US09662063B2
A pain sensory nerve stimulation apparatus includes: a stimulation electrode which is adapted to be attached to a living body, at least one of an exogenous algesic substance and pyrogen which is to be interposed between the living body and the stimulation electrode; and a stimulation power supplier which is configured to supply electric power to the stimulation electrode.
US09662062B2
A tool for recommending proper sun block use. The tool receives, by one or more computer processors, a first image of a user captured by a camera, and a second image of a user captured by a camera, wherein the first image is an ultraviolet image, and the second image is a digital color image. The tool determines, by one or more computer processors, areas of ultraviolet radiation vulnerability for the user captured in the first and second image. The tool determines, by one or more computer processors, a level of ultraviolet radiation vulnerability for the determined areas. The tool determines, by one or more computer processors, a recommendation for proper sun block use based, at least in part, on the level of ultraviolet radiation vulnerability.
US09662060B2
A method and system of providing therapy to a patient's uterus is provided, which can include any number of features. The method can include the steps of inserting a uterine device into the uterus and performing a uterine integrity test to determine that the uterus is intact and not perforated. If it is determined that the uterus is not perforated, a patency test can be performed to determine that the uterine device is not clogged or embedded in tissue. If the uterus is intact and the device is not clogged or embedded in tissue, the uterus can be treated with the uterine device, e.g., uterine ablation. Systems for performing these methods are also disclosed.
US09662057B2
A region of skin, other than the fingertips, is stimulated. After stimulation, an opening is created in the skin (e.g., by lancing the skin) to cause a flow of body fluid from the region. At least a portion of this body fluid is transported to a testing device where the concentration of analyte (e.g., glucose) in the body fluid is then determined. It is found that the stimulation of the skin provides results that are generally closer to the results of measurements from the fingertips, the traditional site for obtaining body fluid for analyte testing.
US09662055B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to analyte determining methods and devices (e.g., electrochemical analyte monitoring systems) that have a membrane structure with an analyte permeability that is substantially temperature independent. The devices also include a sensing layer disposed on a working electrode of in vivo analyte sensors, e.g., continuous and/or automatic in vivo monitoring using analyte sensors and/or test strips. Also provided are systems and methods of using the, for example electrochemical, analyte sensors in analyte monitoring.
US09662054B2
An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a reagent that selectively reacts with an analyte to generate a sensor measurement related to a concentration of the analyte in a fluid to which the eye-mountable device is exposed. The working electrode can have a first side edge and a second side edge. The reference electrode can be situated such that at least a portion of the first and second side edges of the working electrode are adjacent respective sections of the reference electrode.
US09662051B2
An automated assessment of a patient's peripheral vascular condition includes using a pulse oximeter to generate at least a perfusion index relative to a limb or digit of the patient. Pressure is applied to the limb or digit, and while increasing or decreasing the pressure, a change in the perfusion index is determined. The change is indicative of a cessation of blood flow or a return of blood flow in the limb or digit. A systolic blood pressure is thereafter determined based on the pressure applied at the time of cessation of blood flow or the return of blood flow in the limb or digit. Using a pulse oximeter to generate a perfusion index may include transmitting light into the limb or digit, detecting light that was transmitted into tissue in the limb or digit, and calculating the perfusion index based on the light transmitted through the tissue.
US09662048B2
A blood glucose meter having a test strip port and an adjustable lancet device disposed at the same end of the device body is disclosed. The device body further includes an enclosure at the proximal end of the device body which houses a test strip storage vial and which facilitates one-handed opening and closing of the vial to simplify access to test strips contained therein. The enclosure is further provided with a window which allows the reading of the lot numbers on the label of the test strip vial therein without necessitating removal of the vial. A data connector is also provided on the device body for communication access, such as to upload data from other devices or to download data to other devices.
US09662045B2
This disclosure describes techniques for generation of sleep quality information based on posture state data. The techniques may include obtaining posture state data sensed by a medical device for a patient, generating sleep quality information based on lying posture state changes indicated by the posture state data, and presenting the sleep quality information to a user via a user interface.
US09662034B2
An apparatus comprises an ERP testing system that is configured to administer an ERP test. The apparatus further comprises a computer in communication with the ERP testing system. The computer is operable to access a database of biomarkers. The computer is further operable to define at least one class set relating to biomarkers and at least one feature set relating to biomarkers. The computer is further operable to classify a test subject into at least one of the defined class sets based on information in the feature set relating to biomarkers of the test subject. The biomarker processing may be carried out in association with or completely independent of ERP testing.
US09662033B2
A method and system for visualization of electrophysiology information sensed by electrodes on a catheter, includes recording times of electrode signal acquisition, designating a reference electrode signal acquisition, assigning a relative time to each recorded time of electrode signal acquisition relative to the reference electrode signal acquisition, identifying the electrodes with signal acquisition, correlating assigned relative times to identified electrodes to generate a sequence of electrode signal acquisitions, and generating a visual representation of the sequence of electrode signal acquisitions generating a visual representation with a graphical image of the electrodes, wherein individual electrodes are visually marked to represent the sequence of electrode signal acquisitions.
US09662030B2
Devices are described herein including mounts configured to removably mount electrodes and other elements of the devices to a garment (e.g., a close-fitting undergarment) of a wearer. The devices include at least two electrodes configured such that the electrodes are maintained in secure electrical contact with skin of the wearer when the device is so mounted. The devices can be mounted to garments at various locations on the torso of the wearer such that an electrocardiographic signal related to the electrical activity of the heart of the wearer can be extracted from voltage fluctuations between the at least two electrodes. Such devices can be used for continuous logging or other applications of the electrocardiographic signals of the wearer. Such logged electrocardiographic signals could be used to determine a medical or health state of the wearer.
US09662028B2
A method and system of predicting a hypotensive episode in a patient using one or more time varying hypotension specific biomarkers corresponding to physiological processes in the patient. Data derived from sensors or other measurement devices such as ECG sensors can be used to generate biomarkers. The biomarkers can then be used to generate an acute hypotension prediction classifier, or monitored factor, derived from a three dimensional temporal representation of two or more biomarkers. When the monitored factor exceeds a predetermined threshold the method and system trigger an alarm before an appearance of a hypotensive episode in the patient.
US09662019B2
An apparatus for performing an endoscopic procedure for detecting cancerous tissue includes a detection probe for detecting the cancerous tissue. The detection probe includes a first fiber for emitting an ultraviolet light beam having an orthogonal function applied thereto and a second fiber for receiving emissions from tissues responsive to the ultraviolet light beam emitted for the first fiber. An ultraviolet emission source generates the ultraviolet light beam. Orthogonal function circuitry applies the orthogonal function twist to the ultraviolet light beam. Detection circuitry detects fluorescence and orthogonal function within the emissions from the tissues received over the second fiber.
US09662017B2
A method for operating a Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system including generating radio frequency (RF) excitation pulses in a volume of patient anatomy that includes a patient's heart to provide subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data and generating slice select magnetic field gradients for phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition in the volume of patient anatomy. The method also includes acquiring a plurality of slices of an image of the volume of patient anatomy within a plurality of cycles representing time period between successive beats of the patient's heart. The method also includes causing, by a control processor, accelerated acquisition of two or more slices of the plurality of slices within a quiescent phase of each of the plurality of cycles. The method further includes applying, by the control processor, one or more saturation areas proximate to a target volume of the patient anatomy.
US09662013B2
According to one embodiment, an ophthalmic microscope includes an illumination system, a pair of light-receiving systems, and a first mechanism. The illumination system is configured to irradiate a subject's eye with illumination light. Each of the light-receiving systems includes a first objective lens and a first imaging device, and is configured to guide return light of the illumination light returning from the subject's eye to the first imaging device through the first objective lens. The objective optical axes of the light-receiving systems are not parallel to each other. The first mechanism is configured to move the light-receiving systems relative to each other to change an angle formed by the objective optical axes of the light-receiving systems.
US09662007B2
Provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus, which is configured to perform observation and photographing of an eye to be examined via an objective lens, and which allows the observation or the like of the eye to be examined irrespective of a posture of an examinee. The ophthalmologic apparatus includes: a main body part including an optical system and the objective lens that are configured to perform the observation and the photographing; a stand part configured to support the main body part with respect to an installation surface; a chin rest part configured to place a chin of an examinee thereon; and a forehead rest configured to bring a forehead of the examinee into abutment therewith. In the ophthalmologic apparatus, the chin rest part, the forehead rest, and the objective lens can be integrally changed in elevation angle with respect to the stand part.
US09662005B2
In pattern matching for detecting a positional difference between tomographic images of an eye to be examined, a target within the eye to be examined which causes a reduction in the similarity even though there is no positional difference, is selectively excluded.
US09661985B2
A pipe connection structure for an endoscope is provided with a pipe made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, and a piping block made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole. An end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole and the pipe and the piping block are connected by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the pipe is fitted in the hole formed on the piping block. An axial length of the pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the pipe.
US09661979B2
A water-bearing domestic appliance and method of operating a water-bearing domestic appliance, wherein the domestic appliance includes a water feed system that is controlled by a control device and that supplies a measured volume of water to the domestic appliance. The domestic appliance further includes a total water volume detection device to detect a total volume of water that is supplied via the water feed system to the domestic appliance during its service life.
US09661978B2
Spraying device for washing machine, in particular a dishwasher, comprising an impeller provided with blades on the upper part as to receive an axial flow of a washing fluid and to deviate said flow in substantially radial direction, a lower cage defining a containment compartment having an upper access opening for the insertion of the impeller, and an upper closing cover, firmly applicable superiorly on the top of the cage to close the containing compartment.
US09661971B2
A self-propelled vacuum cleaner has a main housing having a bottom wall formed with an aperture, floor-engaging wheels on the main housing, and a drive in the main housing for rotating the wheels and advancing the main housing in a normal horizontal travel direction. A module housing projecting through the aperture forms a brush compartment defining a downward directed suction opening having relative to the direction a leading edge and a trailing edge. The module housing is supported in the main housing for limited vertical movement of the module housing relative to the main housing. A brush in the module housing is engageable through the opening with a floor beneath the opening, and a blower in the module housing having an intake connected via a duct to the brush compartment for aspirating air through the opening and past the brush into the module housing.
US09661961B2
A toilet seat lifting apparatus that is operable to assist a user in transitioning a conventional toilet seat intermediate its up and down position. The toilet seat lifting apparatus further includes a container body having a plurality of walls and a top forming an interior volume and further including an opening. A rotating arm member is secured proximate the top and includes a connection assembly secured thereto wherein the connection assembly is external to the container body. A connection assembly is mounted to the rotating arm member and includes a seat-engaging member operable to couple to a toilet seat. A lever arm is secured to the rotating arm member and includes a cable secured thereto. The cable extends from the lever arm over a upper support rod and terminates at a foot receiving member. An adhesive member is further included to secure the container body to a floor.
US09661960B2
The present invention relates to a waterless urinal, in which a urine guide rod of a urine guide member is coupled to a discharge guide surface of a discharge guide member such that a discharge guide surface is quickly opened by urine moving to the urine guide member, thereby increasing a drainage velocity of urine, and thus sludge, scale, and a urinary calculus formed by the protein of urine are not generated, such that the function of the discharge guide surface may be maintained.
US09661955B1
A drain plug kit and method of using the drain plug. The kit includes a buoyant member, a drain plug; and a biasing member configured and arranged to interconnect the buoyant member and the drain plug with biasing of the buoyant member towards the drain plug.
US09661948B2
Device for preparing a drink by extracting a measured quantity, for example of ground coffee, contained in a capsule (1) equipped with an extraction membrane (7), said device comprising a water inlet (5), a capsule holder (2), a capsule cage (3), clamping means and a set of spikes (6) for piercing said membrane (3); characterized in that the clamping means comprise a piston (4) mounted such that it can move with respect to the cage (3).
US09661946B2
A coat hook, towel rack and clothes hanger receiver, preferably includes a mounting board, to which is attached a pivoting means on which pivoting means is an elbow or elongated bar having an outer tube communicating at 90° thereto, wherein the outer tube has therein, an inner tube disposed within and vertically moveable in a middle tube, the middle tube being moveable through the outer tube and the elbow-bar, the inner tube having a finial on its external end. Flares prevent the middle tube from exiting the outer tube in both directions. When the inner tube is extended upwardly, it is rotatable 90° from a 12 o'clock-6 o'clock position to a 9 o'clock-3 o'clock position. Once oriented horizontally the inner tube may be returned inwardly or retained in an outward disposition.
US09661943B1
A specially designed crafting tool having a base, a spinning wheel and tools, with which to create beautiful faux flowers from spools of wire-edged ribbon and wire to provide craft enthusiasts and others a practical decorating tool with which to create fancy faux flowers ideal for a variety of uses.
US09661940B2
The invention relates to a glass element (200) including at least one insulating glass panel including at least one first (10) and one second (11) glass sheet combined with one another via a spacer (12) which keeps same spaced apart from one another, said spacer extending along the side, upper and lower edges of said two glass sheets and between said at least two glass sheets, at least one inner space (15) including a layer of an insulating gas and closed by a first (13) and a second (14) peripheral seal arranged around said inner space, and at least one frame (201) which supports said at least one insulating glass panel, said frame including (i) a stationary bracket (21) and (ii) a movable bracket (22) which is hinged on the stationary bracket and which allows the opening and/or the closing of the glass element. Such a glass element includes a spacer (12), the first (13) and the second (14) peripheral seal extending along at least one of the side edges of said at least two glass sheets are formed from a transparent resin, and said movable bracket is devoid of at least one side crosspiece.
US09661923B2
A table and accessory unit assembly includes a height-adjustable table, a freestanding accessory unit and a docking mechanism. The height-adjustable table and freestanding accessory unit are supported on a surface. The height-adjustable table includes a tabletop and a height-adjusting mechanism that is configured to move the tabletop relative to the surface. The docking mechanism is configured to couple the freestanding accessory unit to the height-adjustable table. When the freestanding accessory unit is coupled to the height-adjustable table, the freestanding accessory unit moves relative to the surface as the tabletop moves relative to the surface.
US09661920B2
A modular storage system capable of mounting storage fixtures such as shelves, drawers, rods, desks, hampers, trash cans and the like in various configurations without the use of tools and fastener hardware. The system includes vertical side panels capable of being mounted to a horizontal support rail, which is attached to a wall, in various configurations allowing the system to be mounted and rearranged against the wall without the use of tools and hardware. The vertical side panels include a plurality of support cleats that mate with the storage fixtures and provide for self-locking of the storage fixtures in the system so that they can be mounted and rearranged without the use of tools and hardware.
US09661918B2
Embodiments of a wearable human body mounted electronic device support system are disclosed. The system provides the convenience of controlling a computing or gaming device while in a variety postures and movements including sitting, standing, and freely ambulating about a room. The system comprises a waist mount portion encircling a user's waist for supporting a load. A cantilevered portion extends from the waist mount portion for supporting an electronic input device at an ergonomic position beneficial to the user. The cantilevered portion comprises a projector extending generally anteriorly to form a support platform on which electronic devices are supported. The system may comprise a base to transfer forces from a projector into the waist mount. A portion of the cantilevered portion of the system is configured for instant coupling and uncoupling from the waist mount. In some forms a device coupler secures the electronic device to the support platform.
US09661913B2
A food package holder is described. The food package holder can accommodate a plurality of food packages and hold them in position such that they are readily accessible to the user. The food package holder is especially useful to participants in sporting events where access to nourishment is otherwise not readily available during the event.
US09661912B1
A carrying device for belongings contains: a body and at least one clamper. The body includes a connection portion, the connection portion has at least one curved arm arranged on at least one side thereof respectively, each curved arm has a first rotatable coupling part, and the first rotatable coupling part has at least one first ratchet tooth. Each clamper includes a second rotatable coupling part arranged on one end thereof and rotatably coupled with the first rotatable coupling part, wherein among the at least one clamper and the body forms an adjustable clamping space, the second rotatable coupling part has a flexible column, and the flexible column has a plurality of second ratchet teeth which engage with the at least one first ratchet tooth of the first rotatable coupling part of said each curved arm.
US09661909B2
A facial hair shaping tool includes a unitary and generally L-shaped main body having a shape that is designed to contour to the face of an adult human. The main body includes a front surface, a back surface, a top end, an elongated planar first side, an elongated bottom end, a truncated second side and a curvilinear central section that extends from the second side to the top end. The main body is constructed from a unitary mold of injected plastic having a longitudinal edge along the bottom end. A plurality of spaced apart combing teeth are cantileveredly mounted to the longitudinal edge at a perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axis of the tool.
US09661908B2
A holding device for cards and/or notes includes a housing, which includes at least one clip and a base. The holding device is so designed that production is simplified, wherein secure storage of individual or multiple cards and/or notes is made possible. To this end, the base of the housing, which is open at the top toward the at least one clip, includes upwardly projecting side ridges, which are disposed at a distance from each other and, if no cards or notes are disposed in the housing, each of the at least one clip is located partially between the side ridges and has a free end extending at least approximately to the bottom plane of the base.
US09661901B2
Provided is a slider which is lightweight, reduces production cost and is excellent in quietness, the slider having a slider body which is hardly deformed or broken. The slider includes a slider body made of synthetic resin and a slider handling tool which holds a top and bottom of the slider body and performs sliding operation. The slider handling tool has first and second arm parts connecting with a connecting axis part and first and second holding parts disposed at a tip end part of the first and second arm parts, respectively.
US09661900B2
The slide fastener attachment method includes: integrating, by welding or bonding, a fastener chain to which a segmented slider has not been attached and a fastener receiving member, and attaching the slider to the fastener chain after the integration. Thus, welding work operation efficiency is improved, and reduction of production cost can be expected.
US09661896B2
A footwear article includes a foot-attachment structure configured to attach to a foot, and longitudinally opposite front and rear ends. The footwear article further includes a downward-facing exposed sole surface. A cantilever extension, in a natural condition, adjoins the sole surface at a junction, and projects rearwardly and downwardly from the junction. The extension has a proximal end and a distal end that are longitudinally opposite each other. The extension is supported at only the proximal end. The extension is configured to elastically resist upward rotation of the extension toward the sole, and is configured to be pushed upward toward the sole by the upward force.
US09661893B2
Articles of footwear having both interior and exterior midsole components may include: (a) an upper that at least in part defines an interior chamber; (b) an interior midsole component within the interior chamber, wherein, at a forefoot region, the interior midsole component includes a longitudinal flexion line and a plurality of transverse flexion lines; and (c) an exterior sole structure engaged with the upper. This exterior sole structure may include: (a) an exterior midsole component in a heel region of the article of footwear that does not extend under the forefoot region of the article of footwear and (b) an outsole component that extends under the forefoot region. If desired, the outsole component may extend under the exterior midsole component in the rearfoot region. The interior midsole component may include a plurality of pod elements separated from one another by the flexion lines.
US09661887B2
A button mounting device includes: a button mounting unit that comprises a first die holding the button main body and a second die holding the button mounting tool; an intermediate material formation unit that forms an intermediate material, which is to be interposed between the button main body and the cloth or between the button mounting tool and the cloth, by cutting a strip-shaped sheet material; and an intermediate material transfer unit that transfers the intermediate material formed by the intermediate material formation unit to the button mounting unit to supply the first die or the second die.
US09661885B2
A computer program product including machine executable instructions stored on machine readable media for implementing a method for controlling color reproduction during manufacture of fabric for a garment is provided. The method includes: obtaining appearance information descriptive of the appearance desired for the fabric; obtaining color profile information for a device that generated the appearance information; updating the appearance information with the color profile information; selecting parts information descriptive of the geometry of at least one part of the garment and applying the updated appearance information to provide updated parts information; and storing the updated parts information for reference during the manufacture. A system and a method are described.
US09661874B2
The present disclosure relates to a lipid source for nutritional compositions, comprising an enriched lipid fraction which comprises structured fat globules. The enriched lipid fraction provides fat globules having a desired size and fatty acid composition and may be stabilized by components such as phospholipids, cholesterol, milk-fat globule membrane protein and combinations thereof. Additionally, the disclosure relates to methods of supporting lipid digestion in a pediatric subject by providing a nutritional composition comprising an enriched lipid fraction having structured fat globules that are more accessible to lipases. The chemical composition, size and structure of the fat globules may improve digestion. The disclosed nutritional compositions may provide additive and or/synergistic beneficial health effects.
US09661871B2
Disclosed is a food product formed from the leg of a fowl comprising: a) a central leg bone having a foot end and a thigh end, said leg bone preferably being substantially without at least a foot knuckle; and b) a first portion of natural meat originally located around a portion of the foot-end of said bone and displaced from said foot end toward said thigh-end such that at least a portion of said foot-end bone is exposed and such that said displaced portion of meat remains indirectly attached to the bone.
US09661870B2
The present invention relates to a nanogel composition comprising at least one water-soluble active ingredient, one or more plant proteins, and one or more soy soluble polysaccharides. These compositions can be used for the enrichment, and/or fortification of food, beverages, animal feed and/or cosmetics and allow stabilization of the active ingredient. The present invention also refers to the process for the preparation of such nanogel compositions. The present invention furthermore refers to a process for the manufacture of a beverage by mixing the compositions with ingredients of beverages. The present invention also refers to beverages obtainable by this process.
US09661865B2
The present invention relates to a chewing gum comprising at least one polyethylene (PE) polymer in an amount from about 15% to about 99% by weight of the elastomeric polymer content of said chewing gum, at least one synthetic elastomer chosen from the group of Polyisobutylene (PIB), Butyl Rubber, Polyisoprene and Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) in an amount from about 1% to about 85% by weight of the elastomeric polymer content of said chewing gum and wherein said at least one polyethylene polymer has a molecular weight (Mw) above 25,000 g/mol.
US09661859B1
A pneumatic animal stunner employing a stunning rod includes a catch mounted within the housing for alternately holding and releasing the stunning rod. A catch piston is disposed adjacent the catch on a side away from the longitudinal axis, and is in sliding contact adjacent the catch end portion and out of contact with the catch body portion. The catch piston slides between a first position urging the catch end portion toward the stunning rod longitudinal axis in the hold position, thereby holding and preventing the stunning rod from being driven forward, and a second position permitting the catch end portion to move to the release position away from the stunning rod longitudinal axis releasing and permitting the stunning rod to be driven forward. Valves control air flow to cause the catch piston to move between the first and second positions.
US09661857B2
Aspects of the invention include compositions for controlling plant parasitic nematodes. Compositions according to certain embodiments include a carbon skeleton energy compound, a chelating agent, macronutrients, micronutrients, an ionophore, exotic micronutrients and a plant parasitic nematode antagonist. Methods for using the compositions of the invention to control plant parasitic nematodes and kits having one or more compositions for controlling plant parasitic nematodes are also described.
US09661855B2
The invention relates to aza-sila compounds of Formula (I), useful as insect repellants. wherein, ‘A’ is selected from the group consisting of branched or unbranched (C I-CI 2) alkyl, branched or unbranched (CI-CI 2) alkynyl; and substituted or unsubstituted 4 to 6 membered acyclic saturated or unsaturated compounds, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen, (CI-C6) alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl and heterocyclic; or ‘A’ is independently selected from the group consisting of the following moiety: Formula (II) wherein, X and Y are identical or different and independently selected from the group consisting of —C—, —N, —O, and —S; where R1, R2, R3, and R4 are identical or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, linear or branched (C1-C6) alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, hydroxyl, and heterocyclic; and wherein, the halogen is selected from the group consisting of —CI, —I, —Br, and —F. The invention further discloses a process for the preparation of the compounds of Formula (I).
US09661850B2
The present invention relates to methods of controlling and/or preventing soil-dwelling pests in useful plants comprising applying to the locus of the useful plant or treating plant propagation material thereof with a compound of formula (I) wherein —B1—B2—B3— is —C═N—O—, —C═N—CH2—, —C═CH2—O— or —N—CH2—CH2—; L is a direct bond or methylene; A1 and A2 are C—H, or one of A1 and A2 is C—H and the other is N; X1 is group X, formula (X) R1 is C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4aloalkyl or C3-C6cycloalkyl; R2 is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; each R3 is independently bromo, chloro, fluoro or trifluoromethyl; R4 is hydrogen, halogen, methyl, halomethyl or cyano; R5 is hydrogen; or R4 and R5 together form a bridging 1,3-butadiene group; p is 2 or 3. Preferably the soil-dwelling pest is selected from corn rootworm, wireworms, grubs, in particular white grubs (e.g. Phyllophaga sp., Diloboderus sp., Popillia japonica), termites (in particular for sugar cane), subterraneous stinkbugs (e.g. Scaptocoris sp.), cutworms (e.g. agrotis sp.), millipedes (e.g. Julus sp.) and broca gigante (e.g. Telchin licus).
US09661847B2
A personal product antimicrobial preservative composition for preservation of topical personal care formulations is provided and includes [A] one or more undecylenic acid derivatives depicted by Formula (I), [B] one or more octanoic acid derivatives depicted by Formula (II), and [C] 2-phenoxy ethanol or 2-ethyl hexyl glyceryl ether or mixture of these two ‘liquid alcohol ethers’; wherein, each of the two components [A] and [B] is present in the range of 5 to 20% by weight and together [A] and [B] constitute 10 to 30% by weight and the ‘liquid alcohol ether’, component [C], is present 70 to 90% by weight of the total preservative composition. A method for preserving personal care product from microbial attack is provided containing an aqueous phase comprising three component composition from about 0.5 to 2.5% by weight of the total personal care formulation.
US09661846B2
The present invention relates to novel agrochemical compositions with enhanced bio-efficacy comprising at least one agrochemical active ingredient and an adjuvant composition.
US09661838B1
An electric device for killing insects and animals having a mesh surface holding assembly having at least one a conductive mesh surface, an electrical power source for providing electricity to the mesh surface, at least one light source constructed and positioned to provide backlighting on the mesh surface, an actuator for selectively initiating and ceasing supply of electrical power from the electrical source to the mesh by incorporated circuitry, and a handle assembly supporting the mesh surface assembly.
US09661834B2
A dual-bearing reel includes a reel body and a spool. The reel body includes a spool housing portion having an inward opening. The spool includes a first flange that has a larger diameter than a bobbin trunk. The outer peripheral part of the first flange includes a first and second outer peripheral parts, and a connecting portion. The first outer peripheral part is disposed at a first prescribed distance away from an inner peripheral part of the first spool housing portion. The second outer peripheral part is disposed at a second prescribed distance away from the inner peripheral part and has a smaller diameter than the first outer peripheral part. The diameter of the connecting portion gradually increases from the second outer peripheral part toward the first outer peripheral part and couples the first outer peripheral part and the second outer peripheral part.
US09661832B2
An artificial fishing lure having a hollow body wherein inside the hollow body is a sound plate, a clapper, and a clapper spring that provides sound and vibrations to the artificial fishing lure.
US09661830B2
Described herein are chewable articles intended to be provided to animals for purposes including dental cleaning, breath freshening, nutrition, administration to the animal of beneficial agents, satisfaction of the animal's urge to chew, and general enjoyment by the animal. The chews are made to be appetizing to the animal, to satisfy an urge to chew, to effect abrasive cleaning of the animal's teeth, to deliver one or more active agents to the oral cavity of the animal, or a combination of these. The chews have a resilient, chewable texture and are shaped to facilitate dental cleaning, to facilitate oral grasping by the animal, to appeal to human owners of the animal, to enhance the human-animal bond, or a combination of these. Also disclosed are apparatus and methods for making such chewable articles and for formulating and using them to effect dental health in animals.
US09661827B1
Systems and methods are provided for guiding a target object with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an environment. The UAV may be able to recognize and locate the target object. The UAV can be configured to communicate the actions and behavior of the target object to a user through a user device in communication with the UAV. The UAV can provide positive and negative stimuli to the target object to encourage an action or behavior. The UAV can be configured to recognize and manage waste generated by the target object.
US09661826B2
An absorbent sheet for pets, having a fluid-permeable surface sheet that receives pet excrement, a fluid-impermeable rear sheet, and an absorbent body that absorbs fluid that has penetrated the surface sheet. The surface sheet is configured so as to receive pet excrement, in a state in which the rear sheet is placed in a placement location; the absorbent body is configured as a non-embossed area having a surface-side covered sheet, a rear-side covered sheet, and an absorbent layer; a main absorbent section for excrement is provided in the center area of the absorbent body; and the basis weight in at least the main absorbent area in the absorbent body is set so as to be substantially uniform at a prescribed value.
US09661825B2
A pet scoop assembly and method of use is provided. The assembly includes a scoop member; a receptacle detachably engageable with the scoop member; and a door disposed intermediate the two. A disposable bag may line the receptacle and be clamped in place between the receptacle and scoop member. The door opens inwardly into the receptacle. When the scoop assembly is turned into a vertical orientation, the door opens by a weighted member attached to the door. A region of the scoop member adjacent the door is angled to allow pet waste to slide readily from the scoop member into the receptacle.
US09661820B1
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV181138. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV181138, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV181138 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV181138 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV181138.
US09661811B2
A novel hybrid tomato plant, designated HMX3887 and/or HMX3888 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of tomato hybrid HMX3887 and/or HMX3888, to the plants and plant parts of hybrid tomato HMX3887 and/or HMX3888, and to methods for producing a tomato plant by crossing the hybrid tomato HMX3887 and/or HMX3888 with itself or another tomato plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a tomato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other tomato plants derived from the hybrid tomato plant HMX3887 and/or HMX3888.
US09661798B2
An agricultural tillage implement including a main section having a hitch extending in a travel direction, a plurality of foldable wing sections coupled with the main section, and a plurality of ground engaging tilling elements. The tilling elements are coupled to the main section and wing sections. At least one of the sections have a gauge wheel system. The gauge wheel system includes an untilled wheel assembly, a tilled wheel assembly, and an adjustment device. The adjustment device is configured to adjust the untilled wheel assembly relative to the tilled wheel assembly thereby compensating for a characteristic difference between tilled and untilled soil.
US09668394B2
A component mounting system makes a mounting head to which a component holder is attached perform component mounting operation including upward and downward movement operation with respect to a board and mounts a component on the board. A mounting apparatus repeats reciprocating mounting operations in which the component holder is moved in a mounting order relative to a reference line extending in a first direction being the board conveyance direction such that that the component holder is advanced over the board in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and then a held high-height component is mounted and thereafter the component holder is retracted from the board in the second direction. The mounting order is set in order in which a mounting coordinate of the high-height component is larger in the second direction relative to the reference line.
US09668392B2
A method for producing a housing structure at least partially enclosing at least one component, wherein the housing structure is produced with a construction process utilizing at least one of repeated layered deposition and solidification of material, which is interrupted at least once before completion of the housing structure, and during at least one interruption at least one component, which is not produced by the construction process, is joined to or disposed in a partially finished housing structure, and the construction process is then continued after the interruption until the housing is completed, wherein at least one of an actuator and sensor comprising at least partially a transformer material selected as the at least one component to be joined to or disposed in the housing structure.
