US09918419B2
An assembly machine includes a plurality of track modules, each track module including a section of track, the plurality of track modules connectable to form a continuous circuitous track, the continuous circuitous track configured to receive a dispensing head, the dispensing head configured to rotate about the continuous circuitous track and at least partially assemble an unfinished product. The machine includes a first feeder module attached to a first length of the continuous circuitous track configured to feed a component to the dispensing head, and a first placement module attached to a second length of the continuous circuitous track configured to receive the unfinished product. The dispensing head is configured to place the component on the unfinished product. The assembly machine is reconfigurable by attaching or removing one or more of the plurality of track modules, the first feeder module and the first placement module.
US09918416B2
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield may include a first shield section configured to be positioned on a first portion of an optical subassembly and a second shield section configured to be positioned on a second portion of the optical subassembly. The first shield section may be configured to contact the second shield section such that the first shield section and the second shield section are held in place when the first shield section and the second shield section are positioned, respectively, on the first portion and the second portion of the optical subassembly.
US09918412B2
A cooling system for a computer room includes a forced air system. The forced air system moves cooling air through computers in one or more rack systems in the computer room. Stacks are coupled between the rack systems and the ceiling of the computer room. Each stack may include a flexible portion between an inlet portion and an exit portion of the stack. The stacks direct cooling air exiting from exit ports on the rack systems to openings in the ceiling.
US09918393B2
A piezoelectric transformer includes a piezoelectric element. Two primary side electrodes exist on the primary side of the piezoelectric element. The primary side electrodes are coupled by a resistor formed from a conductive coating. A discharge current is discharged via the resistor to protect a semiconductor component from the discharge current. Since neither a short-circuit terminal nor conductive jig is required, electrostatic discharge damage to a semiconductor component can be prevented by a low-cost arrangement.
US09918387B2
An electronic unit includes a heat sink, a substrate, a heating component, a temperature sensor, a first interconnection, and a second interconnection. The heat sink includes a strut. The substrate is fixed to the strut of the heat sink. The heating component is mounted on the substrate to generate heat upon energization of the heating component. The temperature sensor is mounted on the substrate to detect temperature. The first interconnection is provided in a high-temperature region in which the heating component is mounted on the substrate, and is connected to the strut of the heat sink. The second interconnection is provided in a detection region in which the temperature sensor is mounted on the substrate, and is provided separately from the first interconnection. The second interconnection is connected to the strut of the heat sink and the temperature sensor.
US09918386B2
A packaged module for use in a wireless communication device has a substrate supporting an integrated circuit die that includes at least a microprocessor and radio frequency receiver circuitry and a stacked filter assembly configured as a filter circuit that is in communication with the radio frequency receiver circuitry. The stacked filter assembly includes a plurality of passive components, where each passive component is packaged as a surface mount device. At least one passive component is in direct communication with the substrate and at least another passive component is supported above the substrate by the at least one passive component that is in the direct communication with the substrate.
US09918380B2
A noise reduction board includes: a first board; a second board arranged under the first board; a plurality of power feeding parts made of a metal in a shape of a pole and configured to electrically interconnect the first board and the second board; and a noise reduction part arranged between the power feeding parts, wherein the noise reduction part includes: a metal plate; an insulator configured to cover a surface of the metal plate; a first terminal provided on the side of the first board of the metal plate and electrically coupled to a ground pattern of the first board; and a second terminal provided on the side of the second board of the metal plate and electrically coupled to a ground pattern of the second board.
US09918373B2
A DC power supply for lighting includes low voltage driver electronics for any suitable load such as lighting along with a supervisory controller that communicates to the driver electronics via any suitable digital communication protocol. Each driver's output ports include a 3rd wire that communicates to the low voltage load fixture for the purpose of auto-negotiating the appropriate power level without first having to energize the fixture.
US09918353B2
The present invention relates to the field of communications. Disclosed are an 802.1X access session keepalive method, device, and system. The method comprises: during network access of a 802.1X client, an authenticating node used for access authentication sending, to the 802.1X client according to an actual keepalive period of the authenticating node, a keepalive request message used for determining whether the 802.1X client is off-net abnormally; and during a preset duration of the authenticating node, if the authenticating node does not receive a keepalive response message from the 802.1X client in response to the keepalive request message, the authenticating node determining that the 802.1X client is off-net abnormally; otherwise, determining that the 802.1X client is on-net normally. The embodiments of the present invention improve network resource utilization, reduce the security problem caused by too heavy load of the authenticating node, and lower the risk of errors in charging on time.
US09918348B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting a relay device for device-to-device communication with a target device in a partial coverage scenario. The method may include determining that the wireless device is out-of-service, detecting a set of candidate relay devices, identifying one or more communication parameters associated with each candidate relay device of the set of candidate relay devices, calculating a selection metric associated with each candidate relay device of the set of candidate relay devices based on the identified one or more communication parameters, selecting at least one candidate relay device from the set of candidate relay devices based on the selection metric, and transmitting the data to the selected at least one relay device.
US09918347B2
A communications apparatus and method provide logic for establishing communications sessions in accordance with one or more connection rights. In one implementation, a communications apparatus may include a control circuit configured to establish, through an information processing apparatus, a communications session with an additional communications apparatus associated with one or more first connection rights. The established communications session may be associated with one or more second connection rights that differ from the first connection rights, and the control circuit may be further configured to generate an instruction to transmit data in accordance with the second connection rights.
US09918345B2
Apparatus and methods for providing backhaul access connectivity to e.g., a vehicular hotspot. In one embodiment, a wireless network of access points comprises so-called “parent access points” (PAPs), “child access points” (CAPs), and “transit access points” (TAPs). Each PAP operates as a service gateway and provides a wireless coverage area, which is further augmented by the coverages of its subsidiary CAPs. Each TAP can connect to either a PAP or a CAP for backhaul access. During exemplary operation, a user's Wi-Fi client device connects to a TAP located in the vehicle (e.g., car, train, bus, etc.), and provides connectivity to a host managed content distribution network to which the user subscribes.
US09918344B2
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a communication between a user equipment (UE) and an evolved Node B (eNB) that are both running in Enhanced Coverage (EC) mode. The UE and eNB may communicate in a contention-based random access procedure having an EC level that may be used to determine the number of times an RA preamble may be sent, and one or more RA response opportunity windows that may be used to receive one or more RA responses. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09918324B2
A method and system to deliver updated system information to one or more victim User Equipments (UEs) in connected mode within the dominant co-channel interference region in Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) environment is disclosed. The method enables the base station of a victim cell to trigger one or more victim UEs in the region of co-channel interference to apply a new signaling procedure for acquiring a new message block to be delivered by the victim cell. The method provides an error handling procedure for system information acquisition failure by the victim UE in the dominant co-channel interference region of the victim cell in HetNet. The method improves reliability of updated system information delivery and improves probability of system information acquisition in region of dominant co-channel interference.
US09918299B2
Provided are wireless communication methods for D2D communication and UEs therefor. A wireless communication method involves transmitting either a first DCI or a second DCI based on whether a first UE and a second UE are to be in a communication type of groupcast or unicast. In the wireless communication methods, the first DCI and the second DCI are scrambled by the UE ID of the second UE if the first UE and the second UE are in the communication type of unicast upon transmitting the first DCI and the second DCI, and the first DCI and the second DCI are scrambled by the group ID if the first UE and the second UE are in the communication type of groupcast upon transmitting the first DCI and the second DCI.
US09918291B2
System and method embodiments are provided for efficient channel synchronization. The embodiments enable a reduction in a stations power consumption and reduce network overhead for transmitting synchronization frames by refraining from sending the synchronization frame when it is not needed. In an embodiment, a method in an access point (AP) for synchronizing a station (STA) associated with the AP includes sending, by the AP, a first management frame that indicates a time slot that is allocated for the STA and sending a synchronization frame at a boundary of the time slot allocated for the STA if the AP determines that a channel is idle at the boundary of the time slot allocated for the STA and if the time slot that is allocated for the STA is longer than a first threshold value.
US09918282B1
Systems and methods are described for determining a power option for an access node. Application requirements for a first plurality of wireless devices in communication with a first access node may be identified for each wireless device. The number of wireless devices that comprise a met application requirement may then be determined. When that number meets a first criteria, a plurality of power options for transmitting a first signal may be determined. For each power option, a second number of the first plurality of wireless devices and a third number of wireless devices in communication with a second access node may be estimated. Based on the estimated numbers for the determined power options, a power option may be selected and the first access node may transmit the first signal according to the selected power option.
US09918273B2
Provided are a network access method, a mobile communication terminal, a network server, and a network access system. The network access method includes the follows. A mobile communication terminal accesses a wireless local area network of a place of visit. The mobile communication terminal sends a network ID acquisition request to a network server of the wireless local area network. The mobile communication terminal receives at least one PLMN network ID unicast or broadcast by the network server in response to the network ID acquisition request, and adds the received at least one PLMN network ID to an equivalent home public land mobile network (EHPLMN) list; the at least one PLMN network ID comprises network IDs of PLMNs of visited operators who have contracted with a home operator of the mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal performs network access in the place of visit based on the EHPLMN list.
US09918271B2
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a moving user equipment (UE) or an application operable in a wireless communications network and methods in which an apparatus for wireless communication is configured to adaptively adjust a barred time for the moving UE by obtaining a dynamic characteristic of the moving UE; adjusting the barred time associated with the moving UE based on the dynamic characteristic to yield an adjusted barred time; applying the adjusted barred time to a resource management protocol; and executing the resource management protocol in a first wireless network in accordance with the adjusted barred time to access a first cell in the first wireless network.
US09918268B2
[Object] To make it possible to select an optimum connection destination cell in consideration of an influence of future control[Solution] There is provided a communication control device including an interference control unit configured to perform interference control for a radio communication system including a plurality of base stations and a plurality of terminal devices, and a decision unit configured to correct a decision index which is based on a measurement report generated by a first terminal device by factoring in an influence of the interference control performed by the interference control unit after the first terminal device performs measurement and to perform handover decision on the first terminal device using the corrected decision index.
US09918266B2
According to some embodiments, a wireless communication device capable of device-to-device, D2D, operation is configured with at least one secondary cell, SCell. The wireless communication device receives a command from a network node to activate or deactivate the SCell. The wireless communication device determines at least its D2D traffic activity level and determines whether to apply or ignore the received command based at least in part on the determined D2D traffic activity level.
US09918265B2
One aspect of the teachings herein involves the temporary transfer of radio identities from one service area of a wireless communication network to another service area, where the individual radio identities are used to differentiate individual radio connections between the network and respective wireless nodes supported by the network. In particular, the temporary transfer of a given radio identity from its default service area for use in another service is limited temporally and/or geographically. Limiting the temporal and/or geographic scope of the radio identity transfer allows the network to substantially maintain default associations of radio identities and their respective service areas, which allows the network to prevent or reduce the use of conflicting radio identities in the same service area. Transfer signaling may be used transfer radio identities, and such signaling may include the temporal and/or geographic restrictions, to control the migration or spread of borrowed identities in the network.
US09918264B1
A mobile device can send information to a server by first obtaining, by the mobile device, a scheduled time to send the information to the server. In response to determining, by the mobile device, that a trigger condition is met before the scheduled time, the mobile device sends at least a portion of the information from the mobile device to the server.
