US09420659B2
An LED power supply device disclosed in the present specification includes a DC dimmer circuit that performs dimming control of an LED such that the higher a reference voltage variably controlled according to a dimmer signal is, the smaller a current flowing in the LED is. This configuration makes it possible to achieve fine dimming control.
US09420658B2
A lighting module configured to be powered by an external driver includes a light emitting diode (LED) array, and a control circuit configured to control current initially applied by the external driver to the LED array. A lighting system includes a driver configured to provide a constant current power supply and a plurality of lighting modules coupled to the driver. Each lighting module includes a light emitting diode (LED) array, and an integrated control module including an attenuator configured to attenuate current initially applied by the driver to the LED array in response to a received control signal, and a processor configured to generate the control signal to the attenuator.
US09420654B2
A feedback control circuit, adapted to control a converting circuit to transform an input power into an output voltage for driving an LED module. The feedback control circuit comprises a detection circuit, a PWM circuit, a PWM logic control circuit and a PWM control circuit. The detection circuit is coupled to at least one LED string of the LED module and generates at least one detection signal. The PWM circuit comprises a capacitance, a charging circuit and a discharging circuit, and determines a capacitance voltage of the capacitance to increase, decrease, or maintain. The PWM logic control circuit compares a level of the least one detection signal with a high reference level and a low reference level to control the PWM circuit to adjust the capacitance voltage. The PWM control circuit controls the converting circuit to execute the power transformation in response to the capacitance voltage of the capacitance.
US09420653B2
An LED driver circuit and a method for driving the LED driver circuit. In accordance with an embodiment the LED driver circuit includes a voltage follower circuit and a calibration circuit coupled to the voltage follower circuit. First and second currents may be injected into the node and a current is sunk from the node. In accordance with another embodiment, the LED driver circuit asserts a non-zero voltage across the light emitting diode in a first phase of a drive cycle and asserts a fixed non-zero current in the light emitting diode in a second phase of the drive cycle.
US09420652B2
A LED driver is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the LED driver comprises a rectifier circuit, a driving current generating circuit, a bus voltage detection circuit, a LED configuration control circuit, and a LED array. The LED driver according to the present disclosure reconfigures the prior LED array, balances usage of each LED by switching operation of each LED, which results in long lifetime of the LED driver while reducing power dissipation or increasing a PF value.
US09420650B2
Some embodiments relate to dimmer control circuitry for LED lighting, comprising: phase control circuitry to control the supply of voltage to at least one LED load, wherein the phase control circuitry comprises an AC switch to selectively provide voltage to the LED load for a first portion of a half cycle of an AC supply voltage, and a drive component to drive the AC switch so that the AC switch remains on for the first portion of the half cycle; and load switching circuitry to couple a dissipative load to an output of the AC switch during a second portion of the half cycle, wherein the second portion overlaps with the first portion.
US09420646B2
A circuit with an LED dimming linear compensation, which includes: a rectification circuit with two inputs connected to the alternating current and two DC outputs, a positive DC output and a negative DC output; a filter circuit with inputs connected to the DC outputs and a positive output and a negative output to output positive pole and negative pole; a RCC drive circuit with an oscillating circuit to drive the LED light source by RCC mode; and a compensation resistance R1 series connected in the front stage of one input of the rectification circuit. The compensation resistance R1 is disposed in the front stage of the rectification circuit, when the branch current increases, the voltage of the RCC drive circuit in the followed stage decreases, as the RCC drive circuit is similar to a resistant load, it improves the voltage-current characteristic of the circuit.
US09420633B2
Methods, systems and devices are provided for managing quad SIM functionality on a mobile device. The method includes maintaining a first subscription and a second subscription active in slotted idle states on a first RF chain on the mobile device. The first subscription being associated with a first SIM and the second subscription being associated with a second SIM. The method also includes maintaining a third subscription and a fourth subscription active in slotted idle states on a second RF chain on the mobile device. The third subscription being associated with a third SIM and the fourth subscription being associated with a fourth SIM. In the slotted idle states the first, second, third and fourth subscriptions are able to monitor pages in respective paging channel slots. Further, the method includes switching the third subscription to the first RF chain in response to the fourth subscription entering a dedicated traffic state.
US09420632B2
A technique for communication with a local area network (LAN) via a wireless connection determines whether a first short-range, high-speed, wireless communication path is available and connects to the LAN using a longer range, lower speed wireless communication path if the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path is not available. The low-range, high-speed wireless communication path is a wireless communication path is a wireless LAN connection such as an IEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN and the long-range, low-sped wireless communication mode is a cellular CDMA-type connection. Determining whether the first IEEE 802.11 mode is available can be done by detecting a beacon signal, or transmitting a probe request message and detecting a probe response message in response to the probe request, indicating the presence or availability of the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path. Alternatively, the availability of short-range, high-speed wireless communication path can be detected by simply detecting activity on it.
US09420629B2
An open network suitable for a mobile platform that contains a plurality of host and peripheral devices. Within the network, a central server communicates with at least one switch. In turn, a plurality of network devices communicate with the switch. In turn, a plurality of host devices connect to network devices. Thus, each of the plurality of peripheral devices communicates with one of the host devices. Moreover, the mobile platform may be an aircraft including a control panel to control the network. Additionally, a CoreNet and the in flight entertainment and cabin services subsystem may be in communication with the network. Additionally, the network may include a satellite transceiver/data router. In one embodiment, the peripherals use Bluetooth protocol devices to communicate with host devices on a virtual local area network within the network. The virtual network controls the security and quality of service of the network that interconnects the host, and other, devices.
US09420617B2
Macrocell communication resources 121 are used to exchange signals between a base station 102 and at least one wireless communication device 104, 106 to establish a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 122 between a first wireless communication device 104 and a second wireless communication device 106. A call, or other communication session, may be initiated by the first wireless communication device by sending a D2D call initiation message over uplink macrocell communication resources to the core network of a cellular communication system. The first wireless communication device may also transmit D2D link information regarding the wireless D2D communication link between the wireless communication devices. The core network sends D2D link establishment information over macrocell downlink communication resources to at least one of the wireless communication devices where the link establishment information allows the wireless communication devices to establish and communication over the D2D communication link.
US09420616B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication at a first user equipment (UE) are provided. The apparatus sends a request to a second UE for establishing a call connection, receives from the second UE an acknowledgment for establishing the call connection, establishes at least one first dedicated bearer between the first UE and a network for communicating media packets with the second UE, sends first dummy data to the second UE via the established at least one first dedicated bearer, receives at least one of second dummy data or a media packet from the second UE via the established at least one first dedicated bearer, and exchanges media packets with the second UE via the established at least one first dedicated bearer after receiving the at least one of the second dummy data or the media packet from the second UE.
US09420612B2
A method includes, at a user equipment, combining a message requesting the radio resource connection and a message requesting at least one service into a single message. The single message is transmitted from the user equipment to a network element in a wireless network. Another method includes receiving, from a user equipment, a single message including both a message requesting a radio resource connection and a message requesting at least one service. In response to the message requesting radio resource connection, performing radio resource control connection establishment for the user equipment in order to establish the radio resource control connection between the user equipment and at least one of a plurality of network elements of a wireless network. In response to the message requesting at least one service, performing service request procedures for the user equipment, wherein at least part of the radio resource control connection establishment and at least part of the service request procedures are performed in parallel.
US09420610B2
A system and method are disclosed that may provide an accurate estimate of an AP's available medium share. The AP may perform a plurality medium access contention operations to determine a duration of a transmit opportunity and a queue service interval for each of a plurality of access categories. The AP may also determine a queue service interval for a number of packet queues associated with each of the access categories. The AP may use timing information derived from the medium access contention operations to estimate a portion of the medium share available on a per-access category and/or per-user basis. The timing information may include the transmit opportunity durations and queue service intervals for the access categories, the queue service intervals for the individual packet queues, and/or values indicative of the AP's PHY rate and medium utilization.
US09420605B2
There is provided a method and apparatus for coordinating cells in a heterogeneous network. A serving cell determines scheduling parameters for scheduling a UE intermittently between a serving cell and at least one coordinating cell. The scheduling parameters define a cycle for the UE in which the UE alternates between listening to the serving cell and each of the coordinating cells. Timing offsets between the serving cell and the coordinating cells is determined by a UE and reported back to the eNB of the serving cell.
US09420598B2
A method for combining two or more schedules in a machine to machine (M2M) communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The method is performed by a M2M server and comprises the steps of: receiving at least one schedule request from at least one M2M application—the schedule request requesting a measurement a report for a specific resource for a specific M2M device—; determining whether a first permissible interval of a measurement time point or a report time point included in the schedule request is overlapped with a second permissible interval of a measurement time point or a report time point of the pre-stored M2M schedule when an ID of the M2M device and an ID of the resource included in the schedule request are the same as the ID of the M2M device and the ID of the resource of the pre-stored M2M schedule; and generating mapping information for indicating a relationship between the schedule request and the pre-stored M2M schedule when determining that the first permissible interval and the second permissible interval overlap.
US09420595B2
An example avionic data communication method includes determining one or more available communication channels within a plurality of communication channel types, selecting one of the plurality of available communication channels using a channel controller, the channel controller configured to determine the quality of service of the available communication channels and to select one of the plurality of available communication channels having a cost threshold value that is not less than the cost threshold value of another channel type within the plurality of available channel types. The method further includes communicating data between an aircraft and a ground-based system using the selected one of the plurality of available channel types.
US09420579B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, particularly, a method in which a terminal transmits control information in a CA-based wireless communication system and an apparatus for the method, the method comprising: configuring a first cell and a second cell having different subframe configurations, wherein the second cell has any one of UL-DL configuration #0 to #6; receiving a DC) format including a DAI field, for the second cell; and transmitting HARQ-ACK information relating to the downlink DCI format. For HARQ-ACK timing, in cases where a reference UL-DL configuration applied to the second cell is any one of UL-DL configurations #1 to #6, the DAI field is used in a process of transmitting the HARQ-ACK information. For HARQ-ACK timing, in cases where a reference UL-DL configuration applied to the second cell is #0, the DAI field is not used in a process of transmitting the HARQ-ACK information.
US09420577B2
A method of transmitting a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH) at a base station in a wireless communication system. A set of Virtual Resource Blocks (VRBs) are assigned for the R-PDCCH to a downlink subframe. The downlink subframe is transmitted to a relay node. The set of VRBs is configured to be same, by higher layer, in a first slot and a second slot of the downlink subframe. If the set of VRBs for the R-PDCCH is assigned in the first slot of the downlink subframe, the R-PDCCH is configured to contain a downlink assignment. If the set of VRBs for the R-PDCCH is assigned in the second slot of the downlink subframe, the R-PDCCH is configured to contain an uplink grant.
US09420574B2
A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. Currently active CPEs request bandwidth using unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE.
US09420571B2
A method for transmitting a signal to a transmitter at a receiver in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving first information to be transmitted to the transmitter from a higher layer and activating a timer, receiving second information to be transmitted to the transmitter from the higher layer, and transmitting a resource allocation request message to the transmitter, for transmitting the first and second information, upon expiration of the timer.
US09420565B2
The present invention discloses a method and a device for transmitting data. The method includes: sending, by a base station, a time-frequency resource on which a communication equipment sends any one preamble to the base station on a physical random access channel and corresponding relationship between a physical random access feedback channel and a physical random access channel to a user equipment on a downlink resource through system broadcast; sending, by the communication equipment, any one preamble to the base station on the time-frequency resource, receiving random access feedback information sent by the base station, performing synchronization with the base station through a TA carried in the random access feedback information, sending an RRC connection request message to the base station on the time-frequency resource biased with a preset time, receiving an RRC establishment message sent by the base station, and then establishing an RRC connection with the base station.
US09420562B1
An association connection is established between a first Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device operating in central mode and attached to an asset to track, and a second BLE device operating in peripheral mode and associated with a physical location within the asset management environment. An association connection is established between the second BLE device and a third BLE device operating in central mode and coupled to one or more computer processors, and the association information stored in the second BLE device to the third BLE via one or more broadcasting frames is periodically transmitted. Based on current association information between the first BLE device and the second BLE device, an identity of the asset to which the first BLE device is attached, and the physical location of the second BLE device within the asset management environment is identified.
US09420559B2
A method and system for detecting obstacles in a user's path by obtaining the user's location and direction of movement, as well as visual and audio inputs of the surrounding environment, and alarming the user if the method and system detect an obstacle approaching the user.
US09420555B2
Concepts and technologies are described herein for managing network load using device application programs. An illustrative method includes receiving, at a mobile device, a list of preferred combinations of location area codes (“LACs”), cell identifiers (“CIDs”), and times that data access by the mobile device is to be incentivized, determining a current LAC associated with a location area within which the mobile device is currently located, determining a current CID associated with a base transceiver station to which the mobile device is currently connected, determining a current time, and determining if the current LAC, the current cell ID, and the current time are included as a preferred combination in the list. The method also includes providing an indication that data access by the mobile device is incentivized if the current LAC, the current cell ID, and the current time are included in the list as a preferred combination.
US09420554B1
A network node receives a registration message, where the registration message is associated with registering a user equipment (UE) with a call signaling network for sending or receiving calls. The network node receives a notification message from a call session control node in the call signaling network, where the notification message indicates whether the UE is currently provisioned to engage in calls via a Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) network. The network node causes calls to or from the UE to be routed via the VoLTE network if the notification message indicates that the UE is currently provisioned to engage in calls via the VoLTE network, and causes calls to or from the UE to be routed via a legacy network, that is different than the VoLTE network, if the notification message indicates that the UE is currently not provisioned to engage in calls via the VoLTE network.
US09420546B2
In an example embodiment, a transmitter of a wireless communication device may incrementally increase a level of transmit power by a predefined amount, based on a channel quality indicator, up to a limited maximum level of transmit power to control the peak transmit power and further may control the Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR).
US09420543B2
Methods for management of high-speed dedicated physical control channel decoding in soft handover procedures include various methods that include controlling reverse link transmission power. Different algorithms may be used for controlling transmission power, including algorithms summarized as determining path-loss differences, determining a difference between pilot channel power from HSDPA serving and non-serving NodeBs, and adjusting a signal-to-interference target, an attenuation factor, or similar parameters for controlling reverse link power. Another of the management methods includes selecting a HSDPA serving NodeB for a mobile entity jointly based on the downlink and uplink channel quality, loading, and resource availability. The methods, and aspects of the methods, may be embodied in wireless communications apparatus, for example, in a NodeB or mobile entity.
US09420542B2
System-wide uplink band gain control in a distributed antenna system (DAS) based on per-band gain control of remote uplink paths in remote units is disclosed. In one embodiment, for each uplink band in the DAS, a gain control system receives remote uplink band power measurements for each remote uplink path for the uplink band. Based on these power measurements, the gain control system determines if the uplink gain of all of the remote uplink paths of the plurality of uplink paths of the uplink band should be adjusted. If the uplink gain of the remote uplink paths of the uplink band should be adjusted, the gain control system directs a remote uplink gain control circuit for each remote uplink path of the uplink band to adjust the uplink gain by a defined remote uplink band gain level.
US09420538B2
Limited service state controller (30) for controlling activity of a mobile device (1) when the mobile device is in a limited service state, in which the mobile device camps on an acceptable serving cell of a cellular telecommunication network, the limited service state controller being configured to: get mobile device state information indicating that the mobile device is in the limited service state, get radio environment parameters related to a radio environment of the mobile device, and determine activity parameters to be set in the mobile device based on the mobile device state information and/or the radio environment parameters, for limiting the activity of the mobile device compared to the activity to be done when the mobile device is in a normal service state, while enabling access to an emergency service allowing to make an emergency call.
US09420537B2
Embodiments described herein relate generally to delaying the transmission of a plurality of data packets. A device may enter a packet-delay mode based on an absence of detected user activity and an idle state of a radio. In the packet-delay mode, the device may queue data packets in a buffer so that transmission of those data packets is delayed. The buffered data packets may be released and transmitted upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as detection of user activity, exceedance of a buffer threshold, or expiration of a countdown timer. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09420532B2
According to some embodiments, a communication module 120 may be configured to transmit data packet traffic and a management module 110 may be configured to shape the data packet traffic transmitted by the communication module 120. The management module 110 may shape the data packet traffic by buffering data packets routed at different times to the communication module 120 based on at least one power management factor.
US09420530B1
A wireless access point (WAP) including: an airtime correlator, a dormancy allocator and a medium access control (MAC). The airtime correlator is configured to correlate airtime usage of the selected communication channel by the WAP with one of an idle WLAN state characterized by an absence of upstream or downstream communications and an active WLAN state characterized by at least one of upstream and downstream communications on the WLAN. The dormancy allocator is configured to allocate during at least one of the idle and the active WLAN states, a portion of available airtime to at least one dormancy interval in which a base power level of the WAP is reduced at least below a level required to support downstream communications. The MAC is configured to identify for the plurality of station nodes on the WLAN, a contention free period overlapping in time with the at least one dormancy interval.
US09420529B2
A method for reducing power consumption of a macro Base Station (BS) in a radio communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting a preamble through at least one mini BS installed within a service coverage area of the macro BS, and transmitting a power-off command to the at least one mini BS after being switched into a power-on state, upon reception of access request information through the at least one mini BS from a terminal that received the preamble.
US09420527B2
For the purpose of selecting a base station (110, 120) to be used as a serving base station of a mobile terminal (100), a traffic characteristic of the mobile terminal (100) is determined. The traffic characteristic may in particular be indicative of an asymmetry between downlink and uplink data traffic of the mobile terminal (100). On the basis of the traffic characteristic, a selection between a first mode and a second mode is performed. In the first mode the base station (110, 120) to be used as the serving base station is selected on the basis of its downlink radio capacity as compared to one or more other base stations (110, 120). In the second mode the base station (110, 120) to be used as the serving base station is selected on the basis of its uplink radio capacity as compared to one or more other base stations (110, 120).
US09420524B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus are described for provisioning wireless communication devices. One embodiment includes a communication device that determines an operating channel corresponding to an AP having the highest received signal strength measurement. The communication device operates in an AP mode with another communication device on this same channel to facilitate provisioning of the other communication device with the AP. Another embodiment includes a communication device that operates as a station in a first wireless network and as an AP in a second wireless network with another communication device. The communication device determines a transmission time waiting interval corresponding to communication device AP mode transmissions and divides the channels into groups that can be scanned within the transmission time waiting interval. The communication device scans these channel subgroups to identify other APs available for provisioning the other communication device.
US09420517B2
A network includes node devices each storing a table that manages paths to plural gateway devices for connecting to another network. A node device generates a hello frame for specifying a main gateway device of the node device at a predetermined timing, and transmits the hello frame to adjacent node devices. The node device, upon receiving a hello frame from an adjacent node device operating as a first hop destination of a data frame destined for the main gateway device, determines whether quality of a path to the main gateway device is lowest among paths to the plural gateway devices, based on path quality information included in the hello frame. When the quality of a path to the main gateway device is lowest, the node device changes the main gateway device to a gateway device that is registered in the table and specified by information included in the hello frame.
US09420513B1
A clustering-based method of estimating a network metric between a first node and a second node includes determining source clusters of nodes and destination clusters of nodes for each node. Cluster heads are selected for each cluster. Measurements of the network metric between each node and each cluster head for the source clusters and destination clusters are performed, and the network metric for a pair of nodes is estimated based on the measurements for the pair of nodes.
US09420512B2
A method for reducing power consumption by a wireless communication device is disclosed. The method can include the wireless communication device determining that the device is experiencing an uplink power limited condition. In an instance in which the connection to the serving network was established only for a signaling purpose, the method can further include the wireless communication device sending a measurement report including an actual measured downlink signal quality value for the serving network in response to the uplink power limited condition. However, if the connection to the serving network was not established only for a signaling purpose, the method can include the wireless communication device sending a measurement report including a modified downlink signal quality value for the serving network to trigger a handover in response to the uplink power limited condition.
US09420509B2
A neighbor cell search method and apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) is provided for performing the cell search procedure with the utilization of a Physical Cell Identity (PCI) list of PCIs used by evolved Node Bs (eNBs) for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) which is from an eNB in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. The cell search method includes selecting a cell of a base station, receiving system information including a Physical Cell Identity (PCI) list used by neighbor Closed Subscribed Group (CSG) cells of the base station, determining whether the terminal is in an any cell selection state for selecting any cell, and searching, when the terminal is in the any cell selection state, neighbor cells without application of the PCI list. The cell search method and apparatus are capable of performing the cell search procedure to appropriate eNBs, resulting in improvement of network attachment efficiency.
US09420504B2
A method of handling cell change for a mobile device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a cell change order message from a source cell of a first radio access technology (RAT), in response to the receiving, performing a cell change order procedure from the source cell of the a first RAT to a target cell of a second RAT, performing a RRC, an abbreviation of radio resource control, connection establishment procedure to the target cell of the second RAT, receiving system information including access barring information of the target cell of the second radio access technology from the target cell of the second radio access technology, determining access barring according to the access barring information, and determining that the cell change order procedure is failed when the RRC connection establishment procedure is failed due to the access barring.
US09420495B2
A method for processing in-device coexistence configuration information, apparatus and system. The method includes: notifying, by a source base station to a target base station, first in-device coexistence configuration information configured by the source base station for terminal equipment, when handover from the source base station to the target base station occurs to the terminal equipment. In this way, the source base station may notify the first in-device coexistence configuration information configured by it for the terminal equipment to the target base station; the target base station receives the first in-device coexistence configuration information, determines whether to configure the terminal equipment with in-device coexistence configuration information, and then notifies the source base station of related configuration information via a handover command. With the embodiments of the present disclosure, when handover occurs to the terminal equipment, the in-device coexistence configuration information may be processed effectively.
US09420491B2
A method is provided of dynamic allocation of shared resources in a communication network, consisting in defining, in a time-frequency plan, a superframe of a given duration ΔT and a given spectral width Δf, made up of one or more frames, each defining a regular time-frequency grid, of which one square, referred to as a time-frequency unit, constitutes the smallest time and frequency interval allocable to a user of said network within said frame, said method consisting in reserving, on each carrier frequency of a frame, at least one block of a number K, greater than or equal to 1, of time-frequency units which can be dynamically allocated to a user for communication or for synchronization.
US09420485B2
Frame structures and signaling arrangements for interference aware scheduling may be applicable to a local area radio system to complement existing wide area cellular systems, like GSM/UMTS/HSPA/LTE. In certain embodiments a method is provided including preparing a frame for transmission in a wireless communication system. The method can also include incorporating an interference report into the frame. The interference report is directly associated with a corresponding resource. The method can further include transmitting the interference report within the frame in the wireless communication system.
US09420483B2
All wireless devices must comply with the local radio regulations which are set by international and national regulatory bodies such as the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI) for Europe and the Federal Commission for Communication (FCC) for US. A new firmware module is proposed, that will ensure that devices, in all circumstances will comply with the ETSI regulations for single channel emissions in the 868 MHz ISM band. Namely, assuring compliance with the duty-cycle limit, the maximum TX time and minimum TX-off time limit. Such a solution has not been researched mostly due to the popularity of the virtually worldwide 2.4 GHz ISM band which does not have duty-cycle limitations. The wireless sensor networks (WSN) operating in the 868 MHz band have their own niche applications that benefit from the increased signal range. The development and the acceptance of such applications will benefit from the existence of the proposed module implemented in firmware/software. We propose such a solution and demonstrate its implementation on a custom developed node and protocol. Implementation on top of standardized protocol layers is also analyzed. We also analyze the memory, time and energy overheads caused by including the module in the firmware.
US09420476B2
Systems and methods for triggering interference mitigation at a wireless device in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a node associated with a cellular communications network makes a determination to trigger interference mitigation at a wireless device based on a signal load in at least one interfering cell from which transmissions result in interference at the wireless device during reception from a desired cell, a relation between reference signals used in the desired cell and the at least one interfering cell, and a timing relation between at least one of a group consisting of: signals transmitted by the desired cell and the at least one interfering cell and signals received at the wireless device from the desired cell and the at least one interfering cell. In response to making the determination, the node triggers interference mitigation at the wireless device.
US09420475B2
A radio communication device may be provided. The radio communication device may include: a receiver configured to receive data; a buffer configured to buffer a variable amount of the data; a reception condition determiner configured to determine a reception condition indicating a condition under which the receiver receives the data; and a buffer amount setter configured to set the amount of the data based on the determined reception condition.
US09420473B2
Systems, methods, and devices enable spectrum management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements. Signal data is compared with stored data to identify the signal of interest. Signal degradation data is calculated based on noise figure parameters, hardware parameters and environment parameters.
US09420466B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method includes receiving at a terminal a refresh message sent by a secure element, wherein said refresh message includes a request for a session reset in response to at least one value associated with a current active application on said secure element is changed. The method further includes sending by said terminal a status message to said secure element, wherein said status message notifies said current active application on said secure element that an application session reset procedure will be executed. The method further includes sending by said terminal an application selection message to said secure element, wherein said application selection message instructs said secure element to reactivate said current active application with at least said new value.
US09420464B2
Technologies for monitoring network access and/or usage include mobile computing devices in communication with network devices to facilitate access to a network. Communication signals are transmitted from one of the mobile computing devices and received by a remote computing device (e.g., a network device). Transients of characteristics of the communication signals received during a power-on sequence of the mobile computing device are analyzed to generate a communication fingerprint corresponding to the communication signal. The network device then compares the communication fingerprint to authorized communication fingerprints to determine whether to grant network access to the mobile computing device corresponding to the communication fingerprint. Additionally, granted network access may be monitored to determine whether any unauthorized use is being performed by the mobile computing device. Further, network access may then be restricted if unauthorized use is detected.
US09420458B2
The invention relates to a method for the use of a mobile appliance which is not associated with a motor vehicle using a motor vehicle, wherein a program which can be executed on the mobile appliance and a digital certificate associated with the program are stored in the mobile appliance, wherein the digital certificate is transmitted from the mobile appliance to the motor vehicle, wherein the digital certificate is verified in the motor vehicle, wherein—if verification of the digital certificate is successful—information associated with the program which can be executed on the mobile appliance is presented using a display in the motor vehicle, and wherein the program which can be executed on the mobile appliance is used using a user arrangement, associated with the display, in the motor vehicle.
US09420455B2
A current physical location value associated is incorporated with a communication device as part of internet protocol (IP). An IP management component obtains current physical location information of a wireless communication device and modifies the IP address to incorporate the current physical location value corresponding to the current physical location of the communication device as part of the IP address of the communication device to prevent undesired intrusions by hackers, as communications associated with the communication device are routed to/from the communication device that is at the current physical location. If the communication device moves to a new location, the IP management component can perform a new IP address modification to modify the IP address to incorporate a new physical location value associated with the communication device.
US09420454B2
In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons. Similar certificates can be embedded within identity beacons used to protect certain incumbents from interference by the CRN.
US09420452B1
Wireless device application interaction via external control detection comprises identifying a first position of a wireless device and identifying a first change in the wireless device's position. The method may also provide calculating a first distance vector. The method may also perform comparing the first distance vector to a first threshold distance and calculating a second distance vector based on a distance between the second position and a third position and comparing the second distance vector to a second threshold distance, and changing a current operating state of the wireless device to a different operating state if the first distance vector exceeds the first minimum distance and the second distance vector does not exceed the first maximum distance.
US09420451B2
Provided is a method for reporting by a terminal in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: receiving positioning-limiting information from a network; and determining whether to allow positioning on the basis of the positioning limiting information. The method additionally comprises, if the positioning is allowed, acquiring location information by means of positioning, and reporting the location information via a network.
US09420450B2
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for talkgroup-state-dependent routing of group data. An embodiment takes the form of a process that includes handling receipt of packet data addressed to a talkgroup by responsively: determining whether the talkgroup currently has an active voice session on a voice channel; if not, then routing the received packet data to the talkgroup on a data channel; and if so, then routing the received packet data to the talkgroup via metadata fields in the voice channel.
US09420447B2
In one embodiment, a wireless mobile User Equipment (UE) device comprises a message generator configured to send a SIP request message via a first IP network and a processor configured to process a SIP response message received from a network node via the first IP network, the processor further configured to process instructions to provide a treatment for at least one message body content of the SIP response message based on a value of a content type indicator independent of at least one of an absence of a content disposition indicator, a content disposition indicator without a value and a content disposition indicator having a value. The treatment, applied by the UE device, may comprise one of: (i) performing an Emergency Services (ES) call effectuated via a CS network and (ii) performing a registration and an ES call effectuated via an IP network.
US09420442B2
In one embodiment, a computing device receives a location update corresponding to a user. The user corresponds to one or more demographic categories, and the location update is provided by one or more location methods which are implemented by a mobile device of the user. The computing device determines that the location update is associated with a visit to a particular place. The computing device determines a total number of visits to the particular place within a period of time for a particular demographic category of users. The computing device calculates a ping compensation factor based at least in part on a subset of the visits determined by a first location method, and the total number of visits. The computing device stores the ping compensation factor on a data store of a social-networking system.
US09420439B2
A first message is sent by an MSC/VLR and it is determined that a user equipment is in an abnormal state according to the first message. A second message is sent to the user equipment. The second message is used to instruct the user equipment to initiate attachment to the MSC/VLR. An apparatus includes a receiving module, a first determining module and a sending module.
US09420434B2
A wireless audio conferencing system has one base station and a number of portable parts each of which is able to establish a communication link with the base station. The base station is controlled to initiate and to terminate communication sessions with other communication devices over a communications network such as a LAN or a WAN, and the base station includes a DSP the implements a digital radio and system application functionality that monitors and stores certain operational state characteristics associated with the portable parts. The base station uses the stored operational state characteristics associated with each portable part to determine whether, at the end of a communication session, a portable part is connected to a charging tray or not, and if not, the base station operates to transmit a warning message indicating that a portable part is not being charged.
US09420427B2
A method for tracking the whereabouts of people, particularly in urban settings, according to which a cell grid is established within a given geographical region and positional data records associated with each of a plurality of mobile devices within the region, are received from a base station. An Estimated Location Indicator (ELI) associated with a data object in each of every cell of the grid traversed by the corresponding user within a given period of time is generated, from the received positional data records and for each corresponding user of the plurality of mobile devices. A shortest predicted path is generated between each of the generated An Estimated Location Indicators.
US09420424B2
A method, system and apparatus for determining crowdedness at a location, using a first portable communication device having a proximity sensor, wherein the location of a first user is determined using the first portable communication device having an application installed on a memory module thereof, wherein the application is configured to connect to a location sensor embedded in the first portable communication device. The method and system further comprises sensing and identifying a second portable communication device in vicinity of the first user, followed by transmitting a media access control address (MAC address) of the identified second portable communication device to a remote fusion server. Further removing redundancies pertaining to the identified second portable communication device based on the MAC address received by the remote fusion server using a fusion algorithm to determine the crowdedness at the determined location.