US09668391B2
An optical window based on an array of rings and sub-rings having a triangular and orthogonal mixed distribution is suited for electromagnetic shielding. The array has metal rings of the same diameter acting as basic rings closely arranged according to an equilateral triangular and two-dimensional orthogonal square mixed arrangement and is loaded on an optical window transparent substrate surface. Adjacent basic rings are connected externally tangentially. Metal sub-rings are arranged within each basic ring and connected thereto internally tangentially. Each basic ring and its sub-rings constitute a basic unit. At tangential connection locations of the rings, wires overlap or metal is provided to ensure reliable electrical connections between connected rings, thus all rings are conductive. The metal grid structure significantly reduces non-uniformity of grid high-order diffracted light intensity distribution, thereby causing stray light distribution caused by diffraction to be more uniform and imaging to be less affected.
US09668390B2
An electromagnetic interference suppressing structure including a multi-layered substrate; a differential pair including first and second signal lines which are disposed on a first layer of the multi-layered substrate; and two grounding recess structures disposed symmetrically in a second layer of the multi-layered substrate which is positioned under the first layer, and on both sides, respectively, of the differential pair, wherein no electrical coupling element extends across a region lying directly under the differential pair, between the two grounding recess structures.
US09668373B2
A substrate support chuck for use in a substrate processing system is provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support for use in a substrate processing chamber may include an electrostatic chuck having a top substrate support surface and a bottom surface, and a cooling ring assembly having a central opening disposed proximate the bottom surface of the electrostatic chuck, the cooling ring assembly including, a cooling section having a top surface thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the electrostatic chuck, the cooling section having a cooling channel formed in a bottom surface of the cooling section, and a cap coupled to a bottom surface of the cooling section and fluidly sealing the cooling channel formed in the cooling section.
US09668368B2
A collapsible enclosure cover for facilitating air flow for an enclosure having a collapsible frame with a first guide rail having a mounting bracket and an elongated member. The collapsible frame also has a second guide rail having a mounting bracket and an elongated member. The collapsible frame also has a plurality of poles extending from the first guide rail to the second guide rail that swivel around the elongated members. The collapsible enclosure cover also has a fabric portion connected to and disposed over the plurality of poles.
US09668360B2
The present invention relates to curable, liquid, adhesive compositions comprising polyamideimide resins for use in bonding layers of material in metal clad laminate materials for electronic components, such as flexible circuit boards. In particular, the invention relates to liquid adhesive compositions comprising polyamideimides having a terminal isocyanate group blocked by a thermally-dissociatable isocyanate-blocking group and the use of such compositions in preparation of flexible electronic components.
US09668355B2
Protective coatings, including moisture-resistant coatings, that include two or more different types of moisture-resistant materials are disclosed, as are moisture-sensitive substrates that include such protective coatings. Moisture-sensitive substrates that include different types of moisture-resistant coatings on different elements are also disclosed.
US09668352B2
A flexible printed circuit assembly, having a first flexible printed circuit having a first conductive layer and a device that is connected the first conductive layer; and a second flexible printed circuit having a second conductive layer, an insulating center layer, and a third conductive layer, the insulating center layer arranged in-between the second and the third conductive layers, the second conductive layer and the insulating center layer being removed to form an opening to expose an upper surface of the third conductive layer, wherein the first flexible printed circuit is arranged such that the device is accommodated inside the opening, a lower surface of the device being in thermal connection with the third conductive layer, and the first conductive layer is arranged to be in electrical connection with the second conductive layer.
US09668349B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel curved along a first direction and a backlight unit providing a light to the display panel. The backlight unit includes a bottom chassis curved along the first direction and including a bottom portion configured to include first and second areas arranged in the first direction, light emitting diodes disposed on the bottom portion, and lens units covering the light emitting diodes in a one-to-one correspondence. The light emitting diodes includes a first light emitting diode in the first area and a second light emitting diode in the second area. A first lens distance between the first light emitting diode and a first lens unit covering the first light emitting diode is different from a second lens distance between the second light emitting diode and a second lens unit covering the second light emitting diode.
US09668347B2
The electric part to be soldered to a metal pad mounted on a printed circuit board, includes a first surface facing the metal pad, a second surface extending from the first surface in a direction away from the metal pad, and a third surface outwardly extending from the second surface, the second surface and the third surface defining a space in which solder is stored.
US09668337B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing temperature in a data storage device. A data storage device includes non-volatile solid-state memory, a temperature sensor, a heating device, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicating a temperature of at least a portion of the data storage device, determine that the temperature is below a first predetermined threshold, activate the heating device to increase the temperature of the at least a portion of the data storage device, and write data associated with a write command to the non-volatile solid-state memory.
US09668333B2
A transparent conductive article includes a transparent substrate, a thin electrically conductive grid, and a carbon nanolayer. The grid is disposed on the substrate, and the carbon nanolayer is also disposed on the substrate and in contact with the grid. The conductive grid and the carbon nanolayer may have thicknesses of no more than 1 micron and 50 nanometers, respectively. The carbon nanolayer has a morphology that includes graphite platelets embedded in nano-crystalline carbon, and can be produced with a buffing procedure using dry carbon particles without substantially damaging the grid structure. The article may have a visible light transmission of at least 80%, and a sheet resistance less than 500 or 100 ohms/square. The transparent substrate may comprise a flexible polymer film. The disclosed articles may substantially maintain an initial sheet resistance value when subjected to flexing.
US09668332B2
Embodiments include a chemical processing apparatus and method of using the chemical processing apparatus to treat a substrate with a mono-energetic space-charge neutralized neutral beam-activated chemical process which is comprised of a substantially anisotropic beam of neutral particles. The chemical processing apparatus comprises a first plasma chamber for forming a first plasma at a first plasma potential, and a second plasma chamber for forming a second plasma at a second plasma potential greater than the first plasma potential, wherein the second plasma is formed using electron flux from the first plasma. Further, the chemical processing apparatus comprises an ungrounded dielectric (insulator) neutralizer grid configured to expose a substrate in the second plasma chamber to the substantially anisotropic beam of neutral particles traveling from the neutralizer grid.
US09668322B1
A smart laser pointer is disclosed in this application that includes a laser coupled to a processor that can disable the laser from operating for a period of time (T) based on a disabling trigger. The smart laser pointer may also include an optical receiver coupled to the processor that detects received laser signals that are emitted from the laser after they are reflected off of a target and a memory storing position information threshold limits. The processor calculates measured position information based on the received laser signals detected by the optical receiver and compares them to the position information threshold limits. A disabling trigger occurs when the position information exceeds the position information threshold limits. The position information and threshold limits may include a distance or a velocity. These threshold limits are provided to ensure that the smart laser pointer cannot be used to target distant fast moving aerial targets such as commercial aircraft or helicopters, but still operate in legitimate contexts such as a conference room with a target such as a display screen that is stationary and close to the smart laser pointer. The smart laser pointer can include a unique identifier that is encoded on a signal emitted by the laser to enable a third party law enforcement agency to determine the exact laser pointer that is emitting the signal. The smart laser pointer may include a GPS chip to determine its exact geographic location. This geographic location information is encoded on a signal emitted by the laser to enable a third party law enforcement agency to determine the exact location of the laser pointer that is emitting the signal. The smart laser pen may include a blue tooth antenna to enable it to communicate with a mobile application on a mobile device. The mobile application is configured to receive text messages from law enforcement that instruct the mobile application to transmit a disabling signal to the smart laser pen to shut down the laser and prevent it from operating. The smart laser pen may also include an RF antenna that can receive a disabling command to shut down the laser and prevent it from operating. These features allow law enforcement to identify, locate, and shut down the operation of the smart laser pen, thereby enhancing aircraft safety.
US09668319B2
The present invention relates to a lighting device including a radio communication unit for communicating with at least one device to receive an image of a space from the device, a light-emitting unit including at least one light-emitting element for providing light to the space, and a controller for controlling the light-emitting unit on the basis of an illuminance value calculated on the basis of the image.
US09668312B2
A lighting system uses an array of lighting elements which provide light in different directions. The intensity of the lighting elements is controlled in dependence on a time-varying parameter related to at least one of a position of a light emitting or light reflecting body, and an intensity, color or color temperature of the light emitted or reflected by the body, such that the system can simulate directional sunlight.
US09668309B1
An LED driver provides constant output power with wide range output current and voltage. A parallel resonant tank configuration is supplemented by resonant gain clamping circuit configured to partially cancel voltage across the resonant capacitor during half-bridge switching operation. Voltage between the resonant components is clamped to one-half a driver input voltage, ensuring inductive switching of the half-bridge. An output transformer has a primary winding coupled across the resonant capacitor, with a center tap defining first and second portions. An output voltage clamping circuit is coupled across the DC input power source and to the center tap, wherein maximum voltage across the primary is clamped based on a relationship between respective numbers of turns in the first and second portions, and maximum voltage across a secondary winding is clamped based on a relationship between the respective numbers of turns in the secondary winding and the first and second portions.
US09668306B2
A thermal-management circuit detects a temperature of the LED, obtains a thermal operating range of the LED, and generates a control signal in response.
US09668292B2
A UE is a mobile station that communicates with a CSCF server. The UE includes a network IF and a mobile network service control unit. By using an IMS signaling bearer established between the UE and the CSCF server, the network IF registers the usage of a predetermined service in the CSCF server. After the usage of the service has been registered by the network IF, the mobile network service control unit releases the IMS signaling bearer. Furthermore, when the CSCF server detects the occurrence of the service to be provided to the UE, the mobile network service control unit re-establishes the released IMS signaling bearer in response to the request from the CSCF server, due to a notification sent from the application server to the UE indicating the occurrence of the service.
US09668284B2
One aspect provides a method of operating a modem at a terminal. The modem is arranged to store one or more message identifier. Each of the one or more message identifier identifies a type of message that the modem is arranged to act upon when received on a broadcast channel from a communications network. The method comprises detecting a country that the terminal is located in. The method further comprises determining if the detected country is a country in which a public warning system is implemented. The method further comprises determining if the one or more message identifier includes only public warning message identifiers. The method further comprises disabling monitoring of the broadcast channel if the detected country is not a country in which a public warning system is implemented and the one or more message identifier includes only public warning message identifiers.
US09668283B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally apply to a wireless local area network (WLAN) where an access point (AP) has data to send to multiple stations (STAs). By using the Downlink Spatial Division Multiple Access (DL-SDMA) technique, the AP may send data at the same time towards multiple STAs. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatuses for detecting that a multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission has suffered a collision and to adapting a contention window (CW) size for a backoff counter applied to a subsequent MU-MIMO transmission.
US09668282B2
A method of controlling uplink synchronization state at a user equipment in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method of controlling an uplink synchronization state at a user equipment in a mobile communication system comprises receiving control information associated with controlling uplink synchronization state of the user equipment from a network, releasing uplink resources allocated from the network if the uplink synchronization state is shifted from a synchronization state to an asynchronous state based on the control information.
US09668279B2
A method for handling a random access procedure in a user equipment, called UE hereinafter, of a wireless communications system includes outputting a message 3 as a scheduled transmission not including a specific field indicating whether the UE has a cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier, called C-RNTI hereinafter, or not during the random access procedure.
US09668278B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting an indication for device-to-device (D2D) mobility or D2D connection failure in a wireless communication system is provided. A first mobile device identifies a cell for mobility of the first mobile device or a second mobile device which has a connection with the first mobile device, and indicates the connection with the second mobile device to the cell. Also, the first mobile device detects failure of the connection with the second mobile device, and indicates the failure of the connection with the second mobile device to either the second mobile device or the cell.
US09668276B2
Quality of Service (QoS) support is provided by means of a Tiered Contention Multiple Access (TCMA) distributed medium access protocol that schedules transmission of different types of traffic based on their service quality specifications. In one embodiment, a wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a lower QoS priority QoS(A), such as file transfer data. Another wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a higher QoS priority QoS(B), such as voice and video data. Each wireless station can determine the urgency class of its pending packets according to a scheduling algorithm. For example file transfer data is assigned lower urgency class and voice and video data is assigned higher urgency class. There are several urgency classes which indicate the desired ordering. Pending packets in a given urgency class are transmitted before transmitting packets of a lower urgency class.
US09668266B2
The embodiments herein relates to a method in a first base station (201a) for controlling interference on a second Physical Downlink Control CHannel, PDCCH (210b). The second PDCCH (210b) is between a second base station (201b) and a second user equipment (205b). The first base station (201a) receives (602), from the second base station (201b), coordination information associated with the second PDCCH (210b). Based on the received coordination information, the first base station (201a) controls (306, 405, 503, 505, 507, 603) the interference on the second PDCCH (210b), wherein the interference is caused by a first PDCCH (210a) from the first base station (201a) to a first user equipment (205a).
US09668260B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a control signal (for example, PDCCH signal) in an asymmetric multicarrier environment. The method for transmitting a control signal for an asymmetric multicarrier in a wireless connection system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: determining the size of a carrier indicator field (CIF) indicating a downlink component carrier (DL CC) by which downlink data is transmitted, on the basis of a maximum value of the number of DL CCs and of the number of uplink component carriers (UL CCs) being managed in a base station; transmitting the CIF on a 1st DL CC to a terminal through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH); and transmitting downlink data on a 2nd DL CC indicated by the CIF to the terminal through a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).
US09668258B2
Embodiments of a master station and method for high-efficiency Wi-Fi (HEW) communication using a multi-device HEW preamble are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the master station may select a number of long-training fields (LTFs) to be included in the multi-device HEW preamble of an HEW frame. The HEW frame may comprise a plurality of links for transmission of a plurality of streams. The master station may transmit the selected number of LTFs sequentially as part of the HEW preamble and transmit a plurality of data fields to scheduled stations during an HEW control period. Each data field may correspond to one of the links and may comprise one or more streams. The selection of the number of LTFs to be included in the HEW preamble may be based on a maximum number of streams to be transmitted on a single link.
US09668227B2
A power headroom calculation method and apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) are provided for a primary cell Power Headroom (PH) calculation in a Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) mobile communication system. The method includes determining whether an activated serving cell includes uplink data and/or uplink control signal to be transmitted, and determining PH of the activated serving cell according to whether the activated serving cell has the uplink data and/or uplink control signal.
US09668226B2
The disclosure relates to methods and devices for performing uplink power control in a radio communication system. An example method comprises a step of receiving, at a user equipment (UE) a transmit power control (TPC) command. The method also comprises, if the UE does not have an uplink transmission scheduled for a subframe associated with the TPC command, a step of accumulating, by the UE, the TPC command with previously received TPC commands based on whether the UE has reached a maximum transmit power or a minimum transmit power in a reference format for a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) or Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmission. Thus the UE is enabled to receive TPC commands while the UE is not transmitting anything in the uplink.
US09668222B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and a serving radio base station (RBS) for link adaptation (LA) of PDCCH. The method includes obtaining information about a reduced power subframe (RPS) pattern used by a neighboring RBS. An indication of a reception quality of the PDCCH at a user equipment (UE) is obtained. A determination is made whether the obtained indication relates to an RPS or a non-RPS according to the obtained information. A first LA loop for a PDCCH to the first UE is controlled. The first LA loop relates to non-RPS. A second LA loop for the PDCCH to the UE is controlled. The second LA loop relates to RPS. At least one of the first and second LA algorithms, depending on the determining, is controlled based on the obtained indication of a reception quality.
US09668220B2
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for controlling uplink power, so as to solve a problem that in a scenario of double connections, when a terminal performs uplink transmission, there is no corresponding solution to control uplink power. The method in the present invention comprises: a terminal determining uplink information to be sent on an uplink carrier, the uplink information comprising uplink information corresponding to a first base station and uplink information corresponding to a second base station; and the terminal determining, according to at least one group of power control parameters pre-configured for calculating transmit power of an uplink channel bearing the uplink information, transmit power of at least one uplink channel bearing the uplink information, and sending corresponding uplink information on the at least one uplink channel of the uplink carrier according to the transmit power of the at least one uplink channel. It is ensured that the terminal uses more appropriate transmit power on the uplink carrier to send uplink information of different base stations, thereby avoiding power limitation and improving power utilization and transmission efficiency.
US09668203B2
Generating and using a device-type specific preferred public land mobile network (PLMN) list for roaming PLMN selection. Wireless devices sharing one or more common characteristics may be tasked with collecting roaming PLMN selection data. That data may be collected and used to generate a preferred PLMN list specific to wireless devices sharing those common characteristics. The preferred PLMN list may be distributed to wireless devices sharing those common characteristics, which may then use it in conjunction with roaming PLMN selection.
US09668198B2
The subject technology provides for initiating a communication interface in a wireless communication system. In an embodiment, a neighbor node is discovered at an access point. The subject technology receives, via a network message in response to discovering the neighbor node, an address indication associated with the neighbor node for configuration of the communication interface. It is then determined whether to initiate one of a direct communication interface or indirect communication interface for communication with the neighbor node based on the address indication in the received network message.
US09668197B2
Embodiments are provided for a location-based network discovery and connection establishment, which take advantage of location/positioning technology of user equipment (UE) and resolve issues above of the blind search approaches. The location-based network discovery and connection establishment schemes use UE location information and a network access MAP to speed up network discovery, and remove the need for continuous search and measurement by the UE. The schemes also reduce the search space. A wireless network access map (MAP) is provided to the UE. The UE uses the MAP information with UE current location information to reduce the search space and speed up network discovery and radio connection establishment with the network. Network operators can use this network access MAP to control the network access and manage the network load distribution. The network access MAP can be customized for each UE.
US09668195B2
A dynamic hierarchical cellular system implementing multi-hop encapsulation, wherein in at least one message destined for an individual base station functionality, the individual base station functionality's header is encapsulated within an individual mobile station functionality's header, so as to allow said message to be routed by said router to the individual base station functionality, via the individual mobile station functionality.
US09668189B2
The present disclosure proposes a handover management method and a base station having a smart antenna using the same method. A transceiver of the base station transmits and receives wireless data. An interface controller of the base station transmits a source beam-forming information and receives a target beam-forming information. A processing circuit of the base station is coupled to the transceiver circuit and the interface controller and is configured for transmitting the source beam-forming information when switching to a setting of the smart antenna corresponding to the source beam-forming information and receiving the target beam-forming information using the interface controller, recording the source beam-forming information and the target beam-forming information as a beam-forming pair to a history of a handover when performing the handover, grouping the beam-forming pair in the history into beam-forming pair groups, and determining handover parameters for each of the beam-forming pair groups respectively.
US09668186B2
A device and a system for processing a radio link failure report and for statistically processing an abnormal event include: a user equipment generates a radio link failure report, wherein the radio link failure report carries an A2 event indication recorded by the user equipment; and reports the radio link failure report.
US09668184B1
To help manage resources in a cellular wireless communication system, a base station may track air interface resource allocation for each UE the base station is serving with a call and may identify one or more of the UEs or calls as candidates for handover from the base station on grounds that air interface resource allocation to each of the identified one or more UEs is high. Upon receipt of a request from a UE to initiate a new call, the base station may then predict based at least on that UE's channel quality what the air interface resource allocation rate will be for the requested call. And if the predicted rate for the given UE is threshold low, the base station may select one of the candidate UEs and force a handover of the selected UE's call from the base station.
US09668183B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for providing service recovery at a user equipment (UE) of a mobile communication network. The UE establishes a call in a first public land mobile network (PLMN). A handover zone of the first PLMN and a second PLMN is entered. The second PLMN is in a forbidden PLMN list of the UE. The UE receives a dedicated message with an indication of the second PLMN. The second PLMN is removed from the forbidden PLMN list. The UE performs registration with the second PLMN so that services of the second PLMN are available to the UE.
US09668181B2
A communication system is described in which a handover procedure is provided to allow a mobile device to transfer from a home base station connected to a core network via a home base station gateway to another base station not coupled via the home base station gateway. A novel extension to the handover procedure is provided in which the home base station gateway is informed of the transfer of the mobile device, allowing context and resources assigned to the mobile device at the base station gateway to be released.
US09668179B2
Embodiments methods implemented with a server or a processor of a mobile communication device (e.g., a multi-standby communication device) reduce the redundancy information needed to achieve adequate reception service on a first radio access technology (RAT) sharing an RF resource with a second RAT. The device processor may implement at least one tune-away management strategy that mitigates the amount of data for the first RAT that is lost during the tune-away event. Thus, by implementing the one or more tune-away management strategies, the device processor may ensure that less redundancy information overhead is needed to correct or replace lost or partially received data, improving latency, channel usage, and the first RAT's overall reception performance. In some embodiments, a server may implement one or more strategies for including redundancy information into data that is sent to a first RAT to mitigate the negative effects of tune aways on the first RAT.
US09668176B2
Provided is a method for selecting a shunt gateway and a controller. The method includes that: the controller allocates an Anycast address of Serving Gateways (S-GWs) for a user equipment, and sends the Anycast address to all of the S-GWs; the controller sends the Anycast address to a radio-side network element via a Mobility Management Entity (MME); and when the controller receives a Packet_In message and a first uplink data packet from the user equipment sent by an S-GW, the controller selects the S-GW as an S-GW for the user equipment.
US09668168B2
Embodiments provide a mobile data offload method for associating a mobile client device with a wireless access point. The method may include transmitting a first authentication request from the mobile client device to the wireless access point via a first network being a Cellular Wide Area radio communication network; transmitting a second authentication request from the mobile client device to the wireless access point via a second network being a Short Range radio communication network or a Metropolitan Area System radio communication network; transmitting an authentication response from the wireless access point to the mobile client device via the second network upon receiving at least one of the first authentication request and the second authentication request at the wireless access point, and associating the mobile client device with the wireless access point upon receiving the authentication response at the mobile client device.
US09668164B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for an active bandwidth management system for a tag target location system. A method is provided including determining a buffer fullness level for a receive buffer in a receiver in a set of one or more receivers, determining, by the processor hub, a set of buffer elements to be removed from the receive buffer in at least one of the receivers based on the buffer fullness level, and communicating to the one or more receivers to remove from the receive buffers the set of receive buffer elements identified by a sequence number.
US09668163B2
A wireless data access system is provided to ameliorate bursty traffic occurring in a radio communications link such as a WiFi, WiMAX, 3G or cellular telephone link to a wireless network access device. A data traffic event is detected relating to traffic in the link. The traffic event may be a traffic burst exceeding a predetermined threshold. Based on detecting the data traffic event, a free-space optical communications link is established to the network access device to handle the traffic burst. The established radio link may be used to set-up and coordinate the free-space optical link.
US09668158B2
A method of operating a mobile radio communication terminal, in which execution of at least one step of the method is controlled according to a device parameter which is assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal and which has exactly one of two possible device parameter values which indicate whether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary.
US09668155B2
Responsive to receiving a request for a measurement in a mobile, the mobile determines whether time instances associated with the measurement coincide with time instances of location estimate availability in the mobile. Responsive to determining that location estimates are not available for a substantial fraction of the time instances when the measurement is requested, the mobile changes the time instances for the measurement and/or the time instances of location estimate availability to increase the availability of location estimates for the measurements.
US09668154B2
A radio terminal in a connected state performs a measurement of a radio environment according to a measurement configuration set by a radio base station, and activates a timer correspond to a predetermined time. The radio terminal reports a measurement result when the measurement result becomes possible to be reported before the timer expires, and stores the measurement result together with a time stamp when the timer expired in a case where the measurement result does not become possible to be reported before the timer expires.
US09668150B2
For transmitting packets over radio communication links wherein flows of packets are delivered containing protected packets and unprotected packets, the status of propagation of the packets is verified in order to detect the presence of a faulty condition. If no faulty condition is detected, protected packet are transmitted over a first radio link wherein the transmission occupies a first portion of available bandwidth on the first radio link, and unprotected packets are transmitted on at least part of the remainder of the available bandwidth of the first radio link and at least part of available bandwidth the second radio link. If a faulty condition is detected, a protected packet is transmitted over the first radio link wherein the transmission occupies a first portion of available bandwidth on the first radio link, a duplicate of the protected packet is transmitted over the second radio link wherein said transmission occupies a second portion of available bandwidth on the second radio link, and unprotected packets are transmitted on at least part of the remainder of the available bandwidth of the first radio link and at least part of the remainder of the available bandwidth of the second radio link.
US09668141B2
Various devices and methods are disclosed to support clustering optimization in a communication system. For example, multiple nodes of the communication system can be segmented into multiple clustering plans. Each clustering plan can include multiple clusters that do not overlap with one another within that clustering plan. At least one of the clusters of one clustering plan can overlap at least one of the clusters of at least one other clustering plan. Each node could be a non-boundary node in at least one cluster of at least one clustering plan. Multiple nodes of the communication system can alternatively be segmented into clusters having expanding and contracting borders.
US09668140B2
A method for devaluing a lost/stolen mobile device includes: receiving, by a server, a report that a mobile device is lost/stolen; suspending, by the server, a mobile identifier number associated with the mobile device, in response to the report; and transmitting, by the server, via a communication network, the suspended mobile identifier number for storage at another location. Suspending the mobile identifier number includes preventing the lost/stolen mobile device from accessing the communication network. The method includes storing the suspended mobile identifier number in an equipment identity registry database. The method further includes turning OFF Wi-Fi access, in the mobile device, in response to suspending the mobile identifier number by the server.
US09668136B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for using derived credentials to enroll a mobile computing device with an enterprise mobile device management system are described herein. In various embodiments, a mobile computing device, responsive to a command to enroll with an enterprise mobile device management server, may launch an enrollment application; send an enrollment request message to the enterprise mobile device management server; switch to a certificate management system application on the mobile computing device; request one or more derived credentials from a certificate management system server; store the one or more derived credentials in a shared vault on the mobile computing device; switch to the enrollment application; retrieve a derived credential of the one or more derived credentials stored in the shared vault; and, provide the derived credential to the enterprise mobile device management server to enroll the mobile computing device with at least one mobile device management service.
US09668134B2
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for access network protocol interworking and authentication proxying. One method includes receiving an authentication request from a node in an access network for authenticating a user using cellular network authentication. The method further includes, in response to the request, using a native protocol of the cellular network to obtain an authentication challenge from a node in the cellular network. The method further includes communicating the authentication challenge to the node in the access network. The method further includes receiving a response to the authentication challenge from the node in the access network. The method further includes determining whether the response matches an expected response. The method further includes, in response to determining that the response matches the expected response, communicating an indication of successful authentication to the node in the access network.
US09668133B2
A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resources' security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users. At least some of the entities can be members of a federation established to enhance and facilitate secure access and usage of vehicle resources.
US09668131B2
A mobile device and a corresponding wireless pairing method are provided. The mobile device includes a storage device, a display, and a processor. The storage device stores at least one password. Each password is associated with an access period or an access count. The processor is coupled to the storage device and the display. The processor deletes a password when the access period or the access count associated with the password expires. The processor encodes a password in an image and controls the display to display the image. The processor receives a pairing request including a password from another mobile device. The processor accepts the pairing request when the password of the pairing request matches any password stored in the storage device. The processor rejects the pairing request when the password of the pairing request does not match any password stored in the storage device.
US09668128B2
Disclosed is a method for authentication of a remote station by a management station using a secure element. In the method, the remote station receives an identity request from the secure element. The identity request includes a first challenge provided to the secure element by the management station. The remote station forwards an identity response to the secure element. The identity response includes a response to the first challenge that is signed by a key of the remote station, and the signed response to the first challenge is for use by the management station to authenticate the remote station.
US09668126B2
An approach is provided for a wireless mobile device that includes a processor, a wireless adapter, and a memory to connect to an access point using a generated random pseudo-MAC address that reduces address collisions with other devices. The approach generates a dynamic MAC address for the device. The dynamic MAC address includes a static portion that is based on a portion of an actual MAC address of the device and a dynamic portion that is based on a quasi-random value. The device wirelessly connects to an access point using the generated dynamic MAC address.
US09668125B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for performing MAC header compression in a wireless communication system. In a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a station STA may: receive information on assigning a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs) to the station STA from an access point (AP); receive, from the AP, a first frame including a medium access control (MAC) header that includes an address field set to one of the plurality of AIDs; and assign each of the plurality of AIDs by flow for the station STA.
US09668117B2
Embodiments herein provide a method and device for analyzing a social relationship. The method includes: acquiring at least one target interaction parameter pertaining to an interaction between the first electronic device and a second electronic device; and determining a ranking value of a social relationship between a first user of the first electronic device and a second user of the second electronic device according to the at least one target interaction parameter.
US09668111B2
Provided is a terminal of providing a vehicle interface to a vehicle information providing terminal, the terminal including: a terminal information collection unit configured to collect terminal information of the other terminal capable of transceiving contents data; a wireless communication unit configured to receive a reproduction request of the contents data transmitted from the other terminal; a contents interface generator configured to generate a contents interface provided through the vehicle interface based on the terminal information and the contents data reproduction request; and a contents data relay unit configured to reproduce the contents data received from the other terminal through the contents interface to control the reproduced contents data to be provided to the vehicle information providing terminal.
US09668110B2
The present invention is applicable to the field of communications and provides an MBMS technology-based emergency communication method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving information for establishing air interface bearer, where the information is sent by a terrestrial radio access network E-UTRAN/UTRAN, the information indicates that the air interface bearer has a highest scheduling priority and is not stopped and instructs a user equipment to monitor the air interface bearer in real time; establishing the air interface bearer with the E-UTRAN/UTRAN, and monitoring the air interface bearer in real time; and receiving emergency information that is sent by the E-UTRAN/UTRAN from the air interface bearer. Because the user equipment monitors the MBMS communication channel in real time, a second-level delay of MBMS communication is eliminated, so that MBMS technology-based communication meets a delay requirement of emergency communication.
US09668109B2
A fixed content server stores electronic content for delivery to a nomadic server on a vehicle. A schedule for arrival and departure of the vehicle transporting the nomadic server at a destination location is obtained, and a destination content server is identified. An electronic package is generated to contain an identifier for the vehicle and an identifier for the destination content server. Delivery of the electronic package to the destination content server at the destination location is initiated based on the schedule for arrival of the vehicle transporting the nomadic server to the destination location so delivery of the electronic package is initiated while the vehicle is traveling to the destination location. A time is determined to upload the electronic package from the destination content server to the nomadic server of the vehicle. Quality of service that a network uses to deliver the electronic package is provisioned based thereon.
US09668105B2
A system for identifying respective locations of mobile elements in a number of regions. The system includes a number of board RFID tags, each of which is associated with a selected one of the mobile elements respectively, and a board subassembly including a body element with a front surface divided into a number of portions of the front surface that correspond to the regions respectively, and one or more board RFID reader subassemblies including a number of antennas, the antennas being associated with respective portions, and one or more board RFID readers that are operatively connected with the antennas. The board RFID tags located in the respective portions are readable by the board RFID readers connected with the antennas associated with the respective portions.
