US09743169B2
A sound output device and method are provided. The device includes a first speaker and a second speaker; a first coupling unit and a second coupling unit which can be coupled to the first coupling unit; a sensor module for sensing at least one of a coupling state between the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit, a separation distance, and a separation time; a communication module for forming a communication channel with an electronic device; and a processor for receiving sound information corresponding to a sound output function from the electronic device, generating control information for controlling the sound output function on the basis of at least one of the coupling state between the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit, the separation distance, and the separation time, and transmitting the generated control information to the electronic device.
US09743165B2
A method of mounting a speaker to a wall having an opening defined therein includes attaching a top portion of the speaker to the wall. The top portion of the speaker is attached to the wall by a first clip. The method also includes swinging a bottom portion of the speaker toward the wall with the wall at an upper side of the opening between the top portion of the speaker and the first clip until a space between the bottom portion of the speaker and a second clip is substantially aligned with the wall at a lower side of the opening. The method further includes sliding the speaker away from the wall at the upper side of the opening to cause the wall at the lower side of the opening to be between the bottom portion of the speaker and the second clip.
US09743159B2
A battery sensor with addressing mode and detection mode capability comprising a processor, an input interface, an output interface, an addressing channel and a detection channel; the processor connected to at least one battery parameter detection circuit; the addressing channel used a series connection manner to connect with a series connection input interface of the input interface, the processor and a series connection output interface of the output interface; a first communication interface of the input interface and a second communication interface of the output interface can be parallel connected to the processor by the detection channel; wherein the battery sensor can execute a battery addressing mode by the addressing channel, and the battery sensor can execute a battery parameter detection mode by the detection channel.
US09743158B2
Apparatus and methods for efficiently and flexibly providing emergency alert data (e.g., EAS messages) to subscribers of a content-based network, such as for example Internet protocol television (IPTV) subscribers. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a server performing real-time receipt and encapsulation of the EAS data (which may comprise audio, video, and/or text), transport of the EAS data to client devices over the network, and use of one or more applications running on the client devices to decode and display/present the EAS data in a manner which effectively guarantees that it will be perceived by the viewer. In one variant, instant messaging (IM) infrastructure is used to authenticate clients and receive and display at least portion of the EAS data via a separate transport process. Server and client-side apparatus adapted for EAS data receipt, decoding and display are also disclosed.
US09743155B2
Disclosed is a system and method for distributing media content including an engagement system including a stamp server, the stamp server including a memory and a processor, a content system including a content server, the content server including a memory and a processor, and a user system communicatively connected to the engagement system and the content system, the user system configured to receive a stamp from at least one of the engagement system and the content system, and present the stamp and a stamp indicator on a display of the user system.
US09743153B2
A method of content replacement with onscreen displays. The method can further include sending an overlay request to provide overlay content and an overlay format. The method can include receiving the overlay content and the overlay format selected in view of overlay parameters. The method can include superimposing the overlay content over the media content using the overlay format. The method can include detecting a presence of an onscreen display. The method can include determining a location of a portion of the onscreen display that extends underneath the overlay content. The method can include defining a window in the overlay content that corresponds to at least the location of the portion of the onscreen display. The method can include setting a transparency level of the overlay content in the window to permit the portion of the onscreen display to be at least partially visible through the overlay content.
US09743151B2
Multicast video program switching architecture. In one embodiment, a user makes a request for service. A controller determines whether the channel is currently broadcast. When the channel is currently broadcast, redirect the user to an address of the channel. When the channel is not currently broadcast, query a storage apparatus to find a currently broadcast channel that has no current viewership, send, a request to a multicast network address translation (MNAT) router comprising a multicast address of the currently broadcast channel and an identifier of the requested channel to modify MNAT settings on the MNAT router and redirect the user to the multicast address, the multicast address associated with the requested channel.
US09743150B2
A method, apparatus, and system for providing improved EPGs are described. An availability, at a set-top box, of a media stream is determined, wherein the media stream includes one or more of a first plurality of programs associated with a subscriber. One or more electronic program guides indicating a second plurality of programs associated with the subscriber based on the availability of the media stream are accessed, wherein each of the second plurality of programs are accessible to the set-top box via a data stream that is separate from the media stream and the second plurality of programs includes at least one program of the first plurality of programs. Scheduling information associated with the one or more electronic program guides based on the availability of the media stream is retrieved via the data stream.
US09743136B2
According to certain embodiments of the present invention behavioral patterns are utilized in order to calculate a predicted level of interest of viewers in a specific video item at any given moment throughout the length of the video item. More specifically, according to certain embodiments, this calculation allows to identify instances of peaks of high and low interest throughout the length of the video item. This allows predicting the occurrence of critical moments throughout the video item when it is likely that viewers would abandon the video item on one hand, and moments when viewers are most likely absorbed in the currently presented video, on the other hand. This information allows to capture viewers when their interest in the viewed content is low or decreasing, and to synchronize the presentation of alternative content to these instances.
US09743124B2
Content delivery is provided responsive to mediacast content consumer requests by providing personalized mediacasts to each of a plurality of mediacast content consumers. Each of the personalized mediacasts includes a variety of replaceable programming and non-programming content segments and a variety of non-replaceable programming and non-programming content segments. Replacement programming and non-programming content segments may be targeted, for example selected based in part on one or more selection criterion associated with the mediacast content consumer, or provided by the broadcaster or Webcaster. A buffering scheme may be employed to inherently adjust asynchronicity between a broadcast or Webcast and a personalized mediacast. Actual insertion of replacement programming and non-programming content segments may occur upstream of a content consumer device or at the content consumer device.
US09743122B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top-box (STB) having a controller to join a multicast group having an associated multicast address, wherein the multicast address is associated with a first content type of a plurality of content types, access encoded content associated with the first content type from the multicast address, wherein the encoded content is transmitted by at least one source associated with the multicast group to the multicast address, decode the accessed encoded content, and display the decoded content on a channel mapped to the multicast address. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09743120B2
This disclosure describes methods and systems for viewing a collection of media objects, such as a video clip and associated responses (video, audio and text), in a seamless way. Provided with a media object and a series of responses and counter responses, a real time media combining methodology is coupled with a text and audio conversion process to generate a media stream, or downloadable media object, that contains the original media object and some or all of the associated responses. The media content is formatted into the stream so that ancillary content, like text associated with a particular video response, may also be displayed. Advertisements may be inserted into the stream between responses or overlaying some portion of the viewing area during rendering of the stream.
US09743118B2
Systems and methods of emulating a conversation about a thematic content event are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment receives a member dialog video from a community member who is a member of a plurality of community members, wherein the member dialog video includes video and audio portions, and wherein the member dialog video expresses at least one of a personal opinion and a personal viewpoint about the thematic content event; generates dialog text from the audio portion of each received member dialog video, wherein the dialog text comprises words and phrases spoken by the community member in the member dialog video; receives a modified thematic content event; compares the words and phrases of the dialog text with the plurality of keywords; and associates at least one portion of the member dialog video having the words and phrases of the dialog text that match with the matching keyword of the anchor point.
US09743113B2
A video predictive coding system includes a video predictive encoding device having: an input circuit to receive pictures constituting a video sequence; an encoding circuit which conducts predictive coding of a target picture using, as reference pictures, pictures encoded and reconstructed in the past, to generate compressed picture data; a reconstruction circuit to decode the compressed picture data to reconstruct a reproduced picture; picture storage to store the reproduced picture as a reference picture for encoding of a subsequent picture; and a buffer management circuit which controls the picture storage, (prior to predictive encoding of the target picture), on the basis of buffer description information BD[k] related to reference pictures used in predictive encoding of the target picture, encodes the buffer description information BD[k] with reference to buffer description information BD[m] for a picture different from the target picture, and adds encoded data thereof to the compressed picture data.
US09743111B2
A system utilizing a high throughput coding mode for CABAC in HEVC is described. The system may include an electronic device configured to obtain a block of data to be encoded using an arithmetic based encoder; to generate a sequence of syntax elements using the obtained block; to compare an Absolute-3 value of the sequence or a parameter associated with the Absolute-3 value to a preset value; and to convert the Absolute-3 value to a codeword using a first code or a second code that is different than the first code, according to a result of the comparison.
US09743106B2
Disclosed are an apparatus, a method, and a system for compressing and transmitting video. The video processing apparatus comprises an overlap area extraction part being provided with at least one input video which is acquired by at least one video acquisition device and real space video data stored in a data base, and extracting overlap areas by matching the input video with the real space video data; and a video compression part compressing, based on the overlap areas, the at least one input video by using at least one reference frame based on information included in the real space video data.
US09743101B1
In a picture coding device, a significant coefficient information coding controller 706 and an arithmetic encoder 701 code significant difference coefficient information indicating that a difference coefficient value is not zero and significant for each of the difference coefficients in the partial region of the coding target. A difference coefficient value coding controller 707 and the arithmetic encoder 701 code difference coefficient values when significant difference coefficient information is significant for each of pixels in the partial region of the coding target. The significant coefficient information coding controller 706 decides a context for coding the significant difference coefficient information in the partial region of the coding target based on information indicating significance of the difference coefficient in the coded partial region.
US09743099B2
Disclosed are techniques for creating, coding, decoding, and using, rotation information related to one or more coded pictures in non-normative parts of a coded video bitstream.
US09743094B2
Methods and systems are provided for image processing. A plurality of correlation parameters representing degrees of correlation between two or more images of a plurality of images may be determined. An optimized correlation dependency graph may be generated according to the plurality of correlation parameters. The plurality of images may then be delta encoded according to the optimized correlation dependency graph. For example, the optimized correlation dependency graph may be used for performing a predetermined correlation encoding operation. The plurality of correlation parameters may be determined, for example, in accordance with one or more predetermined correlation metrics associated with the predetermined correlation encoding operation.
US09743092B2
For decoding a video stream, an encoded video stream is received with an indication of a prediction mode and an indication of one or more prediction helper values. While decoding this encoded video stream, a predicted value is calculated for each of at least one sample based on the indicated prediction mode and on the prediction helper value(s). The decoded video stream, incorporating each of the at least one samples as decoded using the respective calculated predicted value, is then output to at least one of a computer readable memory and a graphical display. An optional step function can be utilized to aid the helper values and enable non-linear prediction values in a given row or column of a prediction unit. At the encoder side the encoder decides the prediction helper values that it uses to encode the video stream that is stored or transmitted to the decoder.
US09743088B2
A video decoder decoding an encoded stream includes a parallel entropy decoding part to entropy decode the stream of blocks in block lines in parallel, a parallel QP prediction part to compute prediction values of the blocks in the block lines in parallel, and a parallel decoding processing part to generate decoded pixels of the blocks in the block lines in parallel, the decoded pixel being obtained utilizing data decoded by the parallel entropy decoding part and the prediction value. When performing computing processing in parallel per unit of N block lines, the processing is performed on a processing block in a (K−1)th block line preceding a processing block in a Kth block line by at least one block in a horizontal position to compute the prediction value of the processing block by referring to a block already processed corresponding to the processing block.
US09743073B2
An image processing device includes an equation establishing unit, a calculating unit, a determining unit, a color space transformation unit, a first adjusting unit, a 3D LUT establishing unit, and a compensating unit. By the color space transformation equation plus a compensation value in advance for compensating color temperature of each gray level of the display screen, thus variation of the color temperature between low gray level and high gray level is significantly reduced and the display quality is highly promoted. Furthermore, the 3D LUT obtained by the compensated color space transformation equation can be used to compensate image parameters of pixels of a display panel so as to optimize the image performance of the display panel.
US09743072B2
A display device including: an image display section in which unit pixels each composed of a plurality of sub-pixels corresponding to a plurality of colors are arranged; and an optical element having a window section allocating light emitted from the image display section in units of the sub-pixels to a plurality of viewpoints, wherein a color arrangement of the sub-pixels of the image display section or an arrangement of the window section of the optical element is set such that, when the image display section is viewed from each of the plurality of viewpoints, in an arrangement of colors of light allocated by the window section of the optical element, a same color is not arranged linearly in a predetermined number of sub-pixels or more in succession in any of a row direction, a column direction, and an oblique direction.
US09743071B2
A display device capable of displaying both a 3D image and a 2D image is provided. The display device includes a plurality of optical filter regions where light-blocking panels for producing binocular disparity are arranged in matrix. The light-blocking panel can select whether to transmit light emitted from a display panel in each of the plurality of optical filter regions. Thus, in the display device, some regions where binocular disparity is produced can be provided. Consequently, the display device can display both a 3D image and a 2D image.
US09743069B2
A camera module and an apparatus for calibrating position of the camera module are provided, the camera module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a first sensor unit configured to obtain a first image; a second sensor unit configured to obtain a second image; and a third sensor unit configured to obtain a third image, wherein the second sensor unit is spaced apart from the first sensor unit at a predetermined distance, and the third sensor unit is spaced apart from the second sensor unit at a predetermined distance.
US09743059B2
Systems for automatic white balancing (AWB) of a digital image and methods for making and using same. In response to a white balancing trigger, the relative positions of an image sensor and a reference region for white balancing are automatically adjusted such that the image sensor can acquire an image of the reference region. A white balance parameter reflecting the color temperature of the illuminating source is then computed and used to perform white balancing so as to remove color casts. The position of the reference region can be pre-recorded or scanned-for by the image sensor. The reference region can be rendered mobile so that it can be positioned within the image sensor's field-of-vision. The imaging systems can further include a gimbal that enables the image sensor to rotate about one or more axes. The present systems and methods are suitable for use, for example, by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
US09743058B2
Systems for automatic white balancing (AWB) of a digital image and methods for making and using same. In response to a white balancing trigger, the relative positions of an image sensor and a reference region for white balancing are automatically adjusted such that the image sensor can acquire an image of the reference region. A white balance parameter reflecting the color temperature of the illuminating source is then computed and used to perform white balancing so as to remove color casts. The position of the reference region can be pre-recorded or scanned-for by the image sensor. The reference region can be rendered mobile so that it can be positioned within the image sensor's field-of-vision. The imaging systems can further include a gimbal that enables the image sensor to rotate about one or more axes. The present systems and methods are suitable for use, for example, by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
US09743054B2
A projection device including a light source, a reflective spatial polarization modulator, a polarization grating, and a projection lens is provided. The light source is configured to provide a light beam. The reflective spatial polarization modulator is disposed on a path of the light beam and configured to reflect the light beam and modulate a polarization state of the light beam. The polarization grating is disposed on the path of the light beam between the light source and the reflective spatial polarization modulator, wherein the reflective spatial polarization modulator reflects the light beam from the reflective spatial polarization modulator back to the polarization grating. The projection lens is disposed on the path of the light beam from the reflective spatial polarization modulator, wherein the polarization grating is disposed on the path of the light beam between the reflective spatial polarization modulator and the projection lens.
US09743045B2
A technique is disclosed for automatic switching of a mobile device between a videoconference operating mode and a teleconference operating mode, where the automatic switching is based on a detected functional use and current position of the device in relation to a user of the device. In at least some embodiments, the disclosed technology includes a video-audio switching system that works in coordination with a sensor mechanism associated with the device to enable the automatic switching. The technology disclosed herein enables the user to carry out a conversation via the device (i.e., conference session) without interruption when transitioning between different settings, (e.g., using the device while sitting at an office to using it while on-the-go to an appointment).
US09743040B1
The disclosed computer-implemented method for facilitating eye contact during video conferences may include (1) detecting a video conference between a user of a computing device and a remote user of a remote computing device, (2) identifying a location on the computing device's screen where the eyes of the remote user are displayed as part of the video conference, (3) creating a video stream of the user that appears to be taken from the perspective of an imaginary camera located at the eyes of the remote user, and (4) transmitting the video stream of the user to the remote computing device of the remote user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09743034B2
A video transmitting/receiving device includes: a receiving unit which receives video content; a converting unit which performs predetermined conversion on a video signal included in the video content; an information adding unit which adds a complement signal to the video signal converted by the converting unit; an input/output unit which inputs information of an external device and outputs the video signal; and a control unit, and the control unit performs control to select and output one of the video signal before performing the conversion by the converting unit, the video signal which has been converted by the converting unit, and the video signal to which the complement signal has been added by the information adding unit, in accordance with device information of the external device serving as an output destination, which is obtained by the input/output unit.
US09743033B2
A method for generating an image combined with audio, and image display and audio output includes displaying an image, when a first image object within the image is selected, outputting a first audio object corresponding to the first image object and, when a second image object within the image is selected, outputting a second audio object corresponding to the second image object.
US09743031B2
This imaging device is equipped with an interchangeable optical system, and includes: a sensor section that has a configuration allowing nondestructive reading of a signal from each pixel; a reading section that reads a signal from the sensor section in a nondestructive manner for each pixel; a signal storage section that is able to add up and store the signals for each pixel; and a correction control section that acquires shading characteristics and controls the reading section and the signal storage section. Each pixel has an organic layer that includes a photoelectric conversion layer. On the basis of the shading characteristics, the correction control section sets the number of operations of signal reading of peripheral pixels such that the number is greater than the number of operations of signal reading of central pixels, and generates image data from the signal of each pixel stored in the signal storage section.
US09743028B2
An imaging device has a sensor chip and a signal processing chip. The sensor chip includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a 2-dimensional matrix and a data output terminal group made up of a plurality of data output terminals which output analog signals of pixels for each pixel column of the pixel array. The signal processing chip includes a data input terminal group electrically coupled to the data output terminal group, a plurality of A/D converters which convert analog signals of pixels received by the data input terminal group into digital signals for each pixel column of the pixel array, and a control unit which controls operation of the plurality of A/D converters.
US09743027B2
In one form, a pixel for use in image sensing comprises a photodetector, a sink device, and a readout circuit. The photodetector is formed in a semiconductor substrate and has a charge collection region for receiving photocharge representative of incident light. The sink device is formed in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the charge collection region and has a gate overlying and insulated from the semiconductor substrate and receiving a responsivity control signal. The readout circuit transfers the photocharge collected by the charge collection region of the photodetector to an output in response to a select signal. In another form, the pixel may be used in an image sensor having a pixel array of such pixels.
US09743019B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for generating a panoramic image of a long scene, are disclosed. These include, fitting a plurality of planes to 3D points associated with input images of portions of the long scene, where one or more respective planes are fitted to each of a ground surface, a dominant surface, and at least one of one or more foreground objects and one or more background objects in the long scene, and where distances from the 3D points to the fitted planes are substantially minimized. These also include, selecting, for respective one or more pixels in the panoramic image of the long scene, one of the input images and one of the fitted planes such that a distance is substantially minimized from the selected one of the fitted planes to a surface corresponding to the respective one or more pixels and occlusion of the respective one or more pixels is reduced in the selected one of the input images; and stitching the panoramic image of the long scene by projecting, for the respective one or more pixels in the panoramic image of the long scene, the selected one of the input images using the selected one of the fitted planes into the virtual camera.
US09743017B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to an integrated mobile desktop. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a display chip to receive graphical data and produce video display signals; and a logic chip to receive data from a mobile device and the video display signals from the display chip to generate a display including at least a portion for a representation of a display of the mobile device. The logic chip provides for integration of operations for the apparatus and the mobile device using the generated display.
US09743006B2
An imaging apparatus includes: a zoom lens unit that forms image light on an imaging unit; a zoom ring that is provided around the zoom lens to be manually rotated; a rotation detection unit including: a slit member that includes a plurality of blades that are spaced apart from one another in a rotation direction and is rotated by being connected to the zoom ring, and a sensor that detects rotation of the slit member and outputs a detection signal; and a lens control unit that adjusts a zoom ratio by driving the zoom lens unit based on the detection signal of the sensor, wherein a rotation ratio of the slit member to the zoom ring is greater than 1.
US09743000B2
A moving image processing apparatus includes a shake amount acquisition unit configured to acquire and output a shake amount, a period acquisition unit configured to acquire a period during which a change in composition occurs in a video image, a setting unit configured to set a size and position of a cut-out range of image data for each frame of the video image based on the shake amount output from the shake amount acquisition unit, and a correction unit configured to change, based on the shake amount, the position of the cut-out range set by the setting unit in such a way as to correct shaking of the video image.
US09742999B2
There has been a problem that continuous recording of monitoring data may be impeded by inconsistency in setting values, occurring due to changes in settings of an imaging unit or compression encoding unit performed while recording.Provided are a recording source which outputs a stream including compression-encoded video data, instructing means which change a parameter relating to the recording source, according to a command transmitted from an external device connected via a network, and control means which perform control so as to switch whether or not a command by the instructing means as to the recording source correlated with the recording job can be accepted, in accordance with the recording state of the recording job.
US09742997B1
Systems and methods for device handshaking are described. Embodiments for client device and associated wearable device initiated handshaking are described. In certain embodiments, a device such as wearable camera eyeglasses having both high-speed wireless circuitry and low-power wireless circuitry communicates with a client device. The low-power wireless circuitry is used for signaling and to manage power on handshaking for the high-speed circuitry in order to reduce power consumption. An analysis of a high-speed connection status may be performed by a client device, and used to conserve power at the glasses with signaling from the client device to indicate when the high-speed circuitry of the glasses should be powered on.
US09742994B2
This specification describes technologies relating to digital images. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a source wide-angle image; identifying one or more locally salient features of the source wide-angle image; calculating a mapping from the source wide-angle image to a two-dimensional mapped wide-angle image according to constraints using the identified one or more spatially variable salient features; and rendering the mapped wide-angle image using the calculated mapping such that the mapped wide-angle image reduces distortion of the locally salient features relative to the distortion of the source wide angle image.
US09742968B2
An image acquisition system, in particular for automotive applications, includes: a substrate; an image sensor mounted on the substrate and contacted via contact points; an optically transparent sealing compound that covers the image sensor, the contact points, and a portion of the upper substrate side; an optical device being arranged or secured in or on the sealing compound. The optical device can be placed into the sealing compound after shaping of the sealing compound or directly. Furthermore, the optical device can also be arranged directly by shaping the sealing compound. Manufacture of the image acquisition system can be incorporated into a board populating process.
US09742967B2
A plurality of types of interchangeable lenses having mutually different optical parameters required for identifying the optical correction values can be attached to the image capture apparatus. First, predetermined optical parameters are obtained regardless of what type of interchangeable lens is attached. Furthermore, in the case where the type of the attached interchangeable lens is a type that requires different optical parameters than the predetermined optical parameters for identifying the optical correction value, the necessary optical parameters are obtained. The optical correction value is identified based on the type of the attached interchangeable lens using the predetermined optical parameters, other optical parameters, and so on, and optical correction is then carried out.
US09742963B2
In embodiments of color rendering on a hue plane, a color rendering module can receive three channels of color information. The color rendering module converts the three channels of color information to two channels of color information and performs a color rendering operation on the two channels of color information to provide two channels of rendered color information. The color rendering module then converts the two channels of rendered color information back to three channels of rendered color information.
US09742958B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image processing unit configured to execute image processing that is requested, by using a parameter stored in a second storage unit included in the image processing unit; a control unit configured to store the parameter to be used by the image processing unit in a first storage unit, and generate identification information indicating a storage position of the parameter and store the identification in the first storage unit; and a transfer unit configured to acquire the parameter from the first storage unit based on the identification information stored in the first storage unit, and transfer the parameter to the second storage unit. The control unit stores the parameter in the second storage unit without storing the parameter in the first storage unit, according to the acquired parameter.
US09742945B2
An image forming apparatus performs: storing activation application specifying information that specifies an application to be activated on an operating system of an operation unit when the image forming apparatus enters a given state; notifying a main unit of the activation application specifying information; storing the notified activation application specifying information; controlling activation of an application to be activated by then operation unit, which is the application specified with reference to the activation application specifying information according to a state of the image forming apparatus, performing control to cause a display unit to display a screen for accepting an operation on the activated application, and controlling activation of an application to be activated by the main unit, which is the application specified with reference to the activation application specifying information according to the state of the image forming apparatus.
US09742938B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method for managing printing device software. The method includes receiving, at a computing device, a request to print a document file. The method also includes receiving a selection of a particular printing device with which to print the document file. The method further includes performing a search operation to determine whether a printer driver for the particular printing device is stored on the first computing device. Additionally, the method includes causing a data transfer of the printer driver from a server onto the first computing device over a wide area network upon determining that the printer driver is not stored on the computing device. Further, the method includes converting, using the printer driver, the document file into a print job. The method also includes transmitting, to the particular printing device, instructions to execute the print job.
US09742937B2
An image forming system to control an image forming apparatus by using a messenger application, a mobile device, and a method are provided. The image forming system includes a mobile device to activate a chat user interface to interface with an account of the image forming apparatus on the messenger application, and sending user messages to control a printing function of the image forming apparatus, a cloud server to receive the user messages from a messenger server, providing response messages of the account of the image forming apparatus in response to the user messages, and communicating with the mobile device in a conversational manner, thus controlling the printing of the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus whose printing is controlled by the cloud server based on the user messages or providing monitoring information of a current status.
US09742932B2
To make it possible to appropriately determine whether to register a number in an address book for fax data from the number not registered in the address book. A fax data management system including: a management unit configured to, in the case where a fax number of received fax data is not registered in address book data, in which a name and a fax number of a source of transmission are registered in association with each other, manage information including at least the fax number of the received fax data as unregistered address information; a display unit configured to display the unregistered address information and an image corresponding to the received fax data of which the fax number is not registered in the address book data; and a registration unit configured to register a fax number selected from the unregistered address information in the address book data, the registered fax number being associated with a name of the source of transmission.
US09742929B2
Systems and methods for identifying problematic printers are provided. An example method can involve determining a time interval for a printing device. The method may also involve determining a number of pages printed by the printing device during the time interval. The method may also involve determining a number of printing-device errors that occur on the printing device during the time interval. Still further, the method may involve determining one or more coefficients of a Markov chain based on the number of pages printed by the printing device during the time interval and the number of printing-device errors that occur on the printing device during the time interval. The method yet further includes, based on the determined coefficients of the Markov chain, determining an operational status of the printing device.
US09742925B2
An alternative approach to coping with the ever increasing demand for faster communications hardware is to design modems that are capable of operating its speeds at a higher data rate than a speed required for a single port of the standard communication rate for that modem. Basically, by utilizing a resource manager, that directs the data in and out of the various portions of the modem in an orderly manner, keeping track of which of the ports is being operated at any given point in time, a standard single port modem can be reconfigured, for example, at an over clocked rate, to manipulate the data input and output of a modem.
US09742924B2
A method includes establishing a circuit switched call with an automated answering system at a destination, the destination having a communication server associated therewith, transmitting a request to switch to Internet Protocol (IP) communication to the automated answering system, receiving an IP request acknowledgement message from the communication server responsive to transmitting the request to switch to IP communication, and establishing an IP communication session with the communication server responsive to receiving the IP request acknowledgement. Systems and computer program products are also disclosed.
US09742917B1
A system, method and non-transitory computer readable medium including computer-executable instructions for handling calls. In an exemplary method of the disclosure, it may be determined whether a call should be transferred from the VSS to an agent based on, for example, agent availability or queue wait times. When it is determined to transfer the call to the agent, it may be determined whether a callback call should be offered to the caller. When it is determined to offer the callback call, one or more time blocks may be provided to which the caller can initiate the callback call to receive higher priority routing. Upon calling back into the system within one of the time blocks, the call may receive preferential routing treatment.
US09742914B2
A method for determining evaluation information using audio data includes receiving a specification of an evaluation form, the evaluation form including a number of questions, each question having a number of possible answers. A user is received indicating that a first answer of the number of possible answers for a first question of the number of questions should be determined automatically from the audio data, the audio data including speech of a subject. A user input is received associating a first constraint of a plurality of constraints with the first answer. The audio data is processed to determine whether the audio data putatively satisfies the first constraint. The first answer is assigned as an answer to the first question if the audio data putatively satisfies the first constraint. The first answer is stored as the answer to the first question in the evaluation form.
US09742912B2
An IVR system is disclosed in which customer experience is enhanced by improving the accuracy and intent prediction capabilities of an interactive voice response system. Customers are allowed to make a natural language queries to specify their intent, while the accuracy of traditional IVR systems is maintained by using key features in language along with the customer's past transactions, CRM attributes, and customer segment attributes to identify customer intent.
US09742911B2
A dialing method for a calling party includes determining a plurality of phone number groups to be dialed in a simultaneous or sequential ringing mode, each of the groups including at least one phone number; and transmitting the plurality of phone number groups and a dialing flag to a calling server. The dialing flag including a simultaneous or sequential ringing flag indicating that the plurality of phone number groups are to be dialed in the simultaneous or sequential ringing mode. The calling party can freely custom multiple phone numbers expected to be rung simultaneously or sequentially and transmit them to a calling server, without registering in the calling server in advance. Thus, the trouble of the user registering the numbers in the calling server may be avoided and the calling server does not need to maintain a large-scale database for storing the multiple numbers at a large cost.
US09742906B2
A method, system, computer program product, and a device for testing are provided. In some implementations, a method includes the steps of (i) conducting a line test on a line of a line card that is not connected to a subscriber line; (ii) comparing the result of the test with a predetermined result; and (iii) determining a defect of the test hardware if the result deviates from the predetermined result. Furthermore, a device and a communication system comprising said device are suggested.
US09742892B2
A method for a communication device to automatically respond to an incoming call is provided. The method includes defining a destination, calculating an average speed of the communication device based on a GPS unit of the communication device, determining whether the average speed is equal to or exceeds a predefined value, disconnecting the incoming call if the average speed is equal to or exceeds the predefined value, forming a predefined message based on the average speed, and transmitting the predefined message to a caller of the incoming call.
US09742890B2
The present invention relates to the control and operation of cellular telephones and other portable electronic devices, and particularly to improvements in the functionality of those devices for use in conjunction with a variety of sports and recreational activities.
US09742889B1
The present invention is a vertically oriented device that is intended to be installed in gambling casinos or other areas where there is limited space. The device serves several functions. It is a holder for a portable telephone while the phone is being charged and when in use. The device is provided with electrical power via various types of charger cords and ports to charge a variety of phones or other electrical devices. It is a drinking cup holder that is lighted so that a drinking cup in the holder is clearly visible. It also has a directional task light located under the drinking cup holder that provides light in an area under the cup holder and adjacent the device's supporting base to accommodate a cigarette ash tray or other item that needs to be lighted so as to be seen by the user.