US09420422B1
A media communications system enabling mobile and desktop devices to communicate with websites relevant to a query that is shallow parsed, associated to predetermined categories, and regenerated as a conflated query array that includes extracted entities, associated categories, a location, and a geo-limit parameter. The media communications system further enables real-time messaging between the mobile and desktop devices and the websites, as well as generation of well-formed websites, media, and multimedia, with pre-rendered embedded content, and enables to concurrently and automatically demographically and geographically distributed push notifications to the websites and devices, and embeds relevancy-amplified, geotargeted media and multimedia communications, which media are selected by real-time machine-learned, high-probability consumer interest weighting and relevancy functions that are continuously updated in response to monitored consumer actions. The system further enables geographically regional and inter-regional systems management to enable automated replication and regional and demographic testing of the geotargeted and relevant communications.
US09420413B2
The present invention proposes a pushing method based on location information, comprising: recording a plurality of areas passed by a user; obtaining a resident area of the user according to the frequencies at which the user uses an electronic map in the plurality of areas, and pushing, when it is judged that the user enters a new area from the resident area, point of interest information in the new area to the user according to the point of interest information about the user in the resident area. The method in the embodiments of the present invention fully exploits the interests of a user and performs personalized customization, may better meet and inspire the needs of the user, and is widely applicable and easy to expand. The present invention also discloses a pushing system and server based on location information.
US09420407B2
The present invention relates to a method, to a computer program and to a system to establish wireless communication between at least two Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices the method comprising the steps of: switching a first BLE device (20) into a scanning mode (SM), switching a second BLE device (30) into an advertising mode (AM), and broadcasting a first advertising packet (31) from the second BLE device, switching the second BLE device (30) into the scanning mode (SM), receiving the first advertising packet (31) by first BLE device (20), and switching the first BLE device (20) into the advertising mode (AM), and broadcasting a second advertising packet (21) from the first BLE device (30).
US09420404B2
An example system includes an operation instrument having a storage unit storing information and a first short distance radio communication unit performing transmission/reception of data with an information processing device; and an information processing device having an attachment unit to which the operation instrument is attached, a second short distance radio communication unit performing transmission/reception of data with the operation instrument, an information reading unit reading information stored in the storage unit of the operation instrument through the second short distance radio communication unit, and a processing unit performing processing in accordance with read information read by the information reading unit and operation information indicating operation for the operation instrument attached to the attachment unit.
US09420399B2
A method for open mobile alliance (OMA) device management (DM) and over-the-air customization of a generic mobile device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an activation message from the generic mobile device to register with a service provider, wherein the generic mobile device is pre-configured to support a plurality of functions. The method also comprises associating the generic mobile device with a service provider from the service providers as indicated by the activation message. The method further comprises sending one or more OMA service objects to customize the generic mobile device according to the service provider, wherein the one or more OMA service objects enable or disable each of the pre-configured functions on the generic mobile device to support one or more service features available by the service provider.
US09420388B2
An external component for a bone conduction hearing implant is described. An external housing is fixedly attached on the skin of a hearing implant patient over an implanted bone conduction hearing transducer. An electromagnetic drive coil arrangement is fixed within the external housing for conducting electrical current to develop electromagnetic drive signals. An attachment magnet arrangement is suspended within the external housing by a flexible spring arrangement and magnetically coupled to the drive coil arrangement and to a corresponding implant magnet arrangement within the implanted bone conduction transducer. The electromagnetic drive signals magnetically interact with the attachment magnet arrangement which reacts by vibrating on the spring arrangement and magnetically interacting with the implant magnet arrangement to generate a bone conduction vibration signal by the implanted bone conduction hearing transducer for perception by the patient as sound.
US09420383B1
The smart hearing amplifier device is placed in an ear of a user to receive voices of speakers. The smart hearing amplifier device includes a Bluetooth chipset, a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, a gravity-sensor (G sensor) and a microcontroller unit (MCU). The PPG sensor emits lights onto the skin of the ear and captures reflected lights from the skin and then outputs PPG signals. The G sensor senses a triaxial gravitational variation of the user and then outputs sensed signals. The MCU is connected with the PPG sensor, the G sensor and the Bluetooth chipset. The MCU processes PPG signals from the PPG sensor and the sensed signals from the G sensor and eliminates noise signals of the PPG signals and the sensed signals, and then calculates bio-data of the user. The Bluetooth chipset receives the bio-data from the MCU and transmits the bio-data to a smart device.
US09420379B2
A balanced armature transducer is provided. The balanced armature transducer is formed with components housed within a frame and includes a pair of magnets separated by a gap to form a Direct Current (DC) magnetic field, and an armature having one end positioned between the separated magnets and having another end curved upward and fixed to an upper portion of the frame.
US09420378B1
A top port MEMS microphone package includes a substrate having a back volume expanding aperture therein. A MEMS microphone electronic component is mounted to the substrate directly above the back volume expanding aperture such that an aperture of the MEMS microphone electronic component is in fluid communication with the back volume expanding aperture. A lid having a lid cavity is mounted to the substrate. The back volume expanding aperture couples the aperture of the MEMS microphone electronic component to the lid cavity. By coupling the lid cavity to the aperture with the back volume expanding aperture, the resulting back volume is essentially the size of the entire top port MEMS microphone package. In this manner, the noise to signal ratio is minimized thus maximizing the sensitivity of the top port MEMS microphone package as well as the range of applications.
US09420377B2
An audio playback device is provided. The audio playback device includes a magnetic module, an annular armature, a coil module and a diaphragm. The magnetic module includes a magnetic source and two yokes each connected to one of two magnetic poles generated by the magnetic source and extends to form a magnetic field. The annular armature includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth arms that form a hollow area. At least part of the first arm is located in the magnetic area. The coil module is winded on the second arm and generates two varying electro-magnetic poles according to an alternating current data signal. The annular armature vibrates according to a relation of the two varying electro-magnetic poles and the magnetic field. The diaphragm is connected to the annular armature through a driving rod to vibrate according to the annular armature to generate a sound wave.
US09420367B2
A passive acoustical filter includes a first opening to receive ambient sound, a second opening to output filtered sound, and a first low pass filter element coupled between the first opening and the second opening. The first low pass filter element includes a first expansion chamber filled with a material in which a speed of sound is lower than a speed of sound in air.
US09420366B2
Disclosed is an earphones accessory apparatus that can be removably attached to a set of earphones. The earphone accessory may provide a structure that prevents the earphone wires from becoming tangled and facilitates easy insertion and removal of the earphones. The earphone accessory may include a plurality of channel-bearing legs for guiding the earphone wires into a trunk. The channel of at least one of the legs may be discontinuous so as to accommodate, for example, an in-line volume control disposed in one of the earphone wires.
US09420365B2
A silicon condenser microphone is disclosed. The silicon condenser microphone includes a substrate including a side surrounding a cavity, a transducer unit supported by the substrate, a partition positioned in the cavity of the substrate for dividing the cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity. The transducer unit includes a backplate and a diaphragm forming a capacitor. The partition includes a main body connected to an inner surface of the side of the substrate, and a perforation penetrating the main body for communicating the upper cavity with the lower cavity. The sensitivity of the silicon condenser microphone is accordingly improved.
US09420356B2
In a telemetry system (100) in a high-temperature environment of a combustion turbine engine (10), a wireless power-receiving coil assembly (116) may be affixed to a movable component (104) of the turbine engine. Power-receiving coil assembly (116) may include a radio-frequency transparent housing (130) having an opening (132). A lid (134) may be provided to close the opening of the housing. Lid (134) may be positioned to provide support against a surface (120) of the movable component. An induction coil (133) is disposed in the housing distally away from the lid and encased between a first layer (136) and a last layer (140) of a potting adhesive. Lid (134) is arranged to provide vibrational buffering between the surface (120) of the movable component (104) and the layers encasing the induction coil.
US09420354B2
A network device may receive, via a network, a request for electronic program guide content, from a user device connected to the network, and monitor, a network condition (e.g., network congestion, user device location, etc.) corresponding to the network. The network device may determine, based on the network condition, whether to provide the electronic program guide content using a first radio frequency bandwidth corresponding to the network or a second radio frequency bandwidth corresponding to the network. The user device may communicate, via the network, the electronic program guide content using the first radio frequency bandwidth or the second radio frequency bandwidth. The first radio frequency bandwidth may correspond to unicast, multicast, or broadcast services, and the second radio frequency bandwidth may correspond to a different one of unicast, multicast, or broadcast services.
US09420348B1
In one aspect, an example method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up video-broadcast system involves: a computing device receiving a first video-stream that represents first video-content; the computing device generating a first signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of aspect-ratio transitions included within the first video-content; the computing device receiving a second video-stream that represents second video-content; the computing device generating a second signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of aspect-ratio transitions included within the second video-content; the computing device making a determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack a threshold extent of similarity; and responsive to the determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert.
US09420343B2
Systems and methods directed advertising via a tagged video stream are provided. Content and a tag associated with a product represented by at least a portion of the content may be received by a media device. The media device may be associated with at least one end user. The content may correspond to television programming. The content may be output by the media device for display. A user selection corresponding to the tag associated with the product represented by at least the portion of the content may be processed by the media device. The user selection may be received during display of at least the portion of the content. Responsive to the user selection, the media device may facilitate provision of information related to the product represented by at least the portion of the content to a second device and/or an account associated with the at least one end user.
US09420333B2
A television receiver may be configured to receive, from a user of the television receiver, a set of viewing rules that define a focus preference of the user. The television receiver may output, to a presentation device, a video mosaic comprising a plurality of pieces of content presented as a plurality of tiles. Each piece of content may be linked with a corresponding audio stream from a plurality of audio streams. The television receiver may select a piece of content for focus from the plurality of pieces of content based on the set of viewing rules defined by the user. The television receiver may output only an audio stream linked with the piece of content being focused on from among the plurality of audio streams.
US09420332B2
This disclosure describes audio decoding techniques for decoding audio information that needs to be properly clocked. In accordance with this disclosure, the number of audio samples in decoded audio output can be adjusted to compensate for an estimated error the in decoder clock. That is to say, rather than adjust the decoder clock to synchronize the decoder clock to the encoder clock, this disclosure proposes adding or removing audio samples from the decoded audio output in order to ensure that the decoded audio output is properly timed. In this way, the techniques of this disclosure can eliminate the need for an adjustable or controllable clock at the decoding device, which can save cost and/or allow legacy devices that do not include an adjustable or controllable clock to decode and output audio information that needs to be properly clocked.
US09420330B2
A method for presenting a custom content in a set top box and a set top box are disclosed. The method includes checking a display cache and a flash memory of a set top box after the set top box is powered on, writing a custom content in the flash memory into the display cache if the display cache and the flash memory of the set top box are checked correct, controlling the custom content written into the display cache to be presented to a user on a video terminal, and, after the custom content written into the display cache is controlled to be presented to the user on the video terminal, checking a hardware device other than the display cache and the flash memory in the set top box, starting an operating system of the set top box, and performing network authentication.
US09420318B2
Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.
US09420312B2
Disclosed is a prediction method adopting in-loop filtering. According to the present invention, a prediction method for encoding and decoding video comprises the following steps: generating a residual block of the current block through an inverse quantization and inverse transform; generating a prediction block of the current block through an intra-prediction; performing in-loop filtering on the current block in which the residual block and the prediction block are combined; and storing the current block, on which the in-loop filtering is performed, in a frame buffer for an intra-prediction of the next block to be encoded. As described above, prediction is performed using an in-loop filter during processes for encoding and decoding video, thereby improving the accuracy of prediction and reducing errors in prediction, thus improving the efficiency of video compression and reducing the amount of data to be transmitted.
US09420308B2
A scaled motion search section can be used in a video processing device that processes a video input signal that includes a plurality of pictures. The scaled motion search section includes a downscaling module that downscales the plurality of pictures to generate a plurality of downscaled pictures. A reduced-scale motion search module generates a plurality of motion vector candidates at a downscaled resolution, based on the plurality of downscaled pictures. The reduced-scale motion search module includes a column buffer that stores a column of reference data and generates the plurality of motion vector candidates based on a parallel processing of the column of reference data for a group of adjacent macroblock pairs.
US09420305B2
A hybrid video decoder has an extractor, a predictor and a reconstructor. The extractor is configured to extract motion information and residual information for a first block of a current picture from a data stream. The predictor is configured to provide, depending on the motion information, a prediction for the block of the current picture by interpolating a reference picture, using a combination of an IIR filter and FIR filter. The reconstructor is configured to reconstruct the current picture at the block using the prediction for the block and the residual information for the block. Furthermore, a hybrid video encoder, a data stream, a method for encoding a video and a method for decoding a video are described.
US09420297B2
An image decoding method for decoding a bitstream including a coded signal resulting from coding slices into which an image is partitioned and each of which includes coding units, includes decoding the coded signal, wherein each of the slices is either a normal slice having, in a slice header, information used for another slice or a dependent slice which is decoded using information included in a slice header of another slice, the image includes rows each of which includes coding units, and when the normal slice starts at a position other than the beginning of the first row, the second row immediately following the first row does not start with the dependent slice.
US09420294B2
Disclosed are an intra-prediction method using filtering and an apparatus using the method. An image-decoding method comprises: a step of filtering an n upper reference pixel of a block to be predicted and neighboring pixels of the n upper reference pixel so as to obtain the filtered n upper reference pixel; and a step of filtering an n left reference pixel of a block to be predicted and neighboring pixels of the n left reference pixel so as to obtain the filtered n left reference pixel. According to the present invention, intra-prediction may be efficiently performed to improve image-encoding/decoding efficiency.
US09420292B2
A content adaptive compression system includes a plurality of encoders being coupled to receive a portion of an image, and accordingly generating candidate compressed codes, respectively, the plurality of encoders being configured for encoding images of different contents. An error count unit is configured to determine an amount of error between the image and the candidate compressed code for each of the encoders. A mode decision unit is coupled to receive a plurality of the amount of error, the candidate compressed code associated with least amount of error being outputted as an adaptive compressed code for the image.
US09420285B2
In some embodiments of a video coder, if some prediction information is not available for a first block in a current layer, the video coder uses corresponding information (e.g., intra prediction direction and motion information), if available, from the first block's co-located second block in the base layer as if it were the prediction information for the first block. The corresponding information can then be used in the current layer to determine the prediction information of succeeding blocks in the current layer.
US09420284B2
Method and system for transcoding a sequence of input images into a sequence of output images that can effectively handle one or more transcoding uses cases are presented. The embodiments of the invention exploit the incoming metadata retrieved from the decoding process to adapt the video content and to achieve a significant speed-up in comparison to the traditional cascaded approach while maintaining high quality for output images.
US09420283B2
A computer-implemented system and method for performing video compression are described. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: encoding a plurality of video frames or portions thereof according to a first encoding format; transmitting the plurality of encoded video frames or portions to a client device; receiving feedback information from the client device, the feedback information usable to determine whether data contained in the video frames or portions has been successfully received and/or decoded; in response to detecting that one or more video frames or portions thereof have not been successfully received and/or decoded, determining a number of video frames or portions thereof which have not been successfully received and/or decoded and: (1) if the number of video frames or portions thereof which have not been successfully received and/or decoded is above a specified threshold, then encoding a new video frame or portion thereof according to a second encoding format, the second encoding format comprising a format which is not dependent on previously-transmitted video frames or portions thereof; or (2) if the number of video frames or portions thereof which have not been successfully received and/or decoded is below a specified threshold, then encoding a new video frame or portion thereof according to the first encoding format, the new video frame encoded to be dependent on a last known successfully received video frame or portion thereof; and transmitting the new video frame or portion thereof to the client device.
US09420279B2
A rate control method for multi-layered video coding, a video encoding apparatus and a video signal processing system employing the rate control method. In the rate control method for multi-layered video coding, encoding statistical information is generated based on the result of encoding input video data on a first layer. A second rate controller generates a plurality of quantization parameters to be used when encoding is performed on a second layer, based on the encoding statistical information and/or region of interest (ROI) information. Target numbers of bits that are to be respectively assigned to regions of a second layer are determined based on the encoding statistical information and/or ROI information, and the input video data is encoded at the second layer, based on the target numbers of bits.
US09420277B1
In one aspect, an example method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up video-broadcast system involves: a computing device receiving a first video-stream that represents first video-content; the computing device generating a first signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of scene-change transitions included within the first video-content; the computing device receiving a second video-stream that represents second video-content; the computing device generating a second signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of scene-change transitions included within the second video-content; the computing device making a determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack a threshold extent of similarity; and responsive to the determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert.
US09420276B2
Microlens positions for a light-field capture device may be calibrated. A calibration light-field image may be captured, with a microlens portion corresponding to each microlens of the light-field capture device. Interstitial spaces between the microlens portions may be identified and used to locate one or more center locations of the microlens portions. The center locations may be used to generate a model that indicates the microlens positions. Additionally or alternatively, the calibration light field image may be used to select one or more contour samples from among multiple contour samples of the microlens portions. The contour sample may be fitted to a circle centered at a center location of a microlens portion to identify the center location, which may then be used to generate a model that indicates the microlens positions. Multiple iterations may be used to enhance the accuracy of the models.
US09420271B2
An information processing apparatus has upper and lower LCDs different in width and an inputter such as a touch panel, or the like. A computer of the information processing apparatus displays, out of information being made up of plurality of pages, information of a predetermined page on the upper and lower LCDs so as to be fit into the width of the lower LCD, and displays, when there is a previous or next page previous or next to the predetermined page, a part of the previous or next page at blank potions on both sides of the upper LCD. Then, in response to an input from the inputter, the information of the page displayed on the upper and lower LCDs is switched to the information corresponding to the previous or next page displayed at the blank potions on the upper LCD.
US09420269B2
The embodiments herein provide a stereoscopic image display device and method for driving the same capable of improving 2D image quality. The stereoscopic image display device comprises a display panel including a plurality of pixels; a 2D data converter configured to received two-dimensional data for each of a plurality of sub-pixels of the pixels and to convert the 2D data for each of the plurality of sub-pixels into converted 2D data for each of the plurality of sub-pixels based on all of the 2D data for the plurality of sub-pixels; and a display panel driving circuit configured to receive the converted 2D data for each of the plurality of sub-pixels and to supply each of the converted 2D data to a corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels in a two-dimensional mode of the stereoscopic image display device.
US09420260B2
The invention provides machines and systems for generating faithful 3D geometric models that correspond to the shape of an imaged 3D physical object, for storing, transmitting, and transforming those 3D models, and for manufacturing 3D objects based upon those models. The invention also provides processes for such capture, transmission, storage, and transformation of the 3D models and manufacturing of objects from those models.
US09420258B1
Injection of 3D metadata into a requested video is disclosed. An input video and associated metadata are received by a video hosting site. If the metadata indicates that the input video is a 3D video, the 3D video system extracts the accompanying 3D metadata and stores it in an intermediate format, which is independent of the 3D metadata format and video format of the input video. The 3D video system stores the received video in a standard 2D video format in a video database. Responsive to a video streaming request of the input video, the 3D video system determines the actual 3D metadata format based on the video format of the requested video, and injects a modified 3D metadata associated with the input video into the requested video.
US09420251B2
The imaging device of the invention includes an imaging portion that images a subject; a positional information acquisition portion that acquires positional information of an imaging position; a control portion which acquires information on the subject based on the positional information, and displays image data of the subject and the information on the subject on a display portion; and a hold control portion that outputs a hold control signal, which holds the image data of the subject and the information on the subject, to the control portion.
US09420245B2
An auto-focusing projection system includes a projection module, an infrared monitoring module (300), an infrared source (400) provided on the projection module, and a focusing device for driving the first lens group (201) moving forward and backward. An IR light spot emitted from the infrared source falls within the monitoring scope of the infrared monitoring module, preferably inside the projected picture of the projection module or on the edge thereof, and after reflected back, it also can travel through the first lens group, and the splitting element in turn, and then be transmitted to the infrared monitoring module. Analyzing the IR light spot picture emitted from the infrared source which is collected by the infrared monitoring module, a control signal can be sent to a focusing motor to adjust the first lens group to an appropriate position, so as to realize auto-focusing.
US09420237B2
A method of providing video feeds from a plurality of cameras to a plurality of screens including determining a plurality of constraints on a centralized processor processing the video feeds, determining a camera semantic classification for each of the plurality of cameras, determining historical events captured by each of the plurality of cameras, and providing at least one video feed to at least one of the screens according to the plurality of constraints on the centralized processor, the camera semantic classifications and the historical events.
US09420232B2
Techniques are provided for transmitting high quality multimedia data from a mobile device for live and on-demand viewing. The mobile device adjusts the quality of a single multimedia data stream based on one or more factors, such as the available bandwidth of a wireless link with a server, whether there are any “live” subscribers of the multimedia data stream, whether any “live” subscribers are interacting with the mobile device, and a change in the privacy settings of the user of the mobile device. Any data that was removed from the multimedia data stream before it was transmitted to a server is subsequently sent to the server. The server generates multiple versions of the multimedia data stream that vary in terms of quality. The server selects which version of the multimedia data stream to transmit to a subscriber of the multimedia data stream based on one or more criteria.
US09420230B2
Described are methods and systems for combining programming content in a controlled synchronized manner. The systems and methods allow for centrally generated content to be modified using local content. The centrally generated content can include data that specifies what portions of the centrally generated content can be modified by the local content.
US09420224B2
Symbols representing different classes of service are assigned to different modulation schemes so that the most important service (e.g., emergency messaging) can have the most robust performance, the next important service (e.g., audio) can have robust performance and so on including various grades of video (e.g., HDTV, SDTV) becoming available with decent received RF signal power. The separate modulation constellation points can be scaled to fit inside popular square constellation points to aide receiver synchronization. In this way, graceful degradation of service is afforded in the presence of noise in the channel.
US09420223B2
An image recording device capable of obtaining a moving image with less noise even in a low illuminance environment when obtaining a moving image having a wide dynamic range. An image pickup device picks up an image of an object over different exposure time periods to output a plurality of image signals. The plurality of image signals output from the image pickup device are synthesized to thereby obtain a synthesized image. The synthesized image is recorded in a memory at a predetermined frame rate. Respective vertical transfer periods for reading out the plurality of image signals are differentiated according to the different exposure time periods, and the sum of the vertical transfer periods is controlled to a time period defined by the predetermined frame rate.
US09420220B2
A method and device are provided for time-sequential recording of three-dimensional images each of which has at least one first and one second partial image. The device has a sensor (13) with pixels (16) subdivided into two mutually different pixel groups. An imaging optical unit has a switchable changeover device (9) that images the partial images of the three-dimensional image time-sequentially onto the sensor (13). A control unit is connected to the sensor (13) and the changeover device (9) to control the reading of the sensor (13) and the switching states of the changeover device (9) so that the changeover device (9), during the imaging of the partial images onto the sensor (13) assumes at least one switching state in which excerpts of different partial images are fed to the different pixel groups of the sensor (13).
US09420214B2
Embodiments of a device for receiving a digital terrestrial, cable, or satellite television signal are described herein. For example, a silicon tuner module may be configured to receive a digital terrestrial, cable, or satellite television signal and output a digital bitstream, the digital bitstream may include audio visual content in an encoded transport stream. In a further example, a digital audio video connector may be configured to couple with a display device, the digital audio video connector may be configured to provide the digital bitstream to the display device according to a specification. In another example, a processing module may be configured to control the silicon tuner module in response to a Consumer Electronics Control command received from the display device via the digital audio video connector.
US09420211B2
An imaging system comprises an image sensing apparatus including a pixel array, a row selection unit, and a readout unit; and a supply unit including a plurality of A/D converting units, and a transfer unit. The supply unit supplies a power supply voltage to an A/D converting unit which, of the plurality of A/D converting units, receives signals from the pixels in the pixel array by means of the transfer unit, and does not supply a power supply voltage to an A/D converting unit which, of the plurality of A/D converting units, receives no signals from the pixels in the pixel array by means of the transfer unit, in a 1-line period. The readout unit A/D-converts the signals from the pixels in the pixel array using the A/D converting unit supplied with the power supply voltage by the supply unit, and outputs a digital image signal.
US09420203B2
A vision system includes a processor and a plurality of cameras, each of which is configured to be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to select input from different combinations of the plurality of cameras based on a parameter that is associated with at least one of the status of a vehicle and a surrounding environment of the vehicle.
US09420199B2
An imaging device of the present invention comprises an imaging section, including an image sensor for imaging a subject, for generating image data based on output signals of the image sensor; a control section for casing repeated operation of the imaging section in accordance with a single release operation; an adding processing section for sequentially adding image data repeatedly output from the imaging section and generating added mage data; an image display section for displaying the added image data; and a setting section for setting a repeat period for the imaging section and instructing to the control section. Also, an imaging device of the present invention, comprises an imaging section for repeatedly forming an image of a subject at a set period, while performing a bulb exposure operation, and outputting image data; an adding processing section for performing adding processing of the image data and previously output image data; an added image storage section for respectively independently storing a plurality of added images that have been added by the adding processing section, and a display section for displaying, in a list, the plurality of added images that have been stored in the added image storage section after completion of the bulb exposure operation.
US09420197B2
An imaging device includes a flash ratio calculator calculating a flash ratio based on a flash image and a non-flash image, a main subject flash ratio selector selecting a flash ratio of an area of a main subject, a preliminary white balance coefficient determination unit determining a preliminary white balance coefficient used in adjusting a white balance, a flash ratio range calculator calculating an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a range of the flash ratio based on the flash ratio of the main subject and the preliminary white balance coefficient, a flash ratio processor altering the flash ratio so that the flash ratio is in the calculated range, and a white balance coefficient calculator calculating a white balance coefficient based on the altered flash ratio.
US09420190B2
A dual sensor camera that uses two aligned sensors each having a separate lens of different focal length but the same f-number. The wider FOV image from one sensor is combined with the narrower FOV image from the other sensor to form a combined image. Up-sampling of the wide FOV image and down-sampling of the narrow FOV image is performed. The longer focal length lens may have certain aberrations introduced so that Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) processing can be used to give the narrow FOV image approximately the same depth of field as the wide FOV image so that a noticeable difference in depth of field is not see in the combined image.
US09420188B2
A lens control apparatus includes an operation input unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The operation input unit is configured to accept a user operation. The communication unit is configured to perform communication with an external apparatus. The control unit is configured to perform driving control of a zoom lens in response to a zoom operation accepted by the operation input unit or a zoom control signal received by the communication unit. The control unit is also configured to selectively set a zoom position changing speed for driving control performed in response to the zoom operation and a zoom position changing speed for driving control performed in response to the zoom control signal, the zoom position changing speeds being different from each other.
US09420186B2
A finder optical system includes, in the order from a display device side to an eye point side, a first lens group to increase a light beam height of a light beam bundle incident from a display device side and to emit the light beam bundle to the eye point side, and a second lens group having an image formation action.
US09420185B2
A system for compensating for image blur, the system including: a movement detector which an appearance of a subject moving in a surveillance range in order to calculate a movement distance and speed determines movement characteristics of a subject on a display of a camera which obtains an image of the object; a calculator which determines moving characteristics of an image sensor based on the movement characteristics of the subject; and a moving unit which moves the image sensor for an exposure time of at least one predetermined frame based on the moving characteristics of the image sensor.
US09420183B2
The present disclosure relates to an optical adjusting apparatus having an optical adjusting lens for image stabilization and auto focusing, which includes a lens holder that supports the optical adjusting lens; at least one image stabilization VCM actuator unit that moves the lens holder perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical adjusting lens, the image stabilization VCM actuator unit including a magnet with a neutral zone parallel to the optical axis; and an auto focusing VCM actuator unit that moves the lens holder in an optical axis direction, the auto focusing VCM actuator unit including a magnet with a neutral zone orthogonal to the optical axis.
US09420172B2
An electronic device for editing a dual image and a method thereof are provided. The method includes storing at least one photographed front and rear images, respectively, and editing a stored dual image using at least the one stored front and rear images.
US09420169B2
An imaging device includes: an imaging unit imaging an object and generating image data of the object; a display unit displaying an image corresponding to the image data; a display controller controlling the display unit to display an expression guide image in which at least a part of expression of a face in the object has been changed; an expression determination unit determining similarity between the expressions in the image and in the expression guide image; an imaging controller controlling the imaging unit to continuously image the object until the expression determination unit determines that the expressions in the image and in the expression guide image are matched, wherein the display controller controls the display unit to display another expression guide image at a time the expression determination unit determines that the expressions in the image in the expression guide image are matched.
US09420167B2
An imaging apparatus includes an optical system; an imaging unit; an extractor that extracts a part of a first image as a reference image, the first image being received via the imaging unit; a first detector that obtains a first similar image from within the first image, the first similar image having a characteristic similar to a characteristic of the reference image; a calculator that obtains a positional relationship between the first similar image and the reference image; a second detector that obtains a second similar image from within a second image, the second image being received via the imaging unit later than the first image, the second similar image having a characteristic similar to the characteristic of the reference image; and a position detector that detects a position of a corresponding part of the second similar image in accordance with the positional relationship.
US09420165B2
A focus adjustment apparatus comprising a focus detection unit to detect image phase difference information using a light flux having passed through a photographic optical system including a focus lens, and a focus adjustment unit converts first image phase difference information detected by the focus detection unit into a defocus amount using a conversion coefficient and causes the focus detection unit to detect second image phase difference information after having moved the focus lens according to the defocus amount, and corrects the conversion coefficient according to the second image phase difference information and causes a storage unit to store the corrected conversion coefficient.
US09420162B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor configured to receive object image light and sequentially read out image signals in a horizontal or vertical direction, a detection unit configured to detect an object region, a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment; a storage unit configured to perform thinning processing and to sequentially store the image signals that have undergone thinning, and a calculation unit configured to filter the stored image signals, and calculate a focusing signal of a different direction from a readout direction, the storage unit increases a thinning rate of image signals in the readout direction to be greater when the object region is a second size than when the object region is a first size, the second size being larger than the first size.
US09420160B2
A method includes obtaining a plurality of object images taken by an image pickup device while moving a focal position within a predetermined range, the image pickup device being capable of taking images at arbitrary focal positions within the predetermined range; calculating a first in-focus position within the predetermined range based on pieces of contrast information on a manually-taken object image group, the manually-taken object image group including the plurality of object images taken while manually moving the focal position within the predetermined range; and calculating a second in-focus position within the search range based on pieces of contrast information on an automatically-taken object image group including the plurality of object images taken while automatically moving the focal position within a search range, the search range being determined with reference to the calculated first in-focus position.
