IGBT region includes a plurality of first conductivity type body contact layers that are exposed to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and separated from each other. The anode layer includes at least one or more of the first anode layers. The first anode layer is formed in a position in the proximity of at least IGBT region, and an area of a plane direction of the semiconductor substrate in each of the first anode layers is larger than the area of a plane direction of the semiconductor substrate in the body contact layer in the closest proximity of the diode region.
US09379220B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are a method of forming a semiconductor device and a method of forming a FinFET device. An embodiment is a method of forming a semiconductor device, the method including forming a first dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a first hardmask layer on the first dielectric layer, and patterning the first hardmask layer to form a first hardmask portion with a first width. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and the first hardmask portion, forming a third dielectric layer on the second dielectric layer, and etching the third dielectric layer and a portion of the second dielectric layer to form a first and second spacer on opposite sides of the first hardmask portion.
US09379218B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a silicon including fin structure and forming a germanium including layer on the silicon including fin structure. Germanium is then diffused from the germanium including layer into the silicon including fin structure to convert the silicon including fin structure to silicon germanium including fin structure.
US09379210B2
Various embodiments herein relate to formation of contact etch stop layers in the context of forming gates and contacts. In certain embodiments, a novel process flow is used, which may involve the deposition and removal of a sacrificial pre-metal dielectric material before a particular contact etch stop layer is formed. An auxiliary contact etch stop layer may be used in addition to a primary etch stop layer that is deposited previously. In certain cases the contact etch stop layer is a metal-containing material such as a nitride or an oxide. The contact etch stop layer may be deposited through a cyclic vapor deposition in some embodiments. The process flows disclosed herein provide improved protection against over-etching gate stacks, thereby minimizing gate-to-contact leakage. Further, the disclosed process flows result in wider flexibility in terms of materials and deposition conditions used for forming various dielectric materials, thereby minimizing parasitic capacitance.
US09379208B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a gate electrode over a substrate, forming a recess in the substrate and adjacent to the gate electrode, forming a diffusion barrier structure in the recess, forming an N-type doped silicon-containing structure over the diffusion barrier structure and thermally annealing the N-type doped silicon-containing structure. The diffusion barrier structure includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adjacent to the gate electrode and the second portion is distant from the gate electrode. The first portion of the diffusion barrier structure is configured to partially prevent N-type dopants of the N-type doped silicon-containing structure from diffusing into the substrate and the second portion of the diffusion barrier structure is configured to substantially completely prevent N-type dopants of the N-type doped silicon-containing structure from diffusing into the substrate.
US09379207B2
A method of forming a stable nickel silicide layer is provided. The method may include forming a nickel silicide layer on a substrate. A fluorine-rich nickel layer is formed over the nickel silicide layer. The fluorine-rich nickel layer is subjected to a process that drives the fluorine in the fluorine-rich nickel layer into the nickel silicide layer thereunder.
US09379199B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that comprises a plug including an upper portion, a lower portion and a side surface and comprising tungsten, a barrier metal comprising tungsten nitride and covering the side surface and the lower portion of the contact plug, a conductive layer, and a barrier layer comprising titanium and intervening between the barrier metal and the first conductive layer.
US09379197B1
A recess array device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least an active area in a main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A gate trench penetrates through the active area. The gate trench includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall facing the first sidewall, and a bottom surface extending between the first and the second sidewalls. A bump portion is disposed in the gate trench. The bump portion has two opposite sidewalls and a top portion extending between the two opposite sidewalls. A gate oxide layer is formed in the gate trench. The gate oxide layer has a first thickness on the first and second sidewalls, a second thickness on the two opposite sidewalls of the bump portion, and a third thickness on the top portion of the bump portion. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The second thickness is greater than the third thickness.
US09379196B2
In one aspect, a method of forming a trench in a semiconductor material includes forming a first dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate. The first dielectric layer includes first openings. An epitaxial layer is grown on the semiconductor substrate by an epitaxial lateral overgrowth process. The first openings are filled by the epitaxial layer and the epitaxial layer is grown onto adjacent portions of the first dielectric layer so that part of the first dielectric layer is uncovered by the epitaxial layer and a gap forms between opposing sidewalls of the epitaxial layer over the part of the first dielectric layer that is uncovered by the epitaxial layer. The gap defines a first trench in the epitaxial layer that extends to the first dielectric layer.
US09379193B2
A semiconductor package. Implementations may include a lateral device that may include a lateral semiconductor device including one of interspersed and interdigitated source and drain regions and one or more gate regions, a single layer clip, and a leadframe. The single layer clip may be coupled to the one of interspersed and interdigitated source and drain regions and the one or more gate regions and to the leadframe. The single layer clip may be configured to redistribute and to isolate source, drain, and gate signals passing into and out from the lateral semiconductor device during operation of the semiconductor device package.
US09379192B2
A semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics is provided. The semiconductor device includes a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer which are electrically connected to an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor layer; the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer; and a gate electrode layer that overlaps with the oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer with the gate insulating film positioned therebetween. The source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer each include a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is in contact with a top surface of the oxide semiconductor layer. The second conductive layer is in contact with a side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are electrically connected to each other.
US09379191B2
A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A carrier channel is located between the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. A source feature and a drain feature are disposed on the second III-V compound layer. A p-type layer is disposed on a portion of the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature. A gate electrode is disposed on the p-type layer. The gate electrode includes a refractory metal. A depletion region is disposed in the carrier channel and under the gate electrode.
US09379189B2
A transient voltage suppression (TVS) device includes a first layer of wide band gap semiconductor material formed of a first conductivity type material, a second layer of wide band gap semiconductor material formed of a second conductivity type material over at least a portion of the first layer and comprising an ion implanted material structure between 0.1 micrometers (μm) and 22.0 μm thick, the second layer operating using punch-through physics, and a third layer of wide band gap semiconductor material formed of the first conductivity type material over at least a portion of the second layer.
US09379181B2
A semiconductor device is provided with a semiconductor substrate in which a power semiconductor element part and a temperature sensing diode part are provided. The temperature sensing diode part includes a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a first base region, and a first drift region. In the semiconductor substrate, an isolation trench is formed, which passes through the first base region, extends to the first drift region, and surrounds an outer periphery of the temperature sensing diode part. At least a part of one of side walls of the isolation trench is in contact with the power semiconductor element part, and the other side wall of the isolation trench is in contact with the temperature sensing diode part.
US09379177B2
A deep trench capacitor structure including an SOI substrate comprising an SOI layer, a rare earth oxide layer, and a bulk substrate, the rare earth oxide layer is located below the SOI layer and above the bulk substrate, and the rare earth oxide layer insulates the SOI layer from the bulk substrate, and a deep trench capacitor extending from a top surface of the SOI layer, through the rare earth oxide layer, down to a location within the bulk substrate, the rare earth oxide layer contacts the deep trench capacitor at an interface between the rare earth oxide layer and the bulk substrate forming an incline away from the deep trench capacitor.
US09379161B2
A semiconductor chip (10) is provided which comprises: a semiconductor layer sequence (20) with a p-type semiconductor region (5) and an n-type semiconductor region (3), a plurality of p-contacts (11a, 11b), which are connected electrically conductively with the p-type semiconductor region (5), and a plurality of n-contacts (12a, 12b), which are connected electrically conductively with the n-type semiconductor region (3), wherein: the p-contacts (11a, 11b) and the n-contacts (12a, 12b) are arranged on a rear side of the semiconductor chip (10), the semiconductor chip (10) comprises a plurality of regions (21, 22) arranged adjacent one another, and the regions (21, 22) each comprise one of the p-contacts (11a, 11b) and one of the n-contacts (12a, 12b).
US09379158B2
This optical detector unit is a hybrid unit operating in a given wavelength range and includes, superposed, a first optical detector comprising detecting elements formed in a semiconductor structure, each detecting element being intended for converting a flux of incident photons into an electrical signal; and a first read out circuit, for reading the electrical signal from each detecting element. The optical detector unit furthermore has an imaging system with a second optical detector intended for increasing the operating wavelength range of the optical detector unit and a second read out circuit for reading the electrical signals from the detecting elements of the second optical detector.The first and second read out circuit are integrated together, so as to form a common read out circuit.
US09379153B2
A method for forming an image sensing device is disclosed, including providing a molding apparatus, disposing a lens in the molding apparatus, injecting an injection material into a chamber of the molding apparatus to form a shell which is connected to the lens, opening the chamber of the molding apparatus to remove the lens and the shell connected to the lens, and assembling the shell with an image sensing element.
US09379148B2
Disclosed is method of manufacturing an array substrate, including steps of: forming a thin film transistor on a substrate through a patterning process; and on the substrate on which the thin film transistor has been formed, forming an organic transparent insulation layer including a first via hole and a first transparent electrode layer disposed above the organic transparent insulation layer and including a second via hole through one patterning process, wherein the centers of the first via hole and the second via hole coincide with each other in a thickness direction of the substrate, and a projection of the first via hole on the substrate is within a projection of the second via hole on the substrate.
US09379142B2
A pixel includes a load, a transistor which controls a current supplied to the load, a storage capacitor, and first to fourth switches. By inputting a potential in accordance with a video signal into the pixel after the threshold voltage of the transistor is held in the storage capacitor, and holding a voltage of the sum of the threshold voltage and the potential, variations of a current value caused by variations of threshold voltage of a transistor can be suppressed. Consequently, a predetermined current can be supplied to the load such as a light-emitting element. Further, by changing the potential of a power supply line, a display device with a high duty ratio can be provided.
US09379134B2
A semiconductor memory device is provided including a substrate, a plurality of interlayer insulating layers and gate electrodes alternately stacked on the substrate. The plurality of interlayer insulating layers and the gate electrodes define a channel hole that vertically penetrates the plurality of interlayer insulating layers and the gate electrodes to expose at least a portion of the substrate. A channel recess is provided in the substrate exposed by the channel hole. An epitaxial pattern fills the channel recess. The epitaxial pattern has an upper surface that is concave and curves inward in a middle portion thereof.
US09379132B2
Methods of making monolithic three-dimensional memory devices include performing a first etch to form a memory opening and a second etch using a different etching process to remove a damaged portion of the semiconductor substrate from the bottom of the memory opening. A single crystal semiconductor material is formed over the substrate in the memory opening using an epitaxial growth process. Additional embodiments include improving the quality of the interface between the semiconductor channel material and the underlying semiconductor layers in the memory opening which may be damaged by the bottom opening etch, including forming single crystal semiconductor channel material by epitaxial growth from the bottom surface of the memory opening and/or oxidizing surfaces exposed to the bottom opening etch and removing the oxidized surfaces prior to forming the channel material. Monolithic three-dimensional memory devices formed by the embodiment methods are also disclosed.
US09379128B1
A split gate NVM device includes a semiconductor substrate, an ONO structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first gate electrode disposed on the ONO structure, a second gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate, adjacent to and insulated from the first gate electrode and the ONO structure, a first doping region with a first conductivity formed in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the ONO structure, a second doping region with the first conductivity formed in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the second gate electrode, and a third doping region with the first conductivity formed in the semiconductor substrate, disposed between the first doping region and the second doping region and adjacent to the ONO structure and the second gate electrode.
US09379126B2
A method of forming a conductor structure can result in vertical sidewalls. The method deposits a lining over a plurality of spaced-apart stacks of active layers. An isolation material is formed over the lining, over and in between the spaced-apart stacks. A plurality of trenches in the isolation material is arranged to cross over the plurality of spaced-apart stacks of active strips, leaving at least a residue of the lining on a bottom of the trenches between the stacks of active strips and over a sidewall of the spaced-apart stacks of active strips. The residue of the lining on the bottom of the trenches and the sidewalls of the spaced-apart stacks of active layers is selectively removed. Then the plurality of trenches is filled with conductive or semiconductor material to form the damascene structure.
US09379110B1
Disclosed is a process to prepare extremely thin semiconductor on insulator complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices having n-type and p-type metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors. The pFET and nFET devices of different strain, size, and geometry are prepared on the same chip without the requirement for an extra mask step.
US09379108B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin structure extending from a substrate, the fin structure comprising a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin between the first fin and the second fin. The method further comprises forming germanide over a first facet of the first fin, a second facet of the second fin, and a substantially planar surface of the third fin, wherein the first facet forms a first acute angle with a major surface of the substrate and is substantially mirror symmetric with the second facet, and wherein the substantially planar surface of the third fin forms a second acute angle smaller than the first acute angle with the major surface of the substrate.
US09379106B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including first to third fins aligned in a first direction, a first trench arranged between the first fin and the second fin, and a second trench arranged between the second fin and the third fin. The semiconductor device further includes a first field insulating film arranged in the first trench, a second field insulating film formed in the second trench, a first dummy gate arranged on the first field insulating film, and a second dummy gate at least partly arranged on the second field insulating film. A lower surface of the second field insulating film is arranged to be lower than a lower surface of the first field insulating film.
US09379098B2
An integrated circuit includes first and second terminals. The integrated circuit further includes a first plurality of diodes arranged in series between the first terminal and a power supply terminal and a second plurality of diodes arranged in series between the second terminal and the power supply terminal. The integrated circuit also includes a conductor configured to couple a first node within the first plurality of diodes to a second node within the second plurality of diodes. The first node is located between a first diode of the first plurality of diodes and a last diode of the first plurality of diodes, and the second node is located between a first diode of the second plurality of diodes and a last diode of the second plurality of diodes.
US09379094B2
A light emitting device includes a substrate, a light-emitting diode chip mounted on the substrate, a Zener diode chip mounted next to the light-emitting diode chip on the substrate, a frame-like dam material formed on the substrate to surround the light-emitting diode chip and the Zener diode chip, and a light-reflective resin injected inside the dam material to coat side surfaces of the light-emitting diode chip and side surfaces and an upper surface of the Zener diode chip. A part of the frame-like dam material swells outward to surround three of the side surfaces of the Zener diode chip.
US09379080B2
A method and apparatus for a conductive pillar structure is provided. A device may be provided, which may include a substrate, a first passivation layer formed over the substrate, a conductive interconnect extending through the first passivation layer and into the substrate, a conductive pad formed over the first passivation layer, and a second passivation layer formed over the interconnect pad and the second passivation layer. A portion of the interconnect pad may be exposed from the second passivation layer. The conductive pillar may be formed directly over the interconnect pad using one or more electroless plating processes. The conductive pillar may have a first and a second width and a first height corresponding to a distance between the first width and the second width.
US09379074B2
An apparatus relating generally to a die stack is disclosed. In such an apparatus, a substrate is included. A first bond via array includes first wires each of a first length extending from a first surface of the substrate. An array of bump interconnects is disposed on the first surface. A die is interconnected to the substrate via the array of bump interconnects. A second bond via array includes second wires each of a second length different than the first length extending from a second surface of the die.
US09379073B2
Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a solid state device controller configured to control a plurality of flash memory devices, a first set of input output IO pads, coupled to the solid state device controller, arranged as a first pad ring around a perimeter of the integrated circuit, and a second set of IO pads arranged adjacent to at least one side of the first pad ring, wherein one of the second set of IO pads includes a power source node configured to receive a power supply voltage for the solid state device controller, a ground node, and a bond pad configured to receive an external signal.
US09379064B2
A semiconductor device is made by forming a heat spreader over a carrier. A semiconductor die is mounted over the heat spreader with a first surface oriented toward the heat spreader. A first insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor die and heat spreader. A via is formed in the first insulating layer. A first conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer and connected to the heat spreader through the via and to contact pads on the semiconductor die. The heat spreader extends from the first surface of the semiconductor die to the via. A second insulating layer is formed over the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The carrier is removed. The heat spreader dissipates heat from the semiconductor die and provides shielding from inter-device interference. The heat spreader is grounded through the first conductive layer.
US09379060B2
A graphene wiring has a substrate, a catalyst layer on the substrate, a graphene layer on the catalyst layer, and a dopant layer on a side surface of the graphene layer. An atomic or molecular species is intercalated in the graphene layer or disposed on the graphene layer.
US09379058B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate and a first active contact adjacent to the gate. Such a device further includes a first stacked contact electrically coupled to the first active contact, including a first isolation layer on sidewalls electrically isolating the first stacked contact from the gate. The device also includes a first via electrically coupled to the gate and landing on the first stacked contact. The first via electrically couples the first stacked contact and the first active contact to the gate to ground the gate.
US09379054B2
The present disclosure of the present invention provides a chip on film and a display apparatus. The chip on film comprises a substrate having an input end lead and an output end lead, a region where the input end lead is located and a region where the output end lead is located are defined as a binding region, wherein the maximum thickness of the binding region is larger than the maximum thickness of other parts of the substrate than the binding region.
US09379052B2
An electronic assembly for use in a downhole module may include a multilayer ceramic assembly and an electronic component disposed on the multilayer ceramic assembly. The multilayer ceramic assembly includes a ceramic substrate, a nickel plating layer disposed on the ceramic substrate and a gold plating layer having a thickness of less than about 0.5 microns disposed on the nickel plating layer. A wirebond such as an aluminum wirebond extends between the electronic component and the gold plating layer.
US09379042B2
An integrated circuit device is provided. The integrated circuit device includes: a capacitor including an electrode formed in a first area on a substrate; a through-silicon-via (TSV) landing pad formed in a second area on the substrate, the TSV landing pad including the same material as the electrode; a multi-layered interconnection structure formed on the capacitor and the TSV landing pad; and a TSV structure passing through the substrate, the TSV structure being connected to the multi-layered interconnection structure through the TSV landing pad.
US09379039B2
An apparatus is provided that includes a planar heat conducting material that comprises a first heat sink conduction portion configured to conduct heat between a first integrated circuit and a first heat sink, a second heat sink conduction portion configured to conduct heat between a second integrated circuit and a second heat sink, and a thermal bridge portion configured to conduct heat between the first heat sink conduction portion and the second heat sink conduction portion, such that the thermal bridge portion allows for flexural compensation for a height difference between the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit.
US09379037B2
This application relates to a low profile, small footprint cooling stack that does not extend substantially beyond a footprint of an integrated circuit to which it is affixed. The cooling stack utilizes a number of beam springs that supply a seating force to the integrated circuit by way of a metal slug. In some embodiments, a bottom surface of the metal slug can be contoured in accordance with a top surface of the integrated circuit and/or socket. In other embodiments a gap between peripheral portion of a bottom surface of the metal slug and an associated printed circuit board can be filled by a layer of foam to reduce auditory signals generated by the integrated circuit.
US09379024B2
A method for manufacturing a microelectronic device is provided, including forming a first semiconductor material layer on a first region of a top surface of a substrate; and forming a second semiconductor material layer on a second region of the top surface of the substrate distinct from the first region, forming a first metallic layer above the first layer; forming a first contact layer of a first intermetallic compound or solid solution; forming a first sacrificial layer in an upper portion of the first contact layer; forming a second sacrificial layer in an upper portion of the second layer; removing all of the second sacrificial layer so as to expose a residual portion of the second layer; partially removing the first sacrificial layer; forming a second metallic layer above said residual portion; and forming a second contact layer of a second intermetallic compound or solid solution.
US09379018B2
Roughly described, an integrated circuit transistor structure has a body of semiconductor material, the body having two longitudinally spaced doped source/drain volumes with a channel between, a gate stack disposed outside the body and facing at least one of the surfaces of the body along the channel. The body contains an adjustment volume, longitudinally within the channel volume and spaced behind the first surface by a first distance and spaced longitudinally from both the source/drain volumes. The adjustment volume comprises an adjustment volume material having, at each longitudinal position, an electrical conductivity which differs from that of the adjacent body material at the same longitudinal position, at least while the transistor is in an off-state. In one embodiment the adjustment volume material is a dielectric. In another embodiment the adjustment volume material is an electrical conductor.
US09379009B2
Methods of fabricating interconnection structures of a semiconductor device are provided. The method includes, inter alia: forming a first insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a mold layer having trenches on the first insulation layer, forming a sidewall protection layer including a first metal silicide layer on sidewalls of the trenches, forming second metal lines that fill the trenches, forming upper protection layers on the second metal lines, removing the mold layer after formation of the upper protection layers to provide gaps between second metal lines, and forming a second insulation layer in the gaps and on the upper protection layers. The second insulation layer is formed to include air gaps between the second metal lines. Related interconnection structures are also provided.
US09379007B2
Embodiments of the invention include a lead-free solder interconnect structure and methods for making a lead-free interconnect structure. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a last metal layer, a copper pedestal attached to the last metal layer, a barrier layer attached to the copper pedestal, a barrier protection layer attached to the barrier layer, and a lead-free solder layer contacting at least one side of the copper pedestal.
US09379006B2
A semiconductor apparatus, electronic device, and method of manufacturing the semiconductor apparatus are disclosed. In one example, the semiconductor apparatus comprises a first semiconductor part that includes a first wiring, and a second semiconductor part that is adhered to the first semiconductor part and which includes a second wiring electrically connected to the first wiring. A metallic oxide is formed in at least one of the first wiring and the second wiring.
US09379005B2
Some embodiments include a memory device and methods of forming the memory device. One such memory device includes a first group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the first group being formed in a cavity of a first control gate located in one device level of the memory device. The memory device also includes a second group of memory cells, each of the memory cells of the second group being formed in a cavity of a second control gate located in another device level of the memory device. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
US09379001B2
A semiconductor device includes line patterns disposed on a substrate, the line patterns extending in a first direction and being parallel to one another. The semiconductor device includes conductive patterns spaced apart from each other in the first direction between an adjacent pair of the line patterns. The semiconductor device includes insulating fences electrically isolating the conductive patterns from each other and having chamfered corners. The semiconductor device includes insulating patterns filling gaps between side surfaces of the line patterns and the chamfered corners of the insulating fences.
US09378999B2
A method for manufacturing SOI wafer of forming an oxide film on a bond wafer of a semiconductor single crystal substrate, forming an ion implanted layer into the bond wafer by implanting ions of at least one kind of gas in hydrogen and rare gases through the oxide film, bonding together an ion implanted front surface of the bond wafer and base wafer front surface via the oxide film, thereafter delaminating the bond wafer along the ion implanted layer, and thereby fabricating an SOI wafer. The oxide film is formed on the bond wafer such that on a back surface it is made thicker than the oxide film on a bonded face. The method for manufacturing SOI wafer capable of suppressing scratches and SOI film thickness abnormality caused by warped shapes of the SOI and bond wafers after delamination where it has been delaminated by an ion implantation delamination method.
US09378998B2
A method of forming a harmonic-effect-suppression structure is disclosed. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate having a base semiconductor substrate, a buried dielectric on the base semiconductor substrate, and a surface semiconductor layer on the buried dielectric. Next, a deep trench is formed extending through the surface semiconductor layer and the buried dielectric into the base semiconductor substrate, a silicon layer is formed within a lower portion of the deep trench, the silicon layer allowed to have a top surface height substantially the same as or lower than a top surface height of the base semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric layer is formed within the deep trench and on the silicon layer.
US09378992B2
An ion implantation system has an ion implantation apparatus coupled to first and second dual load lock assemblies, each having a respective first and second chamber separated by a common wall. Each first chamber has a pre-heat apparatus configured to heat a workpiece to a first temperature. Each second chamber has a post-cool apparatus configured to cool the workpiece to a second temperature. A thermal chuck retains the workpiece in a process chamber for ion implantation, and the thermal chuck is configured to heat the workpiece to a third temperature. A pump and vent are in selective fluid communication with the first and second chambers. A controller is configured to heat the workpiece to the first temperature in an atmospheric environment via the pre-heat apparatus, to heat the workpiece to the second temperature via the thermal chuck, to implant ions into the workpiece via the ion implantation apparatus, and to transfer the workpiece between atmospheric and vacuum environments via a control of the pre-heat apparatus, post-cool apparatus, pump, vent, and thermal chuck.
US09378991B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes a transport chamber and a processing chamber that processes substrates. The transport chamber has a first substrate transport member transporting the substrates from the transport chamber to the processing chamber. The processing chamber has a first processing unit which is adjacent to the transport chamber and has a first substrate placing base, a second processing unit which is adjacent to the other side of the transport chamber in the first processing unit and has a second substrate placing base, a second substrate transport member transporting the substrates between the first processing unit and the second processing unit, and a control unit controlling at least the second substrate transport member.
US09378990B2
Among other things, a system and method for adjusting the intensity of a laser beam applied to a semiconductor device are provided for herein. A sensor is configured to measure the intensity of a laser beam reflected from the semiconductor device. Based upon the reflection intensity, an intensity of the laser beam that is applied to the semiconductor device is adjusted, such as to alter an annealing operation performed on the semiconductor device, for example.
US09378988B2
Nozzle arms for holding discharge heads are caused by a pivotal driving part to move between a processing position above a substrate and a standby position outside a processing cup surrounding a substrate. When the nozzle arms having cleaned a substrate is placed at the standby position, a cleaning solution is ejected from a shower nozzle toward the nozzle arms arranged obliquely downward of the shower nozzle. The three nozzle arms are caused to move up and down such that the nozzle arms cut across a jet of a cleaning solution discharged obliquely downward, thereby cleaning the three nozzle arms in order. Then, a nitrogen gas is ejected from a drying gas nozzle and sprayed on the nozzle arms to remove the cleaning solution attached to the nozzle arms, thereby drying the nozzle arms.
US09378985B2
A first area of a first surface of an encapsulated component can be thinned, the component including: a semiconductor chip having an active surface opposite the first surface, and an encapsulant extending outwardly from edges of the semiconductor chip. An entire area of the active surface may be aligned with the first area. After the abrading, a second area of the encapsulated component beyond the first area may have a thickness greater than a thickness of the first area. The second area can be configured to fully support the abraded encapsulated component in a state of the encapsulated component being manipulated by handling equipment.
US09378982B2
Various embodiments of mechanisms for forming through package vias (TPVs) with openings surrounding end-portions of the TPVs and a package on package (PoP) device with bonding structures utilizing the TPVs are provided. The openings are formed by removing materials, such as by laser drill, surrounding the end-portions of the TPVs. The openings surrounding the end-portions of the TPVs of the die package enable solders of the bonding structures formed between another die package to remain in the openings without sliding and consequently increases yield and reliability of the bonding structures. Polymers may also be added to fill the openings surrounding the TPVs or even the space between the die packages to reduce cracking of the bonding structures under stress.
US09378974B2
A chemical planarization process described herein can be used for planarizing a substrate without using mechanical abrasion. A developable planarization material can be applied to a substrate having a non-planar topography, such that a planar surface results. The resulting planarization layer can cover existing structures on the substrate. A top portion of the planarization layer can be solubilized using a solubility-changing agent, and then the soluble portion can be removed thereby slimming a height of the planarization material to a target value, which can be a top surface of a tallest underlying structure. With the substrate planarized, additional patterning operations can be executed.
US09378956B2
A bonded wafer structure having a handle wafer, a device wafer, and an interface region with an abrupt transition between the conductivity profile of the device wafer and the handle wafer is used for making semiconductor devices. The improved doping profile of the bonded wafer structure is well suited for use in the manufacture of integrated circuits. The bonded wafer structure is especially suited for making radiation-hardened integrated circuits.
US09378949B1
A monolithically integrated device includes a substrate, a first set of Group III nitride epitaxial layers grown for a first HFET on a first region of the substrate, and a second set of Group III nitride epitaxial layers for a second HFET grown on a second region of the substrate.
US09378947B2
Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the buffer layer or layers may be dispensed separately to the substrate web, rather than being mixed prior to their application. The web and/or the dispensed solutions may be heated by a plurality of heating elements.
US09378946B2
A heterostructure including: a substrate having a first primary surface, a second primary surface, and a diffusion layer extending a depth into the substrate from the first primary surface; and an epitaxial layer disposed on the second primary surface of the substrate is disclosed along with methods for production of the same.