US09742882B2
A number of channels of data, including audio, image, text, and support data are collected at one or more centralized servers. The individual channels are edited and processed for content and format, including the deletion and insertion of advertising content as well as inserting markers to indicate acceptable locations for additional content to be added. The edited and processed channels are sent to a plurality of transmission servers for additional processing and transmission. The transmission servers process one or more of the channels including the insertion of content at designated markers and the combination of the channels of data into a single, packetized data transfer stream. The data transfer stream is broadcast to a plurality of receiving units which de-packetize the original data channels and present any selected channel to the user of the receiving unit. The receiving units send status information back to the centralized servers where the data is processed and analyzed to evaluate the present use, and determine the future use of advertisements.
US09742881B2
A method for providing a “just-in-time” distributed capability for classification encoding is described. When a source transport node processes a new flow (a flow for the first time), the source transport node in some embodiments sends a metadata packet “just-in-time” to the destination transport node to propagate the classification encoding to use for the given flow.
US09742877B2
An approach is presented that provides computer clustering support across geographical boundaries. Inter-node communications are managed in a cluster by having each node operate at the network device driver (NDD) level within the kernel. Multiple types of NDD are utilized (Ethernet, SAN, DISK etc.) to provide redundancy so that nodes can reliably exchange heartbeat. To align with this architecture, for remote nodes, a pseudo NDD is used over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based communication interface to work along side other NDDs. Thus, the same packet which is sprayed over the NDDs pertaining to local nodes can be sprayed over the TCPSOCK NDD interface for remote nodes. Nodes (local or remote) receive the same packet and reassemble and process it in the same manner.
US09742873B2
An arbitrary customer instance is transferred from a customer environment to a target managed-infrastructure-as-a-service cloud environment as a transferred image. An image adjustment plan, capturing at least one adjustment required to render the transferred image compliant with standards of the target managed-infrastructure-as-a-service cloud environment, is formulated. The image adjustment plan is executed to adjust the transferred image to obtain an adjusted image compliant with standards of the target managed-infrastructure-as-a-service cloud environment. The adjusted image is on-boarded into the managed-infrastructure-as-a-service cloud environment as a standard image thereof.
US09742872B2
Process, equipment, and computer program product code for configuring a network security device using a hand-held computing device are provided. Default initial settings for a network security device are received by a mobile application running on a hand-held computing device. The default initial settings represent settings that allow the network security device to be remotely managed via a network to which the network security device is coupled. The default initial settings are presented to a network administrator via a touch-screen display of the hand-held computing device. Revisions to or acceptance of the default initial settings are received by the mobile application. The mobile application causes the network security device to be configured with the revised or accepted default initial settings by delivering the settings to the network security device via a management interface to which the hand-held computing device is coupled via a connecting cable.
US09742868B2
Method, device and system for processing instant messaging information and setting terminal priority
A method, device and system for processing instant messaging information and setting terminal priority, wherein the method for processing instant messaging information includes: each powered-on terminal under the same account of a user respectively receiving priority information corresponding to each terminal and sent by a cloud server; and when a powered-on terminal receives instant messaging information, the terminal judging whether its own priority is the highest or not according to the received priority information, and if yes, processing the received instant messaging information; otherwise, do not performing any response to the received instant messaging information. With the method, device and system in accordance with the embodiment of the present document, the privacy of the user's personal information is good and the security is relatively high, and the problem of processing confusion can be avoided.
US09742865B2
Content items stored in an online content management service can be organized and shared. Content items can be associated with sharing profiles that include various sharing-specific metadata, such as details of how an item is shared or with whom it is shared. In some embodiments, the metadata stored in the sharing profiles can be used to organize shared content into shared folders automatically and/or to sort a list of content items.
US09742862B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for the delivery of multi-unicast communication traffic. A multimedia router is adapted to analyze and identify contents which it handles and one or more access nodes are adapted to receive one or more of the identified contents, cache contents based on said identification; and use cached contents as substitutes for redundant traffic, received by the same access node.
US09742858B2
A system for measuring and monitoring performance of online content is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an intermediary device, such as a web proxy, that receives client requests for content, such as requests for web pages. The device obtains the requested content, modifies it by applying one or more performance optimizations, and serves it to the client. The device also inserts code into the content for execution by the client to gather and report data reflecting, e.g., how quickly the client is able to get and process the content. The code includes information identifying the modifications the device made, and this is reported with the timing data, so that the effect on performance can be analyzed. In other embodiments, the device selects one of multiple versions of content, and the inserted code contains information identifying the selected version. The foregoing are merely examples; other embodiments are described herein.
US09742850B1
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique to configure a data source name (DSN) for use during a data source access. A driver is selected. An identifier is provided that identifies a class, and a library or an application that implements a driver interface for accessing the data source. A connection string is forwarded with the identifier from an implementation of the driver interface to the driver. The connection string is forwarded from the driver to a driver manager managing a client.
US09742847B2
A network of sensor and controller nodes having the ability to be dynamically programmed and receive updated software from one another, and from a host system. Each network node includes multiple state machines, at least some of which are operable relative to physical pins at the network node; the physical pins correspond to inputs from sensor functions or outputs to control functions. The network nodes include microcontrollers that are operable in an operating mode to execute a state machine and respond to commands from other nodes or the host, and in a read mode to receive and store program instructions transmitted from other nodes or the host. A learn mode is also provided, by way of which a network node can store program code corresponding to instructions and actions at the node when under user control.
US09742843B2
A method and system for enabling data sharing between software systems is provided. At least one data-sharing session is managed for each of a plurality of users with a server computer system. Each of the data-sharing sessions has a set of software systems associated with the user participating therein. The server computer system maintains requests for the software systems to be notified of updates to values of sets of requested data items. The set of software systems share data item values in the data-sharing session. The server computer system stores the shared data item values, and resolves the shared data item values to the requested data items using semantic descriptions provided for the shared data item values and the requested data items. Available updates to the shared data item values resolving to the sets of requested data items are provided to the software systems.
US09742839B2
An example implementation may involve removing, by a computing device, a given media item from a queue of media items. The example implementation may further involve adding to the queue an indication that the given media item has been removed from the queue. After adding to the queue the indication, the implementation may also involve receiving, via a network interface, one or more requests for one or more media items from the queue of media items. After receiving the one or more requests, the implementation may involve determining that the computing system has received more than a threshold number of requests for one or more media items since adding to the queue the indication. After determining that the computing system has received more than the threshold number of requests, the implementation may involve removing the indication from the queue.
US09742834B2
A communication device includes an IC (integrated circuit) chip storing information in a predetermined area and functioning as a reader/writer that reads out or writes information stored in another IC chip. Also, the communication device downloads an agent from an information processing device connected to the network. Here, the agent is provided as application software operating the IC chip as a reader/writer. Furthermore, the communication device downloads a role from the information device connected to the network using the agent downloaded therefrom, where the role is provided as script data in which part of the contents of processing of the reader/writer performed by the agent.
US09742832B2
Disclosed is a transmission apparatus or the like that is able to transmit information efficiently. The transmission apparatus, on the basis of history information which includes a service identifier and a message identifier associated therewith, transmits a difference between a third message having a large similarity ratio to a second message included in a specific service and the second message, and a message identifier identifying the second message via a communication network.
US09742829B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for managing multimedia messages being transmitted to recipient devices of foreign networks. The method includes sending a multimedia message having a message size that exceeds a maximum allowable size supported or accepted by a foreign network of a recipient device. The method also includes receiving an indication that the sent multimedia message exceeded the maximum allowable size supported or accepted by the foreign network of the recipient device.
US09742826B2
A method for transmitting complex multimedia data is provided. The method includes selecting one of a data headers composed of basic transmission units determined according to an amount of multimedia included in the complex multimedia data, generating a basic transmission unit of the complex multimedia data according to the selected data header, packetizing the complex multimedia data in the basic transmission unit; and transmitting the packetized complex multimedia data to a receiver.
US09742813B2
Systems and methods provide for detecting the potential legal decryption of transmitted data. When a device connects to a server over a network, such as the Internet, the device determines whether a cipher without forward secrecy is used. If so, information regarding the connection is stored in a log. When the device subsequently connects to the server and receives a response code indicating that a resource is not available for legal reasons, the device checks the log to determine if the device has previously communicated with the server using a cipher without forward secrecy. Based on the check, the previous connection with the server is identified from the log. A message is presented indicating that data from the previous connection could be subject to legal decryption.
US09742810B2
Systems (100) and methods for network node security configuration. The methods involve: performing operations by a mobile communication device (104) to obtain a unique identifier from a network node (108) to be installed at a customer facility (102) via a first short range communication link (110); communicating a signal comprising the unique identifier from the mobile communication device to a remote server (118) via a first long range communication link (112); verifying by the remote server that a correct type of network node is being installed at a first location within the customer facility according to a respective work order; and communicating security information, useful for configuring security functions of the network node, from the remote server to the network node via the mobile communication device, without presenting the security information to a user of the mobile communication device or storing the security information in the mobile communication device.
US09742806B1
A method, system, and apparatus are directed towards enabling access to payload by a third -party sent over an SSL session. The third-party may be a proxy situated between a client and a server. SSL handshake messages are sent between the client and the server to establish the SSL connection. As the SSL handshake messages are routed through the proxy, the proxy may extract data. In addition, one of the client or the server may send another message within, or out-of-band to, the series of SSL handshake message directly to the proxy. The other SSL message may include secret data that the proxy may use to generate a session key the SSL connection. With the session key, the proxy may receive SSL messages over the SSL connection, modify and/or transpose the payload within the received SSL messages, and/or terminate the SSL connection at the proxy.
US09742800B2
Systems and methods for software defined behavioral DDoS attack mitigation are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for mitigating DDoS attacks. A DDoS attack mitigation appliance of multiple mitigation appliances controlled by a DDoS attack mitigation central controller receives DDoS attack mitigation policies through a network connecting the controller and the mitigation appliance. A DDoS attack is mitigated by the mitigation appliance based on the received mitigation policies. The mitigation policies are generated by the controller based on granular behavioral packet rate thresholds estimated based on granular traffic rate information collected from one or more of the multiple mitigation appliances controlled by the controller.
US09742785B2
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a cipher then segment approach in a Power Line Communication (PLC). A node or device generates frames to be transmitted to a destination node in the PLC network. A processor in the node is configured to generate a data payload comprising data to be sent to the destination node. The processor divides the data payload into two or more payload segments and encrypts the payload segments. The processor creates a frame for each of the encrypted payload segments, wherein each frame comprises a message integrity code. The processor creates a segment identifier for each frame using the message integrity code and an authentication key that is shared with the destination PLC node. The segment identifier is added to each frame.
US09742783B2
A method for transmitting contents including tracking information is described. The method comprising the steps of generating a content transmission stream relevant to an original content, determining at least part of the original content as a forensic mark (FM) target segment, generating a FM stream including the FM segment in which a particular pattern is inserted into the FM target segment and a FM stream different from the content transmission stream and transmitting the content transmission stream and the FM stream to a receiving device, wherein the FM stream is combined with the content transmission stream based on session information related to the transmitting in the receiving device.
US09742781B1
Obtaining and/or validating user credentials at client devices is described. This disclosure describes methods of generating representations of credentials for groups of users or for individuals. Representations for these credentials can be managed by a server or collection of servers, and distributed to appropriate users' client devices. These representations can then be outputted for evaluation by a credential authority, who confirms that the credential possessed by a given user is valid. A credential authority may be a person and/or a device that validates a credential.
US09742780B2
Techniques for automatically connecting to a service controller are described herein. In one example, a service controller device includes a processor and a computer-readable memory storage device storing executable instructions that cause the processor to broadcast at least one of an access credential, connection information or an access credential hash embedded in an audio signal. The processor can also authenticate a client device based on a transmission of at least one of the connection information, the access credential, or the access credential hash from the client device to the client connector and transmit data to the client device in response to authenticating the client device.
US09742776B2
Systems and techniques are disclosed for receiving one or more recipient identifiers and a destination location from a user or an application. A uniform resource locator may be generated and may include a destination ID corresponding to the destination location. An entry containing the one or more recipient identifiers may be generated in an access control list for the destination location. A recipient may request access to the destination location by selecting the uniform resource locator. A recipient identifier may be determined for the recipient requesting the access and may be compared to entries in the access control list. If the recipient identifier matches an entry in the access control list, then the recipient may be granted access to the destination location.
US09742772B1
A method and apparatus to enable a user to send an action message including secure credential is described. The system comprises a receiving logic to receive the action message from a user, a repository including encrypted user-specific data, and an agent to access a resource through a network, the agent directed as specified by a connector object invoked by the action message. The agent further comprises logic to utilize the encrypted user-specific data from the repository to log into the resource through the network, and in one embodiment, action logic to perform one or more actions as instructed by the connector invoked by the action message. The agent further comprises, in one embodiment, extraction logic for extracting information resulting from of the agent's access to the data resource specified by the connector, and communication logic to communicate a result to the user or to another agent for further use.
US09742767B1
Systems, methods, and media for authentication are provided. In accordance with some implementations, the system comprises: a hardware processor that is programmed to: receive, from a device, a message relating to an authentication status of a user account associated with the device; transmit an authentication request to the device that is transmitted to an authentication server; receive, from the device, a response to the authentication request that includes authentication data relating to a session corresponding to the user account on the authentication server; cause an interface to be presented that requests authorization to authenticate the device with the authentication server using the user account; and transmit the authentication data to the device that causes the device to retrieve a corresponding authentication token from the authentication server, wherein the corresponding authentication token authenticates the user account on the device.
US09742764B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving an enrollment biometric identifier of a user. Determining a matching threshold based on a characteristic of the enrollment biometric identifier of the user. Storing the matching threshold in an enrollment profile for the use in association with the enrollment biometric identifier.
US09742762B2
Techniques for utilizing a trusted platform module of a host device are described. According to various embodiments, a client device that does not include a trusted platform module (TPM) may leverage a TPM of a host device to provide trust services to the client device.
US09742761B2
A method, computer program product, and computer system for authenticating user access to a computing system using dynamic tokens are provided. A login request from a client is received, and in response, a token request from the client is issued. The token request identifies one or more sequence positions. One or more client tokens generated by the client are received based on the one or more sequence positions of the tokens. A sequence of tokens based on a first seed and a first algorithm are generated. The login request is authenticated by comparing the one or more client tokens with the sequence of tokens, based at least in part, on the one or more sequence positions.
US09742751B2
Systems and methods for identifying a weak stimulus in a stimulus-based authentication system is provided. Counters are associated with each stimulus used in the authentication and a first counter is incremented when the stimulus is used in an authentication session and a second counter is incremented when a successful event occurs with respect to the stimulus during the authentication session, but the authentication session ultimately fails. A ratio of the second counter and the first counter is compared to a threshold and the stimulus is identified as weak when the ratio exceeds the threshold. The stimulus may then be removed and no longer be used in the stimulus-based authentication system.
US09742746B2
Techniques for providing data security services with respect to cloud-based services are described. Examples include a security service provider (“SSP”) configured to perform or provide one or more security-related services or functions with respect to or on behalf of some other system or service. The other system or service may be, for example, a cloud-based system that provides network-accessible services. The SSP allows a user of the cloud-based service to provide and manage one or more security-related services, such as data storage, encryption, decryption, key management, and the like. By using and controlling the SSP, the user can be confident that his or her data is being securely represented and stored, even though it is being operated upon by a cloud-based service that is not under the user's control.
US09742740B2
Techniques allow owners of Internet of Things (IoT) devices to provide specific access to data from their IoT devices to requesters of data. A request for data from one or more IoT devices is received from one or more requesters, and the request is provided to the owner of the one or more IoT devices. An indication of acceptance by the owner is provided for at least one of the requests from the requesters. A public key of a public/private key pair associated with each of the accepted requester(s) is received. A plurality of datapoints from the one or more IoT devices is also received. For each of the selected requester(s), at least one datapoint of the plurality of datapoints is encrypted with the public key of the requester. The encrypted at least one datapoint is then sent to the requester, where the requester can decrypt the encrypted at least one datapoint using the private key of the public/private key pair.
US09742724B2
Overhead of sending data from one application to another by doing input and output processing can be costly. The present invention provides a method of transmitting data with a low overhead between applications in a multi-tenant runtime environment. The multi-tenant runtime detects a connection between tenants, and then performs low-overhead data transmission mechanisms by cloning data from one tenant space to another tenant space, while keeping the data isolated for two tenants.
US09742709B1
The disclosed invention relates generally to a system, method or apparatus for an improved emergency operations communication system. The object of the present invention pertains to the rapid and efficient collection and dissemination of information between any size population and an emergency operations center and personnel during an event. In one particular embodiment, the invention may provide improved communication, data gathering, analyzation, and organization with a system or method resulting in at least reduced communication time and improved situational awareness between a response center and personnel and discrete unknown or known members of the public.
US09742699B2
The present invention presents a network apparatus and a selective information monitoring method using the network apparatus, which allow a user to monitor only required information (the field information of packets) from all received packets. The network apparatus one or more physical interfaces connected to a monitoring target host and configured to receive network packets from the monitoring target host, and a switch fabric module including a configurable monitoring module configured to perform filtering so that selective information is extracted from the network packets collected through the one or more physical interfaces.
US09742685B2
Mechanisms are provided, in a data processing system comprising a plurality of nodes, each node being a computing device, for controlling access to a critical section of code. These mechanisms send, by a sender node of the data processing system, an access request for requesting access to the critical section of code. The critical section of code is a portion of code that accesses a shared resource. The mechanisms receive, in the sender node, from a plurality of receiver nodes in the data processing system, responses to the access request. Each response in the responses includes a number of active nodes perceived by a corresponding receiver node that transmitted the response. The mechanisms control, by the sender node, access to the critical section of code based on the number of active nodes identified in each of the responses received from the receiver nodes.
US09742682B2
A network interface controller (NIC) that includes a set of receive NIC queues capable of performing large receive offload (LRO) operations by aggregating incoming receive packets is provided. Each NIC queue turns on or off its LRO operation based a set of LRO enabling rules or parameters, whereby only packets that meet the set of rules or parameters will be aggregated in the NIC queue. Each NIC queue is controlled by its own set of LRO enabling rules such that the LRO operations of the different NIC queues can be individually controlled.
US09742681B2
The invention is directed to systems, methods and computer program products for optimizing a configuration associated with a network. An exemplary method comprises: determining a node of the network is running a data session associated with an amount of data greater than a predetermined amount of data, and associated with a duration greater than a predetermined duration; configuring the network such that the node acts as an access point; and establishing a direct connection between the access point and a backbone of the network.
US09742678B2
In one embodiment, when an ingress provider edge (PE) device of a computer network domain receives a frame at the ingress PE device destined to a destination media access control (MAC) address, it can determine whether the frame was received on a root or leaf Ethernet ingress segment, and also whether the destination MAC address is located via a root or leaf Ethernet segment. Accordingly, the ingress PE device may either drop or forward the frame based on the ingress Ethernet segment and destination MAC address Ethernet segment being either a root or a leaf, respectively.
US09742676B2
Techniques for maintaining high availability servers are disclosed. For example, a method comprises the following steps. One or more client requests are provided to a first server for execution therein. The one or more client requests are also provided to a second server for storage therein. In response to the first server failing, the second server is configured to execute at least one client request of the one or more client requests provided to the first server and the second server that is not properly executed by the first server.
US09742672B1
In one example, an edge routing device of a service provider network includes one or more network interfaces configured to send and receive packets and a processing unit configured to retrieve, from a packet received via the one or more network interfaces, priority data from an Internet protocol (IP) header of the packet, form a first tag including a first set of data in a first priority field of the first tag, wherein the first set of data represents a first portion of the priority data, form a second tag including a second set of data in a second priority field of the second tag, wherein the second set of data represents a second portion of the priority data, encapsulate the packet with the first tag and the second tag, and forward, via the one or more network interfaces, the encapsulated packet.
US09742663B2
An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a plurality of aggregation devices configured to distribute information in a virtual link trunk and a plurality of nodes coupled to the aggregation devices. When one of the plurality of aggregation devices received a reboot command, that aggregation device is configured to transmit a first message to the nodes indicating that the aggregation device is rebooting, receive a first acknowledgement message from the nodes indicating that they will not send any information to the rebooting aggregation device. The aggregation device is then configured to reboot, receive a second message from the nodes indicating the nodes are ready to receive information from the rebooted aggregation device, transmit a second acknowledgement message to the nodes indicating that the rebooted aggregation device has rebooted and is capable of receiving information, and receive information from at least one of the nodes for transmission to at least one other node.
US09742659B2
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for identifying a primary flow and its corresponding subflow(s) so that the subflow(s) may be routed to more efficiently use bandwidth between a source host and a destination host. In embodiments, a table correlates flows and their corresponding keys for Multipath TCP flows. When a new subflow is initiated between a source device and a destination device, the new flow can be identified as being a subflow of a primary flow using data in the table. Having identified the subflow and its corresponding primary flow, the new subflow may have an installed route path that differs from its primary flow, thereby improving the bandwidth usage.
US09742658B2
Various embodiments of inter-medium bridging are described. In one aspect, a method may involve a plurality of inter-domain bridging devices transmitting a message that describes inter-domain routing capability of the inter-domain bridging devices to a respective domain master of each of a plurality domains to which the inter-domain bridging devices are connected. The method may also involve the plurality of domain masters exchanging messages that describe the inter-domain routing capability of the plurality of inter-domain bridging devices connected to the respective domain of each domain master. The method may further involve each domain master determining one of the domain masters to serve as a global domain master for calculating inter-domain routing paths.
US09742654B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for testing performance of communications interfaces of computing devices. An electronic device tester is disclosed including a downstream communication interface configured to communicatively couple the electronic device tester to a device under test (DUT), wherein the electronic device tester is configured to identify a first internal hub of the DUT over the downstream communication interface, identify a second hub device connected to the DUT over a downstream interface port of the DUT, verify performance of the downstream interface port of the DUT at a first data rate by receiving data over a first downstream port of the second hub device via the downstream interface port of the DUT, and verify performance of the downstream interface port of the DUT at a second data rate by receiving data over a second downstream port of the second hub device via the downstream interface port of the DUT.
US09742653B2
A maintenance method for network connection and a computer system are provided. The method is adapted to a computer system having a real-time clock. The real-time clock is configured to regularly wake up the computer system to check whether a network connection is working normally. In the method, a wake up operation to wake up the computer system is received from a user. It is determined whether a connection time of maintaining the network connection so far from a last time of entering a power saving mode is greater than a counting time for the real-time clock to wake up the computer system. It is tested whether the network connection is working normally when the connection time is greater than the counting time. The counting time of the real-time clock is updated to the connection time when the network connection is working normally.
US09742642B2
A system, method and/or computer program product monitors delivery of text messages related to network traffic between a user's electronic system and a server. A capture server captures a network traffic message from a user's electronic system to a solution server. In response to capturing a request for specific information from the solution server, the capture server captures a related text message from the solution server to a text message gateway. The capture server then monitors a text message log within the user's electronic system, which contains a record of text messages received by the user's electronic system. In response to the text message log containing no record of the text message from the solution server within a predetermined length of wait time, the capture server generates and transmits an alert message to the solution server.
US09742638B1
Generally described, systems and methods are provided for detecting the impact of network failures. The system collects performance information from a plurality of nodes and links in a network, aggregates the collected performance information across paths in the network, processes the aggregated performance information for detecting failures on the paths, adjusts the set of performance information by removing the performance information for any nodes considered to be associated with performance information that is statistically different from performance information from other nodes at a given location or extrapolates the collected information to other paths, and determines the impact to customers of the network failures detected using the adjusted set of performance information.
US09742633B2
One embodiment is directed to a system that comprises a plurality of ports configured to establish a plurality of physical information connections and a plurality of physical scanning connections using cables. Each information connection is associated with a respective scanning connection. Each scanning connection is separate from the respective information connection associated with that scanning connection. The system is configured to selectively transmit a respective scanning signal from each port over a respective one of the scanning connections. The system is configured to selectively receive a respective scanning signal at each port from a respective one of the scanning connections. Connection information is derived from the scanning signals communicated over the scanning connections. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09742630B2
Example implementations described herein are directed to a configurable building block, such as a router, for implementation of a Network on Chip (NoC). The router is parameterized by a software layer, which can include the number of virtual channels for a port, the number of ports, the membership information of the virtual channels, clock domain, and so forth. The router may further be configured to implement arbitration techniques and flit processing techniques based on the parameters specified by the software layer.
US09742623B2
The communication method comprises transmitting a transfer command to transfer the data control, which enables execution of controlling data stored in one or more communication devices connected to at least one of the first and second master devices, from the first master device to the second master device through a first communication line, transmitting a response to the transfer command from the second master device to the first master device through the first communication line, and transmitting a confirmation notification for the response from the first master device to the second master device through the first communication line. The execution of controlling data in the first master device is stopped when the first master device has transmitted the confirmation notification, and the execution of controlling data in the second master device is enabled when the second master device has received the confirmation notification.
US09742622B2
The subject system allows network devices utilizing any number of networking technologies (including to-be-developed technologies) to access a common abstraction layer and/or the network operations facilitated by a common abstraction layer. The subject system allows a device that is added to a network to communicate whether existing devices on the network should retrieve communication protocol information for facilitating communication with the added device from a remote server. For example, the devices may locally store communication protocol information for certain network technologies, e.g. legacy network technologies, while information corresponding to other network technologies may not be locally stored. The added device may provide a resource locator to the existing devices for accessing the communication protocol information from the remote server. The existing network devices may retrieve the communication protocol information via the resource locator, and may utilize the communication protocol information to facilitate communication with the added device.
US09742619B2
A program product and system that implements a method for adding an Information Technology (IT) structure A to an IT structure X. A first list of all dependencies of elements in a composition of X is received. It is determined that no dependency of any element E in the composition of X in the first list has an exclusion with a class Y to which A belongs. A second list of all dependencies of A is received. It is determined that no dependency of A in the second list has an exclusion with a class Z to which an element E in the composition of X belongs. It is determined that no dependency of any element E in the composition of X in the first list has an exclusion with a class Y to which A belongs and ensuring that A's dependencies are satisfied followed by adding A to X.
US09742618B2
There is provided a system and method for resilient routing based on a multi-channel model for emergency management. The system includes a packet delivery anomaly detector for determining an existence of an anomaly in a mandated routing infrastructure for a packet that renders the packet incapable of reaching a destination node designated for the packet through the mandated routing infrastructure. The system further includes a dynamic alternate route identifier for dynamically identifying alternate routes for the packet responsive to a determination of the existence of the anomaly. The alternate routes are outside the mandated routing infrastructure, are provided using one or more mobile devices external to and not part of the mandated routing infrastructure, and are dynamically identified responsive to at least geographic location information. The system also includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly routing the packet using at least one of the alternate routes.
US09742615B1
A method for determining a popularity of an online identity includes identifying an online identity for which a popularity measurement is to be determined, and identifying one or more other online identities based, at least in part, on their being within a specified number of degrees of separation of the online identity. Popularity measurements for the other online identities are accessed and aggregated, and a popularity measurement for the online identity is determined based on at least the aggregated popularity measurements for the other online identities. A computer readable medium includes instructions for generating a graphical user interface for enabling a determination a more popular online identity of two online identities. The graphical user interface includes a first identifier specification mechanism that enables specification of an identifier of a first online identity, and a second identifier specification mechanism that enables specification of an identifier of a second online identity. The graphical user interface includes a display of an indication of whether a popularity of the first online identity exceeds a popularity of the second online identity.
US09742613B2
Method and system for I/Q mismatch calibration and compensation for wideband communication receivers
Methods and systems for I/O mismatch calibration and compensation for wideband communication receivers may include receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal in a receiver of a communication device, down-sampling said received RF signal to generate a channel k and its image channel −k at baseband frequencies, determining average in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) gain and phase mismatch of said channel k and said image channel −k, removing said average I and Q gain and phase mismatch of said channel k and said image channel −k, determining, after said removing said average I and Q gain and phase mismatch, a residual phase tilt of said channel k and said image channel −k, and compensating for said determined residual phase tilt of said channel k and said image channel −k utilizing a phase tilt correction filter.
US09742610B2
One embodiment provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes an optimization module configured to determine a guard interval remainder based, at least in part on a comparison of an allowable microreflection interference level and an actual microreflection interference level; and a windowing module configured to window an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexed) symbol utilizing the guard interval remainder. The apparatus may further include a channel estimator module configured to determine a predicted channel frequency response based, at least in part, on a probing symbol; and a pre-equalizer module configured to pre-equalize the OFDM symbol based, at least in part, on the predicted channel frequency response.
US09742603B1
In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided systems and methods for link training between a host device and a device. The host device includes a clock source, front-end circuitry, a duty cycle monitor (DCM), link training logic, and a duty cycle adjustor (DCA). The front-end circuitry is to transmit a training sequence and a forward clock signal to the device and is to receive a strobe signal from the device over a physical transmission media. The DCM is to monitor duty cycle of the strobe signal and duty cycle of the clock signal. The link training logic is to determine a adjustment to the clock signal and is to generate a control signal. The DCA is to receive the clock signal and the control signal and is to adjust the clock signal to generate an adjusted forward clock signal in view of the control signal.
US09742602B2
A signaling system includes a pre-emphasizing transmitter and an equalizing receiver coupled to one another via a high-speed signal path. The receiver measures the quality of data conveyed from the transmitter. A controller uses this information and other information to adaptively establish appropriate transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalization settings, e.g. to select the lowest power setting for which the signaling system provides some minimum communication bandwidth without exceeding a desired bit-error rate.
US09742597B1
An apparatus includes a decision feedback equalizer configured to receive a parallel signal generated based on a first clock. The decision feedback equalizer includes a first equalization block configured to receive a first symbol of a first set of parallel symbols provided by the parallel signal during a first clock cycle of the first clock. A decision feedback equalization is performed by the first equalization block to the first symbol to provide a first decision to a second equalization block. The second equalization block is configured to receive a second symbol of the first set of parallel symbols and perform a decision feedback equalization to the second symbol using the first decision received from the first equalization block to provide a second decision during the first clock cycle.
US09742595B2
When a channel between a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus is distorted by multipath fading or other reasons, linear interpolation between pilot subcarriers produces a large estimation error, resulting in an increase in an equalization error and a decrease in reception performance. The present invention allows feedback of a signal that undergoes error correction, reduction in the channel estimation error through repeated channel estimation, and improvement in the reception performance.
US09742586B2
Techniques are presented for distributing host route information of virtual machines to routing bridges (RBridges). A first RBridge receives a routing message that is associated with a virtual machine and is sent by a second RBridge. The routing message comprises of mobility attribute information associated with a mobility characteristic of the virtual machine obtained from an egress RBridge that distributes the routing message. The first RBridge adds a forwarding table attribute to the routing message that indicates whether or not the first RBridge has host route information associated with the virtual machine in a forwarding table of the first RBridge. The first RBridge also distributes the routing message including the mobility attribute information and the forwarding table attribute, to one or more RBridges in the network.