US09420148B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for isolating individual target cells. The apparatus includes a body structure comprising a main channel, a collection channel, and a waste channel fluidly coupled at a first fluid junction. A plurality of trapping channels intersect the collection channel, each trapping channel having a diameter at a location adjacent to the intersection of the trapping channel with the collection channel that is less than a diameter of an individual target cell. The apparatus also includes an imaging system configured to image individual target and non-target cells within the main channel, thereby producing imaging data; a processor configured to perform real-time, multivariate analyses of the imaging data; and a directing system configured to direct the individual target cells. A pressure source is in fluid communication with one or more of the collection channel, the waste channel, the first side channel, and the second side channel.
US09420138B2
A printer includes a main apparatus, a device including a drive unit operable by electric power from the main apparatus; and a connection member. The main apparatus includes a first power source and a first output port. The device includes: a first input port from which the electric power from the first power source is inputted; a protector with a first end connected to the first input port; a second output port connected to a second end of the protector and to output electric power from the protector to the outside thereof; and a second input port connected to the drive unit. The connection member includes a first connecting path to connect the first output and input ports and a second connecting path to connect the second output port to the second input port to supply the output from the second output port to the second input port.
US09420135B2
An image reading apparatus conveys a sheet of a sheet bundle on a document tray along a conveyance path one by one, reads images on the sheet and then, delivers the sheet to an output tray. By receiving driving force from a single driving source, each roller included in the image reading apparatus conveys the sheet along with the conveyance path in order. Each roller includes a feed roller, a separation roller, a conveyance roller, and a delivery roller. The reader included in the image reading apparatus obtains images on the sheet passing through the reading position which is set on the conveyance path.
US09420133B2
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit and first and second image scanning devices. The first and second image scanning devices scan the same surface of the same sheet with an image formed thereon on a sheet-conveying pathway. The image forming apparatus adjusts an image forming condition based on information acquired through the scan by the first and second image scanning devices. The first image scanning device scans only a part of an area in the main scanning direction. The second image scanning device scans an area across the image forming width in the main scanning direction. The control unit detects an anomalous value based on the information acquired through the scan by the second image scanning device, and prompts cleaning of the first and second image scanning devices in response to detection of the anomalous value.
US09420119B2
A scanning optical system manufacturing method includes receiving a scanning beam, emitted from a scanning unit including an incident optical system and a deflecting device and passed through an image-forming optical system, in an area having a width in the main scanning direction narrower than a spot diameter of the scanning beam by a light-receiving unit configured to be capable of being displaced at each image height position in the main scanning direction, calculating, based on an output of the light-receiving unit, a peak light quantity at each image height position of the scanning beam, smoothing distribution data of the peak light quantity at each of the image height position acquired by the calculating, and determining, based on the data acquired by the smoothing, either nondefective/defective states of the scanning unit and the image-forming optical system or a nondefective/defective state of only the image-forming optical system.
US09420116B1
Systems and methods to prioritize emergency calls being placed to an emergency call center are based on geographical information, context information, and/or historical information associated with the emergency calls.
US09420115B2
A method using an may microphone to cancel echo applies to a sound receiving system and comprises steps: an array microphone receiving a sound source and outputting a plurality of analog acoustic signals formed from the sound source; an A/D converter converting the analog acoustic signals into a plurality of digital acoustic signals; a digital signal processor respectively using an adaptive beamforming process and a blocking matrix filtering process to convert the digital acoustic signals into a primary acoustic signal and at least one noise signal; and the digital signal processor using a multiple-input cancelling process to subtract the noise signal from the primary acoustic signal to obtain an acoustic signal where the echo has been cancelled. Thereby, the present invention can eliminate the systematic errors of the array microphone of the sound receiving system and improves the robustness of the acoustic signal.
US09420111B2
Disclosed is a communication device including a first communication part, a calling processing part, and a second communication part. The first communication part generates a response by a virtual communication party to a user's input and outputs the response from an output unit to realize first communication. The calling processing part controls a communication unit and performs calling processing on a communication device of a real communication party to call the real communication party when the first communication is realized by the first communication part. The second communication part controls the communication unit to supply the user's input accepted by the input unit to the communication device of the real communication party, acquires a response to the user's input from the communication device of the real communication party, and outputs the response to the output unit to realize second communication.
US09420109B2
The present document relates to methods and systems for setting up and managing two-dimensional or three-dimensional scenes for audio conferences. A conference controller (111, 175) configured to place L upstream audio signals (123, 173) within a 2D or 3D conference scene to be rendered to a listener (211) is described. The conference controller (111, 175) is configured to set up a X-point conference scene; assign L upstream audio signals (123, 173) to X talker locations (212); determine a maximum number N of downstream audio signals (124, 174) to be transmitted to the listener (211); determine N downstream audio signals (124, 174) from the L assigned upstream audio signals (123, 173); determine N updated talker locations for the N downstream audio signals (124, 174); and generate metadata identifying the updated talker locations and enabling an audio processing unit (121, 171) to generate a spatialized audio signal.
US09420105B2
An apparatus has a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to schedule a communication between a contact center and a communication device associated with a user, prompt the user to configure a geographic location for the communication device, track geographic location for the communication device, and initiate the communication in response to determining that the geographic location of the communication device appliance is the configured geographic location.
US09420092B2
A communication is supplemented. An initiated communication directed to a unique communication destination address assigned to a receiving party is received from the receiving party. Before the initiating party is provided access to a final communication destination for the communication, providing to the initiating party at least one selectable option, receiving from the initiating party a selected option from the at least one selectable option, and supplementing the communication based on the selected option. Only after supplementing the communication based on the selected option is the initiating party provided with access to the final communication destination.
US09420088B2
A mobile terminal including a touchscreen configured to output at least one display object; a wireless communication unit configured to transceive data with at least one external terminal; and a controller configured to identify, via the wireless communication unit, a first external terminal existing within a predetermined communication distance from the mobile terminal, display a first display object in a first mode on the touch screen, when the first external terminal exists within the predetermined communication distance, and display the first display object on the touchscreen in a second mode when the first external terminal is no longer within the predetermined communication distance. Further, the first mode includes altering at least some of the information output with the first display object compared with the information output with the second mode.
US09420087B2
Notifications for an accessory device are received at a mobile companion device. The notifications are directed to a notification processing application of the companion device that processes notifications intended for accessory device applications. The notification processing application determines an identifier of the accessory application for which the notification is intended, and provides the identifier to a notification display application at the accessory device, which determines user interface and display properties for the notification. The accessory device requests external (dynamic) user interface and display properties from the companion device, as needed, and upon receipt generates a notification display at the accessory device.
US09420081B2
A system and method for providing voice communications with desired characteristics based upon the intended recipient of a voice communication. An apparatus includes a list of dial strings associated with parties having desired voice communication characteristics. A dial string entered by a user and associated with an intended recipient is compared to a list of preferred dial strings to determine the characteristics of an encoded voice signal to be sent to the recipient. The apparatus can include a vocoder having different bit rate modes and a bit rate mode is selected based upon the dial string entered by a user. Dial strings can be stored at the device or on a network. The apparatus can include a mode selector to select a desired vocoder mode to generate an encoded voice signal.
US09420074B2
In one embodiment, a method of installing a component in an electronic device is described. A light source shines a light through an aperture of on one end of the electronic device. A light sensor positioned on the opposite end moves with a fixture having the component. When the light sensor determines a central portion of the light, the fixture and the component may be aligned with the aperture of the electronic device, and the fixture installs the component. In another embodiment, a method of detecting proper installment of the component is described. A microphone may be used to detect sound transmission from a speaker which transmits sound through the aperture. If the microphone detects sounds from an interface region between the component and the housing, the component is not properly installed.
US09420073B2
There is provided a vibrator including: a housing having an internal space and having at least one through-hole formed therein; a vibrator disposed in the housing and vibrating; and an impact damping member installed on at least one of outer surfaces of the housing and damping impact, wherein the vibrator has protrusions disposed thereon so as to correspond to the through-hole and contacting the impact damping member while penetrating the through-hole at the time of external impact.
US09420071B2
A processor, to facilitate header compression, includes circuitry configured to receive a first packet-header sent from another processor, the first packet-header having been sent in response to the other processor receiving the first packet-header encapsulated in a frame, and the frame not matching a flow table entry in the other processor.
US09420064B2
Systems and methods for skeleton-based discovery of an application in a computer network are provided. An implementation of the system includes a processor configured to generate a template for an application topology of the application based on a structure determined by an initial discovery, modify the template during a traversing of the template, and generate a display of the template indicating states of the application according to the impact rules. The application topology is multi-tiered and includes nodes associated with elements of the application and dependencies between the nodes. The states include at least one of an actual state or a scenario state.
US09420063B2
The method and system relate to prioritizing access and shaping traffic to the SIM such that the requests to the SIM that pertain to registering the wireless mobile device on a network are given a higher priority than other requests to the SIM. The higher priority requests that relate to registering the mobile device on a network may be processed by the SIM prior to at least one other request that is not related to registering the mobile device on the network.
US09420050B1
Some embodiments provide a log reporting system for a federation of independently operated CDNs so that logs, performance, analytics, and billing can be obtained for customers irrespective of which servers of which federation participants the customers' configurations are deployed to. The system includes a log aggregator, splitter, management agent, archival storage, dissemination agent, data log analyzer, and portal. The log aggregator aggregates server logs from servers of the federation participants. The splitter produces customer logs by regrouping the server logs on a per customer basis irrespective of which servers of which federation participants produced entries for each customer. The management agent controls operations of the archival storage, dissemination agent, and log analyzer. The archival storage archives customer logs. The dissemination agent disseminates customer logs. The log analyzer processes the customer logs to produce reports, analytics, and billing. The portal is an interface to access the customer logs.
US09420038B2
A videoconferencing system in which multiple browsers are utilized to present content and control functions for a server based videoconference. The content of the videoconference (e.g., video and audio streams) is presented on a display device driven by a local computer running a browser. The local computer also runs a separate browser that presents control functions on a different display device (e.g., a touch screen). The system can be scaled to include additional monitors and browsers running on the local computer. A local server is provided on the local computer for facilitating communications among the locally running browsers. In this manner, the browsers can communicate with each other via the local server executing on the local computer. The need to send traffic to a remote server to effectuate the browser-to-browser communication is eliminated. This provides for reduced latency and lowers the demands on the remote server.
US09420035B2
Described is a multi-tenant Software as a Service (SaaS) computing environment which provides at least one logical server where two or more sets of tenant data can be processed by the logical server to keep the data from commingling with each other. To prevent data commingling, every tenant transaction request is isolated, via the described system and method, from all other tenant transaction requests by dynamically creating and later destroying unique pluggable components that satisfy the transaction requests.
US09420031B2
Systems and techniques of building and presenting hybrid remote client applications for and to users of a mobile device are presented. Upon a user accessing a remote client application, the mobile device may launch a unified User Interface (UI) that provides the user with a list of allowable operations associated with the remote client application. Such allowable operations may include JavaScript operations that are supplied by the remote client application—e.g., via a HTML web page. In addition, an allowable operation may include a native operation that is supplied by the native SDK of the mobile device.
US09420021B2
A method of enhancing the use of a media device and a media device are provided. The media device receives a broadcast media stream transmitted by a broadcast system, a service transmitted by a telecommunication system, the service being associated with a broadcast media stream and program guide information relating to a broadcast media stream. The media device is configured to detect when the service transmission comprises data corresponding to given search parameters and to record the broadcast media stream in a memory on the basis of the detection.
US09420018B2
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of facilitating the end-to-end transfer of a URI between a plurality of SIP entities. The method comprising generating a SIP message and including the URI to be transferred in a Contact header of the message and including in the Contact header a parameter indicating to a back-to-back user agent that this URI is not to be changed or replaced.
US09420016B2
A method, system and/or computer program product predicts viewing activity of a new posting to an activity stream. A first computer transmits a new posting to an activity stream in a second computer, where the new posting is available to a potential viewer set. Based on identified viewer information about one or more members of the potential viewer set, a prediction is made of viewing activity of the new posting by the potential viewer set. This predicted viewing activity is based on identified viewer information about members of the potential viewer set, and describes a predicted likelihood of the potential viewer set viewing the new posting. The derived predicted viewing activity of the new posting by the potential viewer set is then presented at the first computer.
US09420008B1
A system and method for repurposing of cryptographic capabilities in an electronic warfare (EW) environment is presented. A method begins by determining in a client system a cryptographic function to be performed; however, the client system does not have any cryptographic functionality. The client system then requests the cryptographic function be performed in a cryptographic logic that is physically secured with the client system and is external to the client system. The cryptographic logic performs the cryptographic function to produce a cryptographic result. The cryptographic result is then provided to the client system.
US09420000B2
The invention relates to a method for traversing a NAT device residing in a backhaul IP network. A home cellular base station (HeNB) and a collocated local gateway (L-GW) providing access to a local IP network are connected to a mobile operator's packet core network through the NAT device. The method comprises the steps of opening an IPsec tunnel between the home cellular base station (HeNB) and a security gateway (SeGW) via the NAT device, and of tunneling two interfaces through the same IPsec tunnel, wherein a first interface is an interface whose local endpoint is the home cellular base station (HeNB) and whose remote endpoint is a node residing in the operator's packet core network, and a second interface is an interface whose local endpoint is the local gateway (L-GW) and whose remote endpoint is a node residing in the operator's packet core network. The invention also relates to a node comprising a home cellular base station (HeNB) and a collocated local gateway (L-GW).
US09419997B2
Methods and systems for mitigating the effects of a malicious software application are disclosed. A dedicated module on the computing device receives from a malicious software detector a message indicating whether the application is malicious or has a malicious component. The dedicated module obtains a set of permissions to be granted to the application, and instructs software on the computing device that controls the permissions of the application to grant the set of permissions.
US09419996B2
A method of identifying one or more malicious threats in a computing device. The device comprises monitoring a plurality of events occurring on a computing device in run time, a plurality of processes executed on the computing device in run time, and a plurality of host activities of the computing device in run time, identifying a compliance of at least some of the plurality of events, the plurality of processes, and the plurality of host activities with a plurality of rules, generating a rule compliance status dataset generated according to the compliance, identifying a match between the rule compliance status dataset and at least one of a plurality of reference profiles each indicative of a computing device operation under a malicious threat activity, and detecting a malicious threat according to the match.
US09419993B2
Technologies are generally provided for a system to enhance security and prevent side channel attacks of targeted functions. Side channel attacks assume that the targeted functions operate at same speed each time, and observe timing data of the targeted functions to glean secure information. According to some examples, an enhanced security system may alter a processing speed of one or more subunits of a processor executing the targeted function(s) to transparently change an instantaneous performance of the processor in an unpredictable manner. The performance time of the targeted function(s) may thereby be randomized. A virtual machine manager (VMM) may identify a security risk for a targeted function, and trigger one or more subunits of the processor to operate at a reduced frequency. After completion of the targeted function, the subunits may be returned to a default performance speed.
US09419982B2
An image of a second user is captured by a camera of a computing device currently providing access to a first set of resources to a first user. In response to identifying an account of the first user, a prompt is provided at the computing device to confirm authorization of the second user. On receiving a valid response to the prompt, the second user is provided access to a second set of resources provided by the computing device.
US09419981B2
Methods, media, and systems for securing communications between a first node and a second node are provided. In some embodiments, methods for securing communication between a first node and a second node are provided. The methods comprising: receiving at least one model of behavior of the second node at the first node; and authorizing the first node to receive traffic from the second node based on the difference between the at least one model of behavior of the second node and at least one model of behavior of the first node.
US09419975B2
Apparatus for communication includes a single one-way link, which is physically capable of carrying the communication signals in one direction and incapable of carrying the communication signals in the opposite direction. Ancillary circuitry is coupled so as to cause the single one-way link to convey both first communication signals from a first station to a second station and second communication signals from the second station to the first station.
US09419973B2
Technology for content uniform resource locator (URL) authentication for dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH) is disclosed. In an example, a client device can include computer circuitry configured to: Receive a URL authentication key indicator and a content URL signature indicator from a server; generate a calculated URL signature for a URL in a DASH media presentation description (MPD) from the URL authentication key indicator; request the DASH segment when the calculated URL signature matches the received content URL signature, thereby authenticating content URL; and receive a DASH segment using the authenticated content URL. The received content URL signature is derived at the server from the content URL contained within the DASH segment URL.
US09419963B2
Systems and methods for controlling access to multiple applications on a computing device are provided. One embodiment of a system includes an access device configured to: receive a request to access a first application and a device identifier; authenticate the user using a user credential associated with the user and store the device identifier in association with a login identifier in response to authentication of the user. The access device can be further configured to receive a request to access a second application and the device identifier. The access device can allow access to the second application based on the previous authentication of the user.
US09419962B2
A computer implemented method and apparatus for sharing server resources. One or more applications are registered to a first local group on a device, and one or more applications are registered to a second local group on the device. If a user and device have been authenticated, and a device token already acquired for obtaining authorization for a first application of the first local group to access resources from a server, the same device token is available for use in obtaining authorization for a second application of the first group to access (share) resources from the server. Thus, the user need not re-submit authentication credentials to the authorization server. When the user signs out of an application of the same group, the sign out procedure is processed locally for all applications of the group. A device token is surrendered when it is not needed by applications of any other group.
US09419955B2
Methods, computer code products and systems for authenticating user equipment for access to a trusted network can include receiving a user identity uniquely identifying the user equipment. A proxying entity in the trusted network can generate a network-trusted header including the user identity and forward it to a serving entity in the network. The serving entity performs verification on the received carrier header and can compare the user identity with a list of approved user IDs and if a match is found, the user equipment can be authenticated for access to the network. IBCF that performs optional hiding for the proxying entity toward the Home IMS network can extract the proxying entity-generated parameter out of the encrypted token making it readable to the serving entity if it is encrypted in the carrier header. The proxying entity can also provide verification of the utilized header when processing the registration request from the user equipment. Alternatively the serving entity can be provisioned with data related to NBA support in various proxying entities or domains where proxying entities are located so that the serving entity can decide to proceed with NBA procedure or not for registration received via certain proxying entities or visited networks.
US09419954B1
A system for secure key management including a secondary device comprising a programmable hardware component and an associated secure data storage, wherein the secondary device comprises a one-way communications link to receive input unilaterally from a computing device, an encryption key generator to generate and store encryption keys on the secure data storage, and an encryption key distribution module to distribute encryption keys to one or more destinations on a computer network through a communications interface component, wherein the distribution is adapted to bypass a central processor of the computing device. A method is also provided.
US09419948B2
A computer implemented method and apparatus for avoiding license storming during an unplanned regional blackout. The method comprises generating a leaf license for each geographic region of a plurality of geographic regions in a broadcast area, wherein each leaf license includes a first content encryption key for decrypting media content associated with the leaf license, and where each leaf license is bound to a root license for each geographic region in the plurality of geographic regions; and generating, in response to a blackout event, a new leaf license for each geographic region of the plurality of geographic regions that are located outside of a blackout area, wherein each new leaf license includes a second content encryption key different from the first content encryption key for decrypting protected media content, and wherein each new leaf license remains bound to the root license for each geographic region in the plurality of geographic regions.
US09419944B2
The present invention discloses methods for establishing Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections among a plurality of VPN gateways at a VPN management server. The VPN management server determines VPN gateways belonging to a first VPN gateway group and also determines the number of possible VPN connections for each VPN gateway of the first VPN gateway group. Configuration for each VPN gateway of the first VPN gateway group is determined based on, at least in part, a VPN connection topology and the number of VPN connection license(s). Each VPN gateway of the first VPN gateway group is configured according to the configuration and a plurality of VPN connections is established based on, at least in part, the configurations.
US09419938B2
A system for associating an action of a user with a message corresponding to the action, where the message is visually displayed on a series of sequentially disposed discrete mats. The message is uttered by the user and the message is verified using a speech analyzer. The system includes at least two mats, each mat having a display, a transmitter, a receiver, and a presence sensor indicating the presence of the user and configured to indicate the intention of the user to add an answer to a composite answer. The system also includes an audio receiver that receives an audio input from the user and an indicator device that indicates whether the mat is a head mat.
US09419936B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for rapidly recovering a network connection interrupted by a change in an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) device. In the method, a second address of a device is obtained using a message signaling an end of a network connection based on a first address of the device, and a second address-based network connection is set using the obtained second address.
US09419934B2
A system for managing message volume and timing, which permits first and second messages to be spaced apart over time, with the pacing controlled in part by a characteristic of the second message. The system sends the first message to an intended recipient. The system determines a separation based on a pacing algorithm and sends the second message to the recipient according to the separation.
US09419933B2
Methods are provided for constructing an on-the-fly circle of trust for a user of an online social network to enable the user to reduce the likelihood that information will be leaked to an unwanted target. In one embodiment, a maximum circle of trust is constructed by using an iterative greedy construction (IGC) algorithm with leakage estimation using disjoint cut-sets. In another embodiment, the maximum circle of trust is constructed by using the IGC algorithm with leakage estimation using a hybrid method where the initial CT is constructed using the disjoint cut-sets and then the neighbors not included in the CT are sorted in non-decreasing order of visibilities and then each of these neighbors is included in the CT one at a time while checking if the leakage is below a threshold using a Sampling algorithm. In yet another embodiment, randomized rounding is used to construct the maximum circle of trust.
US09419927B2
A method, system, and computer program product for scanning incoming emails reduces the server resources needed, which improves server throughput and reduces costs. A method for processing incoming email messages comprised the steps of scanning incoming email messages to obtain an address of a sender of each incoming email message and to determine whether the email message is spam, for each email message that is determined to be spam, incrementing a count of email messages that are spam for a sender of the email message, determining that a count of email messages that are spam for a sender of an email message has exceeded a threshold, and thereafter, discarding all incoming email messages from the sender for which the count of email messages that are spam for a sender of an email message has exceeded a threshold without scanning the email messages to determine whether they are spam.
US09419920B1
An Application-Aware Automatic Network Selection (ANS) router and method for automatic network selection, translation of data between networks, and application-specific feedback. In one embodiment, the router and method select between an Internet Protocol (IP) network and a Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) network, monitoring the state of both networks, intercepting IP packets which could otherwise not be delivered, responding to the application that sent the packet, and translating a group of such packets into a DTN bundle; the software implementing this system resides on a network router that functions as a node on both the IP and DTN networks. In other embodiments, the system and method select between or among mobile ad hoc networks, sensor networks, vehicular networks, and satellite and deep space networks.
US09419915B2
An example method according to the disclosure can comprise receiving a requested number of slots from a user at a computing system. The computing system can be associated with a plurality of slots for processing one or more jobs. Each of the plurality of slots can be associated with a status (e.g., used, available, idle). A user can request a requested number of slots from the computing system. A quantity of slots can be allocated to the user based on the request, user category (e.g., under-served, adequately served), slot status and other factors. Only idle slots can be allocated to the adequately served user, whereas both available slots and idle slots can be allocated to the under-served user. One or more slots allocated to a user can be re-allocated to other users.
US09419914B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for using templates to configure cloud resources. Embodiments of the invention include encapsulating cloud configuration information in an importable/exportable node template. Node templates can also be used to bind groups of nodes to different cloud subscriptions and cloud service accounts. Accordingly, managing the configuration of cloud based resources can be facilitated through an interface at a (e.g., high performance) computing component. Templates can also specify a schedule for starting/stopping instance running within a resource cloud.
US09419913B2
Cloud resource provisioning is described. A cloud resource provisioning method may include obtaining cloud resource usage data by a process, wherein the cloud resource usage data identifies a cloud resource consumed by the process and a usage level associated with the cloud resource. The method may also include assigning an importance indicator to the cloud resource, and identifying a recommended cloud resource having available capacity with respect to the usage level in view of the importance indicator.
US09419910B2
A communication system includes: a forwarding node(s) in which a first packet handling operation(s) for processing incoming packets is set and which processes packets in accordance with the packet handling operation(s); a first control apparatus setting the first packet handling operation(s) in the forwarding node(s); a flow control node(s) arranged upstream of the forwarding node(s); and a second control apparatus setting a second packet handling operation(s) in the flow control node(s). The flow control node(s) intercepts forwarding of packets that do not satisfy a predetermined condition(s) to the forwarding node(s) in accordance with the second packet handling operation(s).
US09419905B2
A dual chipset architecture, a method of operating a scheduler for a dual chipset architecture, and a computer program product for operating a scheduler for a dual chipset architecture. In an embodiment, the dual chipset architecture comprises a high performance processor, a low performance processor, and a scheduler for the processors. The scheduler is provided for determining an expected data traffic flow to the chipset, and for selectively enabling the high and low performance processors, based on this expected data flow, ahead of this expected data flow reaching the chipset. In one embodiment, a specified data traffic indicator is associated with the expected data traffic flow, and the scheduler uses this specified data traffic indicator to determine the expected data traffic flow. In an embodiment, this specified data traffic indicator is a value for a defined window size for the expected data flow.
US09419897B2
A method for providing support for multi-tenancy in single root input/out virtualization (SR-IOV) enabled physical network interface controller (NIC) is provided. The NIC is associated with a host. The SR-IOV provides a physical function (PF) and a set of virtual functions (VFs) for the NIC. The method at a VF of the physical NIC, receives a mapping table of an overlay network which associates an identification of each of a set of virtual machine (VM) of a tenant on the host to an identification of a tunnel end point on the overlay network. The method receives a transmit packet from a VM connected to the VF and performs a lookup in the mapping table to identify source and destination tunnel end points associated with source and destination VMs in the packet. The method encapsulates the packet, for transmission through the tunnel end point associated with the source VM.
US09419888B2
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to methodologies, apparatuses, and systems for providing cell router (relay) failure detection in a mesh network. Individual cell relays heading up cells within a mesh network transmit synchronization signals including as a portion thereof a counter value. Nodes with the cells monitor the counter value and search for a new connection to a central facility if the counter value fails to update within a predetermined value.
US09419879B2
Facilitating communications within a processing environment. Inbound traffic and outbound traffic on one or more virtual interfaces of the processing environment are monitored for a predefined amount of time. Based on the monitoring, a determination is made as to whether for a selected component of a virtual interface of the one or more virtual interfaces an inbound frame has been received but an outbound frame has not been transmitted for the predetermined amount of time. Based on determining that the inbound frame has been received but the outbound frame has not been transmitted, a generated outbound frame is forwarded to cause address registration information for the virtual interface to be refreshed.
US09419876B2
The techniques disclosed herein determine a location independent network delay, via a network monitoring device. Such techniques particularly include determining various delays caused by retransmission in instances of lost data segments and application response time.
US09419870B2
A system that displays performance data for a computing environment. During operation, the system determines performance states for a plurality of entities that comprise the computing environment based on values of a performance metric for the entities. Next, the system displays the computing environment as a tree comprising nodes representing the plurality of entities and edges representing parent-child relationships between the plurality of entities. Then, for each parent node in the tree, the system determines counts of one or more performance states for descendants of the parent node in the tree. Finally, the system displays a graphical representation of the determined counts while displaying the parent node. In some embodiments, displaying the graphical representation of the determined counts includes displaying a circular ring comprising visually distinct sections associated with different performance states, wherein the visually distinct sections are sized proportionately with the determined counts for the associated performance states.
US09419869B2
A system, method, and handheld wireless device for improving a connection to a wireless device. Performance information is measured for the connection to the wireless device. One or more trends in one or more averages associated with the performance information are determined. The one or more trends and the one or more averages are displayed to user. Recommendations are generated for the user to implement a user action in response to the one or more trends and the one or more averages to improve the connection to the wireless device. The recommendations are displayed to the user to improve the connection in real-time.
US09419863B2
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, and computer readable media for interfacing with a phone system in an on-demand service environment. In one embodiment, a client machine is in communication with a data provider and the phone system. The phone system is operated by a phone provider separate from the data provider. A message is received at the client machine from the phone system. The message includes information regarding a phone event in relation to a phone call. The phone event information is provided in a first part of a user interface in a web browser on the client machine. A second part of the user interface is capable of displaying information received at the client machine from the data provider. The first part of the user interface and the second part of the user interface are adapted to communicate with one another. For example, the first part of the user interface is adapted to send a message including the phone event information to the second part of the user interface.
US09419861B1
A management information base (MIB) mapping controller discovers presence of an electronic device accessible through a network connected to the MIB mapping controller. A MIB table contains information mapping device interface variables for interfaces of electronic devices to common interface variables. The MIB table is accessed to determine whether the MIB table contains particular information mapping an device interface variable for an interface of the electronic device to one of the common interface variables known by the common access interface. Responsive to determining that the MIB table does not contain the particular information, new information is determined that maps the device interface variable for the interface of the electronic device to one of the common interface variables known by the common access interface. The new information is added to the MIB table. Related methods in a MIB mapping controller are disclosed.
US09419859B2
The techniques and arrangements described herein provide for updating services, host operating systems and other applications while satisfying update domain constraints. In some examples, one or more controller modules may maintain a data structure including a plurality of server update domains, each server update domain including a set of machines of a plurality of machines of a distributed computing system which may be concurrently updated. The one or more controller modules may allocate the plurality of instances to the plurality of machines such that a number of server update domains is minimized.
US09419856B1
The following description is directed to configuring network devices. In one example, a deployed configuration for a network device can be collected. The deployed configuration can be representative of a state of the network device at the time of collection. A difference can be detected between the deployed configuration and an authoritative configuration for the network device. In response to detecting the difference, an update of the network device according to the authoritative configuration for the network device can be scheduled.
US09419852B1
The teachings herein generally relate to client-server communications and the delivery of content over computer networks to clients, and provide improved methods, systems, and apparatus for identifying and/or characterizing client devices that are requesting content from a server. For example, based on information sent in a client device's request for content, a web server modified in accordance with the teachings hereof can identify a set of characteristics associated with that client device. Such characteristics might include the model name of the client device, the screen dimensions of the client device, information about the particular operating system or browser name/version it is running, content formats it is capable of consuming, and so on. The web server can use this information to modify and customize its response for the given client device.
US09419851B1
A computing device is provided that automatically tags and tracks Transport Control Protocol (TCP) packets through one or more communications networks. An agent module at a sending device inserts tracking tags into the headers of TCP packets before sending the TCP packets to a remote receiving device. The receiving device also comprises an agent module that identifies and associates the tracking tags of the received TCP packets with the data carried by those TCP packets. The associations are stored in memory for later analysis by an application administrator or systems engineer.
US09419846B2
A subassembly for an integrated wireless module is provided. The subassembly includes an integrated-wireless-module input/output (I/O) connector, a modem controller; at least one internal antenna, and at least two modem connectors communicatively coupled to the modem controller, the modem connectors configured to interface with at least two modems. The modem controller digitally selects to one of: communicatively couple one of the at least two modem connectors to one of the at least one internal antenna; communicatively couple one of the at least two modem connectors to the integrated-wireless-module I/O connector; and communicatively couple a first one of the at least two modem connectors to one of the at least one internal antenna and communicatively couple a second one of the at least two modem connectors to the integrated-wireless-module I/O connector.