US09668098B2
A tracking system in which positioning alerts are communicated to a first user device from a second user device, the tracking system including a positioning sensor that determines a current location of the second user device; a controller in communication with the positioning sensor; and a memory including instructions to: receive a first set of current locations from the positioning sensor, generate, at a start of a candidacy period, a candidate geofence including the first set, receive a second set of current locations from the positioning sensor, when, by an end of the candidacy period, the entirety of the second is within the candidate geofence, communicate a stop motion message to the first user device, receive a third set of current locations from the positioning sensor, and when any of the third set is outside an active geofence, communicate a start motion message to the first user device.
US09668089B2
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal including an input unit; a communication unit; a location information unit configured to obtain location information related to the mobile terminal; and a controller configured to: receive a message and a recipient through the input unit, determine a location information transfer mode set for the recipient, receive a message transfer command through the input unit, transfer the message with the location information to the recipient through the communication unit in response to the message transfer command, when the location information transfer mode is a first transfer mode, and transfer the message without the location information to the recipient through the communication unit in response to the message transfer command, when the location information transfer mode set to the recipient is a second transfer mode.
US09668087B2
An approach is provided for determining location offset information. A correction manager determines to present, at a device, a location-based display including one or more representations of one or more location-based features. Next, the correction manager receives an input for specifying offset information for at least one of the one or more representations with respect to the location-based display. Then, the correction manager determines to present the one or more representations in the location-based display based, at least in part, on the offset information.
US09668086B2
Methods, devices, and computer readable storage devices for providing optimized location information
Optimized location information is provided for a location based service. An event is detected which is indicative of an error in the location based service which degrades the performance of the location based service. A cause of the error is determined, and resolution of the error is initiated based on the determined cause.
US09668077B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, and an audio-visual source tracking system. The electronic circuitry is in the housing. The audio-visual source tracking system includes a first video camera and an array of microphones. The first video camera and the array of microphones are attached to the housing. The audio-visual source tracking system is configured to receive video information from the first video camera. The audio-visual source tracking system is configured to capture audio information from the array of microphones at least partially in response to the video information. The audio-visual source tracking system might include a second video camera that is attached to the housing, wherein the first and second video cameras together estimate the beam orientation of the array of microphones.
US09668072B2
Loudspeaker drivers used in audio systems are subject to performance variance caused by production deviation of components and assembly processes and consequently audio system performance is influenced by the mechanical attributes of individual loudspeaker drivers of which the audio systems are comprised. This invention provides a solution to minimize the variance of duplicate audio system performance by rectifying the signal processing to minimize loudspeaker variance in duplicated or mass production audio systems.
US09668071B2
A hearing device includes: a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device; and a memory unit; wherein the memory unit has stored therein: a hearing device identifier, and model data comprising model information data indicative of available models for the hearing device, the model information data comprising first model information and a signature; and wherein the processing unit is configured to: verify the model data, and proceed to a model update mode if verification of the model data fails.
US09668066B1
We describe a method of blind source separation for use, for example, in a listening or hearing aid. The method processes input data from multiple microphones each receiving a mixed signal from multiple audio sources, performing independent component analysis (ICA) on the data in the time-frequency domain based on an estimation of a spectrogram of each acoustic source. The spectrograms of the sources are determined from non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) models of each source, the NMF model representing time-frequency variations in the output of an acoustic source in the time-frequency domain. The NMF and ICA models are jointly optimized, thus automatically resolving an inter-frequency permutation ambiguity.
US09668056B2
A sound transducer structure includes a membrane, a counter electrode, and a plurality of elevations. The membrane includes a first main surface, made of a membrane material, in a sound transducing region and an edge region of the membrane. The counter electrode is made of counter electrode material, and includes a second main surface arranged in parallel to the first main surface of the membrane on a side of a free volume opposite the first main surface of the membrane. The plurality of elevations extend in the sound transducing region from the second main surface of the counter electrode into the free volume.
US09668055B2
The portable sound recorder (1) according to the invention comprises A) a plurality of microphones (1A-F) arranged for picking up voices or sounds from an external environment; B) a protective outer shell (10) that encloses: B.1) a logic unit (2) programmed or in any case arranged for processing the electrical or opto-electronic signals emitted by the plurality of microphones improving the quality of the sounds recorded; B.2) a mass memory (4) arranged for memorising and store/conserve the sounds picked up by the plurality of microphones; B.3) an electric power supply (6) that supplies the logic unit and the mass memory; and where the plurality of microphones comprises at least three microphones of the Micro-ElectroMechanical System (MEMS) type. The recorder is suitable for semi-professional use, is very small in size, can very faithfully reproduce atmosphere and directionality effects, is suitable for example for making cinematographic recordings or recordings of natural phenomena, live concerts or other music or sports events and press conferences.
US09668041B2
A system for monitoring and directing athletic or other physical activities is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a headset worn by an athlete includes one or more sensors, a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory and a communication link. The athlete's headset receives and transmits signals to a coach while the athlete is performing an activity. In this embodiment, the present invention provides coordinated audio streams to the athlete during his/her activity and training.
US09668037B2
An optoelectronic packet switch comprising: switch input(s) for receiving optical packet signals; a passive optical router; a control unit; and a plurality of detector-remodulators (DRMs) configured to receive signals from the switch input(s) and to generate modulated optical signals for transmission to the input ports of the passive optical router. Each DRM comprising: detector(s) for converting an optical packet-signal received at the switch input(s) into an electrical packet-signal; modulator(s) for generating the modulated optical signals. Each modulator configured to: receive a wavelength-tuned input from a tunable laser; receive the electrical packet-signal from one of the detectors; and to generate a modulated optical signal at the tuned wavelength, the modulated signal containing the information of the electric packet-signal and the tuned wavelength chosen to select an output port of the passive optical router for the modulated optical signal; and an electronic circuit connecting each of the detector(s) to a corresponding modulator.
US09668035B2
A high signal to noise ratio circuit and signal processing scheme described herein provides signal power above a noise floor such that high performance rate gyro operation can be achieved. The technology described herein exploits the combination of very low noise rate signal front end and a carrier frequency locked to a crystal filter's passband. A fixed single frequency and a sampled alternating current amplitude for conveyance of rate information is utilized.
US09668022B2
Techniques are presented for providing multimedia queue services. A multimedia queue manager manages queues of subscribers. The queues include selections for multimedia. The multimedia queue manager schedules broadcasts for the selections and informs recording devices of the subscribers to record the selections during those broadcasts. Moreover, the multimedia queue manager updates the queues in response to actions of the subscribers and/or actions of the recoding devices of the subscribers.
US09668021B2
A digital service signal apparatus is disclosed. The digital service signal apparatus includes a receiving module receiving signaling information having channel information for an application from the digital service signal, a generating module generating a request using the channel information, a sending module sending the generated request, a downloading module downloading the application, an executing module configured to execute the API related to the application and a registering module configured to register the specific key set according to the mode number.
US09668016B2
An apparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with media content, including a receiver, wherein the receiver receives at least one of a transmission of media content and a broadcast of media content, wherein the media content includes at least one of broadcast media content and entertainment media content, and further wherein the receiver receives information regarding the media content, a processor for processing at least one of the received media content and the received information regarding the media content, a display device for visually displaying the information regarding the media content, and/or a speaker device for audibly announcing the information regarding the media content.
US09668005B2
A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are provided. The digital broadcast receiver includes a reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal in which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, an extractor for extracting transmission parameter channel signaling information and fast information channel signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, an acquirer for acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble by using the extracted fast information channel signaling information, the ensemble being a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, a detector for detecting a descriptor defining Internet access information corresponding to the mobile service data by using the acquired program table, and a controller for controlling the Internet access information of the detected descriptor and the mobile service data to be displayed.
US09668002B1
The identification of live streaming content supports a broad range of applications. Information is extracted from the live content as it is being delivered to viewers, generating a feature set that is then compared to feature sets corresponding to known content. Once the content is identified, any of a variety of actions may be taken depending on the application.
US09667989B2
In a moving picture coding device that codes moving pictures in units of a block by partitioning a first block, which is obtained by partitioning each picture of the moving pictures into predetermined sizes, into one or a plurality of second blocks, a quantization parameter calculation unit calculates a quantization parameter of the second block. A predictive quantization parameter deriving unit derives a predictive quantization parameter of the second block using quantization parameters of a third block adjacent to the left of the second block and a fourth block adjacent to the top of the second block. A differential quantization parameter generation unit generates a differential quantization parameter of the second block from a difference between the quantization parameter of the second block and the predictive quantization parameter. A first bitstream generation unit codes the differential quantization parameter of the second block.
US09667985B1
An apparatus includes a central processing unit and a parallel processing unit. The parallel processing unit generally includes an array of software-configurable general purpose processors, a globally shared memory, and a shared memory. Each of the software-configurable general purpose processors in the array of software-configurable general purpose processors generally has access to the globally shared memory to execute one or more portions of a decoding program. The shared memory is accessible by the central processing unit to program the shared memory with a schedule describing which of the one or more portions of the decoding program are to be executed by each of the software-configurable general purpose processors.
US09667984B2
A reference picture information decoding unit (13) omits decoding of a reference list sorting presence or absence flag and/or a reference list sorting order based on the number of current picture referable pictures.
US09667980B2
The disclosure is directed to techniques for content-adaptive background skipping for region-of-interest (ROI) video coding. The techniques may be useful in video telephony (VT) applications such as video streaming and videoconferencing, and especially useful in low bit-rate wireless communication applications, such as mobile VT. The disclosed techniques analyze content information of a video frame to dynamically determine whether to skip a non-ROI area within the frame. For example, the skipping determination may be based on content activity, such as ROI shape deformation, ROI motion, non-ROI motion, non-ROI texture complexity, and accumulated distortion due to non-ROI skipping. The skip determination may operate in conjunction with either frame-level or macroblock-level bit allocation.
US09667975B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting compressed video content are provided. The method includes transmitting a codec selection request frame, the codec selection request frame including an identifier of one or more codecs to be used to compress video content and requesting approval of the use of the codec, receiving a codec selection response frame, the codec selection response frame including result information indicating whether the use of the codec is approved, and transmitting video content frames for the video content compressed by the approved codec based on the codec selection response frame. Each video content frame includes frame type information indicating a type of compression applied to the video content included in the video content frame.
US09667967B2
Systems and methods for encoding alternative streams for use in adaptive bitrate streaming based upon the delay of each stream in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes memory, and a processor configured by a source encoding application to: receive multimedia content, where the multimedia content includes source video data having a primary resolution and a primary sample aspect ratio; and encode the source video data as a set of alternative video streams, where: the alternative video streams have different maximum bitrates; and the alternative video streams are encoded to have an upper bound seek delay that is equal to or less than the upper bound seek delay of streams in the set of alternative video streams that are encoded at a higher maximum bitrate.
US09667955B2
The invention relates to a method of performing an absolute length calibration for an object (20) located with or covered by a camera device (15) in a mirror (10), the method comprising the steps of determining dimensions of the camera device (15) based on the type of the camera device (15), capturing an image of the camera device (15) with an image of the object (20) with the camera device (15), measuring a length on the image of the object (20) and measuring dimensions of the camera device (15) from the captured image, and using the determined dimensions of the camera device (15), the measured length of the image of the object (20) and the measured dimensions of the camera device (15) to calibrate the length of the object (20).
US09667952B2
An information processing device includes: a detector information acquiring unit to acquire detector information relating to a position of a detector; a display control unit to cause a display device capable of varying contents to be displayed according to display directions to perform display of different contents or display at a different timing, for each display direction; a display direction acquiring unit to acquire a display direction in which display is recognizable from the position where the detector is installed based on contents or a timing of display by the display device as detected by the detector; and an associating unit to associate the acquired detector information and the acquired display direction with each other.
US09667936B2
The invention provides, among other things, methods and systems for creating a customized colorable image of a user. An exemplary method may include receiving an indication of a selected colorable background. The method may further include capturing a real-time image of the user, where the user is adjacent to a predetermined background. An image of the predetermined background may be filtered out of the real-time image of the user to generate a filtered real-time image of the user. Then, the filtered real-time image of the user against the selected colorable background may be presented.
US09667925B2
A projector includes a cooling device cooling a liquid crystal panel. The cooling device includes a heat receiving part receiving heat of the liquid crystal panel, a Peltier device having a heat absorbing part that absorbs the heat of the heat receiving part and a heat generating part that generates heat when the absorbing part absorbs heat, a heat sink provided so that heat may be transferred to the heat generating part, and a heat pipe containing a hydraulic fluid inside, in which heat is transferred by convection of the hydraulic fluid. The heat sink has a stacking part superimposed on the Peltier device and a projecting part projecting from the Peltier device as seen from the Peltier device side, and the heat pipe has an interior part located between the Peltier device and the stacking part and an extending part extending along the projecting part.
US09667924B2
A projection-type image display device includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing houses a light source unit configured to emit light, an image generating unit configured to modulate the light from the light source unit according to a video input signal to generate image light, and a projecting unit configured to project the image light generated by the image generating unit. The second housing includes an output unit configured to output a light signal and/or an input unit configured to input a light signal which are/is exposed and arranged on a surface of the second housing.
US09667922B2
A viewing system for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, includes an image capture unit, a computing unit, and a reproducing unit. The image capture unit includes a lens, which has an optical axis, and a digital image sensing unit, and is configured to be attached to the vehicle such that a viewing area on the side of the vehicle is sensed with at least one part of a first legally-prescribed field of view and with at least one part of a second legally-prescribed field of view. The lens is disposed with respect to the digital image sensing unit such that the optical axis extends through the part of the first legally-prescribed field of view that is reproduced on the digital image sensing unit.
US09667921B2
A method for providing a signal to a light control unit of at least one headlight of a vehicle that has a camera for acquiring a surrounding environment of a vehicle, the method including a step of determination of an interval between the vehicle and another vehicle using the camera. The method further includes a step of determination of a distance between the vehicle and the other vehicle using a camera-independent sensor. In addition, the method includes a step of plausibilization of the interval using the distance, the interval being plausibilized if a difference between the interval and the distance is smaller than a tolerance value. Finally, the method includes a step of provision the interval via an interface to a light control unit of the headlight.
US09667919B2
A method includes receiving, at a peer node, statistical data based on video data and relating to the video data, but other than a video content and an image content of the video data. In particular, the peer node is other than within a trusted group of nodes trusted for accessing the video data. At the peer node, the statistical data is analyzed to identify predetermined patterns therein. Upon identifying a predetermined pattern, a signal is provided to a trusted processor relating to the identified pattern.
US09667917B2
A method substantially as shown and described the detailed description and/or drawings and/or elsewhere herein. A device substantially as shown and described the detailed description and/or drawings and/or elsewhere herein.
US09667913B2
A video conferencing/presentation system includes a PC docking station and a room media unit. The dock includes speakerphone and tactile user interface. The wall-mounted RMU, including a wide field camera and speaker(s), is coupled to a monitor. The dock communicates with the RMU. A speakerphone mic captures room audio. During conferencing, room audio and camera video are sent to a docked PC; the PC communicates with remote nodes using video chat software, sending room A/V; remote A/V is received from the PC by the dock, and transmitted for RMU output. During presentation, room audio, and/or PC media software presentation, may be output through the RMU, or to the PC for remote transmission. The dock provides the PC network access. Dock/RMU may each be equipped with a bidirectional transceiver, which uses prioritized opportunistic sequencing to assemble/disassemble a combined media/control packet stream over a cable, and transfer power from dock to RMU.
US09667908B2
An image recording system including a component capable of displaying and processing of images such as a central processing unit (CPU)/digital signal processor (DSP) that may be installed in a network video recorder (NVR) so that the image recording system may be used to implement a video summary/video synopsis technology in an embedded NVR/digital video recorder (DVR)/set-top box (SETTOP) system having a Host CPU and a plurality of DSP cores.
US09667903B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule and/or listing information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule and/or listing information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule and/or listing information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule and/or listing information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.
US09667897B2
A detection device comprises an array of pixels, each pixel including a sensor and generating an oscillating signal (S); and a frequency detection circuit (206, 208, 210) for detecting the frequency of the oscillating output signal of one or more of the pixels, the frequency detection circuit having: a window generation circuit (208) adapted to generate at least one output signal (WIN_SEN) indicating the start and end times of a first time duration (TWINDOW) corresponding to a plurality of periods of the oscillating output signal; and one or more counters (210) adapted to receive at least one reference signal (TCOUNT, TREAD) indicating the start and end times of a reference time duration (TREF), and to quantify a difference between the first time duration and the reference time duration.
US09667892B2
An image sensor includes a semiconductor chip and a package covering the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip includes a pixel portion including a plurality of pixels, a memory, a readout unit configured to write, in the memory, a signal corresponding to a signal from the pixel portion, an output unit configured to output an image signal corresponding to the signal written in the memory, a control unit configured to output a control signal to an output pin of the package via an output pad of the semiconductor chip, and a pad to which a power supply voltage is supplied from outside the semiconductor chip. The control signal is a signal indicating a period during which the signal corresponding to the signal from the pixel portion is written in the memory of the readout unit.
US09667891B2
Disclosed is an image sensor that includes a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels in a matrix having rows and columns, a binning sampling unit configured to (i) amplify with different gains signals from unit pixels selected from the unit pixels in each of the columns, and (ii) output a binning sampling signal according to an average of the amplified signals, and an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the binning sampling signal to a digital signal.
US09667890B2
In a measuring apparatus (8) having a measuring unit (1) according to the invention a spatially resolved measurement result detected using the measuring unit (1) of an object (16) is converted into a false-color image, and the false-color image is cast back or projected onto the object (16) by a display device (3).
US09667887B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are described to improve a lens distortion curve which roughly approximates distortion caused by a camera lens to capture an event onto video. The present invention selects a generic lens distortion curve that roughly approximates the distortion caused by the camera lens while capturing the event onto the video. The video as well as information from the generic lens distortion curve is used to generate a camera model. This camera model is used to integrate virtual insertions into the video. If the camera model is sufficiently accurate to present a realistic appearance of the virtual insertions to the remote viewer, this camera model is then used to integrate more virtual insertions into the video. However, if the camera model is not sufficiently accurate, an iterative process is employed to refine this camera model.
US09667886B2
An apparatus has a video input (3) for receiving input video data (2) and a processor (5). The processor (5) can perform detecting at least one video segment in the input video data on the basis of at least one predefined video characteristic attribute, detecting at least one video content attribute associated with the detected at least one video segment, and inserting video scene data into the input video data on the basis of the at least one detected video segment and the at least one video content attribute.
US09667885B2
Methods and systems facilitate efficient and effective special effects in video streaming. In one embodiment, an apparatus enables special effects by decoding video frames in accordance with a decoding process. The decoding process includes: accessing a plurality of streams of video (wherein each stream originates from a respective camera of a camera array) and decoding frames from the plurality of streams of video. A first stream from a first camera comprises: a first primary special effect predictive (SP) frame that is coded based upon a predictive (P) frame in the first stream; and a first secondary special effect predictive (SP) frame that is coded based upon a primary special effect predictive (SP) frame included in a second stream from a second camera. The method further comprises rendering a special effect using the primary and secondary special effect predictive (SP) frames.
US09667884B2
A system for evaluating surgical knot formation is disclosed. The system includes a first surgically relevant object, a pressure sensor, and at least one pair of suture ends passing through the pressure sensor and the first surgically relevant object. The system also includes a controller coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to 1) transform signals from the pressure sensor into a pressure map having pressure magnitudes from a plurality of locations on the pressure sensor corresponding to one or more knots which may be formed in the at least one pair of suture ends; and 2) format the pressure map for display.
US09667874B2
An imaging device includes an optical system including a zoom lens and a focus lens, a driver to drive the zoom lens and the focus lens, an image sensor to convert an optical image of a subject formed via the optical system into an electric signal and output the signal as an image signal, an image processor to generate image data of the subject according to the image signal, a digital zoom element to perform digital zoom on the basis of the image data; and a position detector to detect a position of the zoom lens, wherein the digital zoom element is configured to perform the digital zoom even when the zoom lens position has not reached a telephoto end.
US09667864B2
An image converter partially enlarges and reduces a panorama image. The image converter inputs a panorama image, enlarges/reduces the panorama image, such that an enlargement ratio changes continuously in a continuous area of the panorama image. In the image enlargement/reduction, the panorama image is enlarged and reduced such that a width, in the longitudinal direction of the panorama image, of the panorama image after the enlargement/reduction fits into the original panorama image.
US09667861B2
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a camera module, and a camera control module operatively connected to the camera module, wherein the camera control module obtains focus information of a subject to be captured by using the camera module, moves a lens of a camera to focus the camera on the subject based on at least the focus information, and provides guide information corresponding to the movement of the lens through an output device operatively connected to the electronic device.
US09667857B2
Provided is an imaging apparatus that performs sound processing suitable for each type of AF operation according to a lens f-number so that recorded sound is clear and contains little noise. The imaging apparatus includes a lens, a microphone for recording sound, and a filter configured to reduce noise contained in an output signal of the microphone. The noise reduction level of the filter is controlled according to the lens f-number so that the noise reduction level of the filter is increased when the lens f-number is large than when the lens f-number is small.
US09667855B2
A mobile terminal which is capable of capturing an image focused on according to a distance from an object, includes a camera configured to sense an object using a plurality of lenses, a display unit configured to display an image received through the camera, and a controller that is configured to recognize capturing distances between the plurality of lenses and the object using sensing information on the object, generate a focal zone, defined by focal distances corresponding to some of the recognized capturing distances, and control a display unit to output an image focusing on at least one object included in the focal zone.
US09667853B2
The present disclosure provides an image-capturing apparatus for determining an object distance with higher accuracy. An image-capturing apparatus includes an optical system that forms an object image of an object, the optical system including a focus lens, an image sensor that captures the object image formed via the optical system and generates image data, and a controller that determines an object distance according to information representing a state of the optical system based on (i) first image data generated when the focus lens is at a first focus lens position and (ii) second image data generated when the focus lens is at a second focus lens position.
US09667851B2
An electronic device includes: an operation unit; a detection unit that detects a position or an orientation; a communication unit that communicates with an external device including an image capture unit; and a storing unit that stores image data, wherein the communication unit receives image data generated by the image capture unit from the external device after transmitting information instructing the image capture unit included in the external device to capture an image in response to an operation of the operation unit, and the storing unit stores the image data received and information on the position detected by the detection unit or information on the orientation detected by the detection unit.
US09667850B2
Disclosed is a portable device including a first camera unit configured to capture a first image and a second camera unit configured to capture a second image; a communication unit configured to transmit and receive data to and from an external device; and a processor configured to control the first camera unit, the second camera unit, and the communication unit, wherein the processor is further configured to: detect a state of a third camera unit contained in the external device when activating at least one of the first camera unit and the second camera unit, the state of the third camera unit including an active state and an inactive state, detect a direction of the third camera unit when the third camera unit is in the active state, and activate at least one of the first camera unit and the second camera unit in a different direction from the detected direction of the third camera unit.
US09667846B2
An apparatus including camera optics; an array of plenoptic camera optics; an image sensor including a plurality of sensels; and a driver configured to cause relative physical movement of at least the camera optics and the array of plenoptic camera optics.
US09667841B2
A processor executes a program and reduces reference and comparative images to reduced reference and comparative images, in a ratio of ½, by setting a pixel signal value of each pixel in each image using pixel signal values for each of four pixels in each of the images. The processor specifies (i) a first corresponding point similar to a first feature point included in the reduced reference image, from the reduced comparative image, using a first filter for 3×3 pixels, and (ii) a second corresponding point similar to a second feature point in the reference image, corresponding to the first feature point, from the comparative image, using a second filter for 5×5 pixels, on the basis of a position of the first corresponding point specified in the reduced comparative image.
US09667832B2
In an image processing apparatus, a specific local gradation pattern detecting unit detects a specific local gradation pattern in a density distribution of a pixel array in a secondary scanning direction at each one of plural sampling positions along a primary scanning direction in a document image. A crease detecting unit detects a crease on the basis of positions in the primary scanning direction and positions in the secondary scanning direction of plural specific local gradation patterns detected for the plural sampling positions along the primary scanning direction. A crease removing unit removes the detected crease. The specific local gradation pattern has a density distribution that monotonically increases from a background density to a local peak density and monotonically decreases from the local peak density to the background density in the secondary scanning direction.
US09667823B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide time-varying barcodes in an active display for information exchange. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for communicating information between electronic devices via a barcode image sequence. In a typical embodiment, a barcode image sequence is displayed on the display screen of a first electronic device. A second electronic device reads and decodes the barcode image sequence. The second electronic device displays an acknowledgement on the display screen of the second electronic device. The acknowledgement is read by the first electronic device.
US09667816B2
Disclosed is a relay connection system including: a server; one or more job processing devices; and a terminal device, wherein each job processing device blinks the light emitting unit in accordance with each blinking pattern, the terminal device recognizes the blinking pattern of the light emitting unit by shooting the job processing device, and transmits a connection request including the recognized blinking pattern and an address of the terminal device, to the server, the server registers an address of the job processing device and the blinking pattern of the job processing device, in case that the server receives the connection request, the server checks whether a coincident blinking pattern which is coincident with the blinking pattern included in the connection request is registered, and in case that the coincident blinking pattern is registered, the server relays the communication between the terminal device and the job processing device.
US09667812B2
An image forming apparatus 1 includes: a conveyance unit 40 that conveys a medium; a reading unit 50 that reads an image formed on the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; a storage unit that stores data for specifying a color indicated by a reading result obtained from the reading unit 50; and a correction unit that corrects the data to match a color of the image and the color indicated by the reading result. The conveyance unit 40 conveys a color sample medium. Sa as a medium containing an image of a color region of a predetermined color, the reading unit 50 reads the image of the color region, and the correction unit corrects the data associated with the predetermined color in accordance with a reading result of the image of the color region obtained from the reading unit 50.
US09667808B2
Techniques for contextual mobile data access are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a mobile device with a local gateway utility. The local gateway utility may be operative to receive a network request on a device, determine that the network request corresponds to a context-specific data plan for the device, the context-specific data plan authorizing performance of the network request through a zero-rated proxy server, and perform the network request for the application using the zero-rated proxy server as an intermediary. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09667796B1
A computer-implemented system and method for group message delivery is provided. A voice message is received from a user associated with a personal communication device. An identification code for a discussion group to which the voice message is directed is obtained from the voice message. The voice message is added to a queue associated with the discussion group and a list of members associated with the discussion group is obtained. A sublist of personal communication devices associated with those members that are signed in to the discussion group is built. The voice message is transmitted to the personal communication devices on the sublist when the voice message reaches a top of the queue.
US09667791B2
A method for providing communication interaction visibility includes detecting an incoming voice call communication to a communication system, determining an identifier of a caller initiating the voice call communication, retrieving a communication history related to the identifier from a messaging gateway, and providing the communication history to an agent terminal of the communication system.
US09667781B2
A method is provided for implementing a local call hold in a dual subscription dual active first communication device. A first voice call may be established with a second communication device via a first communication network. An indication of a second voice call may be received from a third communication device via a second communication network. The first voice call may be placed on hold by sending a call hold indicator within a regularly transmitted frame to the second communication device. The second voice call may be established with the third communication device after placing the first voice call on hold. The first voice call with the second communication device may be subsequently resumed by excluding the call hold indicator from the regularly transmitted frame to the second communication device.
US09667776B1
A system for bi-directional quality testing of a telephony system or network using an audio generation device configured to automate Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality assessments and connect to a communication endpoint through computer telephony integration (CTI) instruction or system configuration to enable auto-answering of the communication endpoint, listen, record, and process signals and audio data, calculate Mean Opinion Scores (MOS), generate signals and audio for playback, compare files using a full reference algorithm, and store data with MOS results displayed in data naming structure.
US09667772B1
A dependent context is provided for a mobile device. The dependent context is a context-dependent logical grouping of specified content for display on the mobile device, and may be provided by: receiving an indication of the specified content for inclusion in the dependent context; loading the specified content into the mobile device; and activating the dependent context on the mobile device. The activating may include activating the dependent context in a display interface of the mobile device. In enhanced aspects, subsequent to the activating, the dependent context may be automatically deactivated. The automatically deactivating, which may be based on time, a calendar day, an event, a location of the device, etc., may include automatically removing the dependent context from the display interface of the mobile device.
US09667771B2
A method and apparatus for processing contact information, the method comprising: displaying a list of contacts on a display of a wireless terminal; determining a first contact from the list of contacts in response to a selection by a user; obtaining a web log address and an online shop address of the first contact; obtaining, from a network service, a first content corresponding to the web log address and the online shop address of the first contact; and displaying the first content on a first area of the display, the first content being dynamically updated.
US09667770B2
Systems for and methods of delivering telephone calls using the combination of a data channel and a voice channel are disclosed. A data channel connection with the telephone handset may provide pre-call information used to set up incoming and outgoing calls which are ultimately connected using a voice channel. Use of the pre-call information may permit the same handset to be associated with multiple secondary telephone numbers from which calls appear to have been made and to which calls appear to have been placed.
US09667769B2
Communication devices, computer readable media and methods are provided for managing a group messaging session. A graphical user interface comprising a conversation window and a multiplicity of avatars is displayed. Each avatar represents one of a multiplicity of group members. Responsive to transmission of a multicast message from a sending communication device for delivery to the multiplicity of group members, a first status update message indicating delivery of the multicast message to a corresponding receiving communication device for each group member is received. Responsive to receiving the status update message, a delivery notification for each of the multiplicity of group members is displayed. The notification is associated with a corresponding one of the avatars. Further, a second status update message indicating that the multicast message was read at a corresponding receiving communication device is received and a read notification for each of the multiplicity of group members is displayed.
US09667765B2
A communication destination device includes a transceiver configured to exchange communication with a first endpoint device via a first wireless communication channel and configured to exchange communication with a second endpoint device via a second wireless communication channel, the second wireless communication channel being distinct from the first wireless communication channel. The communication destination device includes a translator element configured to receive a message from one of the first endpoint device and the second endpoint device and to translate the message from a first message format into a second message format, the second message format being distinct from the first message format.
US09667764B1
A method for using an accessory with a mobile device is disclosed. The method includes: causing at least one camera of the mobile device to capture one or more images of a pattern on an accessory that is being used with the mobile device; determining a type associated with the accessory based on the one or more images; and entering an accessory-specific operating mode in which behavior of the mobile device is controlled to accommodate features that are specific to the accessory type.