US09378936B2
Systems, devices, circuits, and methods are provided for an improved mass spectrometry detection system that comprises an ion source and a detector that operate at opposite polarities. In some embodiments, the system can comprise a positive and negative multiplier, each of which can be configured to provide voltage to each of the ion source and the detector. In some embodiments, the system can comprise switches that allow the change between positive and negative polarities for the ion source or detector to occur quickly. A variety of embodiments of systems, devices, circuits, and methods in conjunction with the disclosures are provided.
US09378935B2
A Geiger-Muller counter tube includes a cylindrical enclosing tube, an anode electrode, a cylindrical cathode electrode, an inert gas, and a quenching gas. The cylindrical enclosing tube has a sealed space. The anode electrode is disposed inside the space and formed in a rod shape. The cylindrical cathode electrode surrounds a peripheral area of the anode electrode inside the space to have an opening. The inert gas and the quenching gas are sealed inside the space. At least one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode includes a plurality of electrodes inside the enclosing tube.
US09378927B2
A method is provided for slice and view processing of samples with dual beam systems. The slice and view processing includes providing a location for particles and material resulting from the slice and view process to collect without obscuring the sample face to be viewed and imaged. This location is formed as an undercut located beneath or in front of the sample face.
US09378921B2
The present invention relates to a method for mutually aligning a scanning electron microscope SEM and a light microscope LM by creating a change (61) in the detected light signal of the light microscope LM by illuminating a substrate with an electron beam, correlating the position of the electron beam in the coordinate system of the scanning electron microscope SEM to the position of the observed change in the detected light signal in the coordinate system of the light microscope LM, and relatively shifting the scanning electron microscope SEM and the light microscope LM with respect to one another to a desired relative position of the coordinate systems (60, 62).
US09378919B2
A bonding apparatus bonds one member to another member by using the pressure difference between the pressure between the two members and the ambient pressure. After aligning two members close to each other on a chuck and a supporting member in a vacuum chamber, the chamber is vacuumed to form vacuum between the two members. Then, air is supplied to the vacuum chamber to increase the ambient pressure to normal. The increased ambient pressure pushes the one member on the supporting member to the other member on the chuck, bonding both members together.
US09378903B2
A keyswitch structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a lift mechanism, and a balance link. The lift mechanism connects between the keycap and the base plate such that the keycap can move up and down relative to the base plate. The balance link is formed substantially in a U-shaped profile. The middle portion thereof is rotatably disposed on the base plate; the two ends thereof are respectively formed in an L-shaped profile and rotatably inserted into two slot structures on the keycap or the lift mechanism or both. Compared with a conventional balance link formed in an n-shaped profile connecting a keycap and a base plate, the invention provides more diverse structural connections, conducive to structural miniaturization. Furthermore, a support of the lift mechanism includes a protrusion capable of being blocked by a limitation structure disposed on the base plate for controlling the rotation angle of the support.
US09378902B2
A composite operating device is provided having a small number of components to retain an operating member in a neutral position. A composite operating device includes an operating member that is operable to rotate and to slide a slider and a base. One of the base and the slider includes a flexible portion that is capable of elastic bending deformation relative to the other, the flexible portion including a first engagement portion. The other includes a second engagement portion that retains the slider in the neutral position by engaging with the first engagement portion. The second engagement portion presses against the first engagement portion while being displaced in the sliding direction relative to the first engagement portion to cause bending deformation of the flexible portion. The amount of deformation of the flexible portion increases with the amount of operation of the operating member in the sliding direction.
US09378896B2
A solid electrolytic capacitor includes a porous sintered body made of a valve metal, a dielectric layer on the porous sintered body, a solid electrolyte layer on the dielectric layer, and a cathode layer on the solid electrolyte layer. The solid electrolyte layer includes an inner electrode layer covering the dielectric layer inside the porous sintered body and an outer electrode layer covering the inner electrode layer outside the porous sintered body. The outer electrode layer includes a solid particle containing layer formed by applying a dispersion material liquid containing a conductive polymer dispersion material, solid particles and a solvent to the inner electrode layer and then removing the solvent.
US09378894B2
A process for producing an anode for an electrolytic capacitor includes pressing a tantalum powder around a tantalum wire, a tantalum ribbon, or a tantalum sheet to form a pressed body. The pressed body is sintered to form a porous sintered body. The porous sintered body is cooled to form a cooled porous sintered body. The cooled porous sintered body is treated with at least one oxidant comprising at least one of a gaseous oxidant and a liquid oxidant to form a treated sintered body. The treated sintered body is anodically oxidized in an electrolyte to form a dielectric layer.
US09378889B2
Three-phase capacitor formed by two cylinders where each of the cylinders comprises an outer part which corresponds to a capacitor (1) and (2) while the inner part of each cylinder corresponds to a capacitor (3) and (3′) and which are connected in delta with phases (A), (B) and (C), where each capacitor is separated from the adjacent of each cylinder by means of an insulating material which allows the movement of the inner part with respect to the outer one of each cylinder in case of overpressure, which causes the breakage of the connections made in a particular manner, the breakage of the conductive coating layer (7) which connects armatures (3.1) and (1.2); the breakage of the conductive coating layer (8) which connected armatures (2.2) and (3′.2), the breakage of the connection of connection cable (6) with phase (C), serving as an effective means of protection against internal overpressures.
US09378885B2
Flat coil windings, and inductive devices and electronics assemblies that utilize flat coil windings
A low cost, reduced form factor, high performance electronic device for use in electronic circuits and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, the device includes a unitary header assembly construction that ensures device coplanarity and also includes vertically oriented terminal pins. The device utilizes preconfigured flat coil windings that are disposed directly within a planar core. The flat coil windings further include features that are configured to mate with the header assembly terminal pins which substantially simplify the manufacturing process. Methods for manufacturing the device are also disclosed.
US09378884B2
There are provided a multilayer electronic component and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, there are provided a multilayer electronic component capable of maintaining high inductance at a high frequency due to excellent magnetic properties and having excellent DC bias properties and a dense fine structure to thereby improve strength, and a method of manufacturing the same.
US09378872B2
A resistor includes a substantially cylindrical resistive element having a resistance of less than about 1 mΩ, a substantially cylindrical first termination electrically connected to the resistive element and a second termination electrically connected to the resistive element. The substantially cylindrical first termination is hollow to allow for accepting a connection such as from a battery cable. In addition there may be sense leads present on the resistor. A method of forming a substantially cylindrical resistor includes forming a hollow cylindrical resistor body by rolling a flat sheet comprising a resistive element and a first termination and a second termination joined on opposite ends of the resistive element.
US09378871B2
A wire harness manufacturing method prevents inadvertent deformation of thermoplastic material and separation of thermoplastic material. A predetermined part of an electric wire 91 is accommodated in a through hole of a tubular body formed by connection between a first and second nest members (123, 124) of a nozzle (12), by integrally connecting first and second case body members (121, 122) of the nozzle (12), with the predetermined part of the electric wire 91 therebetween. An approximately tubular covering member (92) covering the predetermined part of the electric wire (91) is molded integrally with the thermoplastic material, by discharging thermoplastic material plasticized by a material plasticizing unit (11) from thermoplastic material discharge orifices (1213) and (1223) in the nozzle (12) to the outer periphery of the electric wire (91), while moving the electric wire (91) and the nozzle (12) relatively to each other.
US09378865B2
An electro-optical-mechanical tether to transmit both optical signals and electricity to and from airborne and other movable devices from a base structure, in which the tether includes a mechanical strengthening core covered by a first intermediate compressive layer which is helically wrapped by a plurality of electrical and fiber optic conductors, which constitute an second intermediate layer of the tether, and a outer protective layer.
US09378860B2
The present disclosure relates to a polyvinyl copolymer in which one or more side-chain sulfonic acids are attached on the hydroxy group of polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl phenol and a preparation method thereof, a dopant including the same, a conductive polymer composite including the dopant with a conductive polymer and a preparation method thereof, wherein the electrical conductivity, dispersibility, solubility, heat-resistance and environment-resistance of the conductive polymer composite can be enhanced by using the dopant including the copolymer.
US09378853B2
A control rod guide frame comprises a self supporting stack of two or more columnar elements defining a central passage. The columnar elements may include mating features that mate at abutments between adjacent columnar elements of the stack. The control rod guide frame is suitably used in conjunction with a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) operatively connected with at least one control rod, and a nuclear reactor core, in which the CRDM moves the at least one control rod into and out of the nuclear reactor core under guidance of the control rod guide frame. In another embodiment, a control rod guide frame comprises a stack of two or more columnar elements defining a central passage having a constant cross-section as a function of position along the central passage. In another embodiment, a control rod guide frame comprises an extruded columnar element providing continuous control rod guidance.
US09378847B2
Subject matter described pertains to managing problematic memory cells in a memory array.
US09378838B2
An integrated circuit die has a first die pad for receiving a first voltage and a second die pad for receiving a second voltage. The second voltage is less than the first voltage and is generated by a voltage regulator that receives the first voltage. A first circuit which is operable at the first voltage is in the integrated circuit die. A second circuit which is operable at the second voltage is in the integrated circuit die and is connected to the second die pad. The voltage regulator is enabled by a controller.
US09378835B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for soft data generation for memory devices using reference cells. At least one soft data value is generated in a memory device by writing a known data to one or more reference cells; reading one or more of the reference cells; obtaining a read statistic based on the read one or more reference cells; and obtaining the at least one soft data value based on the obtained read statistic. The read statistics can optionally be obtained for one or more desired locations of a memory array; or for a given pattern, PATT, in one or more aggressor cells. The read statistic can optionally comprise asymmetric statistics obtained for a plurality of possible values.
US09378833B2
Nonvolatile memory device, operating methods thereof, and memory systems including the same. In the operating method, a ground select line of a first string connected to a bit line may be floated. An erase prohibition voltage may be applied to a ground select line of a second string connected to the bit line. An erase operation voltage may be applied to the first and second strings.
US09378827B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a cell unit including a first and a second selection gate transistor and a memory string provided between the first and second selection gate transistors and composed of a plurality of serially connected electrically erasable programmable memory cells operative to store effective data; and a data write circuit operative to write data into the memory cell, wherein the number of program stages for at least one of memory cells on both ends of the memory string is lower than the number of program stages for other memory cells, and the data write circuit executes the first stage program to the memory cell having the number of program stages lower than the number of program stages for the other memory cells after the first stage program to the other memory cells.
US09378811B2
A method of operating a resistive non-volatile memory can be provided by applying a forming voltage across first and second electrodes of a selected memory cell in the variable resistance non-volatile memory device during an operation to the selected memory cell. The forming voltage can be a voltage level that is limited to less than a breakdown voltage of an insulation film included in selected memory cell between a variable resistance film and one of first electrode. Related devices and materials are also disclosed.
US09378805B2
Random access memory having a plurality of memory cells, each of the plurality of memory cells having a memory element and a first electrical characteristic being variable based, at least in part, on temperature and a bias circuit operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of memory cells, the bias circuit being configured to generate a bias voltage for the at least one of the plurality of memory cells. The bias circuit has a second electrical characteristic being variable based, at least in part, on temperature. The first electrical characteristic is approximately proportional to the second electrical characteristic over a predetermined range of temperatures, the predetermined range of temperatures being greater than zero. The bias voltage on each of the plurality of memory cells is approximately proportional with variations in the first electrical characteristic over the predetermined range of temperatures.
US09378800B2
The invention is directed to a memory controller and an associated signal generating method. By appropriately arranging a sequence according to which command signals are generated and expanding a latching interval of a part of address signals, not only the memory controller is enabled to control the DDR memory modules in a functional manner to further overcome issues of conventionally small latching intervals, but also system stability and access performance are reinforced as the memory access clock speed continue to increase.
US09378797B2
A voltage generator comprises a reference voltage providing unit, a comparison voltage providing unit and a comparison unit. The reference voltage providing unit comprises a reference element and a current source series-connected between a power supply voltage and a ground voltage, and outputs a reference voltage through a reference voltage node, which couples the reference element to the current source. The comparison voltage providing unit comprises a magnetic tunnel junction unit coupled between the power supply voltage and a comparison voltage node, and a transistor switch unit coupled between the ground voltage and the comparison voltage node. The comparison unit provides a write voltage to the transistor switch unit by comparing the reference voltage and the comparison voltage. The voltage generator according to example embodiments may increase the performance of the memory device by performing the write operation using stable multi voltages that are applied to a word line.
US09378793B2
Systems and methods for integrated magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) modules. An integrated circuit includes a processor without a last level cache integrated on a first chip a MRAM module comprising a MRAM last level cache and a MRAM main memory integrated on a second chip, wherein the MRAM module is a unified structure fabricated as monolithic package or a plurality of packages. The second package further includes memory controller logic. A simplified interface structure is configured to couple the first and the second package. The MRAM module is designed for high speed, high data retention, aggressive prefetching between the MRAM last level cache and the MRAM main memory, improved page handling, and improved seal ability.
US09378789B2
Systems and methods for generating voltage level shifted self-clocked write assistance include a circuit with self-clocked true and complement data input signals in a first voltage domain. First and second full voltage level shifters are configured to generate voltage level shifted self-clocked intermediate true and complement signals in a second voltage domain, based on the self-clocked true and complement data input signals in the first voltage domain. Tristating logic including first and second complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits are configured to generate voltage level shifted self-clocked tristated true and complement output signals used for providing write assistance for a memory array in the second voltage domain, based on the voltage level shifted self-clocked intermediate true and complements signals.
US09378777B2
To stably control a threshold voltage of a functional circuit using an oxide semiconductor. A variable bias circuit, a monitoring oxide semiconductor transistor including a back gate, a current source, a differential amplifier, a reference voltage source, and a functional circuit which includes an oxide semiconductor transistor including a back gate are provided. The current source supplies current between a source and a drain of the monitoring oxide semiconductor transistor to generate a gate-source voltage in accordance with the current. The differential amplifier compares the voltage with a voltage of the reference voltage source, amplifies a difference, and outputs a resulting voltage to the variable bias circuit. The variable bias circuit is controlled by an output of the differential amplifier and supplies voltage to the back gate of the monitoring oxide semiconductor transistor and the back gate of the oxide semiconductor transistor included in the functional circuit.
US09378774B2
Row and/or column electrode lines for a memory device are staggered such that gaps are formed between terminated lines. Vertical interconnection to central points along adjacent lines that are not terminated are made in the gap, and vertical interconnection through can additionally be made through the gap without contacting the lines of that level.
US09378767B2
Method embodiments for facilitating configuration of a physical control unit to support multiple logical control units are provided. Each logical control unit supports communication with a single tape drive model type up to a maximum number of drives. A customer obtains a number N of logical control units through purchase, lease or other legitimate avenues. Based on the number of tape drive model types L and the number of tape drives for each type QL, the model types are mapped to the N LCUs. In general, mapping priority is given to the newer generation model types and the model types in which the number of attached tape drives QL exceeds the capacity M of a single LCU. An exception being that the oldest model type is ensured a mapping to an LCU. The LCUs may be reconfigured and the model types remapped on the physical CU if the customer adds different model types to the storage system or obtains a different number of LCUs.
US09378764B2
A system and method for verifying a servo pattern in tape media include a tape drive unit which moves the tape media lengthwise across a read head. The tape drive unit is adapted to use a tape comprising at least one servo band, each servo band including at least one servo pattern. The tape drive unit scans the read head across the servo band in a widthwise direction relative to the tape media. The system and method also include an electronic control unit that is adapted to verify the servo pattern.
US09378763B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for positioning of a reader element in a data storage device employing shingled recording. In an embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a processor configured to receive a read command to retrieve data from a data storage medium having data stored in a shingled manner where at least one track is partially overlapped by an adjacent track, and retrieve the data by adjusting a position of a read element according to a track offset compensation value based on a measured parameter. In another embodiment, a method may comprise determining a track offset compensation value for a first area of a data storage medium based on a measured parameter for the area, adjusting a position of a read head based on the track offset compensation value, and reading data from the first area using the read head.
US09378755B2
Method of detecting voice activity starts with by generating probabilistic models that respectively model features of speech dynamically over time. Probabilistic models may model each feature dependent on a past feature and a current state. Features of speech may include a nonstationary signal presence feature, a periodicity feature, and a sparsity feature. Noise suppressor may then perform noise suppression on an acoustic signal to generate a nonstationary signal presence signal and a noise suppressed acoustic signal. An LPC module may then perform residual analysis on the noise suppressed data signal to generate a periodicity signal and a sparsity signal. Inference generator receives the probabilistic models and receives, in real-time, nonstationary signal presence signal, periodicity signal, and sparsity signal. Inference generator may then generate in real time an estimate of voice activity based on the probabilistic models, nonstationary signal presence signal, periodicity signal, and sparsity signal. Other embodiments are also described.
US09378753B2
A system for self-organized acoustic signal cancellation over a network is disclosed. The system may transmit an acoustic sounding signal to an interfering device so that a channel measurement may be performed for a channel between the interfering device and an interferee device. The system may receive the channel measurement for the channel from the interfering device and also receive a digitized version of an audio interference signal associated with the interfering device. Based on the channel measurement and the digital version of the interference signal, the system may calculate a cancellation signal prior to the arrival of the original over-the-air audio interference signal that corresponds to the digital version of audio interference signal. The system may then apply the cancellation signal to an audio signal associated with the interferee device to remove the interference signal from the audio signal.
US09378741B2
Systems and methods for responding to an audio query are presented. More particularly, vocalization nuances of a vocalized search query (audio query) are identified are utilized in responding to the audio query. In addition to converting the audio query to a textual representation, vocalization nuances of the audio query are identified. Search results are identified according to the textual representation of the audio query and in light of the vocalization nuances. A search results presentation is prepared in response to the audio query, where the search results presentation is based on the identified search results and also based on the vocalization nuances. The search results presentation is returned in response to the audio query.
US09378732B2
A system and method is provided for combining active and unsupervised learning for automatic speech recognition. This process enables a reduction in the amount of human supervision required for training acoustic and language models and an increase in the performance given the transcribed and un-transcribed data.
US09378731B2
The present disclosure relates to training a speech recognition system. One example method includes receiving a collection of speech data items, wherein each speech data item corresponds to an utterance that was previously submitted for transcription by a production speech recognizer. The production speech recognizer uses initial production speech recognizer components in generating transcriptions of speech data items. A transcription for each speech data item is generated using an offline speech recognizer, and the offline speech recognizer components are configured to improve speech recognition accuracy in comparison with the initial production speech recognizer components. The updated production speech recognizer components are trained for the production speech recognizer using a selected subset of the transcriptions of the speech data items generated by the offline speech recognizer. An updated production speech recognizer component is provided to the production speech recognizer for use in transcribing subsequently received speech data items.
US09378730B1
Methods, computer program products, and systems are described for receiving, by a speech recognition engine, audio data that encodes an utterance and determining, by the speech recognition engine, that a transcription of the utterance includes one or more keywords associated with a command, and a pronoun. In addition, the methods, computer program products, and systems described herein pertain to transmitting a disambiguation request to an application, wherein the disambiguation request identifies the pronoun, receiving, by the speech recognition engine, a response to the disambiguation request, wherein the response references an item of content identified by the application, and generating, by the speech recognition engine, the command using the keywords and the response.
US09378729B1
Features are disclosed for applying maximum likelihood methods to channel normalization in automatic speech recognition (“ASR”). Feature vectors computed from an audio input of a user utterance can be compared to a Gaussian mixture model. The Gaussian that corresponds to each feature vector can be determined, and statistics (e.g., constrained maximum likelihood linear regression statistics) can then be accumulated for each feature vector. Using these statistics, or some subset thereof, offsets and/or a diagonal transform matrix can be computed for each feature vector. The offsets and/or diagonal transform matrix can be applied to the corresponding feature vector to generate a feature vector normalized based on maximum likelihood methods. The ASR process can then proceed using the transformed feature vectors.
US09378713B1
A bass drum beater assembly which is to strike a bass drum face by actuation of a foot pedal. The bass drum beater assembly is capable of being quickly turned one hundred and eighty degrees to cause the back side of the beater head to strike the bass drum face rather than the front side. The bass drum beater assembly is also quickly axially adjustable to vary the striking position on the bass drum face.
US09378697B2
Included are: refresh a rate changing section (15) for changing a refresh rate of a display panel (2) by configuring settings for scan periods during each of which a plurality of gate signal lines (G) of the display panel (2) are sequentially scanned and for pause periods during each of which sequential scanning of the plurality of gate signal lines (G) is suspended; and a drive amount control section (20) for controlling, in accordance with a ratio of the scan periods to the pause periods, drive time during which each of the gate signal lines is driven in each of the scan periods.
US09378692B2
The present disclosure provides a gate driving circuit, a gate driving method and a liquid crystal display. Said gate driving circuit includes shift registers at a plurality of stages, wherein the shift register at each stage includes a pull-up driving unit, a pull-up unit, a reset unit, a pull-down unit and a supplementary unit; said pull-up unit is used for making a clock signal at a first clock terminal an output signal of the shift register at the present stage when being turned on; said supplementary unit, connected to said pull-up unit, is used for making a clock signal at a second clock terminal the output signal of the shift register at the present stage when being turned on. With the supplementary unit, the present disclosure can reduce voltage jump of a pixel, achieve the MLG function and enhance the picture quality of the LCD.
US09378686B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing pixel circuits for controlling the state of operation of light modulators in a display device. The state of operation of the light modulator can be controlled by the pixel circuit based on a data voltage stored in a data storage element of the pixel circuit. The pixel circuit includes an actuation circuit for providing an actuation voltage to the light modulator and a feedback circuit for providing a positive feedback voltage from an output node of the actuation circuit to an input node of the actuation circuit. In some implementations, the feedback circuit includes the data storage element connected between the input node and the output node.
US09378683B2
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, and a data driver including a plurality of data output unit buffers electrically connected to a plurality of data lines electrically connected to the pixels. Each of the data output unit buffers includes an output terminal, a first transistor for applying a high level data voltage to the output terminal, and a second transistor for applying a low level data voltage to the output terminal. Each of the data output unit buffers also includes a first switch electrically connecting the first and second transistors to the output terminal, and a second switch electrically connecting a ground voltage to the output terminal.
US09378678B1
An OLED display device is disclosed which includes: a display panel configured with pixels which each include an organic light emitting diode and a driving transistor applying a driving current to the organic light emitting diode; a gate driver connected to the pixels through gate lines; a data driver configured to apply a sensing voltage to the pixels through data lines in a sensing mode and enable a sensing current to flow through each of the driving transistors; a sensing driver configured to sense threshold voltages opposite the driving currents which flow through the driving transistors; and a brightness compensation circuit configured to derive negatively shifted degrees of threshold voltages of the driving transistors from the sensed threshold voltages, detect a bright-defected pixel on the basis of the negatively shifted degrees, and generate a compensation gray value for the bright-defected pixel.
US09378670B2
A display includes a first substrate; gate lines and data lines defining a first color, second color, and third color pixel area; a first color, second color, and third color pixel transistor located in the first color, second color, and third color pixel area respectively; a second substrate; and a black matrix, wherein the black matrix has a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion extends from an edge of a first color pixel active layer for a first shading distance, the second portion extends from an edge of a third pixel active layer for a second shading distance larger than the first shading distance.
US09378666B1
A flag holder designed to be mounted on a post is made of a collar adapted to hold at least one and preferably several dowels. The collar includes a center arm and two substantially parallel side arms connected to the center arm in substantially perpendicular format to form a shaped band for encircling a post. The collar also includes a pair of gripping ears extending inwardly from the second ends of the parallel side arms. Thus, the collar surrounds a central cavity for receiving the post. The collar further includes at least one dowel and preferably more channel forms on the outer surface of the collar, wherein the dowel channel forms include at least one dowel channel for receiving a dowel holding a flag.
US09378664B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that provides data associated with a financial instrument through real-time virtual animation anchored to the financial instrument in a video stream. During operation, the system receives at a computer system a video stream, wherein the video stream includes an image of a financial instrument, and wherein a financial instrument is a physical object that is associated with at least one of a financial account and financial data. Next, the system identifies the financial instrument in the video stream. The system then retrieves data associated with the financial instrument from a data source. Next, the system creates an animation which displays the data. Once the animation is created, the system anchors the animation to the financial instrument in the video stream. Finally, the system displays the video stream which includes the animation to a user.
US09378658B2
A meta-attention trainer for enhancing the meta-attention of a user. The trainer includes a processor coupled to a display device. The display device presents the user with a cognitive task that includes a stimuli. The cognitive task specifies a desired response to the stimuli. The processor assesses attentional control of the user in relation to the cognitive task, and generates an instruction and/or a feedback, based on the attentional control assessment, to the user, thereby enabling the user to reflect on the meta-attention of the user.
US09378656B2
An interactive electronic exercise software program and mobile electronic device application with audible feedback resides in a human facsimile apparatus used as a dance partner during aerobic exercises. The interactive software program creates the illusion of working out with a friend, companion or personal trainer, providing interactive visual and auditory stimulus designed to make the workout enjoyable so that the user will continue to work out on a regular basis. The interactive software program is also designed to motivate the user to exercise and to continue exercising for an optimal duration. The interactive software program monitors the user's workout and provides audible feedback to the user regarding workout practices and results, and may respond to user input, such as speech or keypad entry, or may be equipped with sensors to provide feedback on the workout itself.
US09378655B2
Systems, methods, devices, and apparatuses for associating a user emotion with electronic media are described. Contact between a user of a device and a biopotential electrode array that is integrated with the device is detected. Electrodermal data of the user is acquired via the biopotential electrode array. The user emotion is derived based at least in part on the acquired electrodermal data. The user emotion is then associated with the electronic media.
US09378653B2
A device for presentation of musical concepts includes a scale plate having a periodical 12-step scale with equally spaced symbols for 12 notes with half-note intervals, wherein symbols of 12 consecutive notes form an octave. The device also includes at least one pointer plate, which includes a start symbol. The pointer plate is configured to revolve with respect to the scale such that the start symbol is settable to align with the symbol of any of the 12 notes of the scale. The pointer plate includes 7 pointers specific to a given class of keys wherein, when the start symbol points to a base note of a key, the pointers specific to the class of keys point to the symbols of the notes of the key beginning at the base note.
US09378652B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for musical learning and interaction. Embodiments include presenting a playable portion of a musical instrument at a user interface. The user interface includes a video layer. The video layer is configured to visually present one or more frames of video. The user interface also includes a virtual musical instrument or a playable portion of the virtual musical instrument. At least the playable portion of the virtual musical instrument is overlaid over a least a portion of the video layer, and is at least partially transparent. As such, the portion of the video layer over which the playable portion of the virtual musical instrument is overlaid shows through the virtual musical instrument.
US09378651B2
A user device that plays back audio books for a user can include a dynamic pause that provides a user with greater flexibility in when to pause playback of an audio book. Dynamic pause includes initiating playback of an audio book using a user device; receiving a pause request as input to the user device, the pause request received at an input time index during playback of the audio book; retrieving a subset of candidate pause points, each candidate pause point comprising a time index within the audio book that corresponds to a break point located within an eBook corresponding to the audio book; selecting one of the candidate pause points from the subset, the time index of the selected candidate pause point determining a pause time index when playback is to be paused; and pausing the playback at the pause time index.
US09378648B2
Systems and methods described herein utilize a distributed server network to allow for the real-time distribution of copies of a data stream uploaded from a computing device. The uploaded data stream corresponds to an environment surrounding a user (exam taker) of the computing device during execution of a testing routine for an examination. Providing copies of the data stream in real-time allows proctors as well as other test assessment authorities to ‘peek in’on the exam taker's environment during the exam. As a result, the environment surrounding the exam taker can be monitored in real-time to determine whether any visual or audio activity in the environment constitutes activity not in accordance with the exam protocol. Following an affirmative determination that the exam taker violated an exam taking protocol, a proctor or other test assessment authority can then make a final or early decision regarding disciplinary action.