US09918263B2
A communications apparatus and method for camping on a serving cell. The apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) signal processing device, processing a plurality of RF signals to generate a plurality of baseband signals, a baseband signal processing device, processing the baseband signals, and a processor, determining whether a first predetermined threshold value related to cell reselection of the serving cell is greater than a second predetermined threshold value related to cell reselection of a predetermined neighbor cell, and when the first predetermined threshold value is greater than the second predetermined threshold value, determining not to perform cell reselection to reselect to the predetermined neighbor cell and determining to perform at least one radio activity instead in a predetermined period of time reserved for performing the cell reselection.
US09918244B2
Improved methods, systems, or apparatuses for UE equipment testing for D2D enabled UEs may include determining performance metrics based on one or more of received transport blocks (TBs) or received service data units (SDUs) from the received one or more data channels on a per channel basis, and reporting the determined performance metric(s) on a per channel basis. In some examples, the performance metrics may include a count of a number of TBs or SDUs successfully received at a channel.
US09918241B2
Operations include estimating a channel utilization, for a target wireless device, corresponding to a set of wireless signals that are received and/or transmitted by another wireless device. One or more relationships between detected signal strength values, measured channel utilization values, and/or actual channel utilization values are determined. The estimation is made based on applying detected signal strength values received at other wireless devices, measured channel utilization values at other wireless devices, and/or actual channel utilization values at other wireless devices to the relationships.
US09918240B2
Communications may be performed in a communications system using multi-dimensional antenna configurations. A WTRU may receive communications from a base station via one or more channels. The communications may be performed using multiple component codebooks. The WTRU may send channel state information (CSI) feedback for each component codebook to the base station for consideration when performing communications with the WTRU. The WTRU may determine the CSI feedback for each component codebook based on channel measurements. The component codebooks may include a horizontal component codebook and/or a vertical component codebook. The WTRU may send the CSI feedback for each component codebook to the base station independently or in the form of a composite codebook. The WTRU may determine a composite codebook a function of the component codebooks.
US09918236B2
Described embodiments provide an access point for forming multiple service zones within a corresponding cell. The access point may include a first access point module and a second access point module. The first access point module may be configured to form a first service zone for first user equipment located at a center area of the cell. The second access point module may be configured to form a second service zone for second user equipment located at an edge area of the cell.
US09918232B2
A node in a wireless communication system includes a transceiver to receive one or more configuration parameters to configure the node for communication in an unlicensed frequency band. The node also includes a processor to implement a state machine that transitions, based on the one or more configuration parameters, between an enable state in which the node supports wireless connectivity in the unlicensed frequency band, a disable state in which the node does not support wireless connectivity in the unlicensed frequency band, and a flywheel state in which the node supports wireless connectivity in the unlicensed frequency band for a predetermined time interval before transitioning to the disable state.
US09918230B2
In a method of performing secure communication, access information for navigating to a target site is received while a mobile system is in a normal mode. An operational mode of the mobile system is changed from the normal mode to a secure mode based on the access information. The access information is verified while the mobile system is in the secure mode. Access to the target site is either allowed or denied based on a result of the verification.
US09918222B2
A technique for protecting location information of a subscriber in a mobile network is disclosed. A User Mobility Server (UMS) receives a first query from a first call state control function (CSCF). The UMS transmits a call setup and a subscriber identity to a servicing-call state control function (S-CSCF). The S-CSCF may have no record of the subscriber identity due to a restart are some other event. The UMS receives a second query from the S-CSCF based in part of the subscriber identity. The UMS transmits a home address of a mobile station to the S-CSCF. The UMS may also transmit a profile download to the S-CSCF.
US09918221B2
In one example embodiment, a method for selecting a physical layer identifier for use in a basestation is disclosed. The basestation may be comprised within a mobile communications network, which may also comprise a plurality of other basestations. The method comprises receiving a pool of identifiers available for use by basestations within the network and assigning a temporary identifier for the basestation. The method further comprises receiving from connected UEs reports of identifiers from among the received pool that are in use by basestations detected by the connected UEs and assigning a final identifier selected from the received pool of identifiers, the final identifier being different from the temporary identifier.
US09918215B2
The present invention provides a method for sending a discovery signal and user equipment. The method comprises determining a frequency-time position with a frequency-time hopping invariant according to the frequency-time hopping invariant, determining an initial frequency-time position of a discovery signal in an initial discovery frame according to the frequency-time position with the frequency-time hopping invariant and an idle frequency-time position in the initial discovery frame, and sending the discovery signal at the initial frequency-time position. The method comprises determining a second frequency-time position of the discovery signal in a next discovery frame following the current discovery frame, and sending the discovery signal at the second frequency-time position.
US09918212B1
A method that identifies user equipment (UE) in both idle mode and connected mode in a cellular network is performed when an indication of an emergency situation is received. A geofenced area is established around a location of the emergency situation, one or more cells are identified in the geofenced area, and an emergency system transmits a request to change a location area identifier value to one or more network providing service to the one or more cells. The emergency system receives unique identities of UEs in the geofenced area that are provided when the location area identifier value is changed.
US09918205B2
A communication system that transmits and receives a message including an amount of data and an identifier determined for the contents of each data. The communication system includes a device that receives the message and includes an processor that processes data in the message, a detector that detects a vehicle situation, and an storage that stores attributes, wherein the storage stores an identification code, a situation code determined according to the vehicle situation, and an attribute determined corresponding to a combination of the identification code and the situation code as the attribute, and the processor acquires, based on a combination of the identification code corresponding to the identifier of the received message and the situation code corresponding to the vehicle situation detected by the detector, an attribute corresponding to the combination among the attributes stored in the storage, and processes data of the received message based on the acquired attribute.
US09918200B2
A history of user listening patterns associating geographic locations with media stations is stored and used to aid in selecting a media station. If a media station associated with a current geographical location is available, that station can be automatically tuned by a wireless media receiver. If a media station associated with the current location is not available, an alternate media station that is available at the current geographical location can be selected, and the receiver tuned to the alternate station. The alternate station can be an over-the-air (OTA) station or an Internet Protocol (IP) station. A user can be allowed to select between alternate stations having comparable content, or the user can designate a default alternate station. User listening patterns can be used to determine whether a media station is associated a particular geographic location.
US09918198B2
A mobile device receives signals from base stations each with multiple distributed transceivers. Each distributed transceiver may operate at different carrier frequencies. Each distributed transceiver is equipped with an independently configurable antenna array handling transmissions of the radio frequency signals to the mobile device. The mobile device generates channel measurements for the received signals, and subsequently receives a position estimate from a remote location server. The location server determines corresponding transmit diversity configurations applied to the base stations for conducting the channel measurements for the mobile device, and channel measurements at scanned locations in a location scanning region. The location server selects and utilize a signature function to calculate the position estimate for the mobile device over the transmit diversity configurations. A multi-level positioning process may be performed by adopting various signature functions, subsets of transmit configurations and/or subspaces of the location scanning region for accurate device positioning.
US09918182B2
A mobile device and information transmission method are provided. The information transmission method is applied to the mobile device in M2M communication and includes the steps of determining whether a base station and the mobile device support transmission of capability information of the mobile device by a General Extension Message and determining whether the mobile device has transmitted the capability information to the base station when the base station and the mobile device support transmission of the capability information by the General Extension Message, wherein when the mobile device has transmitted the capability information to the base station, the capability information is not transmitted by the General Extension Message again.
US09918180B2
Systems and methods for using occupant location in a building management system are provided. A plurality of wireless emitters are provided at various locations in a building. Each of the wireless emitters broadcasts a different emitter identifier. Mobile devices in the building run an application which causes the mobile devices to detect and report, to the building management system, an emitter identifier associated with a nearby wireless emitter. The building management system uses the reported emitter identifier to determine a building zone in which the mobile device is located. The building management system provides information to the mobile device based on the location of the mobile device in the building. In some embodiments, the information includes a user interface for monitoring and/or controlling the building zone in which the mobile device is located.
US09918179B2
Method and devices for providing surround audio signals are provided. Surround audio signals are received and are binaurally filtered by at least one filter unit. In some embodiments, the input surround audio signals are also processed by at least one equalizing unit. In those embodiments, the binaurally filtered signals and the equalized signals are combined to form output signals.
US09918177B2
A sound enhancement system (SES) that can enhance reproduction of sound emitted by headphones and other sound systems is disclosed. The SES improves sound reproduction by simulating a desired sound system without including unwanted artifacts typically associated with simulations of sound systems. The SES facilitates such improvements by transforming sound system outputs through a set of one or more binaural rendering filters derived from direct and indirect head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). Parameters of the binaural rendering filters are updated based on the head tracking angle of user wearing the headphones to render a stable stereo sound image. The head tracking angle may be determined from sensor data obtained from a digital gyroscope mounted in a headphone assembly.
US09918174B2
A method for wireless data exchange between devices in live events is presented. A method for exploring data of multiple devices in order to get information on the acoustic paths in different locations of venues is also provided. A method of exploring the microphones of sound-capturing devices of live event's audience is also presented.
US09918169B2
A hearing aid includes a casing configured to fit behind an ear of a user's head and against a side of the user's head. The hearing aid further includes a first proximity sensor associated with the casing and configured to generate a first signal that is proportional to a proximity of the casing to the ear and includes a processor coupled to the first proximity sensor and configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes in response to the first signal.
US09918168B1
A microphone is disclosed. The microphone includes a housing and a circuit board cooperatively forming an accommodation space to accommodate a MEMS chip. The housing forms a first sound channel and the circuit board forms a second sound channel. Further, the microphone includes a controller for controlling the switch of the first and second sound channels.
US09918165B2
An information distribution system enhances a vehicle audio/video system. The system flexibly delivers audio and video, potentially obtained from many different sources, to different locations in the vehicle. Each passenger receives the audio or video that is of interest to them without distracting interruptions.
US09918153B2
A mobile terminal according to the present disclosure includes a housing member with a first sound hole, a film speaker and a speaker holder with a second sound hole. The film speaker includes a piezoelectric element and a resin film configured to vibrate with the piezoelectric element. The film speaker is located in the speaker holder. The second sound hole corresponds to the first sound hole and is located between the first sound hole and the film speaker. An inner edge which defines the second sound hole extends above the film speaker. A surface of the inner edge facing the film speaker is inclined such that at least a part of the inner edge decreases in thickness toward a leading end of the inner edge.
US09918148B2
Systems and methods implemented by an all-optical switch configured to switch signals optically in an optical network include receiving and processing call information from a messaging/signaling session, wherein the call information relates to one or more calls on ports in the all-optical switch; and configuring the ports in the all-optical switch in the network based on the processed call information. The call information can include detection of one of a fault and a lockout on the one or more ports and an indication of faults in the optical network. One of a control plane and an SDN controller can be connected to the all-optical switch via the messaging/signaling session.
US09918145B2
A water meter transmission system reads data from a water meter and wirelessly transmits data to a central billing or receiving system. Disclosed transmission systems are fully integrated and contained within pit housings such that electronic components are well protected. A spiral antenna is integrated into a specially configured integrated antenna cover which fits into the top cover of a pit housing. The antenna cover and/or upper lip area of the upper lip of the main housing may comprise a distal barrier and a medial barrier used to exclude water and contaminates. Disclosed transmission systems offer high output and low power consumption and vitiate the need for meter readers to physically access a water meter or other meters.
US09918137B2
The present invention relates to a content item receiver module and method. The content item receiver module is operative for a content item delivery system, configured to operate in a first and second mode: the first mode operative to drive a display apparatus to display a received content item; the second mode operative for a specified time window to display on a display apparatus a sequence of linked content items in the specified time window, and to respond to a prompt signal to initiate a display option.
