US09455605B2
A rotating electrical machine includes: a stator core; a stator winding; and a rotor. Cross conductors connect slot conductors to run astride slots with the slot pitch N+1 at coil ends on one side and run astride slots with the slot pitch N−1 at coil ends on another side, with N representing a number of slots per pole; the stator winding includes slot conductor groups each having a plurality of slot conductors; the plurality of slot conductors in each slot conductor group are inserted at a predetermined number Ns of successive slots so that the slot conductors in the slot conductor group take successive slot positions and successive layer positions; and the number Ns is set so that Ns=NSPP+NL when NSPP represents a number of slots per phase per pole and a number of layers is expressed as 2×NL.
US09455600B2
A rotor resin assembly of a rotor of an electric motor includes a rotor magnet including a substantially cylindrical yoke molded from thermoplastic resin containing a soft magnetic material or ferrite and a resin magnet integrally formed in the outer circumference of the yoke, a position detection magnet arranged at one end in the axial direction of the rotor magnet, and a substantially doughnut-like rotor core arranged in the inner circumference of the rotor magnet and formed by laminating a predetermined number of electromagnetic steel plates. The rotor magnet, the position detection magnet, and the rotor core are integrally formed by resin. A shaft is inserted into an inner diameter section of the rotor core, and the rotor resin assembly is caulked by a jig to form a recess in the vicinity of the inner diameter sections of both end faces of the rotor core and assembled to the shaft.
US09455593B2
An electronic unit includes: a power receiving section configured to receive electric power fed from a feed unit by using a magnetic field; and a control section configured to perform, when a receiving current supplied from the power receiving section is less than a predetermined threshold current at a time of a light load, current increasing control to increase the receiving current to the threshold current or more.
US09455590B2
A charging control circuit (23, 33, 43, 53), a charging apparatus (2) comprising the charging control circuit (23, 33, 43, 53), a charging control method and a charging method comprising steps in the charging control method. The charging control circuit (23, 33, 43, 53) and the charging control method can provide a variable current reference (Iref_g), and limit the variable current reference (Iref_g) to a minimum current value in a periodically triggered interrupt duration, so as to enable an output voltage (Vout) to be closer to a battery core voltage (V0) when the interrupt duration ends. Therefore, by taking whether the output voltage (Vout) obtained when the interrupt duration ends approximately reaches a calibration voltage reference (Vref_s) as a condition, the charging is triggered to terminate, so that the defect of insufficient charging can be overcome, and instantaneous uprush of the output current (Iout) can be further limited by use of the variable current reference (Iref_g) in the charging duration. Moreover, the charging control circuit (23, 33, 43, 53) and the charging control method can further provide a variable voltage reference (Vref_g), and allow the output voltage (Vout) to exceed the calibration voltage reference (Vref_s) in the charging duration by improving the variable voltage reference (Vref_g) after it is detected that the output voltage (Vout) is far from reaching the calibration voltage reference (Vref_s) when the interrupt duration ends, thereby improving the charging speed.
US09455576B2
A smart grid management system and method where aggregators do not need to have knowledge about the topology of the electricity grid, the physical location of the end-points they control, or the congestion level of the grid. Instead, the smart grid system and method provides maximum freedom of operation to the aggregators to balance electricity supply and demand in such a way that the danger is reduced or it is even impossible for the aggregators to endanger voltage levels at the distribution system operator (DSO) level or the capacity levels at the transmission system operator (TSO) level. The distribution system operator is allowed to block, interrupt, or change the communication between aggregator and device based on a dual stage-gate control.
US09455568B2
Renewable energy power systems, DC to DC converters, and methods for operating energy storage systems are provided. A system includes a power converter having a DC bus, and an energy storage system coupled to the DC bus of the power converter. The energy storage system includes an energy storage device and a switching power supply coupled between the energy storage device and the DC bus of the power converter. The switching power supply includes a plurality of switching elements, and an energy storage device protection circuit coupled between the plurality of switching elements and the energy storage device, the energy storage device protection circuit including a solid state switch. The switching power supply further includes a fuse coupled to the energy storage device protection circuit.
US09455566B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology capable of reliably suppressing a surge voltage even in a case where noise having a small pulse width is generated. A drive protection circuit that drives and protects a switching element includes a gate driving circuit that drives the switching element in response to a gate driving signal and an overcurrent protection circuit that operates a soft cutoff circuit upon an overcurrent of the switching element, the soft cutoff circuit causing the switching element to transition from ON to OFF at a switching speed slower than that of the gate driving circuit. In the drive protection circuit, in a case where a pulse width of ON of the gate driving signal is less than or equal to a response time of the overcurrent protection circuit, the drive protection circuit operates the soft cutoff circuit to cause the switching element to transition from ON to OFF, regardless of the overcurrent.
US09455563B2
An interface is disclosed for a self powered protection relay that uses mechanical switches for its configuration. The protection relay can include a base relay for measurement of line current and for generation of a trip signal, and a Human Machine Interface (HMI) unit for specifying, by a user, a base setting of an operating parameter of the protection relay. The base relay can be self-powered from the line and the HMI unit can include an auxiliary power supply. The protection relay is configured with mechanical switches provided in the protection relay. The HMI unit in the protection relay is designed to detect and alert the user of the relay of any change in the base setting carried out with one or more mechanical switches provided in the relay in powered and unpowered conditions of the base relay.
US09455560B1
Disclosed is a wall mount enclosure and sealing assembly for electrical devices, the enclosure comprises a housing defining an interior that is accessible from an opening in a front side and configured to support electronic equipment therein. A closure door is operatively mounted to the enclosure in a closed position to prevent outside access through the opening in the front side, the closure door including an inwardly facing portion generally facing towards the front side around all or at least a portion of a periphery of the door, the inwardly facing portion extending laterally outward of the periphery of the opening. A gasket engages at least part of the inwardly facing portion of the closure door with a seal portion or first portion pressed by the inwardly facing portion of the closure door when the closure door is in the closed position to form a seal between the front side and the inwardly facing portion of the closure door to seal the interior of the enclosure.
US09455558B2
An electrical power transmission line includes: at least one electrical cable; a raceway made of ferromagnetic material including a base and a cover defining an inner housing space for housing the electrical cable; a wet basic filling material having a pH between 11 and 13 housed in the inner housing space and embedding the at least one electrical cable. In order to achieve corrosion protection of the raceway, the inner surface of the cover is in contact with a basic passivating material having a pH between 11 and 13.
US09455555B2
A stringing angle clamp device and methods associated therewith are provided. The stringing angle clamp device has a pulley wheel rotatable about an axle. A connecting structure has at least a first end and a second end, the first end rotatably affixed to the axle and the second end sized to connect to a utility pole. A first guide arm is rotatably affixed to the axle, wherein the first guide arm further comprises a first arm half and a second arm half, wherein the first arm half is mechanically fastened to the second arm half with at least one removable mechanical fastener positioned through each of the first and second arm halves. A first wire clamping structure is affixed to the first guide arm.
US09455552B1
A diode laser apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart diode lasers, each of the diode lasers situated and configured to emit a diode laser beam substantially parallel to each other diode laser beam in an emission plane in a first direction, and a plurality of reflectors situated with respect to the diode lasers and configured to receive respective diode laser beams and to reflect the respective diode laser beams substantially parallel and out of the emission plane at a small angle therewith in a second direction such that the reflected diode laser beams are in a stacked configuration.
US09455551B2
Concatenated distributed feedback lasers having multiple laser sections laid out in series are disclosed. The concatenated distributed feedback lasers utilize quantum cascade core designs to produce optical gain in the mid-infrared region and may generate several wavelengths simultaneously or sequentially. Methods of making along with methods of using such devices are also disclosed.
US09455546B2
An optical fiber carries optical channels injected into the optical fiber to a Raman amplifier. A controller determines a static tilt associated with the channels in the fiber due to wavelength dependent losses. A photodiode measures a total power of the channels at an output of the Raman amplifier. The controller determines a dynamic tilt associated with channels in the fiber based in part on the measured total power. The dynamic tilt is induced by Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) in the fiber and varies as a function of a total power of the signals injected into the fiber. The controller determines a total tilt with which to offset the static and dynamic tilts. The controller sets an amplifier gain tilt applied to the channels equal to the total tilt.
US09455542B2
A power cord apparatus includes a first body section having at least one power prong, and a head section having at least one receptacle for receiving the power prong. The power prong has a first section adapted for insertion into a hot slot of an electrical outlet, and a second section adapted for engaging a complimentary member operatively connected to a hot wire of an electrical cord. A neutral prong is carried on the body section. The neutral prong a first section adapted for insertion into the neutral slot of an electrical outlet, and a second section adapted for engaging a complimentary member operatively connected to a neutral wire of an electrical cord.
US09455537B2
An electrical connector lock can include a mounting member configured to attach to a substrate. The electrical connector lock can also include force cancellation member that cancels forces generated on an electrical component by a mated component.
US09455528B1
The Multi-plug USB Connector with Swappable Tip is a device used to connect one or more devices to a power source, allowing for charging of multiple devices. Additionally, the Multi-plug USB Connector with Swappable Tip allows multiple devices to share data connections, allowing for the simple sharing of data.
US09455519B2
The invention relates to a pole member (11) as prefabricated subassembly for a pyrotechnical igniter (10), especially for an inflator comprising two electrically conductive contact pins (14) embedded in an injection-molded part (13), wherein a fixing member (20) for anchoring the pole member (11) in the inflator is embedded in the injection-molded part (13), wherein the contact pins (14) extend through a through-hole (21) of the fixing member (20) and wherein one or more sealing components (32) are formed or arranged in or on the fixing member (20). Furthermore, the invention relates to an igniter, an inflator and an airbag module comprising such pole member.
US09455515B2
A distance between first contact portions is set smaller than a thickness of a first connection object in the state where neither of the first connection object and a second connection object is inserted into a contact. A distance between second contact portions is set greater than a thickness of the second connection object in the state where neither of the first connection object and the second connection object is inserted into the contact. When the first connection object is inserted between the first contact portions, a pair of conductive portions are relatively moved to shorten the distance between the second contact portions so that the second connection object is held between the second contact portions.
US09455513B2
A connector is connectable with a sheet-like object having a received portion. The connector comprises a terminal, a holding member and a pressing member. The holding member holds the terminal. The holding member has a regulating portion. The pressing member is supported by at least one of the terminal and the holding member so as to be movable. The pressing member is movable between an open position and a close position and is movable to the close position by being turned forward in a front-rear direction from the open position. The pressing member is provided with a receiving portion and a regulated portion. The receiving portion is positioned forward of the received portion of the object in the front-rear direction when the object is connected with the connector while the pressing member is positioned at the close position. When the pressing member is positioned at the close position, the regulated portion is positioned rearward of the regulating portion in the front-rear direction so that the regulating portion regulates forward movement of the regulated portion.
US09455511B1
A circuit board connecting device comprising a first connector mounted on a first circuit board and having a first housing with an engaging recess, first signal contacts each having a first contacting portion and a first board connecting portion and a conductive shell for covering an outer peripheral surface of the first housing surrounding the engaging recess, and a second connector mounted on a second circuit board and having a second housing operative to be put in the engaging recess and second signal contacts each having a second contacting portion and a second board connecting portion, wherein when the second housing is put in the engaging recess, the second contacting portion of each of the second signal contacts is in contact with the first contacting portion of a corresponding one of the first signal contacts and the first and second signal contacts are surrounded by the conductive shell.
US09455510B2
An adapter arrangement for electrically connecting an upwardly directed first contact on a horizontal printed circuit board assembly with a generally upwardly directed second contact on an electronics module mounted on the PCB assembly, including a rigid adapter housing adapted for mounting on one end of the module, which housing contains a generally vertical conductor having a lower end connected by a downwardly directed lower terminal with the PCB assembly first contact, and an upper end connected by a generally downwardly-directed upper terminal with the electronics module second contact, characterized in that the lower adapter terminal is vertical, and the upper adapter terminal is downwardly inclined by an acute angle relative to the vertical. In a second embodiment, the adapter is sectional and includes upper and lower sections. In a third embodiment, an auxiliary adapter section is connected between the upper adapter section and the electronics module.
US09455507B2
A coaxial cable connector having, in one embodiment, a connector body or body member, a coupling element and a continuity element. The connector body is configured to be attached to a post. The continuity element is configured to maintain an electrical connection between the coupling element and the connector body.
US09455506B2
A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein, a shelf ladder disposed in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, an electrical connector corresponding to each of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, wherein each of the electrical connectors comprises an actuator movable from a first position to a second position and an electrical contact configured to automatically move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, and an adjustable shelf removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector is held in the second position by a weight of the adjustable shelf and the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector engages the adjustable shelf.
US09455504B2
A wire terminal connector is provided that includes a clamping portion that encircles a conductor exposed at an end of an electric wire in a clamping manner. The clamping portion also has a plurality of recesses that are formed on a portion thereof in contact with the conductor. In addition, the wire terminal connector includes a grip portion that encircles a sheath of the electric wire.
US09455503B2
An electrical contact terminal includes a base portion for positioning and retaining the electrical contact terminal within a connector housing, an insulation displacement connecting portion extending upwardly from the base portion and comprising a pair of spaced apart arms defining an opening therebetween for receiving and making electrical contact with an electrical conductor, and a contact portion extending downwardly from the base portion and configured to float when the electrical contact terminal is retained and positioned within a connector housing. The contact portion includes a first arm, a second arm, and an arcuate base portion. The first arm extends downwardly and includes a first end attached to the base portion and an opposite second end. The second arm extends downwardly and includes a free first end closer to the base portion and an opposite second end farther from the base portion. The second arm is configured to deflect when making electrical contact with a mating contact pin. The arcuate base portion connects the second ends of the first and second arms.
US09455500B1
A dual-polarized antenna array includes at least one Balanced Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna (BAVA) element pair. A particular pair of the at least one BAVA element pair includes a first BAVA and a second BAVA. A substrate of the first BAVA forms a notched portion along a center axis of the first BAVA. A substrate of the second BAVA forms a notched portion along a center axis of the second BAVA. Each BAVA of the particular BAVA element pair includes a plurality of conductors. The notched portion of the substrate of the first BAVA is received by the notched portion of the substrate of the second BAVA, and the notched portion of the substrate of the second BAVA is received by the notched portion of the substrate of the first BAVA. The substrate of the first BAVA is in an orthogonal orientation relative to the substrate of the second BAVA.
US09455497B2
A multi-band antenna includes a radiating antenna member, a first parasitic antenna member, and a second parasitic antenna member. The radiating antenna member includes a feeding unit, a high frequency (HF) radiating unit and a low frequency (LF) radiating unit, the HF radiating unit and the LF radiating unit extend from the feeding unit. The first parasitic antenna member includes an HF grounding part, and an HF parasitic unit extending from the HF grounding part and adjacent to the HF radiating unit. The second parasitic antenna member includes an LF grounding part, and an LF parasitic unit extending from the LF grounding part and electromagnetically coupled to the LF radiating unit. The feeding unit is arranged between the HF grounding part and the LF grounding part; the feeding unit and the HF radiating unit define a receiving slot, and the HF parasitic unit is arranged in the receiving slot.
US09455481B2
At a timing of time t1 battery temperature Tbat lowers to Tbat_start and a warm-up request occurs, SOC at this time is a level, like time t2, which allows a vehicle to travel by itself up to a battery charging facility and allows a battery charger to be connected to the battery charging facility. Since a warm-up permission judging value is set to SOCs_low that is substantially 0 at time t1, in response to judgment of “SOC≧SOCs_low (≈0)”, warm-up of the battery is carried out from time t1 as shown by a solid line, then Tbat can be increased from time t1. A battery charge time can be thus shortened. With this, in order that the battery does not freeze while the battery is unused, a control that warms up the battery by a battery-driven heater is performed while shortening the battery charge time.
US09455479B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode, a case configured to store the electrode assembly, a cap plate attached to the case, a terminal electrically connected to the first electrode and protruding out of the cap plate, a current collecting member connecting the first electrode with the terminal, the current collecting member including a fuse portion, a lower insulating member between the cap plate and the current collecting member, and a barrier between the lower insulating member and the fuse portion.
US09455477B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte battery is disclosed. The non-aqueous electrolyte battery include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes an anode mixture layer having a volume density of 1.70 to 1.90 g/cm3 prior to being subjected to charge and discharge processes. The anode mixture layer includes mixed particles composed of spherical graphite having an average particle size of 25 to 35 μm and non-spherical graphite having an average particle size of 8 to 22 μm.
US09455476B2
A secondary battery capable of achieving superior cycle characteristics, superior storage characteristics, and superior swollenness characteristics is provided. The secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte containing a solvent and an electrolyte salt. The solvent contains halogenated cyclic ester carbonate. The halogenated cyclic ester carbonate is a cyclic compound that has one or more fluorine groups, one or more fluorinated alkyl groups, and a carbonyl group.
US09455474B2
Provided is an electrolytic solution exhibiting excellent withstand voltage and satisfactory characteristics even at low and high temperatures. The invention is an electrolytic solution that includes a cyclic carbonate (I-1) represented by formula (I-1): (in the formula, R is an alkyl group having two or more carbon atoms, a fluorine-containing alkyl group having two or more carbon atoms, an alkoxy group or a fluorine-containing alkoxy group, in which an oxygen atom may be inserted between carbon atoms); a cyclic carbonate (I-2) different from the cyclic carbonate (I-1); and an electrolyte salt (II)).
US09455464B2
Provided are a gas decomposition component, a method for producing a gas decomposition component, and a power generation apparatus. A gas decomposition component 10 includes a cylindrical-body MEA 7 including a first electrode 2 disposed on an inner-surface side, a second electrode 5 disposed on an outer-surface side, and a solid electrolyte 1 sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a porous metal body 11s inserted on the inner-surface side of the cylindrical-body MEA and electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the gas decomposition component further includes a porous conductive-paste-coated layer 11 g formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first electrode, and a metal mesh sheet 11 a disposed on an inner circumferential side of the conductive-paste-coated layer, and an electrical connection between the first electrode and the porous metal body is established through the conductive-paste-coated layer and the metal mesh sheet.
US09455458B2
A hydrogen supply apparatus of fuel cell stack is provided. In particular, a plurality of unit cells includes a membrane electrode assembly, a separating plate disposed on two sides of the membrane electrode assembly, a coolant path, an air path, a fuel path, and an air inlet manifold communicated with the air path. An end plate is disposed on each end of the plurality of unit cells and forms an air inlet manifold in a location corresponding to the air inlet manifold of the separating plate. Additionally, a hydrogen supply apparatus is provided in the air inlet manifold of the separating plate and the air inlet manifold of the end plate that selectively supplies additional hydrogen to the cathode through the air path when needed.
US09455452B2
Provided are a fuel cell making it possible to make contact pressures high between its electrode layers and its metallic layers and others, thereby improving the power of the cell, and a method for manufacturing the cell. A fuel cell of the invention comprises a solid polymer electrolyte layer (1), first and second electrode layers (2, 3) located on each of both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte layer (1), and first and second electroconductive layers (4, 5) arranged outside the first and second electrode layers (2, 3), respectively, the individual layers (1 to 5) being integrated with each other through a resin molded body (6) which is an insert-molded body.
US09455446B2
A sodium or potassium battery is provided, prior to an initial charge and discharge cycle, with a halogen salt additive. As is conventional, the battery is made up of the following components: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. In addition, the battery includes a halogen salt (MX), where M is a metal and X is a halogen element. The halogen salt is added to the anode, the cathode, the electrolyte, or combinations thereof. The concentration MX with respect to the component(s) to which it is added is in the range of 0.01% to 10% in weight. The element X can be selected from the group of halogen elements listed in the Periodic Table. M is a material such as lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, barium, titanium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, ammonium, or combinations thereof. Advantageously, the electrolyte may be either aqueous or non-aqueous.
US09455430B2
A porous bi-layer separator is composed of a first separator layer with a contacting array of non-conducting particles overlaid with a second separator layer of a microporous polymer layer, fabricated on the electrode surface of the anode of a lithium-ion battery to form an integral electrode-separator construction. Exemplary bi-layer separators may be fabricated by deposition of solvent-containing slurries of separator particles followed by solvent evaporation to produce the particle layer with subsequent application of polymer solutions followed by controlled evaporation of solvent to produce the microporous polymer layer. The elevated temperature performance of lithium-ion battery cells incorporating such integral electrode-bi-layer separators was demonstrated to exceed the performance of similar cells using commercial and experimental single layer polymer separators.
US09455424B2
A battery container 10 includes a case member 1, one side of the case member 1 being opened, and a closing member 2 for closing the opening. Further, a material-shortage section 24 is formed near a welding section 13, the case member 1 and the closing member 2 being brought into contact with each other and welded in the welding section 13 by irradiating the welding section 13 with a welding beam. Further, the case member 1 is welded with the closing member 2 so that the welding section 13 reaches the material-shortage section 24. Note that a width of the material-shortage section 24 in a welding beam irradiation direction may be equal to or greater than one third of a fusion depth of the welding section 13.
US09455422B2
Disclosed is a rectangular battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a first electrode and a second electrode with a separator interposed therebetween is housed in a battery case having an opening sealed by a sealing plate. The first electrode is electrically connected to the sealing plate, and the second electrode is electrically connected to a current collector plate provided between the sealing plate and the electrode group and extending along a longer side direction of the sealing plate. The sealing plate has a lower-strength portion configured to be deformed prior to the other portions of the sealing plate to provide a contact between the sealing plate and the current collector plate when the sealing plate receives an external pressure along the longer side direction of the sealing plate.
US09455421B2
Devices, structures, materials and methods for vertical light emitting transistors (VLETs) and light emitting displays (LEDs) are provided. In particular, architectures for vertical polymer light emitting transistors (VPLETs) for active matrix organic light emitting displays (AMOLEDs) and AMOLEDs incorporating such VPLETs are described. Porous conductive transparent electrodes (such as from nanowires (NW)) alone or in combination with conjugated light emitting polymers (LEPs) and dielectric materials are utilized in forming organic light emitting transistors (OLETs). Combinations of thin films of ionic gels, LEDs, porous conductive electrodes and relevant substrates and gates are utilized to construct LETs, including singly and doubly gated VPLETs. In addition, printing processes are utilized to deposit layers of one or more of porous conductive electrodes, LEDs, and dielectric materials on various substrates to construct LETs, including singly and doubly gated VPLETs.
US09455418B2
An apparatus for supplying a support having a clean surface is provided. Alternatively, an apparatus for manufacturing a stack including a support and a remaining portion of a processed member whose one surface layer is separated is provided. A positioning portion, a slit formation portion, and a peeling portion are included. The positioning portion is provided with a first transfer mechanism of a stacked film including a support and a separator and a table for fixing the stacked film. The slit formation portion is provided with a cutter that can form a slit which does not pass through the separator. The peeling portion is provided with a second transfer mechanism and a peeling mechanism extending the separator and then peeling the separator. In addition, a pretreatment portion activating a support surface is included.
US09455416B2
An optoelectronic component may include a first organic functional layer structure, a second organic functional layer structure, and a charge generating layer structure between the first organic functional layer structure and the second organic functional layer structure. The charge generating layer structure includes a first electron-conducting charge generating layer, and a second electron-conducting charge generating layer. The second electron-conducting charge generating layer is formed from a single substance, and the substance of the first electron-conducting charge generating layer is a substance selected from the group of substances consisting of: HAT-CN, Cu(I)pFBz, NDP-2, NDP-9, Bi(III)pFBz, F16CuPc.
US09455414B2
An array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. The array substrate comprises thin film transistor units (2) arranged in array, and further comprises a quantum dot layer (3) disposed over the thin film transistor units (2). The quantum dot layer includes at least three kinds of quantum dots, any one kind of which emits light of a respective wave band when being irradiated and excited by light from an incident portion of the array substrate. The array substrate can improve color gamut range, transmittance of a display device without increasing the power consumption of the display device.
US09455397B2
A stackable piezoelectric actuator component (100) comprises a stack (10) of piezoelectric layers (11) and electrode layers (12) arranged therebetween, a voltage supply device (20) arranged outside the stack (10) and serving for making electrical contact with the electrode layers, a contact connection (30) for applying a voltage to the voltage supply device (20) and a further contact connection (40), which is electrically coupled to the voltage supply device (20). The contact connection (30) and the further contact connection (40) are designed complementarily with respect to one another in such a way that a further stackable piezoelectric actuator component (200), comprising at least a contact connection or a further contact connection (30, 40), can be electrically coupled to the actuator component (100).
US09455389B2
In a thermoelectric conversion module, each of a p-type element and an n-type element is configured by aligning a plurality of particles in series and connecting the particles to each other. Around a connection part in which the particles are connected to each other, a protrusion is protruded. The protrusion has a shape of continuously extending around the entire periphery of the connection part. The protrusion may be partly interrupted, but in such a case, a circumferential length of one interrupted portion is less than one half of the periphery of the connection part.
US09455381B2
Disclosed is a light-emitting device (1) including a light-emitting element (2) emitting primary light, and a light converter (3) absorbing a part of the primary light emitted from the light-emitting element (2) and emitting secondary light having a longer wavelength than the primary light. The light converter (3) contains a green light-emitting phosphor (4) and a red light-emitting phosphor (5). The green light-emitting phosphor (4) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from a divalent europium-activated oxynitride phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: EuaSibAlcOdNe and a divalent europium-activated silicate phosphor substantially represented by the following formula: 2(Ba1-f-gMIfEug)O.SiO2, while the red light-emitting phosphor (5) is composed of at least one phosphor selected from tetravalent manganese-activated fluoro-tetravalent metalate phosphors substantially represented by the following formulae: MII2(MIII1-hMnh)F6 and/or MIV(MIII1-hMnh)F6. Consequently, the light-emitting device (1) has excellent color gamut (NTSC ratio).
US09455375B2
A light emitting device package includes a substrate having a first cavity and a second cavity directly under the first cavity, a light emitting part on the second cavity, a first metal layer on an inner side surface of the substrate, a second metal layer on the inner side surface of the substrate, a third metal layer on a bottom surface of the substrate, the third metal layer electrically connected to the first metal layer by a first via hole, a fourth metal layer on the bottom surface of the substrate, the fourth metal layer electrically connected to the second metal layer by a second via hole, and a fifth metal layer on the bottom surface of the substrate, the fifth metal layer disposed between the first via hole and the second via hole.
US09455374B2
An integrated hybrid crystal Light Emitting Diode (“LED”) display device that may emit red, green, and blue colors on a single wafer. The various embodiments may provide double-sided hetero crystal growth with hexagonal wurtzite III-Nitride compound semiconductor on one side of (0001) c-plane sapphire media and cubic zinc-blended III-V or II-VI compound semiconductor on the opposite side of c-plane sapphire media. The c-plane sapphire media may be a bulk single crystalline c-plane sapphire wafer, a thin free standing c-plane sapphire layer, or crack-and-bonded c-plane sapphire layer on any substrate. The bandgap energies and lattice constants of the compound semiconductor alloys may be changed by mixing different amounts of ingredients of the same group into the compound semiconductor. The bandgap energy and lattice constant may be engineered by changing the alloy composition within the cubic group IV, group III-V, and group II-VI semiconductors and within the hexagonal III-Nitrides.
US09455369B2
A method of forming infra red detector arrays is described, starting with the manufacture of a wafer. The wafer is formed from a GaAs or GaAs/Si substrate having CMT deposited thereon by MOVPE. The CMT deposited comprises a number of layers of differing composition, the composition being controlled during the MOVPE process and being dependent on the thickness of the layer deposited. Other layers are positioned between the active CMT layers and the substrate. A CdTe buffer layer aids the deposition of the CMT on the substrate and an etch stop layer is also provided. Once the wafer is formed, the buffer layer, the etch stop layer and all intervening layers are etched away leaving a wafer suitable for further processing into an infra red detector.
US09455357B2
Embodiments include apparatuses and methods related to a compound varactor. A first varactor in the compound varactor may include a collector layer and a first base layer that is arranged in a first plurality of parallel fingers. A second varactor in the compound varactor may include a second base layer arranged in a second plurality of parallel fingers, and the base layer may be coupled with the collector layer. In embodiments, the fingers of the base layers of the first varactor and the second varactor may be interleaved with one another. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed herein.
US09455352B2
Memory devices having an increased effective channel length and/or improved TPD characteristics, and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain two or more memory cells on a semiconductor substrate and bit line dielectrics between the memory cells. The memory cell contains a charge trapping dielectric stack, a poly gate, a pair of pocket implant regions, and a pair of bit lines. The bit line can be formed by an implant process at a higher energy level and/or a higher concentration of dopants without suffering device short channel roll off issues because spacers at bit line sidewalls constrain the implant in narrower implant regions.
US09455351B1
An oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (OS FET) device includes a first dielectric layer formed on a substrate, an oxide semiconductor (OS) island formed on the first dielectric layer, a first gate electrode formed on the OS island, a gate dielectric layer formed in between the first gate electrode and the OS island, a patterned hard mask layer formed on a top surface of the first gate electrode, an etch stop layer covering a top surface of the patterned hard mask layer and sidewalls of the first gate electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the OS island. At least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode partially overlaps the etching stop layer on the sidewalls of the first gate electrode.
US09455346B2
The demand for increased performance and shrinking geometry from ICs has brought the introduction of multi-gate devices including finFET devices. Inducing a higher tensile strain/stress in a region provides for enhanced electron mobility, which may improve performance. High temperature processes during device fabrication tend to relax the stress on these strain inducing layers. The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a strain inducing layer or cap layer at the RPG (replacement poly silicon gate) stage of a finFET device formation process. In some embodiments, the strain inducing layer is doped to reduce the external resistance.
US09455343B2
An insulating layer is deposited over a transistor structure. The transistor structure comprises a gate electrode over a device layer on a substrate. The transistor structure comprises a first contact region and a second contact region on the device layer at opposite sides of the gate electrode. A trench is formed in the first insulating layer over the first contact region. A metal-insulator phase transition material layer with a S-shaped IV characteristic is deposited in the trench or in the via of the metallization layer above on the source side.
US09455342B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first active layer, a second active layer, at least first and second electrodes, an E-field management layer, and at least one injection electrode. The first active layer is disposed over the substrate. The second active layer is disposed on the first active layer such that a laterally extending conductive channel arises which extends in a lateral direction. The laterally extending conductive channel is located between the first active layer and the second active layer. The first and second electrodes are electrically connected to the first active layer. The E-field management layer, which reduces the electric-field gradients arising in the first and second active layers, is disposed over the second active layer. The injection electrode is electrically connected to the E-field management layer.