US09667755B2
A process automation system includes at least one wireless-aware component for detection of the occurrence (e.g., start and end) of a wireless volume data transfer from at least one other component which might be a wireless-unaware component. Upon such detection, the at least one wireless-aware component requests for bandwidth on behalf of the wireless-unaware component to decrease the communication time and subsequently releases this bandwidth again. A method is provided for operation of the process automation system, in which an upload/download is generally detected by either explicit initiation of the upload/download in the wireless-aware component, or by automatic detection in the wireless-aware component.
US09667749B2
A method for a client-initiated leader election in a distributed system including receiving a master listener election request by at least one listener of a plurality of listeners in the distributed system, arranging a list of configured listeners in a descending priority order, the list of configured listeners comprises one or more listeners of the plurality of listeners set for connection, selecting a listener with a highest priority from the list of configured listeners, determining an availability of the selected listener, verifying a connectivity to the selected listener using a ping utility program, assigning the selected listener as a master listener based on the connectivity, and connecting to the master listener.
US09667748B2
There is provided a client device including a storage section which stores content data, a control section which acquires content identification information for identifying the content data stored in the storage section, and a transmission section which transmits, to a server device, a registration request including user identification information for identifying a user who uses the client device and the content identification information acquired by the control section, and which, when the server device holds the content data identified by the content identification information, causes the server device to hold information obtained by associating the user identification information with the content identification information as user-specific registration information.
US09667739B2
A distributed caching hierarchy that includes multiple edge routing servers, at least some of which receiving content requests from client computing systems via a load balancer. When receiving a content request, an edge routing server identifies which of the edge caching servers the requested content would be in if the requested content were to be cached within the edge caching servers, and distributes the content request to the identified edge caching server in a deterministic and predictable manner to increase the likelihood of increasing a cache-hit ratio.
US09667732B2
Described herein are systems and methods for analyzing social media data, assessing various aspects of social media performance, comparing the social media performance of a plurality of entities within a peer group, and displaying useful information to users in a comprehensive and/or intuitive fashion. The social media performance assessment information pertaining to an entity and the entity's peers may also be quantified in the form of one or more scores based on empirical data gathered from one or more social media platforms. Peer groups may be customized or dynamically defined such that the performance assessment information may be used to accurately benchmark entities against their competition or develop best practices within an industry or organization. The performance assessment information described herein may further take into consideration the effect that the social media performance of one entity may have on another.
US09667731B2
Categorizing, colorizing, saving and visually filtering the content and appearance, of a live news feed, within a business or social network. The method involves categorizing information, photos, video and the like, prior to posting it within the live news feed. Each category is associated with a visual indicator so that postings of different categories become distinctive. The live news feed can be viewed in its entirety, by user type, by subject category or a combination of categories. The viewing user may choose categories for limiting information which appears in the live news feed by subject or user type, but may also have the option of viewing all content, which can be visually filtered by color. Users may save information from the central live news feed to their personal pages by choosing from the variety of categories that are also used to filter the live news feed content viewable to them.
US09667730B2
Systems and methods for presenting information are disclosed. One aspect comprises receiving a request for information. First data can be provided in response to the request if a parameter is equal to or exceeds a comparator element, wherein the parameter relates to one or more of abandoned data transmissions and completed data transmissions. Second data can be provided in response to the request if the comparator element exceeds the parameter.
US09667721B2
A relaying device may receive content data from a particular image processing device. The relaying device may send, to a server device, the received content data and a first particular instruction instructing to store the received content data in a first storage mode in the server device. The relaying device may send first screen information to the particular image processing device. The first screen information includes instructions for displaying a first screen on a display provided in the particular image processing device, and for accepting a changing instruction to change the first storage mode to a second storage mode. The relaying device may send second particular instruction to the server device in a case that a first information is received. The second particular instruction may instruct to store the content data in the server device in the second storage mode.
US09667719B1
Parallel storage systems are provided with a multi-tier hardware accelerated partitioned key-value store. A distributed storage system for storing a partitioned key-value store comprises at least one compute node comprising a partitioned key-value store server; the partitioned key-value store server being configured to store key-value data on at least one hardware accelerated key-value store. The hardware accelerated key-value store comprises, for example, a flash-based hardware accelerated key-value store and/or a disk-based hardware accelerated key-value store. The compute nodes optionally further comprise a local key value store for generating one or more of read and write commands for the flash-based hardware accelerated key-value store and/or the disk-based hardware accelerated key-value store. The partitioned key-value store servers optionally provide an interface between one or more local key-value stores and the flash-based hardware accelerated key-value store and/or the disk-based hardware accelerated key-value store.
US09667712B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating spin mode-based dynamic updating of application servers in an on-demand services environment. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes upgrading a first set of application servers of a plurality of application servers at one or more computing devices, holding a first set of requests received at the first set of application servers from being processed while the first set of application servers is being upgraded, and upgrading a second set of application servers of the plurality of application servers upon completion of the first set of application servers. The method may further include holding a second set of requests received at the second set of application servers from being processed while the second set of application servers is being upgraded, and resuming processing of the first set of requests at the upgraded first set of application servers.
US09667711B2
Various embodiments load balance service requests across one or more servers. In one embodiment, a service requestor directly accesses a shared metrics array stored in at least one server of a plurality of servers in a service cluster. Each of these servers includes one or more services. The shared metrics array is accessible by each of the plurality of servers, and includes a set of metrics for each of the plurality of servers. A determination is made based on the set of metrics associated with at least one server in the plurality of servers if a service request is to be sent to the at least one server. The service request is sent to the at least one server based on determining that the service request is to be sent to the at least one sever.
US09667709B2
A system includes a member terminal configured to operate by a processor; and a server configured to operate by a processor, and to make public, on a network, original image data uploaded from the member terminal or tone-changed image data obtained by changing a tone of the original image data such that the image data can be browsed by a plurality of members, wherein the server is configured to: create the tone-changed image data by changing a tone of the original image data to a tone of a type selected by one of the members from a plurality of types of tones: and group a member who has uploaded the original image data and the member who has created the tone-changed image data, wherein the member terminal is configured to: wirelessly exchange data with a wrist terminal which is wearable on an arm and includes a display; and make a notification if the wrist terminal of the member grouped with the member who has uploaded the original image data comes within a predetermined range.
US09667700B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for detecting documents within content received by a computing device. A computing device can receive content through an application. The received content is scanned to determine if it includes a file type indicating that it includes a redeemable document. A notification is presented to the user when a document has been detected within the content including a button enabling rendering of the document on the computing device. The rendered document can include a button to transmit the document to secondary computing devices associated with the user. A user profile associated with the user can include data indicating secondary computing devices associated with the user. The user profile can be accessed to retrieve the data and, if the button is selected, the document can be transmitted to the secondary computing devices from which the user can render the document.
US09667698B2
A method for transmitting data from an on-premise component to an off-premise computer image includes: sending a message from the off-premise computer image to an off-premise server and recording an address of the off-premise computer image; sending a message from the off-premise server to the off-premise computer image with instructions for the off-premise computer image to connect to a specific unsecure port of the off-premise server; identifying a connection to the specific unsecure port of the off-premise server within a selected time interval; verifying the recorded address of the off-premise computer image; sending from the off-premise server a message to an on-premise connector to transmit the requested data using the specific unsecure port of the on-premise component if the off-premise computer image is verified and the connection is identified within the selected time interval; and transmitting the requested data using the specific unsecure port of the on-premise component.
US09667696B2
Systems and methods of the present invention enable low latency viewing of medical images over a network and therefore can fulfill the functionality that is required for an international DICOM viewing platform. The system includes a server and a client that communicates with each other in the background and reduces image viewing latency in multiple aspects. When a user contacts the server using a web browser, the server sends the client to the user's computer over the network. The client runs from the browser and will send signals to the server to allow the server to load data into memory from storage one or more steps before the user requests the data, reducing latency on the server. The client will download and cache image data one or more steps before the user begins to view the images, and as a result latency from network transmission is also reduced.
US09667692B2
A system for remote analysis, remote training and/or remote maintenance on a mobile machine comprises a first display unit (10), command input means and a communication device which can be connected as required to the first display unit (10) and to a data network (15). The first communication device can be activated by a command input for bidirectional communication with a second communication device of a data network subscriber, wherein the first and second communication devices are designed to transmit the data displayed by the first display unit (10) to a second display unit (19) connected to the second communication device, and wherein the subscriber can transmit an instruction data sequence to the first display unit (10) via the data network (15) and said sequence can be displayed by said first display unit, wherein the reception and the storing of the instruction data sequence are designed such that an instruction of the instruction data sequence can only be carried out by actuating the command input means.
US09667691B2
A method of retrieving service capability in bulk is provided. The method includes a client sending a request to create a group of contacts whose service capability is desired to an application server. The application server sends a response to the client indicating that the group of contacts has been created. The client then sends a request to retrieve the service capability of each of the contacts within the group to the application server. The application server sends a response identifying the service capability of each of the contacts within the group to the client.
US09667690B2
A number of devices co-located at a geographic location can broadcast and receive identity information. The identity information can include a unique device identifier and a device description. The identity information can be exchanged between various electronic devices using a communication link having limited transmission range. Device identifiers and corresponding device descriptions included in the tokens can be associated with content on the device receiving the tokens. The device descriptions can be used as hints for assigning labels to the devices identified by device identifiers. The labels can be associated with the content. The labeled content can be classified, organized, indexed and searched based at least in part on the labels.
US09667686B2
A method that includes: (1) transmitting, at a first transmit time point, a first probe packet over a network connection to a conferencing server immediately before transmitting a data packet, the first probe packet arriving at the conferencing server at a first receive time point; (2) transmitting, at a second transmit time point, a second probe packet over the network connection to the conferencing server immediately after transmitting the data packet, the second probe packet arriving at the conferencing server at a second receive time point, the first and second probe packets being smaller than the data packet; (3) receiving information encoding a first difference between the first and second transmit time points and a second difference between the first and second receive time points; and (4) based on the first and second differences, modifying a transmission parameter associated with data packets to be transmitted thereafter to the conferencing server.
US09667685B2
Systems and methods for multimedia encoding and decoding are disclosed. The systems and methods include multimedia format detection systems, decoder functionality generation systems, decoder instantiation systems, and multimedia processing engines which are capable of selecting a decoder or playback mechanism for each input encoded multimedia stream. The functionality of the decoder or playback mechanism is represented as syntax elements which may be further encoded. The functionality for decoding or playback is then stored or transmitted with the multimedia bitstream. Alternatively, the functionality and multimedia bitstream can be embedded in or associated with a second digital bitstream. Further, the functionality associated with an encoded multimedia stream can be used to instantiate a decoder or playback mechanism and the encoded multimedia stream decoded with the instantiated decoder or mechanism.
US09667682B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for media content streaming can include transacting access information associated with a media stream and transacting one or more fragments associated with the media stream to facilitate a delivery of media content associated with the media stream. Access information can include fragment sequencing information to facilitate individual retrieval of fragments associated with the media stream using a uniform resource identifier via a processing device configured to cache content. A fragment can include one or more stream messages. A stream message can include a message header and a corresponding media data sample. The message header can include a message stream identifier, a message type identifier, a timestamp, and a message length value.
US09667671B2
A method and system for facilitating communication between message producers and message consumers is disclosed. When a message producer is interested in identifying a message consumer for processing generated messages, the message producer declares a consumer identification rule. A messaging service manager identifies a set of suitable message consumers by comparing the consumer identification rule with a set of attributes associated with each of the message consumers registered with the messaging service manager and assigns channels associated with the set of identified message consumers to the message producer. The message producer may select a channel associated with a message consumer to initiate communication between the message producer and the message consumer.
US09667670B2
An apparatus, computer program product, and method for assisting communication with an intended communication partner. The apparatus may include a user interface and at least one computer processor. The computer processor initiates a communication session with a first contact. The processor identifies at least one second contact that has a potential to be confused with the first contact and highlights at least one difference between the first contact and the second contact in the user interface.
US09667669B2
A method and a system for managing associated sessions in a network is described, wherein the network comprises a network element configured for managing associated sessions between the network and user equipment. The method comprises the steps of providing a composition session identifier for associating sessions in a network; exchanging the composition session identifier between a user equipment and the network element; and associating two or more sessions with the composition session identifier by exchanging the composition session identifier.
US09667666B2
A control target device receives, from a control point device connected to a first network, a message for requesting movement to a second network. The control target device transmits a network movement advertising message to the control point device of the first network. The control target device disconnects from the first network and accesses the second network.The control point device collects device information on a plurality of control target devices connected to a plurality of networks. When a network of one control target device selected from the plurality of control target devices is different from a network of the control point device, the control point device accesses the network of the selected control target device.
US09667665B1
A server system exchanges trust signaling with a first access network, establishes hardware trust with the first access network, and determines that the first access network has established hardware trust with a communication interface to a second access network. The server system exchanges Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling with a SIP system, establishes hardware trust with the SIP system, and determines that the SIP system has established hardware trust with the second access network and a second communication device. The server system exchanges SIP signaling with a first communication device and establishes hardware trust with the first communication device. The server system receives a SIP Invite requesting a communication session between the first communication device and the second communication device over hardware-trusted systems, and based on the established hardware trust, the server system responsively forwards the SIP Invite to the SIP system for delivery to the second communication device.
US09667664B2
A method for facilitating surveillance of a targeted user participating in communication sessions conducted over a communications network, such as a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, that employs a session initiation protocol (SIP). The method includes receiving a subscription request from a third party subscriber, the subscription request identifying a targeted user to be monitored, monitoring communication sessions in which the targeted user is a participant, to detect SIP events corresponding to state transitions associated with the communication sessions. A system for facilitating surveillance of a targeted user includes an application programming interface (API) operable to receive a subscription request from a third party subscriber, the subscription request identifying the targeted user, wherein the third party subscriber is not a participant in the one or more communication sessions, and a SIP events monitoring module operable to detect one or more predetermined SIP events associated with the communication sessions based on the subscription request and notify the third party subscriber of the detected SIP events.
US09667659B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for determining security factors associated with an operating environment for a computer through a wireless network. The computer identifies one or more local computers operating within range of wireless communications to the computer through a wireless network. The computer determines a current operating environment corresponding to the one or more identified local computers. The computer determines a current security value for the current operating environment corresponding to identities and security of the identified local computers. The computer identifies data corresponding to the current operating environment, the data corresponding to a current time period of the current operating environment. The computer determines security information corresponding to the current operating environment, wherein the security information includes a familiarity of the computer to the current operating environment, and a historical security of the computer in the current operating environment.
US09667658B2
This disclosure relates generally to identity management, and more particularly to systems and methods for managing performance of identity management services. In one embodiment, a processor-implemented identity management performance control method is disclosed. The method may include receiving, via one or more hardware processors, an identity management architecture specification. The method may also include identifying, via the one or more hardware processors, a plurality of identity management attributes for the identity management architecture specification. The method may include selecting, via the one or more hardware processors, measurement criteria based on a target environment for implementing the identity management architecture. The method may include calculating, via the one or more hardware processors, an attribute measurement quotient for the plurality of identified identity management attributes using the selected measurement criteria.
US09667657B2
Disclosed are systems and method for utilizing a dedicated computer security service. An exemplary method includes storing in an electronic database rules that indicate when to use either a first cloud service or a second cloud service for one of the security services, receiving a request from a client computer to access the security service, determining parameters relating to the received request, applying the parameters to the plurality of rules to determine an instruction indicating whether to transmit the request to the first cloud service or the second cloud service; and transmitting the request to either the first cloud service or the second cloud service, based on the instruction, to use the at least one security service.
US09667654B2
A policy directed, security-centric model driven architecture is described to secure internal web services, such as those implementing service-oriented architecture (SOA), and external web services such as those hosted on a cloud computing platform. A distributed data dictionary hosted across multiple dictionary engines and operating in conjunction with web security services are used to embed security profiles in web services messages and to validate messages that contain such security profiles.
US09667652B2
Providing mobile remote access in a secure manner. A bridge application is provided for devices such as smart phones which establishes a first secure connection to a host controller using a carrier network, advertises one or more SSIDs using a second wireless connection on the device such as an IEEE 802.11 interface, accepting and authenticating connections from a target device to the advertised SSID, and acting as a bridge for traffic between the target device and the host controller. The bridge application may be delivered to the device fully configured, or it may be delivered unconfigured with configuration information either supplied by the user or provided in an e-mail to the user of the device.
US09667650B2
Processes and systems to create a plurality of sequence number spaces in a security association at a transmission device. Each sequence number space corresponds to a respective class of traffic. Each sequence number space is identified by a unique selector value. For each sequence number space, a sequence number counter is created for counting a sequence of outbound packets of a class of traffic corresponding to the sequence number space. For an outbound packet of a particular class of traffic, a selector value of a sequence number space of the particular class of traffic is written into a first portion of a sequence number field in the outbound packet. Low-order bits of the current value of a sequence number counter, associated with the sequence number space of the particular class of traffic, is written into a second portion of the sequence number field. The sequence number counter is then incremented.
US09667647B2
Systems and methods for detecting malicious resources by analyzing communication between multiple resources coupled to a network are provided. According to one embodiment, a method of client reputation monitoring is provided. A monitoring unit executing on a network security device operable to protect a private network observes activities relating to multiple monitored devices within the private network. For each of the observed activities, a score is assigned by the monitoring unit based upon a policy of multiple polices established within the monitoring unit. For each of the monitored devices, a current reputation score is maintained by the monitoring unit based upon the score and a historical score associated with the monitored device. A monitored is classified by the monitoring unit as potentially being a malicious resource based upon the current reputation score for the monitored device.
US09667639B1
Systems and methods are presented for receiving a plurality of request messages to analyze electronic communications. For each request message of the plurality of request messages, the systems and methods further provide for analyzing header information associated with the electronic communication, generating analysis data including the header information associated with the electronic communication, sending the analysis data to a plurality of third party security information systems for analysis, receiving at least one report from each of the plurality of third party security information systems, analyzing the analysis data and the at least one report from each of the plurality of third party security information systems to generate a risk rating of the electronic communication, determining that the risk rating meets a predetermined risk rating threshold, and causing a notification to be provided indicating that the electronic communication has been analyzed.
US09667638B2
A content delivery network includes a plurality of cache servers. Each cache server is configured to receive a request for content from a client system and receive content and security data from a content server. Each cache server is further configured to provide the content to the client system and provide the security data to a monitoring system.
US09667636B2
Network traffic logs of network traffic to and from host devices connected to a network that were collected over time are accessed. For each host device identified in the logs, a set of network traffic features indicative of whether the host device behaves like a Network Address Translation (NAT) device or an end host device is extracted from the logs for the host device. Each feature has values that vary over time based on the logs. A trained host device behavior classifier classifies the host device as either a NAT device or an end host device based on one or more of the feature values.
US09667635B2
A trust relationship is established at a first network connected device between the first network connected device and a second network connected device. A communication session is established between the first network connected device and a third network connected device, wherein the third network connected device lacks a trust relationship with the second network connected device. A message is sent from the first network connected device to establish a communication session between the third network connected device and the second network connected device based on the trust relationship between the first network connected device and the second network connected device.
US09667634B2
A method of communicating in a secure communication system, comprises the steps of assembling a message at a sender, then determining a frame type, and including an indication of the frame type in a header of the message. The message is then sent to a recipient and the frame type used to perform a policy check.
US09667631B2
A method includes receiving a wireless connection request at a backend computing device from a user device to allow wireless connection of the user device to a network through an access point located at a venue. The connection request includes a user identifier. The method includes validating the user identifier and granting wireless access of the user device to the access point when the user identifier is valid. The method further includes transmitting a venue-specific notification to the user device when the user device connects to the network.
US09667628B2
The present application is directed to establishing ownership of a secure workspace (SW). A client device may provide a SW data structure (SWDS) to a SW configurator. A SWDS may comprise a hash of an original SW and a public key, and may be signed by a private key corresponding to the public key. The SW configurator may cause an execution container (EC) to be generated including a SW initiated using the SWDS. The client device may claim SW ownership using a request (signed by the private key) transmitted along with a copy of the public key. SW ownership may be determined by an ownership determination module that verifies the signature of the request using the public key received with the request, determines a hash of the received public key and compares the hash of the received public key to a hash of the public key in the SWDS.
US09667623B2
An authentication apparatus includes an authentication determination circuit, a partial determination circuit, and a combination determination circuit. The partial determination circuit determines whether or not any one of a first set or a second set exists. The first set is a set where only the input user ID matches the registered user ID. The second set is a set where only the input password matches the registered password. The combination determination circuit generates a new set by combining the input user ID of the existing first set and the input password of another set or a similar method. The authentication determination circuit executes a user authentication if, among the generated sets, the input user ID matches the registered user ID, and the input password matches the registered password.
US09667617B2
A system for automatic setting of system security comprises an input interface and a processor. The input interface is configured to receive an indication to set a secure mode. The processor is configured to: determine whether the indication to set the secure mode comprises an indication to set a certificate mode; in the event that the indication to set the secure mode comprises an indication to set a certificate mode: 1) detect one or more connected systems for which to set the certificate mode; 2) select one or more certificates for the certificate mode; 3) update initialization files for the certificate mode; and 4) reinitialize local and one or more connected systems.
US09667616B2
A communication apparatus sends a processing request, including request information, a digital signature, and an electronic certificate, to a control apparatus. The control apparatus sends a verification request including the electronic certificate to a verification server. The verification server verifies the electronic certificate included in the verification request, and sends authentication-use reference information, including the verification result, as a verification response, to the control apparatus. When the verification result included in the authentication-use reference information indicates validity, the control apparatus, using the request information and a public key included in the electronic certificate, verifies whether or not the digital signature is valid. When the digital signature is valid, the control apparatus performs the requested processing in accordance with the request information, and sends a processing response, to the communication apparatus.
US09667614B1
A collaborative communication system comprises a highly flexible architecture that facilitates connecting communication devices and networks to establish multimedia collaboration sessions in a manner that allows distribution of various services and features throughout the collaborative communication system to provide scalability and selectable combination of cost, resource usage, and performance.
US09667609B2
According to an aspect, a computing device includes a processor; a computer readable memory; a display screen; a touch sensitive panel overlying the display screen; and computing device application instructions coded in the computer readable memory and executed by the processor to: display a user-selectable photograph on the display screen, the user-selectable photograph including a group of fiducials, generate captured pattern data, the captured pattern data representing coordinate values on the touch sensitive panel where touched by a user, and provide for authentication of the user based on a comparison of the captured pattern data and respective locations of the group of fiducials included in the user-selectable photograph.
US09667602B2
An off-host authentication system includes an authentication information handling system (IHS) that is coupled to a network. The off-host authentication system also includes a host processing system. An off-host processing system in the off-host authentication system is coupled to the host processing system and is coupled to the authentication IHS through the network. The off-host processing system provides an encrypted primary authentication item to the authentication IHS through the network. The off-host processing system then receives an encrypted secondary authentication token from the authentication IHS through the network. The off-host processing system then decrypts the encrypted secondary authentication token to produce a decrypted secondary authentication token and uses the decrypted secondary authentication token to retrieve a tertiary authentication token. The off-host processing system then provides the tertiary authentication token to the host processing system for use in logging a user into a user IHS that includes the host processing system.
US09667588B2
Previously cached data that includes contextual information is transferred between wireless devices. A first wireless device that is highly mobile is arranged to receive data from an external data source for storage on the first wireless device. The first wireless device subsequently travels to another locale where a second wireless device is located. After the wireless devices discover one another, cached data is transferred from the first wireless device to the second wireless device such that the cached data is replicated including contextual information. Each wireless device is configured to process data according to a set of acquisition rules and/or user preferences so that the cached data is managed according context. The cached data is effectively replicated by the wireless devices such that the cached data originating from the external data source is made available to wireless devices that are otherwise unable to retrieve data from the external data source.
US09667585B2
Enabling management of contacts includes passively recognizing a set of contacts that are, as a group, repeatedly sent communications by a member, bringing the member's attention to the recognized set of contacts, enabling the member to name the set of contacts, and enabling the member to address future communications to the set of contacts through use of the name associated by the member with the set of contacts.
US09667584B2
In particular embodiments a social networking system captures data associated with video content provided to a first user of a social-networking system, identifies, using the captured data, the video content provided to the first user, and updates a graph of the social-networking system to associate the first user with the identified video content. The graph of the social-networking system has a plurality of nodes and edges connecting the nodes. The nodes of the graph include user nodes that are each associated with a particular user of the social-networking system.
US09667582B2
Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to per-session invocation of priority services based upon network available information. A service architecture can include a service architecture core and a service execution runtime framework in which a priority service application is executable to perform operations to provide a priority service for a communications session. The priority service application can determine whether a priority service should be invoked for the communications session based upon priority criteria. If a determination is made that the priority service is to be invoked for the communications session based upon the priority criteria, the priority service application can invoke the priority service for the communications session. If a determination is made that the priority service is not to be invoked for the communications session based upon the priority criteria, the priority service application can cause the communications session to be coordinated without the priority service.
US09667581B2
A computer-implemented system and method for notifying users on the occurrence of an event is disclosed. An embodiment further includes notifying selected users upon the occurrence of particular events in sessions using a variety of notification methods.
US09667576B2
A method and system for use in managing communication messages are provided. The system includes a display unit and one or more processors communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices and the display unit. The one or more processors are programmed to receive an incoming message for a driver of the vehicle, determine if the driver is experiencing a high-intensity situation, automatically respond to the incoming message with a reply message to the sender of the incoming message if the driver is experiencing the high-intensity situation, and automatically notify the driver, after the high-intensity situation has ended, that the incoming message was received.
US09667571B2
Management and provisioning of networking traffic may be provided by bundling virtual channels into a group. A global policy may be applied to the bundle so that virtual ports providing services to a client may be managed by referring to the global policy of the bundle. The channels comprising the bundle may span multiple physical ports and in some cases, multiple physical switches. Thus, policy management may be avoided at the port level and instead, be handled as groups of channels implementing a client service.
US09667570B2
A method of forwarding traffic through a network node including an ingress IO card, an egress IO card, and a pair of parallel switch fabric cards. One of the switch fabric cards is designated as a working switch fabric card, and the other one of the switch fabric cards is designated as a protection switch fabric card. In the ingress IO card, the traffic flow is divided into a committed information rate (CIR) component and an extra information rate (EIR) signal. Under a normal operating condition of the node, the ingress IO card forwards the CIR traffic component through the working switch fabric card, and forwards the EIR traffic component through the protection switch fabric card. Upon detection of a failure impacting the working switch fabric card, the ingress IO card drops the EIR traffic component and forwards the CIR traffic component through the protection switch fabric card.
US09667567B2
A line card monitors communicability between itself and first to third fabric cards, and when there is abnormality in the communicability with the second fabric card, detects the abnormality and configures settings to switch a frame transmitted to the second fabric card so as to be directed to the third fabric card as a result of the detection of the abnormality within a first period. A communicability test unit generates a test frame at every second period, transmits the test frame to the fabric card selected by a path selection unit, and receives the test frame returned from the fabric card. The second period is longer than the first period, and the communicability test unit evaluates the presence or absence of a fault based on the reception results for the first and second test frames.
US09667566B2
One exemplary embodiment is directed to an inter-networking device that performs at least one inter-networking function using physical layer information about the network of which the device is a part. Another exemplary embodiment is directed to capturing physical layer information about physical communication media that is attached to an inter-networking device. Another exemplary embodiment is directed to a technique for generating a spanning tree and/or forwarding database information for a plurality of switches in a network at a central location. The spanning tree and/or forwarding database information is generated at the central location using information including physical layer information about devices and physical communication media in the network. Another exemplary embodiment is directed to an ETHERNET physical layer device having integrated support for capturing physical layer information about the physical communication media connected to the ETHERNET physical layer device.
US09667564B2
A method and system are provided for implementing a hierarchical high radix switch with a time-sliced crossbar. The hierarchical high radix switch includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs. Each input belongs to one input group; each input group sends consolidated requests to each output, by ORing the requests from the local input ports in that input group. Each output port belongs to one output group; each output port grants one of the requesting input groups using a rotating priority defined by a next-to-serve pointer. Each output group consolidates the output port grants and allows one grant to pass back to an input group. Each input port in an input group evaluates all incoming grants in an oldest packet first manner to form an accept. Each input group consolidates the input port accepts and selects one accept to send to the output port.
US09667559B2
Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to tunnel flap damping in a traffic engineered network. One exemplary method for tracking a re-routing history of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (“MPLS”)/Generalized MPLS (“GMPLS”) tunnels over intervals includes measuring a number of policy-based re-routes during at least one measurement interval; determining a tunnel re-route frequency based on the measurement; comparing the tunnel re-route frequency to a frequency threshold; and determining if the tunnel re-route frequency exceeds the frequency threshold and, if the tunnel re-route frequency exceeds the frequency threshold, delaying at least one tunnel re-route.
US09667552B2
A system, method and apparatus for performing a real-time service level agreement (SLA) impact analysis. In the system of the invention, a service level manager can be programmed to establish a plurality of SLAs directly implicating selected resources. A relationship database further can be configured for coupling to one or more management applications programmed to manage the selected resources. Finally, a modeling and evaluation system can be communicatively coupled to the relationship database and the service level manager and programmed to perform a real-time SLA impact analysis based both upon resources directly implicated by the SLAs and also upon resources which are related to the resources directly implicated by the SLAs.
US09667551B2
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for implementing a policy enforcement proxy are disclosed. A data packet associated with a source endpoint group and a destination endpoint group is received at a network device. The network device performs a policy lookup based on the source endpoint group and the destination endpoint group. The network device determines that the policy is not available and in response, modifies the data packet and forwards it to a policy enforcement proxy.
US09667549B2
A computer (100) recognizes an event pattern (ABC) for objects (14, 24, 34, 44) that belong to an event domain (150). The computer activates a pattern query (110) that corresponds to the event pattern (ABC) and that has a least one state (S4) with an distinctive transition probability to a final state. The probability is derived from object observations in the event domain (150). The computer continuously receives event representations (*A14, *A24, *A44, *D44, . . . ) that are related to the objects (14, 24, 34, 44) and allocates the event representations to a first processing resource (101) to initiate instances (1.14, 1.24, 1.34, 1.44) of the query (110). It monitors the instances and, upon receiving event representations that cause the instances to reach the state (S4) with the distinct transition probability, it shifts the instances to a second processing resource (102).
US09667547B2
A facility for congestion management and latency prediction is described. In various embodiments, the facility sums a series of fractional transmission delays wherein each fractional transmission delay is measured as a probability of a failed transmission attempt multiplied by the cost of the failed transmission attempt, and provides the sum.
US09667546B2
An integrated circuit device for receiving packets. The integrated circuit device includes a programmable partitionable counter that includes a first counter partition for counting a number of the packets, and a second counter partition for counting bytes of the packets. The first counter partition and the second counter partition are configured to be incremented by a single command from the packet processor.
