US09451409B2
A mobile terminal guides a user to a destination by a navigation application and outputs destination information indicative of a destination upon arrival at the destination to information providing application and executes the information providing application. The mobile terminal on which the information providing application is running, determines whether the mobile terminal is staying at the destination by a motion sensor and starts counting a staying time. When the counted staying time reaches a predetermined length of time, the mobile terminal send to the user an inquiry to confirm that the present location is the destination. Upon confirmation that the user has been staying at the destination for a predetermined length of time, the mobile terminal transmits destination information to a server, obtains facility information corresponding to destination information, and outputs the obtained facility information.
US09451406B2
Wireless beacons, such as short range Bluetooth beacons, are combined with other technologies—including audio and image recognition technologies (e.g., fingerprint- or digital watermark-based)—to provide a variety of enhanced capabilities and services.
US09451405B2
A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality for location-based services, and includes both server and client/mobile device apparatuses. One apparatus includes a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device. A computer is coupled to the data store and is configured to receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device. The computer is configured to receive a change location privileges request, and to update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. Other apparatuses provide additional structures and functions.
US09451402B2
A system and method for a mobile device to efficiently use a geofence capability without draining its battery, and to allow flexibility in specifying various parameters related to geofencing, such as the latency and confidence in determining when or where a geofence breach occurs, and reducing the probability of not detecting a geofence breach.
US09451397B1
A method of includes receiving hotspot identification data from the first device, where the identification data identifies a plurality of WiFi hotspots that are in proximity to the first device; determining that the second device is associated with the first device; sending the hotspot identification data to the second device, where the first device and second device are mobile devices; receiving an indication of proximity from the second device; and notifying the first device of the indication of proximity.
US09451396B2
A facility search system includes a mobile communication terminal communicably connected with a server and independently performing a registration process to register a facility visited by a user as a visited facility in the server and an in-vehicle device provided in a vehicle and communicably connected with the mobile communication terminal and performing the registration process in cooperation with the mobile communication terminal. The server provides a visited-facility registration service in which the facility visited by the user is registered as the visited facility. The in-vehicle device acquires a device position indicating a current position of the vehicle, compares the device position with a preliminarily set destination facility position to determine whether the vehicle arrives at the destination facility, and controls the mobile communication terminal to register the destination facility as the visited facility in the server when determining that the vehicle arrives at the destination facility.
US09451384B2
The objective of the invention is to arrange that, when a plurality of mobile terminals are connected to, for example, a vehicle-mounted device, a to-be-controlled application be automatically determined in accordance with the connection history and the types of applications on the mobile terminals. A mobile terminal control apparatus (1) comprises: a device control unit (12) that detects whether a plurality of mobile terminals (2) are connected or not and that holds device information and application information into a connection history (11); and an application control unit (14) that determines, out of a plurality of applications held by connected mobile terminals (2), a to-be-controlled application on the basis of the connection history (11) and an application DB (13). In this way, when a plurality of mobile terminals are connected to a vehicle-mounted device, a to-be-controlled application can be automatically determined in accordance with the connection history and the types of applications on the mobile terminals.
US09451380B2
An acoustic apparatus mounted on a vehicle driven by a driver includes: acquiring unit for acquiring a gaze point at which the driver gazes while driving the vehicle, reflecting parameters including a location of the vehicle, a running state of the vehicle and a running environment of the vehicle; generation unit for generating a sound image in the vehicle; and localization unit for localizing the sound image to be at the gaze point.
US09451379B2
In one embodiment, a sound field is mapped by extracting spatial angle information, diffusivity information, and optionally, sound level information. The extracted information is mapped for representation in the form of a Riemann sphere, wherein spatial angle varies longitudinally, diffusivity varies latitudinally, and level varies radially along the sphere. A more generalized mapping employs mapping the spatial angle and diffusivity information onto a representative region exhibiting variations in direction of arrival that correspond to the extracted spatial information and variations in distance that correspond to the extracted diffusivity information.
US09451377B2
A device method and software for measuring distance to a sound generator, such as a loudspeaker, by using an audible impulse signal is disclosed. This invention provides a significant improvement over past systems for measuring distance with, for example, a smartphone or tablet device, with measurable accuracy within a fraction of an inch, making it suitable for even the most demanding professional applications.
US09451374B2
Sound processor housings, sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed.
US09451372B2
The present disclosure relates to the wireless communication of analog and digital information using a modulator adapted to communicate analog information in an analog mode and to communicate digital information in a digital mode using frequency modulated transmissions. A demodulator adapted to receive the modulated information is provided. The present subject matter can be used with hearing assistance devices to communicate voice and data information. Applications of the system include communications with assistive listening devices, hearing aids, and other hearing assistance devices.
US09451369B2
A hearing aid includes a first microphone for providing a first audio input signal, a second microphone for providing a second audio input signal, a signal processor configured for generating a hearing loss compensated audio output signal based at least in part on the audio input signals, and a receiver for converting the audio output signal into an output sound signal, wherein the signal processor is configured to perform directional processing, based on the first and second audio input signals, in a first frequency range and substantially omni-directional processing in a second frequency range, at least a part of the first frequency range being higher than the second frequency range, and wherein a lower cutoff frequency of the first frequency range is adjustable.
US09451361B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and methods of communicating acoustic information of a distributed microphone array between mobile devices. For example, an audio processor may determine source information of one or more acoustic sources based on acoustic information sensed by a distributed microphone array including a first microphone of a first mobile device and a second microphone of a second mobile device.
US09451353B2
An earpiece including an external surface having a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear and having a passage adapted for retention of an in ear device, the earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of the external surface by engagement with the outer ear to dispose the external surface in a second fixed configuration in greater conformity to the outer ear.
US09451352B2
An unlocking apparatus and a method using an ear-micro headset in a terminal are provided. The unlocking apparatus and the method using an ear-micro headset in a terminal enable to unlock the terminal and switch to a speech recognition mode using the ear-micro headset placed into the terminal. The apparatus including a memory configured to store at least one password value for unlocking the terminal, and to switch to a speech recognition mode by using combinations of inputs of at least one button equipped in the ear-micro headset, and a controller coupled to the memory configured to unlock the terminal based on the combinations of inputs of the at least one button equipped in the ear-micro headset if the terminal is locked with the ear-micro headset plugged therein.
US09451347B2
A base station and wireless headset where the headset is powered by a contained rechargeable battery and where the base station has a cradle with charging output contact points and the headset has a cradle-neck with charging input contact points. The base station in a surface region at the cradle includes a first surface mounted magnetic means displaying a first magnetic polarization and a second surface mounted magnetic means adjacent thereto and displaying a second magnetic polarization which is opposite the first magnetic polarization. The headset at a corresponding surface region at the cradle neck includes at least a further surface mounted magnetic means displaying only one of the first or the second polarization so as to ensure attraction forces and repulsion forces respectively between this further magnetic means and the two magnetic means at the bases station cradle.
US09451342B2
Provided herein is a link management method and apparatus in a multi-layered network, the method including confirming whether or not set virtual TE link resources can be committed to a virtual TE (traffic engineering) link; in response to the set virtual TE link resources being committable to the virtual TE link, committing the resources to the virtual TE link through resource commitment; in response to the set virtual TE link resources being not committable to the virtual TE link, determining whether or not the virtual TE link is an adaptive virtual TE link; and in response to the virtual TE link being determined as the adaptive virtual TE link and the adaptive bandwidth satisfying TE link setting standards, committing the resources to the virtual TE link.
US09451341B2
System and method embodiments are provided for monitor photodiode multiplexers for integrated photonic switches. Embodiment monitor photodiode multiplexers provide simplified control circuits, reduced power consumption, and improved manufacturability as compared to other solutions. In an embodiment, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), includes a plurality of input terminals; a plurality of output terminals; and a plurality of monitor elements wherein each of the monitor elements is connected between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals, wherein each monitor element comprises a photodiode and a rectifier diode, wherein the photodiode comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the rectifier diode comprises a third terminal and a fourth terminal, wherein the first terminal is connected to the third terminal, and wherein the first and third terminals comprise a same polarity.
US09451338B2
An interface is proposed to couple a network processing device and at least one data pump device. The interface is of a serial type and is operable to transfer data chunks of a predetermined data chunk format comprising a channel address field indicating a logical channel the data chunk is assigned to.
US09451337B2
Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for transmitting TV program related content to IP connected devices on a home network, or other local area network. Users can watch television while simultaneously receiving content related to TV programs currently being displayed on a television. TV centric and TV program related content can be transmitted to IP connected devices. Moreover, this TV program related content can be displayed at the same time as a television program is being displayed on a television. As such, the system can provide media synchronization within home network using the set-top box as a gateway for delivering the content. Users can watch TV at home, and at the same time receive TV program related content on a laptop, tablet computer, mobile phone, etc.
US09451335B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, generating narrative descriptions corresponding to visual features, visual events, and interactions there between for media content, where the narrative descriptions are associated with time stamps of the media content, and presenting the media content and an audio reproduction of the narrative descriptions, wherein the audio reproduction is synchronized to video of the media content according to the time stamps. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09451330B2
The program recommendation device includes a search term receiver that receives at least one search term designated by a user, a partial match searcher that searches an electronic program list for programs having program information with words and phrases partially matching the search term designated by the user and outputs a partial match search result set, a language analyzer that performs a language analyzing process on the program information of each of the programs contained in the partial match search result set and outputs an analyzed search result set, an exact match searcher that searches the analyzed program information contained in the analyzed search result set for programs with words and phrases exactly matching the search term designated by the user and outputs an exact match search result set. A recommended program display displays programs contained in the exact match search result set as recommended programs.
US09451328B1
Embodiments disclose systems and methods for variable speed playback with bi-directionality. One example implementation may comprise a computing device receiving a request to modify a playback speed of a recorded program. In response, the computing device may provide an interactive menu that enables the selection of a new playback speed for the computing device to provide the recorded program to a graphical interface (e.g., television). The computing device may further receive a selection of a given playback speed for the computing device to provide the recorded program to the graphical interface and process the video component and the corresponding audio component of the program for playout at the given playback speed. The computing device may provide the processed video component and the processed corresponding audio component in a combination for playout at the given playback speed.
US09451326B2
A system and method for recording events includes a user device having a recording service module receiving a booking and recording request, reserving recording resources of the user device in response to the booking request. A conflict resolving module resolves conflicts between previously booked events and the recording request. The recording service module books the recording request, determines a start time from the recording request and when the start time is reached, initiates recording of content, receives the content and provides recording information to a memory write module.
US09451320B2
A video reception device, comprising a single video decoder, may dynamically allocate media-processing resources based on QoS parameters associated with the received time-sensitive and non-time-sensitive video streams. The single video decoder is utilized to decode the content of the received time-sensitive and non-time-sensitive video streams for display. The QoS parameters associated with the received time-sensitive and non-time-sensitive video streams are mapped to corresponding media-processing resource requirements at the video reception device. The video reception device performs resource allocation for the received time-sensitive and non-time-sensitive video streams based on the corresponding media-processing resource requirements. Multi-dimensional resources allocation metrics are selected or formed from the corresponding associated QoS parameters for media-processing resource allocation. The video reception device starts resource allocation for the received time-sensitive video streams. Un-used portions of the allocated media-processing resources to the received time-sensitive video streams are re-allocated to process the received non-time-sensitive video streams.
US09451319B2
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating the streaming of digital media content to a remote device. In one exemplary embodiment, a translation layer translates markup language code and/or scripting language code (e.g., code that complies with the HTML5/W3C standard) to comply with a streaming protocol (e.g., a streaming protocol specified by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)) to facilitate streaming of digital content (e.g., digital video, digital audio, or digital images) to remote devices (e.g., a digital television, digital audio player, game console, etc.). In some embodiments, a translation layer translates streaming protocol events at a remote device into other events (e.g., events specified in the HTML5 standard) at a local computing device. Local/remote playback switching logic can also facilitate switching between local playback and remote playback.
US09451315B2
Systems and methods for efficiently loading interactive media guide data based on user history are provided. A plurality of asset descriptions associated with a first media asset is received. A second media asset related to the first media asset is identified. An asset description is selected form the plurality of asset descriptions based on user history of accessing the second media asset. Data for the first media asset is loaded. Data for the first media asset comprises the selected asset description.
US09451314B2
An entertainment device initiates a configuration process of a controlling device in response to a change in an audio visual entertainment system configuration in which at least one of a plurality devices is connected to the entertainment device as an audio and/or visual source and at least one of the plurality of devices is connected to the entertainment device as an audio and/or visual output destination for the entertainment device.
US09451305B2
A method for introducing and playing a media is disclosed, in which the method is implemented through a display device that is capable of linking to a network. In the method, detection is performed to determine whether a display of the display device shows a channel preview frame, and a plurality of preliminary previews are automatically and sequentially played when the channel preview frame is showing on the display. Further, detection is performed to determine whether a user selects one of the preliminary previews, and the user is provided with options of channel subscribing or detailed preview when the user selects one of the preliminary previews. Next, a fee paying procedure is executed when the user chooses to subscribe to the channel, and a channel information of the channel subscribed to is set.
US09451301B2
A method for mapping resources of broadcast control channel is disclosed. Available subcarriers of a subframe in which the broadcast control channel is located are divided into three subcarrier sets, each of which is mapped to be one frequency partition, so that the subframe in which the broadcast control channel is located includes N frequency partitions, and resources of each frequency partition are mapped to be logical resource units, wherein N can be 1 or 3. With this method, subcarrier sets of the broadcast control channel are divided, and the resources of the broadcast control channel are mapped.
US09451293B2
A decoding method and apparatus are provided for decoding an audiovisual stream that is divided into a plurality of segments. The decoding method and apparatus obtain metadata that specify a segment out of the plurality of segments. The metadata is described in a structured description. The segment that is specified by the metadata is obtained, and a start time for rendering the segment from the metadata is derived. The segment is decoded based on the metadata to generate decoded segment data before the start time.
US09451285B2
A video decoding method using inter-prediction, includes: decoding a first picture, wherein the first picture serves as a random access picture and is decoded without referring to a reference picture which has already decoded; and decoding a block, by using an inter-prediction, included in a second picture, which is decoded after the first picture and displayed before the first picture, by using a plurality of reference pictures, wherein the decoding of the block included in the second picture is performed based on reference picture information representing one or more past pictures which are decoded before the first picture and are used as reference pictures for decoding the second picture, and wherein when the one or more past pictures are used for decoding the second picture, the one or more past pictures are deleted from a memory after decoding at least the second picture.
US09451282B2
Provided are motion vector determining method and apparatus for determining a motion vector via motion vector prediction. The motion vector determining method involves determining a candidate motion vector list comprising motion vectors of a plurality of candidate blocks referred so as to predict a motion vector of a current block, when a reference image of a first candidate block from among the plurality of candidate blocks is different from a reference image of the current block, determining whether or not to use a motion vector of the first candidate block from the candidate motion vector list, based on whether each of the reference image of the current block and the reference image of the first candidate block is a short-term reference image or a long-term reference image, and determining the motion vector of the current block by using a candidate motion vector selected from among the motion vectors comprised in the candidate motion vector list.
US09451258B2
In one example, an apparatus for processing video data comprises a video coder configured to, for each of the one or more chrominance components, calculate a chrominance quantization parameter for a common edge between two blocks of video data based on a first luminance quantization parameter for the first block of video data, a second luminance quantization parameter for the second block of video data, and a chrominance quantization parameter offset value for the chrominance component. The video coder is further configured to determine a strength for a deblocking filter for the common edge based on the chrominance quantization parameter for the chrominance component, and apply the deblocking filter according to the determined strength to deblock the common edge.
US09451257B2
An embodiment for encoding digital images includes: partitioning the images into image blocks, subjecting the image blocks to transform into the frequency domain, and, possibly after thresholding resulting in lossy encoding, subjecting the image blocks transformed into the frequency domain to variable length coding to produce compressed encoded image blocks. Transform into the frequency domain may be, e.g., via wavelet transform, such as Haar wavelet transform, and variable length coding may be via Exponential-Golomb codes. An embodiment may also be adapted for transferring picture data over a bus in a system such as, e.g., a System-on-Chip (SoC) by generating compressed encoded image blocks for transfer over the bus and decoding compressed encoded image blocks transferred over the bus.
US09451254B2
A video decoder may adaptively disable, based on a syntax element, one or more filters used for intra-prediction. In addition, the video decoder may perform intra-prediction to generate prediction data for a current block of a current video slice. Furthermore, a video encoder may adaptively disable one or more filters used for intra-prediction. Furthermore, the video encoder may signal a syntax element that controls the one or more filters. In addition, the video encoder may perform intra prediction to generate prediction data for a current video block the video data.
US09451248B2
A data processing device calculates the number of temporary redundant packets based on the transmission rate of a wireless network and the frame composition ratio between I frames and P frames, calculates a temporary redundant packet rate based on the transmission rate and the number of temporary redundant packets, calculates an encoding rate from the transmission rate and the temporary redundant packet rate, encodes video data at the encoding rate to packetize the video data, calculates the number of redundant packets added to each frame obtained as a result of the processing on the video data, and adds redundant packets to each frame.
US09451245B1
A digitizing projector system is configured in a single housing and comprises a digitizer and a projector. The position of the scanner and projector relative to each other are known by a software function. A scanner projector system has a digitizer configured to scan any shaped object or scene to produce a digitized scaled 3D digital image or digitized file. The software will identify surfaces including planar and non-planar surfaces, geometric surfaces and shapes, irregular surfaces, edges and noisy surfaces. A projected image may comprise one or more image files that are projected onto one or more identified surfaces of the object. A user may edit an image file in shape, color, orientation, and may input motion effects or dynamic functions of the image. The digitizing projector system may be self-calibrated for are offset in position from a first location to a second location.
US09451242B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for adjusting displayed picture, comprising a video signal input means, a position measuring means, an image processing means and a video signal output means. Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a display apparatus comprising the above apparatus for adjusting the displayed picture and a display method thereof. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a position being concerned by viewer's eyes on the display screen is enlarged or a field depth of the position being concerned by the eyes on the display screen is increased when the viewer moves forward or tilts his/her body forward, such that the viewer can view the displayed picture more clearly, thus achieving an interaction between the displayed picture and the viewer.
US09451241B2
A digital camera includes an electromagnetic spectrum radiator for emitting electromagnetic spectrums to a target when photographing images of the target, a CCD sensor, a CMOS sensor and/or an OLCD sensor, which constitute an independent image element of the photographed image and receive electromagnetic wave radiation bands propagating in the air in different wavelengths as a result of color reactions of the target to the electromagnetic spectrums. The digital camera includes a memory for storing different color values corresponding to different electromagnetic wave radiation bands and a photographing system, which divides the photographed image into over 100 independent images of small area, and which compares the electromagnetic wave radiation band received by the sensors in each independent image of small area to the different color values in the memory, and then inserts colors corresponding to said color values back to said image of small area.
US09451239B2
A method for shape and material recovery from motion includes modeling the correct dichromatic dependence of surface reflectance on surface normal, lighting and viewing directions to derive a differential flow relation; determining a rank deficiency in a sequence of differential flow relations and using the rank deficiency to handle complex bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs); estimating BRDF-derivatives from the differential flow relations to recover the complex BRDF; and reconstructing depth of objects without knowledge of the BRDFs for joint shape and material recovery.
US09451238B2
A method of shooting an OSMU stereoscopic image using a mobile stereoscopic camera is provided. The method includes an operation of placing the mobile stereoscopic camera on a predetermined location of a mobile shooting place, an operation of determining a focusing distance in a wide-angle shooting condition when a far point of the mobile stereoscopic camera is infinity, an operation of calculating a distance between two cameras of the mobile stereoscopic camera by setting the far point of the mobile stereoscopic camera to be infinity at a location of the mobile stereoscopic camera, an operation of adjusting the distance between the cameras of the mobile stereoscopic camera to be the calculated distance between the cameras of the mobile stereoscopic camera, and an operation of shooting the OSMU stereoscopic image using the mobile stereoscopic camera of which the distance between the cameras is adjusted.
US09451236B2
The present invention relates to three-dimensional visualization of the surrounding images of a vehicle, and comprises the steps of: enabling a plurality of wide angle cameras provided at a vehicle to receive a plurality of photographed images for reference patterns formed on the ground; extracting feature points from the photographed reference patterns and estimating a relative location and an installation angle of each camera using the known physical location information of the extracted feature points; obtaining optical parameters comprising an optical center of a lens for correcting lens distortion using the photographed images and mapping each image on a surface of a Gaussian sphere using the obtained optical center; changing an angle and distance such that the Gaussian sphere and the real reference patterns correspond to each other using the relative location and the installation angle of the estimated camera and arranging the images in a three-dimensional virtual space; and obtaining a three-dimensional single image by mapping each image arranged in the three-dimensional virtual space to an inner surface of the three-dimensional sphere corresponding to one large sphere.
US09451235B2
Transmission of stereo image data may be performed between devices, where a source device receives E-EDID from a sink device via DDC of an HDMI cable. This E-EDID contains information on 3D image data transmission modes supportable by the sink device. Based on information on 3D image data transmission modes from the sink device, the source device selects a predetermined transmission mode from among the 3D image data transmission modes supportable by the sink device. The source device transmits 3D image data in the selected transmission mode to the sink device. The source device transmits information on the transmission mode for the 3D image data, to the sink device by using an AVI InfoFrame packet or the like. The sink device processes the 3D image data received from the source device in accordance with its transmission mode, thereby obtaining left and right eye image data.
US09451234B2
Transmission of relating information of image data such as disparity information or the like is enabled to be performed favorably.A data packet made up of a header portion and content portion is generated. Related information of image data, for example disparity information or the like, is inserted into the content portion of the data packet herein. Identification information to identify the type of related information is inserted into the header portion of the data packet herein. The data packet herein is correlated to image data, and transmitted to an external device. The related information of the image data such as disparity information or the like can be efficiently transmitted to an external device.
US09451231B1
Systems and methods for switching between multiple video sources output to output a video stream via a single physical output are disclosed. An example method can include decoding a first encoded video file and populating a memory with corresponding first decoded video data. The process can include decoding a second encoded video file and populating the memory with corresponding second decoded video data at a particular location of the memory. The process can include causing a video player to read from the memory so as to output a video stream, via the single physical output, corresponding to the first decoded video data, and then causing the video player to switch to read from the particular location of the memory such that the video stream switches to corresponding to the second decoded video data.
US09451228B2
There is provided a display control device including a related content acquisition unit that acquires related content that relates to predetermined video content, and a display controller that applies control to display the related content after the predetermined video content is recorded.
US09451220B1
A system and method for aligning an outdoor antenna reflector unit (ODU) with multiple satellites is disclosed. The method may rely on multiple satellites as alignment anchor points to reduce ODU alignment pointing error. The method may require at least three measurements of signal power at different angles for each satellite link to determine the ODU antenna pattern for each satellite link. A peak angle is then calculated for each satellite link based on the determined satellite link ODU antenna pattern. Once the satellite link peak angles are determined, the average peak angle can be calculated and used for aligning the ODU to the multiple satellites. The method may further reduce pointing error by using satellites transmitting within the Ka frequency band as alignment anchor points. The method may simplify ODU alignment by merely requiring an installer to adjust an ODU alignment screw based on the calculated average peak angle.
US09451219B2
The invention concerns an electronic device for providing information (PUB_INFO, PERSON1_INFO) concerning one or more targets (PUB, PERSON1), relative to which target the device is to be aligned in a set manner, and in connection with which device are arranged at least one source (GPS, BM, COMP, TS, MEM) of first information (X, Y, ALT, Odevice, IMSI_10.1), including at least a source of position and orientation information, in order to define the position of the device and the target, or for positioning the target and an aimer (CAM, DISP) for aligning the target relative to the device in a set manner, and in connection with which device, second information relating to the target can be arranged, which second information is arranged, in connection with the application of the aimer, to be brought to the attention of the user by the device. The aimer consists of a camera and a viewfinder (CAM, DISP).
US09451214B2
A surveillance system and method are provided. The surveillance system includes an audio processing device which extracts an audio feature of an audio signal, and determines whether an abnormal event has occurred in a monitoring region, based on the audio feature; a video processing device which extracts a foreground region from a video signal, and determines whether an abnormal event has occurred in the monitoring region, based on motion information of the foreground region; and a context awareness device which calculates an audio abnormal probability and a video abnormal probability by respectively accumulating results of abnormal event occurrence/non-occurrence determinations performed on audio signals and results of abnormal event occurrence/non-occurrence determinations performed on video signals for a certain period of time, and finally determines whether an abnormal situation has occurred in the monitoring region, by using respective combined probability distribution models for a normal situation and the abnormal situation.
US09451198B2
A display device includes a display cell, a metal housing, a light source, a reflecting member, and a power supply circuit board. The housing supports the display cell from a rear side of the display device. The light source is attached to the housing. The light source is configured to emit light toward the display cell. The reflecting member is disposed between the display cell and the housing. The reflecting member is configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source toward the display cell. The power supply circuit board is disposed between the reflecting member and the housing.
US09451177B2
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a camera can capture multiple millions of frames per second, such that each frame is 2D image, rather than a streak. A light source in the camera emits ultrashort pulses of light to illuminate a scene. Scattered light from the scene returns to the camera. This incoming light strikes a photocathode, which emits electrons, which are detected by a set of phosphor blocks, which emit light, which is detected by a light sensor. Voltage is applied to plates to create an electric field that deflects the electrons. The voltage varies in a temporal “stepladder” pattern, deflecting the electrons by different amounts, such that the electrons hit different phosphor blocks at different times during the sequence. Each phosphor block (together with the light sensor) captures a separate frame in the sequence. A mask may be used to increase resolution.
US09451175B2
An imaging apparatus comprises: an image pickup element including a two-dimensional array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, for outputting an electric signal of an optical image; a focus adjustment unit for adjusting a focus state of a photographing optical system; an image pickup control unit for obtaining electric signals from the image pickup element in a plurality of different focus states while changing the focus state by the focus adjustment unit; and a light ray determination unit for obtaining incident position information and incident angle information, which are light field information of the optical image of an object, by using the electric signals obtained in the a plurality of different focus states by the image pickup control unit.
US09451171B2
Methods and apparatus for performing zoom in and zoom out operations are described using multiple optical chains in a camera device. At least one optical chain in the camera device includes a moveable light redirection device, said light redirection device being one of a substantially plane mirror or a prism. Different zoom focal length settings correspond to different scene capture areas for the optical chain with the moveable light redirection device. Overlap between scene areas captured by different optical chains increases during zoom in and decreases during zoom out. Images captured by different optical chains are combined and/or cropped to generate a composite image corresponding to a zoom focal length setting.
US09451169B2
Multiple capture assist marks (markers for capture assistance) to be synthesized with video captured by a camera unit 10 is generated by an OSD unit 20 through the control of a control unit 100. These capture assist marks are synthesized with the video from the camera unit 10 by synthesis means and displayed. In this case, an operation unit 110 is used to accept input of an instruction about the capture assist mark from a user. Based on this instruction input, the control unit 100 controls the OSD unit 20 and a baseband processing unit 30 to synthesize the capture assist mark corresponding to the instruction with a video signal from the camera unit 10.
US09451163B2
The system and methods for motion sensor assisted rate control for video encoding are provided. An apparatus for encoding video content comprises a sensor and an encoder. The sensor is configured to provide motion information relating to the apparatus. The encoder is configured to encode the video content based at least in part on a quantization parameter. The encoder is further configured to increase the value of the quantization parameter in response to the provided motion information.
US09451160B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element, a reading scheme setting unit, and an image processing unit. A phase-difference detecting pixel for detecting a focal point is arranged at part of the imaging pixels of the imaging element. The reading scheme setting unit sets a reading scheme for reading pixel data from the imaging pixels and phase-difference detecting pixel. The image processing unit corrects the pixel data of the phase-difference detecting pixel. The image processing unit performs the correction, to change a use ratio of the pixel data of the phase-difference detecting pixel to the data interpolated from the pixels adjacent to the phase-difference detecting pixel.
US09451156B2
Disclosed is a magnifier for use by blind or low vision users. The magnifier includes a camera, such as a CMOS image sensor, that displays enlarged images upon a screen for easy viewing. The magnifier further includes a handle that is pivotally interconnected to a housing to allow for handheld use in a variety of different configurations.
US09451154B2
A focus detection device includes: an image sensor that includes a plurality of focus detection pixel rows, each having a plurality of focus detection pixels and each outputting a pair of focus detection signals; a spatial accumulation unit that calculates spatially accumulated values by adding together pairs of focus detection signals output from a first predetermined number of focus detection pixel rows among the plurality of focus detection pixel rows; and a focus detection unit that detects a focusing condition at an optical system based upon the spatially accumulated values.
US09451150B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises: a focus detection unit to obtain an in-focus position for each preset focus detection area; a setting unit to set an object area for a captured image; an acquisition unit to acquire a representative in-focus position of the object area based on in-focus positions contained within a given range where in-focus positions of focus detection areas corresponding to the object area are most concentrated; a determination unit to determine, if a plurality of object areas are set by the setting unit, a priority order of the object areas based on representative in-focus positions of the object areas; and a control unit configured to perform control so as to sequentially drive the focus lens to the representative in-focus positions of the object areas in decreasing order of the priority order and perform shooting.
US09451145B2
An image capturing apparatus that uses an image sensor having pixels for capturing an image and pixels for detecting a phase difference. If, in the case where it is determined that it is necessary to restart focus detection during recording of a moving image, an opening diameter of an aperture is not an opening diameter at which phase-difference detection type AF using the pixels for detecting a phase difference can be performed, the aperture is changed to an opening diameter at which phase-difference detection type AF can be performed during focus detection. Thus, even if a photographic lens that does not support driving within a minute range is mounted, a focus detection operation suitable for shooting a moving image can be performed.