US09455340B2
Power semiconductor device having a wafer, including emitter and collector electrodes arranged on opposite sides, wherein a gate electrode arranged on the emitter side has a conductive gate layer and an insulating layer arranged in the following order between the collector and emitter side: a p doped collector layer, an (n−) doped drift layer, an n doped enhancement layer, a p based base layer having a first and second base region, and an (n+) doped first and second emitter layer, wherein the emitter electrode contacts the first emitter layer and the first base region at an emitter contact area, wherein the second emitter layer is insulated from a direct contact to the emitter electrode by the insulating layer and wherein the second emitter layer is separated from the first emitter layer by the base layer.
US09455333B2
A thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate, a light blocking film disposed on the substrate, a buffer layer covering the light blocking film, and a channel region disposed on the buffer layer. A source region and a drain region are disposed in the same layer as the channel region. A gate insulating layer is disposed on the channel region, and a gate electrode overlaps the channel region, with the gate insulating layer interposed between the gate electrode and the channel region. A passivation layer is disposed on the gate electrode, the source region, the drain region, and the buffer layer. A source electrode and a drain electrode are disposed on the passivation layer, wherein the channel region, the source region, and the drain region comprise an oxide semiconductor, and wherein a carrier concentration of the source region and the drain region is larger than in the channel region.
US09455311B2
To provide a display device and a driving method thereof, where variations in the threshold voltage of transistors can be compensated and thus variations in luminance of light-emitting elements can be suppressed. In a first period, initialization is performed; in a second period, a voltage based on the threshold voltage of a first transistor is held in first and second storage capacitors; in a third period, a voltage based on a video signal voltage and the threshold voltage of the first transistor is held in the first and second storage capacitors; and in a fourth period, voltages held in the first and second storage capacitors are applied to a gate terminal of the first transistor to supply a current to a light-emitting element, so that the light-emitting element emits light. Through the operation process, a current obtained by compensating variations in the threshold voltage of the first transistor can be supplied to the light-emitting element, thereby variations in luminance can be suppressed.
US09455310B2
An organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate, a plurality of common lines, an optical member, and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a pixel region and a transparent region. The light emitting structure is disposed on the first substrate of the pixel region. The common lines are disposed adjacent to a boundary of the pixel region and the transparent region. The optical member prevents a light diffraction generated adjacent to the common lines. The second substrate is disposed on the light emitting structure and the optical member.
US09455305B2
An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix on the substrate, and an organic common layer covering the pixel electrodes. The pixel electrodes include a plurality of first pixel electrodes, a plurality of second pixel electrodes, and a plurality of third pixel electrodes. An n-th pixel column includes the second pixel electrodes; and the third pixel electrodes arranged alternately, an (n+1)-th pixel column which is adjacent to the n-th pixel column includes the first pixel electrodes, and an (n+2)-th pixel column which is adjacent to the (n+1)-th pixel column includes the second pixel electrodes and the third pixel electrodes arranged alternately, wherein n is a natural number. One of the second and third pixel electrodes is disposed in the n-th pixel column in a row and the other one of the second and third pixel electrodes is disposed in the (n+2)th pixel column in the same row.
US09455301B2
Methods for reducing leakage currents through unselected memory cells of a memory array during a memory operation. In some cases, the leakage currents through the unselected memory cells of the memory array may be reduced by setting an adjustable resistance bit line structure connected to the unselected memory cells into a non-conducting state. The adjustable resistance bit line structure may comprise a bit line structure in which the resistance of an intrinsic (or near intrinsic) polysilicon portion of the bit line structure may be adjusted via an application of a voltage to a select gate portion of the bit line structure that is not directly connected to the intrinsic polysilicon portion. The intrinsic polysilicon portion may be set into a conducting state or a non-conducting state based on the voltage applied to the select gate portion.
US09455297B2
The invention relates to the field of semiconductor, more particularly, to a preparation process of image sensors, comprising: Step S1, providing a semiconductor structure, a top of which is provided with a groove, and leads being formed in said groove, the top of said semiconductor structure and an exposed surface of said groove are covered with a first dielectric layer; Step S2: depositing a second dielectric layer covering the upper surface of said first dielectric layer and said leads and filling said groove; Step S3: performing a reversed-etching process to thin said second dielectric layer, and to form a convex structure on a surface of said second dielectric layer above the groove; Step S4: performing a planarization process to said second dielectric layer to improve surface evenness of said second dielectric layer after grinding by the convex structure.
US09455292B2
An image sensing device may include an interconnect layer, an image sensor IC coupled to the interconnect layer and having an image sensing surface, and an IR filter aligned with the image sensing surface opposite the interconnect layer. The image sensing device may include a flexible interconnect layer aligned with the interconnect layer and having a flexible substrate extending laterally outwardly from the interconnect layer, and electrically conductive traces on the flexible substrate. The image sensing device may also include solder bodies coupling the interconnect layer and the flexible interconnect layer and also defining a gap between the interconnect layer and the flexible interconnect layer.
US09455290B2
An image sensor including: a plurality of pixels, wherein a first pixel of the pixels includes: a first photoelectric conversion element; and a first microlens overlapping the first photoelectric conversion element, wherein the first microlens reflects wavelengths of a first region of visible light and allows wavelengths of second and third regions of visible light to pass through to the first photoelectric conversion element.
US09455283B2
In various embodiments, etchants featuring (i) mixtures of hydrochloric acid, methanesulfonic acid, and nitric acid, or (ii) mixtures of phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, and nitric acid, are utilized to etch metallic bilayers while minimizing resulting etch discontinuities between the layers of the bilayer.
US09455280B2
A semiconductor device including a capacitor whose charge capacity is increased while improving the aperture ratio is provided. Further, a semiconductor device which consumes less power is provided. A transistor which includes a light-transmitting semiconductor film, a capacitor in which a dielectric film is provided between a pair of electrodes, an insulating film which is provided over the light-transmitting semiconductor film, and a first light-transmitting conductive film which is provided over the insulating film are included. The capacitor includes the first light-transmitting conductive film which serves as one electrode, the insulating film which functions as a dielectric, and a second light-transmitting conductive film which faces the first light-transmitting conductive film with the insulating film positioned therebetween and functions as the other electrode. The second light-transmitting conductive film is formed over the same surface as the light-transmitting semiconductor film of the transistor and is a metal oxide film containing a dopant.
US09455271B1
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, which includes thereon a first region where memory elements are arranged and a second region where circuit elements driving the memory elements are arranged. The first region is provided with a stacked body including a plurality of metal films. Further, the stacked body is divided into a plurality of parts by first separation portions extending in a first direction. The second region is provided with an auxiliary pattern, which includes the stacked body together with a separation portion pair including a pair of second separation portions that divide the stacked body. The second separation portions extend in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.
US09455269B1
A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises: a memory cell array, the memory cell array including: a conductive layer, an inter-layer insulating layer, and a conductive line stacked on a semiconductor substrate in a stacking direction; first and second connecting lines that contact the semiconductor substrate and are electrically connected to the conductive line and that extend in the stacking direction; and a columnar body that penetrates the conductive layer and the inter-layer insulating layer in the stacking direction between the first and second connecting lines and that includes a first semiconductor layer, the semiconductor substrate having: a first impurity region to which a first impurity is added at a place of contact with the first connecting line; and a second impurity region to which a second impurity different from the first impurity is added at a place of contact with the second connecting line.
US09455265B2
A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first stacked structure. The first stacked structure includes a first stacked portion disposed along a first direction, at least one second stacked portion connected with the first stacked portion and disposed along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and at least one third stacked portion connected with the first direction and arranged alternately with the second stacked portion along the first direction. The width of the third stacked portion is smaller than the width of the second stacked portion along the second direction.
US09455251B1
Embodiments herein describe a decoupling capacitor that may include multiple fin and gate structures electrically insulated from a conductor (e.g., a metal layer) by a thin dielectric. The fins and gates may be electrically coupled to a first voltage rail (e.g., VHIGH) while the conductor is coupled to a second voltage rail (e.g., VLOW). In this manner, the fins and gates in combination form a first “plate” which is electrically insulated from the conductor which forms a second “plate” of a capacitor. In one embodiment, the decoupling capacitor is formed on the same substrate as the finFETs, and thus, can be disposed proximate to the finFETs—e.g., on the same layer in the chip or side-by-side. In one example, at least a portion of the decoupling capacitor and the finFET may be formed using the same fabrication steps.
US09455248B2
A semiconductor device with an embedded schottky diode and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A semiconductor device having a schottky diode include: an epilayer of a first conductivity type, a body layer of a second conductivity type, and a source layer of the first conductivity type arranged in that order; a gate trench that extends from the source layer to a part of the epilayer; a body trench formed a predetermined distance from the gate trench and extends from the source layer to a part of the epilayer; and a guard ring of the second conductivity type that contacts an outer wall of the body trench and formed in the epilayer.
US09455242B2
A semiconductor optoelectronic device comprises a growth substrate; a semiconductor epitaxial stack formed on the growth substrate comprising a sacrificial layer with electrical conductivity formed on the growth substrate; a first semiconductor material layer having a first electrical conductivity formed on the sacrificial layer, and a second semiconductor material layer having a second electrical conductivity formed on the first semiconductor material layer; and a first electrode directly formed on the growth substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor epitaxial stack via the growth substrate.
US09455241B2
Aspects of the invention are directed towards an integrated circuit package and method of forming the same, and more particularly to a redistributed chip packaging for an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit package includes an integrated circuit having a protective material on at least a portion of the integrated circuit. A lead frame is coupled to the integrated circuit and a conductive layer is also coupled to the interconnect. A solder ball is coupled to the conductive layer and a passivation layer is on the conductive layer. Active and passive components are electrically coupled to the integrated circuit.
US09455239B2
An integrated circuit chip includes a substrate die and integrated circuits and a layer incorporating a front electrical interconnect network formed on a front face of the substrate die. A local electrical connection via made of an electrically conductive material is formed in a hole of the substrate die. The via is linked to a connection portion of the electrical interconnect network. An electrical connection pillar made of an electrically conductive material is formed on a rear part of the electrical connection via. A local external protection layer at least partly covers the electrical connection via and the electrical connection pillar.
US09455238B2
A power converter includes a bus bar, a semiconductor device, a lead, and solder. The bus bar has a vertical wall. The semiconductor device includes an electrode. The lead has one end connected to the bus bar and another end connected to the semiconductor device to supply power from the bus bar to the electrode of the semiconductor device via the lead. The one end of the lead includes a bending part which is spaced away from the bus bar by a predetermined distance and which is inclined in a vertical downward direction. The vertical wall of the bus bar and the bending part are bonded to each other via the solder. The vertical wall extends in a substantially vertical direction to face the bending part.
US09455237B2
An apparatus relating generally to a substrate is disclosed. In this apparatus, a first metal layer is on the substrate. The first metal layer has an opening. The opening of the first metal layer has a bottom and one or more sides extending from the bottom. A second metal layer is on the first metal layer. The first metal layer and the second metal layer provide a bowl-shaped structure. An inner surface of the bowl-shaped structure is defined responsive to the opening of the first metal layer and the second metal layer thereon. The opening of the bowl-shaped structure is configured to receive and at least partially retain a bonding material during a reflow process.
US09455235B2
An embedded package includes a core layer having a cavity, a first semiconductor chip disposed in the cavity, and bumps disposed on a top surface of the first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip disposed on the first semiconductor chip and the core layer, pads disposed on a top surface of the second semiconductor chip, and a first insulation layer disposed on the core layer and the first and second semiconductor chips. The first insulation layer has first openings that expose the bumps and second openings that expose the pads, and the first and second openings have a similar depth.
US09455234B2
A fixture assembly and method of forming a chip assembly is provided. The fixture assembly includes a first plate having an opening sized to accommodate a chip mounted on a laminate. The fixture assembly further includes a second plate mated to the first plate by at least one mechanical fastening mechanism. The fixture assembly further includes a space defined by facing surfaces of the first plate and the second plate and confined by a raised stepped portion of at least one of the first plate and the second plate. The space is coincident with the opening. The space is sized and shaped such that the laminate is confined within the space and directly abuts the stepped portion and the facing surfaces of the first plate and the second plate to be confined in X, Y and Z directions.
US09455233B1
A system for generating a tamper detection signal indicating tampering with one or more circuits of an integrated circuit (IC) includes both a static wire mesh and an active wire mesh. The wire meshes can be formed in the same layer over the circuits to be protected or in different layers. The wire meshes also may cover the entire chip area or only predetermined areas, such as over secure memory and register areas. The wire meshes are connected to a tamper detection module, which monitors the meshes and any signals transmitted via the meshes to detect attempts to access the protected circuits via micro-probing.
US09455226B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises: a metal pad and a first specific metal layer routing. The metal pad is positioned on a first metal layer of the semiconductor device. The first specific metal layer routing is formed on a second metal layer of the semiconductor device, and directly under the metal pad.
US09455224B2
Techniques are disclosed that enable improved shorting margin between unlanded conductive interconnect features and neighboring conductive features. In some embodiments, an etch may be applied to an insulator layer having one or more conductive features therein, such that the insulator layer is recessed below the top of the conductive features and the edges of the conductive features are rounded or otherwise softened. A conformal etchstop layer may then be deposited over the conductive features and the insulator material. A second insulator layer may be deposited above the conformal etchstop layer, and an interconnect feature may pass through the second insulator layer and the conformal etchstop layer to connect with the rounded portion of one of the conductive features. In some embodiments, the interconnect feature is an unlanded via and the unlanded portion of the via may or may not penetrate through the conformal barrier layer.
US09455223B2
A semiconductor device has first wiring layers and a plurality of dummy wiring layers that are provided on the same level as the first wiring layers. The semiconductor device defines a row direction, and first virtual linear lines extending in a direction traversing the row direction. The row direction and the first virtual linear lines define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers are disposed in a manner to be located on the first virtual linear lines. The semiconductor device also defines a column direction perpendicular to the row direction, and second virtual linear lines extending in a direction traversing the column direction. The column direction and the second virtual linear lines define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers are disposed in a manner to be located on the second virtual linear lines.
US09455221B2
The invention relates to a field of semiconductor manufacturing technology, more particularly, to a method for preparing three-dimensional integrated inductor-capacitor structure, which can realize the inductor-capacitor of three-dimensional structure, and form three-dimensional spiral inductor centering on the magnetic cores of single direction around through the preparation of the interconnected top metal conducting wires and bottom metal conducting wires, which can gain capacitance and inductance at the same time in a relatively small space, and reduce the production costs, and also greatly improves the inductance magnetic flux in order to increase the inductance value and reduce eddy current, and improve the quality factor Q value and the performance of inductance coil.
US09455220B2
A method for selecting locations within an integrated circuit device for placing stressors to manage electromigration failures includes calculating an electric current for an interconnect within the integrated circuit device and determining an electromigration stress profile for the interconnect based on the electric current. The method further includes determining an area on the interconnect for placing a stressor to alter the electromigration stress profile for the interconnect.
US09455216B2
A structure to improve saw singulation quality and wettability of integrated circuit packages (140) is assembled with lead frames (112) having half-etched recesses (134) in leads. In one embodiment, the structure is a lead frame strip (110) having a plurality of lead frames. Each of the lead frames includes a depression (130) that is at least partially filled with a material (400) prior to singulating the lead frame strip. In another embodiment, the structure is a semiconductor device package (140) that includes a semiconductor device encapsulated in a package body (142) having a plurality of leads (120). Each lead has an exposed portion external to the package. There is recess (134) at a corner of each lead. Each recess has a generally concave configuration. Each recess is filled with a removable material (300).
US09455205B2
A method for processing a semiconductor device in accordance with various embodiments may include: providing a semiconductor device having a first pad and a second pad electrically disconnected from the first pad; applying at least one electrical test potential to at least one of the first pad and the second pad; and electrically connecting the first pad and the second pad to one another after applying the at least one electrical test potential.
US09455202B2
A mask set includes a first mask and a second mask. The first mask includes geometric patterns. The second mask includes at least a strip-shaped pattern with a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge. The strip-shaped pattern has a centerline along a long axis of the strip-shaped pattern. The first edge includes inwardly displaced segments shifting towards the centerline and each of the inwardly displaced segments overlaps each of the geometric patterns.
US09455196B2
A method of processing a workpiece to create a doped fin structure is disclosed. A portion of the workpiece is subjected to a pre-amorphizing implant to create an amorphized region. This amorphized region is then implanted with dopant species, at an implant energy and dose so that the dopant species are contained within the amorphized region. The doped amorphized region is then subjected to a laser melt anneal which crystallizes the amorphized region. The dopant profile is box-like, and the dopant is confined to the previously amorphized region.
US09455191B2
In one embodiment there is disclosed a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit in a semiconductor substrate including through vias and a coplanar line, including the steps of: forming active components and a set of front metallization levels; simultaneously etching from the rear surface of the substrate a through via hole and a trench crossing the substrate through at least 50% of its height; coating with a conductive material the walls and the bottom of the hole and of the trench; and filling the hole and the trench with an insulating filling material; and forming a coplanar line extending on the rear surface of the substrate, in front of the trench and parallel thereto, so that the lateral conductors of the coplanar line are electrically connected to the conductive material coating the walls of the trench.
US09455188B2
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to approaches for forming a semiconductor device such as a TSV device having a “buffer zone” or gap layer between the TSV and transistor(s). The gap layer is typically filled with a low stress, thin film fill material that controls stresses and crack formation on the devices. Further, the gap layer ensures a certain spatial distance between TSVs and transistors to reduce the adverse effects of temperature excursion.
US09455173B2
A semiconductor piece manufacturing method includes: a process of forming a fine groove on a front surface side including a first groove portion having a width that is gradually narrowed from a front surface of a semiconductor substrate W toward a rear surface thereof; a process of attaching a dicing tape having an adhesive layer on the front surface after the fine groove on the front surface side is formed; a process of forming a groove on a rear surface side having a width greater than the width of the fine groove on the front surface side along the fine groove on the front surface side from a rear surface side of the substrate by a rotating dicing blade; and a process of separating the dicing tape from the front surface after the groove on the rear surface side is formed.
US09455170B2
A deposition apparatus includes a deposition unit including a plurality of deposition assemblies, which are separated from a substrate at a predetermined distance and deposit a material onto the substrate while a first transfer unit transfers the substrate. Each of the plurality of deposition assemblies includes a patterning slit sheet facing a deposition source nozzle unit, a positional information obtaining unit obtaining positional information regarding a position of the substrate transferred by the first transfer unit, and a sheet stage adjusting a position of the patterning slit sheet with respect to the substrate transferred by the first transfer unit according to the positional information.
US09455165B2
A die bonding device includes: a wafer holder supporting a wafer where a die is formed; an ejector holder disposed at the wafer holder below the wafer and supporting a die ejector that assists separating the die from the wafer; a support unit supporting a substrate where the die is to be attached; a bonding unit that picks up the die from the wafer and attaches the picked-up die to the substrate; an ejector buffer unit that receives the die ejector; and a replacing unit that transfers the die ejector between the ejector holder and the ejector buffer unit.
US09455155B2
A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method of the same are disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a conductive layer, a conductive strip, a dielectric layer, and a conductive element. The conductive layer has a first conductive material. The conductive strip is in the same level as the conductive layer and has a second conductive material. The second conductive material is adjoined with the first conductive material having a conductivity characteristic different from a conductivity characteristic of the second conductive material. The conductive element crisscrosses the conductive strip and separated from the conductive strip by the dielectric layer.
US09455152B2
A hydrogenation method according to the present invention includes preparing a plasma generation section (20), preparing a hermetic member (30), disposing an amorphous silicon film (S) inside the hermetic member (30), and performing plasma treatment on the amorphous silicon film (S) in a manner that the plasma generation section (20) allows a gas at a pressure around an atmospheric pressure containing a hydrogen gas to generate plasma in at least a partial region inside the hermetic member (30). Suitably, the disposing an amorphous silicon film (S) includes forming the amorphous silicon film (S) inside the hermetic member (30) with the use of a solution in which a silane compound is dissolved.
US09455149B2
A plate-like object processing method for processing a plate-like object including a substrate and a laminate formed on a front surface of the substrate, includes a substrate exposing step of exposing the substrate by removing the laminate by irradiating a region in which the laminate of the plate-like object is desired to be removed with a laser beam set at an energy density that destroys the laminate but does not destroy the substrate.
US09455146B2
A virtual substrate includes a handle support and a strain-relieved single crystalline layer on the handle support. A method of making the virtual substrate includes growing a coherently-strained single crystalline layer on an initial growth substrate, removing the initial growth substrate to relieve the strain on the single crystalline layer, and applying the strain-relieved single crystalline layer on a handle support.
US09455144B2
Disclosed is a method for growing a nitride-based semiconductor with high quality, the method including: forming a first mask layer on a substrate and forming a second mask layer on the first mask layer; performing dry etching on the first mask layer and the second mask layer to form an opening in which a part of the substrate is exposed; performing selective wet etching on the first mask layer in the opening to form a recess in which a part of the substrate is exposed; depositing a third mask layer in the recess; and growing a nitride-based semiconductor from the exposed part of the substrate on sides of the third mask layer and expanding the growth via the opening.
US09455139B2
Disclosed are pre-wetting apparatus designs and methods. In some embodiments, a pre-wetting apparatus includes a degasser, a process chamber, and a controller. The process chamber includes a wafer holder configured to hold a wafer substrate, a vacuum port configured to allow formation of a subatmospheric pressure in the process chamber, and a fluid inlet coupled to the degasser and configured to deliver a degassed pre-wetting fluid onto the wafer substrate at a velocity of at least about 7 meters per second whereby particles on the wafer substrate are dislodged and at a flow rate whereby dislodged particles are removed from the wafer substrate. The controller includes program instructions for forming a wetting layer on the wafer substrate in the process chamber by contacting the wafer substrate with the degassed pre-wetting fluid admitted through the fluid inlet at a flow rate of at least about 0.4 liters per minute.
US09455134B2
A hydrophobizing agent vapor is supplied to a substrate and a surface of the substrate including a pattern is hydrophobized. Thereafter, the substrate is dried by vaporizing the hydrophobizing agent. The substrate to be processed is maintained in a state of not contacting water until it is dried after being hydrophobized. Collapse of a pattern formed on the substrate surface is thereby suppressed or prevented.
US09455133B2
A chamber component configured to be coupled to a processing chamber is described. The chamber component comprises one or more adjustable gas passages through which a process gas is introduced to the process chamber. The adjustable gas passage may be configured to form a hollow cathode that creates a hollow cathode plasma in a hollow cathode region having one or more plasma surfaces in contact with the hollow cathode plasma. Therein, at least one of the one or more plasma surfaces is movable in order to vary the size of the hollow cathode region and adjust the properties of the hollow cathode plasma. Furthermore, one or more adjustable hollow cathodes may be utilized to adjust a plasma process for treating a substrate.
US09455127B2
A system for laser-induced plasma micromachining of a work-piece includes a dielectric fluid, a dielectric fluid supply device, a laser, a processor, and a memory. The dielectric fluid supply device is arranged to hold a work-piece in the dielectric fluid or to direct the dielectric fluid onto the work-piece. The laser is arranged to emit a pulsed laser-beam. The processor is in electronic communication with the laser. The memory is in electronic communication with the processor. The memory includes programming code for execution by the processor. The programming code is programmed to direct the laser to deliver the pulsed laser-beam into the dielectric fluid to create a plasma generated at a focal point of the pulsed laser-beam in the dielectric fluid to micromachine, using the plasma, the work-piece disposed adjacent to the focal point.
US09455121B2
A semiconductor inspection system including an ion beam milling unit configured to irradiate at least one cluster-ion beam onto a surface of a sample wafer and etch the surface of the sample wafer and an image acquisition unit configured to irradiate an electron beam onto the etched surface of the sample wafer and acquire an image of the etched surface may be provided.
US09455116B2
An ion implantation system and method is provided for varying an angle of incidence of a scanned ion beam relative to the workpiece concurrent with the scanned ion beam impacting the workpiece. The system has an ion source configured to form an ion beam and a mass analyzer configured to mass analyze the ion beam. An ion beam scanner is configured to scan the ion beam in a first direction, therein defining a scanned ion beam. A workpiece support is configured to support a workpiece thereon, and an angular implant apparatus is configured to vary an angle of incidence of the scanned ion beam relative to the workpiece. The angular implant apparatus comprises one or more of an angular energy filter and a mechanical apparatus operably coupled to the workpiece support, wherein a controller controls the angular implant apparatus, thus varying the angle of incidence of the scanned ion beam relative to the workpiece concurrent with the scanned ion beam impacting the workpiece.
US09455109B2
An overload release is disclosed, in particular for a circuit breaker, including a metal strip which is made of at least two different types of metal and around which a heat conductor is wound. In an embodiment, the mechanical and electrical connection of the metal strip can be completely or partly disconnected, such that no current flows over the mechanical connection of the metal strip in the completely disconnected case and a portion of the current flows over the mechanical connection in the partly disconnected case.
US09455101B2
A key that includes a body with an optically transmissive or light permeable region and an optical film coupled to or carried by the light permeable region. The key also includes a resilient structure coupled to the body. The key can be assembled or coupled to, or disposed relative or adjacent to, a display screen. The key also includes a switch actuator (e.g., an electromechanical switch actuator or contact element). Displacement of the key, more specifically the body of the key, displaces the switch actuator for actuating a switch. The resilient structure is configured to bias the body at a first position. The body can be actuated or displaced from the first position to a second position for effectuating corresponding displacement of the switch actuator and actuation of the switch. The resilient structure provides or establishes a positive tactile feedback upon user-directed or user-controlled actuation or displacement of the body. The resilient structure and/or the switch actuator is positioned and configured to minimize, reduce, or eliminate obstruction of light transmission through the light permeable region of the body.
US09455092B2
An electric conductive polymer suspension is produced by performing chemical oxidative polymerization of a monomer for providing an electric conductive polymer by using an oxidant in a solvent containing an organic acid or a salt thereof as a dopant to form an electric conductive polymer, recovering the electric conductive polymer, allowing an oxidant to act on the electric conductive polymer in an aqueous solvent containing a polyacid, and further mixing a dispersant with a branched structure and then pulverizing the electric conductive polymer. According to the electric conductive polymer suspension, an organic material high in conductivity, and excellent in adhesiveness to a substrate and water resistance, and a method for producing the material, as well as an electrolytic capacitor and a method for producing the capacitor can be provided.
US09455087B2
A dielectric film contains as a main component a dielectric composition represented by the general formula (Ba1-xCax)z(Ti1-yZry)O3 wherein 0.001≦x≦0.400, 0.001≦y≦0.400, and 0.900≦z<0.995. In an X-ray diffraction pattern of the dielectric composition, the dielectric composition has the relation 0.00°≦2θc−2θt<0.20° between (001) plane diffraction peak position 2θt of a tetragonal structure represented by the general formula and (100) plane diffraction peak position 2θc of a cubic structure represented by the general formula.
US09455083B2
Provided is a partial discharge detection device for a transformer, and a transformer using the same. An on-load tap changer is provided on one side of the outer casing of a transformer, and is partitioned from the inside of the outer casing by a shielding wall. A drain pipe is formed on one side of the outer surface of the outer casing. A drain valve is installed in the drain pipe. A configuration for detecting a partial discharge signal generated within the transformer is installed in the drain pipe. That is, a detector body is installed within the drain pipe and the drain valve. A connection mounting member is installed in an end portion of the drain valve. The detector body penetrates the connection mounting member. In the meantime, a portion, such as the on-load tap changer, is partitioned from the internal space of the outer casing by the shielding wall.
US09455082B2
An electronic component having; a multilayer body including insulating layers stacked on one another; a spiral coil including coil conductors provided on the insulating layers and a first via-hole conductor piercing through at least one of the insulating layers to connect the coil conductors to each other; a parallel conductor provided on one of the insulating layers; and a second via-hole conductor piercing through at least one of the insulating layers to connect the parallel conductor in parallel to one of the coil conductors provided on the insulating layer different from the insulating layer on which the parallel conductor is provided. A portion of the coil conductor not connected in parallel to the parallel conductor at least partly has a greater width than a portion of the coil conductor connected in parallel to the parallel conductor other than a contact point with the second via-hole conductor.
US09455079B2
Disclosed herein are a multilayered power inductor including a magnetic layer, an inner electrode layer, and an outer electrode layer, wherein a pore ratio at a section of the inner electrode layer is 7% or less and a method for preparing the same. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the number of pores in the inner electrode layer of the multilayered power inductor can be minimized and the residual carbon can be removed by the sintering delay of the inner electrode to increase the densification of the inner electrode layer after being sintered, thereby improving the RDC characteristics of the multilayered power inductor. Therefore, the multilayered power inductor including the inner electrode layer according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can implement the high capacity and the low RDC, thereby providing the small, thin, and multi-functional chip components.
US09455075B1
An over-current protection device includes first and second electrodes and a multilayered structure including first and second PTC polymer material layers that are stacked one above the other and that are bonded to each other. The first PTC polymer material layer includes a first polymer matrix and a particulate conductive filler. The second PTC polymer material layer includes a second polymer matrix and a particulate conductive filler. The second polymer matrix is made from a second polymer composition that contains. One of the first and second polymer compositions contains polyvinylidene fluoride and polyolefin and the other of the first and second polymer compositions contains polyolefin or polyvinylidene fluoride.
US09455066B2
Provided is a use of a vegetable oil high in monounsaturates as dielectric and heat-transfer fluid in a device for the generation, storage, conversion and/or distribution of electrical energy.
US09455064B2
Circuits characterized by plural conductive paths supported on a non-conductive substrate are provided. Ceramic filler compositions and methods for preparing the ceramic filler compositions are also provided. Further, fluoropolymer-ceramic filler compositions and their laminates along with their respective methods for their preparation are provided. The fluoropolymer-ceramic filler compositions provide for excellent properties for dielectric constant, loss tangent and temperature coefficient of dielectric constant. In addition, electrical substrate materials having a conductive outer layer supported on a thin sheet of insulating material are also provided.
US09455056B2
A method of collecting 3He from a nuclear reactor may include the steps of a) providing heavy water at least part of which is exposed to a neutron flux of the reactor, b) providing a cover gas in fluid communication with the heavy water, c) operating the nuclear reactor whereby thermal neutron activation of deuterium in the heavy water produces tritium (3H) and at least some of the tritium produces 3He gas by β− decay and at least a portion of the 3He gas escapes from the heavy water and mixes with the cover gas, d) extracting an outlet gas stream, the outlet gas stream comprising a mixture of the cover gas and the 3He gas and e) separating the 3He gas from the outlet gas stream.