US09378641B2
In some aspects, a portable car-seat assembly for installation in a vehicle includes a temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature inside the vehicle. The portable car-seat assembly also includes a location detector that detects a location of the car-seat assembly. The car-seat assembly is configured to initiate a predetermined action in response to detecting an unsafe passenger-condition based on the temperature. For example, a message indicating the temperature and the location of the car-seat assembly can be sent to a remote recipient.
US09378639B2
A method for target identification for a connectable device is carried out at a mobile device. A sensor on a mobile device receives one or more infrared emissions from one or more infrared light sources, each light source being provided by a connectable device in an area. One or more processors in the mobile device analyze the one or more infrared emissions to determine a target connectable device at a target position in the area. The mobile device receives a blink pattern of infrared emissions from the target connectable device. One or more processors in the mobile device decode the blink pattern to determine a reference for the target connectable device to enable wireless connection by the mobile device to the target connectable device for data transfer.
US09378638B2
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an Emergency Alert System (EAS) display controller. The EAS display controller includes: (a) a processor, (b) a network interface controller configurable to be in communication with an out-of-band network, (c) a communication-interface controller configurable to be in communication with a signage device and in compliance with a control standard, a memory storing firmware. The firmware is configured to, when executed by the processor, (a) establish an out-of-band communication channel with at least one EAS message source, (b) receive an EAS message from the at least one EAS message source through the out-of-band channel, (c) extract an alert message from the EAS message, (d) construct a signage device control command in accordance with the control standard, and (e) send the command to the signage device to instruct the signage device to display the alert message.
US09378633B2
A system to facilitate management of surveillance devices, that are distributed over a monitored region, through a geographic information (GI) portal, having GI storage to store map data defining a geographic map of the monitored region. A GI manager unit (GIMU) to record, in the GI storage, asset position information with regarding locations for assets of interest within the monitored region. The GIMU obtains, from a remote surveillance device (SD) database, device-related records. The GIMU stores the device related records in the GI storage. The device records are associated with the surveillance devices installed in the monitored region. The device records include position tags that identify a location of the surveillance devices in the monitored region. The GIMU obtains, from a remote network (NW) database, network-related records. The GIMU stores the network related records in the GI storage. The network-related records associated with network devices are installed over the monitored region. The SD and NW databases are maintained and managed separately from the GI database by one or more independent management units. A display presents a geographic map of the monitored region with device markers and network links illustrated thereon. The device markers indicate positions of the surveillance devices relative to the geographic map. The network links indicate communications links between network devices. A user interface permits a user to select from the surveillance devices and network links. The GIMU makes available to the user the device related records and documents and the network related records and documents associated with the selected surveillance devices and network links.
US09378625B2
A slot machine has a display on which symbols are rearranged in partitioned regions arranged in multiple columns and rows. The display has multiple display windows corresponding to the respective columns for each unit game. In each of the display windows, symbols are rearranged by executing video display in which a symbol column having multiple symbols is scrolled in an arrangement direction of the symbols. When a symbol rearranged in at least one partitioned region in at least one of the symbol columns already stopped from scrolling forms a pattern just before winning combination establishment in which the rearranged symbol requires a specific symbol in at least one other symbol column in scrolling, a passing sound of the specific symbol is outputted from a speaker in synchronization with a timing at which the specific symbol in the symbol column in scrolling passes through the display window.
US09378619B2
In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provides a bonus game which enables players to combine different, independent features without introducing any significant advantage or significant disadvantage to players for combining certain features over other features. The gaming system utilizes one or more bonus game supplemental awards to insure that the average expected payout per selected feature remains the same or substantially the same regardless of which bonus game features or combinations of features are employed for a play of a bonus game.
US09378615B2
A gaming table device which can determine frauds precisely and human errors is provided. A plurality of antennas for reading medium identification information of the game medium disposed on a game table through a wireless communication are disposed at locations spaced away from each other, and when a first antenna of the plurality of antennas is selected, a second antenna spaced at a predetermined distance from the first antenna of the plurality of antennas is selected.
US09378601B2
Methods and systems of providing home automation information via communication with a vehicle. A home automation system can determine a state of the home and determine when occupants enter a home. The home automation system can identify an occupant and monitor the status and location of the occupant in the home and determine a status change for the occupant, such when the occupant leaves or is scheduled to leave the home, the occupant going to sleep, experiencing a health crisis, or entering an area of the home the occupant is not authorized to enter. The home automation system can send alerts and information to a vehicle operation system of a vehicle and to a communication device of a user. The alerts can include information related to the identity and the status of the occupant and information related to the state of the home.
US09378598B2
A wireless access control system includes a remote access device and an electronic lock. The electronic lock communicates with the remote access device. The electronic lock controls the ability to lock and unlock a door in which the electronic lock is disposed. The electronic lock determines when the remote access device is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance from the lock to enable the lock to be unlocked.
US09378597B2
A door access control system (9) with a cloud function includes a door lock (10) mounted to a door (435). A door lock controller (611) is mounted in the door (435) and is electrically connected to the door lock (10). A wireless charging device (511) is electrically connected to the door lock controller (611). A main control unit (659) is provided for operating the door lock controller (611). The door access control system (9) further includes a cloud server (711) that can be connected to the door lock controller (611). The main control unit (659) can be connected to and log in the cloud server (711).
US09378582B2
Computer assisted design data is rendered in the cloud. A client-server relationship is provided for 3D rendering. To reduce the burden on the server, the 3D rendering adapts based on the client capabilities. Where possible, some of the 3D rendering is performed by the server and some by the client machine. The 3D rendering by the client machine may be limited to avoid transfer of geometrical data of the CAD data. Different textures or shaders are used for rendering images associated with motion. Dictionary information is accumulated by the client machine to reduce the number of coefficients later transferred to the client machine for 3D rendering. The model represented by the CAD data is used to predict rendered images so that video compression may be performed. The server sparsely renders an image and compressive sensing is used by the client machine to generate the complete image.
US09378580B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating imaging data from multiple sources to create a single, accurate model of a patient's anatomy. One method includes receiving a representation of a target object for modeling; determining one or more first anatomical parameters of the target anatomical object from at least one of one or more first images of the target anatomical object; determining one or more second anatomical parameters of the target anatomical object from at least one of one or more second images of the target anatomical object; updating the one or more first anatomical parameters based at least on the one or more second anatomical parameters; and generating a model of the target anatomical object based on the updated first anatomical parameters.
US09378578B1
Various technologies described herein pertain to generating a video loop. An input video can be received, where the input video includes values at pixels over a time range. An optimization can be performed to determine a respective input time interval within the time range of the input video for each pixel from the pixels in the input video. The respective input time interval for a particular pixel can include a per-pixel loop period and a per-pixel start time of a loop at the particular pixel within the time range from the input video. Moreover, an output video can be created based upon the values at the pixels over the respective input time intervals for the pixels in the input video.
US09378576B2
Embodiments relate to a method for real-time facial animation, and a processing device for real-time facial animation. The method includes providing a dynamic expression model, receiving tracking data corresponding to a facial expression of a user, estimating tracking parameters based on the dynamic expression model and the tracking data, and refining the dynamic expression model based on the tracking data and estimated tracking parameters. The method may further include generating a graphical representation corresponding to the facial expression of the user based on the tracking parameters. Embodiments pertain to a real-time facial animation system.
US09378569B2
An information processing apparatus for inputting minutes data comprises an input unit which inputs the minutes data, a designation unit which designates, among a plurality of object images displayed on a display screen, at least one object images to be stored together with the minutes data, and a determination unit which determines, based on the minutes data input by the input unit, the plurality of object images to be displayed on the display screen.
US09378562B1
A device receives variants associated with a model generated in a graphical modeling environment, and determines a hierarchy of the variants based on a hierarchy of the model. The device receives mode information for the variants, where the mode information includes a subset of a number of variant permutations. For each mode, the device receives control variables for the variants and optional constraints for the variants in the mode. The control variables define which variants are active, and the optional constraints ensure modeling correctness by enabling identification of conflicts between the variants. The device generates a variant manager tool based on the hierarchy of the variants, the mode information, the control variables, and the optional constraints, and outputs or stores variant information via the variant manager tool.
US09378561B1
An apparatus comprising a decoder circuit, a memory circuit and a processing circuit. The decoder circuit may be configured to generate a first intermediate signal having a plurality of coefficients of a target layer and a plurality of coefficients of a base layer, in response to an input bitstream. The memory circuit may be configured to (i) store the first intermediate signal and (ii) present (a) a second intermediate signal comprising the plurality of coefficients of the target layer or (b) a third intermediate signal comprising the plurality of coefficients of the base layer. The processing circuit may be configured to (i) switch a plurality of times between the coefficients of the target layer and the coefficients of the base layer while reading a frame from the memory circuit, (ii) transform the coefficients of the base layer into base layer information, (iii) buffer the base layer information, where the base layer information buffered at any time comprises at most a subset of macroblock rows of the frame and (iv) generate an output signal comprising a plurality of target layer samples in response to the second intermediate signal and the base layer information as buffered.
US09378557B2
An object/test material interaction microti iridic device comprising a sample inlet adapted to receive a fluid sample comprising a plurality of objects, an outlet adapted to output the fluid sample from the device, at least one internal surface defining a flow cavity within the device, wherein the flow cavity extends between and is connected to the sample inlet and the outlet for flow of the fluid sample through the flow cavity, the flow cavity comprises a test area to which at least one test material is attached and which is situated in the flow cavity for flow of the fluid sample over the test area, and the flow cavity has an aspect ratio which, when the flow cavity is substantially filled by the fluid sample, provides a substantially constant shear force between the test area and the fluid sample flowing over the test area. The invention further comprises a system incorporating the device, methods of use of the device and system, and methods of analyzing interactions.
US09378551B2
An embodiment of the method is disclosed for non-invasive lesion candidate detection in a patient's body includes generating a number of first medical images of the patient's body. The method further includes identifying lesion-like geometrical regions inside the first medical images of the patient's body by applying image processing methods, whereby the identification is at least partly controlled by a number of patient-specific context features which are not directly extractable from the first medical images. In addition, the method includes selecting a number of the identified lesion-like geometrical regions as lesion candidates.
US09378545B2
The sanitary management system S includes a plurality of portable communication terminal devices 10, a manager terminal device 20 and a server device 40. The server device 40: (1) extracts two or more feature values related to the color of each pixel constituting a culture medium image; (2) executes statistical analysis based on distribution of pixels of the culture medium image by using a coordinate system prescribed by the extracted two or more feature values of each pixel, and calculates a linear function prescribing relation of the two or more feature values in each pixel; and (3) detects the colonies in the culture medium image based on the calculated linear function and counts the number of colonies.
US09378536B2
Systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for minimizing power consumption in graphics frame processing. One such method comprises: initiating graphics frame processing to be cooperatively performed by a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU); receiving CPU activity data and GPU activity data; determining a set of available dynamic clock and voltage/frequency scaling (DCVS) levels for the GPU and the CPU; and selecting from the set of available DCVS levels an optimal combination of a GPU DCVS level and a CPU DCVS level, based on the CPU and GPU activity data, which minimizes a combined power consumption of the CPU and the GPU during the graphics frame processing.
US09378534B2
According to some embodiments, an image pipeline controller may determine an image stream having a plurality of image primitives to be executed. Each image primitive may be, for example, associated with an image algorithm and a set of primitive attributes. The image pipeline controller may then automatically deploy the set of image primitives to an image computation fabric based at least in part on primitive attributes.
US09378524B2
In one embodiment, an expression comprising a left-hand side and a right-hand side is received. The left-hand side specifies one or more market instruments, and the right-hand side specifies a method that is to be applied based on the left-hand side of the expression. The expression is parsed. A time series is generated by applying the method based on one or more sets of data values associated with the one or more market instruments. The generated time series is stored in computer data storage.
US09378523B2
Examples of a method and system for collaborative and private sessions are provided. A plurality of users is associated with a collaborative session. A common interface is displayed to the plurality of users, the common interface displaying a shared cursor. A first authority level is assigned to a first user of the plurality of users and a second authority level is assigned to a second user of the plurality of users. A first cursor movement request is received from the first user and a second cursor movement request is received from the second user. The first user is selected based on determining that the first authority level is higher than the second authority level. The shared cursor displayed in the common interface is moved according to the first cursor movement request from the first user.
US09378518B2
One embodiment of the invention enhances the security of electronic signatures during transmission. A peripheral device, which may be located remotely and separate from a host processing system, captures the signature. The peripheral device then binds the signature to the particular transaction record and transmits it to the host processing system. The host processing system validates or confirms the received signature before accepting the transaction. Binding the signature and record data together at the point-of-use reduces the likelihood that someone may be able to hack into the transmission medium, encrypted or not, and obtain the raw signature data. By binding or associating the signature and transaction record data together at the point-of-use, each transaction has a unique key, further foiling attempts at hacking. In various implementations, rather than associating the whole signature with the transaction record data, signature sample points or segments are encrypted with transaction record data.
US09378516B2
A method including providing content for purchasing and viewing by users; providing at least one of an advertisement option, a replay option, or a content segment option pertaining to the purchasing and the viewing of a content; receiving a selection of content from a user; receiving a selection of the at least one of the advertisement option, the replay option, or the content segment option pertaining to the selected content; identifying a user device used by the user for viewing the selected content; sending the selected content to the user based on the identified user device; and displaying the selected content on the user device based on the selection of the at least one of the advertisement option, the replay option, or the content segment option.
US09378513B2
An electronic shelf label controlling system, an electronic shelf label installing method and an electronic shelf label updating method are provided. The electronic shelf label controlling system of the electronic shelf label includes at least an electronic shelf label, a controlling device, a deploying device, and a communication gateway device. The electronic shelf label is disposed on a shelf. The controlling device stores a label location table. The label location table records a relationship between a label identifying information and a label location information of the electronic shelf label. The deploying device is used for obtaining the label identifying information. The communication gateway device is used for communicating the controlling device, the deploying device and the electronic shelf label.
US09378512B2
Various technologies, methods, systems, processes, and compositions of matter pertaining to advertisements, and advertisement interactions with users and applications may be described. A single advertisement may be selected for a user based on a single lookup of the user profile at an advertisement server. The advertisement server may send a single adget to the user. This single adget is then seamlessly used on multiple devices. Each device may automatically select a different View of the advertisement. Each device may automatically render a different Actions as supported by a device.
US09378508B2
Systems and methods for determining or “predicting” which media content files are popular or will be popular, and based on that determination, pre-delivering or “pre-positioning” media content files to user devices automatically and without intervention from users so that the media content will be already stored on users' devices when they later select the media content for viewing. The determination of a media content file's popularity may be based on one or more combinations of content statistics (e.g., view count, viewing rate, etc.). The decision to pre-position a media content file may also be based on user profile information (e.g., viewing history). The pre-positioning may be accomplished using transport technology that avoids further burdening the network, such as delivering in real-time using available surplus network capacity.
US09378498B2
The invention discloses a method for loading double e-wallets, relating to the information security field. The method includes steps of entering into a contactless inductive area of a terminal by the CPU card; being powered on and initialized, synchronizing a first e-wallet and a second e-wallet by the CPU card; receiving and executing INITIALIZE FOR LOAD instruction sent by the terminal, and returning a response message of INITIALIZE FOR LOAD instruction to the terminal, by the CPU card; receiving the response message of INITIALIZE FOR LOAD instruction and sending data in the response message of INITIALIZE FOR LOAD instruction, to a host, by the terminal; receiving and storing the data, sending LOAD allowing message to the terminal, by the host; receiving LOAD allowing message and sending LOAD instruction to the CPU card, by the terminal; receiving LOAD instruction, performing loading operation on the second e-wallet, refreshing balance of the first e-wallet and returning the response message of LOAD instruction, to the terminal, by the CPU card.
US09378489B2
The invention shows s system (1) and a method for registering a collection of refuses from a refuse bin (19) to a refuse collection lorry (3). The refuse bin is provided with an information carrier (21) which is adapted to send information upon reception of an electromagnetic signal. An interrogator (9) and a registering unit (4) are provided on a holder (15), which is attachable to a person (23) who collects the refuse. The interrogator (9) is adapted to send an electromagnetic signal and to receive information from the information carrier (21). The registering unit (4) is connected to the interrogator (9) and is able to register information received from the interrogator (9).
US09378480B2
At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: coupling a tracking device to a vehicle being part of a dealer inventory, the vehicle having an identification number; associating the identification number with the tracking device; creating a geo-fence boundary containing a location of the vehicle; and sending a first message to a lien-holder indicating the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence boundary.
US09378478B2
Disclosed is a method and system for facilitating quality assurance of a software application. A data receiving module for receiving project requirements associated with the software application. An assigning module for assigning one or more quality control managers from a plurality of quality control managers responsible for performing the quality control activities. A selection module for enabling the one or more quality control managers to select one or more review cycles and one or more phases of a plurality of phases corresponding to each review cycle. An extraction module extracts one or more parameters corresponding to each phase of the one or more phases. An update module for enabling the one or more quality control managers to update status of each quality control activity performed thereby facilitating the quality assurance of the software application.
US09378471B2
Generally, an airline operations computing system accomplishes rule checking in an efficient and useful manner and provides functionality that allows multiple different users to accomplish schedule changes in a manner that minimizes conflicts between different schedulers. In addition, an airline operations computing system includes a common rules engine that is used by multiple different optimizer and decision support systems of the airline operations computing system.
US09378467B1
A context-aware personalization system operable with a device such as a smartphone, tablet, personal computer (PC), game console, etc. extracts user interaction patterns from a graph, which is generated using telemetry data points, of a device user's behaviors and interactions. The telemetry data is mined from instrumented applications, operating system, and other components executing on the device. A machine learning pattern recognition algorithm is applied to the behavior and interaction graph to generate a dataset that can include a prioritized list of activities. The list is used to automatically implement personalization of the local device that are tailored to the user while also enabling background agents and processes associated with lower priority applications to be suspended to preserve device resources such as processor cycles, memory, battery power, etc. and increase device performance.
US09378460B2
An improved technique uses an expert system to provide automated provisioning of resources for a storage system. Along these lines, a user submits values of a set of provisioning targets parameters in a administrative interface screen to a storage processing device. The expert system uses these values to form a set of facts within an expert system stored on the storage processing device that includes a knowledge base having a set of logical rules and an inference engine. The storage processing device then inputs these facts and logical rules into the inference engine which is configured to fire logical rules having preconditions that match the facts. The actions of these logical rules then provide content for the provisioning of the storage resources, which are displayed to the user or used for automatic storage provisioning operations.
US09378459B2
Automated method and systems are provided for determining a gap exists in an enterprise's knowledge base. Once a gap is determined, a question is developed in accord with the gap. An answer is then developed to answer the question and the knowledge base is updated accordingly. The source of the information may be cross-domain information such that an enterprise may include relevant information, and/or more usable information, than what could be otherwise provided by information limited to the enterprise's domain.
US09378457B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including: a sensor data generator sensing a user behavior and generating sensor data corresponding to the user behavior; a behavior recognizing unit performing a predetermined threshold value process on the sensor data to recognize the behavior exhibited by the user and generating behavior information that is information indicating the behavior exhibited by the user; a behavior manager managing the behavior information generated by the behavior recognizing unit in correspondence with the time point at which the behavior corresponding to the behavior information is exhibited; and a behavior information post-processing unit performing a predetermined post-process on the behavior information managed by the behavior manager, wherein the behavior recognizing unit further includes a plurality of behavior determination units specified to specific behaviors exhibited by the user and generates the behavior information based on the determination results of the plurality of behavior determination units.
US09378456B2
The concepts relate to task completion and specifically to aiding a user to complete an unfinished task at a subsequent time and/or on another device. One example can identify that a user is working on a task on a computing device associated with the user. In an instance when the user stops using the computing device without completing the task, the example can predict a likelihood that the user will subsequently resume the task on a second computing device associated with the user. In an instance where the likelihood exceeds a threshold, the example can attempt to aid the user in completing the task on the second computing device.
US09378429B2
A device includes a processor configured to execute a process including extracting a pixel value of each of a plurality of areas of a same color that are arranged at different positions on a color chart that is captured in an image, and specifying by using the extracted pixel values of the areas and arrangement positions of the areas of the same color an area that has a pixel value that corresponds to a function that expresses fluctuation of pixel values according to a position due to non-uniformity of an illumination environment that fluctuates the pixel values at a constant rate in one direction, and correcting a pixel value of a correction target area between the areas of the same color according to the pixel value of the specified area.
US09378426B2
At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature systems and methods for note recognition. The note recognition system includes a sensor, a note recognition module, and a note extraction module. The sensor is configured to capture a visual representation of a scene having one or more notes. The note recognition module is coupled to the sensor. The note recognition module is configured to receive the captured visual representation and determine a general boundary of a note from the captured visual representation. The note extraction module is configured to extract content of the note from the captured visual representation based on the determined general boundary of the note.
US09378423B2
The disclosure relates to recognizing data such as items or entities in content. In some aspects, content may be received and feature information, such as face recognition data and voice recognition data may be generated. Scene segmentation may also be performed on the content, grouping the various shots of the video content into one or more shot collections, such as scenes. For example, a decision lattice representative of possible scene segmentations may be determined and the most probable path through the decision lattice may be selected as the scene segmentation. Upon generating the feature information and performing the scene segmentation, one or more items or entities that are present in the scene may be identified.
US09378417B2
Disclosed herein is a method and system for performing normalization of an image using a cumulative histogram and a common color map for the R, G and B channels. On receiving an instruction from a user to normalize an image, the histogram for individual channels of the image is computed. The cumulative histogram from the histogram for individual channels is computed. The linear histogram cut off percentage is tripled. The min and max positions using the histogram stretch after the percentage cutoff is adjusted. The colormap is computed using the cumulative histogram and the linear histogram cut off percentage. The colormap is applied to the image data.
US09378399B2
Methods and systems of processing transponder signals received from transponders to identify the transponders are provided. A first signal including a first code and a first identifier may be received from a first transponder. The first identifier is written to the first transponder by an RFID writer when the first transponder is placed proximate to the RFID writer, and the first identifier is used to associate transponders with a first user. A second signal including a second code and the first identifier may be received from a second transponder. The first identifier is also written to the second transponder by the RFID writer when the second transponder is placed proximate to the RFID writer. The first and second transponders are associated with the first user based on receiving the first identifier from both the first and second transponders.
US09378384B2
Embodiments for preventing data loss in a business environment are provided. In some embodiments, a secure endpoint file export application assigns users to different classes having different permissions for accessing and writing data. In an embodiment, the system and method are configured to identify a plurality of users in a business environment; classify the plurality of users according to business needs; assign the users to one of at least two classes based on the classification; determine that the first user is permitted to access the data; transmit the secure file to a second user who is permitted to write the data in the secure file to removable media; write the data in the secure file to the removable media; and track a location of the removable media.
US09378383B2
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and devices are described for providing data security. In one method, data security is provided for a computing device having a data storage drive. A predetermined geographical area within which access to the data storage drive of the computing device is permitted may be identified. A geographical location of the computing device also may be identified. When the identified geographical location of the computing device is outside of the identified geographical area, access to at least a portion of the data storage drive may be denied. When the identified geographical location of the computing device is within the identified geographical area, access to the portion (or all) of the data storage drive may be allowed.
US09378375B2
An adaptable network security system includes trust mediator agents that are coupled to each network component. Trust mediator agents continuously detect changes in the security characteristics of the network and communicate the detected security characteristics to a trust mediator. Based on the security characteristics received from the trust mediator agents, the trust mediator adjusts security safeguards to maintain an acceptable level of security. Trust mediator also uses predetermined rules in determining whether to adjust security safeguards. Despite inevitable changes in security characteristics, an acceptable level of security and efficient network operation are achieved without subjecting users of the network to over burdensome security safeguards.
US09378371B2
Described herein is technology for restoring access to a user account. In particular, systems and methods for account recovery using a platform attestation credential are described. In some embodiments, the platform attestation credential is generated by an authentication device in a pre boot environment. A first copy of the platform attestation credential may be bound by an account management system to a user account. Access to the user account may subsequently be restored using a second copy of the platform attestation credential.
US09378368B2
A system for automatically collecting and analyzing crash dumps to determine if a security exploit was unsuccessful and generating a report.
US09378367B2
A computer-implemented method for identifying a source of a suspect event is described. In one embodiment, system events may be registered in a database. A suspicious event associated with a first process may be detected and the first process may be identified as being one of a plurality of potential puppet processes. The registered system events in the database may be queried to identify a second process, where the second process is detected as launching the first process.
US09378363B1
Techniques are described for injecting noise in a timer value provided to an instruction requesting the timer value. A plurality of tasks may execute on a processor, wherein the processor may comprise one or more processing cores and each task may include a plurality of computer executable instructions. In accordance with one technique for injecting noise in the timer value, a request for a first timer value is received by one or more computer executable instructions belonging to a first task from the plurality of tasks, and in response, a second timer value is provided to the first task instead of the first timer value, wherein the second timer value is derived from the first timer value and a random number.
US09378359B2
A system is disclosed that includes components and features for enabling enterprise users to securely access enterprise resources (documents, data, application servers, etc.) using their mobile devices. An enterprise can use some or all components of the system to, for example, securely but flexibly implement a BYOD (bring your own device) policy in which users can run both personal applications and secure enterprise applications on their mobile devices. The system may, for example, implement policies for controlling mobile device accesses to enterprise resources based on device attributes (e.g., what mobile applications are installed), user attributes (e.g., the user's position or department), behavioral attributes, and other criteria. Client-side code installed on the mobile devices may further enhance security by, for example, creating a secure container for locally storing enterprise data, creating a secure execution environment for running enterprise applications, and/or creating secure application tunnels for communicating with the enterprise system.
US09378344B2
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for protecting information based on a data card, and the method comprises: selecting information which needs to be hidden in a terminal device; and storing said information which needs to be hidden in a hidden partition of the data card. The present invention makes attackers not perceive the existence of the information and increases the security of the information in the data card, so as to protect the user's private information better.
US09378338B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for validating receipt of digital content by a client device. In one embodiment, a transmission of digital content over a network to a client device is identified. Additionally, receipt of the digital content by the client device is validated utilizing a system remote from the client device. In another embodiment, it is determined whether actual digital content transmitted over a network to a client device is digital content expected by the client device. Further, the transmission of the actual digital content is validated to a remote third party system, based on the determination.
US09378329B1
Approaches for checking a design of an integrated circuit using an antenna rule are provided. A method includes determining a figure of merit for a transistor based on a resistance of a shunt path of the transistor relative to the size of the antenna and the size of the transistor. The method also includes comparing the determined figure of merit to a limit. The method further includes deeming the transistor to pass the antenna rule when the figure of merit is less than the limit, and deeming the transistor to fail the antenna rule when the figure of merit is greater than the limit. The determining and the comparing are performed by a computer device.
US09378328B2
Systems and methods for modeling multi-patterning variability with statistical timing analysis during IC fabrication are described. The method may be provided implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to define at least one source of variation in an integrated circuit design. The programming instructions further operable to model the at least one source of variation for at least two patterns in at least one level of the integrated circuit design as at least two sources of variability respectively.
US09378320B2
An integrated circuit design tool includes a cell library. The cell library includes entries for a plurality of cells, entries in the cell library including specifications of particular cells in a computer executable language. At least one entry in the cell library can comprise a specification of physical structures and timing parameters of an array of circuit cells, the circuit cells including one or more transistors and a cell interconnect terminal; and a conductor configured to connect interconnect terminals of a plurality of the circuit cells in the array, the conductor comprising one or more nanowires or 2D material strips arranged in parallel. An integrated circuit including the array of circuit cells is described.