US09451143B2
An image reception device includes a storage module that associates and stores first identification information which is used for identifying an image capture device or a lens module and second identification information which is used for visually identifying establishment of communication connection between the image capture device and the image reception device; an information acquisition unit that acquires the first identification information from the image capture device; a second communication module that transmits, to the image capture device, first control information which instructs the first display interface to display first information after the communication connection with the image capture device is established and receives image data from the image capture device; and an information output unit that outputs second control information which instructs a second display interface to display second information to the second display interface after the communication connection with the image capture device is established.
US09451135B2
Drive unit that consists of two or more strings that are with one end attached to a shaft of a driving motor, and with the other end directly or indirectly coupled to an image capturing device, which is supported by means that allow rotation is disclosed. The twisting strings produce a pulling force on the ends of the strings, which generates a motion of the image capturing device. The invented drive unit does not use gears, belts, pulleys or the like, which reduces the weight, lowers the generated noise, and reduces the parts costs. The invented drive unit including the control unit achieves wide range of motion performances ranging from precise positioning to fast motion, including performance equivalent to a human eye.
US09451131B2
A semiconductor device is provided as a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device. The device is manufactured by bonding a first semiconductor wafer with a pixel array in a half-finished product state and a second semiconductor wafer with a logic circuit in a half-finished product state together, making the first semiconductor wafer into a thin film, electrically connecting the pixel array and the logic circuit, making the pixel array and the logic circuit into a finished product state, and dividing the first semiconductor wafer and the second semiconductor being bonded together into microchips.
US09451130B2
An image processing apparatus includes a type acquiring unit that acquires type information indicating a type of a display apparatus, an image selecting unit that selects a first colorimetric image for performing color conversion on the display apparatus, on the basis of the type information acquired by the type acquiring unit, an image information transmitting unit that transmits information on the first colorimetric image selected by the image selecting unit to the display apparatus, a color information acquiring unit that acquires color information of an image which is displayed on the display apparatus on the basis of the information on the first colorimetric image transmitted by the image information transmitting unit, and a conversion relationship creating unit that creates a conversion relationship for the color of an image to be displayed on the display apparatus, on the basis of the color information acquired by the color information acquiring unit.
US09451127B2
An image processing apparatus includes an area extracting unit, a specific halftone dot area detecting unit, and an encoding unit. The area extracting unit extracts a halftone dot area from an image. The specific halftone dot area detecting unit detects a specific halftone dot area, the specific halftone dot area being the extracted halftone dot area that includes a character and of which a variation range in a distribution of luminance and hue is less than a predetermined range. The encoding unit encodes the specific halftone dot area in an encoding manner different from an encoding manner for the halftone dot area other than the specific halftone dot area, the encoding manner for the specific halftone dot area providing higher image quality after encoding than image quality provided by the encoding manner for the halftone dot area other than the specific halftone dot area.
US09451120B2
A file managing method for a digital apparatus includes (a) establishing a folder corresponding to a file type generated in an operational mode of the digital apparatus, and (b) storing a file according to its file type to the folder corresponding to the file type established in step (a).
US09451104B2
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and a plurality of stages of option devices. An output connector of the apparatus main body is connected to an input connector of the option device in a foremost stage. An output connector of the option device in each stage other than an aftermost stage is connected to an input connector of the option device in a subsequent stage. An output connector of the option device in the aftermost stage is connected to ground. A main body control portion outputs a predetermined signal via the output connector of the apparatus main body when initial communication is performed. Each option control portion identifies in which stage of the option device the self-device is, on the basis of a voltage value of the predetermined signal inputted to an analog input port via the input connector.
US09451094B2
Disclosed are hybrid conference bridges capable of selectively operating in a replicating mode or a mixing mode based on the number of terminals in an audio conference capable of supporting the replicating mode. A disclosed conference bridge connects a plurality of terminals in an audio conference and includes a replicating-mode operating module, a mixer-mode operating module, and a management module to activate at least one of the operating modules depending on the number of terminals having sufficient capabilities to support the replicating mode.
US09451087B2
Systems and methods for routing and/or servicing contacts using video analysis of one or more video streams are provided. The systems and methods are particularly applicable to a contact center.
US09451082B2
A social communication system, comprising a telephone name parsing system which parses a name to a corresponding telephone number or parses a telephone number to a corresponding name during communication. The telephone name parsing system comprises a user identity management unit, a user telephone number unit, a user equipment number unit, a user name unit, a name detection unit, a user number name comparison table, a telephone management unit and a synchronization unit. The communication connection between any two users or among a plurality of users firstly passes through the telephone name parsing system. The telephone name parsing system enables each user to select to pack into a data packet the information and attributes disclosed to an opposite user of this communication connection, and displays same to the opposite user.
US09451054B2
A reliable communication protocol RUDP is provided to transfer data between two systems connected in a network. Working over the unreliable UDP transport layer protocol, the RUDP protocol adds an acknowledging mechanism to otherwise unreliable UDP packets. Contrary to the TCP transport layer protocol, which establishes a connection before any data transfer, the RUDP is used to transfer short amounts of information or messages, so a connectionless communication is used. In a connectionless context the complexity of the encoding-decoding algorithm and the amount of memory consumed by the protocol is reduced. Such characteristics makes the RUDP protocol suitable for its implementation in systems with limited memory and speed, like low processing power 8-bit microcontrollers. Furthermore, by programming the RUDP protocol over the UDP protocol, its implementation in a personal computer can be made with common programming tools.
US09451049B2
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Remote Access Server (RAS) to provide a communication channel between UPnP Remote Access Clients (RACs) connected thereto. The UPnP RAS maintains local discovery information for UPnP devices connected to a local network and remote discovery information for remote UPnP devices communicating therewith. The UPnP RAS provides the remote UPnP devices communicating therewith with the local discovery information and the remote discovery information. The remote discovery information is utilized by a first remote UPnP device to discover a second UPnP device and vice versa. After discovery, a first remote UPnP device can communicate with a second UPnP device and vice versa.
US09451047B1
Techniques described herein relate to generating personalized quality of service (QoS) comparison of wireless services. A user device may obtain first service data from a first wireless service using a user account and obtain second service data corresponding to the first service data from a second wireless service. The user has a benefit of a user account access to the first wireless service, and does not have a benefit of a user account access to the second wireless service. The user device may then generate a comparison between the first wireless service and the second wireless service based on the first service data and the second service data.
US09451042B2
A server and/or a client stores a metadata hash map that includes one or more entries associated with keys for data records stored in a cache on a server, wherein the data records comprise a directed acyclic graph (DAG), and the directed acyclic graph is comprised of a collection of one or more nodes connected by one or more edges, each of the nodes representing one or more tasks ordered into a sequence, and each of the edges representing one or more constraints on the nodes connected by the edges. Each of the entries stores metadata for a corresponding data record, wherein the metadata comprises a server-side remote pointer that references the corresponding data record stored in the cache. A selected data record is accessed using a provided key by: (1) identifying potentially matching entries in the metadata hash map using the provided key; (2) accessing data records stored in the cache using the server-side remote pointers from the potentially matching entries; and (3) determining whether the accessed data records match the selected data record using the provided key.
US09451033B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for identifying commands for virtual resource instances in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, in a typical embodiment, a set of commands for an instance of a virtual resource may be received in a computer memory medium or the like. The commands may then be analyzed and information pertaining to the commands may be stored in a computer storage device or the like. When a user/requester later wishes to identify a command to be utilized for another instance of the virtual resource, the requester can access the information and be provided with a set of suggested commands that are typically utilized for similar and/or previous instances of the virtual resource.
US09451030B2
A computer-implemented method of gathering data includes querying, via a vehicle computing system, a plurality of weather sensors included with a vehicle and in communication with a vehicle network. The method also includes determining whether or not appropriate conditions exist for storage of data from the sensor, for each of the sensors. Additionally, the method includes storing the data from the sensor if appropriate conditions exist. Finally, the method includes sending, from the vehicle computing system to a remote network, data from one or more queried sensors and current GPS coordinates of the vehicle.
US09451029B2
A portable device remote control method and system are provided. The method includes registering an Internet Protocol (IP) address in an IP network, by a portable device, forming a transport control protocol based communications channel with the portable device based on the IP network and the IP address, by an internet access terminal, transmitting a control signal for activating an application program of the portable device by using the transport control protocol based communications channel, by the internet access terminal, activating the application program according to the control signal, by the portable device, and receiving screen information according to the activated application program from the portable device by using the transport control based communication system, and outputting the received screen information, by the internet access terminal.
US09451024B2
System and methods for storage object distribution using a universal distributed storage (UDS) system. An embodiment UDS includes server nodes and a header server in communication with the server nodes. The header server is configured to divide an object received from a client into chunks, to assign a key to each of the chunks, to calculate a hash value for each of the keys to identify which of the server nodes will store each of the chunks, and to instruct one of the server nodes to store each of the chunks in accordance with the hash value calculated. In an embodiment, the server nodes include a single central processing unit, a single storage device, a primary network interface, and a redundant network interface.
US09451022B2
A client device can implement a client-side application for a server-side online content management system. The client-side application can communicate with the server-side online content management system to sync data stored locally on the client-side with data stored on the server-side. A local web server can be implemented on the client device to work in conjunction with the client-side application, such that the local web server can access the data stored locally. The client device can run a web browser that communicates with the local web server. A user of the client device can use the web browser to connect to the local web server to access the synced data stored locally on the client-side. Advantages of accessing the data stored locally using the web browser via the local web server include performance improvements, offline access to the data, and use of native client applications to interact with the data.
US09451018B2
An application is seamlessly migrated from one SCTP endpoint to another SCTP endpoint by determining if the application is to be migrated from a first SCTP endpoint associated with a second SCTP endpoint to a third SCTP endpoint, and migrating the application from the first SCTP endpoint to the third SCTP endpoint at the SCTP layer without packet loss occurring as a result of the migration.
US09451012B1
A heterogeneous parallel processing system that includes a computer cluster system and a device cluster system is provided. The computer cluster system includes a computer cluster node that includes at least one cluster node processor. The device cluster system includes a cluster device that includes a cluster device processor, and is substantially different from the computer cluster nodes. The system includes a heterogeneous cluster node that includes a computer cluster node from the computer cluster system and a cluster device from the device cluster system. The heterogeneous cluster node includes a runtime environment module for transmitting data between the computer cluster node and the cluster device in the heterogeneous cluster node, such that at least one process executing on the device cluster system is transparent in its operation to a plurality of processes executing in the computer cluster system.
US09451007B2
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing for a user one or more electronic notifications that include information about a social network. The social network includes a plurality of nodes connected by a plurality of edges, with at least one node corresponding to the user. The method further includes determining, for each of the electronic notifications, a score that estimates whether a user interaction with the social network will result if the electronic notification is provided to the user. The method further includes determining, based at least in part on the determined scores, an action to take with respect to the electronic notifications.
US09451006B1
Upon the initiation of a flow instance on a client computing device for navigating through a sequence of webpages, a client-side framework invokes various controllers and resolvers for dynamically creating views displayed in user's browsers. Resolvers resolve various resources required or desired for the webpages and obtain these various resources located on a remote host computer and transmits the obtained resources to the corresponding controllers to create one or more views as specified by the flow for display in the browser of the client computing device, without hard coding the locations of these resources in the webpages. The client-side framework provides an environment for specifying A/B testing to place a part of the flow under an A/B test so as to generate different customizable user experiences in navigating through the webpages without using custom views.
US09451004B2
This description relates to methods for initiating a server-based action using a timing mechanism. Furthermore, the description relates to the implementation of the aspects and embodiments of the method for initiating a server-based action described herein in hardware or software, or a combination thereof. The description suggests a mechanism to trigger the delayed execution of a server-based action based on hovering over interactive elements in a graphical user interface.
US09451000B2
Stream-based data deduplication is provided in a multi-tenant shared infrastructure but without requiring “paired” endpoints having synchronized data dictionaries. Data objects processed by the dedupe functionality are treated as objects that can be fetched as needed. As such, a decoding peer does not need to maintain a symmetric library for the origin. Rather, if the peer does not have the chunks in cache that it needs, it follows a conventional content delivery network procedure to retrieve them. In this way, if dictionaries between pairs of sending and receiving peers are out-of-sync, relevant sections are then re-synchronized on-demand. The approach does not require that libraries maintained at a particular pair of sender and receiving peers are the same. Rather, the technique enables a peer, in effect, to “backfill” its dictionary on-the-fly. On-the-wire compression techniques are provided to reduce the amount of data transmitted between the peers.
US09450999B2
Methods, systems and computer program products for high performance data streaming are provided. A computer-implemented method may include receiving a data mapping describing an association between one or more fields of a data storage location of a data source and one or more fields of a data storage location of a target destination, generating a data transfer execution plan from the data mapping to transfer data from the data source to the target destination where the data transfer execution plan comprises a determined degree of parallelism to use when transferring the data, and transferring the data from the storage location of the data source to the data storage location of the target destination using the generated data transfer execution plan.
US09450995B2
A wireless computer that pairs with a remote audio-video presentation device, such as a television. As a result of the pairing, a communication channel is established for the computer to transmit audio-video content for presentation through that device. Additionally, as part of the pairing, the computer and remote device select a side channel for communication of user commands. The wireless computer may display a user interface through which a user may input commands that control the manner in which the remote audio-video device presents the content. As a result, a user may use the wireless computer as a remote control for the audio-video device, controlling both the content presented and the manner in which it is presented. The side channel may use different frequencies than the channel used to communicate audio-video content, and may use very low power at frequencies in the digital TV spectrum.
US09450987B2
A network security system including a first-level security profile engine and a second-level security profile engine is disclosed. The first-level security profile engine may assign a first-level security profile for a first user device, the first user device requesting access to a network; the second-level security profile engine assigns a first second-level security profile to the first user device, the first second-level security profile providing first network configuration information for the first user device; a device selection engine receives a selection of a second user device associated with the first-level security profile; and the second-level security profile engine assigns a second second-level security profile to the second user device, the second second-level security profile providing second network configuration information for the second user device. A device network configuration engine can then configure the first user device to access the network based on the first network configuration information.
US09450984B2
A method for personalized location privacy recommendation comprises: obtaining information of one or more locations for a user; collecting features of the one or more locations; and recommending respective privacy levels of the one or more locations automatically based at least in part on the information and the features.
US09450981B2
A method for efficient mitigation of denial of service (DoS) attacks in a virtual network. The method maintains a security service level agreement (SLA) guaranteed to protected objects. The method includes ascertaining that a denial of service (DoS) attack is performed in the virtual network; checking if the DoS attack affects at least one physical machine hosting at least one protected object, wherein the protected object is provisioned with at least a guaranteed security service level agreement (SLA); determining, by a central controller of the virtual network, an optimal mitigation action to ensure the at least one security SLA guaranteed to the least one protected object; and executing the determined optimal mitigation action to mitigate the DoS attack, wherein the optimal mitigation action is facilitated by resources of the virtual network.
US09450971B2
Devices, systems, and methods of detecting user identity, differentiating between users of a computerized service, and detecting a possible attacker. The methods include monitoring of user-side input-unit interactions, in general and in response to an interference introduced to user-interface elements. The monitored interactions are used for detecting an attacker that utilizes a remote access channel; for detecting a malicious automatic script, as well as malicious code injection; to identify a particular hardware assembly; to perform user segmentation or user characterization; to enable a visual login process with implicit two-factor authentication; to enable stochastic cryptography; and to detect that multiple users are utilizing the same subscription account.
US09450967B1
A network gateway is implemented on behalf of a customer entity. The network gateway may be implemented using a distributed computer system and the network gateway may connect a network of the customer entity to a public communications network. The network gateway may include network-related services without the need for adding specialized hardware. The network gateway may be provisioned programmatically in response to instructions received from the customer entity. The network gateway may be provisionable and accessible over several different types of data connections. The network gateway, by virtue of being implemented on a distributed computer system, is scalable upon demand without additional input by the customer entity.
US09450962B2
A system (100) for providing access control and usage monitoring of a plurality of electronic devices or applications (110a-h) enables efficient access control. The system (100) includes a control server (105) having: a reception interface, for receiving usage information relating to an account and a request to use the account, wherein each request includes an account identifier, and the account is associated with one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications (110a-h) and at least one user; a data store, including a first set of usage rules for the account and a second set of usage rules for a second account; a processor and memory including program code, for: determining, using the rules stored on the data store associated with the account identifier in combination with the usage information, an outcome of the request; and a transmission interface, for communicating the outcome of the request, wherein the outcome is for controlling access to one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications (110a-h) by the at least one user.
US09450951B2
In one embodiment, a device and a services provisioning system establish an over-the-air connection with each other, and perform device posture validation to obtain a unique identification (ID) of the device at the provisioning system. The device and provisioning system then participate in device and user authentication in response to a confirmed unique ID by a backend access control system, where the device generates a secure key pair after successful user authentication. In response to the device being approved for services (e.g., checked by the provisioning system via a registration system), the provisioning system provides a root certificate to the device, and the device sends a certificate enrollment request back to the provisioning system. In response to a certificate authority signing the certificate request, the provisioning system returns a valid certificate to the device, and the valid certificate is installed on the device.
US09450949B2
A method for access control to a computer with a mobile end device relies on using contactless interfaces. An authentication to the computer is carried out with the mobile end device and upon a successful authentication the access to the computer is granted or maintained. For preparing the authentication, a certificate is loaded into the mobile end device from a portable data carrier separate from the mobile end device. For authentication, authentication data comprising the certificate or obtained from the certificate are provided to the computer from the mobile end device via the contactless interfaces.
US09450940B2
A service request for a managed computer system is received and once a primary authorization for same has been given, a secondary authorization management system (SAMS) determines whether or not the service request requires secondary authorization. This determination is made according to a context of the managed computer system and an authorization profile for the received service request. If needed, the SAMS resolves the secondary authorization request and returns the resolution decision.
US09450932B2
A mobile device and an information protection method are presented. The mobile device includes a sensor, a storage and a processor that is electrically connected with the sensor and the storage. The sensor is configured to sense at least one electronic device. The processor is configured to determine an authority of the at least one electronic device and define a protection state for at least one part of the information stored in the storage according to the authority. The information protection method is applied to the mobile device to implement the aforesaid operations.
US09450926B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for upload and/or download streaming encryption to/from an online service, or cloud-based platform or environment. The encryption process includes the following parts: Upload encryption, download decryption, and a central piece of infrastructure called the Interval Key Server (IKS). During both upload and download, the encryption and decryption processes are performed while the files are being uploaded/downloaded, (e.g., the files are being encrypted/decrypted as they are being streamed).
US09450924B2
Various embodiments are directed to computer-implemented methods and systems for a site to facilitate privacy protected interactions between users of a site and a third party utility. For example, a computer may receiving from a user selected from the users of the site, a request to interact with the third party utility. The computer may also encrypt an identification of the user to generate an encrypted user identification associated with the third party utility; and provide the encrypted user identification and the request to the third party utility.
US09450923B2
Systems and methods of transmitting data from one location to another location that can be used in a number of applications including, but not limited to, secure transmission of data from one location to another and secure data backup. In one embodiment, a data file is split into pieces and the pieces are placed randomly in a diverse mesh of online cloud storage providers. So all the data is not sitting in a single point of failure and with the entire file available for theft. Each piece of data is given a randomized numerical code that determines where the packet of data is stored. Also, the pieces of data can be encrypted.
US09450917B2
An exchange data communication determining unit determines, based on a received reception wireless frame, whether or not a communication partner is an exchange partner with which the exchange data can be exchanged. Receiving a notice that exchange of the exchange data is possible, a data communication control unit executes a process for giving/receiving the exchange data. A machine identification information registration unit stores an MAC address of a portable game machine in an MAC address list saving area. Again, the wireless frame transmitting/receiving unit sets a transmission wireless frame and executes an exchange partner searching process. An exchange data communication determining unit determines whether or not an MAC address included in the received reception wireless frame is registered with the MAC address list saving area, and if it is registered, the data communication is terminated.
US09450915B1
A method for creating a secure link between any two endpoints in a network comprises: assigning a unique identifier to each endpoint of a network; for each endpoint in the network, transmitting the unique identifiers associated with each of the remaining endpoints in the network to said endpoint; establishing a secure link between a source endpoint and a destination comprising: transmitting a data-session establishment packet from the source endpoint to the destination endpoint via a symmetric NAT device; wherein the data-session establishment packet comprises the unique identifier associated with the source endpoint; performing a matching operation at the destination endpoint to match the unique identifier associated with the source endpoint with a unique identifier known to the destination endpoint; and upon matching of unique identifiers then creating a forwarding table entry for the destination endpoint based on the source address and source port associated with the source endpoint.
US09450913B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium for Content Delivery Networks Interconnection (CDNI) request routing using the PCP FLOWDATA option. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for content, and receiving, from a PCP server, flow characteristics for providing the content, where the PCP server receives the flow characteristics for providing the content from a PCP proxy that receives the flow characteristics from the client device. The method includes transmitting first data for querying the downstream content delivery network (CDN) to determine whether the downstream CDN can provide the content and satisfy the flow characteristics. The method includes receiving a response indicating the ability of the downstream CDN to provide the content and satisfy the flow characteristics, and transmitting second data based on the response, where the client device transmits flow metadata based on the second data to the PCP proxy.
US09450910B2
A method, system, and/or computer program product allocates network addresses to network devices. A network address providing server designates a particular network address as a designated network address for use with a specific non-network device, where the specific non-network device has a Unique Device Capability Identifier (UDCI), and where the non-network device is not connected to a network. The designated network address is stored in a lookup table containing the UDCI, such that the lookup table associates the designated network address with the UDCI. In response to a request from a network device for a network address including the UDCI, the network address providing server retrieves the designated network address from the lookup table based on the UDCI found in the request for a network address. The designated network address is then sent to the network device for use as a network address of the network device.
US09450904B2
A server system can provide coordinated event-based notifications to a target user across multiple notification channels. The selection of channels for a particular notification can be based on the type of event underlying the notification, user preferences related to delivery of notifications, and the like. The sending of notifications in different channels can be coordinated so that notifications in different channels are sent at different times, and sending of any given notification can be made to depend on whether the notification (or the underlying event) has already been acted on, as well as on user preferences related to delivery of notification. Some notifications can be sent without delay and/or unconditionally.
US09450895B2
Messaging policies can be dynamically updated based on operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAMP) data generated by data plane entities of a messaging network. For example existing messaging policies may be dynamically modified based on OAMP data generated by message brokers and/or network elements (e.g., queues). As another example, new messaging policies may be dynamically created based on the OAMP data. As another example, an updated set of messaging policies may be selected from a pool of policies based on the OAMP data. Dynamically updating messaging policies can be achieved using information model processing frameworks, such as the next generation directory enabled networks (DEN-ng) model. Various events may trigger the creation of new messaging policies and metrics, such as adding new data plane entities and/or network elements to the network, receiving new messaging instructions, etc.
US09450894B2
An integrated circuit device includes a cut-through forwarding module. The cut-through forwarding module includes at least one receiver component arranged to receive data to be forwarded, and at least one transmitter component arranged to transmit data stored within at least one transmitter buffer thereof. The cut-through forwarding module further includes at least one delimiter component arranged to trigger a transmission of frame data within the at least one transmitter buffer, upon receipt of a first number elements of a respective data frame by the at least one receiver component, the first number of data elements comprising a first predefined integer value.
US09450892B2
A switch device includes: a first relay circuit deciding a transmission port to which the frame of the first communication is output, when the received frame is the first communication; a processor deciding a transmission port corresponding to a destination address of the received frame, and generating a second relay table including information for identifying the transmission port corresponding to the destination address of the received frame; and a second relay circuit deciding a transmission port to which the frame of the second communication is output, as the transmission port to which the frame of the second communication is output, a transmission port corresponding to the destination address of the received frame among the plurality of ports on the basis of the content of the second relay table, when the port that has received the frame of the second communication is an end port.
US09450890B2
An egress packet modifier includes a script parser and a pipeline of processing stages. Rather than performing egress modifications using a processor that fetches and decodes and executes instructions in a classic processor fashion, and rather than storing a packet in memory and reading it out and modifying it and writing it back, the packet modifier pipeline processes the packet by passing parts of the packet through the pipeline. A processor identifies particular egress modifications to be performed by placing a script code at the beginning of the packet. The script parser then uses the code to identify a specific script of opcodes, where each opcode defines a modification. As a part passes through a stage, the stage can carry out the modification of such an opcode. As realized using current semiconductor fabrication process, the packet modifier can modify 200M packets/second at a sustained rate of up to 100 gigabits/second.
US09450875B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for cooperative fault tolerance and load balancing. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from an entity wherein the request includes metadata specifying a plurality of non-responsive servers to which the entity sent the request but that could not process the request; determining that the data processing apparatus is not a current home server for the entity based on information cached in the data processing apparatus, wherein the current home server is a server within a plurality of preferred servers that processes requests for the entity and, in response thereto: assigning the data processing apparatus as the current home server so that the entity will send subsequent requests to the data processing apparatus for processing; and sending a response to the entity.
US09450870B2
A system facilitates flow definition management in a switch. During operation, the system identifies a generic flow definition which specifies a flow that is not specific to any input port of a switch. The system further stores in a flow lookup data structure one or more port-specific flow rules based on the generic flow definition, wherein each port-specific flow rule corresponds to a respective port capable of processing data flows.
US09450868B2
In one embodiment, a method for assigning a media access control (MAC) address includes receiving a request from a device for a MAC address at a port of a switching device, determining a MAC address to assign to the device based at least partially on the port, and responding to the request with the MAC address. In another embodiment, a method for retrieving a media access control (MAC) address includes sending a request for a MAC address to a MAC allocation server (MAAS), waiting a predetermined amount of time to receive a response to the request, wherein the response comprises the MAC address, and using the MAC address when the response to the request is received within the predetermined amount of time. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are presented according to more embodiments.
US09450864B2
Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for transitioning a system from a tradition network to a Software Defined Network (SDN) enabled network. In some embodiments, the systems and methods may comprise the use of a Path Computation Element (PCE) as a central controller. Smooth transition between traditional network and the new SDN enabled network, especially from a cost impact assessment perspective, may be accomplished using the existing PCE components from the current network to function as the central controller of the SDN network is one choice, which not only achieves the goal of having a centralized controller to provide the functionalities needed for the central controller, but also leverages the existing PCE network components.
US09450861B2
A new type of network is a network with centralized control function. An Ethernet protocol translation gateway can access the network and obtain from a node server therein MAC address of the Ethernet protocol translation gateway and the MAC address of terminals bound to the Ethernet protocol translation gateway. A data packet to be transmitted from the network to the Ethernet can be forwarded to a target terminal in the Ethernet according to the MACs of the terminals, by adding the MAC of the Ethernet protocol translation gateway and the MAC of the target terminal to the packet. For a data packet transmitted from the Ethernet to the network, the packet can be forwarded to the network according to the destination address of the network in the packet by means of removing from the packet the MAC of the Ethernet protocol translation gateway and the MAC of the target terminal.
US09450852B1
A computer-implemented method for preventing split-brain scenarios in high-availability clusters may include (1) detecting, at a first node of a high-availability cluster, a partitioning event that isolates the first node from a second node of the high-availability cluster, (2) broadcasting, from a health-status server and after the partitioning event has occurred, a cluster-health message to the first node that includes at least a health status of the second node that is based on whether the health-status server received a node-health message from the second node, and (3) reacting, at the first node and based at least in part on whether the first node received the cluster-health message, to the partitioning event such that the partitioning event does not result in a split-brain scenario within the high-availability cluster. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09450849B1
Methods and systems for trace backtracking are disclosed. In response to receiving a request from an upstream component at a downstream component, a trace is initiated at the downstream component. A response to the request is sent from the downstream component to the upstream component. The response comprises trace metadata. Trace data is generated at the upstream component in response to receiving the trace metadata at the upstream component. The trace data describes an interaction between the upstream component and the downstream component. A call graph is generated based on the trace data. The call graph comprises a call path between the upstream component and the downstream component.
US09450848B1
A first network device including modulation, transmit, front end, and phase modules. The modulation module amplitude or frequency modulates a data signal to generate a modulated signal. The transmit module transmits an output signal based on the modulated signal. The front end module obtains a phase of a point in a first cluster of index ratios. Each of the index ratios corresponds to a respective phase of a respective symbol period of the output signal. Each of the index ratios is based on a maximum amplitude, a minimum amplitude or a mean of amplitudes of the output signal over the symbol periods. The amplitudes for each of the means includes a corresponding one of the maximum amplitudes and a corresponding one of the minimum amplitudes. The phase module adjusts a phase of the output signal based on the phase of the point in the first cluster of index ratios.
US09450847B2
A mismatch detecting method includes: specifying a configuration of test data in accordance with a condition in which a time when a first packet out of a plurality of packets included in the test data caused to make a round trip through a transmission path including a plurality of sections is transmitted in one section out of the plural sections in an inbound path and a time when a second packet out of the plural packets is transmitted in the one section in an outbound path overlap with each other; transmitting the test data to the transmission path in accordance with the configuration specified by the specifying; and determining a mismatch of a transmission system within the transmission path, based on a loss situation of the test data returning from the transmission path after the transmitting.