US09742585B2
The present disclosure provides signaling control among multiple communication interfaces of an electronic device based on signal priority. According to an aspect, an electronic device includes multiple communication interfaces. The electronic device also includes a communication controller configured to determine priority of signals to be communicated on different communication interfaces among the plurality of communication interfaces. Further, the communication controller is configured to determine an order of communication of the signals among the different communication interfaces based on the priority of the signals to be communicated. The communication controller is also configured to control communication of the signals among the different communication interfaces based on the determined order of communication.
US09742576B2
Provided a proof of play (PoP) method of a digital signage terminal and a digital signage server, the PoP method of the digital signage terminal including obtaining a digital signature and a PoP message generation policy provided by a content owner, generating log data comprising information on a play of at least one piece of content, based on the PoP message generation policy, generating a PoP message using information on the digital signature based on the generated log data, and providing the PoP message to at least one of the digital signage server and the content owner.
US09742572B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for scaling power level of an upstream signal by a device processor of a head-end device in a communication network. In embodiments, the device processor may determine a power level of the signal received at the head-end device from a client device. The device processor may determine a difference between the power level of the received signal and a target power level of an analog-to-digital converter of the head-end device, and may adjust the power level of the received signal at the head-end device based on the determined difference. In embodiments, the device processor may determine a power level of an upstream signal to be received by the head-end device, may determine a difference between the power level of the received signal and the target power level, and may adjust the power level of a received signal at the head-end device based on the determined difference.
US09742571B2
A method for determining an identifier on the basis of a multiplicity of cells is proposed, wherein the cells are subdivided into subsets, wherein the fact of whether a reconstructable information item is determinable is ascertained for each of the subsets, wherein, if a reconstructable information item is determinable for a subset, the reconstructable information item is determined and stored, wherein, if a reconstructable information item is not determinable for a subset, an error information item is determined and stored for this subset.
US09742568B2
An information handling system (IHS) prevents execution of corrupted bootup instructions in flash memory. A memory component contains basic input/output system (BIOS) instructions to execute during boot up of the IHS. A host processor is in communication with the memory component via the system interconnect to execute the BIOS instructions to configure the IHS. A support processor executes instructions to configure the IHS to: (a) calculate a current hash value for the BIOS instructions; (b) access a trusted encrypted hash value and the unique key from a secure storage; (c) decrypt the trusted encrypted hash value using the unique key to obtain a trusted hash value; (d) determine whether the current hash value is identical to the trusted hash value; and (e) allow execution of the BIOS instructions by the host processor in response to determining that the encrypted current hash value is identical to the trusted hash value.
US09742565B2
Provided are a method and system for backing up a private key in an electronic signature token, the method comprising: a first electronic signature token and a second electronic signature token negotiate an encryption strategy and a corresponding decryption strategy to use for communication therebetween; the first electronic signature token utilizes the encryption strategy to encrypt a request data packet and transmits the encrypted request data packet; the second electronic signature token decrypts the encrypted request data packet; the second electronic signature token utilizes the encryption strategy to encrypt a response data packet and transmits the encrypted responses data packet; and the first electronic signature token utilizes the decryption strategy to decrypt the response data packet, and acquires a private key from the response data packet.
US09742556B2
Searching for desired data within an encrypted set of data (using a fully homomorphic encryption) without decrypting the set of data. A lookup key is compared against a set of encrypted data, employing characteristics of the fully homomorphic encryption, to locate and return desired data correlated to the lookup key.
US09742553B2
A transmission apparatus includes: a first plug-in unit including: a clock generator to generate a first clock, a first frame-pulse generator to generate a first frame-pulse-signal based on the first clock; a detector to detect a phase-difference between a first phase of the first frame-pulse-signal and a second phase of a second frame-pulse-signal transmitted from other plug-in unit, and generate phase-difference information based on the phase-difference, and a first transmitter to transmit a control-signal including the phase-difference information to the other plug-in unit; and a second plug-in unit being the other plug-in unit, including: a receiver to receive the control-signal, a controller to control a phase of a second clock of the second plug-in unit, based on the phase-difference information, a second frame-pulse generator to generate the second frame-pulse-signal based on the second clock, and a second transmitter to transmit the second frame-pulse-signal to the first plug-in unit.
US09742544B2
The present invention relates to a transmission and receiving method and apparatus using a dynamically determined Inter-Frame Space (IFS) in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for processing a received frame by a Station (STA) in a WLAN may include receiving a first frame including downlink data for a plurality of STAs, if the received first frame has no error, transmitting a second frame including an ACKnowledgement (ACK) of the STA simultaneously with ACKs of one or more other STAs, and if the received first frame has an error, performing carrier sensing using a variably determined IFS.
US09742542B2
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for transmitting muting information in a wireless communication system, and to an apparatus and a method for acquiring channel state using same. In an exemplary embodiment, muting information includes: a first data field, having a serving cell for receiving from peripheral cells in a multi-cell environment, at least one of a CSI-RS pattern, the number of CSI-RS antenna ports, a CSI-RS duty cycle, and CSI-RS transmission subframe offset information, and using same for expressing the cycle and the offset of muting subframes, which pertain to information on a resource block that can generate interference between the peripheral cells and CSI-RS; and a second data field for expressing a specific muting pattern, which must be muted within the muting subframes, having either 12 bits or 28 bits that display muting application in a bitmap format.
US09742536B2
A base station includes a reference signal allocator that allocates a first layer of dedicated reference signals and a second layer of reference signals to the same resource elements in a first resource block. The reference signals are allocated to two adjacent resource elements corresponding to a first OFDM symbol and a second OFDM symbol on a first, second, and third subcarriers of the first resource block. The base station also includes a reference signal multiplexer that multiplexes the first layer with the second layer. A first cover code W1 is applied to the first layer. A second cover code W2, different from the first cover code, is applied to the second layer in a first and third subcarriers, and a variation of the second cover code W2′ is applied to the second layer in a second subcarrier.
US09742535B2
A method for performing virtualization of a radio access technology (RAT) over Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) wireless networks is provided. The method includes splitting OFDMA time-frequency resources into non-overlapping regions including a virtualization region including a part of a spectrum and the OFDMA symbols that are reserved for virtualization of the RAT; reserving resource elements of the OFDMA time-frequency resources in the virtualization region, for insertion of downlink reference signals including complex sequences known by a receiver to perform downlink channel estimation with a specified separation between signals in time and frequency domains; inserting training or pilot signals along the OFDMA time-frequency resources of the virtualization region; and mapping complex baseband symbols corresponding to information from the RAT into the OFDMA time-frequency resources of the virtualization region.
US09742532B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a system and a device for using a user equipment identity, and the method includes: the network side configures, for a user equipment performing carrier aggregation, the uniform Radio Network Temporary Identity (RNTI)(s) in the cell where the carrier aggregation is performed; the network side and the user equipment perform data reception and transmission using the uniform RNTI(s) configured in the cell where the carrier aggregation is performed. By the invention, a user equipment with carrier aggregation technology is able to perform the data reception and transmission with each cell using the RNTI(s).
US09742531B2
Embodiments for providing demodulation reference signals to provide side information for interference cancellation are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a sub-frame is prepared comprising two slots and configuring a physical resource block (PRB) for each slot, wherein each PRB comprises twelve Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers transmitting for a duration of 7 OFDM symbols per slot. In resource elements on each of three of twelve OFDM subcarriers, two pairs of demodulation reference signals (DMRS) are allocated to form three DMRS sets. Symbols are mapped with a first modulation for the two pairs of demodulation reference signals to three of the twelve OFDM subcarriers for transmission. A second modulation is added to a first of the three DMRS sets and a third modulation is added to a second of the three DMRS sets to indicate side information regarding an interfering signal for use in mitigating the interfering signal.
US09742526B2
A method to process applicable to coherent optical channels with either linear or nonlinear phase noise includes: splitting a received sequence of data into clusters of points according to a cumulative log-likelihood function from constellation obtained in a previous iteration; generating new constellation points by calculating a center of mass of the clusters of points; repeating until convergence or until a predetermined number of iterations has been reached to determine a signal constellation; and transmitting signals over the coherent optical channels with nonlinear phase noise using the disclosed signal constellation and LDPC-coded modulation concepts.
US09742518B2
A network capable of being used in a datacenter is described. In some embodiments, the network can comprise a set of optical fiber rings, wherein each optical fiber ring carries data traffic on one or more wavelengths, and wherein each optical fiber ring is partitioned into multiple sectors. A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) can be coupled to at least one optical fiber in each of at least two sectors. An electro-optical-switch can be coupled to each ROADM in each of the at least two sectors. A set of switches can be coupled to each electro-optical-switch in each of the at least two sectors. The set of switches can comprise a first layer of aggregation switches that is coupled to a second layer of edge switches, wherein the edge switches can be coupled to servers in a datacenter.
US09742514B2
The present patent application provides a method, an apparatus, and a system for generating a timestamp. The method includes: receiving, by a data packet processing unit, a data packet sent by a physical layer transceiver unit or an upper layer, and identifying whether the data packet is a precise time synchronization protocol PTP data packet, and if the data packet is a PTP data packet, generating, according to a physical layer delay provided by a physical layer delay acquiring unit and a non-physical layer delay provided by a non-physical layer delay acquiring unit, a precise timestamp and rewriting a timestamp field in the data packet.
US09742510B2
A packet detection method of a receiver estimates noise power based on received samples and an orthogonal sequence that is orthogonal to a preamble sequence of a transmitter. The method verifies whether a packet is present in a radio channel based on the noise power. Also provided is a transmitter that selects a preamble sequence, modulates a transmission packet, and transmits the modulated transmission packet for reception by such a receiver.
US09742503B2
An electronic device includes a signal sender that sends a pair of transmission signals of mutually opposite phases to an external device via a pair of transmission paths. The signal sender differentiates each amplitude of the pair of transmission signals.
US09742498B1
A PAM4 driver with at least 56 Gbps speed for driving a Mach-Zehnder modulator. The PAM4 driver is configured as 2-bit CMOS digital-to-analog convertor including a drive control module for receiving a pair of incoming differential digital data and generating a first processed reference signal and a second processed reference signal. The PAM4 driver further includes a mirrored buffer circuit to produce two sets of four voltage levels. Furthermore, the PAM4 driver includes a decoder module controlled by a switch bias control module configured to decode each of the two sets of four voltage levels for generating a first output signal and a complementary second out signal with 4 independently adjustable analog levels for driving the Mach-Zehnder modulator with close ended termination resistor.
US09742497B2
A semiconductor arrangement and a method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first layer including a first optical transceiver and a second layer including a second optical transceiver. A first serializer/deserializer (SerDes) is connected to the first optical transceiver and a second SerDes is connected to the second optical transceiver. The SerDes converts parallel data input into serial data output including a clock signal that the first transceiver transmits to the second transceiver. The semiconductor arrangement has a lower area penalty than traditional intra-layer communication arrangements that do not use optics for alignment, and mitigates alignment issues associated with conventional techniques.
US09742495B2
Disclosed are techniques for timing correction for a DOCSIS Edge-QAM. Unlike the DTI required at the headend in existing solutions for DOCSIS Edge-QAM timing, the disclosed techniques may use an Edge-QAM timing deeper in to the network. The N-QAM, referring to an Edge-QAM that is deeper in the network, may be in the optical node configured to convert signals from a network headend or hub for delivery to a subscriber network element. The N-QAM device located in the node may include a local clock for deriving a local time for incoming transport streams, modulating the transport streams onto a downstream carrier for delivery to subscriber network elements using the local clock time, and adjusting the local clock time based on an average value of timestamps in the incoming transport streams.
US09742494B2
A visible light communication method is provided that includes obtaining a first ID indicating a default interpolation ID previously stored in a receiver. The method also includes obtaining a second ID, by the receiver, through visible light communication with a light source, and generating a third ID, by the receiver, by combining the first ID and the second ID. The method further includes obtaining, by the receiver, information from a server using the third ID, which is a combination of the first ID and the second ID.
US09742490B1
Systems and methods for automatically managing the bandwidth requirements of application workloads may include learning the bandwidth requirements using historical data, predicting the required bandwidth for a time interval and provisions the services to deliver the appropriate bandwidth to the applications. Systems and methods for automatically managing the bandwidth requirements of application workloads may also include monitoring for the actual bandwidth requirements of the applications and adapt dynamically to changing requirements.
US09742487B2
Methods and systems for frequency generation may comprise in a low-noise block down-converter (LNB) comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a channel stacking switch (CSS): receiving a first satellite signal centered at a first frequency; receiving a second satellite signal centered at a second frequency; combining the first and second satellite signals to form a combined signal; the analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; providing the digital signal to the CSS; receiving a third satellite signal centered at a third frequency; receiving a fourth satellite signal centered at a fourth frequency; translating the third satellite signal to a fifth frequency, combining the translated third satellite signal with fourth satellite signals to form a second combined signal; a second analog-to-digital converter transforming the combined signal from an analog signal to a second digital signal; and providing the second digital signal to the CSS.
US09742471B1
One example discloses an apparatus for synchronization, including: a first wireless device, having a first device profile, a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) signal input and a wireless signal input; wherein the first wireless device is configured to, receive, through the wireless signal input, a first set of data; optimize the first set of data based on the first device profile; receive, through the NFMI signal input, a second set of data optimized for a second device profile of a second wireless device; and synchronize the first and second sets of optimized data based on a set of common data attributes.
US09742462B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving first electromagnetic waves via a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and inducing second electromagnetic waves at an interface of the transmission medium without the electrical return path. In an embodiment, the first and second electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09742456B2
Provided is a method and devices for sensing a flip cover including determining an angle of the flip cover. A Hall sensor may be included in a mobile terminal (or display terminal) and may include at least one Hall element for collecting a magnetic field intensity generated from a magnet of the flip cover.
US09742454B2
A method, an apparatus and a terminal for electromagnetic radiation conversion relates to the field of electromagnetic radiation protection technique, the method includes the steps of receiving a high frequency electromagnetic radiation by a high frequency receiving module, converting the high frequency electromagnetic radiation into a low frequency electromagnetic radiation by a frequency conversion module, and emitting, by a low frequency emission module, the low frequency electromagnetic radiation converted by the frequency conversion module. The method, apparatus and terminal for electromagnetic radiation conversion can be used to convert the harmful electromagnetic radiation emitted by the terminal into the electromagnetic radiation which benefits the human health and can also have a cosmetic effect.
US09742450B2
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for improving, in some examples, registration of radio frequency tags with a location system. Example embodiments may include a method for registering a participant with a radio frequency (RF) location tag. The method may include determining tag derived data from the one or more registered RF location tags, identifying at least one unregistered RF location tag, determining an identity of a participant for registration with the unregistered RF location tag based at least in part on the tag derived data from the one or more registered RF location tags, and registering the unregistered RF location tag with the participant.
US09742442B2
An accessory having an RF tuner for digital radio, such as HD radio, can be in communication with a media player such as a portable media device (“PMD”). The user can be given the ability to command the accessory to provide raw digital data, the ability to scan only for stations having digital audio content (or for all available stations), the ability to provide station lists of stations having digital audio content (or all available stations), and the ability to request and store metadata beyond that for stations actually being listened to provide enhanced search capabilities. Enhanced metadata and searching can provide the listener the ability to refine station choices without having to listen at length to any particular station, and further can facilitate tagging broadcast tracks for subsequent access and/or purchase.
US09742440B2
A method, apparatus, and chipset are provided for constructing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) rate-compatible polar codes for communication channels. The method includes constructing, in a terminal, a base polar code of length 2n; and determining a sequence of m<2n bits to puncture in the base polar code by testing a predetermined criterion at most (22n+2n)/2−1 times.
US09742434B1
Data compression/decompression methods and data compressor/de-compressor are provided. The data compression method includes the steps of scaling an input signal to generate a scaled signal; transmitting the scaled signal to a differentiator and an assembler; differentiating the scaled signal and a prior signal to generate a differentiation signal detecting zero bits of the differentiation signal to generate a zero range control signal and a zero range control word; refining the differentiation signal according to the zero range control signal to generate a refined signal; and determining to combine the zero range control word with the scaled signal or combine the zero range control word with the refined signal according to the zero range control word to generate a compressed signal.
US09742429B1
Superconductor analog-to-digital converters (ADC) offer high sensitivity and large dynamic range. One approach to increasing the dynamic range further is with a subranging architecture, whereby the output of a coarse ADC is converted back to analog and subtracted from the input signal, and the residue signal fed to a fine ADC for generation of additional significant bits. This also requires a high-gain broadband linear amplifier, which is not generally available within superconductor technology. In a preferred embodiment, a distributed digital fluxon amplifier is presented, which also integrates the functions of integration, filtering, and flux subtraction. A subranging ADC design provides two ADCs connected with the fluxon amplifier and subtractor circuitry that would provide a dynamic range extension by about 30-35 dB.
US09742425B2
A rotation detector detecting rotation of a rotor, based on a signal produced according to rotation of the rotor, having a waveform according to a rotational cycle thereof, includes a signal obtaining unit to obtain two signals having phases different from each other; a vector operating unit to determine a vector according to a rotational angle of the rotor, based on the two signals; and a rotation detecting unit to detect rotation of the rotor, based on the vector. The two signals are produced from two elements located at positions farthest in a rotational angle of the rotor among plural rotation detecting elements located at positions different from each other.
US09742420B2
An analog to digital converter (ADC) system that includes a first amplifier configured to amplify an analog input signal to produce an amplified direct current (DC) signal, an ADC configured to receive the amplified DC signal and convert the amplified DC signal into a digital DC signal, a digital to analog converter configured to receive the digital DC signal and convert the digital DC signal into an analog DC signal, and a second amplifier configured to receive an analog alternating current (AC) signal comprising the analog DC signal subtracted from the analog input signal and amplify the analog AC signal to produce an amplified AC signal. The ADC is further configured to receive the amplified AC signal and produce a digital AC signal. The second amplifier has a gain greater than a gain of the first amplifier.
US09742411B1
Various examples are provided for feedback control of power systems. The feedback control can provide simultaneous frequency regulation and economic operation of a power system. In one example, a method includes obtaining a frequency difference associated with a generator of a power system; determining an output power adjustment based at least in part upon the frequency difference and a cost function associated with the generator; and providing a power command to a secondary frequency control of the generator, the power command based upon the output power adjustment. In another example, a generator control system includes a primary frequency controller configured to control frequency droop of a generator of a power system; and a secondary frequency controller configured to adjust output power of the generator based at least in part upon a frequency difference associated with the generator and a cost function associated with the generator.
US09742404B2
A level shifter circuit with improved time response and a control method thereof are disclosed herein. The level shifter circuit includes the output stage circuit of a level shifter and a booster circuit. The output stage circuit of the level shifter includes a first pass switch configured to transfer a voltage level of the first power supply of the level shifter to an output node, and a second pass switch connected between a second power supply and the first pass switch. The booster circuit accelerates the switching operation of the level shifter by accelerating a time response during the turning on or off operation of the first pass switch using charge sharing between a first capacitor and the parasitic capacitance of the control node of the first pass switch, which occurs via a first switch.
US09742401B2
First and second p-type transistors are connected in series between an output terminal and a positive power terminal. First and second n-type transistors are connected in series between a node and a negative power terminal. A third p-type transistor is connected between a node and the positive power terminal. Third and fourth n-type transistors are connected in series between the output terminal and a low potential terminal. Fourth and fifth p-type transistors are connected in series between a node and the negative power terminal. A fifth n-type transistor is connected between a node and the negative power terminal. A high potential is outputted without leak current when the first to fifth p-type transistors are turned on and the first to fifth n-type transistors are turned off.
US09742400B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) switching circuit includes a plurality of series connected RF switch cells comprising a load path and a control node, a plurality of first gate resistors coupled between control nodes of adjacent RF switch cells, and an input resistor having a first end coupled to a control node of one of the plurality of RF switch cells and a second end configured to an output of a switch driver. Each of the plurality of series connected RF switch cells includes a switch transistor.
US09742390B2
A switch-mode DC converter configured to generate a converted voltage from an input voltage is provided. The switch-mode DC converter includes an inductor configured to store energy, and a switch coupled with the inductor at a switching node, wherein the switch is configurable to be turned on or off to control the discharging of the energy stored at the inductor to an output node of the converter, wherein the output node is configured to provide the converted voltage. The switch-mode DC converter also includes a circuit configured to control a timing of turning-off of the switch based on a voltage difference between the switch, wherein a measurement of the voltage difference is adjusted based on a voltage at the switching node.
US09742387B2
The present disclosure is applicable to electronic fields, and provides a voltage comparator. The voltage comparator includes a first branch, a second branch and a third branch. The first branch and the second branch both have self-biasing capabilities, and require no dedicated bias circuit. Under the same power voltage, the static power consumption of the voltage comparator is relatively low; fewer the power consuming branches exist in the circuit, and the reliability is high under low power consumption.
US09742386B2
Clock generation circuits including a single and multi-phase clock circuits are disclosed. A clock generation circuit is coupled to receive a first pulse on a first input and a second pulse on a second input. The first pulse may be generated responsive to a rising edge of an input clock signal, while the second pulse may be generated responsive to a falling edge of the input clock signal. Responsive to the first pulse, an output node of the clock generation circuit may be pulled high. Responsive to the second pulse, the output node may be pulled low. During those points in which neither pulse is asserted, a state element in the clock generation circuit may hold the output node to its most recent value. Using delay elements and multiple instances of the clock generation circuit and pulse generation circuits, a multi-phase clock generation circuit may be constructed.
US09742384B2
A comparator circuit includes a comparator, a first selection circuit, and a switched-capacitor circuit. The comparator has a first terminal, a second terminal, and an output terminal. The comparator is configured to generate an output signal at the output terminal based on a first signal on the first terminal and a second signal on the second terminal. The first selection circuit is coupled with the first terminal of the comparator and configured to selectively set a first input signal or a first calibration signal as the first signal in response to a control signal. The switched-capacitor circuit is coupled with the output terminal and the second terminal of the comparator. The switched-capacitor circuit is configured to adjust and output the second signal based on the output signal.
US09742376B2
An acoustic wave device includes: a substrate; a piezoelectric film located on the substrate; a lower electrode and an upper electrode facing each other across at least a part of the piezoelectric film; a silicon oxide film located at an opposite side of at least one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode from the piezoelectric film; a non-oxygen-containing insulating film located between the at least one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode and the silicon oxide film; and an additional film located at an opposite side of the silicon oxide film from the non-oxygen-containing insulating film and made of a material different from a material of the silicon oxide film.
US09742375B2
The present disclosure may include, for example, a tunable capacitor having a decoder for generating a plurality of control signals, and an array of tunable switched capacitors comprising a plurality of fixed capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches can be controlled by the plurality of control signals to manage a tunable range of reactance of the array of tunable switched capacitors. Additionally, the array of tunable switched capacitors is adapted to have non-uniform quality (Q) factors. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09742369B2
A compensation circuit includes an amplifier coupled between a first voltage terminal and a common terminal. The amplifier has a first output terminal. A current source transistor has a current path coupled between a second voltage terminal and a second output terminal. A threshold voltage sense transistor has a current path coupled between the first and second output terminals. A gate and drain of the threshold voltage sense transistor are connected. An output transistor having a current path coupled between the first output terminal and a third output terminal has a gate coupled to the second output terminal.
US09742368B2
A driver suitable for driving a power amplifier is provided. The driver includes a voltage buffer circuit and a voltage transforming circuit. The voltage buffer circuit receives an input signal, buffers the input signal, and outputs a first output signal. The voltage transforming circuit receives the first output signal and outputs a second output signal to the power amplifier, in which an equivalent inductance of the voltage transforming circuit and an input capacitance of the power amplifier are arranged to make the voltage buffer circuit have a voltage gain approximated to 1.
US09742362B2
In a semiconductor device, power consumption is reduced. Further, a standby circuit is formed of a few elements, and thus increase in the circuit area of the semiconductor device is prevented. The standby circuit provided in the semiconductor device is formed of only one transistor and voltage supplied to the transistor is switched, whereby output current of the semiconductor device is controlled. As a result, the output current of the semiconductor device in a standby state can be substantially zero, so that the power consumption can be reduced. By using an oxide semiconductor for a semiconductor layer of a transistor, leakage current can be suppressed as low as possible.
US09742360B2
A novel and useful linear, efficient, smart wideband CMOS hybrid power amplifier that combined an analog linear amplification path and a digital power amplification (DPA) path. PA path control logic analyzes the input I and Q signals and determines which amplification paths to steer the input I and Q signals to. The analog linear amplification path comprises digital to analog converters for both I and Q paths and one or more analog linear power amplifiers. The digital power amplification path comprises I and Q up-sampling circuits and I and Q RF DAC circuits (e.g., digital PA circuits). In operation, the PA path control logic compares the I and Q signals to thresholds (which may or may not be different) and based on the comparisons, selects one or more paths for the input I and Q signals. Whether the signals from the analog and digital amplification paths are to be combined or selected (i.e. switched), the PA path control circuit is operative to generate select (switch) control signals which are applied to summer/selector elements which generate the output of the hybrid PA.
US09742356B2
Power consumption of a signal processing circuit is reduced. Further, power consumption of a semiconductor device including the signal processing circuit is reduced. The signal processing circuit includes a reference voltage generation circuit, a voltage divider circuit, an operational amplifier, a bias circuit for supplying bias current to the operational amplifier, and first and second holding circuits. The first holding circuit is connected between the reference voltage generation circuit and the bias circuit. The second holding circuit is connected between the voltage divider circuit and a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. Reference voltage from the reference voltage generation circuit and reference voltage from the voltage divider circuit can be held in the first and second holding circuits, respectively, so that the reference voltage generation circuit can stop operating. Thus, power consumption of the reference voltage generation circuit can be reduced.
US09742355B2
A buffer circuit includes a first differential amplifier, second differential amplifier, third differential amplifier, and mixer. The first differential amplifier generates a positive differential signal and a negative differential signal based on an input signal and a reference voltage signal. The second differential amplifier generates a first signal based on the positive differential signal and the negative differential signal. The third differential amplifier generates a second signal having a different phase from the first signal based on the positive differential signal and the negative differential signal. The mixer outputs a signal, generated by mixing the first signal and the second signal, as an output signal.
US09742352B2
A voltage-controlled oscillator includes two first inductors having a common node, two varactors respectively coupled to the first inductors, a cross-connected pair coupled to the first inductors, and a reversely tunable source degeneration module coupled to the cross-connected pair. The reversely tunable source degeneration module cooperates with the cross-connected pair to form a negative equivalent capacitance seen into the cross-connected pair from the common node of cross-connected pair and each first inductor. An oscillatory signal pair is provided at the first terminals of the first and second transistors.
US09742349B2
A PV junction unit for joining a plurality of PV strings into a single string, comprising: a plurality of anode branch circuits; an anode busbar adapted to connect with an anode output end of each PV string via one corresponding anode branch circuit; a plurality of cathode branch circuits; a cathode busbar adapted to connect with a cathode output end of each PV string via one corresponding cathode branch circuit; resistors each of which is connected in series in one corresponding anode branch circuit connecting the anode output end of one corresponding PV string with the anode busbar, wherein each resistor has a theoretical resistance; voltage measuring devices each of which is connected in parallel with one corresponding resistor; and a processor connected with each of the voltage measuring devices, the processor configured to determine a current value in one PV string at least based on the theoretical resistance of the resistor in one anode branch circuit connected with the one PV string and based on a voltage value from the voltage measuring device in said one anode branch circuit connected with the one PV string.
US09742342B2
A motor driving apparatus includes: a switch having a first terminal that receives an external voltage, and a second terminal; a driving circuit coupled to the first terminal of the switch, and powered by the external voltage; a control circuit coupled to the second terminal of the switch; and a power circuit coupled across the switch, and outputting an internal voltage associated with the external voltage to power the control circuit to control the driving circuit to drive a motor of a power tool to rotate in a first direction when the switch operates in the ON state and to rotate in a second direction for a predetermined time period counting from each instance the switch transitions to the OFF state.
US09742340B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for controlling an inverter in an inverter system. The apparatus includes: a first determining unit to determine a magnitude, a phase and a frequency of an input voltage to an electric motor in the inverter system; and a second determining unit to determine a restart command voltage for generating an inverter driving voltage larger than a residual voltage in the electric motor using the magnitude of the input voltage determined by the first determining unit, when the inverter system is restarted.
US09742335B2
A multi-phase electric motor is proposed that comprises a rotor and a stator. The rotor has a number of magnets directed towards the stator and the stator includes a plurality of phase windings directed towards the magnets. The phase windings are connected to control units that are adapted to selectively apply a current to the phase windings to induce an electromagnetic force which acts upon the magnets to effect a rotation of the rotor. The motor comprises at least two control units, each being configured to control the supply of current to three phase windings such that a different phase current is supplied to each of the three phase windings with a phase shift between said different phase currents being 120°, and wherein no two control units utilize the same current phase. By distributing current over at least six phases and utilizing two or more control units operating as simple 3-phase motors, low voltage operation is enabled without the associated disadvantages of high winding currents, while control is simplified over conventional systems.
US09742334B2
Provided is an electric motor system for vehicles, which adjusts a coil winding number of a vehicle electric motor. The electric motor system for vehicles includes an inverter configured to include a power switching circuit connected to a vehicle battery in parallel and a coil switching circuit connected to the power switching circuit, wherein the coil switching circuit receives and outputs a driving current having different phases which is generated according to a switching operation of the power switching circuit, an electric motor configured to include a plurality of winding coils that receive the driving current and are wound at multi stages, and a controller configured to control a switching operation of the coil switching circuit to adjust a winding number of each of the plurality of winding coils to a maximum coil winding number by serially connecting all of the plurality of winding coils in a low speed driving mode and to adjust the winding number of each of the plurality of winding coils to a minimum coil winding number by serially connecting some of the plurality of winding coils in a high speed driving mode.
US09742326B2
A counter is started on the falling edge of a tach pulse. This counter counts to the rising edge of a second tach pulse, such as the next tach pulse. During the duration of the tach pulse the FPGA calculates the RPM of a motor. In this way, during each commutation period, a RPM is calculated. The present system performs a RPM calculation during each commutation period and/or tach pulse duration.