US09378318B2
A method of masking scan channels in a semiconductor chip includes storing, in first and second memories of a first mask logic, first and second channel mask enable decodes for first and second masks that mask first and second scan channels of a circuit under test; receiving at least three channel enable signals on three respective enable pins to produce a channel mask enable encode; comparing the channel mask enable encode to the stored first and second enable decodes; and masking the first or second scan channel when the channel mask enable encode respectively matches the first or second channel mask enable decode.
US09378313B2
Methods for systematically providing enhanced energy efficiency of mega industrial sites and synergy with the adjacent community through advanced hybrid inter-systems energy integration targeting and solutions generation to achieve desired best levels of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, are provided. An exemplary method includes identifying a plurality of possible inter-processes integration energy consumption targets for a plurality of possible inter-processes energy integration combinations between a plurality of functional areas of a mega industrial site, selecting an energy-efficient inter-processes integration energy consumption target, identifying the combination of the plurality of possible inter-processes energy integration combinations providing for the energy efficient inter-processes integration energy consumption target, generating a plurality of technically viable industrial site inter-processes heat exchange system design alternatives, and identifying the technically viable industrial site inter-processes heat exchange system design substantially providing for optimal total waste heat recovery between the respective functional areas.
US09378312B2
A method can include providing a mesh of a geologic environment that includes conformable sequences and an unconformity; interpolating an implicit function defined with respect to the mesh to provide values for the implicit function; and identifying an iso-surface based on a portion of the values where the iso-surface represents the unconformity as residing between two of the conformable sequences. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09378304B2
A data structure includes three arrays. A first array includes a root node, one or more intermediate nodes, and one or more leaf nodes. A second array includes one or more slices, each of which includes one or more elements; a third array also includes one or more elements. Each root node and intermediate node in the first array points to a respective slice in the second array. Each element in the second array stores a byte and has an associated pointer that points either to a respective intermediate node or to a respective leaf node in the first array. Each leaf node in the first array points to a respective element in the third array, and each element in the third array stores a respective sub-string of bytes. The trie can be particularly advantageous, for example, in applications on resource-constrained computing devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and other hand-held computing devices.
US09378300B2
A method and apparatus for outputting data is provided. The method includes outputting a first web page containing streaming data, before the streaming data is completely reproduced, when a request to output a second web page is received, outputting the second web page while continuously receiving the streaming data, and when data of an amount that is appropriate to continuously reproduce the streaming data without data delay is received, announcing that the streaming data is capable of being reproduced.
US09378298B2
Embodiments relate to prioritizing the loading of a portion of a web page based on a user designation. An aspect includes providing a user interface for controlling page loading. A user selection of a portion of a web page is received at a server for priority loading. Accordingly, the loading of the portion of the web page is then prioritized based on the user selection. Embodiments further disclose measuring page loading analytics for a plurality of users. The loading of a portion of a web page may be prioritized based on the measured page loading analytics for the plurality of users. Responsive to subsequent page accesses from one of the plurality of users, the prioritized portion of the page is loaded.
US09378289B2
This description provides tools and techniques for translating search strings into physical locations. These tools may provide methods that include retrieving search strings, and requesting translation of the search strings to one or more corresponding physical locations. These methods may also receive representations of the corresponding physical locations, and provide the representations of the physical locations as input to a navigation engine.
US09378284B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, prior to entering a screensaver mode of operation, a search criteria identifying a requested subject matter, wherein the search criteria is based on a last user-initiated search query to a web-based search engine. In response to entering the screensaver mode, the search criteria identifying the requested subject matter is automatically transmitted to a web browser. Image content referenced by a set of uniform resource locators based upon the search criteria is sequentially presented. In response to receiving user input, a user-selectable region is presented comprising a selectable element superimposed on the first image. Selection of the element causes a defined action generating an e-mail message having an attachment with content referenced by a link associated with the first image. Receiving user input from a second input device ceases presenting of the image. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09378280B2
A method of facilitating video search is disclosed. A video on or linked to by a display page is located. A video search index entry associated with the video is generated, at least in part, using an additional information data, retrieved at least in part programmatically from a location other than the display page.
US09378278B2
A server and device for constructing and presenting a consumption profile for a media item are provided. In general, consumption of a media item by a number of first users is tracked. Thereafter, before and/or during playback of the media item by a second user, a consumption profile for the media item is constructed and presented to the second user.
US09378274B2
Presented herein are object filtering techniques that optimize the communication of information over an infrastructure that supports publish-subscribe (pub-sub) and direct query (synchronization) communication. In the object filtering techniques, a single information publisher can share that information in an associated object graph with many different consumers over the infrastructure without sharing the entire object graph.
US09378269B1
The disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for maintaining dependencies among multiple reference elements (e.g., formulas of a table or spreadsheet). In various embodiments, prior to a reevaluation operation carried out on the reference elements, a computing device receives an input of a reference element via a user interface (e.g., receives a user's input of a formula), assigns the reference element to a group based on the dependency between the reference element and one or more other reference elements, and assigns the reference element to a location within a dependency graph to which the other reference elements are assigned. In response to an event that requires at least one of the reference elements to be reevaluated, the computing device reevaluates each group of reference elements in sequence a group at a time.
US09378267B2
Methods and apparatus to search datasets are disclosed. An example disclosed apparatus includes a count generator to generate a plurality of counts, the counts respectively indicative of a number of corresponding records in a database satisfying a respective one of a plurality of criteria present in the database; a grouper to assign first and second criteria of a search request to a first group according to a logical relationship between the first and second criteria; an identifier to determine, via the plurality of counts, which of the first and second criteria in the first group is satisfied by a least amount of records in the database; and a reduced set generator to form a reduced set of records to be searched based on the determined one of the first and second criteria satisfying the least amount of records in the database.
US09378265B2
An electronic document classification system disclosed herein classifies electronic documents. The classification of the documents may involve analyzing the document and the information attached to the document to generate a set of classification data and comparing the classification data with one or more classification rules to generate a set of classifying data. The system attaches the set of classifying data to the electronic document and displays the electronic document based on the set of classifying data. The classification data may also be used to prioritize the electronic documents and to assign a retention period to the electronic documents. The system is further adapted to receive user feedback regarding the classification of the electronic document and to update the classification rules.
US09378259B2
According to one embodiment, a method for determining a transfer order of files includes acquiring the access count of a replicated file at a production site and at a remote site, these access counts being reflected in the order for asynchronous replication. In addition, the access count of backed up files at the remote site is also acquired and reflected in the order for asynchronous replication according to another embodiment. This allows for improved determination of the transmission order of files (according to priority based on usage) from a production site to a remote site in an asynchronous replication function.
US09378258B2
Method and system for replacing a first node and a second of a clustered storage system by a third node and a fourth node are provided. The method includes migrating all storage objects managed by the first node to the second node; replacing the first node by the third node and migrating all the storage objects managed by the first node and the second node to the third node; and replacing the second node by the fourth node and then migrating the storage objects previously managed by the second node but currently managed by the third node to the fourth node. The nodes may also be replaced by operationally connecting the third node and the fourth node to storage managed by the first node and the second node; joining the third node and the fourth node to a same cluster as the first node and the second node.
US09378256B2
An industrial analytic system processes industrial data. A database engine provides access to a plurality of database management systems that serve energy consumption and product sales data. An input filter that selectively passes the filtered data streams that comprise energy sales data, location data, and a business classification code data in datasets by removing selected datasets that do not include energy information. A standard deviation filter removes datasets from the filtered data streams that fall outside of a predetermined variation from an average value. A computation module analyzes the correlation between electrical energy consumption within a standard industrial classification code represented in the datasets and a programmable criterion.
US09378254B2
An approach is provided to copy records between tables in a relational database. In the approach, a Structured Query Language (SQL) table COPY statement is received with the COPY statement identifying a source table and a target table. Table column names are retrieved from a metadata that corresponds to the source table. The retrieved table column names are used to generate an SQL statement that includes an INSERT INTO clause pertaining to the target table and a SELECT clause pertaining to the source table, wherein the INSERT INTO clause includes a set of target column names and wherein the SELECT clause includes a set of corresponding source column names.
US09378252B2
A data interface efficiently transports, manages, and provides data transfer. The data transfer may happen between a data storage layer and a presentation layer, as examples. The presentation layers may be graphical user interfaces that display or report complex data sets, with the data storage layer providing the source data for the presentation layers. The data interface implements a data link layer that efficiently caches, stores, and locates query results, while simultaneously handling security. The data link layer may include load balancing, efficient cache refresh, and other features.
US09378250B2
Systems and methods of data analytics, which in various embodiments enable business analysts to apply certain machine learning and analytics algorithms in a self-service manner by binding them to generic business questions that they can be used to answer in particular domains. The general approach may be to define the application of an algorithm to solve specific problems (questions) for particular combinations of a business domain and a data category. At design time, the algorithm may be linked to canonical data within a data category and programmed to run with this canonical data set. At runtime, given a dataset and its category, and a business domain, a user may choose from the corresponding questions and the system may run the algorithm bound to that question.
US09378244B2
An apparatus and method for processing data stream are provided. A query execution plan for processing data stream is shared between the server and the terminal. The server builds a query execution plan and determines a part of the built query execution plan to be executed in the terminal. The terminal executes the part of the built query execution plan and transfers a result of the execution. The server executes the remaining part of the built query execution plan based on the execution result transferred by the terminal. The part of the query execution plan to be executed in the terminal is determined depending on the performance of the terminal.
US09378243B1
A system may include a storage device configured to store a data store comprising data. The database system may further include a processor in communication with the storage device. The processor may receive a query that includes at least one predicate associated with the data. The processor may further determine that the at least one predicate is eligible to be converted to a range set predicate. The processor may further convert the at least one predicate to a range set predicate. The processor may further process the query with the range set predicate. A method and computer-readable medium may also be implemented.
US09378234B2
A method, system, and computer program product to efficiently maintain a database is disclosed. The method, system, and computer program product may include structuring the database to have a table, an index associated with the table, and a log associated with the index. The method, system, and computer program product may include receiving a maintenance request related to the index. The method, system, and computer program product may include accounting for the maintenance request when the index is being searched. The method, system, and computer program product may include adding the maintenance request to the log when the index is not being searched.
US09378232B2
Techniques are provided for performing parallel processing on in-memory objects within a database system. In one embodiment, a plurality of in-memory chunks are maintained on a plurality of non-uniform memory access (NUMA) nodes. In response to receiving a query, a set of clusters is determined for the plurality of in-memory chunks. Each respective cluster in the set of clusters corresponds to a particular NUMA node of the plurality of NUMA nodes and includes a set of one or more in-memory chunks from the plurality of in-memory chunks. For each respective cluster in the set of clusters, a query coordinator assigns, to the respective cluster, a set of one or more processes associated with the particular NUMA node that corresponds to the respective cluster.
US09378223B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided to process search queries initiated at a mobile computing device based, at least in part, on a state of the mobile computing device as indicated by one or more of travel speed, travel direction, and geographic location of the mobile computing device.
US09378221B2
Local storage on player instruments provides the ability for adding further amendments and most recent supplements to the optical disc content. A problem arising with this technically applicable possibility is the protection of copyrights bound to disc and supplement data. The present invention describes a technique to ensure a security framework that is able to handle this, by creating a virtual file system (VFS) by merging optical disc data and local storage data based upon a common identifier.
US09378216B2
In general, the invention relates to replicating a source file system stored on a first memory by obtaining a first unread entry from a changelog associated with the source file system, querying the source file system using the first unread entry to obtain a current first object file status, a current first object file path, a current first parent directory status, and a current first parent directory path, determining, based on the querying, whether a first object file on the source file system has changed at some time after the execution of the first unread entry, if the first object file has not changed, performing a first action on a target file system, and if the first object file has changed, performing a second action on the target file system.
US09378204B2
Mechanisms are provided for performing context based synonym filtering for natural language processing. Content is parsed into one or more conceptual units, wherein each conceptual unit comprises a portion of text of the content that is associated with a single concept. For each conceptual unit, a term in the conceptual unit is identified that has a synonym to be utilized during natural language processing of the content. A first measure of relatedness of the term to at least one other term in the conceptual unit is determined. A second measure of relatedness of the synonym of the term to the at least one other term in the conceptual unit is determined. A determination whether or not to utilize the synonym when performing natural language processing on the conceptual unit is made based on the first and second measures of relatedness and natural language processing on the content is performed accordingly.
US09378196B1
Methods and apparatus related to identifying a category for a task that is associated with a user and populating annotation fields related to the task based on the category of the task. The task and populated annotation fields may be provided for use by one or more application to provide a task completion step to the user. In some implementations, the category may be identified based on input from the user, documents of the user, and/or data that are associated with the user. In some implementations, a completion step for the task may be suggested to the user by an application that accesses the task and populated annotated information. In some implementations, multiple applications may suggest different completion steps to the user for the same task.
US09378194B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for customizing a preview content of an email template assigned to a marketing campaign are described herein. The method involves receiving a request to preview an email template. In response, a content of the email template including placeholders is invoked and the HyperText markup language (HTML) elements for the placeholders is identified. Further, descriptive names for the identified HTML elements are derived according to a correspondence language of the user. In an aspect, the correspondence language of the user is determined based on the user's language selection at the time of login. The identified HTML elements in the email template are replaced with the selected descriptive names and the preview content is rendered on an output interface.
US09378191B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a method for providing creatives. The method comprises identifying a creative for processing, the creative including a title portion, a body portion and optionally a reference portion. The method further comprises evaluating the body portion and the reference portion including determining when either portion includes one or more candidate words or candidate reference that can be added to the title portion. The method further comprises determining when, if promoted, the candidate one or more words or candidate reference would be redundant to content already included in the title portion. The method further comprises promoting the candidate one or more words or candidate reference into the title portion when no unacceptable redundancy is determined. The method further comprises providing the creative including the title portion with the promoted candidate one or more words or candidate reference.
US09378173B2
An apparatus and method for maximizing buffer utilization in an I/O controller using credit management logic contained within the I/O controller. The credit management logic keeps track of the number of memory credits available in the I/O controller and communicates to a chipset connected to the I/O controller the amount of available memory credits. The chipset may then send an amount of data to the I/O controller equivalent to or less than the communicated available amount of memory credits to reduce the occurrence of a “retry” event. The amount of available memory credits is determined by comparing the available memory in each buffer within the I/O controller and designating that the “available” amount of memory for the I/O controller is an amount equivalent to the amount of memory contained in the buffer with the least amount of available memory. This “available” amount of I/O controller memory may then be converted into memory credits and communicated to the chipset.
US09378168B2
A circuit arrangement and program product for communicating data in a processing architecture comprising a plurality of interconnected IP blocks. Transmitting IP blocks may transmit messages to a shared receive queue for a first IP block. Receipt of the messages at the shared receive queue may be controlled based on receive credits allocated to each transmitting IP block. The allocation of receive credits for each transmitting IP block may dynamically managed such that the allocation of receive credits may be dynamically adjusted for each transmitting IP block based at least in part on message traffic associated with each transmitting IP block and/or a priority associated with each transmitting IP block.
US09378166B2
In a communication system, a master device gives a data control to one of a plurality of slave devices, and stops controlling data transmission and reception in the master device. A dual-role device executes the data transmission and reception with the other slave devices according to the data control given by the master device. The master device transmits an abort signal to the dual-role device while data is being transmitted and received by the dual-role device according to the data control. The dual-role device receives the abort signal from the master device, and transmits an interrupt signal to the master device when no data is being transmitted or received. The master device enables data transmission and reception according to the data control after receiving the interrupt signal from the dual-role device. The dual-role device stops data transmission and reception according to the data control after receiving the interrupt signal.
US09378165B2
There is provided an inter-bus communication interface device capable of efficiently performing transfer of data between a plurality of devices connected to different buses, respectively. When communication data is transmitted, a first device writes the communication data into a buffer, whereas when communication control information is transmitted, the first device writes the communication control information into a register. A control circuit passes the communication data stored in the buffer to a second device, and passes the communication control information stored in the register to a second device.
US09378163B2
Methods to accelerate a message signaled interrupt (MSI) are described herein. An embodiment of the invention includes an interrupt controller to receive a messaged signaled interrupt (MSI) request from a device over a bus, and an execution unit coupled to the interrupt controller to execute an interrupt service routine (ISR) associated with the device, the execution unit to retrieve interrupt data from a predetermined memory location specifically allocated to the device and to service the MSI using the interrupt data, without having to obtain the device interrupt data via an input output (IO) transaction.
US09378155B2
A method for processing and verifying remote dynamic data is provided. The method includes providing a radix tree structure having N levels, obtaining and recording N initial values for representing the empty radix tree structure, wherein all nodes at the same level are assigned an identical initial value. When performing a data processing operation to the radix tree structure, determining a first leaf node and calculating and recording the value of each node in a shortest path from the first leaf node to the root node. When performing a verification of a specific data, obtaining a second leaf node corresponding to the specific data, a sibling node of each node in a shortest path from the second leaf node to the root node, and generating a verification result according to a digital signature for verifying the root node, the value of each obtained sibling node, and the specific data.
US09378145B2
A method for a pair of redundant storage controllers to ensure reliable cached write data transfers to storage device logical volumes is provided. The method includes maintaining metadata including a first number identifying which controller currently owns the volume, a second number identifying which controller previously owned the volume, a third number identifying which controller is a preferred owner of the volume, and an indication if the volume is write protected. The method also includes determining if all volumes currently owned by the controller are write protected. If all volumes currently owned by the controller are write protected, then the method includes verifying that the second controller is working and transferring cache data from the second controller to the first controller. If all volumes currently owned by the first controller are not write protected, then the method includes updating the second number and placing all volumes online.
US09378137B2
A program method of a storage device which includes at least one nonvolatile memory device and a memory controller to control the at least one nonvolatile memory device, the program method comprising: performing a first normal program operation to store first user data in a memory block; detecting, at the memory controller, a first event; performing a dummy program operation to store dummy data in at least one page of the memory block in response to the detection of the first event; and performing a second normal program operation to store second user data in the memory block after the dummy program operation, dummy program operations being operations in which random data is programmed into the memory block, normal program operations being operations in which data other than random data is programmed in the memory block.
US09378128B2
What is provided is an enhanced dynamic address translation facility. In one embodiment, a virtual address to be translated is first obtained and an initial origin address of a translation table of the hierarchy of translation tables is obtained. Based on the obtained initial origin, a segment table entry is obtained. The segment table entry is configured to contain a format control and access validity fields. If the format control and access validity fields are enabled, the segment table entry further contains an access control field, a fetch protection field, and a segment-frame absolute address. Store operations are permitted only if the access control field matches a program access key provided by any one of a Program Status Word or an operand of a program instruction being emulated. Fetch operations are permitted if the program access key associated with the virtual address is equal to the segment access control field or the fetch protection field is not enabled.
US09378111B2
A method and system for correlating, for at least one managed system, at least one monitored computer metric and a plurality of associated alerts, comprising selecting a monitored computer metric designated by a user, selecting a time scale designated by the user; and selecting a number of alerts associated with the monitored computer metric, the alert being designated by the user. The monitored computer metric and the number of alerts are correlated over the selected time period, and a graph of the correlated monitored computer metric superimposed with a number of alerts over the selected time period is transmitted for presentation to the user. The user can select various monitored computer metrics, various alerts and various time periods.
US09378106B1
In one aspect, a method includes sending a short hash handle from a production site to a replication site, the short hash handle being generated using a hash signature and being smaller than the hash signature, determining at the replication site whether the short hash handle exists at the replication, reading and sending the hash signature associated with the short hash handle if the short hash handle exists at the replication site, determining at the replication site whether the hash signature exists at the replication and emulating a write operation by associating the hash signature to an address in a second storage volume at the replication site if the hash signature exists at the replication site. The hash signature is generated using a data block from a first storage volume at the production site.
US09378100B2
Systems and method of the present invention provide for one or more server computers configured to identify, within a database transaction log, a dynamic website content in a database and a command modifying the dynamic website content, write the dynamic website content and the command modifying the dynamic website content to a website repository as a delta, receive a request to reverse the command modifying the dynamic website content, identify, within the delta, the command modifying the dynamic website content, and generate and execute a database query configured to reverse the command modifying the dynamic website content.
US09378094B2
A primary virtual machine is formed on a primary machine in which a primary hypervisor runs, and inputs virtual interrupt based on an external interrupt from the primary hypervisor to a primary guest OS. A secondary virtual machine is formed on a secondary machine in which a secondary hypervisor runs, and inputs the virtual interrupt to a secondary guest OS on the basis of timing information on the virtual interrupt transmitted from the primary virtual machine. When inputting the virtual interrupt to the primary guest OS, the primary virtual machine suspends the primary guest OS, and determines whether the suspended position is in a critical section. If the suspended position is not in the critical section, the primary virtual machine inputs the virtual interrupt at the suspended position. If the suspended position is in the critical section, the primary virtual machine changes the suspended position, and again performs the determination.
US09378092B2
An apparatus includes an interface, and a processor. The interface inputs and outputs data from and to a storage device that includes a plurality of memory blocks forming a plurality of RAID groups, and a backup block used as a backup of the plurality of memory blocks. The processor sets as read-out targets a plurality of memory cells included in each memory block. When a memory cell included in a faulty memory block becomes a read-out target, the processor excludes the memory cell that belongs to the RAID group, until restoration of the data of the faulty memory block and copying of the restored data to the backup block are completed. When the copying of the restored data is completed, the processor selects as read-out targets the memory cell that belongs to the RAID group that includes the faulty memory block and a memory cell in the backup block.
US09378081B2
A method includes storing, at a counter, a first value indicating a count of read operations in which a bit error is detected in data associated with a first address. The method further includes, in response to the first value exceeding a first threshold value, remapping the first address to a second address using a controller that is coupled to a memory array. The first address corresponds to a first element of the memory array. The second address corresponds to a second element that is included at a memory within the controller. Remapping the first address includes, in response to receiving a first read request for data located at the first address, replacing a first value read from the first element with a second value read from the second element.
US09378070B2
Generic Distributed Processing Unit (DPU) for Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) is disclosed. The DPU based system is a Machine 2 Machine (M2M) interface that is fast, flexible, redundant and scalable. It allows the handling of unlikely edge cases that Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) can not. It also allows the processing of excessive amounts of ancillary data that are not processed easily with an HMI arrangement. In the digital ecosystem, any like DPU can back up any other making the system exceedingly robust.
US09378069B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for a lock-spin-wait operation for managing multi-threaded applications in a multi-core computing environment. A target processor core, referred to as a “spin-wait core” (SWC), is assigned (or reserved) for primarily running spin-waiting threads. Threads operating in the multi-core computing environment that are identified as spin-waiting are then moved to a run queue associated with the SWC to acquire a lock. The spin-waiting threads are then allocated a lock response time that is less than the default lock response time of the operating system (OS) associated with the SWC. If a spin-waiting fails to acquire a lock within the allocated lock response time, the SWC is relinquished, ceding its availability for other spin-waiting threads in the run queue to acquire a lock. Once a spin-waiting thread acquires a lock, it is migrated to its original, or an available, processor core.
US09378065B2
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium configured to facilitate user purpose in a computing architecture.
US09378064B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for an orchestration management database (OMDB). The OMDB provides for aggregation of vendor and bank data necessary for information technology infrastructure deployment, management, and federation. Utilizing cloud computing technology the OMDB provides an aggregation of all data necessary for information technology infrastructures within an entity into one useable database that dramatically simplifies the ability to do core functions and integrate external vendors and components with the entity's information technology infrastructure. In this way, the present invention modularly stores data required for an entity's information technology infrastructure and allows for easy deployment, intelligent monitoring, federation of data, and feedback associated with all aspects of the entity's information technology infrastructure.
US09378060B2
In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods are provided for co-locating execution logic and state data in a distributed and clustered environment. Such a system can include a plurality of applications, executing on one or more application servers, including an event broker which identifies state data required by an actor, a database which identifies an application server where such state data is cached; and a co-location module which instantiates the actor on the application server where such state data is cached. The method includes identifying state data required by a transaction, identifying an application server where such state data is cached, instantiating execution logic for processing the transaction on the application server where such state data is cached, and executing said execution logic for processing the transaction on the application server where such state data is cached thereby providing predictable low execution latency.
US09378059B2
In general, techniques are described for parallelizing a high-volume data stream using a data structure that enables lockless access by a multi-threaded application. In some examples, a multi-core computing system includes an application that concurrently executes multiple threads on cores of the system. The multiple threads include one or more send threads each associated with a different lockless data structure that each includes both a circular buffer and a queue. One or more receive threads serially retrieve incoming data from a data stream or input buffer, copy data blocks to one of the circular buffers, and push metadata for the copied data blocks to the queue. Each of the various send threads, concurrent to the operation of the receive threads, dequeues the next metadata from its associated queue, reads respective blocks of data from its associated circular buffers based on metadata information, and offloads the block to a server.
US09378058B2
Method, system, and programs for dynamic control of a processing system having a plurality of tiers. Queue lengths of a plurality of nodes in one of the plurality of tiers are received. A control objective is received from a higher tier. One or more requests from the higher tier are processed by the plurality of nodes in the tier. A control model of the tier is computed based on the received queue lengths. One or more parameters of the control model are adjusted based on the received control objective. At least one control action is determined based on the control model and the control objective.
US09378053B2
A method and system for operating a data center. The method includes, in response to a map task distributed by a job tracker, a map task tracker executes the map task to generate a map output including version information. The map task tracker stores the generated map outputs. The map task tracker informs the job tracker of related information of the map output. In response to a reduce task distributed by the job tracker, the reduce task tracker acquires the map outputs for key names including given version information from the map task trackers, wherein the acquired map outputs include the map outputs with the given version information and historical map outputs with the version information prior to the given version information. The reduce task tracker executes the reduce task on the acquired map outputs.
US09378048B2
Embodiments include receiving, at a microcontroller of a chip, a request to execute a first task having a first priority. Embodiments further include determining that a second task having a second priority is currently executing. Embodiments further include determining that the first priority is higher than the second priority. Embodiments further include determining whether a value in a register indicates that the second task can be interrupted. If it is determined that the second task can be interrupted, embodiments further include triggering execution of the second task. If it is determined that the second task cannot be interrupted, embodiments further include waiting for lapse of a time period since receipt of the request to execute the first task, and interrupting the second task upon detecting lapse of the time period, or detecting, prior to the lapse of the time period, that the second task can be interrupted.
US09378044B1
The current document is directed to a machine-learning-based subsystem, included within a virtualization layer, that learns, over time, how to accurately predict operational characteristics for the virtual machines executing within the virtual execution environment provided by the virtualization layer that result from changes to the states of the virtual machines. When the virtualization layer receives requests that, if satisfied, would result in a change of the state of one or more virtual machines, the virtualization layer uses operational characteristics predicted by the machine-learning-based subsystem from virtual-machine resource-allocation states that would obtain by satisfying the requests. When the predicted operational characteristics are indicative of potential non-optimality, instability, or unpredictability of virtualized-computer-system operation, the virtualization layer anticipates a deleterious state change and undertakes preventative measures.
US09378040B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for attaching applications to a computing device based on a file type selection. In one example, a method for operating an application attaching system to dynamically make applications available to a computing device includes identifying an application attach triggering event based on a file selection of a certain file type on the computing device. The method further includes, in response to the application attach triggering event, identifying an application within an application volume based on the certain file type. The method also includes attaching the application volume to computing device, and associating the application to the certain file type on the computing device.