US09450844B2
User equipment measure a characteristic of a multicast signal or a broadcast signal at a physical layer of user equipment for a multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) area associated with the user equipment. The user equipment provide a value of the measured characteristic from the user equipment in response to the value indicating that a probability of an application layer decoding error exceeds a first threshold. The measured characteristic may be a block error rate (BLER) or a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) for the multicast signal or the broadcast signal.
US09450843B2
The present disclosure discloses a method for indicating port states and a switch. A main panel of the switch is provided with port indicators one-to-one corresponding to physical ports and N channel indicators. The switch further includes a main chip and a control component. The control component is configured to: receive a port state indication signal from the main chip, and parse the port state indication signal to obtain usage state information of each logical port; generate N enable signals, and control at most one enable signal to be valid at any time point; and control the states of the N channel indicators by using the N enable signals sent from the enable signal controlling module, and control the state of each port indicator according to the N enable signals and the usage state information of each logical port.
US09450842B2
A system and method are presented for monitoring handheld devices in a testing environment. At least one handheld device is provided, typically several, that is capable of performing a first plurality of functions in a non-test mode, and a more limited number of functions in a test mode. In a test environment the handheld device should be set to perform in the test mode. In the event of the handheld device mode being changed from the test mode to non-test mode, the handheld device generates a non-test mode signal. A monitoring software application records the non-test mode signal. In one aspect, the monitoring application is embedded in a remote proctor device. The remote proctor device monitoring application may send a mode interrogation message to the handheld device, and the handheld device generates the non-test mode signal in response to the mode interrogation message.
US09450838B2
A system for managing allocation of resources based on service level agreements between application owners and cloud operators. Under some service level agreements, the cloud operator may have responsibility for managing allocation of resources to the software application and may manage the allocation such that the software application executes within an agreed performance level. Operating a cloud computing platform according to such a service level agreement may alleviate for the application owners the complexities of managing allocation of resources and may provide greater flexibility to cloud operators in managing their cloud computing platforms.
US09450833B2
A computer system is monitored for conditions bearing on the effective age of various hardware components of the system. Upon detecting an age adjustment condition, the affected hardware components are identified. An age adjustment is determined for each of the affected hardware components. The adjusted age is stored for reference when taking actions based on the adjusted age, such a component replacement and/or workload placement.
US09450831B2
A node apparatus in a network including a plurality of node apparatuses includes: a cluster information memory configured to store apparatus identification information of node apparatus included in a first cluster including the node apparatus; a merge cluster node number determination unit configured to obtain the number of node apparatuses included in the second cluster based on information included in the hello packet upon receipt of a hello packet from one of adjacent node apparatuses included in a second cluster, and to determine whether a sum of the number of node apparatuses included in the first cluster and that of node apparatuses included in the second cluster is equal to or smaller than a maximum number of cluster nodes; and a cluster merge processing unit configured to merge the second cluster with the first cluster based on a result of the determination.
US09450821B2
A method and system are provided in which a broadband gateway may receive different content from different sources, may combine the content to produce a combined content, and may communicate the combined content to a device connected to the broadband gateway. The content may be automatically and/or manually synchronized. The synchronization may be based on a clock signal received from the device, a clock signal from another device connected to the broadband gateway, and/or a clock signal received through one or more network access service providers. The content may be video image data and/or audio data. Moreover, user-generated content may be received and combined by the broadband gateway when in a peer-to-peer communication configuration with the source of the content. When more than two different content are received, the broadband gateway may be utilized to select which contents to combine.
US09450815B2
A system and method for connectivity configuration of a network node permits an optical signal to be passed through the node and shifted from a first connector position to a second connector position that is offset from the first connector position. The shifted optical signal permits a number of distant nodes in the network to be reached with a direct optical connection, which can be configured to be bidirectional. The disclosed connectivity configuration reduces the cabling requirements for the network and simplifies the interconnections.
US09450811B2
A system and methods to provide appliance field support personnel with a tool that, together with proper interface modules, simplifies the execution of diagnostic procedures and provides an easy way to configure, reconfigure, or update electronic boards in the home on a client side of an enterprise wide system. The electronic boards serve as electronic controllers in the appliances and are programmable generic service boards. With such a system, it is possible to update and re-configure electronic boards and interact directly with an electronic controller of an appliance while an appliance is operating. Software, configuration data, and control data are downloaded from a server-side configuration of the enterprise wide system to update the electronic boards.
US09450799B2
A method of transmitting a broadcasting signal is provided. The method includes encoding data; encoding signaling data by an LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) scheme; building a signal frame based on at least one preamble data symbol having the encoded signaling data and a data slice having the encoded data; inserting at least one pilot into the signal frame with a specific pattern and modulating the signal frame by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) method; and transmitting the modulated signal frame. A signaling block having the signaling data is repeated in the at least one preamble data symbol in a frequency domain by a bandwidth. The bandwidth of the signaling block corresponds to a number of active subcarriers assigned to a single channel.
US09450795B2
A method for signal modulation includes determining at least one guard band between at least two continuous available sub-bands among multiple available sub-bands that can be used by a communication entity and are discrete; and using the at least one guard band in signal modulation for the communication entity.
US09450783B2
The management of a virtual machine is disclosed. A virtual machine can be identified that is configured in accordance with a cloud management scheme. A processor of a computing system can abstract differences of management protocol between cloud management schemes. The processor can reconfigure the virtual machine in view of the abstracted differences. An instance of the reconfigured virtual machine can be created.
US09450763B2
A subject private key that has been encrypted with a session key and a subject public key are received. A storage session key is generated and the subject private key is encrypted with the storage session key. A storage key is retrieved and the storage session key is encrypted with the storage key. The subject private key encrypted with the storage session key and the encrypted storage session key are stored in a memory.
US09450758B1
A first request from a client using a first protocol is translated into one or more second requests by a servicer using a second protocol through a virtual request using the first protocol. A client may use parameters of the first protocol to pass virtual request components to the servicer. A format agreement between the client, servicer and/or authentication service may allow the servicer and/or authentication service to translate the virtual request components over the first protocol to one or more second requests using the second protocol. Virtual request components may prove the authenticity of the virtual request received by the servicer to an authentication service. Once satisfied the virtual request is valid, the authentication service may issue a credential to the servicer to send the one or more second requests to an independent service. Virtual requests may be included in various protocols, including credential-based protocols and certificate exchange-based protocols.
US09450755B2
It is described a method for operating a transponder (203), the method comprising: receiving, by the transponder, in particular wirelessly, transmitted reader data (205) representing x and sqrt[b]/x, wherein x is an element of a binary Galois field and b is a scalar; processing, by the transponder, the reader data (205) to determine, whether x is a first coordinate of a point on an elliptic curve defined by the elliptic curve equation y2+xy=x3+ax2+b, wherein the elliptic curve is defined over the Galois field such that x and y are elements of the Galois field, wherein y is a second coordinate of the point on the elliptic curve. Further a transponder, a method for operating a reader and a reader are described.
US09450747B1
A soft decision analyzer system is operable to interconnect soft decision communication equipment and analyze the operation thereof to detect symbol wise alignment between a test data stream and a reference data stream in a variety of operating conditions.
US09450745B2
A method for radio frequency (RF) pulse synchronization in a super regenerative receiver (SRR), includes receiving an input signal including an asymmetric preamble, and estimating a phase difference between the input signal and a quench signal based on the asymmetric preamble. The method further includes compensating for the phase difference.
US09450743B1
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with duplex mode enabling frame headers are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a transceiver and duplex logic. The duplex logic is configured to receive data to be transmitted by the transceiver to a device and generate a header for a frame. The header includes at least one bit that encodes information used to enable full duplex communication with the device. The duplex logic is configured to provide the frame to the transceiver to transmit the frame.
US09450742B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting an ACK/NACK in a TDD system. A component carrier (CC) configuration for a user equipment (UE) and a transmission mode of each CC are received. An ACK/NACK feedback mode is selected based on an overhead status for feedback in an uplink. An ACK/NACK is processed according to the selected feedback mode. And the ACK/NACK is transmitted in the uplink. The method provided by the present invention can avoid excessive overhead for feedback in uplink in various extreme circumstances while ensuring satisfying performances of downlinks under many configurations.
US09450731B2
The present invention relates to a wireless access system supporting multi-carrier aggregation (CA) and discloses various methods and devices for aperiodic feedback of channel state information (CSI). The method for aperiodic feedback of the channel state information (CSI) in the wireless access system supporting the multi-carrier aggregation (CA), according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: receiving a first message including an aperiodic CSI request field and uplink grant from a base station; receiving a second message including bitmap information indicating a downlink component carrier (DL CC) subjected to CSI measurement from the base station; measuring the CSI in consideration of at least one of the aperiodic CSI request, uplink grant, and bitmap information; and transmitting the measured CSI to the base station through a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to thereby receive aperiodic feedback of the same.
US09450730B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for allocating a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel, and a user equipment. The method for allocating a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel includes: determining, according to an extended parameter, a cyclic shift value of a demodulation reference signal that is indicated in a Physical Downlink Control Channel PDCCH, and a minimum labeling index value of a physical resource block PRB that is occupied by an uplink data transmission block, a PHICH index number that corresponds to the uplink data transmission block, where the extended parameter includes a cell-specific parameter and a user-equipment-specific parameter; and allocating a PHICH to the uplink data transmission block according to the PHICH index number.
US09450721B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and, more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a reference signal (RS). The method for enabling user equipment (UE) of the wireless communication system to transmit an uplink signal according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving information on candidates of a first parameter set used for generating a sequence of a first RS; and generating and transmitting a sequence of a second RS using a second parameter set determined among the candidates of the first parameter set.
US09450719B2
Provided is a method for receiving a downlink signal by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system supporting Coordinated Multi-point transmission and reception includes: receiving a list of candidate seeds for generating a sequence of a downlink demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) and downlink control information, and detecting the DCI; if a format of the detected DCI corresponds to a unique operation of a transmission mode configured to the UE, generating a sequence of the downlink DM-RS using one seed value selected from among the list of the candidate seeds on the basis of specific information included in the DCI; and if a format of the detected DCI corresponds to a fall-back operation of the transmission mode, generating a sequence of the downlink DM-RS using a specific seed value selected from among the list of the candidate seeds or an identifier (ID) of a serving cell.
US09450706B2
To efficiently retransmit discarded packets and to reduce discarded location storage capacity, it is provided a communication apparatus to be coupled to a network, the communication apparatus being configured to: transmit data to a correspondent communication apparatus coupled to the network; receive an acknowledgement transmitted from the correspondent communication apparatus; monitor whether or not a storage capacity shortage for storing discarded locations of transmitted data in the correspondent communication apparatus; and retransmit data by setting a retransmission priority for discarded locations in a case of the storage capacity shortage.
US09450700B1
Methods and apparatus for efficient monitoring of network fleets are described. A list of network addresses of a set of hosts at which resources are to be monitored from a monitoring server of a provider network may be received at the monitoring server. The monitoring server may initiate establishment of a persistent network connection to a monitoring agent installed at a monitored host. A plurality of health messages from the monitoring agent may be obtained via the connection, including a host status entry for the monitored host and a resource status entry for at least one resource configured at the monitored host. A representation of the health messages may be saved in a repository for analysis.
US09450698B2
The optical transmission device includes an N×N optical switch, an optical packet receiver and an optical packet generation unit. The N×N optical switch transmits data in which a plurality of optical signals each having a different wavelength is multiplexed. The optical packet receiver detects change in the number of wavelengths of optical signals constituting the data. The optical packet generation unit generates, when the change is detected by the optical packet receiver, data to be transmitted by the N×N optical switch, using optical signals for the number of wavelengths after the change.
US09450697B2
The present disclosure describes a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer including a wavelength selective switch configured to filter wavelengths of an optical signal; and an optical equalizer, coupled to the wavelength selective switch, configured to equalize the optical signal to mitigate optical filtering effects caused by the wavelength selective switch.
US09450694B1
A wireless communication terminal that has the self-interference due to the support of carrier aggregation, aggregating and jointly using two or more component carriers for transmission and reception, performs a first set of measurements on a received signal on a first operating frequency, wherein the first set of measurements are performed during which the wireless terminal transmits or receives signals on a second operating frequency. In an alternative embodiment, the wireless communication terminal changes the maximum transmit power limit on a first operating frequency on a per-slot basis to reduce the impact of harmonic or intermodulation distortion on a received signal at a second operating frequency.
US09450687B2
A self-calibrating antenna system having a radio frequency (RF) detector configured to estimate a time delay of a transmission signal on a transmission line, which couples an RF front end with an antenna tuner, based on a magnitude and phase of an input impedance of the transmission line at a first set of a plurality of respective frequencies, and a transceiver configured to transmit to the antenna tuner a calibrated tuning control command based on the estimated time delay to calibrate the antenna tuner and the transmission line.
US09450686B2
An apparatus and method for testing an upstream path of a cable network are disclosed. The upstream path is tested by capturing and analyzing upstream data packets generated by a specific terminal device. A test instrument is connected at a node of the cable network. The test instrument establishes a communication session with the headend, informing the headend of an identifier of the device that will generate the test upstream data packet. The test upstream data packet is captured and analyzed at the headend, so that the results of the analysis can be communicated back to the test instrument. To speed up the packet capturing and filtering process, the upstream data packets can be pre-filtered based on packet duration and/or arrival time.
US09450678B2
A system and method including a transmitter including digital signal processor for providing a shaped data output in response to an input data stream. The shaped data output is coupled to a modulator that modulates an optical signal in response to the shaped data output to provide a non-rectangular shaped output having channel spacing greater than Nyquist channel spacing. Providing a shaped output consistent the present disclosure mitigates the effects of non-linear impairments in an optical transmission system.
US09450664B2
Embodiments of the invention provide orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing-Space-time Block Codes (OFDMSTBC) mappings for code rate 1, 2 and 4 codes for 4 Transmit Antennas. To overcome the innate weakness of known codes, a new class of STBC codes is provided which is particularly suited for OFDM applications, although other applications are also contemplated. Codes for STBC mappings in the time direction, the frequency direction and a combined time frequency mapping for multiple antennas are provided. In OFDM applications, these codes exploit the properties of OFDM and FEC codes to substantially maintain the advantages of Alamouti codes. Furthermore, while the detailed examples given herein focus on four antenna applications, they can be easily extended to systems with more than four antennas.
US09450661B2
A method and an apparatus for tracking a beam in a wireless communication system are provided. In the method, a plurality of downlink reference signals are received from a base station and at least one downlink transmission beam pattern is determined. A plurality of uplink reference signals are transmitted to the base station, each includes identifier information corresponding to the determined at least one downlink transmission beam pattern. ACKnowledgement (ACK) information indicating that the base station has successfully received an identifier included in the identifier information corresponding to the determined at least one downlink transmission beam pattern from identifier information corresponding to an uplink transmission beam pattern and that the plurality of uplink reference signals from the base station is received.
US09450649B2
The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques for shaping near-field transmission signals. In some aspects, a baseband data signal is shaped based on a coupling condition of an antenna. A radio frequency (RF) carrier signal is modulated with the shaped baseband data signal to provide a shaped transmission signal, which is then applied to the antenna to generate an RF field. The shaped transmission signal can be effective to reduce distortions of the RF field associated with the coupling condition.
US09450645B2
Provided is a communication apparatus including a substrate, a high-frequency coupling device including a coupling electrode and a ground formed as a conductive pattern on the substrate, a communication circuit unit configured to process a high-frequency signal transmitted and received by the coupling electrode, and a resonant unit configured to increase an amount of electric current flowing into the coupling electrode. The high-frequency coupling device is configured such that a longitudinal length is shorter than a lateral length.
US09450644B2
A method of MIMO signal transmission on a cable is disclosed. The cable includes at least a first inner conductor, a second inner conductor, and an outer conductive shield. A first data signal is transmitted using the conductive shield and the first inner conductor. A second data signal is transmitted using at least the second inner conductor. The first and second data signals may be transmitted concurrently. For some embodiments, the second data signal may be transmitted using the first and second inner conductors. Thus, the second data signal may be a differential signal. For other embodiments, the first data signal may be transmitted using the conductive shield and the first inner conductor, and the second data signal may be transmitted using the conductive shield and the second inner conductor.
US09450643B2
A method for relaying messages in a PLC network including a relay node and at least two end nodes attached to the relay node, the method including at the relay node receiving respective first probing messages from the at least two end nodes; processing the respective first probing messages to generate respective first feedback messages; broadcasting the respective first feedback messages to the at least two end nodes; wherein the first probing messages are formed as orthogonal signals and received substantially simultaneously in a first time slot, and wherein the first feedback messages are formed as orthogonal signals and broadcast substantially simultaneously in a second time slot.
US09450640B2
Apparatus and method for communication are provided. The solution comprises obtaining as an input a signal; sampling the signal; feeding the sampled signal to a given number of parallel correlators having a given correlation length, controlling the correlation the sampled signal in each correlator with a unique time shift section of the pilot sequence of the communication system, determining the strongest correlation peaks, and determining on the basis of the correlation peaks and corresponding time shifts the strongest pilots in the signal.
US09450637B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network including a tunable reactance circuit configured to be coupled to at least one of a transmitter portion and a receiver portion of a communication device, wherein the tunable reactance circuit is adjustable to a plurality of tuning states, and wherein the determination of a tuning state is based on parameters associated with a detected interference. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09450621B2
A digital predistortion processing method and system comprises extracting from a predistortion coefficient parameter table a predistortion parameter corresponding to an input signal, so as to predistort the input signal and obtain a forward transmission signal; amplifying the power of the forward transmission signal to obtain an output signal; acquiring the output signal to obtain a feedback signal; delaying a predetermined number of sampling points so as to acquire the forward transmission signal and obtain a reference signal; conducting synchronization-related calculation on the reference signal and the feedback signal, and calibrating the feedback signal; training a predistortion coefficient according to the reference signal and the calibrated feedback signal; and forming the predistortion coefficient parameter table according to the predistortion coefficient and the amplitude of the input signal. The present invention can delay a predetermined number of sampling points for a transmission signal, thus greatly improving radio frequency index (ACPR).
US09450620B1
A digital interface and control module and a multi-function digital bus for use in a wireless radio frequency receiver, transmitter, or transceiver that communicates over a millimeter-wave band at multi-gigabit speeds. The control module provides a low power, low cost, small form factor, and low pin-count solution for high-speed control of a multi-gigabit radio frequency circuitry. The control module may be used to steer an antenna array for beamforming including selecting different antennas and different phases in compliance with IEEE 802.11ad/WiGig specifications. The control module may also be used for individually controlling variable gain amplifiers and low noise amplifiers and for phase shift controls, gain settings, and other controls.
US09450618B2
A modified soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) detector receives a sequence of soft information values and determines a best path and an alternate path for each soft information value and further determines, when the best and alternate paths lead to the same value for a given soft information value, whether there is a third path departing from the alternate path that leads to an opposite decision with respect to the best path for a given soft information value. The SOVA detector then considers this third path when updating the reliability of the best path. The modified SOVA detector achieves max-log-map equivalence effectively through the Fossorier approach and includes modified reliability metric units for the first N stages of the SOVA detector, where N is the memory depth of a given path, and includes conventional reliability metric units for the remaining stages of the detector.
US09450615B2
Exemplary embodiments for providing multi-bit error correction based on a BCH code are provided. In one such embodiment, the following operations are repeatedly performed, including shifting each bit of the BCH code rightward by 1 bit while filling the bit vacated due to the rightward shifting in the BCH code with 0, calculating syndrome values corresponding to the shifting of the BCH code, and determining a first error number in the BCH code under the shifting based on the syndrome values corresponding to the shifting of the BCH code. In the case where the first error number is not equal to 0, modified syndrome values are calculated corresponding to the shifting of the BCH code. The modified syndrome values are those corresponding to the case that the current rightmost bit of the BCH code under the shifting is changed to the inverse value. Additional operations are performed as described herein.
US09450609B1
A computer-aided design (CAD) tool may identify don't care bits in configuration data. The don't care bits in the configuration data may change polarity without affecting the functionality of the circuit design. The CAD tool may compute an error check code (e.g., parity bits for a two-dimensional parity check) and insert the error check code into the configuration data. As an example, the CAD tool may replace don't care bits in the configuration data with the error code. The configuration data may be stored in configuration memory cells on a programmable integrated circuit, thereby implementing the circuit design with the error code on the programmable integrated circuit. During execution, the programmable integrated circuit may execute error checking and detect and correct errors in the configuration data based on the embedded error code.
US09450606B1
Methods and apparatuses for generating match data for a symbol in a symbol history for use in a hardware-based data compressor. An apparatus for performing history matching for Lempel-Ziv (“LZ”) compression includes a symbol history RAM comprising 2S N bit entries, each entry corresponding to a symbol value represented by S bits and indicating locations within the last N symbols of input data where the symbol value occurred; a symbol counter array comprising 2S counters, each counter corresponding to a symbol value and indicating a number of symbols processed since the last occurrence of the symbol value in the input data; and a barrel shifter configured to shift the entry corresponding to an input symbol value left by a number of bits based on a value of the counter corresponding to the input symbol value to produce a symbol match vector for the input symbol.
US09450601B1
A system and method are disclosed for encoding numbers in a way that improves the accuracy and efficiency of one or more computing devices working with the transmitted/stored encoded numbers. When the encoded value is missing one or more bits after transmission or storage, the remaining bits of the encoded value will be optimally rounded up or down for the number of bits actually received.
US09450600B2
The DA converter according to the present invention includes: first and second analog segment units a plurality of capacitors of sampling capacitor groups charged according to signal levels of digital signals input in a sampling phase; and a calculation unit that outputs an analog signal according to a charged voltage of each capacitor of the sampling capacitor group of the first or second analog segment unit in an integral phase, wherein, when one analog segment unit of the first and second analog segment units is in the sampling phase, the other analog segment unit is in the integral phase.
US09450599B1
A current DAC circuit includes a reference current source, a current mirror, a decoder, and one or more current DAC units. The reference current source provides a reference current to a first node. The current mirror includes first and second PMOS transistors configured to provide a copy current generated by copying the reference current to a second node and coupled, at respective drains, to separate nodes. The current mirror may reduce noise of the first and second PMOS transistors through swapping the separate nodes to which the respective drains of the first and second PMOS transistors are connected periodically according to first and second clock signals. The decoder generates one or more enable signals based on a data input signal. One or more current DAC units generate separate positive currents and negative currents based on the copy current and separate enable signals of the one or more enable signals, respectively.
US09450592B2
Methods and systems to control an output frequency relative to a reference frequency. A frequency control system includes a dual-input bias generator to separately receive management and operational controls. The bias generator includes a first bias generator circuit to generate a bias control based on a difference between the management control and a bias feedback reference during a first mode of operation, a second bias generator circuit to generate the bias control based on a difference between the operational control and the bias feedback reference during a second mode of operation, and a bias feedback reference circuit to generate the bias feedback reference based on the bias control. The first mode may include a characterization and/or a start-up mode. The second mode may include an operational mode, such as a feedback-controlled mode.
US09450590B2
Embodiments of a synchronous digital system are disclosed that may include generation of clock and synchronization signals. Any of a plurality of available clock signals may be selected for use as a primary clock, without causing clock-induced errors in the synchronous digital system. The clock signals may be selected automatically or programmatically. Clock generation circuitry may generate a clock signal that is initially used as the primary clock. The clock generation circuitry may be dynamically reconfigured without interrupting operation of the synchronous digital system, by first selecting another of the available clock signals for use as the primary clock.
US09450584B2
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit applying an enable signal having a first logic level and a clock signal having the first logic level, supplying a first voltage to a first node and converting a voltage level of the first node into a second logic level different from the first logic level, and a second circuit applying an enable signal having the second logic level and a clock signal having the first logic level, supplying a second voltage to a second node different from the first node and converting a voltage level of the second node into the second logic level. The second circuit includes an operation circuit performing a NAND operation on the logic level of the enable signal and the voltage level of the second node, and a switch turned on in response to an output of the operation circuit and supplying the second voltage to the second node.
US09450579B2
Radio-frequency (RF) devices are disclosed providing reduced intermodulation distortion. Disclosed RF and semiconductor devices can include a semiconductor substrate, a switch formed on the semiconductor substrate having a stack of field-effect transistors (FETs) connected in series, and a capacitor formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected in series with the switch, the capacitor configured to inhibit a low-frequency blocker signal from mixing with a fundamental-frequency signal in the switch.
US09450574B2
A semiconductor system includes a first semiconductor device including an offset signal generation circuit configured to compare at least one sensing code and a temperature code and generate an input offset signal, and a second semiconductor device including a temperature code generation circuit configured to be inputted with the input offset signal, compare a reference voltage controlled according to the input offset signal and a temperature signal, and generate the temperature code.
US09450565B2
Embodiments provide a solidly-mounted bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator and method of making same. In embodiments, the BAW resonator may include one or more extensions that are acoustical similar to active region components of the BAW resonator. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09450557B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for a programmable phase shifter. In some example embodiments, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a transmission line comprising a plurality of sections; and a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of sections, wherein the plurality of switches activate one or more of the plurality of sections to vary a phase shift provided by the transmission line, and wherein the plurality of switches configure a type of coupling between one or more of the sections to vary an impedance provided by the transmission line. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US09450551B2
In one disclosed aspect, modifications are applied to an audio signal at least partly in response to auditory events. In another aspect, an input channel is divided into auditory events by detecting changes in a measurable characteristic of the input signal.
US09450541B2
Systems and methods related to linear and efficient broadband power amplifiers. A power amplifier (PA) system can include an input circuit configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) signal and split the RF signal into a first portion and a second portion. The PA system can further include a Doherty amplifier circuit including a carrier amplification path coupled to the input circuit to receive the first portion and a peaking amplification path coupled to the input circuit to receive the second portion. The PA system can further include an output circuit coupled to the Doherty amplifier circuit. The output circuit can include a balance to unbalance (BALUN) circuit configured to combine outputs of the carrier amplification path and the peaking amplification path to yield an amplified RF signal.
US09450535B2
A solar powered satellite system is provided. A power control system, for example, of the solar powered satellite system may include, but is not limited to, a first interface configured to receive a power signal from the satellite receiver, a voltage converter electrically coupled to the first interface, the voltage converter configured to reduce a voltage of the power signal received from the satellite receiver to a predetermined voltage, a second interface configured to receive a power signal from the solar panel assembly, a third interface configured to be coupled to at least one power consumer of a satellite dish, and a source selection circuit electrically coupled to the voltage converter, the solar panel assembly and the third interface, the source selection circuit configured to output a selected power signal based upon a comparison between the predetermined voltage and a voltage of the power signal from the solar panel assembly.
US09450530B2
A method of controlling operation of a multi-phase induction motor may include transmitting a low-speed operation signal by a master computer to a control signal board for low-speed operation of the motor; the control signal board receiving the low-speed operation signal, and in response to the low-speed operation signal, the control signal board sensing that the master computer is not simultaneously transmitting a high-speed operation signal, and in response to receiving the low-speed operation signal and not simultaneously receiving the high-speed operation signal, closing contactors in a power section to transmit power to the motor for low-speed operation, whereby the motor is connected to a source of multi-phase power and operates at low-speed; and the control signal board transmitting a first feedback signal to the master computer that the motor is connected to the source of multi-phase power and is running at low speed.
US09450523B2
To suppress a ripple contained in current flowing into a DC power supply during one-pulse control in a motor drive apparatus receiving electric power from the DC power supply. A motor drive apparatus 1 includes an inverter control device (10) provided with a one-pulse control mode in which, during one electrical angle cycle, a positive rectangular pulse voltage and a negative rectangular pulse voltage are applied, as gate drive signals, to a switching element corresponding to each phase. When performing the one-pulse control mode, the inverter control device (10) gradually increases or reduces a duty in a predetermined phase angle width at rising and falling edges of the rectangular wave voltage.
US09450521B2
A method is disclosed for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric stack, which is operated as an actuating element of an injector. The piezoelectric stack is polarized during production by a polarization process initially with a first field strength, which results in a first length of the piezoelectric stack. According to the method, the piezoelectric stack is driven during operation at a second field strength, which is smaller than the first field strength, wherein a setpoint length for the piezoelectric stack is defined depending on the second field strength. In addition, a change in length caused by depolarization from the setpoint length of the piezoelectric stack is monitored. Then, when a predetermined threshold value for the change in length is reached, the piezoelectric stack is operated at a third field strength until the setpoint length for said piezoelectric stack is reached.
US09450519B2
A DC power source to supply DC power to a plasma generator is configured as a simple and small-sized device that forms high voltage for generating a plasma discharge. A step of passing a short-circuit current for extremely short time through the voltage source step-down chopper provided in the DC power source and accumulating energy in a reactor is performed repeatedly more than once, so as to discharge the energy accumulated in the reactor to the output capacitance and raise the output voltage sequentially, thereby boosting the voltage up to the ignition set voltage. The short-circuit current is formed by a switching element of a boosting circuit provided in the DC power source. Boosting the voltage at the output terminal by accumulating and discharging the short-circuit current is repeated to raise the voltage at the output terminal of the DC power source up to the ignition set voltage.
US09450516B2
The present invention relates to an inverter system for energy-storing microgrid and a controlling method thereof, wherein the inverter system for energy-storing microgrid is integrated with a detecting module, a controlling and processing module, a visual resistor algorithmic processor, and a PWM signal generator. Moreover, the controlling and processing module is installed with a power-voltage reducing function and a reactive power-frequency reducing function for making the controlling and processing module be able to properly distribute the intensity and output ratio of all the output currents of the inverters according to the charge states of battery modules and load currents. Therefore, the current supply of each of the parallel connected inverters in the inverter system can be automatically distributed and modulated for effectively providing necessary electric power to each of connected loads, respectively.