US09455051B1
Provided is a compensation circuit including a memory cell array including a normal area and a redundancy area for repairing defects occurred in the normal area, a compensation time control circuit that activates a compensation start signal for a sense amplifier coupled to the normal area and the redundancy area in response to an active command, and a compensation control signal generation circuit that starts a compensation operation in response to the compensation start signal, and stops a compensation start signal for a sense amplifier coupled to an unselected word line in response to a fuse compare completion pulse and a compare address.
US09455050B2
A failure diagnosis circuit includes a multiplexer and a controller. The multiplexer receives address signals, and selectively outputs one of the address signals to an addressable module in response to a selecting signal. The controller generates a first one of address signals and the selecting signal. A built-in self-test circuit generates the second address signal. The addressable module includes addressable components responsive to the address signal. The controller processes the output of the addressable module responsive to the address signal to make a failure diagnosis. The built-in self-test circuit performs signature analysis on the read out output of the addressable module.
US09455048B2
Systems and methods for improving NAND flash memory yields by identifying memory blocks with benign word line defects. Memory blocks including word line defects may be classified as incomplete memory blocks and may be used for storing data fragments. A data fragment may correspond with data written into memory cells associated with one or more contiguous word lines within a memory block that does not include a bad word line. In some cases, firmware associated with a NAND flash memory device may identify one or more data fragments based on the location of bad word lines within a memory block. A word line defect may be considered a benign defect if the defect does not prevent memory cells connected to other word lines within a memory block from being programmed and/or read reliably.
US09455037B2
An electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell may include a substrate including at least one active region, a floating gate adjacent the substrate, a write/erase gate defining a write/erase path for performing high voltage write and erase operations, and a read gate defining a read path for performing low voltage read operations, wherein the read path is distinct from the write/erase path. This allows for a smaller read gate oxide, thus allowing the cell size to be reduced. Further, the EEPROM cell may include two independently controllable read gates, thereby defining two independent transistors which allows better programming voltage isolation. This allows the memory array to be drawn using a common source instead of each column of EEPROM cells needing its own source line. This makes the array more scalable because the cell x-dimension would otherwise be limited by each column needing two metal 1 pitches.
US09455032B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device and a system including the same, configured for sensing a pure leakage current of a cell array and improving a read error is disclosed. The system a controller and a memory configured to interface with the controller. The memory includes a semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a leakage current sensing unit configured to sense a pure leakage current of a cell array according to a command of the controller; and a determination circuit unit configured to compare a voltage level of an input node with a reference voltage and determine a state of read data while in a read mode. The voltage level of the input node is decided by comparing an output current and a read current and the output current is decided by summing the pure leakage current and a reference current.
US09455031B2
A memory has a plurality of non-volatile resistive (NVR) memory arrays, each with an associated reference voltage generating circuit coupled by a reference circuit coupling link to a reference line, the reference coupled to a sense amplifier for that NVR memory array. Reference line coupling links couple the reference lines of different NVR memory arrays. Optionally, different ones of the reference coupling links are removed or opened, obtaining respective different average and isolated reference voltages on the different reference lines. Optionally, different ones of the reference circuit coupling links are removed or opened, obtaining respective different averaged voltages on the reference lines, and uncoupling and isolating different reference circuits.
US09455026B2
An apparatus includes an array of bit cells that include a first row of bit cells and a second row of bit cells. The apparatus also includes a first global read word line configured to be selectively coupled to the first row of bit cells and to the second row of bit cells. The apparatus further includes a second global read word line configured to be selectively coupled to the first row of bit cells and to the second row of bit cells. The apparatus also includes a global write word line configured to be selectively coupled to the first row of bit cells and to the second row of bit cells. The first global read word line, the second global read word line, and the global write word line are located in a common metal layer.
US09455016B2
A semiconductor device includes a memory cell array including a normal memory cell array and a redundancy memory cell array, a normal refresh counter suitable for generating a normal address for performing a refresh operation to the normal memory cell array with a first period during a refresh mode and a redundancy refresh counter suitable for generating a redundancy address for performing a refresh operation to the redundancy memory cell with a second period shorter than the first period.
US09455015B2
Techniques and circuits for storing and retrieving data using spin-torque magnetic memory cells as anti-fuses are presented. Circuits are included to allow higher-magnitude voltages and currents to be applied to magnetic memory cells to intentionally break down the dielectric layer included the magnetic tunnel junction. Magnetic memory cells having a normal-resistance magnetic tunnel junction with an intact dielectric layer are used to store a first data state, and magnetic memory cells having a magnetic tunnel junction with a broken-down dielectric layer are used to store a second data state. Data can be stored in such a manner during wafer probe and then later read out directly or copied into other magnetic or non-magnetic memory on the device for use in operations after the device is included in a system.
US09455009B2
Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes memory blocks including select transistors electrically coupled to local select lines and memory cells electrically coupled to local word lines, a first connection circuit configured to electrically couple the local select lines of a selected memory block and global select lines according to a block select signal, and formed in a first well region of a substrate, and a second connection circuit configured to electrically couple the local word lines of the selected memory block and global word lines according to the block selection signal, and formed in a second well region of the substrate.
US09455007B2
A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of rows and columns of array blocks disposed in array block areas, array blocks including sub-arrays of memory cells arranged in rows and columns with word lines disposed in a patterned gate layer along the rows and one or more patterned conductor layers including bit lines disposed along the columns. A plurality of sets of local word line drivers is arranged in rows and columns disposed adjacent to corresponding array blocks. A set of global word line drivers driving global word lines disposed in an overlying patterned conductor layer over the one or more patterned conductor layers in the array blocks.
US09455004B2
An apparatus having a circuit and a decoder is disclosed. The circuit is configured to adjust an initial one of a plurality of reference voltages in a read channel of a memory by shifting the initial reference voltage an amount toward a center of a window and read a codeword from the memory a number of times. The window bounds a sweep of the reference voltages. Each retry of the reads uses a respective reference voltage from a pattern of the reference voltages. The pattern is symmetrically spaced about the initial reference voltage. The pattern fits in the window. The decoder is configured to generate read data by performing an iterative decoding procedure on the codeword based on the reads.
US09454999B2
A semiconductor memory device is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including cell strings coupled between bit lines and a common source line, each of the cell strings comprising a plurality of memory cells stacked above a substrate. The semiconductor memory device also includes a peripheral circuit configured to supply a negative voltage to one or more word lines coupled to the cell strings and supply a positive voltage to the common source line, wherein the peripheral circuit supplies the positive voltage and the negative voltage before a program operation is performed.
US09454994B2
A video engine, system and method for use with a video player, including a presenter that presents at least two audio/visual works, at least one software application capable of at least one metadata-related interaction with the audio/visual works, communication points over which the audio/visual works are received, and over which at least a portion of the at least one meta-data interaction occurs, and a hierarchical taxonomy that effects a common metadata reference to each recurrence of a particular object across the audio/visual works, and across each of the at least one metadata-related interaction. The video engine, system, and method may additionally include a prioritization data for use with the metadata.
US09454993B1
A mobile application is disclosed enabling a first sporting event spectator to efficiently record game actions and a second sporting event spectator to simultaneously record real-time video of the game actions. Using a mobile device having a touch screen, the first user can efficiently, and with limited user interaction, indicate fast paced game actions of players engaged in a sport. Using a separate mobile device, or a video system in communication with a network, the second user can record video of a presently occurring game in which the game actions occur. A system in communication with the first and second users' devices can receive indications of game actions, and receive video of the game, and associate each indicated game action with a portion of the video of the game action. The system may, for example, use these associations to generate an index that enables users to view descriptions of the game actions and jump to corresponding video clips.
US09454989B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of servo sectors defining a plurality of servo tracks. The servo tracks form a plurality of servo zones, where a servo data rate of servo sectors in a first servo zone is different than a servo data rate of servo sectors in a second servo zone. A servo control system servos a head over the disk. An estimated servo state of a servo control system is generated, and when the head crosses from a first servo zone to a second servo zone, the estimated servo state is adjusted to compensate for a transient in a circumferential distance between a servo sector in the first servo zone and a servo sector in the second servo zone.
US09454988B2
A method, and apparatus configured to perform such method, according to various embodiments, includes writing data stored in a buffer onto a recording medium using a write head in a first round of writing. An interval marker is written on the recording medium in the first round of writing when the buffer is empty. Next data is written onto the recording medium after the interval marker in the first round of writing. Data is written in an area of the interval marker in a second round of writing performed subsequent to the first round.
US09454987B2
An optical information processing apparatus includes: a unit that radiates light onto an optical disc and detects the reflected light to output a reproduced signal; a unit that corrects spherical aberration of the light; a unit that adjusts a focus position of the light based on a focus adjustment value; and an adjustment unit that measures a characteristic of the reproduced signal at each of at least three positions on each of at least three straight lines on a plane with coordinate axes representing an amount of spherical aberration correction and focus adjustment value, obtains, from the measurements, as estimated positions, at least five positions on the plane at which the characteristic has substantially the same value, performs an ellipse approximation on the estimated positions, obtains a center of the ellipse, and determines the amount of spherical aberration correction and focus adjustment value based on the center of the ellipse.
US09454981B1
Structures and methods are disclosed for parallel biasing and testing, at dc and high frequency, of two or more read heads within a two dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) slider. Testing of heads comprises both conventional tests of the individual heads within the slider, as well as tests for interactions between the heads which are very closely spaced within the slider and thus may exhibit various magnetic, capacitive, ohmic, and stress-related interactions not seen in non-TDMR heads having only a single read head. Overall testing times are nearly the same as for single head testing.
US09454974B2
The range of disclosed configurations includes methods in which subbands of a speech signal are separately encoded, with the excitation of a first subband being derived from a second subband. Gain factors are calculated to indicate a time-varying relation between envelopes of the original first subband and of the synthesized first subband. The gain factors are quantized, and quantized values that exceed the pre-quantized values are re-coded.
US09454973B2
In a method of providing a backward and forward compatible speech codec payload format, the following steps are included: providing S10 an RTP package; including S20 payload according to a first codec into the provided RTP package, and appending S50 payload according to a second codec into the provided RTP package. In addition, at least one unused bit is located S30 in the included first codec payload, and the located at least one unused bit is designated S40 as a codec compatibility bit. Finally, the designated at least one codec compatibility bit is utilized S60 to provide an indication of the presence of the appended second codec payload.
US09454958B2
Technologies pertaining to training a deep neural network (DNN) for use in a recognition system are described herein. The DNN is trained using heterogeneous data, the heterogeneous data including narrowband signals and wideband signals. The DNN, subsequent to being trained, receives an input signal that can be either a wideband signal or narrowband signal. The DNN estimates the class posterior probability of the input signal regardless of whether the input signal is the wideband signal or the narrowband signal.
US09454956B2
In a sound processing device, an index value calculation unit calculates a first index value that follows change of a sound signal at a first following degree and a second index value that follows the change of the sound signal at a second following degree which is lower than the first following degree. An adjustment value calculation unit calculates an adjustment value effective to adjust a reverberation component of the sound signal based on difference between the first index value and the second index value. A reverberation adjustment unit applies the adjustment value to the sound signal.
US09454948B2
In one embodiment, a system for analyzing melodies is disclosed that may receive data for a musical composition, the data including a sequence of notes that make up a melody contained in the musical composition, and store, in a database, a pitch and a duration for at least one note in the sequence of notes in association with the melody. In addition, the system may determine at least one pitch differential and at least one duration ratio for at least two consecutive notes in the sequence of notes, and store, in the database, the at least one pitch differential and the at least one duration ratio in association with the melody. The system may also generate at least one metric associated with the melody based on the at least one pitch differential and/or the at least one duration ratio.
US09454946B2
The present invention is directed to a capo for use with a stringed musical instrument and which is engaged from the bottom portion of the neck of the musical instrument. The capo has a generally L-shaped frame connected to a lever and a pincher configured so that pressure applied to the lever causes the pincher to move toward the lever, allowing the space between the pincher and free end portion of the frame to receive the neck of the musical instrument. The exterior of the frame is configured to received interchangeable inlays, and the free end portion of the frame is configured to receive changeable neck pads.
US09454942B2
A display panel includes gate lines and a gate driver. The gate driver includes series coupled driving stages, in which an N-th driving stage of the series-coupled driving stages includes a driving unit and an input control unit. The driving unit transmits a first clock signal according to a control voltage level of a control node, so as to output a gate-driving signal. The input control unit transmits the gate-driving signal outputted from an (N−1)-th driving stage to the control nodes, so as to adjust the control voltage level to one of a first voltage level and a second voltage level. A predetermined time interval is present between a rising edge of the first clock signal and a falling edge of the second clock signal. During the predetermined time interval, the control voltage level is pulled to the first voltage level by the input control unit.
US09454940B1
A gate driver on array (GOA) circuit for an LCD includes multiple cascaded GOA units. A Nth stage GOA unit controls a charging of a Nth stage horizontal scanning line. The Nth stage GOA unit includes a pull-up circuit, a pull-down circuit, a first pull-down holding circuit, a second pull-down holding circuit, a bridge circuit, a pull-up control circuit, a transfer circuit, and a boast capacitor. A seventh TFT connects in parallel with a third TFT of the first pull-down holding circuit. A fourteenth TFT connects in parallel with a tenth TFT of the second pull-down holding circuit. The gate of the seventh TFT and the gate of the fourteenth TFT are connected, and both connected to a starting signal from (N−1)th GOA unit or a (N−1)th stage horizontal scanning line. An LCD device also uses the GOA circuit to reduce the delay of the gate signal output.
US09454939B2
A display apparatus is configured to allow a user positioned in a first direction to visually recognize a first image and to allow a user positioned in a second direction different from the first direction to visually recognize a second image. The display apparatus includes a display unit that alternately displays the first and second images; an irradiation unit that provides irradiation light; a color filter that respectively includes first and second areas for the first and second images, through which the irradiation light is transmitted; and a distribution unit that distributes the irradiation light transmitted through the first area of the color filter to the first direction and through the second area of the color filter to the second direction. The color filter includes color components of three primary colors and a white color.
US09454908B2
A method and system for managing automatic guidance of an aircraft during a complete engine failure. Said system includes means for monitoring engines so as to be able to detect a complete failure of the engines; means for detecting whether the aircraft is in flight; means for detecting whether the aircraft is in a different guidance mode from a guidance mode configured to make the aircraft descend with a reduced engine thrust and a fixed speed; and control means for automatically bringing guidance means of the aircraft into a guidance configuration compatible with the situation associated with the complete failure of the engines.
US09454903B2
A road information sharing method according to the present invention is a road information sharing method for sharing the road information via a terminal device, the road information sharing method including the steps of storing sensor information acquired from a vehicle moving in accompaniment with the terminal device, detecting the road information from the sensor information on the basis of detection rules for detecting the road information, notifying a user about the road information detected, and prompting the user to make a judgment of necessity/unnecessity of registration about the detected road information, and storing the detected road information, if the detected road information is judged to be registration-necessary by the user.
US09454887B1
A doze alert includes a head cover having a plurality of EEG sensors mounted thereon for measuring brainwave activity. The sensors are in communication with a wireless transceiver that transmits the measurements to a monitoring station. If a majority of the measurements are below an acceptable threshold, the monitoring station generates a brightly colored message on a display screen and engages an audible alarm.
US09454879B2
A computer-implemented method for enhancing game components in a gaming system, the method comprising: displaying at least one of a row and a column of the game components along a plane on a display device in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto; selecting at least one of the game components for enhancement; expanding selected ones of the game components outside of the plane and associating at least one additional symbol to expanded selected ones of the game components; and integrating the at least one additional symbol into the given game.
US09454878B2
A gaming machine includes an input device and a processor coupled to the input device. The input device is configured to receive a game play event from a player. The processor is programmed to determine whether a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based at least in part on the game play event. The jackpot trigger condition includes a target quantity of games played, a target set of game tokens, a target pattern of game symbols, and/or a target pattern of game play outcomes. The processor is further programmed to award a jackpot credit to one or more players when the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied.
US09454874B2
Systems for validating wagering game data are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an application program configured to transmit a request for wagering game data. The apparatus can also include a wagering game data security controller configured to detect the request. The wagering game data security controller can include a wagering game data processor configured to fetch the wagering game data and a reference value from a data store. The wagering game data security controller can also include a wagering game data validator configured to compute a comparison value based on the wagering game data, and to determine whether the comparison value is equal to the reference value. The wagering game data security controller can also include a notifier unit configured to present a notification if the comparison value is not equal to the reference value.
US09454873B2
Apparatus and methods related to multi-player casino games are described. An electronic gaming device is provided that allows a live player to compete against a virtual player in a multi-player wager-based game using playing cards derived from the insertion of a physical denomination of currency. The electronic gaming device can be configured to simulate the decision making of a virtual player and associated behaviors of the virtual player during game play. In some instances, the simulated behaviors of the virtual player output at the electronic gaming device can be learned by a live player so that the live player can make better or more advantageous game play decisions. The simulated behaviors of the virtual player can be conveyed to the live player via visual images, such as simulated facial expressions of the virtual player.
US09454872B2
Some implementations of the invention provide methods and devices for various types of adventure sequences that preferably involve, at least in part, wagering games. Such sequences may involve wagering and/or other games at a plurality of gaming devices, tables and/or gaming establishments. Some implementations provide a virtual gaming experience wherein one or more other environments (e.g., environments that include gaming establishments) are simulated at a single location. Accordingly, adventure sequences described herein may comprise stages in one or more virtual environments, stages in one or more real environments or a combination of the two. Virtual players, also referred to herein as player game agents (“PGAs”), may act on behalf of real players. A PGA may be able to play games autonomously, e.g., when the associated player is at a different location and/or is not aware of the PGA's current activities. PGAs may be enabled to negotiate on behalf of real players, e.g., for comps, better pay table percentages, etc.
US09454861B2
A remote control system includes a portable device and a security device. The portable device includes a motion sensor. The security device is configured to communicate with the portable device through wireless signals to control a vehicle in accordance with an action request motion detected by the motion sensor. The motion sensor is operated in an ON mode, which enables detection of an action request motion, and an OFF mode, which disables detection of the operation request motion. The security device controls the operation mode of the motion sensor in accordance with the condition of a vehicle.
US09454854B2
In one embodiment, a visual reporting system generates a 3-dimensional (3D) interactive vehicle inspection report comprising 3D model data and inspection data for a particular vehicle. The inspection data, such as recommended repair items, are associated with graphical vehicle sections in the 3D model. Further, additional inspection data, such as instructional videos or inspection photographs, can be provided to a user desiring additional detail. By providing an interactive visual representation of inspection data, the 3D inspection report provides a report that can be customized to provide different levels of detail to different users. In addition, the 3D model can provide a visually compact summary of the inspection data by marking on the 3D model the repair items for the vehicle. Use of the 3D inspection report can raise the likelihood that the vehicle owner understands the need for repair, leading to more repair orders for repair facilities.
US09454852B2
An electronic access authorization system maintains location-dependent and/or time-dependent validity data which can be read out wirelessly by an access control device (4), which data can be acquired online or, in the case of an accreditation, can be requested online as a special form of access authorization, and which can be transferred following successful issuance in electronic form to an electronic terminal (1) of a user. Changes, on the part of the issuer of the access authorization, to the validity data of the access authorization can be transferred via a data communication connection between a server (2) of the issuer of the access authorization and the electronic terminal (1) to the electronic access authorization stored in the electronic terminal (1) and displayed on a display device (5) of the electronic terminal.
US09454848B2
A method and apparatus for enhancing an image capture of a geographic area is presented. The enhancement involves receiving an image and aligning a three dimensional model to the received image. A view of the three dimensional model defined by the outline of the received image may be determined. A point of interest in the determined view of the aligned three dimensional model may be identified. A transition may be triggered between the received image to information from the three dimensional model associated with the point of interest.
US09454846B2
A method for measuring regions of a tooth in a mouth including: measuring at least one surface point on a surface of the tooth with respect to an element mechanically coupled to said surface point; determining a location of at least one visible reference mechanically coupled to said surface point with respect to said element; estimating a location of said surface point with respect to said visible reference. A device used for such measuring may include a main body comprising a final optical element of an imager which defines an optical field of view directed in a first direction; and a measurement element coupled to said main body extending generally in said first direction; where a tip of said measurement element is sized and shaped to be inserted between a tooth and adjacent gingiva; where said optical field of view is sized to image at least part of a tooth.
US09454844B2
An apparatus for processing graphics primitives for display includes rasterization, depth testing, and rendering circuitry. The depth testing circuitry determines if a selected graphics fragment would be obscured when displayed by comparing a depth comparison function and a depth value associated with the selected graphics fragment with a stored depth value. The depth testing circuitry suppresses rendering operations for the fragment if the selected fragment would be obscured. An update indication shows a possible change direction due to the updating for a stored depth value which depends on a received depth comparison function. The depth testing for the selected fragment is performed using the possible change direction shown by the update indication to modify the depth comparison function to allow for updating of the stored depth value by the rendering operations.
US09454842B2
The invention is directed to a computer-implemented method for partitioning a three-dimensional scene into a plurality of zones, each zone being processed by a computing resource. The method comprises providing a three-dimensional scene comprising one or more objects, each object generating a computing resource cost; determining a set of locations in the three-dimensional scene; filling each location with its maximum occupancy of objects that reaches the most expensive computing cost; computing, for each location of the three-dimensional scene, the maximum computing cost density; and grouping adjacent locations into one or more zones, each zone having a resulting computing cost density guarantying a real-time performance of the zone.
US09454835B2
A graphic display on a computer system with a floor layout having a canvas layer and an overlay layer. The canvas layer has tile graphics laid out in a grid, the tile graphics representing portions of the floor. The overlay layer has overlay containers corresponding to the tile graphics, the overlay layer having overlay zones and overlay graphics. Overlay functions associated with overlay zones in an overlay container manipulate the tile graphic associated with the overlay container. The overlay graphics of each overlay container are transparent until a hover event occurs over the associated overlay container. A tile pallet illustrates the tile graphics in the canvas layer of the floor layout. A tool layout display includes indicia associated with various functions that can manipulate the tile graphics in the flooring layout. A perspective flooring layout is displayed in a transparent window of an environmental mask with a perspective room design.
US09454832B2
A method for creating a graphical representation of data in the form of a heatmap is performed at an electronic computing device. The device positions data points on a heatmap for graphical representation and calculates conical distribution values around a first data point based on a first data value associated with the first data point. When a conical distribution value around the first data point is greater than a second data value associated with a second data point, the device adjusts the conical distribution values proximate to the second data point by applying an inverse conical distribution around the second data point. The device renders the heatmap based on the calculated conical distribution values and the adjusted conical distribution values so that the data value of the second data point is visible on the heatmap.
US09454826B2
An image processor includes an LSRAM accessible with a higher speed than a frame memory and configured to hold a second image in a predetermined range of a first image, an image production unit configured to read an image in a predetermined range of the second image from the LSRAM and produce a third image for rough search based on the read image, an MSRAM accessible with a higher speed than the frame memory and configured to hold the third image produced by the image production unit, a search unit configured to read the third image from the MSRAM and perform first motion search based on the third image, and a search unit configured to read a fourth image in a predetermined range of the second image from the LSRAM based on a search result by the search unit and perform second motion search that is more detailed than the first motion search based on the fourth image.
US09454814B2
A PACS viewer and an associated method and computer program product are provided for identifying patient orientation. With respect to a PACS viewer, the PACS viewer includes processing circuitry configured to register an image onto a template. The processing circuitry is also configured to determine a representative seed point within each of the left and right lungs as represented by the image. The processing circuitry is further configured to apply an active contour model to each of the left and right lungs to generate a binary image of the left and right lungs. In this regard, the processing circuitry is configured to apply the active contour model by initializing the active contour model with a mask constructed using the representative seed points. Further, the processing circuitry is configured to detect at least one feature from the binary image to permit identification of the left and right lungs.
US09454813B2
The invention provides methods and apparatus for image processing that perform image segmentation on data sets in two- and/or three-dimensions so as to resolve structures that have the same or similar grey values (and that would otherwise render with the same or similar intensity values) and that, thereby, facilitate visualization and processing of those data sets.
US09454809B2
Methods and a module for use with a microscope for enhancing image contrast in an image of a phase object. A transmission image of a specimen is formed in an image plane, of which a Fourier transform is generated in a Fourier plane. An amplitude filter is applied to the Fourier transform field, which is then transformed back to an image at a focal plane of a detector array. An image signal from the detector array is processed to generate a contrast-enhanced image of the specimen.
US09454805B2
An apparatus and method for reducing noise of an image are provided. The apparatus includes: a temporal noise reduction unit configured to remove temporal noise from an input frame by adjusting a temporal noise reduction intensity of the input frame based on a pixel-based motion degree and a block-based motion degree that are detected from the input frame and a reference frame and generate a first output frame; and a spatial noise reduction unit configured to remove spatial noise from the first output frame by adjusting a spatial noise reduction intensity of the first output frame based on similarity between peripheral pixels of the first output frame and the pixel-based motion degree and the block-based motion degree, thereby to generate a final output frame.
US09454804B2
In order to provide an image processing device and the like making it possible to generate a target image in which edges of a structure are upheld and from which streaking artifacts are removed, a computation device determines a shape of a non-linear function on the basis of feature amounts of an original image and a smoothed image (S101). Next, the computation device calculates a condition coefficient of the original image and the smoothed image by using the non-linear function for which the shape was determined in S101 (S102). Next, the computation device uses the condition coefficients calculated in S102 to calculate a weighting coefficient for each of the pixels of the original image and the smoothed image (S103). Next, the computation device adds weighting to the original image and the smoothed image to generate the target image (S104).
US09454802B2
In one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a processor configured to select a first image, resize the selected first image to a first resized image, enhance the quality of the first resized image to generate a second image, display the second image, resize, when the displayed second image is designated as an object to be shared, the selected first image to a second resized image, and enhance the quality of the second resized image to generate a third image, the third image sent to the second application program and/or the external device.
US09454801B2
An image processing apparatus that outputs a transformed image obtained by performing geometric transformation on an input image identifies, on the basis of inverse parameters of the geometric transformation, a plurality of sets of coordinates in the input image corresponding to a plurality of sets of coordinates in the transformed image, store, among the plurality of sets of coordinates in the transformed image, one or more sets of coordinates that satisfy a certain condition and the identified sets of coordinates corresponding to the one or more sets of coordinates in a memory while associating the one or more sets of coordinates and the identified sets of coordinates with each other, and generates the transformed image on the basis of data stored in the memory.
US09454799B2
An electronic device including a display unit configured to display a letterbox in a letterbox region and an image in an image display region; and a controller configured to display a guide image at a boundary portion between the letterbox region and the image display region, and change display sizes of the letterbox region and the image display region based on a movement of the guide image.
US09454798B2
Systems and methods of automatic image sizing are provided. An image is provided in a first frame within a first layout. A request to display the image in a second frame of a second layout is received, where the second frame is different than the first frame. Region data associated with the image is accessed. The region data corresponds to a prior edit to the image and indicates a portion of the image to be displayed in the second frame. The image is provided in the second frame using the region data such that the portion of the image is displayed in the second frame.
US09454795B2
An image optimized rolling cache system extracts pixel information and address information of a corresponding pixel from an input image to store the extracted pixel information and the extracted address information, and processes the image by applying a vertical rolling mechanism or a horizontal rolling mechanism using the stored information.
US09454788B2
An online ordering system and method for placing a multiple tablet order are described. The system comprises a graphical user interface configured to display information for a plurality of medicinal tablets. The graphical user interface is further configured to receive a plurality of multiple tablet orders. Each multiple tablet order corresponds to at least two medicinal tablets for consumption on a particular date at a particular time. Each of the multiple tablet orders corresponds to a multiple tablet package labeled with tablet specific information. The tablet specific information for each package includes the date and the time for consuming the tablets in the package and a plurality of images of each of the tablets in the package. The method is implemented by the system.
US09454787B1
A system for managing the utilization of personal proprietary information in social media is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system provides an interface between databases that facilitates the processing and sharing of private information that allows access to personal proprietary information used to confirm or disaffirm the personal vitals in multiple social media contexts. This system allows a user to access databases to access personal information for the user's individual use and individual purposes in social media. This system sets forth the ease and effectiveness of the interface allocable between multiple users, business as well as private individuals, within the parameters of the goal of the system to provide users with options for their specific and intended use. The system integrates databases to allow easy access and centralized storage of requested information for dissemination of user information in social media by every user in a membership capacity with other members.
US09454780B2
Computer based systems and methods allow designing (e.g., customization) of consumer products, such as articles of footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, etc., by users.
US09454776B2
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium includes determining an attribute of a web page to be displayed to a user at a location, selecting content corresponding to the determined web page attribute, and transmitting the selected content to the location for display as at least part of the web page.
US09454774B2
A method and a system to promote a publication are provided. In example embodiments, data is received from a user that is used to create a publication for placement on a networked-based system. An indication to promote the publication on the networked-based system is received. A user interface through which the user selects an option to promote the publication on the network-based system is presented. The publication is published on the network-based system, whereby the publication is promoted based on the option selected to promote the publication.
US09454771B1
A real-time messaging platform allows advertiser accounts to pay to insert candidate messages into the message streams requested by account holders. To accommodate multiple advertisers, the messaging platform controls an auction process that determines which candidate messages are selected for inclusion in a requested account holder's message stream. Selection is based on a bid for the candidate message, the message stream that is requested, and a variety of other factors that vary depending upon the implementation. The process for selection of candidate messages generally includes the following steps, though any given step may be omitted or combined into another step in a different implementation: targeting, filtering, prediction, ranking, and selection.
US09454769B2
A method for tracking patronage of a customer in at least one casino property is described. The method comprises monitoring a wireless handset that determines the location of the customer. The method then proceeds to generate a user profile that comprises user preferences and monitored betting activity associated with the customer and accumulated points stored in a customer account according to a monetary value of the monitored betting activity. Complementary goods or services are determined based on the accumulated points associated with the customer account. A message is sent to the wireless handset associated with the complementary goods or services that is consistent with the user preferences.
US09454766B2
An information processing apparatus includes: an record information obtaining mechanism which obtains record information representing a provision destination of one predetermined electronic information property by a terminal device relating to a provider of the electronic information property; a weighting mechanism which extracts the provision destination included in the obtained actual achievement information and performs weighting on the extracted provision destination based on a reference predetermined in accordance with the attribute of the provision destination; and an evaluation value calculating mechanism which calculates an evaluation value of the provider based on the weighted value.
US09454758B2
Configuring a plurality of security isolated wallet containers on a single mobile device includes configuring at least one mobile transaction platform-specific application programming interface for facilitating access to secure mobile transaction platform resources by a wallet container executing on a mobile device; disposing a plurality of distinct wallet containers in a memory of the mobile device, wherein each wallet container interfaces with secure mobile transaction platform resources via the at least one application programming interface; disposing at least one service provider-specific wallet in each of the plurality of distinct wallet containers; and enforcing service-provider specific wallet security by a distinct wallet container accessing a portion of the secure mobile transaction platform resources via the at least one application programming interface.
