US09912196B2
A power receiving device that receives electric power output from a power transmission device includes a primary side coil and supplies electric power to a load according to the electric power. The power receiving device includes: an adjusting device that adjusts a value of a third current to be a predetermined value, the third current is generated from the second current and supplied to the load; a detecting device that detects the third current; and a variable capacitor coupled between the secondary side coil and the load. The variable capacitor ensures a changeable capacitance value. The adjusting device performs an adjustment based on a detection result by the detecting device. The variable capacitor is coupled in series with the secondary side coil and the load. The adjusting device includes a first adjusting device that increases the capacitance value and a second adjusting device that decreases the capacitance value.
US09912188B2
The invention is based on a charging device, in particular for a hand tool accumulator (12), with at least one inductive voltage source (14) that is provided for supplying a charging current and comprises a first AC voltage connection point (16) and at least one further AC voltage connection point (18), with an inverter (20) comprising at least one power output (22) and at least one inverter element (24) which is electrically connected to the first AC voltage connection point (16), and with a signal transfer unit (26).It is proposed that the signal transfer unit (26) is provided for short-circuiting the at least two AC voltage connection points (16, 18) to generate a signal.
US09912177B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus and methods for balancing charge in a plurality of cells in a battery. In one example apparatus, the primary winding of the transformer may be coupled to a bus, and the secondary winding may be coupled to a cell of the plurality of cells in the battery. The apparatus also includes a switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer and one or more control circuits coupled to the switch. The control circuit may be configured to control the first switch based on a voltage at a first terminal of the primary winding to control transfer of power between the cell and the bus via the transformer.
US09912171B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a wireless power transmitter that includes a coil assembly configured to transmit a power signal to a power receiving unit of at least one wireless power client. The coil assembly includes a first coil and a second coil configured to generate the power signal via a combined magnetic field. A first driver is configured to generate a first current signal on the first coil. A second driver is configured to generate a second current signal on the second coil at a first controllable phase relative to the first current signal to control the combined magnetic field. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09912145B2
A short-circuit protection method for a boost converter is disclosed. In this method, a switch of a switching circuit of the boost converter is turned on and a control voltage with a gradually increasing magnitude is supplied to control a short-circuit protection switch coupled between an input voltage and the switching circuit when the boost converter starts up. Then, a current flowing through the switch is detected and compared with a predetermined value. The switch is turned off and a preset time period is initiated if the current is higher than the predetermined value. It is detected whether a short-circuit event occurs at an output terminal of the boost converter at the end of the preset time period. If the short-circuit event occurs, the short-circuit protection switch is then turned off.
US09912127B2
A switchgear cabinet (100) includes an equipment compartment (102), a bus compartment (104) and a cable compartment (106). The cabinet can employ a sensor(s) (190) to monitor conditions, such as arcing, in the bus or cable compartment. The cabinet also includes a retractable sensor system (150), which has a rack (160) and a slider (170). The rack is mounted in the cabinet, and the slider is configured to retain the sensor. The slider is movably engaged to the rack. The slider can slide in one direction toward a back of the bus or cable compartment to a racked-in position in which the sensor is located to sense arcing in the bus or cable compartment. The slider can slide in an opposite direction toward a front of the equipment compartment to a racked-out position in which the sensor is drawn into the equipment compartment.
US09912124B2
Described is a spark plug connector having an interference-suppression resistor which has a wire winding on a coil body. According to this disclosure, it is provided that the coil body carries an electrical resistor that contacts the wire winding and is connected in parallel thereto. In addition, an interference-suppression resistor for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine is described.
US09912111B2
A receptacle connector includes an insulative housing defining a base and a mating tongue extending from the base with a widen and thicken step structure formed around a root of the mating tongue near to the base, two rows of plate contacts disposed in the insulative housing with contacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue and in front of the step structure and categorized with signal contacts, power contacts and grounding contacts, and a metallic shielding plate disposed within a middle level of the mating tongue and occupying most portions of said mating tongue. The shielding plate defines a pair of immoveable and un-deflectable lateral edge sections in front of the step structure, each lateral edge section is configured to be adapted to be locked with a latch of a plug connector in a transverse direction.
US09912109B2
A power transfer system to facilitate the transfer of electrical power between tree trunk sections of an artificial tree is disclosed. The power transfer system can advantageously enable neighboring tree trunk sections to be electrically connected without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections. Power distribution subsystems can be disposed within the trunk sections. The power distribution subsystems can comprise a male end, a female end, or both. The male ends can have prongs and the female ends can have voids. The prongs can be inserted into the voids to electrically connect the power distribution subsystems of neighboring tree trunk sections. In some embodiments, the prongs and voids are designed so that the prongs of one power distribution subsystem can engage the voids of another power distribution subsystem without the need to rotationally align the tree trunk sections.
US09912106B2
An electrical connector includes a housing defining a base portion and a tongue portion, two rows of terminals and a shielding shell. The tongue portion defines a thickened step at a root to the base portion, the base portion defines a front and a rear side, and an upper and a lower retaining slots. The shell is retained on the base portion and surrounding the tongue portion so as to define a mating cavity between the shell and the tongue portion. The shell defines an upper and a lower-front stopping portions inwardly received in corresponding retaining slots to prevent a forward movement of the housing. The upper and lower front stopping portions extend forwardly into the mating cavity across the front side of the base portion so as to prevent a mating connector from damaging the housing during the mating connector is inserted into the mating cavity.
US09912100B2
An electrical buss has a carrier and at least a pair of electrically conductive elements. The at least a pair of electrically conductive elements extend linearly along a length of the carrier and at least a portion of each of the least a pair of electrically conductive elements is exposed at a surface of the carrier. A connector is releasably couplable to the electrical buss adjacent to the surface of the carrier. The connector has at least a pair of electrically conductive contacts for engaging with the electrically conductive elements at any desired location along the length of the carrier.
US09912093B2
An electrical connection component that is suitable for transmission of power with voltage levels greater than or equal to 1 kV and comprises a housing having an internal region, and having a machine cable end, a connection end, an electrical contact assembly, at least a portion of which is arranged at the connection end of the housing, the electrical contact assembly being arranged for electrically coupling with a further electrical contact assembly of another electrical connection component. The electrical connection component also comprises a removable member disposed at least partially within the housing at the connection end to provide a closure of an end portion of the housing to reduce contamination of the internal region. The housing and the removable member are arranged such that at least a portion of the internal region can be inspected when the removable member has been at least partially removed from the housing.
US09912090B2
A pressure contact type connector includes: an upper flat plate portion; a lower flat plate portion which is disposed below the upper flat plate portion; a first spring portion which connects the upper and lower flat plate portions; and a second spring portion which extends upward from the lower flat plate portion and applies a resilient force to the upper flat plate portion, in which the first and second spring portions are wound about the upper flat plate portion when viewed from above in a plan view, and extend so that the spring portions do not interfere with each other when being compressed and extended in the vertical direction, the first spring portion is formed to be bent so that a width dimension is larger than a thickness dimension, and the second spring portion is formed to be bent so that a width dimension is larger than a thickness dimension.
US09912077B2
This disclosure is directed to broadband polarization diversity antennas. In one aspect, a polarization diversity antenna includes a baseboard with a baseboard-feed line located on a first surface. The baseboard-feed line includes a serpentine meander-line portion. The antenna also includes an antenna-array board with two or more antenna elements arranged in a series. The antenna-array board is attached to the first surface with the serpentine meander-line portion located between an edge of the antenna-array board and the baseboard. Each antenna element is connected to the serpentine meander-line portion via an antenna-feed line located on the antenna-array board. The antenna array provides two dimensional polarization broadcasting and receiving of electromagnetic radiation. In another aspect, a notch antenna is formed on an opposing second surface of the baseboard opposite the antenna-array board in order to provide three-dimensional polarization broadcasting and receiver of electromagnetic radiation.
US09912070B2
A satellite communications assembly has a foldable antenna that has a flexible reflector member and a flexible tension member. The assembly further has a feed assembly centrally disposed with respect to the foldable antenna and a plurality of reflector supports that extend radially from the feed assembly and coupled to the reflector member. Additionally, the assembly has a hub coupled to the feed assembly, the hub coupled to ends of a plurality of ground support legs.
US09912059B2
Systems and techniques are provided for proximity coupled multi-band antenna. A two-layer flex antenna includes a first element and a second element arranged with a gap between the first element and the second element. A dielectric material covers the two-layer flex antenna and the gap. A thin trace antenna is arranged on top of the dielectric material such that a first portion of the thin trace antenna is partially congruent with the first element of two-layer flex antenna, a second portion of the thin trace antenna crosses the gap between the first element and the second element of the two-layer flex antenna, and a third portion of the thin trace antenna extends away from the second element of the two-layer flex antenna.
US09912056B2
A multiband antenna includes a first antenna unit (10) and a second antenna unit (20). The first antenna unit (10) includes a first antenna pattern (11) formed of a conductor and a first substrate (12) formed of a dielectric, for holding the first antenna pattern (11). The second antenna unit (20) includes a second antenna pattern (21) formed of a conductor and a second substrate (22) formed of a dielectric having a dielectric constant different from the dielectric constant of the first substrate (12), for holding the second antenna pattern (21). In the multiband antenna, by injection molding the second substrate (22) with the first antenna unit (10) and the second antenna pattern (21), which being insert components, the first antenna unit (10) and the second antenna unit (20) are integrated.
US09912048B2
A thermal barrier coated radio frequency (RF) radome is provided having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a tip, and a base, wherein the RF radome is designed to transmit RF signals. A thermal barrier coating is applied to an exterior surface of the radome, wherein the thermal barrier coating has a dielectric constant of less than about 2.0, and further wherein the thermal barrier coating reduces a structure temperature of the RF radome by greater than 300 degrees Fahrenheit to enhance thermo-mechanical properties and performance of the RF radome.
US09912040B2
Electronic device antenna structures may include first and second antennas. A housing may have a periphery that is surrounded by peripheral conductive structures such as a segmented peripheral metal member. A segment of the peripheral metal member may be separated from a ground by an opening. An antenna feed for the first antenna may have a positive antenna terminal coupled to the peripheral metal member and a ground terminal coupled to the ground. A return path for the first antenna may span the opening in parallel with the antenna feed. A plastic carrier may be mounted to a printed circuit and a metal housing structure using screws. The plastic carrier may support an antenna resonating element for the second antenna and may support the return path for the first antenna. The screws may short metal structures on the plastic carrier to the metal structures and traces on the printed circuit.
US09912037B2
A Planar Inverted-F Wing Antenna (PIFWA) device, system, and method used for commercial and residential induction cooking tops, ovens, combo-steamers, and pressure cookers. The outline of the PIFWA is an isosceles triangle with a truncated vertex end opposite the base side. The PIFWA transmits and receives (TX/RX) signals with wireless sensors including Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) devices. The antenna comprises a device, system, and method to monitor the cooking process and temperature of food. Embodiments of the PIFWA antenna operate at about 433 MHz, have a feed between two slots, and a shorting plate at the opposing end. Antenna location and alignment within the culinary appliance provides uniform signal strength and gain performance in the regions occupied by one or more sensors.
US09912034B2
Antenna assemblies are described herein. Any of these assemblies may include a primary feed that includes a single patterned emitting surface from which multiple different beams of RF signals are emitted corresponding to different antenna input feeds each communicating with the patterned antenna emitting surface. The antenna assembly may include a primary reflector, a secondary reflector, and a primary feed that is feed by multiple antenna input feeds so that different regions of the primary and secondary antenna correlate with different beams emitted by the primary feed. The antenna assembly is capable of emitting beams in the same direction having different polarizations using a single primary feed. Also described herein are methods of operating an antenna assembly. Access point devices that have a single primary feed configured to emit multiple beams are also described.
US09912027B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting an environmental condition that can adversely affect operations of a waveguide system for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves guided by a transmission medium, and enabling a heater system to mitigate an effect of the environmental condition on the operations of the waveguide system for transmitting or receiving the electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09912025B2
A system and method are disclosed for using regenerative braking power to start a fuel cell stack for system restart during a start/stop operation of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The method includes disconnecting the fuel cell stack from a high voltage bus for the start/stop operation and using regenerative braking power provided by an electric traction system to recharge a battery in the hybrid vehicle during the start/stop operation. The method also includes reconnecting the fuel cell stack to the high voltage bus and providing at least some of the regenerative braking power from the electric traction system to a compressor that provides cathode air to the fuel cell stack when the stack is reconnected to the high voltage bus at the end of the start/stop operation. A bi-directional DC converter selectively distributes the power to the compressor and the battery.
US09912024B2
The present invention addresses the problem of obtaining a battery capable of achieving a uniform temperature among a plurality of battery cells in a simple configuration while achieving size and weight reductions, and a battery module using the battery block. The battery block of the present invention has a structure such that a pair of end plates is disposed at both ends of a plurality of battery cells in an arranged direction; first spacers are disposed between the plurality of battery cells; and second spacers are disposed between the battery cells and the end plates. The first spacers have a space for allowing a flow of cooling gas. The second spacers block the flow of the cooling gas between the battery cells and the end plates and have a thermal insulating property for suppressing heat transmission between the battery cells and the end plates.
US09912019B2
A battery system including a passive cooling system for cooling a plurality battery cells during normal operation and during overheating of the battery cells. The passive cooling system may include a housing, a cooling fluid (coolant pool) within the housing, and a plurality of dividers between each of the plurality of battery cells.
US09912016B2
A system and method for transferring battery power transfer between portable electronic devices is disclosed. Specifically, a battery to battery transfer system and method is disclosed, in which a first portable electronic device comprising a first battery and a second portable electronic device and a second portable electronic device comprising a second battery are connected by a connecting device capable of attaching both portable electronic devices and transferring power from the first battery to the second battery. Furthermore, first electronic device is capable of outputting power from the first battery.
US09912006B2
Provided are a method of manufacturing a composite positive active material, a composite positive active material manufactured by the method, and a positive electrode and a lithium battery including the composite positive active material. The method may include acid-treating an overlithiated lithium transition metal oxide; and applying fluorine onto the acid-treated overlithiated lithium transition metal oxide using a fluorine compound.
US09912004B2
A battery pack assembly and a method of making the same. The method includes using lifters with a cammed conveyor delivery mechanism to facilitate edgewise stacking of generally planar battery cells. The lifter spacing and cam profile are designed in such a way as to orient individual battery cell tabs and cooling fin assemblies to keep them close together but without applying significant forces to the stackable components. Combining conveyor streams allows components to be processed in parallel and sequenced correctly onto a single conveyor. Use of lifter integrated conveyor belt with cams and guides for individual battery cell orientation and sequencing promotes high speed assembly without a need to change component directions. The use of high-speed component delivery high is compatible with allowing more component placement variation, while the edgewise orientation of the components being assembled permits the use of small manufacturing footprints.
US09912001B2
Extruder feed system. The system includes a pair of spaced-apart, internally and oppositely threaded rotatable elements for receiving and engaging a plastic filament material. An electric motor rotates the rotatable elements in opposite directions thereby to drive the filament into a liquefier chamber for subsequent discharge through a nozzle. The system provides very accurate layer-by-layer build up.
US09911999B2
The invention relates to a method for producing an anion-exchange polymer material having an IPN or semi-IPN structure, said method consisting in: (A) preparing a homogeneous reaction solution containing, in a suitable organic solvent, (a) at least one organic polymer bearing reactive halogen groups, (b) at least one tertiary diamine, (c) at least one monomer comprising an ethylenic unsaturation polymerizable by free radical polymerization, (d) optionally at least one cross-linking agent including at least two ethylenic unsaturations polymerizable by free radical polymerization, and e) at least one free radical polymerization initiator; and (B) heating the prepared solution to a temperature and for a duration that are sufficient to allow both a nucleophilic substitution reaction between components (a) and (b) and a free radical copolymerization reaction of components (c) and optionally (d) initiated by component (e). The invention also relates to the resulting IPN or semi-IPN material and to the use thereof in electrochemical devices, in direct contact with an air electrode.
US09911993B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for dynamically controlling seal decompression. The method includes monitoring a set of parameters associated with an operation of a seal, wherein the set of parameters includes a maximum pressure subjected to the seal and an exposure time at the maximum pressure, calculating a target pressure ramp down rate based on at least one of the maximum pressure and the exposure time, and decreasing a pressure about the seal at a decompression rate that is based on the target pressure ramp down rate. The system includes a controller having a memory device, a graphical user interface, at least one pressure transmitter configured to monitor the pressure about the seal, and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to detect a maximum exposure pressure and exposure time at maximum pressure about the seal and control a pressure ramp down about the seal based on the maximum exposure pressure and the exposure time detected in order to prevent explosive decompression of the seal.
US09911988B2
A fuel cell component includes a sub-gasket including a structural component and a thermally conductive layer. The sub-gasket defines a central opening while the structural component includes a first side and a second side. The sub-gasket also has an inner portion proximate to the central opening and an outer portion. The inner portion is positioned between the cathode layer outer edge and the ion-conducting membrane outer edge or between the anode layer outer edge and the ion-conducting membrane outer edge. Finally, the thermally conductive layer contacts the second side of the structural component. Advantageously, the thermally conductive layer dissipates locally generated heat caused by unintended particles falling on the sub-gasket.
US09911978B2
An organic active material, having good energy density and electrochemical stability, for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed. Electrochemical cells that employ the organic active material are also disclosed. The organic active material is a bridged-ring organic molecule having a nitroxy moiety, the nitroxy moiety being capable of two-electron oxidation/reduction through three distinct redox states. In different implementations, the organic active material can be incorporated in a solid electrode or can be employed as a fluid active material such as is useful for a flow cell. In different variations, the organic active material can be employed as a cathodic active material or as an anodic active material.
US09911968B2
An electrode active material includes particles of a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by the general compositional formula: Li1+xMO2, where −0.15≦x≦0.15, and M represents an element group of three or more elements including at least Ni, Co and Mn, wherein the ratios of Ni, Co and Mn to the total elements constituting M satisfy 45≦a≦90, 5≦b≦30, 5≦c≦30 and 10≦b+c≦55, where the ratios of Ni, Co and Mn are represented by a, b and c, respectively, in units of mol %, the average valence A of Ni in the whole particles is 2.2 to 3.2, the valence B of Ni on the surface of the particles has the relationship: B
US09911965B2
A battery backup unit (BBU) system and apparatus is provided for securing and communicating with a BBU for use with optical network terminals (ONTs) and/or residential gateways. In various aspects, the BBU system includes a battery enclosure that is configured to eliminate the unintentional reversal of the polarity for a battery enclosed therein. The BBU system also provides an integrated communication circuit for receiving a variety of connectors.
US09911952B2
A battery module (10) for a motor vehicle has at least one battery cell (12) for producing and storing electrical energy and a rigid battery frame (14) in which the at least one battery cell (12) is accommodated. An absorption element (24) is secured to the battery frame (14) by connection sections (28). The absorption element (24) is spaced apart from the battery frame (14) in such a way that a cavity (26) is formed between the absorption element (24) and the battery frame (14).
US09911948B2
There is provided a surface-treated steel sheet for battery containers. The surface-treated sheet is used to form a battery container for a battery. The battery uses a nonaqueous electrolytic solution as an electrolytic solution. The surface-treated steel sheet is characterized by the features as below. The surface-treated steel sheet includes a base material made of steel and an iron-nickel diffusion layer formed by performing thermal diffusion treatment after forming a nickel plating layer at least on a surface of the base material to be located at the inner surface side of the battery container. The iron-nickel diffusion layer has an outermost layer of which a ratio of Ni and Fe is 7.5 or less as a molar ratio of Ni/Fe. The iron-nickel diffusion layer has a thickness of 0.6 μm or more.
US09911938B2
In a method of manufacturing a quantum dot, a core may be formed using (utilizing) at least one cation precursor and at least one anion precursor. The core may be reacted with a shell forming precursor and a ligand forming precursor for more than one hour to form a shell enclosing the core and a ligand. A nanoparticle including the core, the shell and the ligand may be washed.
US09911937B2
A novel light-emitting element is provided. A light-emitting element that emits red light with high color purity and has high emission efficiency is provided. A full-color light-emitting device having low power consumption is provided. In the light-emitting element that exhibits white light emission, the emission wavelength range of red light is a specific range on the longer wavelength side than the conventional emission wavelength range of red light that is usually used, and an optical element having a specific transmittance in the specific wavelength range is used.
US09911934B2
An OLED and a method for producing an OLED are disclosed. In an embodiment, the OLED includes a substrate and an organic layer stack with at least one active light-generating layer, which is suitable for generating electromagnetic radiation, wherein the organic layer stack is arranged between a first electrode and a second electrode. The OLED further includes a buffer layer arranged between the substrate and the first electrode, wherein the buffer layer includes an organic material, wherein a polymeric planarization layer is in direct contact with the substrate, wherein the buffer layer is in direct contact with the polymeric planarization layer, and wherein the first electrode is in direct contact with the buffer layer.
US09911932B2
A compound and an organic optoelectronic device are provided. The compound has the following chemical formula (I): chemical formula (I). In the chemical formula (I), X1 to X2 are independently selected from O, S, and substituted or unsubstituted methylene, and a substituent is selected from hydrogen, deuterium, C1 to C30 alkyl, C1 to C30 heteroatom-substituted alkyl, C6 to C30 aryl, and C2 to C30 heteroaryl. X3 is selected from O, S, substituted or unsubstituted methylene, substituted or unsubstituted methylene, and substituted or unsubstituted silylene, and a substituent is selected hydrogen, deuterium, C1 to C30 alkyl, C1 to C30 heteroatom-substituted alkyl, C6 to C30 aryl, and C2 to C30 heteroaryl. R1 to R17 are independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, C1 to C30 alkyl, C1 to C30 heteroatom-substituted alkyl, C6 to C30 aryl, and C2 to C30 heteroaryl.
US09911931B2
Compounds having the structure of Formula M(LA)x(LB)y and Formula III, are disclosed. In Formula M(LA)x(LB)y, Ligand LA is and ligand LB is a mono anionic bidentate ligand. In these compounds, metal M has an atomic number greater than 40; x is 1, 2, or 3; y is 0, 1, or 2; x+y is the oxidation state of metal M; L11 represents a linking group selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; L12 represents a linking group selected from NR15 and PR15; each R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R11, R12, R13, R14, and R15 is independently selected from a group of substituents, wherein any adjacent substituents are optionally joined to form a fused or unfused ring; and LA and LB are optionally joined to form a ligand that is at least tetradentate. Formulations and devices, such as OLEDs, that include the compound of Formula M(LA)x(LB)y are also described.
US09911927B2
Disclosed are new compounds having semiconducting properties. Such compounds can be processed in solution-phase at a temperature of less than about 50° C. into thin film semiconductors that exhibit high carrier mobility and/or good current modulation characteristics.
US09911918B2
A manufacturing method of a flexible display apparatus includes forming a sacrificial layer on a carrier, forming a flexible substrate on the sacrificial layer, forming a display element on the flexible substrate, forming a first protection layer on the display element, forming, on the first protection layer, a second protection layer, which has an opposite sign of a thermal expansion coefficient to the first protection layer, separating the flexible substrate from the carrier by removing at least a portion of the sacrificial layer, and separating the first protection layer from the first protection layer.
US09911907B2
The present application discloses a light-emitting apparatus having a light-emitting device and a wavelength conversion layer. The light-emitting device has a first top surface and a first side surface, and the wavelength conversion layer has a second top surface and a second side surface and covers the first top surface. A ratio of a distance between the first top surface to the second top surface and a distance between the first side surface and the second side surface is between 1.1˜1.3.
US09911903B2
Systems and methods for improved light emitting efficiency of a solid state transducer (SST), for example light emitting diodes (LED), are disclosed. One embodiment of an SST die in accordance with the technology includes a reflective material disposed over electrical connectors on a front side of the die. The reflective material has a higher reflectivity than a base material of the connectors such that light traveling toward the connectors reflects back out of the device.
US09911890B2
One or more embodiments are directed to system in package (SiP) for optical devices, including proximity sensor packaging. One embodiment is directed to optical sensor that includes a substrate, an image sensor die and a light-emitting device. A first surface of the image sensor die is coupled to the substrate, and a recess is formed extending into the image sensor die from the first surface toward a second surface of the image sensor die. A light transmissive layer is formed in the image sensor die between the recess and the first surface. The optical sensor further includes a light-emitting device that is coupled to the substrate and positioned within the recess formed in the image sensor die.
US09911889B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention may be directed to a transistor structure. The transistor structure may include a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate may include a drift region, a collector region, an emitter region, and a lightly-doped/undoped region. The lightly-doped/undoped region may be lightly-doped and/or undoped. The transistor structure may also include a heterostructure. The heterostructure forms a heterojunction with the lightly-doped/undoped region. The transistor structure may also include a collector terminal. The collector terminal is in contact with the collector region. The transistor structure may also include a gate terminal. The gate terminal is in contact with the heterostructure. The transistor structure may also include an emitter terminal. The emitter terminal is in contact with the lightly-doped/undoped region and the emitter region.
US09911885B2
A solar cell stack having multiple semiconductor solar cells, each semiconductor solar cell having a first solar subcell with a top and a bottom and a first semiconductor solar cell, and wherein the first semiconductor solar cell has a first lattice constant, and the solar cell stack has a second solar subcell with a top and a bottom and a second semiconductor solar cell, and wherein the second semiconductor solar cell has a second lattice constant, and wherein the first solar subcell is arranged in a frictional manner with its bottom on the top of the second solar subcell, and wherein an abrupt difference is formed between the first lattice constant and the second lattice constant and the difference between the first lattice constant and the second lattice constant is at least 0.5% or an amorphous layer is formed.
US09911877B2
An electronic device includes a light source, a light receiver, a first light guide structure, and a second light guide structure. The first light guide structure faces a light emitting surface of the light source and faces a lateral wall of the light receiver. The second light guide structure is disposed over the light receiver and coupled to the first light guide structure. The light receiver and the second light guide structure defines a cavity between the light receiver and the second light guide structure.
US09911875B2
An interdigitated back contact solar cell is provided. The solar cell comprises a solar cell substrate having a light receiving frontside and a backside comprising base and emitter regions. A first level metal (M1) layer is positioned on the substrate backside contacting the base and emitter regions. A second level metal (M2) layer is connected to the first level metal (M1) layer and comprises a base busbar and an emitter busbar. The first level metal comprises substantially orthogonal interdigitated metallization and substantially parallel interdigitated metallization positioned under and corresponding to the base and emitter busbars on the second level metal (M2). The substantially parallel interdigitated metallization of M1 collects carriers of opposite polarity of the corresponding busbar.
US09911873B2
Methods of hydrogenation of passivated contacts using materials having hydrogen impurities are provided. An example method includes applying, to a passivated contact, a layer of a material, the material containing hydrogen impurities. The method further includes subsequently annealing the material and subsequently removing the material from the passivated contact.
US09911872B2
A composition for solar cell electrodes and electrodes fabricated using the same. The composition includes a silver (Ag) powder; a glass frit containing about 0.1 mole % to about 50 mole % of elemental silver; and an organic vehicle, wherein the elemental silver derives from a silver halide (Ag—X). The composition introduces a glass frit including a silver halide to enhance contact efficiency between electrodes and a silicon wafer, and solar cell electrodes prepared from the composition have minimized contact resistance (Rc), specific contact resistivity, and serial resistance (Rs), thereby exhibiting excellent conversion efficiency.
US09911868B2
A nitride semiconductor device includes: a conductive substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer which is formed on the substrate and contains Ga or Al; an electron supply layer which is formed in contact with the first nitride semiconductor layer and is made of a second nitride semiconductor having a different composition from that of the first nitride semiconductor layer in an interface between the electron supply layer and the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a source, a gate and a drain or an anode and a cathode which are formed on a front surface of the substrate, wherein the first nitride semiconductor layer has a thickness of w or more, a deep acceptor concentration distribution NDA(z) and a shallow acceptor concentration distribution NA(z), which satisfy the following equations (1) to (3): ∫ 0 w { E c ( x ) - ∫ 0 w q ( N DA ( z ) + N A ( z ) ) ɛ 0 ɛ dz } dz ≧ V b ( 1 ) E c ( x ) = 3.3 × 10 6 × x + 12 × 10 6 × ( 1 - x ) ( 2 ) E ( z ) = E c ( x ) - ∫ 0 w q ( N DA ( z ) + N A ( z ) ) ɛ 0 ɛ dz . ( 3 )
US09911861B2
A semiconductor device in which parasitic capacitance is reduced is provided. A first insulating layer is deposited over a substrate. A first oxide insulating layer and an oxide semiconductor layer are deposited over the first insulating layer. A second oxide insulating layer is deposited over the oxide semiconductor layer and the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer and a first conductive layer are deposited over the second oxide insulating layer. A gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, and a third oxide insulating layer are formed by etching. A sidewall insulating layer including a region in contact with a side surface of the gate electrode layer is formed. A second conductive layer is deposited over the gate electrode layer, the sidewall insulating layer, the oxide semiconductor layer, and the first insulating layer. A third conductive layer is deposited over the second conductive layer. A low-resistance region is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer by performing heat treatment. An element contained in the second conductive layer moves from the second conductive layer to the oxide semiconductor layer side by performing the heat treatment. An element contained in the oxide semiconductor layer moves from the oxide semiconductor layer to the third conductive layer side by performing the heat treatment.
US09911859B2
According to one embodiment, a thin-film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same achieve size reduction of the thin-film transistor while using an oxide semiconductor layer. The oxide semiconductor layer includes a channel region, a source region, and a drain region. A gate electrode is arranged at a position spaced from the channel region of the oxide semiconductor layer so as to face the channel region. A source electrode is electrically connected to the source region of the oxide semiconductor layer. A drain electrode is electrically connected to the drain region of the oxide semiconductor layer. An undercoat layer adjoins the source region and the drain region of the oxide semiconductor layer. A hydrogen blocking layer has a hydrogen concentration lower than that in the undercoat layer and separates the undercoat layer and the channel region of the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09911856B2
One of objects is to provide a semiconductor device with stable electric characteristics, in which an oxide semiconductor is used. The semiconductor device includes a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, and a silicon oxide layer over the thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer whose thickness is equal to or larger than 100 nm and equal to or smaller than 350 nm, the oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer. In the thin film transistor, the difference of the threshold voltage value is 1 V or less between before and after performance of a measurement in which the voltage of 30 V or −30 V is applied to the gate electrode layer at a temperature of 85° C. for 12 hours.
US09911855B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical transistor and a second vertical transistor. The first vertical transistor includes a first semiconductor channel, a first top source/drain region over the first semiconductor channel, and a first top source/drain pad overlapping the first top source/drain region. The second vertical transistor includes a second semiconductor channel, a second top source/drain region over the second semiconductor channel, and a second top source/drain pad overlapping the second top source/drain region. A local interconnector interconnects the first top source/drain pad and the second top source/drain pad. The first top source/drain pad, the second top source/drain pad, and the local interconnector are portions of a continuous region, with no distinguishable interfaces between the first top source/drain pad, the second top source/drain pad, and the local interconnector.