US09742324B2
In an integrated circuit formed into a single chip, a drive signal generating unit generates drive signals for switching elements of a power conversion circuit. A monitoring unit monitors a microcomputer that calculates generation information that is information used to generate the drive signals, and determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the microcomputer. An angle converting unit converts an output signal of an angle sensor to rotation angle information of a rotating electric machine. A drive signal generating unit generates the drive signals for controlling driving of the rotating electric machine based on the generation information and the rotation angle information when the monitoring unit determines that an abnormality has not occurred in the microcomputer, and generates the drive signals based on the rotation angle information, without using the generation information, when the monitoring unit determines that an abnormality has occurred in the microcomputer.
US09742322B2
A controller for controlling a brushless DC (BLDC) electric motor is described. The controller may include a hall control module and a timing module. The hall control module may be configured to receive inputs from three hall sensors, detect one of the three hall sensors has failed based on the received inputs, responsive to detecting that the one of the three hall sensors has failed, switch from a three hall sensors mode to a two hall sensors mode, and generate an output to control a plurality of switches to energize appropriate motor phase windings in the BLDC motor based at least in part on the two hall sensors mode. The timing module may be configured to detect a commutation time from the received inputs.
US09742320B2
A method for controlling a switched reluctance motor, the method comprising: receiving a reference torque Te ref; receiving an indication of a present rotor position θ for the switched reluctance motor; determining at least one of: a reference current ie_ref(k−1) for a (k−1)th phase, a reference current ie_ref(k) for a (k)th phase, and a reference current ie_ref(k+1) for a (k+1)th phase; and outputting the determined at least one reference current to a current controller operatively coupled to the switched reluctance motor, wherein the determined at least one reference current is based on an objective function comprising the squares of phase current and derivatives of current reference.
US09742314B2
An implantable device for harvesting in-vivo blood pressure fluctuations' energy to generate electrical power for powering medical implants while avoiding the need for external power sources.
US09742308B1
A pair of phase shifted polygon primary windings, each of which are magnetically coupled to one of a pair of forked wye output windings providing a phase shifted pseudo multiple pulse output voltage waveform from the secondary output windings.
US09742301B2
An electric power conversion device has a transformer, a DC-AC conversion circuit, an AC-DC conversion circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit calculates an input current instruction value (Iref) based on a difference value (ΔV) between an output voltage (Vout) of the AC-DC conversion circuit and an output voltage instruction value (Vref). A comparator compares an input current (Iin) of the DC-AC conversion circuit with the value (Iref). The DC-AC conversion circuit is controlled by the comparison result of the comparator. The control circuit correctly determines an occurrence of an abnormality state of the electric power conversion device based on the operation state of the comparator, the difference value (ΔV) between the output voltage (Vout) of the AC-DC conversion circuit and the output voltage instruction value (Vref), and the input voltage (Vin) of the DC-AC conversion circuit without using any output current of the AC-DC conversion circuit.
US09742299B2
A synchronous rectification controller is arranged on the secondary side of an insulated synchronous rectification DC/DC converter. The synchronous rectification controller controls a synchronous rectification transistor M. An automatic shutdown circuit judges, based on the voltage VDS across the synchronous rectification transistor, whether the operation mode of a primary-side controller is a burst mode or a non-burst mode. When judgment has been made that the operation mode is the burst mode, the automatic shutdown circuit instructs a driver to suspend the switching of the synchronous rectification transistor M.
US09742298B2
A transformer includes a first switch, a first winding, a second winding, a third winding, a first current direction control unit, a second current direction control unit and a loading capacitor. The first switch is coupled between the second winding and the third winding. The first winding is disposed at a primary side and coupled between an input voltage terminal and a first ground. The second winding is disposed at a secondary side and coupled between a second ground and the first switch. The third winding is disposed at the secondary side. The first current direction control unit is coupled between the second winding and an output voltage terminal. The second current direction control unit is coupled between the third winding and the output voltage terminal. The first switch is turned on for adjusting a winding ratio when the transformer is used to output a high voltage.
US09742296B2
The present invention provides a power conversion circuit system in which a circulating current can be reduced by accurately detecting the circulating current, to thereby improve efficiency in power conversion. The power conversion circuit system includes a power conversion circuit composed of a primary conversion circuit having left and right arms and a secondary conversion circuit having left and right arms, and a control circuit for controlling switching of switching transistors in the primary and secondary conversion circuits. The control circuit detects the circulating current at at least one of timings lagged by π/2+φ/2 from at least either a peak timing or a valley timing in a carrier counter where φ represents a difference in phase between the primary and secondary conversion circuits, and performs feedback control for reducing the detected circulating current to zero.
US09742294B2
A controller for use in a power converter includes an initialization circuit coupled to a sense terminal coupled to an external resistor to receive a sense voltage from external resistor during a startup mode of the power converter. The sense terminal is coupled to sense an output current of the power converter after the startup mode of the power converter is complete. A decoder circuit is coupled to receive the sense voltage from the initialization circuit during the startup mode of the power converter. The decoder circuit is coupled to sense a voltage across an external resistor during the startup mode of the power converter to determine a value of the external resistor to set an operating parameter of the power converter in response to the value of the external resistor.
US09742293B2
A power supply and a method of power supplying for converting an external alternating power into an output power with appropriate voltage and power are disclosed. The power supply includes an input charging unit, an input filtering unit, a regulating unit, a transformer, a controller, an output unit, an output capacitor, a switching unit and a feedback unit. The regulating unit is connected to the input filtering unit and comprises a regulating capacitor and a regulator connected in series. The regulator is controlled by the controller to perform one of the working modes including initial open circuit, power on conduction, short circuit normal operation and over-voltage open circuit protection. Therefore, the present invention overcomes the problem of inrush current upon powering on, and particularly, the controller performs digital operation with flexibility to meet actual requirements by updating appropriate firmware of software program.
US09742277B2
A switching converter includes a transistor arrangement having a plurality of n transistors, with n≧2, each including a gate terminal, and a load path between a source and a drain terminal, and at least m, with m≦n and m≧1 of the n transistors having a control terminal. The control terminal of each of the m transistors is configured to receive a control signal that adjusts an activation state of the transistor. The load paths of the plurality of n transistors are connected in parallel to form a load path of the transistor arrangement. A drive circuit is configured to adjust the activation state of the m transistors.
US09742275B2
A power conversion circuit includes a variable voltage converter (VVC) with a stabilizing means for stabilizing its output voltage. The stabilizing means can be in the form of a diode that clamps the VVC output voltage to the VVC input voltage so that the output voltage does not drop below the input voltage when a load imposes a sudden power demand. The stabilizing means also enables a bypass mode in which transient power can be provided from a power source to an inverter without current flow through the VVC inductor or switches. When embodied as a diode, the stabilizing means can increase the maximum power that can be transferred by the power conversion circuit, improve the power response of the circuit, minimize control instability, and reduce power losses.
US09742263B2
An automatic equalization method and apparatus for bus bar voltages of a Power Factor Correction (PFC) circuit. The method includes calculating a difference in voltages of a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar, and increasing the rotation speed of a fan in the PFC circuit according to the difference in voltages of the positive bus bar and the negative bus bar until the voltages of the positive and negative bus bars are equalized. The apparatus includes a voltage difference module configured to calculate a difference in voltages of a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar, and a rotation speed control module configured to increase a rotation speed of a fan in the PFC circuit according to the difference in voltages of the positive bus bar and the negative bus bar, until the voltages of the positive and negative bus bars are equalized.
US09742260B2
A method of initiating a grid-tied inverter is described, in which in-rush currents and DC overvoltage conditions are reduced or avoided. The method uses a pulse width modulator to drive the inverter under the control of a voltage feedforward signal such that the inverter output is dependent on the measured grid voltage. Then, an AC current feedback controller is enabled and the pulse width modulator is used to drive the inverter under the control of both the voltage feedforward control signal and the feedback control signal.
US09742257B2
A camera shake correction apparatus includes a target position setting unit, a current setting unit, a driving unit, a magnetic flux detector, and an arithmetic unit. The target position setting unit sets a target position of a movable member. The current setting unit sets a current value to move the movable member to the target position. The driving unit drives the movable member with respect to a fixed member based on the set current set value. The magnetic flux detector detects a magnetic flux value changed with movement of the movable member. The arithmetic unit calculates a third magnetic flux value by subtracting a second magnetic flux value estimated to be generated from the driving unit based on the current set value from a first magnetic flux value actually detected by the magnetic flux detector.
US09742254B1
Disclosed is an apparatus for generating linear vibration with a damper, which includes a housing having an inner space formed therein, a fixed body provided in the inner space and having a coil, a vibrating body having a magnet and a weight coaxially disposed with the coil and configured to move in a vertical direction on the basis of the fixed body, an elastic body configured to elastically support the vibrating body, a viscous fluid provided at an upper surface of the magnet and having viscosity, and a damper installed in the housing to face an upper surface of the vibrating body and configured to make a surface contact with the viscous fluid when the vibrating body moves upwards, the damper having a shape not making a surface contact with the entire viscous fluid simultaneously.
US09742253B2
The invention is intended for industry as component of cargo conveyors. In it the relevant commutation electronics is located outside the roller body. The invention provides that only four wires pass through the axial element for easy assembling, using four-terminal connectors. Roller (1) has a hollow body (3), in which an electric motor (4) is located, coupled to the body by driving and torque transferring (5). A cable (6) with terminals (7) from the coils (8) of the motor (4) and a first-potential terminal (9) powers the position sensors (10). Power to sensors is applied by first (9) and second-potential (12). The sensor signal terminals (11) are connected to a digital encoding device (17), powered by the first (9) and second (12) potential. This encoding device has one common encoded output (19) connected to the first potential terminal (9).
US09742252B2
An electricity generator using a six-segment rotating flux switch, a 2×2 switching sequence with four magnetic flux switch sites, and a unique magnetic circuit design, all of which together alternate the magnetic flux from a stationary permanent magnet through a stationary magnetic segment around which is wound a pickup coil thereby inducing electricity in the pickup coil. Both the vector direction and the scalar value of the magnetic flux are alternated within the stationary magnetic segment resulting in a high power output of AC electricity.
US09742250B2
Motor modules for multi-arm robot apparatus are described. The motor modules can be used individually or stacked and assembled to make up one-axis, 2-axis, 3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis, 6-axis motor assemblies, or more. One or more of the motor modules have a stator assembly including a stator received in the stator housing, and a rotor assembly abutting the stator assembly, the rotor assembly including a rotor housing, a drive shaft, a bearing assembly supporting the drive shaft, and a rotor coupled to the drive shaft. A vacuum barrier member is positioned between the rotor and the stator. Multi-axis motor drive assemblies, multi-axis robot apparatus, electronic device manufacturing systems, and methods of assembling drive assemblies are described, as are numerous other aspects.
US09742249B2
A method of fabricating an electric machine stator includes inserting one or more electrical coils into a form and partially curing the one or more electrical coils. The method also includes populating the electric machine stator with the one or more electrical coils and curing the electric machine stator with one or more electrical coils.
US09742240B2
A compact motor which avoids peeling and cracking of the circuit board wiring pattern upon bending the printed circuit board. A projecting part (13), projecting toward the bottom side of the bracket (5), is provided on the back surface (5c) of the bracket (5) of a compact motor. A board insertion groove (S) is formed between the projecting part (13) and the back surface (5c). The flexible printed circuit board (10), inserted inside the board insertion groove (S), abuts the projecting part (13) and is bent facing the back. When the printed circuit board (10) is inserted into the board insertion groove (S) and bent, the printed circuit board (10) is in a state abutting the curved part (13a) of the projecting part (13), so the curved part (13a) of the projecting part (13) regulates bending and, by doing this, stabilizes bending of the flexible printed circuit board (10).
US09742239B2
A base portion made of a metal includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a base portion through hole. An insulation sheet portion is located on the lower surface, and covers at least a portion of the base portion through hole. A lead wire is in contact with the insulation sheet portion. A spindle motor includes a first sealant located in the base portion through hole, and a second sealant which covers at least a portion of the base portion through hole. The first sealant has a coefficient of linear expansion greater than a coefficient of linear expansion of the base portion and smaller than a coefficient of linear expansion of the second sealant.
US09742232B2
A stator may comprise: a core having a tubular shape and comprising a tooth extending toward a central axis of the tubular shape; a conducting wire engaging part projecting from an axial end of the core in an axially outward direction from the core; and a coil disposed on the tooth by winding a conducting wire on the tooth. An end of the conducting wire may be bent at a bending portion. The conducting wire may engage with the conducting wire engaging part at the bending portion. A diameter of the conducting wire at the bending portion may be smaller than a diameter of the conducting wire at another portion of the conducting wire.
US09742228B2
An electric machine, such as an Internal Permanent magnet or Synchronous Reluctance machine, having X phases, that includes a stator assembly, having M slots, with a stator core and stator teeth, that is further configured with stator windings to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface that defines a cavity; and a rotor assembly, having N poles, disposed within the cavity which is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotor assembly includes a shaft, a rotor core located circumferentially around the shaft. The machine is configured such that a value k=M/(X*N) wherein k is a non-integer greater than about 1.3. The electric machine may alternatively, or additionally, include a non-uniformed gap between the exterior surface of the rotor spokes and the interior stator surface of the stator.
US09742227B2
An electric machine comprise a first carrier having an array of electromagnetic elements and a second carrier having electromagnetic elements defining magnetic poles, the second carrier being arranged to move relative to the first carrier. An airgap is provided between the first carrier and the second carrier. The electromagnetic elements of the first carrier include posts, with slots between the posts, one or more electric conductors in each slot, the posts of the first carrier having a post height in mm. The first carrier and the second carrier together define a size of the electric machine. The magnetic poles having a pole pitch in mm. The size of the motor, pole pitch and post height are selected to fall within a region in a space defined by size, pole pitch and post height that provides a benefit in terms of force or torque per weight per excitation level.
US09742222B1
A new resonance-based wireless power transfer system is disclosed. The new resonance-based wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter and a power receiver. The power transmitter and the power receiver are both oscillator-based circuits, but unlike prior systems, their resonant frequencies are different. The difference between the transmitter's resonant frequency and the receiver's resonant frequency is set between a lower bound and an upper bound to ensure that the new resonance-based wireless power transfer system will have only one oscillation frequency while maintaining high power transfer efficiency over varied distances.
US09742220B2
An auxiliary power supply device can include an auxiliary power source configured to provide auxiliary power. An auxiliary power state detection circuit electrically can be coupled to an input or an output of the auxiliary power source and an auxiliary power supply circuit that can be electrically coupled to the output of the auxiliary power source, where the auxiliary power supply circuit can be configured to provide the auxiliary power to a target system when power supplied to the target system by a main power source is abnormal. Related systems are also disclosed.
US09742218B2
A charging control unit is used in a system having an engine, an electric power generator, and a battery charged by electric power generated by the electric power generator and being capable of executing stop control for prohibiting the engine from restarting in a state where the engine is stopped. The charging control device is provided with a charging and discharging rate calculation unit calculating a charging and discharging rate, the charging and discharging rate being the ratio of the absolute value of a charging current integrated value of the battery to the absolute value of a discharging current integrated value of the battery following the full charging of the battery, a pre-charging execution unit allowing the execution of the stop control, charging the battery by the electric power generated by the electric power generator, and executing pre-charging for increasing the average remaining capacity of the battery, the pre-charging execution unit shortening a period during which the pre-charging is executed when the calculated charging and discharging rate is high, and a refresh charging execution unit executing refresh charging for charging the battery by the electric power generated by the electric power generator, without executing the stop control, after the execution of the pre-charging and allowing the battery to be fully charged.
US09742212B2
A wireless power receiver according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure may include a coil receiving power transmitted wirelessly in an inductive-coupling scheme; an electrode receiving power transmitted wirelessly in a capacitive-coupling scheme; and a rectifying unit connected to the coil and the electrode and rectifying input power to output supply power.
US09742209B2
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first circuit that is powered by a first supply voltage, and a second circuit that is powered by a second supply voltage. The second supply voltage has a lower level than the first supply voltage. The IC further includes a power management circuit. The power management circuit includes a switch-mode DC-DC regulator that is coupled to a plurality of pins of the IC in a pre-defined configuration. The power management circuit provides the first and second supply voltages to power up the IC in a default configuration without knowledge of the pre-defined configuration.
US09742208B2
A charging case for a plurality of headsets is disclosed. Each headset includes two headphone units connected together in opposing relationship along a diametric axis by a headband. Each headset contains a battery and a charge receiving circuit coupled to the battery. The charging case comprises a portable, cylindrically shaped carrying case and a charging station contained in the carrying case. The charging station includes a plurality of charging receptacles and a charge distribution circuit. The charging receptacles are disposed in a circular pattern about a center area and are configured to support the headsets, respectively, in an orientation where the diametric axes of the headsets are positioned radially in the circular pattern. The distribution circuit distributes electricity to the charging receptacles. At each receptacle electricity is transferred to the charge receiving circuit of a headset when the headset is in the receptacle, to charge the battery of the headset.
US09742201B2
A wireless power transmitting apparatus transmits an electric power signal comprising any one from among an electric field, a magnetic field, and an electromagnetic field to a wireless power receiving apparatus. A transmission antenna includes a transmission coil. An automatic tuning assist circuit is coupled in series with the transmission antenna. A power supply applies an AC driving voltage across both terminals of a series circuit that comprises the transmission antenna and the automatic tuning assist circuit. A first controller switches on and off multiple switches in synchronization with the driving voltage. A voltage monitoring unit monitors the voltage that develops at an auxiliary capacitor.
US09742200B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for avoiding magnetic power loss while providing alternating current through a ferromagnetic material. In one aspect, the ferromagnetic material includes at least one orifice. At least one electrical conduit extends through the at least one orifice from a first region on a first side of the ferromagnetic material to a second region on a second side of the ferromagnetic material, the second side opposite to the first side. The at least one electrical conduit is configured to have at least one alternating current flowing along the at least one electrical conduit between the first region and the second region. The ferromagnetic material and the at least one electrical conduit are configured to reduce power loss caused by a circumferential magnetic flux generated within the ferromagnetic material by the at least one alternating current.
US09742197B2
A method and apparatus for distributing power through a network (1), the network comprising consumer units (C1-C4) and provider units (P1-P6), the method comprising: for each provider unit (P1-P6), allocating some production capacity of that provider unit (P1-P6) to each consumer units (C1-C4) to which that provider unit (P1-P6) is connected, performing one or more times a process of performing steps (a) to (c); wherein step (a) comprises, for each consumer unit (C1-C4), generating a vector of resource requests, step (b) comprises, for each provider unit (P1-P6), determining whether it currently satisfies the requests made of it; and step (c) comprises, for each provider unit (P1-P6) which does not currently satisfy the requests made of it, updating the current production allocation; and from each provider unit (P1-P6) and dependant on the current production allocation of that provider unit (P1-P6), delivering to a consumer unit (C1-C4) an amount of resource.
US09742191B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a feed arrangement having a wind energy installation for feeding electrical power into an electrical supply system, comprising the following steps: generating electrical power using the wind energy installation from wind, feeding a first proportion of the generated electrical power into the electrical supply system, supplying a second proportion of the generated electrical power to an electrical consumer for consuming the supplied second proportion of the generated electrical power, and wherein, depending on at least one monitored system state and/or depending on the prevailing wind, the second proportion of the generated electrical power which is supplied to the consumer is reduced wholly or partially and the first proportion of the electrical power fed into the electrical supply system is increased correspondingly, and to a corresponding feed arrangement.
US09742187B2
A power supply circuit includes a protection circuit interconnected with an input voltage to the power supply. The protection circuit includes a detection circuit to detect whether a magnitude of the input voltage is below a defined threshold. The detection circuit comprises a plurality of detectors, each for detecting for a defined voltage waveform, whether its magnitude is below a defined threshold voltage. Logic interconnects the detection circuit to provide a control signal for inhibiting the power supply from providing said output voltage if the input voltage is below the defined threshold for that defined voltage waveform, as detected by the detection circuit.
US09742186B2
An electronic equipment item for an electronic system, comprising a housing, a backplane board, at least one daughterboard and at least one lightning protection board housed in the housing. A connector is fixed to the backplane board and configured to be connected to the rest of the electronic system. For each daughterboard there is provided one lightning protection board. For each lightning protection board, a first port is arranged to connect the lightning protection board to the backplane board, and a second port is arranged to connect the daughterboard to the lightning protection board.
US09742182B1
Embodiments are directed to apparatuses used with a computer-implemented method for controlling power flow to an electronic device, including: receiving a transmission from a service processing device, the transmission to trigger an open switch between the electronic device and a power supply; and causing an open switch to occur through use of an interlock mechanism. Embodiments provide a temperature-driven interlock mechanism and moisture-driven interlock mechanism.
US09742181B2
A method of handling a reclosing operation of a recloser in a power system subject to a fault. The method includes a) determining a fault current for each electrical phase, the fault current being determined by a difference between measured current values and a sinusoidal model of a current prior to the fault, bI) calculating a respective sinusoidal model of the fault current for each electrical phase using samples taken before the fault, bII) selecting two sinusoidal models with the largest amplitude to represent faulted electrical phases, bIII) calculating a plurality of sub-features based on the two models, and bIV) determining a main feature value based on the plurality of sub-features, bV) determining, based on the main feature value, whether a temporary fault is present, and c) providing control instructions that the recloser is to reclose in the event that the fault is a temporary fault.
US09742177B2
A seal assembly includes a circular resilient grommet-type seal having one or more through axial openings equal in number to the wires which pass through the seal and a rigid wire channel or guide which is received within a complementary pocket aligned with the seal between the seal and a reaction surface. The rigid wire channel or guide is retained in the pocket and carries any force exerted on the seal by pressure within the device to the aligned reaction surface. A method of installation includes the steps of mounting an electrical device within a component, routing the electrical wires leading from the device through an opening, routing the wires through corresponding openings in a grommet-type seal, pressing the seal into the opening, routing the wires through passageways in the rigid wire channel or guide and installing the guide in a complementary pocket which is aligned with the seal at one end and includes a reaction surface at the other end.
US09742176B2
An enclosure for breaking out a trunk cable includes: a base having a generally flat surface adapted for mounting to a mounting surface; a shell having a front and two side walls extending from opposite sides of the front and two opposed end walls, the side walls of the shell mounted to the base to form a cavity; a plurality of connectors mounted to each of the side walls; and a trunk cable routed into the cavity through one of the end walls, the trunk cable comprising a plurality of power conductors and/or a plurality of optical fibers. The power conductors and the optical fibers are connected with respective ones of the plurality of connectors.
US09742160B1
A multipoint spark plug includes side electrodes provided in a pair so as to extend in a lengthwise direction of a tip end portion via a gap, and an intermediate electrode provided in the gap between the pair of side electrodes such that a plurality of ignition gaps are formed in the lengthwise direction of the tip end portion. An electrode holding portion is formed from separate parts that hold the side electrodes and the intermediate electrode, respectively, so as to insulate the side electrodes and the intermediate electrode from the main body portion, and the respective parts thereof project into the combustion chamber from the tip end portion.
US09742153B1
A surface emitting laser may include an isolation layer including a first center portion and a first plurality of outer portions extending from the first center portion, and a metal layer including a second center portion and a second plurality of outer portions extending from the second center portion. The metal layer may be formed on the isolation layer such that a first outer portion, of the second plurality of outer portions, is formed over one of the first plurality of outer portions. The surface emitting laser may include a passivation layer including a plurality of openings. An opening may be formed over the first outer portion. The surface emitting laser may include a plurality of oxidation trenches. An oxidation trench may be positioned at least partially between the first outer portion and a second outer portion of the second plurality of outer portions.
US09742152B2
A tunable distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor laser based on a series mode or a series and parallel hybrid mode. A grating structure of the laser is a sampling Bragg grating based on the reconstruction-equivalent chirp technology. DFB lasers with different operating wavelengths based on the reconstruction-equivalent chirp technology are integrated together by a sampling series combination mode or a series/parallel hybrid mode, one of the lasers is selected to operate via a current, and the operating wavelength of the laser can be controlled by adjusting the current or the temperature, so that the continuous tuning of the operating wavelengths of the lasers can be realized. Various wavelength signals in parallel channels are coupled and then output from the same waveguide. An electrical isolation area (1-11) is adopted between lasers connected in series or lasers connected in series and connected in parallel to reduce the crosstalk between adjacent lasers.
US09742148B2
A tunable laser has a solid state laser medium having an optical gain region and generates coherent radiation through a facet. A lens collects the coherent radiation and generates a collimated light beam. Components of an external cavity include a reflective surface and an optical filter, the reflective surface reflecting the collimated beam back to the lens and the laser medium, the optical filter positioned between the reflective surface and the lens and having two surfaces with a thermally tunable optical transmission band within the optical gain region of the laser medium. The optical filter (1) transmits a predominant portion of the collimated beam at a desired wavelength of operation, and (2) specularly reflects a remaining portion of the collimated beam from each surface, the collimated beam being incident on the optical filter such that the reflected collimated beams propagate at a non-zero angle with respect to the incident collimated beam.
US09742146B2
Laser modules are provided having electrical connections that are resistant to damage caused by transient or higher order accelerations.
US09742145B1
A high-efficiency non-collinearly phase matched parametric oscillator is provided, wherein a laser pumps a nonlinear optical material with a plural number of flat reflection surfaces that zigzag at least one parametrically generated off-axis radiation about the pump laser beam axis via multiple reflections from the surfaces. The off-axis zigzag oscillation of the radiation establishes parametric oscillation and improves energy coupling among mixing waves in a monolithic nonlinear optical material. Preferably the pump laser has a transverse beam size covering the area of the zigzagging parametrically generated radiation. To further enhance the performance of the off-axis zigzag parametric oscillator, the other parametrically generated radiation can be seeded by an external laser source or resonated in a cavity. The present invention also includes a double-side pumped off-axis zigzag parametric oscillator installed inside a standing-wave pump-laser cavity.
US09742137B2
A system and method for additively manufacturing splices and terminations for extra high, high, medium and low voltage power cable includes providing an additive manufacturing machine having at least one print head. Cable ends can be secured within a chamber from which atmospheric air can be evacuated and replaced with non-oxidizing gas. A scanning device can determine the composition and position of the various constituents of the cable ends, from which information a controller can determine the printing sequence and print a termination or splice portion.
US09742121B2
An electric connector 1 has: terminals 20 that include connection portions 21 arranged on one surface of a fitting part 50 for connection with a counterpart connector; terminals 30 that include connection portions 31 arranged on a surface opposite to the one surface of the fitting part 50 for connection with the counterpart connector; a plate-like screen plate 10 that is interposed between the first connection portions 21 and the second connection portions 31 of the fitting part 50; and a housing 40 comprises a primary molded portion 41 in which the terminals 30 and the screen plate 10 are integrally provided by insert molding and a secondary molded portion 42 in which the primary molded portion 41 and the terminals 20 are integrally provided by insert molding 42.
US09742119B2
A plug connector assembly includes a bottom metallic shell having a lower wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall, and defining a receiving slot. The front wall has an inserting groove extending therethrough along a front-to-back direction and a mounting slit extending downwardly from a top edge of the front wall and communicating to the inserting groove. A top metallic shell assembled to the bottom metallic shell along a top-to-bottom direction has a plurality of side walls, an opening defined by the side walls, and a front wall extending downwardly from of the side walls and abutting against the front wall of the bottom metallic shell to seal the mounting slit. A printed circuit board (PCB) is located in the receiving slot and enclosed by the bottom and top shells. A connector connects with a top section of the PCB.
US09742118B2
An electrical connector comprises a body, a terminal positioning member provided at a rear end of the body and a first group of terminals mounted in terminal grooves of the body. The terminal positioning member comprises a first spacing rib and a second spacing rib. The first group of terminals comprises signal terminals and ground terminals. The signal terminals and the ground terminals each comprise a contact portion, a retaining portion and a tail portion, the retaining portion connecting the contact portion and the positioning portion, the positioning portion connecting the retaining portion and the tail portion. The first spacing rib extends between the positioning portions of the adjacent signal terminals, the second spacing rib extends between the positioning portion of the signal terminal and the positioning portion of the adjacent ground terminal and the first spacing rib is longer than the second spacing rib.
US09742110B2
An electronic device includes a plug-in module including a printed substrate on which an electronic circuit is mounted, and a baseplate to which the plug-in module is detachably connected, wherein a system side and a field side are connected with each other, and a predetermined option function is included in the plug-in module.
US09742091B2
A method and structure is provided for constructing elastomeric pin arrays using solder interconnects and a non-conductive medium. Pin to pin interconnects are constructed using a solder connection through a non-conductive medium. This structure eliminates the need for PCB structures as the medium, reducing manufacturing cost. In another embodiment one or more elastomeric columns extend through holes or openings in the non conductive medium. The elastomeric columns are fixed securely within the holes preferably with adhesive material. Compression stops are provided on both sides of each elastomeric column for both the upper and bottom surfaces of the non conductive medium.
US09742086B2
A printed wiring board (1) includes: a base substrate (3); a plurality of pads (15a, 17a) for electrical connection that are disposed at one surface side of the base substrate (3) and at a connection end portion (13) to be connected with another electronic component (50); wirings (9, 11) that are connected with the pads (15a, 17a); and engageable parts (28, 29) that are formed at side edge parts of the connection end portion (13) and are to be engaged with engagement parts (58) of the other electronic component (50) in the direction of disconnection. The flexible printed wiring board (1) further includes reinforcement layers (31, 32) that are disposed at the other surface side of the base substrate (3) and at a frontward side with respect to the engageable parts (28, 29) when viewed in the direction of connection with the other electronic component, and that are formed integrally with the wirings (9).
US09742085B2
In various embodiments, an affixing structure of a connector is configured to attach to an affixing structure interface of a portable electronic device that is configured to also couple to an attachment member. A connector plug including conductors coupled to an electrical conduit is coupled to the affixing structure. The conductors are configured to electrically connect to one or more electric components of the portable electronic device and the electrical conduit is configured to electrically connect to one or more diagnostic devices. In some embodiments, an attachment member may include one or more electronic components and spring pins or other conductors connectible to a wearable device. The attachment member additionally includes a connector operable to connect the wearable device to another electronic device.
US09742073B2
The application discloses a one or two dimensional array of electromagnetic scatterers n scatterers (ED), whereby the aforementioned scatterers (ED) are arranged aperiodically on a curved line or surface (S). Further, the application describes a reflectarray antenna comprising at least one such array of electromagnetic scatters (ED) and at least one receiving and/or transmitting feed (F), cooperating with said array to generate an antenna beam A method for designing and manufacturing sais array and said antenna is explained. The method optimizes in a several stages all degrees of freedom in order improve the performance of reflectarrays, increase the flexibility thereof and/or the conformity thereof with design specifications (radio pattern) and/or allowing said specifications to be satisfied with a smaller number of scatters.