US09667541B2
A destination Media Access Control (MAC) address of a packet is determined. In response to determining that the destination MAC address is a virtual MAC address and belongs to an access device, mask-based, virtual MAC address, the packet is encapsulated with a Very Large Layer 2 (VLL2) network protocol header, and sent to an access device associated with the access device, mask-based virtual MAC address.
US09667527B2
A control apparatus includes: a connection detection unit configured to detect that a virtual machine has newly been connected to one of a plurality of tunnel endpoints each of which functions as an endpoint of a virtual tunnel used for a communication between virtual machines that belong to a virtual network; a virtual network determination unit configured to determine a virtual network to which the detected virtual machine belongs on the basis of information in which virtual machines and virtual networks are associated with each other; and a tunnel endpoint control unit configured to cause, if the tunnel endpoint has not participated in the determined virtual network, the tunnel endpoint to participate in the determined virtual network.
US09667502B2
A method of associating a function to a room within a home, includes forming a mesh network in the structure with a plurality of nodes, each node having a communication module, segmenting the nodes into rooms based upon the time of flight, obtaining an identity for at least one node in a room; and using the identity to assign a purpose to the room.
US09667495B2
Methods, systems, and devices for automatically and dynamically managing and coordinating network resources used by services between users over a data network having a network infrastructure. A network resources coordinator can include a knowledge store, rules library, rules engine, and orchestrator. The knowledge store can have a plurality of layered abstraction stores having stored thereon facts representative of a present state of the network. The rules library can include production rules representative of knowledge of the network and of users. The orchestrator can receive service requests from users and use the rules engine in conjunction with the production rules of the rules library and facts of the knowledge store to: determine network resources required and available for requested services, dynamically make automated decisions with respect to the network and users, detect and react to changes in the network in an automated fashion, and enforce constraints of the network.
US09667490B1
A method and computer program product for providing High Availability (HA) of services in a cloud-based system. The services are the applications used by the end users of the cloud system. The system uses shared cloud distributed storage. The cloud data is distributed over several nodes and is duplicated in an on-line mode. Each user launches and runs his own Virtual Execution Environment VEE (VM or Container) used as a cloud service. If one of the hardware nodes becomes unavailable, the HA system restores all of the VEEs of the failed node on a functional hardware node. Each node has a daemon, which monitors the situation and, if one of the nodes crashes, a master daemon provides for the restoration of the services of this node on other available nodes of the cloud.
US09667489B2
Various techniques are described herein for generating and managing computing infrastructure instances within datacenters. Data identifying various computing infrastructure characteristics may be receive and analyzed in order to determine one or more computing infrastructure definitions to be instantiated within a datacenter. Specific datacenters may be determined for instantiating the computing infrastructure definitions, various provisioning and configuration management tools may be selected, and computing infrastructure instances comprising multiple interoperable services (e.g., web services) and other components may be provisioned, configured, tested, and maintained. In some examples, instance execution data may be received and analyzed via instance monitor components transmitted and deployed within computer infrastructure instances executing on datacenters. Instance monitor components may collect instance execution data, which may be analyzed to identify issues of performance, stability, cost, and the like, associated with various combinations of computing infrastructure definitions, datacenters, services, and configurations.
US09667484B2
A system and method are described for provisioning a wireless service on a wireless network. The wireless network includes: at least one of an in-network service element and an out-of-network service element; and a provisioning-manager module (SPM) for activating the at least one of the service elements for servicing a user, wherein the SPM counts a number of subscribers of the at least one service element, and performs one of the following: (a) provisions the user, if the number of subscribers is below a threshold count level, or (b) de-provisions another user, if the number of subscribers is above the threshold count level. The SPM only provisions a service element when that service element is requested by the user.
US09667482B2
A communication apparatus includes: a detection unit to detect a change in a port state of a physical path; a calculation unit to calculate a predicted amount of traffic to be allocated to the physical path for each of classes prioritized with predefined priorities within the traffic when the change in the port state is detected, and to calculate a bandwidth allocation ratio to a physical bandwidth of the physical path, for each of the classes to be allocated for the physical path according to the calculated predicted amount of traffic for each of the classes; a setting unit to set the calculated bandwidth allocation ratio for each of the classes; and a control unit to control a flow rate of the traffic for each of the classes to be flowed in the physical path according to the set bandwidth allocation ratio for each of the classes.
US09667478B2
A method in a network node for configuring the network node for a first and at least one second Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) in a telecommunications system. The network node serves one or more cells. The network node configures a primary PLMN information for the one or more cells to comprise neither of the first or the at least one second PLMN. The network node configures further PLMN information for each cell of the one or more cells in the network node based on information indicating to which of the first or at least one second PLMNs each cell belongs to.
US09667473B2
One or more embodiments identify server management actions for resolving problems associated with one or more nodes in information technology infrastructure. In one embodiment, a node-ticket record for an information processing node associated with at least one problem ticket is generated. A set of node-ticket clusters is queried based on the node-ticket record. Each of the set of node-ticket clusters maps a set of server management actions to set of historical node-ticket records associated with the node-ticket cluster. The set of server management actions was previously performed to resolve at least one operational problem associated with at least one information processing node. At least one set of server management actions associated with at least one of the set of node-ticket clusters corresponding to the node-ticket record within a given threshold is identified based on the querying.
US09667466B2
Transmission quality is improved in an environment in which direct waves dominate in a transmission method for transmitting a plurality of modulated signals from a plurality of antennas at the same time. All data symbols used in data transmission of a modulated signal are precoded by hopping between precoding matrices so that the precoding matrix used to precode each data symbol and the precoding matrices used to precode data symbols that are adjacent to the data symbol in the frequency domain and the time domain all differ. A modulated signal with such data symbols arranged therein is transmitted.
US09667464B2
The present disclosure relates to a Time Duplex Division (TDD) modem and a method in such a modem for making Single Ended Line Test (SELT) measurements. The device comprises a transmitter and a receiver and it has a normal mode of TDD communication. In these devices, Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) is used as line measurement. It has a number of drawbacks, and for overcoming said drawbacks, Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) measurement techniques adapted for TDD devices are suggested.
US09667462B2
A method includes receiving data units each having a preamble with first and second preamble portions, detecting symbol constellation rotations of OFDM symbols in the first preamble portions, and determining, based on the detected rotations, whether the preambles conform to a first format. The method also includes, when it is determined that a preamble conforms to the first format, processing the second preamble portion according to the first format, and, when it is determined that a preamble does not conform to the first format, (i) determining whether information bits in the first preamble portion indicate a single- or multi-user data unit, (ii) when it is determined that the information bits indicate a single-user data unit, processing the second preamble portion according to a second format, and (iii) when it is determined that the information bits indicate a multi-user data unit, processing the second preamble portion according to a third format.
US09667461B2
A method and an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, the apparatus comprises a receiver to receive the broadcast signals, a demodulator to perform demodulation on the received broadcast signals by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme, a frequency de-interleaver to frequency de-interleave the demodulated broadcast signals by using a different interleaving sequence, wherein the different interleaving sequence is used for data corresponding to an OFDM symbol pair or data corresponding to an OFDM symbol according to an FFT size of the demodulation, a frame parser to parse at least one signal frame from the frequency de-interleaved broadcast signals and a decoder to decode service data in the parsed at least one signal frame.
US09667455B1
An equalizer circuit of a particular equalization stage of a equalizer circuit is omitted, and input signals that would have otherwise been received at the omitted equalization circuit bypass the equalization stage and are instead processed at an equalizer circuit included at the next stage. Thus, a subset of the received frequency-domain signals can be processed by equalizer circuits at a first stage, while the remaining received frequency-domain signals bypass the first stage and are processed at an equalizer circuit included at a second stage.
US09667441B2
A method of communications at an encapsulating bridge includes receiving a packet having an unencapsulated-DA (destination address) and an associated encapsulation identifier. The unencapsulated-DA and the associated encapsulation identifier are used to determine a TxPort-unencapsulated network (unencapsulated network side transmit port) or an encapsulated-DA for the packet. This method reduces latency of processing by reducing lookups, thereby also increasing transmission bandwidth of the communications network. The invention also facilitates embodiments with reduced memory and processing requirements, as compared to conventional implementations. This method is particularly useful for MAC-in-MAC encapsulation.
US09667434B2
An information transmission system includes a mobile device, a signal transmission line and an internet device with networking capabilities. The mobile device includes a user interface, an encoder, a modulator and an audio connector. The user interface receives network setting information, and the encoder is coupled to the user interface to encodes the network setting information into information codes. The modulator is coupled to the encoder to modulate the information codes to form an audio signal embedded with the information codes. The audio connector is coupled to the modulator, and the signal transmission line is connected to the audio connector of the mobile device to transmit the audio signal embedded with the information codes. The internet device is connected to the signal transmission line, receives the audio signal with the embedded information codes, and decodes the information codes into the network setting information.
US09667430B2
The SIP server can be comprised of an engine tier that is designed for high throughput processing of SIP communications and a state tier that maintains state information for access by the engine tier. A Java-based offline charging application can be deployed on the SIP server engine tier in order to allow the SIP server to generate offline charging events and transmit them to a charging data function (CDF) server. The state data for the offline accounting session can be maintained on the state tier. Furthermore, timers set to accounting interim interval value can be used to indicate expiration times for the accounting session. The SIP server can use the timers to send periodic interim requests in order to update and maintain the accounting session open.
US09667427B2
Systems and methods for managing digital identities. In some embodiments, a method is provided, comprising acts of: using a plurality of measurements taken from a user to generate an identifier for the user, the identifier comprising a cryptographic proof of the plurality of measurements; instantiating a digital identity representation associated with the identifier for the user, the digital identity representation comprising program code that implements rules for attestation; generating an electronic signature over the digital identity representation; and publishing the digital identity representation and the electronic signature to a distributed ledger system.
US09667424B2
A method for binding a token key to an account is provided. The method includes: sending a binding request message including information regarding the account, for a security authentication server to generate a certification link and a first token key corresponding to the account; receiving the certification link and the first token key from the server; generating display information based on the certification link and the first token key; receiving encrypted information from the server, wherein the encrypted information is generated according to the first token key and included in an access request message from a mobile terminal to the server; obtaining a second token key based on the encrypted information; determining that the second token key matches the first token key; and sending a binding success message to the server.
US09667417B1
A digital security bubble encapsulation is received from a sender. The encrypted digital security bubble encapsulation includes an encrypted message, an encrypted first key, and an identifier associated with an intended recipient. The encrypted digital security bubble encapsulation is decrypted. The received identifier and a device identifier are compared. The encrypted first key is decrypted in response to a determination that the identifier received in the digital security bubble encapsulation matches the device identifier. The encrypted message is decrypted using the first key.
US09667416B1
Protecting master encryption keys by splitting the master encryption key into multiple key shares using a polynomial secret sharing scheme, and storing one share in a remote management server and the other shares in managed devices located on one or more secure networks. To reconstruct the master encryption key, a managed device obtains the remote management server share and combines it with its local share. Master encryption keys may be obtained without an administrator's password, thus supporting unattended startup of appliances. The remote management server may alert a system administrator upon release of the remote management key share, or request approval prior to releasing the remote management key share.
US09667413B2
An encryption realization method and system are disclosed. The method includes: a network-side device and a group call terminal maintaining the same list of push-to-talk (PTT) authentication key K values respectively; during each group call, the network-side device calculating an authentication vector (AV) according to a generated random number (RAND), an authentication sequence number (SQN), a PTT authentication key K value selected from the list of PTT authentication key K values and public network authentication functions; and according to the RAND and an authentication token (AUTN) in the AV acquired from the network-side device, the group call terminal performing authentication to generate an cipher key (CK). With the method and system according to the embodiments of the present invention, the encryption of the PTT system based on the security mechanism of the public network can be achieved, and drawbacks in the related that that the encryption of the PTT system depends on the private encryption algorithm which has a low intensity, the key is transmitted via an air interface, and the replacement of the key is not in time are solved, thereby largely improving the security of the PTT system.
US09667412B2
A method for unlocking a display screen of an electronic device includes activating the display screen which is locked of the electronic device when receiving a communication signal from a key, and generating an unlocked icon on the display screen. A request is sent to the key for generating first audio information after the unlocked icon is pressed, and the first audio information of an unlock code is received from the key. When the first audio information is the same as second audio information generated by a decryption algorithm stored in the storage device of the electronic device, the display screen of the electronic device is unlocked.
US09667402B1
Systems and methods are also described for mitigating interference at an access node. It may be determined, based on an interference metric for a first wireless device exceeding an interference criteria, that communication between the first wireless device and a cell of an access node is experiencing interference from a neighboring cell. A second wireless device receiving a beamformed transmission may be identified, wherein the beamformed transmission to the second wireless device is identified as an interference source for communication between the first wireless device and the cell of the access node. Transmissions to the first wireless device and the second wireless device may be scheduled such that the scheduled timings for transmissions to the first wireless device are different from the scheduling timings for transmissions to the second wireless device.
US09667399B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for receiving, by a terminal, control information in a wireless communication system supporting a carrier aggregation system. In detail, the method includes a step of receiving control information on a specific subframe through a first carrier and second carrier, wherein, when the control channel type on the first carrier and the control channel type on the second carrier are different from each other in the specific subframe, the control information is received according to the control channel type on one carrier of either the first carrier or second carrier corresponding to predefined monitoring information.
US09667391B2
A method and an apparatus are provided for a data transmission/reception in a terminal in a CoMP system is provided. One or more valid subframes are determined for updating feedback information. The feedback information is updated at each of the valid subframes. A feedback information scheduling signal is received at a predetermined subframe. Feedback information updated at a most recent valid subframe, from among previous subframes, is transmitted according to the feedback information scheduling signal.
US09667386B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for a base station to transmit and for a User Equipment (UE) to receive repetitions of an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH). Time and frequency resources for EPDCCH repetitions are defined together with restrictions in time resources to provide UE power savings. Time and frequency resources are also defined for repetitions of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission and for repetitions of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission. Methods and apparatus are also provided for the UE to transmit and for the base station to receive acknowledgement information in repetitions of a physical uplink shared channel (PUCCH).
US09667385B2
Provided is a terminal device that is capable of improving the characteristics of a response signal having poor transmission characteristics when ARQ is utilized in communication using an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands associated with the uplink unit band. At the time of channel selection, a control unit (208) selects a resource used in sending a response signal from among specific PUCCH resources notified in advance from a base station (100) and PUCCH resources mapped to a CCE, and controls the transmission of the response signal. A response signal generating unit (212) supports implicit signaling with respect to any given response signal, and at the same time as supporting LTE fallback from 2CC, uses a mapping method that, between bits, smooths the number of PUCCH resources that can determine ACK/NACK simply by determining the PUCCH resource regarding which the response signal had notified.
US09667382B2
Systems and methods described herein include a first wireless local area network (“WLAN”) system that jointly exploits physical-layer network coding (“PNC”) and multiuser decoding (“MUD”) to boost system throughput. This multiple access mode is referred to as Network-Coded Multiple Access (“NCMA”). NCMA allows multiple nodes to transmit simultaneously to the access point (“AP”) to boost throughput in a non-relay environment. When two nodes A and B transmit to the AP simultaneously, the AP desires to obtain both packet A and packet B rather than their network-coded packet.
US09667379B2
Using a transformation based, at least in part, on a non-simple orthogonal matrix, data may be transmitted over a data bus in a manner that is resilient to one or more types of signal noise, that does not require a common reference at the transmission and acquisition points, and/or that has a pin-efficiency that is greater than 50% and may approach that of single-ended signaling. Such transformations may be implemented in hardware in an efficient manner. The transformation may be combined with methods from forward error correction to lower the required transmission power.
US09667376B2
An optical line terminal (OLT) comprises a receiver configured to receive a first message, a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the first message, and generate a second message based on the first message, wherein the second message comprises an identification (ID) structure identifying a traffic-bearing entity associated with an optical network unit (ONU), and wherein the ID structure comprises a wavelength ID field, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the second message.
US09667371B2
A transmission apparatus includes: a first input-output unit; a second input-output unit; a third input-output unit located in a first direction that is a transmission direction from the first input output unit and the second input-output unit; and a switch coupled to the first input-output unit, the second input-output unit, and the third input-output unit, wherein the first input-output unit requests the third input-output unit via the switch to notify in a second direction opposite to the first direction of a defect upon detecting the defect, wherein the third input-output unit transmits defect information indicating the defect to one of the first input-output unit and the second input-output unit via the switch in response to a requesting from the first input-output unit.
US09667368B2
Telecommunication systems using multiple Nyquist zone operations are provided. In one aspect, a telecommunication system can include a first section and a second section. The first section can receive signals from at least one transmitting base station or transmitting terminal device. The received signals have frequencies in multiple frequency bands. The first section can also sample the received signals such that the received signals are aliased. The first section can also combine the aliased signals from the frequency bands into a combined frequency band in a common Nyquist zone. The second section can extract signals from the combined frequency band. The extracted signals are to be transmitted at frequencies in a frequency band from a Nyquist zone that is different than the common Nyquist zone. The second section can also transmit the extracted signals to at least one receiving base station or receiving terminal device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09667359B2
A method and system that provides for execution of a first calibration sequence, such as upon initialization of a system, to establish an operation value, which utilizes an algorithm intended to be exhaustive, and executing a second calibration sequence from time to time, to measure drift in the parameter, and to update the operation value in response to the measured drift. The second calibration sequence utilizes less resources of the communication channel than does the first calibration sequence. In one embodiment, the first calibration sequence for measurement and convergence on the operation value utilizes long calibration patterns, such as codes that are greater than 30 bytes, or pseudorandom bit sequences having lengths of 2N−1 bits, where N is equal to or greater than 7, while the second calibration sequence utilizes short calibration patterns, such as fixed codes less than 16 bytes, and for example as short as 2 bytes long.
US09667356B2
The invention relates to a signal generating device for generating a signal including simulated channel fading characteristics. The signal generating device includes a fading simulating unit, a signal generating unit and a modulating unit. The signal generating unit generates a first number of symbols according to a number of transmitting means for a simulated transmission to a device under test. The fading simulating unit calculates from the first number of symbols a second number of faded symbols, wherein a number of signals to be output corresponds to a number of receiving means of the device under test, based on a set of filter parameters, and provides the calculated second number of faded symbols to the modulating means; and the modulating unit generates modulated signals to be output from the second number of faded symbols.
US09667355B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for removing interference. The method for removing interference may include obtaining PBCH information by decoding PBCH transmitted by a cell that neighbors a serving cell to cause interference in a received signal, estimating a channel for PBCH based on the obtained PBCH information, generating an interference signal based on the PBCH information and the estimated channel for PBCH, and removing the generated interference signal from the received signal.
US09667354B2
The present disclosure provides for a method and a communication device comprising an Electric Field, EF, sensor and a communication circuitry for initiating situational based communication actions in the communication device. The method comprises detecting a change in the electric field surrounding the communication device using the EF sensor, determining that the change in the electric field has a predetermined characteristic and activating the communication circuitry depending on the determination.
US09667344B2
An optical transmission apparatus includes an optical modulator that is driven by a drive signal generated from an electrical signal obtained by performing a digital signal processing on a data signal, a detector configured to detect a change in a spectrum of output light of the optical modulator, and a controller configured to control the digital signal processing based on a detection result of the detector.
US09667343B2
A transmission apparatus of a receiving side to receive a signal transmitted from a transmission apparatus of a transmitting side, the transmission apparatus of the receiving side includes: a first monitor configured to measure an eye pattern indicating a signal waveform transition of the signal transmitted from the transmission apparatus of the transmitting side; a pattern analyzer configured to extract a first feature of the eye pattern measured by the first monitor; and a regulation controller configured to cause the transmission apparatus of the transmitting side to adjust at least one of rising and falling of a signal to be transmitted, based on the first feature extracted by the pattern analyzer.
US09667337B2
An ultrawideband radio transceiver/repeater provides a low cost infrastructure solution that merges wireless and wired network devices while providing connection to the plant, flexible repeater capabilities, network security, traffic monitoring and provisioning, and traffic flow control for wired and wireless connectivity of devices or networks. The ultrawidebande radio transceiver/repeater can be implemented in discrete, integrated, distributed or embedded forms.
US09667336B2
Methods and apparatus for dynamic spectrum management are disclosed. A node receives a request for sensing related information. In response to receiving the request, the node transmits the sensing related information. The sensing related information may include at least one of information about data fusion methods supported by the node, information about relaying methods supported by the node and information about at least one other node that is reachable from the node.
US09667335B2
In one implementation, a wireless communication terminal includes a primary antenna array and a first controller configured to steer a main beam of the primary antenna array in a desired direction. The wireless communication terminal also includes an auxiliary antenna array and a second controller configured to control complex weights to be applied by at least some antenna elements of the auxiliary antenna array to corresponding variants of a second signal received by the at least some auxiliary antenna elements. Furthermore, the wireless communication terminal includes at least one signal combiner configured to combine variants of the second signal received from auxiliary antenna elements into an interfering signal that models interference from a co-located wireless communication terminal and subtract the interfering signal from variants of the first signal received from antenna elements of the principal antenna array to produce an interference mitigated signal.
US09667332B1
A MIMO network system and an interference eliminating method thereof are provided. MIMO network system includes a first mobile station and a base station. The base station has a plurality of antennas which are used for transmitting data to the first mobile station and receiving data from a second mobile station at the same time. The first mobile station determines an interference quality value according to a signal from the second mobile station and transmits the interference quality value to the base station. The base station determines a first receiving performance of the first mobile station according to the interference quality value and adjusts an antenna setting of the antennas according to the first receiving performance.
US09667329B2
A communication apparatus in a multi-antenna wireless communication system is disclosed. In detail, the communication apparatus includes a first processor for processing a baseband signal defined as a first virtual antenna group, a second processor for mapping a signal defined as a second virtual antenna group and the baseband signal defined as the first virtual antenna group in order to remove coupling between antennas, and an antenna module for mapping the signal defined as the second virtual antenna group and a signal defined as a multiple physical antenna group.
US09667324B2
Diversity receiver front end system with amplifier phase compensation. A receiving system can include a first amplifier disposed along a first path, corresponding to a first frequency band, between an input of the receiving system and an output of the receiving system. The receiving system can include a second amplifier disposed along a second path, corresponding to a second frequency band, between the input of the receiving system and the output of the receiving system. The receiving system can include a first phase-shift component disposed along the first path and configured to phase-shift the second frequency band of a signal passing through the first phase-shift component based on a phase-shift caused by the first amplifier at the second frequency band.
US09667323B2
A contactless coupler is disclosed. The contactless coupler has an inductive coupling element adapted to transmit and/or receive power by inductive magnetic coupling and a capacitive coupling element adapted to transmit and/or receive a data signal by capacitive coupling. The capacitive coupling element comprises one or more capacitive electrodes disposed at an end of the coupler.
US09667311B2
A pulse position modulation scheme impulse radio transmitter includes: a bipolar return-to-zero type short-pulse generator; a bandpass filter that has a predetermined pass frequency band and which allows an output of the bipolar return-to-zero type short-pulse generator to pass; a transmission amplifier that amplifies an output of the bandpass filter; and a transmission antenna, wherein the bipolar return-to-zero type short-pulse generator includes: a trigger flip-flop with a position modulation function that outputs a pulse-width-variable pulse in each period of a clock signal, the pulse-width-variable pulse being inverted in each period of the clock signal and the pulse width of the pulse-width-variable pulse differing in accordance with transmission data; and a pulse generation filter that generates a positive pulse or a negative pulse in accordance with a direction in which a varying edge of the pulse-width-variable pulse changes.
US09667309B2
A user apparatus for use in a radio communication system, including: an successive interference cancelling reception unit configured to obtain a desired signal by successively canceling an interference signal that becomes interference to the desired signal from a received signal that the user apparatus receives; and an ordering determination unit configured to determine an order of interference signals to be successively canceled by the successive interference cancelling reception unit, wherein the ordering determination unit determines the order based on reception quality for each interference signal.
US09667301B1
A wireless transceiver for a wireless local area network (WLAN) including a port evaluator and a port correlator. Transceiver radio frequency “RF” communication ports are configured to couple to at least one of a wired or wireless communication medium. Shared and discrete components form transmit and receive chains each coupled to a corresponding RF communication port for communications with associated transceiver nodes. The port evaluator is coupled to each of the RF communication ports and configured to evaluate the selected communication channel on each of the RF communication ports with respect to each of the plurality of transceiver nodes. The port correlator is coupled to the shared and discrete components and to the port evaluator and configured to correlate each of the transceiver nodes with a corresponding subset of the RF communication ports supporting optimal communications therewith based on the evaluation by the port evaluator.
US09667296B2
A mobile terminal, comprises: a case including a conductive metal part; a main board mounted inside the case and having a power supply part and a ground surface; a first antenna radiator disposed so as to be spaced from the power supply part to the first antenna radiator; a power supply line for electrically connecting the power supply part to the first antenna radiator and ground line for electrically connecting the ground surface to the metal part and the first antenna radiator, thereby preventing a decrease in the performance of an antenna since the formation of an electromagnetic field between the case of a metallic material and the main board can be minimized even if the metallic material is used for the case.
US09667290B2
An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more antennas. The antennas may include phased antenna arrays each of which includes multiple antenna elements. Phased antenna arrays may be mounted along edges of a housing for the electronic device, behind a dielectric window such as a dielectric logo window in the housing, in alignment with dielectric housing portions at corners of the housing, or elsewhere in the electronic device. A phased antenna array may include arrays of patch antenna elements on dielectric layers separated by a ground layer. A baseband processor may distribute wireless signals to the phased antenna arrays at intermediate frequencies over intermediate frequency signal paths. Transceiver circuits at the phased antenna arrays may include upconverters and downconverters coupled to the intermediate frequency signal paths.
US09667273B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure adjusts the size (nm) of a message input to a corresponding check node in case the unsatisfied check equation increases as the iteration count increases.Another embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for selecting a message and grasps the data distribution characteristics of the message vector values converted using the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and modulation and coding scheme (MCS) parameters of the receiver to select the message value with a value smaller than the threshold value in each message vector.
US09667272B1
Systems and methods are provided for encoding data based on an LDPC code using various inversion mechanisms to obtain parity bits. In some embodiments, an LDPC encoder may compute parity bits using a speculative recursion and correction mechanism. In these embodiments, the LDPC encoder may initiate a recursion using at least one speculative value in place of the actual value for a parity component. The speculative values may then be corrected using a correction factor. In other embodiments, an LDPC encoder is provided that can perform a blockwise inversion mechanism. This mechanism may be used on LDPC codes with parity check matrices having a parity portion composed partially of a large triangular matrix. In still other embodiments, a generic LDPC encoder is provided. The generic LDPC encoder can implement a variety of different encoding techniques, such as different inversion mechanisms, and may be processor-based or finite state machine-based.
US09667268B2
An analog input voltage is converted to a digital code by, generating a first set of confirmed bits based on a first series of comparisons of an output of a digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage and generating a second set of confirmed bits based on a second series of comparisons of the output of the digital-to-analog converter with the analog input voltage. The first set of confirmed bits is independent of the second series of comparisons. The bits of the digital output code corresponding to the analog input voltage are generated based on the first set of confirmed bits, the second set of confirmed bits and a constant value representative of a voltage shift introduced in the digital-to-analog converter between the first series of comparisons and the second series of comparisons.
US09667243B2
A tracking current sensing system is described. The system may include a first electrical sensing element configured to receive a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal from a high side switch of a half-bridge circuit and output an electrical signal based on the received electrical signals. The system may also include a second electrical sensing element configured to receive a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal from a low side switch of the half-bridge circuit and output an electrical signal based on the received electrical signals. The system may further include a current evaluation circuit that is configured to receive the electrical signal output by the first electrical sensing element and the second electrical sensing element, and output a bias output current that is continuous when the half-bridge switches between the high side switch and the low side switch.
US09667239B2
A voltage regulator includes a high duty cycle detector, a feedback controller, a hysteretic comparator, and first and second drivers. The high duty cycle detector generates a high duty cycle signal based on a power supply voltage and a reference voltage. The feedback controller generates first and second feedback voltages based on the reference voltage, the high duty cycle signal and an output voltage of the voltage regulator. The hysteretic comparator compares the reference voltage and the first feedback voltage to generate a control signal. When the first feedback voltage is activated, the first driver drives an output node that provides the output voltage based on the control signal and the high duty cycle signal. When the second feedback voltage is activated, the second driver generates a third voltage proportional to the reference voltage based on the power supply voltage and the second feedback voltage, and drives the output node with the third voltage.
US09667236B1
A phase interpolator includes: a digital-to-analog converter to generate bias signals associated with phase signals; a multiplexer having an input interface and an output interface, wherein the digital-to-analog converter is coupled to the input interface of the multiplexer; a first current source; and a second current source; wherein the digital-to-analog converter is configured to provide bleeder current signals to the first current source and the second current source while bypassing the multiplexer.
US09667232B2
A hybrid energy storage system is configured to control pulsed power. A first dynamo-electric machine is coupled to an inertial energy storage device and has multiple input stator windings configured to accept input power from a source. A polyphase output stator winding is configured to deliver electric power having a first response time to a DC bus. A secondary energy storage system is coupled to the DC bus and is configured to convert its stored energy to electric power in a bidirectional manner. A second dynamo-electric machine has an input stator winding and at least one polyphase output stator winding coupled to a converter, the converter coupled to a DC output. A polyphase boost exciter is configured to derive energy from the DC bus and excite the second machine tertiary stator winding, wherein the second machine is configured to be excited at a faster rate than the first response time of the first machine.
US09667231B1
The various technologies presented herein relate to performing on-chip frequency division of an operating frequency of a ring oscillator (RO). Per the various embodiments herein, a conflict between RO size versus operational frequency can be addressed by dividing the output frequency of the RO to a frequency that can be measured on-chip. A frequency divider circuit (comprising NOR gates and latches, for example) can be utilized in conjunction with the RO on the chip. In an embodiment, the frequency divider circuit can include a pair of latches coupled to the RO to facilitate dividing the oscillating frequency of the RO by 2. In another embodiment, the frequency divider circuit can include four latches (operating in pairs) coupled to the RO to facilitate dividing the oscillating frequency of the RO by 4. A plurality of ROs can be MUXed to the plurality of ROs by a single oscillation-counting circuit.