US09450512B2
A method for the operational control of an inverter designed for DC/AC voltage conversion that has at least one direct-voltage input and that can be connected to a power supply grid via at least one alternating-voltage output, the inverter being involved in a power flow interaction with the grid in such a manner that, during operation of the inverter, a leakage current IA can occur, wherein the leakage current IA is controlled in the operational control.
US09450499B2
There is provided an electric power conversion circuit system having a primary side electric power conversion circuit, a secondary side electric power conversion circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit sets at least one of a half-bridge phase difference between a lower-left-arm transistor and a lower-right-arm transistor of the primary side electric power conversion circuit and a half-bridge phase difference of the secondary side electric power conversion circuit based on OFF periods of the primary side and secondary side electric power conversion circuits, dead-times of the primary side and secondary side electric power conversion circuits, and an amount of change of a power supply voltage so that a current in a non-transmission period of electric power is zero between the primary side and secondary side electric power conversion circuits.
US09450489B2
A DC-DC converter independently supplies electrical loads. For each load, an output load signal is compared to a reference to generate a result indicating a need to supply the respective electrical load. A first detection is made as to whether a first electrical load needs to be supplied and a second detection is made as to whether any remaining electrical loads need to be supplied. The first electrical load is supplied if the first detection is positive and the second detection is negative.
US09450488B2
A control circuit for the switching regulator and a method for regulating electrical signal are disclosed. The control circuit for the switching regulator includes a switching regulator and a clock control unit. The switching regulator regulates an output voltage according to a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The clock control unit is coupled to the switching regulator, and the clock control unit includes an oscillator and a pulse blanking modulator. The oscillator provides an oscillation signal, and the pulse blanking modulator is configured to generate a control signal that blanks a portion of the oscillation signal. The clock control unit provides the control signal in order to maintain an output electrical signal in a sleep mode of the switching regulator within a predetermined range.
US09450480B2
This disclosure relates generally to radio frequency (RF) switching converters and RF amplification devices that use RF switching converters. In one embodiment, an RF switching converter includes a switching circuit operable to receive a power source voltage, a switching controller configured to switch the switching circuit so that the switching circuit generates a pulsed output voltage from the power source voltage, and an RF filter configured to convert the pulsed output voltage into a supply voltage, wherein the RF filter includes a decoupling capacitor configured to receive the supply voltage. The switching controller is configured to generate a ripple correction current that is injected into the decoupling capacitor such that the decoupling capacitor filters the ripple correction current. The decoupling capacitor outputs the ripple correction current such that the ripple correction current reduces a ripple variation in a supply current level of a supply current resulting from the supply voltage.
US09450476B2
An electric drive unit (100) of the invention includes the electric motor (1) and the control apparatus (20) that is disposed on an axis line of a rotation shaft (2) of the electric motor (1) and controls the driving of the electric motor (1). The electric motor (1) has a motor terminal (13) extending parallel to an axial direction of the rotation shaft (2) toward the control apparatus (20) and a slit (13a) is provided to the motor terminal (13) at an end on a side of the control apparatus (20). The control apparatus (20) has a motor connection terminal (34) provided on a line extended from the motor terminal (13) and connected to the motor terminal (13). The slit (13a) in the motor terminal (13) is press-fit and fixed to the motor connection terminal (34).
US09450466B2
Embodiments of the invention are related generally to electromagnetic machines and, more particularly, to a suspension system and related methods for the attachment of the stator core of an electromagnetic machine to a surrounding frame or enclosure. In one embodiment, the invention provides a system for supporting a stator core of an electromagnetic machine, the system comprising: a rigid frame structure including: an upper portion; and a lower portion beneath the upper portion; a first plurality of wire rope members, each having a first end and a second end; and a first plurality of attachment devices for affixing at least one of the first end or the second end of each of the first plurality of wire rope members to the upper portion.
US09450464B2
An electrical collecting and distributing ring is composed of an annular bus ring including a plurality of terminals and a plurality of circular arc portions therebetween, respectively. The plurality of terminals include respective one pair of extended portions, which extend in a radial direction of the circular arc portions to clamp an end therebetween of a winding, and a respective curved portion, which is formed between the respective one pair of extended portions. The electrical conducting member is formed with depressed portions in the curved portions, respectively. The depressed portions are thinned in thicknesses in radial directions of the curved portions, respectively. The terminals and the ends of the winding are connected together by caulking the extended portions with the ends of the winding clamped between the extended portions, respectively.
US09450458B2
Electric machine has a rotor movable relative to a stator divided into stator segments, each having first and second transition regions and a central region between the transition regions. The stator segment has a yoke extending over the central region and the first transition region. Central groove webs in the central regions and first transition webs in the first transition regions extend from the yoke towards the rotor. The first transition webs end below the central groove webs. The stator segment has in the second transition region a transverse web from which second transition webs extend towards the rotor. The second transition webs end level with the central groove webs. A spacing of the first transition webs from the rotor at least corresponds to a spacing of a lower edge of the transverse web. Transition regions of adjoining stator segments overlap one another and are disposed one above the other.
US09450455B2
A magnetic resonance power transmitter of a magnetic resonance wireless power transmission system includes a resonance coil, an alternating current power source configured to cause the resonance coil to generate an alternating current, and a frequency changer configured to change, based on communication data, a frequency of the alternating current that the alternating current power source causes the resonance coil to generate.
US09450450B2
A method for efficient fuel consumption comprises recharging batteries or operating a device carrying out a task, with an engine through an electrical connection. The method also includes monitoring at least one of (i) current in the electrical connection, (ii) voltage of the batteries, and (iii) length of time of the recharging or task, to determine if the recharging has reach a preselected endpoint or the task has been completed. The method further includes generating a signal through a communication link to cause the engine to stop operating by: (a) preventing operation of a spark plug, (b) preventing delivery of fuel to the engine, or (c) preventing delivery of oxygen to the engine.
US09450448B2
A wireless charging device and an electric energy recycling method are provided. The wireless charging device includes a casing, a transmitter coil, a recycling coil and a recycling battery. When a magnetic flux is generated by the transmitter coil, a first portion of the magnetic flux is transmitted to an electronic device, and a second portion of the magnetic flux is recycled by the recycling coil. The second portion of the magnetic flux is converted into a charging current by a charging unit, so that the recycling battery is charged by the charging current.
US09450447B2
An electronic unit includes an electricity reception section configured to receive power transmitted using one of a magnetic field and an electric field, a secondary battery configured to be charged based on a received power received by the electricity reception section, and a state notification section configured to provide notification to outside as to a state of its own unit. A charging period during which the secondary battery is charged based on the received power and a non-charging period are set in a time-divisional manner. The state notification section notifies of the unit state based on the received power in both of the charging period and the non-charging period.
US09450444B2
A charging apparatus includes: a charging unit configured to perform a contactless charging operation for a placed external device; a detector configured to detect a position of a placed object; a determining unit configured to determine that the placed object is an external device compatible with the charging unit; and a control unit configured to control the charging unit such that, during the contactless charging operation for an external device compatible with the charging unit, the charging operation for the external device being charged is restricted when an object that is determined by the determining unit not to be an external device compatible with the charging unit, has been placed within a predetermined distance from the charging unit.
US09450437B2
An electronic circuit to increase voltages from one or more energy sources. The electronic circuit can include a first set of capacitors and a second set of capacitors, and a first set of switches associated with the first set of capacitors and a second set of switches associated with the second set of capacitors. Also included is at least one energy source and an external load. The first and second set of capacitors, first and second set of switches, the at least one energy source, and the external load are arranged and connected such that the first set of capacitors is connected to the at least one energy source in parallel while the second set of capacitors is connected to the external load in series, and vice versa.
US09450436B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a direct current (DC) output configured to be coupled to a rechargeable battery and a power factor corrector circuit coupled to the DC output, where the power factor corrector circuit includes a controller, and where the controller is configured to determine a switching frequency of the power factor corrector circuit in accordance with a battery charging curve of the rechargeable battery.
US09450426B2
Systems and methods for balancing battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a charge imbalance is determined while battery cells operate in a high charge resolution voltage range. The charge imbalance determined during operation in the high charge resolution voltage range may be removed when the battery cells are operated in a low charge resolution voltage range. The system and method may be particularly useful for balancing battery cells that operate in the low charge resolution voltage range for a large portion of their operating time.
US09450415B2
In one aspect, a method for controlling a dual-fed induction generator (DFIG) during a high-voltage grid event is provided. The method includes setting, by a controller, an output of a closed-loop portion of a rotor current regulator to a fixed value such that a predictive feed-forward path sets an internal voltage for the DFIG; and detecting, by the controller, a condition of high dc voltage on a dc link or a condition predictive of high dc voltage on the dc link, and in response reduce a rotor torque producing current command to approximately zero, wherein the dc link connects a line-side converter connected to a system bus and a rotor-side converter connected to a rotor of the DFIG.
US09450413B2
The invention relates to a system for the dynamic regulation of a regenerative energy generation installation comprising a plurality of energy generation units. The system has a signal input for receiving a pre-determined set value, a measuring device for measuring an actual value on an output of the energy generation installation, and a regulating device for regulating the energy generation units based on the set value and the measured actual value.
US09450411B2
A method, apparatus and system for suppressing low frequency oscillation in a power system. The method includes determining a system transfer function of an interconnected power system section in which a variable frequency transformer (VFT) is located; determining a damping controller parameters according to the system transfer function; and suppressing low frequency oscillation of the power system by means of the VFT based on the damping controller parameter. The objects of the method, apparatus and system are definite: optimizing the damping controller parameter can be achieved by simply tracking and analyzing the response of the system to disturbance, without the need to understand the configuration and parameters of the system or solve complicated power system equations, which has a better effect in suppressing low frequency oscillation in the power system and is advantageous for improving the safety and stability level of the power grid.
US09450408B2
Adaptive demand response based on distributed load control may be provided. A demand response request indicative of a demand response event for an area may be received. A maximum power consumption for the area during the demand response event may be determined based on the demand response request. One or more set points for the area during the demand response event may be determined prior to the demand response event. The one or more set points are determined based on the maximum power consumption. Prior to or during the demand response event, a real-time power consumption for the area may be calculated. When the real-time power consumption exceeds the maximum power consumption, one or more loads in the area may be controlled to maintain the real-time power consumption at or below the maximum power consumption.
US09450401B2
A method for controlling a thermally sensitive over-current protector is described. A battery current is monitored. It is then determined whether or not the monitored current has exceeded a predetermined threshold during the entirety of a predetermined time interval. If yes, then a current source is signaled to raise its current, so as to increase the heat being generated by a heating element that is being driven by the current source thereby tripping the thermally sensitive over-current protector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09450400B2
A protection and control system includes a first merging unit which obtains an electric variable from a transformer, and digitally converts the obtained electric variable to output the converted electric variable as first electric variable information to a first network, a plurality of first protection and control devices, each of which obtains the first electric variable information from the first merging unit through the first network, judges whether or not a system fault occurs, and outputs main trip information to the first network when that the system fault occurs is judged, and a second protection and control device which obtains the first electric variable information from the first merging unit through the first network, judges whether or not the system fault occurs in the zone to be protected of the electric power system.
US09450394B2
A high voltage DC circuit breaker includes a semiconductor switching assembly in series with a mechanical switch. When the semiconductor switching assembly is switched off due to a current fault, a residual current flowing through arresters of the semiconductor switching assembly is switched off by the mechanical switch. A capacitor arranged parallel to the mechanical switch leads to passive resonance effects, which in turn induce current zero crossings in its arc. The current zero crossings allow for reliable extinguishing of the arc. The mechanical switch can be an AC circuit breaker.
US09450392B2
The invention relates to a detection apparatus of a wind turbine wherein said wind turbine comprises a down-conducting system arranged to conduct current induced from lightning, wherein said detection apparatus comprises a charge measurement apparatus for establishment of a charge representation, wherein said charge representation represents charge induced into said down-conducting system by lightning, and wherein said detection apparatus further comprises an estimator for estimating deterioration induced by lightning of one or more components in a wind turbine on the basis of said charge representation.
US09450390B1
An electrical box cover including a body for securing a plurality of electrical connections therein, a cover having a door, the door having a first end with at least one male hinge, at least one female hinge attached to the cover, and wherein the at least one male hinge is removably connected with the at least one female hinge to selectively open and close the door.
US09450385B2
A subsea switchgear is provided. The subsea switchgear includes a first power input for receiving electric power from a power source and a second power input for receiving electric power from a power source. It further includes a power distribution bus and a first circuit breaker coupled between the first power input and the power distribution bus. The first circuit breaker is configured to be capable of disconnecting the first power input from the power distribution bus. A second circuit breaker is further coupled between the second power input and the power distribution bus. The second circuit breaker is configured to be capable of disconnecting the second power input from the power distribution bus.
US09450382B2
Spark plug for an internal combustion engine, having a center electrode and a ground electrode arranged in radial direction around the center electrode, wherein an annular spark gap is formed between the center electrode and the ground electrode for igniting a fuel mixture by means of an electric ignition spark developing between the center electrode and the ground electrode, and wherein the ground electrode is contoured in such a way that particles reaching the region of the ground electrode can be removed from the spark gap under the influence of gravitational force.
US09450378B2
The method for controlling a wavelength-tunable laser comprises a first step of acquiring a driving condition of the wavelength-tunable laser for laser oscillation at a first wavelength, and a second step of calculating according to the driving condition of the first wavelength and a wavelength difference between the first wavelength and a second wavelength different from the first wavelength a control value or target value of a wavelength characteristic of the second wavelength in the wavelength detection unit, so as to calculate a driving condition for driving the wavelength-tunable laser, the second step including a step of selecting according to the wavelength difference one of etalon slopes having respective gradients identical and opposite to a gradient of an etalon slope used for controlling the first wavelength.
US09450373B2
Cladding-pumped Raman fiber lasers and amplifiers provide high-efficiency conversion efficiency at high brightness enhancement. Differential loss is applied to both single-pass configurations appropriate for pulsed amplification and laser oscillator configurations applied to high average power cw source generation.
US09450371B2
A laser utilizes a cavity design which allows the stable generation of high peak power pulses from mode-locked multi-mode fiber lasers, greatly extending the peak power limits of conventional mode-locked single-mode fiber lasers. Mode-locking may be induced by insertion of a saturable absorber into the cavity and by inserting one or more mode-filters to ensure the oscillation of the fundamental mode in the multi-mode fiber. The probability of damage of the absorber may be minimized by the insertion of an additional semiconductor optical power limiter into the cavity.
US09450369B2
A dental laser system is configured to provide high peak laser power, low duty cycle laser pulses, yielding a low average laser power and thus a reduced need for cooling. The laser power system may be configured to provide the electrical power required to produce the low average laser power and not the high peak laser power, and may include a capacitor bank section configured to provide the electrical power needed to produce the high peak power laser pulses. The cooling system may be configured to provide laser cooling for the low average power level and thus may not require a refrigeration unit.
US09450367B2
A laser pulse amplifier device (100) includes an amplifying cavity (10) comprising an amplifying laser gain medium (11) and multiple cavity mirrors (12.1 to 12.7) spanning a cavity light path (13), wherein the amplifying cavity (10) is configured for an amplification of laser pulses (1) circulating along the cavity light path, and a multi-pass amplifier (20) being optically coupled with the amplifying cavity (10) and comprising multiple deflection mirrors (22) spanning a multipass light path (23), wherein the multi-pass amplifier (20) is configured for a post-amplification of laser pulses (2) coupled out of the amplifying cavity (10), wherein the amplifying cavity (10) and the multi-pass amplifier (20) are arranged such that the laser gain medium (11) of the amplifying cavity (10) is included as an active medium in the multi-pass light path (23) of the multi-pass amplifier (20). Furthermore, a method of amplifying laser pulses is described.
US09450360B2
An electrical connector adapted for mating with a first kind or a second kind of mating connector including an insulative housing and a number of conductive terminals received in the insulative housing and arranged in a horizontal row. Each conductive terminal comprises a tail portion, a mating portion, and a middle portion between the tail portion and the mating portion, the mating portion including a first upper contact surface and a first lower contact surface opposite to the first upper contact surface.
US09450359B2
An interface apparatus is configured to be mechanically secured and electrically coupled to a busway. The interface apparatus includes a housing configured to mate with the busway and a plug-in interface coupled to the housing. The plug-in interface is configured to receive a plug-in unit. The interface apparatus further includes an electrical coupling assembly coupled to the housing and configured to move between an uncoupled position in which the plug-in interface is uncoupled to the busway and a coupled position in which the plug-in interface is electrically coupled to the busway. The interface apparatus further includes an actuator assembly coupled to the housing and the electrical coupling assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to move the electrical coupling assembly between the uncoupled and coupled positions and to secure the plug-in unit to the housing.
US09450357B2
A module type PDU for different power supply is provided. The PDU includes: a base configured to transmit different kinds of power; and a multi socket module connected with the base to transmit one kind of power to devices plugs of which are connected to the multi socket module. Accordingly, double power supply can be achieved through a single PDU and thus a PDU installing cost can be reduced, and, as the number of PDUs is reduced, electric equipments can be simplified.
US09450353B2
A multipole jack includes a main body and a case. The substantially cylindrical main body includes terminal bases which make contact with electrodes of a multipole plug. Connecting ends of the terminal bases are led out from the main body. The main body is attached to the substantially bottomed cylindrical resin case through an opening of the case. Inner ends of extension terminals which protrude from side walls of the case and are insert-molded are electrically connected to the connecting ends of the corresponding terminal bases. Therefore, it is possible to further increase a battery size of an electronic device in which a multipole jack is provided by decreasing an entire length of the multipole jack, and to meet the demand for reducing the size of a multipole jack by reducing the length of terminals.
US09450336B2
A combination includes an electronic device and an electrical connector. The electronic device includes a device housing with a mating area, and a device terminal set formed in the mating area. The electrical connector includes a connector casing with a mating region, a connector terminal set to mate with the device terminal set, and an auxiliary unit with an abutment part covering a part of the mating region of the connector casing. When the mating region of the electrical connector mates with the mating area of the electronic device, the abutment part of the auxiliary unit abuts against the device housing such that the electrical connector is stabilized and prevented from moving relative to the electronic device.
US09450333B2
A tensile-force buffering apparatus interposes a physical structure and a drop clamp having a messenger of an input drop cable secured thereto. The tensile-force buffering apparatus includes an outer housing defining an elongate inner cavity and a retainer, and a spring-strut assembly. The spring-strut assembly includes a central shaft, a retention member at a first end of the central shaft, and a coil spring disposed about the central shaft. The spring-strut assembly is received in the cavity of the outer housing, and the retention member is held by the retainer while a load compressing the coil spring is less than a predetermined threshold load. The retention member is released from the outer housing when the load compressing the coil spring reaches the predetermined threshold load, thereby effecting separation of the spring-strut assembly from the outer housing.
US09450327B1
A connector plug comprises a hook with flexible edges. The hook has a first beveled surface and a second flat surface. A stopper is coupled to the flat surface of the hook by a first barrel portion of the connector plug. The stopper is coupled to a plurality of ridges with flexible edges by a second barrel portion. The plurality of ridges are also coupled to each other by the second barrel portion. A via extends through the connector plug from one end of the connector plug to the other end of the connector plug.
US09450326B2
A data cable connector module with a fixation element for positioning and fixation of cable conductors of a multi core cable, with: conductor receiving units with conductor guide and connection openings for bent IDCs, IDC receiving units for fixation of connected IDCs with contact openings; a centric metallic shield star which shields each conductor pair and is electrically conductively connected with the housing of the fixation element; and a detachably connectable, changeable contact module with a metal housing, an isolation socket for receiving bent slide contacts with connector ends for connection to a circuit board which connects the slide contacts and the module plug-in contacts, a front connector face for external connectors; and a fixation element connector face with in at least one end isolator block guided module plug-in contacts. The fixation element and the contact module are electrically conductively connectable with the IDCs.
US09450323B2
A second terminal fitting which abuts and is connected to a first terminal fitting includes a second annular portion formed at the tip end of a second terminal body which extends on a center axis thereof, a plurality of contact surfaces which protrude from the outer periphery of the second annular portion at the same intervals as those of a plurality of contact protrusions in the first terminal fitting, and a plurality of contact release portions which are positioned between the adjacent contact surfaces.
US09450320B2
An FPCB cable and cable connector assembly includes: a conductive line unit including a signal (conductive) line; a terminal exposing a portion of the signal (conductive) line; a terminal protector extending from a side of the conductive line unit and surrounding the terminal; and a cable connector coupled to the terminal. The cable connector includes an actuator pivotably coupled to the cable connector and configured to fix the FPCB cable to the cable connector, and the terminal protector is configured to surround the cable connector such that the FPCB cable is not unintentionally detached from the cable connector.
US09450317B2
A connector of an electronic device and an electronic device having the same are provided. The connector of an electronic device may includes a mold fixed on a main board of the electronic device; a first connection pin having a first connecting portion protruded to one surface of the mold; and a second connecting portion separated from the mold and an extension that connects the second connecting portion and the mold.
US09450314B2
An electrical contact-making system includes a flat ribbon cable with a sheath which has a planar top sheath face, a core plane containing electrical cores and a bottom sheath face with constricted portions which are parallel to the cores and are each disposed between two of the cores. A tapping collar makes electrical contact with the cores. A peripheral sealing strip encloses a rectangular contact-making region and is disposed on a bottom face of the top part of the tapping collar facing the top sheath face of the flat ribbon cable.
US09450303B2
An antenna structure includes a radiation module and a metal board. The radiation module has a first coil unit and a second coil unit. The first coil unit is coupled to the second coil unit. The first coil unit and the second coil unit have opposite direction of current. The metal board is disposed at one side of the radiation module. The metal board has an enclosed slot which has a first slot portion and a second slot portion.
US09450299B2
A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of a printed circuit board assembly, can include a first conductive layer comprising a feed conductor and a patch. The planar antenna can include a second conductive layer comprising a reference conductor, a first arm defined by a first arm length and a first arm width, and a second arm located parallel to the first arm and defined by a second arm length and a second arm width. The first and second arms can be respectively coupled to the reference conductor, and at least a portion of the first arm and at least a portion of the second arm can overlap with a footprint of the patch projected vertically from a plane of the first conductive layer onto a plane of the second conductive layer.
US09450298B2
A user-wearable device include a wireless transceiver, a primary radiator antenna and a secondary radiator antenna. The primary radiator antenna produces a first radio frequency (RF) radiation pattern when driven by the wireless transceiver, wherein the first RF radiation pattern is at least partially circularly polarized. The secondary radiator antenna, which is spaced apart from the primary radiator antenna, is configured to modify the first RF radiation pattern produced by the primary radiator antenna to thereby produce a second RF radiation pattern having increased RF radiation in a specific direction (e.g., away from the user's/wearer's skin) compared to the first RF radiation pattern. Inclusion of both the primary radiator antenna and the secondary radiator antenna increases an overall antenna efficiency (e.g., by about 3 dB) in the specific direction compared to if only the primary radiator antenna was included.
US09450297B2
The invention concerns an electronic device for personal use and a coupled antenna apparatus for such a device, comprising a top cover and a housing with an opposing back cover configured to form a closed space between said top and back cover that is adapted to receive electronic circuitry and a display unit. A bezel made of a conductive material is forming a rim on top of said housing and is interfacing with the top cover. According to the invention, an elongate strip of a conductive material deposited on a first side of an elongate antenna feed element and is forming a first radiating element and a second elongate strip of a conductive material deposited on a second side of the antenna feed element is forming a second radiating element, whereby the first and second radiating elements are positioned in proximity against the bezel at at least one inner wall portion of the bezel that extends in a direction between the first and second radiating elements and the display unit. The first and second radiating elements are functionally coupled to said bezel to form an antenna system of said electronic device.
US09450289B2
An electronic device has antennas formed from cavity antenna structures. The electronic device may have a metal housing. The metal housing may have an upper housing in which a component such as a display is mounted and a lower housing in which a component such as a keyboard is mounted. Hinges may be used to mount the upper housing to the lower housing for rotation about a rotational axis. Cavity antennas may be formed in a clutch barrel region located between the hinges and running along the rotational axis. A flexible printed circuit may be formed between the cavity antennas. Each cavity antenna may have a first end that is adjacent to one of the hinges and a second end that is adjacent to the flexible printed circuit. Cavity walls for the cavity antennas may be formed from metal housing structures such as metal portions of the lower housing.
US09450288B2
A broadband antenna includes first and second radiating conductors. The first radiating conductor includes a short-circuit portion in a serpentine shape, a first radiating arm resonating in a first frequency band, and a second radiating arm. The second radiating conductor includes a feed-in portion coupling with the first radiating arm, a third radiating arm resonating in a second frequency band, and a fourth radiating arm. At least a part of the third radiating arm is in a serpentine shape, couples with the first radiating arm, and resonates in a third frequency band with the short-circuit portion and the second radiating arm. The fourth radiating arm resonates in a fourth frequency band.
US09450282B2
Provided are a new connection structure connecting a high frequency circuit and a waveguide which allows a substrate opening size to be made common without causing deterioration of a transmission line conversion characteristic, and a manufacturing method of the connection structure.The connection structure includes a module substrate (1) on which the high frequency circuit (11) is mounted and a transmission line conversion means (9, 7) is provided between the high frequency circuit and the waveguide (3), a waveguide conductor (8) in which the waveguide is formed, and a mother substrate (2) which is provided on the waveguide conductor and includes an opening having a size larger than an opening size (d) of the waveguide, and the module substrate is fixed to the mother substrate so as to cover the opening of the mother substrate and a choke is formed utilizing a space among the module substrate, the mother substrate, and the waveguide conductor.
US09450276B2
A battery pack includes at least one voltaic cell module. A substrate is mechanically coupled to the module and configured to receive excess heat therefrom. A section of an electrically insulating thermal gap pad is arranged between the module and the substrate. The pad includes a dielectric sheet supporting a deformable layer.
US09450274B2
A method and apparatus of creating a dynamically reconfigurable energy source comprised of individual, isolated, controllable energy modules, supported by software to measure and manage the energy modules and facilitate the reconfiguration, where the platform consisting of hardware, based upon an inverted H-Bridge circuitry, in combination with software which allows for real-time management, control, and configuration of the modules and uses a combination of software algorithms and localized electronic switches, to achieve a performance and functionality of the invention matching, or exceeding, traditional large, heavy, and expensive power electronics-based products used for charging, energy storage management, power inverting, and motor or load control.
US09450272B2
New block polymer electrolytes have been developed which have higher conductivities than previously reported for other block copolymer electrolytes. The new materials are constructed of multiple blocks (>5) of relatively low domain size. The small domain size provides greater protection against formation of dendrites during cycling against lithium in an electrochemical cell, while the large total molecular weight insures poor long range alignment, which leads to higher conductivity. In addition to higher conductivity, these materials can be more easily synthesized because of reduced requirements on the purity level of the reagents.
US09450271B2
The invention id directed to an article which contains a solid ion conductor which has a garnet-like crystal structure and has the stoichiometric composition L7+xAxG3−xZr2O12, where L is in each case independently a monovalent cation, A is in each case independently a divalent cation, G is in each case independently a trivalent cation, 0 ≦x≦3 and O can be partly or completely replaced by divalent or trivalent anion, wherein the article is a battery, an accumulator, a supercap, a fuel cell, sensor, a thermoelectric converter or an electrochromic device.
US09450269B2
A prismatic nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a flat winding electrode assembly formed by winding an elongated positive and negative electrodes with an elongated separator interposed therebetween, and an outer body storing the flat winding electrode assembly and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode substrate exposed portion formed along a longitudinal direction. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode substrate exposed portion formed along a longitudinal direction. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains at least one of a lithium salt having an oxalate complex as an anion and lithium difluorophosphate (LiPF2O2) at the time of making the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The flat winding electrode assembly has eight or more layers of a winding portion formed only of the separator in its central portion. This battery can allow a nonaqueous electrolyte having a high viscosity to easily penetrate the inside of a flat winding electrode assembly.
US09450266B2
A battery main body housed in a case comprises one laminated body composed of a plurality of bipolar electrodes laminated with an electrolyte layer therebetween or comprises a plurality of laminated bodies connected in series. A positive electrode current collecting plate and a negative electrode current collecting plate each having one surface joined to the inner peripheral surface of the case and the other surface joined to one end of the battery main body respectively extend to the outside of the case. By providing a cutoff mechanism for cutting off an electrical connection between the positive electrode current collecting plate and the negative electrode current collecting plate via the battery main body according to an expansion deformation of the case, a current path in a bipolar secondary battery is interrupted when the short-circuit current occurs, thereby protecting the bipolar secondary battery from a short-circuit current.
US09450265B2
An example fuel cell system includes a fuel cell power plant and a tank providing a volume that is configured to hold a fuel cell fluid. The fuel cell power plant is at least partially disposed within the volume.
US09450258B2
Disclosed is a device and method for controlling hydrogen concentration of a fuel cell system to maintain the concentration of hydrogen of an anode at a proper level in accordance with the concentration supplied to a fuel cell. More specifically, a hydrogen concentration measuring sensor is directly provided in a hydrogen storage device, the hydrogen concentration and the impurity concentration in an anode channel of the fuel cell system are estimated based on a measured hydrogen concentration, and when it is determined that the hydrogen concentration in the anode channel falls under a reference value at which the fuel cell system can be stably operated, purge control for discharging the gases (hydrogen and impurities) in the anode channel to the outside is performed, so that the hydrogen concentration in the anode channel of the fuel cell system can be maintained equal to or higher than the reference value.