US09419843B2
A custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) that simultaneously processes data packets and multimedia packets, including Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) packets, that are transmitted by a plurality of clients connected to a central server over a network, such as the Internet, and that are also transmitted by the central server to the plurality of servers. The custom ASIC may be configured to restrict the receipt of both the multimedia and the data packets to selected, predetermined clients connected to the central server and prevent the receipt of such packets by non-authorized clients. A method of processing data packets and multimedia packets, including VoIP packets, and a system utilizing the custom ASIC are also provided.
US09419841B1
In some implementations, tokens that are representative of sensitive data may be used in place of the sensitive data to maintain the security of the sensitive data. For example, data may be separated into sensitive data and nonsensitive data, and at least the sensitive data is securely delivered to a data storage service. The data storage service generates a token that is representative of the sensitive data and stores the sensitive data as secure data. The data storage service may deliver the token to an entity that also receives the nonsensitive data, and the entity may use the token in place of the sensitive data. In some implementations, different tokens are generated each time the same piece of sensitive data is submitted for storage as secure data. Further, in some implementations, access policies define authorizations regarding which entities are able to resolve a token to access the actual sensitive data.
US09419838B1
An innovative software-defined backchannel communication scheme is provided for use in ultra-low power devices. The technique enables interconnecting heterogeneous devices through a WiFi backchannel that can be realized with existing infrastructure without any hardware modifications. The backchannel communication scheme can also be extended to other OFDM based communication systems, such as cellular 4G LTE.
US09419829B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of Direct Current (DC) estimation. For example, an apparatus may include an estimator to estimate a DC component of a received wireless communication packet based on a first value, a second value and an estimated frequency offset, wherein the first value is based on a first plurality of samples including at least a plurality of samples of a first sequence of a preamble of the wireless communication packet, the second value is based on a second plurality of samples including at least a plurality of samples of a second sequence of the preamble, immediately successive to the first sequence, and the estimated frequency offset corresponds to a frequency offset between the first and second pluralities of samples.
US09419824B2
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.
US09419822B2
A method for transmitting a reference signal includes selecting one of a first initialization value and a second initialization value, generating selection instruction information corresponding to the selected initialization value, transmitting the selection instruction information to a mobile station, generating a reference signal based on the selected initialization value, and transmitting the generated reference signal to the mobile station. A method for estimating a channel includes receiving selection instruction information indicating a selection of at least one of a first initialization value and a second initialization value, receiving a first reference signal based on the selection instruction information, generating a second reference signal based on an initialization value indicated as being selected by the selection instruction information, and estimating a channel state by comparing the first reference signal with the second reference signal.
US09419821B2
A method of routing a voice communication from a web page to one of a plurality of queues includes determining whether a user has previously visited the web page. If the user has not previously visited the web page, the web page is displayed without a button to initiate the voice communication. If the user has previously visited the web page, the button is displayed.
US09419820B1
Embodiments generally relate to generating social networks from device specific communications. In one embodiment, a method includes determining social connection data included in communications, the communications being associated together via a device identifier and generating a communications-based social network for an end user from the determined social connection data, the end user being associated with the device identifier.
US09419815B2
A method and apparatus for providing domainless service selection (DLSS) are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a service selection network element used to provide access of computing devices to a set of one or more services provided by a set of one or more providers. In addition, a web portal allows subscribers to log in and/or select/switch between the services and providers. Responsive to such action by a given subscriber, the web portal causes a record of that subscriber to be altered to reflect the action and causes the service selection network element to attempt to connect the subscriber accordingly. According to certain embodiments of the invention, subscribers' domainless user identifiers are merged by the service selection network element with domain names (stored in a database) of services/providers to form network addresses (e.g., Internet addresses).
US09419811B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishing a pool of multicast group addresses reserved for assignment to Layer 2 (“L2”) and Layer 3 (“L3”) segment IDs of a network comprising an Internet protocol (“IP”) fabric, and assigning a first multicast group address from the pool to an L3 segment ID of a Virtual Routing and Forwarding element (“VRF”) associated with a new partition established in the network. The method further includes pushing the first multicast group address assignment to a database to provide arguments for configuration profiles, and configuring a new tenant detected on a leaf node of the network using the configuration profiles, in which the configuring comprises specifying multicast group to segment ID assignments for the tenant as specified in the configuration profiles.
US09419807B2
A Powered Device (PD) in a PoE system has two input channels, each being coupled to a separate Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) for increased reliability. A first PD controller is coupled to the first channel to perform hand-shaking and closes a first Power Good (PWRGD) switch when the PoE voltage is detected on the first channel. A second PD controller is coupled to the second channel to perform hand-shaking and closes a second PWRGD switch when the PoE voltage is detected on the second channel. A diode bridge couples both channels to a single regulating power supply that supplies power to a load. Auxiliary switches are controlled by the PWRGD signals so that only the first channel or the second channel is coupled to the diode bridge in the event that both channels receive the respective PoE voltages. Therefore, hot standby is provided using only one power supply.
US09419803B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, device, and storage medium including: receiving an NDEF message by an NFC device including a payload and at least one of a digital signature and a reference to a digital signature; stripping data from the payload to produce a stripped payload; verifying the payload using the digital signature and the stripped payload; and conditionally interpreting the payload based on whether the payload is verified. Various embodiments are described wherein: the payload includes a URI including a fragment denoted by a pound character; and stripping data includes stripping the fragment from the URI. Various embodiments are described wherein the payload is verified, the fragment comprises fragment data, and interpreting the payload comprises: transmitting a message requesting a resource identified by the URI, wherein the request omits the fragment data; executing a received script to transmit the fragment data to a device.
US09419802B2
A method according to one embodiment includes the operations of configuring a host processor to receive a message filtering rule, the host processor associated with a vehicle; configuring a bus controller to verify authenticity of the message filtering rule, wherein the bus controller is programmed through an interface, the interface inaccessible from the host processor; filtering messages from the host processor using the verified message filtering rule, wherein the filtering is performed by the bus controller; and transmitting the filtered messages from the bus controller over a bus to one or more electronic control units (ECUs), the ECUs communicatively coupled to the bus.
US09419800B2
Secure network systems and methods are provided. In an aspect of the invention, a secure network system is provided that includes a computing system that comprises a client system and a specialized NIC (network interface controller) system equipped with the capability to form a secure connection with an endpoint system and encrypt and decrypt communications between the client system and the network to which it is connected. This trusted network interface (TNI), which may present itself as a physical peripheral connected to a physical client system or a virtual peripheral connected to a virtual client system, takes the place of a client system's standard NIC, and the connection that it forms with the trusted network is negotiated and enforced externally to and independent of the client system.
US09419799B1
A system and method is illustrated for providing secure credential using a secure credential package stored on a client device and at least one key stored in a corporate network. In embodiments, an access connector receives credentials and a device unique identifier from the client device over a secure link, obtain the at least one key from the corporate network, apply the at least one key to the credentials and the device unique identifier to generate the secure credential package including the encrypted credential and the device unique identifier, send the secure credential package to the client device over the secure link, upon receiving the secure credential package from the client device, retrieve the at least one key via the key manager, decrypting the secure credential package using the at least one key to obtain the credentials, and validate the credentials against a user directory located in the corporate network.
US09419797B2
A cryptographic system makes everyday data objects, such as a document or conversation, unreadable to anyone other than the owner or those currently having permission to access the data objects. The cryptographic system is transparent by requiring no additional effort on the part of any user in the encryption/decryption process other than entering a user identifier and password. Each document is encrypted with a unique encryption key. Changes to data object access permissions are immediately honored and enforced by enabling or disabling access to certain decryption keys. Decryption of data objects requires information known only to the owner of the data object or those permitted to access the data object. This decryption information is not stored anywhere in the system.
US09419795B2
Disclosed is a method for performing secure communication using a digital device. The method includes outputting a light pattern using a radiator of a proximity sensor unit; and detecting the proximity of an object using the proximity sensor unit. Further, the method includes, when the object is in proximity within a predetermined distance range, extracting key generation information for the secure communication using the light pattern outputted from the radiator; generating a security key using the key generation information; and performing the secure communication with an external device using the generated security key.
US09419792B2
Vector instructions for performing SNOW 3G wireless security operations are received and executed by the execution circuitry of a processor. The execution circuitry receives a first operand of the first instruction specifying a first vector register that stores a current state of a finite state machine (FSM). The execution circuitry also receives a second operand of the first instruction specifying a second vector register that stores data elements of a liner feedback shift register (LFSR) that are needed for updating the FSM. The execution circuitry executes the first instruction to produce a updated state of the FSM and an output of the FSM in a destination operand of the first instruction.
US09419784B2
The present invention relates to a system for calibrating and for synchronizing a receiver. The system is arranged for receiving a reference clock signal in a first and a second signal path and comprises generator means for generating in the first signal path a first plurality of phase coherent tones derived from said reference clock signal and for generating in the second signal path a second plurality of phase coherent tones derived from said reference clock signal, said second plurality of phase-coherent tones being at lower frequencies than said first plurality of phase-coherent tones, and gating means for gating said first plurality of phase coherent tones by said second plurality of phase-coherent tones, such that the phase-coherent tones of said second signal path appear in a distorted version around tones of said plurality of phase-coherent tone of said first signal path, and for outputting a resulting gated signal.
US09419775B2
A tunable diplexer includes a high band port, a low band port, an antenna port, a high pass filter, and a low pass filter. The high pass filter is coupled between the high band port and the antenna port, and is configured to pass signals within a high pass band between the high band port and the antenna port. The high pass filter includes a high band path stop band zero, which is configured to selectively attenuate signals within a high band path stop band. The low pass filter is coupled between the low band port and the antenna port, and is configured to pass signals within a low pass band between the low band port and the antenna port. The low pass filter includes a low band path stop band zero, which is configured to selectively attenuate signals within a low band path stop band.
US09419764B2
A terminal device capable of providing a method for determining PUCCH resources used for notification of response signals indicating error detection results for downlink line data, when ARQ is applied during communications using an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands associated to the uplink unit band and when downlink data allocations are instructed using an ePDCCH. In this device, a control unit (208) determines A/N resources on the basis of whether a channel used for transmitting downlink control information (DCI) is a PDCCH or an ePDCCH.
US09419749B2
Encoding of a plurality of encoded symbols is provided wherein an encoded symbol is generated from a combination of a first symbol generated from a first set of intermediate symbols and a second symbol generated from a second set of intermediate symbols, each set having at least one different coding parameter, wherein the intermediate symbols are generated based on the set of source symbols. A method of decoding data is also provided, wherein a set of intermediate symbols is decoded from a set of received encoded symbols, the intermediate symbols organized into a first and second sets of symbols for decoding, wherein intermediate symbols in the second set are permanently inactivated for the purpose of scheduling the decoding process to recover the intermediate symbols from the encoded symbols, wherein at least some of the source symbols are recovered from the decoded set of intermediate symbols.
US09419747B2
A method and apparatus to manage interference between idle devices is provided. The method may include determining a pair of a target transmission node and a target reception node among nodes included in a multi-hop network. The method includes determining idle devices cooperating to manage interference in the communication based on a transmission mode determined for communication. The method determines and transmitting coordination information for communication between the pair of the target transmission node and the target reception node, to nodes participating in the communication and the cooperating idle devices.
US09419746B1
The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for dynamic analog tuning for power reduction. As disclosed herein, the analog controls on a high-speed serial communication channel are dynamically adjusted in a manner so as to either reduce the total system power or move power dissipation between the transmitter and receiver devices, with little or no negative effect to the bit error rate. One embodiment relates to a method for tuning a communication link. The method includes occasionally determining whether the bit error rate for the communication link is acceptably low. Control parameters for analog circuitry of the communication link are adjusted to decrease power used if the bit error rate is acceptably low and are adjusted to increase power used if the bit error rate is not acceptably low. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US09419738B2
A communication device includes: first and second memories configured to store first and second packets in first and second queues, respectively; a processor configured to: select a packet to be transmitted by selecting the first packet in priority to the second packet, read the selected packet from the first or second queue, and detect the first packet stored in the first queue during reading of the second packet from the second queue; and a third memory configured to hold copied data relating to the second packet, wherein when detecting the first packet, the processor is configured to cause an internal or external part of the communication device to discard the currently read second packet, read the first packet stored in the first queue, and read the copied data from the third memory after completion of the reading of the first packet.
US09419733B2
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for effective broadcasting of emergency messages. An emergency indicator that indicates that an emergency condition exists can be received. A geographic area affected by the emergency condition can be determined and a plurality of devices and a user device located at the geographic area can be identified. The user device can be selected to broadcast an alert to the plurality of devices, and an alert trigger can be sent to the user device. The alert trigger can cause the user device to activate a wireless hotspot at the user device, the wireless hotspot being associated with a dedicated service set identifier, and to broadcast, via the wireless hotspot, an alert indicating the emergency condition.
US09419720B2
An optical signal transmitter includes first and second modulation units, a combiner, and a control unit. The first and second modulation units generate first and second modulated optical signals, respectively. The combiner combines the first and second modulated optical signals to generate a polarization multiplexed optical signal. The control unit controls at least one of the first and second modulation units so that the optical powers of the first and second modulated optical signals become approximately equal to each other.
US09419719B2
An apparatus comprises a digital signal processing module configured to receive a data stream and generate a plurality of digital multiple tones, a plurality of digital-to-analog converters coupled to the digital signal processing module, a plurality of drivers coupled to respective digital-to-analog converters, an electro-optic modulator having inputs coupled to the drivers and outputs coupled to a fiber and a multi-wavelength light source coupled to the electro-optic modulator.
US09419718B2
Embodiments described herein describe a sub-mount that is etched to include respective cavities with at least two adjacent sides that align optical filters and a mirror. Moreover, the cavities are arranged on the sub-mount such that when the filters and mirror are disposed in the cavities, they align in a manner that enables the performance of a multiplexing or demultiplexing function as part of, for example, a zigzag multiplexer/demultiplexer. In one embodiment, the filters and mirrors are aligned passively rather than actively. The sub-mount may then be placed on a substrate that includes other components of a ROSA or TOSA. In one embodiment, the substrate is also etched to include a cavity two adjacent sides to align the sub-mount so that sub-mount is passively aligned once disposed into the cavity.
US09419710B2
Active optical cable assemblies and methods for thermally testing active optical cable assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of thermally testing an active optical cable assembly includes providing electrical signals to an optical transmission module within a first connector that converts the electrical signals into optical signals for transmission over one or more optical fibers of the active optical cable assembly, and applying heat to the first connector as the electrical signals are provided to the optical transmission module. The method further includes detecting electrical signals at a second connector of the active optical cable assembly. The detected electrical signals are converted from the optical signals by an optical receiver module within the second connector. The method further includes determining if the optical transmission module satisfies a benchmark at a threshold temperature of the optical transmission module based on the electrical signals detected at the second connector.
US09419709B2
A transmission device transmits a frame to a correspondent device and receives a frame from the correspondent device. The transmission device includes: a measurement unit configured to perform a delay measurement that measures a period of time from when a frame is transmitted to the correspondent device until when a corresponding frame is received from the correspondent device; and a delay decision unit configured to determine a transmission delay between the transmission device and the correspondent device based on a plurality of target measurement results obtained from a plurality of delay measurements except for at least a first delay measurement among delay measurements performed by the measurement unit.
US09419703B2
Techniques, apparatus and systems for providing radio frequency wireless communications based on time reversal of the channel impulse response of an RF pulse in a transmission channel between an RF transmitter and an RF receiver to enhance reception and detection of an RF pulse at the RF receiver against various effects that can adversely affect and complicate the reception and detection of the RF pulse at the RF receiver.
US09419697B1
A system including a diversity module and an antenna selection module. The diversity module is configured to measure i) a first signal-to-noise ratio and a first error rate for a first signal received via a first antenna, and ii) a second signal-to-noise ratio and a second error rate for a second signal received via a second antenna. The antenna selection is module configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna by comparing i) the first signal-to-noise ratio to the second signal-to-noise ratio, and ii) the first error rate to the second error rate.
US09419695B2
A method in a first node for adapting a multi-antenna transmission to a second node over a wireless channel is provided. The wireless channel has at least three inputs and at least one output. The first node and the second node are comprised in a wireless communication system. The method includes obtaining at least one symbol stream, determining a precoding matrix having a product structure created by a block diagonal matrix being multiplied from the left with a block diagonalizing unitary matrix, precoding the at least one symbol stream with the determined precoding matrix, and transmitting the precoded at least one symbol stream over a wireless channel to the second node.
US09419688B2
Provided is a transmission device including a terminal connected electrically to a terminal of another device, and a transmission unit configured to transmit information through the terminal by performing load modulation according to contact between the terminal and the terminal of the other device.
US09419685B2
A power transmitting device includes a power transmitter (21) transmitting electric power in a contactless manner, a data communicator (22) obtaining identification information of at least one power receiving device that has become possible to receive electric power transmitted from the power transmitter (21), a power receiving device finding/separation detector (261) counting a number of state switchings between a power unreceivable state and the power receivable state during a predetermined period of time, for each power receiving device of which identification information has been obtained, and a power transmission controller (263) controlling electric power transmission performed by the power transmitter (21), on the basis of the number of state switchings counted by the power receiving device finding/separation detector (261).
US09419677B2
In some embodiments a phase between a periodic spreading signal and an effective spreading signal modulating an interfering harmonic is determined, an amplitude of the interfering harmonic is estimated, and the interfering harmonic is canceled from a received signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09419670B2
A protective case for a mobile device is disclosed. The protective case includes a front cover and a relatively rigid shell, which together are configured to receive, retain, cover and protect the mobile device. The front cover includes multiple fold lines that extend across the cover and allow adjacent regions of the cover to rotate or move relative to each other. The shell is configured to receive and retain the mobile device while providing user access to the mobile device. The shell has an outer surface configured to include a latch with an integrated hook. In operation, the latch hooks and retains one end section of the front cover to maintain the device in an angled use position when open. When in the fully closed position the latch fits within an aperture defined within a back end region of the front cover. The aperture may be defined by a ring component that is dimensioned to receive the latch and firmly support the latch. Magnets incorporated into opposing ends of the front cover are provided to assist in maintaining the case in the fully closed position.
US09419669B2
An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a lip that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the lip is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. The rear cover can include a shell formed from glass fiber reinforced plastics and a lip formed from a thermoplastic. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations. Methods of manufacturing the accessory unit are also disclosed.
US09419668B2
A size-adaptive mobile device cover comprises: multiple cover panels, each of the cover panels connected to at least another one of the cover panels, one of the cover panels having a side surface and a first attaching portion mounted on the side surface of the panel; at least one first edge holder secured on the side surface of the panel that has the first attaching portion, each of the at least one first edge holder having a retaining recess; and multiple corner holders disposed opposite to the at least one first edge holder, each of the corner holders having a second attaching portion, and the second attaching portion detachably attached to the first attaching portion. Accordingly, the size-adaptive mobile device cover is not only applicable to mobile devices of various sizes, but also has low production cost and is convenient for use.
US09419667B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methods related to conformal coating of radio-frequency (RF) modules. In some embodiments, a module can include an overmold formed over an RF component mounted on a packaging substrate. The overmold can also cover a surface-mount device (SMD) such as an RF filter implemented as a chip size surface acoustic wave (SAW) device (CSSD). The module can further include a conductive layer formed over the overmold and configured to provide RF shielding functionality for the module. The conductive layer can be electrically connected to a ground plane of the packaging substrate through the SMD. An opening can be formed in the overmold over the SMD; and the conductive layer can conform to the opening to electrically connect the conductive layer with an upper surface of the SMD and thereby facilitate the grounding connection.
US09419665B2
A method, device, system, and media are directed to controlling a multi-tuner radio. A voice command may be received and/or filtered. An operation of the radio may be modified based on the voice command. A gesture input may be received through a gesture pad. Another operation of the multi-tuner radio may be modified based on the received gesture input. A fingerprint may be recognized with a gesture pad. A user may be authenticated based on the recognized fingerprint. The operation or the other operation may be personalized based on the fingerprint. User training may be provided for the gesture input.
US09419659B2
A signal receiver may include a limiter and an amplifier that is connected to the limiter. The limiter may receive an input signal, generate a limited signal using the input signal, limit values of the limited signal in a first range, and output the limited signal. The amplifier may receive the limited signal, generate an output signal using the limited signal, and output the output signal, wherein values of the output signal are in a second range, and wherein the second range is larger than or equal to the first range.
US09419643B2
A ΔΣ modulator converts an input analog quantity into a digital value quantized with a predetermined number of bits and outputs the digital value. The ΔΣ modulator includes an integrator that includes a capacitor and integrates a difference between the input analog quantity and an analog quantity acquired from D/A conversion of the output digital value by a D/A converter; a quantizer that quantizes an analog quantity acquired from integration by the integrator; and a digital integrator that carries out an integration operation on data acquired from quantization by the quantizer.
US09419633B1
An interface circuit of a semiconductor apparatus may include a pulse generation unit, a data clock synchronization unit and a system clock synchronization unit. The pulse generation unit may be configured to generate a burst end pulse from a burst end signal according to a data clock signal. The data clock synchronization unit may be configured to enable a data clock synchronization signal based on the burst end pulse and the data clock signal, and disable the data clock synchronization signal according to a burst end detection signal. The system clock synchronization unit may be configured to generate the burst end detection signal by synchronizing the data clock synchronization signal with a system clock signal.
US09419632B1
A charge pump includes a switching circuit, a constant current source, a constant current sink, an adaptive current source, and an adaptive current sink. The switching circuit generates an output voltage at an output node according to an up control signal and a down control signal. The constant current source supplies a first current to the switching circuit. The constant current sink draws a second current from the switching circuit. The adaptive current source supplies a third current to the switching circuit. The adaptive current sink draws a fourth current from the switching circuit. The third current and the fourth current are adjustable according to the up control signal and the down control signal.
US09419628B2
Measurement initialization circuitry is described. Propagation of a start signal through a variable delay line may be stopped by either of two stop signals. One stop signal corresponds to a rising edge of a reference clock signal. A second stop signal corresponds to a falling edge of the reference clock signal. The start signal propagation is stopped responsive to the first to arrive of the first and second stop signals. Accordingly, in some examples, start signal propagation through a variable delay line may be stopped responsive to either a rising or falling edge of the reference clock signal.
US09419623B2
A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor substrate, and a doped well having a well terminal and a transistor structure having at least one potential terminal formed in the semiconductor substrate. The transistor structure has a parasitic thyristor, and is at least partly arranged in the doped well. The potential terminal and the well terminal are connected via a resistor.
US09419617B2
A circuit comprises a control circuit having an output node. The circuit also comprises a half latch keeper circuit coupled to the control circuit. The half latch keeper circuit is configured to control the output node during a standby mode. The circuit also comprises a transistor coupled to the output node. The control circuit is configured to turn off the transistor during the standby mode.
US09419613B2
An input/output (IO) circuit includes a first bias circuit and a second bias circuit coupled to a node. A first capacitor and a second capacitor are being cascaded and coupled to the node. The node is defined between the first capacitor and the second capacitor. A pad is coupled to the node. The first bias circuit maintains a voltage at the node below a threshold during a transmit mode and a receive mode of the IO circuit and the second bias circuit maintains the voltage at the node below the threshold during the receive mode. The voltage at the node is dependent on a voltage at the pad during the receive mode.
US09419612B2
A touch panel includes a first substrate and a plurality of conductive electrodes. The conductive electrodes are located at the first substrate, and each of the conductive electrodes includes at least one mesh electrode. Each of the mesh electrodes includes a plurality of conductive patterns, and the conductive patterns of the same mesh electrode are connected together. Each of the conductive patterns has a central point, and distances from the central point of each of the conductive patterns to the central points of adjacent conductive patterns are incongruent, such that the conductive patterns are arranged in an irregular manner.
US09419602B2
A circuit that may control current to a load without generating a large amount of electromagnetic interference on main lines of an AC power supply for the load and circuit. Control may be effected with silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs). For instance, the circuit may implement passive triggering using a capacitor between the anode and the gate of an SCR. By using a sufficiently large capacitor, gate current may be applied during a zero crossing of a waveform of the AC power supply in a passive manner without a need to store energy prior to the zero crossing. The circuit may synchronize SCR triggering with a voltage variation in a clean manner, that is, without generating electromagnetic interference. The circuit may be used with an in-line thermostat. However, the circuit may be used in other ways.
US09419595B2
Frequency multipliers include a pair of transistors each connected to a common impedance through a respective collector impedance formed from a transmission line. Each transmission line has a length between about one quarter and about one eighth of a wavelength of an input signal frequency and is tuned to produce a large impedance at a collector of the respective transistor at the input signal frequency. The output frequency between the collector impedances and the common impedance is an even integer multiple of the input frequency.
US09419592B2
A sequential circuit arrangement and method are provided in which a latch input signal and a latched version of the input signal are compared to derive a difference signal. This difference signal can detect when changes in the input are not propagated to the output. A second logic gate arrangement derives an error signal from the product of difference signal and a delayed version of the difference signal. This means that normal operation of the circuit is not detected as an error—only when the latched output fails to follow the input after the normally expected delay is the error signal created. The latch element output or an inverted version of the latch element output is selected in dependence on the error signal.
US09419590B2
Inventive aspects include integrated clock gating logic that can generate an internal glitch-free clock signal. Inventive aspects further include a toggle latch that is coupled to the integrated clock gating logic. The toggle latch can receive the internal clock signal from the integrated clock gating logic. The toggle latch can toggle and latch a data value responsive to the internal clock signal. The integrated clock gating logic can include a latch to latch a clock gating logic signal responsive to a clock signal. The clock gating logic signal can cause the internal clock signal to be quiescent when the input data to the flip-flop remains constant, thereby conserving power consumption.
US09419589B2
A clock distribution network having a separate power supply for top levels thereof is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a clock distribution network configured to distribute a clock signal to each of a number of clock consumers. The clock distribution network is arranged in a hierarchy of levels, with each of the levels including at least one buffer, and with the upper levels being closer to a source of the clock signal and the lower levels being closer to the clock consumers. The buffers of the upper levels are coupled to receive power from a first power source, via a first power grid. The buffers of the lower levels are coupled to receive power from a second power source, separate from the first, via a second power grid.
US09419585B2
An elastic wave filter device includes a one-port elastic wave resonator and an elastic wave filter unit connected in series to the one-port elastic wave resonator. The one-port elastic wave resonator is connected in parallel to an inductance. In the elastic wave filter device, fr1>f0 is satisfied, where f0 is the center frequency of a passband of the elastic wave filter unit, and fr1 is a resonant frequency of the one-port elastic wave resonator.
US09419582B2
A filter device includes a band pass filter connected between a first signal terminal and a second signal terminal and an LC circuit connected in parallel with the band pass filter. The LC circuit has anti-resonant characteristics that make the LC circuit be open at a pass band of the band pass filter, and make attenuation in a specified frequency band outside of the pass band of the band pass filter higher than in a case in which the LC circuit is not connected, as a result of the LC circuit being connected.
US09419578B2
This disclosure relates generally to radio frequency (RF) filter structures. In one embodiment, an RF filter structure includes a first resonator and a second resonator. The second resonator is operably associated with the first resonator such that an energy transfer factor between the first resonator and the second resonator is less than 10%. The first resonator includes a first inductor and a first capacitive structure electrically connected to the first inductor, while the second resonator has a second inductor and a second capacitive structure electrically connected to the second inductor. A displacement between the first inductor and the second inductor is less than or equal to half a maximum lateral width of the second inductor. To set an electric coupling coefficient, a first cross-coupling capacitive structure is electrically connected between the first resonator and the second resonator.
US09419577B2
Distortion reducing multi-band compressor with timbre preservation is provided. Timbre preservation is achieved by determining a time-varying threshold in each of a plurality frequency bands as a function of a respective fixed threshold for the frequency band and, at least in part, an audio signal level and a fixed threshold outside such frequency band. If a particular frequency band receives significant gain reduction due to being above or approaching its fixed threshold, then a time-varying threshold of one or more other frequency bands are also decreased to receive some gain reduction. In a specific embodiment, time-varying thresholds can be computed from an average difference of the audio input signal in each frequency band and its respective fixed threshold.
US09419574B2
An amplifier circuit has: a main amplifier connected between an input terminal and an output terminal, the main amplifier amplifying an input signal input to the input terminal and outputting an amplified signal to the output terminal; a compensation circuit comprising a variable delay circuit and a variable gain inverting circuit, the variable delay circuit receiving the input signal and outputting a delay signal with a delay time from the input signal, the variable gain inverting circuit inverting and amplifying the delay signal with a gain and outputting a compensation signal to the output terminal; and a controller configured to control the gain of the variable gain inverting circuit and the delay time of the variable delay circuit to compensate a response of the main amplifier in a first frequency of a target signal of compensation and in a low frequency band higher than zero Hertz.
US09419563B2
A two-stage RF amplifier is provided. The first stage is a common-emitter transistor arrangement with a purely reactive degeneration impedance and an output impedance with a reactive component matched in frequency response to the degeneration impedance. The second stage is a buffer amplifier. The first amplifier can be designed for high gain which is flat over frequency by virtue of the reactive degeneration impedance. The first amplifier provides input matching, and the buffer provides output matching, with decoupling between the input and output.
US09419558B2
Embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus including an oscillator, a ramp generator, and an inverter. The oscillator is configured to generate a waveform comprising a low time and a high time. The inverter is configured to receive the waveform generated by the oscillator, and invert the waveform. The ramp generator is configured to increase a gate control voltage of a transistor connected to a solar cell, and rapidly decrease the gate control voltage of the transistor. During the low time, a measurement of a current and a voltage of the solar cell is performed. During the high time, a measurement of a current of a shorted cell and a voltage reference is performed.
US09419557B2
A motor control device includes a measuring unit configured to output a measurement value corresponding to a rotation speed of a motor; and a control unit configured to control driving of the motor such that the measurement value makes closer to a target value. When the measurement value does not exceed a predetermined abnormality determination threshold, the control unit controls the driving of the motor based on a difference between the measurement value and the target value. The abnormality determination threshold is set in a positive direction or in a negative direction with reference to the target value. When the measurement value exceeds the abnormality determination threshold, the control unit controls the driving of the motor based on a difference between a corrected measurement value and the target value. The corrected measurement value is set in the same direction as the direction in which the abnormality determination threshold is set.