US09918126B2
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to count people in an audience are disclosed. An example method includes analyzing location information collected by a portable device indicative of a location of the portable device. The method also includes analyzing proximity information collected by the portable device indicative of when a person is near the portable device. The example method further includes generating presence information based on (1) the location information and (2) the proximity information, the presence information being indicative of whether the person is present in a media exposure environment associated with a media presentation device.
US09918106B2
A method for signalling an intra chroma prediction mode and a method for implementing the signalled intra chroma prediction mode, the intra chroma prediction mode taking an intropolation of previously predicted luma samples from neighboring blocks of video data to attain an intra chroma prediction of a current chroma prediction unit.
US09918103B2
A prediction information deriving unit derives the inter-prediction information candidates from inter-prediction information of a prediction block neighboring to a coding target prediction block or a prediction block present at the same position as or near the coding target prediction block in a coded picture at a temporally different position from the coding target prediction block. A candidate supplementing unit supplements inter-prediction information candidates having the same prediction mode, reference index, and motion vector until the number of inter-prediction information candidates reaches the designated number of candidates when the number of inter-prediction information candidates is smaller than the designated number of candidates.
US09918100B2
In a picture coding device, a significant coefficient information coding controller 706 and an arithmetic encoder 701 code significant difference coefficient information indicating that a difference coefficient value is not zero and significant for each of the difference coefficients in the partial region of the coding target. A difference coefficient value coding controller 707 and the arithmetic encoder 701 code difference coefficient values when significant difference coefficient information is significant for each of pixels in the partial region of the coding target. The significant coefficient information coding controller 706 decides a context for coding the significant difference coefficient information in the partial region of the coding target based on information indicating significance of the difference coefficient in the coded partial region.
US09918090B2
A decoder for decoding a data stream into which media data is coded has a mode switch configured to activate a low-complexity mode or a high-efficiency mode depending on the data stream, an entropy decoding engine configured to retrieve each symbol of a sequence of symbols by entropy decoding using a selected one of a plurality of entropy decoding schemes, a desymbolizer configured to desymbolize the sequence of symbols to obtain a sequence of syntax elements, a reconstructor configured to reconstruct the media data based on the sequence of syntax elements, selection depending on the activated low-complexity mode or the high-efficiency mode. In another aspect, a desymbolizer is configured to perform desymbolization such that the control parameter varies in accordance with the data stream at a first rate in case of the high-efficiency mode being activated and the control parameter is constant irrespective of the data stream or changes depending on the data stream, but at a second lower rate in case of the low-complexity mode being activated.
US09918087B2
Provided is a method that de-multiplexes a bit stream to extract intra prediction mode information and residual signals, restores an intra prediction mode of a current prediction unit using the intra prediction information and intra prediction modes of prediction units adjacent to the current prediction unit, generates reference pixels using one or more available reference pixel if there exist unavailable reference pixels of the prediction unit, adaptively filters the reference pixels based on the restored intra prediction mode, generates a prediction block using the restored intra prediction mode and the reference pixels, decodes the residual signal to generating a residual block, and generates a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block.
US09918085B2
An improved loss recovery method for coding streaming media classifies each data unit in the media stream as an independent data unit (I unit), a remotely predicted unit (R unit) or a predicted data unit (P unit). Each of these units is organized into independent segments having an I unit, multiple P units and R units interspersed among the P units. The beginning of each segment is the start of a random access point, while each R unit provides a loss recovery point that can be placed independently of the I unit. This approach separates the random access point from the loss recovery points provided by the R units, and makes the stream more impervious to data losses without substantially impacting coding efficiency. The most important data units are transmitted with the most reliability to ensure that the majority of the data received by the client is usable. The I units are the least sensitive to transmission losses because they are coded using only their own data. While they provide the best coding efficiency, the P units are the most sensitive to data loss because the loss of one P unit renders useless all of the P units that depend on it. The remotely predicted units are dependent on the I unit, or in an alternative implementation, on another R unit.
US09918075B2
A projector includes a lamp that emits projection light to project 3D picture, in which a right eye image and a left eye image are represented in a time division manner, to an object, a synchronization signal transmission section which transmits shutter synchronization signal to glasses having a right eye shutter and a left eye shutter to control the opened state or the closed state of the right eye shutter and the left eye shutter, based on the signal indicating a displaying period of the right eye image and the left eye image of 3D picture, and a lamp drive section that supplies AC current having peak overlapping with a period when the right eye shutter of the glasses is in the opened state and peak overlapping with a period when the left eye shutter of the glasses is in the opened state to the lamp, based on the signal.
US09918072B2
An image photographing apparatus is provided. The image photographing apparatus includes a first photographing unit configured to photograph an image by using a phase difference image sensor, a second photographing unit configured to be spaced on a side of the first photographing unit, a controller configured to generate a first depth map by using a first image photographed by the first photographing unit and generate a second depth map by using a second image photographed by the second photographing unit, and an image processor configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image by using the first depth map and the second depth map.
US09918067B2
The present invention is drawn to a device for use with first stereoscopic data, second stereoscopic data and a display device. The device includes an input portion, a convergence data detecting portion, a convergence plane portion, a comparing portion and a modification portion. The input portion can receive the first stereoscopic data and the second stereoscopic data. The convergence data detecting portion can detect first convergence data within the first stereoscopic data and can detect second convergence data within the second stereoscopic data. The convergence plane portion can determine a first convergence plane based on the first convergence data and can determine a second convergence plane based on the second convergence data. The comparing portion can compare the first convergence plane and the second convergence plane and can generate a convergence plane comparison. The modification portion can modify the first convergence data based on the convergence plane comparison.
US09918065B2
Example embodiments may help multi-camera devices determine disparity information scene, and use the disparity information in an autofocus process. An example method involves: (a) receiving image data of a scene that comprises at least one image of the scene captured by each of two or more image-capture systems of a computing device that includes a plurality of image-capture systems; (b) using the image data captured by the two or more image-capture systems as a basis for determining disparity information for the scene; and (c) performing, by the computing system, an autofocus process based at least in part on the disparity information, wherein the autofocus process provides a focus setting for at least one of the image-capture systems of the computing device.
US09918061B2
System and method can support an image signal processing apparatus, such as a camera system. The image signal processing apparatus includes a processing device, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device, which operates to receive one or more image data from an image sensor via an image data interface. The processing device can forward the received one or more image data to an image signal processor, wherein said image signal processor operates to compress the received one or more image data and save the compressed image data in a first storage medium. Furthermore, the processing device can export the received one or more image data to a second storage medium via a data communication interface.
US09918059B2
An image display apparatus includes an OSD processing section that displays a test pattern, which includes a plurality of index lines arranged in one of horizontal and vertical directions with respect to a pixel area of a liquid crystal light valve at regular intervals, in the pixel area, an input operation section that sets at least one of the plurality of index lines as a reference index line, and adjusts the intervals of the index lines of the test pattern so as to increase or decrease as a distance from the reference index line increases with respect to the direction of the arrangement of the index lines taking the reference index line as a reference, and an image correction section that corrects linearity of the image based on the intervals of the index lines adjusted by the input operation section.
US09918036B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a digital video recording (DVR) system having a controller to record video content supplied by an interactive television (iTV) communication system as directed by a plurality of users of the iTV communication system, receive from a communication device of one of the plurality of users a request for a portion of the recorded video content, identify a need to transcode the requested portion of the recorded video content according to one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, transcode the requested portion of the recorded video content to conform with the one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, and transmit to the communication device the transcoded video content. The DVR system can be located outside of the premises of each of the plurality of users. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09918032B2
An imaging device includes: an imaging section in which a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element are arranged in a matrix shape; a clock generator that generates a plurality of phase signals having different phases; a reference signal generator that generates a reference signal which increases or decreases with a lapse of time; a comparator that is disposed to correspond to each column of an array of the plurality of pixels, performs a comparing process of comparing a pixel signal output from each pixel with the reference signal, and outputs a first comparison result signal and a second comparison result signal indicating a result of the comparing process; a latch section that is disposed to correspond to the comparator and latches logic states of the plurality of phase signals; and a latch controller.
US09918027B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: an R pixel provided with an R filter for transmitting red-color light; a B pixel provided with a B filter for transmitting blue-color light; an S1 pixel which is provided with an S1 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in a visible light region and has a sensitivity higher than that of the R pixel; and an S2 pixel which is provided with an S2 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in the visible light region and lower than the visible light transmittance of the S1 filter and has a sensitivity lower than the sensitivity of the S1 pixel.
US09918015B2
The invention is directed to exposure control in a camera. An exemplary method comprises determining depth information associated with a portion of an image frame; obtaining exposure data associated with the portion of the image frame; and controlling an amount of exposure for the portion of the image frame based on the depth information and the exposure data.
US09918006B2
An image capture device includes a camera lens configured to capture image data, a microphone configured to receive a voice command from a user, a network interface configured to establish a network connection, a memory storing a computer program, and a processor configured to execute the computer program. The computer program is configured to identify a target subject and an image capture function included in the voice command using natural language processing (NLP). The computer program is configured to search a first database for the target subject and search a second database for the target subject, extract a visual representation of the target subject, detect the target subject in an environment viewed through camera lens, apply the image capture function to the target subject detected in the environment, and capture the image data. The image data includes the target subject with the image capture function applied to the target subject.
US09918000B2
A method of synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition by a camera body including detecting a predictor signal of the camera body that occurs a known time prior to shutter opening and using that predictor signal to determine a synchronization time for synchronizing a remote lighting device. Wireless communication is used to synchronize the remote lighting device at the synchronization time. The determining of a synchronization time may occur before or after the wireless communication to the remote lighting device.
US09917999B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and device for capturing multi-media of an area of interest in plurality of areas using plurality of multi-media capturing devices. The method comprises receiving feeds from each of plurality of multi-media capturing devices and analyzing the feeds to obtain one or more multi-media parameters associated with the plurality of areas. The feeds comprise speech data and at least one of gaze data, dynamics data and gesture data of corresponding plurality of areas. Upon analyzing, interest index is determined for each of the plurality of areas based on the one or more multi-media parameters, weightage parameters and time parameter. Based on the interest index, the area of interest is identified from the plurality of areas for capturing the multi-media of the area of interest.
US09917997B2
The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a camera module including a bobbin, a housing positioned at an outside of the bobbin, an elastic member coupled to the bobbin and the housing, a foreign object exhaust passage concavely formed at an upper surface of the housing, and an opening formed at the housing to open at least a part of the foreign object exhaust passage to an inside of the housing, wherein the foreign object exhaust passage is overlapped on at least a part of the housing-coupled elastic member to a vertical direction, whereby it is easy to wash foreign objects positioned between an elastic member and a housing to reduce an auto focus tilt defects generated after assembly.
US09917980B2
When a user changes a setting of a hold job that includes a stapleless binding process setting, a print control apparatus determines whether the number of sheets to be printed when the setting change is applied is equal to or less than the upper-limit number of sheets that can be bound in the stapleless binding process. The print control apparatus inquires whether the user wants to change the staple setting to a staple binding process or cancel the setting change in a case where it is determined that the number of sheets to be printed is greater than the upper-limit number of sheets.
US09917965B2
An image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires setting information of a user from a server when a user logs into the apparatus, a determination unit that determines whether the setting information can be used in the apparatus, a setting unit that changes the setting information determined to be usable in the image forming apparatus and then sets the changed setting information in the apparatus, and a transmission unit that transmits the setting information set in the image forming apparatus to the server at a predetermined timing, wherein the transmission unit does not transmit the setting information that has been changed.