US09911853B2
In a semiconductor device using a transistor including an oxide semiconductor, a change in electrical characteristics is suppressed and reliability is improved. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode over an insulating surface; an oxide semiconductor film overlapping with the gate electrode; a gate insulating film that is between the gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor film and in contact with the oxide semiconductor film; a protective film in contact with a surface of the oxide semiconductor film that is an opposite side of a surface in contact with the gate insulating film; and a pair of electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. The spin density of the gate insulating film or the protective film measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy is lower than 1×1018 spins/cm3, preferably higher than or equal to 1×1017 spins/cm3 and lower than 1×1018 spins/cm3.
US09911842B2
A nitride semiconductor device includes; a semiconductor stack configured with a plurality of semiconductor layers made of nitride semiconductors provided on a base having a conductive portion; a first electrode provided on a portion of a semiconductor layer of the semiconductor layers configuring the semiconductor stack; a second electrode provided on a portion of a semiconductor layer of the semiconductor layers configuring the semiconductor stack separately from the first electrode; a first wiring provided at an upper layer of the first electrode; and a second wiring provided at an upper layer of the second electrode. A low permittivity area being a portion of which permittivity is lower than permittivities of the nitride semiconductors configuring the semiconductor stack at a lower layer of a portion of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode other than a portion being junctioned with the semiconductor stack electrically.
US09911837B2
A heterojunction bipolar transistor, comprising an elongated base mesa, an “H” shaped emitter, two base electrodes, an elongated collector, and two elongated collector electrodes. The “H” shaped emitter is formed on the base mesa and has two parallel bars connected by a cross-bar. Two elongated emitter electrodes are formed respectively on the two parallel bars of the “H” shaped emitter. The “H” shaped emitter has two recesses respectively on two opposite sides of the cross-bar between the two parallel bars. The two base electrodes are formed on the base mesa respectively at the two recesses of the “H” shaped emitter, each of which has a base via hole near a center of the base mesa. The elongated collector is formed below the base mesa. The two elongated collector electrodes are formed on the collector respectively at two opposite sides of the base mesa.
US09911836B2
Power amplification devices are disclosed having a vertical ballast configuration to prevent thermal runaway in at least one stack of bipolar transistors formed on a semiconductor substrate. To provide a negative feedback to prevent thermal runaway in the bipolar transistors, a conductive layer is formed over and coupled to the stack. A resistivity of the conductive layer provides an effective resistance that prevents thermal runaway in the bipolar transistors. The vertical placement of the conductive layer allows for vertical heat dissipation and thus provides ballasting without concentrating heat.
US09911826B2
A device includes a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate, and source/drain (S/D) features in the substrate and interposed by the gate structure. At least one of the S/D features includes a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material, and a third semiconductor material over the second semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material has a composition different from the first semiconductor material and the third semiconductor material. The first semiconductor material includes physically discontinuous portions.
US09911823B2
A method of filling trenches between gates includes forming a first and a second dummy gate over a substrate, the first and second dummy gates including a sacrificial gate material and a hard mask layer; forming a first gate spacer along a sidewall of the first dummy gate and a second gate spacer along a sidewall of the second dummy gate; performing an epitaxial growth process to form a source/drain on the substrate between the first and second dummy gates; disposing a conformal liner over the first and second dummy gates and the source/drain; disposing an oxide on the conformal liner between the first and second dummy gates; recessing the oxide to a level below the hard mask layers of the first and second dummy gates to form a recessed oxide; and depositing a spacer material over the recessed oxide between the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate.
US09911820B2
A method of fabrication, including the steps for supplying a substrate including a layer of semiconductor material covered by a sacrificial gate including a sacrificial gate insulator including a middle part, and edges covered by sacrificial spacers and having a thickness tox; removal of the sacrificial gate insulator and the sacrificial gate material; formation of a conformal deposition of thickness thk of dielectric material inside of the groove formed in order to form a gate insulator, with tox>thk≧tox/2; formation of a gate electrode within the groove; removal of the sacrificial spacers so as to open up edges of the gate insulator layer; formation of spacers on the edges of the gate insulator layer on either side of the gate electrode, these spacers having a dielectric constant at the most equal to 3.5.
US09911817B2
Field-plate structures are disclosed for electrical field management in semiconductor devices. A field-plate semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a source ohmic contact, a drain ohmic contact, and a gate contact disposed over a gate region between the source ohmic contact and the drain ohmic contact, and a source field plate connected to the source ohmic contact. A field-plate dielectric is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. An encapsulating dielectric is disposed over the gate contact, wherein the encapsulating dielectric covers a top surface of the gate contact. The source field plate is disposed over the field-plate dielectric in a field plate region, from which the encapsulating dielectric is absent.
US09911810B2
Process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device, wherein a trench is formed in a semiconductor body having a first conductivity type; the trench is annealed for shaping purpose; and the trench is filled with semiconductor material via epitaxial growth so as to obtain a first column having a second conductivity type. The epitaxial growth is performed by supplying a gas containing silicon and a gas containing dopant ions of the second conductivity type in presence of a halogenide gas and occurs with uniform distribution of the dopant ions. The flow of the gas containing dopant ions is varied according to a linear ramp during the epitaxial growth; in particular, in the case of selective growth of the semiconductor material in the presence of a hard mask, the flow decreases; in the case of non-selective growth, in the absence of hard mask, the flow increases.
US09911808B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes incorporating first dopant atoms of a first conductivity type into a semiconductor substrate to form a first doping region of the first conductivity type. Further, the method includes forming an epitaxial semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate and incorporating second dopant atoms of a second conductivity type before or after forming the epitaxial semiconductor layer to form a second doping region including the second conductivity type adjacent to the first doping region so that a pn-junction is located between the first doping region and the second doping region. The pn-junction is located in a vertical distance of less than 5 μm to an interface between the semiconductor substrate and the epitaxial semiconductor layer. Additionally, the method includes thinning the semiconductor substrate based on a self-aligned thinning process. The self-aligned thinning process is self-controlled based on the location of the pn-junction.
US09911801B2
A light emitting device is provided which can prevent a change in gate voltage due to leakage or other causes and at the same time can prevent the aperture ratio from lowering. A capacitor storage is formed from a connection wiring line, an insulating film, and a capacitance wiring line. The connection wiring line is formed over a gate electrode and an active layer of a TFT of a pixel, and is connected to the active layer. The insulating film is formed on the connection wiring line. The capacitance wiring line is formed on the insulating film. This structure enables the capacitor storage to overlap the TFT, thereby increasing the capacity of the capacitor storage while keeping the aperture ratio from lowering. Accordingly, a change in gate voltage due to leakage or other causes can be avoided to prevent a change in luminance of an OLED and flickering of screen in analog driving.
US09911799B2
Provided is an organic light-emitting display apparatus and a method of repairing the same. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: an emission device comprising a plurality of sub-emission devices; an emission pixel circuit configured to supply a driving current to the emission device; a dummy pixel circuit configured to supply the driving current to the emission device; and a repair line coupling the emission device to the dummy pixel circuit, wherein the emission device is configured to receive the driving current from the emission pixel circuit or the dummy pixel circuit.
US09911798B2
A display device includes a substrate including an outer area neighboring a border; and an insulating layer positioned over the substrate and including a plurality of openings positioned over the outer area. The openings are arranged to be spaced from each other in a direction. The display device further includes a wavy line extending in the direction and passing the plurality of openings.
US09911797B2
There is provided a light emitting display apparatus including at least a light emitting element and a thin film transistor (TFT) for driving the light emitting element, characterized in that a mechanism is provided in which a semiconductor constituting the TFT is irradiated with at least a part of light whose wavelength is longer than a predetermined wavelength among the light emitted by the light emitting element.
US09911791B2
In a display device, light emitting areas and colored areas each have a predetermined planar shape having no rotational symmetry so that rotation of the area by an angle greater than or equal to 0° but smaller than 360° does not produce an initial shape of the area and are so arranged as to have different types of rotation angle. The colored areas are grouped based on a set of the colored areas of colors different from one another to forma plurality of full-color pixels. The full-color pixels are so arranged that the rotation angle of the colored areas of the same color have different types. In the full-color pixels of the same type, the colored areas of the same color have the same rotation angle. In the full-color pixels of different types, the colored areas of the same color have different rotation angles.
US09911788B2
A selector with an oxide-based layer includes an oxide-based layer that has a first region and a second region. The first region contains a metal oxide in a first oxidation state, and the second region contains the metal oxide in a second oxidation state. The first region also forms a part of each of two opposite faces of the oxide-based layer.
US09911785B2
A method makes an electromagnetic radiation detecting device including at least one thermal detector with an absorbent membrane suspended above a substrate, intended to be located in a sealed cavity. The method includes depositing, on the substrate, a gettering metallic layer including a metallic material with a gettering effect; depositing a carbonaceous sacrificial layer of amorphous carbon on the gettering metallic layer; depositing at least one sacrificial mineral layer on the carbonaceous sacrificial layer; chemical-mechanical planarization of the sacrificial mineral layer; fabricating the thermal detector so that the absorbent membrane is produced on the sacrificial mineral layer; removing the sacrificial mineral layer; and removing the carbonaceous sacrificial layer.
US09911783B2
A solid-state image pickup device is provided which can inhibit degradation of image quality which may occur when a global electronic shutter operation is performed. A gate drive line for a first transistor of gate drive lines for pixel transistors is positioned in proximity to a converting unit.
US09911780B1
An image sensor includes a semiconductor material including a plurality of photodiodes disposed in the semiconductor material. The image sensor also includes a first insulating material disposed proximate to a frontside of the semiconductor material, and an interconnect disposed in the first insulating material proximate to the frontside of the semiconductor material. A metal pad extends from a backside of the semiconductor material through the first insulating material and contacts the interconnect. A metal grid is disposed proximate to the backside of the semiconductor material, and the semiconductor material is disposed between the metal grid and the first insulating material disposed proximate to the frontside.
US09911770B2
An image sensor includes a semiconductor material having an illuminated surface and a non-illuminated surface. A plurality of photodiodes is disposed in the semiconductor material to receive image light through the illuminated surface. The semiconductor material includes silicon and germanium, and the germanium concentration increases in a direction of the non-illuminated surface. A plurality of isolation regions is disposed between individual photodiodes in the plurality of photodiodes. The plurality of isolation regions surround, at least in part, the individual photodiodes and electrically isolate the individual photodiodes.
US09911769B2
An elevated photosensor for image sensors and methods of forming the photosensor. The photosensor may have light sensors having indentation features including, but not limited to, v-shaped, u-shaped, or other shaped features. Light sensors having such an indentation feature can redirect incident light that is not absorbed by one portion of the photosensor to another portion of the photosensor for additional absorption. In addition, the elevated photosensors reduce the size of the pixel cells while reducing leakage, image lag, and barrier problems.
US09911764B2
A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes separating a light-emitting diode (“LED”) chip from a base substrate; disposing the separated light-emitting diode chip in a solution; disposing a substrate including a first electrode thereon, in the solution; with the separated light-emitting diode chip and the substrate including the first electrode thereon in the solution, applying a negative voltage to the substrate to attract the separated light-emitting diode chip to the first electrode on the substrate; mounting the light-emitting diode chip attracted to the first electrode, on the first electrode; and removing the substrate with the light-emitting diode chip mounted on the first electrode from the solution and drying the removed substrate, to form the display apparatus.
US09911753B2
According to one embodiment, an insulating layer is provided above a stairstep portion of a stacked body. A first cover film is provided between the stairstep portion and the insulating layer. The first cover film is of a material different from the insulating layer. A separation portion divides the stacked body and the insulating layer. A second cover film is provided at a side surface of the insulating layer on the separation portion side. The second cover film is of a material different from the insulating layer.
US09911746B1
Memory cells including embedded SONOS based non-volatile memory (NVM) and MOS transistors are described. The memory cell includes a substrate having a non-volatile memory (NVM) region and a plurality of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) regions. A NVM transistor in the NVM region includes a tunnel dielectric on the substrate, a charge-trapping layer on the tunnel dielectric, and a blocking dielectric comprising a high-k dielectric material over the charge-trapping layer. The plurality of MOS regions include a number of MOS transistors. At least one of the MOS transistors includes a gate dielectric comprising a high-k dielectric material over a surface of the substrate. Generally, the blocking dielectric and the gate dielectric comprise the same high-k dielectric material. Other embodiments are also described.
US09911743B2
Under one aspect, a method of making a nanotube switch includes: providing a substrate having a first conductive terminal; depositing a multilayer nanotube fabric over the first conductive terminal; and depositing a second conductive terminal over the multilayer nanotube fabric, the nanotube fabric having a thickness, density, and composition selected to prevent direct physical and electrical contact between the first and second conductive terminals. In some embodiments, the first and second conductive terminals and the multilayer nanotube fabric are lithographically patterned so as to each have substantially the same lateral dimensions, e.g., to each have a substantially circular or rectangular lateral shape. In some embodiments, the multilayer nanotube fabric has a thickness from 10 nm to 200 nm, e.g., 10 nm to 50 nm. The structure may include an addressable diode provided under the first conductive terminal or deposited over the second terminal.
US09911740B2
Generally, in one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a transistor. The method includes: implanting a substrate to form at least one of an n and p doped region; depositing an epitaxial semiconductor layer over the substrate; forming trenches through the epitaxial layer and partially through at least one of an n and p doped region; forming dielectric isolation regions in the trenches; forming a fin in an upper portion of the epitaxial semiconductor layer by partially recessing the dielectric isolation regions; forming a gate dielectric adjacent at least two surfaces of the fin; and diffusing dopant from at least one of the n and p doped regions at least partially into the epitaxial semiconductor layer to form a diffusion doped transition region adjacent a bottom portion of the fin.
US09911738B1
Methods for forming a structure that includes vertical-transport field-effect transistors and structures that include vertical-transport field-effect transistors. A first semiconductor fin is separated from a second semiconductor fin by a gap. A gate stack is conformally deposited that extends across the first semiconductor fin, the second semiconductor fin, and the gap. A section of the gate stack is located in the gap. A gate strap layer is formed in the gap on the section of the gate stack. The gate stack is patterned to form a first gate electrode associated with the first semiconductor fin and a second gate electrode associated with the second semiconductor fin. The gate strap layer masks the section of the gate stack when the gate stack is patterned. The first gate electrode is connected with the second gate electrode by the gate strap layer and the section of the gate stack.
US09911737B2
An integrated circuit includes a substrate with first and second cells having first and second FDSOI field-effect transistors. There are first and second ground planes, a buried oxide layer and first and second wells, under the ground planes. The first well and the first ground plane have the same doping and the second well and the second ground plane have the same doping. The first and second cells are adjoined and their transistors are aligned in a first direction. The wells of the first cell and the first well of the second cell are doped opposite of the second well. A control device applies a first electrical bias to the wells with the first doping and a second electrical bias to the well with the second doping. The transistors of the first cell and second cell have different threshold voltage levels.
US09911719B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor component (1) comprising: a plurality of semiconductor chips (2), each having a semiconductor layer sequence (200) with an active region (20) for generating radiation; a radiation output side (10) that runs parallel to the active regions (20); a mounting side surface (11) which is provided for securing the semiconductor component, and which runs in a transverse or perpendicular direction to the radiation output side; a molded body (4) which is shaped in places on the semiconductor chips, and which at least partially forms the mounting side surface; and a contact structure (50) which is arranged on the molded body, and which connects at least two semiconductor chips of the plurality of semiconductor chips in an electrically conductive manner. The invention also relates to a lighting device (9) and to a method for producing a semiconductor component.
US09911715B2
The present invention discloses a three-dimensional package structure which can achieve a relatively high utilization of an internal space thereof, so that the size of electronic package structure can be reduced. The three-dimensional package structure comprises a substrate, a first plurality of discrete conductive components and a connecting structure. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface. The first plurality of discrete conductive components are disposed over the bottom surface of the substrate. The connecting structure is disposed over the bottom surface of the substrate for encapsulating the first plurality of discrete electronic components. The connecting structure comprises at least one insulating layer and a plurality of conductive patterns separated by the at least one insulating layer. The plurality of conductive patterns are disposed over the first plurality of discrete electronic components for electrically connecting the first plurality of discrete electronic components.
US09911697B2
The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that uses a metal strap to improve performance and reduce electromigration by coupling a middle-end-of-the-line (MEOL) layer to a power rail. In some embodiments, the integrated chip has an active area with a plurality of source/drain regions. The active area contacts a MEOL structure extending in a first direction. A first metal wire extends in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, at a location overlying the MEOL structure. A metal strap extending in a first direction is arranged over the first metal wire. The metal strap is configured to connect the first metal line to a power rail (e.g., which may be held at a supply or ground voltage), which extends in the second direction. By connecting the MEOL structure to the power rail by way of a metal strap, parasitic capacitance and electromigration may be reduced.
US09911693B2
A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on the each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.
US09911675B2
Packaged semiconductor devices and methods of packaging semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaged semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit die, a molding compound disposed around the integrated circuit die, and an interconnect structure disposed over the integrated circuit die and the molding compound. The molding compound is thicker than the integrated circuit die.
US09911673B2
Provided is a semiconductor device having a pad on a semiconductor chip, a first passivation film formed over the semiconductor chip and having an opening portion on the pad of a probe region and a coupling region, a second passivation film formed over the pad and the first passivation film and having an opening portion on the pad of the coupling region, and a rewiring layer formed over the coupling region and the second passivation film and electrically coupled to the pad. The pad of the probe region placed on the periphery side of the semiconductor chip relative to the coupling region has a probe mark and the rewiring layer extends from the coupling region to the center side of the semiconductor chip. The present invention provides a technology capable of achieving size reduction, particularly pitch narrowing, of a semiconductor device.
US09911671B2
The present disclosure discloses an encapsulation system and an encapsulation method, the encapsulation system including a thickness detection unit, an output control unit and an energy output unit, the thickness detection unit being connected with the output control unit, and the output control unit being connected with the energy output unit. The thickness detection unit is configured to detect a thickness of an encapsulant at a to-be-heated location in a component to be encapsulated and generate corresponding thickness information. The output control unit is configured to generate corresponding output control information depending on the thickness information. The energy output unit is configured to output, depending on the output control information, to the encapsulant at the to-be-heated location energy for heating the encapsulant.
US09911669B1
An integrated circuit, in the form of a wafer, die, or chip, includes multiple standard cell-compatible fill cells, configured to enable non-contact electrical measurements. Such fill cells include mesh pads that contain at least three conductive stripes disposed between adjacent gate stripes. Such fill cells further include geometry to enable non-contact evaluation of diagonal shorts and/or leakages.
US09911668B1
An integrated circuit, in the form of a wafer, die, or chip, includes multiple standard cell-compatible fill cells, configured to enable non-contact electrical measurements. Such fill cells include mesh pads that contain at least three conductive stripes disposed between adjacent gate stripes. Such fill cells further include geometry to enable non-contact evaluation of corner shorts and/or leakages.
US09911656B1
A method for co-integrating wimpy and nominal devices includes growing source/drain regions on semiconductor material adjacent to a gate structure to form device structures with a non-electrically active material. Selected device structures are masked with a block mask. Unmasked device structures are selectively annealed to increase electrical activity of the non-electrically active material to adjust a threshold voltage between the selected device structures and the unmasked device structures.
US09911644B2
The present disclosure describes semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same. The method includes forming an interlayer insulating layer on a substrate and forming conductive patterns in the interlayer insulating layer. A pore density of an upper portion of the interlayer insulating layer is higher than that of a lower portion of the interlayer insulating layer, and a pore density of an intermediate portion of the interlayer insulating layer gradually increases toward the upper portion of the interlayer insulating layer. An air gap is provided between the conductive patterns.
US09911643B2
Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having first and second electrically conductive lines that intersect with one another at an intersection. The first line has primarily a first width, and has narrowed regions directly against the second line and on opposing sides of the second line from one another. Electrically conductive contacts are along the first line and directly electrically coupled to the first line, and one of the electrically conductive contacts is directly against the intersection. Some embodiments include methods of forming intersecting lines of material. First and second trenches are formed, and intersect with one another at an intersection. The first trench has primarily a first width, and has narrowed regions directly against the second trench and on opposing sides of the second trench from one another. Material is deposited within the first and second trenches to substantially entirely fill the first and second trenches.
US09911637B2
An overlapping device which is configured to detect the center positions of a substrate and a support which are held in a center position detecting portion, carry the substrate and the support from the center position detecting portion to an overlapping portion, and overlap the substrate and the support such that the detected center positions of the substrate and the support are overlapped in the overlapping portion.
US09911634B2
A self-contained metrology wafer carrier systems and methods of measuring one or more characteristics of semiconductor wafers are provided. A wafer carrier system includes, for instance, a housing configured for transport within the automated material handling system, the housing having a support configured to support a semiconductor wafer in the housing, and a metrology system disposed within the housing, the metrology system operable to measure at least one characteristic of the wafer, the metrology system comprising a sensing unit and a computing unit operably connected to the sensing unit. Also provided are methods of measuring one or more characteristics of a semiconductor wafer within the wafer carrier systems of the present disclosure.
US09911629B2
An embodiment device package includes a first die, a second die, and a molding compound extending along sidewalls of the first die and the second die. The package further includes redistribution layers (RDLs) extending laterally past edges of the first die and the second die. The RDLs include an input/output (I/O) contact electrically connected to the first die and the second die, and the I/O contact is exposed at a sidewall of the device package substantially perpendicular to a surface of the molding compound opposite the RDLs.
US09911623B2
A method includes forming a trench that is partially filled with a first metal material, the trench being formed within a first Interlayer Dielectric (ILD) layer, filling a remaining portion of the trench with a sacrificial material, depositing a buffer layer on the first ILD layer, patterning the buffer layer to form a hole within the buffer layer to expose the sacrificial material, and removing the sacrificial material.
US09911622B2
Non-uniformity in a thickness of a silicon oxide film formed on a processing target object can be reduced even when an aspect ratio of an opening of a mask is increased. A silicon oxide film is formed by repeating a sequence including: (a) a first process of forming a reactant precursor on the processing target object by generating plasma of a first gas containing a silicon halide gas within a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus; (b) a second process of generating plasma of a rare gas within the processing vessel after the first process; (c) a third process of forming a silicon oxide film by generating plasma of a second gas containing an oxygen gas within the processing vessel after the second process; and (d) a fourth process of generating plasma of a rare gas within the processing vessel after the third process.
US09911615B2
The inventive concepts relate to an apparatus and a method for etching a substrate, a stamp for etching a substrate, and a method for manufacturing the stamp. The method for etching a substrate includes bringing a substrate into contact with a stamp including a pattern on which a metal catalyst is formed, and etching the substrate by a chemical reaction between the metal catalyst and an etching solution.
US09911612B2
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate is prepared. Boron-containing ions are generated by reacting a borane-based compound and a halogen-containing source with each other. The borane-based compound includes boron having a mass number of 11 (11B). The boron-containing ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate to form an impurity region.
US09911610B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a wafer having a first semiconductor layer, forming at the first semiconductor layer a contact layer which includes a metallic chemical element, and implanting ions of a first chemical element different to the metallic chemical element into the contact layer.
US09911609B2
A method of forming a nanostructure comprises forming self-assembled nucleic acids on at least a portion of a substrate. The method further comprises contacting the self-assembled nucleic acids on the at least a portion of a substrate with a solution comprising at least one repair enzyme to repair defects in the self-assembled nucleic acids. The method may comprise repeating the repair of defects in the self-assembled nucleic acids on the at least a portion of a substrate until a desired, reduced threshold level of defect density is achieved. A semiconductor structure comprises a pattern of self-assembled nucleic acids defining a template having at least one aperture therethrough. At least one of the apertures has a dimension of less than about 50 nm.
US09911606B2
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) includes receiving a design layout of the IC, wherein the design layout includes two abutting blocks, the two blocks include target patterns, and the target patterns have different pitches in the two blocks. The method further includes generating mandrel pattern candidates in spaces between adjacent target patterns, and assigning first and second colors to the mandrel pattern candidates according to their priorities. The method further includes removing the mandrel pattern candidates assigned with the second color, and outputting a mandrel pattern in computer-readable format for mask fabrication. The mandrel pattern includes the mandrel pattern candidates that are colored with the first color.
US09911595B1
Methods and apparatuses for selectively depositing silicon nitride on silicon surfaces relative to silicon oxide surfaces and selectively depositing silicon nitride on silicon oxide surfaces relative to silicon surfaces are provided herein. Methods involve exposing the substrate to an alkene which is selectively reactive with the silicon surface to block the silicon surface by forming an organic moiety on the silicon surface prior to depositing silicon nitride selectively on silicon oxide surfaces using thermal atomic layer deposition. Methods involve exposing the substrate to an alkylsilylhalide which is selectively reactive with the silicon oxide surface to block the silicon oxide surface by forming an organic moiety on the silicon oxide surface prior to depositing silicon nitride selectively on silicon surfaces using thermal atomic layer deposition.
US09911575B2
A charged particle multi-beam lithography system includes an illumination sub-system that is configured to generate a charged particle beam; and multiple plates with a first aperture through the plates. The plates and the first aperture are configured to form a charged particle doublet. The system further includes a blanker having a second aperture whose footprint is smaller than that of the first aperture. The charged particle doublet is configured to demagnify a portion of the charged particle beam passing through the first aperture, thereby producing a demagnified beamlet. The blanker is configured to receive the demagnified beamlet from the charged particle doublet, and is further configured to conditionally allow the demagnified beamlet to travel along a desired path.
US09911561B2
A DC solenoid coil current controller includes a rectifier, pulse width modulator, and power driver. The rectifier inputs an alternating current signal and a direct current signal, and outputs a rectified signal using at least one of the alternating current signal and the direct current signal. The pulse width modulator outputs a pulse width modulated signal in response to the rectified signal. The power driver controls a DC solenoid coil using the pulse width modulated signal, thereby enabling a direct current DC solenoid coil to be controlled in response to the alternating current signal. A method of controlling current to a DC solenoid coil is also disclosed.
US09911540B1
In one embodiment, a solar cell includes a transparent electrode, a photoactive layer, and an electron transport layer positioned between the transparent electrode and the photoactive layer, the electron transport layer being made of a piezoelectric material that is mechanically deformed such that it generates a voltage or charge that modifies an energy barrier between the electron transport layer and the photoactive layer.
US09911538B2
The invention concerns an electrical energy storage assembly (capacitor or battery) comprising: -an envelope (20) including: *at least one lateral wall (21), and *an open end, -an electrochemical element (30) intended to be contained in the envelope (20) and -at least one cover (40) intended to be positioned at the open end of the envelope (20), each cover (40) including: *a cover wall (41, 45) intended to cover the open end of the envelope (20), *a lateral face (42, 43) at the periphery of the cover wall (41, 45) and intended to be facing the lateral wall (21) of the envelope (20), -at least one electrically insulating elastic annular ring (50) intended to be positioned between the lateral wall (21) of the envelope (20) and the lateral wall (42, 43) of the cover (40).
US09911515B2
A non-mechanical fluid transfer device is disclosed herein. The device can include at least one tubular body configured to deliver a fluid, the tubular body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. Additionally, the device can include a series of ratchets disposed along an interior surface of the tubular body such that the fluid moves from the proximal end of the tubular body to the distal end of the tubular body when the interior surface of the tubular body is heated to a temperature at or above the Leidenfrost point of the fluid. Additional aspects are described herein.
US09911497B1
A memory structure, includes (a) active columns of polysilicon formed above a semiconductor substrate, each active column extending vertically from the substrate and including a first heavily doped region, a second heavily doped region, and one or more lightly doped regions each adjacent both the first and second heavily doped region, wherein the active columns are arranged in a two-dimensional array extending in second and third directions parallel to the planar surface of the semiconductor substrate; (b) charge-trapping material provided over one or more surfaces of each active column; and (c) conductors each extending lengthwise along the third direction. The active columns, the charge-trapping material and the conductors together form a plurality of thin film transistors, with each thin film transistor formed by one of the conductors, a portion of the lightly doped region of an active column, the charge-trapping material between the portion of the lightly doped region and the conductor, and the first and second heavily doped regions. The thin film transistors associated with each active column are organized into one or more vertical NOR strings.
US09911496B2
A k-nearest neighbors associative memory includes: a clock counting type associative memory that holds R pieces of reference data and outputs, for each of the R pieces of reference data, a match signal that becomes active when a clock count corresponding to a distance between the reference data and given search data has been reached; and a k-nearest neighbors clustering circuit that, every time at least one of the R match signals output from the clock counting type associative memory becomes active, selects a piece of class data, out of R pieces of class data representing classes of the R pieces of reference data, corresponding to each of the at least one active match signal, until k match signals out of the R match signals become active, and determines a class having a largest number of pieces of data when the selected total k pieces of class data are classified.
US09911491B2
According to an example, in a method for determining a resistance state of a cell in a crossbar memory array, a first read voltage may be applied across a cell to sense a first cell current. In addition, a second read voltage may be applied across the cell to sense a second cell current. A difference value between the first cell current and the second cell current may be identified and a resistance state of the cell may be determined based on the difference value.
US09911488B2
A non-volatile storage system dedicates a subset of blocks to be used for shorting source lines to bit lines at periodic positions along the bit lines during certain memory operations.
US09911483B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) storage element having a reference layer formed from a reference layer material having a fixed magnetization direction, along with a free layer formed from a free layer material having a switchable magnetization direction. The MTJ is configured to receive a write pulse having a write-pulse and spin-transfer-torque (WP-STT) start time, a WP-STT start segment duration and a write pulse duration. The WP-STT start segment duration is less than the write pulse duration. The fixed magnetization direction is configured to form an angle between the fixed magnetization direction and the switchable magnetization direction. The angle is sufficient to generate spin torque electrons in the reference layer material at the WP-STT start time. The spin torque electrons generated in the reference layer material is sufficient to initiate switching of the switchable magnetization direction at the WP-STT start time.
US09911482B2
A non-volatile memory system includes a first circuit and a second circuit both coupled to a magnetoresistance tunnel junction (MTJ) cell to substantially reduce the level of current flowing through the MTJ with rise in temperature, as experienced by the MTJ. The first circuit is operable to adjust a slope of a curve representing current as a function of temperature and the second circuit is operable to adjust a value of the current level through the MTJ to maintain current constant or to reduce current when the temperature increases. This way sufficient current is provided for the MTJ at different temperatures to prevent write failure, over programming, MTJ damage and waste of current.