US09454747B2
A system and computer-implemented method includes presenting a user interface having a visual representation for each of multiple ongoing conversations involving a recipient user identity who is associated with each of the conversations. Message activity of the recipient user identity with respect to one or more of the multiple ongoing conversations is monitored and activity level associated with at least one incoming message for a recipient user identity is identified based upon the monitored message activity. The monitored message activity includes the recipient user identity's interaction with a conversation associated with the incoming message. A relative hierarchy for the ongoing conversations is determined based on the activity level associated with the at least one incoming message, and the user interface is arranged such that a conversation associated with an incoming message having a relatively high activity level is positioned to reflect hierarchical prominence in comparison to another conversation associated with an incoming message having a relatively low activity level.
US09454745B2
A system and method of tracking vehicles stored within a parking lot using RFID tags is disclosed. The method includes creating a record of a vehicle, where the record includes information associated with the vehicle. The method further includes assigning an RFID tag to the record associated with the vehicle, attaching the RFID tag to the vehicle, detecting the RFID tag using a first interrogator, and determining a new geographic location of the first interrogator contemporaneously with detecting the RFID tag. In addition, the method may include recording video of the vehicle, where the video includes a video record of each time when the vehicle is moved. The method includes assigning the new geographic location of the RFID tag when the RFID tag is no longer detected by the first interrogator and updating the record with the new geographic location of the RFID tag and the vehicle.
US09454744B2
An asset tracking system for use in a process control environment may include one or more asset tracking devices and an asset tracking host. The asset tracking device may receive signals corresponding to a position or location of an asset to be tracked, and may communicate, using an industrial automation protocol such as wireless HART, an indication of the position to the asset tracking host. The signals may be GPS signals that are re-radiated into the process control environment. Other information, such as environmental data, may be communicated in conjunction with the position of the asset. The asset tracking host may store and/or display the data or information included in the message, and may send a different message to the asset tracking device. An asset tracking device may be included in a field device, a network device, or a portable communications device used in the process control environment.
US09454740B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, method and/or computer program products for monitoring internet activity. In some method embodiments, a network is searched to detect network data indicative of actual and/or potential contact with a child. A report is generated that identifies a source of detected data and the report is sent to a responsible party.
US09454733B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a machine learning model. One of the methods includes receiving a complete set of training data; receiving instructions to train a predictive model having a plurality of parameters on an initial subset of the complete set of training data; training the predictive model on the initial subset; storing data representing a first state of the predictive model after training the predictive model on the initial subset; receiving updated parameter values and instructions to train the predictive model on a new subset of the complete set of training data; and training the predictive model on the new subset.
US09454726B1
Systems and methods for defining a custom segment in a set of behavioral data are provided. A described method includes receiving a set of behavioral data associated with a plurality of user devices and identifying multiple cohort groups, each of the cohort groups including one or more of the user devices. The behavioral data includes a behavior metric for each of the user devices and the cohort groups are identified based on the behavior metric for each of the user devices. The method further comprises generating a segmentation interface including a graphical visualization of the multiple cohort groups and causing the segmentation interface to be presented via a user interface device. The method further comprises defining a custom segment of the behavioral data based on a user selection of one or more of the multiple cohort groups via the segmentation interface.
US09454714B1
Systems and methods for sequence transcription with neural networks are provided. More particularly, a neural network can be implemented to map a plurality of training images received by the neural network into a probabilistic model of sequences comprising P(S|X) by maximizing log P(S|X) on the plurality of training images. X represents an input image and S represents an output sequence of characters for the input image. The trained neural network can process a received image containing characters associated with building numbers. The trained neural network can generate a predicted sequence of characters by processing the received image.
US09454700B2
In a feature extraction and pattern matching system, image sharpening can enable vascular point detection (VPD) for detecting points of interest from visible vasculature of the eye. Pattern Histograms of Extended Multi-Radii Local Binary Patterns and/or Pattern Histograms of Extended Multi-Radii Center Symmetric Local Binary Patterns can provide description of portions of images surrounding a point of interest, and enrollment and verification templates can be generated using points detected via VPD and the corresponding descriptors. Inlier point pairs can be selected from the enrollment and verification templates, and a first match score indicating similarity of the two templates can be computed based on the number of inlier point pairs and one or more parameters of a transform selected by the inlier detection. A second match score can be computed by applying the selected transform, and either or both scores can be used to authenticate the user.
US09454699B2
Embodiments are disclosed for eye tracking systems and methods. An example eye tracking system comprises a plurality of light sources and a camera configured to capture an image of light from the light sources as reflected from an eye. The eye tracking system further comprises a logic device and a storage device storing instructions executable by the logic device to acquire frames of eye tracking data by iteratively projecting light from different combinations of light sources of the plurality of light sources and capturing an image of the eye during projection of each combination. The instructions may be further executable to select a selected combination of light sources for eye tracking based on a determination of occlusion detected in the image arising from a transparent or semi-transparent optical structure positioned between the eye and the camera and project light via the selected combination of light sources for eye tracking.
US09454696B2
Methods and devices receive a document comprising raster images, using an optical scanner. These methods and devices automatically identify topical items within the raster images based on raster content in the raster images, using a processor. Further, these methods and devices automatically associate the topical items with topics in the document based on previously established rules for identifying topical sections, and automatically crop the topical items from the raster images to produce cropped portions of the raster images, using the processor. These methods and devices then automatically create an index for the document by combining the cropped portions of the raster images organized by the topics, using the processor, and output the index from the processor.
US09454693B2
An image correction apparatus includes a correction factor calculating unit which calculates a correction factor such that a distance between a corrected value obtained by correcting, using the correction factor, a luminance value of a first pixel on the image corresponding to a sensor element with a first filter in an image sensor included in an image capturing unit which generates the image, the first filter having a first transmittance characteristic and a luminance value of a second pixel on the image corresponding to a sensor element with a second filter in the image sensor, the second filter having a second transmittance characteristic, becomes smaller than a distance between the luminance value of the first pixel and the luminance value of the second pixel, and a correcting unit which generates a corrected image by correcting the luminance value of the first pixel using the correction factor.
US09454687B2
Methods, devices, and systems for barcode imaging are described herein. One method includes capturing image data that is used to form an image with a light field imager, wherein the image includes a barcode, locating the barcode within the image, measuring a variance of at least a portion of the barcode region of the image, and refocusing at least a portion of the image based on the measured variance.
US09454686B2
There is provided in one embodiment an apparatus having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels. The monochrome pixels can be pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements. The color sensitive pixels can include wavelength selective color filter elements.
US09454682B2
A near field communication reader device is provided including a transmitter to transmit a request to a near field communication tag device; wherein the request is formed according to a predetermined format including an identifier section for carrying a request identifier; a receiver to receive a response from the near field communication tag device; wherein the response is formed based on the request according to the predetermined format including the identifier section for carrying a response identifier; and a processor to generate the request identifier, to compare the request identifier with the response identifier and to accept the response as a valid response if the response identifier is different from the request identifier. A corresponding near field communication tag device, a near field communication system and a near field communication method are provided as well.
US09454676B2
Technologies for monitoring system API calls include a computing device with hardware virtualization support. The computing device establishes a default memory view and a security memory view to define physical memory maps and permissions. The computing device executes an application in the default memory view and executes a default inline hook in response to a call to an API function. The default inline hook switches to the security memory view using hardware support without causing a virtual machine exit. The security inline hook calls a security callback function to validate the API function call in the security memory view. Hook-skipping attacks may be prevented by padding the default inline hook with no-operation instructions, by designating memory pages of the API function as non-executable in the default memory view, or by designating memory pages of the application as non-executable in the security memory view. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09454675B2
Disclosed are an apparatus which is capable of easily performing the personal information protection processing without changing the original image recorded in the image recorder, a method thereof, and a computer-readable recording medium having computer program recorded therein. The method for protecting personal information of a recorded image includes: performing personal information protection processing by masking a personal information protection region that needs personal information protection based on a user input signal for an original image in a predetermined section of the recorded image designated by a user; generating metadata which represents a personal information protection processing result; and generating a personal information protection processed image file including a playing program which plays the original image, the original image file, and the metadata which represents the personal information protection processing result for the original image.
US09454662B1
A method for booting a confidential image on a trusted computer system. A trusted computer system loads an encrypted client image key onto a protected area on the trusted computer system. The trusted computer system loads an encrypted boot image onto a secure logical partition on the trusted computer system. The trusted computer system decrypts the encrypted client image key to obtain a client image key in the protected area. The trusted computer system decrypts, with the client image key, the encrypted boot image to obtain a boot image and a client data key. The trusted computer system starts the boot image, and the boot image mounts the encrypted client data onto the secure logical partition. The client data key is used by the boot image to decrypt data read from the encrypted client data and to encrypt data written to the encrypted client data.
US09454659B1
This invention teaches a system and methods of detecting software vulnerabilities in a computer program by analyzing the compiled code and optionally the source code of the computer program. The invention models compiled software to examine both control flow and dataflow properties of the target program. A comprehensive instruction model is used for each instruction of the compiled code, and is complemented by a control flow graph that includes all potential control flow paths of the instruction. A data flow model is used to record the flow of unsafe data during the execution of the program. The system analyzes the data flow model and creates a security finding corresponding to each instruction that calls an unsafe function on unsafe data. These security findings are aggregated in a security report along with the corresponding debug information, any ancillary information, remediation recommendations and the optional source code information for each instruction that triggered the security finding.
US09454657B2
A security system and method is provided. An embodiment includes a security access device that includes a first transmitter for transmitting authentication to a computer and a second transmitter for transmitting verification information to a computer. The first transmitter is typically active and consumes power from the access device, while the second transmitter is typically passive, and consumes less or nil power from the access device. When the security access device is initially brought proximal to the computer and activated, the authentication information is sent to the computer and the user is logged in. Periodically, the computer will query the passive transmitter for verification information, to ensure that the security access device is still proximal to the computer.
US09454647B1
Systems and methods for managing assets on a computing device are described. A computing device obtains one or more relationships between an electronic device and one or more related electronic devices. Relationship priorities of the relationships are obtained. The computing device displays an icon representing the electronic device and icons representing the related electronic devices. Also displayed are arrows representing the relationships. The arrows are displayed with differing thicknesses based on the relationship priorities.
US09454630B1
A system for graphics generation includes a processor configured to implement a modeling process and a GUI process. The modeling process is configured to generate a first graphics model including a plurality of objects. Each object defines a respective graphical depiction for a respective element of a programmable IC. The modeling process is also configured to serialize objects of the first graphics model according to a first application programming interface (API) definition file to produce a serialized graphics model. The GUI process is configured to, in response to receiving one or more objects of the serialized graphics model, deserialize the one or more objects of the serialized graphics model according to the first API definition file to produce a second graphics model. The GUI process is further configured to render the one or more objects of the second graphics model.
US09454629B2
A method for analyzing circuits includes identifying one or more device zones in a full device structure. The device zones provide areas of interest to be analyzed. A partial device is generated that representatively includes the one or more device zones. Analytical meshes of the partial device are reduced by employing physical characteristics of the full device structure. The partial device is simulated, using a processor, to obtain device output information in the areas of interest that is representative of the full device structure. Systems are also disclosed.
US09454626B2
Systems and techniques are described for solving an optimization problem using a constraints solver. A set of constraints that correspond to the optimization problem can be generated. Next, a set of upper bound constraints can be added to the set of constraints, wherein the set of upper bound constraints imposes an upper bound on one or more variables that are used in an objective function of the optimization problem. Next, the embodiments can iteratively perform the following set of operations on a computer: (a) solve the set of constraints using the constraints solver; (b) responsive to the constraints solver returning a solution, decrease the upper bound; and (c) responsive to the constraints solver indicating that no solutions exist or that the constraints solver timed out, increase the upper bound. The solution with the lowest upper bound value can be outputted as the optimal solution for the optimization problem.
US09454622B2
In an example implementation, a global educational hub provides academic users with collaboration tools to exchange and build on the accumulated knowledge of subjects of interest. Users are provided with a central location to collect, categorize, and rank resources, and store notes and comments related to a particular section of an electronic textbook being studied. Users also can refer to online resources, such as web services, multimedia, website pages, newsgroups, search engine results, RSS, any other current and future external resources, and other user's notes.
US09454620B2
An apparatus for generating a data model includes a processor and memory storing executable computer program code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including receiving one or more requests from one or more communication devices or one or more applications. The program code further causes the apparatus to analyze one or more instances of data of the requests, in part, to generate at least one index. The program code further causes the apparatus to automatically generate a data model, in a development environment, based at least in part on the data in the index. The data model may include one or more definitions defining valid types of instances of data designated for validation of one or more received instances of data. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.
US09454619B2
A user interface for a device comprises a plurality of layers. The content for the user interface is associated with one of the plurality of layers.
US09454618B1
An indication to render a webpage is received. The webpage includes two or more frames and the two or more frames are rendered in a first order. A second order from a user is received. The webpage is rendered. The two or more frames of the webpage are rendered in the second order.
US09454615B2
A method and system for predicting user behaviors based on term taxonomies are provided. The system comprises generating phrases respective of user generated content, wherein each phrase is a sentiment phrase or a non-sentiment phrase, each sentiment phrase including at least one word describing a sentiment; identifying at least one connection between at least two of the generated phrases, wherein each connection is a direct connection or a hidden connection; generating at least one term taxonomy based on the identified at least one connection, wherein each term taxonomy is an association between a non-sentiment phrase and at least one of a plurality of sentiment phrases; periodically analyzing the at least one term taxonomy to determine at least one trend of each non-sentiment phrase respective of the associated plurality of sentiment phrases; and generating a prediction of future behavior of the at least one trend with respect to the at least one term taxonomy.
US09454607B1
A server generates an image with searchable information from a website and transmits that image to a client device. Since the image may be large, the image is generated and transmitted in the background as the client device browses the website. When the client device requests information from the website, the client device first checks if that information has already been transmitted to it in the image as encoded format. If the client device has this information, which is locally stored, then the client device decodes that portion of the image and retrieves the requested information without ever having to contact the server. If the client device does not have this information stored locally, then the client device contacts the server and retrieves the information. Since the image can contain all of the searchable information of a website, the searching process will become faster as time passes.
US09454603B2
An apparatus includes a data processing system for generating and displaying a semantic type concordance. The data processing system includes memory storing a computer program, a display to display data of a concordance generated by the program, and a processor configured to execute the computer program. The computer program includes instructions for displaying a user interface configured to enable a user to select semantic types and specify at least one text document, generating a concordance of the at least one document based on the semantic types, and displaying data of the generated concordance on the display.
US09454591B2
Subsequent to a storage operation performed on the source instance by a source component, a synchronization message is sent to a replicated component for the replicated instance. The synchronization message is stored locally in a persistent storage location associated with the source component along with an indicator representative of a time the storage operation was performed. Pursuant to receipt of the synchronization message by the replicated component, the replicated component is updated to a dirty state to indicate a lack of full synchronization between the source and replicated instances.
US09454590B2
A method, computer program product and computer system to validate a write of a replica record to a replica data store in a transaction processing system, the replica record duplicating a source record in a source data store. The transaction processing system obtains a value associated with a record location of the source record in the source data store. The transaction processing system predicts a value associated with a record location of the replica record in the replica data store and responsive to the obtained value associated with the source record location not corresponding to the predicted value associated with the replica record location, not writing the replica record.
US09454583B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for analyzing user profiles. One of the methods includes identifying websites with which users of a social networking service have established an affiliation. The method includes filtering the identified websites by removing websites in which a count of users who have established an affiliation with the website exceeds a threshold. The method includes producing a list of valid affiliations for each filtered website, including generating a validity score for each of the established affiliations with the respective filtered website, determining whether each of the established affiliations with the respective filtered website is valid based on the corresponding validity score, and ranking the users who established valid affiliations with the respective website based on the corresponding validity scores. The method also includes providing the list of the valid affiliations ordered by the ranking.
US09454565B1
In various embodiments, static, dynamic, and behavioral analysis may be performed on an application. A set of software libraries or code fragments 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 or code fragments and identifiers for the set of device resources.
US09454557B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a unit of work for incremental data processing are described. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a unit of work key for a program that processes records in a source table. The unit of work key is selected such that modifications to a record having a certain unit of work key value will not affect the program's processing of records having a different unit of work key value. The selected unit of work key is associated with the program. When a record in the source table is created, modified, or deleted, a unit of work key value is identified for the record and a selected set of records having the identified unit of work key value is provided to the program. Thus, records in the data source that do not have the identified unit of work key values are not provided to the program.
US09454542B2
An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries.
US09454540B2
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and apparatus for sharing data. The method includes: initiating the data sharing application on a first terminal; inserting the file to be shared in a webpage of the data sharing application on the first terminal, and generating an URL for the file in the data sharing application; the data-sharing application of the first terminal broadcasts the URL to other terminal, so that other terminals can share the file via the URL. The present disclosure can reduce the cost of data sharing while improve on the real-timeliness.
US09454538B2
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for reliable asynchronous solid-state device based de-duplication. Responsive to receiving a write request to write data to the file system, the mechanism sends the write request to the file system, and in parallel, computes a hash key for the write data. The mechanism looks up the hash key in a de-duplication table. The de-duplication table is stored in a memory or a solid-state storage device. Responsive to the hash key not existing in the de-duplication table, the mechanism writes the write data to a storage device, writes a journal transaction comprising the hash key, and updates the de-duplication table to reference the write data in the storage device.
US09454526B1
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A CHART OF ACCOUNTS SIMPLIFIER (hereinafter “CAS”) implement efficient and scalable monitoring, regulation, and allocation of computational processing, data, labor, and/or the like resources within an enterprise. In some embodiments, the CAS may facilitate, in various implementations, report generation through the use of universal variables and economical interface features. In one embodiment, a report generation request may be received. A subset of transactions may be selected based on accounting Classes/Subclasses and business Categories/Subcategories. Report breakdown may be determined based on accounting Classes/Subclasses and on the report configuration details, and the report may be displayed to the user.
US09454516B2
A method of ambiguous word review or correction for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a plurality of actuations of input members in which each of a number of these members has a plurality of assigned characters, rendering a plurality of words responsive to the actuations, displaying a plurality of representations of the words, and detecting a number of the words, which are ambiguous. For each of the detected number, a visual indicator is displayed associated with a corresponding one of the representations. Touching of a touch screen is detected in connection with the displayed visual indicator. Preferably, a first magnification of the corresponding representation and a second magnification of a representation of a number of alternative words are displayed. The touch screen can be used to select one of the first and second magnifications to correct the ambiguous word.
US09454508B2
A vehicle and a vehicle system are provided with a controller that is configured to generate output indicative of a kinematic road gradient estimation using an extended Kalman filter. The extended Kalman filter includes a system input based on a longitudinal acceleration and an acceleration offset, and a system output based on a predicted vehicle speed. The acceleration offset is based on at least one of a lateral velocity, a lateral offset, and a vehicle pitch angle. The controller is further configured to generate output indicative of a kinematic quality factor corresponding to an availability of the kinematic road gradient estimation.
US09454505B2
Chip select (‘CS’) multiplication in an SPI system that includes an SPI master, a CS multiplier, a plurality of SPI slaves, and a fall time detection circuit, where the SPI master is coupled to the CS multiplier and the fall time detection circuit by a CS signal line, the CS multiplier includes a plurality of CS outputs with each CS output coupled to an SPI slave, and CS multiplication includes: receiving, from the SPI master, the CS signal on the CS signal line; detecting fall time of the CS signal; and, if the fall time of the CS signal is less than a predefined threshold, configuring, by the fall-time detection circuit, the CS multiplier to vary from providing a CS signal on a first CS output to providing a CS signal on a second CS output.
US09454498B1
An integrated circuit can include a processor system configured to execute program code. The processor system can be hard-wired and include a processor hardware resource. The IC also can include a programmable circuitry configurable to implement different physical circuits. The programmable circuitry can be coupled to the processor system. The programmable circuitry can be configurable to share usage of the processor hardware resource of the processor system. The processor system further can control aspects of the programmable circuitry such as power on and/or off and also configuration of the programmable circuitry to implement one or more different physical circuits therein.
US09454486B2
An apparatus for processing cache requests in a computing system is disclosed. The apparatus may include a pending request buffer and a control circuit. The pending request buffer may include a plurality of buffer entries. The control circuit may be coupled to the pending request buffer and may be configured to receive a request for a first cache line from a pre-fetch engine, and store the received request in an entry of the pending request buffer. The control circuit may be further configured to receive a request for a second cache line from a processor, and store the request received from the processor in the entry of the pending request buffer in response to a determination that the second cache line is the same as the first cache line.
US09454484B2
An integrated circuit system including a first integrated circuit chip including first logic, a second integrated circuit chip, and second logic distributed across the first and second integrated circuit chips. The second logic includes a first unit integrated in the first integrated circuit chip and a second unit integrated in the second integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit system further includes a physical communication link coupling the first unit in the first integrated circuit chip and the second unit in the second integrated circuit chip and a request interface between the first logic and first unit of the second logic. The request interface is implemented in the first integrated circuit such that communication via the request interface between the first logic and the first unit of the second logic has low latency and such that the request interface is decoupled from the physical communication link.
US09454481B2
A method, system, and computer readable medium to share data on a global basis within a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) computer system are disclosed. The method may include grouping a plurality of processor cores into a plurality of affinity groups. The method may include creating hints about the global data in the plurality of group data structures. Each group data structure may correspond to an affinity group. The method may read a first group data structure by a thread executing on a processor core associated with a first affinity group.
US09454479B2
Provided are a method, system, and computer program product for processing read and write requests in a storage controller. A host adaptor in the storage controller receives a write request from a host system for a storage address in a storage device. The host adaptor sends write information indicating the storage address updated by the write request to a device adaptor in the storage controller. The host adaptor writes the write data to a cache in the storage controller. The device adaptor indicates the storage address indicated in the write information to a modified storage address list stored in the device adaptor, wherein the modified storage address list indicates modified data in the cache for storage addresses in the storage device.
US09454472B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to sparsity-driven matrix representation. In one embodiment, a sparsity of a matrix is determined and the sparsity is compared to a threshold. Computer memory is allocated to store the matrix in a first data structure format based on the sparsity being greater than the threshold. Computer memory is allocated to store the matrix in a second data structure format based on the sparsity not being greater than the threshold.
US09454469B2
In some implementations, a testing service receives a test execution request for executing test operations on a test target. The testing service may map the test execution request to a particular type of supported test framework from among a plurality of types of supported test frameworks. The testing service may obtain a test package provided by a user that requested the testing, such as from a cloud storage location. The testing service determines a computing capacity for executing the testing and appropriates a plurality of workers in a cloud computing service. The testing service configures the plurality of workers for executing the test operations based on at least one of the test framework, the test execution request or the test package. The testing service provides test execution chunks from the test package to the plurality of workers for executing the testing on the test target.
US09454468B2
In one embodiment, a method of testing a software is disclosed. The method comprises: providing an input event to the software under test, wherein the software under test is associated with a time delay between an input event and an output event; identifying one or more discrete time instances based on the time delay between the input event and the output event; and testing the software under test by synthetically setting a clock to the one or more discrete time instances.
US09454465B1
A method, computer program product, and system for risk monitoring of continuous software delivery include a first plurality of test data. The first plurality of test data is associated with one or more software components. In response to receiving a changelog, a change in the received plurality of test data is determined. A risk profile for the one or more software components is generated, in response to receiving the first plurality of test data and the received changelog. A component code graph is generated, based on the risk profile associated with the one or more software components and a risk value associated with the generated risk profile is calculated, based on the component code graph.
US09454456B2
The present disclosure provides method, system, and computer readable medium for shared execution of software. The present disclosure relates to method, system, and computer readable recording medium for shared execution of software involving identifying the main modules of a specific software by analyzing its control flow, data flow, and modular structure through a static binary analysis and a runtime profiling, i.e. dynamic analysis, separating the modules from the main software body to store them in a secure environment of a smart card, and storing the main body in a user terminal with the identified modules removed and replaced by an interface code, whereby a co-processing the software at the user's end by the smart card in engagement with the user terminal exclusively enables an execution of the software.
US09454455B2
Techniques for segregating one or more logs of at least one multitasking user to derive at least one behavioral pattern of the at least one multitasking user are provided. The techniques include obtaining at least one of at least one action log, configuration information, domain knowledge, at least one task history and open task repository information, correlating the at least one of at least one action log, configuration information, domain knowledge, at least one task history and open task repository information to determine a task associated with each of one or more actions and segregate the one or more logs based on the one or more actions, and using the one or more logs that have been segregated to derive at least one behavioral pattern of the at least one multitasking user. Techniques are also provided for deriving intelligence from at least one activity log of at least one multitasking user to provide information to the at least one user.
US09454443B1
Systems and methods are provided herein that can facilitate the managed reliability of data storage, including management of device remanufacturing and masking from an operating system a failure or predicted failure of a device running on a computer or a networked cluster of computers having access to the device. The systems and methods may facilitate removal of a device by coordinating among computers or controllers in a network cluster the logical removal of a device. At a later time, a coordinated logical re-introduction of the device to the systems or computers from which the device was logically removed can be performed. This can be accomplished via a virtualization system that may include a device function driver (DFD), a device virtualization bus driver (DVBD), and a device management service (DMS).
US09454441B2
A Metadata server described herein is configured to generate a metadata table optimized for data durability and recovery. In generating the metadata table, the metadata server associates each possible combination of servers with one of the indices of the table, thereby ensuring that each server participates in recovery in the event of a server failure. In addition, the metadata server may also associate one or more additional servers with each index to provide added data durability. Upon generating the metadata table, the metadata server provides the metadata table to clients or servers. Alternatively, the metadata server may provide rules and parameters to clients to enable those clients to identify servers storing data items. The clients may use these parameters and an index as inputs to the rules to determine the identities of servers storing or designated to store data items corresponding to the index.
US09454439B2
A method and system for the backup and recovery of a converged infrastructure computer system are provided with the ability to determine if the backup meets requirements of a disaster recovery plan. The method and system provide backup and recovery of the data and applications including backup and recovery of the configuration and mapping information of the converged infrastructure computer system. The backups are periodically tested to determine if they meet predetermined metrics that are specified in the disaster recovery plan.
US09454432B2
A method includes destructively reading bits of a spin torque magnetic random access memory, using error correcting code (ECC) for error correction, and storing inverted or non-inverted data in data-store latches. When a subsequent write operation changes the state of data-store latches, parity calculation and majority detection of the bits are initiated. A majority bit detection and potential inversion of write data minimizes the number of write current pulses. A subsequent write operation received within a specified time or before an original write operation is commenced will cause the majority detection operation to abort.
US09454431B2
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module determining that a plurality of sets of encoded data slices is to be stored in a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) and identifying one or more devices of the DSN that will potentially issue a read request for at least some sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the (DS) processing module determining transmission times between the one or more devices and the set of storage units and determining a storage strategy for storing the plurality of sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units based on the transmission times and memory devices of the set of storage units such that, from set to set of encoded data slices, at least a threshold number of encoded data slices are retrievable with comparable read response times.
US09454428B2
There is provided an error correction method for a non-volatile memory. The method includes receiving a codeword read from the non-volatile memory, computing a reliability information for each bit of the codeword received, and performing a reduced-complexity soft-decision decoding (SDD) technique to decode the received codeword. In particular, the SDD technique includes forming a set of test patterns based on the reliability data, and determining whether to perform a HDD of a test pattern in the set of test patterns based on a distance between the test pattern and a candidate pattern. There is also provided an error correction module for a non-volatile memory and a memory system incorporating the error correction module.
US09454426B2
Embodiments include generating an error correction code by identifying two error-correcting codes of length n with minimum distances d and 2d, such that the second code is contained into the first code. Data is then encoded into t−1 blocks using the first code, and into the t-th block using the second block. The first t−1 encoded blocks are stored into t−1 blocks of memory locations, while the exclusive-OR (XOR) of such t−1 encoded blocks and the t-th encoded block is stored into a t-th block of memory location. The final encoded vector of length to is identified as belonging in a code with minimum distance 2d. Rotations of an encoded vector jn times are identified as belonging to the same equivalence class. A received vector or its rotations jn times can be successfully identified in the presence of up to d−1 errors, while d errors are identified as uncorrectable errors.
US09454422B2
Error checking and correcting (ECC) may be performed in an on-chip memory where an error is corrected by a controller and not the on-chip memory. The controller may be flagged to show that an error has occurred and where it has occurred in the memory. The controller may access ECC bits associated with the error and may fix incorrect data. The error checking may be done in parallel with read operations of the memory so as to lower latency.
US09454418B1
A method for testing processors includes generating, from a set of input bits, a first set of machine data bits in a first processor and a second set of machine data bits in a second processor dissimilar to the first processor, and comparing the first and second sets of machine data bits to output a first comparison result. The method also includes generating, from a third set of machine data bits, a first and second sets of machine result bits, and comparing the first and second sets of machine result bits to output a second comparison result. The method further includes generating, from a fourth set of machine data bits, a first and second sets of output bits, and comparing the first and second sets of output bits to output a third comparison result. The method also includes determining whether the first and second processors operate substantially similar to each other based on at least one of the first, second, and third comparison results.
US09454416B2
Technology is disclosed for determining high availability readiness of a distributed computing system (“system”). A confidence measure (CM) can be computed for a particular controller in the system to determine whether a takeover by the particular controller from a first controller would be successful. The CM can be a percentage value. A CM of 0% indicates that a takeover would be a failure, which results in loss of access to data managed by the first controller. A CM of 100% indicates a successful takeover with no performance impact on the system. A CM between 0% and 100% indicates a successful takeover but with a performance impact. The CM can be computed based on events occurring in the system, e.g., veto and non-veto events. The CM is computed as a function of various weights and/or indices associated with the veto events and/or non-veto events.
US09454414B2
A system and method reading, accumulating and processing soft information for use in LDPC decoding. In accordance with the present invention, an LDPC decoder includes accumulation circuitry to receive soft reads of a cell of the nonvolatile memory storage module and to produce an accumulated soft read that can be used to identify an appropriate LLR for the cell. The accumulation circuitry of the present invention may include, an accumulation RAM, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and a soft accumulation control and sequencing module for accumulating and processing soft information for use in LDPC decoding.