US09450255B2
A fuel cell stack assembly has a plurality of fuel cells each having a fluid coolant conduit. A coolant feed inlet manifold has a coolant inlet, and the coolant feed inlet manifold is coupled to each fluid coolant conduit for distribution of coolant to each fuel cell. The coolant feed inlet manifold also has a discharge conduit located at one end of the coolant feed inlet manifold. The discharge conduit is configured to discharge excess coolant from the coolant feed inlet manifold. By supplying excess coolant to the coolant feed inlet manifold problems arising due to very low coolant flow rates through the fluid coolant conduits in the fuel cells can be reduced or eliminated.
US09450248B2
Active material for rechargeable lithium battery and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
An active material for a rechargeable lithium battery is provided with a non-carbon-based material on which nanofiber-shaped carbon having an oxygen-included functional group is grown. The negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery has good conductivity and cycle life characteristics.
US09450243B2
To provide trimanganese tetraoxide having a high tap density and a uniform particle size distribution, and its production process. Trimanganese tetraoxide having a tap density of at least 1.5 g/cm3 and a relative standard deviation of the particle size of at most 40%. A process for producing such trimanganese tetraoxide, which comprises a step of mixing a manganese aqueous solution and an alkaline aqueous solution so that the oxidation-reduction potential is at least 0 mV and OH−/Mn2+ (mol/mol) is at most 0.55.
US09450240B2
A secondary battery including: an anode including a positive electrode active material; a cathode including a negative electrode active material; a separator interposed between the anode and the cathode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material includes a lithium nickel oxide, and the negative electrode active material includes at least one silicon compound selected from the group consisting of silicon, a silicon oxide, and a silicon alloy.
US09450229B2
[Object] Provided is a means capable of suppressing a decrease in capacity and improving output characteristics of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery when the battery is used for a long period of time.[Solving Means] Disclosed is a positive electrode active substance for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, in which the true density/tap density of secondary particles of a lithium composite oxide containing nickel as the main component is within the range of 1.6 to 2.3, and in the secondary particles, the average porosity on the center side of the half (R/2 [μm]) of the particle radius (R) of D50 of the secondary particles is larger than the average porosity on the surface side.
US09450222B2
Provided is an electric storage device provided with: a positive electrode including a positive electrode substrate and a positive electrode mixture layer, the positive electrode mixture layer being formed on the positive electrode substrate and containing a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode including a negative electrode substrate and a negative electrode mixture layer, the negative electrode mixture layer being formed on the negative electrode substrate and containing a negative electrode active material; and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. In the electric storage device, the separator yields a triple value of standard deviation of local air resistance, as measured within a 5-mm diameter circle, of at least 20 seconds/10 cc but not more than 350 seconds/10 cc.
US09450220B2
An electric energy storage and supply system comprising a tank capable of accommodating a plurality of battery units where each battery unit comprises an electric energy reservoir having positive and negative voltage supply terminals, three or more electric contact pads on an outer surface of the battery unit, and a dynamically configurable connection unit for electrically connecting each of said positive and negative voltage supply terminals to any one or more of said electric contact pads, wherein electric energy can be drawn from the electric energy reservoir via selectively different combinations of electric contact pads. The system further comprises at least two inwardly facing tank contact pads provided on the inside of the tank for contacting electric contact pads of neighboring battery units and for delivering electrical energy from the system towards an external load.
US09450218B2
An electronic device may include a battery pack and a battery pack mount portion. The battery pack may be mounted or secured within the battery pack mount portion in such a way that the battery pack does not influence or apply pressure to neighboring structures. For examples, the battery pack may include at least one eat protrusion that is received within at least one recess formed in the battery pack mount portion.
US09450211B2
A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device is provided. The method includes forming a pixel electrode, forming a hydrophobic material layer on the pixel electrode, wherein the hydrophobic material layer includes a hydrophobic material, forming a pixel-defining layer by patterning the hydrophobic material layer, so as to expose at least a portion of the pixel electrode, and removing the hydrophobic material on the exposed portion of the pixel electrode using surface treatment.
US09450207B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device in which water is prevented from externally permeating thereinto. The organic light emitting display device comprises a first substrate on which an organic light emitting diode and a driving device designed to drive the organic light emitting diode are formed; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a viscosity layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to cover entire areas of the first substrate and the second substrate, the viscosity layer including a filler capable of water absorption; and a first adhesion layer arranged to adhere the viscosity layer to the first substrate, wherein the viscosity layer is a material including a cross-linkage functional group and having a viscosity characteristic at room temperature.
US09450199B2
A method of forming nanocrystals and a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus that includes a metal compound thin film having the nanocrystals. The method of forming nanocrystals includes forming a metal compound thin film under a first pressure by using a reactive sputtering process, and forming the nanocrystals in the metal compound thin film under a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure by using the reactive sputtering process.
US09450195B2
Phosphorescent metal complexes comprising a pendant redox-active metallocene are disclosed. These complexes are useful as emitters for phosphorescent OLEDs.
US09450191B2
Compounds of formulae (I) and (II) useful as organic semiconductor materials, and semiconductor devices containing such organic semiconductor materials are described.
US09450187B2
The invention relates to a process of modifying the surface energy of dielectric structures, like for example dielectric layers or bank structures, in organic electronic (OE) devices, more specifically in organic field effect transistors (OFETs).
US09450185B2
A thin-film deposition mask includes a mask body, the mask body having a first surface and a second surface that is an opposite surface of the first surface, the mask body having a plurality of deposition holes therein, and a spacer near the deposition holes, the spacer protruding from the first surface of the mask body in a vertical direction.
US09450168B2
A multilayer piezoelectric device comprises a multilayer body and first and second outer electrodes. The multilayer body has base, first and second driving parts, and non-driving part. The driving parts and non-driving part extend from the base along stacking direction. The first driving part is closer to the non-driving part than the second driving part. Each driving part has first and second inner electrodes opposing each other in stacking direction. The base has a third inner electrode extending along a plane orthogonal to the stacking direction. The first outer electrode is connected to the first inner electrode. The second outer electrode is connected to the second and third inner electrodes. In the stacking direction, the overlap area of the third and second inner electrode of the first driving part is greater than the overlap area of the third and second inner electrode of the second driving part.
US09450166B2
A resonator element includes: a substrate; and an electrode that includes a first conductive layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and a second conductive layer, provided on the opposite side to the first conductive layer on the substrate side, which is disposed within an outer edge of the first conductive layer when seen in a plan view from a direction perpendicular to the surface.
US09450165B1
A method for manufacturing untwinned YBCO film can include the initial the step of depositing YBCO film on a substrate having a first end and second end. A temperature gradient can be established from the first end to the second end, which can establish an oxygen gradient in the YBCO film. A uniaxial pressure can further be established the film, in the same direction as the temperature gradient, form the first end to the second end. When the uniaxial pressure is established simultaneously with the temperature gradient, the result can be an untwinned YBCO film.
US09450164B2
An electrical bushing is disclosed for use in high voltage cryogenic applications. The bushing including first and second bushing portions and an electrical conductor disposed longitudinally within the portions. The electrical conductor has a first terminal extending from the first bushing portion and a second terminal extending from the second bushing portion. The first terminal is configured to couple to a first electrical element at ambient temperature, and the second terminal is configured to couple to a second electrical element at cryogenic temperature. The first and second bushing portions comprise a base insulator material, while the first bushing portion further comprises an environmental protection layer disposed over the base insulator portion.
US09450156B2
Provided is a package of a light emitting diode. The package according to an embodiment includes a package of a light emitting diode, the package comprising: a base layer including an entire top surface that is substantially flat; a light emitting diode chip on the base layer; a lead frame electrically connected to the light emitting diode chip; and a reflective coating layer comprising titanium oxide, wherein a top surface of the reflective coating layer is substantially parallel to a top surface of the base layer, and wherein ends of the reflective coating layer and base layer are aligned with each other.
US09450155B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device having a wavelength converting layer. The light emitting device comprises a plurality of semiconductor stacked structures; connectors for electrically connecting the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures to one another; a single wavelength converting layer for covering the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures; an electrode electrically connected to at least one of the semiconductor stacked structures; and at least one additional electrode positioned on the electrode, passing through the wavelength converting layer to be exposed to the outside, and forming a current input terminal to the light emitting device or a current output terminal from the light emitting device. Since the single wavelength converting layer covers the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures, the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures can be integrally mounted on a chip mounting member such as a package or a module.
US09450148B2
An optical device and method for fabricating an optical device. The optical device comprising: a semiconductor material comprising an active layer configured to emit light when an electrical current is applied to the device and/or to generate an electrical current when light is incident on the active layer, wherein the semiconductor material comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface, from which light is emitted from and/or received by the device, and wherein the first surface defines a first structure comprising the active layer and configured to reflect light emitted from the active layer toward the second surface and/or to reflect light received by the device toward the active layer, and the second surface defines a second structure configured to permit light incident on the second surface at an angle outside a critical angle range to the planar normal to pass therethrough.
US09450147B2
Methods and structures for forming arrays of LED devices are disclosed. The LED devices in accordance with embodiments of the invention may include an internally confined current injection area to reduce non-radiative recombination due to edge effects. Several manners for confining current may include etch removal of a current distribution layer, etch removal of a current distribution layer and active layer followed by mesa re-growth, isolation by ion implant or diffusion, quantum well intermixing, and oxide isolation.
US09450145B2
A high luminance semiconductor light emitting device including a metallic reflecting layer formed using a non-transparent semiconductor substrate is provided. The device includes a GaAs substrate; a metal layer disposed on the GaAs substrate; and a light emitting diode structure. The light emitting diode structure includes a patterned metal contact layer and a patterned insulating layer disposed on the metal layer, a p type cladding layer disposed on the patterned metal contact layer and the patterned insulating layer, a multi-quantum well layer disposed on the p type cladding layer, an n type cladding layer disposed on the multi-quantum well layer, and a window layer disposed on the n type cladding layer. The GaAs substrate and the light emitting diode structure are bonded by using the metal layer.
US09450144B2
An improved method to produce artificial light for plant cultivation, an illumination device with a semiconductor light emission solution and device suited for plant cultivation in a greenhouse environment are described. The best mode is considered to be a lighting device with binary alloy quantum dots (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) made by colloidal methods to produce a size distribution of quantum dots that produces an emission spectrum similar to the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectrum. The methods and arrangements allow more precise spectral tuning of the emission spectrum for lights used in plant (310, 311) cultivation. Therefore unexpected improvements in the photomorphogenetic control of plant growth, and further improvements in plant production are realized.
US09450141B2
Disclosed are a method for separating a growth substrate, a method for manufacturing a light-emitting diode, and the light-emitting diode. The method for separating a growth substrate, according to one embodiment, comprises: preparing a growth substrate; forming a sacrificial layer and a mask pattern on the growth substrate; etching the sacrificial layer by using electrochemical etching (ECE); covering the mask pattern, and forming a plurality of nitride semiconductor stacking structures which are separated from each other by an element separation area; attaching a support substrate to the plurality of semiconductor stacking structures, wherein the support substrate has a plurality of through-holes connected to the element separation area; and separating the growth substrate from the nitride semiconductor stacking structures.
US09450136B2
A structure and method of making a thin-film solar cell is provided. A thin-film solar cell includes a substrate, absorber layer and a buffer layer. The absorber layer is deposited by a single-step bulk electrochemical process, or a multi-layer electrochemical process. The buffer layer is deposited by an electrochemical deposition process such as a multi-layer deposition or an atomic layer deposition. The absorber and buffer layers are non-toxic materials which can include sulfur incorporated during the deposition process or incorporated after deposition by an anneal step.
US09450135B2
The present invention generally provides a method for forming a photovoltaic device including evaporating a source material to form a large molecule processing gas and flowing the large molecule processing gas through a gas distribution showerhead and into a processing area of a processing chamber having a substrate therein. The method includes generating a small molecule processing gas, and reacting the small molecule processing gas with a film already deposited on a substrate surface to form a semiconductor film. Additionally, apparatuses that may use the methods are also provided to enable continuous inline CIGS type solar cell formation.
US09450129B2
Provided are a multilayer sheet superior in weather resistance, heat resistance, and moisture proofness and also favorable in interlayer adhesiveness, and a back sheet for solar cells and a solar cell module prepared by using the same. The multilayer sheet 10 is prepared by laminating a polyolefin-based resin layer 1 having a melt flow rate, as determined by the method A specified in JIS K7210, of 0.5 to 25 g/10 minutes at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg and a polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin layer 2 having a melt flow rate, as determined by the method A specified in JIS K7210, of 0.5 to 25 g/10 minutes at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg, via an adhesion resin layer 3 of a conjugated diene-based polymer, a conjugated diene-based copolymer, or the hydride thereof having a melt flow rate, as determined by the method A specified in JIS K7210, of 0.1 to 50 g/10 minutes at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg. A back sheet prepared by using the multilayer sheet 10 is layered on a sealing material of a solar cell, to give a solar cell module.
US09450122B2
Example embodiments relate to a lateral type photodiode including a substrate, an insulation mask layer formed on the substrate, and a first type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second type semiconductor layer that contact a surface of the insulation mask layer and that are sequentially disposed in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the insulation mask layer. The insulation mask layer includes a through hole, and the first type semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second type semiconductor layer are sequentially formed from the through hole by using a lateral overgrowth method.
US09450112B2
A Schottky diode and method of fabricating the Schottky diode using gallium nitride (GaN) materials is disclosed. The method includes providing an n-type GaN substrate having first and second opposing surfaces. The method also includes forming an ohmic metal contact electrically coupled to the first surface, forming an n-type GaN epitaxial layer coupled to the second surface, and forming an n-type aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) surface layer coupled to the n-type GaN epitaxial layer. The AlGaN surface layer has a thickness which is less than a critical thickness, and the critical thickness is determined based on an aluminum mole fraction of the AlGaN surface layer. The method also includes forming a Schottky contact electrically coupled to the n-type AlGaN surface layer, where, during operation, an interface between the n-type GaN epitaxial layer and the n-type AlGaN surface layer is substantially free from a two-dimensional electron gas.
US09450101B2
A thin film transistor, comprising: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a first insulation layer formed on the first electrode; a gate electrode formed on the first insulation layer; a second insulation layer formed on the gate electrode; an active layer penetrating through the first and second insulation layers and electrically isolated from the gate electrode; and a second electrode formed on the active layer and electrically connected to the first electrode through the active layer, wherein the first electrode is one of a source electrode and a drain electrode, and the second electrode is the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US09450092B2
Embodiments relate to an improved tri-gate device having gate metal fills, providing compressive or tensile stress upon at least a portion of the tri-gate transistor, thereby increasing the carrier mobility and operating frequency. Embodiments also contemplate method for use of the improved tri-gate device.
US09450091B2
In one embodiment, a vertical insulated-gate field effect transistor includes a feature embedded within a control electrode. The feature is placed within the control electrode to induce stress within predetermined regions of the transistor.
US09450088B2
Aspects of the present disclosure describe a high density trench-based power MOSFET with self-aligned source contacts. The source contacts are self-aligned with a first insulative spacer and a second insulative spacer, wherein the first spacer is resistant to an etching process that will selectively remove the material the second spacer is made from. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09450077B2
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate is provided, including a first photoresist pattern covers a channel during a process of etching a second photoresist pattern and protects the channel. Thus, an etching stop layer is not required.
US09450075B2
A semiconductor device includes a base dielectric layer, a semiconductor substrate layer disposed on the base dielectric layer, and a transistor disposed in the semiconductor substrate layer. The transistor includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate layer, a gate electrode disposed on the gate dielectric layer, source and drain electrodes disposed within the semiconductor substrate layer on opposite sides of the gate electrode, an undoped channel region, a base dopant region, and a threshold voltage setting region. The undoped channel region, base dopant region, and threshold voltage setting region are disposed within the semiconductor substrate layer. The undoped channel region is disposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the base dopant region and the threshold voltage setting region extend beneath the source electrode and the drain electrode. The threshold voltage setting region is disposed between the undoped channel region and the base dopant region.
US09450052B1
An EEPROM memory cell with a coupler region is disclosed. The coupler region has a well and at least one feeder region formed in the well. The at least one feeder region is configured to provide majority carriers to a channel region defined in the well so that a portion of the channel region adjoining the top surface of the coupler region is inverted during an erase operation.
US09450049B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a compound semiconductor layer, and first and second semiconductor patterns. The substrate includes first and second regions. The first semiconductor pattern is on the compound semiconductor layer of the first region and includes an element semiconductor. The second semiconductor pattern is on the compound semiconductor layer of the second region and includes a Group III-V semiconductor material.
US09450048B2
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method and an operating method for the same are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a deep well, a first well, a first doped electrode region, a second doped electrode region and a high voltage threshold voltage channel region. The substrate has a first type conductivity. The deep well is formed in the substrate and has a second type conductivity opposite to the first conductivity. The first well is formed in the deep well and has at least one of the first type conductivity and the second type conductivity. The first and the second doped electrode regions are formed in the first well. The second doped electrode is adjacent to the first doped electrode and has the second conductivity. The high voltage threshold voltage channel region is formed in the first well and extending down from the surface of the substrate.
US09450040B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, a scan line on the substrate for transferring a scan signal, a data line crossing the scan line and for transferring a data signal, a driving voltage line crossing the scan line and for transferring a driving voltage, a switching thin film transistor coupled to the scan line and the data line, a driving thin film transistor coupled to a switching drain electrode of the switching thin film transistor, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) coupled to a driving drain electrode of the driving thin film transistor, wherein a driving semiconductor layer of the driving thin film transistor is bent and in a plane substantially parallel to the substrate.
US09450033B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display apparatus having an optical sensing function is provided. The OLED display apparatus may photograph an external object by sensing input light from the external object that passes through an imaging pattern included in a display panel.
US09450031B2
A display substrate and a display device applying the same are provided. The display substrate includes a base plate and a display structure. The display structure is disposed on the base plate and includes a plurality of display units arranged in an array. The display units have a core region and a peripheral region. The core region includes at least one first sub-pixel and at least one second sub-pixel. The peripheral region includes at least one third sub-pixel and is located outside the core region.
US09450028B2
The disclosure provides an organic light-emitting device. The organic light-emitting device includes a substrate, and an organic light-emitting pixel array disposed on the substrate. The organic light-emitting pixel array includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel. Each sub-pixel includes a first electrode, an organic light-emitting element, a second electrode, and an optical path adjustment layer. The optical path adjustment layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. Particularly, the thickness of the optical path adjustment layer of the first sub-pixel is substantially equal to the thickness of the optical path adjustment layer of the second sub-pixel.
US09450019B2
A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body including a first surface, an edge delimiting the semiconductor body in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to the first surface, an active area including at least one of several transistor structures connected in parallel and several diode structures connected in parallel, and a peripheral area arranged between the active area and the edge. The power semiconductor further device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines separated from the word lines, and a plurality of temperature sensors arranged on or at the first surface, wherein each of the temperature sensors is connected with one of the bit lines and one of the word lines or each of the temperature sensors is formed by a respective portion of one of the bit lines.
US09450013B2
A planar photodiode array including a useful layer made of CdxHg1-xTe. The useful layer includes at least two superimposed doped layers, each interface between two doped layers forming a single PN junction; the useful layer has at least one separation region, extending from the upper face of the useful layer, and separating at least two useful volumes while going through the PN junction; and beyond a predetermined depth in the useful layer, the average cadmium concentration in the useful volumes is less than the average cadmium concentration in the separation region.
US09450012B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a first and second pixel regions. In the first pixel region, a photoelectric conversion unit, a floating diffusion region (FD), and a transferring transistor are provided. In the second pixel region, an amplifying transistor, and a resetting transistor are provided. A first element isolation portion is provided in the first pixel region, while a second element isolation portion is provided in the second pixel region. An amount of protrusion of an insulating film into a semiconductor substrate in the first element isolation portion is smaller, than that in the second element isolation portion.
US09450007B1
An IC may include a substrate and a layer, and an array of GMAPDs in the layer. The layer may have trenches extending between adjacent GMAPDs. The IC may include an optically reflective material within the trenches. The optically reflective material may also be electrically conductive. For example, the optically reflective material may comprise a metal. Also, the trenches may be arranged in a honeycomb pattern.
US09450006B2
An image pickup element includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel that share one microlens, a first boundary that is provided between the first pixel and the second pixel, and a second boundary that is provided between the first pixel and the third pixel, and when a charge amount of the first pixel is saturated, a first charge amount from the first pixel to the second pixel via the first boundary is larger than a second charge amount from the first pixel to the third pixel via the second boundary.
US09450005B2
An image pickup device according to the present disclosure includes a first pixel and a second pixel each including a photodetection section and a light condensing section, the photodetection section including a photoelectric conversion element, the light condensing section condensing incident light toward the photodetection section, the first pixel and the second pixel being adjacent to each other and each having a step part on a photodetection surface of the photodetection section, in which at least a part of a wall surface of the step part is covered with a first light shielding section.
US09450004B2
An encapsulated semiconductor device includes a device die with a semiconductor device fabricated thereon. A carrier layer opposite the device die covers the semiconductor device. A dam supports the carrier layer above the device die, the dam being located therebetween. The semiconductor device further includes a first sealant portion for attaching the dam to the device die, and a means for attaching the dam to the carrier layer. The device die, the dam, and the carrier layer form a sealed cavity enclosing the semiconductor device.A method of encapsulating semiconductor devices formed on a device wafer includes forming an assembly including a carrier wafer and a plurality of dams thereon. After the step of forming, the method attaches the plurality of dams to the device wafer to form a respective plurality of encapsulated semiconductor devices.
US09450001B2
A light detection system which comprises an active region between a back contact layer and a front contact layer is disclosed. The active region comprises a quantum well structure having a quantum well between quantum barriers, wherein the quantum well comprises foreign atoms that induce an excited bound state at an energy level which is above an energy level characterizing the quantum barriers.
US09449997B2
An electro-optical device includes an element substrate main body, a first capacitance electrode that is arranged above the element substrate main body, and has a first metal film and a second metal film which is stacked onto the first metal film, a first protective insulating film that is arranged so as to cover a side wall of the first metal film, and expose at least a portion of a side wall of the second metal film, a dielectric film that is arranged throughout the side wall of the second metal film which is exposed from the first protective insulating film, and over the second metal film, and a second capacitance electrode that is arranged throughout the dielectric film on the second metal film, and over the dielectric film which is arranged in the side wall of the second metal film exposed from the first protective insulating film.
US09449989B2
A thin film transistor substrate is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate; and plural thin film transistor units disposed on the substrate and respectively comprising: an active layer disposed on the substrate and made of polysilicon; an insulating layer disposed on the active layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer comprises a first region corresponding to the active layer and a second region corresponding to a region outside the active layer, and a roughness of the first region is larger than that of the second region.
US09449982B2
A method of making a vertical NAND device includes forming a lower portion of a memory stack over a substrate, forming a lower portion of memory openings in the lower portion of the memory stack, and forming a sacrificial material portion including an encapsulated cavity. The method also includes forming an upper portion of the memory stack over the lower portion of the memory stack and over the sacrificial material, forming an upper portion of the memory openings in the upper portion of the memory stack to expose the sacrificial material in the lower portion of the memory openings, removing the sacrificial material portion to connect the lower portion of the memory openings with a respective upper portion of the memory openings to form continuous memory openings, and forming a semiconductor channel in each continuous memory opening.
US09449978B2
A semiconductor device comprises a recessed access device that includes a first pillar, a second pillar, a channel region connecting the first and second pillars, and a gate disposed over the channel region. The channel region has a width that is narrower than widths of the first pillar and the second pillar. An array of recessed access devices comprises a plurality of pillars protruding from a substrate, and a plurality of channel regions. Each channel region has a width that is less than about 10 nm and couples neighboring pillars to form a plurality of junctionless recessed access devices. A method of forming at least one recessed access device also comprises forming pillars over a substrate, forming at least a channel region coupled with the pillars, the channel region having a relatively narrow width, and forming a gate at least partially surrounding the channel region on at least three sides.
US09449976B2
A novel semiconductor device structure includes a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, an isolated region, a first-conductivity-type MOS region, and a second-conductivity-type MOS region. A first-conductivity-type MOS transistor locates in the first-conductivity-type MOS region with a second-conductivity-type well surrounding, and a first-conductivity-type deep well surrounding the second-conductivity-type well with a second-conductivity-type deep well surrounding. In the second-conductivity-type MOS region, a second-conductivity-type MOS transistor is formed with a first-conductivity-type well surrounding. The first-conductivity-type deep well and the second-conductivity-type deep well are sufficiently reducing the noise and current leakage from other devices or from the semiconductor substrate.
US09449968B2
A semiconductor device is formed by forming: a transistor in a semiconductor substrate having a main surface; a source region and a drain region; and a channel region and a drift zone between the source region and the drain region. The source and drain regions are arranged along a first direction parallel to the main surface. Gate trenches and a gate electrode are formed in the gate trenches. The gate trenches have a distance corresponding to a width d1 of the channel region, where d1≦2*ld and ld denotes a length of a depletion zone formed at an interface between the channel region and a gate dielectric adjacent to the gate electrode. An auxiliary trench formed in the main surface extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The source region is formed using a doping method that introduces dopants via a sidewall of the auxiliary trench.
US09449961B2
A display device includes a substrate, at least one signal circuit, a ground protection circuit, and an auxiliary protection circuit. The substrate has a first surface, wherein the first surface includes an active area and a frame area surrounding the active area. The at least one signal circuit is disposed and extending along the frame area and electrically coupled to the active area. The ground protection circuit is disposed and extending along the frame area, wherein the ground protection circuit is positioned at a side of the signal circuit facing an edge of the substrate. The auxiliary protection circuit is disposed and extending along the frame area. The auxiliary protection circuit is disposed between the signal circuit and the ground protection circuit, wherein the auxiliary protection circuit respectively has a gap with the signal circuit and the ground protection circuit, and is electrically conductive.
US09449960B2
Provided is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure including a substrate, a pick-up region, a first MOS device, a second MOS device, a first doped region and a second doped region. The pick-up region is located in the substrate. The first MOS device has a first drain region of a first conductivity type located in the substrate. The second MOS device has a second drain region of the first conductivity type located in the substrate. The first drain region is closer to the pick up region than the second drain region is. The first doped region of a second conductivity type is located under the first doped region. The second doped region of the second conductivity type is located under the second doped region. The area and/or doping concentration of the first doped region is greater than that of the second doped region.
US09449956B2
An optical apparatus includes a substrate 1, a wiring pattern 8 formed on the substrate 1, a light-receiving element 3 and a light-emitting element 2 provided on the substrate 1 and spaced apart from each other in a direction x, a light-transmitting resin 4 covering the light-receiving element 3, a light-transmitting resin 5 covering the light-emitting element 2, and a light-shielding resin 6 covering the light-transmitting resin 4 and the light-transmitting resin 5. The wiring pattern 8 includes a first light-blocking portion 83 interposed between the light-shielding resin 6 and the substrate 1 and positioned between the light-receiving element 3 and the light-emitting element 2 as viewed in x-y plane. The first light-blocking portion 83 extends across the light-emitting element 2 as viewed in the direction x.
US09449938B2
Provided herein are conductive die attach films having advantageous properties for use in a variety of applications, e.g., for the preparation of large die semiconductor packages. Also provided are formulations useful for the preparation of such films, as well as methods for making such formulations. In additional aspects of the present invention, there are provided conductive networks prepared from compositions according to the present invention. In additional aspects, the invention further relates to articles comprising such conductive die attach films adhered to a suitable substrate therefor.
US09449934B2
A semiconductor device package and a method for forming the same using an improved solder joint structure are disclosure. The package includes solder joints having a thinner bottom portion than a top portion. The bottom portion is surrounded by a molding compound and the top portion is not surrounded by a molding compound. The method includes depositing and forming a liquid molding compound around an intermediate solder joint using release film, and then etching the molding compound to a reduced height. The resulting solder joint has no waist at the interface of the molding compound and the solder joint. The molding compound has a greater roughness after the etch, greater than about 3 microns, than the molding compound as formed.
US09449932B2
A semiconductor device has a base substrate with recesses formed in a first surface of the base substrate. A first conductive layer is formed over the first surface and into the recesses. A second conductive layer is formed over a second surface of the base substrate. A first semiconductor die is mounted to the base substrate with bumps partially disposed within the recesses over the first conductive layer. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the first semiconductor die. Bond wires are formed between the second semiconductor die and the first conductive layer over the first surface of the base substrate. An encapsulant is deposited over the first and second semiconductor die and base substrate. A portion of the base substrate is removed from the second surface between the second conductive layer down to the recesses to form electrically isolated base leads for the bumps and bond wires.
US09449929B2
In a semiconductor device including a seal ring area containing multiple seal rings are coupled to each other at equal intervals via bridge patterns, improper local relocation of bridge patterns may reduce the reliability of the semiconductor device. A semiconductor device has a first group containing a predetermined number of the bridge patterns spaced at a first interval and a second group containing a predetermined number of the bridge patterns spaced at the first interval, the second group being located at a second interval from the first group. The second interval is larger than the first interval.
US09449927B2
A seal ring structure of an integrated circuit includes a seal ring and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The MIM capacitor includes a top electrode, a bottom electrode disposed below the top electrode, and a first insulating layer disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The MIM capacitor is disposed within the seal ring and the MIM capacitor is insulated from the seal ring.