US09742063B2
An antenna is provided. The antenna includes a substrate having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein a direction from the first end to the second end is an extending direction of the antenna; a radiating portion; a feed-in conductor; and a ground portion electrically connected to the radiating portion, coupled to the feed-in conductor, disposed on the substrate from the first end along the extending direction, and including a main ground conductor; and a high frequency band bandwidth adjusting conductor extended from the main ground conductor along the extending direction.
US09742056B2
An example electronic device may include an antenna module comprising an active element and a ground plane. The electronic device may include a proximity sensor element integrated within the antenna module, wherein the proximity sensor element is to detect proximity of a user.
US09742052B2
A device for transmitting millimeter-wave signals between a microstrip formed on a circuit board and a waveguide, characterized by a housing which is soldered onto the circuit board with the aid of solder contacts and which contains a signal line, which is connected to the microstrip via a soldered connection suitable for use at high frequencies, and which connects this microstrip to a coupling point for the millimeter-wave signals, the coupling point facing the waveguide.
US09742048B2
The invention provides a metal-air battery in which a metallic electrode can be smoothly inserted into a metal-air battery main body.The metal-air battery of the invention includes at least one cell. The cell includes an electrolytic tank that stores an electrolytic solution, a metallic electrode that is provided in the electrolytic tank and serves as an anode, at least one air electrode that serves as a cathode, an electrode insertion opening through which the metallic electrode is inserted into the electrolytic tank, and a position adjustment section. The position adjustment section is provided to adjust a position of the metallic electrode through contact between the metallic electrode and the position adjustment section during insertion of the metallic electrode into the electrolytic tank.
US09742046B2
Provided is a heating sheet for a battery module, including: a surface heating element; an insulating layer on one surface of the surface heating element; and an insulating adhesive layer on the other surface of the surface heating element, in which the area of the heating portion of the surface heating element is 40% to 90% of the entire area of the battery cell to which the surface heating element is attached. Also provided is a battery module including the heating sheet for a battery module and the battery cell, in which the area of the heated portion of the battery cell is 40% to 90% of the entire area of the battery cell.
US09742044B2
A battery cell, in particular a lithium-ion battery cell, includes a housing, at least two electrical storage elements and a conductive cooling sheet metal. The at least two storage elements and the conductive cooling sheet metal are situated in the housing.
US09742043B2
A battery pack temperature control structure is provided for an electric vehicle, and basically includes first and second battery modules, a temperature control unit and an air duct. The first and second battery modules are disposed inside a battery pack case. The second battery module has a lower height than the first battery module. The temperature control unit has an air blowing port for blowing a temperature control air to the first and second battery modules. The air duct is connected to the air blowing port of the temperature control unit, and has an air blowout opening arranged to blow out the temperature control air to a front of the first battery module at a location above the top of the second battery module. The air blowout opening-extends in a vehicle width direction and blows out the temperature control air toward the first battery module.
US09742041B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery system improved in output characteristics and/or storage characteristic while taking advantage of high energy density of a lithium ion secondary battery comprising a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material having an operating potential of 4.5 V or more relative to a lithium metal. The present invention relates to a battery system having a first battery consisting of a 5 V-level battery(s), a second battery consisting of a 4 V-level battery(s), and a control system.
US09742040B2
A sodium-sulfur battery according to the present invention is provided with a reservoir space 100 that retains and solidifies a high-temperature molten material having flowed out of a cell 4, in order to prevent the high-temperature molten material from leaking out of a casing 1, even when an accident occurs to generate the high-temperature molten material inside the casing. The reservoir space 100 can be formed along a perimeter of the casing 1, or alternatively, can be formed inside the casing 1. The reservoir space 100 includes, for example, a composite member 15 of a rigid member 11, a heat-insulating material 12, and a heat-resisting material 13.
US09742035B2
An exemplary electrochemical energy storage device includes: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material; and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution. The non-aqueous electrolytic solution includes an electrolyte salt represented by Li(XSO2NSO2Y) (where X and Y are any of F, CnF2n+1 and (CF2)m, and (CF2)m forms a cyclic imide anion), an organic solvent which is capable of dissolving the electrolyte salt, and a polyethylene glycol of which both terminals are not OH. The positive electrode active material includes a chloride of Cu, Bi or Ag, and the negative electrode active material includes lithium.
US09742034B2
The present invention discloses a new metal cyano-substituted benzimidazolide salt having formula (I) and its preparation. This new cyano-substituted benzimidazole derivatives exhibited excellent thermal stability. The organic salt of the present invention were soluble in an alkyl carbonate solvent, such as propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethylene carbonate (EC)/DMC cosolvent. The non-aqueous electrolyte prepared by mixing the organic metal salt of the present invention with the alkyl carbonate solvent shows high conductivity and excellent electrochemical stability. The non-aqueous electrolyte is suitable for use in primary or secondary rechargeable batteries.
US09742032B2
Provided are a novel compound, an electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery containing the same, and a lithium secondary battery containing the electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery according to the present invention. The electrolyte for a secondary battery according to the present invention may have significantly excellent high-temperature stability, low-temperature discharge capacity, and life cycle characteristics.
US09742024B2
A secondary battery including: spirally wound electrode body in which positive electrode and negative electrode are laminated via separator and spirally wound, wherein the positive electrode includes an inner circumference side positive electrode active material layer and an outer circumference side positive electrode active material layer while including a single side active material layer formation region, the ratio A/(A+B) of an area density A (mg/cm2) of the inner circumference side positive electrode active material layer and an area density B (mg/cm2) of the outer circumference side positive electrode active material layer, an inner diameter C (mm) of the coil opening portion, and the ratio D/E of a thickness D (μm) of the positive electrode and a thickness E (μm) of the positive electrode collector satisfy the relationship expressed in Formula 1, and a length F (mm) of the single side active material layer formation region satisfies the relationship expressed in Formula 2.
US09742018B2
An electrode comprises an acid treated, cathodically cycled carbon-comprising film or body. The carbon consists of single walled nanotubes (SWNTs), pyrolytic graphite, microcrystalline graphitic, any carbon that consists of more than 99% sp2 hybridized carbons, or any combination thereof. The electrode can be used in an electrochemical device functioning as an electrolyser for evolution of hydrogen or as a fuel cell for oxidation of hydrogen. The electrochemical device can be coupled as a secondary energy generator into a system with a primary energy generator that naturally undergoes generation fluctuations. During periods of high energy output, the primary source can power the electrochemical device to store energy as hydrogen, which can be consumed to generate electricity as the secondary source during low energy output by the primary source. Solar cells, wind turbines and water turbines can act as the primary energy source.
US09742017B2
The fuel cell (100) includes an oxidant flow plate (212), an adjacent cathode substrate layer (216) having a cathode catalyst (222), a matrix (224) for retaining a liquid electrolyte (230), wherein the matrix (224) is secured adjacent and between the cathode catalyst (222) and an anode catalyst (232). A first anode substrate (102) is secured adjacent the anode catalyst (232), and at least a second duplicate anode substrate layer (108) is secured adjacent the first anode substrate layer (102) for providing greater pore volume for storage of the liquid electrolyte (230) and to limit obstruction of the pore volume of the anode substrates (102, 108). The duplicate anode substrate layer (108) may be partially filled with the liquid electrolyte (230) at the beginning of life of the fuel cell (100).
US09741993B1
A battery terminal for an implantable battery is described. The battery terminal includes a foil stack, first and second side elements, and a weld joint coupling the foil stack and the side elements. The side elements define a varying height profile and a greatest height adjacent an inner surface of the side element in contact with the foil stack. Each element may define a height profile along the width that tapers toward an outer surface, biasing mass of the element close to the foil stack.
US09741989B2
Disclosed is a polyolefin microporous membrane including a multilayer film having two or more layers. In this polyolefin microporous membrane, at least one surface layer has a thickness of not less than 0.2 μm but not more than 5 μm and contains inorganic particles, while at least one layer contains a polyethylene and has an air permeability of not less than 50 second/100 cc but not more than 1000 second/100 cc and a puncture strength of not less than 3.0 N/20 μm.
US09741988B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a separator including a base material and a heat resistance layer formed on at least one main surface of the base material and containing inorganic particles and a resin binder. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery further includes an electrode composite material layer stacked on the heat resistance layer and containing electrode active material particles and an interposed layer interposed between the heat resistance layer and the electrode composite material layer. In the interposed layer, the inorganic particles, the resin binder, and the electrode active material particles are present as being mixed. A ratio of a thickness of the interposed layer to a thickness of the base material is not lower than 1% and not higher than 5%.
US09741977B2
A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including first electrodes; separators; and second electrodes, wherein the first electrodes, separators, and second electrodes are laminated together and are fixed by a fixing portion at one side; a case, which is flexible, accommodating the electrode assembly, and pressure-adjusted after sealing; a marginal region between a free end of the electrode assembly and an inside surface of the case; and a spacing portion at the marginal region midway along the case, the spacing portion having a space that is narrower than a case thickness, the spacing portion accommodating changes in a length of the free end of the electrode assembly.
US09741974B2
Disclosed herein is a battery cell configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly, including positive electrodes, negative electrodes, and separators disposed respectively between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes, is mounted in a battery case made of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer, wherein the battery case is made of a one-unit member, which is bent to form an upper case and a lower case, at least one of the upper and lower cases is provided with a receiving part, in which the electrode assembly is mounted, the receiving part having a round corner formed at at least one side edge thereof, and sealed portions, which are formed at the upper case and the lower case by thermal welding, are located at an upper side of the battery case at which at least one electrode terminal is located, a first lateral side of the battery case adjacent to the upper side, and a lower side of the battery case opposite to the upper side, and a second lateral side of the battery case adjacent to the upper side is formed by a bent structure of the battery case.
US09741973B2
A display device and a method for manufacturing the same, the display device including a substrate that includes a first area and a second area; a first pixel electrode on the first area of the substrate; a first organic layer on the first pixel electrode, the organic layer including a first light emitting layer; a first counter electrode on the first organic layer; an auxiliary layer on the first counter electrode at the first area of the substrate; a second pixel electrode on the second area of the substrate; a second organic layer on the second pixel electrode, the second organic layer including a second light emitting layer; a second counter electrode on the second organic layer; and an upper reflective layer on the second counter electrode at the second area of the substrate.
US09741971B2
A method for manufacturing a flexible display device by forming a flexible base substrate on a carrier substrate, the flexible base substrate having a display region and a non-display region, forming a display unit comprising a plurality of pixels at the display region, separating the flexible base substrate from the carrier substrate, forming an adhesive layer under the flexible base substrate, forming a flexible carrier film under the adhesive layer, forming a pressed region of the adhesive layer by partially pressing the adhesive layer, and mounting a driving circuit at a portion of the non-display region overlapping the pressed region.
US09741970B2
A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display includes forming a first light-emitting layer on a substrate, forming a first portion of a second light-emitting layer on the first light-emitting layer, forming a third light-emitting layer on the first light-emitting layer, and forming a second portion of the second light-emitting layer on the first portion of the second light-emitting layer.
US09741969B2
A carrier generation material is provided, which has a chemical structure of: wherein R1 is hydrogen or alkyl group; each of R2 is independently hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, or alkyl group; each of R3 is independently hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, or alkyl group; R4 is hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, or alkyl group; R5 is hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, or alkyl group; R6 is ═O, ═NH, or malononitrile group, and R7 is hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, or alkyl group.
US09741967B2
A light-emitting panel includes at least a first and a second light-emitting elements, each light-emitting element having, between a reflective film and a semi-transmissive/semi-reflective film, a layer including an optical adjustment layer and a light-emitting organic compound. One of the light-emitting elements further includes a layer transmitting red light provided over the corresponding semi-transmissive/semi-reflective film. The layer having the organic compound emits light having a wavelength between 600 nm and 800 nm, and light having a wavelength between 400 nm and 600 nm. The distance between the reflective film and the semi-transmissive/semi-reflective film in one of and the other one of the light-emitting elements are N/2 (where N is a natural number) of a length between 600 nm and 800 nm, and N/2 of a length between 400 nm and 600 nm, respectively. The light-emitting panel might further include a third and a fourth light-emitting elements
US09741966B2
Methods and apparatus for encapsulating organic light emitting diode (OLED) structures disposed on a substrate using a hybrid layer of material are provided. The encapsulation methods may be performed as single or multiple chamber processes. The processing parameters used during deposition of the hybrid layer of material allow control of the characteristics of the deposited hybrid layer. The hybrid layer may be deposited such that the layer has characteristics of an inorganic material in some sublayers of the hybrid layer and characteristics of an organic material in other sublayers of the hybrid layer. Use of the hybrid material allows OLED encapsulation using a single hard mask for the complete encapsulating process with low cost and without alignment issues present in conventional processes.
US09741960B2
A flat panel display device is provided. The flat panel display device includes: a display unit on a substrate; and a sealing structure on the substrate covering the display unit to seal the display unit, the sealing structure including at least one first layer including an inorganic material and at least one second layer including an organic material. The sealing structure includes at least one micro gap, and the micro gap includes an identification material including a fluorescent substance or a dye.
US09741956B2
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) apparatus includes at least one OLED illumination module, a driving unit, an optical sensing module, a control unit, and a storage unit. The driving unit is configured to adjust voltage applied to the OLED illumination module, so as to change a CCT of the OLED illumination module. The optical sensing module is configured to sense the light emitted by the OLED illumination module. The control unit is configured to receive a feedback signal from the optical sensing module so as to adjust a light intensity and the CCT of the OLED illumination module. The storage unit is configured to store photoelectric parameter data of the OLED illumination module. The control unit is configured to adjust the CCT and the light intensity of the OLED illumination module to target values according to the photoelectric parameter data.
US09741951B2
Provided are a substrate for an organic electronic device (OED) and a use thereof. Provided is a substrate for a device having excellent durability by preventing interlayer delamination occurring due to internal stress in a structure in which an organic material and an inorganic material are mixed. In addition, provided is an OED having another required physical property such as excellent light extraction efficiency using the substrate, as well as the excellent durability.
US09741943B2
A fused fluoranthene compound which includes an indeno[3,2-b]fluoranthene skeleton having a hetero atom is a novel compound, which is useful as a material for organic electroluminescence devices for use in an organic electroluminescence device and an electronic equipment.
US09741941B2
A compound that has the structure according to Formula 1: as well as, devices and formulations containing the compound of Formula 1 are disclosed. In the compound of Formula 1: X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, and X6 are independently selected from the group consisting of C—R and N; each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof; and at least one R comprises a donor group with at least two electron donating nitrogens.
US09741940B2
The thiadiazole represented by formula (2) or (4), when used as a light-emitting material in a light-emitting element, allows the light-emitting element to emit near-infrared light: wherein in formulae (2) and (4), each R independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. There may be a ring formed by a carbon linkage between two adjacent R's.
US09741938B2
An aromatic amine derivative represented by the following formula (1) wherein at least one of Ar1 to Ar4 is a heterocyclic group represented by the following formula (2) wherein X1 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
US09741933B2
The present invention provides a method for repairing an organic EL element and a method for manufacturing an organic EL panel that can reduce a production cycle time. A method for repairing an organic EL element includes an application step of repeatedly applying a pulse voltage having ON-period and OFF-period to an organic EL element. In the application step, the pulse voltage is a forward voltage or a reverse voltage, and the ON-period is equal to or longer than a time constant that is the product of an element capacity of the organic EL element and a wiring resistance including the element.
US09741932B2
A vapor deposition device (50) disclosed, a partition wall (26) standing between film formation regions on a film formation substrate (200), includes: a mask unit (80) including a shadow mask (81) and a vapor deposition source (85) fixed in position relative to each other; contacting means for bringing the film formation substrate (200) and the shadow mask (81) into contact with each other at the partition wall (26); and moving means for moving at least a first one of the mask unit (80) and the film formation substrate (200) relative to a second one thereof in a state in which the contact caused by the contacting means is kept.
US09741931B1
A semiconductor integrated circuit device may include a first signal line, a second signal line, a variable resistance material layer, and a third signal line. The second signal line may be positioned coplanar with the first signal line. The second signal line may be parallel to the first signal line. The variable resistance material layer may include a horizontal region arranged on the first and second signal lines, and may include a vertical region extending upwardly from an end of the horizontal region. The third signal line may be positioned on a plane different from a plane on which the first and second signal lines may be positioned. The third signal line may be arranged on an end of the vertical region of the variable resistance material layer.
US09741920B1
Superconducting integrated circuits require several wiring layers to distribute bias and signals across the circuit, which must cross each other both with and without contacts. All wiring lines and contacts must be fully superconducting, and in the prior art each wiring layer comprises a single metallic thin film. An alternative wiring layer is disclosed that comprises sequential layers of two or more different metals. Such a multi-metallic wiring layer may offer improved resistance to impurity diffusion, better surface passivation, and/or reduction of stress, beyond that which is attainable with a single-metallic wiring layer. The resulting process leads to improved margin and yield in an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions. Several preferred embodiments are disclosed, for both planarized and non-planarized processes. These preferred and other methods may be applied to digital circuits based on Rapid Single Flux Quantum logic, and to quantum computing using Josephson junction qubits.
US09741919B2
A nano-scale superconducting quantum interference device and a manufacturing method thereof, comprising the following steps of: S1: providing a substrate and growing a first superconducting material layer thereon; S2: forming a photo-resist layer and performing patterning; S3: etching the first superconducting material layer in a predetermined region; S4: covering a layer of insulation material on a top and a side of a structure obtained in step S3; S5: growing a second superconducting material layer; S6: removing the structure above the plane where the upper surface of the first superconducting material layer locates, to obtain a plane superconducting structure, in the middle of which at least one insulating interlayer is inserted; S7: forming at least one nanowire vertical to the insulating interlayer, to obtain the nano-scale superconducting quantum interference device. The width of the superconducting ring and the length of the nano junction are determined by the insulating interlayer.
US09741914B2
Disclosed are a lens for a light-emitting device usable in a display apparatus or a lighting apparatus, and a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device package. The lens may include a lens body including a light-receiving portion provided in a lower surface of the lens body, a light-emitting portion provided on an upper surface of the lens body, and a recess provided at a center of the upper surface of the lens body, and a flat portion provided in a horizontal shape on a bottom surface of the recess perpendicularly to a main emission line of light emitted from a light-emitting device to emit at least a part of light received through the light-receiving portion, upward. A diameter of the flat portion may be 1/100 to 1/10 of an inlet diameter of the light-receiving portion.
US09741912B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor layer sequence and a carrier substrate. A first and a second electrical contact layer are arranged at least regionally between the carrier substrate and the semiconductor layer sequence and are electrically insulated from each other by an electrically insulating layer. A mirror layer is arranged between the semiconductor layer sequence and the carrier substrate. The semiconductor chip comprises a transparent encapsulation layer covering side surfaces of the semiconductor layer sequence, side surfaces of the mirror layer and side surfaces of the electrically insulating layer facing towards the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip.
US09741906B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, electronic devices feature a polymeric binder, a frame defining an aperture therethrough, and a semiconductor die (e.g., a light-emitting or a light-detecting element) suspended in the binder and within the aperture of the frame.
US09741905B2
An optoelectronic element includes an optoelectronic unit, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a conductive layer and a transparent structure. The optoelectronic unit has a central line in a top view, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The second metal layer is formed on the top surface, and has an extension portion crossing over the central line and extending to the first metal layer. The conductive layer covers the first metal layer and the extension portion. The transparent structure covers the bottom surface without covering the top surface.
US09741902B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip is disclosed. In an embodiment the optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor body of semiconductor material, a p-contact layer and an n-contact layer. The semiconductor body includes an active layer intended for generating radiation. The semiconductor body includes a p-side and an n-side, between which the active layer is arranged. The p-contact layer is intended for electrical contacting the p-side. The n-contact layer is intended for electrical contacting the n-side 1b. The n-contact layer contains a TCO layer and a mirror layer, the TCO-layer being arranged between the n-side of the semiconductor body and the mirror layer.
US09741900B2
A nitride semiconductor light emitting element 1 includes a second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer which is formed above a first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer, a first electrode 17a which is formed on a first region of the second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer with a first current non-injection layer 13a in between, a first current diffusing layer 14a which is formed between the first current non-injection layer 13a and the first electrode 17a, a second electrode 17b which is formed on a second region of the second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer with a second current non-injection layer 13b in between, a second current diffusing layer 14b which is formed on the second region and on the second current non-injection layer 13b, and an extending portion 17c which extends from the first electrode 17a and reaches the exposed first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer.
US09741899B2
An interface including roughness components for improving the propagation of radiation through the interface is provided. The interface includes a first profiled surface of a first layer comprising a set of large roughness components providing a first variation of the first profiled surface having a first characteristic scale and a second profiled surface of a second layer comprising a set of small roughness components providing a second variation of the second profiled surface having a second characteristic scale. The first characteristic scale is approximately an order of magnitude larger than the second characteristic scale. The surfaces can be bonded together using a bonding material, and a filler material also can be present in the interface.
US09741897B2
A method for fabrication a light emitting diode (LED) includes forming alternating material layers on an LED structure, formed on a substrate, to form a reflector on a back side opposite the substrate. A handle substrate is adhered to a stressor layer deposited on the reflector. The LED structure is separated from the substrate using a spalling process to expose a front side of the LED structure.
US09741896B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device including a P-type semiconductor cladding layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a hole injection layer is provided. The P-type semiconductor cladding layer is doped with magnesium. The light-emitting layer is disposed between the P-type semiconductor cladding layer and the N-type semiconductor layer. The hole injection layer is disposed between the P-type semiconductor cladding layer and the light-emitting layer. The hole injection layer includes a first super lattice structure formed by alternately stacking a plurality of magnesium nitride layers and a plurality of semiconductor material layers. The chemical formula of each of the semiconductor material layers is AlxInyGa1-x-yN, and 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, and 0≦x+y≦1.
US09741892B2
A solar cell module production method involves applying an adhesive on a light-receiving surface and a rear surface of a solar cell having electrodes on the light-receiving surface and the rear surface, and positioning and attaching a wiring material on the adhesive. Specifically, the solar cell, which is positioned with the light-receiving surface facing upward, is inverted so that the rear surface is facing upward, and the adhesive is applied on the rear surface; and then the solar cell is inverted once again so that the light-receiving surface is facing upward, and the adhesive is applied to the light-receiving surface.
US09741888B2
A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
US09741887B2
A solar cell module is discussed, which includes a plurality of strings each including a plurality of solar cells, which are connected in series to one another through an interconnector, a front transparent substrate disposed on front surfaces of the plurality of strings, a first encapsulant disposed between the front transparent substrate and the front surfaces of the plurality of strings, a first reflector disposed in a first space between the plurality of solar cells included in each string, which are separated from one another in a first direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of each string, and a second reflector disposed in a second space between the plurality of strings, which are separated from one another in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second reflectors reflect incident light.
US09741886B2
A flexible, CPV array having high incident light conversion efficiency, the CPV array comprising: a reflective surface; a plurality of photovoltaic cells configurable to collect radiation from the reflective surface; a concentrating lens (optics) configurable to concentrate the incident light onto the reflective surface and onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and a conductor adapted to conduct electricity and heat from the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the CPV array is exposed to incident solar radiation to generate electricity without an incident solar tracking mechanism.
US09741882B2
A tandem junction photovoltaic cell has a first p-n junction with a first energy band gap, and a second p-n junction with a second energy band gap less than the first energy band gap. The junctions are separated by a quantum tunneling junction. The first p-n junction captures higher energy photons and allows lower energy photons to pass through and be captured by the second p-n junction. Quantum dots positioned within the first p-n junction promote quantum tunneling of charge carriers to increase the current generated by the first p-n junction and match the current of the second p-n junction for greater efficiency.
US09741881B2
A photovoltaic module and its manufacturing method. The module includes a first support wafer made of sintered silicon and a second layer of single-crystal silicon.
US09741877B2
A composition for solar cell electrodes, the composition including silver (Ag) powder; a glass frit; an organic binder; and a solvent, the organic binder including a compound containing a repeat unit represented by Formula 1: wherein R1 is Na+, K+, NH4+, or PH3+; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C2 alkyl group; and n is an integer of 1 to 3,500.
US09741868B2
The present disclosure relates to a self-aligned split gate memory cell, and an associated method. The self-aligned split gate memory cell has a memory gate with a flat top surface. A memory gate spacer is arranged directly above the memory gate having a lateral dimension smaller than that of the memory gate. The memory gate spacer has an inner sidewall disposed along an upper portion of a charge trapping layer and an outer sidewall recessed back laterally relative to an outer sidewall of the memory gate. In some embodiments, a dielectric liner is continuously lined the outer sidewall of the memory gate, extending on a portion of the top surface of the memory gate not covered by the memory gate spacer, and extending upwardly along the outer sidewall of the memory gate spacer.
US09741860B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film which includes oxidized material containing silicon and covers the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film provided to be in contact with the gate insulating film and overlap with at least the gate electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film. In the oxide semiconductor film, a first region which is provided to be in contact with the gate insulating film and have a thickness less than or equal to 5 nm has a silicon concentration lower than or equal to 1.0 at. %, and a region in the oxide semiconductor film other than the first region has lower silicon concentration than the first region. At least the first region includes a crystal portion.
US09741857B2
New, distinct, and useful architectures for single-legged SOI-MOS were established and fabricated for the very first time. They incorporated into their architectures an innovative new configuration to wire the device Body to the Body-Tied-Source. This new configuration drastically increased the conductance between the Body and the Body-Tied-Source. This consequently allowed these devices to effectively support much higher operating biases. Same configuration also functioned on structures with very large peripheries. These gave proportional increase in this same conductivity, and for same area-efficiency, with the increase of their peripheries to accommodate higher currents. The functional model that governs this proportional scaling in these new architectures for single-legged SOI-MOS devices was established and is being claimed through this patent for the very first time. Through it, single-legged SOI-MOS devices will efficiently scale to area-efficient ultra large peripheries with minimal hits to their bandwidth.
US09741855B2
Semiconductor devices including a stressor in a recess and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a fast etching region comprising phosphorous in an active region and forming a first trench in the active region by recessing the fast etching region. The methods may also include forming a second trench in the active region by enlarging the first trench using a directional etch process and forming a stressor in the second trench. The second trench may include a notched portion of the active region.
US09741852B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure is provided. The manufacturing method of the semiconductor structure includes the following steps: providing a substrate; forming a gate structure on the substrate; forming a recess in the substrate at a lateral side of the gate structure; performing a pre-bake process at a temperature of 740-840° C. and under a pressure of equal to or higher than 150 torr; and forming an epitaxial buffer layer in the recess.
US09741849B1
Integrated circuits and methods of producing such integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a heavily doped source area having conductivity determining impurities at a heavily doped source concentration and a lightly doped drain area having conductivity determining impurities at a lightly doped drain concentration less than the heavily doped source concentration. A drain conductor directly contacts the lightly doped drain area, and a channel is positioned between the heavily doped source area and the lightly doped drain area. A gate overlies the channel.
US09741845B2
A device and a method for forming a device are disclosed. The device includes a substrate with a high voltage (HV) device region. The HV device region is defined with first and second device isolation regions and an internal dielectric region which are shallow trench isolation (STI) regions. A HV transistor is disposed in the HV device region. The HV transistor includes a gate dielectric layer on the substrate, a gate disposed on the gate dielectric layer, and a source region disposed in the substrate adjacent to the gate and first device isolation region while a drain region disposed in the substrate adjacent to the second device isolation region. A drift well and a body well are disposed in the substrate. At least one buried RESURF region is disposed under the internal dielectric region.
US09741842B2
A power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a substrate, a drift layer over the substrate, and a spreading layer over the drift layer. The spreading layer includes a pair of junction implants separated by a junction gate field effect (JFET) region. A gate oxide layer is on top of the spreading layer. The gate contact is on top of the gate oxide layer. Each one of the source contacts are on a portion of the spreading layer separate from the gate oxide layer and the gate contact. The drain contact is on the surface of the substrate opposite the drift layer.
US09741840B1
An electronic device can include a lower channel layer, an upper channel layer overlying the lower channel layer and having an opening extending through the upper channel layer. The electronic device can further include an insulator within the opening; and a gate electrode extending into the opening, wherein the insulator is disposed between the gate electrode and the second channel layer. A double channel transistor can include the lower and upper channel layers and the gate electrode. In a further embodiment, a conductive member can be used to electrically short the channel layers near the gate electrode. In an embodiment, the transistor can be enhancement-mode transistor. A process can include forming the insulator such that it is in the form of a sidewall spacer or as an insulating layer along the sidewall and bottom of the opening through the upper channel layer.
US09741832B2
Tunneling field effect transistors (TFETs) including a variable bandgap channel are described. In some embodiments, one or more bandgap characteristics of the variable bandgap channel may be dynamically altered by at least one of the application or withdrawal of a force, such as a voltage or electric field. In some embodiments the variable bandgap channel may be configured to modulate from an ON to an OFF state and vice versa in response to the application and/or withdrawal of a force. The variable bandgap channel may exhibit a bandgap that is smaller in the ON state than in the OFF state. As a result, the TFETs may exhibit one or more of relatively high on current, relatively low off current, and sub-threshold swing below 60 mV/decade.
US09741829B2
A semiconductor device comprises a fin structure disposed over a substrate; a gate structure disposed over part of the fin structure; a source/drain structure, which includes part of the fin structure not covered by the gate structure; an interlayer dielectric layer formed over the fin structure, the gate structure, and the source/drain structure; a contact hole formed in the interlayer dielectric layer; and a contact material disposed in the contact hole. The fin structure extends in a first direction and includes an upper layer, wherein a part of the upper layer is exposed from an isolation insulating layer. The gate structure extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The contact material includes a silicon phosphide layer and a metal layer.
US09741827B2
An etchant composition is provided comprising a persulfate from 0.5 to 20 wt %; a fluoride compound from 0.01 to 2 wt %; an inorganic acid from 1 to 10 wt %; a N (nitrogen atom)-containing heterocyclic compound from 0.5 to 5 wt %; a chloride compound from 0.1 to 5 wt %; a copper salt from 0.05 to 3 wt %; an organic acid or an organic acid salt from 0.1 to 10 wt %; an electron-donating compound from at 0.1 to 5 wt %; and a solvent of the residual amount. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a display device by using the same.