US09378038B2
A guest operating system, launched by executing an application associated with a host operating system, is provided with access to a gyroscope associated with a computing device including a processor executing the host operating system. A first application associated with the guest operating system generates a request for gyroscope data. The request is received at a hardware abstraction layer associated with the guest operating system, and the request is sent from the hardware abstraction layer to a second application associated with the host operating system. The request is sent from the second application to a driver executing within a kernel of the host operating system. The driver retrieves the requested gyroscope data from the gyroscope. The retrieved gyroscope data is provided to the first application via the second application and the hardware abstraction layer.
US09378035B2
Software, firmware, and systems repurpose existing virtual machines. After a virtual machine is created, the system stores data associated with the virtual machine to permit its later repurposing. Repurposing data includes data associated with the virtual machine when the virtual machine is in a generic state from which it may be configured for use by two or more users/applications. When the system receives a request to create a new virtual machine, rather than create a brand new virtual machine, the system repurposes an existing virtual machine. The system identifies a virtual machine to repurpose, deletes data associated with the identified virtual machine, and loads a saved copy of repurposing data. The system may then load user data or otherwise customize the database and virtual machine.
US09378030B2
Described are a method and system that remotely instructs and guides end users of mobile devices to navigate through its various functions and configurations. The system comprises a repository, a control center, and an intelligent client on the mobile device, where the control center and mobile device operate in a client-server relationship and are in communication during a help session. An administrator uses the system to create step by step navigational instructions called story boards and reference device navigational maps which are uploaded to a repository. The control center pulls the relevant story boards and device navigation maps from the repository and uses it to remotely and interactively direct the end user of the mobile device to navigate through its various applications and functions.
US09378029B2
A method is provided for an electronics device user interface (UI) to create a rules-validated service request. Initially, a UI device presents a plurality of selections, and accepts a selection command from a user. A UI application sends the selection command to a rules engine. The rules engine compares the selection command to a rules collection cross-referencing selection commands to allowable selection commands, wherein a rule is defined as a relationship between service parameters. In response to the rules engine validating the selection commands, the UI application sends a service request including the selection commands to a service device, and the service device performs a service defined in the service request. In response to the rules engine invalidating the selection command, the UI device may present an explanation of a rule violation associated with the invalid selection command. An associated system is also provided.
US09378027B2
One or more specialized field programmable modules (e.g. CPLD and FPGA blocks) and their programming interface are embedded into a processing system (e.g. a CPU, GPU, APU and/or chipset). The field programmable modules are in-system programmable, in contrast to the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) modules that perform the core functions of the processing system. The programmable flexibility of the field programmable modules can have various benefits during different stages of the integrated circuit life cycle for the processing system, such as reconfigurable interface bridging and two-way I/O expansion.
US09378025B2
Booting a set of embedded computer modules in a wagering game machine by selecting a portion of bios
A method for configuring a wagering game machine. The method can include initializing a processor and chipset residing on an embedded computer module residing in the wagering game machine, wherein a BIOS resides on a carrier board connected to the embedded computer module. The BIOS includes code for configuring many possible computer modules. The method can further include identifying, under control of code in the BIOS, some the possible computer modules that reside in the wagering game machine and initializing, using code of the BIOS input/output devices connected to the carrier board and the embedded computer module. The method can further include launching an operating system in the wagering game machine and presenting a wagering game on the wagering game machine according to information received from the input/output devices.
US09378021B2
A processor includes a cache, a prefetcher module to select information according to a prefetcher algorithm, and a prefetcher algorithm selection module. The prefetcher algorithm selection module includes logic to select a candidate prefetcher algorithm determine and store memory addresses of predicted memory accesses of the candidate prefetcher algorithm when performed by the prefetcher module, determine cache lines accessed during memory operations, and evaluate whether the determined cache lines match the stored memory addresses. The prefetcher algorithm selection module further includes logic to adjust an accuracy ratio of the candidate prefetcher algorithm, compare the accuracy ratio with a threshold accuracy ratio, and determine whether to apply the first candidate prefetcher algorithm to the prefetcher module.
US09378020B2
Embodiments relate to asynchronous lookahead hierarchical branch prediction. An aspect includes a computer-implemented method for asynchronous lookahead hierarchical branch prediction using a second-level branch target buffer. The method includes receiving a search request to locate branch prediction information associated with a search address. The method further includes searching, by a processing circuit, for an entry corresponding to the search request in a first-level branch target buffer. The method also includes, based on failing to locate a matching entry in the first-level branch target buffer corresponding to the search request, initiating, by the processing circuit, a secondary search to locate entries in the second-level branch target buffer having a memory region corresponding to the search request. The method additionally includes, based on locating the entries in the second-level branch target buffer, performing a bulk transfer of the entries from the second-level branch target buffer.
US09378018B2
A programmable processor and method for improving the performance of processors by expanding at least two source operands, or a source and a result operand, to a width greater than the width of either the general purpose register or the data path width. The present invention provides operands which are substantially larger than the data path with of the processor by using the contents of a general purpose register to specify a memory address at which a plurality of data path widths of data can be read or written, as well as the size and shape of the operand. In addition, several instructions and apparatus for implementing these instructions are described which obtain performance advantages if the operands are not limited to the width and accessible number of general purpose registers.
US09378012B2
Data is received that includes at least a portion of a program. Thereafter, entry point locations and execution-relevant metadata of the program are identified and retrieved. Regions of code within the program are then identified using static disassembly and based on the identified entry point locations and metadata. In addition, entry points are determined for each of a plurality of functions. Thereafter, a set of possible call sequences are generated for each function based on the identified regions of code and the determined entry points for each of the plurality of functions. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US09378010B1
Software that uses machine logic to identify expert(s) for functional components of source code, determining a confidence value for each functional component based on the availability of its respective expert(s), by performing the following steps: (i) receiving a first functional component of a set of source code; (ii) receiving a set of knowledgeable person(s) information including identifying information for at least one person and respectively associated availability information for each identified person, where each person identified in the set of knowledgeable person(s) information has knowledge of the first functional component; and (iii) calculating, based, at least in part, on the identified person(s) and their respectively associated availability information, a confidence value for the first functional component relating to the availability of person(s) with knowledge of the first functional component.
US09378006B2
An apparatus to which an external storage device is connectable includes a setting unit configured to, after the external storage device is connected, perform software installation of the apparatus based on setting data acquired from the external storage device, a storage control unit configured to store, in the external storage device, progress information necessary for displaying a screen used for checking a progress status of the software installation and identification information of the apparatus, and a display unit configured to display the progress status of the software installation of the apparatus identified by the identification information stored in the external storage device, based on the progress information.
US09378005B2
Disclosed is a technique for facilitating software upgrade for a switching system comprising a first management processor and a second management processor and a set of one or more line processors, the techniques comprising receiving a signal to perform a software upgrade for a line processor from the set of line processors, and performing a software upgrade for the line processor without substantially affecting packet switching performed by the switching system.
US09378004B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, for downloading data to a mobile device. A method includes receiving, via a user interface, at a computer system independent of the mobile device, information identifying the mobile device to receive the application; receiving, at the computer system, information identifying the application to be installed on the mobile device; wirelessly transmitting, from the computer system to the mobile device, information related to the application; and in response to receiving the information related to the application, the mobile device installing the application on the mobile device independent of user input on the mobile device. The mobile device may be a mobile phone. The method may further include transmitting a download-assistance tool to the mobile device, where the download-assistance tool can receive the information related to the application to be installed and assist the mobile device in installing the application.
US09378002B2
An apparatus for providing memory footprint reduction for classes of an application programming interface includes a comparing element and a set selection element. The comparing element may be configured to receive a reference class file and one or more modified class files for each of a plurality of classes and to compare a size of each of the one or more modified class files and the reference class file. The set selection element may be in communication with the comparing element. The set selection element may be configured to select one of the one or more modified class files or the reference class file based at least in part on the size of each of the one or more modified class files and the reference class file as a selected file for each corresponding one of the classes and to form a class set comprising the selected file for each corresponding one of the classes.
US09377999B2
A development system comprises, in one example, a development module configured to receive user development inputs to develop elements of a computer system. The elements comprise types modeled in the computer system. The development system comprises a user interface module configured to generate a user interface display with user input mechanisms that receive a user search query for searching the elements of the computer system. The development system comprises a search module configured to identify a type-based search parameter for the user search query and to obtain a set of search results by performing an element search based on the user search query and the type-based search parameter.
US09377993B2
Embodiments of methods that are useful to avoid overflow in fixed-length buffers. In one embodiment, the methods dynamically adjust parameters (e.g., sample time) and reconfigure data in the buffer to allow new data samples to fit in the buffer. These embodiments allow data collection to automatically adapt, e.g., by adjusting the sample rate to allow the data to fit in the limited buffer size. These embodiments can configure hardware and/or software on a valve positioner of a valve assembly to improve data collection for use in on-line valve diagnostics and other data processing techniques.
US09377990B2
This specification describes technologies relating to editing digital audio data. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method includes displaying a visual representation of audio data, receiving an image, positioning the image as overlapping a portion of the displayed visual representation of the audio data, and editing the audio data corresponding to the portion of the displayed visual representation of the audio data overlapped by the image to form edited audio data, the editing including applying a variable editing effect according to the image content. In other implementations a computer-implemented method is provided that includes receiving an image, converting the image into a display of a visual representation of audio data using a specified conversion mode, and storing audio data corresponding to the display of audio data.
US09377989B2
An information processing method and device is provided. According to the method, a first position parameter of a first device and a second position parameter of a second device are acquired. Based on the position parameters, whether a relative position relationship between the first device and the second device meets a preset condition is judged to acquire a result. If the judgment result is positive, the first device communicates with the second device, data of a first part of a first object to be displayed on the first device is acquired, a first application program corresponding to the first object in the second device is synchronously executed, and the data of the first part of the first object is displayed on the first device while data of a second part of the first object is displayed on the second device.
US09377980B2
A method to pull print, and a host apparatus and a server that are connected to an image forming apparatus, to pull print. The printing method includes generating print data to pull print in the host apparatus, storing the generated print data in the host apparatus, determining whether a predetermined relocation condition is satisfied with respect to the generated print data, and transmitting the print data stored in the host apparatus to the server if it is determined that the predetermined relocation condition is satisfied with respect to the print data.
US09377964B2
Techniques for improving snapshot performance are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for improving snapshot performance comprising initiating change block tracking for each unit of storage associated with each of a plurality of virtual machines, creating backup images of each unit of storage associated with each of the plurality of virtual machines, quiescing each of the plurality of virtual machines, and creating snapshots of each unit of storage associated with each of the plurality of virtual machines. The techniques may include identifying one or more changed blocks in at least one of the backup images using the change block tracking, editing the at least one of the backup images by replacing the identified one or more changed blocks using corresponding blocks from at least one snapshot of the snapshots, and releasing the at least one snapshot based upon a determination that editing has completed.
US09377960B2
A data storage method, comprising, receiving host data to be written to a plurality of flash storage devices, allocating the host data to one or more data units of a plurality of data units, allocating pad data to one or more data units of the plurality of data units that have not been filled with host data and generating redundant data in a redundant data unit based on the plurality of data units. The method further comprises steps for writing the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit to a stripe across the plurality of flash storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit is written in the respective flash storage devices at a common physical address.
US09377958B2
Channel performance can be improved in a storage device, such as a flash memory or a flash-based solid state drive, by dynamically provisioning available data channels for both write and read operations. In one aspect, a set of available data channels on a storage device is partitioned into a set of write channels and a set of read channels according to a read-to-write ratio. Next, when an incoming data stream of mixed read requests and write requests arrives at the storage device, the allocated read channels process the read requests on a first group of memory blocks, which does not include garbage collection and write amplification on the first group of memory blocks. In parallel, the allocated write channels process the write requests on a second group of memory blocks, which does include garbage collection and write amplification on the second group of memory blocks.
US09377950B2
One embodiment provides a system for processing gesture inputs on a touch screen display. The system receives a gesture input on the touch screen display. When the gesture is recognized as invoking an annotation canvas, the system determines the height, width and location of an annotation canvas, and displays the annotation canvas on the touch screen display. Then, in response to an input gesture within the annotation canvas, the system recognizes the gesture as an annotation gesture, and executes the annotation gesture. In response to receiving an input gesture outside of the annotation canvas, the gesture is interpreted by the system as a navigation input.
US09377947B2
A handwritten information inputting device includes an inputting region into which handwritten information is inputted with a pointer such as an electronic pen or a finger. The device also includes a function disposition region in which a plurality of operational elements (e.g., graphic icons) are disposed, each assigned a process related to the inputted handwritten information such as enlarging or rotating the inputted handwritten information. In response to a continuous operation for a defined period of time of any of the operational elements, operational element disposition information regarding the operational elements disposed in the function disposition region is displayed on an external display apparatus, to which the handwritten information inputting device is connected. Also, the operated (selected) operational element is displayed visually distinguishable from the rest of the operational elements. Thus, an operator can confirm his operation of the operational elements without taking his eyes off the external display apparatus.
US09377946B2
Provided is an on-board apparatus such that a function that is not displayed on an image display unit can be safely operated in a simple operation even during travel without watching the image display unit. An on-board apparatus (10) is provided with: a touch panel (18) for detecting information about a position touched by an operator; a display mode recognition unit (32) that recognizes a mode displayed on an image display unit (17); a gesture recognition unit (33) that recognizes a gesture inputted via the touch panel; and an operation mode determination unit (34) that determines an operation mode depending on the travel status of the vehicle and on the basis of the gesture. Thus, the function that is not displayed on the image display unit (17) can be simply operated by the gesture for implementing the function that is limited during travel.
US09377934B2
An image display unit includes an image display module changing for display images each having image and header information, a touch panel input module receiving inputs, an image reading module reading the image and header information of the images, a group definition determination module determining, based on the header information of a first image of the images that is displayed next in response to an operation performed on the touch panel input module, whether or not a group definition in the header information of the first image is the same as a first predetermined group definition, and an image changing module changing the images to the first image for display in a number of steps predetermined for the first predetermined group definition.
US09377933B2
A social networking system displays information about a user via a timeline included in a profile page. Narrative data about a user stored in a social networking system, including data about the user and social network activities related to the user is accessed. Timeline units summarizing information about the user are generated from the narrative data. When a viewing user requests a profile page, timeline units are displayed based information related to the viewing user and interactions with the profile page by other users connected to the viewing user. Users that administer the profile page are presented with additional information when viewing the profile page, allowing the administering users to modify appearance of the timeline or to identify actions for an administering user to take to increase interaction with the profile page.
US09377931B2
Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are; e.g., “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the menu may contain buttons that can be selected through the keys on the remote control, but that don't have any images or text associated. This allows creating “invisible buttons” that automatically execute commands upon selection. Further, a sound or sound sequence; e.g., melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. Such menu data may be stored; e.g., on a Blu-ray disc.
US09377930B2
An emoticon input method and mobile terminal are provided. A message writing display is provided for a user. A character input menu for inputting characters and an emoticon input menu for inputting emoticons are displayed along with the message writing display. When the user selects the emoticon input menu, an emoticon input mode is entered. A plurality of emoticon groups is displayed in the emoticon input mode. Each of the plurality of emoticon groups includes a plurality of emoticons. When an emoticon group is selected from among the plurality of emoticon groups, a plurality of emoticons included in the selected emoticon group is displayed. When at least one emoticon is selected from among the plurality of emoticons included in the selected emoticon group, the at least one emoticon selected by the user is displayed as part of a message.
US09377922B2
A device may receive information identifying a type of impairment, and provide, based on the type of impairment, a user interface. The user interface may allow a user to specify a command and an action that is to be performed, by an application, based on detecting the command. The action may relate to the type of impairment. The device may further receive configuration information via the user interface, where the configuration information identifies the command and the action. The device may configure the application based on the configuration information, detect, using the application, the command, and perform, using the application, the action based on detecting the command.
US09377918B2
A method of forming patterns in coatings on opposite sides of a transparent substrate by direct write laser patterning comprising the steps: a) providing a first transparent coating on a first side of the substrate, the first coating being formed of a material having a relatively high laser ablation threshold energy density; b) mounting the substrate on a stage or locating the substrate on a chuck, c) using a first laser beam to form a first pattern in the first transparent coating by laser ablation; d) providing a second transparent coating on the second side of the substrate after formation of said first pattern, the second coating being formed of a material having a relatively low laser ablation or modification threshold energy density; using a second laser beam to form a second pattern in the second transparent coating by laser ablation or modification, the energy density of the second laser beam being lower than that of the first laser beam such that ablation of the second transparent coating is carried out without causing appreciable damage to the first transparent coating. Apparatus arranged to carry out this method and a product formed by the method are also described.
US09377917B2
A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The mobile terminal displays, on a display unit, a touch input interface including at least one graphic object and a first region defined to correspond each graphic object, recognizes the defined first region as a touch input region of the each graphic object, changes the touch input region of the each graphic object to a specific region discriminated from the defined first region upon sensing approach of the mobile terminal within a predetermined distance from a first object through the sensing unit, and recognizes the changed specific region as the touch input region for receiving touch input from a second object while a distance between the mobile terminal and the first object keeps within the predetermined distance.
US09377915B2
Provided is a capacitive touch sensor which includes a flat panel display for displaying an image and a touch sensor panel positioned on the flat panel display or embedded in the flat panel display. The capacitive touch sensor may include: a driving clock generator configured to generate a plurality of time-periodic output signals by using a gate driver signal of the flat panel display, and apply the generated time-periodic output signals to the touch sensor panel and a receiver circuit unit; a driver configured to generate a driving signal of the touch sensor panel using a part of the output signals of the driving clock generator; and the receiver circuit unit configured to process noise contained in a signal received from the touch sensor panel, using the output signals.
US09377912B2
An electronic device comprising a cover plate is disclosed. The cover plate comprises at least one layer of modified sapphire having a dielectric constant that is higher than the dielectric constant of sapphire.
US09377907B2
A circuit for detecting a touch or proximity event on a touch input device is provided. The circuit is able to mitigate the effects that parasitic capacitance has on a self-capacitance touch sensor panel by injecting a signal into the sensing circuitry. The signal is adjusted until it calibrates the circuitry for the effects that parasitic capacitance imparts on the detection of touch or proximity events on a touch sensor panel.
US09377904B2
A display device with an integrated touch screen panel includes upper and lower substrates each divided into a display area and a non-display area, which is provided outside of the display area and includes a sealing area. Pixels may be formed in the display area between the upper and lower substrates. A black matrix is formed on a bottom surface of the upper substrate and disposed in the display area and the non-display area. The black matrix is open in the sealing area. Sensing patterns may be formed in the display area on a top surface of the upper substrate. Sensing lines may be formed in the non-display area on the top surface of the upper substrate and connected to the sensing patterns along a first or second direction. A light-shielding pattern is formed to cover the sealing area of the non-display area on the top surface of the upper substrate.
US09377901B2
The present invention discloses a display method, for determining user's operations and thereby reducing a rate of error response of electronic devices. The method includes determining a first image to be projected; projecting the first image, the first image being capable of forming on the touch sensing unit when the second electronic device is in the projection area and the touch sensing unit faces towards the first electronic device; receiving first operation information transmitted by the second electronic device, the first operation information being information acquired by the second electronic device in response to a first operation performed by a user on the touch sensing unit; determining a second image based on the first image and the first operation information; and projecting the second image. The present invention also discloses a display control method, and electronic devices for implementing the previously mentioned two methods respectively.
US09377898B2
A method of calibrating sensitivity of a pressure based touch input device is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes generating continuous input signals each having a value that is based on the magnitude pressure applied to the touch input device and sampling the continuous input signals at a predetermined rate to generate sampling signals. The method also includes determining whether to perform a sensitivity calibration of the touch input device based on a first threshold range and the sampling signals and selecting a sensitivity calibration parameter to be applied to the sensitivity calibration from among a plurality of pre-stored parameters. The selecting is based on the absolute values of the sampling signals. The method further includes performing the sensitivity calibration based on the sensitivity calibration parameter.
US09377897B2
Control of coordinate input apparatus based on light distribution and moving amounts of sensor units
The sensor unit of each of a first bar housing unit and second bar housing unit is moved. The moving amount is measured and stored. The distribution of a light amount received by the light receiving unit of the sensor unit of each of the first bar housing unit and second bar housing unit is detected, and whether the moving amount is appropriate is determined based on the detection result. A calculation value used when the coordinates of the pointed position in the coordinate input effective region are calculated based on variations of the light amount distribution is corrected by using the moving amount stored when it is determined that the moving amount is appropriate.
US09377880B2
A position indicator includes: a core body disposed within a casing such that a tip thereof projects from one opening of the casing; a printed board on which a circuit element for detecting pressing force applied to the tip is disposed; and a pen pressure detecting module formed by arranging, in an axial direction, plural parts for detecting a displacement corresponding to the pressing force. The plural parts are arranged within a hollow portion of a cylindrical holder portion housed within the casing. The holder portion has an opening portion in a side circumferential surface thereof. The opening portion is opened in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. At least one of the parts is/are housed into the hollow portion through the opening portion. The holder portion includes a locking portion configured to prevent the at least one of the parts from falling out through the opening portion.
US09377872B2
An electronic device and the control method thereof are described. The electronic device includes a panel provided at a first outer surface of the electronic device; an instruction generating unit configured to generate setting instructions; a position control unit overlapping the panel and configured to control the relative position of at least one part of the operation object on the panel with respect to the panel.
US09377858B2
A three-dimensional (3D) space interface apparatus and method are provided. The 3D space interface apparatus provides an interface in which a user may directly touch and transform a 3D virtual object of a 3D space, which is shown in various ways depending on a position of the user. The 3D space interface apparatus may provide for manipulation of the 3D virtual object by the user using a sensing signal that senses the position and movement of a manipulation object the user. Specifically, an interface unit of the apparatus verifies, using the sensing signal, whether a predetermined movement of the manipulation object has occurred or whether a contact between the 3D virtual object and the manipulation object has been made, and generates a predetermined reaction corresponding to the predetermined movement or the contact.
US09377845B2
For frame buffer power management, a frame buffer includes a write circuit and a read circuit, and drives a display. A power management module terminates power to the frame buffer in response to a power reduction policy being satisfied.
US09377843B2
Systems and methods for managing current consumption by an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes first and second clock units. The first clock unit generates a first reference clock signal based on a first current input. The second clock unit generates a second reference clock signal based on a second current input greater than the first current input. The system includes a control module configured to identify an application to be executed. The control module is configured to determine whether the application is associated with a first current consumption level or a second current consumption level greater than the first current consumption level. The control module is configured to select the first or second reference clock signal based on whether the application is determined to be associated with the first or second current consumption level. The system includes circuitry configured to execute the application based on the selection.
US09377839B2
Systems and methods for dynamic battery management of mobile devices are disclosed. In some implementations, a battery management application at the mobile device can enable a user to configure operational priority values for one or more software applications installed on the device, a battery threshold value for the mobile device and device resources needed by prioritized applications. In some implementations, mobile devices across a network can be managed remotely through a device management application. The device management application can obtain operational priority values for one or more software applications executing on one or more devices. The device management application can identify respective battery thresholds for the devices and remotely control operation of the software applications based on their respective operational priorities and the identified battery thresholds.
US09377830B2
A data processing device includes a plurality of central processing unit (CPU) cores; a plurality of first switches connected between a power line and each of the plurality of CPU cores, respectively; a power management unit; and a dynamic voltage/frequency scaling control circuit configured to scale at least one of a voltage and a frequency of a clock signal which are supplied to each of the CPU cores according to a control of the power management unit, wherein the power management unit is configured to decrease at least one of the voltage and the frequency which are supplied to each of the CPU cores and generate each of first control signals controlling a switching operation of each of the plurality of first switches, according to a control of one of the CPU cores.
US09377826B2
A blade of components for a computer system, intended to be inserted into a computer system rack, is disclosed. In one aspect, it includes a frame with means for electrically connecting to the computer rack, and a computer component holder having a plurality of through-slots configured to receive computer components translatably along the longitudinal direction of the slot. The component holder is movably mounted by means of a slide connection in relation to the frame, such that it can move between a first position in which the holder is inserted substantially into the frame and a second position in which the holder is at least partially removed from the frame, such that the vertical line of all of the slots is kept free along the longitudinal direction of each in order to allow the translatable insertion and extraction of computer components along the longitudinal direction.
US09377824B2
A microelectronic assembly (300) or system (1500) includes at least one microelectronic package (100) having a microelectronic element (130) mounted face up above a first surface (108) of a substrate (102), one or more columns (138, 140) of contacts (132) extending in a first direction (142) along the microelectronic element front face. Columns (104A, 105B, 107A, 107B) of terminals (105 107) exposed at a second surface (110) of the substrate extend in the first direction. First terminals (105) exposed at surface (110) in a central region (112) thereof having width (152) not more than three and one-half times a minimum pitch (150) of the columns of terminals can be configured to carry address information usable to determine an addressable memory location. An axial plane of the microelectronic element can intersect the central region.
US09377821B2
An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible holes penetrate through at least a portion of the light resistant material in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern.
US09377819B2
An electronic device includes a peripheral wall defining an opening, a frame defining an internal receiving space, a tray, a stopping piece, a button, and an elastic piece. The tray receives a storage device and is slidably received in the receiving space. The stopping piece is fixed between the opening and the frame. The stopping piece blocks the tray when the tray is wholly received in the receiving space. The button is connected to the stopping piece and configured to drive the stopping piece to release the tray when the button is pressed. The elastic piece pushes the tray to pass to be partly exposed out of the opening when the stopping piece releases the tray.
US09377818B2
Technologies for utilizing a plurality of displays include a computing device and a plurality of detachable display units physically coupled to the computing device. The computing device executes an application of the computing device and assigns the application to a detachable display unit of the plurality of detachable display units. The detachable display unit monitors for detachment of the detachable display unit from the computing device and maintains execution of the assigned application in response to detachment of the detachable display unit.
US09377806B1
A small hemispherical drive apparatus actuates the cilia to undergo the limit cycle oscillations. Electromagnets are positioned on a housing of the apparatus. A gimbal with shaft is also attached to the housing. The shaft has a first end within the housing that is proximally separated and remains separated from the electromagnets as the shaft rotates. Generated signals excite electromagnets in sequence to produce an electromagnetic track for the shaft.
US09377804B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a capacitor and a die. The die comprises a resistor switch coupled between a power line and the capacitor, wherein the resistor switch has an adjustable resistance, and the power line and the capacitor are both external to the die. The die also comprises a circuit configured to receive power from the power line.
US09377803B2
A voltage control apparatus includes: an obtaining unit which obtains voltage values at voltage measuring points; a detecting unit which detects a system impedance value; a control quantity calculating unit which calculates, as control quantity, a reactive power value to be output by a power regulating apparatus to prevent at least a voltage value deviating from a predetermined voltage range from deviating from a target voltage value; and a notifying unit which notifies the power regulating apparatus of the control quantity. The control quantity calculating unit calculates the control quantity such that the voltage value at a specific voltage measuring point is substantially equal to the target voltage value, and when all of the voltage values deviating from the target voltage value deviate from the target voltage value in a same direction, only positive or negative reactive power is output by power regulating apparatuses.
US09377796B2
The invention relates to a switched mode power supply comprising at least one switch and at least one inductor, the at least one switch being arranged to connect one terminal of the at least one inductor to one of a plurality of supply voltages, the other terminal of the at least one inductor providing a supply output, and further comprising a capacitor connected in parallel with the at least one inductor.
US09377795B1
In an example, a temperature-corrected voltage reference circuit for use in an integrated circuit (IC) includes a voltage reference circuit, a programmable gain amplifier, and a digital control circuit. The programmable gain amplifier includes a first input coupled to the voltage reference circuit, a second input coupled to receive a control signal, and an output coupled to provide a temperature-corrected voltage reference. The digital control circuit includes an input coupled to receive a temperature signal indicative of temperature of the IC and an output coupled to the second input of the programmable gain amplifier, the digital control circuit generating the control signal in response to the temperature signal.