US09917955B2
Systems, devices, and methods illuminate one or more areas on a calibration medium from a first side of the calibration medium with one or more respective light-emitting regions of a light source; detect light transmitted through the calibration medium at the one or more areas, thereby obtaining calibration-measurement information for at least one of the one or more light-emitting regions; illuminate one or more color patches on a color-measurement medium from a first side of the color-measurement medium with the one or more respective light-emitting regions of the light source; detect light transmitted through the one or more color patches printed on the color-measurement medium, thereby obtaining color-measurement information for at least one of the one or more light-emitting regions; and generate one or more transmissive measurements based on the calibration-measurement information and the color-measurement information.
US09917952B2
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to an evaluation of perceptual delay impact on a conversation. A method of evaluating perceptual delay impact on a conversation is disclosed. The method includes detecting a conversational event between a first participant and a second participant, the conversational event including a plurality of speech segments; in response to the conversational event being detected, obtaining at least one conversational parameter for the first and second participants, the at least one conversational parameter indicating a relationship between the plurality of speech segments in the conversational event; and determining a quality of the conversation according to a model based on the at least one conversational parameter, the model characterizing the quality with the at least one conversational parameter. A method of obtaining a model for evaluating perceptual delay impact on a conversation is also disclosed. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.
US09917951B1
Methods and systems for routing calls based on a minimum expected delay, classification, and priority of the call are provided. In some embodiments, when a call is received, the call is classified and prioritized within the classification. A minimum expected delay time is determined. Based on the minimum expected delay time, the classification, and the prioritization, the call is routed to a representative with instructions on how the call should be treated.
US09917942B2
A system and method for uniquely identifying a portable electronic device using a user device are provided. In a method conducted at the portable electronic device, user input prompting display of an optical device identifier is received. A device identifier uniquely associated with the electronic device is retrieved from a read-only digital memory of the electronic device, the device identifier having been programmed into the electronic device at the time of manufacture. An optical device identifier being an optical machine-readable representation of the unique device identifier is generated and output on a display screen of the electronic device for subsequent acquisition by a user device. Outputting the optical device identifier on the display screen of the device for acquisition by a user device may obviate the need for the device identifier to be otherwise displayed on the electronic device, for example, by way of a printed or embossed label.
US09917939B1
A method for automatically delaying playback of a voice message at a captioning device may include receiving, at a captioning device, a request from a user to play back a voice message that is stored on the captioning device. The method may also include, in response to the request from the user, automatically delaying the playback of the voice message, at the captioning device, until an establishment of a connection between the captioning device and a remote call assistant, in order to allow the remote call assistant to caption on the captioning device, in real-time, the voice message from the very beginning of the playback of the voice message.
US09917936B2
An electronic device includes a backplane including a set of slots configured to receive user-removable modules; a printed circuit board, coupled to the backplane; and a set of interface blocks, electrically connected to the printed circuit board, that enable power and data transfer between modules coupled to the set of interface blocks.
US09917928B2
Systems and methods for connecting a network using one network protocol with a network using another network protocol are provided. According to an embodiment, a method is provided for performing network address translation. A data packet is received, by a protocol bridge connecting a first network, using a first protocol, and a second network, using a second protocol, via a first session of the first protocol from a first network appliance of the first network. The first protocol may be either Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) or Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and the second protocol is the other. The data packet is translated into the second protocol. The translation is performed in a kernel space of the protocol bridge. Finally, the data packet is transmitted via a second session of the second protocol to a second network appliance of the second network.
US09917926B2
A client device comprises a connection destination register that transmits a client identifier to an address management device via a first node; a UDP controller that controls a UDP connection upon reception of a TCP connect from an application executer, and a TCP-session controller that establishes, between itself and the application executer, a first TCP connection identified by a connection identifier. A server device comprises a connection destination register that transmits a server identifier to the address management device via a second node; a UDP controller that controls a UDI connection; and a TCP session controller that establishes, between itself and a service provider, a second TCP connection identified by a connection identifier. A UDP connection via the first node and second node can be established between a communication serve processor and a communication client processor.
US09917925B2
A method for determining a maximum segment size is disclosed. The method is used in an access point. The method includes: detecting a first MSS value between the access point and at least one device; setting a TCP MSS value of at least one TCP session established by the access point as a second MSS value; comparing the first MSS value with the second MSS value, and choosing a minimum value among the first MSS value and the second MSS value as a maximum value; and recording all the MSS values between the access point and the subsequent devices and the maximum value into a device MSS table.
US09917921B2
System, apparatus and method for creating service accounts and configuring devices for use therewith
Systems and methods for facilitating creation of service provider accounts and configuration of devices associated therewith. Device parameters (306) are transmitted (700) from a device (302). In response, a service activation server (206) provides (308) a list of available service providers for that device (302), where the list is derived (702) using the device parameters to identify the appropriate available service providers. The device (302) enables the user (300) to select (704) a listed service provider(s), and communication is redirected (706) between the device (302) and the selected service provider (208) to enable the creation of the service account. The device (302) can then be configured for use with the established service account. Where a service account already exists for the user (300), the user (300) can provide a service-related identifier (506) from which the service activation server (206) can identify an appropriate service account to be configured for use on the device (302).
US09917905B2
Systems and methods are provided for location-based Domain Name System (DNS) service discovery using a central DNS server in which network resources are aggregated by geographic location (e.g., subnets) and defined using DNS service discovery records that are mapped to corresponding geographic locations.
US09917902B2
A wireless infrastructure node includes at least one processing device configured to receive a data packet from a wireless field device network (WFN) controller, where the data packet includes a network identifier. The at least one processing device is also configured to determine a field device network to receive the data packet based on the network identifier. The at least one processing device is further configured to transmit the data packet to a field device in the field device network. The wireless infrastructure node, the WFN controller, and the field device network comprise one logical WFN among a plurality of logical WFNs. The wireless infrastructure node is one of a plurality of pooled infrastructure nodes configured to communicate between a plurality of WFN controllers and a plurality of field device networks arranged in the plurality of logical WFNs.
US09917887B2
A method, computer readable medium, and application delivery controller apparatus for content inlining includes obtaining content from one or more servers as requested by one or more clients, obtaining external content from the one or more servers as referenced by one or more external references included in the requested content, modifying the requested content to include at least one of the external content, and servicing the client request by communicating the modified requested content.
US09917875B2
Methods and systems for managing the playback of media content via a website accessed by a user computer are described. According to aspects, the methods and systems may access and retrieve various data associated with media content such as engagement data related to an interaction by a user with the media content playback, as well as social media data relating to playback of a set of media content by a set of additional users. The methods and systems may analyze any combination of the data to identify a relevant media file that may be of interest to the user and provide the media file to the user computer for playback by the user. The analysis models may be continuously updated and used to improve media selection and streamline partnerships with third-party entities.
US09917874B2
A block-request streaming system provides for improvements in the user experience and bandwidth efficiency of such systems, typically using an ingestion system that generates data in a form to be served by a conventional file server (HTTP, FTP, or the like), wherein the ingestion system intakes content and prepares it as files or data elements to be served by the file server. A client device can be adapted to take advantage of the ingestion process. The client device might be configured to optimize use of resources, given the information available to it from the ingestion system. This may include configurations to determine the sequence, timing and construction of block requests based on monitoring buffer size and rate of change of buffer size, use of variable sized requests, mapping of block requests to underlying transport connections, flexible pipelining of requests, and/or use of whole file requests based on statistical considerations.
US09917873B2
A cloud computing device facilitates distribution of digital content by receiving multimedia content and a corresponding effect uploaded from a source device and storing the multimedia content with the corresponding effect, receiving an access request from a requesting device for the multimedia content, and determining whether the requesting device is a registered device. In response to the requesting device not being a registered device, the requesting device is registered and a registered device capabilities list is updated. A determination is made based on the registered device capabilities list on whether the requesting device is compatible with the multimedia content and effect. Based on a compatibility determination, data is transmitted to the requesting device to facilitate playback of the multimedia content and effect.
US09917872B2
In an adaptive steaming system, a media server for performing adaptive streaming on media contents sends to a client device a media presentation description (MPD) file including information specifying streaming adaptation parameters. The media server receives a request from the client device. The request includes a data object location indicator and a query string containing at least one of the values of the streaming adaptation parameters. After receiving the request, the media server selects a data object to be returned to the client device based on at least one of the data object location indicator and the query string and sends a response with the data object to the client device.
US09917864B2
The present system and method pertain to the detection of malicious software and processes such as malware. A cloud security policy system receives hashes and behavioral information about applications and/or processes executing on user devices. The cloud security policy system records this information and then evaluates the trustworthiness of the hashes based on the information received from the user devices to provide a security policy for the applications and/or processes. The security policy is sent from the cloud security policy system to user devices to be applied by the user devices.
US09917861B2
A method of establishing centralized trust includes, at a policy server having connectivity to a network, establishing a trust relationship with a first enterprise network domain and a second enterprise network domain. One or more criterion from a server in the first enterprise network domain are received by the policy server and a federation relationship is established between at least a portion of the first enterprise network domain and one or more entities in the second enterprise network domain based on the one or more criterion. Based on the federation relationship, the policy server enables the one or more entities in the second enterprise network domain to access the at least a portion of the first enterprise network domain.
US09917858B2
Systems and methods of managing the security of a networked environment based on activity associated with deployed pseudo-accounts are presented. In one embodiment, a plurality of pseudo-accounts are deployed in one or more networks, domains, or virtual machines and activity associated with the pseudo-accounts is collected to identify security risks to facilitate remediation and mitigation.
US09917852B1
Techniques for Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA) behavior detection are provided. In some embodiments, a system, process, and/or computer program product for DGA behavior detection includes receiving passive Domain Name System (DNS) data that comprises a plurality of DNS responses at a security device; and applying a signature to the passive DNS data to detect DGA behavior, in which applying the signature to the passive DNS data to detect DGA behavior further comprises: parsing each of the plurality of DNS responses to determine whether one or more of the plurality of DNS responses correspond to a non-existent domain (NXDOMAIN) response.
US09917851B2
A variety of techniques are disclosed for detection of advanced persistent threats and similar malware. In one aspect, the detection of certain network traffic at a gateway is used to trigger a query of an originating endpoint, which can use internal logs to identify a local process that is sourcing the network traffic. In another aspect, an endpoint is configured to periodically generate and transmit a secure heartbeat, so that an interruption of the heartbeat can be used to signal the possible presence of malware. In another aspect, other information such as local and global reputation information is used to provide context for more accurate malware detection.
US09917850B2
Computer systems and methods for improving security or performance of one or more client computers interacting with a plurality of server computers. In an embodiment, a computer system comprises a first server computer and a second server computer; wherein the first server computer is configured to: generate a challenge nonce, wherein the challenge nonce corresponds to a challenge state; generate the challenge state based on the challenge nonce, wherein the challenge state corresponds to a response state; send, to a first client computer, the challenge nonce and the challenge state, but not the response state; wherein the second server computer is configured to: receive, from the first client computer, a test nonce and a test response state; determine whether the test response state matches the response state based on the test nonce, without: receiving the challenge state from the first server computer; receiving the challenge state from the first client computer.
US09917849B2
Systems and methods for performing intra-zone and inter-zone security management in a network are provided. According to one embodiment, an association is formed by a network security device between a first zone including a first set of devices and a first set of security policies defining a first type of security scanning to be performed on packets originated within the first zone and between a second zone including a second set of devices and a second set of security policies defining a second type of security scanning to be performed on packets originated within the second zone. A first zone packet is received by the network security device. It is determined whether the destination is within the first zone. If so, then the first type of security scanning is performed. A second zone packet is received by the network security device. It is determined whether the destination is within the second zone. If so, then the second type of security scanning is performed.