US09419556B2
A method and arrangement for operating a pump system are disclosed, the pump system including a pump arranged to be rotated with an AC motor, an inverter, the output of which is electrically connected to the AC motor, and a photovoltaic panel system electrically connected to feed DC power to the inverter. The method can include setting a voltage limit, and determining continuously voltage obtained from the photovoltaic panel system. When the determined voltage of the photovoltaic panel system is below the set voltage limit, frequency of the inverter can be controlled such that the ratio between output voltage of the inverter and the output frequency is substantially constant. When the determined voltage of the photovoltaic panel system exceeds the voltage limit, the inverter frequency can be controlled for keeping voltage of the photovoltaic panel system substantially at the voltage limit.
US09419555B2
A synchronous machine control apparatus for correcting a rotor position error that is a difference between a rotor position of a synchronous machine and a rotor position detected by a position detection unit is provided with a current control device for performing control in such a way that respective current command values and respective current detection values in a generation direction (γ axis) of an armature interlinked magnetic flux and in a direction perpendicular (δ axis) to the generation direction of the armature interlinked magnetic flux coincide with each other and with a magnetic flux calculation device for calculating a phase of an armature interlinked magnetic flux, based on an armature current detection value of the synchronous machine and an armature voltage command value therefor; the rotor position error is corrected based on the γδ-axis current command values and a phase of the armature interlinked magnetic flux.
US09419553B2
In a control apparatus, a target harmonic current obtainer obtains, according to a phase current flowing through at least one phase winding of a stator of a rotary machine, a target harmonic current component flowing in the rotary machine. The target harmonic current component correlates with a fundamental current component of a phase current. An inducing unit superimposes, on at least one of the amplitude and the phase of an output voltage vector of a power converter used by a switching unit, a harmonic signal that changes at an angular velocity identical to an angular velocity of the target harmonic current component. This induces a counteracting harmonic current component in the at least one phase winding. The counteracting harmonic current component counteracts the target harmonic current component.
US09419543B2
Systems for controlled resonance in electrical power devices are described. A programmed signal processor generates output control signals from input electrical signals based on resonant control parameters for a target power device. Analog electrical control systems for controlled resonance, power devices incorporating controlled resonance, and opto-programmed controllers for use in controlled resonance applications are described, with example embodiments for electro-mechanical systems with resonant constructive power drive action for electric motors.
US09419541B2
A multilevel inverter having a configuration adequate to enhance efficiency while reducing conduction loss is disclosed, the multilevel inverter including a rectifier, a smoothing unit and an inverter unit, wherein the inverter unit includes a first switch unit interposed between the first node and a first output terminal, second switch units interposed between the second node and the first output terminal, a third switch unit interposed between the third node and the first output terminal, a fourth switch unit interposed between the first node and a second output terminal, fifth switch units interposed between the second node and the second output terminal and a sixth switch unit interposed between the third node and the second output terminal.
US09419535B2
An electric power converter is provided with: a power semiconductor module, which has a power semiconductor element that converts a direct current into an alternating current; a capacitor module, which has a capacitor element that smooths the direct current; and a cooling body, which cools the power semiconductor module and the capacitor module. The capacitor module has: a case, which has an approximately rectangular shape, has an opening formed in one surface, and has a space for housing the capacitor element; and a DC conductor for electrically connecting the power semiconductor element and the capacitor element to each other. The cooling body is formed to face the bottom surface on the inner wall of the case, and both the side surfaces of the case, the side surfaces facing each other. Between the capacitor element and the inner wall surfaces of the case, the direct current conductor is formed along the bottom surface and both the side surfaces of the case.
US09419532B2
An electric power conversion system includes: a primary circuit including a first port, a second port and a primary electric power conversion unit; and a secondary circuit magnetically coupled to the primary circuit by a transformer and including a third port, a fourth port and a secondary electric power conversion unit. The electric power conversion system is configured to convert electric power between any two of the four ports with the use of the primary and secondary electric power conversion units, and convert electric power between the first and second ports and between the third and fourth ports with the use of electric power conversion circuit portions other than a faulty electric power conversion circuit portion among a plurality of electric power conversion circuit portions configured in the primary and secondary electric power conversion units.
US09419522B1
The bi-directional DC/DC converter has zero voltage switching (ZVS) soft switching capability resulting in a higher efficiency, and provides reduction of the switching losses due to higher switching frequencies. The capability of operation in higher frequencies results in reducing the size of passive components including inductance and capacitors. The subject DC/DC converter is capable of operating with three voltage levels in both power flow directions, thus providing flexibility in the voltage control and attaining lower inductor current ripple and lower switch voltage ratings. DC link capacitors are replaced with ultra capacitor banks split in two.
US09419511B2
In one embodiment, a method of controlling a capacitor discharge for a switching power supply, can include: (i) generating a first voltage signal from a voltage at an X capacitor that is coupled between input terminals of the switching power supply; (ii) activating a detection signal in response to the first voltage signal being inactive for a duration of a predetermined time interval, where the detection signal being activated indicates a cut-off of the input terminals; and (iii) at least partially discharging the X capacitor after the cut-off and in response to activation of the detection signal.
US09419509B2
A multiple phase dc to dc converter with a shared bootstrap capacitor. In an embodiment, a multiple phase buck converter is disclosed including a plurality of n switching stages, each coupled to a corresponding switching node, each further including a high side driver MOS device coupled between a terminal for a positive voltage supply terminal and the corresponding switching node; and an inductor coupled in parallel between the corresponding switching node and an output terminal configured for providing the DC output voltage; and high side driver control circuitry configured to selectively couple a shared bootstrap capacitor to a gate terminal of each of the high side drivers, wherein the shared bootstrap capacitor is configured to charge a gate capacitance of each of the high side driver MOS devices. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09419507B2
An actuator includes a movable body including a cylindrical magnet having on a circumferential surface thereof alternating N and S pole faces along a circumferential direction thereof. An immovable body includes pole teeth arranged along the circumferential direction so as to face the circumferential surface of the magnet and that are equal in number to the N pole faces and the S pole faces, and a coil that receives an alternating current of a frequency substantially equal to a resonance frequency of the movable body to excite the pole teeth to have alternately different polarities in the circumferential direction. The movable body is held by the immovable body in a rotatable manner, and a neutral position for rotation of the movable body is a position at which center positions of the pole teeth in the circumferential direction and boundary positions between the pole faces of the magnet face each other.
US09419502B2
A method of making a component comprises producing a layer of sheet material including an aperture over a movable support. An insulating material is deposited in a first portion of the aperture to form an insulating coating with one or more pockets. A conductive material is deposited in the one or more pockets. Heat and pressure are applied to the layer and the movable support is lowered by a thickness of the layer. The steps are repeated to form a laminated stack defining the component. In some embodiments, the laminated stack of sheet materials forms an induction machine.
US09419494B2
An alternating current (AC) induction machine, such as a medium voltage induction motor, includes an auxiliary electrical connection box that is incorporated in the terminal box or within separate auxiliary electrical connection boxes that, are coupled to the machine's incoming power source. The box includes power conversion transformers or bridges that respectively convert the incoming AC power to other AC voltages or direct current (DC) useful for operating auxiliary devices proximal the machine. The connection box avoids the need to run separate power lines to induction machines necessary for operating auxiliary devices. Exemplary auxiliary devices include external auxiliary AC powered cooling fans for medium voltage AC motors. The auxiliary connection box may reconfigurable in the field and/or be pre-configured to provide one or more common auxiliary device output power sources.
US09419493B2
Disclosed is a fan motor includes: a first bracket having a middle part through which a rotary shaft penetrates and an upper bearing insertion space to which an upper bearing is inserted to support the upper end part of the rotary shaft; an upper felt cover joined to the inside of the first bracket to seal the upper bearing insertion space; a second bracket joined to the upper side of the first bracket, the second bracket having a lower bearing insertion space which is formed at the middle part of the lower side through which the rotary shaft penetrates and to which a lower bearing is inserted to support the lower end part of the rotary shaft; and a lower felt cover joined to the lower side of the second bracket to seal the lower bearing insertion space.
US09419488B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a 3-phase 2-pole 2-layer armature winding, housed in 72 slots provided in a laminated iron core, a winding of each phase including six parallel circuits separated into two phase belts. Upper coil pieces of first and fourth parallel circuits are placed at 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 12th positions, and lower coil pieces of the first and fourth parallel circuits are placed at 1st, 6th, 9th, and 10th positions, upper and lower coil pieces of second and fifth parallel circuits are placed at 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th positions, and upper coil pieces of third and six parallel circuits are placed at 1st, 6th, 9th, and 10th positions, and lower coil pieces of the third and six parallel circuits are placed at 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 12th positions, from the center of a pole.
US09419485B2
A coil wire for a rotating electrical machine forms a coil body wound on teeth of a stator for the rotating electrical machine and includes an element wire assembly and a covering member. The element wire assembly has a plurality of element wires coated with insulation and bound together. The covering member is an electrical conductive member covering around the element wire assembly and provided with a conductive side surface and a slit. The conductive side surface is a surface with which magnetic flux from the teeth is linked when the coil wire is wound on the teeth. The slit is provided on the conductive side surface along a longitudinal direction of the coil wire, and the slit extends from an inner peripheral side to an outer peripheral side of the coil body in an coil end of the coil body.
US09419482B2
A rotor having an improved structure capable of achieving enhanced durability is disposed in a motor, the rotor including a sleeve having a shaft hole, through which a motor shaft extends, rotor cores spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction of the rotor, and permanent magnets each disposed between adjacent ones of the rotor cores such that the permanent magnets are arranged in a radial manner about the sleeve. First and second cover plates may be disposed at opposite sides of the permanent magnets in an axial direction. Each of the first and second cover plates may include a shaft receiving hole to receive the motor shaft. The rotor may include a plurality of support members each having a magnet support portion arranged to support an outer end of a corresponding one of the permanent magnets in a radial direction of the rotor.
US09419481B2
A rotary electric machine includes a rotor, and a stator. The rotor includes poles having slots and magnets. Each of the slots includes a first housing hole, a pair of second housing holes, a pair of first ribs, a pair of second ribs, and an area of a first space. The first housing hole is disposed near an outer periphery of the rotor to be substantially parallel with an outer peripheral surface of the rotor. The pair of second housing holes are provided symmetrically with respect to the first housing hole to be inclined toward the outer periphery away from the first housing hole. The pair of first ribs are each provided between the first housing hole and each of the pair of second housing holes. The pair of first ribs are each provided between the first housing hole and each of the pair of second housing holes.
US09419479B2
An electric machine has a stator that comprises a plurality of laminations with teeth and cooling apertures about a central opening. When the laminations are stacked to form the stator core, the teeth of adjacent laminations cooperate to form slots disposed circumferentially about the central opening that are configured to receive a plurality of stator windings, and the cooling apertures angularly spaced about the central opening cooperate to form cooling manifolds that extend along a length of the stator core. A portion of the laminations has their cooling apertures offset from other laminations in the stack in a manner to create a plurality of flow paths transverse to the manifolds. The transverse flow paths extend angularly between laminations and adjacent manifolds. A header assembly directs flow into and out of the stator core.
US09419478B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for detecting foreign objects in a wireless power transmission system. This specification provides a wireless power reception apparatus for detecting foreign objects, including a power measurement unit for generating required power information indicative of required power for the wireless power reception apparatus, sending the required power information to a wireless power transmission apparatus, and measuring power induced from the wireless power transmission apparatus and a secondary coil for receiving the power induced from the wireless power transmission apparatus. In accordance with the present invention, foreign objects intervened between the wireless power transmission apparatus and the wireless power reception apparatus are recognized, and a user removes the foreign objects. Accordingly, damage to a device attributable to foreign objects can be prevented.
US09419477B2
Disclosed is a wireless power transmitter that includes a resonator that provides charging electric power to a wireless power receiver and a metal layer spaced apart from the resonator by a preset interval, with a line width of the resonator being smaller than the preset interval between the resonator and the metal layer.
US09419474B2
Described herein are techniques and architectures for gradually transitioning from voltage supplied by a primary power source to voltage supplied by a secondary power source. In particular implementations, a voltage control circuit is used to transition voltage across a load to be supplied by the secondary power source. The voltage control circuit may include a first circuit and a second circuit connected in parallel. The first circuit may include the primary power source connect to the load, while the second circuit may include the secondary power source connected to one or more field-effect transistors. The one or more field-effect transistors may be controlled to cause current of the secondary power source to be gradually transferred to the load. This may result in a transfer of the voltage across the load to be supplied by the secondary power source.
US09419473B2
An ATS bypass switch includes a draw-out ATS switch; a bypass switch; and a processor structured to automatically control both of the draw-out ATS switch and the bypass switch.
US09419472B2
Apparatus, methods, and systems are described for a solar powered charger that is configured for charging a mobile device using solar panels or solar technology. The solar powered charger conditions the solar power into a form that is suitable for charging a mobile device. The charger controls the charging, may provide useful user feedback, and may provide for device selection.
US09419470B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to detection and validation of wirelessly chargeable devices positioned within a charging region of a wireless power transmitter. A device may include a detection circuit comprising an oscillator, the detection circuit configured to detect a change in a frequency of the oscillator. The device may also include a wireless power transmitter configured to determine whether a chargeable device is positioned within a charging region of the transmitter upon the detection circuit detecting the change in the frequency of the oscillator, wherein the transmitter further configured to be selectively electrically isolated from the detection circuit.
US09419469B2
A control method for a wireless charging system has steps of performing impedance matching on an antenna of the wireless charging system; tracing an optimal frequency point by sending a sensing signal with a default transmission frequency, and calculating a transmission efficiency of the sensing signal; determining whether the transmission efficiency meets a transmission requirement. When the transmission efficiency does not meet the transmission requirement, repeats the previous steps with another default transmission frequency until the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement. When the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point for charging. Setting the optimal frequency point as an operating frequency of the wireless charging system for charging The optimal frequency point defined by the above steps can maintain high efficiency of the wireless charging system against the variable transmitting distances.
US09419463B2
A control system for charge and output control of a rechargeable thin film microbattery cell comprises a charge control logic component configured to control the level of charge of a thin film microbattery cell, a battery cut-off logic component to cease current draw on the thin battery thin film microbattery cell under predetermined conditions, a mode control logic component operably coupled to the charge control logic component and the battery cut-off logic component to enable operation of the charge control logic component and the battery cut-off logic component under predetermined conditions, and a Switch Capacitor DC-DC Downconverter Component for delivery of voltage external to the system configured to reduce battery output voltage potential by a factor of at least 2:1. Systems operably connected to a rechargeable thin film microbattery cell and powered devices comprising the system and the microbattery cell are also described.
US09419454B2
A device includes a battery pack receptacle that removably connects to a battery pack used for a cordless device. A universal serial bus (USB) port is connected to the battery pack receptacle. The battery pack is used as a power source for the USB port. An attachment device is connected to the battery pack receptacle. that attaches the battery pack receptacle to a utility bag. The attachment device is configured for attaching the battery pack receptacle to a platform.
US09419433B2
A power supply apparatus is provided, and which includes a power conversion circuit, a control chip with soft-start function and a short protection circuit. The power conversion circuit is configured to provide a DC output voltage to a load in response to an output pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal. The control chip is operated under a DC input voltage, and configured to generate the output PWM signal to control the operation of the power conversion circuit. The short protection circuit is configured to pull-down the level of a soft-start pin of the control chip, so as to substantially/significantly reduce the frequency and duty cycle of the output PWM signal, and then substantially/significantly reduce the current flowing through the shorted load.
US09419432B2
An overvoltage protection device that can be adapted to a programmable automaton power supply, including: a first detection and protection device configured to detect a possible overvoltage at a first point of a primary or secondary circuit, and including a mechanism triggering a short-circuit if an overvoltage is detected at the first point such as to stop all energy transfer toward the output of said power supply; and a second detection and protection device configured to detect a possible overvoltage at a second point of the primary or secondary circuit, and including a mechanism triggering a short-circuit if an overvoltage is detected at the second point such as to stop all energy transfer toward the output of said power supply; and a thyristor having an independent power supply and configured to maintain, by memory effect, the short-circuit that may have occurred.
US09419426B2
A sealing-member-equipped shielded cable includes a shielded cable that includes shielded wires and a sealing member that is molded from a resin and that includes an electrically conductive member in at least a portion thereof. The sealing member is integrally formed on one end portion of the shielded cable, and the shielded wires are electrically connected to the electrically conductive member of the sealing member.
US09419418B2
A wire-pulling device, in particular for laying electric cables in a building, comprising a frame (16), a spool of a flexible elongate element (6a) wound into a coil, and means for unwinding the member and advancing same into a section of a duct of an electric facility. The spool is mounted on a rotary drum (2) driven by a mechanism (13). The drum (2) has a U-shaped section in which the flexible elongate member is located. The flexible elongate member is fed into a rigid guide member arranged tangentially relative to the periphery of the rotary drum. The drum (2) drives a set of guide rollers (19) arranged at the periphery thereof. Each roller has a central section (3) having a diameter that is larger than that of the side sections (4) thereof that surround same. The two side sections engage with the ends of the arms of the U while the central section contacts the flexible elongate member (6) arranged between the arms of the U. The contact of the central section has a tangential velocity higher than the velocity of the arms of the U with the flexible elongate member. The wire-pulling device includes an electronic device for controlling the motor for driving the drum.
US09419417B1
An automatic switching interface box for generators in residential dwellings and small commercial applications provides a breaker box transfer switch for generators powering one or more electrical loads. In power blackout situations, the breaker box transfer switch uses a power control relay to keep the load power on, which eliminates the need for a hot generator plug, because the plug in box is not powered. The generator power output cord is plugged onto the male plug of the interface box, or hard wired thereto. If the auxiliary generator had been started and is at rated voltage, the load is immediately and automatically switched from the utility connection to the generator as electrical source. The relay keeps the prongs of the male plug safely unpowered until the generator is attached since the relay coil is powered by the generator output and the plug is connected to the normally open contacts.
US09419409B2
A single-pump multi-wavelength lasing semiconductor Raman pump laser comprises a thermoelectric cooler arranged in a shell; a heat transition bearing platform arranged in the thermoelectric cooler; a semiconductor Raman pump laser tube core arranged on the heat transition bearing platform; and a coupling lens group, a thermistor and a backlight detector that are arranged on the heat transition bearing platform respectively. The pump laser tube core, the backlight detector, the thermistor and the thermoelectric cooler are electrically connected to pins outside a laser tube shell. A pump combination apparatus comprises a first signal transmission fiber, a pump signal combiner and a second signal transmission fiber that are sequentially connected to each other. An input terminal of the pump signal combiner is connected to an output terminal of an isolated polarization beam combiner and depolarizer. Two polarization maintaining fiber input terminals of the isolated polarization beam combiner and depolarizer are correspondingly connected to one single pump multi-wavelength lasing semiconductor Raman pump laser respectively.
US09419408B2
An optical amplifier with network optimization techniques maximizes performance of a conventional optical amplifier with minimum user intervention. A circulator enables as much light as possible just below a stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold to be launched in to an optical fiber. An amount of reflected power directed by a circulator to a photo diode has a direct correlation to the quality of the received signal in a communications system.
US09419402B2
A magnetic sensor, in which ends of an output side of two terminals can be arranged at a desired position regardless of a position of a magnetoelectric converter and which can easily be manufactured at a reduced cost, and a method of manufacturing two terminals used for the magnetic sensor. From two terminals aligned in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, a magnetic sensor outputs an electric signal converted by a magnetoelectric converter. Two terminals are provided with bent portions. A ridge line of each of the bent portions of one terminal is positioned on an extended line of a respective one of the ridge lines of the bent portions of the other terminal. In the terminals, a direction in which some ends are aligned is different from a direction in which other ends are aligned.
US09419400B2
The invention provides a terminal chain so that a terminal can be connected with a signal conductor only by being press-formed by dies. A rectangular piece (12) is jointed to an end part extending in the longitudinal direction of a carrier (11). The rectangular piece (12) is placed in dies (40, 50) for press-forming. A signal conductor W1 exposed at one end of a wire W is placed on the rectangular piece (12). The rectangular piece (12) is press-formed by the dies (40, 50) to enclose the signal conductor W1. A terminal (20) which is connected with the signal conductor W1 is formed. The contacting position of the carrier (11) and the terminal (20) is disconnected.
US09419395B1
A swivel joint charging connector including a swivel ball joint having an exterior shell disposed around a rotatable ball and a pair of apertures disposed on the exterior shell of the swivel ball joint. A USB connector has a body portion attached to the exterior shell of the swivel ball joint. A wire cover is disposed through one of the pair of apertures and attached to the ball. The wire cover is continuously disposed around a wire. The wire is continuously disposed through the ball and each of the pair of apertures. The right end of the wire is attached to the USB connector and the left end of the wire is attached to a power connector.
US09419394B2
According to various embodiments, a datacenter busbar conductor may be inserted into an opening that is formed between a first conductor and a second conductor of a busbar connection assembly. The busbar connection assembly can be restricted from being removed from the opening that is formed between the first conductor and the second conductor. The busbar connection assembly can be electrically coupled to an electrical power source.
US09419390B2
A USB electrical receptacle connector includes a metal shell, an insulation housing, upper-row terminals, and lower-row terminals. The metal shell defines a receptacle cavity therein for receiving the insulation housing. The insulation housing includes a base portion and a tongue portion extending forward from the base portion. The upper-row and lower-row terminals adjacent to the upper-row terminals are held on the insulation housing. The lower-row terminals include signal terminals and power terminals held on the insulation housing and adjacent to the signal terminals. The power terminals and the signal terminals are aligned at the same level. Each power terminal includes a second body, a second contact portion, a second extending portion, and a second tail portion. Wherein, the width of the second body, the width of the second extending portion, and the width of second tail portion are relatively greater than those of a conventional terminal.
US09419387B2
A plug for a DC appliance includes an input unit including anode and cathode terminals, an output unit including anode and cathode terminals to allow a DC current input through the input unit to be output to an electric device, a connection unit to interconnect the input unit and the output unit, a rectifier unit coupled between anode and cathode terminals of the input unit to rectify the input DC current, an inductor unit connected in series to the rectifier unit so that an internal current of the plug is gradually increased in response to an increase of the input DC current, and a condenser unit connected in series to the inductor unit, which is charged with voltage in response to a current passing through the inductor unit, and discharges the charged voltage to the output unit when the input of the DC current from the input unit is interrupted.
US09419380B2
A pluggable module includes a pluggable body extending between a mating end and a cable end. The pluggable body has first and second ends with sides extending therebetween along a length of the pluggable body. The first end, second end and sides define a cavity. The pluggable body includes a plurality of fins extending outward from at least one of the first end, the second end and the sides. Channels are defined between the fins. The pluggable body has grid fins extending across the channels between adjacent fins. The pluggable module includes an internal circuit board held in the cavity. The internal circuit board is provided at an end of a cable communicatively coupled to the internal circuit board. The pluggable body is configured to be plugged into a receptacle assembly such that the internal circuit board is communicatively coupled to a communication connector of the receptacle assembly.
US09419377B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first terminal group and a first magnetic element around the first terminal group, the first terminal group defines a first central terminal and two first outer terminals located at both sides of the first central terminal. The second connector includes a second terminal group and a second magnetic element, the second terminal group defines a second central terminal, a second outer terminal and an elastic terminal located at both sides of the second central terminal. When the first connector is engaging with the second connector, the first and second magnetic elements are attached to each other, the first central terminal is contacting the second central terminal, the second outer terminal is contacting either of the first outer terminals and the elastic terminal is elastically abutting against the first magnetic element.
US09419367B2
Pluggable connector including a contact array of electrical contacts for engaging corresponding contacts of a communication component. The pluggable connector also includes a connector housing having a mating end configured to mate with the communication component. The connector housing includes a first housing shell and a second housing shell that oppose each other and are coupled together to define a housing cavity therebetween. The contact array is disposed within the housing cavity. The first housing shell includes a plug collar that surrounds the contact array at the mating end. The plug collar has a leading edge and a back edge. The second housing shell interfaces with the back edge of the plug collar such that the plug collar extends from the second housing shell to the mating end.
US09419365B2
A cable connector assembly includes an insulative housing (1) defining a cavity (1150), a number of contacts (2,3) retained in the insulative housing, a cable (6) electrically connected with the contacts, a spacer (4) assembled to the back end of the insulative housing, and a metallic shell (5) enclosing the insulative housing. The contacts comprise a number of first and second contacts each having a contacting portion and a tail portion, the tail portions extending beyond a back end of the insulative housing. The spacer has a plurality of grooves (42,43) for receiving tail portions of the contacts and a separator disposed between every two neighboring grooves. The separator is T-shaped in order to restrain the contact tail portion.
US09419360B2
Mating interfaces for an electrical connector are provided. In some embodiments, a mating interface comprises: a plurality of conductive elements positioned in a plurality of columns, each of the plurality of conductive elements comprising: a sheet of conductive material formed into a three dimensional structure such that the conductive material is disposed on at least two sides of an opening adapted to receive a mating conductive element; and at least one tab cut in the sheet, the at least one tab comprising a mating contact surface facing the opening and adapted to make contact to the mating conductive element.
US09419357B2
A connector assembly includes a receptacle mounted on a first connector mounting surface of a first substrate; a receptacle mounted on a second connector mounting surface of a second substrate; and a relay connector. The relay connector includes a plug to be mated with the receptacle in a direction parallel to the first connector mounting surface; a plug to be mated with the receptacle in a direction parallel to the second connector mounting surface; and a handle that couples the plug and the plug to each other. The relay connector is structured such that a first mating direction in which the plug is mated to the receptacle is substantially the same as a second mating direction (Q) in which the plug is mated to the receptacle.
US09419354B2
A contact includes a body section, a tail section arranged at a lower portion of the body section, a peg extending from the tail section such that the peg projects from a front surface of the contact, and a fusible member attached to the contact such that the peg protrudes into the fusible member. A lower portion of the fusible member is offset from a main portion of the fusible member.
US09419348B2
The connection refers to a connecting arrangement with a crimp connector (2) and a wire (3) fixed in place to the crimp connector. The crimp connector encompasses two clamping plates (4, 5) executed as one piece that, in a mounted state, clamp the wire (3) between them and while doing, so fix the wire (3) firmly in place with a force acting in longitudinal axial load direction (B). At least in the mounted state, the inner surfaces of the clamping plates face one another and are at least partially executed as level clamping surfaces (4a, 5a). In the mounted state, the clamping surfaces (4a, 5a) of the clamping plates (4, 5) make contact with one another, whereby an area of the wire section (3′) is pressed partially inside the one clamping plate and partially inside the other clamping plate (4, 5). At least one clamping plate (4, 5) has at least one back gripping surface (8) colliding with its clamping surface (4a, 5a) facing against the load direction (B) and extending transversally to the load direction (B), whereby the clamping surface (4a, 5a) of the other clamping plate (4, 5) extends beyond the back gripping surface (8) against the load direction (B).
US09419341B2
An IC package includes an IC die disposed at a first surface of a substrate, which includes a signal via extending between first and second metal layers. The first metal layer is proximate to the first surface and includes a first coplanar waveguide. The first coplanar waveguide has a first signal line coupling a die bump to the signal via and has a first ground plane co-planar with the first signal line. The second metal layer is proximate to a second surface and includes a second coplanar waveguide that has a second signal line coupling the signal via to a launcher element and has a second ground plane co-planar with the second signal line. The IC package further includes a waveguide channel aperture comprising a region surrounding the launcher element and which is substantially devoid of conductive material and a via fence disposed at a perimeter of the first region.
US09419338B2
An antenna apparatus having a radiating plate, a ground layer, a dielectric layer, and a parasitic antenna is provided. The dielectric layer is disposed between the radiating plate and the ground layer, wherein the radiating plate is parallel to the ground layer, and the parasitic antenna is connected with the ground layer and perpendicular to the ground layer.
US09419333B1
Provided are stacks including CMC structures and capping layers deposited on surfaces of these CMC structures. Also provided are methods for hermetically sealing the surfaces of the CMC structures with the capping layers. These stacks may be used to construct walls of radomes that enclose antennas and other equipment of aerospace vehicles. The capping layers may form smooth external surfaces of the radomes and may hermetically seal the underlying CMC structures. The dielectric properties of these stacks may be configured to minimize interference with operations of the antennas and other equipment deposited within the radome.
US09419322B2
A multi-port waveguide is provided having a rectangular waveguide that includes a Y-shape structure with first top arm having a first rectangular waveguide port, a second top arm with second rectangular waveguide port, and a base arm with a third rectangular waveguide port for supporting a TE10 mode and a TE20 mode, where the end of the third rectangular waveguide port includes rounded edges that are parallel to a z-axis of the waveguide, a circular waveguide having a circular waveguide port for supporting a left hand and a right hand circular polarization TE11 mode and is coupled to a base arm broad wall, and a matching feature disposed on the base arm broad wall opposite of the circular waveguide for terminating the third rectangular waveguide port, where the first rectangular waveguide port, the second rectangular waveguide port and the circular waveguide port are capable of supporting 4-modes of operation.
US09419320B2
A nonreciprocal circuit element is configured so that a first center electrode and a second center electrode are arranged on a ferrite, to which a direct current magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet is applied, so as to cross each other and be insulated from each other. One end portion of the first center electrode is connected to a first unbalanced input/output port and one port of a plurality of balanced input/output ports and the other end portion of the first center electrode is connected to ground. One end portion of the second center electrode is connected to a second unbalanced input/output port and the other port of the balanced input/output ports and the other end of the second center electrode is connected to the ground. The one end portion of the first center electrode is connected to the ground via a first capacitor element, and the one end portion of the second center electrode is connected to the ground via a second capacitor element.
US09419313B2
A method of manufacturing a reference electrode for a lithium ion battery comprises charging the battery to a threshold state-of-charge, wherein the battery includes a neutral metal can and a negative electrode, and plating a reference electrode on an interior surface of the neutral metal can by electrically connecting the neutral metal can to the negative electrode, a neutral metal can potential being greater than a negative electrode potential.
US09419305B2
An electrolyte for rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium salt, a non-aqueous organic solvent, a first additive represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a second additive represented by the following Chemical Formula 2. A rechargeable lithium battery includes the electrolyte.
US09419302B2
An electrode constituent member for a battery module includes a current-carrying member including an internal connection portion relative to a tab-shaped terminal of an electricity-storage cell, and an external connection portion exposed to an outside of the battery module; a fastener member for fastening a member electrically connecting electrodes of a plurality of battery modules to the external connection portion of the current-carrying member; and an insulating member positioned between the external connection portion of the current-carrying member and the electricity-storage cell. In an inner side of the external connection portion, clamp portions receiving the insulating member in between are formed. In the clamp portions and the insulating member, respectively, engagement portions, engaging with each other when the insulating member is received, are formed.