US09741822B1
A semiconductor device and method of making the same wherein the semiconductor device includes a pFET region including a SiGe channel having a Si-rich top surface within the gate portion, and an nFET region including a Si channel. The method includes subjecting both the pFET and nFET regions to a single high-temperature anneal process thereby avoiding the need for an additional spike anneal process at RMG module.
US09741818B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure for improving quality of an epitaxial layer is provided in the present invention. The manufacturing method includes the following steps. A gate structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and two lightly doped regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate at two sides of the gate structure. A capping layer is formed on the gate structure and the lightly doped regions. Two epitaxial layers are formed at the two sides of the gate structure after the step of forming the capping layer. An oxide film formed on the lightly doped regions will influence the growth condition of the epitaxial layers. A removing process is performed to remove the oxide film on the lightly doped regions before the step of forming the capping layer so as to improve the quality of the epitaxial layers.
US09741814B2
A semiconductor device including: a first conductivity type transistor and a second conductivity type transistor, wherein each of the first conductivity type transistor and the second conductivity type includes agate insulating film formed on a base, a metal gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film, and side wall spacers formed at side walls of the metal gate electrode, wherein the gate insulating film is made of a high dielectric constant material, and wherein offset spacers are formed between the side walls of the metal gate electrode and the inner walls of the side wall spacers in any one of the first conductivity type transistor and the second conductivity type transistor, or offset spacers having different thicknesses are formed in the first conductivity type transistor and the second conductivity type transistor.
US09741812B1
Source/drain contact structures that exhibit low contact resistance and improved electromigration properties are provided. After forming a first contact conductor portion comprising a metal having a high resistance to electromigration such as tungsten at a bottom portion of source/drain contact trench to form direct contact with a source/drain region of a field effect transistor, a second contact conductor portion comprising a highly conductive metal such as copper or a copper alloy is formed over the first contact conductor portion.
US09741795B2
An IGBT includes at least one first type transistor cell, including a base region, first and second emitter regions, and a body region arranged between the first emitter region and base region. The base region is arranged between the body region and second emitter region. A gate electrode adjacent the body region is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. A base electrode adjacent the base region is dielectrically insulated from the base region by a base electrode dielectric. The base region has a first base region section adjoining the base electrode dielectric and a second base region section arranged between the second emitter region and the first base region section. A ratio between the doping concentration of the first base region section and the doping concentration of the second base region section is at least 10. The base electrode dielectric is thicker than the gate dielectric.
US09741792B2
Techniques for dielectric isolation in bulk nanosheet devices are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a nanosheet device structure with dielectric isolation includes the steps of: optionally implanting at least one dopant into a top portion of a bulk semiconductor wafer, wherein the at least one dopant is configured to increase an oxidation rate of the top portion of the bulk semiconductor wafer; forming a plurality of nanosheets as a stack on the bulk semiconductor wafer; patterning the nanosheets to form one or more nanowire stacks and one or more trenches between the nanowire stacks; forming spacers covering sidewalls of the nanowire stacks; and oxidizing the top portion of the bulk semiconductor wafer through the trenches, wherein the oxidizing step forms a dielectric isolation region in the top portion of the bulk semiconductor wafer. A nanowire FET and method for formation thereof are also provided.
US09741791B2
An integrated circuit is formed by providing a heavily doped substrate of a first conductivity type, forming a lightly doped lower epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type over the substrate, implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the lower epitaxial layer in an area for a shallow component and blocking the dopants from an area for a deep component, forming a lightly doped upper epitaxial layer over the lower epitaxial layer and activating the implanted dopants to form a heavily doped region. The shallow component is formed over the heavily doped region, and the deep component is formed outside the heavily doped region, extending through the upper epitaxial layer into the lower epitaxial layer.
US09741790B2
Complementary high-voltage bipolar transistors formed in standard bulk silicon integrated circuits are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, collector regions are formed in an epitaxial silicon layer. Base regions and emitters are disposed over the collector region. An n-type region is formed under collector region by implanting donor impurities into a p-substrate for the PNP transistor and implanting acceptor impurities into the p-substrate for the NPN transistor prior to depositing the collector epitaxial regions. Later in the process flow these n-type and p-type regions are connected to the top of the die by a deep n+ and p+ wells respectively. The n-type well is then coupled to VCC while the p-type well is coupled to GND, providing laterally depleted portions of the PNP and NPN collector regions and hence, increasing their BVs.
US09741787B2
High voltage integrated circuit capacitors are disclosed. In an example arrangement. A capacitor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a bottom plate having a conductive layer overlying the semiconductor substrate; a capacitor dielectric layer deposited overlying at least a portion of the bottom plate and having a first thickness greater than about 6 um in a first region; a sloped transition region in the capacitor dielectric at an edge of the first region, the sloped transition region having an upper surface with a slope of greater than 5 degrees from a horizontal plane and extending from the first region to a second region of the capacitor dielectric layer having a second thickness lower than the first thickness; and a top plate conductor formed overlying at least a portion of the capacitor dielectric layer in the first region. Methods and additional apparatus arrangements are disclosed.
US09741786B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device may include a through silicon via (TSV), a keep out zone and a plurality of dummy patterns. The TSV may be arranged in a selection region of a semiconductor substrate. The keep out zone may be configured to define a peripheral region of the TSV. The dummy patterns may be arranged in the keep out zone to receive a conductive signal. The dummy patterns may function as an electrode of a reservoir capacitor.
US09741773B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a display area including first and second pixels. A plurality of photo sensors is arranged in an outer area of the display area. The first pixel includes a first pixel electrode, an opposite electrode, and a first emission layer between the first pixel electrode and the opposite electrode. The first pixel electrode, the opposite electrode, and the first emission layer are arranged on a substrate. The second pixel includes a second pixel electrode, the opposite electrode having a reflectance less than a reflectance of the second pixel electrode, and a second emission layer between the second pixel electrode and the opposite electrode. The second pixel is closer to the plurality of photo sensors than the first pixel. The second pixel electrode includes a first portion in parallel with the substrate and a second portion having a slope with respect to the substrate.
US09741771B2
A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting device may include the following. A panel displaying an image is formed. A buffering member including a dummy buffering member is adhered to the panel. A film is adhered to an upper surface of the buffering member. The film and the dummy buffering member are removed.
US09741770B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, a transistor on the substrate, a reflecting electrode connected to the transistor, a color filter on the reflecting electrode, a first electrode on the color filter and electrically connected to the reflecting electrode, a pixel definition layer on the color filter and having an opening exposing the first electrode, a white emission layer in the opening and a second electrode on the white emission layer.
US09741766B2
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes first to third interconnects, memory cells, and selectors. The first to third interconnects are provided along first to third directions, respectively. The memory cells includes variable resistance layers formed on two side surfaces, facing each other in the first direction, of the third interconnects. The selectors couple the third interconnects with the first interconnects. One of the selectors includes a semiconductor layer provided between associated one of the third interconnects and associated one of the first interconnects, and gates formed on two side surfaces of the semiconductor layer facing each other in the first direction with gate insulating films interposed therebetween.
US09741760B2
A solid-state imaging device having a backside illuminated structure, includes: a pixel region in which pixels each having a photoelectric conversion portion and a plurality of pixel transistors are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; an element isolation region isolating the pixels which is provided in the pixel region and which includes a semiconductor layer provided in a trench by an epitaxial growth; and a light receiving surface at a rear surface side of a semiconductor substrate which is opposite to a multilayer wiring layer.
US09741758B2
A method of forming an image sensor can be provided by forming a respective photoelectric conversion region in each of a plurality of unit pixel regions of a substrate and depositing a material configured to provide a negative fixed charge layer on the photoelectric conversion region.
US09741757B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a first lens layer; and a second lens layer, wherein the second lens layer is formed at least at a periphery of each first microlens formed based on the first lens layer, and the second lens layer present at a central portion of each of the first microlenses is thinner than the second lens layer present at the periphery of the first microlens or no second lens layer is present at the central portion of each of the first microlenses.
US09741756B2
An image sensor includes a substrate including a sensor array area, a pad area, and a circuit area, a wiring layer on the pad area, and a light-shielding pattern on the sensor array area. The sensor array area includes a first area including active pixels and a second area including optical back pixels. The wiring layer is apart from the substrate by a first distance on the pad area. The light-shielding pattern includes a first portion spaced apart from the substrate by a second distance less than the first distance, a second portion disposed between the first portion and the wiring layer and extending on the same level as the wiring layer, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and integrally formed with the first portion and the second portion.
US09741748B2
A thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate, a gate line and a gate pad disposed on the substrate, a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate line and the gate pad, a data line and a data pad disposed on the gate insulating layer, an organic layer disposed on the data line and the data pad, and a connecting member disposed on one of the gate pad and the data pad, in which the organic layer includes a first portion overlapping the connecting member and a second portion not overlapping the connecting member, and a height of the first portion of the organic layer is greater than a height of the second portion of the organic layer.
US09741746B2
An array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. The array substrate comprises a plurality of gate lines (102) and a plurality of data lines (101); a region defined by adjacent data lines (101) and adjacent gate lines (102) is a pixel unit; the pixel unit includes a common electrode line (103), a pixel electrode (104), a thin film transistor (105) and an auxiliary electrode (202); a first end of the auxiliary electrode (202) is electrically connected with a drain electrode (203) of the thin film transistor (105); and a second end of the auxiliary electrode (202) is electrically connected with the pixel electrode (104). The array substrate is used for enhancing an electric field within the peripheral range of the pixel electrode (104) of the pixel unit and avoiding the phenomenon of light leakage at an edge of the pixel unit.
US09741743B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an array substrate comprising: a base substrate, a gate line and a gate electrode located on the base substrate; an insulating layer covering the gate line and the gate electrode; an active layer on the insulating layer, corresponding to the gate electrode; an etch stop layer above the active layer, the etch stop layer including a first via hole and a second via hole located above the active layer; a data line, a source electrode and a drain electrode and a pixel electrode on the etch stop layer, wherein the source electrode is connected with the active layer through the first via hole, wherein the etch stop layer is made of a light-shielding material.
US09741733B2
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices may include a semiconductor pattern including an opening on a semiconductor substrate. A peripheral transistor and a peripheral interconnection structure may be disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor pattern. The peripheral interconnection structure may be electrically connected to the peripheral transistor. Cell gate conductive patterns may be disposed on the semiconductor pattern. The cell vertical structures may extend through the cell gate conductive patterns and may be connected to the semiconductor pattern. Cell bit line contact plugs may be disposed on the cell vertical structures. A bit line may be disposed on the cell bit line contact plugs. A peripheral bit line contact structure may be disposed between the bit line and the peripheral interconnection structure. The peripheral bit line contact structure may extend through the opening of the semiconductor.
US09741732B2
Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. Vertically-extending monolithic channel material is adjacent the select device gate material and the conductive levels. The monolithic channel material contains a lower segment adjacent the select device gate material and an upper segment adjacent the conductive levels. A first vertically-extending region is between the lower segment of the monolithic channel material and the select device gate material. The first vertically-extending region contains a first material. A second vertically-extending region is between the upper segment of the monolithic channel material and the conductive levels. The second vertically-extending region contains a material which is different in composition from the first material.
US09741728B2
A method of manufacturing an embedded flash memory device is provided. A pair of gate stacks are formed spaced over a semiconductor substrate, and including floating gates and control gates over the floating gates. A common gate layer is formed over the gate stacks and the semiconductor substrate, and lining sidewalls of the gate stacks. A first etch is performed into the common gate layer to recess an upper surface of the common gate layer to below upper surfaces respectively of the gate stacks, and to form an erase gate between the gate stacks. Hard masks are respectively formed over the erase gate, a word line region of the common gate layer, and a logic gate region of the common gate layer. A second etch is performed into the common gate layer with the hard masks in place to concurrently form a word line and a logic gate.
US09741726B2
A memory device includes a capacitor, a tunneling-enhanced device, and a transistor. In accordance with an embodiment, capacitor has first and second electrodes wherein the first electrode of the capacitor serves as a control gate of the memory device. The tunneling-enhanced device has a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode of the second capacitor serves as an erase gate of the memory device and the second electrode of the tunneling-enhanced device is coupled to the second electrode of the capacitor to form a floating gate. The transistor has a control electrode and a pair of current carrying electrodes, wherein the control electrode of the transistor is directly coupled to the floating gate. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for manufacturing the memory device includes a method for manufacturing the memory device.
US09741723B2
A semiconductor device is provided, which prevents a case where the widths of word lines become uneven because of a stress developing at the border between a memory cell area and a peripheral circuit area. The semiconductor device 1 has a semiconductor substrate 2 on which a memory cell area MC defined by a peripheral isolation region 3c. The memory cell area MC has multiple cell active regions k defined by multiple cell isolation regions 3a, 3b. Guard active regions GLa, GLb made of the semiconductor substrate are disposed in the border between the memory cell area MC and the peripheral isolation region 3c to separate the memory cell isolation regions 3a, 3b from the peripheral isolation region 3c.
US09741719B2
An integrated circuit includes a gate electrode level region that includes a plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures. Each of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures is defined to extend lengthwise in a first direction. Some of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures form one or more gate electrodes of corresponding transistor devices. A local interconnect conductive structure is formed between two of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures so as to extend in the first direction along the two of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures.
US09741715B2
A semiconductor device includes a set of fin structures having a set of fin ends at a respective vertical surface of a fin structure and is separated by a set of trenches from other fin structures. Each of the fin structures has a top surface which is higher than a top surface of a dielectric material in the set of trenches. A set of dielectric blocks is disposed at the set of fin ends, the dielectric blocks having a top surface level with or above the top surfaces of the fin structures which inhibit excessive epitaxial growth at the fin ends.
US09741712B2
A semiconductor device includes trench gate structures in a semiconductor body with hexagonal crystal lattice. A mean surface plane of a first surface is tilted to a <1-100> crystal direction by an off-axis angle, wherein an absolute value of the off-axis angle is in a range from 2 degree to 12 degree. The trench gate structures extend oriented along the <1-100> crystal direction. Portions of the semiconductor body between neighboring trench gate structures form transistor mesas. Sidewalls of the transistor mesas deviate from a normal to the mean surface plane by not more than 5 degree.
US09741710B2
An electrostatic discharge protection device includes a base, a plurality of electrodes arranged on the base separated from each other, a function layer supplied on a separation space between the electrodes and a composite insulating layer disposed on the base and composed of inorganic particles dispersed in a resin, the composite insulating layer covering the electrodes and the function layer.
US09741699B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting device comprising a transparent substrate which light can pass through and at least one LED chip emitting light omni-directionally. Wherein the LED chip is disposed on one surface of the substrate and the light emitting angle of the LED chip is wider than 180°, and the light emitted by the LED chip will penetrate into the substrate and at least partially emerge from another surface of the substrate. According to the present invention, the light emitting device using LED chips can provide sufficient lighting intensity and uniform lighting performance.
US09741698B2
A light-emitting device includes a substrate, a first light-emitting element mounted on the substrate, an annular transparent dam formed on the substrate so as to surround the first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element that is mounted on the substrate so as to be embedded in an interior of the dam and that has a shorter peak emission wavelength than that of the first light-emitting element, and a sealing material filled inside the dam so as to seal the first light-emitting element.
US09741697B2
The present invention discloses a three-dimensional 3D-oP (three-dimensional offset-printed memory)-based package (3D2-oP). The mask-patterns for different dice in a same 3D2-oP package are merged onto a same data-mask. At different printing steps, a wafer is offset by different values with respect to the data-mask. Accordingly, data-patterns from a same data-mask are printed into different dice in a same 3D2-oP package.
US09741692B2
Methods of fabricating a microelectronic device comprising forming a microelectronic substrate having a plurality microelectronic device attachment bond pads and at least one interconnection bond pad formed in and/or on an active surface thereof, attaching a microelectronic device to the plurality of microelectronic device attachment bond pads, forming a mold chase having a mold body and at least one projection extending from the mold body, wherein the at least one projection includes at least one sidewall and a contact surface, contacting the mold chase projection contact surface to a respective microelectronic substrate interconnection bond pad, disposing a mold material between the microelectronic substrate and the mold chase, and removing the mold chase to form at least one interconnection via extending from a top surface of the mold material to a respective microelectronic substrate interconnection bond pad.
US09741690B1
An embodiment package includes a first integrated circuit die, an encapsulent around the first integrated circuit die, and a conductive line electrically connecting a first conductive via to a second conductive via. The conductive line includes a first segment over the first integrated circuit die and having a first lengthwise dimension extending in a first direction and a second segment having a second lengthwise dimension extending in a second direction different than the first direction. The second segment extends over a boundary between the first integrated circuit die and the encapsulant.
US09741687B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a two-tier die including a first tier and a second tier over and bonded to the first tier. The first tier includes a first substrate including a semiconductor material, an active device at a surface of the first substrate, and a first interconnect structure over the first substrate, wherein the first tier is free from passive devices therein. The second tier includes a second substrate bonded to and in contact with the first interconnect structure, and a second interconnect structure over the second substrate, wherein metal lines in the second interconnect structure are electrically coupled to the first interconnect structure. The second tier further includes a plurality of through-vias penetrating through the second substrate, wherein the plurality of through-vias lands on metal pads in a top metal layer of the first interconnect structure, and a passive device in the second interconnect structure.
US09741686B2
Some embodiments relate to an electronic package. The electronic package includes a substrate that includes a plurality of buildup layers. A first die is embedded in one of the buildup layers on one side of the substrate. A second die is bonded to the substrate within a cavity on an opposing side of the substrate. The first die and the second die may be electrically connected to conductors within the plurality of buildup layers. Other embodiments relate to method of connecting a first die to a second die to form an electronic package. The method includes attaching a first die to a core and fabricating a substrate onto the core. The method further includes creating a cavity in another of the buildup layers on an opposing side of the substrate and attaching a second die to the substrate within the cavity.
US09741685B2
A method for bonding a first silicon part to a second silicon part includes arranging the first silicon part and the second silicon part in direct physical contact on a surface in a thermal insulating structure; controlling pressure in the thermal insulating structure to a predetermined pressure; controlling temperature in the thermal insulating structure to a predetermined temperature using one or more heaters; and bonding the first silicon part and the second silicon part during a process period. The predetermined temperature is in a temperature range that is greater than or equal to 1335° C. and less than 1414° C.
US09741683B2
Provided are a device packing facility and method using phthalate and a device processing apparatus utilizing the phthalate. The device packaging facility includes a mounting unit providing phthalate between first and second devices to attach the first and second devices to each other, a processing unit thermally processing the first and second devices that are attached to each other to remove the phthalate and fix the first and second devices to each other, and a transfer unit transferring the first and second devices that are attached to each other from the mounting unit to the processing unit.
US09741682B2
A method forming an interconnect structure includes depositing a first solder bump on a chip; depositing a second solder bump on a laminate, the second solder bump including a nickel copper colloid surrounded by a nickel or copper shell and suspended in a tin-based solder; aligning the chip with the laminate; performing a first reflow process to join the chip to the laminate; depositing an underfill material around the first solder bump and the second solder bump; and performing a second reflow process at a temperature that is lower than the first reflow process to convert the first solder bump and the second solder bump to an all intermetallic interconnect; wherein depositing the underfill material is performed before or after performing the second reflow process.
US09741681B2
An apparatus includes a bottom stage configured to hold a bottom surface of a substrate stack including at least two substrates, a top stage configured to hold a top surface of the substrate stack, and at least one blade configured to be inserted between two adjacent substrates of the substrate stack, wherein the at least one blade has a pointed tip in plan view and has a channel configured to inject air or fluid.
US09741675B2
The present disclosure relates to bump structures and a semiconductor device and semiconductor device package having the same. The semiconductor device includes a body, at least one conductive metal pad and at least one metal pillar. The body includes a first surface. The at least one conductive metal pad is disposed on the first surface. Each metal pillar is formed on a corresponding conductive metal pad. Each metal pillar has a concave side wall and a convex side wall opposite the first concave side wall, and the concave side wall and the convex side wall are orthogonal to the corresponding conductive metal pad.
US09741658B2
A fuse device having contacts configured to reduce electro-migration is disclosed. In some exemplary embodiments, the fuse structure includes an anode disposed at a first end and a cathode disposed at a second end. A fuse link extends between and contacts the anode and the cathode. A boundary between the fuse link and the cathode has a center point, and each connector of a plurality of cathode connectors has a center point that is an equal distance from the center point of the boundary between the fuse link and the cathode. In some such embodiments, each connector of the plurality of cathode connectors is a different size than an anode connector, whereas in some such embodiments, each connector of the plurality of cathode connectors is substantially a same size as the anode connector along at least one axis.
US09741652B1
A wiring substrate includes a wiring layer on a projection of an insulating layer. The wiring layer includes a first metal layer on an end face of the projection with a peripheral portion of the end face exposed, a second metal layer that is on the first metal layer and wider than the end face, and a third metal layer. The second metal layer includes first and second opposite surfaces with the second surface on the first metal layer with a peripheral portion thereof exposed. The third metal layer covers side surfaces of the first metal layer, and the first surface, the peripheral portion of the second surface, and side surfaces of the second metal layer, and fills in a region where the end face and the peripheral portion of the second surface face each other. The materials of the second and third metal layers are different.
US09741649B2
An integrated circuit (IC) package includes a first substrate having a backside surface and a top surface with a cavity disposed therein. The cavity has a floor defining a front side surface. A plurality of first electroconductive contacts are disposed on the front side surface, and a plurality of second electroconductive contacts are disposed on the back side surface. A plurality of first electroconductive elements penetrate through the first substrate and couple selected ones of the first and second electroconductive contacts to each other. A first die containing an IC is electroconductively coupled to corresponding ones of the first electroconductive contacts. A second substrate has a bottom surface that is sealingly attached to the top surface of the first substrate, and a dielectric material is disposed in the cavity so as to encapsulate the first die.
US09741647B2
A wiring substrate is provided with a first wiring layer including a first land, a first insulative layer formed on the first wiring layer, a second wiring layer formed on the first insulative layer, a second insulative layer formed on the second wiring layer, and a via formed extending through the first insulative layer and the second insulative layer in a thicknesswise direction. The via includes one end, which is electrically connected to the first land of the first wiring layer, and another end, which is located opposed to the one end and serves as a pad to which a mounted electronic component is electrically connected. The second wiring layer includes a coupling portion electrically connected to the via. The coupling portion of the second wiring has a width that is smaller than a diameter of the via.
US09741645B2
Dense interconnect with solder cap (DISC) formation with laser ablation and resulting semiconductor structures and packages are described. For example, a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming an insulative material stack above a plurality of solder bump landing pads. The solder bump landing pads are above an active side of a semiconductor die. A plurality of trenches is formed in the insulative material stack by laser ablation to expose a corresponding portion of each of the plurality of solder bump landing pads. A solder bump is formed in each of the plurality of trenches. A portion of the insulative material stack is then removed.
US09741631B2
A handling member includes: a substantially plate-like handling member main body that is arranged along a pair of the side walls, respectively; a circular position-restriction through hole that is formed to extend through the handling member main body in a thickness direction of the handling member and with which the semicircular convex portion can be engaged; a handling member side guided portion that is engaged with the guide members and of which a movement is guided between the mounting position and the detachment position by the guide members; and a back-side guided portion that can be engaged with the back-side engaging portion by a movement of the handling member from the detachment position to the mounting position.
US09741625B2
In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor device, including providing an SOI structure comprising a base substrate, a buried insulating material layer formed on the base substrate and an active semiconductor layer formed on the buried insulating structure, forming a germanium-comprising layer on an exposed surface of the active semiconductor layer, forming a trench isolation structure, the trench isolation structure extending through the germanium-comprising layer and the active semiconductor layer, performing an annealing process after the trench isolation structure is formed, the annealing process resulting in an oxide layer disposed on a germanium-comprising active layer which is formed on the buried insulating material layer, and removing the oxide layer for exposing an upper surface of the germanium-comprising active layer.
US09741620B2
A device and method of forming the device that includes cavities formed in a substrate of a substrate device, the substrate device also including conductive vias formed in the substrate. Chip devices, wafers, and other substrate devices can be mounted to the substrate device. Encapsulation layers and materials may be formed over the substrate device in order to fill the cavities.
US09741613B1
A method for producing self-aligned line end vias and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming trenches in a dielectric layer; filling the trenches with a sacrificial layer; forming and etching a block mask over sacrificial layers to form a cut area over a portion of the trenches; forming spacers at sides of the cut area; removing the sacrificial layer from the portion of the trenches; forming a mask in the cut area and the portion of trenches, the mask selected from a HDP oxide, SiC or SiCNH; selectively etching the spacers; and selectively etching the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer by RIE to form SAVs.
US09741602B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed that comprises a first non-volatile memory cell, a second non-volatile memory cell, an active region between the first and second memory cells, and an electrically conductive contact touching the active region, wherein the contact has a horizontal cross-section that is at least five percent smaller in a first dimension than in a second dimension.
US09741599B2
A chuck for testing an integrated circuit includes an upper conductive layer having a lower surface and an upper surface suitable to support a device under test. An upper insulating layer has an upper surface at least in partial face-to-face contact with the lower surface of the upper conductive layer, and a lower surface. A middle conductive layer has an upper surface at least in partial face-to-face contact with the lower surface of the upper insulating layer, and a lower surface.
US09741598B2
A protective tape and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same capable of achieving excellent connection properties. The protective tape includes an adhesive layer, a thermoplastic resin layer and a backing material film in that order; a modulus ratio of a shear storage modulus of the adhesive layer to a shear storage modulus of the thermoplastic resin layer at an application temperature at which the protective tape is applied is 0.01 or less. This suppresses resin residue on bumps thereby achieving excellent connection properties.
US09741597B2
The present invention provides a positioning device configured to position a glass substrate. The positioning device comprises a support base, a pair of first positioning mechanisms located on two neighboring sides of the glass substrate, a pair of second positioning mechanisms located on another two neighboring sides of the glass substrate, respectively, a pair of connecting bars, a driving member, a gear group and a conveying belt sleeved on the gear group. One end of the one of the pair of connecting bar is fixed with the conveying belt, and another end is fixed with one of the pair of first positioning mechanisms. One end of another one of the pair of connecting bar is fixed with the conveying belt, and another end is fixed with another one of the pair of first positioning mechanisms.
US09741588B2
A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor substrate which includes a thin-film transistor includes: forming a planarization layer comprising polyimide material above the thin-film transistor; and heating the thin-film transistor at a temperature of 240° C. or lower after the planarization layer is formed.
US09741584B1
A method for densifying a dielectric film on a substrate includes arranging a substrate including a dielectric film on a substrate support in a substrate processing chamber; supplying a gas mixture including helium and oxygen to the substrate processing chamber; controlling pressure in the substrate processing chamber to a pressure greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure; supplying a first power level at a first frequency to a coil to create plasma in the substrate processing chamber. The coil is arranged around an outer surface of the substrate processing chamber. The method includes densifying the dielectric film for a predetermined period. The pressure and the first power level are selected to prevent sputtering of the dielectric film during densification of the dielectric film.
US09741580B2
A method of forming a pattern on a substrate comprises forming spaced, upwardly-open, cylinder-like structures projecting longitudinally outward of a base. Sidewall lining is formed over inner and over outer sidewalls of the cylinder-like structures, and that forms interstitial spaces laterally outward of the cylinder-like structures. The interstitial spaces are individually surrounded by longitudinally-contacting sidewall linings that are over outer sidewalls of four of the cylinder-like structures. Other embodiments are disclosed, including structure independent of method.
US09741577B2
A method of forming a contact in a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate and a second gate on a substrate; removing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) material arranged between the first gate and the second gate to form a trench that extends from a surface of the first gate and a surface of the second gate to the substrate; depositing a liner along a sidewall of the trench and an endwall of the trench in contact with the substrate; depositing by a physical vapor deposition method (PVD) a layer of metal on a surface of the first gate and a surface of the second gate; and heating to reflow metal from the layer of metal on the surface of the first gate and the second gate into the trench and form the contact.
US09741567B2
Disclosed herein is a method of forming a structure, comprising forming a mandrel layer over a substrate, masking the mandrel layer with a first mask and performing a first etch on the mandrel layer, the first etch forming a first opening exposing a first portion of the substrate. The mandrel layer is masked with a second mask and a second etch is performed on the mandrel layer. The second etch forms a second opening exposing a second portion of the substrate, and also forms a protective layer on the first portion of the substrate and in the first opening.
US09741557B1
A semiconductor device has a substrate with a semiconductor material. The semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor in and on the semiconductor material. The field effect transistor has a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor material of the semiconductor device, and a gate over the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes a layer of nitrogen-rich silicon nitride immediately over the region for the channel, and under the gate.
US09741550B2
The invention relates to mass spectrometers with an ion source, comprising a UV laser system for mass spectrometric analyses with ionization of analyte molecules in a sample by matrix-assisted laser desorption, which, with very low energy losses, can produce a spatially distributed spot pattern with several intensity peaks of equal height, thus making it possible to achieve an optimum degree of ionization of analyte ions for any task. Such a spot pattern can be generated from the UV beam with high transverse coherence, using a combination of a lens array and a lens, provided that the lens array satisfies a mathematical condition for separation of the micro-lenses from each other (pitch) and their focal length. For example, a lens array with square or round lenses produces a pattern of nine and five spots, respectively. The lens arrays are inexpensive and do not require any lateral adjustment in this arrangement.
US09741548B2
The mass spectrometer (1) provides an ionization chamber (11) therein with: a probe (15) having a sample to be measured flow path (155) for spraying a sample to be measured; and a standard sample flow path (255) for spraying a standard sample used for the calibration of the mass-to-charge ratio of the mass spectrum into the ionization chamber. The standard sample is intermittently introduced into the ionization chamber via a pulse valve (216). Thus, mixing of the sample to be measured and the standard sample can be prevented, while the timing according to which the standard sample is introduced can be appropriately controlled. It also becomes possible to acquire an accurate mass spectrum for each sample to be measured even in the case where a number of types of samples to be measured are introduced into the ionization chamber one after another over a short period of time.
US09741547B2
The low pressure plasma system includes a treatment chamber which is pumped out in a first process step by means of a pump. In a second process step a gas supply valve is opened in order to achieve a defined gas composition in the treatment chamber at low pressure. In a third process step a plasma generator is switched on in order to ignite a plasma in the treatment chamber. In a fourth process step a flushing valve can be opened in order to flush the treatment chamber. In a fifth process step the treatment chamber can be ventilated by way of a ventilation valve. The sequential switching element can be a rotary switch and include a zero switching position where the low pressure plasma system is off. The sequential switching element renders possible a simple embodiment of the low pressure plasma system and its intuitive operation.