US09917841B1
A user equipment includes a radio transceiver, a processor coupled to the processor, and a storage device containing executable instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to examine files in the storage device for a signature indicative of a branding element and, upon detection of the signature in a file, perform a branding action on the file with the detected signature. The instructions also cause the processor to determine whether an application loaded on the storage device is operating consistent with permissions set for the application and with a usage profile for the application and to generate an alert when the operation of the application is inconsistent with the usage profile despite being consistent with the permissions.
US09917839B2
A non-transitory computer readable medium includes instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, causes performance of operations. The operations include receiving, by a network device from a first user device, a first message addressed to a second user device and identifying a first user role associated with the first user device and a second user role associated with the second user device. The operations further include determining whether a set of predefined user role relationships authorizes a communication between user devices having the first user role and user devices having the second user role. In response to determining that the set of predefined user role relationships do not authorize the communication between user devices having the first user role and user devices having the second user role, the operations refrain forwarding the first message from the first user device to the second user device.
US09917836B2
Methods, systems, and media for providing access control for a computing device are provided. In some implementations, methods for providing access control for a computing device are provided, the methods comprising: receiving a first request to authenticate the computing device from a first sender device; authenticating the computing device based at least in part on the first request; transmitting a session identifier and a session key to the first sender device; receiving an application identifier associated with the sender device from the computing device; determining, using a hardware processor, whether a sender application executing on the sender device is valid based at least in part on the application identifier; and transmitting the session key to the computing device in response to determining that the sender application is valid.
US09917833B2
A speaker recognition system for authenticating a mobile device user includes an enrollment and learning software module, a voice biometric authentication software module, and a secure software application. Upon request by a user of the mobile device, the enrollment and learning software module displays text prompts to the user, receives speech utterances from the user, and produces a voice biometric print. The enrollment and training software module determines when a voice biometric print has met at least a quality threshold before storing it on the mobile device. The secure software application prompts a user requiring authentication to repeat an utterance based at least on an attribute of a selected voice biometric print, receives a corresponding utterance, requests the voice biometric authentication software module to verify the identity of the second user using the utterance, and, if the user is authenticated, imports the voice biometric print.
US09917824B2
An apparatus and method are for providing security to a mass storage device using an Internet of Things (IoT) system. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: a mass storage device to store data; an Internet of Things (IoT) device associated with the mass storage device; an IoT service comprising a database to store an association between the mass storage device and the IoT device; wherein to authenticate and unlock the mass storage device for use with a data processing device, the IoT device is to establish an encrypted communication channel with the IoT service and transmit a unique identification (ID) code to the IoT service uniquely identifying the IoT device to the IoT service; the IoT service to authenticate the IoT device using the unique ID code and to responsively transmit an unlock command over the encrypted communication channel to unlock the mass storage device; and the IoT device to responsively unlock the mass storage device upon receipt of the unlock code.
US09917823B2
In an approach for providing auditable retrieval of privileged credentials in a privilege identity management (PIM) system, a processor invokes a checkout of a PIM credential, based on, at least, a determination that a PIM server cannot be accessed. A processor receives a request to access the PIM credential by a user. A processor receives validation of the request to access the PIM credential and an identity of the user. A processor retrieves the PIM credential from a database, wherein the database stores a plurality of PIM credentials owned by a system owner.
US09917822B2
A processing system for distributed multi-tier applications is provided. The system includes a server component that executes a replica of a client-side application, where a client component executes the client-side application. The client component captures events from the client-side application and transmits the events to the replica to validate the computational integrity security of the application.
US09917820B1
Techniques of information sharing involve processing queries from exchanges with multiple, non-colluding servers. Along these lines, each server stores a share of the query data such that readable query data may be reproduced only through combining the shares stored on a minimum number of the servers. In addition, a client wishing to submit a query encrypts any query input as well as a query function that provides an answer to the query. The client then sends a portion of the garbled query function to each of the servers. Each of the servers then evaluates their respective portion of the garbled query function using Yao's protocol in a serial manner so that one of the servers produces a garbled output. The client then determines the answer to the query by decoding the garbled output.
US09917817B1
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for selective encryption of outgoing data are provided herein. A method includes monitoring a set of outgoing data from a first user, identifying one or more items of sensitive information from the set of outgoing data, encrypting the one or more items of sensitive information to produce one or more items of encrypted sensitive information, and replacing the one or more items of sensitive information with the one or more items of encrypted sensitive information in the set of outgoing data.
US09917801B2
The object of the invention is a method to receive e-mail from any transmitting user in a specific e-mail address, generating proof of all the operation transactions to deliver a certificate to the transmitting user as a trusted third party of the sending and delivery of an e-mail, indicating the content and the attachments, by the steps of reception in a mail server, sending of a copy to the recipient, its itemization in a database and its registration in the client register and database, where finally a data processing unit creates an electronic receipt with the transactional data, the data sent, the attachments and it digitally signs it creating the certificate that it sends to the initial user.
US09917797B2
In general, embodiments of the invention relate to a switch that includes a processor, ports, and memory that includes instructions, which when executed by the processor perform a method. The method includes obtaining, via a port, a global task-server mapping from a first server, detecting that one of the ports is congested. The method further includes, based on the detecting, identifying a task associated with the one of the ports using the global-task server mapping, generating a task listing based on the identifying, generating an alert including the task listing, and transmitting the alert to an administrator.
US09917788B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for speculatively generating network page components to reduce network page generation latency. A request for a network page is received. Speculative generation is initiated for multiple network page components that are capable of being included in the network page. A subset of the speculatively generated network page components that will actually be included in the network page is determined. The network page is then generated, where the subset of the speculatively generated network page components are included in the network page and others of the speculatively generated network page components are excluded from the network page.
US09917783B2
A method for profiling network traffic of a network. The method includes capturing packets based at least on a common source IP address shared by each of the packets, where said each packet is assigned a source timestamp by a source of said each packet and further assigned a capture timestamp by a packet capturing device, identifying a first portion of the packets as a first flow and a second portion of the packets as a second flow, extracting a first monotonic timestamp-pair (MTSP) sequence and a second MTSP sequence from the first flow and the second flow, respectively, comparing the first MTSP sequence and the second MTSP sequence to generate a result, and determining, based on the result, whether the first flow and the second flow are generated by a single host of the network.
US09917782B2
Methods and apparatus for equitable distribution of excess shared-resource throughput capacity are disclosed. A first and a second work target are configured to access a shared resource to implement accepted work requests. Admission control is managed at the work targets using respective token buckets. A first metric indicative of the work request arrival rates at the work targets during a time interval, and a second metric associated with the provisioned capacities of the work targets are determined. A number of tokens determined based on a throughput limit of the shared resource is distributed among the work targets to be used for admission control during a subsequent time interval. The number of tokens distributed to each work target is based on the first metric and/or the second metric.
US09917780B2
Traffic control can be provided across a Layer 2-Layer 3 boundary in a software defined network. A network controller can receive information related to a number of conditions in a software defined network (SDN) from a number of network devices. The network controller can provide network traffic control across a Layer 2-Layer 3 boundary in the SDN based on the received information.
US09917778B2
There is provided an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and a memory comprising code that, when executed on the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to: transmit, or arrange to transmit, a stream of packets to another apparatus; determine, at a first time, whether or not the number of packet pairs in the stream is above a threshold; and, if the number of packet pairs in the stream is determined to be below the threshold, configure future packet transmissions to the other apparatus to have more packet pairs.
US09917775B2
There is disclosed a network device having a network interface; and one or more logic elements comprising a flow table engine operable to: receive a network packet via the network interface; perform a logging action to make the network packet traceable; and notify a software-defined networking (SDN) controller of the logging action via the network interface. There is also disclosed an SDN controller having a network interface; first one or more logic elements comprising a software-defined networking (SDN) controller engine to provide SDN controller services; and second one or more logic elements comprising a route tracing engine, operable to: receive a logging action for a network packet from a network device via the network interface; and update a logging table from the logging action. There is further disclosed a method of providing the foregoing, and computer-readable mediums for providing the foregoing.
US09917768B2
Systems, methods, architectures and/or apparatus for reflecting information between provider equipment (PE) nodes associated with a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) via a network element adapted to operate as a Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC) Reflector (FR) node.
US09917762B2
A microburst monitoring system includes a port and a memory system with an egress queue and a shadow queue that are associated with the port. A networking engine is coupled to the port and the memory system and configured to receive and process packets to provide egress frames for forwarding through the port. The networking engine then stores the egress frames in the egress queue, and stores information about each of the egress frames in the shadow queue. When the networking device determines that the storage of the egress frames has caused the egress queue to reach a threshold, the networking device causes the information about each of the egress frames in the egress queue to be captured, and that captured information may be analyzed to determine a source device that is generating at least some of the packets to be throttled.
US09917751B2
The technology disclosed relates to understanding traffic patterns in a network with a multitude of processes running on numerous hosts. In particular, it relates to using at least one of rule based classifiers and machine learning based classifiers for clustering processes running on numerous hosts into local services and clustering the local services running on multiple hosts into service clusters, using the service clusters to aggregate communications among the processes running on the hosts and generating a graphic of communication patterns among the service clusters with available drill-down into details of communication links. It also relates to using predetermined command parameters to create service rules and machine learning based classifiers that identify host-specific services. In one implementation, user feedback is used to create new service rules or classifiers and/or modify existing service rules or classifiers so as to improve accuracy of the identification of the host-specific services.
US09917743B2
Techniques are provided for implementing clustering services in a virtual data center or other virtualized infrastructure in a manner that allows packets to be directed to a particular service engine of a service engine cluster.
US09917736B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer storage media for automated standalone bootstrapping of hardware inventory that includes a provisioning workflow of discovering, validating, and configuring hardware inventory. In an exemplary embodiment, an in-rack computing device, such as a chassis manager or selected blade, initializes an intra-rack communication network with a hardware inventory of the rack. The in-rack computing device initiates intra-rack communication with the hardware inventory in the rack, using the intra-rack communication network, to discover at least a set of computing units in a hardware inventory. Intra-rack communications that include traffic received from the set of computing units. The in-rack computing device validates operational configurations of the hardware inventory based on comparing expected operational configuration parameters with actual operational configuration parameters, at least a portion of the operational configuration parameters retrieved from the information carried within the traffic received from the set of computing units.
US09917733B2
A communication device that communicates with a plurality of different target devices compliant with different specifications of data communication. The communication device receives request data to control operations of the plurality of different target devices; identifies a specific target device for which operation is to be controlled among the plurality of different target devices; identifies command content to be performed by the specific target device according to the received request data; identifies a specification of data communication employed by the specific target device; identifies an operation command corresponding to the identified command content based on the identified specification of data communication employed by the specific target device; and sends the operation command to the specific target device.
US09917731B1
A communication system that includes a base unit and one or more end units that communicate over a primary communication link using a first communication protocol and a secondary communication link using a second protocol. The secondary communication link may be a shorter range communication link than the primary communication link. The secondary communication link may be used to transmit and receive registration information, configuration settings, and status information between the end units and the base unit.
US09917728B2
A first fabric abstraction layer couples to a data link layer and a physical layer of a network fabric device. The network fabric device is connected to other network elements within a network via at least one network connection, such as a fiber optic connection. A second fabric abstraction layer couples to the data link layer and an application of the network device. The second fabric abstraction layer provides an application programming interface (API) to the application. The API allows the application to generate configuration instructions for configuring the at least one network connection. Upon receiving the configuration instructions generated by the application, the second abstraction layer sends the configuration instructions to the first abstraction layer via the data link layer. The first abstraction layer then configures the at least one network connection to transmit data according to the configuration instructions.