US09419301B2
An electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell includes a reinforce membrane made of nonwoven fibers and an electrolyte provided in a space among the nonwoven fibers. The nonwoven fibers have a non-uniform mass distribution in a plane of the electrolyte membrane. A mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to at least part of a peripheral portion of a fuel cell-use gasket frame is greater than a mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to a center portion of the gasket frame. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell is attached to the fuel cell-use gasket frame.
US09419296B2
Thermotechnical units of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) are integrated as a whole one. The units may include a burner, a reformer and a heat exchanger. The integrated units can be easily assembled into an SOFC system with cell stacks. Thus, the present invention has a simple structure, operates with ease, saves operational cost, runs with fewer utilities, decreases heat dissipation and enhances system performance.
US09419294B2
A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a redox flow battery. The method of controlling operation of a redox flow battery includes obtaining a diffusivity of anolyte ions with respect to a separator, obtaining a diffusivity of catholyte ions with respect to the separator, determining electrolyte diffusivities depending upon a state of charge value of the redox flow battery based on the diffusivity of the anolyte ions and the diffusivity of the catholyte ions, determining a minimum state of charge value and a maximum state of charge value of the redox flow battery based on the electrolyte diffusivities, and setting operating conditions of the redox flow battery based on the minimum state of charge value and the maximum state of charge value. The method and apparatus for controlling operation of a redox flow battery can prevent reduction in capacity of the redox flow battery.
US09419290B2
A method for sealing a coolant chamber (5) of a bipolar plate (1) of a fuel cell (20), the fuel cell (20) having at least one membrane-electrode unit (21) and the bipolar plate (1) having a first bipolar plate half (2) and a second bipolar plate half (3), at least one of the bipolar plate halves (2, 3) having a coolant distributing structure (4) and the coolant chamber (5) that is formed at least by the coolant distributing structure (4) being formed between the bipolar plate halves (2, 3).
US09419288B2
An improved emergency power system is disclosed for providing electrical power to a load such as a blowout preventer of a petroleum drilling apparatus. The improved emergency power system comprises a thermal battery having an anode and a cathode with a separator containing an electrolyte disposed therebetween. An internal heat layer is located in proximity to the separator containing the electrolyte. A squib is provided for activating the internal heat layer. The thermal battery remains dormant until the squib is energized to ignite the squib enabling the heat layer to render the electrolyte molten thereby activating battery to provide electrical power to the load. The squib may be energized remotely, mechanically or electrically.
US09419283B2
Provided is a non-aqueous lithium secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly composed of a cathode, an anode, and a separator interposed between the cathode and anode, wherein the cathode and anode have an electrode material containing an active material applied on a current collector, a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt, hydrophobic inactive-particles (also, referred to as “hydrophobic particles”) included in the electrode material, and a battery case sealing all the constituent components. Upon adding hydrophobic inactive-particles to the electrode material in a non-aqueous lithium secondary battery, absorption and inflow of water into the electrode material during the battery production is effectively inhibited such as to prevent side reactions caused by water inside the battery, thereby exhibiting improvement in the high-temperature storage characteristics of the battery.
US09419281B2
A carbon negative electrode material for a lithium secondary battery includes: a core carbon material; and a coated layer covering the core carbon material and comprising a carbon coating material and carbon fiber.
US09419265B2
The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an electrospun microfiber non-woven web with high strength for a lithium secondary battery, a non-woven web manufactured therefrom, and a separator comprising the non-woven web. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a microfiber non-woven web manufactured by bringing a solution of engineering plastic resin with high heat-resistance into electrospinning, the manufacture thereof, and a separator comprising the web.According to the present disclosure, the engineering plastic resin with high heat-resistance is used in the manufacture of the microfiber non-woven web to provide improved physical properties including tensile strength and good heat-resistance and chemical-resistance, as compared with conventional polyethylene-based separators.
US09419262B2
A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, an end plate at a side of the plurality of battery cells, a bottom plate at a bottom of the plurality of battery cells, and a reinforcing member at a first surface of the bottom plate.
US09419251B2
The present invention discloses a display device and a method of manufacturing the display device to solve a problem in the prior art that the light transmittance of the displaying light in the display device is very low. In the present invention, the display device comprises a first substrate formed with at least one metal pattern thereon, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a polarizer provided on an outer side of the second substrate far away from the first substrate. An area of an overlapping region between the metal pattern and a pixel display zone is less than an area of the pixel display zone. The polarizer comprises a light absorption layer fully covering the at least one metal pattern. An area of an overlapping region between the light absorption layer of the polarizer and the pixel display zone is less than the area of the pixel display zone. In the present invention, it increases the light transmittance of the displaying light in the OLED display device.
US09419247B2
An organic light emitting diode device can have an enhanced thin film encapsulation layer for preventing moisture from permeating from the outside. The thin film encapsulation layer can have a multilayered structure in which one or more inorganic layers and one or more organic layers are alternately laminated. A barrier can be formed outside of a portion of the substrate on which the organic light emitting diode is formed. The organic layers of the thin film encapsulation layer can be formed inside an area defined by the barrier.
US09419242B2
Disclosed is an organic white light emitting display apparatus. The organic white light emitting device includes a first substrate including a first sub-pixel area, a second sub-pixel area, a third sub-pixel area, and an organic light emitting device (OLED) that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic white light emitting layer interposed between the first and second electrodes, and emits whit light for respective sub-pixel areas, a second substrate including first, second, and third color filters of different colors formed on positions corresponding to the respective sub-pixel areas, the second substrate being arranged to face the first substrate, and a partition wall that is extended to an area between neighboring color filters among the color filters and partitions the sub-pixel areas, the partition wall being formed on the first substrate.
US09419237B2
A novel organic compound having a high hole-transport property is provided. A long-lifetime light-emitting element is provided. An organic compound represented by General Formula (G0) is provided. In General Formula (G0), Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group, Ar2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted carbazolyl group, Ar3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted fluorenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted spirofluorenyl group, and α1 and α2 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyldiyl group.
US09419235B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a gel containing a nano-carbon material, which allows the gelling medium used to be selected from a wide range of substances, is applicable to other nano-carbon materials in addition to carbon nanotubes, and can be implemented in an extremely simple manner. A method for producing a gel containing a nano-carbon material of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized in that a nano-carbon material is stir-mixed with a gelling medium that satisfies the following conditions (but is not an ionic liquid), the gelling medium being in a liquid or molten state: (1) the gelling medium is in a liquid state at ambient temperature or melts when heated; and (2) the gelling medium contains, in the molecule, two or more rings of at least one kind selected from optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon monocyclic ring and optionally substituted aromatic heteromonocyclic ring.
US09419231B2
An organic electroluminescence device including two or more organic thin film layers including an emitting layer between an anode and a cathode, the emitting layer including at least one compound represented by the following formula (1), and an organic thin film layer that is in contact with the emitting layer on the cathode side comprising at least one benzimidazole compound represented by the following formula (A):
US09419224B2
A fluoro group-containing compound, a fluoro group-containing polymer, an organic light emitting device including the polymer, and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting device are provided.
US09419222B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a reusable encapsulation layer support plate comprising: a support plate body, the top of the support plate body being arranged with at least one first opening for accommodating an encapsulation layer; a cavity arranged within the support plate body, the cavity being filled with a porous material, and the top of the cavity having at least one second opening; wherein the first opening is connected with and arranged opposite to the second opening, and the top surface of the porous material is parallel and level with the bottom surface of the first opening. The encapsulation layer support plate can avoid crash of OLED substrate, realize effective OLED encapsulation, and can be reused as far as possible. The embodiments of the present invention further disclose a method of encapsulating an OLED substrate using the encapsulation layer support plate.
US09419221B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit that includes forming a lower electrode in a semiconductor substrate, forming an interlayer insulating layer including a phase-change region exposing the lower electrode on the semiconductor substrate, forming a first phase-change layer having a crystalline state along surfaces of the interlayer insulating layer and an exposed lower electrode, and growing a second phase-change layer on the first phase-change layer based on the crystallinity of the first phase-change layer to be filled in the phase-change region.
US09419215B2
Cross-point memory cells, non-volatile memory arrays, methods of reading a memory cell, methods of programming a memory cell, and methods of writing to and reading from a memory cell are described. In one embodiment, a cross-point memory cell includes a word line extending in a first direction, a bit line extending in a second direction different from the first direction, the bit line and the word line crossing without physically contacting each other, and a capacitor formed between the word line and the bit line where such cross. The capacitor comprises a dielectric material configured to prevent DC current from flowing from the word line to the bit line and from the bit line to the word line.
US09419208B2
A magnetoresistive memory element (e.g., a spin-torque magnetoresistive memory element) includes a fixed magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and a first dielectric, disposed between the fixed magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer. A first surface of the first dielectric is in contact with a first surface of the free magnetic layer. The magnetoresistive memory element further includes a second dielectric, having a first surface that is in contact with a second surface of the free magnetic layer, a conductor, including electrically conductive material, and an electrode, disposed between the second dielectric and the conductor. The electrode includes: (i) a non-ferromagnetic portion having a surface that is in contact with a second surface of the second dielectric, and (ii) a second portion including at least one ferromagnetic material disposed between the non-ferromagnetic portion of the electrode and the conductor.
US09419199B2
The invention relates to an actuator (1), comprising: piezoelectric elements (16) arranged in a stack; first and second inner electrodes (5, 3), which are alternately arranged between the piezoelectric elements (16); a first outer electrode (4), which is connected to the first inner electrodes (5) in an electrically conductive manner; a second outer electrode (2), which is connected to the second inner electrodes (3) in an electrically conductive manner, characterized in that the actuator (1) comprises a plurality of actuator sections (81, 82, 83, 84, 85) and in that the second outer electrode (2) comprises separate electrode segments (21, 22, 23), which are each connected in an electrically conductive manner to the second inner electrodes (3) in one of the actuator sections (81, 82, 83, 84, 85) or in a group of the actuator sections (81, 82, 83, 84, 85).
US09419182B2
Solid-state radiation transducer (SSRT) devices having buried contacts that are at least partially transparent and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An SSRT device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a radiation transducer including a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material, and an active region between the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material. The SSRT device can further include first and second contacts electrically coupled to the first and second semiconductor materials, respectively. The second contact can include a plurality of buried-contact elements electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material. Individual buried-contact elements can have a transparent portion directly adjacent to the second semiconductor material. The second contact can further include a base portion extending between the buried-contact elements, such as a base portion that is least partially planar and reflective.
US09419172B2
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device package includes forming a plurality of light emitting devices by growing a plurality of semiconductor layers on a wafer, and measuring color characteristics of light emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting devices. For each of the plurality of light emitting devices, a type and an amount of wavelength conversion material is determined for color compensating the light emitting device based on a difference between the measured color characteristics and target color characteristics. A wavelength conversion layer is formed on at least two light emitting devices among the plurality of light emitting devices, the wavelength conversion layer having the type and the amount of wavelength conversion material determined for the at least two light emitting devices. The plurality of light emitting devices is then divided into individual light emitting device packages.
US09419171B2
Methods and apparatus relating to providing a collection grid suitable for use in PV modules. The disclosed collection grid may be at least partially applied to a protective laminate sheet in a manner that removes the high temperature requirements of conventional screen printed collection grids, to avoid unwanted heat-related deformation of the laminate sheet.
US09419169B2
A production method of a semiconductor element of a direct-converting x-ray detector is disclosed, wherein at least one intermediate layer is applied to a semiconductor layer and at least one contact layer is applied to an exposed intermediate layer by chemically currentless deposition of a contact material from a solution in each instance. The materials for the individual layers are selected such that the electrochemical potential of the materials of the at least one intermediate layer is greater than the electrochemical potential of at least one element of the semiconductor layer and the electrochemical potential of the contact material of the contract layer is greater than the electrochemical potential of the materials of the intermediate layers. Semiconductor elements produced in accordance with the method, an x-ray detector with semiconductor elements, an x-ray system with an x-ray detector and also a CT system with an x-ray detector are also disclosed.
US09419165B2
A method for making a back contact solar cell. Base isolation regions are formed in a crystalline silicon back contact solar cell substrate having a substrate thickness in the range of approximately 1 micron to 100 microns. Pulsed laser ablation of a substance on the crystalline silicon back contact solar cell substrate is performed to form base openings, wherein the substance is at least one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon oxynitride, or silicon carbide. Emitter regions are selectively doped and base regions are selectively doped. Contact openings are formed for the selectively doped base regions and the selectively doped emitter regions. Metallization is formed on the selectively doped base regions and the selectively doped emitter regions.
US09419162B2
An array sensor apparatus and forming method thereof, wherein the array sensor comprises: a driving circuit and a sensor circuit, wherein the driving circuit and the sensor circuit are formed on the same substrate surface, the sensor circuit comprises a pixel cell array including pixel cells and driving lines connected with the pixel cells, output ends of the driving circuit are connected to the driving lines of the sensor circuit, the driving circuit comprises a first transistor, and the pixel cell comprises a second transistor. In the array sensor apparatus of the present disclosure, the driving circuit and the sensor circuit are formed on the same substrate surface, thus occupying less area. Reliability may be improved. Besides, the forming processes can be implemented simultaneously without additional processing steps.
US09419160B2
A nitride semiconductor structure is provided. The nitride semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a SiC nucleation layer, a composite buffer layer and a nitride semiconductor layer. The SiC nucleation layer is located on the substrate. The composite buffer layer is located on the SiC nucleation layer. The nitride semiconductor layer is located on the composite buffer layer. Besides, the nitride semiconductor structure is an AlN free semiconductor structure.
US09419158B2
The invention provides a solar cell and a method for manufacturing same. The solar cell contains a carbon structure layer; a microstructure formed on the carbon structure layer; and a charge separation layer which includes a charge separation junction part and which is formed on the surface of the microstructure.
US09419154B2
The disclosed technology generally relates to photovoltaic devices and methods of fabricating photovoltaic devices, and more particularly relates to interdigitated back contact photovoltaic cells and methods of fabricating the same. In one aspect, a method of forming first and second interdigitated electrodes on a semiconductor substrate comprises providing a dielectric layer on the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate. The method additionally comprises providing a metal seed layer on the dielectric layer. The method additionally comprises patterning the metal seed layer by laser ablation, thereby separating it into a first seed layer and a second seed layer with a separation region interposed therebetween, wherein the first seed layer and the second seed layer are interdigitated and electrically isolated from each other. The method further comprises thickening the first seed layer and the second seed layer by plating, thereby forming the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09419153B2
A solar cell segment includes a substrate defining a rear side including a number of base doped regions and emitter doped regions. A dielectric layer and at least one metallizing layer are disposed on the rear side of the substrate. The at least one metallizing layer is structured in an interdigital comb-shaped contact deck arrangement and defines base contact decks for a number of base doped regions and emitter contact decks for a number of base doped regions. The at least one metallization layer is disposed between the rear side of the substrate and the dielectric layer. At least one first row of first contact openings is formed in the dielectric layer lying in a region of the base contact decks and at least one second row of second contact openings is formed in the dielectric layer lying in a region of the emitter contact decks.
US09419145B2
To give favorable electrical characteristics to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer over the insulating layer, a pair of electrodes over the semiconductor layer and each electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode over the semiconductor layer, and a gate insulating layer between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. The insulating layer includes an island-shaped projecting portion. A top surface of the projecting portion of the insulating layer is in contact with a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer, and is positioned on an inner side of the semiconductor layer when seen from above. The pair of electrodes covers part of a top surface and part of side surfaces of the semiconductor layer. Furthermore, the gate electrode and the gate insulating layer cover side surfaces of the projecting portion of the insulating layer.
US09419143B2
A semiconductor device with a structure in which an increase in the number of oxygen vacancies in an oxide semiconductor layer can be suppressed and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes an oxide insulating layer; intermediate layers apart from each other over the oxide insulating layer; a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the intermediate layers; an oxide semiconductor layer that is electrically connected to the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer and is in contact with the oxide insulating layer; a gate insulating film over the source electrode layer, the drain electrode layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode layer that is over the gate insulating film and overlaps with the source electrode layer, the drain electrode layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09419140B2
Techniques are disclosed for enabling multi-sided condensation of semiconductor fins. The techniques can be employed, for instance, in fabricating fin-based transistors. In one example case, a strain layer is provided on a bulk substrate. The strain layer is associated with a critical thickness that is dependent on a component of the strain layer, and the strain layer has a thickness lower than or equal to the critical thickness. A fin is formed in the substrate and strain layer, such that the fin includes a substrate portion and a strain layer portion. The fin is oxidized to condense the strain layer portion of the fin, so that a concentration of the component in the strain layer changes from a pre-condensation concentration to a higher post-condensation concentration, thereby causing the critical thickness to be exceeded.
US09419137B1
A method of straining fins of a FinFET device by using a stress memorization film and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include providing a plurality of bulk Si fins, the plurality of bulk Si fins having a recessed oxide layer therebetween; forming a stress memorization layer over the plurality of bulk Si fins and the recessed oxide layer; annealing the stress memorization layer, the plurality of bulk Si fins, and the recessed oxide layer; and removing the stress memorization layer.
US09419135B2
A monolithic three dimensional NAND string includes a plurality of control gate electrodes extending substantially parallel to a major surface of a substrate, and at least one trench extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. The trench is filled with at least a first trench material and a second trench material. The first trench material includes a material under a first magnitude of a first stress type, and the second trench material includes a material under no stress, a second stress type opposite the first stress type, or a second magnitude of the first stress type lower than the first magnitude of the first stress type to offset warpage of the substrate due to the stress imposed by at least one of the first trench material or the plurality of control gate electrodes on the substrate.
US09419133B2
P+ type regions and a p-type region are selectively disposed in a surface layer of a silicon carbide substrate base. The P+ type region is disposed in a breakdown voltage structure portion surrounding an active region. The P+ type region is disposed in the active region to make up a JBS structure. The p-type region surrounds the P+ type region to make up a junction termination (JTE) structure. A Schottky electrode forms a Schottky junction with an n-type silicon carbide epitaxial layer. The Schottky electrode overhangs an interlayer insulation film covering a portion of the P+ type region and the p-type region and this overhanging portion acts as a field plate. This enables the provision of a semiconductor device configured by using a wide band gap semiconductor capable of maintaining a high breakdown voltage with high reliability, and a method of fabricating thereof.
US09419132B2
A semiconductor device can ensure predetermined current capacity under maintaining breakdown voltage characteristics and can promote size reduction. A first n-type offset-diffusion-region is disposed inside a p-type well region. In the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, a LOCOS film is disposed on the surface layer of a part sandwiched between an n+-type drain region and n+-type source region. In the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, a gate electrode is disposed on the part sandwiched between the LOCOS film and the n+-type source region. In the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, impurity concentration is lower at the part beneath the gate electrode than at the part beneath the LOCOS film. Inside the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, a second n−-type offset-diffusion-region is disposed at apart located toward the n+-type source region through the LOCOS film so as to be separated from the LOCOS film by a distance x.
US09419125B1
A semiconductor structure having a Group III-N buffer layer and a Group III-N barrier layer in direct contact to form a junction between the Group III-V buffer layer the Group III-N barrier layer producing a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel, the Group III-N barrier layer having a varying dopant concentration. The lower region of the Group III-N barrier layer closest to the junction is void of intentionally introduced dopant and a region above the lower region having intentionally introduced, predetermined dopant with a predetermined doping concentration above 1×1017 atoms per cm3.
US09419117B2
The present invention is directed to a semiconductor device including a semiconductor chip formed with an SiC-IGBT including an SiC semiconductor layer, a first conductive-type collector region formed such that the collector region is exposed on a second surface of the SiC semiconductor layer, a second conductive-type base region formed such that the base region is in contact with the collector region, a first conductive-type channel region formed such that the channel region is in contact with the base region, a second conductive-type emitter region formed such that the emitter region is in contact with the channel region to define a portion of a first surface of the SiC semiconductor layer, a collector electrode connected to the collector region, and an emitter electrode connected to the emitter region, and a MOSFET including a second conductive-type source region electrically connected to the emitter electrode and a second conductive-type drain region electrically connected to the collector electrode, the MOSFET connected in parallel to the SiC-IGBT.
US09419115B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) structure, which can include: a doped semiconductor layer having a substantially uniform doping profile; a first gate structure positioned on the doped semiconductor layer; and a second gate structure positioned on the doped semiconductor layer, the second gate structure including a metal-insulator transition material and a gate dielectric layer separating the metal-insulator transition material from the doped semiconductor layer.
US09419114B2
A tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) device is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate and a fin structure disposed thereon. The fin structure comprises a channel region and a source region disposed on the channel region. The TFET further comprises a drain region contacting the channel region, wherein the source region and the drain region are of opposite conductivity type. The TFET also comprises a pocket layer covering a gate interface portion of the source region and contacting at least part of the channel region. The TFET further comprises a gate dielectric layer covering the pocket layer and a gate electrode covering the gate dielectric layer. The gate interface portion of the source region comprises at least three mutually non-coplanar surface segments. A method for manufacturing such a TFET device is also provided.
US09419113B2
An object is to provide a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor layer, in which contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor layer and source and drain electrode layers is reduced and electric characteristics are stabilized. Another object is to provide a method for manufacturing the thin film transistor. A thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor layer is formed in such a manner that buffer layers having higher conductivity than the oxide semiconductor layer are formed over the oxide semiconductor layer, source and drain electrode layers are formed over the buffer layers, and the oxide semiconductor layer is electrically connected to the source and drain electrode layers with the buffer layers interposed therebetween. In addition, the buffer layers are subjected to reverse sputtering treatment and heat treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereby the buffer layers having higher conductivity than the oxide semiconductor layer are obtained.
US09419106B2
The present description relates to the formation source/drain structures within non-planar transistors, wherein fin spacers are removed from the non-planar transistors in order to form the source/drain structures from the non-planar transistor fins or to replace the non-planar transistor fins with appropriate materials to form the source/drain structures.
US09419101B1
A method of forming spacers and the resulting fin-shaped field effect transistors are provided. Embodiments include forming a silicon (Si) fin over a substrate; forming a polysilicon gate over the Si fin; and forming a spacer on top and side surfaces of the polysilicon gate, and on exposed upper and side surfaces of the Si fin, the spacer including: a first layer and second layer having a first dielectric constant, and a third layer formed between the first and second layers and having a second dielectric constant, wherein the second dielectric constant is lower than the first dielectric constant.
US09419096B2
A method of manufacturing a transistor by which sufficient stress can be applied to a channel region within allowable ranges of concentrations of Ge and C in a mixed crystal layer.
US09419089B1
The present invention provides a semiconductor structure, which includes a substrate, at least two gate structures disposed on the substrate, a first recess, disposed in the substrate between two gate structures, the first recess having a U-shaped cross section profile, and a second recess, disposed on the first recess, the second recess having a polygonal shaped cross section profile, and has at least two tips on two sides of the second recess, the first recess and the second recess forming an epitaxial recess.
US09419084B2
N-channel power semiconductor devices in which an insulated field plate is coupled to the drift region, and immobile electrostatic charge is also present at the interface between the drift region and the insulation around the field plate. The electrostatic charge permits OFF-state voltage drop to occur near the source region, in addition to the voltage drop which occurs near the drain region (due to the presence of the field plate).
US09419083B2
A field effect transistor structure having a semiconductor having a source region, a drain region, and a gate contact region disposed between the source region and the drain region; and a gate electrode having a stem section extending from a top section of the gate electrode to, and in Schottky contact with, the gate contact region. The stem section has an upper portion terminating at the top portion of the gate electrode and a bottom portion narrower than the upper portion, the bottom portion terminating at the gate contact region. The bottom portion of the stem has a step between the upper portion of the stem section and the bottom portion of the stem section in only one side of the stem section. The step of the stem section provides an asymmetric field plate for the field effect transistor.
US09419078B2
A semiconductor structure and formation thereof. The semiconductor structure has a fin of a first semiconductor material. The fin has a first side surface opposite a second side surface. The semiconductor structure has a portion of a second semiconductor material that has a third side surface opposite a fourth side surface. The fourth side surface of the second semiconductor material abuts and covers the first side surface of the fin. The semiconductor structure has a portion of a third semiconductor material that abuts and covers the second side surface of the fin. The semiconductor structure has a single gate structure that covers the fin, the portion of the second semiconductor material and the portion of the third semiconductor material. The fin manifests an asymmetry due to the portion of the second semiconductor material and the portion of the third semiconductor material.
US09419077B2
A semiconductor device can include a field insulation layer including a planar major surface extending in first and second orthogonal directions and a protruding portion that protrudes a particular distance from the major surface relative to the first and second orthogonal directions. First and second multi-channel active fins can extend on the field insulation layer, and can be separated from one another by the protruding portion. A conductive layer can extend from an uppermost surface of the protruding portion to cross over the protruding portion between the first and second multi-channel active fins.
US09419073B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating functional components of front-end modules for wireless radios. Front-end modules disclosed may be dual-band front-end modules for use in 802.11ac-compliant devices. In certain embodiments, integration of front-end module components on a single die is achieved by implementing a high-resistivity layer or substrate directly underneath, adjacent to, and/or supporting SiGe BiCMOS technology elements.
US09419064B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for manufacturing a highly reliable display device at low cost with high yield. A first electrode layer is formed by a sputtering method using a gas containing hydrogen or H2O, an electroluminescent layer is formed over the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer is formed over the electroluminescent layer. According to one aspect of the present invention, a display device is manufactured to include a first electrode layer including indium zinc oxide containing silicon oxide and tungsten oxide, an electroluminescent layer over the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer over the electroluminescent layer, where the electroluminescent layer includes a layer containing an organic compound and an inorganic compound to be in contact with the first electrode layer.
US09419051B2
A solid-state imaging device is provided with a plurality of photoelectric converting portions each having a photosensitive region and an electric potential gradient forming region, and which are juxtaposed so as to be along a direction intersecting with a predetermined direction, a plurality of buffer gate portions each arranged corresponding to a photoelectric converting portion and on the side of the other short side forming a planar shape of the photosensitive region, and accumulates a charge generated in the photosensitive region of the corresponding photoelectric converting portion, and a shift register which acquires charges respectively transferred from the plurality of buffer gate portions, and transfers the charges in the direction intersecting with the predetermined direction, to output the charges. The buffer gate portion has at least two gate electrodes to which predetermined electric potentials are respectively applied so as to increase potential toward the predetermined direction.
US09419045B2
A solid-state imaging device including, a first semiconductor region of the first conduction type, a photoelectric conversion part having a second semiconductor region of the second conduction type formed in the region separated by the isolation dielectric region of the first semiconductor region, pixel transistors formed in the first semiconductor region, a floating diffusion region of the second conduction type which is formed in the region separated by the isolation dielectric region of the first semiconductor region, and an electrode formed on the first semiconductor region existing between the floating diffusion region and the isolation dielectric region and is given a prescribed bias voltage.
US09419042B2
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
US09419038B2
In a photoelectric conversion apparatus including charge storing portions in its imaging region, isolation regions for the charge storing portions include first isolation portion each having a PN junction, and second isolation portions each having an insulator. A second isolation portion is arranged between a charge storing portion and at least a part of a plurality of transistors.
US09419036B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: light-receiving elements; and first dispersive elements on a light-incident side of the light-receiving elements. Each first dispersive element includes first and second light transmissive film materials. The second light transmissive film material has a refractive index that is lower than that of the first light transmissive film material in a first wavelength range and higher than that of the first light transmissive film material in a second wavelength range longer in wavelength than the first wavelength range. A volume occupation ratio of the first light transmissive film material in each dispersive element increases from one end towards the other end of the dispersive element in a direction parallel to a light-receiving surface, while a volume occupation ratio of the second light transmissive film material in the dispersive element increases from the other end towards the one end in the direction.
US09419034B2
An image sensor module includes a substrate, an image sensor mounted on the substrate, a holder position on the substrate, a lens barrel for holding a lens module and at least one spring. The spring is positioned between the holder and the lens barrel, and the spring exerts forces on the holder and the lens barrel; and the lens barrel has at least one hole, and a screw penetrates through the hole and is screwed into the holder.
US09419032B2
A disclosed method of manufacturing a camera module includes providing an optical assembly, providing an integrated circuit image capture device (ICD), fixing the optical assembly directly to the ICD, then forming a housing directly over the optical assembly. The method further includes forming the housing over the ICD and the optical assembly via transfer molding. The method further includes forming solder balls on the rear surface of the ICD so as to enable the camera module to be reflow soldered to a host device. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the method includes providing a second ICD, providing a second optical assembly, providing a housing substrate, fixing the first optical assembly over the first ICD, fixing the second optical assembly over the second ICD, and forming the housing substrate over both the first and second optical assemblies. The alternative method further includes separating the housing substrate in to a first portion formed over the first optical assembly and second portion formed over the second optical assembly, providing a second housing substrate, and forming the second housing substrate over the first and second portions.
US09419021B2
If the threshold of a thin film transistor is depleted, a leak-induced voltage drop takes place and the desired voltage cannot be obtained. Depending on the severity of the phenomenon, the thin film transistor may fail to function. This disclosure offers a thin film transistor circuit having a first transistor connected to a low voltage, and a second transistor connected to the gate of the first transistor. When the gate voltage of the second transistor is changed from the high level to the low level, the gate voltage of the first transistor is brought to a voltage level lower than the low voltage.
US09419019B2
An array substrate and a display device is disclosed, for eliminating the interference of transient electromagnetic signals caused by the time-varying voltages on the gate lines and the data lines with the voltages on the pixel electrodes. The array substrate comprises gate lines and data lines disposed on a substrate, and pixel units surrounded and separated by the gate lines and the data lines; and the array substrate further comprises shielding electrodes disposed above at least one of the gate lines and the data lines to cover at least part of the at least one and electrically insulated from the gate lines and the data lines.
US09419018B2
A semiconductor device that occupies a small area and has a high degree of integration is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer, a conductive layer, and a second insulating layer. The conductive layer is between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The first insulating layer, the conductive layer, and the second insulating layer overlap with each other in a region. A contact plug penetrates the first insulating layer, the conductive layer, and the second insulating layer. In a depth direction from the second insulating layer to the first insulating layer, a diameter of the contact plug changes to a smaller value at an interface between the second insulating layer and the conductive layer.
US09419013B1
A semiconductor device, including gate electrodes perpendicularly stacked on a substrate; channel holes extending perpendicularly to the substrate, the channel holes penetrating through the gate electrodes, the channel holes having a channel region; gate pads extended from the gate electrodes by different lengths; and contact plugs connected to the gate pads, at least a portion of the gate pads having a region having a thickness less than a thickness of the gate electrode connected to the at least a portion of the gate pads.