US09911479B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells; a peripheral circuit suitable for controlling the memory cells, and operating in first and second modes respectively corresponding to enablement and disablement of a chip selection signal; and a ready-busy signal generator suitable for biasing a ready-busy line according to whether the peripheral circuit is in a ready or busy state during the enablement of the chip selection signal. Communication between the semiconductor memory device and an external device is allowed in the first mode. The communication between the semiconductor memory device and the external device is not allowed in the second mode.
US09911472B1
Systems and methods are directed to managing signals in a dual voltage domain comprising a high voltage domain and a low voltage domain. A write bitline driver circuit receives complementary global write bitline signals as input signals from a global write bitline driver in the low voltage domain, and a write enable signal as an input signal in the high voltage domain. The write bitline driver circuit generates complementary local write bitline signals as output signals in the high voltage domain for activating bitlines of a memory bank in the high voltage domain. The complementary local write bitline signals are based on the complementary global write bitline signals, voltage level shifted from the low voltage domain to the high voltage domain and gated by the write enable signal.
US09911469B1
An apparatus comprising is disclosed. The apparatus a driver circuit configured to selectively provide a first supply voltage to an output node in a first operating mode and to selectively provide a second supply voltage to the output node in a second operating mode, based on one or more enable signals.
US09911466B2
Apparatuses and methods for read threshold voltage selection are provided. One example method can include setting a first soft read threshold voltage and a second soft read threshold voltage based on a difference between a first number of memory cells that are read as being programmed to a first state when read using a first threshold voltage and a second number of memory that are read as being programmed to the first state when read using another threshold voltage.
US09911455B2
A spindle motor is provided, the motor comprising: a base plate, a PCB on the base plate, a bearing assembly arranged on the base plate, a stator coupled to a periphery of the bearing assembly, a rotor rotationally coupled to the bearing assembly, the rotor including a yoke and a magnet, and a rotation shaft rotationally coupled to the bearing assembly. The base plate includes a planar portion and a protruding portion arranged along with a periphery of the yoke, the protruding portion being apart from the yoke. The base plate is partially covered with the PCB in a region where the stator is arranged. And, a height from the planar portion to an upper surface of the protruding portion is smaller than a height from the planar portion to a lower surface of the periphery of the yoke.
US09911453B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a drive storage system, method, and computer program process for automatically replacing drives. In one embodiment, one or more computer processors receive a request for a new drive. One or more computer processors direct an exchange robot to obtain the new drive from a drive repository and to proceed to a location of a used drive. One or more computer processors then direct the exchange robot to remove the used drive from the location and to insert the new drive into the location of the used drive.
US09911447B2
A compound of the formula (1), lubricant containing the compound and magnetic disk R1—C6H4O—CH2CH(OH)CH2OCH2—R2—CH2—O—CH2CH(OH)CH2—OC6H4—R1 (1) wherein R1 is alkoxyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, amino or amido, R2 is —CF2CF2O(CF2CF2CF2O)zCF2CF2— or —CF2CF2CF2O(CF2CF2CF2CF2O)nCF2CF2CF2—, z is a real number of 1 to 15, n is a real number of 0 to 4.
US09911446B1
A three dimensional magnetic recording media can consist of a coupling layer disposed between first and second vertically stacked recording layers. The coupling layer can provide exchange or antiferromagnetic coupling and allow the respective recording layers to be individually heat selected to different first and second coupling strengths through application of heat from a heat source.
US09911437B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for improving speech recognition accuracy using textual context. The method includes retrieving a recorded utterance, capturing text from a device display associated with the spoken dialog and viewed by one party to the recorded utterance, and identifying words in the captured text that are relevant to the recorded utterance. The method further includes adding the identified words to a dynamic language model, and recognizing the recorded utterance using the dynamic language model. The recorded utterance can be a spoken dialog. A time stamp can be assigned to each identified word. The method can include adding identified words to and/or removing identified words from the dynamic language model based on their respective time stamps. A screen scraper can capture text from the device display associated with the recorded utterance. The device display can contain customer service data.
US09911435B1
Methods and systems related to analyzing audio data and performing quantitative analysis and reporting related to the audio data. Audio data may be investigated and phrases of the audio data identified. In some implementations, phrases are identified based on the likelihood of an occurrence or non-occurrence of the phrase. In some implementations, phrases are identified based on a cost associated with a search phrase.
US09911432B2
The invention relates to a method for extending the frequency band of an audio signal during a decoding or improvement process comprising a step of decoding or extracting, in a first so-called low frequency band, an excitation signal and coefficients of a linear prediction filter. The method comprises the following steps: —obtaining a signal extended in at least a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band from an oversampled excitation signal extended in at least a second frequency band; —scaling the extended signal by means of a gain defined by subframe on the basis of an energy ratio of a frame and of a subframe; —filtering said scaled extended signal with a linear prediction filter of which the coefficients are derived from the coefficients of the low frequency band filter. The invention also relates to a frequency band extension device implementing the described method and a decoder comprising such a device.
US09911431B2
The application relates to HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction/Regeneration) of audio signals. In particular, the application relates to a method and system for performing HFR of audio signals having large variations in energy level across the low frequency range which is used to reconstruct the high frequencies of the audio signal. A system configured to generate a plurality of high frequency subband signals covering a high frequency interval from a plurality of low frequency subband signals is described. The system comprises means for receiving the plurality of low frequency subband signals; means for receiving a set of target energies, each target energy covering a different target interval within the high frequency interval and being indicative of the desired energy of one or more high frequency subband signals lying within the target interval; means for generating the plurality of high frequency subband signals from the plurality of low frequency subband signals and from a plurality of spectral gain coefficients associated with the plurality of low frequency subband signals, respectively; and means for adjusting the energy of the plurality of high frequency subband signals using the set of target energies.
US09911429B2
A frame generator 3 frames an input signal and generates a frame signal. A reference signal storage unit 7 stores therein a reference signal showing a periodic noise signal. A correlation value calculator 8 calculates a correlation value between the frame signal and the reference signal. A correlation candidate position decider 9 decides a plurality of correlation candidate positions serving as candidates for a signal portion of the reference signal correlated with the frame signal. A noise reduction processor 10 reduces a periodic noise signal, which is included in the frame signal, by using each signal portion of the plurality of correlation candidate positions, and generates a plurality of candidate output signals. An output signal decider 11 decides a candidate output signal, in which the periodic noise signal is reduced the most among the plurality of candidate output signals, and outputs the decided output signal.
US09911421B2
The speaker identification system has a voice acquisition unit that acquires voice information of a speaker, and a database management unit that determines whether or not the speaker corresponding to the acquired voice information matches a speaker corresponding to registered voice information in connection with content information on a content, that acquires content information on the content displayed on a device at the time of acquisition of the voice information and stores the acquired content information in connection with the registered voice information in a case where it is determined that the speaker corresponding to the acquired voice information matches the speaker corresponding to the registered voice information, and that stores the acquired voice information in the database as registered voice information in a case where it is determined that the speaker corresponding to the acquired voice information does not match the speaker corresponding to the registered voice information.
US09911417B2
An internet of things (IOT) system includes an IOT server and multiple IOT devices and a voice-controlled device connected to the IOT server and the multiple IOT devices. The voice-controlled device receives a voice-controlled message of environmental sound information through a voice control interface, and broadcasts the voice-controlled message to neighboring IOT devices to drive a corresponding IOT device according to the voice-controlled message. When failing to recognize the voice-controlled message, the voice control interface uploads the voice-controlled message to a cloud server for query through the IOT server, and broadcasts a result of the query returned from the cloud server. A way of chain broadcasting is employed by the voice-controlled device to drive selected IOT device or receive returned information so as to enhance operational convenience in using IOT devices.
US09911415B2
Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for executing a voice command during voice input. A voice module detects a voice command intended to interrupt a first voice-related task using a voice input device associated with an information handling device. A pause module pauses the first voice-related task in response to the interrupt voice command. A command module executes a second voice-related task associated with the interrupt voice command. The second voice-related task does not correct voice input received by the first voice-related task.
US09911414B1
Techniques are described for detecting and/or validating audible taps, double-taps, or other tapped audio sequences generated by a user. A predicted voice signal is subtracted from an audio signal to produce a prediction error signal. The prediction error signal is analyzed in terms of dynamics and periodicity to determine whether it contains an audio pulse. In certain cases, prediction error signals corresponding to multiple microphones are analyzed to determine position information regarding the individual taps of a double-tap. A double-tap is validated and acted upon when the individual taps originate from the same location and the taps occur within a given time period.
US09911413B1
A linguist classifier, for instance intent or slot classifier, is updated using data with only partial annotation indicating overall correctness rather that specific correct intent or slot values, which are treated as “latent” (i.e., unknown) variables. Full annotation of the data is not required. A small amount of fully annotated data may be combined with a substantially larger amount of partially annotated data to update the linguistic classifier. In a specific implementation, the linguistic classifier is a neural network and the weights are trained using a reinforcement learning approach.
US09911412B2
Methods, devices, and computer program products for recognizing and responding to natural language input are described herein. Natural language input is received at a natural language input interface of a computing device and transformed into computer-usable text. A natural language input recognizer obtains evidence from one or more evidence source and generates an evidence graph based on the evidence obtained. Evidence may be obtained asynchronously, and the natural language input recognizer may update the evidence graph upon receipt of additional evidence. The natural language input recognizer generates a set of recognition hypotheses based on the evidence graph and selects one of the recognition hypotheses as a recognition result for the natural language input. Semantic models, evidence models, and response models may be employed to generate the evidence graph and respond to the recognition result selected for the natural language input.
US09911406B2
Audio loudspeaker 100 can be arranged in various vertical arrays, such as 102 or 104. Each loudspeaker 100 includes a generally trapezoidal-shaped housing 120 composed of two forwardly projecting lobe sections 122. A pair of low-frequency cone transducers 130 are housed in the lobe sections 122. A vertically arranged set 132 of high-frequency compression drivers are positioned centrally in the housing to project in the forward direction. Three mid-frequency cone transducers 134 are vertically arranged along opposite sides of the high frequency drivers 132. Each of the low-, mid-, and high-frequency transducers are individually powered and controlled by a separate DSP channel.
US09911405B2
An apparatus for controlling engine noise reflecting engine vibration and driving conditions includes a sound generator that generates reinforcement noise in order to reinforce non-linear engine noise. The apparatus includes a vibration sensor measuring engine vibration as a noise source of the engine, a signal processing controller receiving the signal of the vibration sensor in real time and controlling the sound generator so that the engine noise may maintain linearity, and an amplifier receiving and then amplifying a control signal of the signal processing controller to transfer the amplified control signal to the sound generator.
US09911395B1
A system and method for generating a corrected input to a display to offset glare is provided. The system determines a location of a user's head and calculates a reflection vector based on a head vector from a device to a point on the user's head. The system identifies light sources using a camera and determines display pixels on a display of the device affected by the reflection of the light sources based on head detection and locations of the light sources. The system dynamically adjusts pixel brightness to account for a detected glare, thus improving the user's experience operating the UI.
US09911394B2
The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for controlling image display, which achieve uniformity of image display and remove the image-retention in a compensation manner of high precision, high efficiency and low cost. The method for controlling image display comprises: reading gray scales of all sub-pixels of a current frame image displayed by a display device; determining an ideal luminance corresponding to the gray scale according to a predetermined ideal corresponding relationship between the gray scales and luminance of respective sub-pixels respectively; determining an adjusted gray scale corresponding to the ideal luminance according to the predetermined original corresponding relationship between the gray scales and the luminance of respective sub-pixels respectively; driving the display device to display the current frame image according to the adjusted gray scale.
US09911390B2
A liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a liquid crystal display panel (10); a scan line driving circuit (20) that supplies a scan signal voltage to each pixel (Px) via a corresponding scan line (11); a signal line driving circuit (30) that supplies a display signal voltage to each pixel via a corresponding signal line (12); and a display control section (40) including a polarity reversal driving switching section (41) that switches a mode of polarity reversal of the display signal voltage. In a case where the polarity reversal driving switching section switches the polarity reversal mode in transition from a first vertical scan period to a second vertical scan period immediately succeeding the first vertical scan period, the display control section is capable of making a largeness of a display signal voltage supplied in the second vertical scan period different from its original largeness only for a pixel group included in the plurality of pixels to which display signal voltages that have the same polarity in both the first and second vertical scan periods are supplied.
US09911387B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel in which a plurality of pixel units are disposed, a backlight providing light to the display panel, and a data processing circuit receiving image signals and providing the image signals to the plurality of pixel units. The data processing circuit sets a luminance level of the backlight to a value corresponding to a color gamut boundary of the image signals adjacent to a saturation region.
US09911369B2
A rollable display device is provided. The rollable display device includes: a flexible screen display which is rolled or unrolled on both sides; at least one pair of rollable driving units where each side of the flexible screen display is rolled into or unrolled from one of the pair of rollable driving units; a link driving unit for supporting the rollable driving units to move the sides of the flexible screen display and to roll or unroll the flexible screen display; and a controller for controlling operations of the rollable driving units and the link driving unit.
US09911365B2
A neonatal echocardiography training apparatus including (i) a computer; (ii) a life-sized doll mannequin; (iii) a magnetic tracking system including (a) a control module connected to the computer; (b) a magnetic pulse wave generator positioned behind the mannequin and connected to the control module; (c) a sensor-fitted transducer configured to detect magnetic pulse waves from the generator and connected to the control module; and wherein the control module reads data from the generator and transducer and transmits the data to the computer. A method of displaying continuous video clips obtained from slicing of multiple 4D echocardiographic image volumes and 2D video clips activated from the coordinates of specific slices of 4D volumes is described. These echocardiographic images are displayed when a trainee positions the transducer on the desired cardiac acoustic window on the mannequin.
US09911362B2
A method of demonstrating the cleaning performance of a cleaning composition comprises the steps of: providing a homogenous dairy-based solution on a demonstration surface; distributing oil composition on the homogenous dairy based solution to produce an oil dispersion on the demonstration surface; adding a cleaning composition onto the oil dispersion to view the displacement of the oil composition.
US09911343B2
An integrated landing receiver for landing of an aircraft and a controlling method thereof are provided, in which the integrated landing receiver includes a receiver including a plurality of signal information processors that generate landing guidance information respectively corresponding to a plurality of landing support facilities, a collector collecting the landing guidance information respectively generated at the plurality of signal information processors, and an integrator generating integrated landing guidance information by using the landing guidance information collected at the collector and outputting the result. Accordingly, when a plurality of landing support facilities are installed together at an airport, the landing guidance information provided from these landing support facilities are mixed and provided so that shortcomings that each landing supporting facility may have can be advantageously compensated, thus enabling safe and effective provision of the landing guidance information.
US09911335B2
A system for documenting an accident includes a vehicle that includes a transceiver device and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive data from a collision detection device of the vehicle, determine, based on the received data, that an accident is impending or occurring involving the vehicle, generate a request for a nearby vehicle, and transmit, via the transceiver device, the request to the nearby vehicle. The request is for the nearby vehicle to illuminate a region associated with the accident, actively acquire data related to the accident, and record actively acquired data related to the accident.
US09911333B2
A method for classifying a received vehicle-to-X message, wherein the vehicle-to-X message is sent by a sender and received by a receiver that performs the classification, wherein the vehicle-to-X message contains first information regarding the sender, and wherein first information regarding the receiver is sensorially determined, wherein a sender region is determined from the first information regarding the sender, and a receiver region is determined from the first information regarding the receiver, and the classification is determined according to an overlapping of the sender region and the receiver region.
US09911332B1
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for estimating parking likelihood in an area based on probe data points. A method may include: receiving probe data points associated with a plurality of vehicles; determining location data, heading data, and speed data from each probe data point; categorizing a probe data point as a driving probe data point in response to the heading data corresponding with heading data of a road proximate the location of the probe data point and the speed data of the probe data point being above a predefined value; categorizing a probe data point as a parking probe data point in response to the heading data failing to correspond with heading data of a road; determining a ratio of driving probe data points to parking probe data points; and providing an indication of parking locations in at least one region of a map in response to the parking likelihood for the locations satisfying a predetermined criteria.
US09911330B2
A driving assistance device detects an object in front of a vehicle by an object detector, detects right/left turn information indicating that the vehicle passes across an opposite lane to turn right or left at an intersection after a predetermined period of time based on a current position and a traveling route of the vehicle included in road information, determines whether a standby vehicle waiting to turn right or left in the opposite lane is present in the intersection according to a detection result of the object detector and the road information when the right/left turn information is detected, estimates a blind spot of the object detector in the opposite lane caused by the standby vehicle, and sets a standby area in which the vehicle waits to turn right or left based on the estimated blind spot.
US09911329B1
An Enhanced Traffic Sign Information Messaging System (ETSIMS) that provides the methodology, functions and support equipment to provide vehicles, which might not be within sight of the traffic message sign, with all or some prioritized parts of the message displayed on the sign, or an enhanced version of the information provided on the sign, including traffic information messages inferred from the message displayed on the traffic message sign. ETSIMS may also provide messages of this type without the need for the physical presence of a sign on the roadway.
US09911328B2
An apparatus, system, and method for monitoring traffic and roadway water conditions. Traffic flow and roadway flooding is monitored concurrently through a wireless sensor network. The apparatus and system comprises ultrasound rangefinders monitoring traffic flow, flood water conditions, or both. Routing information may be calculated from the traffic conditions, such that routes are calculated to avoid roadways that are impassable or are slow due to traffic conditions.
US09911322B2
An electronic apparatus, control method thereof, remote control apparatus that controls the electronic apparatus, and control method thereof. The remote control apparatus includes a communication unit which communicates with the electronic apparatus; a user input unit which receives a user button selection indicating an input button; a sensing unit which senses movement of the remote control apparatus; and a control unit which controls the communication unit to transmit information about the user button selection to perform a function corresponding to the input button if the remote control apparatus is in a button input mode, and to transmit information about the movement of the remote control apparatus to the electronic apparatus to control the electronic apparatus by the movement if the remote control apparatus is in a motion recognition mode. Accordingly, controlling a game or a multimedia content is easier, and the user is provided with a new and interesting experience.
US09911316B2
An alarm device for feedthrough assembly is proposed. The device comprises a body having a chamber, a sealing module configured on a first surface of the body for connecting to a feedthrough assembly, wherein a first surface has a hole across the chamber, and an alarm assembly configured in the chamber. In addition, if a shaft seal of the feedthrough assembly is failure, a pressure difference produced between the chamber and inner shaft seal forces the alarm assembly to move toward the feedthrough assembly.
US09911298B2
A system for providing awareness of an interactive surface is disclosed. The system may include a processor that is communicatively linked to an interactive surface. The processor may determine a position and a velocity of an object that is within range of the interactive surface based on one or more of media content, vibrations, air movement, sounds and, global positioning data associated with the object. Additionally, the processor may determine if the object has a trajectory that would cause the object to collide with the interactive surface based on the information associated with the object. If the processor determines that the object has a trajectory that would cause the object to collide with the interactive surface, the processor can generate a notification.
US09911295B2
A cordless indicia reader including a multifunction coil that can be configured to either transmit or receive electromagnetic energy is disclosed. In this way, the multifunction coil facilitates both the wireless charging of a battery and the wireless deactivation of electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags. The multifunction coil and a plurality of modules to perform these functions are integrated within the cordless indicia reader's hand-supportable housing.
US09911294B2
The warning system using spatiotemporal situation data according to the present invention comprises: a situation detection unit including a sensor module for sensing human-related data in environments requiring an early warning concerning security and anti-crime situations; a situation recognition unit which is configured to set a sensing region to be sensed by the situation detection unit and event conditions according to the spatiotemporal situation data, set a human subject as a human sensing condition according to the spatiotemporal situation data, and determine the occurrence of an event by comparing the human-related data sensed by the situation detection unit with data about the set sensing region, the event condition data according to the spatiotemporal situation data.
US09911291B2
A portable device for outputting virtual vibration is provided. The portable device includes a controller configured to generate a control signal corresponding to a detected event. The portable device also includes vibrators configured to output virtual vibration based on the control signal.
US09911282B2
A system for detecting inappropriate content in a virtual world environment has, and a corresponding method utilizes, a rating unit for rating each of one or more virtual objects based upon its content. The system has, and the method utilizes, a tagging unit for tagging each of the one or more virtual objects with its respective rating, an object tagging database for storing ratings of the one or more virtual objects, and a policy database for storing policies associated with the ratings and the regions. Further, the system has, and the method utilizes, an object monitor for monitoring the movement of each of the one or more virtual objects, a security scanner for scanning each of the one or more virtual objects to determine the rating of each of the one or more virtual objects, and an enforcement module to enforce the policies of the policy database based upon the rating and the respective region.
US09911269B2
Various embodiments are disclosed concerning games that use both 2D and 3D play areas. Various embodiments concern representing a 3D structure composed of a plurality of 3D shapes having a plurality of faces, presenting a plurality of elements, marking the plurality of faces and the elements, identifying a first set of one or more combinations of corresponding markings, moving the shapes of the three dimensional structure relative to the elements, and identifying a second set of one or more combinations of corresponding markings, each of the combinations of corresponding markings from the first set and the second set composed of markings from at least one of the elements and multiple faces of the shapes.
US09911267B2
Some embodiments are associated with receiving, by a vending machine, a request from a customer to initiate a communication session, establishing a first communication link between the vending machine and a device associated with the customer, and establishing a second communication link between the vending machine and a remote network device, such that a communication session is established between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device. Some embodiments are associated with receiving, by a vending machine, an indication of a selection of a product sold by the vending machine, receiving, from a customer, payment for the selected product, dispensing the product to the customer, the product comprising an indication of a communication session activation code, receiving, by the vending machine, an indication of the communication session activation code, and establishing a communication session between a device associated with the customer and a remote network device.
US09911265B2
Provided is a financial device. The financial device comprises an upper module and a lower module disposed under the upper module. The upper module comprises a medium depositing and withdrawing unit through which media to be counted, media to be deposited, and media to be withdrawn are accepted and withdrawn and a discrimination unit connected to the medium depositing and withdrawing unit through a transfer path. The lower module comprises an additional function cassette and a medium storage unit which are capable of storing media.
US09911261B2
A secure storage device includes a container having a void for external access to the interior space. A closure lid, similarly dimensioned according to the void, may be joined to the container and can be manipulated between an open or closed state. An air evacuation system is also provided including a pressure release valve, a pressure indicator, and a pressure control system, such as a pump, for providing pressure to move air through a fluid communication channel from the interior space to the exterior of the container. A lock is fixed to the closure lid to conditionally restrict a change in state of the closure lid in response to an access control system. The access control system is configured to present an input, validate user input, and permit a state change of the lock.
US09911254B2
A digital keypad interface includes a keypad having a plurality of keys, a lock status indicator, a first set of LEDs set around a periphery of the lock status indicator, an unlock status indicator, and a second set of LEDs set around a periphery of the unlock status indicator. A microprocessor is provided to sequentially light LEDs of the first set of LEDs during a locking sequence of inputs via the keypad and to sequentially light LEDs of the second set of LEDs during an unlocking sequence of inputs via the keypad.
US09911253B2
A vehicle event recorder is provided that includes a camera for capturing a video as discrete image frames, and that further includes a managed loop memory and a management system for generating a virtual ‘timeline dilation’ effect. To overcome size limits in the buffer memory of the video event recorder, the maximum time extension of a video series is increased by enabling a reduction in temporal resolution in exchange for an increase in the temporal extension. Memory cells are overwritten in an ‘interleaved’ fashion to produce a reduced frame rate for the recording of certain time periods connected to an event moment. In time periods furthest from the event moment, the resulting frame rate is minimized while in time periods closest to the event moment, the resulting frame rate is maximized.
US09911245B1
A method and apparatus for processing vehicle license tag numbers allows subscribers of a toll service to avoid additional charges normally associated with processing photographs of vehicle license tags by toll agencies to collect tolls. A subscriber can upload one or more license tag numbers to be associated with the subscriber's account with the toll service. The toll service provides a list of license tag numbers to the toll agency. If, for a given toll event, the toll agency does not receive a response to a wireless toll tag reader signal, the toll agency compares a license tag number obtained by processing a photo of the vehicle's license tag with the list provided by the toll service to find a match and process the toll.
US09911241B2
Methods and computer systems for rendering plausible images of 3D polygon mesh(es) in a computer simulation comprising a computer generated environment. On a 3D polygon mesh defined using a plurality of vertices providing a plurality of rendering faces, determining an anchor point from at least three of the plurality of vertices, for each one of the rendering faces of the 3D polygon mesh, determining whether a path exists towards the anchor point and/or whether the one rendering face is on an unstable part of the 3D polygon mesh. When the path does not exist or when the part is unstable, removing the one rendering face from the 3D polygon mesh into an updated 3D polygon mesh. Rendering the updated 3D polygon mesh for display comprising a subset of the plurality of rendering faces using a visual texture, the subset being determined from the field of view of the computer simulation.
US09911234B2
An augmented reality display system comprises a passable world model data comprises a set of map points corresponding to one or more objects of the real world. The augmented reality system also comprises a processor to communicate with one or more individual augmented reality display systems to pass a portion of the passable world model data to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems, wherein the piece of the passable world model data is passed based at least in part on respective locations corresponding to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems.
US09911232B2
An “Anchored Environment Generator” generates a physically constrained virtual environment that is molded and anchored to a real-world environment around a user (or multiple users). This molding and anchoring of the physically constrained virtual environment ensures that at least a portion of the physically constrained virtual environment matches tactile truth for one or more surfaces and objects within the real-world environment. Real objects and surfaces in the real-world environment may appear as different virtual objects, and may have different functionality, in the physically constrained virtual environment. Consequently, users may move around within the physically constrained virtual environment while touching and interacting with virtual objects in the physically constrained virtual environment. In some implementations, the physically constrained virtual environment is constructed from virtual building blocks that are consistent with a theme-based specification (e.g., French bistro, space station, starship, alternate real-world environments, alien world, apocalyptic wasteland, medieval village, hospital, castle, etc.).
US09911227B2
A method and system for providing access to and control of parameters within a scenegraph includes redefining components or nodes' semantic within a scenegraph. The set of components or nodes (depending on the scenegraph structure) are required to enable access from the Application User Interface to selected scenegraph information. In one embodiment, a user interface is generated for controlling the scenegraph parameters. In addition, constraints can be implemented that allow or disallow access to certain scenegraph parameters and restrict their range of values.
US09911225B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for live capturing of light map image sequences for image-based lighting of medical data. Patient volume scan data for a target area is received over time by a processor. Lighting environment data for the target area is captured over time by a camera. The camera transmits the lighting environment data to the processor over time. The processor lights the patient volume scan data with the lighting environment data into lighted volume data over time. The processor renders an image of the lighted volume data over time.
US09911212B2
A circuit arrangement, program product and method are provided for resetting a dynamically grown Accelerated Data Structure (ADS) used in image processing in which an ADS is initialized by reusing the root node of a prior ADS and resetting at least one node in the prior ADS to break a link between the reset node and a linked-to node in the prior ADS. By doing so, the memory allocated to the prior ADS may be reused for the new ADS, without having to clear or wipe out all of the allocated memory. In addition, in some instances, given the similarity of many image frames, often some or all of the node structure of a prior ADS may be reused for a new ADS, requiring only the contents of nodes to be cleared, instead of having to clear out all of the nodes in the prior ADS. As a result, the processing overhead associated with initializing a new ADS can be significantly reduced.
US09911211B1
Provided is a process of adjusting a visualization of a graph in response to user interactions with the visualization, the process including: obtaining a graph; causing a visualization of the graph to be presented on one or more displays having a display area; receiving a request for a lens be applied to the visualization; selecting a first portion of the graph based on the first portion being presented within the region specified by the lens; and transforming the first portion of the graph.
US09911209B2
Techniques for efficiently capturing, generating and distributing more realistic images and video are provided. Among other aspects of the invention, a system is provided that includes tags that display dynamic image elements on a display with the aid of a physics model. In other aspects, the system selects among available physics models and virtual objects that serve as potential subjects for rendering dynamic image elements, based on system resource costs and resolution standards. In still other aspects, a new image file format contains embedded physical model and virtual object data for rendering images and video.
US09911206B2
A method for generating a perfusion weighted image using ASL with segmented acquisitions includes dividing an anatomical area of interest into slices and performing an EPI acquisition process using an MRI system to acquire a control image dataset representative of the slices. An ASL preparation process is performed using the MRI system to magnetically label protons in arterial blood water upstream from the anatomical area of interest. Following a first time period, a multi-band EPI acquisition process is performed using the MRI system to acquire a first labeled image dataset representative of a first subset of the slices. Following a second time period, another multi-band EPI acquisition process is performed using the MRI system to acquire a second labeled image dataset representative of a second subset of the slices. A perfusion weighted image is generated by subtracting the first and second labeled image dataset from the control image dataset.
US09911202B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising computing a saliency value for a video based on saliency values a set of pixels in each frame of the video, computing, for the video, an expected value for a metric by a predictive algorithm based on the saliency value for the video, and outputting the expected value for the metric as an indication of an expected outcome for the metric achieved by the video.
US09911201B2
Imaging process initialization techniques are described. In an implementation, a color estimate is generated for a plurality of pixels within a region of an image. A plurality of pixels outside of the regions are first identified for each pixel of the plurality of pixels within the region. This may include identification of pixels disposed at opposing directions from the pixel being estimated. A color estimate is determined for each of the plurality of pixels based on the identified pixels. As part of this, a weighting may be employed, such as based on a respective distance of each of the pixels outside of the region to the pixel within the region, a distance along the opposing direction for corresponding pixels outside of the region (e.g., at horizontal or vertical directions), and so forth. The color estimate is then used to initialize an imaging process technique.
US09911200B2
Relightable free-viewpoint rendering allows a novel view of a scene to be rendered and relit based on multiple views of the scene from multiple camera viewpoints. Image values from the multiple camera viewpoints can be separated into diffuse image components and specular image components, such that an intrinsic color component of a relightable texture can be determined for a specular scene, by using the separated diffuse image components. Furthermore, surface normals of geometry in the scene can be refined by constructing a height map based on a conservative component of an initial surface normal field and then determining the refined surface normals based on the constructed height map.
US09911193B2
A telecommunication device includes an image capture system that captures an image of a local participant in a telecommunication session, the image comprising foreground and background images defined by plural pixels, each of the pixels having a pixel magnitude related to a sample of the image at a spatial location of the respective pixel and a background modifier that segments plural pixels of the captured image into foreground and background sets of pixels based on spatial coordinates of the pixels, replaces the background set of pixels with a template set of pixels to form a new background set of pixels, each selected pixel in the template set of pixels having a different magnitude than a magnitude of the corresponding pixel in the background set of pixels replaced by the selected pixel, and combines the new background set of pixels with the foreground set of pixels to form modified image information for transmission to a remote endpoint.