US09917722B2
Modulation method and apparatus for signal transmission and reception in mobile communication system
A method and a transmission device of a mobile communication system are disclosed. The method includes determining a modulation method for data transmission, determining the level of a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) according to the determined modulation method, determining the amplitude of a carrier wave and the phase of the carrier wave on the basis of the determined QAM level and the data to be transmitted, and, when the determined modulation method is a first modulation method, determining a sequence length, selecting a sequence form among sequences having the determined length according to the data to be transmitted, and generating a symbol modulating the data to be transmitted, on the basis of the selected sequence, the determined amplitude of the carrier wave, and the determined phase of the carrier wave.
US09917716B2
A transmission apparatus that transmits a block signal including a plurality of data symbols, includes: a data-symbol generation unit that generates a data symbol; a symbol arrangement unit that arranges the data symbol and a same-quadrant symbol such that one same-quadrant symbol that becomes a signal point in a same quadrant in a complex plane is inserted per block at a predetermined position in each block signal to generate a block symbol; a CP insertion unit that inserts a Cyclic Prefix into the block symbol; and an interpolation unit that performs interpolation processing on the block symbol on which CP insertion has been performed.
US09917715B2
A method of transmitting and receiving a signal and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal are provided. The method includes receiving the signal of a first frequency band, obtaining Layer-1 (L1) information from a preamble of a first time-frequency slicing (TFS) signal frame of the received signal, the layer-1 information including a radio frequency (RF) channel identifier of the first TFS signal frame including a physical layer pipe (PLP) in a super frame of TFS structure and including an identifier of a starting radio RF channel that can receive the PLP in the first TFS signal frame, parsing the first TFS signal frame using the L1 information and obtaining a PLP of the first TFS signal frame, and converting the PLP to a service stream.
US09917714B2
Apparatus (100) is described comprising: an antenna array (1021 . . . 102N); a plurality of units (1041 . . . 104N), each unit configured to mix a radio frequency signal from one or more of the antennas (102) with oscillating signals having phases defined by a global signal and to provide in-phase and quadrature-phase signals; a constellation rotation system configured to, for each unit, rotate a constellation point associated with the in-phase and quadrature-phase signals by a rotation angle to provide adjusted in-phase and quadrature-phase signals; signal buses (106, 107) for global in-phase and quadrature-phase signals configured to receive the adjusted in-phase and quadrature-phase signals, respectively, from a plurality of the units; a feedback system configured to, for each unit, compare one or more of the adjusted in-phase and quadrature-phase signals with one or more of the global in-phase and quadrature-phase signals to determine an error in the rotation angle.
US09917711B2
Transmission line driver systems are described which are comprised of multiple paralleled driver elements. The paralleled structure allows efficient generation of multiple output signal levels with adjustable output amplitude, optionally including Finite Impulse Response signal shaping and skew pre-compensation.
US09917706B1
An example device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes a non-linear compensator, an interpolator, a demultiplexer, and a demodulator. The non-linear compensator is to correct a non-linearity of the input bitstream data to obtain linearized bitstream data. The interpolator is to convert a non-constant sample rate of the linearized bitstream data to obtain constant sample rate bitstream data. The demultiplexer is to demultiplex the constant sample rate bitstream data into a first waveform and a second waveform. The demodulator is to demodulate the first waveform and the second waveform.
US09917705B2
A device is provided for ascertaining the internal delay time of a CAN bus connection unit in a bus system including user stations exchanging messages via a bus, the transmission access to the bus for each message being assigned using an arbitration method according to CAN standard ISO 11898-1 to one user station which becomes the transmitter for this message. The device includes a unit for ascertaining the internal delay time using one of (i) a delay counter for ascertaining the delay time between a transmission signal and a reception signal, the delay counter being stopped if the reception signal has a dominant level and the counter content of the delay counter is greater than/equal to a predefined configuration value, or (ii) the maximum and minimum delay times of the bus connection unit.
US09917680B2
Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for rebalancing the sizes of downlink (DL) association sets for component carriers having different time division duplex subframes configurations. A method is provided that includes determining DL subframes that are included in a DL association set for each of a plurality of component carriers. In an instance in which the number of acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) bits corresponding to the DL subframes included in the DL association sets for respective component carriers differ by at least a predetermined amount, the method modifies the number of ACK/NACK bits corresponding to the DL subframes that are included in the DL association sets for each of the respective component carriers. The method may also cause transmission of the ACK/NACK bits in accordance with the DL association sets, as modified, via the respective component carriers. Corresponding apparatus and computer program products are also provided.
US09917672B2
The present disclosure relates to system applications of multicore optical fibers. One embodiment relates to a base transceiver station for a wireless telecommunication system comprising a plurality of antenna units arranged in a MIMO configuration and adapted for transmission and/or reception of radio-frequency signals, an optical transmitter in the form of an electro-optic conversion unit for each of said plurality of antenna units, each electro-optic conversion unit adapted for converting an RF signal into an optical signal, a plurality of a single core optical fibers for guiding the optical signals, and at least one first space division multiplexing (SDM) unit adapted for multiplexing said single core optical fibers into respective individual cores of a multicore fiber, or into respective individual modes of a multimode fiber.
US09917671B2
A method of configuring transmission wavelengths in a passive optical network comprising a wavelength selective routing element between first and second locations. The method comprises: at a first location: a. iteratively generating and transmitting a first optical signal at different ones of a plurality of wavelengths until a second optical signal is received at the first location; and then b. ceasing transmission of the first optical signal and then recommencing transmission of the first optical signal at the wavelength being transmitted when the second optical signal was received; and at a second location, remote from the first location: c. waiting until the first optical signal is received at the second location; d. iteratively generating and transmitting the second optical signal at different ones of a plurality of wavelengths until the first optical signal is no longer received at the second location; and e. maintaining generation and transmission of the second optical signal at the wavelength being transmitted when the first optical signal was no longer received.
US09917670B1
A communication device receives a trigger frame from an access point, the trigger frame configured to prompt the communication device to simultaneously transmit with one or more other communication devices as part of a multi-user uplink transmission. The communication device determines carrier frequency offset (CFO) information based on the trigger frame, and transmits the CFO information to the access point in response to the trigger frame so that the access point can use the CFO to process the multi-user uplink transmission.
US09917668B2
A method, in a network element, for detecting and propagating resizability information of an Optical channel Data Unit flex (ODUflex) connection includes receiving resizability information in overhead associated with the ODUflex connection, wherein the resizability information indicates a number of available tributary slots and whether the ODUflex connection is symmetric; and adjusting the resizability information based on a change in the available tributary slots due to a bandwidth change at the network element. The systems and methods include a solution to communicate, in real time, the resizability information of an ODUflex connection utilizing the associated data path to carry it instead of the management/control plane.
US09917660B2
A wireless communication device includes a baseband variable gain amplifier that amplifies a transmission baseband signal, a local variable gain amplifier that amplifies a local signal, a frequency-conversion circuit that mixes the amplified transmission baseband signal and the amplified local signal to carry out a frequency conversion into a transmission high-frequency signal, a first detector that detects a power of the transmission high-frequency signal, and a controller that controls at least one of a gain of the transmission baseband variable gain amplifier and a gain of the local variable gain amplifier on the basis of the detected power of the transmission high-frequency signal so that a power of the transmission high-frequency signal to be detected takes a predetermined value.
US09917657B1
A method and system. The method includes receiving at least one signal and measuring at least one physical layer feature of the at least one signal. The method further includes determining that the at least one signal originated from an emitter of an aircraft based on the at least one measured physical layer feature of the at least one signal.
US09917648B2
Particular embodiments provide a method for delivering data in the upstream direction without the need for upstream radio frequency (RF) modulation. For example, in some embodiments, an optical network may reach to a gateway associated with a user device. The gateway may receive digital baseband data from the user device in the upstream direction. The gateway can then send the digital baseband data through the optical network without modulating the digital baseband signal via radio frequency. At the headend, because no modulation is performed in the upstream direction, there is no need for de-modulation in the headend. In one embodiment, a scheduler-based approach is used to avoid instances of optical beat interference in the upstream direction as only one upstream device that may interfere with other devices may be able to send data at one time.
US09917646B2
Described herein are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in producing an optical feeder downlink beam in dependence on RF service uplink beams received from service terminals within a specified RF frequency range. Beneficially certain embodiments eliminate the need for any type of frequency conversion equipment in the spaced based subsystem that is used to produce the optical feeder downlink beam. Also described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Also described herein is are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in transmitting a plurality of RF service downlink beams to service terminals.
US09917639B2
An optical signal quality monitoring apparatus includes: a holding unit configured to hold a relational expression representing a relationship among an optical signal intensity, a noise intensity, and an optical signal-to-noise ratio and a plurality of calibration coefficients used in the relational expression; a measurement unit configured to measure an optical power of input light and a noise power in the input light; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate a plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios, based on the optical power and the noise power measured by the measurement unit, by using the relational expression and the plurality of calibration coefficients; and a determination unit configured to select one optical signal-to-noise ratio from the plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios, based on a magnitude relationship of the plurality of optical signal-to-noise ratios calculated by the arithmetic unit.
US09917633B2
A balloon may include an optical-communication component, which may have a pointing axis. A pointing mechanism could be configured to adjust the pointing axis. The optical-communication component could be operable to communicate with a correspondent balloon via a free-space optical link. For example, the optical-communication component could include an optical receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. A controller could be configured to determine a predicted relative location of the correspondent balloon. The controller may control the pointing mechanism to adjust the pointing axis of the optical-communication component based on the predicted relative location so as to maintain the free-space optical link with the correspondent balloon.
US09917624B2
According to one or more aspects, a serving base station may transmit a message to a target base station based on a handover decision for a wireless device. The message may include first measurement configuration parameters for the wireless device and/or an indication of a number of channel state information (CSI) processes supported by the wireless device. The serving base station may receive a response from the target base station indicating second measurement configuration parameters for use by the wireless device after handover. The serving base station may transmit a handover command to the wireless device including the second measurement configuration parameters.
US09917621B2
Embodiments are provided for uplink measurement based mechanism and control using user equipment (UE) centric sounding signals. The mechanism provides an alternative to DL-measurement dominated system control. Based on UL-measurements at TPs, the network obtains knowledge of users' channel and timing information, traffic, and interference, and is thus able to perform better control, including TP and UE clustering and optimization, and power control and link adaptation. In an embodiment method, a TP receives one-to-one mapping information indicating a plurality of UE IDs and a plurality of sounding channels assigned to the corresponding UE IDs. When the TP detects a sounding reference signal (SRS) from a UE, the TP is able to identify the UE using the detected SRS and the one-to-one mapping information. The TP then obtains measurement information for the identified UE, enabling better control and communications for uplink and downlink transmissions between multiple TPs and the UE.
US09917615B2
A radio-frequency module includes a first transmitter-and-receiver that transmits and receives a signal in a first band, and a second transmitter-and-receiver that transmits and receives a signal in a second band higher than the first band. The first transmitter-and-receiver includes a first amplifier circuit and a first separator circuit and the second transmitter-and-receiver includes a second amplifier circuit and a second separator circuit. The first separator is located on a substrate between the first amplifier circuit and the second separator circuit, such that the first separator circuit is spatially interposed between the first amplifier circuit and the second separator circuit.