US09667230B1
A method for operating a latch and a latch circuit are disclosed. The latch circuit comprises a storage sub-circuit, a propagation sub-circuit, and a shared clock-enabled transistor. The storage sub-circuit is configured to capture a level of an input signal when a clock signal transitions from first level to a second level and hold the captured level to generate an output signal while the clock signal is at the second level. The propagation sub-circuit is configured to enable a path through a blocking transistor to the shared clock-enabled supply node to propagate the captured level of the input signal to the storage sub-circuit. The shared clock-enabled transistor is configured to couple the shared clock-enabled supply node to a power supply while the clock signal is at the first level and decouple the shared clock-enabled supply node from the power supply while the clock signal is at the second level.
US09667229B1
An apparatus and method are disclosed for filtering and performing high frequency reconstruction of an audio signal. The apparatus includes an analysis filter bank, a phase shifter, a high frequency reconstructor, and a synthesis filter bank. The analysis filterbank receives real-valued time domain input audio samples and generates complex valued subband samples. The phase shifter shifts a phase of the complex-valued subband samples by an arbitrary amount. The high frequency reconstructor modifies at least some of the complex valued subband samples. A phase shifter unshifts a phase of the modified complex-valued subband samples by the arbitrary amount. The synthesis filter bank receives the modified complex valued subband samples and generates time domain output audio samples. The analysis filter bank comprises analysis filters that are complex exponential modulated versions of a prototype filter with an arbitrary phase shift.
US09667226B2
A surface acoustic wave device includes: a pair of comb-type electrodes that are provided on a piezoelectric substrate and include electrode fingers and dummy electrode fingers, the electrode fingers of one of the pair of comb-type electrodes facing the dummy electrode fingers of the other comb-type electrode; and additional films that are provided to cover gaps between tip ends of the electrode fingers and tip ends of the dummy electrode fingers and to overlap with at least one of first through third groups in which the first and second groups respectively include the electrode fingers and the dummy electrode fingers located at opposite sides of the gaps in a first direction in which the electrode fingers extend, and the third group includes the electrode fingers located at sides of the gaps in a second direction that crosses the first direction.
US09667222B2
A method of manufacturing resonation device (a quartz crystal oscillator) includes the steps of applying a thermosetting thermal insulating connection material and an electrically-conductive connection material, which is higher in curing temperature than the thermosetting thermal insulating connection material, on a principal surface of a substrate, mounting fixation terminals of a resonator (a quartz crystal resonator), which has a heating element, and to which the fixation terminals and connection terminals are connected, in application positions of the insulating connection material on the substrate, and connection terminals in application positions of the electrically-conductive connection material, and heating the insulating connection material and the electrically-conductive connection material based on a reflow profile to make the insulating connection material and the electrically-conductive connection material cure in this order.
US09667220B2
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device comprises a heating coil disposed over a first side of the piezoelectric layer and substantially around a perimeter adjacent to the active area of the acoustic resonator, the heating coil comprising a resistor configured to receive a heater current; and a heat sensor disposed over a second side of the piezoelectric layer and opposing the first side, the heat sensor configured to adjust the heater current in response to a temperature of the heating coil.
US09667218B2
An acoustic resonator device includes an annular acoustic resonator, a heater coil and a heat sensor. The annular acoustic resonator is positioned over a trench formed in a substrate of the acoustic resonator device. The heater coil is disposed around a perimeter of the annular acoustic resonator, the heater coil including a resistor configured to receive a heater current. The heat sensor is configured to adjust the heater current in response to a temperature of the heater coil. A feedback circuit is used to control a temperature of the acoustic resonator device.
US09667208B2
Disclosed is a class-D amplifier including a first output circuit, a first capacitor, a pulse width modulator, and a slew rate limiting amplifier. The first output circuit includes first and second switching devices that are connected in series between first and second power supply lines. The first capacitor is connected between the first and second power supply lines. The pulse width modulator generates a pulse width modulated switching signal based on a triangular wave and an audio signal, and provides the switching signal to the first output circuit. The slew rate limiting amplifier is connected to an input part of the pulse width modulator to which the audio signal is provided, and limits a slew rate of output. The sound-producing device is connected in series to an inductor connected to a first output node of the first output circuit. The sound-producing device and the inductor constitute an LC filter.
US09667201B2
A class-D audio amplifier incorporates an overcurrent protection scheme implementing two overcurrent thresholds to avoid a dynamic impedance drop. When output current reaches the first threshold as a result of an impedance drop across the speaker, the overcurrent protection circuitry limits the output current to the value of the first threshold, but does not shut down the circuit. The second threshold is used to detect an overcurrent condition to shut down the circuit. Current limiting logic of a first channel monitors the overcurrent condition of a second channel and controls the first channel output in response thereto. This permits the second channel output current to reach the second threshold if the circuit is experiencing a short-circuit condition. This scheme also allows the output current to drop below the first threshold if the overcurrent condition of the second channel is caused by an impedance drop across the output speaker.
US09667189B2
One exemplary embodiment is method of operating an electrically excited synchronous machine (EESM) system. The system includes a converter operatively coupled with one or more stator windings, an exciter operatively coupled with one or more field windings, a controller operatively coupled with the converter and the exciter, and a power supply operatively coupled with the converter and the exciter. The controller determines whether a power supply fault condition exists and whether EESM system is operating in a motor mode or a generator mode. If the power supply fault condition exists and the EESM system is operating in the motor mode, entering one of a motor ride through control mode and a motor controlled braking control mode If the power supply fault condition exists and the EESM system is operating in the generator mode, entering one of a generator ride through control mode and a generator controlled braking control mode.
US09667187B2
A motor control apparatus includes a secondary-magnetic-flux-command calculating unit including a minimum-current-secondary-magnetic-flux-command calculating unit that calculates a secondary magnetic flux command for minimizing a current root-mean-square value due to a torque current and an excitation current and a PWM-signal generating unit that generates a torque current command for outputting a desired torque command and an excitation current command for outputting the secondary magnetic flux command, performs vector control such that a q-axis current, which is a detection value of the torque current, and a d-axis current, which is a detection value of the excitation current, respectively coincide with the torque current command and the excitation current command, and generates control signals for turning on and off a switching element in an inverter.
US09667184B2
A device for determining a rotor position in a polyphase electric motor having a first phase, a second phase and a third phase. A power control unit applies a first voltage on the first phase, and a second voltage on the second phase, the first voltage and the second voltage being periodic signals of opposite polarity, alternating between a first part and a second part of the alternating period, such as square waves. A sample unit samples a third voltage on the third phase for acquiring a first sample at a first instant in the first part and a second sample at a second instant in the second part, and a difference value between the first sample and the second sample. The difference value represents a mutual inductance between the stator coils due to the rotor position. A determination unit determines the rotor position based on the difference value.
US09667179B2
A multi-phase motor control apparatus that reduces the occurrence of the vibrations and the noises by setting the shift amount per time more finely after realizing a reduction in processing ability of a CPU by using a one-shunt type current detection circuit and an electric power steering apparatus using the same. The apparatus includes a PWM-signal generating section that generates plural second each-phase PWM-signals within two control periods based on the current estimation value and the carrier signal, and in a case that a phase shift amount of a predetermined phase in a just before control period is zero and a phase shift amount of a predetermined phase in a present control period is not zero, the phase shift control section gradually increases the phase shift amount from zero in the present control period and a next control period, and uses the second each-phase PWM-signals in the next control period.
US09667177B1
A power converter for operating a three-phase AC electrical machine from a single phase AC power source includes an ASD having a rectifier and inverter, and an add-on power conversion module external to the ASD that is electrically connected to each of the power source and the ASD. The power conversion module includes one or more input inductors configured to store and filter single-phase AC power received from the power source and a pair of switching devices connected to each of the input inductors at an output end thereof. A controller operably connected to the power conversion module selectively controls switching of the pair of switching devices associated with each of the one or more input inductors so as to cause a sinusoidal single phase AC power to be output from the add-on power conversion module for rectification by the rectifier.
US09667170B2
The disclosure relates to a method for operating an inverter that includes at least one bridge assembly that is actuated in a modulated manner for supplying electrical power to an energy supply network. Initially, the inverter is operated by the unipolar actuation of the at least one bridge assembly and the energy supply network is monitored for the presence of a network fault. If a network fault is detected, the inverter is operated at least at intervals by the bipolar actuation of the at least one bridge assembly. The disclosure further relates to a network fault-tolerant inverter which is equipped for carrying out the method.
US09667163B1
A system for providing increased energy efficiency and harmonic reduction has a source of three phase AC electrical potential, a three phase to five phase power transformer converter coupled to the source of three phase AC electrical potential, a five phase cable coupled to the three phase to five phase power transformer converter, and at least one load coupled to the five phase cable.
US09667148B2
An object is to obtain a rectifier having a small voltage drop and to reduce the fabrication cost of a converter circuit. A photoelectric transducer device including: a photoelectric transducer element; and a converter circuit stepping up or stepping down an output of the photoelectric transducer element and including a switching element and a rectifier, in which the switching element is a first oxide semiconductor transistor that is normally off and in which the rectifier is a second oxide semiconductor transistor that is diode-connected and normally on.
US09667144B2
A DC-DC converter includes a first switching element and a second switching element; a pulse signal generating circuit which generates a pulse signal used to control on/off periods of the switching elements; a limiting circuit which generates a minimum pulse width signal; a selector configured to select one of the pulse signal and the minimum pulse width signal, and a driver circuit switches the first and second switching element and a reverse current detecting circuit detects a reverse current. The driver circuit controls the first or second switching element, when the reverse current is detected. The selector selects the pulse signal when the reverse current is not detected, and selects the minimum pulse width signal when the reverse current is detected.
US09667142B2
A power supply device is responsive to load changes. The power supply device includes a switch control circuit, a charge control circuit, and a discharge control circuit. The switch control circuit controls switches so that electrical power is charged into an inductor, discharged from the inductor, and distributed to first and second capacitors in a time-division manner based on a switching cycle. The charge control circuit controls the amount of electrical power to be charged into the inductor based on a first amount of error between a first output power supply voltage and its target value and a second amount of error between a second output power supply voltage and its target value. The discharge control circuit controls a distribution ratio at which the electrical power discharged from the inductor is distributed to the first and second capacitors based on the ratio between the first and second amounts of error.
US09667132B2
According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a flyback converter comprising an input, an output, a rectifier, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a switch, the switch being closed in a first mode of operation and open in a second and third mode of operation, and a regenerative snubber circuit, wherein the flyback converter is configured such that in the first mode of operation, the DC power from the rectifier charges the transformer, wherein the flyback converter is configured such that, in the second mode of operation, the snubber circuit is configured to store leakage energy from the primary winding, and wherein the flyback converter is configured such that, in the third mode of operation, the snubber circuit is configured to provide the stored energy to the primary winding. The flyback converter may also have high power factor at the input while operating from AC input.
US09667122B1
A brushless D.C. motor has a rotor with a plurality of magnets secured to a mounting surface. Each magnet has an RF transmitter secured to a magnet surface, with each RF transmitter having stored therein a unique identification character serving to identify the magnet. A transmitter power generator having several coils mounted on the rotor and a power conditioning unit supplies power to the transmitters, which continuously broadcast their identification character. A stator has a plurality of pole teeth separated by slots, each pole tooth having a power coil wound thereabout. A plurality of RF receiver antennae are mounted adjacent the pole teeth each coupled to a different RF receiver. The position and magnet identification information received by the RF receiver is processed and coupled to a microprocessor, which extracts the information and sends it to a motor controller and driver unit, which supplies operating power to the individual power coils.
US09667116B2
In a generator in which a stator is fixed to a housing which includes a first bracket having a bearing portion for pivotally supporting one end portion of a rotary shaft, and a second bracket covering a cooling fan that rotates with the rotary shaft, and a rotor surrounded by the stator is fixed to the rotary shaft, the stator is fixed to the first bracket, and the first bracket is integrally provided with a tubular portion which surrounds the stator for permitting cooling air sucked in by the cooling fan to flow between the tubular portion and an outer periphery of the stator, and the second bracket is connected to the tubular portion. Accordingly, cost is reduced by connecting first and second brackets together without using long through-bolts, and efficiency of cooling the stator is enhanced by making the cooling air flow along the outer periphery of the stator.
US09667115B2
The present invention concerns an electronic housing for an electric motor, consisting of a housing holder part with a housing floor and a housing wall comprising the housing floor. A housing opening lies opposite the housing floor. Arranged in the housing holder part is a motor electronic component with an electronic printed circuit board, which is arranged parallel to the opening plane of the housing opening. Detachably arranged on the electronic printed circuit board or on the motor electronic component, on a side of the electronic printed circuit board facing away from the housing floor is a contact protecting component, which covers this surface, from an electrically insulating material, which has at least partially a grid structure as an air outlet.
US09667112B2
A slot liner for a rotor assembly in one embodiment includes a metallic support member and a coating. The coating is disposed on at least one side of the metallic support member, and includes a mixture of a filler and a polyimide resin. The filler is a high thermal conductivity electrical insulating (HTCEI) filler, and includes particles of at least one of boron nitride, aluminum nitride, or a diamond material.
US09667107B2
A motor including a stator and a rotor. The stator includes teeth and windings. Each tooth has a distal portion defined by a radially inward side of the stator. The rotor, which is arranged inward in the radial direction from the stator, includes a rotor core, magnets, and salient poles. Each salient pole is separated by a void from the magnet that is adjacent in the circumferential direction. The distal portion of each tooth is longer than a radially outward side of each magnet.
US09667106B2
A motor housing for enclosing a first stator module and a second stator module of a motor is provided. The motor housing includes a stator housing. The stator housing has a first module portion coupled to the first stator module, wherein the first module has a first contoured shape complimentary to the first stator module. A second module portion is coupled to the second stator module, wherein the second module has a second contoured shape complimentary to the second stator module. The housing also includes a base portion having a first side coupled to the first module portion and a second side coupled to the second module portion. The base portion further includes a third side coupled to and extends between the first side and the second side. A rotor housing is coupled to the stator housing and has a fastener coupled to the third side.
US09667103B2
The invention relates to a main element (400) of an electric machine. Said main element (400) comprises several winding strands (100, 200, 300) with electric coils (101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302) which interconnected so as to be electrically conductive and a winding core (K) which comprises first grooves (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9), through which the precisely one coil (101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302) runs, and second grooves (2, 5, 8), through which precisely two different coils (101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302) run. Each coil (101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302) of each winding strand (100, 200, 300) is either a first coil (101, 201, 301) which runs through two first grooves (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9), or a second coil (102, 202, 302) which runs through two second grooves (2, 5, 8).
US09667102B2
A wireless electric power transmission apparatus includes a communication unit configured to carry out communication for wireless electric power transmission, a restriction unit configured to restrict the wireless electric power transmission in a case in which the communication unit is unable to communicate with an object disposed within a range in which the wireless electric power transmission apparatus can transmit the wireless electric power, and a control unit configured to start the wireless electric power transmission in response to a user instruction in a case in which the communication unit is unable to communicate with the object disposed within the range in which the wireless electric power transmission apparatus can transmit wireless electric power.
US09667099B2
A method is disclosed for operating an energy installation having a wind turbine or water turbine connected to a generator, a converter unit connected on the generator side to the generator, and an auxiliary energy unit for providing electrical energy to cover an intrinsic energy demand of the energy installation. The converter unit is connected to an electric power grid and feeds electrical energy generated by the generator into the electric power grid via the converter unit. The auxiliary energy unit is connected to the electric power grid for drawing electrical energy. In the event of a separation of the converter unit and of the auxiliary energy unit from the electric power grid, the auxiliary energy unit draws electrical energy from an energy storage unit for an adjustable period of time, and the auxiliary energy unit then draws electrical energy generated by the generator via the converter unit.
US09667097B2
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method of operating a UPS system, the method comprising receiving, at an input of a first UPS, input power from a power source, generating, with a first analysis circuit, a first signal indicative of a characteristic of the input power, receiving, at the analysis circuit, a second signal from a second analysis circuit of a device coupled to the power source, the second signal indicative of a characteristic of input power received at the second analysis circuit, analyzing with the analysis circuitry, the first signal and the second signal, determining, whether an improper wiring condition exists at the input, in response to a determination that an improper wiring condition does not exist, providing output power to an output of the first UPS, and in response to a determination that an improper wiring condition does exist, de-energizing the first UPS.
US09667086B2
A mobile terminal is provided with a housing, a battery pack, and a secondary-side non-contact charging module. In a plan view along the thickness direction of the housing, the battery pack is arranged in a first area, and the secondary-side non-contact charging module is arranged in a second area that is adjacent to the first area. The secondary-side non-contact charging module overlaps with the intersection of a center line for the second area, said center line following the direction in which the first area and the second area are adjacent to each other, and a center line for the width direction of the housing, said center line being orthogonal to the direction in which the first area and the second area are adjacent to each other in the second area.
US09667079B2
A charge control device includes a charge state (SOC) calculation unit that calculates the SOC of a battery using the voltage and current of the battery. A chargeable power calculation unit calculates the power with which to charge the battery and a charge power calculation unit calculates the charge power to be supplied from the charger. A charge time calculation unit uses a map that correlates in part combinations of charge state values and charge power values to output charge time values is used by the charge state calculation unit when the chargeable power is greater than the outputtable power. When the chargeable power for charging is less than the outputtable power, the charge time calculation unit calculates the remaining charge time by using the map to reduce the remaining charge time determined from the map.
US09667075B2
A wireless charging device (100) includes a shell (1), a heat conduction plate (2), a charging assembly (4) and a connecting assembly (5). The heat conduction plate (2) includes a first portion (201), a second portion (202) parallel with the first portion (201) and contacted with an inner surface of the shell (1), and a third portion (203) connecting a lower edge of the first portion (201) to a lower edge of the second portion (202). The charging assembly (4) is disposed between the first and second portions (201,202) and includes a circuit board, a chip (401) disposed on the circuit board and contacted with the first portion (201), a charging coil and an exciting unit. The connecting assembly (5) defines a first end electrically connected with the circuit board. A method for charging an apparatus with the wireless charging device (100) is also provided.
US09667066B2
The present invention has disclosed a wind power bundling control method after wind power and thermal power are connected to a power grid in the field of electric power system security technology, including regulating wind power output and thermal power output forward or backward; calculating the transient stability margin of the grid, load level index of element and voltage out-of-limit index of busbar after regulating wind power output and thermal power output respectively; calculating wind power/thermal power paying value according to the transient stability margin of the grid, load level index of element and voltage out-of-limit index of busbar after regulating wind power output and thermal power output; if wind power/thermal power paying value is larger than set threshold value, regulating wind power output and thermal power output backward/forward; if wind power/thermal power paying value is smaller than set threshold value, regulating wind power output and thermal power output forward/backward. The present invention provides a wind power bundling control method after wind power and thermal power are connected to the power grid to ensure reasonable output of wind power and thermal power, so as to guarantee the power grid operates normally.
US09667054B2
An assembly includes: a threaded stem having an external helical male thread, the male thread defining a root having a first diameter, a crest having a second diameter, and flanks defining a third diameter; and a sealing adapter having an annular body, an outer surface, and an internal female thread, the female thread defining a crest having a fourth diameter, a root having a fifth diameter, and flanks defining a sixth diameter. The sealing adapter is threaded onto the threaded stem such that the female thread engages the male thread. Prior to assembly, the fourth diameter is less than the first diameter, the fifth diameter is less than the second diameter, and the sixth diameter is less than the third diameter.
US09667050B1
An apparatus for conduit to box unitary support bracket uses a plate. An electrical conduit box has end knockout openings on sides thereof, each end knockout opening having an elevation and size and location. The plate is disposed substantially perpendicular to said end knockout openings and comprising rows of thin, selectively bendable fingers bent towards the knockout openings to support at least one wire carrier in alignment with an elevation and size and location of corresponding end knockout openings. A method of assembling bends tabs on the plate 90 degrees, installs a connector in an end knockout on a side of the box, bends in a direction toward the electrical conduit box a plurality thin metal rowed fingers on the tab, secures the box to the plate, and feeds a wire carrier through the tabs, resting on the metal fingers bent and feeds the wire carrier into the connector.
US09667042B2
A wire support member for an environmental control system, the wire support member has a first bracket with inner and outer surfaces and a second bracket with inner and outer surfaces. A bracket connecter is disposed between and connects the first bracket and the second bracket. A ratio between the thickness of the first bracket and an offset between the first inner surface and the second inner surface optimizes the position of a wire harness and prevents the wire harness from contacting other surfaces within the aircraft.
US09667039B2
A device and method for injecting ions into a stream of air. The device comprises a housing; an electric circuit inside the housing; an electrically conductive element coupled to the electric circuit for emitting ions, at least a portion of the conductive element being exposable to at least a portion, of the stream of air for injecting the ions into the stream of air; and a heater element disposed inside the housing for heating one or more circuit elements of the electric circuit.
US09667037B2
A prechamber spark plug for a gas-powered internal combustion engine having: a metallic body, an insulator, a center conductor connected to a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a cap that is attached to a front end of the body and forms a prechamber. The prechamber can be subdivided into a front part and a back part by an imaginary separating plane that is perpendicular to the center conductor at an end face of the center electrode. The front part of the prechamber is located on the front side of the separating plane, and the back part is located inside the body on the back side of the separating plane so that the volume of the back part is larger than the volume of the front part. Apart from its connection to the front part of the prechamber, the back part is closed in a gas-tight manner.
US09667036B2
An ESD protection component includes opposite electrodes and a ground electrode. The opposite electrodes and the ground electrode each have an extraction portion and an opposite portion. The respective opposite portions of the opposite electrodes and the ground electrode are placed on the same layer. At least one of the opposite electrodes and the ground electrode, the extraction portion and the opposite portion are placed on respective different layers and, also, are electrically connected to each other via a through hole conductor.
US09667034B1
Embodiments include a gain system and method. The system includes a gain medium with a plurality of plasmonic apparatus. Each plasmonic apparatus includes a substrate having a first plasmonic surface, a plasmonic nanoparticle having a second plasmonic surface, and a dielectric-filled gap between the first plasmonic surface and the second plasmonic surface. A plasmonic cavity is created by an assembly of the first plasmonic surface, the second plasmonic surface, and the dielectric-filled gap, and has a first fundamental wavelength λ1 and second fundamental wavelength λ2. Fluorescent particles are located in the dielectric-filled gap. Each fluorescent particle has an absorption spectrum at the first fundamental wavelength λ1 and an emission spectrum at the second fundamental wavelength λ2. An excitation applied to the gain medium at the first fundamental wavelength λ1 produces an amplified electromagnetic wave emission at the second resonant wavelength λ2.
US09667026B2
A connected optical waveguide structure comprises n four-port optical couplers, where n is greater than one; and n waveguide loops, each loop having a corresponding perimeter; wherein each of the n perimeters is different from each of the other n−1 perimeters. In one embodiment, for any pair of the n loops, the ratio of the larger perimeter to the smaller perimeter is greater than five halves (5/2).
US09667022B1
Laser diode drivers include switching power supplies situated proximate one or more laser diode arrays so as to provide laser diode drive currents at frequencies of 200 kHz or more. The switching power supplies are generally buck/boost supplies that can provide well regulated outputs even when regulating remote power received from a power supply via a cables having inductances in the hundreds of nH. Multiple laser diode arrays can be driven with independently selectable powers. A drive current for a particular laser array can be controlled so as to reduce voltage drop at voltage control elements such as FETs, leading to increased efficiency, increased product life and decreased sense element failure.
US09666988B2
A lockout system for a receptacle mount is provided that provides an additional locking mechanism to prevent access to a receptacle mount, which may include electrical hardware such as a switch or button. The lockout system includes a first piece comprising a first base section and at least two first arms, wherein at least one of the at least two arms comprises a locking hole for receiving a locking apparatus; and a second piece comprising a second base section and at least two second arms, wherein the at least two second arms of said second piece are affixed to the at least two first arms of said first piece, wherein the second piece rotates between at least first and second positions, and in the first position, said second base section of said second piece prevents a mount receptacle cover from being opened.
US09666984B2
The connection system for at least one pair of paired connectors includes a plate (2) including an opening for each pair of connectors, to which is attached a first connector of said pair and a bolt (4) that can be moved laterally in relation to the plate and to the first connector, said bolt (4) being moveable to a first position that enables insertion of the second connector of said pair until contact is made between the connectors and to a second stable coupling and locking position of the connectors.
US09666982B1
An electrical connector includes a circular housing having a cavity configured to receive a mating connector. The housing holds power terminals in the cavity. The housing has a mating end having a generally circular cross-section. The housing has a flexible latch at the mating end configured to engage a latch of the mating connector. The flexible latch has a pull hook extending therefrom. A release collar is slidably coupled to the housing at the mating end in an axial direction between a forward position and a rearward position. The release collar has an actuator ramp facing the pull hook. The actuator ramp engages the pull hook to actuate the flexible latch to release the flexible latch from a latch of the mating connector as the release collar is moved in the axial direction to the rearward position.
US09666977B2
Technologies for providing DC arc protection in a DC socket include an electromagnet positioned in the DC socket configured to produce a magnetic field. The electromagnet is positioned to be adjacent to a contact region between one or more supply terminals of a DC socket and one or more prongs of a DC plug. As the DC plug is disconnected from the DC socket, a DC arc might form between one or more of the supply terminals and one or more of the prongs. The magnetic field produced by the electromagnet reduces the energy of the DC arc and reduces the time duration of the DC arc.
US09666962B1
An electrical power connector includes a power terminal having a first contact and a second contact arranged back-to-back. The first contact has a first thickness. The first contact has a first mating segment having a mating interface. The first contact has a first mounting segment including a first compliant pin. The second contact has a second thickness approximately equal to the first thickness. The second contact has a second mating segment having a mating interface. The second contact has a second mounting segment including a second compliant pin. The first compliant pin is aligned with the second compliant pin and arranged back-to-back such that both the first and second compliant pins are received in a common plated via of a circuit board.
US09666960B2
A power connector is disclosed. The power connector has a circuit board, a conductive wire, an insulation base, and at least one conductive terminal. The at least one conductive terminal has a first connecting end portion electrically connected with the circuit board and a second connecting end portion electrically connected with the conductive wire. The at least one conductive terminal is fixed into the insulation base such that a top end of the first connecting end portion protrudes from a bottom surface of the insulation base to electrically connect to the circuit board.
US09666957B2
The connector terminal includes a first connector terminal and a second connector terminal to be fit into the first connector terminal, the first connector terminal including a flat spring making contact with a certain area of the second connector terminal, the certain area including a free end of the second connector terminal, and a terminal body including a pair of sidewalls between which the flat spring is disposed, the second connector terminal being formed in the certain area with two or more first projections each extending in a first direction in which the second connector terminal is fit into the first connector terminal, at least two first projections among the first projections making contact with the flat spring between the sidewalls.
US09666955B2
A connection portion between a single-core line electrical line and a stranded electrical line is prevented from bulging in the diameter direction. A conductor exposed portion is formed on an end portion of the single-core line electrical line, and an individual wire exposed portion is formed on an end portion of the stranded electrical line. A collapsed portion is formed on the conductor exposed portion, and a connection block portion is formed by welding together individual wires of the individual wire exposed portion. The compressed portion and the connection block portion are joined in an overlapping state. At this time, the collapsed portion is bent such that a level difference is formed in the diameter direction such that the single-core line electrical line and the stranded electrical line are joined approximately coaxially.
US09666951B2
A printed circuit board antenna includes a printed circuit board and a feedpoint that is disposed on the printed circuit board. A copper coating is disposed on the printed circuit board. A split is disposed on the copper coating on the printed circuit board. The split is connected to a board edge of the printed circuit board. A slot perpendicular to the split is disposed on the copper coating on the printed circuit board. The slot is connected to the split. The copper coating at two sides of the split forms a first antenna and a second antenna. The feedpoint is configured to, together with the first antenna and the second antenna, form a first resonance loop and a second resonance loop. Resonance frequencies of the first resonance loop and the second resonance loop are different.
US09666949B2
A partially dielectric loaded divided horn waveguide device for a dual-polarized antenna is described. The partially dielectric loaded divided horn waveguide device may include a polarizer, a waveguide horn, multiple individual waveguides dividing a horn port of the waveguide horn, and multiple dielectric elements partially filling the individual waveguides. The dielectric elements may include a dielectric member extending along a corresponding individual waveguide and one or more matching features for matching signal propagation between the partially dielectric loaded individual waveguides and free space. Various components of the partially dielectric loaded divided horn waveguide device may be tuned for enhanced signal propagation between the waveguide horn and the individual waveguides, and between the individual waveguides and free space.
US09666948B1
An inter-satellite cross-link antenna for a communications satellite in a constellation of satellites in earth orbit. The complete cross-link system is an array of eight quadrifilar helix antennas with a new design which is eight times smaller than previous designs, and has superior inter-satellite communications performance. The quadrifilar helix antenna is designed with a length, diameter, helix pitch angle and ground plate connectivity which is matched to the UHF inter-satellite communication frequency to provided a toroidal radiation pattern with high signal strength in a direction normal to the antenna axis and very low signal strength in an axial direction. The array of eight quadrifilar helix antennas does not require interleaving with the L-band GPS antenna aperture on the satellite, and does not block or interfere with the earth-directed GPS signals.
US09666942B2
A method includes receiving a remote transmitter signal at an antenna array including a number of antenna elements, mixing the received signal with in-phase and quadrature-phase Local Oscillator (LO) signals from Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a coupled VCO array, and configuring each Phase Locked Loop (PLL) of a number of PLLs to receive an in-phase output of the mixing corresponding to a VCO and a quadrature-phase output of the mixing corresponding to another VCO adjacent to the VCO as inputs thereto. The method also includes feeding back an output of the each PLL to the VCO, driving the in-phase and the quadrature-phase outputs of the mixing from a transmit modulator, and transmitting, in a direction of the remote transmitter, an antenna array signal based on the driving. Further, the method includes sensing a servoed state related to LO phase relationships and holding thereof during the transmission of the signal.
US09666935B2
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a circuit board carried by the portable housing and having a ground plane thereon, wireless communications circuitry carried by the circuit board, and an antenna assembly carried by the housing. More particularly, the antenna assembly may include a flexible substrate, an electrically conductive antenna element on the flexible substrate and connected to the wireless communications circuitry and the ground plane, and a floating, electrically conductive director element on the flexible substrate for directing a beam pattern of the antenna element.
US09666928B1
Impedance tuners used in high power measurements suffer fast heating and consequently thermal expansion of the center conductor, which has a very small mass and is thermally isolated from the environment and tuner housing. This leads to false measurements or catastrophic tuner failure (short) of either the DUT or the tuner. Modified center conductors are made of two pieces and comprise a flexible joint between them that allows longitudinal center conductor expansion and contraction, thus preserving tuner accuracy and safety. Practical tests have shown significant improvement in thermal behavior.