US09419012B1
Electrically conductive layers for control gate electrodes of a vertical memory device can be vertically spaced by cavities to reduce capacitive coupling between neighboring electrically conductive gate electrodes. An alternating stack of first material layers and second material layers can be provided. After replacing the second material layers with electrically conductive layers, the first material layers can be removed to form cavities between the electrically conductive layers. A dielectric material can be deposited with high anisotropic deposition rate to form an insulating spacer. For example, a plasma assisted atomic layer deposition process can be employed to deposit a dielectric spacer that include laterally protruding portions that encapsulate the cavities at each level between neighboring pairs of electrically conductive layers. A contact via structure can be formed in the insulating spacer to provide electrical contact to a source region.
US09419010B2
A plurality of semiconductor layers is etched to define a first plurality of stacks of active strips between a first plurality of trenches. A first memory layer is formed on side surfaces of active strips in the first plurality of trenches, and a first layer of conductive material is formed over the first memory layer. The first plurality of stacks is etched to define a second plurality of stacks of active strips between a second plurality of trenches of the plurality of semiconductor layers. A second memory layer is formed on side surfaces of active strips in the second plurality of trenches, and a second layer of conductive material is formed over the second memory layer. Channel regions of memory cells in the memory device are formed in active strips of the plurality of semiconductor layers in the second plurality of stacks.
US09419003B1
An SRAM cell includes a first vertical pull-up transistor stacked atop a first vertical pull-down transistor, and a second vertical pull-up transistor stacked atop a second vertical pull-down transistor. The gates of the first vertical pull-up transistor and the first vertical pull-down transistor are coupled by a first via, while the gates of the second vertical pull-up transistor and the second vertical pull-down transistor are coupled by a second via. Gates of the first vertical pull-up transistor and a first vertical pass-gate transistor are coupled by a first conductive trace, while gates of the second vertical pull-up transistor and a second vertical pass-gate transistor are coupled by a second conductive trace. The gate of the first vertical pull-up transistor is coupled to the second conductive trace by a third via, while the gate of the second vertical pull-up transistor is coupled to the first conductive trace by a fourth via.
US09419000B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming bit line structures spaced apart from each other by first groove disposed in first direction, extending in first direction, and spaced apart from each other in second direction perpendicular to first direction, on substrate in which word line is buried; forming multilayer spacer on both sidewalls of bit line structure; forming sacrificial layer to fill first groove; forming second grooves spaced apart from each other in first direction and second direction, by patterning sacrificial layer; etching outermost spacer of multilayer spacer located in second groove; forming first supplementary spacer in second groove; forming insulating layer to fill second groove; and forming third grooves spaced apart from each other in first direction and second direction, on both sides of first supplementary spacer, by removing sacrificial layer and insulating layer.
US09418996B2
Using an STI insulating film in a high breakdown voltage MOSFET leads to deterioration in reliability due to impact ionization near the bottom corner of a drain isolation insulating film.The invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including forming a hard mask film, an opening therein, and a sidewall insulating film on the side surface thereof; forming a shallow trench in the opening with the hard mask film as a mask and oxidizing at least an exposed portion; filling the trench with an insulating film and then removing it so as to leave it outside the trench in the opening and thereby forming a drain offset STI insulating film inside and outside the trench; and forming a gate electrode extending from the upper portion of a gate insulating film in an active region contiguous thereto to the upper portion of the drain offset insulating film.
US09418995B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide CMOS structures and methods of gate formation that combine a keep-cap scheme in which a protective layer is maintained on a PFET during a replacement metal gate process that utilizes an NFET-first process flow. Selective nitridation is used to provide nitrogen to the NFET while the PFET is protected from nitrogen by the keep-cap. Additional dopants are provided to the NFET using a gate stack dopant material (GSDM) layer.
US09418987B2
A structure and method of fabrication thereof relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced σVT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. A novel dopant profile indicative of a distinctive notch enables tuning of the VT setting within a precise range. This VT set range may be extended by appropriate selection of metals so that a very wide range of VT settings is accommodated on the die. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors. The result is the ability to independently control VT (with a low σVT) and VDD, so that the body bias can be tuned separately from VT for a given device.
US09418982B2
The integrated circuit described herein includes: a first resistor having a first trench in a dielectric layer, the first trench having a first width; a second resistor having a second trench in the dielectric layer, the second trench having a second width not equal to the first width; a trench in a dielectric layer, a first conductive layer having a first TCR and coating at least a portion of the first trench and the second trench; and a second conductive layer having a second TCR and coating at least a portion of the first conductive layer in each of the first trench and the second trench, wherein the second TCR is not equal to the first TCR, and wherein the TCR of the IC is selected based on a dimension of the trench, a thickness of the first conductive layer, and a thickness of the second conductive layer.
US09418981B2
A semiconductor device formed in a substrate, including a first region, a second region formed over the first region, a third region, a fourth region formed over the third region, and a fifth region formed over the first region and contacting the second region. The first, second, and fourth regions have a first-type conductivity, and constitute drain region, drain electrode, and source region of a metal-on-semiconductor (MOS) structure. The second region has a higher doping level than the first region. The third region has a second-type conductivity and constitutes channel and body regions of the MOS structure. The fifth region has the second-type conductivity and constitutes an emitter region of a bipolar junction (BJ) structure. The second and third regions constitute base and collector regions of the BJ structure.
US09418978B2
A package-on-package (PoP) structure comprises a first package and a second package. The first package comprises a first die, a second die, and a core material. The core material has a first surface and a second surface. A first redistribution layer (RDL) is on the first surface, and a second RDL is on the second surface. The first die is disposed in the core material between the first surface and the second surface. The second die is coupled to one of the first RDL and the second RDL. The second package comprises a third die and an interposer. The interposer has a first side and a second side. The third die is coupled to the second side of the interposer. The first package is coupled to the second package by first electrical connectors coupled to the second side of the interposer and the first RDL.
US09418976B2
A method of forming a chip stack is provided and includes arraying solder pads along a plane of a major surface of a substrate forming walls of electrically insulating material between adjacent ones of the solder pads.
US09418975B1
A semiconductor module has a first electrode terminal, a second electrode terminal, a third electrode terminal, a fourth electrode terminal, a fifth electrode terminal, and a sixth electrode terminal. The first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal are arranged along a first direction. The third electrode terminal, the fourth electrode terminal, the fifth electrode terminal, and the sixth electrode terminal are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first electrode terminal is arranged at a position where the first direction intersects with the second direction. The fourth electrode terminal, the fifth electrode terminal, and the sixth electrode terminal are AC output terminals or AC input terminals. The first electrode terminal is one of an anode terminal and a cathode terminal. At least one of the second electrode terminal and the third electrode terminal is the other of the anode terminal and the cathode terminal.
US09418974B2
Stacked semiconductor die assemblies with support members and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor die assembly can include a package substrate, a first semiconductor die attached to the package substrate, and a plurality of support members also attached to the package substrate. The plurality of support members can include a first support member and a second support member disposed at opposite sides of the first semiconductor die, and a second semiconductor die can be coupled to the support members such that at least a portion of the second semiconductor die is over the first semiconductor die.
US09418961B2
An apparatus including a bond head, a supplemental support, a reduction module, and a transducer is provided. The bond head holds a first substrate that contains a first set of metal pads. The supplemental support holds a second substrate that contains a second set of metal pads. The aligner forms an aligned set of metal pads by aligning the first substrate to the second substrate. The reduction module contains the aligned substrates and a reduction gas flows into the reduction module. The transducer provides repeated relative motion to the aligned set of metal pads.
US09418954B2
A device includes a chip assembled on an interposer. An electrically-insulating layer coats an upper surface of the interposer around the chip. First metal lines run on the upper surface of the interposer and are arranged between conductive elements of connection to the chip. An end of each first metal line is arranged to extend beyond a projection of the chip on the interposer. A thermally-conductive via connects the end of the first metal line to a heat sink supported at an upper surface of the device.
US09418952B2
Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate, and a passivation layer disposed over the substrate and a first portion of the contact pad. A post passivation interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to a second portion of the contact pad. A PPI pad is disposed over the passivation layer. A transition element is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled between the PPI line and the PPI pad. The transition element comprises a first side and a second side coupled to the first side. The first side and the second side of the transition element are non-tangential to the PPI pad.
US09418950B2
An integrated circuit architecture and circuitry is defined by a die structure with a plurality of exposed conductive pads arranged in a grid of rows and columns. The die structure has a first operating frequency region with a first transmit and receive chain, and a second operating frequency region with a second transmit chain and a second receive chain. There is a shared region of the die structure defined by an overlapping segment of the first operating frequency region and the second operating frequency region with a shared power supply input conductive pad connected to the first transmit chain, the second transmit chain, the first receive chain, and the second receive chain, and a shared power detection output conductive pad connected to the first transmit chain and the second transmit chain.
US09418948B2
A method of making a bonding pad for a semiconductor device includes depositing a first region of the bonding pad on a top metal of the semiconductor device at a first temperature, wherein the first region comprises aluminum, and an entirety of a material of the first region of the bonding pad is different from a material of the top metal. The method further includes depositing a second region of the bonding pad on the first region at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is different from the second temperature, and the second region is a metallic region.
US09418929B1
A packaged integrated circuit (IC) device includes a flexible substrate having contact pads, an IC die mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the contact pads, and conductive threads sewn into the substrate. The conductive threads have proximal ends electrically connected to corresponding ones of the contact pads with conductive bumps. The conductive threads eliminate the need for a complicated multi-layer substrate structure for interconnect fan-out so the substrate may be formed of a variety of materials such as cloth or paper.
US09418927B2
A stretchable electronic device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes at least one combination of a stretchable electronic structure having a first Young's modulus and a rigid or flexible electronic structure having a second Young's modulus higher than the first Young's modulus. The stretchable electronic structure and the rigid or flexible electronic structure may be electrically connected to each other by a semi-transition structure having a third Young's modulus with a value in a range between the first and the second Young's modulus.
US09418919B2
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is surface-mountable non-leaded chip carrier for a semiconductor device. The device comprises a first contact. A second contact is relative to the first contact; the second contact has a split therein to provide first and second portions of the second contact arranged relative to one another to lessen tilting of a soldering condition involving attachment of the chip carrier to a printed circuit board.
US09418903B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and structures by which the inherent discretization of effective width can be relaxed through introduction of a fractional effective device width, thereby allowing greater flexibility for design applications, such as SRAM design optimization. A portion of some fins are clad with a capping layer or workfunction material to change the threshold voltage (Vt) for a part of the fin, rendering that part of the fin electrically inactive, which changes the effective device width (Weff). Other fins are unclad, and provide maximum area of constant threshold voltage. In this way, the effective device width of some devices is reduced. Therefore, the effective device width is controllable by controlling the level of cladding of the fin.
US09418898B2
Integrated circuits including MOSFETs with selectively recessed gate electrodes. Transistors having recessed gate electrodes with reduced capacitive coupling area to adjacent source and drain contact metallization are provided alongside transistors with gate electrodes that are non-recessed and have greater z-height. In embodiments, analog circuits employ transistors with gate electrodes of a given z-height while logic gates employ transistors with recessed gate electrodes of lesser z-height. In embodiments, subsets of substantially planar gate electrodes are selectively etched back to differentiate a height of the gate electrode based on a given transistor's application within a circuit.
US09418890B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for depositing a material on a substrate within a processing chamber during a vapor deposition process, such as an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. In one embodiment, a method is provided which includes sequentially exposing the substrate to a first precursor gas and at least a second precursor gas while depositing a material on the substrate during the ALD process, and continuously or periodically exposing the substrate to a treatment gas prior to and/or during the ALD process. The deposition rate of the material being deposited may be controlled by varying the amount of treatment gas exposed to the substrate. In one example, tantalum nitride is deposited on the substrate and the alkylamino metal precursor gas contains a tantalum precursor, such as pentakis(dimethylamino) tantalum (PDMAT), the second precursor gas contains a nitrogen precursor, such as ammonia, and the treatment gas contains dimethylamine (DMA).
US09418888B2
A method of an aspect includes forming a directed self assembly alignment promotion layer over a surface of a substrate having a first patterned region and a second patterned region. A first directed self assembly alignment promotion material is formed selectively over the first patterned region without using lithographic patterning. The method also includes forming an assembled layer over the directed self assembly alignment promotion layer by directed self assembly. A plurality of assembled structures are formed that each include predominantly a first type of polymer over the first directed self assembly alignment promotion material. The assembled structures are each adjacently surrounded by predominantly a second different type of polymer over the second patterned region. The first directed self assembly alignment promotion material has a greater chemical affinity for the first type of polymer than for the second different type of polymer.
US09418884B2
An electrostatic chuck includes a placing stage formed from a ceramic including aluminum oxide and yttrium oxide, and an electrostatic electrode arranged in the placing stage, wherein a content rate of the yttrium oxide is 0.5 wt % to 2.0 wt %. Preferably, the electrostatic chuck is used while being heated at a temperature of 100° C. to 200° C.
US09418882B2
A method for alignment and contact-making of a first substrate with a second substrate using several detection units as well as a corresponding device.
US09418874B2
A semiconductor package is provided, including: a carrier; at least an interposer disposed on the carrier; an encapsulant formed on the carrier for encapsulating the interposer while exposing a top side of the interposer; a semiconductor element disposed on the top side of the interposer; and an adhesive formed between the interposer and the semiconductor element. By encapsulating the interposer with the encapsulant, warpage of the interposer is avoided and a planar surface is provided for the semiconductor element to be disposed thereon, thereby improving the reliability of electrical connection between the interposer and the semiconductor element.
US09418871B2
Systems and methods are provided for annealing a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an energy-converting structure proximate a semiconductor structure, the energy-converting structure comprising a material having a loss tangent larger than that of the semiconductor structure; providing a heat reflecting structure between the semiconductor structure and the energy-converting structure; and providing microwave radiation to the energy-converting structure and the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of boron-doped silicon germanium, silicon phosphide, titanium, nickel, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, n-type doped silicon, and aluminum capped silicon carbide. The heat reflecting structure may include a material substantially transparent to microwave radiation and having substantial reflectivity with respect to infrared radiation.
US09418868B1
A method includes forming a material layer over a substrate, forming a first hard mask (HM) layer over the material layer, forming a first trench, along a first direction, in the first HM layer. The method also includes forming first spacers along sidewalls of the first trench, forming a second trench in the first HM layer parallel to the first trench, by using the first spacers to guard the first trench. The method also includes etching the material layer through the first trench and the second trench, removing the first HM layer and the first spacers, forming a second HM layer over the material layer, forming a third trench in the second HM layer. The third trench extends along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and overlaps with the first trench. The method also includes etching the material layer through the third trench.
US09418867B2
A gas comprising hydrogen is supplied to a plasma source. Plasma comprising hydrogen plasma particles is generated from the gas. A passivation layer is deposited on a first mask layer on a second mask layer over a substrate using the hydrogen plasma particles.
US09418860B2
A method is provided for forming a patterned topography on a substrate. The substrate is provided with features formed atop that constitute an existing topography, and a template for directed self-assembly (DSA) is formed surrounding the exposed topography. Further to the method, the exposed template surfaces are chemically treated. In one embodiment, the surfaces are treated with a hydrogen-containing reducing chemistry to alter the surfaces to a less oxidized state. In another embodiment, the surfaces are coated with a first phase of a block copolymer (BCP) to render the surfaces more attractive to the first phase than prior to the coating. The template is then filled with the BCP to cover the exposed topography, and then the BCP is annealed within the template to drive self-assembly in alignment with the topography. Developing the annealed BCP exposes a DSA pattern immediately overlying the topography.
US09418859B2
Methods for etching a substrate in a plasma processing chamber having at least a primary plasma generating region and a secondary plasma generating region separated from said primary plasma generating region by a semi-barrier structure. The method includes generating a primary plasma from a primary feed gas in the primary plasma generating region. The method also includes generating a secondary plasma from a secondary feed gas in the secondary plasma generating region to enable at least some species from the secondary plasma to migrate into the primary plasma generating region. The method additionally includes etching the substrate with the primary plasma after the primary plasma has been augmented with migrated species from the secondary plasma.
US09418852B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that sufficiently activates a deep ion injection layer and fully recovers lattice defects generated in the ion injection process. Laser light pulses are successively emitted to form substantially CW (continuous wave) laser light. This feature of the invention stably performs activation of a deep ion injection layer at about 2 μs with few defects.
US09418851B2
A wafer includes a semiconductor layer having a concentration of n-dopants. A first mask is formed on the wafer and has first openings in an active area of a semiconductor device and at least one second opening in a peripheral area of the device. The first openings define first zones in the semiconductor layer and each second opening defines a second zone in the layer. Donor ions are implanted through the first mask into the first and second zones. The first mask is replaced by a second mask which has third openings in the active area and at least one fourth opening in the peripheral area. Each fourth opening defines a fourth zone in the semiconductor layer which at least partially overlaps with the second zone. The third openings define third zones in the semiconductor layer. Acceptor ions are implanted through the second mask into the third and fourth zones.
US09418846B1
An approach to providing a method of forming a dopant junction in a semiconductor device. The approach includes performing a surface modification treatment on an exposed surface of a semiconductor layer and depositing a dopant material on the exposed surface of the semiconductor layer. Additionally, the approach includes performing a low temperature anneal in an oxygen free environment followed by depositing a metal layer on the dopant layer. Furthermore, the approach includes alloying the metal layer with the dopant layer to form a semiconductor device junction where the semiconductor layer is composed of a Group III-V semiconductor material, the surface modification treatment occurs in a vacuum chamber to remove surface oxides from the exposed surface of the semiconductor layer, and each of the above processes occur at a low temperature.
US09418841B2
Forming a semiconductor device is disclosed, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Forming the semiconductor device can include forming a first semiconductor layer directly on a silicon substrate. Forming the semiconductor device can include forming a second semiconductor layer directly on the first semiconductor layer and forming an insulating trench in the second semiconductor layer. Forming the semiconductor device can include removing the second portion of the second semiconductor layer, and forming a third semiconductor layer directly on the first semiconductor layer and adjacent to the insulating trench such that the first portion of second semiconductor layer is electrically insulated from the third semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer can each be a type III-V semiconductor and the second semiconductor layer can be a type IV semiconductor.
US09418834B2
This disclosure relates to a processing system for spin-coating a substrate with Molecular Self-assembly (MSA) chemicals to form photoresist films and/or low dielectric constant (low-k) films on the substrate. The spin-coating processing system may include a spin-coating chamber that can receive and spin-coat MSA chemicals onto the substrate and an annealing chamber to thermally treat the substrate after the spin-coat process. In certain embodiments, the spin-coating processing system may also pre-treat or pre-wet the substrate prior to the spin-coating process.
US09418830B2
A method of bonding a cap wafer to a device wafer includes heating the device wafer and the cap wafer in the chamber, cooling the device wafer and the cap wafer in the chamber, pressurizing the chamber, introducing gas into the chamber while the chamber is pressurized to accelerate a rate of one of a group consisting of the heating and the cooling, and applying pressure to the device wafer and the cap wafer while a bond is formed between the device wafer and the cap wafer.
US09418827B2
A method of ion source fabrication for a mass spectrometer includes simultaneously forming aligned component portions of an ion source using direct metal laser fusing of sequential layers. The method can further include forming the component portions on a base plate made from a ceramic material by applying fused powder to the base plate to build the component portions thereon.
US09418822B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma generating device configured to generate a plasma within a processing vessel by using a high frequency wave generated by a microwave generator 41 including a magnetron 42 configured to generate the high frequency wave; detectors 54a and 54b configured to measure a power of a traveling wave that propagates to a load side and a power of a reflected wave reflected from the load side, respectively; and a voltage control circuit 53a configured to control a voltage supplied to the magnetron 42 by a power supply 43. Further, the voltage control circuit 53a includes a load control device configured to supply, to the magnetron 42, a voltage corresponding to a power calculated by adding a power calculated based on the power of the reflected wave measured by the detector 54b to the power of the traveling wave measured by the detector 54a.
US09418818B2
A sample observation method includes irradiating a sample with a primary charged particle beam, detecting a secondary charged particle signal obtained by the irradiating, and observing the sample. The method is characterized by causing the primary charged particle beam generated in a charged particle optical lens barrel, which is maintained in a vacuum state, to be transmitted or passed through a separating film disposed to isolate a space in which the sample is placed from the charged particle optical lens barrel; and detecting a transmitted charged particle beam obtained by irradiating the sample, placed in an atmospheric pressure or a predetermined gas atmosphere of a slightly negative pressure state compared with the atmospheric pressure, with the primary charged particle beam.
US09418817B2
A focused ion beam apparatus has an emitter for emitting an ion beam, an ion source chamber accommodating the emitter, a cooling unit and a heating unit for cooling and heating, respectively, the emitter, and an ion source gas supply section for supplying to the ion source chamber an ion source gas that is exchangeable with another ion source gas. A control section controls an operation of the cooling unit such that a temperature of a wall surface contacting the ion source gas in the ion source chamber is maintained at a temperature higher than a temperature at which the ion source gas before and after the exchange freezes. The control section controls an operation of the heater so that the emitter is temporarily heated to release the ion source gas from a surface of the emitter before the ion source gas is exchanged with the other ion source gas.
US09418815B2
There provided a device for effectively drawing a fine pattern using a permanent magnet. The device has an outer cylinder 201 composed of a cylindrical ferromagnet with a Z axis as a central axis, a cylindrical permanent magnet 202 located inside the outer cylinder and polarized along the Z axis direction, a correction coil 204 located inside the cylindrical permanent magnet with a gap from the cylindrical permanent magnet, for adjusting a magnetic field strength generated by the cylindrical permanent magnet along the Z axis direction, and a coolant passage 203 located in the gap between the cylindrical permanent magnet and the correction coil, for allowing a coolant to flow therethrough and controlling temperature changes in the cylindrical permanent magnet.
US09418812B2
An electric fuse includes a conductive material formed on a top surface of an insulating material. The conductive material includes a wiring portion, and first and second terminal portions arranged in two ends of the wiring portion so that the wiring portion is located between the first and second terminal portions. The first terminal portion, the wiring portion, and the second terminal portion are lined up in a first direction. The first and second terminal portions each have a width larger than a width of the wiring portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The electric fuse includes a film including an opening which exposes a region between the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion. The film is formed above at least a part of the wiring portion and has a tensile stress.
US09418803B2
An inertia switch includes a stack of a base plate and a base cover. The base plate provided inside a liquid storage chamber and a sensing chamber communicating with a liquid storage chamber. The liquid storage chamber contains working fluid, and the sensing chamber equipped with a sensing electrode extending to and connected to an external equipment that tend to interact with the inertia switch. The electricity-conductive liquid is utilized as a medium for inertia detection. Furthermore, by the width, depth and angle of the flow channel design, when the liquid material flows into the sensing chamber through the channel after a time delay, a sensing signal is obtained by the sensing electrodes through a change of a resistance value or a capacitance value to actuate the switch. The inertia switch has a simple structure and is low cost.
US09418800B2
A slim key includes a supporting plate, at least one key cap, at least one dome and a light-permeable circuit board. The supporting plate is disposed above the circuit board and has at least one frame part. Each frame part is formed with a light-permeable hole at a central portion thereof. The key pad is disposed on the top surface of the frame part correspondingly. The circuit board has at least one conductive circuit formed thereon under the dome correspondingly. The dome is correspondingly disposed between the frame part and the circuit board. According to one embodiment, the instant disclosure also provides an electronic device with the slim keypad structure.
US09418782B1
A DC-DC power converter used in an electromagnetic flowmeter supplies a constant current from a capacitive output to an excitation coil during a measurement portion of the operating cycle. During a relatively longer charging portion of the operating cycle the capacitive output is charged from an unregulated supply. When the unregulated supply voltage of the of the DC-DC converter is less than the regulated output voltage repeated high voltage pulses are generated by the excitation coil to charge the output capacitor.
US09418779B2
A scalable process is detailed for forming bulk quantities of high-purity α-MnBi phase materials suitable for fabrication of MnBi based permanent magnets.
US09418775B2
A cable includes a jacket surrounding first and second insulated conductors and a first dielectric tape, wherein the first insulated conductor is twisted with the second insulated conductor with the first dielectric tape residing therebetween to form a first twisted pair. The cable's jacket may also surround additional twisted pairs, which are similarly formed. In alternative or supplemental embodiments of the invention, the first dielectric tape has a hollow core possessing a gas or material with a lower dielectric constant and/or at least a first side of said first dielectric tape facing to said first insulated conductor includes a plurality of ridges and valleys.
US09418774B2
A curable epoxy resin composition including a defined aromatic epoxy resin component and a defined latent catalyst system, and optionally further additives, the curable composition being a single epoxy resin composition having a prolonged pot life at a processing temperature within the range of 40° C. to 70° C., wherein: (a) the epoxy resin component is a compound of formula (I) in monomeric form or in a low polymeric form thereof, or is a mixture of such compounds: the epoxy resin component having an inherent viscosity within the range of 80 mPas to 300 mPas, measured at a temperature of 50° C.; (b) the latent catalyst system includes at least one metal acetylacetonate and at least one phenolic compound.
US09418772B2
The present invention relates to a binder resin composition for an electrode, including a polyamic acid and a solvent, wherein the polyamic acid is (i) a polyamic acid which includes a tetracarboxylic acid component including 10 to 100 mol % of 4,4′-oxydiphthalic acid and 90 to 0 mol % of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid and/or pyromellitic acid and a diamine component including an aromatic diamine having 1 to 4 aromatic rings, (ii) a polyamic acid which includes a tetracarboxylic acid component including 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and a diamine component including 10 to 90 mol % of p-phenylene diamine and 90 to 10 mol % of 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether, or (iii) a polyamic acid which includes a tetracarboxylic acid component including 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and a diamine component including 40 mol % or more of a bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl] compound.
US09418768B2
An object of the invention is to provide radiographic image conversion panels which realize high levels of brightness and sharpness when used as scintillator panels and which also ensure sufficient strength resisting pressure applied in the film thickness direction. A radiographic image conversion panel of the invention includes a support and a scintillator layer disposed on the support. The scintillator layer includes a plurality of columnar crystals containing a phosphor. The plurality of columnar crystals have root portions, and the root portions are spaced apart from one another.
US09418767B2
The X-ray focusing device includes a point/parallel type multi-capillary X-ray lens (MCX) and a point/parallel type single capillary X-ray lens (SCX). MCX and SCX are positioned so that the end face of the parallel end of SCX is positioned closed to the focal point position on the converging end of MCX so that the optical axes of the two coincide. X-rays that are efficiently collected by MCX are emitted from the converging end and become incident to the end face of parallel end of SCX so that the X-rays are efficiently incorporated into SCX. The X-rays are then irradiated from the converging end of SCX onto focal point having a small diameter. This allows taking advantages of MCX and SCX while compensating for their disadvantages.
US09418760B2
An integrated circuit includes first to third failure information storage units, an input selection unit suitable for alternately storing plural pieces of failure information in the first and second failure information storage units generated whenever each of a plurality of tests is performed on a device under test (DUT), and a storage selection unit suitable for relocating the plural pieces of failure information from the first or second failure information storage unit that was not selected by the input selection unit, to the third failure information storage unit while excluding overlapping failure information from relocating.
US09418745B1
A system and method of operating a twin-transistor, multi-time programmable memory (MTPM) memory cell that ensures accurate reproducibility of bit values read after each of write cycle. Each multi-time programmable memory cell includes a series connection of a first transistor and a second transistor. The method includes writing, using a write circuit at select memory cell locations, initial bit values to one or more select memory cells. Then, using the write circuit, a rebalancing of a state of a parameter associated with one or more the first transistor or second transistor, at each the select memory cell, is performed. Then, an erasing cycle is performed, at each the rebalanced select memory cell, the written initial bit value. In one embodiment, the erasing cycle may first be performed prior to rebalancing. The rebalancing and erasing are to be performed prior to each bit value write cycle.
US09418742B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first string including a first number of memory cells connected in series each storing therein information in a nonvolatile manner; and a second string including a second number of memory cells connected in series each storing therein information in a nonvolatile manner, wherein the second number is smaller than the first number.
US09418741B1
A content addressable memory (CAM) and methods of operating a CAM are provided. The method for operating a CAM includes: during a first mode, performing a search function in a CAM bit array, the search result output at a match port of the CAM bit array; and during a second mode, columnwise reading data in the CAM bit array, the read column data output at the match data port of the CAM bit array. The method may include writing the CAM bit array with a predetermined data pattern. The method may further include providing an indication of pass/fail based upon comparing the read column data with expected data.
US09418738B2
A memory circuit, including a memory array (such as a cross-point array), may include circuit elements that may function both as selection elements/drivers and de-selection elements/drivers. A selection/de-selection driver may be used to provide both a selection function as well as an operation function. The operation function may include providing sufficient currents and voltages for WRITE and/or READ operations in the memory array. When the de-selection path is used for providing the operation function, highly efficient cross-point implementations can be achieved. The operation function may be accomplished by circuit manipulation of a de-selection supply and/or de-selection elements.
US09418728B2
The present disclosure provides a static random access memory (SRAM) cell comprising a first inverter including a first pull-up (PU) device, a first pull-down (PD) device, and a second PD device; a second inverter cross-coupled to the first inverter, the second inverter including a second PU device, a third PD device, and a fourth PD device; first and second pass gate (PG) devices coupled to the first inverter to form a first port; and third and fourth PG devices coupled to the second inverter to form a second port. The first and second PG devices, the first PD device of the first inverter, and the third PD device of the second inverter are configured on a first active region. The third and fourth PG devices, the second PD device of the first inverter, and the fourth PD device of the second inverter are configured on a second active region.
US09418726B1
A data reception chip coupled to an external memory including a first input-output pin to output first data and including a comparison module and a voltage generation module is provided. The comparison module is coupled to the first input-output pin to receive the first data and compares the first data with a first reference voltage to identify the value of the first data. The voltage generation module is configured to generate the first reference voltage and includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The second resistor is serially connected to the first resistor. The first and second resistors divide a first operation voltage to generate the first reference voltage. The second capacitor is serially connected to the first capacitor. The first and second capacitors direct the first reference voltage to track the noise of the first operation voltage.
US09418725B2
A semiconductor device may include a common coupling block suitable for coupling a plurality of first data lines to a plurality of second data lines in response to a common control signal, which is activated regardless of a data bandwidth option mode, a first coupling block suitable for coupling a part of the plurality of second data lines to a part of a plurality of third data lines in response to a first operation control signal, a second coupling block suitable for coupling the other part of the plurality of second data lines to the other part of the plurality of third data lines in response to a second operation control signal, and a control block suitable for activating one or more of the first and second operation control signals based on the data bandwidth option mode, during a data input/output operation.
US09418723B2
Examples may include techniques to reduce memory cell refreshes for a memory device. These techniques include a control unit receiving a command to cause an internal refresh counter for the memory device to increment without causing one or more rows of an array of memory cells to be refreshed during an auto-refresh interval. In some examples, a memory controller has access to a refresh counter register at the memory device that may allow the memory controller to determine when to send the command that causes the internal refresh counter to increment without refreshing the one or more rows during the auto-refresh interval.