US09917614B1
Provided is an apparatus. The apparatus includes an input terminal configured to receive an input signal including at least one carrier, a first amplifier stage electrically connected to the input terminal, enabled in a first mode to output a first output signal by amplifying the input signal, and disabled in a second mode, and a second amplifier stage electrically connected to the input terminal, enabled in the second mode to output second and third output signals by amplifying the input signal, and disabled in the first mode.
US09917608B2
A radio equipment and a method for interconnecting components in the radio equipment are disclosed. The radio equipment includes a signal processing module and a radio component positioned relative to each other for a high-speed connection using at least a first mechanical connector and a high-speed connector. The first mechanical connector includes a first part disposed on the radio component and a second part disposed on the signal processing module. The high-speed connector includes a first part disposed on the radio component and a second part disposed on the signal processing module. At least one high-speed processing capability is provided to the radio equipment using the signal processing module through the high-speed connector. The signal processing module and the radio equipment are interchangeably connected.
US09917604B1
A wireless communication device may reduce a receive sensitivity in the face of a high number of interfering communications to improve uplink throughput. In a listen-before-talk scenario, a device detecting a large number of undesired received communications may not transmit uplink data in the face of crowded traffic conditions. To avoid this scenario, if a desired communication link has a sufficiently high RSSI, a device may reduce its receive sensitivity to reduce the number of detected undesired communications while maintaining sufficient quality of the desired communication link. This approach will increase uplink throughput and improve communication performance.
US09917600B2
A forward error correction and differentially encoded signal obtained via a communication channel is supplied to a soft-input soft-output (SISO) differential decoder that is bi-directionally coupled to a SISO forward error correction decoder. Over a first portion of a plurality of decoding iterations of the differentially encoded signal, the SISO differential decoder and the SISO forward error correction decoder are operated in a turbo decoding mode in which decoded messages generated by the SISO differential decoder are supplied to the SISO forward error correction decoder and forward error correction messages are supplied to the differential decoder. Over a second portion of the plurality of decoding iterations of the differentially encoded signal, the SISO forward error correction decoder is operated in a non-turbo decoding mode without any messages passing to and from the SISO differential decoder. Decoder output is obtained from the SISO forward error correction decoder.
US09917592B2
An atomic oscillator includes an alkali metal cell encapsulating an alkali metal atom; a light source that emits laser light; a light detector that detects light which has passed through the alkali metal cell; and a polarizer arranged between the alkali metal cell and the light detector. A modulation frequency in the light source is controlled, according to a coherent population trapping resonance which is a light absorption characteristic of a quantum interference effect for two kinds of resonant lights, by modulating the light source to generate sidebands and injecting laser lights with the sidebands into the alkali metal cell. A magnetic field is applied on the alkali metal cell in a direction parallel to a propagating direction of the laser light, and the laser light entering the alkali metal cell has a linear polarization, which is not parallel to a polarization direction of the polarizer.
US09917590B2
A programmable delay line comprises a delay stage responsive to an analog control signal and responsive to one or more digital control signals. The delay stage generates an output signal that is delayed relative to an input signal by a delay amount. The delay amount controlled by a value of the analog control signal and one or more values of the digital control signals. A method for controlling a delay locked loop circuit comprises providing, to a programmable delay line of the delay locked loop circuit, a one or more digital signals, and providing, to the programmable delay line, an analog signal. A first portion of a delay produced by the programmable delay line corresponds to values of the one or more digital signals. A second portion of the delay produced by the programmable delay line corresponds to a value of the analog signal.
US09917588B2
Aspects of the disclosure are directed to communications between respective power domains (circuitry) that may operate in a stacked arrangement in which the each domain operates over a different voltage range. A first circuit provides differential outputs that vary between first and second voltage levels, based on transitions of an input signal received from a first one of the power domains. First and second driver circuits are respectively coupled to the first and second differential outputs. A third driver circuit operates with the first and second circuits to level-shift the input signal from the first power domain to an output signal on a second power domain by driving an output circuit at the second voltage level in response to the input signal being at the first voltage level, and driving the output circuit at a third voltage level in response to the input signal being at the second voltage level.
US09917574B2
A switching circuit is disclosed. The switching circuit includes a normally-on switching element, a normally-off switching element, a switching unit and a power source. The drain of the normally-off switching element is electrically connected to the source of the normally-on switching element. The source of the normally-off switching element is electrically connected to the gate of the normally-on switching element. The power source and the switching unit are configured to form a serial-connected branch. A first terminal of the serial-connected branch is electrically connected to the drain of the normally-off switching element. A second terminal of the serial-connected branch is electrically connected to the source of the normally-off switching element.
US09917570B2
The present invention relates to nonlinear signal processing, and, in particular, to adaptive nonlinear filtering of real-, complex-, and vector-valued signals utilizing analog Nonlinear Differential Limiters (NDLs), and to adaptive real-time signal conditioning, processing, analysis, quantification, comparison, and control. More generally, this invention relates to methods, processes and apparatus for real-time measuring and analysis of variables, and to generic measurement systems and processes. This invention also relates to methods and corresponding apparatus for measuring which extend to different applications and provide results other than instantaneous values of variables. The invention further relates to post-processing analysis of measured variables and to statistical analysis. The NDL-based filtering method and apparatus enable improvements in the overall properties of electronic devices including, but not limited to, improvements in performance, reduction in size, weight, cost, and power consumption, and, in particular for wireless devices, NDLs enable improvements in spectrum usage efficiency.
US09917566B2
A circuit for tuning an impedance matching network is disclosed. The circuit includes a current sensor, a control circuit coupled to the current sensor and a reference current source and a tunable capacitor coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal based on an output of the current sensor, wherein the control signal is configured to vary a capacitance of the tunable capacitor.
US09917564B2
An audio loudness data collection module collects and stores audio data. The data can be stored for a first time period. A monitoring system can access and store the audio data collected and stored by the loudness data collection module according to a second time period. The stored audio data can be processed and displayed to a user in a number of ways. The data can also be used to provide loudness data control. For example, a loudness data control module can perform an audio AGC function to control audio loudness.
US09917562B2
Automatic gain control systems disclosed herein can incorporate a confidence metric that can estimate the accuracy of gain adjustments calculated by an automatic gain control module. The confidence metric may be based on a percentage of valid audio samples in a given period of time. Based on the confidence metric, the AGC response may be reduced, delayed, frozen, or otherwise altered from the baseline gain adjustment. Time-averaging process may be used to estimate the input signal power level and determine an appropriate baseline gain adjustment. Additionally, weighting functions can be adjusted to prevent overestimation of the signal power.
US09917557B1
A method for offset calibration may include decoupling a modulator input of a first path from a first stage output, coupling a second path output to the modulator input, applying a common-mode voltage to a second path input, receiving a calibration signal from the modulator output generated in response to the common-mode voltage, and modifying one or more parameters of the modulator to compensate for an offset between the first path and the second path indicated by the calibration signal. A method for gain calibration may include decoupling a modulator input from a first stage output, decoupling a second path from the first stage output, applying a first test signal to the modulator input, applying a second test signal to a second path input, wherein the second test signal is of opposite phase as the first test signal, coupling a second path output to an amplifier input via a calibration feedback network, receiving a calibration signal from the first stage output generated in response to the first test signal and the second test signal, and modifying one or more parameters of the second path to compensate for a difference in respective gains of the modulator and the second path indicated by the calibration signal.
US09917549B1
In a preferred embodiment, the gain expansion in low power mode of a single chain PA is minimized by dynamically adjusting the output impedance of the bias circuit of each gain stage for each mode of operation. Instead of switching in a series attenuator or switching in additional feedback in the first gain stage of a single-chain PA to limit the gain at the increased quiescent current level, this embodiment achieves linear performance by adjusting the quiescent current in each stage to the minimum level that meets the target gain and then increasing the output resistance of the bias circuit of each gain stage in low power mode (LPM) to provide the appropriate level of negative feedback at the base of each amplifying HBT to linearize the gain versus power response.
US09917548B2
A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a method of designing a voltage controlled oscillator, and a design structure comprising a semiconductor substrate including a voltage controlled oscillator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the VCO comprises an LC tank circuit for generating an oscillator output at an oscillator frequency, and an oscillator core including cross-coupled semiconductor devices to provide feedback to the tank circuit. The VCO further comprises a supply node, a tail node, and a noise by-pass circuit connected to the supply and tail nodes, in parallel with the tank circuit and the oscillator core. The by-pass circuit forms a low-impedance path at a frequency approximately twice the oscillator frequency to at least partially immunize the oscillator core from external noise and to reduce noise contribution from the cross-coupled semiconductor devices.
US09917546B2
A free-standing solar tracker comprises a base, a support frame, a panel assembly comprising one or more solar panels, and an actuator to rotate the panel assembly to track the movement of the sun. The solar tracker is designed to be free-standing and requires no foundation. When the solar tracker is deployed, the base forms a pan to contain a ballast material for holding the base in place. The base of the solar tracker is designed to serve as a “suitcase” to contain most of the components of the solar tracker, making it easier to transport the solar tracker 10 to a location where the solar tracker is installed.
US09917543B1
An inverter includes a plurality of inverter legs that each includes first, second, and third switches. A first control line connected to the first switch receives a first control signal. A second control line connected to the second switch receives a second control signal. A third control line connected to the third switch receives the first control signal. The first, second, and third switches are connected sequentially in series. A first connector line is connected between the first switch and the second switch and to a first winding of an electric machine. A second connector line is connected between the second switch and the third switch and to a second winding of the electric machine. The second control signal is complementary to the first control signal.
US09917537B2
A method for controlling an electric motor includes receiving a first control command that is indicative of a desired motor control. A current operating condition for the motor is determined. It is then determined whether the first control command meets at least one predetermined criterion at the current operating condition. A second control command that is different from the first control command is generated when the first control command meets the at least one predetermined criterion. Generating the second control command includes determining a current value of a motor parameter, changing the parameter value, and using the changed parameter value to generate the second control command. The second control command is then used to control the motor.
US09917532B2
A grid-tied inverter for supplying current to a power supply system includes an output bridge arrangement that is actuated via a pulse width modulator, wherein switching times of the output bridge arrangement are determined by using a periodic auxiliary signal, wherein the frequency of the periodic auxiliary signal varies according to a prescribed periodic wobble signal. The inverter further includes a synchronization unit configured to provide phase synchronization of the auxiliary signal to the power supply system, wherein the synchronization unit is configured to adjust a prescribed phase offset of the periodic auxiliary signal in relation to a phase of the power supply system, and a further synchronization unit configured to provide phase synchronization of the periodic wobble signal to the power supply system. The synchronization unit and the further synchronization unit each include a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit, and the periodic wobble signal is routed to a controller system of the PLL circuit of the synchronization unit via a correction signal generator circuit and an adder circuit for the purpose of suppressing oscillations.
US09917530B2
A reconfigurable converter includes a power circuit receives a direct current (DC) power signal and provides an alternating current (AC) output signal across at least three phases. The power circuit comprises a plurality of legs, each leg comprising an output node. A coupling device provides a first output configuration and a second output configuration for the plurality of legs. In the first output configuration, the coupling device comprises a coupling portion coupling at least two output nodes to provide a common output terminal. In the second output configuration, the coupling device comprises separate output terminals, each connected to one of the at least two output nodes.
US09917521B1
A controller of a power converter is described that after switching-on a primary switch of a power converter, detects a voltage that is indicative of a primary current through the primary switch and responsive to determining that the voltage exceeds a direct-current (DC) voltage threshold, switches-off the primary switch. The controller stores a peak value of the voltage while switching-off the primary switch, and responsive to determining that the peak value is higher or lower than a range of target values associated with the peak value of the voltage, the controller adjusts at least one of the DC voltage threshold or the range of target values for a subsequent switching cycle of the primary switch.