US09454408B2
Techniques, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing network utility of applications on cloud data centers. A method includes computing a network utility value for each of multiple applications in a data center network, determining a virtual machine placement and an application flow routing within the data center network for each of the multiple applications which have a computed network utility value below a pre-determined network utility threshold, and based on said determining, re-routing one or more of the multiple application flow routings and performing a virtual machine migration of one or more virtual machines associated with at least one of the multiple applications which have a computed network utility value below a pre-determined network utility threshold.
US09454405B2
Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus to establish at least one paging partition in a data processing system. The virtualization control point (VCP) reserves up to the subset of physical memory for use in the shared memory pool. The VCP configures at least one logical partition as a shared memory partition. The VCP assigns a paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP determines whether a user requests a redundant assignment of the paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP assigns a redundant paging partition to the shared memory pool, responsive to a determination that the user requests a redundant assignment. The VCP assigns a paging device to the shared memory pool. The hypervisor may transmit at least one paging request to a virtual asynchronous services interface configured to support a paging device stream.
US09454404B2
A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which options for the provision of a service are each identified by an option identifier for use in determining the applicable options for a given service request.
US09454399B2
A management device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor executes a process including: storing therein an assignment table including first assignment information indicating whether a job is assigned to the information processing devices and second assignment information indicating that a job is constantly assigned to virtual information processing devices arranged at ends of a connection relation of the information processing devices; searching regions in which idle information processing devices assigned with no job are arranged continuously, using the assignment table stored at the storing; specifying a region appropriate for assignment of a job as an assignment target among the regions searched by the searching; and assigning the job as the assignment target to the region specified by the specifying.
US09454388B2
In an information processing device connected to an external device via a network, the external device includes an application platform of an image forming device and the information processing device includes a platform emulator that emulates the application platform. The platform emulator includes an implementing information acquiring part that receives a list of information items of interfaces implemented on the application platform in the external device from the external device and stores the list of information items in a holding part, a determining part that determines, in response to an interface calling request from an application using the platform emulator, whether an interface is implemented in the external device based on the stored list of information items, and an external calling part that transmits, when the interface is implemented, a request of execution of the interface to the external device.
US09454387B2
According to the invention, a first executable environment is provided. The first executable environment is for execution within an operating system environment of a host computer system. The first executable environment is not an emulator for emulating any of another processor and another operating system. A software application is provided for installation and execution within the operating system environment. The software application is for fixed installation and not for installation in a portable fashion for being ported from one host computer system to another. The software application is then installed within the first executable environment, the installed software application installed within a removable peripheral memory storage device for execution within the first executable environment.
US09454383B2
A system and method that performs retrofitting and autowiring of service bindings by generating a plurality of retrofitted references from a plurality of resource references and autowiring the plurality of retrofitted references into an application. The system and method deploys the application to an environment in response to the autowiring of the plurality of retrofitted references.
US09454378B2
Methods and apparatus for configuring multiple components of a subsystem are described. The configuration memory of each of a plurality of components coupled to an interconnect includes a global configuration portion. The configuration memory of one of the components may be designated as a master global configuration for all of the components. A module coupled to the interconnect may receive writes to the components from a configuration source. For each write, the module may decode the write to determine addressing information and check to see if the write is addressed to the master global configuration. If the write is addressed to the master global configuration, the module broadcasts the write to the global configuration portion of each of the components via the interconnect. If the write is not addressed to the master global configuration, the module forwards the write to the appropriate component via the interconnect.
US09454370B2
A Conditional Transaction End (CTEND) instruction is provided that allows a program executing in a nonconstrained transactional execution mode to inspect a storage location that is modified by either another central processing unit or the Input/Output subsystem. Based on the inspected data, transactional execution may be ended or aborted, or the decision to end/abort may be delayed, e.g., until a predefined event occurs. For instance, when the instruction executes, the processor is in a nonconstrained transaction execution mode, and the transaction nesting depth is one at the beginning of the instruction, a second operand of the instruction is inspected, and based on the inspected data, transaction execution may be ended or aborted, or the decision to end/abort may be delayed, e.g., until a predefined event occurs, such as the value of the second operand becomes a prespecified value or a time interval is exceeded.
US09454364B2
A device may receive configuration information for an experiment associated with optimizing an application. The configuration information may identify a group of experimental treatments and information identifying a target event. The device may identify an experimental treatment to be implemented in the application, and may implement the experimental treatment in the application. The device may collect response information based on implementing the experimental treatment. The device may detect the target event associated with the experiment, indicating that the response information is to be provided to an experiment server. The device may determine that the experiment server is unreachable and may store the response information. The response information may be stored to allow the response information to be provided to the experiment server at a later time. The response information may be provided to the experiment server to permit the experiment server to determine a result of the experiment.
US09454361B2
A first object, typically a software source code object, is checked-in at a first replica of a base object. The replica typically comprises a plurality of objects (e.g., a source code base for a software project). The first object is a version of a base object. The first object is then delivered to a second replica of the base object. If it is determined at the second replica that a trivial merge cannot be performed between the first object and the current base object, the current base object is delivered to the first replica. The first object is rebased with the current base object. The rebased first object is sent to the second replica and a trivial merge is performed between the rebased first object and the current base object.
US09454357B2
A system set of a utility node device, such as a kernel and/or root file system, may be updated by utilizing a multi-system set configuration. For example, the multi-system set configuration may include a first system set that is generally configured to act as an “active” set, a second system set (e.g., “idle” set) that is configured to operate when the first system set is non-operational or in an “idle” state, and a third system set that is configured to operate when the first and second system sets are non-operational. During an update of a system set, an update package may be applied to the second “idle” system set, while the first “active” system set remains operational. The utility node device may comprise a smart utility meter, sensor, control device, transformer, switch, relay, or the like.
US09454355B2
An information handling system is returned to its original manufacture state with a tool stored on a detachable memory device that retrieves image restore information from non-volatile memory of the information handling system, cleanses information stored on the non-volatile memory and then returns the image restore information to the non-volatile memory. By executing an image restore tool that applies the image restore information, the original manufacture image is re-built in the non-volatile memory after the cleansing so that any personal information stored on the non-volatile memory by a previous user is erased.
US09454354B2
The disclosed implementations provide a seamless mechanism for end users to discover and try out new and/or updated applications. An application store may determine alternative applications to a frequently used first application on the client device that are similar to the first application. It may provide installation packages to the client device that installs the applications in a manner that associates the alternative applications with the first application. A notice may be generated by the client device that indicates the applications have been installed and/or that the data generated by the first application has been imported into the alternative applications. A selection of a user interface element may launch one of the alternative applications. Data generated by the first application may be displayed according to the user interface of the alternative application.
US09454348B2
An apparatus for defining a data interchange protocol (DIP) modeling language may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including defining a DIP modeling language specifying data models shared by communication devices. The data models include data specifying criteria to define DIP objects including instances of data. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to specify features in the data models corresponding to properties or the objects. The features being utilized in part to determine whether properties or objects of a DIP document(s) are valid. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to evaluate an object(s) of a DIP document(s) to determine whether the object is valid based on analyzing items of data in the data models specifying that objects assigned a type and name are valid. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.
US09454343B1
A method for a machine or group of machines to watermark an audio signal may include receiving the audio signal, receiving a watermark signal, creating a spectral well on the audio signal by removing a portion of the audio signal corresponding to a frequency range, and inserting the watermark signal in the spectral well.
US09454341B2
A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital images, comprising: a display screen; a processor; a real-time clock; an image memory for storing a plurality of digital images; and a processor-accessible program memory. The program memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: initiating a sequential display of a sequence of digital images on the display screen at an initial time, the sequence of digital images including at least a subset of the stored digital images, each digital image being displayed for an image display duration, the image display duration being set to an initial image display duration at the initial time; and modifying the image display duration during the display of the sequence of digital images.
US09454335B2
A printer which is configured to automatically transmit data, such as critical and non-critical printer data, and route that data through at least one of a plurality of communication channels and services, such as via e-mail or mobile wireless equipment (e.g. an Internet-ready pager, a Personal Communications Service (PCS) phone or a wireless Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)). Preferably, the printer is configured such that it can be programmed and controlled from a remote location. Preferably, the printer is configured such that new label formats can be added from a remote location, and label formats stored in the printer can be viewed and modified from a remote location. Preferably, the printer is also configured such that barcode rendering algorithms can be downloaded to the printer from a remote location, and such that printer settings can be viewed and modified from a remote location, and thereafter can be downloaded to the printer and/or to other printers in a network to facilitate cloning.
US09454334B2
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium stores a set of program instructions executed by an information processing device. The program instructions, when executed by the information processing device, causes the information processing device to perform a data listing to display a list of first identifiers and second identifiers on the display unit in a manner selectable through the operation unit, when the operation unit receives a user's operation to select a combination of a first device and a second device among the plurality of devices. The program instructions include transmitting a first recording instruction information to the second device via the communication unit when the operation unit receives a user's operation to select one first identifier. The program instructions include transmitting a second recording instruction information to the second device via the communication unit when the operation unit receives a user's operation to select one second identifier.
US09454330B1
Systems and methods for operating on a storage device are provided. A storage device command for operating on data stored in a plurality of locations in a storage device is received, with a storage device controller from processing circuitry over a bus. The storage device command is decoded with the storage device controller to identify a plurality of storage device operations associated with the storage device command. The plurality of storage device operations are executed on the data stored in the storage device without transmitting the data over the bus to the processing circuitry.
US09454328B2
Provided is a method of distributedly storing an individual content in a hierarchical storage system including a solid state storage having a plurality of solid state disks, a hard disk storage having a plurality of hard disks, and a tape storage. The method may include determining a target content to store and an inquiry frequency and a required minimum transmission rate of the target content upon receipt of a request message from a client device, classifying the target content as at least one of a low demanded content, a normal demanded content, a high demanded content, a low transmission rate content, a normal transmission rate content, and a high transmission rate content based on the inquiry frequency and the required minimum transmission rate of the target content, and distributedly storing the target content through at least one of the solid state storage, the hard disk storage, and the tape storage based on the classification result and a distribution and buffering policy.
US09454320B2
A method of reducing power consumption of a buffer for cache in a tape drive connected to a host in a communicable manner, according to one embodiment, includes detecting a transfer rate of data from the host or to the host, and determining a writing or reading rate of data to or from a tape based on the data transfer rate. A determination is made as to whether predetermined conditions including the data transfer rate, the data writing or reading rate, and a capacity of a buffer are satisfied, where the buffer includes at least two buffer areas. At least one of the buffer areas is selected when the predetermined conditions are satisfied. The selected buffer area is switched to a power saving mode.
US09454318B2
A system and method are disclosed for providing efficient data storage. A plurality of data segments is received in a data stream. The system determines whether a data segment has been stored previously in a low latency memory. In the event that the data segment is determined to have been stored previously, an identifier for the previously stored data segment is returned.
US09454306B2
Workload on an aggregation of storage devices can be quantified in terms of demand on the aggregation of storage devices and demand on logical storage containers configured on the aggregation of storage devices. The demand on the aggregation of storage devices and the demand on logical storage containers thereon are calculated in a manner that captures demand on both storage capacity and performance capability. Capturing demand on both storage capacity and performance capability facilitates intelligent management that accounts for the relationship between storage capacity and performance capability. This allows the owner/operator of the storage equipment to use storage capacity at a desired (or requested) performance.
US09454305B1
Methods and systems for managing logical storage object reservation requests are provided. A controller of a storage array having a storage device for storing information on behalf of the logical storage object communicates with a first adapter via a network connection. The controller grants ownership of the logical storage object to the first adapter by the controller. A second adapter that interfaces with the first adapter is notified by the first adapter regarding the granted ownership. The second adapter is configured to send a request for reserving the logical storage object to the first adapter, where the second adapter sends the request on behalf of an application for reading, writing or both reading and writing at the storage space using the logical storage object. The first adapter receives and processes the request.
US09454300B2
According to an aspect, a device includes a photographing unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The photographing unit captures an image. The display unit displays the image captured by the photographing unit. The control unit causes the display unit to display an object related to the image captured by the photographing unit so as to be superimposed on the image, and performs a selection process of the object when a body overlaps the object.
US09454298B2
In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include receiving an indicator configured to trigger movement of a representation of a first portion of data and a representation of a second portion of data in a direction toward a boundary where the boundary is oriented with respect to a display area. The process can also include modifying a position of the representation of the first portion of data with respect to a position of the representation of second portion of data in response to the indicator.
US09454293B2
A computing device can automatically generate a flow diagram showing statuses that objects in a system can possess, and the possible transitions between these statuses. Using snapshots of database data, the device can determine how the statuses of these objects have changed over time. The device can analyze the data to suggest which database fields likely represent object status. The device can render the flow diagram to illustrate system states at different selected times. Each rendered flow diagram can indicate, for the selected time point, the quantity of objects that possessed each status at that time, and, for a selected time interval, the quantity of objects that changed from each status to each other status during that time interval. The statuses can be represented in the flow diagram as status bubbles having sizes that are based on the quantities of objects have those bubble's statuses at the selected time point.
US09454288B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to a user interface (UI) for a computing device, such as a head-mountable device (HMD). The computing device can display a first card of an ordered plurality of cards using a timeline display. The computing device can receive a first input and, responsively determine a group of cards for a grid view and display the grid view. The group of cards can include the first card. The grid view can include the group of cards arranged in a grid and be focused on the first card. The computing device can receive a second input, and responsively modify the grid view and display the modified grid view. The modified grid view can be focused on a second card. The computing device can receive a third input and responsively display the timeline display, where the timeline display includes the second card.
US09454278B2
A processing system for a capacitive sensing input device comprises a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module acquires a plurality of capacitive resulting signals by operating a plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing. The determination module weights values of the plurality of capacitive resulting signals to achieve a plurality of weighted capacitive resulting signals, wherein a first capacitive resulting signal of the plurality of capacitive resulting signals is weighted according to a weighted noise parameter derived from a component of a variable noise associated with a respective sensor electrode used for acquisition of the first capacitive resulting signal, wherein the variable noise varies across the plurality of sensor electrodes. The determination module also determines positional information for an least input object in a sensing region of the capacitive sensing input device based on resulting signals processed from the weighted capacitive resulting signals.
US09454273B2
A touch panel includes a substrate, a flexible printed circuit board and a sensing device. The substrate includes a main plane having an active region and a non-active region surrounding the active region. The flexible printed circuit board has a bonding surface, wherein the bonding surface and the main plane are not parallel to each other. The sensing device includes a plurality of electrode patterns located in the active region and a plurality of connecting lines respectively connected between the electrode patterns and the flexible printed circuit board so as to electrically connect the electrode patterns and the flexible printed circuit board, wherein at least a part of the connecting lines is located in the non-active region, and the connecting lines are connected to the bonding surface of the flexible printed circuit board.
US09454271B2
A capacitance distribution detection circuit (2) includes a multiplexer (4), a driver (5), and a sense amplifier (6), and the multiplexer (4) switches states between a first connection state in which first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the driver (5) and second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (6), and a second connection state in which the first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (6) and the second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the driver (5).
US09454268B2
A method for detecting a magnitude of force applied to a capacitive sensor array may comprise receiving a plurality of capacitance measurements affected by a contact at a touch-sensing surface, and determining a magnitude of a force applied to the touch-sensing surface at a location of the contact based on the location of the contact and a capacitance measurement of the first plurality of capacitance measurements.
US09454264B2
A manipulation input device includes a projection component, a photodetector and an inclination determination component. The projection component projects an image on a projection surface by scanning light from a light source. The photodetector detects as scattered light the light reflected by a manipulation object. The inclination determination component acquires, for a plurality of scan lines of the light, position information of the manipulation object that is specified based on scanning angle information when the photodetector has detected the scattered light, and width information of the manipulation object that corresponds to a continuous detection duration during which the photodetector continuously detects the scattered light. The inclination determination component determines inclination of the manipulation object based on at least one of a temporal change in a plurality of sets of the width information and a temporal change in a plurality of sets of the position information.
US09454256B2
An input device with switchable sensor configurations. In one embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which only a subset of its sensor elements are enabled to sense input. In another embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which one or more groupings of its sensor elements are enabled to collectively sense input. In a further embodiment, the input device can operate in a detection mode that switches between sensor configurations to determine a position of an input.
US09454249B2
A touchscreen sensor includes a transparent base material, a first index-matching layer, a first transparent electrode pattern, a second index-matching layer and a first adhesive layer disposed in this order at one side of the transparent base material, and a third index-matching layer, a second transparent electrode pattern, a fourth index-matching layer and a second adhesive layer disposed in this order at another side of the transparent base material. Each of the first, second, third and fourth index-matching layers has a refractive index of 1.6 to 1.8 and a thickness of 50 nm to 150 nm.
US09454247B2
An operating method for an interactive writing device is provided. The operating method includes following steps. A visible light image is captured in response to an original outputted image. A tag searching region is established in the visible light image in response to a writing operation performed by a writing object having a color tag pattern. The original outputted image corresponding to the tag searching region is filtered from the visible light image in the tag searching region to generate a local processed image. A color tag corresponding to the color tag pattern of the writing object is searched from the local processed image. A color value corresponding to the color tag is generated.
US09454239B2
Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards and processes for detecting touch events and key depressions on the touch sensitive mechanical keyboard are provided. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the mechanical keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate either a key depression command or a touch event command.
US09454229B1
The present invention relates to a device and method that generates a tactile presentation, which indicates time on a mobile device. The mobile device may include a touch screen, a processor, and a means for generating electrovibrations. The touch screen may include the functionality to be activated to electrovibrate in at least one portion of the touch screen. The processor may receive electrical signals specifying and displaying a current time on the touch screen. The means for generating electrovibrations generates electrovibrations that vary in response to the time to provide the tactile presentation of the time on the touch screen. The touch screen typically includes a glass plate that is topped with a transparent electrode and insulator. The insulator may be operable to receive contact from a user's finger and in response, generate electrical impulses to provide a tactile presentation as haptic feedback to the user.
US09454228B2
A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a display part, a vibrating body and a vibration transmission member. The first substrate includes a display region and an input region on an outer primary surface thereof, a non-display region outside of the display region on the first substrate, and an input section for detecting a position of an input on the input region. The second substrate includes a second internal primary surface facing a first primary surface of the first substrate. The display part is located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The vibrating body is located on a peripheral region of the second substrate. The vibration transmission member transmits vibration generated by the vibrating body from the second substrate to the first substrate.
US09454227B2
A haptic control device, particularly for motor vehicles, with a touchpad including at least one contact-sensitive touch. A control signal can be triggered upon contact with the touch region, and the touchpad can be moveably driven by a drive in the plane of the touchpad in a certain rhythm. The touchpad is connected to a stationary carrier by one or more flexible connecting elements. The flexible connecting element or elements are spring arms, one end of which is connected to the carrier and the other end of which is connected to the touchpad.
US09454224B2
In one example an electronic device comprises at least one sensor to detect an input from a remote input source and a controller comprising logic, at least partly including hardware logic, to detect an input on the at least one sensor, generate a signal in response to the input; and forward the signal to an application. Other examples may be described.
US09454220B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes the step of obtaining a digital image of an object with a digital camera. The object is identified. A user query is received. The method includes the step of matching, with at least one processor, the user query with at least one manipulatable portion of a virtual view of the digital image of the object. The method include the step of obtaining the at least one manipulatable portion from a database of manipulatable portions of the object. The method includes the step of integrating the at least one manipulatable portion with the virtual view of the digital image of the object, wherein a manipulatable portion comprises a region of an augmented-reality element integrated into the virtual view of the digital image of the object, and wherein the augmented-reality element comprises a hyper link to another augmented-reality element comprising a virtual interior view of the object and wherein the camera obtains the predefined user gesture.
US09454215B2
A control unit for power supply circuits of points of load (POL) of an electronic system includes a means for autonomous customization by the customer-user of the original control program residing in the ROM of the device, as well as configuration of control parameters of the POL. Microprocessor architecture of the device includes a dedicated logic block and a rewritable non-volatile memory coupled to the data bus of the device or to an auxiliary bus thereof, thus providing a means for software extension of the power supply circuits. RAM is loaded at start-up with data of modified or added routines for implementing new commands and values of configuration and control data of the POL. The RAM may optionally be subjected to encryption/decryption for protection. During operation, program execution jumps from ROM address space to RAM address space and vice versa when certain values of a program counter are reached.
US09454214B2
In one embodiment a controller comprises logic to determine whether an electronic device is operating in a low power state and in response to a determination that the electronic device is operating in a low power state, implement a memory state management routine which reduces power to at least a section of volatile memory in the memory system. Other embodiments may be described.
US09454205B1
A method includes monitoring power usage for a storage system that includes a set storage units at a first level of storage granularity and a set of storage sub-units at a second level of storage granularity, wherein the second level of storage granularity is finer than the first level of storage granularity. The method further includes assigning a non-uniform power budget to the set of storage units and adjusting a power budget for the storage sub-units according to the non-uniform power budget assigned to the storage units. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed herein.
US09454195B2
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to active cooling or removing heat generated by a processor in a computing device. More specifically, a cooling system in a computing device may include a heatpipe which moves heat along a fin pack. The fin pack may include top and bottom ends as well as a plurality of fins. The fins may extend only a portion of the way between the ends thus creating an air duct. The air duct may allow debris to move along an edge of the fin and out of the computing device. The fins may also be curved to promote the forcing of debris through the fin pack while still allowing the heat to be expelled through the fins.
US09454183B2
A docking stand for an electronic device. The docking stand can include a bottom support surface configured to support a bottom side of the electronic device. The docking stand also can include a back support surface configured to support a side of the electronic device. The back support surface can be substantially upright when a base of the docking stand is placed on a substantially horizontal surface. The docking stand further can include a docking connector configured to removably attach to a docking port of the electronic device. The docking port can be proximate to the bottom side of the electronic device. The docking stand also can include an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a height of the docking connector relative to the bottom support surface. Other embodiments are provided.
US09454173B2
A system for managing energy use of buildings and the like uses predicted meteorological data, for example from weather forecasts, applied to models of the energy systems of the building to predict future energy use and costs. This predicted information is used to produce automatic alerts allowing future energy use to guide current changes to reduce energy.
US09454166B2
A voltage regulator includes a feedback regulation loop and a drive transistor configured to source current to a regulated output. A transient recovery circuit is coupled to the voltage regulator circuit and includes a first transistor coupled to source current into a control terminal of the drive transistor, wherein the source current is in addition to current sourced in response to operation of the feedback regulation loop. The first transistor is selectively actuated in response to a drop in voltage at the regulated output. The transient recovery circuit further includes a second transistor coupled to sink current from the regulated output. The sink current has a first non-zero magnitude in the quiescent operating mode of the regulator circuit. In response to an increase in voltage at the regulated output, the operation of the second transistor is modified to increase the sink current to a second, greater, non-zero magnitude.
US09454161B1
Detection circuits cause a power supply circuit to start an initialization sequence by detecting abnormal behavior where an external power supply voltage is cut off, the power supply circuit generating a first internal power supply voltage from a first external power supply voltage and generating a second internal power supply voltage from a second external power supply voltage higher than the first external power supply voltage in terms of an absolute value, and an auxiliary amplifier that makes up for a drop in the first internal power supply voltage, using the second external power supply voltage as an operation power supply after detecting the abnormal behavior of the first external power supply voltage. A sample and hold circuit of a reference voltage of the auxiliary amplifier is configured in a hold state after detecting the abnormal behavior of the first external power supply voltage.
US09454157B1
The invention is directed toward a system and method for assigning mission directives to one or more unmanned vehicles and transferring mission directives from one unmanned aerial vehicle to a second unmanned aerial vehicle. The method comprises providing a set of instructions to a first unmanned aerial vehicle, storing the set of instructions on a nonvolatile memory component of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, executing one or more tasks of the set of instructions by the first unmanned aerial vehicle, transferring a set of instructions comprising unexecuted tasks from the first unmanned aerial vehicle to a second unmanned aerial vehicle, and storing the set of instructions on a nonvolatile memory component of the second unmanned aerial vehicle. The invention is further directed toward a method of determining a flight path for one or more unmanned aerial vehicles stationed at charging stations.
US09454156B2
The invention relates to a method for extracting a curb of a road using a laser range finder and a method for localizing of a mobile robot using curb information of a road. The method for extracting the curb of the road using the laser range finder includes extracting a road surface and line segments from scan data of the laser range finder, extracting a plurality of curb candidate line segments among the line segments on the basis of an angle between the road surface and the line segment, extracting a plurality of curb candidates having a plurality of curb properties, wherein each of the plurality of curb candidates is generated by combining the couple of the curb candidate line segments, and applying the plurality of the curb candidates to a Kernel Fisher Discriminant Analysis to extract a final curb.
US09454145B2
An analogue probe for a machine tool apparatus, which includes a probe body, a stylus member movably secured to the probe body and a sensor that measures the extent of displacement of the stylus member relative to the probe body, in which the sensor is contained within a chamber in the probe body. The analogue probe further includes a vent between the chamber and the outside of the probe body, configured such that, when the vent is open, the pressure within the chamber can equalize with the analogue probe's operating environment's pressure, and is further configured such that the vent's opening to the outside of the probe body can be closed so as to seal the chamber and the sensor from external contaminants during operation of the analogue probe.
US09454142B2
A method for operation of an automation device for obtaining information about a control program provided as an automation solution for control and/or monitoring of a technical process is specified in which, especially from a database in conjunction with the control program, a list of entry point questions is loaded and presented to the user for selection and, when an entry point question is selected in the list of entry point questions in conjunction with the entry point question at least one item of dynamic information relating to the control program is loaded.
US09454139B2
Adjusting environmental variables in an adaptive parameter adjustment runtime environment, including: executing a parallel program by the adaptive parameter adjustment runtime environment, including beginning operations with a set of default global parameter values; maintaining a list of configurable parameters; changing a parameter value for a parameter in the list of configurable parameters; determining whether an effect of changing the parameter value is positive, negative, or neutral; responsive to determining that the effect of changing the parameter value is positive, changing the parameter value for the parameter; responsive to determining that the effect of changing the parameter value is negative, changing the parameter value for the parameter to a previous value; and responsive to determining that the effect of changing the parameter value is neutral, performing a list management operation on the list of configurable parameters.
US09454137B2
A microgrid system may control power distribution among a plurality of interconnected microgrids operated under droop mode. The microgrids may operate both autonomously and as part of the system. Stable power distribution between the microgrids may be performed by monitoring operation of the microgrids and electrically disconnecting the microgrids from one another when a power outage or performance outside of a tolerance is detected. Network lines between the microgrids may remain in communication while the microgrids are disconnected from one another. The microgrids may operate autonomously under a preset operating droop frequency until power stability is detected at a boundary between adjacent microgrids. The microgrids may communicate with one another adjusting operating droop until synchronization among microgrids is achieved and the microgrids can be reconnected into the microgrid system.
US09454131B2
A method and apparatus for fast generation of a hologram image. The method may include generating a point hologram corresponding to each three-dimensional (3D) point using sub-sampling, generating a hologram pattern using the generated point hologram, and generating a 3D hologram by interpolating the generated hologram pattern.
US09454127B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
US09454115B2
A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source and a reflecting member. The fixing belt is arranged rotatably around a rotation axis. The reflecting member reflects the radiant heat radiated from the heat source. The fixing belt has a passing region and a non-passing region. Through the passing region, a recording medium passes. The non-passing region is arranged outside the passing region in a direction of the rotation axis. The reflecting member has a first reflecting part and a second reflecting part. The first reflecting part is arranged at an inner circumferential side of the passing region. The second reflecting part is arranged at an inner circumferential side of the non-passing region. Roughness of a face at the heat source side of the second reflecting part is larger than roughness of a face at the heat source side of the first reflecting part.
US09454108B2
In an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer by allowing a current to flow to an intermediate transfer belt in the circumferential direction of the belt, the image forming apparatus has a control unit that can execute a second mode in which a second current amount which is larger than a first current amount is supplied from a current supply unit to an intermediate transfer belt and a toner image is primarily transferred only from a first photosensitive body to the intermediate transfer belt. The control unit can adjust surface potentials of the first photosensitive body and a second photosensitive body, and makes the absolute value of the surface potential of the second photosensitive body less than the absolute value of the surface potential of the first photosensitive body when the second mode is executed.
US09454101B2
A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a first frame and a second frame and a layer thickness regulating member. The first frame and the second frame include a first welding surface formed at a periphery of the developer accommodating part correspondingly to a developer accommodating part; and a second welding surface extending continuously from the first welding surface correspondingly to a roller support part. The first welding surface extends in a direction orthogonal to an overlapping direction of the first frame and the second frame. The second welding surface extends to be inclined toward a side of the first frame in the overlapping direction as extending toward the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member is provided to cover the second welding surface from a side of the second frame in the overlapping direction.
US09454098B2
An electro-photographic print system or method for regulating a supply of toner based on a required toner amount.
US09454097B2
A developing device includes a housing, a developing roller, a supply roller, a first regulating member, a second regulating member, a communication portion, and a conveying member. The second regulating member contacts with the supply roller. The housing has a first part and a second part. The first part is downstream of the second regulating member in a rotating direction of the supply roller, and a second part is upstream of the second regulating member in the rotating direction. The communication portion provides communication between the first part and the second part. The conveying member is in the first part and configured to convey the developing agent in the first part to the communication portion.
US09454095B2
An electrophotographic toner includes capsule toner particles that each include an anionic toner core having a zeta potential at pH 4 of no greater than −5 mV and a cationic shell layer disposed over a surface of the toner core. Each of the capsule toner particles has, at a surface thereof, a sodium concentration of no less than 200 ppm and no greater than 1,000 ppm as measured by an ICP spectrometer.
US09454092B2
An object of the invention is to provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor in which the adhesion of the photosensitive layer is highly satisfactorily maintained regardless of the magnitude of shrinkage, and both of excellent electrical properties and excellent image characteristics are achieved. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: a conductive support; and, provided thereon, at least an undercoat layer and a photosensitive layer, wherein the undercoat layer comprises a binder resin and the binder resin comprises a polyamide resin which has a degree of elastic deformation of 56.0% or higher.
US09454088B2
An immersion liquid is provided comprising an ion-forming component, e.g. an acid or a base, which has a relatively high vapor pressure. Also provided are lithography processes and lithography systems using the immersion liquid.
US09454087B2
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus which includes a projection optical system that projects a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate, and exposes the substrate through the projection optical system and a liquid, the apparatus including a recovery unit which includes a recovery path connected to a recovery port, and is configured to reduce a pressure in the recovery path to recover the liquid, supplied to a space between the projection optical system and the substrate, through the recovery port and the recovery path, and a heating unit which is disposed in the recovery path, and configured to heat the liquid recovered through the recovery port and the recovery path.