US09449923B2
Methods of forming anchor structures in package substrate microvias are described. Those methods and structures may include forming a titanium layer in an opening of a package substrate using a first deposition process, wherein the opening comprises an undercut region, and wherein the first conductive layer does not substantially form in an anchor region of the undercut region. The titanium layer may then be re-sputtered using a second deposition process, wherein the titanium layer is formed in the anchor region.
US09449922B2
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a dielectric layer is formed on a substrate, and a contact hole is formed from the dielectric layer to the substrate. A dielectric spacer liner is formed to cover a sidewall and a bottom of the contact hole. A portion of the dielectric spacer liner is removed to expose a portion of the substrate. A metal silicide layer is formed into the substrate through the contact hole.
US09449919B2
A semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure. The first interconnect structure includes a first interconnect portion, a second interconnect portion and a third interconnect portion. The first interconnect portion has a width and a length. The second interconnect portion has a width less than the length of the first interconnect portion. The second interconnect portion is connected to the first interconnect portion. The third interconnect portion has a width less than the width of the second interconnect portion. The third interconnect portion is connected to the second interconnect portion.
US09449913B2
A 3D interconnect structure and method of manufacture are described in which metal redistribution layers (RDLs) are integrated with through-silicon vias (TSVs) and using a single damascene type process flow. A silicon nitride or silicon carbide passivation layer may be provided between the thinned device wafer back side and the RDLs to provide a hermetic barrier and polish stop layer during the process flow.
US09449904B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode GE electrically connected to a gate portion which is made of a polysilicon film provided in the inside of a plurality of grooves formed in a striped form along the direction of T of a chip region CA wherein the gate electrode GE is formed as a film at the same layer level as a source electrode SE electrically connected to a source region formed between adjacent stripe-shaped grooves and the gate electrode GE is constituted of a gate electrode portion G1 formed along a periphery of the chip region CA and a gate finger portion G2 arranged so that the chip region CA is divided into halves along the direction of X. The source electrode SE is constituted of an upper portion and a lower portion, both relative to the gate finger portion G2, and the gate electrode GE and the source electrode SE are connected to a lead frame via a bump electrode.
US09449902B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor package includes a first lead frame having a first die paddle, and a second lead frame, which has a second die paddle and a plurality of leads. The second die paddle is disposed over the first die paddle. A semiconductor chip is disposed over the second die paddle. The semiconductor chip has a plurality of contact regions on a first side facing the second lead frame. The plurality of contact regions is coupled to the plurality of leads.
US09449899B2
A semiconductor package that includes a semiconductor die and a heat spreader thermally coupled to the semiconductor and disposed at least partially within the molded housing of the package.
US09449898B2
A semiconductor device includes a through-substrate via extending from a frontside to a backside of a semiconductor substrate. The through-substrate via includes a concave or a convex portion adjacent to the backside of the semiconductor substrate. An isolation film is formed on the backside of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive layer includes a first portion formed on the concave or convex portion of the through substrate via and a second portion formed on the isolation film. A passivation layer partially covers the conductive layer.
US09449894B2
An exemplary base includes a heat absorber and clips attached to the heat absorber. The heat absorber includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A pair of receiving grooves is defined in opposite lateral sides of the heat absorber, respectively. Each receiving groove is located above a level of the bottom surface and below a level of the top surface. Each clip includes a positioning beam. The positioning beam is received in a corresponding one of the receiving grooves with a portion of the heat absorber adjacent to the positioning beam deformed and fixed in the positioning beam thereby fixing the positioning beam in the receiving groove. A heat dissipating module having the base is also provided.
US09449892B2
According to one embodiment, a manufacturing method of a magnetic memory device, includes obtaining first and second magnetic fields for each of magnetoresistive effect elements, defining a group of the elements, for the first and second magnetic fields of the elements in the group, a highest first magnetic field being lower than a lowest second magnetic field, and a difference between the highest first magnetic field and the lowest second magnetic field being greater than a predetermined difference, determining a maximum applied magnetic field higher than the highest first magnetic field and lower than the lowest second magnetic field, and obtaining magnetic characteristics for each of the elements in the group by applying a magnetic field decreasing from the maximum applied magnetic field after the magnetic field is increased up to the maximum applied magnetic field.
US09449882B1
In manufacturing a semiconductor device, a stack of first and second semiconductor layers are formed. A fin structure is formed by patterning the first and second semiconductor layers. A cover layer is formed on a bottom part of the fin structure so as to cover side walls of the bottom portion of the fin structure and a bottom part of side walls of the upper portion of the fin structure. An insulating layer is formed so that the fin structure is embedded in the insulating layer. A part of the upper portion is removed so that an opening is formed in the insulating layer. A third semiconductor layer is formed in the opening on the remaining layer of the second semiconductor layer. The insulating layer is recessed so that a part of the third semiconductor layer is exposed from the insulating layer, and a gate structure is formed.
US09449879B2
A method of severing a semiconductor device composite includes a carrier having a main surface and a semiconductor layer sequence arranged on the main surface including forming a separating trench in the semiconductor device composite by a first laser cut such that the separating trench only partially severs the semiconductor device composite in a vertical direction running perpendicular to the main surface, and severing the semiconductor device composite completely along the separating trench with a severing cut with a laser.
US09449878B2
A wafer processing method includes a cut groove forming step of positioning, from a back side of the substrate, a cutting blade to an area corresponding to a division line to form cut grooves in such a manner that the cutting blade does not reach a functional layer and part of a substrate is left, and a functional layer cutting step of performing irradiation with a laser beam along the division lines formed in the functional layer forming a wafer to perform ablation processing for the functional layer and cut the functional layer. In the cut groove forming step, the cut grooves are formed along the division lines in such a manner that an uncut part is left in a peripheral area of the wafer.
US09449871B1
A technique relates to an airgap structure. A dielectric layer is formed on an underlying layer. Copper filled trenches are formed in the dielectric layer, and a metal liner lines the copper filled trenches. An oxide liner lines the metal liner and covers the dielectric layer. One or more airgaps are formed between the copper filled trenches in areas in which the oxide liner was not present on the dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed on top of the one or more airgaps, the copper filled trenches, and portions of the oxide liner.
US09449851B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to locally doping two-dimensional (2D) materials. In one aspect, an assembly including a substrate, a first insulator disposed on the substrate, a second insulator disposed on the first insulator, and a 2D material disposed on the second insulator is formed. A first voltage is applied between the 2D material and the substrate. With the first voltage applied between the 2D material and the substrate, a second voltage is applied between the 2D material and a probe positioned proximate the 2D material. The second voltage between the 2D material and the probe is removed. The first voltage between the 2D material and the substrate is removed. A portion of the 2D material proximate the probe when the second voltage was applied has a different electron density compared to a remainder of the 2D material.
US09449845B2
Methods of etching exposed titanium nitride with respect to other materials on patterned heterogeneous structures are described, and may include a remote plasma etch formed from a fluorine-containing precursor. Precursor combinations including plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region to etch the patterned structures with high titanium nitride selectivity under a variety of operating conditions. The methods may be used to remove titanium nitride at faster rates than a variety of metal, nitride, and oxide compounds.
US09449841B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a metal gate (MG) layer formed to fill in a trench between two adjacent interlayer dielectric (ILD) regions; performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process using a CMP system to planarize the MG layer and the ILD regions; and cleaning the planarized MG layer using a O3/DIW solution including ozone gas (O3) dissolved in deionized water (DIW). The MG layer is formed on the ILD regions.
US09449839B2
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a pattern on a semiconductor substrate. One or more layers are formed over the semiconductor substrate. A first self-assembled monolayer (SAM) layer is formed over the one or more layers, wherein the first SAM layer exhibits a first SAM pattern. At least a first of the one or more layers is patterned using the first SAM layer as a first etch mask to form first pillars in the first of the one or more layers and then removing the first SAM layer. A second self-assembled monolayer (SAM) layer is formed along sidewall portions of the first pillars after the first SAM layer has been removed, wherein the second SAM layer exhibits a second SAM pattern that differs from the first SAM pattern and where the second SAM layer differs in material composition from the first SAM layer.
US09449835B2
Methods of forming features having differing pitch spacing and critical dimensions are disclosed herein. One method includes forming an underlying layer of material above a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a masking layer above the underlying layer of material. The masking layer includes features positioned above a first region of the substrate and features positioned above a second region of the substrate. The features have different pitch spacing and critical dimensions. The method further includes performing at least one etching process on the underlying layer of material through the masking layer.
US09449833B1
A self-aligned process for locating a stem of a T-shaped gate relative to source and drain contacts of a FET or HEMT. The gate stem is located asymmetrically in some embodiments and in such embodiments the stem of the T-shaped gate is located relative to drain and source contacts of the device by forming a plurality of sidewall spacers, with more sidewall spacers being formed on the drain side of the stem than are formed on the source side of the stem. Additionally the gate stem preferably has a high aspect ratio to improve the performance of the resulting FET or HEMT. Drain and source contacts are preferably formed of an n+ semiconductor material.
US09449831B2
An embodiment of a semiconductor memory device including a multi-layer charge storing layer and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the device includes a channel formed from a semiconducting material overlying a surface on a substrate connecting a source and a drain of the memory device; a tunnel oxide layer overlying the channel; and a multi-layer charge storing layer including an oxygen-rich, first oxynitride layer on the tunnel oxide layer in which a stoichiometric composition of the first oxynitride layer results in it being substantially trap free, and an oxygen-lean, second oxynitride layer on the first oxynitride layer in which a stoichiometric composition of the second oxynitride layer results in it being trap dense. In one embodiment, the device comprises a non-planar transistor including a gate having multiple surfaces abutting the channel, and the gate comprises the tunnel oxide layer and the multi-layer charge storing layer.
US09449827B2
Contact openings are formed into a dielectric material exposing a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate. A first transition metal liner including at least one first transition metal element, a second transition metal liner including at least one second transition metal element that is different from the at least one first transition metal element and a metal contact are sequentially formed within each contact opening. Following a planarization process, the structure is annealed forming metal semiconductor alloy contacts at the bottom of each contact opening. Each metal semiconductor alloy contact that is formed includes the at least one first transition metal element, the at least one second transition metal element and a semiconductor element.
US09449821B2
High-aspect ratio trenches in integrated circuits are fabricated of composite materials and with trench boundaries having pencil-like etching profiles. The fabrication methods reduce surface tension between trench boundaries and fluids applied during manufacture, thereby avoiding pattern bending, bowing, and collapse. The method, further, facilitates fill-in of trenches with suitable selected materials.
US09449818B2
One aspect of the present invention is a double sided hybrid crystal structure including a trigonal Sapphire wafer containing a (0001) C-plane and having front and rear sides. The Sapphire wafer is substantially transparent to light in the visible and infrared spectra, and also provides insulation with respect to electromagnetic radio frequency noise. A layer of crystalline Si material having a cubic diamond structure aligned with the cubic <111> direction on the (0001) C-plane and strained as rhombohedron to thereby enable continuous integration of a selected (SiGe) device onto the rear side of the Sapphire wafer. The double sided hybrid crystal structure further includes an integrated III-Nitride crystalline layer on the front side of the Sapphire wafer that enables continuous integration of a selected III-Nitride device on the front side of the Sapphire wafer.
US09449806B2
Disclosed is a high-pressure discharge lamp (100) that reduces the occurrence of cracks even under high mercury vapor pressure. The high-pressure discharge lamp (100) is provided with a glass arc tube (102) including a light-emitting part (103) and a sealing part (104) connected to the light-emitting part (103), the light-emitting part (103) enclosing a discharge space, and a pair of electrodes (101), one end of each of the electrodes (101) facing one end of the other electrode (101) in the discharge space, and another end of each electrode (101) being embedded in the sealing part (104) and connected to a metal foil (105), at least one embedded section of the pair of electrodes (101) including at least one projection (101c).
US09449804B2
An ion guide generates a first RF field of Nth order where N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and a second RF field of 2Nth order superimposed on the first RF field. The first and second RF fields may be generated by respective first and second sets of electrodes. Another ion guide may include a converging entrance section followed by an exit section. The converging section may have a hyperbolic profile. A hyperbolic profile may be presented by electrodes having a twisted configuration relative to an ion guide axis.
US09449793B2
A plasma source includes a ring plasma chamber, a primary winding around an exterior of the ring plasma chamber, multiple ferrites, wherein the ring plasma chamber passes through each of the ferrites and multiple plasma chamber outlets coupling the plasma chamber to a process chamber. Each one of the plasma chamber outlets having a respective plasma restriction. A system and method for generating a plasma are also described.
US09449789B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for inspecting a sample. The apparatus comprises a generator for generating an array of primary charged particle beams (33), and a charged particle optical system with an optical axis (38). The optical system comprises a first lens system (37, 310) for focusing all primary beams (33) into a first array of spots in an intermediate plane, and a second lens system (313, 314) for focusing all primary beams (33) into a second array of spots on the sample surface (315). The apparatus comprises a position sensitive backscattered charged particle detector (311) positioned at or near the intermediate plane. The second lens system comprises an electromagnetic or electrostatic lens which is common for all charged particle beams. Preferably the second lens system comprises a magnetic lens for rotating the array of primary beams (33) around the optical axis (38) to position the second array of charged particle spots with respect to the first array at an angle.
US09449785B2
An automated workpiece processing apparatus including a processing section including a processing module configured for processing a workpiece at a process location, a transport module including a first shuttle stage, a second shuttle stage independent of the first stage, and an end effector connected to at least one of the first and second stages, the end effector being configured to hold and transport the workpiece into and out of the processing module, and having a range of motion, defined by a combination of the first and second stage, extending from a workpiece holding station outside the processing module to the processing location inside the processing module so the end effector defines a processing stage of the processing module, and an automated loading and transport section including a load port module through which workpieces are loaded into the automated loading and transport section, and being communicably connected to the transport module.
US09449784B2
A charged particle beam instrument is offered which can introduce cooled samples easily into a sample chamber. The charged particle beam instrument (100) of the present invention has: a sample container (10) that accommodates samples (S) and a refrigerant (6) for cooling the samples (S); an evacuated sample chamber (20); a sample exchange chamber (30) connected with the sample chamber (20); a partition valve (40) disposed between the sample exchange chamber (30) and the sample container (10); and vacuum pumping equipment (50) for evacuating the sample container (10). The sample container (10) can be connected with the sample exchange chamber (30) via the partition valve (40). The sample container (10) is evacuated by the vacuum pumping equipment (50) while the partition valve (40) is closed.
US09449773B2
An actuator that includes a shelf having a pivot cone, a first member, a second member, a trigger pin and a trigger lever latch. The first member includes a weight, a first shaft extending upwardly from the weight and through an opening in the pivot cone, and a first plate affixed to the first shaft. The first plate is supported by the pivot cone. The second member includes a second plate resting on the first plate and a second shaft extending upwardly from the second plate. The trigger lever latch includes a first portion connected to the second shaft and a second portion extending upwardly at an angle away from the first portion. The trigger pin has an engagement surface. The trigger pin is movable between an operational state and a tripped state. The second end of the trigger lever latch is engaged with the engagement surface.
US09449772B2
A key mechanism can include one or more butterfly hinges. Each butterfly hinge includes a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. Hinged coupling mechanisms couple respective arms of the wings together.
US09449770B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a shimless button assembly. According to such embodiments, a shimless button assembly includes a button component and a switch mechanism. The button component includes a compressible member that is configured to expand and contract in order to occupy a volume of space between the button component and the switch mechanism. The volume of space between the button component and the switch mechanism may be caused by differing tolerances between the various components of the button assembly, such as, for example, the button component and the switch mechanism.
US09449769B2
A low travel switch and systems for using the same. A low travel switch may include a key cap and an elastomeric dome configured to provide a predefined tactile feedback over a predefined travel distance of the key cap when the key cap is depressed by a user.
US09449762B2
Some novel features pertain to package substrates that include a substrate having an embedded package substrate (EPS) capacitor with equivalent series resistance (ESR) control. The EPS capacitor includes two conductive electrodes separated by a dielectric or insulative thin film material and an equivalent series resistance (ESR) control structure located on top of each electrode connecting the electrodes to vias. The ESR control structure may include a metal layer, a dielectric layer, and a set of metal pillars which are embedded in the set of metal pillars are embedded in the dielectric layer and extend between the electrode and the metal layer. The EPS capacitor having the ESR control structure form an ESR configurable EPS capacitor which can be embedded in package substrates.
US09449757B2
A wireless power network including multiple electromagnetic resonators each capable of storing electromagnetic energy at a resonant frequency is disclosed. The multiple resonators include: a first resonator configured to be coupled to a power source to receive power from the power source; a second resonator configured to be coupled to a load to provide power to the load, and one or more intermediate resonators. The first resonator is configured to provide power from the power source to the second resonator through the one or more intermediate resonators. At least a first pair of resonators among the multiple resonators is configured to exchange power wirelessly, and at least a second pair of the resonators among the multiple resonators is configured to exchange power through a wired electrically conductive connection.
US09449750B2
A support frame for an electrical transformer assembly, comprising two loop-shaped parts, each loop-shaped part having a plurality of limbs, each limb having a peripheral recessed portion in which a primary electrical coil is mountable, and at least one secondary coil is mountable in piggyback on the primary electrical coil, one limb of each loop-shaped part having a straight section. The frame also includes an adjustable attaching means for attaching one of the loop-shaped parts with respect to the other loop-shaped part and adjusting a distance therebetween, so that only the straight sections are adjacent and form a central leg, the central leg being for receiving a magnetic core distinct from the attaching means. The frame provides a means and a method to efficiently secure adjacent windings in a circular core transformer kernel.
US09449747B2
A standard solenoid body and coils are combined with a non-magnetic armature tube containing a permanent magnet, preferably neodymium. The magnet is located in one of three positions within the armature. When biased toward the stop end of the solenoid, it may be configured to act as a push solenoid. When biased toward the collar end of the solenoid, it may be configured to act as a pull solenoid. In either case, no spring is required to return the armature to its de-energized position. Positioning the magnet in the middle of the armature defines a dual-latching solenoid requiring no power to hold it in a given state. A positive coil pulse moves the armature toward the stop end, whereas a negative coil pulse moves the armature toward the collar end. The armature will remain at the end to which it was directed until another pulse of opposite polarity comes along.
US09449736B2
A high dielectric contrast composition for particle formation that includes a high dielectric solvent, and a polymer dissolved into the high dielectric solvent. A method of forming particles including dissolving a polymer in a high dielectric solvent to form a high dielectric composition, and dielectrophoretically spinning the high dielectric composition in an electric field to form particles.
US09449732B2
The present invention provides a charge transport film which is prepared through subjecting a coating film including at least one charge transporting agent to an atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, wherein electron transfer between the charge transport film and a substance that contacts with the charge transport film is promoted, and deterioration in performance due to diffusion and mixing or crystallization of low molecular weight components, such as a charge transporting agent, incorporated in a cured film is suppressed also in the case of film formation by a wet method, and which exhibits excellent charge transportability and stability over time; a production method with good productivity; and a light-emitting element and photoelectric conversion element equipped with the charge transport film, the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment being preferably a treatment that applies plasma, which is generated using a plasma generating apparatus and conveyed using an inert gas, to the coating film.
US09449729B2
A process for producing electrode materials, which comprises treating a mixed oxide which comprises lithium and at least one transition metal as cations with at least one oxygen-containing organic compound of sulfur or phosphorus or a corresponding alkali metal or ammonium salt of an oxygen-containing organic compound of sulfur or phosphorus, or a fully alkylated derivative of an oxygen-containing compound of sulfur or phosphorus.
US09449726B2
Methods of synthesizing 100Mo2C and 99mTcO4− are disclosed. Methods of 100Mo2C generation involve thermally carburizing 100MoO3. Methods of 99mTcO4 generation involve proton bombardment of 100Mo2C in a cyclotron. Yields of 99mTcO4 can be increased by sintering 100Mo2C prior to bombardment. The methods also include recycling of 100Mo2C to form 100MoO3. SPECT images obtained using 99mTcO4 generated by the disclosed methods are also presented.
US09449724B2
Disclosed is a nuclear power plant container structure, the structure comprising: a hollow structure having a plurality of cells, each having a hollow portion therein, which are partitioned by cell walls and air-ranged in a three-dimensional pattern so as to form an empty space for sealing and storing the radioactive waste therein; a cladding for surrounding the outside of the hollow structure; and a filler selectively filled into the hollow portions of the cells for suppressing nuclear reactions of the radioactive waste or blocking radioactivity radiated from the radioactive waste.
US09449712B2
A shift register and flat panel display using the same is provided therein. The shift register receives an operating voltage level. Through the circuit provided by the shift register, a driving voltage of an output-stage transistor is higher than prior art. Thus, the shift register has an enhanced driving ability.
US09449711B2
A shift register circuit and a shading waveform generating method are disclosed. The shift register circuit includes plural stages of shift registers. Each stage of the shift register includes an output transistor, an input unit and a gate-shading circuit. The output transistor is configured for generating an output signal of the stage of the shift register. The input unit is configured for controlling a voltage level on a gate terminal of the output transistor. The gate-shading circuit includes a first switch, a second switch and a third switch. The first switch is configured for outputting a control signal. The second switch is configured for pulling down the voltage level on the gate terminal of the output transistor according to the control signal. The third switch is configured for pulling down a level on an output terminal of the output transistor according to the control signal.
US09449708B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a memory cell array configured having NAND strings arranged therein; a plurality of word lines; a plurality of bit lines; a source line; and a control circuit configured to apply a verify voltage to a selected word line, apply a read pass voltage that renders conductive an unselected memory cell regardless of cell data to an unselected word line, and apply a bit line voltage of a certain value to a selected bit line, thereby executing a write verify operation that determines whether a selected memory cell has a desired threshold voltage or not. The control circuit is configured capable of changing a voltage value of the bit line voltage based on a position of the selected word line among the plurality of word lines relative to the NAND string.
US09449705B2
A method for data storage includes storing first data bits in a set of multi-bit analog memory cells at a first time by programming the memory cells to assume respective first programming levels. Second data bits are stored in the set of memory cells at a second time that is later than the first time by programming the memory cells to assume respective second programming levels that depend on the first programming levels and on the second data bits. A storage strategy is selected responsively to a difference between the first and second times. The storage strategy is applied to at least one group of the data bits, selected from among the first data bits and the second data bits.
US09449704B2
A flash memory, a memory module, a computer-readable recording medium and an operating method are provided, which can perform a flexible setup by a flexible clock scheme. A NAND-type flash memory 100 of the invention includes: a memory array 110 having NAND-type memory cells, a controller 150 including a processor and a ROM/RAM, and a system clock generating circuit 200 configured to generate an internal system clock signal. The ROM/RAM is at least stored with setup commands for a setup of the flash memory, and the processor processes the setup commands based on the internal system clock signal during a setup period. The controller 150 further controls the system clock generating circuit 200, so that a frequency of the internal system clock signal becomes high speed during the setup period.
US09449695B2
A nonvolatile memory system includes a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells, and a memory controller. The memory controller is configured to count a clock to generate a current time, program dummy data at predetermined memory cells among the plurality of memory cells at a power-off state, detect a charge loss of the predetermined memory cells when a power-on state occurs after the power-off state, and restore the current time based on the detected charge loss.
US09449690B2
A method of programming a memory system by selectively applying a program voltage to a selected wordline connected to a memory transistor to be programmed. A first bias voltage is applied to a first wordline adjacent to the source side of the selected wordline. The first bias voltage is also applied to a second wordline adjacent to the drain side of the selected wordline. A second bias voltage is applied to a third wordline adjacent to the drain side of the second wordline. A third bias voltage is applied to a fourth wordline adjacent to the source side of the first wordline. A pass voltage is also applied to the remaining wordlines that do not have one of a bias voltage and a program voltage applied, the pass voltage a selected voltage level.
US09449689B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a string of memory cell transistors that are connected to each other in series. A selection transistor is connected between one end of the string of the memory cell transistors and one of a source line and a bit line. A line is selectively connected to a gate electrode of the selection transistor, a driver, or a node that supplies an unselected voltage, or is set to be in a floating state.
US09449687B1
Sense circuits, memory devices, and related methods are disclosed. A sense circuit includes sample and hold circuitry configured to sample and hold a second response voltage potential, a first response voltage potential, and a third response voltage potential responsive to an evaluation signal applied to a resistance variable memory cell. The sense circuit includes an amplifier operably coupled to the sample and hold circuitry. The amplifier is configured to amplify a difference between a sum of the first response voltage potential and the third response voltage potential, and twice the second response voltage potential. A memory device includes an evaluation signal generating circuit configured to provide the evaluation signal, an array of resistance variable memory cells, and the sense circuit. A method includes applying the evaluation signal to the resistance variable memory cell, sampling and holding the response voltage potentials, and discharging the sample and hold circuitry to the amplifier.
US09449686B2
Resistive memory device, resistive memory system and method of operating the resistive memory device
A method of operating a resistive memory device and a resistive memory system including a resistive memory device is for a resistive memory device including a plurality of bit lines and at least one dummy bit line. The method of operating the resistive memory device includes detecting a first address accompanying a first command, generating a plurality of inhibit voltages for biasing non-selected lines, and providing to a first dummy bit line a first inhibit voltage selected from among the plurality of inhibit voltages based on a result of detecting the first address.
US09449685B2
A resistance variable memory apparatus may include: a memory cell array; and a read circuit unit configured to receive a cell current, generate a digital code by repeating a cyclic analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) process a designated number of times, generate read data from the digital code, and output the generated read data during a normal read mode for the memory cell array, and to generate test data corresponding to the cell current and output the generated test data during a test read mode for the memory cell array.
US09449670B2
A semiconductor memory device is provided which includes a sense amplifier, a bit line connected to a plurality of memory cells of a first memory block, a complementary bit line connected to a plurality of memory cells of a second memory block, a first switch configured to connect the bit line to the sense amplifier, and a second switch configured to connect the complementary bit line to the sense amplifier. The first switch is configured to electrically separate the bit line from the sense amplifier when the second memory block performs a refresh operation.
US09449667B2
A memory circuit includes a plurality of memory cells arranged into columns and one or more pairs of adjacent rows and one or more first word lines. Each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells includes a data node, a first access node, and a first pass gate coupled to the first access node and configured to selectively alter a voltage level at the first access node according to a voltage level at the data node if the first pass gate is turned on. A word line of the one or more first word lines is coupled with the first pass gates of a pair of the one or more pairs of adjacent rows, and the first pass gates of the pair of the one or more pairs of adjacent rows are configured to be selectively turned on responsive to a voltage level at the word line.
US09449662B1
A semiconductor memory apparatus may include: a command decoder configured to decode an external command and output the decoded command as an internal command; a command transmitter configured to determine a delay time in response to a voltage level of an external voltage being applied to the semiconductor memory apparatus, delay the internal command by the determined delay time, and output the delayed internal command as a delayed command; and a data storage area configured to receive the delayed command, and perform an operation according to the delayed command.
US09449654B2
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a connector, a volatile semiconductor memory element, multiple nonvolatile semiconductor memory elements, and a controller. A wiring pattern includes a signal line that is formed between the connector and the controller and that connects the connector to the controller. On the opposite side of the controller to the signal line, the multiple nonvolatile semiconductor memory elements are aligned along the longitudinal direction of the substrate.
US09449641B2
A system comprises a writer to form a plurality of color mits on a base material, wherein at least one of the color mits may represent computer-readable instructions comprising data other than pixel-image data. The plurality of color mits may include a first color mit and a second color mit, wherein the first color mit represents information data, and the second color mit represents that the first color mit contains a particular type of information data. The system also may include a reader to read colors of the plurality of color mits on the base material. The system may comprise a device to map at least one of the color mits to computer-readable instructios. The system may further comprise a processor configured to transmit signals using a colored light.
US09449639B2
A holding mechanism is operable to hold a top medium from a plurality of plate-shaped media accommodated in a stacker in a stacked manner. A transport arm supports the holding mechanism. The transport arm is provided with a separation mechanism operable to separate a second medium positioned just below the top medium which is held by the holding mechanism.
US09449637B2
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a motor having: a rotor, a magnet, and a damping layer positioned between the rotor and the magnet. The damping layer is constructed of a material characterized by converting kinetic energy into heat.
US09449636B2
The present invention provides a printed coil substrate for an optical disc actuator so that the sensitivity will change as little as possible when shifting in a focal direction and a tracking direction. Although the coil patterns laminated at a corresponding position have approximately same shape, center locations in shape of the tracking coil and the focus coils are displaced between the neighboring substrate layers, and the center locations in shape are displaced by a predetermined distance toward a direction of driving the movable portion driven by the coils. Even when the coil pattern of the first layer is moved in a direction of leaving from the position where magnetic force of the magnet is strong, the coil pattern of the second layer is simultaneously moved into the position where magnetic force of the magnet is strong. Therefore, the change of the sensitivity can be relatively compensated.
US09449625B1
A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) writer is described. The HAMR writer is coupled with a laser and has an air-bearing surface (ABS) that resides near a media during use. The HAMR writer includes a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT), a main pole, coil(s) and at least one of a first and a second diffusion barrier layer. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The main pole writes to the region of the media. The main pole has a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides. The first diffusion barrier layer is between at least the NFT and the bottom of the pole. The second diffusion barrier layer is adjacent to the plurality of sides of the main pole.
US09449623B2
Approaches to a suspension for a hard disk drive include having an adhered one or more piezo actuating device driven by a negative bias driving voltage. The negative bias driving voltage is lower than ground, therefore such voltage inhibits the migration of ions of an electrically conductive adhesive to an electrically conductive flexure layer, and inhibits the degradation of the resistance of an insulating material positioned between the conductive adhesive and the conductive flexure layer.