US09377793B2
A device for controlling a power supply for a functional block in an integrated circuit, the device comprising: a signal generator configured to provide a clock signal to the functional block, an antenna comprising a transistor, and being located proximate to the functional block, the antenna being configured to receive the clock signal from the signal generator, and wherein the transistor of the antenna receives electrical power from the same power source that delivers power to the functional block, means to measure the clock signal output from the antenna, and output a control signal, and feedback means to control the voltage of the power supply to the functional block on the basis of the control signal.
US09377792B2
A single integrated circuit includes a single boost converter, a first circuit, a second circuit, and a controller. The single boost converter supplies power to the first and second circuits. The controller receives an operational mode signal and in response to the operational mode signal, drives the single boost converter to respectively provide power to the first and second circuits. When the first and second circuits are simultaneously active, the controller manages an operation of the first circuit so that proper operation of the second circuit is maintained. The first circuit may be an LED flash driver, and the second circuit may be an audio amplifier, such as a Class-D audio amplifier. The controller manages an operation of the audio amplifier so that a sufficient amount of current is supplied to the LED flash driver for proper operation of the LED flash driver.
US09377791B2
An embodiment directed to a method for providing a specified state at a premises to which a user travels. Comprises determining a time of operation needed by a device located at the premises to provide the specified state, after device activation. One or more positions of the user are detected when the user is within a boundary, the boundary being determined in part by the time of operation. Detected user positions are used to determine a time of arrival of the user at the premises. A time to activate the device is computed from the arrival time and time of operation, collectively, wherein activating the device at the computed time causes the specified state to be provided at a time that coincides with arrival of the user at the premises.
US09377790B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for remotely managing an environmental control and monitoring device are provided. Remote management of an environmental control and monitoring device may be implemented by receiving, via a network, a device action including notification of at least one of an environmental, maintenance, repair or usage status of an environmental control and monitoring device. A management action is determined based on the device action, and the management action is transmitted, wherein the management action includes a command to execute an operation of the environmental control and monitoring device.
US09377785B2
A device for the reliable measurement and control of the filling level in the quencher sump of a quenching chamber arranged downstream of the gasifying chamber is provided. The device has a differential-pressure transmitter. The measuring location recording the pressure of the gas chamber is flushed with inert gas. The device unproblematically senses the pressures in the quenching chamber and at the bottom of the quencher sump. The difference between which is used as a controlled variable for the filling level.
US09377784B2
Systems and methods for displaying to a tilt rotor aircraft pilot an optimum nacelle position and/or automatically controlling movement of the nacelles for the pilot. An automatic nacelle conversion function employs an active flight director speed mode to provide a current desired speed and a final speed. When the automatic nacelle conversion function is in a passive (uncoupled) mode of operation, the pilot follows visual cues, manually achieving the commanded nacelle position by rotating a thumbwheel. When in an active (coupled) mode of operation, the automatic nacelle conversion function provides a fully automatic nacelle controller requiring no pilot input. This automatic nacelle controller provides a variable nacelle rate along with several angle versus speed schedules tailored for different guidance speed modes and a wide range of aircraft configurations. The automatic nacelle conversion function is improved though the inclusion of altitude, rate of climb, and deceleration rate commands.
US09377783B2
A method for securing a ground speed used for guiding landing of an aircraft by determining a ground speed of the aircraft and determining a landing guidance instruction based on the determined ground speed. Next, estimate the vertical speed of the aircraft and limit, during guidance along a glide path having a descent angle, the determined ground speed as a function of the estimated vertical speed. The guidance instruction is based on the limited ground speed. Further, measure the height of the aircraft and compare it with a threshold height. If the measured height is greater than the threshold height, limit the ground speed as a function of acceleration measurements. If the measured height is below the threshold height, limiting the ground speed as a function of the estimated vertical speed and as a function of acceleration measurements of the aircraft taken once threshold height has been crossed.
US09377781B1
The present invention discloses an autonomous driving system able to make driving decisions and a method thereof, which decide a safer vehicle movement, wherein a processor generates a left-turn signal, a forward signal and a right-turn signal, receives and vectorizes a vehicle movement signal and object movement signals to determine whether one object is a dangerous or non-dangerous object, inputs the results into a corresponding equation to generate dangerous and non-dangerous object weights, substitutes the dangerous and non-dangerous object weights into a space weight equation to calculate left-turn, forward and right-turn lane section weights, uses the lane section weights to generate left-turn, forward and right-turn signal weights, generates a movement signal or a braking signal according to whether a highest one of the signal weights is over or below preset weight.
US09377778B2
A manufacturing control system comprises a vision system for viewing operations within a manufacturing area and for producing vision data representing the viewed operations. A systems control analyzes the vision data, and controls at least two control functions related to the manufacturing operations based on the analyzed vision data.
US09377769B2
A control apparatus capable of updating a user program while processing is being performed in a multitasking manner is provided. A processor includes a memory that stores a user program containing a program organization unit as well as a central processing unit executing a task containing the user program and also updating the program organization unit stored in the memory. The central processing unit is configured to execute a plurality of tasks concurrently and to execute each task with a period corresponding to the task. Moreover, the central processing unit is configured to update the program organization unit stored in the memory during the period of time from when a plurality of tasks to be executed have been finished until when the plurality of tasks are executed again.
US09377757B2
The improvement of the performance of holographic glasses with recorded holograms as measured by a figure of merit of the holographic glasses is disclosed. The improvement in the figure of merit of the holographic glasses is obtained at least in part with the addition of arsenic in the formation of the holographic glasses. The presence of arsenic increases the figure of merit as measured at a wavelength of interest of a holographic glass with a recorded hologram as compared to a holographic glass with a recorded hologram that does not contain arsenic.
US09377756B2
A ventilation structure includes a duct unit between a heat generating structure and a heat insulating structure. The ventilation structure includes a heat generating structure side flow channel formed on the heat generating structure side in the duct unit to take in and let fresh air flow along a long side of the duct unit and a heat insulating structure side flow channel formed on the heat insulating structure side in the duct unit to exhaust air outputted from an exhaust system provided in the heat generating structure by letting the air flow and evacuate along the short side of the duct unit.
US09377750B2
An object of the present invention is to increase the accuracy of positions of a drive gear and a driven gear without an increase in size of an apparatus. In an image forming apparatus, a driven gear 108 is provided on a free end side of a roller shaft 106 rather than at a portion 106a, of the roller shaft 106, supported by a fixation unit 50. A main assembly of the apparatus 1 has a support member 103 that is movable between a support position where, with the fixation unit 50 attached to the main assembly of the apparatus 1, a free end-side end of the roller shaft 106 is supported and a non-support position where, with the fixation unit 50 removed from the main assembly of the apparatus 1, the free end-side end of the roller shaft 106 is not supported.
US09377749B2
The image forming apparatus includes a first guide that defines a conveyance path and rotates about a fulcrum with the opening of the cover, the fulcrum being provided at a lower portion of the first guide, the conveyance path extending upward and downward and through which the sheet is conveyed; and a second guide that defines the conveyance path in combination with the first guide, the second guide being rotatable with the cover being open. The second guide moves in a direction away from the fulcrum with the opening of the cover.
US09377745B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a rotating brush, a collecting roller, a cleaning blade, a sealing member and a side sealing member. The sealing member has an extension part extending outside from each end of the collecting roller in an axial direction. The sealing member comes into contact with the collecting roller between a contact area between the rotating brush and the collecting roller and the cleaning blade and then prevents backflow of the residue. The side sealing member lifts the extension part toward the collecting roller on an outside at a predetermined interval from a position corresponding to each side edge of a maximum-width sheet passing region on the image carrier.
US09377738B2
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member which bears a toner image; a first driving portion which drives the image bearing member; a transfer portion which nips a sheet with the image bearing member and transfers the toner image to the sheet from the image bearing member; a sheet conveying portion which conveys the sheet with the toner image transferred by the transfer portion; a second driving portion which drives the sheet conveying portion; a sheet detector which detects the sheet between the transfer portion and the sheet conveying portion; and a controller which controls the second driving portion to drive the sheet conveying portion to convey the sheet after the first driving portion is stopped, so that the sheet detector can detect the sheet nipped between the image bearing member and the transfer portion.
US09377731B1
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit configured to include at least a first and second radiation heaters capable of heating printing medium; a power supply unit configured to supply power to the first and second radiation heaters; and a controller configured to select either one of the first and second radiation heaters and control to light or turn off the selected radiation heater, wherein a heating width of the printing medium of the second radiation heater is wider than that of the first radiation heater, and the controller determines whether to preheat the second radiation heater based on the number of times of lighting of the first and second radiation heaters and controls to light and turn off the second radiation heater when the controller has determined that it is necessary to preheat the second radiation heater.
US09377730B1
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member to fix toner to a recording medium, a heating control part to heat the fixing member to a specified temperature, a measuring part to measure a temperature of the fixing member, and a calculation part to calculate an arrival time required until the temperature of the fixing member reaches a target temperature based on a difference between the target temperature at a warming-up end time of the fixing member and the temperature measured by the measuring part. If the arrival time is shorter than a rise time required to warm up the image forming apparatus, the heating control part starts to heat the fixing member after a specified time passes from a time when warming-up of the image forming apparatus is started.
US09377727B2
The image forming apparatus includes an image processing section that converts image data into pixel data, an image forming section that forms a toner image based on the pixel data, and a fixing section that fixes the toner image to the recording material by heating the recording material with the toner image formed thereon while conveying the recording material through a nip portion. The image processing section divides the pixel data corresponding to one recording material into a plurality of areas each formed of a predetermined number of pixels and acquires density information on some of the pixels within each of the areas as representative values. The fixing section carries out a process of fixing the toner image for which the density information has been acquired, under a fixing condition according to a maximum value of the representative values.
US09377722B2
A destaticizing device includes: a first destaticizing member that is disposed at a downstream side in a conveyance direction of a medium relatively to a transfer area where an image held in a surface of an image holder is transferred to the medium, the first destaticizing member being grounded and destaticizing the medium; and a second destaticizing member that is disposed adjacent to the first destaticizing member with respect to the conveyance direction of the medium, the second destaticizing member being grounded and destaticizing the medium.
US09377709B2
A toner contains a plurality of toner particles. Each of the toner particles includes a toner core containing a binder resin, a shell layer disposed over a surface of the toner core, internal particles located within the shell layer, and an external additive located on a surface of the shell layer. Each of the toner particles has 4 to 169 projections resulting from the internal particles and having a height of no less than 40 nm and no greater than 200 nm when a 1-μm2 region of the surface of the toner particle is observed, and the projections satisfy the following equation (1) {(1000/2Y)−0.5}2≦X≦{(1000/2Y)+0.5}2 (1) wherein X represents the number of the projections, and Y represents the height of the projections.
US09377706B2
The present disclosure describes a sustainable toner.
US09377694B2
A projection arrangement for imaging lithographic structure information comprises: an optical element, which has at least partly a coating composed of an electrically conductive layer material. The coating comprises a continuous region, which has no elements that shade projection light. In this case, the layer material and/or the optical element change(s) an optical property, in particular a refractive index or an optical path length, depending on a temperature change. At least one mechanism for coupling energy into the layer material is provided, which couples in energy in such a way that the layer material converts coupled-in energy into thermal energy. The layer material may comprise graphene, chromium and/or molybdenum sulfide (MoS2).
US09377690B2
The invention provides a composition for forming a metal oxide-containing film comprising, as a component (A), a metal oxide-containing compound A1 obtained by hydrolysis and/or condensation of one or more kinds of hydrolysable metal compounds shown by the following general formula (A-1), as a component (B), an aromatic compound shown by the following general formula (B-1), the compound generating a hydroxyl group by thermal and/or an acid. There can be provided a composition for a resist lower layer film, which has high etching selectivity, capable of subjecting to stripping under mild conditions than the conventional process, has excellent pattern adhesiveness, and fine pattern formation can be performed.
US09377685B2
A resist composition used in a method of forming a resist pattern including applying a resist composition comprising a base component that exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution and a photo-base generator component to a substrate to form a resist film; subjecting the resist film to exposure; baking after subjecting the resist film to exposure, wherein at an exposed portion of the resist film, the base generated from the photo-base generator component upon exposure and an acid provided to the resist film in advance are neutralized, and at an unexposed portion of the resist film, the solubility of the base component in an alkali developing solution is increased by the action of acid provided to the resist film in advance; and subjecting the resist film to alkali development, thereby forming a negative-tone resist pattern.
US09377683B2
A method using directed self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) for making an imprint template has the required patterns for both the features in the template's active area and the optically-detectable alignment marks in the template's non-active area. A chemical contrast pattern defined by a lithographic technique forms patterns of lines in both the active area and non-active area, as well as patterns of featureless gap regions in the non-active area. The pattern of lines has the BCP components aligned as lamellae perpendicular to the substrate, while the pattern of featureless gap regions has the BCP components aligned as lamellae parallel to the substrate. The patterns of lines and featureless gap regions in the non-active area define the optically detectable alignment marks. One of the BCP components is removed, leaving the other BCP component as an etch mask to fabricate the imprint template.
US09377681B2
A mask manufacturing apparatus includes a laser irradiator, a stage, a frame, and a heat spreader sheet. The laser irradiator divides a laser beam into a plurality of sub-laser beams and irradiates the sub-laser beams to a shadow mask material which is placed over a stage. The frame is disposed over the stage to support the shadow mask material. The heat spreader sheet makes contact with the shadow mask material, absorbs heat generated from the shadow mask material, and dissipates the heat to surroundings of the shadow mask material. Accordingly, the shadow mask material is protected from overheating.
US09377679B2
This invention provides a reflective mask blank capable of preventing peeling-off of a multilayer reflective film due to cleaning or the like in a mask manufacturing process or during mask use. The reflective mask blank includes a multilayer reflective film, a protective film, an absorber film, and a resist film formed in this order on a substrate. Assuming that a distance from the center of the substrate to an outer peripheral end of the multilayer reflective film is L(ML), that a distance from the center of the substrate to an outer peripheral end of the protective film is L(Cap), that a distance from the center of the substrate to an outer peripheral end of the absorber film is L(Abs), and that a distance from the center of the substrate to an outer peripheral end of the resist film is L(Res), L(Abs)>L(Res)>L(Cap)≧L(ML) and the outer peripheral end of the resist film is located inward of an outer peripheral end of the substrate.
US09377677B2
The present invention provides a method of generating, by a computer, data on patterns of a plurality of originals for use in multiple exposure, in which a single-layer pattern is formed on a substrate by exposing the substrate a plurality of times, in an exposure apparatus including an illumination optical system which illuminates an original with light from a light source, and a projection optical system which projects a pattern of the original onto a substrate.
US09377671B2
The present disclosure provides a waterproof housing for a camera. The waterproof housing includes a front housing and a back cover engaging with the front housing, the front housing forms a receiving cavity for receiving the camera and an opening allowing the camera to enter the receiving cavity, a lens window corresponding to a lens of the camera is formed on the front housing, the back cover covers the opening to enclose the receiving cavity; the waterproof housing further includes a fixing device for fixing the waterproof housing to an outer object and the fixing device is detachably mounted on the front housing. The waterproof housing of the present disclosure is capable of meeting various fixing requirements as well as reducing the manufacturing and using cost.
US09377661B2
A flat display panel and a related repairing method are provided. The flat display panel includes multiple horizontal repair lines parallel to scan lines and multiple vertical repair lines parallel to data lines. The vertical repair lines are disposed on one side of the data lines one to one, and the horizontal repair lines are disposed on one side of the scan lines one to one. When one of the data lines or one of the scan lines is broken, an electrical route formed by a use of the vertical repair lines or the horizontal repair lines detours the broken scan line or data line, so as to deliver signal to pixel electrode normally.
US09377653B2
The present invention provides a patterned vertical alignment (PVA) pixel electrode comprising: a first electrode in the form of a “” or “” shape disposed on a TFT array substrate; and a second electrode in the form of a “” or “” shape corresponding to the first electrode and disposed on a CF substrate, wherein the first electrode and/or the second electrode includes ITO slits with unequal length which are disposed between the fringes of the first electrode and the second electrode for improving a display quality of the pixel. The present invention further provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus. The PVA pixel electrode and the LCD apparatus using the same can raise a transmittance and a display quality of the pixel.
US09377651B2
Embodiments of the invention comprise a cholesteric liquid display and a method for preparing the same. The cholesteric liquid display comprises a first substrate; an electrode substrate opposite to the first substrate; and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the electrode substrate, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal layer comprises at least one layer of cholesteric liquid crystal, and the same layer of cholesteric liquid crystal has different pitches in different regions so as to be capable of reflecting light of different colors, respectively.
US09377650B2
To achieve a liquid crystal display device of a field sequential system with sufficient response speed and uniformity of viewing angle, the liquid crystal display device includes polarizing plates attached on front and back surfaces of a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, and an anisotropic diffusion film provided on the front side of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel and the backlight are driven by the field sequential system. The distribution of the contrast of the liquid crystal display panel varies depending on the azimuth direction. Then, the azimuth direction in which the contrast of the liquid crystal display panel is small is equal to the azimuth direction in which the emission intensity when parallel light is incident on the anisotropic diffusion film is strong, to achieve uniform contrast in all azimuth directions.
US09377641B2
A tape package includes a body portion including a flexible material, a driving circuit disposed on the body portion, a first sub-connection portion extending from the body portion in a first direction, a first main-connection portion extending from the first sub-connection portion in the first direction, a first lead line including a first end electrically connected to the driving circuit and a second end extending in the first direction, the first end being opposite to the second end and a protrusion extending from the first sub-connection portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction on a same plane with the first sub-connection portion. Accordingly, a crack of the lead line may be reduced or effectively prevented.
US09377638B2
A transmitter that is difficult to be affected by structural constraints is a transmitter that transmits a signal to a receiver by changing an amount of light emitted, and the transmitter includes: a control unit that generates a control voltage corresponding to a signal to be transmitted; a reflector that reflects sunlight; and a liquid crystal board that receives reflected light that is sunlight reflected by the reflector and changes, according to the control voltage, the amount of light emitted toward the receiver, by allowing the reflected light to pass through the liquid crystal board.
US09377634B2
The present invention provides a polarizer removing device and a method of using it. The polarizer removing device comprises a supporting unit for supporting a panel, a clamping-removing unit for clamping a polarizer and removing the polarizer from the panel, and a pressurizing unit for exerting a pressure onto the panel during the removing of the polarizer. According to the polarizer removing device, a uniform force is exerted onto the polarizer during the removal thereof. As a result, it is above to prevent the polarizer from being broken, thereby to facilitate the operation, improve the production efficiency and save an adhesive tape.
US09377629B2
A lenticular unit includes a transparent substrate; first electrodes being transparent and disposed on the substrate; a second electrode being transparent and elastic; and a transparent material layer interposed between the first and second electrodes and being deformable in a lens shape in a thickness direction depending on a potential applied between the first and second electrodes.
US09377624B2
Reducing light damage in a shutterless imaging device includes receiving a signal from a hardware device and analyzing the signal to predict a use demand of the shutterless imaging device. In response to the analysis of the signal from the hardware device, a lens of the shutterless imaging device is adjusted. Adjusting the lens spreads out energy of far-field image light incident on an image sensor of the shutterless imaging device.
US09377621B2
The light scanning apparatus includes: a deflection element including first and second deflection surfaces; a rotor including a top surface facing the deflection element; a first imaging optical system including a first imaging lens; a second imaging optical system including a second imaging lens arranged to face first imaging lens; first and second shielding members. The first shielding member is arranged at a position where an edge portion thereof on a side closer to top surface in a sub-scanning direction blocks light reflected by first imaging lens. The second shielding member is arranged at a position where an edge portion thereof on a side closer to top surface in sub-scanning direction blocks light that has passed by first shielding member and been reflected by top surface.
US09377620B2
An optical scanning device includes a cylindrical aperture, a support member, and a base portion. In the aperture, an opening portion restricts a beam path width of a laser beam emitted from a light source. The support member includes a cylinder supporting portion that pivotably supports the aperture. To the base portion, the support member is fixed by adhesion fixing. The base portion includes a pass-through portion that passes through between front and rear surfaces of the base portion and allows the support member to move in direction perpendicular to a pivoting axis of the aperture. The support member has a length such that its lower end portion projects from a rear surface of the base portion in the state where the support member has been inserted in the pass-through portion to such a position where laser beam is incident in the opening portion of the aperture.
US09377619B2
A compact wide-angle optical beam steering device includes a first rotor with a first mirror surface and a second rotor with a second mirror surface. The rotors are arranged to rotate about an axis in response to frictionally coupled vibration motors. Drive circuits are coupled to the vibration motors and a control device is coupled to the drive circuits. The control device is configured to execute programmed instructions comprising generating and providing one or more driving signals to the vibration motors to drive the rotors to an angular position about the axes. A light source is positioned to emit a beam directed to the first mirror surface. The beam is reflected from the first mirror and contacts the second mirror. The second mirror is positioned to reflect the beam to exit the steering device at a pointing direction determined by the angular position of the mirrors.
US09377611B2
A light-source includes a planar array of diode-laser bars and a plurality of turning-mirrors arranged to stack beams from the diode-laser bars in the fast-axis direction to provide a first combined beam. Six plane mirrors are arranged to divide the combined beam into three beam-slices, each having one-third the slow-axis width of the first combined beam, and add the beam-slices in the fast-axis direction to provide a second combined beam having about one-third the slow-axis width and three-times the fast-axis length of those of the first combined beam. A spherical mirror and a cylindrical mirror focus the second combined beam into an optical fiber.
US09377603B1
A low-profile hybrid lens system, for imaging a scene onto an image plane, includes (a) a wafer-level lens with (i) a planar substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, (ii) a first lens element of a first material and disposed on the first surface, and (iii) a second lens element of a second material and disposed on the second surface; (b) a first cast lens; and (c) a second cast lens; wherein the wafer-level lens, the first cast lens, and the second cast lens are optically coupled in series. A method for manufacturing a low-profile hybrid lens system includes mounting a wafer-level lens, a first cast lens, and a second cast lens in a fixture to optically couple, in series, the wafer-level lens and the first and second cast lenses.
US09377599B2
A fiber optic drop terminal assembly includes a housing, a spool and a fiber optic distribution cable. The housing has a first exterior surface and an oppositely disposed second exterior surface. A plurality of ruggedized adapters is mounted on the first exterior surface of the housing. The ruggedized adapters include a first port accessible from outside the housing and a second port accessible from inside the housing. The spool is engaged with the second exterior surface and includes a drum portion. The fiber distribution cable is coiled around the drum portion. The distribution cable includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The second end is disposed inside the housing.
US09377596B2
An optical component including a multi-layer substrate, an optical waveguide element, and two optical-electro assemblies is provided. The multi-layer substrate includes a dielectric layer, two circuit layers, and two through holes passing through the dielectric layer. The optical waveguide element is located on the multi-layer substrate and between the through holes. The optical-electro assemblies are respectively inserted into the corresponding through holes and correspondingly located at two opposite ends of the optical waveguide element. One of the optical-electro assemblies transforms an electrical signal into a light beam and provides the light beam to the optical waveguide element, and the other one of the optical-electro assemblies receives the light beam transmitted from the optical waveguide element and transforms the light beam into another electrical signal. A manufacturing method of the optical component and an optical-electro circuit board having the optical component are also provided.
US09377587B2
An assembly includes optical fibers each having a waveguide core, a photonic integrated circuit (IC) that includes in-plane waveguides corresponding to the optical fibers, and a substrate bonded to the photonic IC with grooves that support the optical fibers. The substrate and photonic IC can have metal bumps that cooperate to provide mechanical bonding and electrical connections between the substrate and photonic IC. Portions of the optical fibers supported by the substrate grooves can define flat surfaces spaced from the optical fiber cores. The photonic IC can include passive waveguide structures with a first coupling section that interfaces to the flat surface of a corresponding optical fiber (for evanescent coupling of optical signals) and a second coupling section that interfaces to a corresponding in-plane waveguide (for adiabatic spot-size conversion of optical signals).
US09377583B2
Apparatus and methods are described herein for cleaving an optical element at a defined distance from a splice (or other reference point/feature) of the optical element within a desired precision and/or accuracy. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an indication of a location of a feature in an intermediate optical assembly visible within an image of the intermediate optical assembly. The feature can be for example, a splice. A position of the intermediate optical assembly is translated relative to a cleave unit based on the indication. After translating, the intermediate optical assembly, the intermediate optical assembly is cleaved to form an optical assembly that has an end face at a location disposed at a non-zero distance from the location of the feature. In some embodiments, the location of the feature can be determined with an image recognition system.
US09377577B2
The present invention relates to a technology of displaying device, and more particularly to a heat-dissipating device of a backlight module, and which is arranged between a backframe and a waveguide of the backlight module for dissipating heat generated from a light source disposed adjacent to the waveguide, wherein the heat dissipating device includes a master heatsink, and an auxiliary heatsink; and wherein the master heatsink has a sidewall extending from an end thereof to in connection to the waveguide, and the auxiliary heatsink is arranged between the master heatsink and the waveguide. The present invention further provides a backlight module incorporated with such a heat-dissipating device. With the combination of the master heatsink and the auxiliary heatsink, a novel heat-dissipating device is created and which effectively upgrades the heat-dissipating performance under the high power density, prolonging the service life of the light source, and the increases the optical characteristic of the displaying device.
US09377575B2
The present invention provides a light guide plate for emitting light radiated from a light source disposed at a side of the light guide plate. The light guide layer has a light incidence side for internally introducing light emitted from the light source at the side thereof; a polarization separation layer comprising a first matrix layer and a first fiber having birefringence and disposed more toward the light emission side than the light guide layer; a low refractive index layer having a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the first matrix layer; and an angle improvement layer comprising a second matrix layer having a second fiber disposed inside the second matrix layer.
US09377573B2
Provided is a lighting device, including: a circuit board in which light emitting elements are mounted to one surface of a supporting substrate; a substrate housing disposed to be spaced apart from another surface opposite to the one surface of the supporting substrate; and a distance regulating portion formed between the circuit board and the substrate housing to adjust a spaced distance between the circuit board and the substrate housing according to movement of the circuit board, wherein the distance regulating portion functions to fix the circuit board to the substrate housing via a fixing element formed in the circuit board and the substrate housing.
US09377571B2
An optical film, a polarizing plate and a display device are provided. The optical film can have desired phase retardation at a wide wavelength range, and also show no light leakage at an inclination angle. Also, the optical film can have ¼-wavelength phase retardation, and can be used for reflective or semi-transmissive/reflective liquid crystal display devices or organic light-emitting devices.
US09377564B2
The present invention relates to a method of applying an anti-reflective coating to an optical surface of a mold. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a lens mold having an optical surface; forming a layer of a hydrophobic material over the optical surface, wherein the hydrophobic material contains an amount of dipodal silane that is a relative percentage of the hydrophobic material; forming an anti-reflective coating layered structure over the layer of the hydrophobic material; and forming a layer of a coupling agent deposited with a monolayer thickness to the anti-reflective coating layered structure using vapor deposition under aprotic conditions or by dip coating using a solution of a coupling agent in an aprotic solvent.
US09377560B2
Various methods preserve or restore the low roughness throughout an outer shell of a device (e.g., a streamer) used underwater for seismic surveys, by applying various substances that fill micro-cracks, are easy to polish or are self-healing. Apparatuses used to implement these methods may be used shortly before the devices are deployed in water, for example, having the device passing through such an apparatus as it is moved to be deployed in water.
US09377554B2
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for estimating electrical impedance spectra and pore parameters. The method may include estimating electrical impedance spectra using an estimated average ion concentration in pores within an earth formation. The method may also include estimating electrical impedance information about the earth formation; and estimating at least one parameter of interest by comparing the electrical impedance information with the estimated electrical impedance spectra. The apparatus may include at least one processor. The apparatus may also include an electrical impedance tool configured for use in a borehole.