US09454074B2
Reflective photomask blanks are provided. The reflective photomask blank includes a multi-layered reflection layer on a photomask substrate, a capping layer directly disposed on a top surface of the multi-layered reflection layer to include transition metal and silicon, a passivation layer disposed on a surface of the capping layer opposite to the multi-layered reflection layer, and a light absorption layer on the passivation layer.
US09454062B2
An observation optical system for observing an object includes, in order from the object side: a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power and a concave surface facing the object side; and a third lens having positive refractive power and a convex surface facing an eyepoint side. An aspherical surface is included on at least one lens surface, and given conditional expressions are satisfied, thereby providing a compact observation optical system having excellent optical performance, a viewfinder equipped with the observation optical system, and a method for manufacturing the observation optical system.
US09454061B1
A technique relates to frequency conversion. A mechanical resonator is configured to oscillate at a mechanical resonance frequency with a displacement in an axis. An optical resonator includes a first mirror opposite a second mirror in which an optical cavity is formed between. The first mirror is fixed to the mechanical resonator such that the first mirror is moved to change an optical length of the optical cavity according to the displacement of the mechanical resonator. Changing the optical length changes an optical resonance frequency of the optical resonator. A microwave resonator is positioned to move according to the displacement of the mechanical resonator such that moving the mechanical resonator changes a Josephson inductance of the microwave resonator, thereby changing a microwave resonance frequency of the microwave resonator.
US09454059B1
The present invention includes a linear driver for Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) configured in a differential form with two waveguides carrying two traveling waves. Each waveguide comprises a MZM material configured with either a single segment in 3×MZM length or two split segments with one in 2×MZM length and another one in either 1× or 2×MZM length. By coupling a DC current source supplied with a modulation voltage with each segment thereof for providing electrical modulation signal overlapping with each of the two traveling waves. The modulated traveling waves in the two waveguides then are combined in one output signal by a multimode interference coupler. By properly choosing the configuration of MZM linear segments with optional length ratios, a low power consumption MZM linear driver provides either NRZ or PAM-4 modulation scheme to the input optical signals for telecommunication through silicon photonics.
US09454056B2
Controllers and control methods apply a drive voltage to bus bars of a thin film optically switchable device. The applied drive voltage is provided at a level that drives a transition over the entire surface of the optically switchable device but does not damage or degrade the device. This applied voltage produces an effective voltage at all locations on the face of the device that is within a bracketed range. The upper bound of this range is associated with a voltage safely below the level at which the device may experience damage or degradation impacting its performance in the short term or the long term. At the lower boundary of this range is an effective voltage at which the transition between optical states of the device occurs relatively rapidly. The level of voltage applied between the bus bars is significantly greater than the maximum value of the effective voltage within the bracketed range.
US09454051B2
A display panel is provided, which comprises a plurality of the pixel units. Each of the pixel units comprises a main pixel portion having a first thin film transistor and a sub-pixel portion having a second thin film transistor, wherein a second distance is unequal to a first distance. Insulation layers of the two pixel portions are designed to be different thicknesses, so that a color cast problem from a large viewing angle is solved, so as to improve the watching effect, and lower the production cost.
US09454046B2
The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal panel and a method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display panel includes: first and second substrates disposed opposite to each other; a liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and disposed between the first and second substrates; first and second alignment layers disposed on the first and second substrates and facing the liquid crystal layer; and first and second electrode both disposed on the first substrate, so that an electric field is formed between the first and second electrodes when a voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes. The first electrode has a plurality of slits, each of which has an end region and a central region adjacent to the end region, and the alignment layers at the end region and the central region have different alignment directions.
US09454045B2
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate; a first subpixel electrode disposed on the first substrate, supplied with a first voltage and including a first sub region and a second sub region; a second subpixel electrode disposed on the first substrate and supplied with a second voltage; an insulating layer disposed on the first sub region of the first subpixel electrode and disposed beneath the second subpixel electrode and the second sub region of the first subpixel electrode; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and a common electrode disposed on the second substrate, in which a first region in which the first subpixel electrode is formed includes four distinct areas having different characteristics.
US09454036B2
An LED assembly includes a supporting layer; LED chips arranged on a first surface of the supporting layer and spaced apart from each other; a coating layer formed over the LED chips and including a fluorescent substance, wherein the coating layer changes light emitted from the LED chips into a linear light source; and an electrode pattern layer formed on a second surface of the supporting layer and in selectively removed regions of the supporting layer and contacting the LED chips.
US09454033B2
A liquid crystal display device sandwiching liquid crystal between a TFT substrate having a rectangular plane and an opposing substrate having a rectangular plane, wherein a long side of the TFT substrate is longer than a long side of the opposing substrate, the long side of the opposing substrate is formed with a chamfer, and a light shielding film made of metal is formed on the TFT substrate around a position corresponding to the center of the long side of the opposing substrate. By using the light shielding film, the chipping condition of the opposing substrate near the chamfer can be accurately and rapidly evaluated.
US09454030B2
The disclosed technology involves a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film including: a first base substrate, a second base substrate, and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film between the first base substrate and the second base substrate, wherein a first transparent conductive layer is formed on the first base substrate, the first transparent conductive layer is contacted with the first light permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal is adhered to the first base substrate through the first light permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer; and a second transparent conductive layer is formed on the second base substrate, the second transparent conductive layer is contacted with the second light permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal is adhered to the second base substrate through the second light permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.
US09454022B1
A controlled selective visual occlusion system and method includes a visor where the visor includes occlusion areas. An occlusion device covers the occlusion areas and the occlusion device is operable to progressively restrict or allow light in selected occlusion areas. A power source is connected to the occlusion device and a controller is connected to the power source for operation of the occlusion device in the selected occlusion areas.
US09454008B2
An embodiment of a wide angle personal display projector is configured for positioning in relation to a user's eyeball, and includes a curved display layer. A curved micro lens array having a curvature generally matching the display curvature is positioned relative to the display layer so that the micro lens array is between the display layer and the user's eyeball. In another embodiment, a binocular personal display system includes a frame structure for supporting left and right personal display projectors in relation to the user's left and right eyeballs.
US09454006B2
A head mounted display includes an external world information acquisition unit that acquires external world information, a visual effect unit that generates an effect image for visual effect in response to the acquired external world information, and an image display unit that superimposes and displays an outside view on the generated effect image.
US09454005B2
The following invention relates to an improved lens apparatus for use in a head up display (HUD), particularly for providing a deployment means for a HUD.The deployment device comprises a servomotor and cord assembly to move the carrier, wherein the carrier is biased, such that the first action is to deploy the lens, and then cause subsequent movement of the lens through an arc.
US09454004B2
A method and apparatus for coherent beam combining in an array of laser beam collimators. The array of laser beam collimators includes an array of a plurality collimating lenses, each lens intercepting a respective one of a plurality of divergent laser beams. Each collimating lens is joined with adjacent collimating lenses such that an output aperture is formed with a common vertex of the adjacently joined collimating lenses. A concave mirror is positioned a distance from the common vertex for receiving a fraction of each of the collimated laser beams that passed through a portion of each of the collimating lenses that are adjacent to the common vertex, and then providing reflected fractional collimated laser beams. A sensor intercepts the reflected fractional collimated laser beams so as to provide a signal that is applied to synchronize the phase of each of the collimated laser beams.
US09454001B2
A toroidal heliostat and reflector frame for a heliostat are provided which passively adjust the apparent sagittal and/or tangential focal lengths of the reflector. This adjustment is provided by way of passive deflection of the reflector caused by one or more of gravitationally-induced deflection of one or more components of the heliostat; differential thermal expansion of materials of the heliostat; and/or relative movement between two or more components of the heliostat. Careful design of the heliostat enables optimisation of the power delivery profile and/or shape of the reflected image throughout the day.
US09453999B2
Phosphor color foil 1 comprises glass substrate 2, rotary motor 3 for rotating glass substrate 2, and phosphor (first phosphor) 5 annularly applied on the surface of glass substrate 2. The center of the applied region of phosphor 5 is different from the rotational center of glass substrate 2. The center of one or both of outer boundary line 5a and inner boundary line 5b of the applied region of phosphor 5 is different from the rotational center of glass substrate 2. Center axis 6 of glass substrate 2 is separated from the rotational center. Another phosphor (second phosphor) 9 is annularly applied adjacently to and inside or outside the applied region of phosphor 5.
US09453995B2
An illumination system for diascopic microscopy comprises a computer (610) with memory (625), a graphics program (605), a display driver (615), and graphical display (600). The display is positioned between a microscope's light source (105, 704) and condenser (110). When activated, the illumination system causes the display to display a predetermined pattern which the light source projects onto the condenser and is then focused by the condenser on a subject (125) to be examined. In conjunction with the microscope's light source, the illumination system emulates the illumination techniques of bright field, dark field, oblique, polarized, monochrome, modulation contrast and phase contrast illuminations.
US09453994B2
A luminaire includes a earner having a mounting surface, at least two % M-emitting diodes, each light-emitting diode having a radiation exit surface, an optical element having a radiation entrance surface, wherein the light-emitting diodes are arranged on the mounting surface of the carrier, the optical element is arranged on a side of the light-emitting diodes facing away from the carrier, and the radiation exit surface of each light-emitting diode is optically coupled to the radiaπon entrance surface of the optical element.
US09453992B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, a third lens unit having positive refractive power, and a rear lens group including one or more lens units. An interval between adjacent lens units is changed in zooming, the first lens unit is moved closer to the object side at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end. The first lens unit includes at least four lenses. An Abbe number and a material of a positive lens included in the first lens unit satisfy predetermined values. And, a focal length f1 of the first lens unit, and an amount of movement M1 of the first lens unit at zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end are appropriately set.
US09453988B2
An imaging lens composed of six lenses of a negative first lens, a positive second lens, a negative third lens, a positive fourth lens, a positive fifth lens, and a negative sixth lens, disposed in order from the object side, and when refractive indices of the third lens to the sixth lens are taken as Nd3 to Nd6 respectively, the imaging lens satisfies conditional expressions (1): Nd3<1.7, (2): Nd4<1.6, (3):Nd5<1.6 and (4): Nd6<1.89.
US09453985B2
A mirror driving device includes a lead screw configured to be driven by a drive source, a mirror member configured to be movable between a mirror-down position and a mirror-up position, a mirror driving member configured to rectilinearly move to drive the mirror member between the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position, and a restriction unit configured to switch between a restriction state that restricts a rectilinear movement of the mirror driving member and a restriction release state that releases the restriction state. The restriction unit switches between the restriction state and the restriction release state without allowing the mirror driving member to rectilinearly move when the mirror member is in the mirror-up position or the mirror-down position, and the mirror driving member rectilinearly moves in conjunction with driving of the lead screw after the restriction unit switches from the restriction state to the restriction release state.
US09453984B2
A first lens unit performing communication with an image pickup apparatus with a first voltage and a second lens unit performing communication with the image pickup apparatus with a second voltage are selectively attached to the image pickup apparatus. The image pickup apparatus includes a controller configured to operate with a third voltage different from at least one of the first and second voltages to output a signal for the communication with the first and second lens units, and a determiner configured to determine the type of the lens unit attached to the image pickup apparatus. The controller is configured to produce, as a voltage of the signal for the communication, from the third voltage, one of the first and second voltages corresponding to a determination result of the determiner.
US09453983B2
A binocular has a folding bridge for adapting the distance between the eyepieces to the interpupillary distance of the eyes of the user. A synchronous focusing of the two telescopes is brought about via a differential gear assembly which drives respective spindle drives for corresponding ones of the two telescopes. The conversion of the rotational movement into an axial linear displacement of the focusing element of the optics occurs only at the end of the corresponding spindle drive.
US09453974B2
A cut sleeve for a fiber optic connector adapter includes a cylinder having a discontinuity along an axial length of cylinder. The discontinuity is distributed around at least half of a circumference of the cylinder. The cylinder is sized to receive a first fiber ferrule and a second fiber ferrule with cross-sections having a same size minimum bounding circle.
US09453969B2
A grating-coupler assembly with a small mode-field diameter for photonic-integrated-circuit systems is disclosed. The assembly includes a silicon waveguide supported by a silicon-on-insulator substrate, and a grating coupler supported by the substrate and optically coupled to the silicon waveguide. The assembly has an optical fiber with a mode-field diameter in the range from 5 μm to 6 μm. One end of the optical fiber is disposed adjacent the grating coupler to define a coupling efficiency of 0.7 or greater.
US09453958B2
A light guide plate includes an extracting light guide layer having a pair of main surfaces. The extracting light guide layer includes a base portion having a pair of main surfaces, and a plurality of light diffusing portions provided in the base portion. The light guide plate can obscure extracting elements for extracting light.
US09453957B2
A bottom chassis includes a base chassis which accommodates a light source part emitting a light, a reflective film disposed on a bottom plate of the base chassis and including a reflective material to reflect the light, a cladding film disposed on the reflective film, and a light guide film disposed on the cladding film, receiving the light from the light source part through a first surface thereof, and guiding the received light to exit through a second surface thereof as a plane light, where the cladding film has a refractive index smaller than a refractive index of the light guide film.
US09453952B2
A polarizing plate includes an outer protective film and a polarizer. The sum S of the product of the modulus of elasticity and the cube of the thickness in each layer is up to 150,000 Pa·mm3, and the value obtained by dividing the sum S by the Knoop hardness k of the outer protective film is 200 or more but up to 450. The polarizing plate is excellent in surface pencil hardness even when its thickness is reduced.
US09453948B2
A color filter substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. The color filter substrate includes: a transparent base (1); a color filter layer (2) disposed on the transparent base (1) and at least including a plurality of color filter units; a protective layer (3) disposed on the color filter layer (2); a plurality of auxiliary electrodes (4) disposed on the protective layer (3), with a position of each of the auxiliary electrodes (4) corresponding to a connecting position between two adjacent the color filter units; a black matrix (5) disposed on the auxiliary electrode (4) and partially covering the auxiliary electrode (7); a spacer (6) disposed on the black matrix (5); and a transparent electrode (7) disposed on the spacer (6) and electrically connected with the auxiliary electrode (4) in an area of the auxiliary electrode (4), not covered by the black matrix (5). The color filter substrate, by providing the black matrix on the auxiliary electrodes, can effectively reduce the lateral light leakage caused by the light reflection of the auxiliary electrodes, improve the aperture opening ratio, reduce the thickness of the spacer, and increase the yield. Meanwhile, the function of reducing the number of mask plates can be achieved to reduce the cost.
US09453945B2
A Fresnel lens and a pyroelectricity sensor module are provided. The Fresnel lens includes unit lens groups having different refractive indexes, and each of the unit lens groups includes unit lenses. Between two unit lenses of the same unit lens group at least one unit lens included in a different lens group is arranged. The pyroelectricity sensor module includes a Fresnel lens which condenses infrared light; a detecting sensor disposed to receive the condensed infrared light and detect the infrared light; and a signal processing board on which the detecting sensor is mounted and configured to control an output signal of the detecting sensor. The Fresnel lens includes unit lens groups having different refractive indexes, and each of the unit lens groups includes unit lenses, and between two unit lenses of the same unit lens group, at least one unit lens included in a different lens group is arranged.
US09453940B2
The presently disclosed inventive concepts are directed, in at least one non-limiting embodiment, to a computer system and method for issuing a tornado-indicative notification, such as a warning. In one embodiment the method includes receiving time sequential radar reflectivity data from an area undergoing a weather event, via at least one computer port and at least one processor executing processor executable code, analyzing the radar reflectivity data of the area to determine if an entropic source and an entropic sink are present in the area, determining a distance between the entropic source and the entropic sink when the entropic source and the entropic sink are present in the area, and outputting a tornado-indicative notification for the area when the distance between the entropic source and the entropic sink is less than or equal to a predetermined distance.
US09453938B2
A method for spectroscopic analysis of a fluid using electromagnetic radiation from lasers is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes sampling formation fluid within a well and determining formation fluid properties for the sampled formation fluid through downhole fluid analysis. Determining formation fluid properties for the sampled formation fluid can include using a spectrometer having a plurality of quantum cascade lasers to determine optical properties of the formation fluid and determining levels of multiple chemical species in the formation fluid using the determined optical properties of the formation fluid. Various other methods, systems and devices are also disclosed.
US09453935B2
The present invention discloses a gantry configuration for a combined mobile radiation inspection system comprising a first arm frame, a second arm frame and a third arm frame. The first, second and third arm frames define a scanning channel to allow an inspected object to pass therethrough. The gantry configuration for the combined mobile radiation inspection system further comprises a position sensing device configured to detect a position error between the first arm frame and the second arm frame; and a controller configured to control a moving speed of at least one of the first arm frame and the second arm frame based on the detected position error, so that the position error between the first arm frame and the second arm frame is equal to zero. Compared with the prior art, the present invention is advantageous at least in that an automatic deviation correction device is provided on the gantry arm frame, and thus the position error between both side arm frames can be automatically controlled to zero, so that the gantry arm frame can be effectively prevented from being subjected to a force and deforming, and the radiation detector can receive the full ray, thereby improving the imaging quality.
US09453931B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for enabling anti-twist functionality in marine geophysical streamers. An embodiment discloses a method comprising: towing a streamer behind a survey vessel in a body of water, wherein the streamer comprises rotation sensors and streamer rotation devices; receiving data from at least one rotation sensor indicative of streamer twist; and rotating a portion of the streamer with at least one streamer rotation device to reduce the streamer twist based, at least in part on the data.
US09453921B1
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating geographic position are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data representative of geographic position from an external source such as a global positioning system (“GPS”); receives navigation data representative of measurements of angular and linear motions from an internal source of navigation data such as an inertial measurement unit (“IMU”); and determines and generates navigation data representative of geographic position responsive to such determination. The generation of navigation data could be based upon internal source navigation data and an estimate of error of geographic position, where the estimate of error is based upon a delay of the external-sourced navigation data and a delayed output from one of the internal sources (e.g., delayed output of an IMU).
US09453920B1
A method for selecting a global positioning receiver includes receiving global positioning system signals from global positioning system receivers. The global positioning system receivers receive the global positioning system signals from corresponding global positioning system satellites. The method also includes replicating the global positioning system signals from the global positioning system receivers, determining a signal drift and a phase precision for each global positioning system signal, and selecting one of the global positioning system signals based on the corresponding signal drift and the phase precision of the global positioning system signal.
US09453916B2
A low noise amplifier (LNA) assembly comprising a filter circuit for receiving signals from a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) band and a Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS) band; and an alternative filter circuit configured to filter out a jammer signal.
US09453913B2
A target is provided having a retroreflector. A body is provided having a spherical exterior portion, the body containing a cavity. The cavity is sized to hold the retroreflector, the cavity open to the exterior of the body and having at least one surface opposite the opening, the retroreflector at least partially disposed in the cavity, wherein the retroreflector and at least one surface define a space therebetween. A transmitter is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal. A first actuator is configured to initiate emission of the electromagnetic signal, wherein the transmitter and the first actuator are affixed to the body.
US09453905B2
In selected embodiments, a process of geolocation of a transmitter uses a receiver with an antenna array that is non-line-of-sight (NLoS) to the transmitter. A first plurality of scatterers within line-of-sight (LoS) of the array is located using multilateration based on time difference of arrival (TDoA) from the first scatterers, and applying a spatial consistency requirement. Time of emission/reflection from the first scatterers is also determined. The coordinates and timing of the first scatterers are used to locate either the transmitter or another set of scatterers, by applying multilateration to the TDoA at the first scatterers, and applying the spatial consistency requirement. The process is iteratively repeated until the transmitter is identified. The multilateration may be linearized without sacrificing precision. In each iteration, a non-singularity requirement is applied to ensure that the selected scatterers produce unambiguous results.
US09453899B2
A system for effecting the rotational movement of a solar tracker about an axis of rotation includes a bow mounted on the solar tracker and comprising a rack and a worm engaging with the rack to effect the rotational movement, the rack having a plastic tooth set and the bow having a damper configured to dampen the connection with the solar tracker.
US09453897B2
Regardless of the measurement conditions, the degradation of the image quality due to a vibrational error magnetic field, which is generated by the vibration of the mechanical structure of an MRI apparatus, is reduced. In order to do so, error magnetic field image data indicating an error magnetic field distribution is acquired on the basis of an echo signal measured using a pulse sequence having a test gradient magnetic field, a parameter value of a damped vibration function showing a vibrational error magnetic field is calculated using the error magnetic field image data, and a correction magnetic field is calculated on the basis of the calculated parameter value of the damped vibration function showing the vibrational error magnetic field.
US09453892B2
Integrated circuit Hall sensor system comprising a plurality of elementary blocks (EB), each elementary block including a Hall cell (4), a differential pair (8) of an input stage of a Differential Difference Amplifier (DDA), and terminals (12a, 12b), wherein the terminals (12a, 12b) are placed laterally on opposing outer sides of each elementary block parallel to a Y axis and the plurality of elementary blocks are arranged in a juxtaposed manner to form at least one row (6a, 6b) extending along an X axis orthogonal to the Y axis and interconnected by the terminals.
US09453885B2
A battery-state monitoring system capable of precisely and efficiently estimating the state and service life of a plurality of storage batteries charged with power generated by utilizing natural energy and constantly connected to an equipment is provided. The system includes a power supply control device that detects a current in each battery, an end device that measures temperature, voltage, and internal resistance of each battery, the internal resistance being measured by using two or more kinds of frequencies, and a prime monitoring device that acquires measurement data from the end device corresponding to each battery and issues an instruction related to an operation to the power supply control device and the end device. The prime monitoring device estimates degradation of each battery based on at least one of temperature, voltage, and internal resistance.
US09453882B2
An integrated circuit includes combinational logic with flip-flops, parallel scan paths with a scan input for receiving test stimulus data to be applied to the combinational logic, combinational connections with the combinational logic for applying stimulus data to the combinational logic and receiving response data from the combinational logic, a scan output for transmitting test response data obtained from the combinational logic, and control inputs having an enable input and a select input for operating the parallel scan paths, each scan path includes flip-flops of the combinational logic that, in a test mode, are connected in series, compare circuitry indicates the result of a comparison of the received test response data and the expected data at a fail flag output, and one of the scan paths includes a scan cell having an input coupled to the fail flag output.
US09453878B2
Disclosed is a test structure that can be used to characterize a specific interface resistance within a multi-layer conductive structure, such as a multi-layer ohmic contact. In the test structure first and second transmission line model (TLM) structures both incorporate a row of essentially identical contact pads separated by spaces with progressively increasing lengths. Conductive mesas, also with progressively increasing lengths, are positioned within the spaces between all but the initial pair of adjacent contacts pads. The first and second TLM structures differ only with respect to the presence of a single conductive layer on each of the conductive mesas. System, method and computer program product embodiments are able to extract resistance parameters associated with the first and second TLM structures, including conductive mesa to conductive layer interface resistances, based current-voltage measurements acquired from both of the TLM structures.
US09453873B2
Disclosed are test structures and methods for non-planar field effect transistors. The test structures comprise test device(s) on an insulator layer. Each device comprises semiconductor fin(s). Each fin has a first portion comprising a pseudo channel region at one end and a second portion comprising a diffusion region positioned laterally adjacent to the first portion. A gate with sidewall spacers can be adjacent to the first portion of the fin(s). A first contact can be on the insulator layer adjacent the end of the fin(s). A second contact can be on the second portion of the fin(s) such that the gate is positioned laterally between the contacts. Measurements taken when the first contact is biased against the gate are compared to measurements taken when the second contact is biased against the gate in order to assess lateral dielectric breakdown between the gate and first contact independent of gate dielectric breakdown.
US09453868B2
When static electrical charge by electromagnetic waves is applied to a test-target board or test noises are applied to the ground of the test-target board, a test device tests as to whether or not noises are conducted through a path from an OUT terminal of an amplifier circuit to the ground of the test-target board, and a test device tests as to whether or not noises are conducted through a path from an OUT terminal of an amplifier circuit to the ground of the test-target board together with the number of conductions.
US09453867B2
A transceiver device combination includes a first ultrasound transducer and a processor chip including a central processing unit (CPU). A memory is coupled to the CPU including stored ultrasound communications software for rendering the processor chip a target device for an ultrasound probe driven via a host computing device having a second ultrasound transducer for together performing ultrasonic debugging of the processor chip. The transceiver device combination includes (i) a transmit path including an ultrasound driver having an input driven by an output of the CPU, where an output of the ultrasound driver is coupled to drive an input of the first ultrasound transducer to transmit ultrasound signals and (ii) a receive path including analog signal processing circuitry that couples an output of the first ultrasound transducer responsive to received ultrasound signals from the ultrasound probe to an input of the CPU.
US09453866B2
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for controlling an antenna of a terminal device. The method comprises: acquiring an environmental state parameter of a terminal device; extracting an antenna performance parameter corresponding to the environmental state parameter from a preset antenna performance parameter table; and adjusting an antenna signal of the terminal device using the antenna performance parameter. According to the embodiment of the disclosure, a preferable antenna performance parameter may be obtained by acquiring the environmental state parameter of the location where the terminal device is located, and the antenna is adjusted according to the preferable antenna performance parameter, thereby achieving an intelligent adjustment of the antenna and adapting to the environmental change, thus the antenna is highly practical, strongly adaptive as well as efficient in operation.
US09453857B2
Apparatus and techniques presented combine the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the phase feedback from second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode. In particular the first or second frequency may be used to measure the loss tangent, a dimensionless parameter which measures the ratio of energy dissipated to energy stored in a cycle of deformation.
US09453855B2
An apparatus and method is presented for calibrating an output(s) of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) using rotational rate as a reference. Calibrating the IMU output(s) is performed by comparing the IMU output(s) to expected output(s), where the expected output(s) are determined based on the known rate of rotation of the IMU and the centripetal force acting on the IMU due to known rate of rotation. By analyzing the differences between the expected IMU output(s) and the IMU output(s), it is possible to determine a correction factor that, when applied to the IMU output(s), calibrates the IMU output(s) by correcting for measurement errors.
US09453847B2
Described herein are isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequence encoding mannose receptor, C type 1 (MRC1) wherein the 5′ region of the nucleotide sequence encoding MRC1 is codon optimized; cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules; and methods of detecting antibody production, e.g., neutralizing antibody production, in a subject being treated for Gaucher disease using such cells.
US09453846B2
The present invention provides a mass spectrometry method using a matrix that is capable of easily and efficiently improving ionization efficiency in mass spectrometry without modifying a molecule to be analyzed, and a matrix for mass spectrometry. A mass spectrometry method using, as a matrix, a 2,4,6-trihydroxyalkylphenone represented by the following general formula (I): where R is an alkyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms. The mass spectrometry method as described above, wherein an analysis object is a hydrophobic compound, particularly, a hydrophobic peptide.
US09453845B2
The invention relates to a method for determining the presence of at least one distinct polypeptide in a biological sample comprising contacting the biological sample with a hydrolyzing agent, wherein the hydrolyzing agent is capable of hydrolyzing the distinct polypeptide in a sequence-specific manner such that at least one distinct peptide having a predetermined peptide measured accurate mass would result if the at least one distinct polypeptide were present in the biological sample, to obtain a hydrolyzed sample; bringing the hydrolyzed sample in contact with a substrate comprising at least one immobilized binding partner, wherein the at least one immobilized binding partner is capable of specifically binding the distinct peptide; removing the hydrolyzed sample from the substrate in a manner such that the distinct peptide would remain bound to the immobilized binding partner; contacting the substrate with an elution solution, wherein the distinct peptide would dissociate from the immobilized binding partner into the elution solution; subjecting a portion of the elution solution to liquid chromatography to segregate a plurality of molecules in the portion of the elution solution to obtain sorted molecules; determining the measured accurate mass of at least one sorted molecule present in the elution solution; and determining the presence of the at least one distinct polypeptide in the biological sample when a measured accurate mass of at least one molecule is substantially equal to the predetermined peptide measured accurate mass.
US09453843B2
Novel compounds, having an azlactone function, of formula (I), to be used as multifunctional coupling agents, and a method for coupling a biomolecule and a target molecule using such a compound are described. A diagnosis reagent, a kit for implementing the coupling method, a method for separating, detecting and/or characterizing at least one molecule of interest, and a composition including a novel compound are also described.
US09453838B2
The present invention provides microarrays that can be analysed by more than one technique using a non-covalent ligand attachment strategy to solid supports such as indium tin oxide (ITO) covered transparent glass slides. This provides, inter alia, glycan arrays on a micrometer scale which allow multimodal readout by MALDI-Tof-MS, fluorescence and optical microscopy. Glycans functionalized with a C5-aminolinker were attached in situ on a picomolar scale to a hydrophobic tag bound to this surface, thus avoiding the wasteful off-chip ligand tagging of other approaches. Glycan arrays prepared using this methodology were analysed both with a fluorescence scanner and by on-chip MALDI-mass spectrometry in a series of glycomics experiments specifically requiring a multimodal readout.
US09453829B2
A test device including a closeable cavity and a water flow groove with a water transmission channel existing between the water flow groove and the internal part of the cavity. The water flow groove includes a water inlet and a water outlet with the depth of the water inlet being greater than the depth of the water outlet. Simultaneously, side lead-in pipe of drain pipe and elbow pipe on side wall of water inlet pipe are consistent with height of top surface of the ceramic plate, making hydraulic pressure of tested soil sample being zero during dehydrating and soaking process capable of ensuring accuracy of test result. A necking design is applied to reduce water evaporation in the drainage pipe and lower the test errors. Side lead-in pipe is connected with drainage pipe for smoothly draining water and also can prevent air reversely flowing and entering into the base.
US09453825B2
An apparatus and a method for chromatogram peak purity determination are provided, where the chromatogram's dimensions consist of retention time, wavelength and absorbance. The apparatus or method accumulates, at each retention time, absorbance in the wavelength direction for all or a part of a wavelength range in a predetermined retention time range; extracts a plurality of groups where, for each group, the absorbance accumulation value is the same for one point on a rising slope and one point on a falling slope regarding a peak that exists on a chromatogram that is prepared based on a 2-dimensional data whose dimensions are absorbance accumulation value and retention time; calculates similarities between absorption spectrum pattern at one point on the rising slope and at one point on the falling slope for each group; and determines from the plurality of groups, whether the peak consists of a single component based on similarity.
US09453821B2
This application relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring of conduits, especially oil or gas pipelines, as an object such as pipeline pig moves within the conduit. The method comprises monitoring at least part of a conduit (206) using a fibre optic (202) distributed acoustic sensor (204) as the object (208) passes along the conduit. The acoustic signals detected from at least one sensing location (203) as the object moves along the conduit are analysed so as to discriminate acoustic signals received at said sensing location from different locations. The method allows the contributions to the acoustic signal at a given sensing portion from different locations to be separately identified, and can allow the detection of the location of acoustic sources along the conduit even if the source is outside the section of conduit which is monitored. The method provides a method of leak detection that can extend the monitoring of the pipeline beyond the location of the optical fibre.