US09449616B2
Provided are a noise reduction system that highly precisely estimates noise contained in an input signal and highly precisely reduces the noise contained in the input signal using the estimated noise, a speech detection system, a speech recognition system, a noise reduction method, and a noise reduction program. The noise reduction system includes: a first noise estimating unit (111) that estimates a stationary noise component contained in a first input signal; a first noise reduction unit (121) that reduces the stationary noise component from the first input signal; a second noise estimating unit (112) that re-estimates a stationary noise component contained in the first input signal; a third noise estimating unit (113) that estimates a second non-stationary noise component including a sum of a stationary noise component and a non-stationary noise component contained in the first input signal; an estimated noise combining unit (114) that estimates a stationary noise component and a second non-stationary noise component contained in the first input signal; and a second noise reduction unit (122) that reduces the stationary noise component and the second non-stationary noise component contained in the first input signal.
US09449604B2
The invention relates to a method for determining an encoding parameter for an audio channel signal of a multi-channel audio signal, the method comprising: determining for the audio channel signal a set of functions from the audio channel signal and a reference audio signal; determining a first set of encoding parameters based on a smoothing of the set of functions with respect to a frame sequence of the multi-channel audio signal, the smoothing being based on a first smoothing coefficient; determining a second set of encoding parameters based on a smoothing of the set of functions with respect to the frame sequence of the multi-channel audio signal, the smoothing being based on a second smoothing coefficient; and determining the encoding parameter based on a quality criterion with respect to the first set of encoding parameters and/or the second set of encoding parameters.
US09449602B2
In some implementations, a device for providing dual uplink processing paths may include a human listening (HL) input processing unit configured to receive an audio stream and pre-process the audio stream to create a first audio signal adapted for human listening via a first uplink processing path, a machine listening (ML) input processing unit configured to receive the audio stream and pre-process the audio stream to create a second audio signal adapted for machine listening via a second uplink processing path, and a network interface unit configured to transmit the first audio signal via the first uplink processing path and transmit the second audio signal via the second uplink processing path to a remote server.
US09449594B2
Embodiments of a system and method for adapting a phase difference-based noise reduction system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, spatial information associated with a first and second audio signal are determined, wherein the first and second audio signals including a target audio inside a beam and noise from outside the beam. A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with the audio signals is estimated. A mapping of phase differences to gain factors is adapted for determination of attenuation factors for attenuating frequency bins associated with noise outside the beam. Spectral subtraction is performed to remove estimated noise from the single-channel signal based on a weighting that affects frequencies associated with a target signal less. Frequency dependent attenuation factors are applied to attenuate frequency bins outside the beam to produce a target signal having noise reduced.
US09449581B2
Various embodiments present a combined visual entity that represents overlapping visual entities. The combined visual entity can include a primary visualization that represents one of the overlapping visual entities and annotations that represent others of the overlapping visual entities. For example, a map view can include multiple geographical entities that overlap. A primary visualization can be rendered that represents one of the multiple geographical entities. The primary visualization can be visually annotated (e.g., with symbols, letters, or other visual indicators) to indicate others of the multiple geographical entities. In some embodiments, a zoom operation can cause visual entities to be added and/or removed from the combined visual entity.
US09449580B2
An image display method comprising displaying a first image of an imaged zone in a first display window and displaying a second image of only a part of the imaged zone in a second display window (S2) distinct from the first display window, and refreshing a majority of the first image at a first refreshing rate that is lower than a second refreshing rate of the second image.
US09449579B2
Described herein is a system and method that relates to mapping from one color space on a 3D cube to another, and an addressing method used to represent the data. The system organizes the data to reduce memory storage requirements, by re-using redundant information from different cube corners in a lattice structure without re-storing the same data. The lattice structure may repeat for every cube of interest.
US09449574B2
In a video voltage comparator circuit, an average of first video voltages applied to pixel electrodes of pixels in the second-half rows in a k-th frame period (k is a natural number) is compared with an average of second video voltages applied to pixel electrodes of pixels in the first-half rows in a (k+1)th frame period for each row. In an overdrive voltage switching circuit, when a difference obtained from the comparison in the video voltage comparator circuit is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the overdrive voltage in the (k+1)th frame period is switched to a first overdrive voltage, and when the difference obtained from the comparison in the video voltage comparator circuit is less than the threshold value, the overdrive voltage in the (k+1)th frame period is switched to a second overdrive voltage lower than the first overdrive voltage.
US09449569B2
A liquid crystal display device capable of consuming less power and a method for driving the liquid crystal display device are provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a pixel portion, a light supply portion sequentially supplying lights of a plurality of hues to the pixel portion, a counter counting the number of frame periods, a signal generator determining timing of inverting the polarity of an image signal every plural consecutive frame periods by using data on the number of frame periods counted by the counter, and a controller inverting the polarity of the image signal in accordance with the timing. A plurality of pixels are provided in the pixel portion. The image signal whose polarity is inverted every plural frame periods is input to the plurality of pixels.
US09449565B2
A display device includes: a plurality of pixels; a scan driver configured to apply a scan signal to a plurality of scan lines connected to the plurality of pixels; a data driver configured to apply a gray voltage to a plurality of data lines connected to the plurality of pixels; a signal controller configured to transmit a scan control signal for controlling operating of the scan driver to the scan driver, and configured to transmit a data control signal for controlling operating of the data driver to the data driver; a power supply configured to supply a power voltage for generation of the scan signal to the scan driver; and a short detector configured to detect a voltage level of the power voltage and generate an enable signal in response to the detection.
US09449564B2
To provide a hold-type display device having a fine luminance efficiency while suppressing generation of motion blur. A controller according to the invention adjusts a signal outputted to a hold-type image display panel, which includes: a double-speed drive converting part which divides one frame of an inputted video signal to a plurality of sub-frames; a color converting part which converts a video signal of three primary colors including the plurality of sub-frames to a video signal of four or more colors including the three primary colors and a compound color; and a sub-frame converting part which converts, the video signal converted by the color converting part, to a signal having a plurality of different gradations whose average luminance value becomes equivalent to luminance of the video signal converted by the color converting part, and takes each of the plurality of gradations as each of gradations of the plurality of sub-frames.
US09449554B2
The present invention provides a pixel driving circuit and a driving method thereof, and a display apparatus. The pixel driving circuit comprises a reset module, a data write module, an output module and a potential holding module, wherein the potential holding module is used for holding potential of a control node when a signal is inputted from an emission signal input terminal. With this pixel driving circuit, the potential of a gate of a driving transistor is prevented from being influenced by the current leakage, and holding effect of potential of the gate of the driving transistor is improved.
US09449544B2
An AMOLED pixel circuit and driving method are disclosed. The AMOLED pixel circuit comprises a first transistor (T1), a second transistor (T2), a third transistor (T3), a fourth transistor (T4), a fifth transistor (T5), a sixth transistor (T6), a seventh transistor (T7), an eighth transistor (T8), a first capacitor (C1), a second capacitor (C2), a current source and a light-emitting device (OLED). The AMOLED pixel circuit can perform a rapid charging in a low gray scale state; different currents may be provided according to information on a high or low gray scale, and thus the AMOLED pixel circuit may be applied widely; an output current during a light-emitting period is a normal operational current of the light-emitting device; therefore not only a charging process is expedited, but also a normal operation of the light-emitting device is ensured.
US09449530B1
An automatic diet tracking system and methods comprising: i) voice-transcribed or typed text natural language processing and automatic tracking to record food, food quantity, and nutrition data, ii) multi-food administration to record multiple foods and related data in a single user voice-transcribed or typed text submission, and iii) location-based diet recommendations system that provides customized food recommendations to users based on user preferences and user physical location. Further, such automatic diet tracking system and location-based diet recommendations system are usable through computers, tablets, mobile phones, smart watches, wearables and other similar devices.
US09449523B2
A narration session between a plurality of participants can be set up to allow participants to collaboratively narrate an electronic book. Information can be transmitted to each participant so that the views of the participants remain in sync. Visual cues can also be transmitted to notify a participant of text that is to read aloud and audio snippets of read text are collected to form a narration file. Participants without access rights to the electronic book can be granted temporary rights.
US09449519B2
A speed zone computation unit that computes a speed zone of a host vehicle; a target speed computation unit that computes a target speed of the host vehicle based on a speed zone; a driving assistance starting point computation unit that computes a driving assistance starting point determined by a state of the host vehicle at the time when a driving assistance is started; and a target speed modification unit that modifies a target speed, when the driving assistance starting point is within the speed zone, are included. The target speed computation unit sets a speed lower than the speed zone in the reference position as the target speed. The target speed modification unit sets a value higher than a value computed by the target speed computation unit as a new target speed, in speed in the reference position.
US09449518B2
A display control device includes a determiner and a display controller. The determiner determines a recognition accuracy based on a result of a calculator. Based on a result of the determiner, the display controller controls a displayer so as to generate an image that shows a first or second graphic in which a region indicating the direction in which a predetermined object exists is displayed in a mode different from that of another region and so as to display the image on a display medium. The first graphic is generated when it is determined that the recognition accuracy is a first recognition accuracy. The second graphic is generated when it is determined that the recognition accuracy is a second recognition accuracy lower than the first recognition accuracy. A first width of the region in the first graphic is smaller than a second width of the region in the second graphic.
US09449515B2
A vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication transponder for use in V2V communication, safety and anti-collision systems using only a vehicle location for vehicle ID is described. Message embodiments are free of pre-assigned permanent vehicle identification. A hybrid TMDA and CSMA protocol is used. Vehicle position is broadcast as an offset in distance units from a pre-defined geographical grid in degree units. A transponder may proxy for non-equipped vehicle. A proxy handoff and message coding for a proxy message are described. Embodiments are free of MAC and IP addresses. No central authority or road-side equipment (RSU) is required. Embodiments include equipped vehicles and V2V system using the transponder. Embodiments include equipped vehicles and V2V system using the transponder.
US09449509B2
Disclosed is a method of traffic congestion estimation including a speed detection step of detecting speed of a vehicle in a predetermined period of time and outputting the detection result; a frequency analysis step of analyzing a frequency of the result of the speed detection and outputting the power spectrum; a slope detection step of detecting a slope of a power spectrum and outputting the detection result; a time variation calculation step of calculating time variation of the slope and outputting the calculation result; and a traffic congestion estimation step of estimating occurrence of traffic congestion from the calculation result of the time variation of the slope and outputting the estimation result.
US09449504B2
A code sequence relayed to an infrared blaster is monitored. If the code sequence approaches a violating sequence, the infrared blaster is controlled to emit infrared light with a corrected sequence that does not express the violating sequence. If the code sequence does not approach the violating sequence, the infrared blaster is controlled to emit infrared light with the code sequence.
US09449502B2
A telemeter system in which information that has an effect on a state of communication between a terminal device and a central device can be readily and accurately reported from the terminal device to the central device. When a central device transmits a request signal for prescribed measurement result information to a terminal device, a terminal control component of the terminal device extracts the measurement result information from a measurement component, and transmits the measurement result information to the central device. When a communication component of the central device receives the measurement result information, a center control component stores the received measurement result information in a storage component. The state of communication between the terminal device and the central device is reported to an administrator as necessary.
US09449500B2
In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state.
US09449494B2
A method for notifying parties in close proximity to a vehicle of a potential vehicle hazard includes detecting that the vehicle has been in a collision, determining the type of propulsion system used by the vehicle, generating a warning or other notification relating to the propulsion system, and communicating the notification to a party located within a predetermined range of the vehicle. Communication of the notification can be carried out by renaming the telematics unit with a device name corresponding to a hazard associated with the propulsion system, and then broadcasting the device name according to an established wireless protocol.
US09449488B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for determining the presence or absence of an object within a vehicle based on sensor signals and selectively providing notification to a user of the same.
US09449487B1
The pet communication and tracking system is a collar adapted for use with pets. The pet communication and tracking system comprises a location module for determining the location of the pet, and a communication module that allows a pet owner to determine the location of their pet as well. The pet communication and tracking system will also notify users when their pet leaves a predetermined geographic location. The pet communication and tracking system comprises a collar, a location module, a communication module, a logic module, and a power source.
US09449486B2
A solitary senior people care system comprises: an electric device switch installed within a household where a senior resident resides; a household monitoring communication device configured to provide the on or off state information and identity information of the electric device switch together; an electric device switch history server computer that stores and provides solitary senior resident household electric device switch usage history information, electric device switch setting information, and electric device switching state information; and a care device configured to notify an emergency rescue center or a guardian contact number about occurrence of an emergency situation when an emergency situation occurs, the solitary senior resident household electric device switch usage history information, and the state value information indicating whether an emergency situation has occurred.
US09449476B2
A haptic feedback system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of remote transmitters that are remote from a location of interest on a surface of the system. The system includes a signal generator that generates a signal for each of the remote transmitters. The remote transmitters propagate the signals through a medium of the surface and the signals interfere at the location of interest such that a localized disturbance is generated at the location of interest.
US09449467B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a selection game associated with a plurality of different sets of pickable selections. For a play of the game, the gaming system displays a first set of selections and a second set of selections, and initiates a selection round. If a designated selection of the first set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the first set. If a designated selection of the second set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the second set. If the designated ones of the first and second sets of selections have both been picked, the gaming system determines an award based on a total quantity of initiated selection rounds. If not, the gaming system ends the selection round, initiates a subsequent selection round, and repeats the above process.
US09449453B2
The “first” portable electronic entity (100) includes elements (105) for connection to a host station and a memory (120) storing instructions of an application (121) adapted to be at least partially loaded into the host station, to be executed by the host station and to collaborate with a server connected to the host station to effect the personalization of a “second” portable electronic entity (100). In embodiments, the second electronic entity is the first electronic entity. In embodiments, the application is at least partially executed by the first portable electronic entity.
US09449437B2
A method of diagnosing operating characteristics of a vehicle by a server device includes: obtaining operating characteristics information relative to the operating characteristics of the vehicle; and diagnosing the operating characteristics of the vehicle based upon feature information relative to a feature of a driver of the vehicle registered in advance in the server device and the operating characteristics information obtained from the vehicle.
US09449431B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for matching scenes. In one embodiment, a processor for implementing robust feature matching between images comprises: a first process for extracting a first feature set from a first image projection and extracting a second feature set from a second image projection; a memory for storing the first feature set and the second feature set; and a second process for feature matching using invariant mutual relations between features of the first feature set and the second feature set; wherein the second feature set is selected from the second image projection based on the identification of similar descriptive subsets between the second image projection and the first image projection.
US09449430B2
It is provided a computer-implemented method for designing a three-dimensional modeled object. The method comprises providing geometrical elements that represent the modeled object and that include a set in which the geometrical elements are a copy one of another. The method also comprises defining a graph, determining maximal sub-graphs of the graph, and identifying, within the determined sub-graphs, the set of connected components having the highest number of arcs and for which the rigid motions represented by the arcs all respect the identity criterion. Such a method improves the design of a 3D modeled object.
US09449428B2
An environment map representative of lighting information of a real environment. As to enhance the impression of immersion into a virtual environment, the method comprises the steps of acquisition at real time of an image representative of a partial lighting information of said real environment from a digital optical acquisition device, said image comprising a plurality of pixels; and estimation of said environment map by extrapolation of at least a part of said pixels of said image, the extrapolation comprising the application of a first value corresponding to the mean value of the pixels of said image to at least a first part of the environment map.
US09449421B2
Provided is a rendering method and apparatuses for rendering image data. The rendering method includes generating a primitive list by performing geometry processing on a current tile to be rendered; determining whether the current tile is identical to a previous tile from among tiles included in a previously rendered frame; and in response to the previous tile being identical to the current tile, generating an image of the current tile by re-using an image of the previous tile.
US09449420B2
In accordance with some embodiments, domain shader and/or tessellator operations can be eliminated when they are redundant. By using a corner cache, a check can determine whether a given corner, be it a vertex or a quadrilateral corner, has already been evaluated in the domain shader and/or tessellator and if so, the result of the previous operation can be reused instead of performing unnecessary invocations that may increase power consumption or reduce speed.
US09449419B2
In accordance with some embodiments, domain shader and/or tessellator operations can be eliminated when they are redundant. By using a corner cache, a check can determine whether a given corner, be it a vertex or a quadrilateral corner, has already been evaluated in the domain shader and/or tessellator and if so, the result of the previous operation can be reused instead of performing unnecessary invocations that may increase power consumption or reduce speed.
US09449418B2
A method for creating an animation message includes generating input information containing information regarding input time and input coordinates according to input order of drawing information input through a touch screen; dividing an image containing the drawing information and background information into a plurality of blocks; creating an animation message by mapping the input information to the plurality of blocks so that the drawing information can be sequentially reproduced according to the input order; allocating a parity bit per pre-set block range of the animation message in order to detect an error occurring in the animation message; and transmitting the created animation message.
US09449416B2
The invention relates to a method and system of forming an animation of a virtual object within a virtual environment, and a storage medium storing a computer program for carrying out such a method. The virtual object comprises a plurality of object parts, and one or more predetermined object part groups each being a sequence of linked object parts. The method includes generating a target configuration for the parts of the object part group, using a scale factor to scale the target configuration.
US09449406B2
Manipulating timelines includes displaying a timeline in a display and collapsing a portion of a length of the timeline such that the timeline has a time discontinuity along the length.
US09449394B2
An image synthesis device includes a real image acquisition unit configured to acquire a real image, a post-substitution object image acquisition unit configured to acquire a post-substitution object image that is substituted for a pre-substitution object image included in the real image and synthesized with the real image, a masking object image region detection unit configured to detect a region of a masking object image that masks the pre-substitution object image in the real image, a masked portion cut-out unit configured to cut out a portion corresponding to the region of the masking object image from the post-substitution object image, and a synthesis execution unit configured to perform the synthesis of the post-substitution object image which the portion corresponding to the region of the masking object image has been cut out from the real image.
US09449389B2
There is provided an image processing device including a matching degree calculation unit configured to calculate a matching degree between a pixel value of a target pixel in a standard image of a current frame and a pixel value of a corresponding pixel in a reference image of the current frame, and an estimation unit configured to estimate a disparity between the standard image and the reference image based on a result obtained by calculating the matching degree. The matching degree calculation unit calculates the matching degree using a disparity estimated for the standard image and the reference image of a previous frame.
US09449383B2
The present invention relates to a data processing method for providing variation data which describe a physically-varying anatomical structure, in particular an indiscernible anatomical structure, in particular a non-enhancing tumor, comprising the steps of: providing second image data which describe a second image of a region of an anatomical body, wherein the region includes a second anatomical part which includes the physically-varying anatomical structure; providing first image data which represent a first image of the same region, wherein said same region includes a first anatomical part which does not include the physically-varying anatomical structure or which includes the physically-varying anatomical structure in a different physical state than in the second anatomical part; providing position change data which describe positional changes of corresponding image elements between the first image and the second image, on the basis of the first and second image data; and providing the variation data on the basis of the position change data.
US09449382B2
A computer-controlled system determines attributes of a frexel, which is an area of human skin, and applies a reflectance modifying agent (RMA) at the pixel level to automatically change the appearance of human features based on one or more digital images. The change may be based on a digital image of the same frexel, for as seen in a prior digital photograph captured previously by the computer-controlled system. The system scans the frexel and uses feature recognition software to compare the person's current features in the frexel with that person's features in the digital image. It then calculates enhancements to the make the current features appear more like the features in the digital image, and it applies the RMA to the frexel to accomplish the enhancements. Or the change may be based on a digital image of another person, through the application of RMAs.
US09449375B2
In an image processing apparatus, maximum values and minimum values of the classes of respective color components are calculated; the largest value among the maximum values of the color components is found as an all-color maximum value, color correction curves are generated, on the basis of the maximum and minimum values of the respective color components and the all-color maximum value, for color components other than the color component whose maximum value is equal to the all-color maximum value, and the color correction curves are used to perform corrections on the respective color components of the image signal. The color correction curves are generated for performing corrections such that, after the corrections, the maximum value of each color component is approximately equal to the all-color maximum value. Alternatively, the color correction curves are generated for performing corrections such that, after the corrections, the minimum value of each color component is approximately equal to an all-color minimum value. Color casts arising from lighting effects at the time of imaging are corrected, and image contrast can be heightened.
US09449369B2
An image processing apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The image processing apparatus includes: a signal receiver to receive an image signal including an image and additional information displayed in the image; a signal processor to process the received image signal; and a controller to generate a reversed image resulting from up-down and/or right-left reversal of the image included in the image signal and to control the signal processor to display the reversed image and the additional information at an area of the reversed image.
US09449367B2
Presented herein are caching structures and apparatus for use in block based video. In one embodiment, there is described a system receiving lower resolution frames and generating higher resolution frames. The system comprises an upsampling circuit, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The upsampling circuit upsamples a particular lower resolution frame, thereby resulting in an upsampled frame. The first circuit maps frames that are proximate to the particular frame, to the particular frame. The second circuit simultaneously updates the upsampled frame with two or more blocks from at least one of the frames that are proximate to the particular frame.
US09449366B2
A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor; and filtering pixels according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The Bayer-consistent ruleset includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The Bayer-consistent ruleset results in a scaled image having a high degree of Bayer-consistency.
US09449363B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods may sample a texture, manage a page fault, and/or switch a context associated with the page fault. A three-dimensional (3D) graphics pipeline may provide texture sample location data corresponding to a texture, wherein sampling of the texture is to be executed external to the 3D graphics pipeline. A compute pipeline may execute sampling of the texture utilizing the texture sample location data and provide texture sample result data corresponding to the texture, wherein the 3D graphics pipeline may composite a frame utilizing the texture sample result data. The compute pipeline may manage a page fault, wherein the page fault and/or management of the page fault may be hidden from a graphics application. In addition, the compute pipeline may switch a compute context associated with the page fault to allow a graphics task not associated with the page fault to be executed and/or to prevent a stall.
US09449354B2
A method, system, and computer-readable storage media for providing licensing for services are provided herein. The method includes determining, via a service partner, whether a user exists in a user provisioning cache and whether the user is provisioned to use a service provided by the service partner. The method also includes querying a licensing service to determine updates to the user provisioning cache if the user does not exist in the user provisioning cache or is not provisioned to use the service, or both. Further, the method includes determining whether the user is provisioned to use the service based on the updates to the user provisioning cache and, if the user is provisioned to use the service, allowing the user access to the service.
US09449349B2
A method of updating a scroll bar in a screen of a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may include displaying a chat window including at least a portion of a chat history among users in a first display area of a touch display, displaying a scroll bar in a second display area of the touch display, storing the new chat message in a temporary memory temporarily upon receipt of the new chatting message, adding the new chat message into the chat history in response to a touch event of the user on the touch display, and updating the scroll bar in response to the new chat message being added into the chat history.
US09449335B2
Delivery of a wrap package in response to the selection of an advertisement appearing in a web page, social media feed or in an email, text or other electronic message. In some embodiments, the advertisement may be a “cover” for the wrap package that contains an identifier associate with the wrap. When the cover is selected, the identifier is used to access and deliver the wrap package to the requesting device. In other embodiments, the advertisement may contain a link including the identifier that is then used to retrieve and deliver the wrap when the link is selected.
US09449333B2
Various methods, systems and apparatus for displaying online advertising content associated with a point-of-interest (“POI”) in a digital mapping system, are disclosed. One such method may include detecting a change in the zoom level of an electronic map displayed on a computing device (e.g. desktop/laptop, smart phone, etc. operation on Windows®, Linux®, Mac OS®, iOS®, Android®, etc.) determining if the new zoom-level is at a pre-determined zoom level (e.g. at maximum zoom), identifying a POI on the map, retrieving advertisement content associated with the POI (“POI advertisement content”) and displaying the POI advertisement content. A POI may be a specific point of interest; or, an entire geographic region of a map displayed at a high zoom level. The method may further include detecting a change in the zoom, or pan, of the digital map while POI advertisement content is displayed, and removing or repositioning the POI advertisement content in response.
US09449330B2
Game mechanics may be incorporated into a web site, mobile site, and/or app using an automated access, self-serve platform. A user interface may be generated based on input provided by or on behalf of a publisher of a site and/or app. The user interface may be configured to be incorporated with the site and/or app. An economy governing game mechanics associated with the user interface may be defined. The user interface may be provided for integration with the site and/or app. Integration of the user interface with the site and/or app may provide the game mechanics to the site and/or app. In some implementations, generating the user interface may include generating, at a gamification server, a widget configured to provide the user interface, the site and/or app being provided by a site server, the gamification server being separate and distinct from the site server.
US09449327B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein include systems and methods for sending merchant alert messages. The merchant can specify criteria indicating the types of customers for which he desires to receive alerts. Merchant alert messages can be sent based on characteristics of a customer, including the customer's proximity to the merchant. The merchant can use the alert message to provide better service to the customer or prevent the customer from engaging in transactions, depending on the contents of the merchant alert message.
US09449325B2
A system for authenticity verification includes: a unique product identity generation system (UPIDGS) configured for generating a unique product identity (UPID) code corresponding to a product; an anomaly generation and identification system (AGIS) connected with the UPIDGS and configured for generating an anomaly to be inserted into a standard pattern attached to the product; a database and information management system (DBIMS) connected with the UPIDGS and the AGIS; and a unique product identity verification system (UPIDVS) connected with the DBIMS and configured for receiving information from the DBIMS and verifying the authenticity of the product based on the authenticity of the 2D codes and the anomaly. The 2D codes are attached to the product and captured by the DBIMS. The AGIS is configured to locate and identify the anomaly from the product. The DBIMS is configured to determine the authenticity of the 2D codes and the anomaly.
US09449322B2
Methods and systems to suggest information to be used with an item being listed for sale may include analyzing stored search queries and identifying co-occurring terms or terms based on their desirability scores (or desirable terms). The co-occurring terms and the desirable terms may be identified based on their frequency of use in the search queries and/or in the title information or other information associated with items offered for sale.
US09449317B2
An interrogating and processing system and method is described. A wireless communication device interrogates an information source, having a barcode or tag, and wirelessly transmits data indicative of the information source. The interrogator can be built into or adjunct to the wireless communication device. An automated processing subsystem receives the transmitted data and identifies an item corresponding to the data. A fulfillment subsystem effects delivery of the item to a destination. There can be a coupon code scanning and processing system and method. A wireless computing device having an interrogator reads a coupon code. An automated processing subsystem receives the corresponding data and provides a benefit associated with the coupon. The benefit can be a discount on a product or service. Alternatively, at least a portion of the coupon including a code is displayed on a screen of the computing device for processing at a point of sale terminal.
US09449314B2
A central processing unit measurement facility is virtualized in order to support concurrent use of the facility by multiple guests executing within a virtual environment. Each guest of the environment has independent control over disablement/enablement of the facility for that guest.
US09449310B2
A check-in method based on a two-dimensional barcode and an associated system including a check-in management server, a scanning terminal, and a display terminal are provided. The check-in management server is communicatively connected to a display terminal and a scanning terminal, respectively. The check-in management server generates a two-dimensional barcode and sends the two-dimensional barcode to the display terminal, the two-dimensional barcode comprising a check-in identifier. The display terminal displays the two-dimensional barcode. The scanning terminal then scans the two-dimensional barcode, obtains a scanning timestamp and the check-in identifier, and sends a check-in request including a user identifier, the scanning timestamp, and the check-in identifier to the check-in management server. The check-in management server confirms the check-in request according to the check-in identifier and the user identifier, and records a check-in timestamp of the user according to the scanning timestamp.
US09449303B2
A notebook component within a note-taking application is utilized as a centralized mechanism for recording notations and providing documentation related to a particular meeting. The meeting participants are provided with centralized access to the notebook component and thus are able to update the notebook record of the meeting collaboratively and in real time. In addition to user-driven updates, updates may also be generated on an automatic or semi-automatic basis. Updates may be made before, during or after the actual meeting. Updates may originate from an application data source outside of the note-taking application itself.
US09449301B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining, at a policy and charging rules node, that the policy and charging rules node should perform a policy decision; comparing a criteria portion of at least one rule of a plurality of rules to a set of context information; identifying a rule of the plurality of rules that matches the set of context information; determining that a result portion of the identified rule includes a reference to a first managed object; and using the first managed object as at least part of a result of the policy decision.
US09449298B2
Techniques managing complex dependencies in a file-based team environment are provided. A software module is represented as an object. The object is defined via a file. The file includes relationships, and some of the relationships define dependencies to other objects. In some cases, attributes for the object are also included in the file and are defined via references to still other objects. The relationships and the attributes are carried with the object via the file.
US09449297B2
The present invention relates to computer-based devices and methods supporting document exchange choreographies. More particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to devices and methods that facilitate evolution of systems by various combinations of choreography versioning, service versioning and document versioning. It provides for choreography management using a choreography agent and presents choreography-enabled interfaces to non choreography enabled applications. Additional aspects of the present invention include a graphical design tool and transparent aliasing of a host service as multiple context setting franchised services. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.
US09449279B2
Network server arrangement for processing non-parametric, multi-dimensional, spatial and temporal human behavior or technical observations measured pervasively, and related method for the same are disclosed. An example computer system to process usage data received from a wireless device, the computer system including a memory including machine readable instructions; and a processor to execute the instructions to: process the usage data to identify applications which were sequentially accessed on the wireless device in a time period; build a behavior model based on the identified applications, the behavior model to describe user behavior associated with the wireless device; execute the behavior model to predict usage of an application on the wireless device; based on the prediction, monitor usage of the wireless device to determine an accuracy of the prediction; and update the behavior model based on the accuracy of the prediction.