US09666927B1
A high bandwidth, low signal error, compact waveguide includes a conductive body including a waveguide input portion and a plurality of waveguide output portions disposed coplanar with the input waveguide portion. The waveguide further includes a common junction joining the input waveguide portion and the plurality of output waveguide portions. A septum is disposed proximate the common junction collinear with a centerline of the input waveguide portion. The waveguide further includes a plurality of iris elements disposed proximate the common junction transverse to the centerline of the input waveguide portion. The septum and the plurality of iris elements changes an impedance of the common junction to match the impedance across the entire waveguide bandwidth.
US09666925B2
A main transmission line includes a substantially elongated dielectric body in which first and second substantially elongated signal conductors are disposed with a distance therebetween in a width direction. A first reference ground conductor and a first auxiliary ground conductor sandwich therebetween the first signal conductor in a thickness direction. A second reference ground conductor and a second auxiliary ground conductor sandwich therebetween the second signal conductor in the thickness direction. The second auxiliary ground conductor includes two substantially elongated conductors and a first bridge conductor, and the second auxiliary ground conductor includes two substantially elongated conductors and a second bridge conductor. The positions of the first and second bridge conductors in a lengthwise direction are different.
US09666917B2
In air cells which are stacked on one another and used as an assembled battery, an electrolytic solution layer is formed between a positive electrode material and a negative electrode material, and one or two or more deformation prevention materials are arranged for preventing deformation by abutting the positive electrode material or the negative electrode material or abutting both of them.
US09666915B2
A technology for a wireless transfer station that is operable to wirelessly provide energy to other wireless transfer stations. A wireless transfer request can be received from one or more of the other wireless transfer stations to receive wireless energy from the wireless transfer station. A transferring of wireless energy to the one or more of the other wireless transfer stations can be prioritized using selected energy transfer priority criteria. Wireless energy can be provided to the one or more of the other wireless transfer stations based on the prioritization.
US09666910B2
A system for controlling, in a marine environment, a thermostatic valve coupled to an electrochemical type of electric power source, the thermostatic valve being provided with: a valve body; a first fluid inlet receiving a hot electrolytic fluid; a second fluid inlet receiving a cold electrolytic fluid; an outlet providing a mixed electrolytic fluid, resulting from mixing the hot and cold electrolytic fluids; and an adjusting element, which may be controlled to regulate the mixing. A control unit receives a reference temperature signal, variable over time, and a temperature measurement signal from a temperature sensor connected to the outlet of the thermostatic valve; and executes a control algorithm implementing fuzzy logic for generating a control signal for the adjusting element, as a function of the reference temperature signal, to reduce an error between the temperature measurement signal and the reference temperature signal.
US09666909B2
Disclosed herein is an electrode laminate including a positive electrode having a positive electrode material coating layer formed on a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode having a negative electrode material coating layer formed on a negative electrode current collector, and a porous polymer film interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode, the negative electrodes, and the porous polymer films are laminated in a height direction on the basis of a plane such that the negative electrodes constitute outermost electrodes of the electrode laminate, and the positive electrode material coating layer has a larger coating area than the negative electrode material coating layer.
US09666904B2
The present invention relates to a secondary battery, comprising an electrode element in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are opposed to each other, and an electrolyte solution, wherein the negative electrode active material comprises a metal alloyable with lithium and/or a metal oxide capable of intercalating/deintercalating lithium ions, and the electrolyte solution is a nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising an electrolyte salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, and comprises a carbonyl compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein two R1s may be the same or different from each other, and each independently represents hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, oxyalkylene group, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, cycloalkyloxy group, alkenyloxy group, alkynyloxy group, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic oxy group, or oxyalkyleneoxy group.
US09666902B2
A solid electrolyte includes a plurality of particles having lithium ionic conductivity and a matrix which is interposed among the particles so as to be in contact with each of the particles and is formed from an amorphous material containing the following (a) and (b): (a) lithium atoms; and (b) an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron, a Group 14 element in period 3 or lower, and a Group 15 element in period 3 or lower.
US09666898B2
A rechargeable battery is provided with a bed of particles comprising a mixture of conductive carbon granules and nonconductive granules.
US09666896B2
To provide a positive electrode for nonaqueous secondary batteries having improved charge/discharge cycle characteristics, the positive electrode contains in its active material layer a compound represented by formula: LizNi1-x-yTix(MpLiq)yO2 wherein x is a positive number less than 0.3; y is a positive number less than 0.25; z is a number from 0.95 to 1.05; M is a polyvalent metal satisfying the relation: prM+qrL=54 to 69 pm (where rM is the ionic radius of M, and rL is the ionic radius of Li+); p is a positive number; q is 0 or greater; p and q satisfy the relations: p+q=1 and pv+q=3; and v is the valence of the metal M. When analyzed by XRD, the compound shows diffraction peaks assigned to the planes (003) and (104). The ratio of the area of the peak of the (003) plane to that of the (104) plane is 0.5 to 0.75.
US09666894B2
Provided are a battery module and a method for manufacturing the same. The battery module includes: a plurality of battery cells spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval and stacked in parallel with each other; a plurality of heat exchange members integrally formed by connecting parts connecting between two partition walls neighboring to each other among partition walls each slid between the battery cells, respectively; and a filler applied onto the heat exchange members.
US09666890B2
A solid oxide fuel cell includes a cell stack, a reformed gas introduction path introducing a reformed gas into the cell stack, an oxidizing agent gas introduction path introducing an oxidizing agent gas into the cell stack, and a cooling gas introduction path introducing a cooling gas into the oxidizing agent gas introduction path. A heat-absorption part absorbing heat is provided in a periphery of the cell stack, and the cooling gas introduction path is connected with the oxidizing agent gas introduction path through the heat-absorption part.
US09666888B2
The system includes an exhaust fuel gas line, an exhaust-fuel-gas supplying line, a recirculating line that circulates the exhaust fuel gas to the SOFC, a shut-off valve in a vent line that splits off on the upstream side of the branching point, an orifice on the downstream side of the shut-off valve, a water supplying portion that supplies water to the recirculating line, and a DPX that measures the system pressure difference of the SOFC, and, when stopping power generation by the SOFC or when power generation by the SOFC comes to an abnormal stop, the shut-off valve is opened, while causing a predetermined amount of pressure loss in the vent line by using the orifice, and thus, the water flow volume of the water supplying portion is controlled so that the pressure difference measured by the DPX reaches a predetermined value.
US09666876B2
An oxygen reduction reaction catalyst (ORR) and a method for making the catalyst are provided. The method may include depositing (e.g., by PVD) conductive catalyst material onto a non-conductive substrate, such as particles or powder, to form an intermediate ORR catalyst. The intermediate ORR catalyst may then be heat treated and another deposition process may be performed to form a thin, electrically interconnected catalyst network layer overlying the non-conductive substrate. The catalyst material may include, for example, platinum, gold, or other platinum group or noble metals, or alloys thereof. The non-conductive substrate may be a ceramic, for example, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ).
US09666866B2
A method is provided for fabricating a transition metal hexacyanometallate (TMHCM) electrode with a water-soluble binder. The method initially forms an electrode mix slurry comprising TMHCF and a water-soluble binder. The electrode mix slurry is applied to a current collector, and then dehydrated to form an electrode. The electrode mix slurry may additionally comprise a carbon additive such as carbon black, carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, graphite, or graphene. The electrode is typically formed with TMHCM greater than 50%, by weight, as compared to a combined weight of the TMHCM, carbon additive, and binder. Also provided are a TMHCM electrode made with a water-soluble binder and a battery having a TMHCM cathode that is made with a water-soluble binder.
US09666865B2
A rechargeable magnesium-sulfur cell comprising an anode layer, an electrolyte, a metal polysulfide-preloaded active cathode layer, wherein the active cathode layer comprises: (a) an integral porous structure having massive surfaces (specific surface area >100 m2/g) or pores with a size from 1.0 nm to 100 nm and wherein multiple particles; and (b) a metal polysulfide, MxSy, preloaded in the pores or deposited on the massive surfaces, wherein x is an integer from 1 to 3 and y is an integer from 1 to 10, and M is a metal element selected from an alkali metal, an alkaline metal, a transition metal, a metal from groups 13 to 17 of the periodic table, or a combination thereof. The metal polysulfide is in a form of solid-state thin coating or small particles with a thickness or diameter less than 50 nm.
US09666864B1
An electrode morphology and architecture for energy storage applications that increases the rate of charge/discharge, battery life, and decreases cost. The morphology and architecture directed towards a method and apparatus incorporating a graphene supported anode including a substrate, a vertically oriented graphene support arrangement coated with silicon or the like, in an electrolyte.
US09666863B2
The invention relates to a nano silicon-carbon composite negative material for lithium ion batteries and a preparation method thereof. A porous electrode composed of silica and carbon is taken as a raw material, and a nano silicon-carbon composite material of carbon-loaded nano silicon is formed by a molten salt electrolysis method in a manner of silica in-situ electrochemical reduction. Silicon and carbon of the material are connected by nano silicon carbide, and are metallurgical-grade combination, so that the electrochemical cycle stability of the nano silicon-carbon composite material is improved. The preparation method of the nano silicon-carbon composite material provided by the invention comprises the following steps: compounding a porous block composed of carbon and silica powder with a conductive cathode collector as a cathode; using graphite or an inert anode as an anode, and putting the cathode and anode into CaCl2 electrolyte or mixed salt melt electrolyte containing CaCl2 to form an electrolytic cell; applying voltage between the cathode and the anode; controlling the electrolytic voltage, the electrolytic current density and the electrolytic quantity, so that silica in the porous block is deoxidized into nano silicon by electrolytic reduction, and the nano silicon-carbon composite material for lithium ion batteries is prepared at the cathode.
US09666862B2
Provided is a lithium secondary battery having improved discharge characteristics in a range of high-rate discharge while minimizing a dead volume and at the same time, having increased cell capacity via increased electrode density and electrode loading amounts, by inclusion of two or more active materials having different redox levels so as to exert superior discharge characteristics in the range of high-rate discharge via sequential action of cathode active materials in a discharge process, and preferably having different particle diameters.
US09666858B2
A negative electrode for a secondary battery according to the present invention has a collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on a surface of the collector and containing negative electrode active material particles. In the negative electrode active material layer, an insulating material is arranged between the negative electrode active material particles so as not to develop conductivity by a percolation path throughout the negative electrode active material layer. It is possible in this configuration to effectively prevent the occurrence of a short-circuit current due to an internal short circuit and the generation of heat due to such short-circuit current flow in the secondary battery while securing the battery performance of the secondary battery.
US09666855B2
An anode usable in a cell of a lithium-ion battery comprising an electrolyte based on a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent, to a process for manufacturing this anode and to a lithium-ion battery having one or more cells incorporating this anode. This anode is based on a polymer composition, obtained by melt processing and without solvent evaporation, that is the product of a hot compounding reaction between an active material and additives having a polymer binder and an electrically conductive filler. The binder is based on at least one crosslinked elastomer and the additives furthermore include at least one non-volatile organic compound usable in the electrolyte solvent, the composition advantageously includes the active material in a mass fraction greater than or equal to 85%.
US09666844B2
A support structure is provided for a battery cell array which may include a pair of triangular prism shaped endplates having opposing parallel inner faces configured to exert a compression force on battery cells disposed therebetween and parallel outer faces not parallel with the inner faces. The support structure may also include a pair of opposing retention supports spanning between the endplates. The endplates and supports may be arranged such that the outer faces and supports define a rectangular prism. The inner faces may be oriented at an acute angle relative to at least one of the supports, and the acute angle may have a slippage angle value. Each retention support may define retention featured to orient battery cells and cell spacers such that the battery cells and spacers are parallel with the inner faces.
US09666841B1
A router includes a printed circuit board, a housing enclosing the printed circuit board, the housing having a recess formed therein, and a removable cell pack containing a cellular module configured to be received within the recess and electrically connected to the printed circuit board.
US09666836B2
According to one embodiment, an organic EL device includes an insulating substrate including a first main surface and a second main surface, a switching element formed on the insulating substrate at the first main surface side, a first electrode electrically connected to the switching element, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, an organic luminescent layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a reflective plate disposed between the insulating substrate and the first electrode, and a conductive film covering the second main surface of the insulating substrate.
US09666832B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a display device, includes preparing a first substrate formed such that a first resin layer is formed on a first support substrate, and thereafter a display element portion and a mounting portion are formed above the first resin layer and a protection layer, which extends from an end portion of the first resin layer along the mounting portion onto the first support substrate, is disposed, preparing a second substrate formed such that a second resin layer is formed on a second support substrate, attaching the first substrate and the second substrate, and mounting a flexible printed circuit board, which is in a state in which the flexible printed circuit board is opposed to the protection layer, on the mounting portion.
US09666831B2
An organic light emitting display device includes first and second substrates, a display unit on the first substrate, a metal layer on the first substrate and including a plurality of first straight and curved portions arranged to surround the display area, and a sealant bonding the first substrate and the second substrate, the sealant at least partially being on the metal layer and including a plurality of second straight and curved portions arranged to surround the display area, wherein the metal layer includes an inner area facing toward the display unit and an outer area outside the inner area in a width direction, the inner area in the first curved portions being thinner in the width direction than the inner area in the first straight portions.
US09666828B2
Provided are methods of manufacturing a substrate for an OED and an OED. According to the methods of manufacturing a substrate for forming an OED such as an OLED and an OED, a substrate for forming a device having excellent light extraction efficiency and improved reliability by preventing penetration of moisture or air into the device, or device using the same may be provided.
US09666826B2
An electroluminescent device comprises a cathode, an anode, and has therebetween a light emitting layer (LEL), the device further containing an electron transport layer (ETL) comprising an anthracene compound on the cathode side of the LEL and an organic electron injection layer (EIL) between the ETL and the cathode comprising a phenanthroline compound, wherein the thickness of the EIL and LEL are such that the ratio of the thickness of the EIL to LEL is greater than 0.125.
US09666812B2
The present application provides a new nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound and an organic electronic device using the same.
US09666799B2
An alternating stack of electrically conductive layers and electrically insulating layers is formed over global bit lines formed on a substrate. The alternating stack is patterned to form a line stack of electrically conductive lines and electrically insulating lines. Trench isolation structures are formed within each trench to define a plurality of memory openings laterally spaced from one another by the line stack in one direction and by trench isolation structures in another direction. The electrically conductive lines are laterally recessed relative to sidewall surfaces of the electrically insulating lines. A read/write memory material is deposited in recesses, and is anisotropically etched so that a top surface of a global bit line is physically exposed at a bottom of each memory opening. An electrically conductive bit line is formed within each memory opening to form a resistive random access memory device.
US09666791B2
A method of forming a self-aligned MTJ without using a photolithography mask and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a first electrode over a metal layer, the metal layer recessed in a low-k dielectric layer; forming a MTJ layer over the first electrode; forming a second electrode over the MTJ layer; removing portions of the second electrode, the MTJ layer, and the first electrode down to the low-k dielectric layer; forming a silicon nitride-based layer over the second electrode and the low-k dielectric layer; and planarizing the silicon nitride-based layer down to the second electrode.
US09666787B2
A sensor device and an electronic apparatus by which downsizing and a reduction in costs can be achieved is provided. A sensor device according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a sensor element and a semiconductor element. The semiconductor element includes a first surface, a second surface, and a via-hole. The first surface includes a first terminal on which the sensor element is mounted and is an inactive surface. The second surface includes a second terminal for external connection and is an active surface. The via-hole electrically connects the first surface and the second surface to each other.
US09666762B2
Light emitter packages having multiple light emitter chips, such as light emitting diode (LED) chips, and related methods are provided. In one aspect, a light emitter package can include a submount, an array of light emitter chips disposed on a portion of the submount, and a lens provided over the submount and covering at least portions of the array. In some aspects, at least some of the light emitter chips can be adapted to emit light of a first dominant wavelength. In further aspects, at least some other light emitter chips are adapted to emit light of a second dominant wavelength that is different than the first dominant wavelength. In some aspects, the lens can be asymmetric. In some aspects, a collective center of the chips, or a center of an array of chips can be offset from a center of the asymmetric lens.
US09666760B2
The light-emitting diode comprises a first electrode intended to inject carriers of a first type into a stack of the light-emitting diode and arranged on an emissive face of the stack, a second electrode intended to inject carriers of a second type into the stack, and an emissive surface delimited by areas of the emissive face of the stack not covered by the first electrode. The first electrode is configured in such a way that any point of the emissive surface is situated no more than a predetermined distance from the first electrode dependent on the spreading length of the light-emitting diode. The method comprises a step of determining the spreading length of the light-emitting diode intended to be equipped with the first electrode and a step determining a characteristic of the first electrode from the determined spreading length.
US09666759B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a light emitting device. More particularly, disclosed are a growth substrate, a nitride semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a light emitting device. The method includes preparing a growth substrate including a metal substrate, forming a semiconductor structure including a nitride-based semiconductor on the growth substrate, providing a support structure on the semiconductor structure, and separating the growth substrate from the semiconductor structure.
US09666757B2
A vertical LED with current blocking structure and its associated fabrication method involve an anisotropic conductive material and a conductive substrate with concave-convex structure. The anisotropic conductive material forms a bonding layer with vertical conduction and horizontal insulation between the concave-convex substrate and the light-emitting epitaxial layer, thereby forming a vertical LED with current blocking function.
US09666753B2
A nitride semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate as a base and an n-type semiconductor layer grown on a surface side of the substrate. Antimony (Sb) is added to the n-type semiconductor layer so that a molar fraction is not less than 0.1% and is less than 1%. A concentration of an n-type impurity in the n-type semiconductor layer is lower than an electron concentration.
US09666744B2
A lighting system can include a lightguide having an edge and two major surfaces. The lightguide can be mounted in a frame so that one of the major surfaces faces towards an area to be illuminated, while the other major surface faces away from the area. LEDs can couple light into the lightguide edge, with the coupled light emitting from both major surfaces. Light emitted from the major surface that faces away from the area to be illuminated can be reflected back into the lightguide by a reflective surface. The reflective surface can be separated from the lightguide by an air gap. The air gap can promote internal reflection at the major surface facing away from the area to be illuminated, thereby enhancing homogeneity and output of light towards the area to be illuminated. The frame can include integral wireways, reflector retention clips, and grounding circuitry.
US09666741B2
Power generating apparatus and power generating system equipped with such power generating apparatus
A power generating apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a plurality of pn stacks, each formed by stacking a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer one on top of the other, and a mode switching unit which effects switching to a photovoltaic power generation mode or a thermal power generation mode by connecting the plurality of pn stacks with each other. The mode switching unit effects switching to the photovoltaic power generation mode by connecting the p-type semiconductor layers in parallel with each other and the n-type semiconductor layers in parallel with each other between the plurality of pn stacks. The mode switching unit effects switching to the thermal power generation mode by connecting the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer 11b in series between different ones of the pn stacks.
US09666737B2
The inventive concepts provide a solar cell and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes preparing a substrate in a chamber, forming a light absorbing layer on the substrate by setting temperature in the chamber to a first temperature and by supplying a first source into the chamber, forming a buffer layer on the substrate by setting temperature in the chamber to a second temperature lower than the first temperature and by supplying the first source into the chamber, and forming a window layer on the substrate by supplying a second source different from the first source into the chamber.
US09666736B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a photodetector arrangement is provided. The photodetector arrangement includes a plurality of germanium-based photodetectors, each germanium-based photodetector configured to receive an optical signal and to generate an electrical signal in response to the received optical signal, and an electrode arrangement arranged to conduct the electrical signals.
US09666731B2
A composition for solar cell electrodes, an electrode fabricated using the same, and a solar cell including the electrode, the composition including a conductive powder; a glass frit; and an organic vehicle, wherein the conductive powder includes silver powder and aluminum powder, the silver powder includes silver particles having an average particle size D50 of 1.5 μm or more in an amount of 50 wt % or more, based on a total weight of the silver powder.
US09666730B2
A packaged chip assembly with a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor device integrally formed on or in the substrate's top surface, and first bond pads at the substrate's top surface electrically coupled to the semiconductor device. A second substrate includes a first aperture and one or more second apertures extending therethrough, second and third bond pads at the second substrate's top and bottom surfaces, respectively, and conductors electrically coupled to the second and third bond pads. The semiconductor substrate's top surface is secured to the second substrate's bottom surface such that the semiconductor device is aligned with the first aperture, and each of the first bond pads is aligned with one of the second apertures. A plurality of wires are each electrically connected between one of the first bond pads and one of the second bond pads and each passing through one of the one or more second apertures.
US09666725B2
A semiconductor device excellent in writing operation is provided. In a structure where a data voltage supplied to a source line is supplied to a node of a memory cell via a bit line, a switch is provided between memory cells connected to the bit line. During a period in which the data voltage is supplied to the node of the memory cell, the switch on the bit line, which is provided between the memory cells, is off. With such a structure, parasitic capacitance of the bit line during a period in which the data voltage is supplied to the node of the memory cell can be reduced. As a result, writing of the data voltage into the memory cell can be performed fast.
US09666724B2
To provide a semiconductor device that includes an oxide semiconductor and is miniaturized while keeping good electrical properties. In the semiconductor device, an oxide semiconductor layer is surrounded by an insulating layer including an aluminum oxide film containing excess oxygen. Excess oxygen in the aluminum oxide film is supplied to the oxide semiconductor layer including a channel by heat treatment in a manufacturing process of the semiconductor device. Furthermore, the aluminum oxide film forms a barrier against oxygen and hydrogen. It is thus possible to suppress the removal of oxygen from the oxide semiconductor layer surrounded by the insulating layer including an aluminum oxide film, and the entry of impurities such as hydrogen into the oxide semiconductor layer; as a result, the oxide semiconductor layer can be made highly intrinsic. In addition, gate electrode layers over and under the oxide semiconductor layer control the threshold voltage effectively.
US09666723B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied for a certain time. Another object is to increase the degree of integration of a semiconductor device and to increase the storage capacity per unit area. A semiconductor device is formed with a material capable of sufficiently reducing off-state current of a transistor, such as an oxide semiconductor material that is a wide-bandgap semiconductor. With the use of a semiconductor material capable of sufficiently reducing off-state current of a transistor, the semiconductor device can hold data for a long time. Furthermore, a wiring layer provided under a transistor, a high-resistance region in an oxide semiconductor film, and a source electrode are used to form a capacitor, thereby reducing the area occupied by the transistor and the capacitor.
US09666721B2
High field-effect mobility is provided for a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor. Further, a highly reliable semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. In a transistor in which a stack of oxide semiconductor layers is provided over a gate electrode layer with a gate insulating layer provided therebetween, an oxide semiconductor layer functioning as a current path (channel) of the transistor and containing an n-type impurity is sandwiched between oxide semiconductor layers having lower conductivity than the oxide semiconductor layer. In the oxide semiconductor layer functioning as the channel, a region on the gate insulating layer side contains the n-type impurity at a higher concentration than a region on the back channel side. With such a structure, the channel can be separated from the interface between the oxide semiconductor stack and the insulating layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor stack, so that a buried channel can be formed.
US09666712B2
A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating film is around the fin-shaped semiconductor layer and a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer is on the fin-shaped semiconductor layer. A gate insulating film is around the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. A metal gate electrode is around the gate insulating film and a metal gate line is connected to the metal gate electrode. A metal gate pad is connected to the metal gate line, and a width of the metal gate electrode and a width of the metal gate pad is larger than a width of the metal gate line.
US09666705B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body including a plurality of compound semiconductor layers and a two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel region formed in one of the compound semiconductor layers. The semiconductor device further includes a contact structure disposed in the semiconductor body. The contact structure includes a metal region and a doped region. The metal region extends into the semiconductor body from a first side of the semiconductor body to at least the compound semiconductor layer which includes the channel region. The doped region is formed in the semiconductor body between the metal region and the channel region so that the channel region is electrically connected to the metal region through the doped region.
US09666703B2
A semiconductor device comprises a first semiconductor wafer including a cavity formed in the first semiconductor die. A second semiconductor die is bonded to the first semiconductor die over the cavity. A first transistor includes a portion of the first transistor formed over the cavity.
US09666693B1
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a nanosheet stack including a first layer and a second layer; patterning a gate stack on the nanosheet stack; forming a first spacer along a sidewall of the gate stack; removing an endwall portion of the nanosheet stack that extends beyond the first spacer such that a portion of the second layer is exposed from a sidewall of the first spacer; depositing a second spacer along a sidewall of the first spacer; recessing the substrate beneath the second spacer to form an isolation region; depositing an oxide on the gate stack and within the isolation region and partially recessing the oxide; removing a portion of the second spacer such that the portion of the second layer is exposed; and growing an epitaxial layer on the portion of the second layer that is exposed to form a source/drain over the isolation region.
US09666691B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a wafer including a substrate and a semiconductor fin at a major surface of the substrate, and performing a deposition step to epitaxially grow an epitaxy layer on a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin, wherein the epitaxy layer includes a semiconductor material. An etch step is then performed to remove a portion of the epitaxy layer, with a remaining portion of the epitaxy layer remaining on the top surface and the sidewalls of the semiconductor fin.
US09666684B2
A method including forming a III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure, forming a gate dielectric having a dielectric constant greater than 4.0 positioned within a gate trench, the gate trench formed within the III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure, and forming a gate conductor within the gate trench on top of the gate dielectric, the gate conductor extending above the III-V compound semiconductor heterostructure. The method further including forming a pair of sidewall spacers along opposite sides of a portion of the gate conductor extending above the III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure and forming a pair of source-drain contacts self-aligned to the pair of sidewall spacers.
US09666682B2
A reverse conducting insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) manufacturing method, comprising the following steps: providing a substrate having an IGBT structure formed on the front surface thereof; implanting P+ ions onto the back surface of the substrate; forming a channel on the back surface of the substrate through photolithography and etching processes; planarizing the back surface of the substrate through a laser scanning process to form P-type and N-type interval structures; and forming a back surface collector by conducting a back metalizing process on the back surface of the substrate. Laser scanning process can process only the back surface structure requiring annealing, thus solve the problem of the front surface structure of the reverse conducting IGBT restricting back surface annealing to a low temperature, improving the P-type and N-type impurity activation efficiency in the back surface structure of the reverse conducting IGBT, and enhancing the performance of the reverse conducting IGBT.
US09666678B2
An object is to reduce leakage current and parasitic capacitance of a transistor used for an LSI, a CPU, or a memory. A semiconductor integrated circuit such as an LSI, a CPU, or a memory is manufactured using a thin film transistor in which a channel formation region is formed using an oxide semiconductor which becomes an intrinsic or substantially intrinsic semiconductor by removing impurities which serve as electron donors (donors) from the oxide semiconductor and has larger energy gap than that of a silicon semiconductor. With use of a thin film transistor using a highly purified oxide semiconductor layer with sufficiently reduced hydrogen concentration, a semiconductor device with low power consumption due to leakage current can be realized.
US09666677B1
A method for manufacturing a laser diode device includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming epitaxial material overlying the surface region, the epitaxial material comprising an n-type cladding region, an active region comprising at least one active layer overlying the n-type cladding region, and a p-type cladding region overlying the active layer region. The epitaxial material is patterned to form a plurality of dice, each of the dice corresponding to at least one laser device, characterized by a first pitch between a pair of dice, the first pitch being less than a design width. Each of the plurality of dice are transferred to a carrier wafer such that each pair of dice is configured with a second pitch between each pair of dice, the second pitch being larger than the first pitch.
US09666673B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes: a carbon layer including graphene, a thin film layer formed on the carbon layer, a channel layer formed on the thin film layer, a current cutoff layer formed between the thin film layer and the channel layer so as to cut off the flow of current between the thin film layer and the channel layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the channel layer.
US09666672B2
A device includes a first fin including a first semiconductor material. A first dielectric layer is disposed over a top surface of the first fin. A sidewall of the first dielectric layer has a dip-shape profile. A second dielectric layer is disposed along sidewalls of the first fin. A top surface of the second dielectric layer is substantially coplanar with the top surface of the first fin. A second fin includes a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material. An isolation region is disposed between the first fin and the second fin.
US09666671B2
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a body region in the semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type and in which a channel is formed during operation, source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate and having a second conductivity type, the source region being disposed on the body region, and a composite drift region in the semiconductor substrate, having the second conductivity type, and through which charge carriers from the source region drift to reach the drain region after passing through the channel. The composite drift region includes a first section adjacent the channel, a second section adjacent the drain region, and a third section disposed between the first and second sections. The first and second sections have a lower effective dopant concentration level than the third section.
US09666665B2
A semiconductor device includes a body zone in a semiconductor mesa, which is formed between neighboring control structures that extend from a first surface into a semiconductor body. A drift zone forms a first pn junction with the body zone. In the semiconductor mesa, the drift zone includes a first drift zone section that includes a constricted section of the semiconductor mesa. A minimum horizontal width of the constricted section parallel to the first surface is smaller than a maximum horizontal width of the body zone. An emitter layer between the drift zone and the second surface parallel to the first surface includes at least one first zone of a conductivity type of the drift zone.
US09666661B2
A method of fabricating a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure on a substrate includes forming a patterned metal layer over the substrate; forming an insulator layer over the patterned metal layer; forming a second metal layer over the insulator layer; removing part of the insulating layer and part of the second metal layer thereby forming a substantially coplanar surface that is formed by the patterned metal layer, the insulator layer, and the second metal layer; removing a portion of the second metal layer and a portion of the patterned metal layer to form a fin from the insulator layer that protrudes beyond the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and forming an inter-metal dielectric layer over the fin.
US09666657B2
A display device includes: a substrate; a static electricity shielding member formed on the substrate; a scan line formed on the substrate and transferring a scan signal; a data line and a driving voltage line intersecting the scan line, being insulated therefrom and each transferring a data signal and a driving voltage; a thin film transistor formed on the static electricity shielding member; a first sacrifice electrode connected to the static electricity shielding member; and a second sacrifice electrode positioned under the first sacrifice electrode to form a sacrifice capacitor.
US09666655B2
A display device includes a transistor including first and second gates. A first terminal of the transistor is electrically connected to a third wiring. A first switch controls electrical connection between a first wiring and the first gate. A second switch controls electrical connection between a second wiring and the second gate. A third switch controls electrical connection between the first gate and a second terminal of the transistor. A fourth switch controls electrical connection between a fifth wiring and the second terminal of the transistor. A first capacitor retains a potential difference between the first gate and the second terminal of the transistor. A second capacitor retains a potential difference between the first gate and the second gate. A first terminal of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the second terminal of the transistor. A second terminal of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to a fourth wiring.
US09666651B2
A display device includes a plurality of pixel electrodes which are provided separately from each other on an insulative surface; a first layer which is provided separately from each other on the respective plurality of pixel electrodes, and includes a plurality of first carrier transport layers or a plurality of first carrier injection layers; a pixel separation film which is provided on the first layer, and includes a plurality of opening portions in each region which overlaps with the respective plurality of pixel electrodes in a planar view; a light emitting layer which is provided so as to cover at least one of the plurality of opening portions; a second layer which is provided on the light emitting layer, and includes a second carrier transport layer or a second carrier injection layer; and a counter electrode which is provided on the second layer.