US09741543B2
A voltage sensor for a voltage controlled interface of a plasma processing system. The voltage sensor receives a RF signal generated by a pickup device. The RF signal is indicative of a RF voltage provided at a substrate in a plasma chamber. The voltage sensor includes first and second dividers corresponding to first and second channels and having first and second capacitance ratios. The dividers receive the RF signal and respectively generate first and second reduced voltage signals. A first output of the first channel outputs a first output signal based on the first reduced voltage signal and while the RF signal is in a first voltage range. A second output of the second channel outputs a second output signal based on the second reduced voltage signal and while the RF signal is in a second voltage range.
US09741542B2
A plasma generating device that improves plasma generating efficiency can further accommodate changes in plasma generating state because of changes in conditions of surroundings and the like. The plasma generating device is provided with an electromagnetic wave radiating device, which has an electromagnetic wave generating device that oscillates electromagnetic waves and a radiating antenna that radiates electromagnetic waves oscillated by the electromagnetic wave generating device, and a control device that controls the electromagnetic wave radiating device. The electromagnetic wave radiating device is provided with a power detector that detects traveling wave power output by the electromagnetic wave generating device and reflected wave power reflected from the radiating antenna, and the control device automatically controls the oscillation pattern for the electromagnetic waves on the basis of the proportion of the value for the reflected wave power to the value for the traveling wave power detected by the power detector.
US09741532B1
A multi-beam electron microscope for ECCI is provided. The electron microscope has a platform, on which a crystalline sample is placed. At least a first electron source and a second electron source of the electron microscope are mounted to a housing. The housing is tiltable with respect to a longitudinal direction through a pivot for forming a fulcrum, such that the first electron source and the second electron source are tilted simultaneously and are substantially equally distanced from the platform along a vertical axis when the housing is tilted. The electron microscope also has electron beam focusing assemblies for focusing the electron beams generated by the electron sources onto the crystalline sample to generate backscattered electrons. The electron microscope also has detectors for detecting the backscattered electrons.
US09741531B2
A charged particle beam device allowing an analysis position in a sample analyzable with an EBSD detector to be acquired beforehand, and allowing a sample to be adjusted to a desired analysis position in a short time. A charged particle beam device is provided with a charged particle source (111), a charged particle optical system (115), an EBSD detector (101), a sample stage (116), an image display unit (117) for displaying a portion of the sample observable with the EBSD detector and a non-observable portion of the sample such that said portions are distinguished from each other, an operation input unit (121) where a position to be observed by the EBSD detector is entered, and a control unit (118) for controlling a planar movement, an inclination movement and a rotation movement of the sample stage so as to allow the observation position entered from the operation input unit to be observed with the EBSD detector.
US09741530B2
A charged-particle-beam device is provided with a data processing unit that removes, from a detector signal, the effect that scattering of a primary charged-particle beam before the primary charged-particle beam reaches a specimen has on the spot shape of the primary charged-particle beam. For example, when using an electron microscope to observe a specimen in a non-vacuum atmosphere, the effect that scattering of a primary charged-particle beam due to a barrier film or a gas present in a non-vacuum space has on the spot shape of the primary charged-particle beam is removed from a signal acquired by a detector. This makes it easy to obtain high-quality images.
US09741528B2
Disclosed is a charged particle optical apparatus, which includes a particle optical arrangement, configured to define a particle beam path for inspecting an object. The object is accommodated in a pressure-controlled interior of a specimen chamber during the inspection of the object. The charged particle optical apparatus further includes a differential pressure module having a differential pressure aperture. A positioning arm is arranged in the specimen chamber for selectively position the differential pressure module within the pressure-controlled interior of the specimen chamber into an operating position in which the particle beam path passes through the differential pressure aperture. The selective positioning includes an advancing movement of the differential pressure module toward the primary particle beam path. The advancing movement is transmitted to the differential pressure module by a track-guided movement of the positioning arm.
US09741520B2
The present invention relates to a molded case circuit breaker, in which a locking member is formed at an inner side of a lever and an anti-rotation member is formed at an upper like. Accordingly, the locking member can be brought into contact with the anti-rotation member even though a handle is rotated to an OFF position even in a fused state between a fixed contactor and a movable contactor, thereby preventing a rotation of the handle to the OFF position.
US09741518B2
A latch relay includes a frame, a bobbin installed in the frame and having a coil wound therearound, first and second yokes provided as magnetic bodies, a rotary mover rotating in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction between head portions of the first and second yokes, first and second fixed contactors installed to be spaced apart from one another and parallel to each other within the frame, a movable contactor having one end connected to the second fixed contactor, a transmission lever having one end coupled to one side of the rotary mover to make a vertical movement, a support member fixedly installed on one side of the transmission lever, and an elastic member providing contact force such that the movable contactor is brought into contact with the first fixed contactor or separated from the first fixed contactor, while moving according to a movement of the transmission lever.
US09741515B1
Structures, devices, systems, and techniques are provided to represent an operational state of an electronic device. In one aspect, a device that can represent the operational state of the electronic device can comprise a substrate configured to produce an amount of heat in response to a predetermined operational state of the electronic device, and a member thermally coupled to the substrate and having a physical property that is configurable in response to at least the amount of heat produced by the substrate. Configuration of the physical property can yield a specific physical state of the member that represents the predetermined operational state.
US09741512B2
An electrical switching apparatus assembly is for a switchgear system. The switchgear system includes a number of circuit stabs and an enclosure having a number of compartments. The electrical switching apparatus assembly includes an electrical switching apparatus having a number of terminals and a mounting assembly, the terminals being structured to be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the circuit stabs, the mounting assembly comprising a mounting member coupled to the terminals; and a maintaining assembly comprising a plate member and a maintaining member, the plate member being coupled to the mounting member, the maintaining member being coupled to the plate member and structured to engage the enclosure. Responsive to an arc fault event, the maintaining assembly is structured to move between FIRST and SECOND positions. When the maintaining assembly moves from the FIRST position to the SECOND position, the plate member moves away from the terminals.
US09741506B1
A keyboard device includes plural keycaps and a membrane switch circuit member. The membrane switch circuit member is disposed under the plural keycaps. The membrane switch circuit member includes a wiring board and plural separate covering pads. The wiring board includes plural first trace patterns and plural second trace patterns corresponding to the plural keycaps. The plural second trace patterns are disposed on the wiring board and separated from the plural first trace patterns. There is a gap between each first trace pattern and the adjacent second trace pattern. The covering pads are disposed over the wiring board. The plural covering pads are aligned with the corresponding keycaps and cover the corresponding gaps. The covering pad has a triggering trace pattern over the corresponding gap.
US09741497B2
Disclosed is an insulating bonding part for bonding to a solid electrolyte including beta-alumina, the insulating bonding part comprising a plurality of layers which have different mixing ratios of the alpha-alumina and CaO, wherein the layer closer to the solid electrolyte including the beta-alumina has a higher ratio of the CaO, and wherein the layer farther from the solid electrolyte including the beta-alumina has a higher ratio of the alpha-alumina.
US09741489B2
A ceramic electronic component includes a ferrite material magnetic body part and a Cu conductive part, the ferrite containing 20 to 48% trivalent Fe in terms of Fe2O3 and divalent Ni. The ferrite can contain Mn so that it is less than 50% of the total of Fe and Mn in terms of Mn2O3 and Fe2O3. The magnetic and conductive parts are co-fired at a pressure not exceeding the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure of Cu—Cu2O thereby ensuring insulating performance and favorable electrical characteristics.
US09741488B2
A power transmission coil includes a plane coil including a no-wire portion and a coil wound about a no-wire portion, a cover for covering the plane coil from above, a first foreign-matter-detecting unit provided at the no-wire portion, and a power control circuit electrically connected to the plane coil and the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. An upper surface of the cover has a first inclining portion inclining toward the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. The power control circuit transmits power through the plane coil if a foreign matter is not detected in the no-wire portion based on an output from the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. The power control circuit is configured to stop transmitting power through the plane coil if foreign matter is detected in the no-wire portion based on an output from the first foreign-matter-detecting unit. This power transmission coil is capable of detecting a small foreign matter that may generate heat.
US09741485B2
A reconfigurable multi-stack inductor formed within a semiconductor structure may include a first inductor structure located within a first metal layer of the semiconductor structure, a first ground shielding structure located within the first metal layer that is electrically isolated from and circumferentially bounds the first inductor structure, and a second inductor structure located within a second metal layer of the semiconductor structure, whereby the second inductor structure is electrically coupled to the first inductor structure. A second ground shielding structure located within the second metal layer is electrically isolated from and circumferentially bounds the second inductor structure, whereby the first and second inductor generate a first inductance value based on the first ground shielding structure and second ground shielding structure being coupled to ground, and the first and second inductor generate a second inductance value based on the first ground shielding structure and second ground shielding structure electrically floating.
US09741480B2
A mechanically operating superconducting switch has two superconducting wires, a respective end of each superconducting wire being embedded in a respective block of superconducting material. A mechanical arrangement is provided for driving respective contact surfaces of the blocks into physical contact with each other, and for separating those services.
US09741470B1
A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, a separator positioned between the twisted pairs, and a jacket formed around the twisted pairs and the separator. The separator may include a longitudinally extending spine positioned between the plurality of twisted pairs, and one or more respective projections extending from the spine at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations. Each projection at a given spaced location may extend between a respective set of adjacent twisted pairs. Additionally, a respective longitudinal gap of at least approximately twenty centimeters may be present between each adjacent pair of longitudinally spaced locations.
US09741468B2
A power cable and filler device adapted to bear against a first and second power cores in a power cable, including a first arced wall which defines a portion of a first circle having a first diameter, a second and third arced wall, each defining a portion of a second circle having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. A chamber is formed between the first, second and third arced walls.
US09741463B2
A feed-through element for harsh environments is provided that includes a support body with at least one access opening, in which at least one functional element is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material. The electrically insulating fixing material contains a glass or a glass ceramic with a volume resistivity of greater than 1.0×1010 Ω cm at the temperature of 350° C. The glass or a glass ceramic has a defined composition range in the system SiO2—B2O3-MO.
US09741462B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing silicon oxide by which an amount of oxygen of the silicon oxide may be controlled. The method of manufacturing silicon oxide may include mixing silicon and silicon dioxide to be included in a reaction chamber, depressurizing a pressure of the reaction chamber to obtain a high degree of vacuum while increasing a temperature in the reaction chamber to a reaction temperature, and reacting the mixture of silicon and silicon dioxide in a reducing atmosphere.
US09741458B2
In a debris trap that may be used in an Emergency Core Cooling System of a nuclear power plant, the filter media is arranged to define both filtration and bypass flowpaths that are in fluid communication with one another. At least initially, each of the filtration and bypass flowpaths are open, and the filtration and bypass flowpaths have relatively low and relatively high head loss, respectively. The debris trap is operative so that flow through the debris trap may passively, and typically gradually, transition from the filtration flowpaths to the bypass flowpath in response to the filter media collecting increasing amounts of debris. More specifically, initially substantially all of the flow may be through the filtration flowpaths, and thereafter the filtration flowpaths may become substantially obstructed so that substantially all of the flow is through the bypass flowpath.
US09741450B2
A memory including at least one line to which memory cells are coupled. A control circuit is configured to emit an end-of-operation signal at the end of the execution of an operation on at least one memory cell, and a glitch detection circuit coupled to the memory line is configured to supply a glitch detection signal when a falling edge of the amplitude of a voltage signal appears on the memory line in the absence of the end-of-operation signal.
US09741449B1
Aspects of various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to applications utilizing voltage sampling. In certain embodiments, a sample and hold circuit is configured to sample voltages that exceed a tolerance voltage of components. The circuit includes a first and a second capacitors. In a first mode, a voltage difference between an input node and a first reference voltage is sampled using the first capacitor. Also in the first mode, a voltage stored by the second capacitor is referenced to a second reference voltage and provided to a first output node. In a second mode, a voltage difference between an input node and a first reference voltage is sampled using the second capacitor. Also in the second mode, a voltage stored by the first capacitor is referenced to the second reference voltage and provided to a second output node.
US09741448B2
The present invention discloses a three-dimensional offset-printed memory (3D-oP) with multiple bits-per-cell. The mask-patterns for different bits-in-a-cell are merged onto a same data-mask. At different printing steps, a wafer is offset by different values with respect to the data-mask. Accordingly, data-patterns from a same data-mask are printed into different bits-in-a-cell.
US09741427B2
Apparatuses and methods for performing logical operations using sensing circuitry are disclosed. An apparatus comprises an array of memory cells, sensing circuitry coupled to the array of memory cells via a sense line, and a controller coupled to the array of memory cells and the sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry includes a sense amplifier and does not include an accumulator. The controller is configured to perform logical operations using the array of memory cells as an accumulator without transferring data out of the memory array and sensing circuitry.
US09741423B2
A memory controller receives data and phase-providing signals from a memory device. The phase-providing signal is not a clock signal, but is used by the memory controller to phase align a local data-sampling signal with the incoming data. The memory controller samples the data signal with the data-sampling signal. The memory controller can perform maintenance operations to update the phase relationship between the phase-providing and data-sampling signals.
US09741412B2
A semiconductor apparatus may include: a data storage group including first to eight data storage areas; a first channel select pad configured to transmit a first channel select signal to the first and third data storage areas; a second channel select pad configured to transmit a second channel select signal to the second and fourth data storage areas; a third channel select pad configured to transmit the first channel select signal to the sixth and eighth data storage areas; a fourth channel select pad configured to transmit the second channel select signal to the fifth and seventh data storage areas; a first clock enable pad configured to transmit a first clock enable signal to the first and third data storage areas; a second clock enable pad configured to transmit a second clock enable signal to the second and fourth data storage areas; a third clock enable pad configured to transmit the first clock enable signal to the fifth and seventh data storage areas; and a fourth clock enable pad configured to transmit the second clock enable signal to the sixth and eighth data storage areas.
US09741411B2
A bank control circuit includes an implicit signal generation unit suitable for activating an implicit signal when a first active signal corresponding to a bank which is in an activated state bank, among a plurality of banks; and a delay unit suitable for delaying the implicit signal by a predetermined time, wherein the bank corresponding to the first active signal is precharged based on the implicit signal and activated again based on the delayed implicit signal.
US09741409B2
Apparatuses and methods for targeted row refreshes are disclosed herein. In an example apparatus, a predecoder receives a target row address and determines whether a target row of memory associated with the target row address is a primary or a redundant row of memory. The predecoder is further configured to cause one or more rows of memory physically adjacent the primary row of memory to be refreshed if the primary row is the target row or one or more rows of memory physically adjacent the redundant row of memory to be refreshed if the redundant row of memory is the target row of memory.
US09741408B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, and a voltage generator suitable for generating voltages supplied to the memory cell array. The memory cell array includes cell strings each including memory cells extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction and a third direction; bit lines extending in the second direction and electrically coupled to the cell strings; and word lines extending in the third direction and electrically coupled to corresponding memory cells, wherein the word lines includes dummy word lines. A program voltage is supplied to a program word line that is electrically coupled to a memory cell to be programmed, and a level of a first dummy word line voltage supplied to a parallel dummy word line, which is disposed parallel to the program word line in the first direction is different from a level of a second dummy voltage supplied to a nonparallel dummy word line other than the parallel dummy word line.
US09741403B2
Memory die can be stacked to form a three-dimensional integrated circuit. For example, through-silicon vias (TSVs) can permit signals to pass vertically through the three-dimensional integrated circuit. Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods to perform post package trimming of memory die, which advantageously permits the memory die to be trimmed after the memory die is stacked, such that test and trimming characteristics are relatively close to that which will be actually be encountered.
US09741402B2
A data storage device includes a memory device including a plurality of memory cells; and a controller suitable for determining, based on data read from the plurality of memory cells, section cell numbers corresponding to threshold voltage sections, and for determining an average threshold voltage of a threshold voltage distribution selected among a plurality of threshold voltage distributions of the memory cells which are estimated based on the section cell numbers, based on a Gaussian distribution function.
US09741399B2
Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for performing shift operations in a memory. An example method comprises performing a shift operation a first element stored in a first group of memory cells coupled to a first access line and a number of sense lines of a memory array and a second element stored in a second group of memory cells coupled to a second access line and the number of sense lines of the memory array. The method can include shifting the first element by a number of bit positions defined by the second element by performing a number of AND operations, OR operations, SHIFT operations, and INVERT operations performed without transferring data via an input/output (I/O) line.
US09741398B1
Memory devices connected in a chain topology to a host controller that communicate using Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) and out-of-band signaling.
US09741391B1
The disclosure is related to systems and methods of On the Fly Formatting. Various parameters that influence areal density of hard disc regions can be changed on the fly based on storage capacity and reliability needs. Further adjustments can be made to the formatting of the region to fine tune achievable storage capacity and reliability values. In some cases, the formatting can include error correction code strength, gap widths between user data sectors and servo data sectors, other characteristics or parameters, or any combinations thereof.
US09741382B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to hexagonal ferrite powder, which comprises equal to or more than 70% on a particle number basis of isotropic hexagonal ferrite particles satisfying equation (1): major axis length/minor axis length<2.0 (1), having an average particle size of equal to or greater than 10.0 nm but equal to or less than 35.0 nm, and having a saturation magnetization of equal to or greater than 30 A·m2/kg.
US09741380B1
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes creating a spike in a servo channel from a predetermined start position to an end position, and storing servo data including at least a portion thereof generated during the spike. The spike has a predetermined amplitude. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a controller to perform the foregoing method.
US09741360B1
A method of speech enhancement for target speakers is presented. A blind source separation (BSS) module is used to separate a plurality of microphone recorded audio mixtures into statistically independent audio components. At least one of a plurality of speaker profiles are used to score and weight each audio components, and a speech mixer is used to first mix the weighted audio components, then align the mixed signals, and finally add the aligned signals to generate an extracted speech signal. Similarly, a noise mixer is used to first weight the audio components, then mix the weighted signals, and finally add the mixed signals to generate an extracted noise signal. Post processing is used to further enhance the extracted speech signal with a Wiener filtering or spectral subtraction procedure by subtracting the shaped power spectrum of extracted noise signal from that of the extracted speech signal.
US09741356B2
A coding apparatus normalizes a low-frequency spectrum included in each of sub-bands obtained from dividing a low band part, using a largest amplitude value among the low-frequency spectrum included in each sub-band, obtains a normalized low-frequency spectrum by decoding the first encoded data, and calculates a correlation between each divided band of a high-frequency spectrum and a plurality of candidate bands of the normalized low-frequency spectrum. The best bands of a plurality of candidate bands are identified, each candidate band having a starting frequency position with non-zero amplitude in the normalized low-frequency spectrum, the high-frequency spectrum being in a high band part of the input audio signal that is higher than the predetermined frequency, and the high-frequency spectrum is encoded using lag information identifying the best band for transmitting the lag information to a decoder.
US09741349B2
An audio signal is coded, where a frequency spectrum of the audio signal is divided into first and second regions. Spectral peaks in the first region are encoded by a first coding method. For a segment of the audio signal, a relation between an energy of a band in the second region and an energy estimate of the first region is determined. A relation between the energy of the band in the second region and energy of neighboring bands in the second region is determined. A determination is made whether available bits are sufficient for encoding at least one non-peak segment of the first region and the band in the second region. Further, when the relations fulfill a respective criterion and the bits are sufficient, the band in the second region and the at least one segment of the first region are encoded using a second coding method.
US09741336B2
System and method for generating manually designed and automatically optimized spoken dialog systems
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable storage media for generating a natural language spoken dialog system. The method includes nominating a set of allowed dialog actions and a set of contextual features at each turn in a dialog, and selecting an optimal action from the set of nominated allowed dialog actions using a machine learning algorithm. The method includes generating a response based on the selected optimal action at each turn in the dialog. The set of manually nominated allowed dialog actions can incorporate a set of business rules. Prompt wordings in the generated natural language spoken dialog system can be tailored to a current context while following the set of business rules. A compression label can represent at least one of the manually nominated allowed dialog actions.
US09741323B2
A percussion system comprising a pedal and an inserting/retracting mechanism operably connected to a percussion instrument and the pedal from moving the percussion instrument horizontally from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position by operation of the pedal.
US09741322B2
A capturing device joins with an instrument to capture an accumulated body fluid in the instrument. The device has a tubular shape for capturing and containing a superfluous amount of fluid that has accumulated inside an instrument from performing on the instrument. The device joins with the instrument, proximally to an instrument fluid accumulation portion. For example, the device is oriented on the instrument to capture the fluid that accumulates in the spit valve. The instrument may require tilting or other manipulations to enable fluid to flow from the instrument fluid accumulation portion to a reception aperture. The device is capped on each end, whereby one of the capped ends form a secure seal for trapping the body fluid inside the device, and may also be removed for removing the body fluid. The device has an absorbent portion to absorb the fluid in an interior region.
US09741319B2
In a case where a determination section (34) determines that a distance between rp and wp is less than RDIST, a period control section (33) carries out a suspending control of a reading operation of a next line, until the distance between rp and wp is not less than RDIST.
US09741316B2
A method for displaying pixels on display devices, comprising the steps of (a) Providing virtual pixel storage means, preferably one or more virtual frame buffers (6), for temporarily storing the pixel data, (b) Receiving pixel data into the virtual pixel storage means (6) from one or more pixel sources (5), (c) Processing the pixel data stored in the virtual pixel storage means, based on characteristic display parameters characterizing the display devices; and (d) Transmitting the pixel data from the virtual pixel storage means (6) to one or more virtual displays attached to the virtual pixel storage means via a network (7), based on a network transmission protocol. The invention further relates to a system for displaying pixels on display devices.
US09741305B2
Methods, systems, and devices for improving contrast, dynamic range, and power consumption of a backlight in a display are provided. By way of example, a method includes receiving image data to be displayed on pixels of a display panel, generating a global histogram of the image data, generating a plurality of thresholds based on the global histogram, and defining a first threshold and a second threshold of the plurality of thresholds as local thresholds based on the global histogram and a local histogram. The first threshold and the second threshold are generated according to a local tone mapping function. The method further includes adjusting a luminance of one or more of pixels of the display panel based at least in part on the first threshold and the second threshold.
US09741303B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel which includes a gate line, a data line and a storage line, and displays an image, a gate driving part configured to output a gate signal to the gate line, a data driving part configured to output a data signal based on an image data of the image to the data line, and a voltage providing part configured to apply an alternating current voltage to the storage line.
US09741295B2
An image display apparatus includes a display unit to display an image based on image data on a screen including a plurality of areas, a light emitting unit to individually control emission brightness for each area, a calculation unit to calculate emission brightness of an image displayed on the screen for each area based on the image data, a measurement unit disposed opposing the screen and to measure a characteristic value relating to display characteristics of the display unit, and a control unit to determine whether emission brightness of a first area opposing the measurement unit is lower than a first value when the measurement unit measures the characteristic value and to set the emission brightness to a value equal to or greater than the first value when the emission brightness of the light emitting unit for the first area is lower than the first value.
US09741292B2
Method and system for programming and driving active matrix light emitting device pixel is provided. The pixel is a voltage programmed pixel circuit, and has a light emitting device, a driving transistor and a storage capacitor. The pixel has a programming cycle having a plurality of operating cycles, and a driving cycle. During the programming cycle, the voltage of the connection between the OLED and the driving transistor is controlled so that the desired gate-source voltage of a driving transistor is stored in a storage capacitor.
US09741290B1
Methods and apparatuses are provided for a multi-mode display. In one embodiment, a multi-mode display comprises an array of light sensing and emitting units (LSEUs), a decoder configured to generate addresses for accessing one or more LSEUs in the array of LSEUs, and a controller configured to control the array of LSEUs using the addresses, where each LSEU in the array of LSEUs comprises a light sensing and emitting component (LSEC), an emitting circuit configured to generate light using the LSEC, and a sensing circuit configured to detect light using the LSEC.
US09741289B2
An active-matrix display device employs current-programmed-type pixel circuits and performs the writing data to each of pixels on a line-by-line basis. The active-matrix display device having a matrix of current-programmed-type pixel circuits includes a data line driving circuit 15 formed of m current driving circuits (CD) 15-1 to 15-m arranged corresponding to respective data lines 13-1 to 13-m. The data line driving circuit (CD) 15-1 to 15-m holds image data (luminance data herein) in the form of voltage, and then converts the voltage of the image data into a current signal. The current signal is than fed to the data lines 13-1 to 13-m at a time. The image information is thus written on the pixel circuits 11.
US09741283B2
Disclosed is to an over-current control device and an organic light emitting display device adopting a function of interrupting an over-current. To provide an over-current control device and a OLED device using the same, which allow a fast and reliable detection of an over-current, an over-current control device for detecting an over-current provided to an OLED is provided, comprising: an over-current identification unit adapted to compare a driving voltage on a supply line for driving the OLED with a reference voltage on a reference voltage line for identifying the over-current; an interruption unit connected between the supply line supplying the driving voltage and the pixel including the OLED for interrupting the power supply if the over-current identification unit recognizes an over-current flowing through the supply line.
US09741273B1
An illuminated assembly includes a substrate that is rigid so as to maintain a shape, the substrate having a first terminal surface and a second terminal surface. The assembly includes at least one channel defined into the substrate, the at least one channel having: an exposed portion defined on the first terminal surface of the substrate to define an indicia for display, a base portion defined between the first and second terminal surfaces of the substrate, and two channel walls extending from the exposed portion to the base portion. The assembly includes at least one light source between the exposed portion and the base portion of the at least one channel. The assembly includes a compound defined in an intermediate portion of the at least one channel, the intermediate portion extending from the at least one light source to the two channel walls, the exposed portion, and the base portion.
US09741271B2
A method of displaying a video display system, assembling a video display system, and a video display system are disclosed. The video display system can include a flexible support, a display device detachably engaged to the flexible support, and a coupling device engaged to the flexible support and the display device at a first location on the display device.
US09741270B2
A display board system includes a first display board, a second display board, a first clip, and a second clip. The first clip is coupled to the first display board and includes a body and a top portion coupled to the body generally above an upper edge of the first display board. The top portion has an upwardly facing cavity and a downwardly extending tab. The second clip is coupled to the second display board and includes a body and a top portion coupled to the body generally above an upper edge of the second display board. The top portion has an upwardly facing cavity and a downwardly extending tab. The tab of the second clip is receivable in the cavity of the first clip to support the second display board on the first display board.
US09741269B2
An improved system for simply assembling, installing, and customizing a signpost. In one exemplary embodiment, the assembled signpost may define a semi-modular post-with-arm structure configured to receive one or more signs via one or more attachment components. The attachment component(s) may be adjustably attached/positioned at any length along the extended arm component. Moreover, the extended arm component, and any signs engaged thereto, may be supported by the post component. Moreover, the post component, the extended arm component, and any signs engaged thereto, may be rigidly yet detachably engaged to a supporting substrate via an anchoring component. The anchoring component may be specifically designed to engage discreetly with the supporting substrate under cover of the post component. Moreover, the assembled signpost may comprise a decorative add-on sub-system intended to make the over-all system more aesthetically pleasing to the intended audience.
US09741261B2
An educational timepiece provided with the hour hand and the minute hand, which comprises a base plate having an upper surface on which the hour hand and the minute hand rotate, and an angle hand rotating on the upper surface of the base plate for measuring the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand, wherein the angle hand serves to measure the angle between the hour hand and one of the hour indication parts adjacent to the hour hand, the interval between every two adjacent hour indication parts being divided by a given angle.
US09741259B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to user identification in social media for task performance based on past usage and traits. One embodiment includes identifying users of a social media platform for ability of performing a task. Readiness scores are predicted based on past usage of the social media platform. A predicted readiness score includes a value corresponding to whether a user is predicted to be ready for performing the task. Users that are ready to perform the task are determined based on comparing the readiness scores with a threshold. Willingness scores for performing the task by the users determined to be able and ready to perform the task are determined. A willingness score includes a value corresponding to whether a user is estimated to be willing for performing the task. Users that are willing to perform the task are determined based on comparing the willingness scores with a threshold.
US09741254B2
The method of the present invention comprises acquiring input data of both aircraft performance characteristics and atmospheric data, and defining trajectory parameters to which the aircraft trajectory must be subjected, the method further comprising defining aircraft trajectory parameters; acquiring a plurality of atmospheric forecast ensembles; calculating a predicted trajectory from each atmospheric forecast of an atmospheric forecast ensemble, said predicted trajectory having associated information regarding a certain figure of merit of the aircraft trajectory, wherein an ensemble of predicted trajectories is obtained from each atmospheric forecast ensemble, each predicted trajectory of the ensemble of predicted trajectories having an associated probability derived from the probability of each atmospheric forecast within an atmospheric forecast ensemble; the system of the present disclosure comprising all the necessary equipment to carry out the method of the present disclosure.
US09741242B2
Disclosed is a terminal that integrates control of multiple appliances, where a corresponding control interface is provided in response to a physical design feature of the terminal. For example, in some cases the physical design feature may be a toggle switch, a pop-up button, or a deformable region of a flexible display. In this way, in response to activation of a physical design feature of a device, a user may use a single control interface integrating controls for multiple appliances to easily, immediately, and seamlessly control multiple different appliances.
US09741237B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure include an efficient and accurate method for presenting victim locations to emergency responders. The method disclosed can be used to track individuals still remaining in a building in case of an emergency. The method comprises determining a location for an individual by receiving a device identifier (e.g., combination of numbers and/or characters uniquely identifying a receiving device associated with the individual) and location information, received from one or more beacons, from the receiving device. The method comprises determining a first location associated with the receiving device based on the location information and/or the device identifier. The method comprises determining different locations associated with the individual as the individual moves and determining whether the individual is still within the building. The method comprises, displaying location information and instructions to reach the individual in case of an emergency.
US09741236B2
An alarm system is disclosed. The alarm system includes an enclosure; at least one sensor, the sensor is configured to communicate a signal to the enclosure; and at least one of a wireless transceiver positioned in the enclosure, the transceiver configured to receive an activation signal and transmit an alarm signal.
US09741235B2
A digital real security system, method and program reliably report the occurrence of an emergency situation in real time. The digital real security system comprises an abdominal pressure signal acquisition unit (101) that acquires an abdominal pressure signal from an abdominal pressure sensor (10) for detecting a user's abdominal pressure and acquires a respiration signal from a respiration sensor (20) for detecting the user's breathing, and a storage unit (105) that stores a normal-time number of breathing times and abdominal pressure pattern of the user detected by the abdominal pressure signal acquisition unit (101), and an abnormality determination unit (112) matches a number of breathing times and abdominal pressure pattern detected by the abdominal pressure signal acquisition unit (101) to that user's normal-time number of breathing times and abdominal pressure pattern stored in the storage unit (105), and determines whether it is abnormality based on the match result.