US09453819B2
An ultrasonic flaw detector including an ultrasonic probe for emitting an ultrasonic wave on an object to be inspected and receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave from the object, a drive element control unit for controlling a plurality of ultrasonic elements to emit an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic probe and to control a reflected ultrasonic wave from the object, and a calculation unit for obtaining, by using a refraction angle of the ultrasonic wave at a time of the ultrasonic wave entering the object, an incident position of the ultrasonic wave on a surface of the object, and a surface shape of a surface of the object at the incident position, the incident angle of the ultrasonic wave entering the incident position, and obtaining a plurality of ultrasonic elements to be driven, based on the incident position and the incident angle.
US09453810B2
The invention discloses methods and devices for rapidly detecting a biological or other residue in a liquid sample. In some embodiments of the instant invention, a single electrode is employed to contact a flowing aqueous solution, with electrical outputs being recorded by an electrical metering device. Injection or flow of sample leads to changes in solution electrostatic behavior; those changes are recorded in the metering device, with absence of predetermined residues or targets yielding the highest signals. General and specific target detection may be performed with various embodiments of the instant invention.
US09453808B2
A multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus includes a portable housing, a testing unit, and an indication unit. The portable housing includes a hand-held casing and a probe casing extended from a front end of the hand-held casing. The testing unit includes a conductive probe having a testing end portion extended out of a tip end of the probe casing for contacting a testing object to determine a conductivity of the testing object. The indication unit includes a LED light unit received in the hand-held casing for illuminating the testing end portion of the conductive probe during testing, wherein the LED light unit is positioned away from the tip end of the probe casing for preventing heat generated from the LED light unit being transmitted toward the conductive probe to affect an accurate measurement for the conductivity of the testing object.
US09453800B2
An apparatus for detecting a defect of an object may include a light emitter configured to emit straight polarized lights having different polarized directions, a spatial filter having openings through which the straight polarized lights selectively pass, an optical member configured to condense the straight polarized lights, which pass through the openings, on the object, and a light detector configured to detect lights reflected from the object. Thus, the defect may be accurately detected in a short time.
US09453798B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the amount of various materials in a liquid sample. Because the apparatus is particularly resilient it can be used repeatedly with very harsh liquid samples such as boot water from an oil refinery. The apparatus uses at least one volume and/or concentration independent optical analysis method to determine at least one of: the pH, amount of chloride, and/or amount of iron in the sample. The optical property can be colorimetric, fluorescent or both and result from adding dyes, complexing agents, turbidity inducing compounds, and other optically effecting reagents to the sample. Because the measurements are concentration and volume independent they can be done continuously, quickly, and avoid the inconvenient start and stop procedures in prior art measurement regimens.
US09453793B2
Examples of integrated sensors are disclosed herein. An example of an integrated sensor includes a flexible substrate, and an array of spaced apart sensing members formed on a surface of the flexible substrate. Each of the spaced apart sensing members includes a plurality of polygon assemblies. The polygon assemblies are arranged in a controlled pattern on the surface of the flexible substrate such that each of the plurality of polygon assemblies is a predetermined distance from each other of the plurality of polygon assemblies, and each of the plurality of polygon assemblies including collapsible signal amplifying structures controllably positioned in a predetermined geometric shape.
US09453790B2
A blood analyzer comprising: a specimen preparation section for preparing a measurement specimen that is used to measure a white blood cell count among CBC measurement items; a measurement section for obtaining optical information from blood cells contained in the measurement specimen; and a controller carrying out operations comprising: classifying blood cells contained in the measurement specimen into at least white blood cells and blood cells suspected to be abnormal blood cells based on the optical information; obtaining distribution data of the white blood cells and distribution data of the blood cells suspected to be abnormal blood cells; counting the white blood cells based on the distribution data of the white blood cells; and determining presence or absence of the abnormal blood cells in the blood sample, based on the distribution data of the blood cells suspected to be abnormal blood cells. A blood analyzing method and a computer program product are also disclosed.
US09453789B2
Provided herein are improved cell sorter systems and methods. Such systems and methods provide a self-stabilizing sorter jet to automate calibration, and address the issue of drift in cell sorting systems. The systems and methods presented make it possible to determine and set the charge delay interval automatically with circuitry in the cell sorter. These circuits can set, monitor, and adjust the time delay continuously, allowing for a completely automatic, autonomous, turn-key, self-stabilizing sorter jet.
US09453785B2
A method for troubleshooting a built-on function pertaining to a manufactured vehicle. That vehicle undergoes building-on of at least one function, which function is provided with a computer-readable representation associated with the vehicle. During troubleshooting of the built-on function, the vehicle is connected to a diagnostic tool which determines conditions for activation of the built-on function. The tool determines via the connection to the vehicle whether the at least one condition for the activation is fulfilled, and a signal is generated if the at least one activation condition is not fulfilled. Also a diagnostic tool and a vehicle are disclosed.
US09453775B2
A microelectromechanical pressure sensor structure comprises a planar base, side walls and a diaphragm plate, attached to each other to form a hermetically closed gap that provides a reference pressure. The diaphragm plate extends along a planar inner surface on top of the side walls, and has an outer surface on the opposite side of the diaphragm plate. At least part of the outer surface of the diaphragm plate forms a planar part that includes a recess, a depth of which extends parallel to the side walls and is less than the nominal thickness of the diaphragm. A large part of reasons causing the different bending of the diaphragm and the underlying structures can be eliminated with one or more recesses arranged to the pressure sensor structure.
US09453771B2
A sensor comprising an optical fiber that includes a Bragg grating and a longitudinal-strain-inducing (LSI) jacket for inducing longitudinal strain into the optical fiber as a function of a transverse load, i.e., pressure or force. As the LSI jacket induces strain into the optical fiber, the fiber grating deforms, thereby changing the character of light reflected from the grating. The changes in character of the reflected light can be measured using suitable optical instrumentation. Additional physical characteristics that can be measured/sensed using an LSI-jacket-based sensor include moisture content/presence, chemical content/presence, and temperature. A transverse-load-sensing sensor can include transverse-load-applying structures that compress the LSI jacket under transverse load, causing the jacket to controllably elongate and thereby induce longitudinal strain into the optical fiber. Chemical and moisture LSI jackets can comprise materials that swell in the presence of the chemical or moisture.
US09453770B2
A strain measurement device is provided. The strain measurement device includes at least one filiform strain sensor and a support of longilinear shape on which the filiform strain sensor is positioned. The strain measurement device also includes a stiffener.
US09453757B2
A vehicle weighing system for counting the number of vehicle axles before and after weighing of an unloaded vehicle to determine if the unloaded vehicle is correctly positioned during weighing, as well as method for generating a scale ticket to record vehicle axle count data from the vehicle weighing system. Also, a scale ticket data system with a plurality of such scale tickets and a scale ticket electronic database which collects the scale tickets and identifies those scale tickets corresponding to unloaded and weighed vehicles which are correctly or incorrectly positioned during weighing, as well as a method for querying the scale ticket electronic database to identify those scale tickets corresponding to unloaded and weighed vehicles which are correctly or incorrectly positioned during weighing.
US09453754B2
A water sensor for a fuel filtration apparatus includes a main body with at least one electrical contact disposed proximate the first end of the main body. The electrical contact(s) is operatively connectable to an electronic control unit. Multiple sensor contacts are disposed proximate a second end of the main body. The sensor contacts are configured to detect multiple water levels and provide an output on each water level detected. The electrical contact is configured to send the output to an electronic control unit. The water level information provided by the water sensor can be tracked by a control device to determine if the fill rate of water meets an alarm value.
US09453752B2
One way to improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle is to detect the vehicle operational shortcomings related to fuel consumption by determining whether fuel used during operation of the vehicle is normal fuel use or wasted fuel use. Considerations of idling, speeding and inappropriate gear shifts are some ways to measure the amount of fuel wasted due to operator shortcomings. Communicating this information to the operator in real-time so adjustments can be made will improve vehicle fuel efficiency. These techniques are applicable to tracking employment of other driving best practices as well.
US09453744B2
A measuring graduation includes a phase grating for a photoelectric position measuring device for measuring positions in a first direction and in a second direction extending orthogonally to the first direction. The phase grating has a periodic array of grating elements in the first direction and in the second direction. The grating elements each have an outer contour that is formed by a continuous line which includes two mutually opposing first straight edges, two mutually opposing second straight edges extending perpendicularly to the first straight edges, and connecting lines extending between the first straight edges and the second straight edges. The connecting lines form an obtuse angle with the first straight edges and with the second straight edges.
US09453743B2
Disclosed herein is a distance measuring apparatus. The distance measuring apparatus includes a light-emitting unit configured to radiate light in a pulse form of a specific width, a light-receiving unit configured to include a plurality of cells for receiving reflected light radiated by the light-emitting unit and reflected by an object, and a processor configured to perform one or more of an operation for calculating a first distance of the object using a first method based on the locations of one or more cells which belong to the plurality of cells and on which the reflected light is focused and an operation for calculating a second distance of the object using a second method based on the time when the reflected light is reached and to correct the first distance calculated using the first method based on the second distance calculated using the second method.
US09453737B2
Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for localizing a vehicle. A sensor is configured to detect an object disposed in a generally upward direction from the vehicle while the vehicle is travelling. A processor is coupled to the sensor. The processor is configured to correlate the object with information from a map database, thereby generating a correlation, and determine a geographic location of the vehicle based on the correlation.
US09453734B2
Systems and methods are provided for displaying a portion of a map on a mobile device of a user while the user is traveling along a route. The mobile device can use a selected route and a current location of the device to load map tiles for parts of the map that are upcoming along the route. In this manner, the user can have quick access to the portions of the map that the user likely will want to view. For example, the map tiles can be loaded for the next 50 Km, and then when the stored tiles reaches only 25 Km ahead, another 25 Km of tiles can be retrieved. The amount of tiles loaded (e.g., minimum and maximum amounts) can vary based on a variety of factors, such as network state, distance traveled along the route, and whether the mobile device is charging.
US09453732B2
A remote control is provided including a plurality of sensors which sense movement of the remote control, and a control unit which turns on at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors and thereby senses movement of the remote control, and determines whether to turn on or off the remaining sensors according to whether or not the at least one sensor senses movement of the remote control. Consequently, battery consumption is reduced.
US09453730B2
A machine vision system may perform compressive sensing by aggregating signals from multiple pixels. The aggregation of signals may be based on a sampling function. The sampling function may be formed of a product of a random basis, which may be sparse, and a filtering function.
US09453704B2
An apparatus for selectively securing a weapon about the torso of a human comprises a base layer comprising a band of elastic configured to be disposed about the torso, a closure mechanism configured to retain the base layer about the torso and couple the first end to the second end, and a pocket comprising a padding layer coupled to the base layer on three sides. The base layer comprises a first end and a second end, and the base layer has a substantially uniform width about the torso when the closure mechanism couples the first end to the second end. The pocket has a width that is less than or equal to the width of the base layer.
US09453699B1
A compound crossbow including a stock having a forward end and a rearward end. The crossbow includes a bow assembly mounted to the forward end of the stock and a retractable support lever operatively connected to the stock by a pivot point hinge. The retractable support lever is pivotable about the pivot point hinge between a retracted position, in which the retractable support lever is folded against the stock lower portion, and an extended position, in which the retractable support lever extends rearward from the pivot point hinge such that a distal end of the retractable support lever is positioned rearward of the rearward end of the stock. The crossbow may further include a guide configured to house and retain a knife within a receptacle of the stock lower portion.
US09453691B2
A heat exchanger includes: a heat spreader plate; plural microchannels for directing heat transfer fluid over the heat spreader plate, wherein each microchannel has a first end and an opposite end, extends substantially parallel with each other microchannel, and has a continuous flow path between the first and opposite ends; a fluid inlet opening for the microchannels and positioned between the first and opposite ends, a first fluid outlet opening from each of the microchannel first ends; and an opposite fluid outlet opening from each of the microchannel opposite ends, the fluid inlet opening and the first and opposite fluid outlet openings providing that a flow fluid that passes into the plurality of microchannels, flows along the plurality of microchannels outwardly from the fluid inlet opening. A method of cooling a heat generating component uses a fluid heat exchanger that splits a mass flow of coolant.
US09453668B2
In a refrigeration cycle apparatus, a compressor, a condenser, a first flow control valve, a refrigerant storage container, a second flow control valve, and a first evaporator are connected in this order, and a third flow control valve, an ejector, a second evaporator, and the compressor are connected in this order so as to branch from an outlet of the condenser. A driving refrigerant inlet of the ejector is connected to the third flow control valve, a suction refrigerant inlet of the ejector is connected to an outlet of the first evaporator, and a mixed refrigerant outlet of the ejector is connected to a refrigerant inlet of the second evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus has a bypass circuit which branches from a refrigerant pipe connecting the condenser and the second flow control valve and is connected to the mixed refrigerant outlet of the ejector via a fourth flow control valve.
US09453665B1
A refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration side, a heat engine side, and a diaphragm assembly between the refrigeration side and the heat engine side. The diaphragm assembly may comprise a diaphragm separating refrigerant fluid from engine fluid, where the diaphragm is flexible such that when the refrigerant fluid has a higher pressure than the engine fluid, the diaphragm forces the engine fluid out of the diaphragm assembly and when the engine fluid has a higher pressure than the refrigerant fluid, the diaphragm forces the refrigerant fluid out of the diaphragm assembly. The refrigerant fluid may be propane and the engine fluid may be butane.
US09453663B2
The present invention discloses a heat-actuated double-acting traveling-wave thermoacoustic refrigeration system, comprising at least three elementary units; each elementary unit comprises a thermoacoustic engine, a thermoacoustic refrigerator, and a resonance device; the thermoacoustic engine and the thermoacoustic refrigerator comprise a main heat exchanger, a heat regenerator, a non-normal-temperature heat exchanger, a thermal buffer tube, and an auxiliary heat exchanger connected in sequence; the resonance device comprises a sealed housing, a moving part is provided in the housing for a reciprocating motion; the moving part separates the housing into at least two chambers; the main heat exchanger and auxiliary heat exchanger of each thermoacoustic engine and thermoacoustic refrigerator respectively connects to chambers of different housing, forming dual-loop structure of gas medium flow. In heating the non-normal-temperature heat exchanger of the thermoacoustic engine to produce acoustic power, thermoacoustic energy conversion is induced inside the thermoacoustic engine and the thermoacoustic refrigerator.
US09453657B2
An infrared detecting apparatus includes an infrared sensor in which a plurality of infrared detecting elements are placed in a matrix, and also includes a scanner that moves the infrared sensor in a prescribed direction to cause the infrared sensor to scan a detection range. The infrared sensor is placed so that the matrix of the plurality of infrared detecting elements is inclined at a prescribed angle with respect to the prescribed direction.
US09453652B2
A fragrance dispenser includes a housing and a plurality of heating pans disposed in the housing. Each of the plurality of heating pans includes a corresponding heating element centrally disposed therein. A controller is disposed in the housing to control the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element independently. Prongs extend from the housing to provide power to the controller. A volatile material holder is held within the housing and includes a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material.
US09453650B2
BUILDING FEATURE APPLIED IN AIR-CONDITIONING APPLIANCE, capable of enriching the air with atomized water droplets in two stages, where in a first moment the water sent directly from the water supply network is pre-atomized in an appliance (8); being then delivered to the main atomizer (9), which produces the final atomization, creating an ultrafine mist that facilitates the thermal exchange between the mist and the air. The air-conditioning appliance must be associated to a fan so as to spread this mist to the room.
US09453649B2
In an outdoor unit, an upper corner bend portion is connected to a linear portion of a flange via an inclined portion that is located inside an ideal bending line of the upper corner bend portion.
US09453638B2
A semiconductor light-emitting module includes a housing, at least one cooling body accommodated in the housing wherein the cooling body is thermally connected to at least one semiconductor light source, an active cooling device accommodated in the housing, and at least one electronics unit accommodated in the housing, at least for actuating the at least one semiconductor light source, wherein the housing has a leadthrough opening, and the at least one semiconductor light source is arranged in the region of the leadthrough opening.
US09453629B2
At least a part of light emitted from a light source passes through a projection lens. A rotary shade is disposed at the rear side of the projection lens to block a part of the light emitted from the light source. The rotary shade includes a twist end surface. A swivel actuator changes an optical axis direction of the projection lens. A shade driving mechanism rotates the rotary shade around the rotary axis. A first information acquisition unit acquires first information on a rudder angle of the vehicle. A second information acquisition unit acquires second information on the front area of the vehicle. A first control unit controls the swivel actuator to determine the optical axis direction based on the first information. A second control unit controls the shade driving mechanism to determine the position of the twist end surface based on the second information.
US09453612B2
There is provided a safety valve to release excess pressure from a portable gas container for the prevention of an explosion, wherein, when the internal pressure of a portable butane gas container increases over certain level, the safety valve instantaneously operates to release the excess pressure gas from the container at once through an excess pressure gas outlet, thereby sufficiently lowering the pressure inside the container to prevent the container from exploding.
US09453607B2
A system for curing a pipeline liner that includes a resin curable by exposure to radiation includes first and second liner curing apparatuses, each of which includes a housing defining opposite first and second ends, and outer and inner walls defining a passage between the first and second ends; a plurality of LED's on the outer wall and operable to irradiate the radiation; and a plurality of heat dissipating elements on the inner wall. The LED's are connected in thermally-conductive relationship to the heat dissipating elements, whereby heat is dissipated from the heat dissipating elements to cool the LED's when a stream of cooling fluid passes through the passage. In use, the apparatuses, joined end-to-end, are moved within the liner while irradiating radiation from the LED's onto the liner, and the velocity of the apparatuses moving through the liner is adjusted to cause a complete curing of the resin.
US09453600B2
A metal seal replaces an O-ring seal in a flat face seal fluid fitting to adapt the flat face seal fluid fitting to use, for example, in extreme temperature applications. The fitting includes first and second fitting members, a sleeve, a nut and the seal. The seal may be removably attached to one of the fitting members by a plurality of retainers that extend into an O-ring channel of the fitting and cooperate with an O-ring retainer wall.
US09453579B2
Ball valve with a housing which forms an inlet, an outlet and an obturator seat, an obturator which forms an inner cavity with an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture opposite the inlet aperture, an auxiliary aperture between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, as well as a closed side opposite the auxiliary aperture. The inlet aperture and the outlet aperture connect the inlet with the inner cavity and with the obturator seat and an outer channel is formed in an outer surface of the closed side which, when the obturator is rotated from a closed position towards an open position, opens a first outer flow passage between the obturator seat and the outlet before the outlet aperture opens a second inner flow passage between the inner cavity and the outlet.
US09453570B2
A differential lock mechanism includes a shift member and a shift collar that is moveable by the shift member between an engaged position with a differential assembly and a disengaged position. A pneumatic control provides a first pneumatic signal to move the shift collar into the engaged position and provides a second pneumatic signal to return the shift collar to the disengaged position.
US09453566B2
A hydromechanical transmission 11 includes a hydraulic unit 23 and a gear unit 24. The gear unit 24 includes a first gear unit housing 29a defining a first sump 37a having a first set of gears 71. A second gear unit housing 29b defines a substantially smaller second sump 37b having a second set of gears 78, 79. An input shaft 62 extends longitudinally into the first sump 37a, and an output shaft 63 extends longitudinally from the second sump 37b. The longitudinal axes of the input and output shafts are substantially coaxial. A first hydraulic pump motor unit drive shaft 44 extends into the first sump 37a and is drivingly connected with the first set of gears, and a second hydraulic pump motor unit drive shaft 45 extends through the first sump 37a and into the second sump 37b and is drivingly connected with the second set of gears.
US09453563B2
A linear actuator includes a housing and a cover tube that is supported relative to the housing. A nut engages the cover tube so as to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the cover tube. A lead screw rotatably engages the nut, wherein rotation of the lead screw causes the nut to travel along the lead screw.
US09453562B2
A valve actuator torque limiter (103) includes a moveable shaft (208) moveable two ways in an axial direction and, in use, rotatable to cause rotation of a valve actuator drive shaft (202). The limiter further includes a brake disc (214) mounted on the moveable shaft; a first friction device (216A) located to a first side of the brake disc, and a second friction device (216B) located to a second side. In use, contact between the brake disc and the first or the second friction device stops a motor (302) rotating the moveable shaft. The limiter also includes a casing (102) housing at least the brake disc, the first friction device and the second friction device, and an adjusting arrangement (224A, 224B) for adjusting a position of the first friction device and/or the second friction device relative to the brake disc. The adjusting arrangement is operable from outside the casing.
US09453556B2
A rope connecting support includes: a base having a predetermined dimension; a hoist rope locking part that removably locks a rod part provided on the front end of the hoist rope onto an upper surface of the base in one end side of the base; and an auxiliary rope connecting part that connects one end of an auxiliary rope to the upper surface of the base in the other side of the base, wherein the base includes an uphill part formed by upwardly inclining an lower surface of the one end side of the base, and the auxiliary rope connecting part includes an upright plate used to pin the one end of the auxiliary rope. By this means, the rod part is positioned on right and left sides thereof by the hoist rope locking part, and also positioned with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rod part.
US09453542B2
Improvements in one way clutches include a first embodiment directed to a one way clutch having two sets of helical teeth arranged about the axis of rotation of a drive and driven member that translate axially into and out of engagement. The one way clutch is biased into engagement by a wave washer or similar device. As the speed of rotation of the clutch increases, hydraulic fluid which is directed axially against the drive member by a dam urges the drive member away from the driven member and opens the clutch. In a second embodiment, a pair of one way clutches having oppositely arranged sets of helical teeth selectively provide one way or overrunning operation in both directions. In this embodiment, each of the drive members may be selectively engaged with the driven member by a hydraulic piston. Respective return springs bias the pistons and drive members toward disengaged positions.
US09453537B2
A coupler pin couples an output sleeve of rotary unit to an input member of a rotary sensor with interference fits. The coupler pin has a first part and a second part. A key groove is formed in an inner surface of a coupling bore in the output sleeve. The first part is received by the coupling bore, and the first part has a key member which is received by the key groove. The second part has a key slot formed therein. The input member has a key. The key has a slip fit with a first part of the key slot and has an interference fit with a second part of the key slot. The key projects inwardly from a wall of a coupling bore in the input member. The second part is divided into a plurality of sections by axially extending cross-cuts.
US09453533B2
In an embodiment, a roller bearing assembly may include superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis, with gaps located between adjacent ones of the superhard bearing elements. Each of the superhard bearing elements may include a bearing surface and a pair of side surfaces intersecting the bearing surface. Each of the side surfaces may form a respective oblique angle relative to the axis. The roller bearing assembly may include a support ring having the superhard bearing elements affixed thereto. The bearing surfaces of the superhard bearing elements may be positioned and configured to form at least a portion of a superhard raceway for rolling elements to roll over. The oblique angle may be selected to at least partially inhibit the gaps from impeding the rolling elements during operation.
US09453532B2
A sliding bearing having a composite layer comprising carbon nanostructures (6) incorporated within a metallic matrix (5), and a method of manufacture of such a sliding bearing by electroplating.
US09453527B2
A hook is attached to a carabineer via a mechanism which allows the hook to be deployed to function as a hook or stowed in a compact configuration. The combined carabineer-hook can be used to clip together more than one item or the hook can be deployed, the carabineer portion can be clipped to one item, the hook can be engaged with a surface, and the item can then be hung off of the hook. In addition, the hook can be deployed to hold one or more items while the carabineer is used to clip to another item (such as a ring, cable, rope, rail, etc.).
US09453523B2
A cramping fastener device for assembling a part (7) to a support portion (18) is provided. The cramping fastener device includes a fastener clip which includes a deformable catch element that defines a cramping face (12). The catch element is designed to be pushed through the part and through the support portion and is designed to have a cramping face that is resiliently retractable into the clip. The cramping fastener device further includes a proper-assembly indicator (4) for checking that the clip is properly assembled in the cramping position. The proper-assembly indicator is in the form of a sort of stud that is constrained to retract under the effect of the cramping face retracting so as to be able to start being pushed into the clip.
US09453521B1
A clamp and method of use may be configured to detect whether a clamp is properly secured to an object, and whether that proper securement is maintained. One embodiment of a clamp may include a first portion and a second portion. The relative positions of the first and second portions may be selectively adjusted using a positioner. A sensor assembly may be secured between said first and second portions to determine if the first portion engages the work piece with the proper force. Multiple clamps may be used on a single work piece, and those clamps may be in communication with a common controller to alert the user when any clamp experiences a force other than the force the user desires.
US09453520B2
A heated flow conditioning system includes a flow conditioner comprising a plurality of apertures and a flange, the flange surrounding said plurality of holes and comprising a first open-ended groove; and a spacer ring comprising a second open-ended groove. The first and the second open-ended grooves are configured to be connectable to each other, thereby forming a fluid channel for at least one heating medium.
US09453518B2
A proportional pressure-regulating valve (1) includes a valve housing (3) having pump, utility and tank connections (P, A, T). A regulating piston (5) is longitudinally displaceable within the valve housing (3) to selectively connect the pump connection (P) to the utility connection (A) and the utility connection (A) to the tank connection (T) and is controllable by a magnetic coil device (7). The regulating piston (5) has a surface ratio (9) such that pressure on the utility connection (A) generates a counter force (FG) against the magnetic force (FM) of the magnetic coil device (7), moving the regulating piston (5) back and causing reduction of pressure medium from the pump connection (P) to the utility connection (A) until the pressure acting on the utility connection (A) corresponds to the magnetic force (FM) of the current signal applied to the magnetic coil device (7).
US09453513B2
An air blower is provided with an upper resonant chamber including an upper cover having an opening, an upper casing having an inlet engaging the opening, the upper casing secured to the upper cover to form a first chamber, first apertures through portions of the upper casing other than the inlet and communicating with the first chamber, and a first noise absorption material in the first chamber; a lower resonant chamber including a lower cover, a lower casing secured to the lower cover to form a second chamber, second apertures through the lower casing and communicating with the second chamber, and a second noise absorption material in the second chamber. The upper casing is on the lower casing to form a flow path. An impeller is in the flow path. In response to resonance, noise can be absorbed by the first and second absorption materials and converted into heat.
US09453501B2
Shape memory polymers featuring reversible actuation capability under ambient stimulus for integration with apparel. One approach is to use a multiblock polymer consisting of two (or potentially more) blocks in which the one block is the crystalline switching block with relatively low melting transitions, the other block has a higher thermal transition, and the two blocks are linked together by a linker molecule. Another approach is to use a graft copolymer having high and low melting transitions where the graft copolymer has a first polymer serving as the backbone and a second polymer being grafted to or from the backbone at certain graft locations. A further approach is to use latent crosslinking of a semicrystalline polymer with reactive groups placed on the backbone. Finally, these polymers may be formed as actuators that undergo curling, twisting and even volumetric expansion.
US09453500B2
A method and apparatus for ground or unmanned aerial vehicle based wind turbine blade inspection consisting of a thermal imaging camera configured to detect the presence of defects by acquiring thermal imaging data from a rotating wind turbine blade when it is not exposed to solar radiation heating and analyzing the thermal imaging data with a processor to identify thermal effects associated with latent defects or damage caused by internal friction due to cyclic gravitational stresses and wind loads during normal turbine operation or aerodynamic cooling of the area around a breach in the blade shell by escaping air, or blockage of residual heat flow or thermoelectric emissions from the rotating blade by the presence of delamination or crushing damage to the blade shell. The system permits latent defects to be identified using a ground-based in situ inspection before they become easily visually apparent, which allowing repairs to be made economically while the blade is in place.
US09453494B2
An omnidirectional building integrated wind energy power enhancer system is configured to produce electrical power from a wind turbine(s) concealed within and/or on top of a building by means of a flow of pressurized air from the prevailing wind that enters and flows through a portion of a building. A building may provide large exterior surface areas for receiving and directing airflow to the turbine(s). At least a portion of the wind energy power enhancer system is configured within a building, such as between floors, on a single floor, and/or a roof structure. The wind turbine(s) may be configured to receive airflow directly from an inflow chamber that is configured with a building, or from a flow tube coupled with the inflow chamber. Air deflectors may be fixed or dynamic to direct air flow into a flow tube regardless of the direction of the incoming airflow relative to the building.
US09453474B2
A method, comprising: during engine cylinder operation with fuel from a first injector and not a second injector: increasing a rail pressure of a fuel rail coupled to the second injector in response to a temperature increase of a tip of the second injector. In this way, by raising the rail pressure of a fuel rail coupled to the second injector in response to a temperature increase of a tip of the second injector, the method may be utilized to prevent a vapor space from forming within the tip of the second injector which is exposed to the heat of combustion within the engine cylinder. By preventing a vapor space from forming, the method may be used to prevent fuel distillation in the tip of the second injector during periods where the engine cylinder is operating with fuel from a first injector and not the second injector.
US09453467B2
Provided is a bi-fuel engine including a pressure supply passage extending from a crankcase chamber, and branching into a first branch passage and a second branch passage at a branching portion, a gas fuel valve provided in the gas fuel supply passage and connected to the first branch passage so that the gas fuel supply passage may be opened when pressure is supplied to the gas fuel supply passage, and may be closed when pressure is not supplied to the gas fuel supply passage, a liquid fuel pump provided in the liquid fuel supply passage and configured to feed the liquid fuel under pressure to the intake system by a pulsating pressure supplied via the second branch passage, and a switch valve provided in the branching portion to switch between the first and second branch passages for conducting pressure supplied from the pressure source via the pressure supply passage.
US09453466B2
Various methods and system are described for a fuel system which includes a fuel composition sensor and a fuel lift pump disposed upstream of the sensor. The system may be operated in each of three different modes of operation. In each of the modes, a fuel lift pump voltage is adjusted responsive to a fuel capacitance output by the sensor, while a variable such as sensor temperature or fuel pump pressure is maintained depending on the mode of operation.
US09453460B2
The invention pertains to fluegas recirculation in gas turbines, and specifically to an intake section upstream of the inlet of a compressor of a gas turbine unit with fluegas recirculation. The intake section includes at least one section with a flow path defined by sidewalls in which the fresh airflow of the intake air is flowing along a principal airflow direction, including at least one mixing duct extending into the flow path from at least one sidewall. The mixing duct includes an intake at the at least one sidewall for receiving recirculated fluegas, as well as including at least one outlet opening distanced from said sidewall for blowing recirculated fluegas out of the mixing duct into the airflow.