US09666639B2
Spin Torque Transfer (STT) memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more STT memory cell structures comprise a STT stack including: a pinned ferromagnetic material in contact with an antiferromagnetic material; a tunneling barrier material positioned between a ferromagnetic storage material and the pinned ferromagnetic material; a multiferroic material in contact with the ferromagnetic storage material; and a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the antiferromagnetic material, the pinned ferromagnetic material, and the ferromagnetic storage material are located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The STT memory cell structure can include a third electrode and a fourth electrode, wherein at least a first portion of the multiferroic material is located between the third and the fourth electrode.
US09666632B2
A solid state imaging device including a semiconductor layer comprising a plurality of photodiodes, a first antireflection film located over a first surface of the semiconductor layer, a second antireflection film located over the first antireflection film, a light shielding layer having side surfaces which are adjacent to at least one of first and the second antireflection film.
US09666630B2
Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacturing thereof, and image sensor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip comprising an array region, a periphery region, and a through-via disposed therein. The semiconductor device comprises a guard structure disposed in the semiconductor chip between the array region and the through-via or between the through-via and a portion of the periphery region.
US09666627B2
A semiconductor device includes a first substrate having an attaching surface on which first electrodes and a first insulating film are exposed, an insulating thin film that covers the attaching surface of the first substrate, and a second substrate which has an attaching surface on which second electrodes and a second insulating film are exposed and is attached to the first substrate in a state in which the attaching surface of the second substrate and the attaching surface of the first substrate are attached together sandwiching the insulating thin film therebetween, and the first electrodes and the second electrodes deform and break a part of the insulating thin film so as to be directly electrically connected to each other.
US09666626B2
An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
US09666625B2
A sensor device and method of making same that includes a silicon substrate with opposing first and second surfaces, a sensor formed at or in the first surface, a plurality of first contact pads formed at the first surface which are electrically coupled to the sensor, and a plurality of cooling channels formed as first trenches extending into the second surface but not reaching the first surface. The cooling channels instead can be formed on one or more separate substrates that are attached to the silicon substrate for cooling the silicon substrate.
US09666620B2
A stacked filter for an image sensor including an infrared (IR) pixel is provided. The stacked filter includes a first filter layer disposed at the IR pixel. The first filter layer allows light with wavelengths of a first band to be transmitted through. The stacked filter further includes a second filter layer stacked with the first filter layer. The second filter layer allows light with wavelengths of a second band to be transmitted through. The first band partially overlaps the second band at wavelengths of a third band. The third band is narrower than the first band and the second band. The stacked filter allows light with the wavelengths of the third band to be transmitted through. Furthermore, an image sensor containing a stacked filter is also provided.
US09666618B2
A pixel array includes a plurality of pixel structures, with each pixel structure having a photo-sensitive element for generating charge in response to incident light; a charge conversion element; a first transfer gate and a second transfer gate connected in series between the photosensitive element and the charge conversion element or between the photosensitive element and a supply line; and an output stage. A first transfer gate control line is connected to the first transfer gates of a first sub-set of the pixel structures in the array; and a second transfer gate control line connected to the second transfer gates of a second sub-set of the pixel structures in the array. The first sub-set of pixel structures and second sub-set of pixel structures partially overlap, having at least one pixel structure in common between them.
US09666614B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor display device having an interlayer insulating film which can obtain planarity of a surface while controlling film formation time, can control treatment time of heating treatment with an object of removing moisture, and can prevent moisture in the interlayer insulating film from being discharged to a film or an electrode adjacent to the interlayer insulating film. An inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover a TFT. Next, an organic resin film containing photosensitive acrylic resin is applied to the organic insulting film, and the organic resin film is partially exposed to light to be opened. Thereafter, an inorganic insulting film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover the opened organic resin film. Then, in the opening part of the organic resin film, a gate insulating film and the two layer inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen are opened partially by etching to expose an active layer of the TFT.
US09666607B2
A display device includes a signal line disposed on a substrate. A signal input line is disposed on the substrate and connected to a driver. A first insulating layer is disposed on the signal line. A second insulating layer is disposed on the signal input line and the first insulating layer. First contact holes penetrate the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer and expose a portion of the signal line. Second contact holes penetrate the second insulating layer and expose a portion of the signal input line. A connecting member connects the signal line and the signal input line through the first and the second contact holes and is disposed on the second insulating layer. The first and the second contact holes are alternately arranged in the second insulating layer.
US09666606B2
Decrease of the output voltage of the logic circuit is inhibited by raising the gate voltage using a capacitor. In a first transistor, a drain and a gate are electrically connected to a first wiring, and a source is electrically connected to a first node. In a second transistor, a drain is electrically connected to the first node, a source is electrically connected to a second wiring, and a gate is electrically connected to a second node. In a third transistor, a drain is electrically connected to a third wiring, and a source is electrically connected to a third node, and a gate is electrically connected to the first node. In a fourth transistor, a drain is electrically connected to the third node, a source is electrically connected to a fourth wiring, and a gate is electrically connected to the second node. In a capacitor, one electrode is electrically connected to the first node, and the other electrode is electrically connected to the third node. OS transistors are preferably used as the transistors above.
US09666605B2
To provide a semiconductor device including a planar transistor having an oxide semiconductor and a capacitor. In a semiconductor device, a transistor includes an oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, a gate electrode over the gate insulating film, a second insulating film over the gate electrode, a third insulating film over the second insulating film, and a source and a drain electrodes over the third insulating film; the source and the drain electrodes are electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film; a capacitor includes a first and a second conductive films and the second insulating film; the first conductive film and the gate electrode are provided over the same surface; the second conductive film and the source and the drain electrodes are provided over the same surface; and the second insulating film is provided between the first and the second conductive films.
US09666603B2
A display device is discussed. The display device includes a substrate having a display area and a pad area in a periphery of the display area, the display area including a plurality of pixel regions; a thin film transistor having a channel layer, and on the substrate; a gate link line and a first common voltage line arranged to cross each other, and having a first insulation film interposed therebetween; a second common voltage line and a data link line arranged to cross each other, and having second insulation film interposed therebetween; a first pattern disposed on the first insulation film; and a second pattern disposed. on the second insulation film, wherein the channel layer, the first pattern and the second pattern are formed of the same material.
US09666592B2
A memory device includes a substrate having common source regions thereon, common source lines extending along a surface of the substrate and contacting the common source regions, respectively, and channel structures extending away from the surface of the substrate between the common source lines. The common source lines define a unit cell of the memory device therebetween. The memory device further includes an electrode stack structure having interlayer insulating layers and conductive electrode layers that are alternately stacked along sidewalls of the channel structures. The conductive electrode layers define respective gates of selection transistors and memory cell transistors of the memory device. An isolation insulating layer, which includes a portion of a sacrificial layer, is disposed between adjacent ones of the interlayer insulating layers in the stack structure. The isolation insulating layer divides at least one of the conductive electrode layers in the stack structure into electrically separate portions.
US09666588B2
A non-volatile memory cell formed using damascene techniques includes a floating gate electrode that includes a recess lined with a control gate dielectric and filled with the control gate electrode material. The control gate material is a composite ONO, oxide-nitride-oxide sandwich dielectric in one embodiment. The floating gate transistors of the non-volatile memory cell include a high gate coupling ratio due to the increased area between the floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode.
US09666585B2
Semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor device includes a bit line contact plug and a storage node contact plug electrically connected to an active region of a substrate. A bit line structure is disposed on the bit line contact plug to extend in a first direction. The bit line structure is disposed in a trench pattern that intrudes into a side of the storage node contact plug. Related methods and systems are also provided.
US09666583B2
An apparatus including a device including a channel material having a first lattice structure on a well of a well material having a matched lattice structure in a buffer material having a second lattice structure that is different than the first lattice structure. A method including forming a trench in a buffer material; forming an n-type well material in the trench, the n-type well material having a lattice structure that is different than a lattice structure of the buffer material; and forming an n-type transistor. A system including a computer including a processor including complimentary metal oxide semiconductor circuitry including an n-type transistor including a channel material, the channel material having a first lattice structure on a well disposed in a buffer material having a second lattice structure that is different than the first lattice structure, the n-type transistor coupled to a p-type transistor.
US09666580B1
A nitride semiconductor device includes a conductive substrate and a nitride semiconductor layer. The nitride semiconductor layer is disposed on the conductive substrate. The nitride semiconductor layer includes a first transistor structure of a lateral type and a second transistor structure of a lateral type. The conductive substrate includes a first potential control region and a second potential control region capable of controlling potential independently from the first potential control region. In planar view of the nitride semiconductor layer, the first transistor structure overlaps the first potential control region and the second transistor structure overlaps the second potential control region.
US09666572B2
A device includes an inter-layer dielectric, a device die under the inter-layer dielectric; and a die-attach film under the inter-layer dielectric and over the device die, wherein the die-attach film is attached to the device die. A plurality of redistribution lines includes portions level with the die-attach film. A plurality of Z-interconnects is electronically coupled to the device die and the plurality of redistribution lines. A polymer-comprising material is under the inter-layer dielectric. The device die, the die-attach film, and the plurality of Z-interconnects are disposed in the polymer-comprising material.
US09666571B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a package on package arrangement comprising a bottom package and a second package. The first package includes a substrate layer including (i) a top side and (ii) a bottom side that is opposite to the top side. Further, the top side defines a substantially flat surface. The first package also includes a die coupled to the bottom side of the substrate layer. The second package includes a plurality of rows of solder balls, and the second package is attached to the substantially flat surface of the substrate layer via the plurality of rows of solder balls.
US09666570B2
The invention provides a memory device and a manufacturing method thereof. The memory device includes a substrate, a capacitor, a protection device, a first metal interconnect, and a second metal interconnect. The capacitor is located on the substrate of a first region. The protection device is located in the substrate of a second region. The capacitor includes a plurality of bottom electrodes, a top electrode, and a capacitor dielectric layer. The top electrode has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is extended to the second region. The capacitor dielectric layer is located between the bottom electrodes and the top electrode. The first metal interconnect is located between the capacitor and the substrate. The second metal interconnect is located between the second portion of the top electrode and the protection device. The top electrode is electrically connected to the protection device through the second metal interconnect.
US09666566B1
Methods for improving hybrid bond yield for semiconductor wafers forming 3DIC devices includes first and second wafers having dummy and main metal deposited and patterned during BEOL processing. Metal of the dummy metal pattern occupies from about 40% to about 90% of the surface area of any given dummy metal pattern region. High dummy metal surface coverage, in conjunction with utilization of slotted conductive pads, allows for improved planarization of wafer surfaces presented for hybrid bonding. Planarized wafers exhibit minimum topographic differentials corresponding to step height differences of less than about 400 Å. Planarized first and second wafers are aligned and subsequently hybrid bonded with application of heat and pressure; dielectric-to-dielectric, RDL-to-RDL. Lithography controls to realize WEE from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm may also be employed to promote topographic uniformity at wafer edges. Improved planarity of wafers presented for hybrid bonding results in improved bond uniformity for 3DIC devices formed thereby.
US09666538B1
Semiconductor packages and methods of manufacturing semiconductor packages are described herein. In certain embodiments, the semiconductor package includes a housing including a first compartment and a second compartment, the first and second compartments being divided from one another. The semiconductor package can also include an integrated device die disposed in the first compartment, and a radio frequency (RF) absorber disposed in the second compartment.
US09666537B2
Methods and apparatus using front-to-back alignment mark and placement for narrow wafer scribe lines
Methods and apparatus for front-to-back alignment using narrow scribe lines are disclosed. An apparatus is disclosed that includes a semiconductor wafer comprising a plurality of areas for the fabrication of integrated circuit devices on a device side, the integrated circuit devices arranged in rows and columns and spaced from one another by a plurality of scribe lines disposed on the semiconductor wafer in areas between the integrated circuit devices and free from integrated circuit devices; and one or more alignment marks disposed on the semiconductor wafer, the alignment marks positioned in an intersection of two of the scribe lines; wherein the scribe lines have a first minimum dimension and the one or more alignment marks have a second minimum dimension that is greater than the first minimum dimension. Methods and additional apparatus are disclosed.
US09666536B2
The present invention provides a package structure and fabrication method thereof. The method includes providing a first carrier having a metal layer; forming a dielectric layer on the metal layer; forming a plurality of conductive pillars embedded into the dielectric layer and protruding from a surface of the dielectric layer, and disposing an electronic component on the surface of the dielectric layer; forming an encapsulating layer on the dielectric layer to encompass the plurality of conductive pillars, the dielectric layer and the electronic component; removing a portion of the encapsulating layer and the first carrier such that two ends of each of the plurality of conductive pillars are exposed from the encapsulating layer and the dielectric layer. Therefore, the present invention effectively reduces manufacturing costs and the need for an opening process while manufacturing the conductive pillars can be eliminated.
US09666530B1
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad on the semiconductor substrate, and a first dielectric over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a conductive layer disposed in the first dielectric and a second dielectric disposed on the conductive layer. In the semiconductor device, at least a portion of the conductive layer is exposed from the first dielectric and second dielectric. The semiconductor device further includes a conductive trace partially over the second dielectric and in contact with the exposed portion of the conductive layer. In the semiconductor device, the conductive trace is connected to the conductive pad at one end.
US09666525B2
Three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory devices capable of improving reliability may be provided. For example, a three dimensional (3D) memory device, in which a plurality of memory cell strings are vertically arranged, may include a substrate, a stack structure of alternating a plurality of interlayer dielectric (ILD) layers and a plurality of gate electrodes, at least one of the ILD layers including pores, a vertical structure penetrating the stack structure and electrically connected to the substrate, and a data storage layer between the stack structure and the vertical structure.
US09666522B2
A package includes a device die, a molding material molding the device die therein, a through-via penetrating through the molding material, and an alignment mark penetrating through the molding material. A redistribution line is on a side of the molding material. The redistribution line is electrically coupled to the through-via.
US09666510B2
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a Quad Flat No-Lead package comprising: an outer row of outer peripheral leads disposed on an outer periphery of a bottom surface of the Quad Flat No-Lead package; and an inner row of inner peripheral leads disposed on an inner periphery of the bottom surface of the Quad Flat No-Lead package, wherein each of the inner peripheral leads has a substantially rectangular shape, and wherein the substantially rectangular shape has two rounded corners adjacent to the outer row of outer peripheral leads.
US09666504B2
A heat sink for cooling at least one power semiconductor module, and that includes a basin for containing a cooling liquid. The basin has a contact rim for receiving the base plate and that includes a surface that is sloped inwards to the basin.
US09666493B2
A FinFET comprises a hybrid substrate having a top wafer of (100) silicon, a handle wafer of (110) silicon, and a buried oxide layer between the top wafer and the handle wafer; a first set of fins disposed in the top wafer and oriented in a <110> direction of the (100) silicon; and a second set of fins disposed in the handle wafer and oriented in a <112> direction of the (110) silicon. The first set of fins and the second set of fins are aligned.
US09666476B2
Methods are provided for dimension-controlled via formation over a circuit structure, including over multiple adjacent conductive structures. The method(s) includes, for instance, providing a patterned multi-layer stack structure above the circuit structure, the stack structure including at least one layer, and a pattern transfer layer above the at least one layer, the pattern transfer layer being patterned with at least one via opening; providing a sidewall spacer layer within the at least one via opening to form at least one dimension-controlled via opening; and etching through the at least one layer of the stack structure using the at least one dimension-controlled via opening to facilitate providing the via(s) over the circuit structure. In one implementation, the stack structure includes a trench-opening within a patterned hard mask layer disposed between a dielectric layer and a planarization layer, and the via(s) is partially self-aligned to the trench.
US09666475B2
A field effect transistor (FET) with an underlying airgap and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming an amorphous layer at a predetermined depth of a substrate. The method further includes forming an airgap in the substrate under the amorphous layer. The method further includes forming a completely isolated transistor in an active region of the substrate, above the amorphous layer and the airgap.
US09666472B2
The present invention provides a method for controlling a critical dimension of shallow trench isolations in a STI etch process, comprises the following steps: before the STI etch process, pre-establishing a mapping relation between a post-etch and pre-etch critical dimension difference of a BARC layer and a thickness of the BARC layer; and during the STI etch process after coating the BARC layer, measuring the thickness of the BARC layer and determining a trimming time for a hard mask layer according to a critical dimension difference corresponding to the measured thickness in the mapping relation and a critical dimension of a photoresist pattern, then performing a trimming process for the hard mask layer lasting the trimming time to make a critical dimension of the hard mask layer equal to a required critical dimension of an active area, and etching a substrate to form shallow trenches with a predetermined critical dimension.
US09666471B2
A semiconductor process includes the following step. A metal gate strip and a cap layer are sequentially formed in a trench of a dielectric layer. The cap layer and the metal gate strip are cut off to form a plurality of caps on a plurality of metal gates, and a gap isolates adjacent caps and adjacent metal gates. An isolation material fills in the gap. The present invention also provides semiconductor structures formed by said semiconductor process. For example, the semiconductor structure includes a plurality of stacked structures in a trench of a dielectric layer, where each of the stacked structures includes a metal gate and a cap on the metal gate, where an isolation slot isolates and contacts adjacent stacked structures at end to end, and the isolation slot has same level as the stacked structures.
US09666470B2
The invention relates to a retaining system for handling substrate stacks, including a retaining surface for retaining a first substrate, and one or more recesses provided relative to the retaining surface, for retaining first magnetic bodies for securing the first substrate relative to a second substrate that is aligned with the first substrate. Second magnetic bodies are applied on a holding side of the second substrate.
US09666469B2
A lifting device 630b includes a lifting mechanism 640 and an adjustment member 660. The lifting mechanism 640 is provided between at least one of a plurality of units of a substrate processing apparatus and an installation surface of the unit, and adjusts height of the at least one unit with respect to the installation surface. The adjustment member 660 is provided with an extended section 664 extended from the lifting mechanism 640, and is capable of operating the lifting mechanism 640 through the extended section 664.
US09666461B1
A semiconductor processing device includes a first etching chamber, a second etching chamber, and an etching module. The etching module is adapted to interchangeably contain the first etching chamber or the second etching chamber for wafer etching. A semiconductor process using the semiconductor processing device is also provided.
US09666460B2
A through-type furnace for substrates comprises a furnace with a channel and a transport system for the transport of the substrates through the channel. The channel is bounded by a base, a front side wall, a rear side wall and a top part. The base contains a plurality of first holes which are connectable to a protective gas source so that protective gas can be supplied during operation. The front side wall of the channel comprises a longitudinal slit which extends parallel to the passage direction and which is bounded by a bottom edge and an upper edge. The transport system comprises at least one clamp for transporting the substrates through the channel. The clamp is movable back and forth along the longitudinal slit of the channel. Such a through-type furnace is in particular suitable for use in a soft solder die bonder.
US09666455B2
A substrate cleaning apparatus cleans a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer and dries the substrate. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a process chamber having a substrate conveying unit configured to hold a substrate horizontally with its upper surface facing upwardly and to convey the substrate in one direction, and a cleaning unit configured to clean the surface of the substrate in non-contact state by supplying a cleaning liquid to the surface of the substrate which is moving in the process chamber. The substrate apparatus has an inert gas blowing unit configured to blow an inert gas toward the front and reverse surfaces of the substrate which has been cleaned in the cleaning unit to produce an inert gas atmosphere in the process chamber while drying the substrate with the inert gas.
US09666451B2
Self-aligned via and plug patterning for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects is described. In an example, an interconnect structure for an integrated circuit includes a first layer of the interconnect structure disposed above a substrate. The first layer includes a grating of alternating metal lines and dielectric lines in a first direction. A second layer of the interconnect structure is disposed above the first layer. The second layer includes a grating of alternating metal lines and dielectric lines in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. Each metal line of the grating of the second layer is disposed on a recessed dielectric line having alternating distinct regions of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material corresponding to the alternating metal lines and dielectric lines of the first layer of the interconnect structure. Each dielectric line of the grating of the second structure has a continuous region of a third dielectric material distinct from the alternating distinct regions of the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material.
US09666450B2
An interconnection substrate includes a plurality of electrically conductive elements of at least one wiring layer defining first and second lateral directions. Electrically conductive projections for bonding to electrically conductive contacts of at least one component external to the substrate, extend from the conductive elements above the at least one wiring layer. The conductive projections have end portions remote from the conductive elements and neck portions between the conductive elements and the end portions. The end portions have lower surfaces extending outwardly from the neck portions in at least one of the lateral directions. The substrate further includes a dielectric layer overlying the conductive elements and extending upwardly along the neck portions at least to the lower surfaces. At least portions of the dielectric layer between the conductive projections are recessed below a height of the lower surfaces.
US09666447B2
A method of etching a layer on a substrate is described. The method includes disposing a substrate having a heterogeneous layer composed of a first material and a second material in a processing space of a plasma processing system, wherein the heterogeneous layer has an initial upper surface exposing the first material and the second material to a plasma environment in the processing space, and performing a modulated plasma etching process to selectively remove the first material at a rate greater than removing the second material. The modulated plasma etching process includes a modulation cycle that preferentially reacts an etchant with the first material during a first phase of the modulation cycle, and differentially adheres a passivant on the second material relative to the first material during a second phase of the modulation cycle.
US09666445B2
In order to provide a semiconductor device with high reliability while manufacturing cost is being suppressed, dry etching for an insulating film is performed by using mixed gas containing at least CF4 gas and C3H2F4 gas as its components.
US09666443B2
Causing a self-assemblable block copolymer (BCP) having first and second blocks to migrate from a region surrounding a lithography recess of the substrate and a dummy recess on the substrate to within the lithography recess and the dummy recess, causing the BCP to self-assemble into an ordered layer within the lithography recess, the layer having a first block domain and a second block domain, and selectively removing the first domain to form a lithography feature having the second domain within the lithography recess, wherein a width of the dummy recess is smaller than the minimum width required by the BCP to self-assemble, the dummy recess is within the region of the substrate surrounding the lithography recess from which the BCP is caused to migrate, and the width between portions of a side-wall of the lithography recess is greater than the width between portions of a side-wall of the dummy recess.
US09666436B2
Provided are methods of forming an ion implanted region in a semiconductor device. The methods comprise: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of regions to be ion implanted; (b) forming a photoresist pattern on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the photoresist pattern is formed from a chemically amplified photoresist composition comprising a matrix polymer having acid labile groups, a photoacid generator and a solvent; (c) coating a descumming composition over the photoresist pattern, wherein the descumming composition comprises: a matrix polymer; a free acid; and a solvent; (d) heating the coated semiconductor substrate; (e) contacting the coated semiconductor substrate with a rinsing agent to remove residual descumming composition and scum from the substrate; and (f) ion implanting the plurality of regions of the semiconductor substrate using the photoresist pattern as an implant mask. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
US09666428B2
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first multilayer, second multilayer, and filler layer. The first multilayer includes a first barrier layer formed on a surface of the resin layer and a switching element formed above the first barrier layer. The second multilayer includes a second barrier layer which is substantially the same as the first barrier layer with respect to layering order, material, and thickness. The filler layer is positioned between the first multilayer and the second multilayer. A layering structure of the first barrier layer and a layering structure of the second barrier layer are symmetrical to each other with respect to the switching element.
US09666426B2
An apparatus for substrate metallization from electrolyte is provided. The apparatus comprises: an immersion cell containing metal salt electrolyte; at least one electrode connecting to at least one power supply; an electrically conductive substrate holder holding at least one substrate to expose a conductive side of the substrate to face the at least one electrode; an oscillating actuator for oscillating the substrate holder with an amplitude and a frequency; at least one ultrasonic device with an operating frequency and an intensity, disposed in the metallization apparatus; at least one ultrasonic power generator connecting to the ultrasonic device; at least one inlet for metal slat electrolyte feeding; and at least one outlet for metal salt electrolyte draining.
US09666421B2
A mass spectrometry data display device in which the mass axis (m/z axis) is made into a ring shape and the intensity axis is the radial direction thereof, and peak information (in the drawing, the compound name and structural formula candidates) are arranged in a ring shape in correspondence with the peaks along the outer circumference of the mass spectrum and displayed together therewith on a screen.
US09666419B2
The disclosure is directed to image intensifier tube designs for field curvature aberration correction and ion damage reduction. In some embodiments, electrodes defining an acceleration path from a photocathode to a scintillating screen are configured to provide higher acceleration for off-axis electrons along at least a portion of the acceleration path. Off-axis electrons and on-axis electrons are accordingly focused on the scintillating screen with substantial uniformity to prevent or reduce field curvature aberration. In some embodiments, the electrodes are configured to generate a repulsive electric field near the scintillating screen to prevent secondary electrons emitted or deflected by the scintillating screen from flowing towards the photocathode and forming damaging ions.
US09666417B2
A plasma processing apparatus which generates plasma in a processing vessel supplied with a gas by applying a high-frequency voltage between first and second electrodes and performs plasma processing on a substrate to be processed, the plasma processing apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record a value, which represents a characteristic of the plasma processing performed on the substrate to be performed, in a time series, a identifying unit configured to identify a tendency of a time-series change of values recorded by the recording unit, a determination unit configured to determine whether an alarm is required based on the identified tendency of the time-series change and an alarm unit configured to output the alarm when it is determined that the alarm is required.
US09666414B2
Methods and process chambers for etching of low-k and other dielectric films are described. For example, a method includes modifying portions of the low-k dielectric layer with a plasma process. The modified portions of the low-k dielectric layer are etched selectively over a mask layer and unmodified portions of the low-k dielectric layer. Etch chambers having multiple chamber regions for alternately generating distinct plasmas are described. In embodiments, a first charge coupled plasma source is provided to generate an ion flux to a workpiece in one operational mode, while a secondary plasma source is provided to provide reactive species flux without significant ion flux to the workpiece in another operational mode. A controller operates to cycle the operational modes repeatedly over time to remove a desired cumulative amount of the dielectric material.
US09666410B2
Proposed is a charged particle beam device including an arithmetic processing unit that generates an image of a sample, based on a detection signal that is detected based on irradiation to the sample with a charged particle beam emitted from a charged particle source. The arithmetic processing unit searches a second image as a search target image with use of a first image as a template, and when a region corresponding to the first image is not detected in the second image, the arithmetic processing unit searches a third image that represents a region larger than a region displayed in the second image, with use of a second template.
US09666408B2
In order to prevent a sample from thermally expanding and contracting when the sample is placed on a sample stage inside a vacuum chamber, the related art has proposed a coping method of awaiting observation by setting a standby time from when the wafer is conveyed into the vacuum chamber until the wafer and the sample table are brought into thermal equilibrium. In addition, the coping method is configured so as to await the observation until the wafer is cooled down to room temperature when the wafer is heated in the previous step. Consequently, throughput of an apparatus decreases. A temperature control mechanism which can control temperature of the sample is installed inside a mini-environment device. The sample temperature control mechanism controls the temperature of the sample inside the mini-environment device so as to become a setting temperature which is set in view of a lowered temperature of the sample inside a load lock chamber.
US09666407B2
Disclosed is an electrostatic quadrupole deflector for a microcolumn. The deflector includes an electron beam passage hole, deflecting electrodes to which a deflection voltage is applied, and floating electrodes to which the deflection voltage is not applied. The deflector is structurally stable and has a simple driving system. The deflector has good performance and characteristics.
US09666405B1
The present disclosure provides a system for imaging a signal charged particle beam emanating from a sample by impingement of a primary charged particle beam. The system includes a detector arrangement having a first detection element for detecting a first signal charged particle sub-beam of the signal charged particle beam originating from a first spot on the sample and a second detection element for detecting a second signal charged particle sub-beam of the signal charged particle beam originating from a second spot on the sample, wherein the first detection element and the second detection element are separated from each other, and signal charged particle optics. The signal charged particle optics includes a coil configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic field component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coil, wherein the magnetic field acts on the first signal charged particle sub-beam and the second signal charged particle sub-beam propagating along the longitudinal axis, and wherein an aspect ratio of the coil is at least 1, and a controller configured to adjust the magnetic field of the coil such that the first signal charged particle sub-beam is directed towards the first detection element and the second signal charged particle sub-beam is directed towards the second detection element.
US09666404B2
The present disclosure provides a charged particle source arrangement for a charged particle beam device. The charged particle source arrangement includes: a first vacuum region and a second vacuum region; a charged particle source in the first vacuum region, wherein the charged particle source is configured to generate a primary charged particle beam; and a membrane configured to provide a gas barrier between the first vacuum region and the second vacuum region, and wherein the membrane is configured to let at least a portion of the primary charged particle beam pass through the membrane, wherein a first vacuum generation device is connectable to the first vacuum region and a second vacuum generation device is connectable to the second vacuum region.
US09666403B2
An X-ray source, which includes a resonant cavity preferably of a cylindrical shape, is excited in a microwave mode TE11p and affected by a static and non-homogeneous magnetic field that grows longitudinally. An electron beam is injected longitudinally through one of the lateral walls of the cavity and is continuously accelerated until it reaches an energy sufficient to produce X-rays after the electrons bombard a metallic target located in the plane where they stop their longitudinal movement. The profile of the magnetic field grows in such a way that it maintains the conditions of electron cyclotron resonance along the helical paths of the electrons, The device can be used to obtain radiographic images and even produce hard X-rays.
US09666402B2
Each of first to fourth needle-like electrodes is arranged such that a direction of extension thereof is parallel, and generates ions by discharge. Through a space, a gas for conveying the ions generated by the first to fourth needle-like electrodes flows. Needle tips of the first needle-like electrode and the second needle-like electrode protrude from a first wall surface that forms the space, are spaced apart from each other, and are arranged in line in the space. Needle tips of the third needle-like electrode and the fourth needle-like electrode protrude from a second wall surface that forms the space and faces the first wall surface, are spaced apart from each other, and are arranged in line in the space. The first needle-like electrode and the fourth needle-like electrode generate positive ions, and the second needle-like electrode and the third needle-like electrode generate negative ions.
US09666399B1
An overheating destructive conductive plate safety clip as well as a plug and a socket using that conductive plate safety clip are disclosed. The overheating destructive conductive plate safety clip limits two conductive plates from contacting with each other to form a closed path, and is destructed when overheating, opening the two conductive plates by an elastic force to form an open circuit. The overheating destructive conductive plate safety clip includes a first limiting element, a second limiting element and a connecting element. At least one of the first limiting element, the second limiting element and the connecting element is made of plastic, at least one of the first limiting element and the second limiting element is made of metal, and a destruction part is formed at a place where the plastic material is connected with the metallic material.