US09377553B2
A rigid RF coaxial transmission line is positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line includes a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation and to be positioned within the wellbore of the subterranean formation. Each rigid coaxial section includes an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. Each of the rigid outer conductors has threaded ends. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line includes a respective connector between adjacent ones of the series of rigid coaxial sections, each connector having a rigid outer layer threadingly secured to respective threaded ends of adjacent rigid outer conductors, and an electrically conductive liner carried by the rigid outer layer and defining an electrical joint between the adjacent rigid outer conductors.
US09377551B2
A method of detecting seismic waves traveling through a subsurface formation includes lowering a cable into a borehole in the subsurface formation, the cable having at least one optical fiber associated therewith, and causing descent of a remote end of the cable to be arrested. The method further includes feeding a further length of the cable into the borehole such that the cable is slack and in contact with at least part of a wall of the borehole, and using an interrogator coupled to the at least one optical fiber to detect seismic waves traveling through the subsurface formation and into the cable.
US09377547B2
Systems, methods, and software can be used to calculate fracture stratigraphy of a subterranean zone. In some aspects, microseismic event data associated with a fracture treatment of a subterranean zone are received, and the subterranean zone includes multiple subsurface layers. A filter is used to select a subset of the microseismic event data corresponding to fractures in a particular subsurface layer. Fracture stratigraphy is calculated for the particular subsurface layer from fracture planes associated with the selected subset of the microseismic event data.
US09377537B2
A radiographic image capture device includes a radiation detector and a determination section. The radiation detector includes a first sensor for radiographic image capture and a second sensor for radiation detection. The determination section determines whether or not radiation has been detected by the radiation detector based on a ratio of a first value obtained by the first sensor to a second value obtained by the second sensor.
US09377529B2
A meteorological radar installed on board an aircraft, including a mechanical support fixed to a bulkhead of a nose of the aircraft, wherein an antenna is mounted on the mechanical support to enable turning mobility around an axis of rotation. The antenna includes a pedestal, on which at least one blade, extending radially along the axis of rotation, is installed. A free side of the blade, along which a plurality of radiating elements is distributed, perceptibly has the shape of a portion of conic in a plane including the axis of rotation. Because the blade is mobile only in rotation along the axis of rotation, and the selection of the emission/reception direction is performed electronically, not mechanically, the space and length requirements of the meteorological radar are fixed, whether the meteorological radar is in operation or not, and are determined based on the eccentricity and parameter of the conic.
US09377528B2
A roaming sensor system collects data on the condition of roads and bridge decks and identifies and maps defects, including cracks, potholes, debonding, tracking, delamination, surface ice, surface water, and rebar corrosion. Data are collected by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles driven at normal traffic speeds. The vehicle is outfitted with sensors that collect data using acoustic surface waves, ground penetrating radar, mm wave surface radar, and/or video images. The data are transmitted to a control center for analysis and distribution.
US09377523B2
A method for determining the location of a wireless access point is described Location data points are collected from a plurality of mobile devices associated with a particular access point. The collected location data points are organized into at least two clusters. The location data points are further grouped into sessions based on a characteristic of the location data points. A rank qualifier is applied to each of the organized clusters. The location of the wireless access point is determined based on one or more of the organized clusters.
US09377515B2
Provided are a flux-locked loop circuit, a flux-locked loop method and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measuring apparatus. The flux-locked loop circuit includes a pre-amplifier configured to amplify a signal output of a SQUID, an integrator configured to integrate a signal output from the pre-amplifier and output the integrated signal, an operating range expanding unit configured to initialize the integrator by comparing an output signal of the integrator with a positive or negative reference reset voltage corresponding to an external flux of a predetermined integral multiple of flux quantum, and a feedback circuit configured to supply current to eliminate a difference between the external flux applied to the SQUID and a magnetic flux corresponding to an integral multiple of the reference reset voltage according to the output signal of the integrator.
US09377513B2
An ambulatory infusion device comprising a replaceable energy storage for electrically powering its functional units is presented. Control units provide to a monitoring system data about energy consuming activities or consumed energy by the functional units. Based on this data, the monitoring system determines energy consumed by the functional units and triggers measurement of the voltage of the energy storage at a point in time which depends on the determined energy consumed in a time interval preceding the point in time. Adapting the time of measurement to the actual energy drawn from the energy storage makes it possible to detect reliably and early a low energy state of any conventional standard battery, regardless of its electrochemical design and electrical behavior.
US09377510B2
A method for reducing peak power during a scan shift cycle is presented. The method comprises multiplexing a test clock with a functional clock on a integrated circuit at the root of a clock tree. The method also comprises adding a plurality of delay elements on a clock path, wherein the clock path is a signal resulting from the multiplexing. Further, the method comprises routing the clock path to a plurality of cores and a cache, e.g., an L2C cache, on the integrated circuit. Finally the method comprises staggering the test clock received by each of the plurality of cores and the cache by employing the delay elements during a scan shift cycle.
US09377509B2
A test architecture accesses IP core test wrappers within an IC using a Link Instruction Register (LIR). An IEEE P1500 standard is in development for providing test access to these individual cores via a test structure called a wrapper. The wrapper resides at the boundary of the core and provides a way to test the core and the interconnections between cores. The test architecture enables each of the plural wrappers in the IC, including wrappers in cores embedded within other cores, with separate enable signals.
US09377497B2
A device for monitoring a voltage supply for a vehicle system includes a self-diagnostic function which evaluates a logic state of the comparison signal which is output by a comparison device as a function of an input signal, and checks whether a reset signal which corresponds to the output comparison signal is generatable. The self-diagnostic function recognizes a malfunction of the comparison device when the evaluated logic state of the comparison signal does not match an expected logic state. The self-diagnostic function recognizes a malfunction of the reset device when the checked logic state of the reset signal does not match an expected logic state.
US09377496B2
An approach for cancelling reverse reflections in very-fast transmission line pulse (VFTLP) testing of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device in a semiconductor is provided. A method includes generating an incident pulse in a VFTLP system for applying to a device under test (DUT). The method also includes generating a delayed replica of the incident pulse. The method also includes cancelling a portion of a reverse reflection of the incident pulse by combining the delayed replica with the reverse reflection at a power divider.
US09377495B2
A wireless testing system includes a main computer that controls a wireless module, a rotary mechanism, a measurement device, and an antenna. The rotary mechanism includes a rotatable seat controlled by the main computer to rotate about a first rotation axis, a support arm disposed on the rotatable seat, and a module rotating arm disposed on the support arm and positioning the wireless module at or in the vicinity of the first rotation axis. The module rotating arm is controlled by the main computer to rotate the wireless module about a second rotation axis. The antenna is substantially directed toward the wireless module. The measurement device is controlled by the main computer to control the antenna to receive or transmit a wireless signal.
US09377488B2
A measuring device provides a central data-processing unit, a control unit and at least one memory unit. The control unit and the at least one memory unit are connected to the central data-processing unit. At a given time, the control unit compares the adjustable parameters of the measuring device with parameters for a basic setting of the measuring device and generates control commands for the adjustment of the deviating parameters, or the control unit registers the parameter changes from a given time and generates control commands from these in order to adjust the changed parameters.
US09377481B1
Methods, detectors and systems detect particles and/or measure particle properties. According to one embodiment, a detector for detecting particles comprises: a sensor for receiving radiation scattered by an ensemble of particles; and a processor for determining a physical parameter for the detector, or an optimal detection angle or a bound for an optimal detection angle, for measuring at least one moment or integrated moment of the ensemble of particles, the physical parameter, or detection angle, or detection angle bound being determined based on one or more of properties (a) and/or (b) and/or (c) and/or (d) or ranges for one or more of properties (a) and/or (b) and/or (c) and/or (d), wherein (a)-(d) are the following: (a) is a wavelength of light incident on the particles, (b) is a count median diameter or other characteristic size parameter of the particle size distribution, (c) is a standard deviation or other characteristic width parameter of the particle size distribution, and (d) is a refractive index of particles.
US09377476B2
The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating consumable data with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system adjusts one or more steps of an assay protocol based on consumable data specific for that consumable. Various types of consumable data are described, as well as methods of using such information in the conduct of an assay by an assay system.
US09377473B2
Immunoassays and methods for detecting and quantifying biological levels of intact fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, as well as the N-terminal and C-terminal fragments thereof in a biological sample. The relative amounts or ratios of FGF-23 relative the N-terminal and C-terminal fragments can also be determined. The systems and methods deploy antibodies that are specific to antigenic regions formed upon either the N-terminal or C-terminal regions of FGF-23 and are systematically applied such that intact FGF-23 and the fragments thereof can be detected and quantified. In certain embodiments, dissimilar labels conjugated to tracer antibodies or labeled antibodies specific to N-terminal and/or C-terminal tracer antibodies are utilized to facilitate detection and quantification of both whole length FGF-23 and any fragments thereof.
US09377471B2
Methods and compositions for the treatment of β-thalassemia are provided. Methods and compositions restore or increase erythrocyte maturation in individuals afflicted with β-TM by preventing proteolysis of GATA-1 protein. Screening methods for identifying agents which bind heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) and inhibit HSP-70 α-globin binding, but which allow GATA-1 protein-HSP-1 binding in a manner that prevents GATA-1 proteolysis.
US09377469B2
Quantitation of analytes, including but not limited to peptides, polypeptides, and proteins, in mass spectrometry using a labeled peptide coupled to a reporter, and a universal reporter.
US09377466B2
A molecular tool for use in a method of providing a molecule that is capable of binding a target molecule based on a set of polypeptides. A polypeptide having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs 1-32. The polypeptide may be used in a method of screening for a ligand-polypeptide conjugate capable of binding a target molecule for the ligand. A ligand-polypeptide conjugate, useful e.g. in therapy.
US09377465B2
The present invention relates to a method of biological labeling that occurs via a free radical chain reaction. The labeling occurs due to deposition of a detectable reporter molecule from a media comprising a substance comprising at least two moieties of a peroxidase enzyme substrate (termed herein ‘cross-linker’) in a target site comprising peroxidase activity and a biological marker. The labeling reaction described herein may generally be used to detect targets in a host of experimental schemes for detecting and visualizing a biological or chemical target, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), antibody-based staining methods such as ELISA, Southern, Northern, and Western blotting, and others.
US09377462B2
A method of analyzing protein-protein interactions includes: preparing two substrates, in which first protein-binding molecules that are biomolecules to be bound to the first proteins are attached to each of the substrates; inducing binding between the first proteins and the first protein-binding molecules on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively, by supplying the first proteins included in the control group-cell to the first substrate among the two substrates and supplying the first proteins included in the experimental group-cell to the second substrate among the two substrates; supplying cell lysates of cells including the marker-tagged second proteins to the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively; and comparing the interactions between the first proteins and the second proteins on the first substrate and the second substrate in the supply of the cell lysates to the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively.
US09377460B2
A method of diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a human, or of determining whether a human has been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, comprising (i) contacting T-cells from said human with one or more of (a) a peptide having the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO 20, (b) a peptide having or comprising the sequence of at least 8 consecutive amino acids of the sequence shown in SEQ. ID NO 20; or (c) a peptide having or comprising a sequence which is capable of binding to a T-cell receptor which recognizes a peptide as defined in (a) or (b); and (ii) determining whether any of the said T-cells recognize said peptide, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are optionally carried out in vitro. The peptide is the product of the RV3615c gene.
US09377457B1
A cartridge and method for conducting a labeled molecular affinity binding test such as antibody/antigen, ligand/receptor, and colorometric reactions, and other chemical reactions for which one or more analytes is present in a liquid sample formate. A progressive compression structure progressively forces a liquid flow out of a conjugate pad toward a reaction region to more thoroughly and rapidly mix the liquid, encouraging specific first affinity binding to the analytes in question. A specially dimensioned constricting passageway surrounding the reaction region including the result zones provides an additional siphoning force to the flow. These combined forces rapidly and more evenly guide the flow of liquid through the reaction region so that the rushed rate of uptake of analytes at the strip lines are more evenly distributed, adhesive attachment of non-specific molecules is largely avoided, vastly improving sensitivity and specificity, and providing quantitative results in some tests.
US09377454B2
Methods and kits for predicting infusion reaction risk and antibody-mediated loss of response during intravenous PEGylated uricase therapy in gout patients is provided. Routine SUA monitoring can be used to identify patients receiving PEGylated uricase who may no longer benefit from treatment and who are at greater risk for infusion reactions.
US09377449B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to nanocomposites for detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure. In some embodiments, the nanocomposites include: a core particle; a polymer associated with the core particle; a sulfur-based moiety associated with the polymer; and a releasable probe molecule associated with the core particle, where the releasable probe molecule is releasable from the core particle upon exposure to hydrocarbons. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure by utilizing the nanocomposites of the present disclosure.
US09377447B2
In exemplary implementations of this invention, an electronic olfactor determines whether a scent being tested matches the scent of a positive control. The electronic olfactor can perform this scent matching even in a changing olfactory environment, and even if the positive control scent is a combination of hundreds or thousands of different odorants. No prior training is needed, and no attempt is made to identify a single odorant that is unambiguously responsible for a scent. Instead, a computer compares the total scent pattern of a positive control sample with the total scent pattern of a test sample, across a sweep of many permutations of electrical inputs to scent sensors, to try to find any condition under which the total scent patterns do not match. If such a condition cannot be found, then the computer declares a match between the test and target scents.
US09377445B2
In order to achieve an ionization method of high robustness with a small carry-over or less crosstalk, an ionization method is disclosed. A method includes the steps of: joining an ionization unit to a tube; sucking the sample from a sample container into a sample holder of the ionization unit to hold the sample; moving the ionization unit holding the sample to near the ionization unit using an ionization unit drive unit; and applying a voltage to the ionization unit using a power supply to ionize the sample by electrostatically spraying the sample from the holding unit.
US09377438B2
A kit for separating and concentrating nucleic acid and protein targets includes labeled reagents which affect simultaneous co-purification and concentration of a nucleic acid and a protein, a gel isotachophoresis separation unit to which a sample comprising the nucleic acid and the protein is added, a detection unit for the detection of the presence of the nucleic acid and the protein, and instructions for use. The gel electrophoresis includes a gel box having a negative electrode side and a positive electrode side, the negative electrode side being filled with a first buffer comprising 2-Hydroxy-N-(tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl)-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid buffer and the positive electrode side being filled with a second buffer being different than the first buffer. The gel isotachophoresis separation is configured to subject the sample to isotachophoresis using a voltage.
US09377426B2
A selective nanoscale asymmetric gas sensor is disclosed, the sensor including a first electrode having a Schottky-type contact to a nanoengineered transducer with a barrier height between energy levels of the first electrode and the nanoengineered transducer; and a second electrode having an Ohmic contact to the nanoengineered transducer with a smaller or no barrier height than the first electrode. The first electrode can be palladium and the second electrode can be gold.
US09377418B2
An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generator configured to generate and radiate X-rays to a subject, an X-ray detector configured to detect and convert X-rays transmitted through the subject into an image signal, and a controller configured to analyze the image signal of the subject and set gain of the X-ray detector according to detection regions.
US09377416B2
Methods and systems for determining wafer inspection coordinates for fixed location(s) on a wafer are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to direct light to a spot on an edge of a wafer. The spot extends beyond the edge of the wafer. The system also includes a stage that rotates the wafer thereby causing the spot to be scanned over the edge of the wafer. The system also includes a detector configured to detect light from the spot while the spot is being scanned over the edge and to generate output responsive thereto. The system further includes a computer processor configured to determine wafer inspection coordinates of two or more locations on the edge of the wafer based on the output and to determine wafer inspection coordinates of fixed location(s) on the wafer based on the wafer inspection coordinates of the two or more locations on the edge.
US09377409B2
In a method of fabricating an apparatus for use in a sensing application, a plurality of nano-fingers are formed on a substrate and a Raman-active material nano-particle is formed on respective tips of the nano-fingers. In addition, the Raman-active material nano-particles on the tips of adjacent ones of the nano-fingers are caused to come into contact with the Raman-active material nano-particle on the tip of at least another one of the plurality of nano-fingers to form respective clusters and the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles are transferred to a component layer from the plurality of nano-fingers while maintaining a spatial relationship between the contacting Raman-active material nano-particles.
US09377394B2
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon detector array; and a processing means configured for processing photon-detector-array signals corresponding to a first set of photons scattered from surface features of an article focused in a first focal plane and a second set of photons scattered from surface features of an article focused in a second focal plane, wherein the processing means is further configured for distinguishing foreign surface features of the article from foreign native features of the article.
US09377389B2
Disclosed is an impaction densitometer having a chamber configured to receive a particle; a beam generator configured to emit a beam; a detector configured to receive the beam and convert a change in intensity of the received beam into an electrical signal corresponding to a particle volume; an impact sensor positioned a known distance from the beam and configured to measure a particle momentum as a function of an impact energy transferred from the particle to the impact sensor; a velocity calculator configured to calculate a particle velocity based on a time it takes the particle to pass through the beam and strike the impact sensor; a mass calculator configured to calculate a particle mass as a function of the particle momentum and velocity; and a density calculator configured to calculate a particle density as a function of the particle mass and volume.
US09377386B2
An impact tester includes a pendulum rotatable about a first axis from a latched position to an impact position. The pendulum is configured to impact a test specimen in the impact position. A safety return arm is rotatable about a second axis generally parallel to the first axis. The safety return arm is configured to lift the pendulum to the latched position, allow the pendulum to swing from the latched position toward the impact position, and selectively stop the pendulum between the latched position and the impact position.
US09377384B2
An apparatus for testing panel products in edgewise shear in which the shear stress is applied in a diagonal direction with a first rotational degree of freedom in a first grip means and a second rotational degree of freedom in a second grip means as a first loading configuration. A second loading configuration is provided in which the second rotational degree of freedom of the second grip means is locked in place and motion is prevented. A third preferred method of loading is available in which shear forces in a horizontal direction through a centerline of a specimen, with the centerline in the plane of the specimen and extending across a widest dimension of said specimen. Control and data collection are under computer control and operator safety is enhanced by a locking guard door which is electrically locked while the various parts of the machine are in motion.
US09377377B2
Methods and apparatus for measuring the modal bandwidth of a multimode optical fiber as a function of wavelength are disclosed. The methods include emitting polarized light from a single-mode fiber, frequency-modulating the single-mode polarized light, and then conditioning the frequency-modulated polarized light to excite multiple modes of the multimode optical fiber. The multimode light transmitted by the multimode optical fiber is detected and analyzed by a network analyzer to determine a bandwidth for at least three different wavelengths. A controller performs a fit to the measured bandwidths using a fitting equation to determine the modal bandwidth as a function of wavelength.
US09377375B2
In operating a vibration testing system, a table is provided with a plurality of distinct regions, and each of the plurality of distinct regions is provided with at least one vibrator of the plurality of vibrators and at least one accelerometer of the plurality of accelerometers. Target vibration strengths are set for each region, and the vibrators are operated. Local vibration strength is measured at each distinct region with the corresponding accelerometer(s) of the plurality of accelerometers. A signal corresponding to each of the measured local vibration strengths is provided to a controller. An individual vibrator control signal is calculated for each distinct region based on the corresponding measured local vibration strength and the corresponding target vibration strength. The individual control signals are provided from the controller to control the vibrator(s) of each distinct region to achieve the target vibration strength at each of the distinct table regions.
US09377373B2
Language dictation recognition systems and methods for using the same. In at least one exemplary system for analyzing verbal records, the system comprises a database capable of receiving a plurality of verbal records, the verbal record comprising at least one identifier and at least one verbal feature and a processor operably coupled to the database, where the processor has and executes a software program. The processor being operational to identify a subset of the plurality of verbal records from the database, extract at least one verbal feature from the identified records, analyze the at least one verbal feature of the subset of the plurality of verbal records, process the subset of the plurality of records using the analyzed feature according to at least one reasoning approach, generate a processed verbal record using the processed subset of the plurality of records, and deliver the processed verbal record to a recipient.
US09377370B2
An apparatus for measuring temperature parameters of a structure is provided. The apparatus comprises: a carrier including at least one receiving portion; and a plurality of temperature sensors disposed within the at least one receiving portion and secured to the receiving portion via a bonding medium, the sensors being distributed along at least one direction of the carrier and configured to measure and record temperature information through microstructural changes corresponding to temperatures experienced by the respective sensors.
US09377368B2
The present application discloses instruments, systems, and methods for measuring temperature. In one example, an instrument or heat sensor probe includes a housing that defines a chamber, which is configured for a fluid to circulate therein, and a body of material disposed over the housing. The body has a first side proximal to the housing and a second side distal from the housing. The probe further includes a heat sensor configured for sensing heat at a position spaced inwardly from the second side of the body.
US09377366B2
A navigation device includes a thermal sensor and a processing unit. The thermal sensor is configured to output temperature readings of a work surface. The processing unit is configured to identify a lift event according to the temperature readings.
US09377365B2
An apparatus configured to sense presence and motion in a monitored space includes one or more thermal sensing devices and a lens array. Each thermal sensing device is configured to produce a direct current output that is sustained at a level substantially proportional to an amount of thermal energy being received at the thermal sensing device. The lens array is coupled to the one or more thermal sensing devices and includes multiple lenses, each of which is configured to direct incident thermal energy from at least a respective one of multiple different physical zones located within the monitored space onto the one or more thermal sensing devices.
US09377362B2
A terahertz image beam is upconverted by a nonlinear optical process (e.g., sum- or difference-frequency generation with a near IR upconverting beam). The upconverted image is acquired by a near IR image detector. The terahertz image beam and upconverting beam comprise trains of picosecond pulses. The bandwidths and center wavelengths of the terahertz image beam and the upconverting beam are such that wavelength filtering can be employed to permit an upconverted image beam to reach the detector while blocking or substantially attenuating the upconverting beam.
US09377356B2
A photon detection system including a photon detector configured to detect single photons, a signal divider to divide the output signal of the photon detector into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is substantially identical to the second part, a delay mechanism to delay the second part with respect to the first part, and a combiner to combine the first and delayed second parts of the signal such that the delayed second part is used to cancel periodic variations in the first part of the output signal.
US09377353B2
Systems and methods may provide for receiving an electrical measurement signal from a first photodetector coupled to a first waveguide and determining a total intensity level of reflected light in the first waveguide based on the electrical measurement signal. Additionally, a perspiration level of skin in contact with the first waveguide may be determined based on the total intensity level of the reflected light in the first waveguide. In one example, an electrical control signal is received from a second photodetector coupled to a second waveguide that is physically isolated from the skin, wherein the total intensity level of the reflected light in the first waveguide is determined further based on the electrical control signal.
US09377352B2
A novel standard light source with a more simplified construction, which is suitable for measurement of total luminous flux of a light source different in luminous intensity distribution characteristics from a conventional standard light source, and a measurement method with the use of that standard light source are provided. A standard light source includes a light emitting portion, a power feed portion electrically connected to the light emitting portion, and a restriction portion provided between the light emitting portion and the power feed portion, for restricting propagation of light radiated from the light emitting portion toward the power feed portion. A surface of the restriction portion on which light from the light emitting portion is incident is constructed for diffuse reflection.
US09377333B1
A turbine flow meter housing is provided for hot oil trucks and similar applications. The ends of the housing are configured with external threads and flat end faces with embedded O-rings for connection to the inlet and outlet pipes with hammer unions. Because of the flat end face style hammer union connections, the housing and turbine assembly can be removed for service and cleaning using only a hammer and without having to remove the inlet and outlet pipes. The housing is sized for use with 2-inch pipes and has an overall length of only 6.167 inches yet maintains a minimum crush zone of 0.157 inches on each end to prevent deformation when the hammer unions are tightened.
US09377330B2
A method for monitoring a transmitter that has a measurement unit and a transmission unit which are interconnected to each other in order to transmit signals. There is at least one connecting line for supplying power to the measurement unit which determines a measurement quantity and generates a measurement signal which is dependent on it. The transmission unit receives the measurement signal from the measurement unit, and based on the measurement signal, transfers an output signal to at least one signal transmission element. To provide a method for monitoring a transmitter which allows reliable displaying of an error as easily as possible and the shifting of the transmitter into a secured state, in the case in which the measurement unit detects the presence of an error state, the measurement unit acts on the connecting line.
US09377328B2
A sensor includes a magnetic piece with a magnetic array, a conductive coil and ferromagnetic object. The magnetic array provides a spatially modulated magnetic field that is concentrated in the near-field. A processor calculates the ferromagnetic object's speed based on voltage induced in the conductive coil. The ferromagnetic object's movement through the magnetic field causes a change in the magnetic flux, and the rate of change is proportional to the induced voltage.
US09377327B2
A magnetic direction sensor, comprising a first array of magneto-resistive elements, said array having a first array primary direction and wherein some but not all of the magneto-resistive elements are wholly or partially provided at a first angle to the primary direction, and the remaining elements are also inclined with respect to the primary direction.
US09377324B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for selectively balancing pilot workload. The apparatus comprises a display device configured to display a user interface (UI) and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a state of the pilot and/or a state of the aircraft, prepare modification to the UI based in part on the state of the pilot and/or the state of the aircraft such that the modification adds one or more command icons without obscuring, without removing, and without replacing any information item on the display, and to execute the modification.
US09377323B2
Computer implemented methods are disclosed. The methods may include identifying a plurality of points of interest (POIs) within a pre-determined travel time from an intersection or highway exit and calculating a travel time and distance from the intersection or highway exit to each of the plurality of POIs. The methods may further include, associating each of the plurality of POIs with the intersection or highway exit, and storing the travel time and distance from the intersection or highway exit to each of the plurality of associated POIs in an electronic database as pre-calculated POI data.
US09377318B2
A method comprising receiving an indication of a navigation conveyance mode invocation input, determining a navigation conveyance mode identified by the navigation conveyance mode invocation input, and entering the navigation conveyance mode is disclosed.
US09377309B2
A method to calibrate at least one lever arm between at least one respective global positioning system (GPS) antenna/receiver and a communicatively coupled inertial navigation system is provided. The method includes receiving signals from the at least one GPS antenna/receiver at the inertial navigation system communicatively coupled to a Kalman filter; and estimating, in the Kalman filter, at least one fixed lever arm component while accounting for a bending motion of the lever arm based on the received signals.
US09377299B2
A sensor device according to the invention includes a transmission type sensor pair that includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, an optical axis alignment mechanism that aligns optical axes of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, and a fixing frame that is adjusted by the optical axis alignment mechanism, and in which the sensor pairs are fixed in a state in which the optical axes of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are aligned.
US09377296B2
A laser based measuring apparatus for measuring a position of a distant target is disclosed. Some embodiments may include a laser tracker for detecting the position and the orientation of a measuring aid The laser-based measuring apparatus may include a base, a support, a telescope unit means, a first bearing apparatus, and a second bearing apparatus. In some embodiments the first bearing apparatus is in the form of a fixed/loose bearing apparatus, having a shaft, the longitudinal axis of which runs coaxially with the tilt axis, a fixed bearing and a loose bearing, and/or the second bearing apparatus is in the form of a fixed/loose bearing apparatus, having a shaft, the longitudinal axis of which runs coaxially with the vertical axis, a fixed bearing and a loose bearing.