US09911192B2
A package dimensioner is disclosed. A change in the pose of the package dimensioner is detected by background modeling the area of a measurement platform and then determining if a number of points in a scene are different in distance from the background model. Change in the pose can also be detected by comparing a count of support points in a 3D container generated from images taken in a training process with a count of support points in a subsequent images and determining how many support points are different.
US09911191B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a state estimation apparatus that appropriately estimates the internal state of an observation target by determining likelihoods from a plurality of observations. An observation obtaining unit of the state estimation system obtains, at given time intervals, a plurality of observation data obtained from an observable event. The observation selecting unit selects a piece of observation data from the plurality of pieces of observation data obtained by the observation obtaining unit based on a posterior probability distribution data obtained at a preceding time t−1. The likelihood obtaining unit obtains likelihood data based on the observation data selected by the observation selecting unit and predicted probability distribution data obtained through prediction processing using the posterior probability distribution data. The posterior probability distribution estimation unit estimates posterior probability distribution data representing a state of the observable event based on the predicted probability distribution data obtained by the likelihood obtaining unit and the likelihood data. The prior probability distribution output unit outputs prior probability distribution data based on the posterior probability distribution data estimated by the posterior probability distribution estimation unit as prior probability distribution data at a next time t+1.
US09911185B2
The present invention relates to a method of generating reference data for inspecting a circuit board. The method comprises steps of scanning a bare circuit board to obtain image information of the bare circuit board, generating a compensation matrix using pad coordinate information extracted from the image information and pad coordinate information prestored in design data, and generating, by applying the compensation matrix to the image information, a reference data including coordinate information of a distinctive object. According to the method, inspection efficiency may optimized through quickly generating reference data without CAD information necessary for circuit board inspection.
US09911172B2
Content creation and licensing control techniques are described. In a first example, a content creation service is configured to support content creation using an image along with functionality to locate the image or a similar image that is available for licensing. In another example, previews of images are used to generate different versions of content along with an option to license images previewed in an approved version of the content. In a further example, fingerprints are used to locate images used as part of content creation by a content creation service without leaving a context of the service. In yet another example, location of licensable versions of images is based at least in part on identification of a watermark included as part of an image. In an additional example, an image itself is used as a basis to locate other images available for licensing by a content sharing service.
US09911170B2
A system and method of arranging a transport service for a user is described. The system determines a first estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a user to a specified location data point based, at least in part, on a position of a user device operated by the user. The system also determines a second ETA of a vehicle of a set of vehicles to the specified location data point. When the first ETA and the second ETA are within a predetermined amount of time of each other, the system can select a driver to provide a transport service for the user based, at least in part, on the specified location data point.
US09911163B2
A system may include a processor that may receive energy data associated with one or more assets in an automation system, receive organizational model data associated with the automation system, and generate one or more energy reports based on a relationship between the energy data and the organizational model data.
US09911160B2
The present invention provides a tax payment system and method for accurate payments, which transfer accurate withholding tax payments from taxpayers to governments and accurate payroll payments from employers to employees with accurate employee information. Current Tax Schedules, Tax Tables and Tax Computation Worksheet are combined together for their simplification with related linear and graduate formulas. Accurate information of income tax payments, withholding tax payments and employees or businesses can be reported to the IRS or a state government by January 15 or February 15 with adjustments. Then governments can be ready to verify and/or inspect tax returns before sending out tax refunds. Therefore potential tax theft crimes could be reduced significantly or avoided to save billions of dollars. The tax payment system and method offer many taxpayers with a one-source income and certain qualifications to have an option to not file their tax returns because of accurate withholding tax payments, which reduce tax processing time and costs for governments and taxpayers significantly, which may be worth billions of dollars yearly.
US09911157B2
Methods and systems for an exchange to handle variable derivative product order prices are disclosed. The price of a derivative product order (bid or offer) is updated based on changes in the price of a related underlying product. Price determination variable(s), such as delta and gamma, are used to determine the price of the order. The exchange may periodically recalculate the price without requiring the trader to transmit additional information to the exchange.
US09911156B2
A method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing reverse auction services are provided. A reverse auction request for transportation or a reverse auction request for delivery is received from a communications device. Geographical location information of an origination location and a destination location for the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is received from the communications device. The reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is transmitted. Bids to the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery are received. The bids to the request for transportation or delivery are transmitted to the communications device.
US09911153B2
A color selection and coordination system including a database of predetermined color relationships implementing a data-driven color model. A starting color is associated with a first color in the color database. One or more predefined color palettes associated with the first color may be retrieved, each palette including one or more coordinating colors, the coordinating colors being predetermined based on the first color and a color coordination algorithm.
US09911147B2
A system and method are provided for implementing an automated bidding process in which a preliminary system-generated diagnosis (pre-diagnosis) of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system difficulty may be generated and forwarded to a plurality of available or pre-selected HVAC repair facilities or contractors for soliciting and receiving competitive bidding for repair services from those HVAC repair facilities or contractors. A system-based automated solution is provided to lessen the burden on building owners or operators in soliciting “knowledge-based” bids for undertaking repairs to correct HVAC system issues raised in an automatically-generated HVAC system pre-diagnosis. An automated platform and/or scheme allow a plurality of HAVC contractors to offer bids for the repair services based on a pre-diagnosis forwarded to the plurality of contractors as part of a bid solicitation process for the repairs.
US09911143B2
The current document is directed to methods and systems that receive instrumentation-generated events and that employ statistical inference to discover event topics and to assign a topic or category to each of a number of events. In a described implementation, the events comprise key/value pairs. A seeded local/global-topic latent Dirichlet allocation methods is used to discover topics and assign topics to a set of events. The topic-assigned events are then processed to generate topic signatures, using which the methods and systems assign topics to subsequently received messages.
US09911142B2
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for centralized deployment of advertising code. Advertising code is stored for use by a web page, the advertising code comprising at least one of vendor advertising code or vendor reporting code. An application programming interface is provided for the web page to access the advertising code, the application programming interface allowing the advertising code to be updated such that updated advertising code is automatically provided to the web page without changing source code that the web page uses to accesses the advertising code. A request for advertising code is received from the web page using the application programming interface. The advertising code is determined to be a most recently updated version of advertising code stored by the computing device. A response to the request can be generated using the advertising code. The response can be transmitted to the web page.
US09911140B2
An system can include a server that includes or is associated with a keyword price recommendation module. The module can be configured to recommend an optimal price for a keyword, per referral event, in a search engine marketing campaign. For making such a recommendation, the module can be configured to determine revenue generated per referral event for the keyword according to a number of referral events for the keyword for a plurality of users and revenue generated for the keyword by the plurality of users. It can also be configured to select a return on investment percentage for the keyword, and determine the optimal price for the keyword according to the revenue generated per referral event and the return on investment percentage. Additionally or alternatively, the keyword price recommendation module can be configured to calculate the return on investment percentage for the keyword according to at least one market condition.
US09911130B1
Online retailers may provider various content to the electronic commerce website such as advertisements. Content on the electronic commerce website may be optimized by assigning attribution value to the content where the attribution values correspond to the influence the content may have on a customer's decision making. The attribution values may be calculated using one or more regression models.
US09911127B1
A system, method and various user interfaces enable association of advertising content with requested shared video content for access via a web-based video player. Advertising content is provided selectively in conjunction with playback of video content. A rating system allows users to rate advertisements. Correspondence is then established between the video clips and the advertising content responsive to the selected rating.
US09911125B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for preventing a customer communication by locking access to customer information. The system, method, and computer program product are configured to a) identify information relating to an event or condition that triggers a lock of customer information associated with a customer; b) lock at least a portion of the customer information associated with the customer based at least partially on the identifying; and c) generate a notification indicating that at least the portion of the customer information associated with the customer is locked based at least partially on the locking.
US09911124B2
A transaction security apparatus, including an input device or receiver for inputting or receiving transaction information regarding a transaction on or involving an account, a camera or video recording device for obtaining or recording a photograph or video clip of an individual involved in the transaction, a processing device for processing the information regarding the transaction and for generating a notification message containing information regarding the transaction, and a transmitter for transmitting the notification message to a communication device associated with an account holder independently of any processing of the transaction by a transaction authorization processing computer. The apparatus transmits the photograph or the video clip to the communication device independently of any processing of the transaction by a transaction authorization processing computer.
US09911123B2
The present disclosure relates to making payments with a mobile device. In one example process, the mobile device receives and stores information for one or more payment accounts on the mobile device. The mobile device is used to make payments using the payment accounts. In some examples, authorization to proceed with a payment is performed before each purchase made by the user. The authorization process can include receiving a verification of the user, such as a fingerprint scan or passcode. In some examples, a payment account is selected from among available payment accounts. In some examples, an indication is displayed of a digital item associated with a purchased item. In some examples, a payment transaction is initiated with participants of an ongoing communication. In some examples, an application of a retailer is invoked based on the availability of the application. In some examples, a purchase recommendation is provided.
US09911120B2
Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct transactions with ATM devices.
US09911117B1
The systems and methods of the invention provide a technique for authenticating a finance related transaction. The method may include providing a token which contains a token counter, the token counter periodically advancing to generate a changing token value, the token counter being synchronized to a base counter that generates an authenticating value; transforming the token value into a token output sequence using logic; and outputting at least part of the token output sequence to an authenticating authority, the authenticating authority having access to the authenticating value. Further, the method includes the authenticating authority verifying the validity of the transaction based on the token output sequence and the authenticating value, from which the authenticating authority obtains a verification sequence using the logic, the verifying the validity including the authenticating authority comparing the token output sequence to the verification sequence to determine if there is a match between the token output sequence and the verification sequence.
US09911116B1
Introduced here is a technology that enables fraud detection and protection in financial transactions using a communication signal identification mechanism. The technology eliminates the uncertainties as to the authenticity of a payment card and/or a customer involved in a financial transaction, such as a payment transaction. In at least some embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for facilitating establishment of a card presence through communication with a payment card being used in a transaction instantiated on a merchant's POS device. The payment card can be in the form of a smartcard with embedded BLE or any other smart chip (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi, 4G, LTE, etc.) capable of transmitting a communication signal that contains identifying information, which can be used to establish the card presence.
US09911114B2
Methods and systems for making a financial payment to a payee via a stored value (SV) card utilizing a mobile device such as a mobile telephone (cellphone) or wireless connected personal digital assistant (PDA). The mobile device communicates wirelessly with a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) that stores user information and transaction information. A user enters information via the mobile device identifying a payee and indicating a stored value card payment method. The mobile device generates a mobile payment instruction that includes information corresponding to the identified payee and indicating a stored value card payment method. The mobile payment instruction is wirelessly communicated to the MFTS. The MFTS generates an MFTS payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient that can issue a new stored value card and/or reload funds onto a pre-existing stored value card. The MFTS communicates the MFTS payment instruction to the payment instruction recipient, which arranges for payment to the identified payee by issuing a new stored value card or reloading funds onto a pre-existing stored value card.
US09911111B2
Wireless pairing is automatically performed based on purchase. By providing a unique identifier and/or account number (such as a credit card number), a wireless device is automatically paired to a wireless network. For example, when a smartphone or other mobile device is used to purchase an electronic door lock, the smartphone may be used to identify security credentials for accessing the wireless network. A cellular telephone number, for example, may reveal an SSID and/or a network password that is required to access a residential or business WI-FI network. As another example, a credit card number may also be used to identify the security credentials for the wireless network.
US09911095B2
Techniques for monitoring and reporting a liquid level of a commodity in a tank includes measuring a commodity level in the tank using a tank meter and transmitting information indicating the commodity level to a server. A user may access the information from a user interface of a device to view the commodity level of the tank, informing the user of whether the commodity level is low. A provider of the commodity may receive a notification when the tank level is low. Information about the location of the tank may be used to schedule a future delivery of the commodity to one or more tanks.
US09911080B2
Self-organizing logic gates formed from a combination of memristor devices and dynamic correction modules configured to provide a stable operation upon application of a signal to any terminal. A SOLG of the invention can accept signals from any terminal and does not require an absence of signals at any other terminal. Terminal signals can superpose and the gate finds equilibrium, if an equilibrium exists.
US09911067B2
An image processing apparatus calculating to determine one category, to which an input image data belongs, among categories, which are provided to classify image data, includes a convolution processing unit which performs a convolution process using a first coefficient used for calculating to determine the one category and previously learnt; total combination processing units which are prepared for each category performs a total combination process for a processing result obtained by the convolution processing unit using a second coefficient used for calculating to determine the one category and previously learnt, and calculates to determine the one category; and a normalization unit which performs normalization of a processing result obtained by the total combination processing unit for each category, wherein the convolution processing unit performs learning of the first coefficient in common with the categories, and the total combination processing unit performs learning of the second coefficient for each category.
US09911066B2
Aspects of the present disclosure may include a method of classifying an object that includes, receiving a set of images of an indication of an object, extracting data from the images, performing a comparison of the extracted image data to a set of comparison data associated with a set of comparative objects, determining a classification of the object based on the comparison and outputting data representative of the classification. The method may classify an object by an individual identity or by one or more group characteristics.
US09911058B2
A method of updating a scene model for a foreground segmentation of an input image captured from a camera, is disclosed. One or more visual elements of the input image are determined. A spatial relationship between at least one of the visual elements and the scene model for a foreground segmentation of the input image is determined. The method updates the scene model for determining the foreground segmentation of the input image based on the determined spatial relationship.
US09911045B2
A system that analyzes data from sensors and video cameras to generated synchronized event videos and to automatically select or generate tags for an event. Enables creating, transferring, obtaining, and storing concise event videos generally without non-event video. Events stored in the database identifies trends, correlations, models, and patterns in event data. Tags may represent for example activity types, players, performance levels, or scoring results. The system may analyze social media postings to confirm or augment event tags. Users may filter and analyze saved events based on the assigned tags. The system may create highlight and fail reels filtered by metrics and by tags.
US09911039B1
Various technologies pertaining to identifying objects of interest in remote sensing images by searching over geospatial-temporal graph representations are described herein. Graphs are constructed by representing objects in remote sensing images as nodes, and connecting nodes with undirected edges representing either distance or adjacency relationships between objects and directed edges representing changes in time. Geospatial-temporal graph searches are made computationally efficient by taking advantage of characteristics of geospatial-temporal data in remote sensing images through the application of various graph search techniques.
US09911034B2
The current application is directed to methods and systems that convert document images, which contain Arabic text and text in other languages in which symbols are joined together to produce continuous words and portions of words, into corresponding electronic documents. In one implementation, a document-image-processing method and system to which the current application is directed employs numerous techniques and features that render efficiently computable an otherwise intractable or impractical document-image-to-electronic-document conversion. These techniques and features include transformation of text-image morphemes and words into feature symbols with associated parameters, efficiently identifying similar morphemes and words in an electronic store of standard-feature-symbol-encoded morphemes and words, and identifying candidate inter-character division points and corresponding traversal paths using the similar morphemes and words identified in the word store.
US09911032B2
Tracking hand or body pose from image data is described, for example, to control a game system, natural user interface or for augmented reality. In various examples a prediction engine takes a single frame of image data and predicts a distribution over a pose of a hand or body depicted in the image data. In examples, a stochastic optimizer has a pool of candidate poses of the hand or body which it iteratively refines, and samples from the predicted distribution are used to replace some candidate poses in the pool. In some examples a best candidate pose from the pool is selected as the current tracked pose and the selection processes uses a 3D model of the hand or body.
US09911029B2
An underlay body includes a surface on which a writing medium is placed, and a sensor that detects a pressure distribution on the surface.
US09911028B2
In this image acquisition device, a stage driving unit moves a position of a field of view of an objective lens relative to a sample at a predetermined velocity, and a two-dimensional imaging element sequentially captures an optical image of the sample at a predetermined frame rate. Therefore, time required for acquiring partial images over the entire sample is shortened. Further, in this image acquisition device, the moving velocity of the position of the field of view is a velocity set based on a frame rate of the imaging element. Therefore, the movement of the position of the field of view and the imaging of the imaging element are synchronized with each other, and it is possible to capture only necessary partial images.
US09911027B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a fingerprint authentication system, a fingerprint authentication program and a fingerprint authentication method that can achieve high-speed processing.A fingerprint authentication system includes a plurality of stages (n+1 stages) of indexes, a registration part in which fingerprint data FD is registered as fingerprint data TFD according to the indexes, and a checking device that checks the fingerprint data FD against the registered fingerprint data TFD based on the indexes. The fingerprint data TFD can be classified into groups, the processing speed can be increased even if there is a large number of pieces of fingerprint data TFD registered.
US09911024B2
Systems and methods for reading a two-dimensional matrix symbol or for determining if a two-dimensional matrix symbol is decodable are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a data reading algorithm that receives an image, locates at least a portion of the data modules within the image without using a fixed pattern, fits a model of the module positions from the image, extrapolates the model resulting in predicted module positions, determines module values from the image at the predicted module positions, and extracts a binary matrix from the module values.
US09911016B2
A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.
US09911008B2
A microprocessor is provided in which an encrypted program can replace the decryption keys that are used to decrypt sections of the encrypted program. The microprocessor may be decrypting and executing a first section of the encrypted program when it encounters, decrypts, and executes an encrypted store-key instruction to store a new set of decryption keys. After executing the store-key instruction, the microprocessor decrypts and executes a subsequent section of the encrypted program using the new set of decryption keys. On-the-fly key switching may occur numerous times with successive encrypted store-key instructions and successive sets of encrypted instructions.
US09911007B2
A distributed hash tree-based authentication system for digital input records has more than one upper-level core node, each of which receives at least one uppermost value from aggregators. Communicating with each other about which aggregator values they have received, the nodes try to reach agreement as to which of these values should be included in duplicated current intra-node hash tree evaluations so as to form a consistent top-level value used as the basis for digital signatures associated with the digital input records.
US09911000B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing block extent granularity authorization processing for a Coherent Accelerator Processor Interface (CAPI) adapter. An Application Client requests authorization to a File from a system processor file system. The file system validates the request, determines the location of each Extent that comprises the File, and requests authorization to each Extent from a System CAPI Authorization manager. The System CAPI Authorization manager requests the CAPI Client manager to assign a Child Client ID and CAPI Server Register range to the requesting Application Client and requests a previously authorized CAPI Parent Client to authorize the Child ID to the list of Extents. The CAPI Parent Client sends a Create Authorizations command to the CAPI Adapter via the Parent's CAPI Server Registers. The CAPI Adapter validates the Parent Authorization Handle and CPI Server Register range for the specific Extent/Command/Resource, and creates an Authorization List by assigning a new Child Authorization Handle for each requested, validated Extent/Command/Resource. The Authorization List and the Child Client ID are returned to the File System.
US09910995B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for file transmission. In one aspect, a system includes at least one machine control system, having access to a first data storage; at least one service computer, having access to a second data storage; and a central computer having at least one virtual machine. The machine control system is connectable to the virtual machine via a first communication connection in a manner that files between the first data storage and a data storage, to which the virtual machine has access, are transmissible. The service computer is connectable to the virtual machine via a second communication connection, in a manner that the virtual machine can access the second data storage and can store there files of a transmission via the first communication connection or can read files for a transmission via the first communication connection.
US09910994B1
Described are techniques for determining and mitigating leakage of sensitive data into log data. An application programming interference (API) is instrumented to recognize data classification tags indicative of sensitive data in a message to or from a service. Values associated with the data classification tags may be sampled and added to a dictionary of watch data. Log data may be searched for the values in the dictionary. If the occurrence of one or more of these values in the log data exceeds a threshold value mitigation actions may be taken. Also described is a system to sample non-sensitive information about the API interactions known to have occurred. The log data may be inspected to find these interactions, with their absence indicative of a failure in the logging system.
US09910992B2
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to present part of a web application with one or more user interface elements of the part highlighted based on updated rules. A web application is loaded in a browser layout engine. User actions are simulated on user interface elements of the web application to update the rules. The part of the web application is presented with one or more user interface elements highlighted.
US09910988B1
Techniques for malware detection are described. Herein, a system, which detects malware in a received specimen, comprises a processor and a memory. Communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprises a controller that controls analysis of the specimen for malware in accordance with an analysis plan. The memory further comprises (a) a static analysis module that performs at least a first static analysis to identify a suspicious indicator of malware and at least partially determine that the specimen includes a packed object; (b) an emulation analysis module that emulates operations associated with processing of the specimen by a software application or library, including unpacking an object of the specimen when the specimen is determined by the static analysis module to include the packed object, and monitors one or more behaviors of the specimen during the emulated operations; and a classifier that determines whether the specimen should be classified as malicious.
US09910987B2
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a malware detection method implemented within a computer. The method includes, for a given electronic file, determining if the file is associated with a valid digital signature. If the file is associated with a valid digital signature, then verifying that the signature belongs to a trusted source. If the signature does belong to a trusted source then not performing a malware scan of said file, and if the signature cannot be verified as belonging to a trusted source then performing said scan.
US09910974B2
A method and system for authenticating a user to access a computer system. The method comprises communicating security information to the computer system, and providing the computer system with an implicit input. The method further comprises determining whether the security information and implicit input match corresponding information associated with the user. The method further comprises granting the user access to the computer system in the event of a satisfactory match. When authenticating the user, the method and system consider the possibility of the user being legitimate but subject to duress or force by a computer hacker.
US09910973B2
User authentication for a user device can leverage one or more fingerprint sensor regions capable of detecting and/or recognizing a user's fingerprints. The user can define a fingerprint gesture or sequence of fingerprint gestures as a passcode, with access to a protected function being conditional on the user performing the defined fingerprint gesture or sequence of fingerprint gestures. Different fingerprint gestures or fingerprint gesture sequences can invoke or authorize different functions of the device. Fingerprint gestures from two or more users in the same location or in different locations can be used to unlock a protected function of a device.
US09910971B2
Methods and devices for thwarting code and control flow based attacks on software. The source code of a subject piece of software is automatically divided into basic blocks of logic. Selected basic blocks are amended so that their outputs are extended. Similarly, other basic blocks are amended such that their inputs are correspondingly extended. The amendments increase or create dependencies between basic blocks such that tampering with one basic block's code causes other basic blocks to malfunction when executed.
US09910963B2
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for receiving and aggregating anonymized data reports about when prescribers provide wireless device applications to patients. The disclosure discusses ways of analyzing the data reports in combination with other electronic medical information to generate useful conclusions about scenarios in the health care process.
US09910952B2
A system and a computer implemented method for interior pinning in a macro block of an integrated circuit are provided. The method includes receiving child level information of the macro block including at least a location of a logic leaflet, receiving parent level information including at least edge direction information for pin connection and routing resource values of each slot of the macro block at each metal layer, and selecting a pin location based on the child level information and the parent level information.
US09910948B2
Generating a layout of an integrated circuit chip area from a description of an integrated circuit (IC). The description includes a register-transfer-level (RTL) design. The RTL design is partitioned in large blocks for synthesis of large block synthesis (LBS) blocks. The description of the IC further includes a floorplan for the IC, wherein each LBS block to be synthesized is assigned to a respective rectilinear shape in the floorplan and the rectilinear shapes do not overlap each other.
US09910937B2
A method of generating data representing a structure of a room on a device, the method including: outputting an audio signal at a first position in the room; acquiring a first reflection signal of the audio signal at the first position; outputting the audio signal at a second position in the room; acquiring a second reflection signal of the audio signal at the second position; estimating distance information about the room by using the acquired first and second reflection signals; acquiring at least one angle information about the room; and generating a floor plan illustrating the structure of the room using the estimated distance information and the acquired angle information.
US09910935B2
A bioassembly system having a tissue/object modeling software component fully and seamlessly integrated with a robotic bioassembly workstation component for the computer-assisted design, fabrication and assembly of biological and non-biological constructs. The robotic bioassembly workstation includes a six-axis robot providing the capability for oblique-angle printing, printing by non-sequential planar layering, and printing on print substrates having variable surface topographies, enabling fabrication of more complex bio-constructs including tissues, organs and vascular trees.
US09910927B2
Example embodiments of the present disclosure include a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a computer-implemented method for providing an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) on an interactive mirror display. Consistent with some embodiments, the method may include identifying an item based on an identification device affixed to the item and accessing product information for the item from a product database. The method may further include generating a recommendation for an additional item related to the item. The method may further include generating the interactive GUI using the product information and the recommendation and causing the interactive GUI to be presented on the interactive mirror display.
US09910917B2
A method, system and computer program product for presenting tags of a tag cloud in a more understandable and visually appealing manner. Tags of a tag cloud that are associated with an object (e.g., web page) are retrieved. The retrieved tags are then assigned to parts of speech (e.g., noun, verb, adjective, adverb). Combinations of the tags are then generated based on the parts of speech assigned to the tags. For example, the combinations of the tags may be based on a template, such as
US09910915B2
A method for improving the presentation of social media data from multiple social network feeds is provided. The method may include aggregating social media content received from the multiple social network feeds. The method may also include generating filtered data by eliminating repetitive data from among the received aggregated social media content. The method may further include analyzing the filtered data for determining at least one data category and presenting a digest of social media content based on the determined at least one data category.
US09910902B1
The disclosed techniques provide systems and methods for anonymizing various portions of information, action logs, end-user information, and/or other data sets that are stored in non-indexed storage systems. More specifically, various anonymization procedures are described for redacting UII and/or replacing UII in raw data with randomly generated information (RGI). The anonymization process is performed on a rolling basis as raw data is received. An anonymization mapping table maps (or associates) the replaced UII in the anonymized data to the RGI, and eventually all raw data can be deleted.
US09910893B2
An approach is disclosed for implementing failover and resume when using ordered sequences in a multi-instance database environment. The approach commences by instantiating a first database instance initially to serve as an active instance, then instantiating a second database instance to serve as an instance of one or more passive instances. The active database establishes mastership over a sequence and then processes requests for the ‘next’ symbol by accessing a shared sequence cache only after accessing a first instance semaphore. The active instance and the passive instance perform a protocol such that upon passive database detection of a failure of the active database, one of the passive database instances takes over mastership of the sequence cache, and then proceeds to satisfy sequence value requests. The particular order is observed in spite of the failure.
US09910891B2
Staging data record changes from a faster storage medium to a slower storage medium using data query rewriting is provided. In response to receiving a data query corresponding to a particular data record, it is determined whether the data query is one of a transactional data query or an analytical data query. In response to determining that the data query is a transactional data query, the transactional data query is rewritten to apply transactional delta changes to the particular data record on a storage-class memory of a computer. In response to determining that the data query is an analytical data query, the analytical data query is rewritten to select and reconcile each data record corresponding to the particular data record stored on the storage-class memory with the particular data record stored on a persistent data storage device of the computer.
US09910888B2
A method for map-reduce job virtualization is disclosed. The method includes receiving a map-reduce job written in a first map-reduce language. The map-reduce job is to be performed in parallel on a plurality of nodes of a plurality of clusters. The method also includes selecting one or more clusters to run the map-reduce job. The method further includes identifying a second map-reduce language associated with the selected clusters. The method also includes converting the first map-reduce language of the map-reduce job into the second map-reduce language. The method further causes the map-reduce job in the second map-reduce language to be run on the plurality of nodes of the selected clusters.
US09910885B1
Methods and apparatus for providing travel-related information for a location to a user based on activity indications of the user that are related to the location. The location may be determined based on a set of one or more related activity indications and a travel-related score may be determined for the location that is indicative of likelihood that the user has interest in travelling to the location. The user may be provided the travel-related information for the location based on the travel-related score.
US09910876B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for processing a query in a column database is provided. The method for analyzing test results may include a computer, associating a first set of metadata values with a set of records in a table, wherein each record has an associated state indicated by a metadata value. The method may further include the computer receiving a query to return one or more records of the set of records. The method may further include the computer determining that one or more records in the set of records satisfies the query. The method may further include the computer determining whether at least a first record in the one or more records that satisfies the query is in a returnable state based, at least in part, on the metadata value.
US09910874B1
A methodology and related system operable to store a plurality of complex event processing (CEP) rules, the CEP rules being based on a plurality of events that are to be monitored. The CEP rules are pre-processed by, e.g., generating and storing a de-duplicated list of events from the plurality of events that are to be monitored. A received event from a received event stream is compared to events in the de-duplicated list of events and when a match between the received event (e.g., an event instance) and any one of the events in the de-duplicated list of events is detected, the received event (the event instance) is stored in an input repository. The plurality of CEP rules are then applied to the received event in the input repository, and any other previously stored events in the input repository.
US09910871B2
A table can be replaced with a view transparently to the application. For example, a data dictionary can specify that the view is to be substituted for the table. At runtime, application operations on the table are redirected to be performed on the view. Validation can be performed to ensure congruence between the table and the view. Can be useful for situations where a view with enhanced functionality is desired to be used in place of the table without re-coding the application.
US09910868B1
In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a plurality of indexes of a database table, receiving an indication of a set of index pairs in the plurality of indexes that are deemed to at least partially overlap, and determining a degree of overlap between the indexes of each index pair. The method further includes determining a suggested merge relationship between the indexes of each of the index pairs. The method also includes generating an index model comprising interconnected index objects. The interconnected index objects represent the indexes of the index pairs. Interconnections between the interconnected index objects reflect the suggested merge relationship between the indexes of each index pair. Moreover, the method includes outputting a graphical representation of the index model. Additionally, the method includes allowing a user to graphically select index pairs to merge in a system-determined order.
US09910847B2
A plurality of documents in each of a plurality of languages can be received. A Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) index can be created from the plurality of documents. A language classification model can be trained from the LSI index. A document to be identified by language can be received. A vector in the LSI index can be generated for the document to be identified by language. The vector can be evaluated against the language classification model.
US09910841B2
Provided are techniques for receiving a scanned image corresponding to a page; analyzing the scanned image to identify a set of characters (Ci) and corresponding positions (Pi) of each character of Ci on the page; applying natural language processing (NPL) and an analytic analysis algorithm to determine a semantic analysis relationship of phrases formed by Ci to determine meanings for the phrases; generating a plurality of annotations (Ai) indicating the determined meanings of the phrases, wherein each annotation is assigned a corresponding position (Qi) on the page based upon the Pi of the corresponding characters on the page; and storing, in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the scanned image in conjunction with the plurality of annotations and the corresponding Qi.
US09910840B2
Systems and methods, and computer-readable media bearing instructions for carrying out methods of capturing notes from passive recording of an ongoing content stream and annotating the note with a category are presented. Passive recording comprises temporarily recording the most recent content of the ongoing content stream. An ongoing content stream is passively recorded in a passive recording buffer. The passive recording buffer is configured to store a limited amount of recorded content corresponding to the most recently recorded content of the ongoing content stream. Upon indication by the user, a note is generated from the recorded content in the passive recording, annotated with a category, and stored in a note file for the user.