US09418721B2
Systems and methods to manage memory on a spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random-access memory (STT-MRAM) are provided. A particular method may include determining a performance characteristic using relationship information that relates a bit error rate to at least one of a programming pulse width, a temperature, a history-based predictive performance parameter, a coding scheme, and a voltage level also associated with a memory. The performance characteristic is stored and used to manage a write operation associated with the memory.
US09418717B2
A circuit includes a write driver, a data circuit, a memory cell, a tracking write buffer, a tracking write driver, and a tracking cell. The circuit is configured that, during a write operation of the memory cell based on a clock signal, the write driver circuit is configured to generate a write control signal to control the memory cell; the data circuit is configured to provide write data to the memory cell; the tracking write buffer is configured to generate a tracking write control signal; and the tracking write driver is configured to generate a tracking write data signal to be transferred to the tracking cell. The tracking cell is configured to adjust a signal at a first node of the tracking cell based on a logical value of the tracking write data signal in response to the tracking write control signal.
US09418709B1
A removable tool for reducing contamination in a cleanroom assembly environment during assembly of a hard disk drive may include a handle assembly and a positive locking assembly. The handle assembly may define a proximal and distal end such that, in use, the proximal end is further away from the hard disk drive being assembled than is the distal end. The positive locking assembly may be configured to lock onto a portion of an upper perimeter of a Motor Base Assembly (MBA) of a hard disk drive and onto a corresponding portion of a lower perimeter of the MBA. The handle assembly and the positive locking assembly may be further configured to enable free access to an interior of the MBA during subsequent assembly steps. The positive locking assembly may be further configured to be selectively releasable without touching the MBA, to thereby enable the removal of the tool.
US09418700B2
A system includes a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device and controller logic that detects a bad block within the device, retires the bad block and replaces the bad block with a replacement block by assigning the address of the bad block to the replacement block.
US09418695B2
An RF hologram is divided in a direction perpendicular to a tangent line of an information track of an information recording surface of an optical disc, and includes a central region including an optical axis of laser light as well as a first end portion region and a second end portion region which sandwich the central region, the central region is formed by a binary diffraction grating and generates ±1 order diffracted light, the first end portion region is formed by a blazed diffraction grating and generates first +1 order diffracted light, the second end portion region is formed by a blazed diffraction grating and generates second +1 order diffracted light, and an RF light receiving element receives both the ±1 order diffracted light, the first +1 order diffracted light, and the second +1 order diffracted light.
US09418688B1
A heat-assisted magnetic recording head is configured to write data to and read data from a magnetic recording medium. The head comprises a reader and a writer including a near-field transducer (NFT). The reader comprises a center which is laterally offset relative to a center of the writer to define a reader-writer offset (RWO) therebetween. A controller is configured to control the writer to write data to data tracks of the medium, detect a shift in the RWO, and in response to the detected shift in the RWO, control the writer to write data to a plurality of tracks defining a reserved band during an open period of the reserved band.
US09418687B2
A suspension board with circuit includes a slider mounting region configured to mount a slider thereon, a pedestal portion provided in the slider mounting region and configured to support the slider, and a dam portion provided in the slider mounting region and configured to prevent an adhesive fixing the slider from flowing out of the slider mounting region. The thickness of the pedestal portion is thicker than that of the dam portion.
US09418682B2
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having, on one module thereof, an array of N first data transducers positioned towards a media facing surface of the module, and M second data transducers interleaved with the array of first transducers. Only some of the data transducers are coupled to pads. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a magnetic head having, on one module thereof, an array of data transducers positioned towards a media facing surface of the module, the data transducers including at least one of data readers, data writers, and combinations thereof. A plurality of pads are on the module, but less than all of the first and/or second data transducers are coupled to pads.
US09418674B2
Sound related vehicle information representing one or more sounds may be received in a processor associated with a vehicle. The sound related vehicle information may or may not include an audio signal. An audio signal output to a passenger may be modified based on the sound related vehicle information.
US09418655B2
A method of transferring the prosody of tag questions across languages includes extracting prosodic parameters of speech in a first language having a tag question and mapping the prosodic parameters to speech segments in a second language corresponding to the tag question. Accordingly, semantic and pragmatic intent of the tag question in the first language may be correctly conveyed in the second language.
US09418652B2
Systems and methods for modifying a computer-based speech recognition system. A speech utterance is processed with the computer-based speech recognition system using a set of internal representations, which may comprise parameters for recognizing speech in a speech utterance, such as parameters of an acoustic model and/or a language model. The computer-based speech recognition system may perform a first task in response to the processed speech utterance. The utterance may also be provided to a human who performs a second task based on the utterance. Data indicative of the first task, performed by the computer system, is compared to data indicative of a second task, performed by the human in response to the speech utterance. Based on the comparison, the set of internal representations may be updated or modified to improve the speech recognition performance and capabilities of the speech recognition system.
US09418651B2
An electronic device includes a microphone that receives an audio signal, and a processor that is electrically coupled to the microphone. The processor detects a trigger phrase in the received audio signal and measure characteristics of the detected trigger phrase. Based on the measured characteristics of the detected trigger phrase, the processor determines whether the detected trigger phrase is valid.
US09418634B1
A method and apparatus of tuning a wind instrument which stabilizes the mating sections of a jointed instrument when the mating sections are pulled out or pushed in during tuning. At least one O-ring is inserted between the mating sections which seals the interface between the sections to create an air tight seal and firm support between sections. The O-rings may have differing thickness, and any number of O-rings may be used. During tuning, the O-rings may be compressed in order to seal the interface between segments when the segments are pulled out or pushed in with respect to each other.
US09418632B2
The disclosure is a plectrum used for playing a stringed instrument comprising a generally acute isosceles triangle body and further comprising at least one pad, groove, inlet or opening. These picks are designed to provide the user with improved control, dexterity and further provide certain acoustic advantages.
US09418625B2
Systems, devices and methods are described including determining a display type and a display mode, preparing stereoscopic image content in response to the display mode, where preparing the stereoscopic image content includes storing a full resolution left image and a full resolution right image in memory, and determining a display refresh rate in response to at least a content frame rate of the stereoscopic image content. The stereoscopic image content may then be processed for display according to the display type, the display refresh rate, and a power policy.
US09418622B2
A method of producing a color image comprising providing input image data from an image source such as a camera; generating an at least three-dimensional look-up table of values of input colors and output colors, wherein the values in the lookup table convert the input image color data to output image color data in an image rendering unit; loading the at least three-dimensional look-up table into an image color rendering controller; loading the input image data into the imaging color rendering controller; processing the input image data through the at least three-dimensional look-up table to produce output color values stored at the addresses in the at least three-dimensional look-up table; and outputting the output color values to the image rendering unit to produce an output image that is perceived to have at least one of enhanced brightness, enhanced contrast, or enhanced colorfulness compared to the input image.
US09418618B2
There is provided a video signal transmission apparatus, a play system and a transmission method. The video signal transmission apparatus comprises: a first interface configured to be connected with a video signal source; a second interface configured to be connected with a display device; a signal receiving unit and a control unit arranged between the first interface and the second interface, the control unit being connected with the display device through the second interface and the signal receiving unit being connected with the video signal source through the first interface. The control unit comprises an acquiring module configured to acquire parameter information of the display device and feed acquired parameter information back to the signal receiving unit., the parameter information comprising a video format supported by the display device; the signal receiving unit comprises a converting module configured to convert a received video signal into the video format supported by the display device according to the parameter information. The present disclosure can realize plugging and playing and avoid such problem that the system has a failure of output or disorder of display configuration caused by the hot swap or disconnection with the display device and thus needs to be restarted, and so on.
US09418608B2
A display device (1) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: an LCD driving section (20) and an LCD controller (30) for causing an image based on an image signal to be displayed on an LCD (10); and a CPU (40) for supplying an image signal to the LCD controller (30), the LCD controller (30) being configured to supply, to the CPU (40), a control signal that instructs the CPU (40) to supply an image signal, and the CPU (40) being configured to supply an image signal in a case where the CPU (40) receives a control signal.
US09418606B2
A gate driving circuit drives a plurality of gate lines arranged in a display panel. The gate driving circuit includes a shift register having at least two stages of shift register units, and a gate enable circuit. Each shift register unit includes a gate signal output terminal configured to output a gate signal. The gate enable circuit includes a plurality of gate enable units. Each gate enable unit corresponds to one of the shift register units and includes an input terminal connected to the gate signal output terminal of the corresponding shift register unit, an output terminal connected to a corresponding one of the gate lines, and an enable signal input terminal configured to receive an enable signal. Each gate enable unit is configured to selectively output the gate signal of the corresponding shift register unit to the corresponding gate line based on the state of the received enable signal.
US09418587B2
A system for maintaining a substantially constant display white point over an extended period of operation of a color display formed by an array of multiple pixels in which each of the pixels includes multiple subpixels having different colors, and each of the subpixels includes a light emissive device. The display is generated by energizing the subpixels of successively selected pixels, and the color of each selected pixel is controlled by the relatives levels of energization of the subpixels in the selected pixel. The degradation behavior of the subpixels in each pixel is determined, and the relative levels of energization of the subpixels in each pixel are adjusted to adjust the brightness shares of the subpixels to compensate for the degradation behavior of the subpixels. The brightness shares are preferably adjusted to maintain a substantially constant display white point.
US09418586B2
An apparatus including a display and control logic is provided. In one example, the display includes an array of subpixels having a plurality of zigzag subpixel groups. Each zigzag subpixel group includes at least three zigzag subpixel units arranged adjacently along a horizontal or vertical direction. Each zigzag subpixel unit includes a plurality of subpixels of the same color arranged in a zigzag pattern. In each zigzag subpixel unit, a first plurality of subpixels are arranged along one diagonal direction from a turning subpixel disposed at a turning corner of the zigzag pattern, and a second plurality of subpixels are arranged along another diagonal direction from the turning subpixel. In another example, the display includes an array of subpixels having a novel subpixel repeating group. The control logic is operatively coupled to the display and configured to receive display data and render the display data into control signals for driving the display.
US09418572B2
System for enabling a visually impaired or blind person to use an input device having at least one key, comprising: at least one tactile sensor array, in particular a pressure sensor array, attachable to a fingertip of a visually impaired or blind person for acquiring a pressure distribution image of a key slightly touched by a finger of said person when attached to said finger, a pressure distribution image processing and character recognition unit that is connected to said tactile sensor array for processing said pressure distribution image and for recognizing the key label of the touched key and an audio output device that is connected to said unit for outputting and acoustic reproduction of said key label.
US09418563B2
The invention relates to a method and device for automatically managing the separation between two aircraft following one another. The device (1) comprises a means (6, 7) for automatically calculating, prior to performing a function to acquire and maintain separation, orders for controlling speed that enable a trailing aircraft to acquire and maintain a time separation relative to a target aircraft preceding the former.
US09418559B2
Techniques and systems are described that allow an air traffic display and/or avionics system of an aircraft to display and/or warn a pilot of aircraft targets for air traffic proximate to the aircraft or to suppress the display of on-ground air traffic targets. In some implementations, an integrated avionics system can use indirect information to determine whether an individual aircraft traffic target is to be presented to a pilot. For example, the integrated avionics system can determine whether an aircraft target is in proximity to the ground based on traffic tracking data corresponding to other aircraft.
US09418553B2
A driver uses a mobile phone application to transmit a request to a central processor for information on available parking spaces, accommodating a specific size car, close to her present location or a future location.An image processor processes real time images from linked cameras overlooking parking spaces, comparing them with reference images of unoccupied parking spaces, vehicles including automobiles, bicycles and motorcycles, a no parking sign sandwich board and a traffic cone. The image processor sends the information on available parking spaces to the central processor.The central processor saves image processor information and information on available parking spaces, parking fee and advertising promotions from parking facilities on a database and transmits a response to the driver's request.The mobile phone application displays and audio broadcasts the response. The driver pays a fee and reserves an available parking space to exclude it from responses to other requests.
US09418539B2
A remote control apparatus including: a storage unit for storing message set information constituting information about one or more message sets each including one or more messages including different control requests; a control unit for generating binary code data each corresponding to the one or more messages each corresponding to the different control requests; and a communication interface unit for transmitting the binary code data to a controlled apparatus, wherein transmitted and received data amounts are minimized.
US09418534B2
A water heater pressure relief valve alarm monitors the state of a discharge pipe of a water heater and produces an audible alarm upon detection of water being discharged through the pipe. A clamp with a pipe receiving aperture is removably attached to the pipe. A sensor is positioned adjacent to the pipe receiving aperture. A housing connected to the clamp contains a signal processing circuit, a sound producing device and a battery. The signal processing circuit receives a signal from the sensor and activates the sound producing device upon detection of discharge from the pipe.
US09418533B2
An exemplary embodiment provides for a computer-implemented method that generates a time-based multivariable secure facility alarm. The method includes selecting a person for alert monitoring, alert monitor criteria pertaining to the person and alarm notification rules. When an occurrence that satisfies the alert monitor criteria are detected, an alarm notification, based upon the alarm notification rules, is generated. The method's alert monitor criteria include at least two events and a time period such that the alert monitor criteria is satisfied when the at least two events occur within the time period. Additionally, at least one event of the at least two events is a non-telephonic event.
US09418531B2
The present invention relates to receiving information of detected wireless electronic tags, comparing the received information to information stored in the server, and updating the information stored in the server based on the received information. Further, the invention relates to receiving a request regarding location information of an electronic wireless tag, determining whether identification information regarding the electronic wireless tag is available, and transmitting the identification information regarding the electronic wireless tag in response to the request regarding location information after determining that the identification information is available.
US09418527B2
A pneumatic pressure detector switch is disclosed that includes a retainer assembly adapted to communicate with a source of pressure, a deformable diaphragm supported within the retainer assembly and movable in response to changes in pressure communicated to the retainer assembly, a fault contact element supported by the retainer assembly adjacent a first side surface of the diaphragm, and an alarm contact element supported by the retainer assembly adjacent a second side surface of the diaphragm.
US09418525B2
A master device sends image data transmitted from a monitoring camera to a mobile phone terminal, the mobile phone terminal sends a request signal for starting a call to the monitoring camera when receiving an operation on a predetermined icon displayed on a display/input unit in a state in which the image data is displayed on the display/input unit, and the master device transmits the request signal for starting the call to the monitoring camera from the mobile phone terminal.
US09418522B2
An electronic hinged safety switch adapted for installation on protection barriers (B) of machines and/or automatic plants having one or more electric safety circuits (S). The switch comprises a substantially box-like fixed member (2) designed to be secured to a stationary part (M) of a protection barrier (B) and a movable member (3) designed to be secured to a pivotal part (P) of the protection barrier (B) and coupled to the fixed member (2) through hinge means (4). Sensing means (5) are housed in said box-like fixed member (2) for interacting with the hinge means (4) to send an electric control signal (SC) to one or more electric safety circuits (S) at a predetermined switching angle (α). The sensing means (5) comprise at least one sensor for generating a corresponding actuation signal (SA) at the switching angle (α), and an electronic control unit (8) operatively connected to at least one sensor (6). The electronic control unit (8) has at least one input (9) electrically connected to said sensor (6) for receiving the actuation signal (SA) and at least one output (10) connected to the electronic safety circuits (S) for generating the electric control signal (SC) in response to the actuation signal (SA).
US09418515B2
Systems and methods for use in providing a random reward associated with at least one game are disclosed. One exemplary method includes receiving, by a gaming server, data representative of gaming activity of a player of the at least one game, providing, by the gaming server, a code associated with the random reward, wherein the code is representative of an entry to win the random reward, receiving, by the gaming server, data representative of a text message including the code, determining whether the player won the random reward based on the received code, and providing a notification indicating whether the player won the random reward.
US09418510B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide gaming systems, gaming devices and methods which have casual games with dynamic award schemes. Each game has a designated number of elements such as positions, moveable elements, or the combination of positions and moveable elements. For each play of the wagering game, the gaming system: receives a wager from a player; determines a number of the designated number of elements which will function as or be designated as payout elements; determines which of the designated number of elements to make the payout elements; for each payout element, determines the payout value associated with that payout element; and (e) determines a game ending condition. The gaming system enables the player to play the wagering game in accordance with the predetermined rules of the wagering game. This includes enabling the player to employ the elements until the game ending condition occurs. For each payout element, if the payout element is employed in that play of the wagering game in a designated manner in accordance with the predetermined rules of the wagering game, the gaming system provides the player the payout value associated with that payout element.
US09418507B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a group award presentation of a plurality of similar or identical awards. Generally, the gaming system employs the group award presentation to display a plurality of similar or identical awards for a play of a game as a group rather than separately displaying each individual award. In one embodiment, the group award presentation includes a simultaneous display of the awards associated with a plurality of displayed instances of a winning symbol combination, wherein such awards are simultaneously displayed as a group of awards. In another embodiment, the group award presentation includes a simultaneous display of the awards associated with a plurality of displayed instances of a plurality of winning symbol combinations, wherein such awards are simultaneously displayed as a group of awards, and wherein those winning symbol combinations are associated with a same award.
US09418495B2
A locking device comprising: a code generation means for generating a plurality of access codes in a first series and a second series, each access code being valid for a predetermined period of time, a code input means for receiving an input code, and a code comparison means, wherein the code comparison means is configured to unlock the lock in response to input of a code that corresponds to a currently valid access code, wherein the period of validity of each access code in first series partially overlaps the period of validity two adjacent access codes in the second series.
US09418492B2
A system monitors and controls pressure of vehicle parts. The system consists of: a fleet of vehicles, each vehicle of the fleet having a cab and a trailer; a controller maintaining a wireless server and database for the fleet of vehicles; a first cellular device transmitting data to and from an electronic control unit of the cab of each vehicle and the controller; and a second cellular device transmitting data to and from an electronic control unit of the trailer of each vehicle and the controller. The first cellular device and the second cellular device each utilize a publicly accessible cellular network for communication with the controller.
US09418491B2
A method and system for automatically creating a unique driver profile for a vehicle from driving habits. A unique driver profile is created with a portable on-board diagnostic series 2 (OBD-2) apparatus and/or linked and/or standalone network device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, wearable device, etc.). The unique driver profile is created from the accepted plural signals including time and geo-location data based on driving habits of the driver. The unique driver profile information is recorded on the apparatus and/or network device, downloaded at a later time or sent in real-time to check and verify an identity of the driver. The unique driver profile helps confirm an identity of the driver of the vehicle based on unique driving habits of the driver.
US09418490B2
A graphical user interface that is capable of being used on a computing device, such as a vehicle diagnostic tool. The graphical user interface includes various buttons that when actuated causes the vehicle diagnostic tool to perform a corresponding functionality such as read diagnostic trouble codes and collect and display a data stream of diagnostic data of a vehicle. The graphical user interface also displays buffered data in a data window and the data may be moved using various input buttons.
US09418482B1
Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying visited travel destinations from a set of digital images associated with users of a social networking system. For example, one or more computing devices provide access to an individual user's account, including the individual user and other users affiliated with the individual user via the social networking system. One or more digital images are received from a computing device associated with the individual user and from one or more second computing devices associated with the other users of the social networking system. From each digital image, a geo-location is determined for each digital image. The one or more computing devices display each geo-located image on a map at a position corresponding to the determined geo-location for the geo-located image.
US09418479B1
A virtual overlay alters the appearance of a quasi-virtual object within an augmented reality environment. This quasi-virtual object may display information to the user, accept input from the user via motions or physical interactions between the user and the object, or both. Quasi-virtual objects allow a virtual object to have a physical manifestation within the augmented reality environment.
US09418473B2
A model of a scene of an image (e.g. a frame of a video sequence) is generated from one or more views of the scene captured from one or more different camera viewpoints. An initial texture for applying to the model is derived from the one or more views of the scene. The initial texture is separated into a lighting estimate and a color estimate, which may be orthogonal and which may be processed independently. The lighting estimate is filtered with a high-pass filter to thereby determine shadow regions of the scene which are regions of detailed shadow which are likely to be caused by ambient occlusion in the scene and which are therefore retained when the texture is relit for rendering the image. A shadow-detail estimate (or “dark map”) is provided which indicates one or more shadow regions of the texture which are to remain in shadow when the image is rendered.
US09418460B2
Disclosed is a method including storing in a memory presentation data, including image data, processing the image data to generate positioning data for positioning the image on a presentation in accordance with a plurality of image positioning techniques, and selecting positioning data for positioning the image in accordance with at least one of the plurality of image positioning techniques. A user interface, which may be graphical, permits a user to toggle through the positions generated by the various techniques, and to lock the image in a desired position. Also disclosed are a system and a computer-usable storage medium having instructions thereon for implementing the method.
US09418458B2
A method for producing a graph representation of an input image, the method including the procedures of applying convolutional layers of a trained convolutional neural network on the input image, defining a receptive field of a last convolutional layer of the trained convolutional neural network as a vertex of the graph representation, defining a vector of a three dimensional output matrix of the last convolutional layer that is mapped to the receptive field as a descriptor for the vertex and determining an edge between a pair of vertices of the graph representation by applying an operator on a pair of descriptors respective of the pair of vertices.
US09418451B2
An X-ray CT apparatus of an embodiment displays an image of the inside of an object based on projection data obtained by scanning the object, and comprises a generator, a converter, an image forming part and an identifier. The generator scans the object with each of X-rays of different energy levels and generates multiple projection data. The converter converts the multiple projection data into multiple new projection data corresponding to multiple reference substances. The image forming part reconstructs each of the multiple new projection data converted by the converter, thereby forming multiple reference substance images corresponding to the multiple reference substances. The identifier identifies a target substance based on a correlation of pixel values in the multiple reference substance images.
US09418444B2
A method and system for real time processing of a sequence of video frames. A current frame in the sequence and at least one frame in the sequence occurring prior to the current frame is analyzed. The sequence of video frames is received in synchronization with a recording of the video frames in real time. The analyzing includes performing a background subtraction on the at least one frame, which determines a background image and a static region mask associated with a static region consisting of a contiguous distribution of pixels in the current frame. The static region mask identifies each pixel in the static region upon the static region mask being superimposed on the current frame. A status of a static object is determined as either an abandoned status if the static object is an abandoned object or a removed status if the static object is a removed object.
US09418443B2
An apparatus and method for detecting an obstacle include a camera to photograph first and second images at different points in time successively. A calculator is configured to calculate a movement distance and a rotation amount of a vehicle by comparing the two images photographed by the camera with each other. A rotation amount compensator is configured to compensate for the rotation amount of the first image based on the second image. A difference value calculator is configured to calculate a difference value between the first image of which the rotation amount is compensated for and the second image based on the calculated movement distance of the vehicle. An obstacle detector extracts a region having the difference value exceeding an expectation value to detect the obstacle.
US09418442B2
A system and method for tracking a surgical implement in a patient can have an imaging system configured to obtain sequential images of the patient, and an image recognition system coupled to the imaging system and configured to identify the surgical implement in individual images. The image recognition system can be configured to identify the surgical implement relative to the patient in one of the images based, at least in part, on an identification of the surgical implement in at least one preceding one of the sequential images, and a probabilistic analysis of individual sections of the one of the images, the sections being selected by the image recognition system based on a position of the surgical implement in the patient as identified in the at least one preceding one of the images.
US09418440B2
An image processing apparatus has: a segmenting unit for segmenting an input image into a plurality of areas on the basis of a similarity of pixels; an acquiring unit for acquiring sizes of the segmented areas; a selecting unit for selecting one of a plurality of discriminating methods of discriminating, with respect to adjacent areas among the plurality of areas, on the basis of an acquired size of each of the adjacent areas, whether or not the adjacent areas are connecting targets by using different kinds of features; an extracting unit for extracting, from the adjacent areas, the feature of the kind which is used in the selected discriminating method; a connecting unit for connecting the adjacent areas determined as the connecting targets by the selected discriminating method; and a classifying unit for classifying a kind of connected area.
US09418432B2
A system and method of operation of an imaging system includes: a capture module for receiving an input sequence with an image pair, the image pair having a first image and a second image and for determining a first patch from the first image and a second patch from the second image; an iteration module for generating an iteration map from the first patch of the first image and the second patch of the second image; and a position module for generating a final depth map from the iteration map and for determining a focus position from the final depth map.
US09418425B2
A 3-dimensional (3D) image acquisition apparatus and a method of calculating depth information in the 3D image acquisition apparatus, the 3D image acquisition apparatus including: an optical modulator for modulating light reflected from a subject by sequentially projected N (N is 3 or a larger natural number) light beams; an image sensor for generating N sub-images by capturing the light modulated by the optical modulator; and a signal processor for calculating depth information regarding a distance to the subject by using the N sub-images.
US09418422B2
Method of processing an image of the skin is disclosed. The method comprises the receipt of skin image data, the generation of simulated images with artificial transformation and the analysis of the simulated images to form a vector from extracted features.
US09418407B2
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for detecting glare in a frame of image data. A frame of image data is preprocessed. A set of connected components in the preprocessed frame is determined. A set of statistics is calculated for one or more connected components in the set of connected components. A decision for the one or more connected components is made, using the calculated set of statistics, if the connected component is a light spot over text. Whether glare is present in the frame is determined.
US09418399B1
Designs and methods are provided for a hybrid image camouflage comprising a micro camouflage pattern of primarily fine features and a macro camouflage pattern of primarily coarse features. The patterns may be combined such that the appearance of the micro pattern predominates at close range, and the appearance of the macro pattern predominates at long range.
US09418385B1
The disclosed embodiments relate to a tax-information assembly technique, which extracts tax information and associated context information from income-tax documents, where these income-tax documents are associated with an income-tax agency, and some of the income-tax documents include the same tax information in different document formats. During this technique, semantic and structural heuristics are used to identify tax phrases in the extracted tax information. Moreover, additional tax phrases in the extracted tax information are identified using a statistical identification technique. Next, relationships between the tax phrases and the additional tax phrases are determined, and the context information is used to consolidate the tax phrases and the additional tax phrases into a tax-information data structure.
US09418380B2
A plurality of items of data, each having a plurality of items of attribute information, are sorted in order of most comprehensively satisfying conditions relating to the plurality of items of attribute information. An information providing server includes a single sorting unit that calculates, for each of the plurality of items of data having the plurality of items of attribute information and included in a data group, an evaluation value for sorting the data group based on a sort key designated for one of the plurality of items of attribute information. The information providing server includes a multiple sorting unit that sorts the data group based on a plurality of multiple evaluation values that are calculated, for respective items of data included in the data group, based on the evaluation values and the respective weights of the plurality of sort keys, each of the evaluation values being calculated.
US09418364B2
A method and transaction orchestrator node for executing a global transaction in a transaction execution system. The transaction execution system is involving at least one reliable transaction executing instance supporting a reserve/commit protocol and one unreliable transaction executing instance that does not support a reserve/commit protocol. The transaction orchestrator node is receiving a global transaction initiation message involving plural sub transactions for execution by the involved corresponding transaction executing instances and sending a prepare transaction message to involved reliable transaction executing instances for corresponding sub transactions. Upon receiving confirmation of all prepare transaction messages the transaction orchestrator node is sending an execution message to the involved unreliable transaction executing instance for a corresponding sub transaction. If the execution message is successful the transaction orchestrator node is sending a commit prepared transaction to the involved reliable transaction executing instances for the corresponding sub transactions.
US09418363B2
A point of sale activation unit that includes a first wallet portion, a second wallet portion and an activation card portion. The first wallet portion defines a first opening that has a shape corresponding to a machine readable code and includes a security tab affixed thereto with two nicks. The security tab obscures a second opening. The second wallet portion is coupled to the first wallet portion. The activation card portion is narrower than the second opening. The machine readable code is printed on an exterior side and an activation code is printed on an interior side of the activation card portion, which extends from the second wallet portion. The first wallet portion, the second wallet portion and the activation card portion are all cut from a single flat sheet and are folded and glued together so that the machine readable code is exposed through the first opening.
US09418348B2
A system is provided that automatically assigns tasks to resources. The system receives a notification that a resource is about to enter an idle period or has entered the idle period. The system further automatically assigns a filler task or a portion of the filler task to the resource, where the filler task is a task that can be split into multiple portions. The system further receives a notification that the resource is about to exit the idle period or has exited the idle period. The system further automatically un-assigns the filler task or the portion of the filler task from the resource.
US09418347B2
Systems and methods for are disclosed for providing integrated display of data metrics from different data sources. In some embodiments, an icon representing a de-limited data file can be positioned on a graphical interface that displays first metrics data for a first time period. An integration module can respond to the positioning of the icon by determining that the de-limited data file includes second metrics data for a second time period at least partially overlapping with the first time period. The integration module can update the graphical interface to display at least some of the second metrics data from the delimited data file with the first metrics data. The first metrics data and the second metrics data can be displayed for at least an overlapping portion between the first and second time periods.
US09418338B2
Systems/methods for computing a power spectral density estimate for a noise signal. Where the noise signal appears in two channels (a single channel), n successive data acquisitions from the two channels (the single channel) are used to compute n respective cross (power) spectral densities, which are then averaged. The averaged cross (power) spectral density may then be smoothed in the spectral domain. The magnitude of the smoothed cross (power) spectral density comprises an estimate for the noise power spectral density. An effective number of independent averages may be computed based on the number n, the time-domain window applied to the acquired sample sets, the amount of overlap between successive sample sets, and the shape of the frequency-domain smoothing function. A statistical error bound (or uncertainty measure) may be determined for the power spectral density estimate based on the effective number of averages and the averaged single-channel and cross-channel spectral estimates.
US09418337B1
Systems and methods are provided that allow for generating and applying an improved predictive data model that aggregates two or more models performed sequentially, for the purposes of improving the prediction of overall profitability of individuals or households in a population. The models may be generated by the processing of customer profitability data and third-party population data together. One of the two aggregated models may be an inherently probabilistic, binary model tasked with determining whether an individual is a high-loss individual and using that result to improve the predictive capability of the system.
US09418334B2
Pretraining for a DBN initializes weights of the DBN (Deep Belief Network) using a hybrid pre-training methodology. Hybrid pre-training employs generative component that allows the hybrid PT method to have better performance in WER (Word Error Rate) compared to the discriminative PT method. Hybrid pre-training learns weights which are more closely linked to the final objective function, allowing for a much larger batch size compared to generative PT, which allows for improvements in speed; and a larger batch size allows for parallelization of the gradient computation, speeding up training further.
US09418331B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for creating tags (static or dynamic) for input/output classes of a neural network model using supervised learning. The method includes augmenting a neural network model with a plurality of neurons and training the augmented network using spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) to determine one or more tags.