US09377291B2
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system including a source of broadband optical radiation and a beamsplitter coupled to the source is provided. The beamsplitter divides the source radiation into a reference path and a sample path. The reference path includes an optical switch to switch the reference path between a first path having a first reference reflector at a first reference optical path length and a second path having a second reference reflector at a second reference optical path length, different from the first reference optical path length. The system further includes a beam combiner that mixes source radiation reflected from a subject in the sample path with source radiation returned from the first reference reflector during a first time interval and the second reference reflector during a second time interval. A detection system detects a first wavelength dependent interferogram during the first time interval and a second wavelength dependent interferogram during the second time interval. A processor preconditions the first and second wavelength dependent interferograms; multiples the first preconditioned wavelength dependent interferogram and the second preconditioned wavelength dependent interferogram; and computes a first A-scan from the first wavelength dependent interferogram; a second A-scan from the second wavelength dependent interferogram; a spatial offset between the first and second A-scans derived from the multiplicative product of the preconditioned first and second wavelength dependent interferograms; and a combined A-scan from the first and second A-scans.
US09377286B2
A device for globally measuring a thickness of a metal film (901), comprises: a base (10); a rotating unit (20) comprising a fixed member (21) fixed on the base (10) and a rotating member (22) having a rotating joint (23); a working table (50) fixed on the rotating member (22) and having a vacuum passage which is formed therein and connected with the rotating joint (23); a linear driving unit (30) including a guide rail (31) fixed on the base (10) and a sliding block (32) slidable along the guide rail (31); a cantilever beam (40) disposed horizontally and defining a first end fixed with the sliding block (32) and a second end; a measuring head (80) connected to the second end of the cantilever beam (40), facing a surface of the working table (50) and having an eddy current probe (82) disposed therein.
US09377284B2
A metrology apparatus including a body and a first member rotatable relative to the body about a first axis of rotation, said first axis being defined by first bearing and a first motor for actuating rotation of the first member relative to the body about the first axis of rotation. A surface sensing device is attachable to the first member such that the surface sensing device can move with the first member, relative to the body. The first motor may include a first magnet and at least one metal coil spaced apart along the first axis and mounted such that the first magnet and the at least one metal coil are moveable relative to one another.
US09377283B2
A coordinate measuring device includes a measuring probe measuring three-dimensional coordinates; a measuring arm supporting the measuring probe and outputting position information for calculating the three-dimensional coordinates; a controller connected to the measuring arm and detecting the three-dimensional coordinates based on the position information; and a memory storing a predetermined gesture. The controller further detects a trajectory of the measuring probe based on the continuously detected three-dimensional coordinates and, by cross-checking the trajectory with the gesture stored in the memory, the controller recognizes the specific gesture corresponding to the trajectory.
US09377278B2
A biological active bullet able to be discharged from a firearm, the ammunition essentially comprising a bullet in a cartridge, the bullet including, and distinguished by the use of, at least one potentially reactive chemical substance delivered to a target and undergoing at least one violent exothermic chemical reaction with a bodily fluid of said target, and having at least one biological effect in the target upon impact and penetration, while causing tissue damage in addition to the bullet wound, and thus, having additional functions and applications than prior art bullets, along with methods of use, that ensure enhanced damage and lethality.
US09377269B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for mounting a sidebar to an archery bow having at least one interlocking coupling. Each interlocking coupling includes a male mating element, a female mating element, and a fastener that connects the male element to the female mating element. The male mating element has a plurality of protrusion points and is connectable to the sidebar. The female mating element has a substantially cylindrical aperture defined by a plurality of arcuate recesses and is connectable to the archery bow. The plurality of protrusion points on the male mating element engage the plurality of arcuate recesses on the female mating element to provide rotational adjustment about an axis. There may be thirty-six arcuate recesses of the female mating element. The plurality of protrusion points of the male mating element may be a factor of three.
US09377260B2
A rotational safety device for a firearm is provided that replaces a traditional cross bar safety device. The safety device is easier to operate and easier for a firearm user to assess whether the firearm can be fired than previous safety systems. The safety device of the present technology involves setting a safety to “fire” or to a no fire or “safety on” position by causing a safety member installed within a trigger mechanism to rotate about an axis. The safety device may include a recessed portion that may be rotationally positioned to face a trigger to allow the trigger to be completely depressed. The safety device may also include one or more locking positions in a range of rotation, physical limits on the range of rotation such as pins that engage surfaces of a firearm, and may be used with a variety devices to provide rotation.
US09377254B2
A chill mold is used to cool molten material to form a casting. A support holds the chill mold so that a bottom of the chill mold is elevated. A baffle is arranged to divert a generally horizontal flow of cooling air upwardly to impinge the bottom of the chill mold. A plurality of chill molds may be aligned generally in a row, and at least one fan may be arranged at an end of the row to direct the flow of cooling air underneath the chill molds. The size and the vertical position of the baffles may be varied along the row, so as to generally equalize convective cooling rates among the chill molds in the row.
US09377246B2
High-temperature solar thermal systems and methods are described. In one aspect, a system is described that includes a heat engine power conversion system, or a “heat engine,” with a fluid working medium. The heat engine includes a first input, a second input, and a heat exchanger. The first input receives heated high temperature tolerant particles, or “heated particles,” from a solar energy collection and distribution component that is coupled to the heat engine. The heat engine's second input receives the working fluid medium used to drive the power cycle in the heat engine. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the received heated particles to the working fluid medium, and thereby, energized the heat engine's power cycle.
US09377233B2
A dedicated, hermetically sealed ice maker is provided. The ice maker includes a compartment including an ice tray and an ice bin disposed at least partially in the compartment. A dedicated ice maker circuit is disposed at least partially within the compartment and includes a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporated. The dedicated circuit is used to cool air inside the ice maker compartment for forming ice in the ice tray in the compartment and for preventing melting of formed ice cubes in the ice bin. The ice maker may be used within or outside of a refrigerator. When used within the refrigerator, the ice maker will have its own dedicated hermetically sealed unit, including the plurality of thermally insulated walls. The ice maker may also be connected to a dispenser of a refrigerator for dispensing the formed ice.
US09377232B2
An ice dispenser is disclosed herein. The ice dispenser may include an ice chute and an ice gate mechanism positioned about the ice chute. The ice gate mechanism may include a downwardly opening ice gate operated by a pivoting lever system.
US09377226B2
An evaporator and a turbo chiller including the evaporator are provided. The evaporator may be a falling film evaporator which may distribute refrigerant to a heat pipe uniformly and which may also control two-phase flow by lowering dynamic pressures of gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and separate the liquid refrigerant and the gas refrigerant from each other to enhance heat exchange efficiency.
US09377220B2
A super conductor is disclosed, in particular a high temperature super conductor of a synchronous machine, including a cooling circuit for a coolant. The liquefied coolant in the cold head provided with a condenser is guided to the super conductor which is to be cooled, in particular in the rotor of the synchronous machine and is returned to the condenser in a gaseous form. In order to guide the coolant from the condenser to the super conductor, pressure generated by a component of the coolant evaporated by a heat source is used.
US09377214B2
A heating device includes a housing having a flow channel, a heater disposed in the flow channel, an optical rod, a light guider and a photodetector. The optical rod has a transparent body, a first end portion, and a second end portion located inside the housing. The light guider is provided at the second end portion for guiding lights emitted by the heater toward the first end portion. The photodetector is located around the first end portion and faces the second end portion for indirectly receiving the lights emitted by the heater to the light guider through the transparent body. The temperature of the heater can be measured efficiently and timely by using the photodetector having a high responding speed, such that an overheat or damage of the heater can be prevented by controlling the heater based on the measured temperature.
US09377213B2
An apparatus and method are described for inserting angle plates in transverse duct flanges. The apparatus is especially useful in inserting angle plates into transverse duct flanges of duct fittings. Packages for holding angle plates are also described.
US09377212B2
A system controller of a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is configured to control the operation of a demand unit to maintain a comfort characteristic setpoint of a conditioned space. The controller includes a setback calculation module that is configured to calculate a setback value of the setpoint as a function of a recovery time from the setback value to the setpoint.
US09377210B2
In exemplary embodiments, HVAC communication bus decoders and corresponding methods are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an HVAC communication bus decoder includes a control circuit having an input for coupling to an HVAC communication bus and one or more relays each having an output for coupling to a legacy HVAC system monitoring device. The control circuit is configured to read one or more messages transmitted on the HVAC communication bus, decode the one or more messages to determine a desired mode of operation called for by a thermostat connected to the HVAC communication bus, and energize at least one of the one or more relays to emulate a corresponding legacy HVAC signal representing the mode of operation called for by the thermostat to be provided to the legacy HVAC monitoring device.
US09377204B2
A domestic oven door includes an inner glass sheet intended to be the glass sheet closest to the compartment of the oven, and an outer glass sheet, the glass sheets being held rigidly connected and being separated by an air gap, the inner glass sheet possessing a chemical composition which includes the following constituents, in an amount by weight within the limits defined hereinafter: SiO255-70% Al2O312-25% B2O3 0-0.5% Li2O 0-2% Na2O + K2O 0-5% MgO 0-10% CaO 0-15% SrO 0-15% BaO 0-15% ZnO 0-5% RO 5-25% where RO = MgO + CaO + SrO + BaO + ZnO TiO2 0-3% ZrO2 0-4%.
US09377190B2
According to an embodiment, a combustion system is provided, which includes a nozzle configured to emit a diverging fuel flow, a flame holder positioned in the path of the fuel flow and that includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and a preheat mechanism configured to heat the flame to a temperature exceeding a startup temperature threshold.
US09377179B2
A circular symmetric optical element for redirecting light which is emitted by a light source through a wavelength converting element, wherein the emitted light have an average color cA and a wavelength distribution depending on an emission angle from the wavelength converting element. Light having the average color cA have an emission angle tA. The optical element comprises: a first optical portion configured to receive and redirect light having emission angles from the wavelength converting element lower than tA, and a second optical portion configured to receive and redirect light having emission angles from the wavelength converting element higher than tA, wherein the first and second optical portions are individually configured such that for light of each selected out-coupling angle of the optical element, there is light received and redirected by the first optical portion to the selected out-coupling angle of the optical element, and corresponding light received and redirected by the second optical portion to the selected out-coupling angle from the optical element such that the total light beam emitted from the optical element as seen in the far field have a homogeneous color.
US09377178B2
An illumination device includes a transparent substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, a light source positioned to face the second surface, an optic having a first end with coplanar exit and input surfaces and a second end with a non-planar reflective surface, and at least one coupling material to optically and physically couple the coplanar exit and input surfaces to the first surface, the optic and the at least one coupling material being made of a material having a refractive index greater than that of air.
US09377171B2
An infrared energy reflecting lens system for a lamp subjectable to sunlight is provided. The lens system includes a lens having an exterior surface and a dichroic coating on the exterior surface of the lens so that at least a portion of the infrared energy content of sunlight is reflected from entering the lens.
US09377159B2
A spreader bar assembly is provided. The spreader bar assembly includes a pair of arms disposed in a scissor type arrangement. The pair of arms defines an axis of rotation therebetween. The spreader bar assembly further includes a contact member attached to an end of each of the pair of arms. The contact member of the spreader assembly is configured to contact with a catalyst. The spreader assembly also includes a sealing member. The sealing member is provided in association with the contact member. The sealing member is disposed on a first side of each of the pair of arms such that on exerting a force on the sealing member on the first side of each of the pair of arms, an opposing force is generated on a second side of each of the pair of arms disposed substantially opposite the first side of each of the pair of arms.
US09377158B2
Improvements in a tilting, lifting stand are presented. The tilt, lift stand is for a musical instrument stand or to elevate/tilt a speaker and or amplifier and rigidly supports a sousaphone brass type instruments, speaker or amplifier in an in a stored and in a playable or elevated position. The stand supports all or the majority of the weight of the instrument or speaker or amplifier in a static position to relieve the weight of the musical instrument or speaker or amplifier. The stand has legs that are extendable to rest on multiple levels as might be found in a stadium. The stand further has a securing mechanism that gently grasps a tubular section to hold the musical instrument. The speaker stand can be easily collapsed for transportation and storage.
US09377157B1
This application discloses a stand assembly that includes a receiving element for physically receiving a module, and a base assembly for supporting the receiving element. The receiving element further includes a module holding structure, an extended portion, and a first fastener structure coupled to an end of the extended portion. The base assembly includes a base, and a second fastener structure coupled to the base at a joint and configured to mate with the first fastener structure. The first fastener structure and the joint are configured to respectively provide a first degree of freedom of motion and a second degree of freedom of motion of the receiving element with respect to the base. The movement of the receiving element at the first degree of freedom is unlimited in a first direction of travel associated with the first degree of freedom.
US09377152B2
Apparatuses and methods for positioning an automated processing system, coupled with a track, are disclosed. The apparatus includes an automated chassis having drive, steering, elevation, and track-gripping components actuated by an onboard controller to permit the chassis to carry a processing system together with its track from one location to another about a work surface.
US09377143B2
A hose connection is provided for a fuel dispensing unit. The hose connection includes a pipe for transporting fuel from a fuel reservoir, a hose for transporting fuel to a motor vehicle, an intermediate member adapted to connect the hose with the pipe, and a locking device fixed to the fuel dispensing unit adapted to interlock the pipe and the intermediate member. The hose connection is secured in relation to the fuel dispensing unit. A fuel dispensing unit including such hose connection is also provided.
US09377142B2
Hose clamp and method of making hose clamp. Hose clamp includes a clamping band, a clamping screw having a screw head and a threaded shank, and a housing in which the clamping screw is arranged, which has a screw head and a threaded shank. A surface of the screw head facing away from the threaded shank is arched in a convex manner and includes at least three indentations.
US09377141B2
An adjustable clamp includes a tool-motivated adjustment mechanism. The adjustable clamp includes a head having a base, a top, a front, and first and second sides that define a cavity, and a strap extending from the head having teeth spaced apart a first distance on at least one surface. The first and second sides have openings that allow the strap to extend therethrough. A pair of tabs depend from the head and are spaced apart a second distance, the second distance being about half the first distance. The pair of tabs selectively engage the teeth. An aperture within the head is configured to allow entry of a tool therethrough at a predetermined angle relative to the base to engage the teeth disposed in the cavity such that the rotational movement of a tool in at least one direction selectively changes the position of the strap relative to the head.
US09377139B2
A flange lock reduces the likelihood of theft of equipment connected by one or more flanges. The flange lock may include a specialized nut clamping the flanges together, a specialized bolt having a ribbed section to prevent rotation of the bolt, an anti-rotation bracket over a specialized nut or over a conventional nut thereby preventing rotation of the nut and/or a shim between the flanges minimizing the possibility of sawing through a security bolt.
US09377138B2
Couplings and/or connections include a female component engaged with a male component. A first shoulder of the female component abuts a first complementary shoulder of the male component to form a first radial seal. A second shoulder of the female component abuts a second complementary shoulder of the male component to form a second radial seal. A sealing surface of the female component abuts a complementary sealing surface of the male component to form an axial seal disposed between the first and second radial seals. Plastic and/or elastic deformation of the complementary sealing surface of the male component forms an axial seal between the female component and the male component.
US09377137B2
The invention relates to a bonded high-pressure rubber hose comprising a flexible internal stripwound tube (10), a liquid and gas tight liner (2) made from rubber or plastic, reinforcing plies embedded in rubber, and in specific cases an adhesively bonded coupling body (11), the lower reinforcing ply or plies being disposed at an angle smaller than the so-called angle of equilibrium (35.26°). The invention is characterized by that in addition to the primary liner the hose (2) comprises a liquid and gas tight secondary liner (7) disposed above the small angle reinforcing ply or plies (1,1a), and that the following inequality holds for the angle of lay of the lowest reinforcing ply (1) of the hose: •where •a1 is the angle of lay of the lowest small angle reinforcing ply (1) •D s is the outside diameter of the internal stripwound tube (10) •D1 is the mean diameter of the lowest small angle reinforcing ply (1).
US09377129B2
The invention relates to a condensate discharge device for compressed gas systems, comprising a housing (21), which has a condensate collecting chamber (22) that can be connected to the compressed gas system by means of a condensate feed (23) and which has a condensate drain (24) that can be closed by means of valve assembly (25), and comprising a tubular body (32) protruding into the condensate collecting chamber (22) for accommodating at least one electronic filling level measuring device (31), by means of which the condensate filling level in the condensate collecting chamber (22) can be detected, wherein the housing (21) can be mounted in a first, vertical mounting position and a second, horizontal mounting position and the longitudinal axis of the tubular body (32) extends at an angle to the condensate feed direction (34).
US09377127B2
The invention relates to a turned regulating ball valve, which comprises a ball valve body, a ball and a stem mechanically fixed with the ball, the ball can be rotated by 90 degrees in the ball valve body using the stem as an axis, a first side and a second side of the ball valve body are respectively provided with an inlet seat and an outlet seat, the ball valve body and the inlet seat are provided with an inlet fluid passage, the ball valve body and the outlet seat are provided with an outlet fluid passage, the ball is placed between the inlet seat and the outlet seat, a first part of the ball, which is close to the inlet seat, is provided with a control assembly, and a second side of the ball, which is close to the outlet seat, is provided with a plurality of hole fluid channels which communicate with the control assembly. The turned regulating ball valve has the advantages that are: enlarging a fluid flow area at an entrance of the ball; enabling accurate regulations; allowing regulations under a high pressure differential.
US09377122B2
Flapper assemblies for torque motors of electrohydraulic valves are provided. The flapper assembly comprises a flapper having an upper end portion configured for coupling to an armature and armature-flapper support of the torque motor and a lower end portion having a socket therein. A hemispherical closure member having a flat diametrical face configured to seal against a nozzle outlet is disposed for oscillatory movement in the socket. A retaining clip is slidably mounted about the lower end portion and has a retention opening exposing the flat diametrical face and sized to retain the hemispherical closure member in the socket. The torque motor comprises the armature coupled to the armature-flapper support, the flapper assembly, and a plurality of coils. The electrohydraulic valve comprises the torque motor and a nozzle configured to be in fluid communication with the flapper assembly when the electrohydraulic valve is in an open position.
US09377121B2
A rotary valve assembly composing a leak-free enclosure containing a worm gear and a pinion gear, an adapter plate that is situated between a rotary valve body and the enclosure and that secures the rotary valve body to the enclosure, and a magnetic actuator assembly. The worm gear engages with the pinion gear such that when the worm gear rotates, the pinion gear rotates as well. The enclosure is situated between the magnetic actuator assembly and the rotary valve body. A shaft extends through the center of the pinion gear and causes a valve within the rotary valve body to open and close based on rotation of the shaft. In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a rotary valve as described above with an integral adapter plate.
US09377113B2
A ball check valve controls the flow of fluid with a sphere. A body has a fluid path and a recess for receiving the sphere in alignment with the fluid path. The sphere has a retainer which secures a ball check within it. When the valve is in a “Run” position and the rate of fluid flow increases, the ball check seats in a narrow opening of the sphere, thus blocking the flow of fluid.
US09377111B2
The invention relates to a butterfly valve, comprising a passageway, a valve seat enclosing the passageway, a rotatable valve shaft which has an axis of rotation spaced from a plane through the valve seat, a valve plate member fixed to the valve shaft and being located in the passageway, and seal enclosing the valve plate member. The valve plate member has an open position and a closed position. At least in a plane through the seal in the open position, the width of the passageway adjacent to the valve seat as viewed from the valve seat in the direction of the axis of rotation is larger than the width of the passageway at the valve seat. Due to this configuration leakage via the seal in the closed position is avoided, because of minimal deformation of the seal in the open position. The butterfly valve has good resistance against irradiation and high-temperature necessary for enabling disinfection of the butterfly valve and a container to which it can be fixed and which is suitable for storage of sterilized products.
US09377101B2
A device (42, 50, 70, 75, 80, 85) for manually inputting commands for an electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshift (8) comprises a lever (54, 86) configured to actuate a first switch (60) when it is rotated by a first predetermined angle, and to actuate the first switch (60) and a second switch (61) when it is rotated by a second predetermined angle after the rotation by the first predetermined angle. A command input requesting gearshifting in a first direction is considered to be valid when only the first switch (60) is actuated, and a command input requesting gearshifting in a second direction is considered to be valid only when both of the switches (60, 61) are actuated.
US09377083B2
A multiple-output transmission includes a drive motor and one or more stacked layers. Each layer includes one or more output gears, a drive gear, coupled to be driven by the drive motor, at least one idler gear, engageable with the drive gear, and means for indexing the at least one idler gear between multiple selectable indexing positions, thereby to selectively engage one or more of the output gears.
US09377078B2
A first orifice provides a connection between a first liquid chamber and a third liquid chamber that are formed in pairs to cause a volume variation in an opposite direction, and a second orifice provides a connection between a second liquid chamber and a fourth liquid chamber. A first communicating passage communicates between a second liquid chamber side portion of the second orifice and a second liquid chamber neighboring portion of the first orifice. In order of height of an input vibration frequency, a first resonance in the first orifice, a second resonance mainly in the second orifice between an enlarged liquid chamber consisting of the first and second liquid chambers, and the fourth liquid chamber, and a third resonance in a location that the first liquid chamber is connected through the first communicating passage to the second liquid chamber are produced.
US09377055B2
A wheel bearing arrangement having an outer ring (12), an inner ring (13), and a seal arranged between the outer ring (12) and the inner ring (13) for the purpose of sealing off a rolling chamber, wherein, in the rolling chamber, rolling bodies (10) roll in a load-bearing manner on raceways of the outer ring (12) and of the inner ring (13), wherein the cover element (32) has a fastening region (28) for the fastening of the cover element (32) radially at the outside to the outer ring (12). It is sought to further improve the encoder protection in a wheel bearing arrangement of said type by virtue of the cover element (32) having a collecting channel (27) which surrounds a joint bell housing (19) and thereby protecting the encoder (14) of the wheel bearing arrangement against fouling.
US09377053B2
A rolling bearing device has an oil supply unit which includes: a lubrication oil tank with a discharge port of a lubrication oil; a pump which sucks the lubrication oil from the lubrication oil tank and discharges the lubrication oil; and an electric power source section for driving the pump. The oil supply unit is disposed inside the rolling bearing or inside a spacer which is placed adjacent to the rolling bearing, and the pump is operated intermittently. The electric power source section for driving the pump includes: a power generator section which generates power by temperature difference between inner and outer rings in the rolling bearing; and a charging section which stores the electric power from the power generator section. The pump is driven when a voltage in the charging section attains a driving voltage for the pump.
US09377037B2
The present invention, and inventive system, describes a lock system that is designed to be attached to an existing cast iron loose grate and or manhole covers that sits in a cast iron or other material frame allowing the loose grate to be locked into the frame so it cannot be removed from the frame accidently or on purpose without the proper tool to unlock the security locking bolt. In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention does not need a frame and interacts with the wall holding the cover directly. In at least one embodiment the present invention operates by an upper and lower section. The lower section may have multiple bars that operate independently of each other. These lower sections can rotate about a screw which is located in a hole drilled through a grate or manhole, such that the lower sections can rotate across the manhole cover and extrude past the radius of the manhole cover.
US09377035B2
A pneumatic controller described herein includes a housing to be connected to an actuator. The housing contains a position monitor with a wireless communication interface. The pneumatic controller also includes a pneumatic control module to be joined to the housing and operatively coupled to the actuator.
US09377028B2
A system for applying tension to a component for use in molten metal processing. Preferably, the component includes an outer core and at least one tension rod positioned partially within the outer core. The component is preferably elongated, such as a support post or an impeller shaft. The tension rod applies compression to the outer cover, which makes the outer cover more resistant to breakage if it strikes, or is stricken by, an object.
US09377026B2
An electric device has a casing with an air-inlet and an air-outlet, a main unit disposed inside the casing, a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the casing, a second temperature sensor for detecting the temperature outside the casing, an electric fan, and a control unit. The control unit rotates the electric fan at the time of the low-temperature startup such that the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is lower than a preset first threshold value, while the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor.
US09377007B2
A system, a device and a method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine (100) based on a wind turbine component workload. The system includes a control device (120) that is configured to actuate a wind turbine component (130). The system also includes a wind turbine controller (205) that is coupled in communication with the control device (120) and configured to determine a workload associated with the wind turbine component (130) based at least in part on one or more actuations of the wind turbine component (130) by the control device (120) within a time period. The wind turbine controller (205) is also configured to calculate an operating threshold value based at least in part on the calculated workload and to operate the wind turbine component (130) by the control device (120) based on the calculated operating threshold value.
US09376992B2
A dual fuel injector in a dual common rail fuel system includes an injector body defining a liquid fuel supply passage to a liquid fuel nozzle outlet, and a gaseous fuel supply passage to a gaseous fuel nozzle outlet. A liquid fuel needle check is movable within the injector body and has an opening hydraulic surface exposed to a fuel pressure of a liquid fuel common rail. A gaseous fuel needle check is positioned side by side with the liquid fuel needle check and has an opening hydraulic surface exposed to the fuel pressure of the liquid fuel common rail. Sensitivity to differences in gaseous fuel rail pressure and liquid fuel rail pressure is reduced by the design.
US09376991B2
Systems and methods for operating a hybrid electric vehicle with a passive venturi pump are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises: during vehicle motion, passing air through a venturi coupled to the vehicle to generate vacuum; storing the generated in an accumulator; and, in response to a condition, discharging the stored vacuum to a vacuum consuming system of the vehicle.
US09376990B2
An evaporated fuel treatment apparatus includes a passage circulating fluid being formed therein, a tank port and a purge port being formed at one end side of the passage, and an atmosphere port being formed at another end side of the passage. At least four adsorbent layers in which adsorbent adsorbing fuel components is filled are provided in the passage. The evaporated fuel treatment apparatus has a main adsorbent layer and a region provided on an atmosphere port side of the main adsorbent layer. At least three adsorbent layers that are different from the main adsorbent layer, and separating portions that separate the adsorbent layers which are adjacent to each other are provided in the region. The volume of at least one separating portion in the region is made larger than a total of the volumes of adsorbent layers that sandwich the separating portion therebetween.
US09376989B2
Methods and systems for cleaning a pressure relieve valve for a fuel tank are disclosed. In one example approach a method for cleaning a pressure relief valve that is normally activated at a preset negative pressure in a fuel system comprises, during a test cycle, reducing fuel system pressure to a predetermined pressure which is higher than the preset pressure, and measuring pressure changes in the fuel system; and when not in the test cycle, periodically reducing the fuel system pressure to a third pressure which is less than said preset pressure.
US09376987B2
A thruster designed to produce thrust by introducing a propellant to a catalyst layer from a propellant valve via a propellant introduction member and spurting out a gas resulting from decomposition of the propellant occurring on the catalyst layer, wherein the thruster comprises a chamber of an Ni alloy for holding the catalyst layer inside, the propellant introduction member is made of an Ni alloy and connects the propellant valve and the chamber, and a propellant valve flange of a Ti alloy with a plurality of columns of a Ti alloy is arranged between the chamber and the propellant valve to support the chamber by the columns.
US09376986B2
An aircraft gas turbine thrust-reversing device has an engine cowling, the rear area of which is displaceable in the axial direction of the engine from a closed forward thrust position into a rearwardly displaced thrust reversal position, resulting in an essentially annular space to a front and stationary area of the engine cowling. The rear area of the engine cowling is coupled to deflecting elements and blocker doors, which in the forward thrust position are arranged completely inside the front area of the engine cowling. A drive element is provided between the front area and the rear area, which effects the axial displacement of the rear area. The drive element is a two-stage drive element, effecting in a first stage an axial displacement by an axial partial displacement path, and in a second stage an axial displacement by the full axial displacement path.
US09376975B2
An engine control system for a vehicle includes a timer module, a stochastic pre-ignition (SPI) mitigation module, and a boost control module. The timer module tracks a period of operation of an engine where vacuum within an intake manifold is less than a first predetermined vacuum. The SPI mitigation module generates an SPI signal when the period is greater than a predetermined period and the vacuum is less than a second predetermined vacuum. The second predetermined vacuum is less than the first predetermined vacuum. The boost control module reduces output of a turbocharger in response to the generation of the SPI signal.