US09910839B1
A user terminal device is provided that includes a display part configured to display a document preparation window, an input part configured to receive a selection command for selecting a text in a document displayed in the document preparation window, a communication part configured to connect to a server, and a controller configured to control displaying of an activated search button in a region of the document preparation window when the text is selected, and to search for, when the search button is selected, at least one image corresponding to the selected text using the communication part, wherein the controller is further configured to control displaying of images searched for from at least one of the server and a storage part of the user terminal device, and to, when one of the searched images is selected, insert the selected image at a predetermined position of the document preparation window.
US09910838B2
Embodiments of methods to designate alternates of assets, methods to display representations of alternates, user interfaces, computer products, and digital assets are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09910819B2
In a serial transmission method using a two-wire serial interface, a master device transmits a first synchronous serial signal via the two-wire serial interface to wake-up a slave device followed by an asynchronous data transmission on one of the two-wires of the two-wire serial interface. The asynchronous data signal directly controls a function of the slave device.
US09910817B2
One feature pertains to an apparatus includes a universal serial bus (USB) communication interface that communicates with at least one USB peripheral device through a USB cable connection. The apparatus also includes a network communication interface that communicates with a communication network. The apparatus also includes a processing circuit that receives USB communication signals from the USB peripheral device, generates network data packets that include USB data based on the USB communication signals, and transmits the network data packets to a receiving device associated with a USB host device through the communication network. The apparatus also serves as a proxy USB host device to the USB peripheral device. The processing circuit may also transmit polling messages to the USB peripheral device at substantially regular time intervals, and receive the USB communication signals from the USB peripheral device in response to the polling messages.
US09910816B2
A method of communicating data over a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) Non-Transparent Bridge (NTB) comprising transmitting a first posted write message to a remote processor via the NTB, wherein the first posted write message indicates an intent to transfer data to the remote processor, and receiving a second posted write message in response to the first posted write message, wherein the second posted write message indicates a destination address list for the data. Also disclosed is a method of communicating data over a PCIe NTB comprising transmitting a first posted write message to a remote processor via the NTB, wherein the first posted write message comprises a request to read data, and receiving a data transfer message comprising at least some of the data requested by the first posted write message.
US09910815B2
An IO-Link adapter (200) for connecting a field device to a master unit having an IO-Link interface (210), a field device interface (220) and a circuit arrangement (230) for converting the field device interface data into IO-Link interface data is characterized in that the IO-Link adapter (200) has fastening elements (240) for detachably fastening to the field device, wherein by fastening the IO-Link adapter (200) to the field device, coupling of the field device interface (220) of the IO-Link adapter (200) to an interface of the field device (120) simultaneously takes place.
US09910802B2
Direct communication of data between processing elements is provided. An aspect includes sending, by a first processing element, data over an inter-processing element chaining bus. The data is destined for another processing element via a data exchange component that is coupled between the first processing element and a second processing element via a communication line disposed between corresponding multiplexors of the first processing element and the second processing element. A further aspect includes determining, by the data exchange component, whether the data has been received at the data exchange element. If so, an indicator is set in a register of the data exchange component and the data is forwarded to the other processing element. Setting the indicator causes the first processing element to stall. If the data has not been received, the other processing element is stalled while the data exchange component awaits receipt of the data.
US09910801B2
A processor or CPU architecture that implements many enabling technologies proven to enhance data through put supporting the synchronous burst data transfer. The Input-Output (I/O) is uniformly viewed and treated as an individual First-In-First-Out (FIFO) device. Pluralities of memory areas are implemented for user stack, kernel stack, interrupt stack and procedure call stack. Only one I/O arbiter is necessary for a CPU model that arbitrates between a plurality of FIFOs substituting data caches for on-chip implementation, thus eliminating traditional data transfer techniques using Direct-Memory-Access (DMA), bus control and lock signals leaving just the interrupt signals and the new synchronous signals for an easy and streamlined system design and CPU model. Supporting an interrupt-driven, FIFO-based I/O and synchronous burst data transfer the CPU employs a simple linear large register sets without bank switching.
US09910793B2
Memory encryption engine (MEE) integration technologies are described. A MEE system may include a MEE interface and a MEE core. The MEE interface may receive a data from an arbiter, where the data is selected by the arbiter from data at memory link queues. The MEE interface may adjust a timing rate to send the data to match a timing of a MEE core. The MEE core may be coupled to the MEE interface and may receive the data from the MEE interface.
US09910792B2
A processing system includes a memory and a cryptographic accelerator operatively coupled to the memory. The cryptographic accelerator performs a split substitute byte operation within two paths of a cryptographic round by determining a first output from a first path by applying a mapped affine transformation to an input bit sequence represented by an element of a composite field of a finite-prime field, wherein the first output is represented by a first element of the composite field of the finite-prime field, and a second output from a second path by applying a scaled mapped affine transformation to the input bit sequence, wherein the second output is represented by a second element of the composite field and is equal to a multiple of the first output in the composite field.
US09910784B2
A storage device made up of multiple storage media is configured such that one such media serves as a cache for data stored on another of such media. The device includes a controller configured to manage the cache by consolidating information concerning obsolete data stored in the cache with information concerning data no longer desired to be stored in the cache, and erase segments of the cache containing one or more of the blocks of obsolete data and the blocks of data that are no longer desired to be stored in the cache to produce reclaimed segments of the cache.
US09910774B1
Systems for memory management in virtual machines. A method embodiment forms a reconfigurable multi-level data structure by requesting reserved memory as well as loaned-out memory. The method configures the multi-level data structure to have a first area comprising reserved memory and having a second area comprising reconfigurable memory. The reserved memory portion of the data structure is populated with pointers that address one or more portions of the second area. During operation, the method receives a request to release some or all of the reconfigurable memory. Memory address pointers in the first portion of the multi-level data structure are modified to reflect the release of the reconfigurable memory. In a hypervisor-based virtual machine environment, the first area comprising reserved memory can be allocated via a hypervisor call. The second area comprising reconfigurable memory is allocated via a balloon memory driver call.
US09910765B2
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing testing environments using virtualization are presented. In one or more embodiments, a computer system may receive, from a client computing device, a software application. Subsequently, the computer system may receive, from the client computing device, a set of one or more testing parameters for testing the software application. Then, the computer system may create, based on the set of one or more testing parameters for testing the software application, a testing environment for the software application using a native hardware layer that represents hardware on which the software application is configured to be executed. Thereafter, the computer system may initiate a testing session in which software application is executed in the testing environment. Subsequently, the computer system may provide, to the client computing device, a control interface for controlling the testing session.
US09910759B2
A system comprising one or more processors executing a first process and a second process, a memory storing log information for the first process and the second process, and one or more logging components, executing on the one or more processors. The one or more logging components are configured to identify a first log event associated with the first process, generate an event identifier (ID) based on the first log event, transfer the event ID to the second process, identify a second log event associated with the second process and based on the first log event, and associate the event ID with the second log event in the memory.
US09910754B2
A duplexed control system comprises: two control devices, whereof one is set to operate as a reserve system and the other is set to operate as a regular system; a tracking bus that connects the two control devices to enable these to exchange tracking signals; and a control transmission channel that transmits computational information of these two control devices; wherein: the control devices respectively have: an own-system state evaluation section that transmits the result of state evaluation of its own system as a tracking signal through the tracking bus to the other system; an other-system signal confirmation section that receives the tracking signal through the tracking bus from the control device of the other system and thus performs state confirmation; and a transmission channel changeover section that, if the tracking signal cannot be received through the tracking bus, effects transmission of the tracking signal to the other-system signal confirmation section of the other system, through the control transmission channel.
US09910747B2
A method, computer program product and/or system for facilitating data access that performs the following steps (not necessarily in the following order): (i) generating a Mirror Write Consistency (MWC) record associated with a data portion stored on a data storage device (ii) saving a dynamic copy of the MWC record in a manner such that the MWC record is more readily accessible for read and write operations than the data portion stored on the data storage device. At least the generating and making step is performed by computer software running on computer hardware.
US09910746B2
Various embodiments are provided that enable a controller of a storage device having storage media to perform one or more error recovery operations on the storage media, and to convey, while performing the one or more error recovery operations, a message indicating a status of the one or more error recovery operations to a host processor in communication with the storage device. Storage devices implementing embodiments of the present invention include hard disk drives and solid state disk drives comprising a disk head having a magnetoresistive (MR) element configured to read and write data to and from the storage media, and coupled to an analog/digital (A/D) converter, and the error recovery operations are selected from a list of changing an automatic gain control of the A/D converter, positioning the disk head off-track in order to read the data, and adjusting a bias value of the MR element.
US09910741B2
Non-destructive data storage is disclosed. An information change is stored that is associated with a business object such that tracking of the information change is enabled with respect to one a transaction time and/or an effective time. The stored information change is accessed with respect to a time.
US09910735B1
In one embodiment, a method includes generating a crash-consistent snapshot of a volume at a first point-in-time, mounting the snapshot to a host, running an application to access the snapshot, running an integrity tool to identify and repair a defect with the snapshot to form a modified snapshot and shutting down the application to form an application-consistent snapshot of the volume.
US09910731B2
A resiliency system detects and corrects memory errors reported by a memory system of a computing system using previously stored error correction information. When a program stores data into a memory location, the resiliency system executing on the computing system generates and stores error correction information. When the program then executes a load instruction to retrieve the data from the memory location, the load instruction completes normally if there is no memory error. If, however, there is a memory error, the computing system passes control to the resiliency system (e.g., via a trap) to handle the memory error. The resiliency system retrieves the error correction information for the memory location and re-creates the data of the memory location. The resiliency system stores the data as if the load instruction had completed normally and passes control to the next instruction of the program.
US09910724B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for fast and accurate identification of message-based application programming interface (API) calls in applications. A set of compliance rules is obtained from a compliance rule store. A request to analyze an application is received. An application analysis is performed by scanning the application to identify one or more public APIs invoked by the application. The set of compliance rules are enforced on the application based at least in part on the application analysis.
US09910719B2
Systems and methods of enhancing computing performance may provide for detecting a request to acquire a lock associated with a shared resource in a multi-threaded execution environment. A determination may be made as to whether to grant the request based on a context-based lock condition. In one example, the context-based lock condition includes a lock redundancy component and an execution context component.
US09910718B2
A management controller in a distributed network switch may operate on sets of ports such that sets of ports containing a same port are processed serially, and sets that do not contain any of the same ports can be processed in parallel. When receiving a set of ports for processing, the management controller organizes the ports into lanes that each correspond to a unique port. If any of the lanes overlap, subsequent port sets are blocked from proceeding until the lanes of preceding port sets are cleared. If no lanes overlap, the sets may be deemed disjoint, and subsequent port sets may be processed in parallel.
US09910715B2
Each of a plurality of accesses by a multithreaded program to shared data structures stored within a database is monitored. The accesses are implemented by varying application programming interface (API) methods. Thereafter, it is determined, based on pre-defined synchronization safeguards, whether each of the accesses is valid or invalid based on the utilized corresponding API method. Those accesses to the shared data structures that were determined to be valid are allowed to proceed while those accesses to the shared data structures that were determined to be invalid are prevented from proceeding.
US09910709B2
An allocation control method includes: determining, for each of plural virtual machines executed on a first information processing apparatus or a second information processing apparatus, whether the virtual machine is executing a first processing that is performed in response to a request from an external apparatus; first allocating, to the first information processing apparatus, first virtual machines, which are executing the first processing, among the plural virtual machines; and second allocating, to the second information processing apparatus, second virtual machines, which are not executing the first processing, among the plural virtual machines.
US09910707B2
A host server is configured to receive information related to metrics and configurations associated with computer resources of a computer infrastructure, derive and resolve the information into capacity, performance, reliability, and efficiency, as related to attributes associated with the computer resources, including compute attributes such as application, virtual machine (VM) attributes, storage attributes, and network attributes. The host server provides the metrics and attributes in a matrix configuration as a graphical user interface (GUI) on an output device, such as a display. The GUI is configured to provide a user with a single point of view into the computer infrastructure by converging application, compute, storage, and network attributes into capacity, performance, reliability, and efficiency concepts. With such a configuration, the GUI allows the end user to readily review the environments for potential issues in a time efficient manner, as well as solutions provided by the GUI.
US09910704B1
A scheduler allocating a task to a socket, where the socket comprises a plurality of processor cores and a micro code engine. The scheduler receives metrics from the micro code engine, where the metrics are calculated by the micro code engine based on data receive from an event counter located on each of the plurality of processor cores. The scheduler determines whether a socket level load is below a socket threshold. Based on determining that the socket level load is below the socket threshold value, the scheduler determines whether a core level load is below a core threshold value. Based on determining that the core level load is below the core threshold value, the scheduler determines whether there is an available thread and based on determining that there is an available thread, the scheduler assigns the task to the available thread.
US09910702B2
A method and associated system for continuously optimizing data archive management scheduling. A flow network is modeled, which creates vertexes organized in multiple levels and creating multiple edges sequentially connecting the vertexes of the multiple levels. The multiple levels consist of N+1 levels denoted as LEVEL0, LEVEL1, . . . , LEVELN, wherein N is at least 2, wherein LEVEL0 includes a source vertex, wherein LEVEL1 includes at least one task vertex associated with at least one archive management task, wherein EDGEK is directed from the vertex of LEVELK−1 to the vertex of LEVELK for K=1, . . . , N, wherein EDGE1 indicates that a first task associated with a first task vertex of LEVEL1 is scheduled by a job scheduler, and wherein EDGE1 has a first weight equal to a time unit to perform the first task.
US09910700B2
A method for migration of operations between CPU cores, the method includes: processing, by a source core, one or more tasks and one or more interrupt service routines; accessing a mapping corresponding to a task of the one or more tasks and an interrupt service routine of the one or more interrupt service routines; identifying, based on the mapping, a target core that corresponds to the task and the interrupt service routine; blocking the task from being processed by the source core in response to identifying the target core; in response to identifying the target core, disabling an interrupt corresponding to the interrupt service routine; in response to identifying the target core, assigning the task and the interrupt to the target core; after assigning the interrupt to the target core, enabling the interrupt; and after assigning the task to the target core, processing the task by the target core.
US09910692B2
The present disclosure is directed to enhanced virtual function capabilities in a virtualized network environment. In general, devices may comprise physical and virtualized resources. The physical resources may comprise at least a network adaptor that may handle incoming data from a network and outgoing data to the network. The virtualized resources may comprise at least one virtual machine (VM) and a corresponding interface. The corresponding interface may be one of a physical interface, a virtual interface or a “super” virtual interface. The physical interface may provide a first set of capabilities allowing the VM to access (e.g., control) at least the network adaptor. The virtual interface may provide a second set of capabilities that is a subset of the first set. The super virtual interface may provide a third set of capabilities including the second set of capabilities and at least one additional capability from the first set of capabilities.
US09910681B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for using contracts in dynamic languages. For example, a contract can be directly associated with an object. The contract can then be used to provide type safety for the object. As another example, contracts can be used with mix-ins. A declaration for a contract is provided with a mix-in. The contract is associated with a target object at runtime when applying the mix-in. Conditions can be assigned to mix-ins that must be met before the mix-in can be applied to the target object. At runtime, if the target object meets the one or more conditions, then the mix-in can be applied to the target object.
US09910652B2
A method, executed by a computer, for deploying an application includes receiving a deployment description that indicates the one or more deployment configurations and an artifact corresponding to a deployment, accessing a repository that contains the deployment configurations and the artifact that correspond to the deployment, enabling a user to select a subset of deployment configurations, and deploying the subset of deployment configurations and artifact to a processing environment. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the above method are also disclosed herein.
US09910638B1
Square root operations in a computer processor are disclosed. A first iteration for calculating partial results of a square root operation is performed in a larger number of cycles than remaining iterations. The first iteration requires calculation of a first digit that is larger than the subsequent digits. The first iteration thus requires multiplication of values that are larger than corresponding values for the subsequent other digits. By splitting the first digit into two parts, the required multiplications can be performed in less time than if the first digit were not split. Performing these multiplications in less time reduces the total delay for clock cycles associated with the first digit calculations, which increases the possible clock frequency allowed. A multiply-and-accumulate unit that performs either packed-single operations or double-precision operations may be used, along with a combined division/square root unit for simultaneous execution of division and square root operations.
US09910624B2
In an approach for writing data on a tape using a file system, a processor receives a first write request of a first file. A processor obtains data of the first file. A processor writes the data of the first file on a tape. A processor receives a second write request of a second file prior to completion of writing the data of the first file on the tape. A processor adds information about the second file to a first list, wherein the first list includes files waiting to write. Subsequent to writing the data of the first file on the tape, a processor obtains data of the second file based on the first list. A processor writes the data of the second file after the first file on the tape.
US09910622B2
In an array of solid-state drives (SSDs), SSDs in the array are each configured to initiate generation of additional erased memory blocks when an initiation command is received from a host or when the number of erased memory blocks in the SSD falls below a minimum threshold of erased memory blocks for the SSD. The minimum threshold value may be adjusted by the host.
US09910621B1
In one aspect, a method includes receiving an I/O, incrementing a first counter in an active data structure in a backlog at a splitter after receiving the I/O, storing I/O metadata of the I/O in the active data structure, incrementing a second counter in the active data structure or a passive data structure in the backlog if the I/O was written to a storage array and received by the data protection appliance and incrementing a third counter in the active data structure or the passive data structure if either the I/O was not written to a storage array or not received by the data protection appliance.
US09910619B2
A solid state drive includes a dual buffer for buffering incoming write data prior to committal to a non-volatile memory. The buffer is operated to provide a temporary backup of dirty data pending successful completion of a host transfer. The dual buffer may be operated as a primary buffer and a secondary buffer. The primary buffer may be used as the default buffer during normal operation. The secondary buffer is written to during a host transfer that is a cache write to dirty data. A copying process may be used to copy data between the primary and the secondary buffer to preserve the backup data pending successful completion of the host transfer.
US09910616B2
In dynamic data access, a request is received to access data of a core data service view of an in-memory database. It is determined that an aging temperature parameter is specified in an annotation in a core data service view definition. An aging temperature value corresponding to the aging temperature parameter is received as a range restriction. A default access behavior associated with the core data service view definition is overridden. A partition where the aging temperature value lies in a secondary memory is determined. Latest or recent partition in the secondary memory is referred to as a latest partition. Data from the latest partition until the determined partition is accessed in the secondary memory. The accessed data is loaded from the secondary memory to the main memory.
US09910612B2
The present memory system includes a memory buffer having an interface arranged to buffer data and/or command bytes being written to or read from the RAM chips residing on a DIMM by a host controller. The memory buffer further includes at least one additional interface arranged to buffer data and/or command bytes between the host controller or RAM chips and one or more external devices coupled to the at least one additional interface. For example, the memory buffer may include a SATA interface and be arranged to convey data between the host controller or RAM chips and FLASH memory devices coupled to the SATA interface. The memory buffer may be employed in various types of systems, such as a computer server system, a network system, or a data center.
US09910611B2
A processing system includes a processing core to execute a task and a memory management unit, coupled to the core. The memory management unit includes a protection key register comprising a plurality of fields. Each field comprising a set of bits reflecting a memory access permission for each of a plurality of memory domains. The memory management unit also includes a plurality of protection key mask registers. Each of the protection key mask registers comprising a mask having a plurality of bits, each bit reflecting an access permission to a corresponding field of the protection key register by a code page residing in a memory domain of the plurality of memory domains identified by an index of the protection key mask register. The memory management unit is, responsive to receiving a request to modify the protection key register by the code page residing in the memory domain, to select a protection key mask register among the plurality of protection key mask registers and to apply a mask comprised by selected protection key mask register indexed by an identifier of the memory domain.
US09910610B2
A multiple application smart card uses hardware firewalls and an internal communications scheme to isolate applications from different service providers. A first application from a first service provider is stored within a first supplemental security domain of a memory device on the multiple application smart card. A second application from a second service provider is stored within a second SSD of the memory device. A hardware firewall is located between the first and second applications of the first and second SSDs. The hardware firewall prevents direct data access between the first and second applications of the first and second SSDs.
US09910601B2
According to one aspect, a system for managing information objects in dynamic data storage devices including a first data storage device having a plurality of information objects, a second data storage device operatively connectable to an output device for providing at least some of the information objects to at least one user, and at least one processor operatively coupled to the first data storage device and the second data storage device. The at least one processor is configured to automatically divide the plurality of information objects in the first data storage device to form at least one data subdivision based on division criteria, and repeatedly, in response to a dynamic operating condition determine a relevance value of at least one of the data subdivisions in the first data storage device and the second data storage device indicative of the relevance of those data subdivision to the user, and based on the relevance value, perform at least one of loading those data subdivision to the second data storage, or unloading those data subdivision from the second data storage.
US09910595B2
A method for data storage includes defining a host cluster within a group of host computers, which access a storage system that includes multiple logical volumes. The host cluster includes two or more of the host computers. Responsively to a single mapping instruction, each of the host computers in the host cluster is mapped to access the logical volumes in the set. In another disclosed method, a single control instruction, which specifies the host cluster and a configuration operation to be applied to the host computers in the host cluster, is accepted. Responsively to the single control instruction, the configuration operation is applied to each of the host computers in the host cluster.
US09910593B2
An array can include a controller and multiple storage devices of a first type. When a storage device of the first type is replaced by a replacement storage device of a second type, and other storage devices of the first type remain in the array, the controller instructs the replacement storage device to configure itself as a storage device of the first type. When the last storage device of the first type in the array is replaced by a replacement storage device of the second type, the controller instructs all the storage devices of the array to configure themselves as storage devices of the second type.
US09910592B2
A system for replicating data comprising includes a first and a second computing device. The first computing device has a first storage unit configured to store block level data, a second storage unit and a volatile memory. The second computing device has a third storage unit and a fourth storage unit configured to store block level data, the third storage unit being communicatively coupled to the second storage unit. The first computing device is configured to receive write requests each containing payload data, write the payload data of the write requests to the volatile memory and append the payload data to the second storage unit, and acknowledge the write requests prior to writing the respective payload data to the second storage unit. The second computing device is configured to detect new data in the third storage unit and apply the new data to the fourth storage unit.
US09910589B2
A virtual keyboard with dynamically adjusted recognition zones for predicted user-intended characters. When a user interaction with the virtual keyboard is received on the virtual keyboard, a character in a recognition zone encompassing the detected interaction location is selected as the current input character. Characters likely to be the next input character are predicted based on the current input character. The recognition zones of the predicted next input characters are adjusted to be larger than their original sizes.
US09910579B2
In one embodiment, a graphical display device may use a set of one or more thresholds to remove a scaling motion from a panning input using multiple fingers. The graphical display device may receive a user input in a user movement interface having at least a first bio-point 210 and a second bio-point 210. The graphical display device may detect a panning motion from the user input. The graphical display device may filter out a scaling motion from the user input based on a scaling threshold. The graphical display device may present a pan of a graphical user interface to a user.
US09910566B2
Methods and systems execute different optical character recognition processes on an image using a network-based server to automatically recognize characters in the image, and aggregate the recognition results from the different optical character recognition processes to produce a final character recognition result that includes relatively higher confidence recognized characters and relatively lower confidence recognized characters. These methods and systems then output the final character recognition result from the network-based server to a remote computerized device over a computerized network. The output provides the relatively higher confidence recognized characters as default characters for pasting, and also provides the relatively lower confidence recognized characters as alternate characters for pasting. Additionally, this output provides a default pointer movement operation that automatically pastes the default characters into another input field, and a secondary pointer movement operation that automatically pastes one or more of the alternate characters for pasting into the input field.
US09910565B2
A system and method for providing personalization of a virtual space based on an individualized seed value. The system may provide personalization within one or more instances of a virtual space based on an individualized seed value derived from one or more biometric samples (e.g., a fingerprint) and/other individual identifiers. One or more values may be obtained and used as the individual seed value to generate pseudorandom numbers. Personalizations affecting characteristics of one or more aspects of the virtual space may be determined based on the pseudorandom numbers generated. Presentation of the personalizations determined may be effectuated in on or more instances of the virtual space.
US09910559B2
According to a method of the present invention for controlling display of a menu screen, content is displayed in a content display region located in a central part of a display screen in a size smaller than the display screen, and a plurality of icons are displayed in a circle around the content display region so that the plurality of icons sequentially move to a specific position in accordance with a user's selecting operation while moving around the content display region without overlapping the content display region.
US09910555B2
The present disclosure relates to handheld mobile terminals that implementing methods for a technology of displaying and adjusting sizes of multiple windows on a screen of a handheld mobile terminal. The handheld mobile terminal may be configured to display a plurality of windows together on a screen. Under an edit mode, the handheld mobile terminals may receive a first instruction from a user of the handheld mobile terminal to adjust a target window of the plurality of windows to any size the user wishes; and adjust the size of the target window according to the instruction.
US09910553B2
A method and apparatus are provided for a touch sensor made from a flexible substrate with voids and resistive conductive elements suspended within it. The voids in the substrate are positioned in the areas where conductive elements cross. The substrate holds the conductive elements apart in these voids when no pressure is applied, but allows the crossing conductive elements to come into contact when pressure from a touch is applied. The conductive elements follow a serpentine path to increase the number of crossings for a given number of conductive elements. The ends of the conductive elements are connected to control electronics around the periphery of the substrate that energizes select conductive elements with constant voltage and constant current signals and measures voltage from other conductive elements to ascertain touch locations and touch contact areas respectively. The sensor can be planner or made to follow contoured surfaces such as the outer surfaces of a mobile electronic device.
US09910550B2
Disclosed is a touch screen panel. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the touch screen panel comprises a first sensor layer including a plurality of first sensor electrodes for detecting a position of a touch input on one axis and a second sensor layer stacked on an upper or lower part of the first sensor layer and including a plurality of second sensor electrodes for detecting a position of the touch input on another axis. In this case, each of the first sensor electrodes includes first detection regions arranged in a zigzag manner along a first direction and first connection regions for connecting the first detection regions, and each of the second sensor electrodes includes second detection regions arranged in a zigzag manner along a second direction and second connection regions for connecting the second detection regions.
US09910546B2
The invention allows size reduction of a sensor of a position detecting device of a capacitive system, which detects a position indicated by an indicator. The sensor has plural electrode conductors that are disposed adjacent to each other and are configured to receive a signal from the indicator on a first surface of a substrate having the first surface and a second surface opposed to each other. The position detecting device includes a signal processing circuit including a differential amplifier circuit that calculates a difference between signals from at least two of the plural electrode conductors. Plural connecting lines are formed on the second surface of the substrate. The plural connecting lines each have one end connected to one of the plural electrode conductors disposed on the first surface by a through-hole or a via formed through the substrate, and the other end connected to a line-concentrated part.
US09910537B2
The present disclosure discloses an in-cell touch screen panel, a driving method thereof and a display device. A plurality of sub-pixels are grouped into sub-pixel groups, each of which includes at least two sub-pixels. Cathode layers of different sub-pixel groups are independent of one another. The cathode layers are reused as self-capacitance electrodes. A driving chip determines a touch position by detecting a change in capacitance of the cathode layers, thereby achieving touch control functionality. The driving chip outputs, in a fourth phase, signals to the cathode layers and to the signal terminals of each sub-pixel circuit, each of the signals is a superposition of the signal output in a third phase with a touch scanning signal such that each sub-pixel circuit operates in the fourth phase in the same state as in the third phase.
US09910531B2
A circular, single-layer sensor electrode pattern for input devices, such as wearable devices, is described. The sensor electrode pattern features transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes tiled in alternating fashion, such that each receiver electrode is surrounded by transmitter electrodes. The individual sensor electrodes of the described pattern are designed to provide a substantially uniform electrode area size across the sensor. Additionally, the sensor electrode pattern is arranged to be symmetric across both horizontal and vertical axes. The provided characteristics of the sensor electrode pattern leads to a sensor structure having uniform absolute capacitive sensing measurements for all sensor electrodes as well as uniform transcapacitive sensing measurements for all “pixels.”
US09910520B2
An electronic device according to the present disclosure includes a translucent panel including a front surface and a back surface, the translucent panel including a curved portion at an end portion, the curved portion being curved toward the back surface with respect to a central portion of the translucent panel. The electronic device also includes a touch panel located on the back surface of the translucent panel and configured to be covered with the central portion and the curved portion. The distance between the curved portion and the touch panel is shorter than the distance between the central portion of the translucent panel and the touch panel.
US09910516B2
A signal processing device and a control method are disclosed. The signal processing device comprises: an input unit which receives a signal from an external input device or senses a connection state; a storage unit for storing information on the external input device; and a control unit for recognizing and activating the external input device on the basis of the signal inputted from the external input device and the stored information.
US09910514B2
A wireless positioning pen with a pressure-sensitive tip includes an electric power source, optical system (1), inertial sensors and wireless technology. A casing (6) has a second casing (7), and a top part with holes (61) with fingerboards (8) with buttons that forms a sliding housed body (4) with a battery (10) therein. A head (3) is attached to the front part thereof, and a first cover (5) with a fastening mechanism (51) attached to lower part of the body (4) The body (4) houses a four part printed circuit board (PCB) (2) mutually interconnected with flexible parts (20). The body (4) has the optical system (1) sliding on the PCB fixed part (14) bearing an optical sensor (13) connected through the PCB flexible part (15) to the fourth fixed part (24). The head (3) has a tip button (92) with a light source (16), and a capacitive sensor (91).
US09910492B2
A stereoscopic touch device and a display device are provided. The stereoscopic touch device is arranged in the front of the stereoscopic display panel and comprises: an air injection panel which comprises a plurality of air injection holes in array distribution thereon; an image processing chip which generates a control signal for controlling strengths of airflows from respective air injection holes depending on a stereoscopic image signal; an airflow regulating device which is in signal connection with the image processing chip and is configured for providing air with the airflow strengths to the respective air injection holes depending on the control signal.
US09910485B2
Technology for performing services based on power consumption is disclosed. A plurality of power consumption levels can be identified at a service area. The plurality of power consumption levels can be characterized into current power consumption behavior. The current power consumption behavior can be compared to at least one power consumption behavioral model, the power consumption behavioral model including historical power consumption behaviors for the service area. A service can be performed when the current power consumption behavior diverges from the power consumption behavioral model outside of a predefined threshold.
US09910482B2
A memory interface includes: a pull-up device and a pull-down device, wherein the pull-up device couples between a power rail and a data line, and wherein the pull-down device couples between the data line and ground; and a power supply configured to supply a first power supply voltage to the power rail during a terminated data transmission mode in which a receiving memory interface coupled to the data line has an active on-die termination, and wherein the power supply is further configured to supply a second power supply voltage to the power rail during an unterminated data transmission mode in which the on-die termination does not load the data line, the second power supply voltage being less than the first power supply voltage.
US09910474B2
The subject of the invention is in particular the optimization of standby management of a part of a microprocessor allowing implementation of at least two logic cores, said at least one microprocessor comprising means for placing at least one resource non common to said at least two logic cores on standby. After having determined (400) a desired standby state for each of said at least two logic cores, said desired standby state of one of said at least two logic cores is compared with the said desired standby state of the other of said at least two logic cores. In response to said comparison, instructions preparing for said placement on standby and/or allowing the restoration of said one of said at least two logic cores are launched (420).