US09449275B2
To enable efficient abduction even for observations that are faulty or inadequately modeled, a relaxed abduction problem is proposed in order to explain the largest possible part of the observations with as few assumptions as possible. On the basis of two preference orders over a subset of observations and a subset of assumptions, tuples can therefore be determined such that the theory, together with the subset of assumptions, explains the subset of observations. The formulation as a multi-criteria optimization problem eliminates the need to offset assumptions made and explained observations against one another. Due to the technical soundness of the approach, specific properties of the set of results (such as correctness, completeness etc.), can be checked, which is particularly advantageous in safety-critical applications. The complexity of the problem-solving process can be influenced and therefore flexibly adapted in terms of domain requirements through the selection of the underlying representation language and preference relations. The invention can be applied to any technical system, e.g. plants or power stations.
US09449257B2
The present invention proposes a dynamically reconfigurable multi-level parallel single instruction multiple data array processing system which has a pixel level parallel image processing element array and a row-parallel array processor. The PE array mainly implements a linear operation which is adapted to be executed in parallel in the low and middle levels of image processing and the RP array implements an operation which is adapted to execute in row-parallel in the low and middle levels of image processing or more complex nonlinear operations. In particularly, such a system can be dynamically reconfigured as an SOM neural network at a low cost of area, and the neural network supports high level of image processing such as a high speed online neural network training and image feature recognition, and completely overcomes a defect that a high level of image processing can't be done by pixel-level parallel processing array in the existing programmable vision chips and parallel vision processors, and facilitates an intelligent and portable real time on-chip vision image system with a complete function at low device cost and low power consumption.
US09449252B1
An image processing device determines a first brightness value of a first pre-specified area in proximity to an object mask of an object in a source image and a first average color value of the source image, and determines a second brightness value of a second pre-specified area in proximity to an object mask of the object in a target image and a second average color value of the target image. The brightness value of each pixel of the object in the target image is adjusted based on a ratio of the second brightness value and the first brightness value. A color value of each pixel of an object in the target image is adjusted when a difference value between the first average color value and the second average color value exceeds a threshold color value.
US09449245B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for detecting a straight line. The method includes: acquiring a Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) feature set for each respective pixel point in an image, wherein the HOG feature set is configured to reflect straight line characteristics of a localized portion where the pixel point locates; determining at least one candidate direction of a straight line to be detected according to the HOG feature sets of the respective pixel points; and detecting a direction and a position of the straight line precisely according to the candidate direction. The present disclosure efficiently avoids the errors caused by binarization, and increases the accuracy of the detection of straight line.
US09449241B2
A system for detecting and tracking a curvilinear object in a three-dimensional space includes an image acquisition system including a video camera arranged to acquire a video image of the curvilinear object and output a corresponding video signal, the video image comprising a plurality n of image frames each at a respective time ti, where i=1, 2, . . . , n; and a data processing system adapted to communicate with the image acquisition system to receive the video signal. The data processing system is configured to determine a position, orientation and shape of the curvilinear object in the three-dimensional space at each time ti by forming a computational model of the curvilinear object at each time ti such that a projection of the computation model of the curvilinear object at each time ti onto a corresponding frame of the plurality of image frames of the video image matches a curvilinear image in the frame to a predetermined accuracy to thereby detect and track the curvilinear object from time ti to time tn.
US09449238B2
Systems and methods search pixels of source images and compare them to pixels of templates. Best matches correlate to objects in the image. That environmental conditions impact the appearance of objects, best matching scores suffer under poor lighting and other adverse conditions. Improving scores includes augmenting traditional correlation techniques with object features extracted from the source image and matching them to templates corresponding to the features. Certain embodiments contemplate corrupting pixels of image templates corresponding to objects with pixels extracted from the source image corresponding to features. Representative features include corners, edges, ridges, points/regions of interest, etc. Other embodiments note augmented correlation as a computing application and computing devices therefore, including cameras for capturing images and displaying results to users.
US09449235B2
A steering control device is provided that calculates a white line approach suppression turning amount that is based on a distance between a host vehicle is separated from either a left or a right white line when a host vehicle approaches either a left or a right white line. The steering control device controls a turning unit for turning a turnable wheel based on the white line approach suppression turning amount, and upon determining that the other among the left and right white lines cannot be detected and a distance between the host vehicle and the left or right white line is decreasing, an increase in the white line approach suppression turning amount is inhibited while permitting a decrease in the white line approach suppression turning amount.
US09449233B2
A plurality of camera devices are configured to localize one another based on visibility of each neighboring camera in an image plane. Each camera device captures images and identifies sightings of candidate targets. The camera device share information about sightings and triangulate positions of targets. Targets are matched to known tracks based on prior images, allowing targets to be tracked in a 3D environment.
US09449232B2
Systems and methods for replacing original media bookmarks of at least a portion of a digital media file with replacement bookmarks is described. A media fingerprint engine detects the location of the original fingerprints associated with the portion of the digital media file and a region analysis algorithm characterizes regions of media file spanning the location of the original bookmarks by data class types. The replacement bookmarks are associated with the data class types and are overwritten or otherwise are substituted for the original bookmarks. The replacement bookmarks then are subjected to a fingerprint matching algorithm that incorporates media timeline and media related metadata.
US09449231B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for generating and using models to select thumbnail images for videos. In one exemplary method, the method comprises extracting at least one thumbnail from a video and determining at least one feature present in the at least one thumbnail. The method further comprises sending the extracted at least one thumbnail to one of an editor or at least one viewer. The method further comprises receiving feedback information related to the at least one thumbnail. The method further comprises generating a model and storing the generated model for use in identifying thumbnails for other videos. The model can be generated based on the determined at least one feature and the received feedback information.
US09449224B2
A method for recognizing a printed map and an electronic apparatus using the same are provided. The method comprises the following steps. First, a picture of the printed map is obtained, and a block area surrounded by a road outline in the picture is defined. Next, at least one road name related to the road outline is recognized, and a map service is queried with the at least one recognized road name to find an electronic map having a map area corresponded to the block area in the map service. Afterwards, the block area in the picture is mapped to the map area in the map service.
US09449219B2
A system for activity monitoring includes a tracking component, an activity identification component, a procedural component, and a notification component. The tracking component tracks an individual and one or more objects in a work area using a three-dimensional tracking system. The activity identification component identifies an activity of the individual and any of the one or more objects that are affected by the activity. The procedural component determines whether the activity violates one or more procedural rules pertaining to one or more of the individual, the work area, and the one or more objects. The notification component provides a notification of a violation.
US09449218B2
Large venue surveillance and reaction systems and methods using dynamically analyzed emotional input
Certain example embodiments relate to large venue surveillance and reaction systems and/or methods that take into account both subjective emotional attributes of persons having relations to the large venues, and objective measures such as, for example, actual or expected wait times, current staffing levels, numbers of customers to be serviced, etc. Pre-programmed scenarios are run in real-time as events stream in over one or more electronic interfaces, with each scenario being implemented as a logic sequence that takes into account at least an aspect of a representation of an inferred emotional state. The scenarios are run to (a) determine whether an incident might be occurring and/or might have occurred, and/or (b) dynamically determine a responsive action to be taken. A complex event processing engine may be used in this regard. The analysis may be used in certain example embodiments to help improve customer satisfaction at the large venue.
US09449203B2
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a card reader with a read head positioned in a housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device and has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. A power supply is coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device.
US09449188B2
Integration user for analytical access to read only data stores generated from transactional systems
The technology disclosed preserves the tenant specificity and user specificity of the tenant data by associating user IDs to complementary special IDs referred to as the integration user(s). In particular, it combines the traceability of user actions, the integration of security models and the flexibility of a service ID into one integration user(s).
US09449176B1
Apparatus and methods to evaluate computing systems' vulnerability implement a series of steps wherein a system may be selected, and a specific component identified. Obtaining component information may include methods for accessing its configuration address space. Creation of a list of control or configuration addresses is followed by filtering to identify documented, reserved addresses, documented reserved test addresses, and undocumented addresses. A filtered subset is tested by accessing each address contained in the subset, and verifying continuity of operation of the tested component, then accesses by reading, writing, or both to subset addresses to classify as benign to component and system. Failure may constitute data damage, component damage, system damage, component failure, or system failure.
US09449169B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates storing an image file of a virtual machine on a potentially unprotected flash storage exhibiting sub-optimal non-sequential write performance on a mobile phone. During operation, the system stores in the flash storage data in a log-structured format and in a protected storage meta-data associated with the data stored in the flash storage. The system also checks integrity of the data stored in the flash storage using the meta-data in the protected storage.
US09449168B2
A method for querying a knowledgebase of malicious hosts numbered from 1 through N. The method includes providing a network of computers, which has a plurality of unknown malicious host machines. In a specific embodiment, the malicious host machines are disposed throughout the network of computers, which includes a worldwide network of computers, e.g., Internet. The method includes querying a knowledge base including a plurality of known malicious hosts, which are numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. In a preferred embodiment, the knowledge base is coupled to the network of computers. The method includes receiving first information associated with an unknown host from the network; identifying an unknown host and querying the knowledge base to determine if the unknown host is one of the known malicious hosts in the knowledge base. The method also includes outputting second information associated with the unknown host based upon the querying process.
US09449164B2
A method of securing a computing device is disclosed. The computing device is configured to store an access key in a storage location in order for the computing device to operate in an operational mode. The method comprises removing the access key from the storage location in response to an event indicative of the end of the operational mode.
US09449162B2
Disclosed is a portable storage device including a fingerprint sensor, a fingerprint data processing unit, a data repository, a data processing unit and the like. The fingerprint data processing unit outputs a fingerprint matching signal when fingerprint information received from the fingerprint sensor matches authentication fingerprint information of the fingerprint data repository. If the fingerprint matching signal is received from the fingerprint data processing unit, the data processing unit retrieves a data requested by the user terminal from the data repository, converts the retrieved data into a read-only data and transmits the read-only data to the user terminal.
US09449159B2
A data security system and method protects stored data from unauthorized access. According to one aspect of the invention, a client computing device communicates periodically with a server. If communications is note established between the client and the server for a selected activation interval and a subsequent grace period, the data is determined to be lost, and programmed security rules are automatically executed. The server with which the client computer device communicates includes one server located inside the firewall of a particular organization, or a mirror server located outside the firewall, and thereby allow for the re-setting of the activation interval when the client is properly outside of the firewall through communication with the mirror server, as well as the to provide command an control over a lost or stolen client by pushing updated rules if communication is subsequently attempted with the mirror server.
US09449151B2
A health assessment server allows people to conduct their own physical examinations using one or more medical measurement devices that are bound to one or more user devices. The user uses the medical measurement devices herself and submits the results to the health assessment server through a computer network such as the Internet, either directly from the medical measurement devices or through the user devices. The health assessment server determines an improved health state of the user at which benefits accrue to the user and periodically requests updated health attributes to measure progress toward the improved health state and projecting time until the improved health state is achieved.
US09449147B2
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
US09449145B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing a risk of disease. One method includes obtaining an anatomic model associated with a target anatomy; modeling, using a processor, an injection of one or more virtual contrast agents into the anatomic model; performing a simulation of flow of blood and the one or more virtual contrast agents through the anatomic model; and computing one or more characteristics of concentration associated with the one or more virtual contrast agents at one or more locations in the anatomic model based on the simulation.
US09449139B2
A system and method for tracing a net includes comparing an IC design against a marked portion of the IC design, and extracting a traced net that includes the marked portion from the IC design file. The method also includes displaying the traced net and storing at least one indicator along with information identifying the traced net.
US09449131B2
Extracting a system architecture in high level synthesis includes determining a first function of a high level programming language description and a second function contained within a control flow construct of the high level programming description. The second function is determined to be a data consuming function of the first function. Within a circuit design, a port including a local memory is automatically generated. The port couples a first circuit block implementation of the first function to a second circuit block implementation of the second function within the circuit design.
US09449128B2
A device may receive information that identifies a set of input frequencies and a set of output frequencies associated with a circuit. The device may determine, based on the set of input frequencies and the set of output frequencies, a set of fundamental frequencies associated with the circuit, and a harmonic order corresponding to one or more fundamental frequencies in the set of fundamental frequencies, where the one or more fundamental frequencies and the corresponding harmonic orders are based on a quantity of harmonic frequencies associated with the circuit. The device may output or store the one or more fundamental frequencies and the corresponding harmonic orders.
US09449126B1
A user interface for presenting a set of related pages of an electronic content work for view at the same time. The pages are sized according to a target format for presentation of the electronic content work, and may also be formatted according to user-defined font and zoom criteria. Each of the related pages comprises a media object, for example a markup language object. Responsive to user manipulation of presentation criterion for the set of related pages, the set of related pages is reformatted and so presented in near real-time. In some instances, a user may manipulate controls of the user interface to isolate a content object included within the set of related pages, have information regarding that content object presented and even edit the content object in-line with the present view.
US09449125B2
A computer-implemented method for simulating a flow of fluid around a solid object comprises: defining straight lines between gravity points of elements in a solid object region and gravity points of elements in a fluid region; defining intersecting points of the straight lines with a boundary surface between the two regions; calculating distances between the intersecting points and the gravity points in the fluid region; and obtaining the shearing stress at the boundary surface.
US09449121B2
Crowds of people within an environment can be modeled in real time. A multitude of mobile devices located within an environment can periodically transmit their geographical locations over networks to a remote server. The remote server can use these geographical locations to generate a current real-time model of a crowd of people who possess the mobile devices that transmitted the geographical locations. The remote server can transmit the model over networks back to the mobile devices. The mobile devices can use the received model to present useful information to the users of those mobile devices.
US09449114B2
A method and system for removing chrome from a web page is provided. An example system includes a parsing module, a text density analyzer, a content node selector 206, and a text extractor. The parsing module may be configured to parse a web page into a tree structure. The text density analyzer may be configured to determine a text density score value for each node from the tree structure. The content node selector may be configured to identify one or more nodes from the tree structure as content nodes based on their respective text density score values. The text extractor may be configured to extract text from the content nodes only.
US09449109B1
A system provides exchange and display of information among a group of users based on creation, arranging, sharing and exchange of tiles. The system further provides connecting advertisements to tiles, displaying the advertisement when tiles are accessed, monetizing the advertisement and adding visual effects to the display of the advertisement.
US09449108B2
Included are embodiments for determining sort order. At least one embodiment of a method includes determining a plurality of search results associated with at least one search criteria. Some embodiments of a method include determining a first distance between at least one of the search results and a home page associated with the at least one search result and determining a display order for the plurality of search results.
US09449106B2
Techniques for context-based queryless presentation of recommendations are described. Without receiving an explicit query, an inferred query is determined based on a first set of context signals associated with a recommendation triggering event. Items matching the inferred query are selected based on a second set of one or more context signals associated with the recommendation triggering event. One or more results items identifying the one or more matching items are caused to display. A result items may be displayed in association with an explanation that identifies context values used to select an item for recommendation or one or more attributes of the item that are relevant to a user or the inferred query.
US09449104B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for deriving trustful metadata for an application are disclosed. For example, the method crawls online for the application, analyzes the application to determine a function of the application, and generates trustful meta-data for the application based upon the function of the application.
US09449101B2
Systems and methods are provided for improved web searching. In one implementation, suggested search queries are provided based on previous search queries and click data. A weighted bi-partite graph or index may be used to identify related search queries based on overlapping clicked URLs. According to a method, query-click log data of a search engine is processed to generate sets of suggested search queries, data corresponding to each suggested search query, and a set of clicked URLs related to each suggested search query. Additionally, or independently, methods may be provided for contextually correcting spelling errors within sets of suggested search queries using a contextual algorithm, and/or identifying and discarding sets of suggested search queries and URLs that lead to restricted material, such as restricted content and related URLs.
US09449090B2
A system, method and computer program utilize a distance associative hashing algorithmic means to provide a highly efficient means to rapidly address a large database. The indexing means can be readily subdivided into a plurality of independently-addressable segments where each such segment can address a portion of related data of the database where the sub-divided indexes of said portions reside entirely in the main memory of each of a multiplicity of server means. The resulting cluster of server means, each hosting an addressable sector of a larger database of searchable audio or video information, provides a significant improvement in the latency and scalability of an Automatic Content Recognition system, among other uses.
US09449087B2
Video content information associated with video content is received, by at least a first computing device, wherein the video content includes one or more video conferences and the first computing device includes a software module configured, at least in part, to access the video conferences. End destination information associated with a reception instance of the video content is received, wherein the end destination information includes experience information that, at least in part, includes information relating to a quality of the reception instance of the video content and a location of an end destination associated with the reception instance of the video content. At least a portion of the video content information and the end destination information is selectively aggregated, by another computing device, which includes at least a portion of the information relating to the quality of the reception instance of the video content, to generate aggregated information.
US09449075B2
Providing guided search includes: receiving a new query; processing the new query to obtain a plurality of models, wherein a model indicates a mapping relationship of a previously stored query and corresponding guidance information; determining a corresponding plurality of similarities of the plurality of models relative to the new query; obtaining guidance information in a database comprising a plurality of mapping relationships of previously stored query and corresponding guidance information, including selecting at least some of the plurality of models based at least in part on the similarities and using the selected models as index to search the database; and sending the obtained guidance information to be displayed to a user.
US09449072B2
A process for automatic tuning a set of collectors and/or sensors includes: collecting first machine data by a first sensor in a collection framework, processing the first machine data by a first collector in the collection framework to yield first collected machine data, performing analytics on the first collected machine data to generate analytics output, and tuning, based, at least in part, on the analytics output, at least one of the following: the first sensor and the first collector.
US09449054B1
Methods, systems, and media for providing a media search engine are provided. In some implementations, a method for searching for content is provided, the method comprising: receiving a media search query for media assets; identifying web search results from a corpus of web resources that are responsive to the media search query, wherein each of the web search results has an associated relevancy score; determining keyword information and contextual information from a subset of the web search results, wherein the subset of the web search results is selected from the web search results based on the associated relevancy score and wherein media entities are determined from at least a portion of the keyword information and the contextual information; assigning a topic score for the each of the media entities based on occurrence in the web search results; selecting at least one media entity from the media entities based on the topic score; identifying media assets from a corpus of media assets based at least in part on the selected media entity; and causing a subset of the media assets to be presented to a user in response to the media search query.
US09449049B2
Techniques for returning estimated value of search keywords of an entire account include, for the entire account, obtaining one or more selected search keywords and their respective forecast periods and parameter settings. An estimated value of a respective search keyword in the respective forecast period is forecasted. Based on stored historical data and parameter settings of the respective search keyword, the estimated value of the respective search keyword is modified to obtain a modified estimated value. The modified estimated value of each search keyword is added up to generate an estimated value of the entire account. The estimated value of the entire account is returned to a client terminal from which the entire account is logged in. The present disclosure modifies the respective search keyword's estimated value so that the estimated value of the entire account satisfies the expected value of the client.
US09449042B1
In various embodiments, static, dynamic, and behavioral analyzes may be performed on an application. A set of software libraries employed by the application may be determined. A set of device resources employed by the application may be determined. An application fingerprint is generated for the application. The application fingerprint encodes identifiers for the set of software libraries and identifiers for the set of device resources. Improvements can be recommended based upon an analysis of the application fingerprint.
US09449031B2
An Image Based Document Management (IBDM) server includes a table generator, a symbolic representation module and a sort engine. The table generator generates a table from the form images, the table comprising cells with data types including image data, symbolic data, image and symbolic data and an empty value, and updates the table. The symbolic representation module converts at least one of the cells with image data to symbolic data. The sort engine determines, from a sort request for a column of the table received from a user, at least a first priority for a first data type, the column including at least two of the data types, determines from the sort request a second priority within one of the data types, and sorts the column according to the sort request.
US09449028B2
Systems and methods for identifying a representative image for any given search query are provided. In response to a search for a query term (or terms), the system accesses an inverted index to identify images associated with that term. The system then receives a ranked list of images. The ranked list includes image identifiers, and once an item in the list is selected the system can use the associated image identifier to retrieve the image from a server. If an editor has overridden the default image for the present search query, then the system returns the image identifier for the overridden image, which can be used to access the image from the server. Thus, the representative image system provides a reliable and universal mechanism for retrieving representative images for any given topic dynamically in real time.
US09449022B2
Ranking and displaying comparable properties entails receiving appraisal information comprising a subject property and appraiser-chosen comparable properties corresponding to the subject property. Property data corresponding to a geographical area is accessed, in support of determining model-chosen comparable properties based upon the appropriateness of each of the comparable properties as comparables for the subject property. A map image is displayed for the geographical area, along with indicators on the map image indicative of the subject property, at least one of the appraiser-chosen comparable properties, and at least one of the model-chosen comparable properties.
US09449019B2
Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods include clients that determine a target storage provider to contact for a particular storage transaction based on a pathname provided by the filesystem and a predetermined scheme such as a hash function applied to a portion of the pathname. Servers use the same scheme to determine where to store relevant file information so that the clients can locate the file information. The target storage provider may store the file itself and/or may store metadata that identifies one or more other storage providers where the file is stored. A file may be replicated in multiple storage providers, and the metadata may include a list of storage providers from which the clients can select (e.g., randomly) in order to access the file.
US09449017B2
The consistency callback mechanisms employed by local file systems such as NTFS and distributed file systems such as DDS, NFS and CIFS are extended to provide a shared memory foundation for efficiently broadcasting real-time high definition video from a source object to large numbers of viewers via the Internet. Distributed applications such as video viewing client applications establish connections to a common distributed file system object, and then each application registers with the underlying distributed file system to receive notifications whenever the video source modifies the source object. The data required to update images maintained by viewing clients is included in notification messages. The distributed file system employs a network of proxy cache nodes. Proxy cache nodes receive notification messages (complete with image update data) and update their cached images of the source object and then retransmit the notification messages towards the viewing clients using IP multicast techniques. In this manner, the distributed file system's consistency mechanism efficiently employs network resources to enable the real-time distribution of video content streams.
US09449015B1
A system and method for storage checkpointing to a group of independent computer applications. The system has a storage disk that stores files; a storage access interface to access the storage disk; and a computer. The computer runs the group of independent computer applications and utilizes the files stored on the storage disk. A file system on the server accesses the files stored on the storage disk. An operating system and at least one device driver can be called by the file system, and at least one buffer buffers first data written to the storage disk and second data read from the storage disk.
US09449009B2
Support of end-user to view and operate computing resources through logically organized and graphically represented multi-layered item list (“hierarchical list”) has been fully realized on native window based computer user work environment with modern operating system such as Windows Explore of Microsoft. The present invention has implemented the hierarchical list to represent structured resources, such as for a central controlled distributed scalable virtual machine (CCDSVM), and to be displayable and operable via a browser on an end-user device for user to access and manage the actual structured resources. The implementation of the hierarchical list is accomplished by creating the hierarchical list in memory to mirror the actual structure resource, where the mirrored hierarchical list is sent to the end-user device, where the end-user device executes the browser to display the hierarchical list to allow the user to access the actual structured resources via the displayed hierarchical list.
US09449008B1
In response to a rename request to change a file name at a storage service from a first name to a second name, a workflow comprising at least two atomic operations is initiated. In the first atomic operation, a lock is obtained on a first directory entry for the first name, and an intent record for the rename workflow is stored. In a second atomic operation, a pointer of a second directory entry for the second name is modified, and an indication of the pointer modification is stored. In a third set of operations, the intent record is deleted, the lock is released, and the first directory entry is deleted.
US09449006B2
A method for deleting obsolete files from a file system is provided. The method includes: receiving a request to delete a reference to a target file in a file system from a file reference data structure, wherein the file reference data structure includes target file names and reference file names; identifying a reference file name in the file reference data structure, wherein the reference file name includes a file name of the target file; deleting a reference file from the file system, wherein the reference file has the identified reference file name; checking whether the file system includes at least one reference file whose file name matches the file name of the target file; if there is no such reference file in the file system: deleting the target file from the file system; and deleting the file name of the target file from the file reference data structure.
US09449005B2
The present invention provides a metadata storage system and a management method for a cluster file system. The metadata of the cluster file system is stored by using a DRAM+SSD+HDD three-tier architecture, and the metadata is written sequentially into a metadata buffer in the DRAM based on write-in time. When a metadata buffer fully written, it is written back into the SSD sequentially to form a new metadata storage unit, and corresponding metadata index information in a header structure thereof is stored into the DRAM in a form of a metadata index unit.
US09448999B2
A method for detecting similar documents includes extracting an entity from each of a first web document and a second web document; determining an importance contribution element corresponding to each of the web documents; calculating, using the processor, weights for each entity based on the determined importance contribution elements; and determining whether the web documents are similar documents based on the calculated weights. A device to detect similar documents includes a storage device; an entity extractor stored on the storage device and configured to extract an entity from a first web document and a second web document and to determine an importance contribution element from each of the web documents; a weight calculator configured to calculate weights of each entity based on the determined importance contribution elements; and a similar document detection unit configured to determine whether the web documents are similar documents based on the calculated weights.
US09448998B1
A system monitors each of multiple applications. For each application, a corresponding monitoring script sets forth procedures for monitoring the application. A script execution engine executes each script, and each executed script retrieves indicia to be monitored from the corresponding application. For each retrieved indicia, the script generates a corresponding record in a generic format employed across all applications, which includes a date and time the indicia was retrieved, a name of the application from which the indicia was retrieved, a name of the indicia, and a value for the retrieved indicia. A monitoring database stores the records generated by each script in the generic format. A generic monitoring console retrieves various records in the generic format from the monitoring database for various ones of the multiple applications and displays monitoring information for various ones of the multiple applications as generated from the various records.
US09448987B2
A computer implemented method commences by receiving document construction rules, then selecting a document template from a template library. The document template comprises a plurality of paragraphs that are associated with document construction rules. The method evaluates the construction rules and applies visibility to any of the associated paragraphs. Low latency processing of the visibility is accomplished in part by forming a document graph formed of conditional nodes, where the nodes have a paragraph label and a respective visibility flag. Further, a mapping datastructure serves to map from a paragraph label to a location of the corresponding conditional node within the document graph. A processor evaluates the document construction rules and, using the mapping datastructure, determines the location of the conditional node in order to modify the value of the visibility flag. In some cases, the document graph is a tree structure, and the mapping datastructure is a hash table.
US09448985B2
A method of displaying a web resource to a user in a browser application that is executed on an electronic device is provided. In response to the user requesting multiple web resources (i.e. a first web resource and a second web resource), the browser application displays a browser element tab, the browser element tab for controlling displaying of a first web resource and a second web resource within the browsing window, a browser element tab, the browser element tab having: a first browser element representative of the first web resource and a second browser element representative of the second web resource (if the web resources belong to different domains) and a unified browser element representative of the single domain (if the web resources belong to a single domain), the unified browser element being selectively collapsible and expandable.
US09448983B2
A system for dynamically defining a web feed includes a memory unit adapted to store web feed data and to generate a web feed of selected web content. The system includes an input processor to receive a user input defining one or more remote websites and to retrieve remote web content from the one or more remote websites. A user interface is provided to display a set of identified elements from the remote web content in a display area of a primary website and a selection processor receives a user selection identifying one or more selected elements of the remote web content. An equivalency engine calculates equivalency classes including subsets of the identified elements determined to be structurally similar to the selected elements. A web feed is generated and displayed to the user on the primary website that includes at least the selected elements and one or more of the subsets of the identified elements determined to be structurally similar to the selected elements.
US09448980B1
A system and machine-implemented method for verifying ownership of an organization and providing authenticated organizational badges to be displayed is provided. A request for ownership verification is received from an organization. A first bi-directional link between a profile page for the organization and a control panel designated to the organization is established. A second bi-directional link between the profile page for the organization and a webpage of the organization is further established. An ownership of the organization is verified based on the established first and second bi-directional links. When the ownership of the organization is verified, a badge based on the profile page for the organization is provided for display in the web-based application.
US09448966B2
System and method embodiments are provided to implement highly scalable and high availability (HA) clusters in massively parallel processing (MPP) systems. The embodiments include a method to build a highly scalable MPP HA cluster, which provides HA to the cluster while allowing it to scale to relatively larger number of nodes. An embodiment apparatus includes a plurality of data processing nodes distributed in a plurality of corresponding sub-clusters and configured to exchange heart-beat messages between each other within limit of each of the corresponding sub-clusters to maintain sub-cluster membership integrity and detect failures in the corresponding sub-clusters. The sub-clusters are arranged in a fan-out tree hierarchy and configured to prevent heart-beat messaging between each other.
US09448965B2
An apparatus can include a first state machine engine configured to receive a first portion of a data stream from a processor and a second state machine engine configured to receive a second portion of the data stream from the processor. The apparatus includes a buffer interface configured to enable data transfer between the first and second state machine engines. The buffer interface includes an interface data bus coupled to the first and second state machine engines. The buffer interface is configured to provide data between the first and second state machine engines.
US09448964B2
A programmable system includes a programmable analog system that is reconfigurable to perform various analog operations, and includes a programmable digital system that is reconfigurable to perform various digital operations. The programmable system also includes a microcontroller capable of reconfiguring and controlling the programmable analog system and the programmable digital system. The programmable digital system is configured to control the programmable analog system autonomously of the microcontroller.
US09448956B2
According to some embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided to receive a first data burst associated with a first data line and a second data burst associated with a second data line, determine a first one or more stuff bits to be transmitted after the first data burst and a second one or more stuff bits to be transmitted after the second data burst, and output data comprising the first data burst and the first one or more stuff bits and the second data burst and the second one or more stuff bits.