US09453458B2
An electrical architecture of a hybrid motor vehicle including a combustion engine driving an alternator that recharges a low-voltage on-board battery connected to a starter of and to a vehicle on-board network, an electric traction machine powered by a high-voltage traction battery, and a hybrid transmission including a coupling mechanism that can occupy at least a first position in which the combustion engine is uncoupled from the drive train connecting the electric machine to vehicle wheels, a second position in which the wheels are driven by the combustion engine with or without top-up from the electric machine, and a third position in which the combustion engine and the electric machine are coupled to combine their respective torques, bound for the wheels. The combustion engine and the alternator constitute an electricity generator configured to supply energy requirements of the traction electric machine in an electric mode.
US09453448B2
A mixing system is provided. The mixing system includes a housing defining a boundary of a mixing conduit including an expansion section with an injector mount and a reductant diverter extending into the conduit upstream of the injector mount in the expansion section. The mixing system further includes an atomizer with openings positioned in the housing and a helical mixing element positioned in the housing.
US09453447B2
The present disclosure relates to a device for mounting an injector to an exhaust pipe. The device includes an injector mounting structure having an exterior surface configured for mounting the injector. The injector mounting structure also includes an interior surface arrangement defining an interior volume and a port for allowing the injector to inject a reductant into the interior volume. The interior surface arrangement is configured to prevent swirling of exhaust within the interior volume.
US09453445B2
An internal combustion is configured such that a hydrocarbon supply valve (15) and an exhaust gas purification catalyst (13) are arranged in an engine exhaust gas passage and such that NOx contained within exhaust gas is purified by spraying hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon supply valve (15) at predetermined intervals. When SOx is to be released from the exhaust gas purification catalyst (13), the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas which flows into the exhaust gas purification catalyst (13) is enriched by generating, within a cylinder, combustion gas having a rich air-fuel ratio, and after that the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas which flows into the exhaust gas purification catalyst (13) is enriched by supplying hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon supply valve (15).
US09453441B2
A breather apparatus for an internal combustion engine for a vehicle in which an air cleaner is disposed above a crankcase. A breather tube is provided for guiding blow-by gas exhausted from the crankcase. The breather tube is coupled with a breather chamber formed in the air cleaner to separate gas and liquid in the breather chamber in the air cleaner. An upstream side flow path, coupled to the breather tube, and a downstream side flow path, continuously extending in a substantially U-shape to the upstream side flow path, are formed in the breather chamber.
US09453423B2
A turbomachine is disclosed having at least one blade row group, which is situated in a main flow path and has at least two adjacent blade rows, viewed in the main flow direction, each blade row having a plurality of blades, the rear edges of the blades of the upstream blade row and the front edges of the blades of the downstream blade row in the peripheral direction being situated at an edge distance which varies starting from a main flow path center in the direction of at least one main flow limitation, the periphery-side edge distance increasing or decreasing on both sides.
US09453422B2
A turbine disk and blade assembly comprises a turbine disk including a plurality of disk posts extending radially therefrom and a plurality of disk slots between adjacent disk posts. The turbine disk is of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The assembly further comprises a plurality of turbine blades. One of the turbine blades is received in each disk slot. The turbine blades are of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The assembly further comprises a plurality of seal plates, wherein one of the seal plates is positioned in each disk slot radially inward of the turbine blade. The seal plates are of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially similar to that of either the disk posts or the turbine blade.
US09453420B2
A flexible core for a composite structure is described. The core includes a first core layer, a second core layer, and a ground plane between the first and second core layers. A plurality of slits is provided in the core, and each slit extends through one of the first of second core layers and through the ground plane. The core may be the core of a sandwich panel, for example a sandwich panel of the type used in the composite construction of wind turbine blades.
US09453405B2
Generally, the present disclosure is directed to noise isolation tools that may be used to minimize or even eliminate the detrimental effects that rogue noise events may have on the noise data acquired by a noise logging tool during a noise logging operation. In one illustrative embodiment, a noise isolation tool that is adapted to be used in a noise logging operation is disclosed, the noise isolation tool including, among other things, a body and at least one noise suppression element mounted on the body, the at least one noise suppression element having a substantially circular disc shaped configuration that is adapted to extend radially across at least a portion of a width of an annular space between the body and an inside surface of a wellbore casing during the noise logging operation.
US09453402B1
A hydraulically-actuated propellant stimulation of a downhole tool for use in hydrocarbon wells, which comprises a rupture disc that allows a predetermined pressure in the central bore of the tool to actuate a detonator assembly and, thereby, detonating a propellant volume.
US09453399B2
A method and apparatus for sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and releasing natural gas from underground coal and/or gas shale formations using CO2 gas captured from the flue gas of a coal burning power plant, and processing it to produce cold liquid pressurized CO2, and injecting the cold liquid CO2 under pressure to create fractures within the formation and causing the CO2 to be adsorbed into the coal or gas shale and natural gas (CH4) to be desorbed, released and recovered. A special pressure cycling process is used to enable the pressure within the formation to be increased and decreased, including allowing the liquid CO2 to change phase to a gaseous CO2, and injecting the liquid CO2 under pressure repeatedly, which causes greater expansion of the proliferation zone within the formation, and more efficiently releases CH4.
US09453396B2
An oil well pumping apparatus for pumping oil from a well to a wellhead provides a tool body that is sized and shaped to be lowered into the production tubing string of the oil well. A working fluid is provided that can be pumped into the production tubing. A flow channel into the well bore enables the working fluid to be circulated from the prime mover via the production tubing to the tool body at a location in the well and then back to the wellhead area. A pumping mechanism is provided on the tool body, the pumping mechanism includes upper and lower impeller devices. The upper impeller device is driven by the working fluid. The lower impeller device is rotated by the upper impeller device. Each upper and lower impeller devices are connected with a shaft. A specially configured flow diverter directs the working fluid to an impeller blade in between the top and bottom of an upper impeller device.
US09453395B2
An apparatus is presented for autonomously controlling fluid flow in a subterranean well, the fluid having a density which changes over time. An embodiment of the apparatus has a vortex chamber, a vortex outlet, and first and second inlets into the vortex chamber. Flow into the inlets is directed by a fluid control system which has a control passageway for directing fluid flow as it exits a primary passageway. A movable fluid diverter positioned in the control passageway moves in response to change in fluid density to restrict fluid flow through the control passageway. When fluid flow through the control passageway is unrestricted, fluid from the control passageway directs fluid exiting the primary passageway toward a selected vortex inlet. When flow through the control passageway is unrestricted, flow from the primary passageway is directed into the other vortex inlet.
US09453387B2
A packer assembly for use with a subterranean well can include a base pipe, at least one ring-shaped reinforcement plate which encircles the base pipe, and at least one swellable seal material which longitudinally straddles the reinforcement plate on the base pipe. A method of constructing a packer assembly can include securing at least one ring-shaped reinforcement plate to a base pipe, the plate encircling the base pipe, and then positioning at least one swellable seal material on the base pipe, the swellable seal material straddling the reinforcement plate. Another method of constructing a packer assembly can include securing at least one ring-shaped reinforcement plate to at least one swellable seal material, and then positioning the plate and the swellable seal material on a base pipe.
US09453385B2
A method for pressurizing a hydraulic accumulator includes creating an annulus pressure zone in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic accumulator through a hydraulic recharging circuit and applying a hydraulic pressure to the annulus pressure zone. Operating the hydraulic recharging circuit in response to applying the hydraulic pressure and pressurizing the hydraulic accumulator in response to operating the hydraulic recharging circuit.
US09453377B2
An automated, electric tong system and methods usable for making-up and breaking out threaded connections between tubular members, wherein the electric tong system comprises a power tong for applying torque and rotating the upper tubular member, a backup tong for gripping tubulars, and a lift assembly for vertically moving the electric tong system into proper position to grip the upper and lower tubulars. The power and backup tongs and lift assembly of the electric tong system are integrated into a single transportable unit and operated by three separate electrical motors, controlled by a single driver. The backup tong is located below the power tong and comprises a pneumatic cylinder, which operates a backup door, and a linear actuator driven by an electric motor for use in latching the backup tong door in a closed position and applying or releasing a clamping force to a tubular, during make-up or break-out operations.
US09453376B1
Self-assembling segmented coiled tubing is a concept that allows the strength of thick-wall rigid pipe, and the flexibility of thin-wall tubing, to be realized in a single design. The primary use is for a drillstring tubular, but it has potential for other applications requiring transmission of mechanical loads (forces and torques) through an initially coiled tubular. The concept uses a spring-loaded spherical ‘ball-and-socket’ type joint to interconnect two or more short, rigid segments of pipe. Use of an optional snap ring allows the joint to be permanently made, in a ‘self-assembling’ manner.
US09453364B2
The pane module is composed by a border element (2) molded around the pane element (1) encasing it on the edge and interior faces. The frame may be of a rectangular configuration, but it is to be understood that more complex configurations may be necessary for achieving a water proof connection to the structure in which the window is mounted or to a surrounding window frame. A fitting (42) is embedded in the border element (2) during its manufacture and is subsequently or simultaneously connected to the frame (3). When using a wooden or extruded frame the fitting may be driven into the finished frame member and when using a molded frame the fitting may be embedded therein during molding.
US09453359B2
A truss hinge that allows hinging between truss parts, and also allows configuration into a different size.
US09453357B1
A glass fence support system for supporting a plurality of glass panels and having a plurality of spaced apart clamp blocks, each defining a channel to receive the edge of the glass panel, and through fastenings in the blocks for passing fastening through openings in the glass panels to secure them in the channels, and a plurality of positioning holes for securing the clamp blocks to a substrate.
US09453353B2
Two-piece detachable bracket for supporting heavy pool-deck lid modules covering below deck troughs housing powered pool cover systems is described.
US09453345B2
A stay-in-place lining is provided for lining a structure fabricated from concrete. The lining comprises a plurality of panels connectable via complementary connector components on their longitudinal edges. Each panel comprises a first connector component on a first longitudinal edge thereof and a second (complementary) connector component on a second longitudinal edge thereof. The lining comprises at least one edge-to-edge connection between the first connector component of a first panel and the second connector component of a second panel, the edge-to-edge connection comprising a protrusion of the first panel extended into a receptacle of the second panel through a receptacle opening. The receptacle is shaped to prevent removal of the protrusion from the receptacle and the receptacle is resiliently deformed by the extension of the protrusion into the receptacle to thereby apply a restorative force to the protrusion to maintain the edge-to-edge connection.
US09453342B2
A bracing device has a supporting module and a restraining element mounted around the supporting module to provide a restraining-supporting effect to the supporting module. The supporting module has at least one supporting element. The at least one supporting element is elongated and has an axial segment and two connecting heads. The axial segment has at least one concave edge and at least one loading section. The connecting heads are respectively formed on two connecting ends of the axial segment. The restraining element has at least one pair of side boards, two restraining boards and at least one viewing hole. Each one of the restraining boards is hollow and has an inner panel and an outer panel. The at least one viewing hole is formed through the restraining element and aligns along the at least one loading section of the axial segment.
US09453339B2
Disclosed is a suspended ceiling system, a securing member, and process of installing a patterned suspended ceiling system. The suspended ceiling system includes a grid system having first members and second members, and at least one substrate which extends below the grid system. The at least one substrate has an exposed surface and a concealed surface, and the at least one substrate has first sides and second sides which extend between the exposed surface and the concealed surface. Securing members attach to the concealed surface proximate the first sides, and the securing members have grid engagement members which secure the at least one substrate to the grid system. The securing members cooperate with the first members and the second members of the grid system to properly position the substrate and the spacing between adjacent at least one substrates is controlled.
US09453336B2
A porous sound absorbing structure according to the present invention includes an outer material 2 having a smooth curved shape, an inner material 3 having an uneven shape with a perimeter thereof combined with a perimeter of the outer material 2 to form a hollow portion S between the outer material 2 and the inner material, and a reinforcing plate material 4 having a large number of through holes 5, the reinforcing plate material being attached to a surface of the inner material 3 on the side of the hollow portion S in such a manner that an air layer is formed between the reinforcing plate material and the surface. A sound absorbing property is given to an interior of the hollow portion S by the reinforcing plate material 4.
US09453331B1
An adapter provides leveling and elevation adjustment between the grate and strainer head of a floor drain. The strainer head is cemented in hardened concrete and has an upper seat for removably accepting the grate. The strainer head also has a tubular body defining the tubular lumen that is the drain hole. The adapter for the grate has a base ring, a set ring and a plurality of jack screws. The base ring gets seated in the strainer head's seat. The set ring forms a replacement seat for the grate to seat. Jack screws threaded into inboard tabs of the base ring provide elevation adjustment to the overlying set ring. The jack screws are disposed relative the strainer head such that the tip end and lower exposed thread portions thereof occupy and travel in the tubular lumen of the strainer head.
US09453328B2
A wear assembly with strain relief protects exposed surfaces of excavating equipment such as a bucket lip. Wear components may include a seat where loads are applied, welding flanges flanking the seat on opposite ends of the component welded to the equipment, and strain relief areas between each welding flange and the seat. The strain relief balances stresses from loading in the wear assembly across the weld flange to limit cracking from stress concentrations. Strain relief may include modification of material properties or modification of component configuration to reduce stiffness of the component between the weld flanges and the seat.
US09453326B2
A work machine includes: a vehicle body frame of the work machine; an engine mounted on the vehicle body frame; an engine cover covering over a top of the engine and fixed to the vehicle body frame via a column; a first exhausting device having a tubular appearance; a second exhausting device having a tubular appearance and having a function different from that of the first exhausting device; and a bracket holding the first exhausting device in an upper holding part and the second exhausting device in a lower holding part to attach them on a bottom surface of the engine cover. The bracket integrally holds the first and second exhausting devices in such a manner that an extending direction of the first exhausting device and an extending direction of the second exhausting device are generally parallel, seen from above, and a part of the first exhausting device and a part of the second exhausting device overlap each other, seen from above, while fixing the first and second exhausting devices below the engine cover.
US09453325B2
Serrated plow blades for vibratory plowing systems are presented. A plow blade assembly in a first embodiment includes a plurality of serrations welded along the leading edge of a plow blade in a substantially contiguous series, for exerting a cutting force on subsoil and underground obstructions. The serrations may have tapered faces and a knife-like upper edge that is oriented at an acute angle relative to the leading edge of the plow blade. In a second embodiment, a plow blade assembly is manufactured from a single plate that is precisely cut to form a blade with integral serrations. These serrated plow blades last longer and the sawing action allows more continuous plowing through subsoil obstructions without stopping.
US09453323B2
A scraper with dual downloading mechanism having a container enclosing a hinged gate, a hinged box and an ejector located inside said hinged box. A plurality of piston arrangements is provided to selectively lower and raise the container and to selectively load/unload a material from said container by a hinged box and an ejector.
US09453316B1
A novel extendible flexible flood barrier manufactured from textile and membrane materials has been developed which comprises a textile/membrane wall and support posts configured to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and wherein, in the deployed position, forms a leak-free barrier against flood water or other fluids. The flexible wall is stored in a container on one side of the opening to be protected and extended to the receiver on the opposite of the opening to deploy the barrier. Structural members, such as posts or a building itself will react to the load from the flood water impinging on the wall. Intermediate posts or bollards can be added to lengthen the wall so larger spans can be closed-off with the flexible wall. The flexible wall can be configured for use in many applications including entire buildings, building entrances, transit system passages, such as ventilation shafts or elevator shafts, stairwells, and other openings that can be threatened by flooding.
US09453315B2
A hydrostatic fluid containment system, or flood barrier, that is positioned underground in its open state consisting of a buoyant wall which floats up and above ground level when submerged in a fluid, creating a seal from both buoyant vertical and hydrostatic horizontal forces on the containment wall imposed by the contained fluid. The system will not open prematurely and restrict access of vehicles or pedestrians until containment is necessary. The system comprises a pivot seal which seals the barrier on the upstream side, as well as another sealing element that is positioned between the pivot seal and the buoyant wall. The pivot helps to tilt the barrier towards the upstream direction.
US09453310B1
Road markers, highway delineators and other products are manufactured from a compounded mixture of polymers and pulverized or micronized rubber powder, using a multi-layer plastic extrusion process on industry standard plastic extrusion equipment. The compound retains shape and includes a mixture of natural and synthetic rubbers, carbon black, fillers and oils; a propylene-based elastomer; a mixture of light color aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, and linear low density polyethylene.
US09453309B2
Technologies for communicating roadway information includes a plurality of roadway markers configured to propagate communications amongst each other. To do so, each roadway marker is configured to transmit communications to one or more other roadway markers. The communications may include sensor data generated by a sensor of a roadway marker. One or more roadway markers may transmit the sensor data to a roadway controller. Additionally or alternatively, the communication may include an alert message. A roadway marker may include a local alert device and be configured to activate the alert device in response to receiving an alert message. Additionally, one or more roadway markers may communicate with a roadway controller, a roadway traffic device, and/or an in-vehicle computing system of a vehicle to propagate roadway marker sensor data and/or alert messages. The roadway controller may be configured to control the roadway traffic devices, roadway makers, and/or communicate with remote computing devices.
US09453304B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to a dispersible moist wipe comprising hydroentangled fibers and a binder composition. The moist wipe demonstrates high initial wet strength while maintaining effective dispersion in an aqueous environment. The moist wipe has potential application as a flushable surface cleaning product and/or a flushable cleansing cloth.
US09453299B2
The present invention relates to a home appliance, to a home appliance system, and to a method for operating same, wherein the home appliance and a mobile terminal are connected to one another to add or update data in the home appliance through the mobile terminal connected thereto, diagnose the state of the home appliance by means of the mobile terminal, and supplement the function of the home appliance by means of the mobile terminal, thus expanding the functions of the home appliance to enable the easy control of the home appliance, and more conveniently controlling the home appliance.
US09453298B2
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) that can be changed to a mode other than the operating or stand-by modes when desired, but eliminating the possibility of changing to this mode unintentionally by the user.
US09453295B2
A washing machine includes a main body that includes a washing unit capable of washing laundry and a micro bubble generation unit configured to generate micro bubbles and supply the generated micro bubbles to the washing unit. The micro bubble generation unit includes a circulation unit supplied with water from the washing unit and configured to pressurize the water at a high pressure, an air supplier configured to supply air, a mixer connected to the circulation unit and the air supplier, configured to mix the washing water and the air, and a slit through which the mixed water and air pass through to generate the micro bubbles.
US09453293B2
A composite resin tank includes a wall joined to a dome along a joint. A softening strip is located in the joint.
US09453290B2
A method of fluid processing a semiconductor workpiece, including disposing a workpiece holder with a housing capable of containing a fluid, the workpiece holder retaining the workpiece, providing an agitation system connected to the housing and comprising a member disposed within the housing adjacent the workpiece holder, and agitating the fluid by moving the member substantially parallel to a surface of the workpiece with a non-uniform oscillatory motion, the non-uniform oscillatory motion being a series of substantially continuous geometrically asymmetric oscillations wherein each consecutive oscillation of the series is geometrically asymmetric having at least two substantially continuous opposing strokes wherein reversal positions of each substantially continuous stroke of the substantially continuous asymmetric oscillation are disposed asymmetrically with respect to a center point of each immediately preceding substantially continuous stroke of the oscillation.
US09453289B2
A ceramic, metal, or cermet according to one embodiment includes a first layer having a gradient in composition, microstructure and/or density in an x-y plane oriented parallel to a plane of deposition of the first layer. A ceramic according to another embodiment includes a plurality of layers comprising particles of a non-cubic material, wherein each layer is characterized by the particles of the non-cubic material being aligned in a common direction. Additional products and methods are also disclosed.
US09453280B2
A film deposition apparatus includes a turntable having a substrate mounting area, a first plasma gas supplying part, a second plasma supplying part, a first plasma gas generating part to convert the first plasma generating gas to first plasma, and a second plasma generating part provided away from the first plasma generating part in a circumferential direction and to convert the second plasma generating gas to second plasma. The first plasma generating part includes an antenna facing the turntable so as to convert the first plasma generating gas to the first plasma, and a grounded Faraday shield between the antenna and an area where a plasma process is performed, and to include plural slits respectively extending in directions perpendicular to the antenna and arranged along an antenna extending direction to prevent an electric field from passing toward the substrate and to pass a magnetic field toward the substrate.
US09453276B2
Processes for protecting steel chains from corrosion and steel chains thus protected are provided. The process includes using finite element analysis to determine stress levels within links of a steel chain having a plurality of connected links. Regions of each link of the chain corresponding to high stress levels are identified. Target areas corresponding to the regions identified are indicated for coating each link of the chain with a sacrificial coating. Thermally sprayed alumina can be used as the sacrificial coating.
US09453271B2
The present invention relates to a cemented carbide for oil and gas applications comprising a hard phase comprising WC and a binder phase wherein the cemented carbide composition comprises WC and, in wt-%, 3-11 Ni, 0.5-7 Cr, 0.3-1.5 Mo, 0-1 Nb, and 0-0.2 Co, and a method of making thereof.
US09453263B2
Provided is a method of detecting or quantifying a wheat species-specific DNA in a test sample by polymerase chain reaction. The method comprises a step of amplifying a nucleic acid molecule having a partial sequence of a nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 1 using a nucleic acid molecule in the test sample or a nucleic acid molecule extracted from the test sample as the template and using a primer pair capable of amplifying the partial sequence and a step of detecting or quantifying the amplified nucleic acid molecule.
US09453262B2
Embodiments of the invention herein described relate to multiplex polynucleotide sequence analysis without the use of size separation methods or blotting. In certain particulars the invention relates to multiplex sequencing using massively parallel sequencing methods, such as pyrosequencing methods and sequencing by synthesis. The invention provides increased throughput, increased accuracy of enumerating sample components, and the ability to analyze greater numbers of samples simultaneously or serially on presently available systems, as well as others yet to be developed. In certain of its embodiments the invention relates to the analysis of complex microbial communities, particularly to in-depth analysis thereof in large numbers of samples.
US09453255B2
A sample analysis chip of the present invention includes a base, a plurality of wells that are disposed on the base, a main channel, a first buffer portion that is in communication with a first end of the main channel and is capable of accommodating a portion of the solution, a second buffer portion that is in communication with a second end of the main channel and is capable of accommodating a portion of the solution, a solution supply channel a first end of which is in communication with the first buffer portion and a second end of which is opened to the atmosphere, an air vent channel a first end of which is in communication with the second buffer portion and a second end of which is opened to the atmosphere, and the channel that is disposed on the base and connected to the plurality of wells.
US09453246B2
A yeast cell, in which an alcohol dehydrogenase 6 activity is increased and an activity of converting acetaldehyde to ethanol is decreased, a method of decreasing ethanol production by using the yeast cell, and a method of producing lactate.
US09453245B2
This invention describes a process for the production of second generation alcohols and/or solvents starting from cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass wherein the lignocellulosic or cellulosic biomass undergoes a pretreatment before being converted into ethanol after an enzymatic hydrolysis and an ethylic fermentation, wherein glucidic polymers of the pretreated plant are hydrolyzed by cellulases; microorganisms that primarily use hexoses and preferably glucose and mannose are used for the ethylic fermentation; wines, with or without separation of materials in suspension are extracted by distillation; pentoses in the vinasses are fermented by a solventogenic microorganism into a butyl wine, and at least one portion of the butyl wine is recycled upstream from enzymatic hydrolysis.
US09453243B2
A transportation device, transporting a material to a target, includes an input module, a transmission module and an output module. The input module has a containing unit and at least one filter. The at least one filter is connected to the containing unit, and a carrier fluid and the material are stored in the containing unit. The transmission module is coupled to the at least one filter of the input module. The output module has a guiding unit, a throat portion, a first opening and a second opening. The throat portion is positioned between the first opening and the second opening. One end of the guiding unit is connected to the transmission module. The other end of the guiding unit has a guiding corner for connecting to the first opening. The material will enter the output module through the first opening and reaches the target through the second opening.
US09453239B2
The invention provides modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA), a replication-deficient strain of vaccinia virus, expressing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) env, gag, and pol genes.
US09453230B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for engineering bacteria to produce fucosylated oligosaccharides, and the use thereof in the prevention or treatment of infection.
US09453228B2
The invention provides novel immune regulatory oligonucleotides (IRO) as antagonist of TLRs and methods of use thereof. These IROs have unique sequences that inhibit or suppress TLR-mediated signaling in response to a TLR ligand or TLR agonist. The methods may have use in the prevention and treatment of cancer, an autoimmune disorder, airway inflammation, inflammatory disorders, infectious disease, skin disorders, allergy, asthma or a disease caused by a pathogen.
US09453216B2
The present invention provides a mutagenesis method wherein a nucleic acid molecule is mutagenized with at least one mutagenesis primer in a primer extension reaction and subsequently amplified by rolling circle amplification (RCA). The method involves the step of rendering the template strand unfavorable for RCA. The method involves steps leading to selective amplification of only the mutated strand by a strand-displacing DNA polymerase. Multiple copies of the mutated plasmids are generated during multiple-primed RCA and the resulting DNA is transformed for use. The method is suitable for mutating both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. The present invention also provides a kit for use in the mutagenesis method.
US09453199B2
Provided are a system and methods for selectively inducing expansion of a population of T cells in the absence of exogenous growth factors, such as lymphokines, and accessory cells for research purposes. The cell based expansion system and methods permit the long-term growth of CTLs, preferably human CTLs. In addition, T cell proliferation can be induced without the need for antigen, thus providing an expanded T cell population that is polyclonal with respect to antigen reactivity. Further provided are methods for using the system and methods to screen and identify antigens related to specific diseases or conditions, tumors, autoimmune disorders, or an infectious disease or pathogen, and to identify target molecule for research purposes, or for developing a vaccine based thereon.
US09453193B2
Photobioreactors according to embodiments of the present invention deliver nutrient gas intermittently to the photobioreactor media. In some embodiments, one or more gases are delivered according to a duty cycle or timing pattern. According to some embodiments, algae is grown in a photobioreactor using intermittent introduction of carbon dioxide. In other embodiments, carbon dioxide is supplied to algae grown in a photobioreactor in whole or in part from a head space above the media of the photobioreactor.
US09453190B1
A method of removing contaminants from a textured surface of crystalline silicon includes exposing the surface to a gas comprising ozone and then immersing the surface in an acid solution comprising hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid. A further acid dip using HF can be used to remove silicon oxide from the surface.
US09453187B2
A detergent composition comprising; a subtilisin variant having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 1, and at least one additional ingredient selected from; i) bleaches selected from percarbonates, persulphates and organic peracids, ii) aminocarboxylates, or iii) sulphonated polymers, or iv) organophosphonic acids or salts thereof and mixtures thereof is provided. Also provided is a detergent composition comprising a subtilisin variant having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 1, wherein, the detergent composition is at least partially enveloped in a water soluble or water dispersible package. The compositions exhibit good performance on proteinaceous stains, even when formulated at alkaline pHs. A method of removing proteinaceous stains from surfaces comprising such stains is also provided.
US09453174B2
Methods and apparatuses for removing impurities from a hydrocarbon stream are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for removing impurities from a hydrocarbon stream includes providing the hydrocarbon stream that includes carbon dioxide in an amount of greater than about 50 ppm by mole. Carbon dioxide is selectively adsorbed from the hydrocarbon stream to produce a treated hydrocarbon stream that has less than or equal to 50 ppm by mole of carbon dioxide. The adsorbed carbon dioxide is desorbed to produce a raffinate stream that includes the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is separated from the raffinate stream using a solvent separation technique to produce a treated raffinate stream.
US09453168B2
A method and a product made by treating a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed, e.g., heavy crude asphaltene reduction is disposed herein. The method comprises the steps of: mixing the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed with a hydrogen donor solvent and an addled silica to form a mixture and oxidizing the sulfur in the mixture at a temperature between 50° C. and 210° C. wherein the oxidation lowers the amount sulfur in the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed by at least 90%.
US09453159B2
The present invention relates to carbon-based fluorescent nano-agent tracers for analysis of oil reservoirs. The carbon-based fluorescent nano-agents may be used in the analysis of the porosity of a formation. The nanoagents are suitable for injection into a petroleum reservoir and may be recovered from the reservoir for the determination of hydrocarbon flow rates and retention times.
US09453158B2
The present invention relates to a curable silicone composition comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups in a molecule; (B) an organopolysiloxane represented by a general formula; (C) an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule; (D) a phosphor; and (E) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst, to a cured product obtained by curing said composition, and to an optical semiconductor device in which a light emitting element is sealed or coated with a cured product of the aforementioned composition. The curable silicone composition has excellent fluidity and cures to form a cured product in which phosphors are homogeneously dispersed and which has a high refractive index.
US09453157B2
A viscosity reducer based on vegetable extracts of natural origin is disclosed. The vegetable extracts include a mixture of phosphoglycerides and vegetable oils. A method of reducing the viscosity in heavy and extra heavy crude oil using the viscosity reducer is also disclosed. No aromatic base solvents are needed. A reduction in diluent usage is achieved using the viscosity reducer based on vegetable extracts. The viscosity reducer composition includes a mixture of phosphoglycerides, vegetable oil, non-aromatic solvent, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and stabilizer.
US09453156B2
A method is disclosed for reducing lost circulation in drilling wells, employing composite materials as lost circulation materials. The composites comprise a thermoplastic polymer and cellulosic fibers. Optionally the composites may include other components such as calcium carbonate, clay, oil and other blending agents.
US09453155B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a graphite film, and a graphite composite film both having an excellent thermal diffusivity which can sufficiently manage heat dissipation of electronic instruments, precision instruments and the like, along with an excellent flex resistance which can withstand application to bent portions.Means for Resolution of the present invention is a graphite film exhibiting the number of reciprocal foldings being 10,000 times or more as measured using a rectangular strip test piece having a width of 15 mm until the test piece breaks in a MIT folding endurance test under conditions of: a curvature radius R of the bending clamp being 2 mm; a left-and-right bending angle being 135°; a bending rate being 90 times/min; and a load being 0.98 N.
US09453147B2
An aqueous dispersion comprising at least one polyurethane polymer with a melting temperature in the range of 30° C. to 50° C. and (cold contact) adhesives comprising such a polyurethane dispersion, a method for creating an adhesive bonding and the use of such (cold contact) adhesives for creating an adhesive bonding.
US09453137B2
A photocurable and thermally curable composition having a viscosity suitable for application to an inkjet printer is prepared. By the composition, it is made possible to directly draw a pattern on a substrate for a printed wiring board. The composition is cured at a relatively low temperature, having excellent adhesion, chemical resistance, heat resistance, and insulating properties after curing. The photocurable and thermally curable composition includes a (meth)acryloyl group-containing monomer, a block isocyanate, and a photo-polymerization initiator, wherein the composition is applicable to inkjet printing.