US09910460B2
An electronic device having protruding features and a method for molding the protruding features to the electronic device are described. The protruding features may be formed by a molding tool that releases a material that flows through several apertures of a substrate. Also, the molding tool is positioned with respect to the substrate such that the material from the molding tool flows from an interior region of the substrate to an exterior region of the substrate via the several apertures. Accordingly, each aperture extends from an opening of the interior region and to an opening of the exterior region of the substrate. In some cases, the apertures may include a conical shape. For example, the opening in the interior region may include a diameter greater than a diameter of the opening in the exterior region. In this manner, the material, when cured, is mechanically secured to the substrate.
US09910457B2
An expansion device includes: a housing onto which an electronic device including a first connector is placed; a second connector, provided on the housing, configured to couple to the first connector; and a positioning member, including a projecting portion that projects from the housing, configured to displace, by a sliding operation with the electronic device being engaged, from a standby position in which the positioning member is restricted to sink into the housing to a coupling position in which the positioning member is allowed to sink into the housing and the first connector and the second connector are capable of coupling with each other.
US09910451B2
A low-dropout (LDO) regulator is provided. The LDO regulator comprises a first circuit operating as a closed loop control system. The first circuit is configured to control a voltage at a first node such that the voltage at the first node is substantially equal to a specified regulator output voltage. The LDO regulator comprises a second circuit operating as an open loop control system. The second circuit is configured to increase the voltage at the first node when a current flowing through a load changes from a first current to a second current. The first current is substantially equal to 0 amperes.
US09910437B2
A method for operating a motor vehicle, including a first control unit, a second control unit configured separately from the first control unit and a surroundings sensor system for detecting motor vehicle surroundings, including: detecting the vehicle surroundings with the surroundings sensor system to ascertain surroundings data corresponding to the detected surroundings, checking with the first control unit based on the ascertained surroundings data, whether there is an object in the vehicle surroundings which could with a predetermined probability collide with the vehicle, to ascertain a first checking result, checking with the second control unit, based on the ascertained surroundings data, whether there is an object in the vehicle surroundings which could with a predetermined probability collide with the vehicle, to ascertain a second checking result, comparing the two checking results, driverless guidance of the vehicle, based on the comparison. Also described is a system, motor vehicle and computer program.
US09910433B1
Systems and methods for remotely operating a vehicle system are provided. A system is provided herein that includes a radio frequency (RF) circuit configured to establish a plurality of bi-directional communication links with a plurality of remote vehicle systems, and a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the RF circuit. The controller circuit is configured to obtain operational data from the plurality of remote vehicle systems, determine operation statuses of the remote vehicle systems based on the operational data relative to one or more predetermined thresholds, display on a display the operation statuses of the plurality of remote vehicle systems, and transmit a control signal along a first bi-directional communication link of the plurality of bi-directional communication links to the first remote vehicle system.
US09910426B2
A controller for controlling a synchronized operation of spindle and feed axes. A spindle-axis control section includes a section for making a spindle axis perform an accelerated rotation at maximum capacity from a process start position; sections for respectively detecting a maximum acceleration, a residual rotation amount and a current speed of the spindle axis; a section for making the spindle axis perform a decelerated rotation at maximum capacity to reach a target thread depth after the accelerated rotation; and a section for executing a torque-limiting during the accelerated rotation of the spindle axis, in such a manner that a torque command lower than a maximum torque command is given to the spindle axis at a start of acceleration, and thereafter the torque command is gradually increased so that the maximum torque command is given to the spindle axis when a predetermined time has elapsed.
US09910419B2
Systems and methods for synchronizing time between multiple systems on a mining machine. The system includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling the mining machine and for transmitting a time to synchronize computer subsystems on the machine. The PLC includes a system clock that is programmed to operate on local time. A battery pack is connected to the PLC to allow the system clock to function continuously, even when the machine is turned off. Computer subsystems request and receive time updates from the PLC. A local time on each computer subsystem is determined based on the time update received from the PLC. Each computer subsystem includes a time zone parameter set to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and a Daylight Saving Time (DST) parameter that is disabled. Accordingly, the local time on each computer subsystem is set to the time update value received from the PLC.
US09910414B2
A cutting device is configured to attach to a boom arm and includes a saw assembly with a cutting portion configured to cut into a target surface. The cutting device also includes a motor assembly coupled to the saw assembly. The motor assembly has at least two motors configured to rotate the saw assembly about two different axes. The cutting device further comprises a control system operatively coupled to the motor assembly. The control system has at least two sensors coupled to the saw assembly and the control system is configured to position the saw assembly to cut a target surface based on feedback from the at least sensors.
US09910411B2
The controller includes a differentiating engine configured to receive an input signal value (ISV), wherein the ISV corresponds to state information for one selected from a group consisting of a controlled process and a user interface. The differentiating engine is further configured to determine an error between the ISV and an estimated input signal (EIS), estimate a frequency of the IS, select a plurality of pre-determined gains using the frequency, wherein at least one plurality of pre-determined gains is a suction control gain, determine a first estimated derivative of the input signal (EDIS) using the plurality of pre-determined gains and the error, and to output the first EDIS.
US09910410B2
The invention provides a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) control system comprising a controller adapted for receiving an input set of at least two control input parameters and a set of at least two control output parameters, said control system arranged for effecting a modified deadbeat control, in which said modified deadbeat control comprises a robust deadbeat control for an n-th order, linear time invariant (LTI) system based upon a series of cascade proportional integrating-differentiating (PID) controls, each PID control comprising a system transfer function having a nominator and a denominator, wherein for the nominator a constant gain (K) is selected for each PID control. The invention further provides a method for controlling a continuous process using this control system.
US09910408B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a printing paper transport path in which printing paper is transported; a secondary transfer unit and a fixing section both disposed on the printing paper transport path; an open/close cover that, when opened, exposes the printing paper transport path in a main body of the apparatus; a pressure roller, disposed in the fixing section, that presses the printing paper on a side thereof facing the open/close cover against the printing paper transport path; and cooling fans that cool down the pressure roller, wherein the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans are attached to the open/close cover and disposed at such positions that the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans move following overlapping paths when the open/close cover is opened/closed.
US09910403B2
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a pocket formed on a first side of a housing. A bottom end of the pocket is open for receiving an electrical connector during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device. An electrical contact is positioned within the pocket and is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. An outer guide is positioned on the first side of the housing and below the pocket. A portion of the outer guide inclines inward toward the first side of the housing as the outer guide extends upward. An inner guide is positioned within the pocket on a first inner surface of the pocket, which faces toward the first side of the housing. A portion of the inner guide inclines inward toward the first side of the housing as the inner guide extends upward.
US09910391B2
An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a tubular rotary member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted into a hollow portion of the rotary member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core in the hollow portion, and a control unit configured to control a frequency of an alternating current flowing through the coil, in which the conductive layer generates heat by an electromagnetic induction in an alternating magnetic field formed when the alternating current flows through the coil, and the control unit controls the frequency in accordance with a size of the recording material.
US09910389B1
An image forming apparatus includes a pressing unit configured to press an image forming surface of a sheet with a first pressure, an image carrier configured to hold a toner image, a transfer unit disposed downstream with respect to the pressing unit in a sheet conveying direction and configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier to the sheet by pressing the sheet against the image carrier with a second pressure that is less than the first pressure, and a density sensor to detect density of toner held on the image carrier.
US09910385B2
A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus includes a toner container main body having a predetermined length and in which toner is accommodated, a discharge port through which the toner is discharged from the toner container main body, a shutter which opens and closes the discharge port, a handle provided on the toner container main body, and a pressed portion provided on the toner container main body and which is pressed by the image forming apparatus to project the handle out from the image forming apparatus.
US09910382B1
A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned in the reservoir and has a rotational axis. A toner agitator is rotatably coupled to the rotatable shaft. A first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor are positioned on the housing. The first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor form a capacitor having a capacitance that changes in response to a change in an amount of toner in the reservoir between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The first electrical conductor includes a rod positioned in the reservoir at the rotational axis of the rotatable shaft and extending along the rotational axis of the rotatable shaft.
US09910372B2
An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes: toner particles; first silica particles having an average circularity of 0.9 to 1.0, a particle size distribution index of 1.05 to 1.25, and a compression aggregation degree of 60% to 95%; and second silica particles having an average circularity of 0.9 to 1.0, a particle size distribution index of 1.05 to 1.25, and a compression aggregation degree of 60% to 95%, wherein, when an average primary particle diameter of the first silica particles is set as Da (nm) and an average primary particle diameter of the second silica particles is set as Db (nm), relationships of the following Expressions (A1) to (A3) are satisfied: Expression (A1): 80≦Da≦120, Expression (A2): 120≦Db≦200, and Expression (A3): 10≦Db−Da≦120.
US09910355B2
Disclosed herein is a method, comprising disposing a first composition on a substrate, wherein the first composition comprises a first block copolymer comprising a first block and a second block, wherein the first block comprises a repeat unit containing a hydrogen acceptor or a hydrogen donor, and the second block comprises a repeat unit containing a blocked donor when the repeat unit of the first block is a hydrogen acceptor, or a blocked acceptor when the repeat unit of the first block is a hydrogen donor; and a solvent; and deprotecting the blocked acceptor or the blocked donor with a deprotecting agent.
US09910353B2
Disclosed herein is a multi-layered article, comprising a substrate; and two or more layers disposed over the substrate, wherein each said layer comprises a block copolymer comprising a first block and a second block, wherein the first block comprises a repeat unit containing a hydrogen acceptor or a hydrogen donor, and the second block comprises a repeat unit containing a hydrogen donor when the repeat unit of the first block contains a hydrogen acceptor, or a hydrogen acceptor when the repeat unit of the first block contains a hydrogen donor; wherein the first block of an innermost of said two or more layers is bonded to the substrate, and the first block of each layer disposed over the innermost layer is bonded to the second block of a respective underlying layer; and wherein the hydrogen donor or hydrogen acceptor of the second block of an outermost said two or more layers is blocked.
US09910351B2
An apparatus for bringing a mold having a pattern region and a first mark into contact with an imprint material on a substrate having a second mark, includes a deforming mechanism configured to deform the mold such that a portion of the mold where the first mark is formed protrudes toward the substrate, a driving mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the mold and the substrate, and a detecting unit configured to detect, after the driving mechanism starts an operation of reducing the distance, the first mark and the second mark in a state in which the portion of the mold and the imprint material on the substrate are in contact with each other but a whole of the pattern region is not in contact with the imprint material.
US09910349B2
A pellicle is proposed in which the agglutinant layer which enables the pellicle to adhere to a photomask is doped with a de-foaming agent which depends on a reactive fluorine-modified silicone oil for its anti-foaming performance, and typically such reactive fluorine-modified silicone oil has a vinyl group at both ends of its molecular chain.
US09910346B2
An illumination system including a first laser light source, a diffusion sheet and a light integration rod is provided. The first laser light source is configured to generate a first laser beam. The diffusion sheet is located on a transmission path of the first laser beam. The light integration rod has a light entering surface and a light exiting surface. The diffusion sheet is located between the first laser light source and the light integration rod. The first laser beam from the diffusion sheet enters the light integration rod through the light entering surface and exits the light integration rod through the light exiting surface. The light integration rod is adapted to convert the first laser beam to an illumination beam. The area of the light entering surface is larger than the area of the light exiting surface. A projection apparatus is also provided.
US09910342B2
A camera includes a camera body having a camera lens structured on a front surface of the camera body and electronics internal to the camera body for capturing images via the camera lens. A thermally conductive material is thermally coupled to the electronics and exposed on an external face of the camera body. The thermally conductive material transfers heat produced by the electronics to the external face of the camera, and a removable heat sink removably couples to the thermally conductive material. The camera further includes a housing structured to at least partially enclose the camera body. The housing is structured to enable at least a portion of the removable heat sink to protrude through the housing.
US09910341B2
In certain aspects, receiving at least one motivating event at least partially at a processing shared image device. At least one designated attribute is transmitted at least partially from the processing shared image device, wherein the at least one designated attribute can be effected at least partially in response to the receiving the at least one motivating event at least partially at the processing shared image device. An obtained shared image is obtained at the processing shared image device that is obtained in accordance with the at least one motivating event, and is obtained at least partially in response to the transmitting the at least one designated attribute. The obtained shared image is processed to derive an at least one processed shared image at least partially at the processing shared image device.
US09910339B2
A method and a system for nonlinear optical interaction in a nonlinear medium, comprising interacting at least one input beam in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane. The method and system allows generating output photons from input photons, the output photons having properties that linearly depend on the properties of the input photons and that are mutually independent, comprising interacting the input photons in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane.
US09910329B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device according to an embodiment includes a liquid crystal panel in which a gate line, a dummy data line, and a data line are disposed, a timing controller configured to generate compensation data, a data driver configured to generate a compensation data voltage on the basis of the compensation data, provide the generated compensation data voltage to the dummy data line, and provide a data voltage for displaying an image to the data line, a common electrode configured to provide a common voltage to pixels of the liquid crystal panel, and a compensation capacitor positioned outside of a pixel array of the liquid crystal panel and charged upon receiving the compensation data voltage.
US09910317B2
Display device having an optical member supporter to prevent the optical member from being deflected
A display device includes an optical member, a display panel disposed on an upper portion of the optical member, a plurality of light emitting elements disposed on a lower portion of the optical member to provide light to the optical member, a first cover member in which a through-hole is defined, the first cover member accommodating the plurality of light emitting elements, and an optical member supporter inserted into the through-hole to support the optical member. The optical member supporter includes a fixing member of which a portion is inserted into the through-hole and a support member including n coupling blocks (where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) which are sequentially coupled in one direction, the support member being coupled to the fixing member to support the optical member.
US09910304B2
A display apparatus with a three dimensional curvature cover lens includes a curved protect layer, a shaping layer, a first adhesive layer, a liquid crystal display module and an interlayer. The first adhesive layer is disposed between the curved protect layer and the shaping layer, and used to adhere the curved protect layer and the shaping layer. The interlayer is bonded in-between the shaping layer and the liquid crystal display module.
US09910303B2
Electrical switchable glasses production comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first and second cover glass; (b) providing a PDLC or other electrically switchable film; (c) providing a first and second layer of adhesive interlayer; (d) providing a PDLC inspection station further comprising: (i) a levelled-up table; (ii) means for inspecting properties of the PDLC film and/or glasses selected from the group consisting of electric properties, optical properties, mechanical properties and any combination thereof; (e) placing the first cover glass onto the levelled-up table; (f) spreading a first layer of adhesive interlayer (g) spreading the PDLC film over the previously placed adhesive interlayer; (h) spreading a second layer of adhesive interlayer; (i) covering the PDLC film by means of the second cover glass; (j) laminating the PDLC film between the first and second cover glasses; and (k) inspecting the glass properties by means of the PDLC inspection station before and after laminating the PDLC film.
US09910300B2
A variable optical attenuator includes: a transparent medium configured to transmit light; a first reflective film formed on a light incidence surface of the transparent medium; a second reflective film formed on a light emission surface of the transparent medium; and a resonance length variable medium configured to vary an optical resonance length between the first reflective film and the second reflective film, wherein the first reflective film has a first reflectivity at which at least one of light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength is partially transmitted through the first reflective film, the at least one of light being the light of the first wavelength, and wherein the second reflective film has a second reflectivity lower than the first reflectivity for the light of the first wavelength and a third reflectivity lower than the second reflectivity for the light of the second wavelength.
US09910298B1
A computerized temple for use with a frame to form computerized eyewear has an elongated body having a first end defining a first end wall, wherein the elongated body first end is configured to be pivotally coupled to a frame first end, a second end defining a second end wall, wherein the second end is configured to rest on an ear of a wearer, a first and second side walls that extend between the first end and the second end, and a blind bore formed in the first end wall that extends from the first end toward the second end intermediate the first and the second side walls. In various embodiments, electronic components are received in the blind bore and a closure is at least partially received on the elongated body first end. The closure pivotally couples the elongated body first end to the frame.
US09910293B2
Eyeglasses with legs bendable in multiple angles, comprise a main glasses leg, a secondary glasses leg, an elastic body, a slider, and a connecting member. The secondary glasses leg may be hinged on the tail of the main glasses leg in such a manner that the opening angle may be locked, so that the user can conveniently and optionally open or change the bending angle of the tail of the glasses legs, so as to achieve optimal adaption for various occasions.
US09910285B2
If an optical path length of an optical system is reduced and a length of a laser light on an irradiation surface is increased, there occurs curvature of field which is a phenomenon that a convergent position deviates depending on an incident angle or incident position of a laser light with respect to a lens. To avoid this phenomenon, an optical element having a negative power such as a concave lens or a concave cylindrical lens is inserted to regulate the optical path length of the laser light and a convergent position is made coincident with a irradiation surface to form an image on the irradiation surface.
US09910277B2
The invention concerns a head-up display, comprising at least one combination of a laser source, a movable mirror, a fixed mirror, a diffuser and an optical sub-system, the movable mirror being positioned to divert the beam originating from the laser source towards the fixed mirror in such a way that the beam from the fixed mirror scans the surface of the diffuser before reaching the optical sub-system.
US09910273B2
The method according to the invention is used for producing optical components, in particular covers for encapsulating micro-systems, wherein at least one reinforcing element, which is produced before being arranged, is arranged on a first substrate, as a result of which a stack is produced. This stack is heated after being connected to a second substrate, as a result of which the first substrate is deformed such that at least one region, covered by the reinforcing element, of the first substrate is moved and/or is inclined or the first substrate is brought into contact with the reinforcing element. In an alternative method according to the invention, the reinforcing element is arranged on the second substrate, wherein this stack is then connected to the first substrate. The first substrate is subsequently heated and deformed such that a region of the first substrate is brought into contact with the reinforcing element.
US09910268B2
A spatial light modulator comprises, a first light modulation element having a substrate, a reflecting mirror, a movable portion displaced relative to the substrate while supporting the reflecting mirror, and a top electrode adsorbing the movable portion by electrostatic force between the movable portion and the top electrode in a position farther away from the substrate than the movable portion, a second light modulation element placed adjacent to the first light modulation element in the substrate, having a reflecting mirror, a movable portion displaced relative to the substrate while supporting the reflecting mirror, and a top electrode adsorbing the movable portion by electrostatic force between the movable portion and the top electrode in a position farther away from the substrate than the movable portion, and electrode supporting portions commonly supporting the top electrodes of the first light modulation element and the second light modulation element relative to the substrate.
US09910262B2
A spectroscopic measurement apparatus includes an electrostatic actuator that is driven by applying a drive voltage, a gap detector that detects a dimension of a gap, a closed loop system that controls the drive voltage applied to the electrostatic actuator depending on a detection signal from the gap detector, and a gain setting unit that sets a gain in the closed loop system depending on drive characteristics of electrostatic actuator based on the detection signal of the gap detector.
US09910246B2
An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.
US09910225B2
An optical receptacle and an optical module that implements the optical receptacle are disclosed. The optical receptacle provides a stub holding a coupling fiber in a center thereof, a bush press-fitting the stub therein, a sleeve, and a metal cover that is to be welded to an external metallic member. The coupling fiber has a type of polarization maintaining fiber. The bush is inserted into the cover as leaving a gap between the cover and the bush. The gap between the cover and the bush effectively relaxes or absorbs stresses induced during the welding caused in the coupling fiber.
US09910224B2
The present invention discloses a fiber optic connector comprises: a ferrule assembly; a spring seat provided behind the ferrule assembly; and a spring provided between the ferrule assembly and the spring seat. The spring seat has a receiving chamber having an insertion port through which a portion of the ferrule assembly is inserted into the receiving chamber; wherein the ferrule assembly is pre-assembled into the receiving chamber of the spring seat in a way that the ferrule assembly is held to be movably engaged with the spring seat. The spring is fitted and compressed in the receiving chamber. As a result, the ferrule assembly, the spring seat and the spring are pre-assembled into an integral assembly before being inserting into a connector housing. All components of the connector except for the housing may be smoothly pulled through a small long pipe as a whole. After being pulled through the pipe, all components of the connector except for the housing may be easily and quickly inserted into the housing as a whole at one time.
US09910223B2
A wafer structure includes a diffractive lens disposed on a backside of a wafer and coupled to a front side waveguide, the diffractive lens being configured to receive light and focus the light to the front side waveguide.
US09910218B2
The present invention provides an optical module and an optical network system. A first chip is arranged on a lower cover plate, an upper cladding, which is close to a first PD, of the first chip is covered by a first upper cover plate; a first dividing groove divides the first chip into two parts, and a WDM and a light blocking material are arranged inside the first dividing groove, so as to block stray light transmitted inside the upper cladding, a sandwich layer, a lower cladding, and a base of the first chip; and a light blocking material is arranged on a side of the first upper cover plate facing the first LD, so as to block stray light transmitted on a surface of the first chip, thereby blocking the stray light that enters the first PD, and significantly reducing crosstalk of the optical module.
US09910217B2
A method of fabricating a waveguide device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having an elector-interconnection region and a waveguide region and forming a patterned dielectric layer and a patterned redistribution layer (RDL) over the substrate in the electro-interconnection region. The method also includes bonding the patterned RDL to a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) through a bonding stack. A reflecting-mirror trench is formed in the substrate in the waveguide region, and a reflecting layer is formed over a reflecting-mirror region inside the waveguide region. The method further includes forming and patterning a bottom cladding layer in a wave-tunnel region inside the waveguide region and forming and patterning a core layer and a top cladding layer in the waveguide region.
US09910216B2
One of embodiments relates to an optical fiber in which an alkali metal element is efficiently doped to its core to suppress transmission loss from increasing. A mean concentration or a concentration distribution of the alkali metal element is adjusted such that 0.48 or less is obtained as an weighted value obtained by weighting a distribution of field intensity of guided light at a wavelength of 1550 nm, with respect to a radial direction distribution of a ratio ID2/Iω3 of an intensity ID2 of Raman scattering light by a silica three-membered ring structure and an intensity Iω3 of Raman scattering light by a Si—O stretching vibration, in a cross-sectional region having a diameter of 20 μm.
US09910202B2
The present invention relates to a structure of an edge-type back light unit, particularly to a structure comprising a light source receiving part, which receives a light source such as LED formed to the central direction of an optical plate at one side or the other side of the optical plate.The present invention has excellent optical property and has an effect of wide application to various LCDs because it comprises a light source receiving part, which can install a printed circuit board mounting the light source such as LED to an embedded form in an edge-type back light unit.
US09910201B2
A manufacturing method of a mother substrate assembly includes forming a metal layer on substantially an entire surface of a transparent substrate including a cell area including a non-display area and a display area, an align key area, and a substrate area surrounding the cell area and the align key area, etching the metal layer to form an align key in the align key area, etching the metal layer to form a reflection part in the non-display area, and etching the metal layer in the display area to form a metal nanowire in the display area.
US09910197B2
The present invention provides an optical member including a reflection layer and an information presentation layer, the reflection layer comprising one or more circularly-polarized light reflection layers selected from the group consisting of a right circularly-polarized light reflection layer and a left circularly-polarized light reflection layer, the circularly-polarized light reflection layer consisting of a layer obtained by fixing a cholesteric liquid-crystalline phase, the reflection layer having a reflection wavelength at which a specular reflectance for non-polarized light is more than 20% in a wavelength region in which the circularly-polarized light reflection layer exhibits selective reflection, a diffuse reflectance for non-polarized light at the reflection wavelength less than 50%, the reflection wavelength being in an infrared wavelength region, and the information presentation layer having a pattern of a material that absorbs or reflects light of the reflection wavelength. The optical member can be used as a handwriting input sheet, which can be used by being stuck to the surface of a display.
US09910193B2
A reflective optical element and an EUV lithography appliance containing one such element are provided, the appliance displaying a low propensity to contamination. The reflective optical element has a protective layer system includes at least two layers. The optical characteristics of the protective layer system are between those of a spacer and an absorber, or correspond to those of a spacer. The selection of a material with the smallest possible imaginary part and a real part which is as close to 1 as possible in terms of the refractive index leads to a plateau-type reflectivity course according to the thickness of the protective layer system between two thicknesses d1 and d2. The thickness of the protective layer system is selected in such a way that it is less than d2.
US09910191B2
The present invention relates to optical instruments, in particular to magnification loupes, stereo-magnification loupes and magnification viewers, such as those worn by dentists and surgeons. The objective lens of the optical instrument is protected from mechanical and/or chemical damage.
US09910178B2
This application relates to methods and apparatus for detecting the presence of an accessory device connected to a host device via suitable connector. The apparatus includes a test signal generator and impedance measuring block. The apparatus is operable in an accessory connection discovery mode wherein the test signal generator applies a test signal to a first contact of the connector while a second contact of is connected to a reference node. The impedance measuring determines an impedance measure between said first and second contacts and the apparatus determines whether an accessory is connected based on said measure of impedance. The test signal generator may also have functionality including a microphone bias generator and the impedance measuring block may be a microphone detect block. The contact to which the test signal is applied may be varied while the remaining contact of the connector are connected to the reference node.
US09910173B2
A method can include receiving fluid saturation data for fluid saturation parameters associated with permeabilities of a multidimensional spatial model of a geologic environment; adjusting at least a portion of the fluid saturation data to provide adjusted fluid saturation data by optimizing a quadratic function subject to linear constraints; and simulating flow of fluid using the adjusted fluid saturation data for fluid saturation parameters associated with permeabilities and the multidimensional spatial model of the geologic environment.
US09910172B2
A digital radiographic detector uses predetermined calibration information corresponding to a first operating temperature of the detector. The calibration data is accessible by the detector to compensate a radiographic image captured by the detector at a second operating temperature different than the first operating temperature. The operating temperature of the detector is monitored at approximately the time at which the radiographic image is captured at the second temperature.
US09910171B2
Some embodiments include a system. The system includes a sensor device having a sensor element having a sensor output and an amplification element having at least one amplification stage, an amplifier input, and an amplifier output. The sensor output can be coupled to the amplifier input. Further, each amplification stage of the amplification stage(s) can have at least four thin film transistors, an input node, and an output node. Meanwhile, the sensor element can detect a physical quantity and/or an event and can provide an electric signal to the amplification element in response to detecting the physical quantity and/or the event, and the amplification element can amplify the electric signal received from the sensor element. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
US09910170B1
A device for detecting neutron emission comprises a housing, a moderator structure, a neutron detection element, and a plurality of plate electrodes. The housing provides an enclosure and shielding from radiation other than neutron emission. The moderator structure is positioned within the housing and is formed from energy absorbing material. The moderator structure includes a first side wall and a second side wall spaced apart and oriented parallel to one another. The neutron detection element includes a neutron reactive material deposited on a planar substrate. The plate electrodes are formed from electrically conductive material and spaced apart from one another. Each adjacent pair of plate electrodes has a voltage therebetween, wherein one neutron detection element is positioned between adjacent pairs of plate electrodes and the combination of plate electrodes and neutron detection elements is positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall of the moderator structure.
US09910168B2
A method for detecting both gamma-ray events and neutron events with a common detector, where the detector includes a layer of semiconductor material bounded by electrodes, and the electrodes include an anode on one side of the semiconductor material and a cathode on the other side of the semiconductor material, includes the following steps: (a) monitoring the electrical signal at each of the anode and the cathode; and (b) comparing the magnitude of the signals at the anode and the cathode, and the transit time difference between the start of the anode signal and the time when the anode signal reaches a maximum, relatively constant value. In the comparing step, predetermined criteria are used to differentiate between gamma-ray events and neutron events.
US09910158B2
A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chipset embedded within the cellular device is accessed. The GNSS chipset calculates raw observables that include raw pseudoranges and carrier phase information. The raw observables are extracted from the GNSS chipset for processing elsewhere in the cellular device outside of the GNSS chipset. Smoothed pseudoranges are provided by smoothing the raw pseudoranges based on the carrier phase information. The accessing, the extracting and the providing are performed by one or more hardware processors located in the cellular device and outside of the GNSS chipset.
US09910157B2
A vehicle that detects a lane using measurement data of a lidar sensor and a lane detection method are provided. The vehicle includes a distance sensor and a processor that is configured to determine data that indicates a road lane among data obtained by the distance sensor. Additionally, the processor accumulates the determined lane data using vehicle speed information and determines the road lane using the accumulated lane data.
US09910153B2
According to a first aspect of the invention, a method (6) of operating a presence detector (310) is provided, comprising the steps of transmitting (603) a first wave signal in a first time slot (810) for detecting presence of an object, based on an echo of the first wave signal, and if presence of an object is detected, changing (606) a property parameter of the first wave signal. According to a second aspect of the invention, a method (7) of operating a presence detector (320) is provided, comprising the steps of monitoring (701), in a first time slot (810), a property parameter of a first wave signal transmitted from another presence detector (310), and transmitting (704) a control signal upon detection of a change in the monitored property parameter of the first wave signal. The invention is advantageous in that presence information is communicated between different presence detectors without any need for additional communication systems, thereby reducing technical complexity and costs.
US09910141B2
According to on embodiment, a power supply circuit is provided in a main body and generates operating voltages for various electric circuits in the ultrasonic probe. Signal lines SL1 connects the power supply circuit to the electric circuits by way of the probe connector, to supply operating voltages from the power supply circuit to the electric circuits. A voltage monitoring circuit is provided in the main body and monitors voltages supplied to the electric circuits, utilizing the input voltage from the ultrasonic probe. To supply input voltages to the voltage monitoring circuit, signal line SL2 branches from signal lines SL1 in the ultrasonic probe and connects the electric circuits and the voltage monitoring circuit to each other by way of the probe connector.
US09910135B2
A self-testing method of a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar device. A transmission signal having an object detection signal and a self-test signal superimposed on the object detection signal is transmitted. The self-test signal represents at least one virtual target. A reception signal is received. The reception signal is a received version of the transmission signal. Presence of the at least one virtual target in the reception signal is determined. A lack of presence of the virtual target in the reception signal provides an indication of hardware failure of the FMCW radar device.
US09910134B2
A system and method for processing radar returns to identify returns from man-made objects. In one embodiment, a plurality of radar returns is used to form a corresponding plurality of resonance maps, which are combined using an ordered statistic to form a processed resonance map. A discriminant is calculated as (a) the fourth power of the ratio of (i) the power in a first rectangle about each pixel to (ii) the power in a region outside the first rectangle and inside a second, larger rectangle, or (b) zero if the ratio is less than 1. Other processing operations including thresholding operations to suppress noise and clutter are used to improve the signal to noise ratio for detecting man-made objects.