US09741229B2
An optical sensor (100) comprises: a holding sleeve (11); a fixed ferrule (12) fixedly mounted in said holding sleeve (11); a movable ferrule (13) movably mounted in said holding sleeve (11), a predetermined distance existing between a first movable end of said movable ferrule (13) and a first fixed end of said fixed ferrule (12) in said holding sleeve (11); a reflection part (14) arranged at a second movable end of said movable ferrule (13) opposite to said first movable end, for reflecting light entering the movable ferrule (13); and an actuation part (15), said actuation part (15) being constructed to drive said movable ferrule (13) to move so that said first movable end moves towards said first fixed end. An optical sensor assembly and a monitoring device comprising the optical sensor (100), or another sensor (1012) can remotely detect a mechanical movement in a passive mode. A first reflector (14, 1016) is configured to provide a first reflected optical signal. The sensor (100, 1012) is connected to the first reflector and has a first position and a second position, the second position configured to attenuate the first reflected optical signal more than the first position. The sensor is configured to move between the first and second positions in response to a monitored parameter (1018).
US09741211B2
A checkout station includes a display that is rotatable between a first position and a second position and a barcode scanner that is directed in a first direction in the first position and in a second direction in the second position.
US09741210B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a battling symbol generators game. In various embodiments, each symbol generator of a set of symbol generators employed for the battling symbol generators game is associated with one of a plurality of different characteristics. During play of the battling symbol generators game, the gaming system modifies the set of symbol generators upon the occurrence of various symbol generator set modification events such that more symbol generators of the set are associated with a particular characteristic and/or such that fewer symbol generators of the set are associated with another characteristic. The gaming system provides a bonus when a designated quantity of the symbol generators of the set are each associated with a particular characteristic.
US09741202B2
There is provided a system and method of online valuating a client in a computerized service system (e.g. game system). The method comprises: identifying all clients directly involved in a monetary event; for each identified directly involved client Ci, searching a stored plurality of records for all records informative of monetary chunks tagged with the client Ci as an owner, and associating with the client Ci a virtual account Ai, the virtual account Ai being informative of all monetary chunks in an ownership of the client Ci, thereby giving rise to a plurality of virtual accounts associated with the identified directly involved clients, wherein each monetary chunk is further tagged with a depositor client who introduced the respective monetary chunk into the service system and with respective timestamp; identifying every client tagged as depositor client to at least one monetary chunk corresponding to at least one virtual account of the plurality of virtual accounts, thereby giving rise to a plurality of clients indirectly involved in the event; and valuating one or more clients directly or indirectly involved in the event, wherein a value of each given client is calculated with consideration of all monetary chunks corresponding to the plurality of virtual accounts and tagged to the given client as a depositor client.
US09741197B2
An automated prescription dispensing system and method for facilitating dispensing of medications from an automated prescription dispenser designed for in-home use. The dispenser may connect to a remote patient monitoring center for monitoring of the patient's dispenser use and adherence to a medication regime. The dispenser may further connect to a remote medication operations center for monitoring replenishment of the patient's medications and to a remote medical center for monitoring the patient's reaction to medications and clinical signs. A connection to a data analytics center and analytical engine facilitates communications among and between the users and/or caregivers at the remote centers. The dispenser may be loaded with a standardized cartridge that is replenished according to the patient's needs. The dispenser is further equipped with a camera that allows a caregiver at the remote patient monitoring center to view the patient while the patient uses the dispenser.
US09741179B2
An onboard unit for a vehicular identification system is disclosed herein. The onboard unit comprises a housing attachable to an exterior surface of a vehicle's windscreen, a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to communicate with the identification system via the transceiver. The transceiver and processor are contained in the housing. The onboard unit comprises a tampering protection unit which is split into a first part which is contained in the housing and a second part which is attachable to an inner surface of the windscreen. The first and the second part each comprise a limited range communication module for communication between each other. The tampering protection unit is configured to detect a loss of communication between both communication modules and, upon detection, to trigger an alarm event.
US09741178B1
A system in a public transit network may include a fare collection system, a fare management system, and a processing device for assessing the riskiness of fare classes in the transit network and causing the fare management system to take an action based on the assessment. Particularly, the processing device will receive fare information from the fare collection system, such as via a token reader, determine a fare return series over a period of time, apply a Capital Asset Pricing Model to the fare return series and assess the return versus volatility chart for multiple fare classes. Based on the assessment, the processing device will cause the fare management system to take an action such as changing a fare price or a route, deleting a fare class or a route, combining one or more fare classes or routes, or combining one or more fare classes with one or more routes.
US09741172B2
In order to aid a user in filling a container with a target volume of a substance, an image is received. The image includes a view of the container and a view of a reference object. The reference object has a known dimension. The view of the reference object and the view of the container are then compared with reference to the known dimension. Based on the comparison, a volume of the container is determined. Based on the volume of the container, a volume indicator is provided.
US09741169B1
The technology disclosed can provide capabilities to view and/or interact with the real world to the user of a wearable (or portable) device using a sensor configured to capture motion and/or determining the path of an object based on imaging, acoustic or vibrational waves. Implementations can enable improved user experience, greater safety, greater functionality to users of virtual reality for machine control and/or machine communications applications using wearable (or portable) devices, e.g., head mounted devices (HMDs), wearable goggles, watch computers, smartphones, and so forth, or mobile devices, e.g., autonomous and semi-autonomous robots, factory floor material handling systems, autonomous mass-transit vehicles, automobiles (human or machine driven), and so forth, equipped with suitable sensors and processors employing optical, audio or vibrational detection.
US09741151B2
An animated visualization of data on an electronic device having a limited display area (such as a mobile device with a touch screen input) is disclosed. The limited display area is partitioned into a thumbnail view of a full data set and an expanded view of a subset of the data that is highlighted within the thumbnail. The views are correspondingly animated such that the highlighted data appears to progressively slide across the thumbnail view such that the full set of data is ultimately displayed in the expanded view. The data displayed in the expanded view is kept in context by dynamically highlighting the corresponding data within the thumbnail view. Various actions are also disclosed, such as pausing/re-starting the animation, selectively pinning data and consolidating coupled data elements—in each case at any time during the animation.
US09741137B2
Systems and methods for generating an image-based color palette based on a color image. A color palette can be a collection of representative colors each associated with a weight or other metadata. A color palette may be generated based on palette generation criteria, which may facilitate or control a palette generation process. Illustratively, the palette generation process may include image pre-processing, color distribution generation, representative color identification, palette candidate generation and palette determination. Representative colors with associated weight can be identified from a distribution of colors depicted by the color image, multiple palette candidates corresponding to the same color image can be generated based on various palette generation criteria, and a color palette can be identified therefrom.
US09741132B2
A method of correcting measured image data deviations of an image inspection system determining image data using a single measuring head and image measuring unit, by using a computer, includes measuring color spectrums of color fields using the head and unit, creating a color set from color spectrums of the head and unit, calculating spectrums from overprinting color combinations for the head and unit using a color model and the respective color set, calculating Lab color values for the head and unit based on spectrums of the head and unit, determining deviations between color values of the head and unit for supporting points, adding determined deviations to the color values of the measuring unit at the supporting points, creating an ICC profile based on corrected color values of the measuring unit for converting imprecise measured values thereof into accurate color values, and correcting imprecisely measured values of the measuring unit using the profile.
US09741130B2
A method and an apparatus for detecting an object are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a plurality of depth images of the object; extracting foregrounds; fusing the foregrounds in a unified three-dimensional world coordinate system; calculating an appearance two-dimensional histogram from the fused foreground by the following steps of dividing the foreground into vertical members and getting statistics of the numbers of foreground points in the vertical members so as to obtain the appearance two-dimensional histogram; determining an overlapping region and the number of overlaps based on the placement of stereo cameras; determining a detection parameter relating to a detection position based on the overlapping region and the number of overlaps; and detecting the object by the appearance two-dimensional histogram based on the determined detection parameter.
US09741104B2
An apparatus for image reconstruction is provided, including processing circuitry to obtain, from a scan of a region of interest of a patient, raw projection data of the region of interest; reconstruct the raw projection data to produce image data; apply high dynamic range tone-mapping to the image data to produce tone-mapped image data by applying window width and window level parameters to the image data to produce adjusted image data, and calculating a contrast adjustment based on both the image data and the adjusted image data; and quantize the tone-mapped image data to produce quantized tone-mapped image data for display.
US09741102B2
A statistical analysis is performed on pixel values of at least one region of interest in an image obtained by substantially uniform irradiation of an x-ray detector and deciding upon the presence of a source of x-ray beam in-homogeneity by comparing the results of the statistical analysis with at least one predetermined acceptance criterion.
US09741097B2
Provided is an image processing device including a scaling unit configured to enlarge an input image represented by an input image signal to generate an enlarged image, a gain calculating unit configured to calculate a gain for enhancing the enlarged image for each target pixel of the enlarged image on a basis of the input image signal, and an adding unit configured to add, for each target pixel, a pixel value of the target pixel and the gain corresponding to the pixel value of the target pixel.
US09741088B2
In a mobile device with a processing unit, main memory, display memory and display, a context module identifies a user-context, a determiner module determines correspondence or non-correspondence of data images in the main memory to the user-context, a first selector module selects corresponding data images for access by the display memory in case of correspondence, a second selector module select data items in case of non-correspondence, a transformation module transforms selected data items to corresponding data images and stores them in the main memory, and an access module lets the display memory access the selected data images.
US09741083B2
Various methods are described for facilitating closing and payment of a check. One example method may comprise performing an action with a mobile device proximate a physical location associated with the check. The method may further comprise receiving in response a location identifier associated with the physical location. Additionally, the method may comprise determining the check to be closed based at least in part on the location identifier. Another example method may comprise performing an action with a mobile device proximate a folio device. The method may further comprise receiving in response a folio device identifier associated with the folio device. Additionally, the method may comprise providing for transmission of the check information to the folio device based at least in part on the folio device identifier. Similar and related methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are also provided.
US09741072B2
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method for administering a virtual gift card, the method comprising acts of receiving a request from a server of a retailer, providing, in response to the request, an interface to a terminal operated by a purchaser, the interface comprising fields for receiving a value and a recipient for the virtual gift card, receiving from the terminal, in response to input from the purchaser, the value and the recipient for the virtual gift card, generating a code for the virtual gift card, and sending a message to the recipient of the virtual gift card, the message including the code for the virtual gift card.
US09741066B2
Systems and methods for selling and purchasing vehicle history reports are described. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a set of vehicles in a dealer inventory, determining a subset of the vehicles in the dealer inventory for which the dealer has not purchased a vehicle history report, presenting a summary report to a dealer, the summary report including information about at least one of the vehicles in the subset of the vehicles, receiving a selection to purchase a vehicle history report for at least one of the vehicles in the summary report, and providing the vehicle history report corresponding to the selection to the dealer.
US09741065B2
A computer displays a first set of components available for selection by the customer for an IT solution. The computer receives, from the customer, selection of a first component included in the first set of components. The computer determines that subsequent use of the first component requires a service. The computer identifies and displays a second set of components based on compatibility with the first component and ability to use the same service as the first component. The computer receives selection, from the customer, a second component included in the second set of components. The computer designs the IT solution to (a) include the first component and the second component and (b) share the same service during use of the first component and the second component.
US09741061B2
A hosted server system includes a database, a processor, and computer program instructions for facilitating personal customization of digital media, such as for example gift messages to be coupled to e-books. The server system receives customization data and a digital media file from a third-party platform, and creates a record with a customized gift message file from the customization data. A file wrapper is generated with data indicating locations of the gift message file and the digital media file, which enables the third-party platform to selectively execute the customized gift message file and the digital media file. Alternatively, the initial data and request may be provided from a first platform, wherein an identifier is generated and transmitted to the first platform. Upon later receiving the identifier from a second platform, the file wrapper is generated and transmitted to the second platform.
US09741051B2
Processing of a transaction involving one or more third-parties and offers is described. Certain embodiments allow for suspending a received authorization request message which includes a transaction amount and a token mapped to a primary account number. One or more third-parties may be queried for an offer or discount eligible towards the transaction. The authorization request message may be adjusted to reflect one or more eligible offers from the one or more third-parties. The authorization request message may also be adjusted to replace the token with the mapped PAN. The authorization request message may then be sent to an issuer for further processing.
US09741049B2
Systems and techniques are described for generating cost values for a plurality of braking events of an aircraft, where each cost value is based on an expected wear of the wheel-and-brake assembly of the aircraft during the respective braking event. The systems and techniques may take into account data representative of conditions during the respective braking event of the aircraft to generate the cost values.
US09741040B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing high-load business process scalability in cloud-based infrastructures. One process includes operations for receiving a message at a first computer node executing a first business process instance. A second business process instance associated with the message is identified. The message is sent to a messaging queue for retrieval by the second business process instance if the second business process instance is not located at the first computer node.
US09741038B2
Systems and methods for facilitating risk assessment for point of sale transactions utilizing at least one risk triggering value (RTV) is disclosed. An RTV is a condensed version of a set of complex risk data and strategies usually found in central processing sites. After receiving a request for payment authorization, a risk value is calculated for the request. The distributed processing site compares the risk value to the RTV to determine whether to authorize payment. If the risk value is less than or equal to the RTV, the payment is authorized while a risk value greater than the RTV will not be authorized. The central site calculates a new RTV for the account and distributes the new RTV to the distributed processing site.
US09741031B2
A portable device includes a data capture unit and a wireless communication circuit in communication with a control circuit. The data capture unit is configured to receive product information from a product identifier. The wireless communication circuit is configured to communicate with a vendor server storing an electronic catalog that includes a product associated with the product information.
US09741026B1
Described is a technology that enables a customer, who uses a payment card in a transaction and further provides an identifier in the same transaction, to use the identifier as a payment mechanism in all future transactions. In some embodiments, the technology involves communication between a customer's user device, a payment service system (PSS), and one or more merchant POS systems. A merchant POS system collects information in a transaction conducted between the merchant POS system and the customer, including, among others, the customer's contact information (e.g., telephone number), and forwards this information to the PSS. The PSS stores the information as an identifier, where the identifier is stored in association with the card used in the transaction. In a second transaction, the PSS sends a verification request to the user device based on the identifier (e.g., a text message), and processes the transaction only upon confirmation from the customer.
US09741022B2
A web service platform to improve end-user engagement in a captive audience environment. Mobile and web-based clients allow application users to authorize and approve usage of entitlements of other users, including their children, based upon preconfigured rules and the proximity between the user requesting and the user approving authorization to use the entitlement.
US09741021B2
In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for driving demand for services. An appointment platform operating on a server may identify, based on an appointment inventory of a service provider, an open appointment to be filled. The appointment platform may rank a plurality of users to which the open appointment may be offered. The appointment platform may rank a user of the plurality of users based on a current membership score of the user. The appointment platform may determine, based on the ranking, to offer the user the open appointment. The appointment platform may identify, based on the current membership score of the user, a type of incentive from a plurality of types of incentives, to offer to the user for filling the open appointment.
US09741014B2
An automated asset management system includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects, and first and second sensing subsystems each configured to sense presence or absence of the objects in the plurality of storage locations. The first and second sensing subsystems are used to sense the presence or absence of a same particular object using different respective sensing modalities. In operation, a first scan of the storage locations is performed using the first sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is determined using the first sensing modality. In turn, a second scan of the storage locations is performed using the second sensing subsystem, and the presence or absence of the particular object is confirmed using both the result of the determination made using the first sensing modality and a determination of the presence or absence of the particular object using the second sensing modality.
US09741013B2
An object location guiding device and an operation method thereof are provided. The object location guiding device includes a processor, a controller and a guiding element array. Guiding elements of the guiding element array are disposed at different positions in a field so as to point to storage positions of different objects in the field. The processor converts the object data on an object list into storage-position information. The controller receives the storage-position information from the processor, converts the storage-position information into a first axis position code and a second axis position code, and drives the guiding element array by using the first axis position code and the second axis position code, so as to allow at least one corresponding guiding element of the guiding elements to point to a storage position of a corresponding object in the field.
US09741006B2
A system for providing complex access control in workflows. The system comprises a computer, including a computer readable storage medium and processor operating thereon. The system also comprises at least one business process which includes a plurality of tasks. Each task is associated with a task state which changes during execution of the task. The system further comprises a plurality of logical roles. Each logical role defines a responsibility based on the task state and a member of that logical role. Additionally, the system comprises a configurable matrix of access controls that is used to control access to the plurality of tasks based on the plurality of logical roles.
US09741005B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to, among other things, determining whether some or all portions of an application stack implemented on a distributed system are vulnerable to availability issues. In some examples, a web service may utilize or otherwise control a client instance to control, access, or otherwise manage resources of a distributed system. Based at least in part on comparing one or more customer graphs with one or more model, curated, or best practice graphs of a distributed system, availability risks and/or deployment recommendations may be provided. Additionally, in some examples, one or more remediation and/or migration operations may be performed automatically or provided as recommendations.
US09740987B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for developing, training, validating and deploying discovery avatars embodying mathematical models that may be used for document and data discovery and deployed within large data repositories. For example, an avatar may be constructed by machine learning processes, including by processing information related to what types of information analysts find useful in large data sets. Once constructed, an avatar may be deployed as an aid to human intuition in a wide range of analytical processes, such as related to national security, enterprise management (e.g., programs related to sales, marketing, product, promotions, placement, pricing and the like), dispute resolution (including litigation), forensic analysis, criminal, administrative, civil and private investigations, scientific investigations, research and development, and a wide range of others.
US09740985B2
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for rating difficulty of a question. The mechanism receives an input question and generates one or more candidate answers from a corpus of knowledge using a pipeline of software engines. The pipeline of software engines generates a plurality of features extracted from the question, the one or more candidate answers, or the corpus of knowledge. The mechanism then generates a question difficulty score based on the plurality of features using a machine learning model. The machine learning model maps features to assigned weights for scaling the difficulty score.
US09740976B2
An RFID tag includes a core formed by a first elastic material and having a first surface, a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, and a pair of end parts provided on mutually opposite sides and connecting to the first surface and the second surface. The RFID tag further includes a metal layer provided on the first surface, a semiconductor chip provided on the second surface, and a dipole antenna provided on the second surface and electrically connected to the semiconductor chip. One of the metal layer and the dipole antenna is folded at folded parts at the pair of end parts, and the metal layer and the dipole antenna overlap at the folded parts.
US09740967B2
In an approach to determining an air quality based on image, a computer performs a method, the method comprising: determining an image to be measured; determining an air quality model of at least one key area, the at least one key area including a key area associated with the image to be measured; acquiring a reference clear image corresponding to the image to be measured; and determining an air quality index to be measured based on an air quality related feature extracted from the image to be measured, the corresponding reference clear image, and the determined air quality model of the key area associated with the image to be measured.
US09740964B2
There are provided systems and methods for performing object classification through semantic mapping. Such an object classification system includes a system processor, a system memory, and an object categorizing unit stored in the system memory. The system processor is configured to execute the object categorizing unit to receive image data corresponding to an object, and to transform the image data into a directed quantity expressed at least in part in terms of semantic parameters. The system processor is further configured to determine a projection of the directed quantity onto an object representation map including multiple object categories, and to associate the object with a category from among the multiple object categories based on the projection.
US09740960B2
Systems and methods, devices and software are described for use in image comparison such as required for medical planning such as in dental implantology or other applications that require registration of digital images. A method and system is described for automatically finding correspondences between two or more digital representations such as images of one or more 3D objects with an identical, partially identical or similar geometry. The method and system, devices and software have the advantage that although the different digital representations of the object may be influenced by either noise, or scatter, or occlusion, or clutter, or any combination of these, correspondence can be found.
US09740959B2
A method of fusing images includes encoding first image data of a pixel in a first image and second image data of a like pixel in a second image. The first image and the second image have different exposures and are captured by an image capture device of the same scene from the same location, and the pixel and the like pixel map to an identical coordinate location within their respective images. The method also includes determining, by a graphics processing unit (GPU), a first quality measure for the first image data and a second quality measure for the second image data. A weighted blending of the first image data with the second image data is performed to achieve fused image data for a third pixel at the identical coordinate location in a fused image.
US09740955B2
A method for product recognition from multiple images includes producing a plurality of recognition results for a plurality of input images, stitching the plurality of input images into a single stitched image; merging the plurality of recognition results using information from stitching the plurality of input images to generate a merged recognition result; and outputting the merged recognition result. The disclosure also includes systems for implementing the method.
US09740946B2
The present invention relates to a medical data processing method for identifying an entity of the nervous system, in particular the brain, of a patient, wherein the method is designed to be executed by a computer and comprises the following steps: a) acquiring target connectivity data comprising target connectivity information about the probability of a target entity being connected to other entities of the nervous system; b) acquiring candidate connectivity data comprising candidate connectivity information about the probability of at least one candidate entity being connected to other entities of the nervous system; and c) determining similarity data for each of the at least one candidate entities on the basis of the candidate connectivity data and the target connectivity data, wherein the similarity data comprise similarity information about the similarity between the candidate entity and the target entity.
US09740937B2
A method and system for monitoring a retail environment by performing video content analysis based on two-dimensional image data and depth data are disclosed. Accuracy in customer actions to provide assistance, change marketing behavior, safety and theft, for example, is increase by analyzing video containing two-dimensional image data and associated depth data. Height data may be obtained from depth data to assist in object detection, object classification (e.g., detection a customer or inventory) and/or event detection.
US09740924B1
In order to classify the presented pose of a human hand, a feature distribution map of the pose is compared to reference feature distribution maps. To generate a feature distribution map, each contour point of a hand is analyzed to determine a corresponding feature set. The feature set of a contour point includes a distance feature and an angle feature of the contour point in relation to one of its neighboring contour points. The feature sets generated from an observed pose are compared to feature sets of reference poses to determine which of the reference poses most closely matches the presented pose.
US09740914B2
The location of a face is detected from data about a scene. A 3D surface model from is obtained from measurements of the scene. A 2D angle data image is generated from the 3D surface model. The angle data image is generated for a virtual lighting direction, the image representing angles between a ray directions from a virtual light source direction and normal to the 3D surface. A 2D face location algorithm is applied to each of the respective 2D images. In an embodiment respective 2D angle data images for a plurality of virtual lighting directions are generated and face locations detected from the respective 2D images are fused.
US09740897B1
An inventory management system includes an RFID reader, a multiplexing device operably connected to the RFID reader, and a plurality of shelving units. Each shelving unit has an outer boundary defined at least in part by RF blocking material. The inventory management system additionally includes a plurality of shelf antennas multiplexed to the RFID reader via the multiplexing device. At least one shelf antenna is routed within each shelving unit and tuned such that only RFID tags within the outer boundary of the shelving unit respond to an interrogation signal.
US09740894B1
Silent radio frequency identifier (RFID) state and restore back is described herein. An RFID tag enters a silent state by receiving a sleep command from an RFID reader. While the RFID tag is in the silent state, only an awake command will restore back normal operation of the RFID tag. Other received commands or interrogations from the RFID reader are ignored and responses are not transmitted to the RFID reader.
US09740891B1
Messages may be passed between Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags using RFID readers. A first tag with a message intended for a second tag sends the message to an RFID reader. The reader then determines that the destination of the message is the second tag and sends the message to the second tag. The second tag may confirm receipt of the message by sending a receipt confirmation message to the reader for forwarding to the first tag, and/or the reader may itself confirm that the message was sent to the second tag by sending a transmit confirmation message to the first tag.
US09740890B2
A card insertion part for use with a card may include a card insertion port; a light guide member surrounding at least a part of a periphery of the card insertion port when viewed in an inserting direction of the card; a light source configured to emit a light toward the light guide member; a reflection member disposed on a rear side with respect to the light guide member in the inserting direction of the card; and a cover member including the card insertion port and covers at least the light guide member and the light source from a front side in the inserting direction of the card. The cover member may include translucent light transmissive material.
US09740889B2
A method for accurately positioning a computer position, and identifying a specific rack position where the computer is without manual intervention. A camera is installed on the computer to read the contents of a tag on the rack, so as to identify the position information of the computer. Specifically, the computer is provided with a self-positioning function, wherein: a camera is installed on the computer, and the camera is configured to read the contents of a tag attached on a side of a rack to house the computer to identify the rack position where the computer is.
US09740888B1
Systems or methods can be used to detect evidence of tampering. The tampering can be physical tampering, such as the turning of a screw, or removal or modification of an electronic component. In some examples, a tamper detection value can be determined from a tamper detection device and compared to a predetermined tamper detection value to determine if tampering is indicated. The system can, upon detection of the tampering, halt an operation, disable device or circuit functionality, disable future operations, physically disable a device, or any combination thereof.
US09740865B2
Disclosed are systems and method for configuring antivirus scans on a computer. An example method comprising: identifying, by a hardware processor, a software object that requires an antivirus scan; collecting, by the hardware processor, information for setting antivirus scan of the object; accessing, by the hardware processor, a data store of antivirus setting rules; selecting, by the hardware processor, a date and time for the start of the antivirus scan of the object based on the collected information and one or more antivirus setting rules; selecting, by the hardware processor, an antivirus scan method based on the collected information, the selected date and time, and one or more antivirus setting rules; and performing, by the hardware processor, an antivirus scan of the object using the selected antivirus scan method and at the selected date and time.
US09740863B2
Embodiments of an invention for protecting a secure boot process against side channel attacks are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes cryptography hardware, a non-volatile memory, a comparator, and control logic. The cryptography hardware is to operate during a first boot process. The non-volatile memory includes a storage location in which to store a count of tampered boots. The comparator is to perform a comparison of the count of tampered boots to a limit. The control logic is to, based on the first comparison, transfer control of the apparatus from the first boot process to a second boot process.
US09740853B2
A device may receive a file to be analyzed in a sandbox environment, and may determine configuration information for configuring the sandbox environment. The configuration information may be determined based on at least one of: file information associated with the file to be analyzed, or client device information associated with a client device for which the file is intended. The device may configure the sandbox environment using the configuration information. The configuration information may identify a system configuration for the sandbox environment. The device may analyze the file in the sandbox environment based on configuring the sandbox environment using the configuration information.
US09740852B2
A system and method checks for harmful behavior of an application to be installed on a mobile communications device. A server computer receives from the mobile communications device data pertaining to the application to be installed and information pertaining to the mobile communications device. The server processes the data and information to determine an assessment for the application to be installed. The assessment is provided to the mobile communications device and the assessment is displayed on the device if the assessment is one of dangerous and potentially dangerous.
US09740851B2
A mechanism is provided for sending a password to a terminal. A password send request is received. The status of each of a plurality of terminals coupled to the information processing device via a network is acquired. On the basis of the acquired statuses, at least one item is selected from a group comprising the terminal serving as a destination for the password, the communication method with the terminal, or the method for inputting the password in the terminal. The password is then sent to the selected terminal via a network.
US09740843B2
A method for providing a license to a user for accessing a protected content on a user device is provided, the method comprising: transmitting user authentication data from the user device to a user account server; transmitting user identification data from the user account server to a license server if the user authentication data corresponds to a valid user account on the user account server; checking in the license server, whether the user is entitled to the license; and transmitting the license from the license server to the user device, if the user identification data is validated and if the user is deemed entitled to the license. A corresponding system, a license server and a software module are provided as well.
US09740838B2
The present invention relates to a method and computer program for providing authentication to control access to a computer. system including online services accessed via a portal, cloud based systems and browser accessed systems using for example HTML5, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to authentication systems for mobile computer and telecommunications devices.
US09740836B2
An image forming apparatus capable of executing an application formed by a plurality of program modules is disclosed, including: a correspondence information storing part, a determination part, and a boot control part. A correspondence information storing part stores correspondence information corresponding to the plurality of program modules and a plurality of sets of license data for the application. A determination part determines whether to permit or deny activation based on the license data corresponded to the correspondence information for each of the program modules included in the application. A boot control part activates one or more program modules which are permitted to be activated by the determination part.
US09740832B2
A method, apparatus, and system for accessing at least a portion of a device based upon an access input. An access input is received. The access input includes information for gaining access to one or more functions of the device. A user access mode of the device is changed from a first access mode to a second access mode based upon at least in part on the access input. An application is selected in the device in response to changing from the first access mode to the second access mode. At least a portion of the output of the selected application is provided.
US09740831B2
A clinical data management system (1) has databases (20), processors in servers (2-4) which are programmed to process clinical data and communicate with user interfaces and external systems interfaces, and at least one database. The system imports source data from disparate clinical site sources into staging databases at refresh intervals, maintains data models, and maps data from the staging databases into the data models, and feeds data from the data models into data delivery databases. There is a uniform refresh frequency for the staging databases. The system output is regularly updated data for clinical site performance, quality and risk metrics to a clinical study team. The data mapper servers identify each of a plurality of source data stages, and transform data from each stage to one or more data models according to one or more mapsets, each mapset defining a transformation.
US09740829B2
An apparatus for indicating a change in operation of a medical infusion pump. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store an original pump parameter and a current pump parameter. The apparatus further includes a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to display the original pump parameter and the current pump parameter. A method indicates a change in operation of a medical infusion pump.
US09740827B2
A method and system for monitoring a user's intoxication including receiving a set of signals, derived from a set of samples collected from the user at a set of time points; providing a sobriety task to the user proximal to a time point of the set of time points; generating a performance dataset characterizing performance of the sobriety task by the user; receiving a supplementary dataset characterizing a demographic profile of the user and/or a physiological state of the user; determining a set of values of an intoxication metric, derived from the set of signals; generating a predicted temporal profile of the intoxication metric for the user based upon the set of values, the set of time points, and the supplementary dataset; generating an analysis of the user's sobriety based upon the performance dataset and the predicted temporal profile; and providing a notification to the user based upon the analysis.
US09740825B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for determining and generating variably-sized display areas for presenting content items. The display areas include a notification bar that present icons representative of content items, a content item display area that displays content items, and a results display area that presents more detailed information concerning a particular content item.
US09740824B2
Disclosed is a drinking water reminding system and the reminding method thereof. The water intake of user is measured by the operation of a reminder of the drinking water reminding system, and a collector of the drinking water reminding system is provided for adjusting the daily drinking water demand of user according to environmental parameters or the physiological parameters of user. The drinking water reminding system reminds the user to drink water if the drinking water reminding system determines that the user has taken insufficient water according to predetermined conditions and measurement results, drinking water reminding system.