US09910133B2
A cascaded radar sensor arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement includes a first buffer and a second buffer. The first buffer is within a first radar chip and includes a switch and is configured to mitigate a first leakage signal in the disabled mode. The second buffer is within a second radar chip and has a disabled mode. The second radar chip is cascaded with the first radar chip. A control unit is coupled to the first radar chip and the second radar chip and is configured to set the disabled mode for the first buffer.
US09910132B2
A signal processing system is provided. The signal processing system includes a transmission architecture configured to transmit first and second signals, and a receiver architecture including an antenna configured to receive the signals, and a coherent signal fusion processing device communicatively coupled to the antenna. The processing device is configured to generate a broadband analog signal that contains the first and second signals, digitize the broadband analog signal, isolate first and second signals of interest, estimate, relative to a reference template, at least one of a time difference of arrival and a frequency difference of arrival for at least one of the first and second signals of interest, and determine a location of at least one of the transmission architecture and the receiver architecture based on the estimated at least one of a time difference of arrival and a frequency difference of arrival.
US09910116B2
In a method and test apparatus for determining a deviation in the homogeneity of a basic magnetic field of a magnetic resonance scanner, test vessels are positioned in a test plane that first and second positions along a direction in the scanner, and measurement data are acquired with the test vessels at said respective positions. The acquired measurement data are provided to a processor, wherein a deviation of the homogeneity of the basic magnetic field is determined based thereon.
US09910105B2
A system for magnetic detection includes a nitrogen vacancy (NV) diamond material comprising a plurality of NV centers, a radio frequency (RF) excitation source configured to provide RF excitation to the NV diamond material, an optical excitation source configured to provide optical excitation to the NV diamond material, an optical detector configured to receive an optical signal emitted by the NV diamond material, and a controller. The optical signal is based on hyperfine states of the NV diamond material. The controller is configured to detect a gradient of the optical signal based on the hyperfine states emitted by the NV diamond material.
US09910103B2
A power supply unit (PSU) performs a PSU fault diagnosis using a PSU fault detection module. The PSU fault detection module detects a diagnostic trigger event and initiates a series of checks of selected sub-systems. The PSU fault detection module determines whether the trigger event occurred while the PSU was connected within an information handling system (IHS) or physically removed from the IHS. If the trigger event occurred while the PSU was connected within an information handling system (IHS), the PSU fault detection module electrically isolates the PSU from the IHS using an ORing device, which blocks current flowing into the PSU. The PSU fault detection module determines whether a short circuit exists within the electrically isolated PSU. If a short circuit is identified, the PSU fault detection module determines that the PSU is not functioning properly and provides a notification of a malfunction of the PSU.
US09910095B2
A method and apparatus to detect cell voltage of each of a plurality of battery cells in a rechargeable battery pack is disclosed. The method comprises generating a square wave form with a positive phase and a negative phase, sending the square wave form to a first circuit that is connected to a battery cell and to a second circuit with matching components of the first circuit, and finally driving a matching voltage of the second circuit to become equivalent to the battery cell voltage for measurement.
US09910088B2
Methods and apparatus to provide an integrated circuit having a magnetic sensing element and fault detection module coupled to the sensing element, the fault detection module including circuitry to detect a fault condition and to self-test operation of the circuitry for detecting the fault condition. In illustrative embodiments, a fault pin indicates the fault condition.
US09910087B2
An integrated circuit includes at least one first magnetic field sensing element including at least one first magnetoresistance element configured to provide an output signal of the integrated circuit in response to a detected magnetic field. The integrated circuit also includes at least one second magnetic field sensing element including at least one second magnetoresistance element configured to have a characteristic indicative of a stress condition. A method for detecting a stress condition in an integrated circuit is also provided.
US09910084B2
A flexible circuit board inspecting apparatus for conducting an inspection on a flexible circuit board includes a transport path and an inspection part mechanism. The transport path is configured to successively transport the flexible circuit board having a plurality of unit circuit boards arranged thereon. The inspection part mechanism is configured to bring and distance a jig for inspecting the flexible circuit board transported on the transport path close to and from the flexible circuit board. The transport path includes a longitudinal transport portion for transporting the flexible circuit board in a downward vertical direction. The inspection part mechanism moves the jig in a direction perpendicular to the flexible circuit board transported on the longitudinal transport portion to bring and distance the jig close to and from the flexible circuit board.
US09910069B1
A device for testing integrated circuits utilizing a compression spring that has one longitudinal centerline that is concentric to the housing of the test probe and terminates in a number of reduced diameter coil windings that are non-concentric to the housing so as to provide a side load to the probe.
US09910067B2
A probe apparatus and method of terminating a probe that probes a semiconductor device with a signal cable from a tester side by side at a proximal end of the probe and a distal end of the signal cable. In one embodiment, the probe apparatus includes: a chassis; a dielectric block mounted in the chassis for retaining the probe, the probe extending on the chassis from a proximal end of the probe to the dielectric block, extending through the dielectric block, and projecting from the dielectric block towards the semiconductor device at a distal end of the probe; and a terminating apparatus, mounted in the chassis, for terminating the proximal end of the probe with a distal end of the signal cable side by side.
US09910066B2
Aspects of the present invention include systems, devices, and methods of surface chemical analysis of solid samples, and particularly it relates to methods of chemical analysis of molecular compounds located either on or within thin surface layer of solid samples. Even more particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to systems, devices, and non-destructive methods combining both high sensitivity and high spatial resolution of analysis of chemical compounds located or distributed on the surface of solid samples with obtaining most important information regarding vibration spectra of atoms and molecular groups contained in thin surface layer of solid samples. These objectives are realized by implementation of computer-assisted systems that carefully regulate the motion of, and force applied to probes of atomic force microscopes.
US09910058B2
According to the present invention, use is made of a probe provided with a central sensor, with off-centered sensors and lateral sensors, and said probe is articulated on the aircraft around two orthogonal axes.
US09910051B2
A new class of pH sensitive fluorescent dyes and assays relating thereto are described. The dyes and assays are particularly suited for biological applications including phagocytosis and monitoring intracellular processes. The pH sensitive fluorescent dyes of the present invention include compounds of Formula I: wherein the variables are described throughout the application.
US09910049B2
Methods and kits are provided for amplifying and detecting Aβ proteins from samples, for example, from patients having Alzheimer's Disease. For example, a method for determining a presence of a soluble, misfolded Aβ protein may include contacting the sample with a monomeric, folded Aβ protein to form an incubation mixture; conducting an incubation cycle two or more times on the incubation mixture effective to form an amplified portion of misfolded Aβ protein; incubating the incubation mixture effective to cause misfolding and/or aggregation of at least a portion of the monomeric, folded Aβ protein; physically disrupting the incubation mixture effective to at least partly de-aggregate at least a portion of a misfolded Aβ aggregate present; and determining the presence of the soluble, misfolded Aβ protein in the sample by detecting at least a portion of the amplified portion of misfolded Aβ protein.
US09910046B2
The invention discloses a method for the analysis of N-glycans attached to immunoglobulin G (IgG) or IgG N-glycopeptides from human blood plasma in which relative abundance of two or more glycans is determined, out of total six, and for these glycans it is determined that they strongly correlate with age. The glycans have the following structures: F(6)A2 (GP4): R1, R2, R3, R4=H F(6)A2B (GP6): R1=GlcNAc; R2, R3, R4=H F(6)A2[6]G1 (GP8): R1, R3, R4=H; R2=Gal F(6)A2G2 (GP14): R1=H; R2, R3=Gal; R4=H F(6)A2BG2 (GP15): R1=GlcNAc; R2, R3=Gal; R4=H F(6)A2G2S1 (GP18): R1=H; R2, R3=Gal; R4=NeuAc GlcNAc=N-acetylglucosamine Fuc=fucose Man=mannose NeuAc=N-acetylneuraminic acid Gal=galactose From the results of the analysis, Glycan Age Index (GAI) is calculated, and it is useful for: prediction of biological age of a tested individual; monitoring efficacy of methods that slow down the ageing process; monitoring progression of diseases that are developed as a result of the ageing process advancement, like: inflammatory diseases (including atherosclerosis), autoimmune diseases, tumours, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer disease; and evaluation of overall condition/health of a body.
US09910043B2
The present invention provides agents with tumor-inhibiting activity, and which are selective for cells expressing or abnormally expressing a tumor-associated antigen. Said tumor-associated antigen has a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence selected from the specific sequences set forth herein, or a 6-50 contiguous nucleotide residue portion thereof; (b) a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid which hybridizes with a nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence of (a) under stringent conditions; (c) a nucleotide sequence which is degenerate with respect to the nucleotide sequence of (a) or (b); and (d) a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of (a), (b) or (c). Pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the agents are also provided, as well as methods treating, diagnosing or monitoring a disease characterized by expression or abnormal expression of the tumor-associated antigen.
US09910041B2
Method of determining virus removal from a sample containing a target protein using activated carbon
The present invention provides methods for determining whether activated carbon can be used for removing viruses or a certain virus from a sample containing a target protein.
US09910029B2
A breath detection device includes a breath-blowing unit in which breath is blown; a deflection amount sensor that detects pressure of the breath-blowing unit; a temperature sensor that detects a physical amount (temperature) different from the pressure of the breath-blowing unit; a storage unit that stores a determination reference which is a reference to determine whether or not breath is blown into the breath-blowing unit; and a determination unit that compares a detection result which is detected by the deflection amount sensor and the temperature sensor with the determination reference, and determines whether or not breath is blown into the breath-blowing unit.
US09910027B2
Method and device for assessing the physical state of a hair fiber by crossing a single hair fiber and comparing a physical attribute of each part of the same fiber.
US09910025B2
An aircraft fuel system comprises an integrated sensor assembly incorporating a housing. The housing receives a circuit board, a temperature sensor, a point level sensor and a fuel density sensor. A first fuel height sensor is positioned outwardly of the housing.
US09910019B2
A pressure control valve includes a pressure control block including a bore hole that is bored perpendicularly from one outer surface, and two internal channel openings of whose end portions are at a bottom surface of the bore hole, a valve body having elasticity and covering the bottom surface of the bore hole, a sealing member for pressing a portion of the valve body against the bottom surface of the bore hole, the portion abutting a peripheral edge portion of a portion of the bottom surface where the openings are provided, and an actuator for driving a portion, of the valve body, abutting the portion where the openings are provided in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bore hole.
US09910018B2
Micromachined ultrasonic transducers integrated with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) substrates are described, as well as methods of fabricating such devices. Fabrication may involve two separate wafer bonding steps. Wafer bonding may be used to fabricate sealed cavities in a substrate. Wafer bonding may also be used to bond the substrate to another substrate, such as a CMOS wafer. At least the second wafer bonding may be performed at a low temperature.
US09910017B2
Micromachined ultrasonic transducers integrated with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) substrates are described, as well as methods of fabricating such devices. Fabrication may involve two separate wafer bonding steps. Wafer bonding may be used to fabricate sealed cavities in a substrate. Wafer bonding may also be used to bond the substrate to another substrate, such as a CMOS wafer. At least the second wafer bonding may be performed at a low temperature.
US09910015B2
A method of forming a functionalized sensor array includes providing a substrate having at least one sensor array chip including a plurality of sensor structures. The sensor structures include a piezoelectric layer interposed between upper and lower electrodes and positioned across an area of the sensor array chip in a spatial arrangement. An inkjet cartridge chip is also provided having a plurality of microfluidic channels including a fill side having a plurality of fill side orifices and a dispense side having a plurality of dispense nozzles, wherein two or more of the plurality of microchannels are loaded with different sensing materials, and wherein locations of the plurality of dispense nozzles are matched to the spatial arrangement. The plurality of dispense nozzles are aligned to the plurality of sensor structures, and the plurality of dispense nozzles are actuated to deposit the different sensing materials on the plurality of sensor structures.
US09910009B2
The present disclosure provides a bio-field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET device may include a substrate; a gate structure disposed on a first surface of the substrate and an interface layer formed on the second surface of the substrate. The interface layer may allow for a receptor to be placed on the interface layer to detect the presence of a biomolecule or bio-entity.
US09910008B2
Device and methods for use in a biosensor comprising a multisite array of test sites, the device and methods being useful for modulating the binding interactions between a (biomolecular) probe or detection agent and an analyte of interest by modulating the pH or ionic gradient near the electrodes in such biosensor. An electrochemically active agent that is suitable for use in biological buffers for changing the pH of the biological buffers. Method for changing the pH of biological buffers using the electrochemically active agents. The methods of modulating the binding interactions provided in a biosensor, analytic methods for more accurately controlling and measuring the pH or ionic gradient near the electrodes in such biosensor, and analytic methods for more accurately measuring an analyte of interest in a biological sample.
US09910003B1
A system for detecting the presence of a liquid. The system includes a sensor, a cap, and a reader. The sensor includes at least three conductors, a substrate, and a cover. The conductors are positioned between the substrate and the cover. The cover includes a first portion at a first position and a second portion at a second position. The first portion and the second portion are adapted for separation from proximate portions of the cover and from the substrate to expose the conductors. The cap and the reader are adapted for positioning against the substrate at the first position and the second position respectively after separation of the first portion or the second portion. Positioning the cap against the against the substrate electrically couples two of the at least three conductors to each other. Positioning the reader against the substrate electrically couples the reader to the conductors to detect the presence of the liquid.
US09909998B2
An apparatus for spectroscopy of a gas mixture is described. Such an apparatus includes a gas mixing system configured to mix a hot analyte gas that includes at least one analyte species in a gas phase into a cold buffer gas, thereby forming a supersaturated mixture to be provided for spectroscopic analysis.
US09909993B2
A system for quantitative detection and analysis of the interactions of molecules with molecular receptors on the surfaces of biological cells based on detecting a mechanical deformation in the membrane of a cell associated with the molecular interactions, which works for both large and small molecules. The mechanical deformation can be detected with high precision in real time from an optical image of the cell with a differential detection method. The system can be also used to detect the electrical activities, such as ion channel opening and closing, as well as action potential propagation in neuronal cells.
US09909982B2
Methods and calibrations modules are provided, for calibrating a pupil center in scatterometry overlay measurements. The calibration comprises calculating fluctuations from a first statistical figure of merit such as an average of an overlay signal per pixel at the pupil and significantly reducing, for example minimizing, the fluctuations with respect to a second statistical figure of merit thereof, such as a pupil weighted variance of the fluctuations.
US09909974B2
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a probe including a plurality of exterior rotating members defining a guard ring, and an interior rotating member having a circular shape and disposed within at least a portion of a perimeter defined by the plurality of exterior rotating members. The apparatus can also include a waveform generator electrically coupled to the guard ring and the interior rotating member.
US09909969B2
Method for detecting an analyte of interest in a sample. The method can include providing a container including a microstructured surface, and centrifuging the container toward the microstructured surface to form a sediment and a supernatant of the sample. Following centrifugation, the container can be inverted to decant at least a portion of the supernatant of the sample from the second portion, such that a concentrate (e.g., including the sediment) of the sample is retained in the microstructured surface. The concentrate can then be interrogated in the microstructured surface for the analyte of interest. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the second portion can be substantially transparent, such that the concentrate can be interrogated from the outside of the container, without requiring that the container be opened prior to interrogation.
US09909967B2
A method for accurately determining a density of a fuel includes obtaining dielectric constant versus density characteristics of the fuel at a first location and measuring a dielectric constant of the fuel at a second location. The environmental conditions at the second location differ from environmental conditions at the first location. Density of the fuel at the second location is inferred using the dielectric constant of the fuel at the second location and the dielectric constant versus density characteristics of the fuel at the first location.
US09909964B2
This specification relates to Formalin-fixed embedded quality control material for use for validation, verification, and to run controls for molecular assays. The quality control material can be used for a variety of tissues and for a variety of molecular assays. The quality control material can be used in commercial labs for validation and limit-of-detection analyses.
US09909962B2
A temperature control device and method are provided for an analytical system for performing laboratory protocols. The device includes a well within a housing configured to receive a biological specimen according to a predetermined sample process. The specimen is suspended by a holding device in the well. A thermal element is provided in heat exchange communication with fluid in the well. A temperature sensor is located in the well at a location to be covered and uncovered by rocking motion of fluid in the well. A controller, in communication with the thermal element, the temperature sensor, and an agitation system, is operative to control the thermal element in correlation with temperature data, for example, peak temperature data, from the temperature sensor.
US09909956B1
A cyclonic filter separator with liquid block capabilities formed to separate liquids in a fluid stream for on-stream and spot sampling of natural gas or the like, particularly pressurized process gas having liquid entrained therein, otherwise referenced as multiphase or “wet”. The present invention incorporates a liquid block apparatus downstream the cyclonic separator to provide to further prevent liquid passing therethrough, ensuring a dry gas sample stream for analysis or the like. A coalescing membrane may be situated intermediate the cyclonic separator and the liquid block, which coalescing membrane may further be linked to the liquid block such that differential pressure associated with the operative state of the membrane causes the liquid block to engage, blocking the flow of fluid therethrough.
US09909939B2
Embodiments of a force sensing resistor (FSR) are disclosed. The FSR has one or more external conductive layers, applied to at least part of the contact surface of the FSR, so that when a conductive probe presses the FSR, initial zero-force contact with the FSR can be detected immediately. The external conductive layer or layers may be rigid sheet metal, flexible sheet metal, metallic-coated polymer, conductive polymer, conductive elastomer, or other conductive material. A lead or trace may be electrically coupled to the external conductive layer or layers to allow for ease of coupling to a circuit or circuit board.
US09909933B2
A eutectic sensing element includes an electrically conductive core extending along a first axis to define a length. The core is coated with a coated with a eutectic material formulated to provide desirable thermal response characteristics. The eutectic sensing element further includes an insulating fiber layer disposed on an external surface of the electrically conductive. The insulating fiber layer includes a strand that extends along the length of the electrically conductive core.
US09909932B2
A system for determining a temperature of a first portion of an engine, and related circuit, and related method of operation, are disclosed. In one example embodiment, the system includes a wheel having a plurality of magnetic teeth, and an electrical circuit including a variable reluctance sensor (VRS) including at least one winding, the VRS being positioned proximate the wheel, where the VRS is in thermal contact with the first portion, and a comparator having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, where the comparator is configured to output an output signal at the output terminal. Either the output signal or a further signal generated by the electrical circuit is at least indirectly indicative of a resistance of the at least one winding, whereby an indication of the temperature of the first portion can be determined based upon the output signal or further signal.
US09909922B2
An anti-aliasing photodetector system for a powered ophthalmic device, such as a contact lens, may be utilized for any number of functions. The anti-aliasing photodetector system converts current from an array of photodetectors into a voltage for use in other aspects of the powered ophthalmic device. The anti-aliasing photodetector system comprises a photodiode array including a plurality of individual photodiodes, an integrate-and-hold circuit, including a capacitor and switch to convert current to voltage, and an analog-to-digital converter. The anti-aliasing photodetector system provides for low power consumption, a wide dynamic range, noise rejection, and is capable of detecting incident ambient visible light as well as incident infrared light.
US09909917B2
A method of using an interactive body weight scale is presented. The body weight scale may have computing and data communication ability to track a user's weight by connecting to a number of different electronic devices. The body weight scale is capable of recording an audio message, converting the audio message to message text, and transmitting the message to a remote social network. The scale may also receive message responses from the remote network and play the messages back based on whether a particular message is a positive message. A scale use indicator provides a reminder for a user to use the body weight scale.
US09909916B2
A sensor device includes a capacitive probe including a first conductor and a second conductor. The sensor device also includes a radio to generate a signal based on a measurement associated with the capacitive probe and to provide the signal to the first conductor for transmission using the capacitive probe as a transmission antenna.
US09909911B2
A method for determining a phase composition of a multiphase mixture flowing through a pipe is presented. The method includes exciting one or more patch antennas configured to operate over the range of frequencies. Further, the method includes acquiring at least one of a transmitted signal and a reflected signal over the range of frequencies from the one or more patch antennas. Moreover, the method includes estimating the phase composition of the multiphase mixture based on a group delay determined from at least one of the transmitted signal and the reflected signal. A system for determining a phase composition of a multiphase mixture flowing through a pipe is also presented.
US09909907B2
A method for correcting a timing error in a test and measurement instrument. The method includes receiving a clock signal at each of four samplers. The first clock signal is sampled at the first sampler at a first phase, the second clock signal is sampled at the second sampler at a second phase that is 90 degrees offset from the first phase, the third clock signal is sampled at the third sampler at a third phase that is 45 degrees offset from the first phase, and the fourth clock signal is sampled at the fourth sampler at a fourth phase that is 90 degrees offset from the third phase. Each of the outputs from the samplers are digitized and a timing correction is calculated based on the digitized outputs from the digitized outputs.
US09909905B2
A multi-part air data probe sensor assembly facilitating rapid replacement is provided. One example air data probe sensor assembly comprises a mount plate interface including at least one mount plate electrical connector configured to mate with electrical lines of an aircraft and at least one mount plate pneumatic connector configured to mate with pneumatic tubes of an aircraft; and a detachable sensor body having at least one sensor electrical connector that is coupled with the at least one mount plate electrical connector and at least one sensor pneumatic connector that is coupled with the at least one mount plate pneumatic connector; and a mechanical seal provided between the mount plate interface and the detachable sensor body, wherein the mechanical seal is composed of a moisture blocking material.
US09909898B2
An in-vehicle device 1 regularly transmits to an information distribution server 2 an acquisition request that includes an own vehicle position and a facility search condition, and acquires facility information matching the condition around the vehicle. The in-vehicle device 1 controls the number of displays of the facility information on the basis of the information in an in-vehicle sensor group 12 when displaying the acquired facility information on a map.
US09909892B2
Provided is a terminal including: an information extraction unit that extracts location information which is designated as a destination point; a display unit to which a graphic image for receiving a control command for displaying a source of the location information, and the extracted location information are output together; and a controller that controls the display unit in such a manner that a guide screen for guiding a path to the destination point that is selected by a user from among the pieces of location information.
US09909888B2
A method for notifying a mobile body that the mobile body is approaching a particular area comprising calculating a plurality of areas where the mobile body may arrive on the basis of dynamic map information; calculating, for each event occurring in the plurality of areas, an arriving probability of arriving at a region affected by the event; extracting an avoidance position for enabling the mobile body to avoid arriving at the region affected by the event; calculating an encountering probability of meeting the region affected by the event on the basis of a reliability of the event, the arriving probability, and the avoidance position, and notifying the mobile body of the encountering probability.
US09909870B2
A level includes a frame supporting a plurality of vials and having an aperture disposed on an end of the level. The level also includes an end cap assembly detachably coupled to the end of the frame. The end cap assembly includes an end cap and a retainer. A portion of the end cap is received in the aperture and is maintained in engagement with the frame by the retainer.
US09909869B1
A lathe leveler for centering a cutting tool in relation to a cylindrical work piece includes a first leveling arm having a first contact point disposed adjacent a distal end of the first leveling arm, a second leveling arm having a second contact point disposed adjacent a distal end of the second leveling arm, a leveling gage, and a leveling plate having a cutting tool receiving surface positioned parallel to a horizontal axis of the leveling gage and on a same plane as a midpoint of the first contact point and the second contact point. The leveling arms and leveling plate are dimensioned and configured such that the cutting tool receiving surface is centered in relation to the work piece when the first and second contact points are in contact with one of the inner surface and outer surface of the cylindrical work piece and the leveling gage is centered.
US09909868B2
The present invention provides a gauging jig, for gauging whether projections of first and second rollers, which are disposed in parallel on both sides of a carrying surface of a platform, coincide on the surface. The gauging jig includes a pointer instrument which is provided on a side of the platform and perpendicular to the carrying surface. The pointer instrument has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the first roller and intersects with a central axis of the first roller, while the second end extends close to the second roller. With the gauging jig, an operator can promptly and accurately gauge whether the projections of the first and second rollers coincide on the carrying surface. Therefore, gauging time can be saved while times of trial production can be reduced or even omitted, thereby improving the production efficiency and reducing cost.
US09909866B2
Technology for determining a position of a platform is described. A location of a horizon line can be determined using a sensor onboard the platform. One or more celestial objects in the sky can be detected using the sensor onboard the platform. Differential angular measurements between the horizon line and at least one of the celestial objects in the sky can be determined over a duration of time. The position of the platform can be determined based on the differential angular measurements between the horizon line and the celestial objects.
US09909860B2
Systems and methods for monitoring component deformation are provided. The component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a passive strain indicator configured on the exterior surface of the component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the passive strain indicator based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.
US09909859B2
The present invention relates to a measurement system for calculating visual range using perspective and geometrical information of an image captured by a camera, CCTV, camcorder, or other imaging device and a method for measuring visual range from a non-linear function through pattern recognition on an image. The present measurement system and method may make up for uncertainty due to assumption that aerosol is evenly distributed and limit to measurement space in the optimal measurement method, thus offering more objective data.
US09909855B2
A dimensional measuring device includes an overview camera and a triangulation scanner. A six-DOF tracking device tracks the dimensional measuring device as the triangulation scanner measures three-dimensional (3D) coordinates on an exterior of the object. Cardinal points identified by the overview camera are used to register in a common frame of reference 3D coordinates measured by the triangulation scanner on the interior and exterior of the object.
US09909853B2
An electrical machine includes an angular position transducer for identifying a first rotation angle of a rotor; a stator winding for generating a magnetic field; a voltage measuring instrument for sensing a pole wheel voltage at the ends of the stator winding upon a rotation of the rotor; and an identification circuit for identifying a second rotation angle from the pole wheel voltage and for identifying an angle difference between the first and the second rotation angle.
US09909848B2
A munition has a penetrator casing that houses a fuel-oxidizer mixture within the casing. A height of burst fuze is operatively coupled to the fuel-oxidizer mixture, to ignite the fuel-oxidizer mixture before impact with the target. By igniting the fuel-oxidizer mixture before target impact, the munition avoids the problem of the impact potentially causing damage to the fuze that would leave the fuze in operable. The fuel-oxidizer mixture may cause injury and damage into a space that has been breached by the penetrator casing, for example by expelling lethal combustion products (hot gases) into a hard target, such as a building or bunker, that has been breached by the penetrator casing. The hot gasses may also have the advantage of maintaining an opening that the penetrator passes through, with for example the hot gases glassifying the edges of a hole formed by the penetrator, such as through soil.
US09909846B2
A firearm target is specially adapted for the purpose of sighting in a scoped firearm. The scope has a reticle with horizontal and vertical lines forming crosshairs. The target has a cross pattern in contrasting colors with a cross shaped gap. The gap is highly visible and may even be in a reflective color. The gap size is selected to match the crosshair thickness and the targeting distance. Aligning the crosshairs to the gap significantly or completely hides the gap. Misaligning the crosshairs to the gap causes the gap to become more visible because of the gap's highly noticeable and contrasting colors. The target thereby provides a lock-on functionality for a marksman.
US09909845B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for a blast attenuator having a container with an outer wall that defines a cavity in which a particulate media is disposed, and a stirring element disposed in and moveable relative to the container. At least a portion of the stirring element extends into the particulate media, wherein, in use, the particulate media provides resistance against movement of the stirring element relative to particulate media so as to attenuate the energy of a blast.
US09909843B1
A front-facing armor system utilizing a composite laminate backed by a high hardness substrate. The composite laminate comprises a series of first and second layers. The first layer of the bi-layer laminate system is a polymer with a density of at least 1.8 g/cm3 and having both an amorphous and crystalline phase, and having phase transformation pressure of at least 0.5 GPa at a temperature of 20° C. The second layer of each bi-layer provides acoustic impedance mismatch to generate reflections of the incident compression wave following ballistic impact. Under ballistic impact, the polymer comprising the armor system undergoes a shock-induced transition resulting in a marked change in microstructure and mechanical behavior, providing a significant kinetic energy absorption mechanism.
US09909840B2
The present disclosure describes structures, methods, and functionality for measuring a wind profile with networked anemometers. One method includes receiving real-time wind measurement data from each of one or more anemometer sensor platforms (ASPs) in a network, receiving atmospheric data, and calculating, using the received real-time wind measurement data and the received atmospheric data, at least one of real-time wind measurements, a wind profile, an average wind speed, or a weapon aiming offset.
US09909831B2
In at least one embodiment, an archery bow includes a rotatable member comprising a cam track, a capstan and a terminal. A drawstring extends from the first rotatable member. A power cable is attached to the terminal and extends away from the rotatable member. The power cable comprises an elongate straight portion located near the rotatable member, a capstan portion in contact with said capstan and a terminal portion in contact with said terminal. In a brace condition, the power cable wraps around the capstan in a first rotational direction as the power cable is traversed from the elongate straight portion to the terminal portion. When the bow is drawn from the brace condition, the rotatable member rotates in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction.
US09909825B2
A heat exchanger for a transformer including a heat exchanger medium, which can be introduced into a heat exchanger element via a feed element, and can be evacuated from the heat exchanging element via a discharge element. A first temperature measurement device measures a temperature of a feed flow of the heat exchanger medium and a second temperature measurement device measures a temperature of a discharge flow of the heat exchanger medium. A first opening is provided in the feed element, inside of which a first temperature probe is positioned at a predetermined location inside the feed flow during operation of the heat exchanger, and a second opening is provided in the discharge element, inside of which a second temperature probe is positioned at a predetermined location in the discharge flow during operation of the heat exchanger.
US09909818B2
The disclosure presents a heat exchanger assembly having a first manifold, a second manifold spaced from the first manifold, a plurality of refrigerant tubes extending between and in hydraulic communication with the first and second manifolds, a plurality of corrugated fins inserted between the plurality of refrigerant tubes, and a condensate extractor having a comb baffle portion with fingers inserted between the plurality of refrigerant tubes and a conveyance portion. The comb baffle portion is configured to extract condensate from between the plurality of refrigerant tubes and the conveyance portion is configured to convey condensate away from the heat exchanger assembly.
US09909815B2
An assembling structure of heat dissipation device includes at least one heat pipe, a first and a second radiating fin assembly. The heat pipe has a heat absorption section, at least one heat releasing section and a curved section between the heat absorption section and the heat releasing section. The heat releasing section is fitted in multiple perforations of the second radiating fin assembly. The curved section is fitted in multiple notches of the first radiating fin assembly. Each notch is defined with an open side and a closed side. The closed side extends along a curved outer side of the curved section and contacts and attaches to the curved outer side of the curved section. Accordingly, the utility ratio of the heat pipe is increased. Also, the heat dissipation area of the heat pipe is increased and the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat dissipation device is enhanced.
US09909812B2
The disclosure relates to a heat exchanger, for example an indirect air cooler, in which the air, for example compressed charge air for an internal combustion engine, is cooled, for example by a fluid, wherein the heat exchanger is constructed from stacked pairs of plates. The exemplary fluid can be conducted into an inlet region and/or outlet region of the plate pairs in at least one flow path approximately in the direction of the common edge, and further through at least a first duct approximately in cross current with respect to the exemplary air, and passes further through the plate pairs over the largest heat exchange area of the plate pairs approximately in countercurrent with respect to the air, in order to flow through at least one second duct, approximately in cross current with respect to the exemplary air, and back to the outlet.
US09909801B2
A refrigerator having a display is disclosed herein. The display may display contents of the refrigerator, display recommended recipes based on the contents, and display an operational state of the refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a body, at least one door, at least one storage area, a display for displaying a GUI having a first region for displaying an image of the at least one storage area and a second region for displaying a control interface, a memory having information for contents of the at least one storage area, a communication interface, and a controller for controlling the display. The controller may control a display of at least one icon for a type of food in the second region of the GUI and may control a display of one of the at least one icon in the first region of the GUI based on an input at the display.
US09909800B2
Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment, a first door pivotably installed to the cabinet, the first door being configured to open or close one side of the storage compartment, a second door pivotably installed to the cabinet, the second door being configured to open or close a remaining side of the storage compartment, the second door having a pillar configured to be rotated so as to come into contact with the first door, a first link device provided outside of the storage compartment, the first link device being operated in contact with the first door and the second door at a top of the cabinet, and a second link device configured to be operated by the first link device, the second link device serving to rotate the pillar.
US09909797B2
The insulated container having a support that separates the ice, food, and drinks from the melted ice water to prevent damage to the food items. The ice, food, and drinks are placed on top of the flat upper surface of the removable support. The removable support has an inflatable bladder on the underside designed to look like downwardly positioned semi-cylindrical ridges, having apertures between the ridges in a foldable spine that allows the melting ice water to drain past the top surface, at the edges of the bladder and through the apertures of the removable support into the voids between the semi-cylindrical ridges below.
US09909795B2
In a vehicular air conditioner in which a cooling operation and a heating operation are switched by switching a four-way valve, a pressure accumulator is provided in which a coolant, which is related to an aspiration pressure of a compressor, is accumulated when the compressor is operated, and a differential pressure, which is required for switching the four-way valve, between piston rooms is maintained, and the differential pressure, which is required for switching the four-way valve, is generated between the piston rooms of the four-way valve even after the compressor is stopped.
US09909783B2
A geothermal heat exchange apparatus which is a flexible assembly of a plurality of pipes twisted on a central conduit. The central conduit has a tubular structure. The plurality of pipes is twisted around the central conduit. The plurality of pipes is connects to an external environmental conditioning apparatus that supplies a heat exchange liquid for the transfer of heat through the plurality of pipes. The geothermal heat exchange apparatus is adapted for positioning in a hole in the earth for the exchange of heat.
US09909781B2
A panel (105) is provided for utilizing solar energy, especially in the form of panels designed as roof tiles (101), wherein the heat is transferred from panel to fluid or vice versa. On this panel one or more solar cell panels (107) can be provided so that it is cooled effectively during operation, while heat energy simultaneously may be utilized. Panels, for example designed as roof tiles, individually or assembled, are mounted on roofing battens (110) suitable for the purpose, and connected to electrical connection points and bushings for fluid transport. The roofing battens (110) are mounted on furring ring strips (112) in the usual way. Some furring strips are used for connection of electrical conductors in the flooring battens (112) and any fluid circuits in the flooring battens (110). The construction facilitates installing and maintenance.
US09909774B2
A system and associated methods of operation for regulating an environmental variable (such as ambient room temperature) within a target zone. The system includes an occupancy sensor configured to monitor the target zone and determine a number of inhabitants present within the zone. The occupancy sensor generates an occupancy signal communicating the number of detected inhabitants to an environmental control system. Upon receiving the occupancy signal, the environmental control system regulates an environmental variable within the zone based on the number of inhabitants present in the zone.
US09909771B2
A mass airflow measuring system includes an air conduit and a sensor assembly mounted to the air conduit, including a unitary one-piece first section which in cross section defines a first channel, a second channel and a wall separating the two channels. A second section has similar components. A unitary one-piece corner section, in cross section includes four legs, each defining a respective channel. A respective leg is mounted in a respective one of the channels of the first and second sections to communicate the sections with each other through the channels defined in the corner section legs. A sensor housing is mounted to one of the sections and includes an inlet opening communicating with the first channel and an exit opening communicating with the second channel. A mass airflow sensor communicates with a sample channel defined in the housing.
US09909767B2
A filtration material comprising a blend of polypropylene and acrylic fibers of round, flat, dog bone, oval or kidney bean shape in any size from 0.08 to 3.3 Dtex. A preferred blend contains about 50 weight percent polypropylene fibers and about 50 weight percent acrylic fibers. The fibers can be blended ranging from 90:10 to 10:90 polypropylene to acrylic. The shape contains 25 weight percent round, flat, oval, dog bone and kidney bean shapes. The fiber blend contains 25 weight percent of at least one size between 0.08 and 3.3 Dtex. Electret fibers incorporated within these blends have 0.02 to 33 weight percent of a charge control agent. These fibers can be used in producing electret material by corona or triboelectric charging methods.
US09909756B2
Disclosed is a method for enhanced fuel combustion to maximize the capture of by-product carbon dioxide. According to various embodiments of the invention, a method for combusting fuel in a two-stage process is provided, which includes in-situ oxygen generation. In-situ oxygen generation allows for the operation of a second oxidation stage to further combust fuel, thus maximizing fuel conversion efficiency. The integrated oxygen generation also provides an increased secondary reactor temperature, thereby improving the overall thermal efficiency of the process. The means of in-situ oxygen is not restricted to one particular embodiment, and can occur using an oxygen generation reactor, an ion transport membrane, or both. A system configured to the second stage combustion method is also disclosed.
US09909752B2
An LED lamp uses a flexible metal belt as a heat sink. At least one light emitting diode is attached to a circuit board that is mounted on a heat conducting member. The flexible heat sink is attached to the heat conducting member, such that heat generated by the light emitting diode and circuit board is conducted to the flexible heat sink. The flexible heat sink can be deformed to fit in a variety of spaces. The flexible heat sink dissipates the heat generated by the LED lamp without the need for a fan. The flexible heat sink may be made from braided copper fabric or even a plurality of flexible metal sheets.
US09909744B2
Apparatus and methods for attaching portable lighting devices to objects/surface are provided. In some embodiments, an elastic lanyard is anchored to a body portion of a portable lighting device and a free closed loop portion can be looped around an object, and/or a channel formed on the body portion. In some embodiments, the channel is formed on a base of the body portion and the elastic lanyard can be stretched about an object disposed between a bottom surface of the base and the lanyard. In other embodiments, a lanyard is anchored to a detachable member that is magnetically attachable to a body portion of the portable lighting device.
US09909738B2
The invention provides a lighting device comprising (i) a light source configured to generate light source light, and (ii) a light converter configured to convert at least part of the light source light into visible converter light, wherein the light converter comprises a polymeric host material with light converter nanoparticles embedded in the polymeric host material, wherein the polymeric host material is based on radical polymerizable monomers, and wherein the polymeric host material contains equal to or less then 5 ppm radical initiator based material relative to the total weight of the polymeric host material.
US09909732B2
A lighting or indicating device for motor vehicles comprises an enclosure formed by a housing and an outer lens, the enclosure receiving a printed circuit carrying at least one light source and an optical device. The housing comprises means for fastening the stack formed by the printed circuit and the optical device, so as to fix together the housing, the printed circuit carrying at least one light source and the optical device, the printed circuits being sandwiched between the housing and the optical device.
US09909726B2
A battery life extender (12) for a portable lighting device (10) employs a reconfigurable mechanism operable to selectively electrically isolate one or more batteries (20) from a circuit having a parasitic power drain. For example, a lighting device (10) includes a light generating element (14), at least one battery (20), a user operated switch (16) configured to control delivery of electrical power from the at least one battery (20) to the light generating element (14), and a housing assembly (18) supporting the at least one battery (20) and the light generating element (14). The user operated switch (16) can impart a parasitic power drain. The housing assembly (18) is reconfigurable to: (a) a first configuration in which the user operated switch (16) is electrically connected to the at least one battery (20), and (b) a second configuration in which the at least one battery (20) is electrically isolated and the at least one battery (20) is retained by the housing assembly (18).
US09909725B2
An object of this invention is to provide a highly portable light-emitting device or a highly browsable light-emitting device. The light-emitting device includes a joint portion, and a plurality of light-emitting units apart from each other with the joint portion positioned therebetween. The joint portion and the light-emitting units are flexible. The joint portion can be bent to a curvature radius smaller than a curvature radius to which the light-emitting unit can be bent. The light-emitting unit is supplied with a signal through a side not adjacent to the joint portion or is supplied with a signal by wireless communication.
US09909722B2
Provided is a fluorescence-emitting light source unit that includes a wavelength conversion member having a light receiving surface and a phosphor. The light receiving surface is configured to receive excitation light, and the phosphor is configured to convert the excitation light received by the light receiving surface into fluorescence and emit the fluorescence. The light receiving surface includes a cyclic structure having projections, in which the projections are cyclically arrayed and each have a substantially cone shape. An aspect ratio is about 0.2 or greater, in which the aspect ratio is a ratio of a height of any of the projections to a pitch of the array of the projections. The pitch of the array is of a size that falls within a range in which diffraction of the fluorescence emitted from the phosphor occurs.
US09909713B1
A garage lift system which aids in lifting and storing various objects such as ATV's within an enclosed area. The garage lift system generally includes a frame adapted to be secured between a floor and a ceiling utilizing upper mounts and lower footings. The frame includes a guide rail extending horizontally between two or more vertical supports. A drive assembly is provided which includes a motor driving a pair of reels. The reels are wound with cables, with a first cable extending downwardly to connect to a first end of a lift member and a second cable extending along the guide rail and through a pulley wheel prior to extending downwardly to connect to a second end of the lift member. Various objects such as vehicles may be positioned on the lift member and the drive assembly utilized to raise or lower the lift member.
US09909710B2
A flexible apparatus is provided. The flexible apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect bending of the flexible apparatus, a bending holder configured to maintain a bending state of the flexible apparatus, and, a controller configured to control operations of the flexible apparatus, wherein when a predetermined input is received while the flexible apparatus is manipulated, the controller controls the bending holder to maintain the bending state of the flexible apparatus.
US09909708B1
A protective mat for covering buried conduit in the form of a rectangular structure comprising upper and lower sections wherein the upper section includes elongated members, a sheet structure that includes a plurality of downward facing open cells, or an open grid or grating and wherein the lower section includes elongated members, a sheet structure that includes a plurality of upward facing cells, or an open grid or grating; a forward end that includes one or more protruding elements; and a rearward end that includes one or more recesses that are configured and dimension for receiving the protruding element(s) of a similarly configured adjacent mat. Thus, the protruding element(s) and recess(es) are associated with and located on the lower section of the mat such that the protruding element(s) of one mat can be inserted in the recess(es) of and adjacent mat to interlock the mats together.
US09909701B2
A tube coupling to receive and hold a tube includes a coupling body (10) having a throughway to receive a portion of a tube. A collet (17) in the coupling body has legs (21) with outer surfaces that engage with a tapered surface (24) in the coupling body which urges the legs inwardly to resist withdrawal of the tube. A biasing member (26) provides a biasing force without the tube inserted to urge the legs axially onto the tapered surface. The collet (17) can grip a large variety of pipe diameters. The coupling may be supplied with a number of inserts (30A-D) for sealing with the inner diameter of a pipe, the inserts having different diameters. A tool (50) for preparing the end of a pipe to receive the coupling is also contemplated.
US09909700B2
The present invention provides a lockout device and system that can be attached directly to open piping undergoing maintenance or repair and that can be directly under the supervision of the individual that is performing the maintenance.
US09909699B2
An improved hose has a TPE cover layer disposed radially over an inner tube layer and reinforcing braid layer. A D-profile spiral guard is disposed atop the cover layer with a flat side of the D profile facing the cover layer. Hose connectors or end couplings are designed to be tough and durable, and not crush and deform in rough use. The hose end couplings are each retained with an external ferrule having internal spiral lands and grooves so that the spirals of the ferrule follow the spiral guard, to form an interference fit on the cover layer and spiral guard of the hose.
US09909687B2
A device for indicating the status of a valve includes a position indicator, wherein the position indicator includes a monitoring element, and a communication element. A method for indicating the status of at least one valve includes monitoring positions of a device enclosed by a first valve with a position indicator and communicating the positions of the device enclosed by the first valve with a communications element.
US09909686B2
A valve comprises a tappet and a sensor for detecting an adjustment stroke of the tappet, in particular an inductive sensor, wherein the sensor comprises a signal transmitter which comprises a coil, of which the coil axis (S) is substantially in parallel with the axis (A) of the tappet.
US09909683B2
A gearbox assembly for an actuator is provided. The gearbox assembly includes a rack, a spur pinion, a bevel pinion, and a bevel gear. Vertical translation of the rack causes rotation of the spur pinion and bevel pinion around a horizontal axis. The rotation of the bevel pinion causes rotation of the bevel gear around a vertical axis. The gearbox assembly may be coupled to a movable member of a valve so that actuation of the gearbox assembly moves the movable member. Systems including the gearbox assembly and methods of operation are also disclosed.
US09909679B2
A valve device having a valve housing, through which passes a fluid channel, in which are formed a valve seat and a valve member which is accommodated such that it can be moved relative to the valve seat, having an electromechanical actuator for moving the valve member between at least two functional positions in order to influence a free cross-section of the fluid channel, and having a control device, which is designed for activating the actuator depending on a control signal and includes a delay circuit which, in the case of the valve being switched off, is designed for a time-delayed movement of the valve member into a switch-off position. The delay circuit includes an electrical energy store which, in the case of the valve being switched off, is designed for energy-independent movement of the valve member into the switch-off position.
US09909668B2
The invention relates to a mechanical seal arrangement comprising a rotating slide ring (2) and a stationary slide ring (3) which define a sealing gap (4) between them, a holding ring (5) for holding the stationary slide ring (3), and a housing (6), a clamp connection (7) being provided between the housing (6) and the holding ring (5) by way of at least one clamp component (8).
US09909665B2
A gear-shifting mechanism driving device for allowing a speedy and accurate gear-shifting operation has a light weight even in the case where a shift spindle is short. The gear-shifting mechanism driving device includes a transmission for selectively establishing a gear combination by the turning of a shift spindle for turning a master arm, and an actuator as a power source for turning the shift spindle, in which the gear-shifting mechanism driving device includes a reduction gear shaft provided in a power transmission path between the actuator and the shift spindle, a first gear provided on one end side of the reduction gear shaft to receive power from the actuator side, and a second gear provided on another end side of the reduction gear shaft to transmit power to the shift spindle side. The reduction gear shaft is made of a torsion bar.
US09909664B2
A method for controlling a motor vehicle transmission (11) is disclosed in which a sensor (18) used to produce an indication of position of a selector (17) is calibrated such that positioning the selector (17) at a peak force feedback position produced by a peak and trough force feedback mechanism (24) connected to the selector (17) will always result in the selection of a drive mode of the transmission (11).
US09909663B2
A method for controlling a transmission to reduce or suppress vibrations of transmission elements and/or rattling sounds, in particular in dual-clutch transmissions having a first transmission line with a first clutch and having a second transmission line with a second clutch. Transmission ratios are assigned to the transmission lines so that torque is transmissible between an input shaft and an output shaft of the transmission via a selected transmission line with a transmission ratio selected. The clutch of the selected transmission line is operated with slippage in predetermined operating situations to transmit torque.
US09909659B2
A work vehicle includes a stepless speed changer device having a drive pulley receiving input of power of an engine, a driven pulley, and an endless rotary body wound around and entrained between the drive pulley and the driven pulley and an accommodating body having an accommodation space for accommodating the drive pulley, the driven pulley and the endless rotary body. The accommodation space includes an air passage for causing air introduced from the outside to flow from the driven pulley side to the drive pulley side to be eventually discharged to the outside.
US09909655B2
Disclosed is a mechanically operational arrangement for continuously variable transmission, comprising a central shaft (1), wherein a toothed groove section (8) is circumferentially arranged in a middle portion of an external surface of the central shaft (1); wherein a shaft sleeve (9) is fitted over the external surface of the central shaft (1); wherein a plurality of axial limiting grooves (10) are provided on an external surface of the shaft sleeve (9); wherein inserted into each axial limiting groove (10) is a connecting plate (6); wherein an arc-shaped toothed wheel section (7) is arranged on an inner end face of each connecting plate (6); wherein each of the arc-shaped toothed wheel sections (7) is meshed with the toothed groove section (8); wherein a pivot (11) is mounted in a side face of each connecting plate (6); and wherein each connecting plate (6) is respectively hinged to a groove wall of one axial limiting groove (10) via the respective pivot (11). The mechanically operational arrangement for continuously variable transmission solves the problems existing in the prior art of continuously variable transmission arrangement that has an easily damaged steel belt with structural complexity and inconvenient maintenance.
US09909653B2
The invention relates to a manual torque adjuster for a motor vehicle steering system, having an electric motor (1), which has a pinion which is arranged on a motor shaft (6) on the output side of said electric motor (1), which pinion drives a belt pulley (3) via a toothed belt (2), and having a sensor unit (20), which is suitable for sensing the position of the motor and which is connected to an electronic controller which controls the electric motor (1), characterized in that the sensor unit (20) is arranged near to the output-side end of the motor shaft (6).
US09909651B2
A planetary transmission for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, featuring three coupled planetary gear sets (RS1, RS2, RS3), characterized in that, with a first planetary gear set (RS1), one of the two elements of ring gear (HR1) or planetary carrier (PT1) is connectable to a fixed-housing component (GH) and is connectable or connectable in drive terms to a rotor (RO) of the electric motor (EM), that the other of the two elements of ring gear (HR1) or planetary carrier (PT1) of the first planetary gear set (RS1) is connected to one of the two elements of ring gear (HR3) or planetary carrier (PT3) of a third planetary gear set (RS3), that the sun gear (SR1) of the first planetary gear set (RS1) is connected to a transmission input shaft (GE) and is connectable to one of the two elements of ring gear (HR3) or planetary carrier (PT3) of the third planetary gear set (RS3), and two of the elements of ring gear (HR1), planetary carrier (PT1), sun gear (SR1) of the first planetary gear set (RS1) are connectable to each other, that, with a second planetary gear set (RS2), one of the two elements of ring gear (HR2) or planetary carrier (PT2) is connected or connected in drive terms to one of the two elements of ring gear (HR3) or planetary carrier (PT3) of the third planetary gear set (RS3), that the other of the two elements of ring gear (HR2) or planetary carrier (PT2) of the second planetary gear set (RS2) is connected in drive terms to a transmission output (GA), that the sun gear (SR2) of the second planetary gear set (RS2) is connected to the rotor (RO) of the electric motor (EM), that two of the elements of ring gear (HR2), planetary carrier (PT2), sun gear (SR2) of the second planetary gear set (RS2) are connectable to each other, and that, with the third planetary gear set (RS3), its sun gear (SR3) is connected or connectable to the fixed-housing component (GH).
US09909646B2
A dynamic damper for a drive shaft may include a mass part fixed to the drive shaft, and a clamping band fixing the mass part to the drive shaft, to attenuate vibration and noise of the drive shaft, in which the clamping band may include a metallic inner banding member disposed on an outer surface of the drive shaft to correct a decrease in damping frequency when a temperature is increased, and an annular outer banding member disposed outside the inner banding member and pressing the inner banding member against the drive shaft to increase rigidity of the damper when the temperature is increased.
US09909644B2
A tuned mass vibration damper for damping a vibration component of a rotational movement, has at least one guide component part configured to movably guide the damper masses such that the damper masses are offset along a circumferential direction, and a dimensionally stable spacer component part that is rotatable relative to the guide component part and which has a positive engagement connection with clearance with the damper masses that are configured such that, starting from a center position of the damper masses with respect to the spacer component part, when one of the damper masses executes an oscillation which overcomes a clearance in the connections of two of the damper masses with respect to the spacer component part, the spacer component part is rotated along the circumferential direction such that it drives the other damper mass of the two damper masses along the circumferential direction.
US09909640B2
Method and apparatus for mitigating vibrations in a device towed in water. The apparatus includes one or more tuned elastic sections having a complex spring rate and adapted to attenuate vibrations in a specified frequency range; and a head end coupler adapted to couple the apparatus for vibration mitigation to a component of an electro-mechanical cable or a tow assembly. One of the one or more tuned elastic sections is coupled to the head end coupler with a high impedance material interface.
US09909638B2
A hydraulic suspension damper includes a tube having an opened end and a closed end defining a compartment. A main piston is disposed in the compartment dividing the compartment into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod is attached to the main piston. A rod guide is disposed at said opened end. A stroke stop arrangement includes an insert and an additional piston attached to the piston rod. The insert has a narrowed section including an inner surface defining at least one recess between the distal end and the rod guide and extends axially along the insert in fluid communication with the compression chamber for allowing working liquid flow from the rebound chamber to the compression chamber during the rebound stroke. The at least one recess includes three recesses disposed equidistantly and spaced from one another.
US09909630B1
A clutch includes a piston, backing plate, spring, and spring retainer. The piston and the backing plate define a balance chamber therebetween. The piston has a protrusion that extends into and defines a pocket in the chamber. The spring is disposed within the pocket and is configured to disengage the piston from a clutch pack. The spring retainer is disposed between the spring and the backing plate. The retainer extends from the backing plate and into the chamber beyond an end of the protrusion.
US09909627B2
A synchronizer ring (10) for synchronized manual transmissions is manufactured by forming or reshaping a flat material of metal, wherein a conical friction surface (20) is produced, into which axial grooves (24) are incorporated by chipless machining, wherein a tool is axially shifted relative to the friction surface (20) to produce the final friction surface (20). At least the friction surface (20) is vibration-ground and subsequently hardened.
US09909621B2
A bearing, including: an axis of rotation; an inner ring including a first radially inner circumferential side; an outer ring arranged radially outward of the inner ring and including a first radially outer circumferential side; a cage radially arranged between the inner and outer rings; and at least one rolling element positioned within the cage. The inner ring includes at least one circumferentially extending groove in the radially inner circumferential side and at least one through-bore connecting the at least one circumferentially extending groove to a space formed between the inner and outer rings; or the outer ring includes at least one circumferentially extending groove in the radially outer circumferential side and at least one through-bore connecting the at least one circumferentially extending groove to a space formed between the inner and outer rings.
US09909619B2
A hybrid bearing system for gas turbine engines is disclosed. The hybrid bearing system comprises ball/roller bearings and air bearings. For horizontal applications, compressed air injected into the air bearing provides a lift force such that enables the rotating shaft for the turbine to float freely. The compressed air is also employed to cool the ball/roller bearings. Hence, given the reduced friction on the ball/roller bearings due to the free-floating shaft, as well as the air cooling of the ball/roller bearings, typical lubrication systems are not necessary. For vertical applications, the compressed air provides cooling to the ball/roller bearings which renders the need for conventional lubrication systems unnecessary.
US09909618B2
A thrust bearing includes: a thrust plate in a disc shape having an outer diameter and an inner diameter formed by perforating a central portion of the thrust plate; a plurality of bump foils disposed radially on a top surface of the thrust plate; a plurality of top foils in a panel shape covering each of the bump foils, where bottom surfaces of the top foils are in contact with upper ends of the bump foils; and metal blocks radially disposed on the top surface of the thrust plate and formed to be spaced apart from the bump foils. The thrust bearing can be included in an air compressor of a vehicle.
US09909613B2
A compression rod has a buckling initiating feature. The compression rod includes an elongate body. The elongate body has a first cross sectional area along a first a length of the elongate body and a second cross sectional area along a second length of the elongate body. The second cross sectional area defines the buckling initiating feature. The second cross sectional area is configured to cause buckling along the elongate body upon application of a predetermined axially oriented compressive force.
US09909610B2
A heat resistant washer for a heat resistant fastening system and a heat resistant fastening system is provided. The heat resistant washer includes a fire retardant material, and a housing that includes a base and a flange, with a throughbore defined through the base to receive a fastener. The housing defines a cavity adjacent to the throughbore and at least one guide. The fire retardant material is disposed within the cavity and the at least one guide directs the fire retardant material in an active state out of the cavity.
US09909609B2
A lock nut system includes a nut, a keeper engagement with the nut to inhibit movement of the keeper relative to the nut, and a keeper retaining member. The keeper has a radially inner side configured to engage a shaft to inhibit rotational movement of the nut relative to the shaft when the keeper engages the nut and a radially inner side engages the shaft. The keeper retaining member is secured to the keeper and is engageable with the nut to hold a keeper axially such that keeper is engaged with the nut. A cover member is located on an opposite side of the keeper retaining member relative to the nut and engaged to the keeper retaining member to inhibit a separation of the cover member from the keeper retaining member in such that that the separation of the cover member from the keeper retaining member provides a visual indication to a user.
US09909605B2
A method for forming a joint between a fiber reinforced composite component and a metallic component and a joint are provided. The metallic component and the composite component each define a joint surface for mating with the joint surface of the other to join the two components together and the composite component defines a free surface opposed to the joint surface thereof. The joint surface of the metallic component defines an array of pins extending therefrom with each pin defining a pin head at an end distal from the joint surface. The method includes the steps of pressing together the joint surfaces of the two components whereby to cause the array of pins to penetrate through the fiber reinforcing material, and modifying the effective cross sectional shape of the pin heads whereby to increase the constraint applied to the composite component against peeling of the composite component from the joint surface of the metallic component.
US09909602B2
A surface plasma actuator includes a conducting wire attached to a surface of a target object and electrically insulated from the target object. Surface plasma is generated along a neighborhood of the conducting wire by applying a pulse voltage between the conducting wire and a conductive portion on a side of the target object. An induced gas flow is generated by the surface plasma.
US09909601B2
A motor control system includes a piston chamber and a piston assembly disposed within the piston chamber to move therein between first and second positions. A magnet is coupled to the piston assembly to move therewith and a sensor is axially mounted with respect to the piston assembly to generate a continuous output signal corresponding to a position of the magnet relative to the sensor. The motor control system also includes a controller for processing the output signal from the sensor to monitor continuously the position of the piston assembly within the piston chamber and for actuating the piston assembly to move in an upstroke toward the first position and in a downstroke toward the second position.
US09909598B1
A submersible landfill pump system may include sensors to detect conditions inside the pump and/or well. In some embodiments, the sensors can be placed along an electrical wire within the well and provide sensor data to a user.
US09909597B2
A fluid processing device may include a rotatable shaft, a driver configured to drive the rotatable shaft, a separator installed on the rotatable shaft, and a supersonic compressor fluidly communicating with the separator.
US09909573B2
A thermal energy harvesting system includes a pair of shape memory sections formed of shape memory alloy (SMA) material that are each disposed within a tube. The shape memory sections are fixed in position at one end and are attached at another end to a rotating shaft that is in mechanical communication with a power generator. Fluid inlet valves are provided in each housing and are each controlled to alternatingly supply hot and cold fluid to the tubes to selectively heat and cool the shape memory sections. This results in the cyclical contraction and expansion of the shape memory sections, which causes oscillating rotation of the shaft that is converted by the power generator into electrical power.
US09909568B2
A device for detecting critical states of a surface, in which at least one hermetically sealed sensor for detecting critical states of a surface, one system for energy supply and one device for data transfer with an at least partially flexible, thin carrier plate are mechanically connected, and said carrier plate is arranged on the surface to be observed.
US09909567B2
The invention relates to a rolling bearing arrangement (1, 26, 31, 34, 36, 37), preferably a large rolling bearing with a diameter of 0.5 or more, for mounting parts of an energy system, in particular as blade bearings for a wind turbine, comprising at least two relatively rotatable annular elements (2, 3) arranged concentrically with one another and at least regionally inside one another, for connection to relatively rotatable parts of the energy system, wherein two relatively rotatable connecting elements (2, 3) are separated from each other by a gap (4) and at least partially overlap each other in the radial direction, wherein, further, provided in the region of the gap (4) in radially overlapping regions of the annular connecting elements (2, 3) are at least two rows of rolling elements (17, 18), each of which rolls along a respective two raceways (19, 20) that overlap each other at least regionally in the radial direction, wherein one or more raceways (19, 20) for rolling elements (17, 18) are disposed in radially overlapping sections (5, 6) in such fashion that the contact angle which the connecting line between the centers of the points of contact of a rolling element (17, 18) with its two raceways makes with the ring plane is equal to or greater than 45°, such that such an axial rolling bearing serves to transmit predominantly axially acting force components, and wherein at least one additional bearing is provided for transmitting predominantly radially acting force components and has a contact angle of less than 45°, preferably 25° or less, particularly 10° or less, wherein any raceways for radial rolling bearings that are incorporated directly into the annular connecting elements (2, 3) are, at most, ones having a maximum distance between them, perpendicular to the raceway surface, that is equal to or less than 25% of the largest distance perpendicular to the raceway surface between two raceways of an axial rolling-bearing row.
US09909558B2
Methods for installing blades of a wind turbine are provided. The method comprises: providing a blade holder, wherein the blade holder comprises a connection element adapted to be attached to a mounting surfaces and a lifting equipment attachment, the blade holder being provided with a steering mechanism. Then, the blade holder is attached to the blade. The blade holder is hoisted with the blade towards the rotor hub with lifting equipment. The blade holder is attached to the mounting surface of the hub using the connection element. The rotor hub is rotated using the weight of the blade holder and the blade to a first desired position for mounting the blade to the rotor hub. The blade holder is detached from the hub. Then, the blade may be mounted to the rotor hub. A wind turbine blade holder for holding a blade and for use in lifting the blade is also provided.
US09909556B2
A system comprising a tunnel implement for immersion in a moving mass. Energy from the moving mass passing through said tunnel implement is converted to rotational force. A collector device is provided having open and collapsed states, wherein the open state resists the moving mass. A rotational converting device converts the rotational force to constant singular direction. An input shaft is turned bidirectionally by the rotational force and two gears driven by the input shaft in opposite rotational directions, the gears separately attached to idler gears causing output gears attached to the idler gears to engage an output shaft in a same rotational direction. A bidirectional drive motor device drives a pulley device in a predetermined direction. A sensor device senses the position of the collector device. A trigger device is configured to activate said sensor device to indicate the collector device position and state, whether opened or collapsed.
US09909550B1
Improved remote start/stop systems and methods for use with a truck and/or vehicle transport trailer. Embodiments include a transport trailer and truck, the trailer comprising a platform that moves in response to a hydraulic system coupled to the platform. The hydraulic system is powered by the truck engine. A pressure transducer in communication with the hydraulic system is configured to measure a change in hydraulic pressure. A start/stop controller is in communication with the pressure transducer. The start/stop controller is configured to receive the measurements from the pressure transducer, determine to turn off the truck engine in response to the measurements, and provide an message via an indicator in communication with the start/stop controller, the indicator located proximate to a hydraulic control for the first hydraulic system. Some embodiments include a button that may override turning off the truck engine, or cause the truck engine to restart.