US09917519B2
A switching power converter is configured to control switching noise by implementing a plurality of pulse width modulation modes of operation. The peak current in each pulse width modulation mode of operation is controlled so that an output power for the switching power converter is continuous with regard to transitions between the pulse width modulation modes.
US09917508B2
A charge pump circuit, and associated method and apparatuses, for providing a split-rail voltage supply, the circuit having a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of said states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.
US09917505B2
Systems, apparatuses, and techniques for pulse width modulation (PWM) are described. A described system includes a circuit that contains an inductor and a transistor that controls current through the inductor based on a PWM signal to produce an output; and a controller to provide the PWM signal, which includes PWM cycles that include on-durations and off-durations. The controller can receive a first signal indicating an input voltage that is applied to the inductor, receive a second signal indicating a current through the inductor, use an on-duration parameter value to control the on-duration, determine a maximum off-duration of the off-durations corresponding to the PWM cycles occurring within a first voltage cycle, the first voltage cycle being defined between two consecutive zero-crossing events as indicated by the first signal, and adjust the on-duration parameter value for a second, subsequent voltage cycle based on the maximum off-duration to regulate the output voltage.
US09917489B2
An axial air-gap motor stator and a fan thereof includes a motor stator. The motor stator includes multiple metal substrates stacked together. Each metal substrate has a port and multiple pole teeth disposed around the port. The two adjacent pole teeth on each metal substrate are disposed with a magnetic pole and the number of the pole teeth of each metal substrate is a natural number twice the number of the magnetic poles of each metal substrate. The magnetic poles of the metal substrates are arranged in a staggered manner. This avoids the problems of interference of magnetic poles and prevents the magnetic field from being affected.
US09917487B2
A rotating electric machine allowing a rotor and a stator thereof to assume any of various numbers of poles and any of various numbers of slots and enabling a reduction in vibration and noise is provided. The rotating electric machine according to the present invention includes a stator having a plurality of teeth and a plurality of slots, which is configured so that the shape of the front ends of the teeth and the opening width of the slots are made to change cyclically F times along the circumferential direction (F is a natural number equal to or greater than 2).
US09917485B2
An electric machine has grooves and windings, divided into strands, of electrical conductors. At least one strand has a number s of coils connected in series and arranged in the grooves. Each coil has sub-conductors connected in parallel and arranged in bundles. Each bundle is arranged in a groove at a bundle position relative to a deepest possible bundle position in the groove. The positions of all bundles in all coils define a number b of possible bundle positions of the strand. The bundles are interchanged between the coils such that each bundle is arranged in the grooves at least n times and at most n′ times at each possible bundle position, wherein n is the integer quotient in regard to the quotient of the number s and the number b, wherein n′=n if s is divisible by b and n′=n+1 if s is not divisible by b.
US09917484B2
A reluctance motor has: a stator provided with drive coils to which multiphase drive currents are inputted; and a rotor provided with a plurality of salient poles which receive primary rotating force when magnetic fluxes generated in the drive coils are interlinked with the rotor, and the rotor has: inductor pole coils which are placed on magnetic paths on which spatial harmonic components superimposed on the magnetic fluxes generated in the drive coils are interlinked with the rotor side so that induced currents can be generated in the inductor pole coils due to the spatial harmonic components of the magnetic fluxes; rectifier elements which rectify the induced currents generated in the inductor pole coils; and electromagnet coils as defined herein, and the inductor pole coils and the electromagnet coils do not serve for each other's purposes but are placed on the rotor individually.
US09917481B2
There is described a synchronous reluctance machine having a plurality of poles and comprising a stator with a plurality of spaced slots and a rotor. The rotor has one direct axis and one quadrature axis for each pole and comprises a plurality of flux barriers, each extending to a circumference thereof at least one barrier point. Successive angular separations between barrier points around the circumference of the rotor increase or decrease when moving around half a pole pitch from an initial axis to an adjacent finishing axis, the initial axis being one of a direct axis or a quadrature axis and the finishing axis being the other of a direct axis and a quadrature axis. The increase or decrease in size may be governed by a systematic progressive series.
US09917480B1
One aspect of the disclosure provides an apparatus for receiving wireless power. The apparatus includes a power receiving circuit and a processing circuit. The power receiving circuit is configured to couple to a magnetic field generated by a power transmitter during an alignment check. The processing circuit is configured to identify a first operation point of the power receiving circuit and a second operation point of the power transmitter based on the magnetic field during the alignment check. The processing circuit is further configured to adjust a duty cycle of an active component of the power receiving circuit based at least in part on one of the identified first operation point and second operation point.
US09917479B2
A current sensing system and method for wireless energy transfer may include a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board may include at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. A loop of conductive material may be included, wherein the loop of conductive material may include a diameter D3 on the second layer. A coil of conductive material may be included, wherein the coil of conductive material may have at least 2 turns, wherein a majority of the coil of conductive material may occupy the first layer and the third layer with an outer diameter D1 and an inner diameter D2, connected through each of the first, second, and third layers. The loop of conductive material may be coupled to the coil of conductive material.
US09917475B2
A system includes a first power source and a variable neutral impedance circuit configured to vary a neutral impedance of the first power source based on presence and absence of a parallel coupling of the first power source with a second power source. The variable neutral impedance circuit may be configured to reduce a neutral current of the first power source when the first power source is operating in parallel with the second power source. The variable neutral impedance circuit may include an impedance coupled in series with the first power source, a bypass switch configured to bypass the impedance and a control circuit configured to control the bypass switch. The impedance may include a resistor.
US09917470B2
An in-vehicle charging apparatus (100) has: a charge control ECU (10), which operates with power supplied from a low-voltage battery (16), and which controls charging; an S2 switch, which is on/off controlled by means of the charge control ECU (10), and which reduces a voltage of the pulse signals when the switch is in the on-state; and a switch (SW1), which is controlled to be in an on-state by means of units other than the charge control ECU (10), and which reduces the voltage of the pulse signals when the switch is in the on-state. In the cases where the switch (SW1) is turned on, power from a charging cable (200) is supplied to the low-voltage battery (16) or the charge control ECU (10).
US09917468B2
A wearable charging apparatus configured for charging of a wearable device while the wearable device is in an operative position, such as on the wrist of the user the wearable charging apparatus includes a front housing portion, a rear charging portion, a coupling member and a charge system. The wearable device is positionable between the front housing portion and the rear charging portion. The front portion has a battery and the rear charging portion has a wearable charge coil that is placed in operable position relative to the wearable device and configured to electrically communicate with a coil within the body of the wearable device and coupled to a wearable battery therewith, to, in turn, transfer power from the battery within the cavity to the wearable battery.
US09917458B2
A method of charging a battery includes performing a first charging operation in a first period, performing a second charging operation in a second period, and performing a third charging operation in a third period. Each of the first, second, and third periods includes a constant current supplying period and a constant voltage supplying period. Different currents are supplied in the constant current supplying periods of at least two of the first, second, and third periods. Different voltages are supplied in the constant voltage supplying periods of at least two of the first, second, and third periods. The second period is between the first and third periods, and the second period is longer than the first and third periods.
US09917452B2
A battery charger that is configured to charge a battery pack including a secondary battery includes: a housing; and a charging circuit unit disposed in the housing. The housing defines a first air passage in which air flows to cool the secondary battery and a second air passage in which air flows to cool the charging circuit unit. The second air passage is independent from the first air passage.
US09917445B2
The invention is an apparatus for and method of configuring a solar PV system where the output power of the system is stabilized under dynamic cloud cover conditions. The invention comprises a typical grid-tied solar photovoltaic power system which includes solar modules and a typical grid-tied DC to AC power converter and a second, semi-autonomous, bidirectional power converter coupled between the same electrical grid and storage batteries. The system also includes sensors and/or a communication link between the two power converters. The composite system acts to stabilize the amount of power into the grid by monitoring dynamic power reductions in PV power production and by supplying power from the storage batteries to the grid during a PV power dropout event, for a net smoothing of the amount of power injected into the grid over a wide range of dropout event durations.
US09917426B1
A system and method that applies a rotating cylinder within which is mounted water jetting apparatus that when applied, causes high pressure water jets to be ejected from nozzles onto combined non-metal and metal substrate materials, and thereby separate non-metal and metal components from one another.
US09917416B2
A semiconductor laser oscillator includes a diode unit configured from a plurality of banks, in which one bank is configured from a plurality of laser diodes connected in series. The diode unit includes a wavelength locking mechanism for locking to a plurality of wavelengths. The semiconductor laser oscillator includes a controller configured to control input currents to the laser diodes of each of the plurality of banks individually in correspondence to a characteristic of a wavelength locking efficiency, and to control an output of the diode unit as a whole to a required output.
US09917407B1
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include an output cord segment including an LVDS connector disposed in a housing and an HDMI connector.
US09917405B2
An electrical connector, for mating a mating connector having two metal elastic sheets, includes: an insulation body having a base portion and a tongue located at a front end thereof; an upper and lower rows of terminals fixed to the base portion, each terminal having a contact portion exposed from an upper or lower surface of the tongue; a middle shielding sheet, fixed to the base portion and tongue, and located between the two terminal rows; two snap-fit portions disposed at two sides of the middle shielding sheet and exposed from two sides of the tongue, where the two metal elastic sheets buckle the snap-fit portions to prevent disengagement; and an outer metal casing wrapping peripheries of the base portion and tongue. When the mating connector is inserted into the electrical connector after it's assembling, the two snap-fit portions are fixed to the mating connector to ensure stable high-frequency performance.
US09917404B1
Embodiments of a connector cover are described, which are easily attached to a keyed electrical connector housing, and which prevent misconnection with a mating connector. One embodiment features a snap-on design, in which the cover simply snaps onto the keyed connector housing. A second embodiment is in the form of a two-piece cover, which snap together about the keyed connector housing. A third exemplary embodiment features a slip-on design, in which the cover slips onto the keyed connector housing. In another aspect, an electrical connector system is described, which includes the connector cover and first and second keyed electrical connectors.
US09917402B1
A connector includes a first-housing, a second-housing, a shroud, and a stacked-gear. The first-housing defines a guide-slot. The second-housing mates with the first-housing. The second-housing includes a linear-gear-rack extending from a second-outer-surface and engages the guide-slot. The shroud is moveable from an unmated-position to a mated-position. The shroud is longitudinally slideably mounted to and surrounding at least a portion of the first-housing. The shroud also includes a curved-gear-rack having a variable-pitch-radius. The stacked-gear is moveably mounted to the first-housing. The stacked-gear has a round-gear and a cam-gear having the variable-pitch-radius in communication with the round-gear. The round-gear engages the linear-gear-rack within the guide-slot. The cam-gear engages the curved-gear-rack such that the cam-gear moves in response to a movement of the shroud from the unmated-position to the mated-position. Rotation of the round-gear engaged with the linear-gear-rack axially pulls the linear-gear-rack into the guide-slot, thereby pulling the second-housing into the first-housing.
US09917400B2
The invention relates to a front housing of an electrical connector, particularly for sealed applications, said front housing being designed to be connected to a base and being configured to be at least partially received in a main housing of said electrical connector, said front housing comprising: at least one locking means configured to engage a corresponding locking zone of said main housing so as to lock said front housing to said main housing, and said front housing further comprising a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor to connect to said base. The invention further relates to a main electrical connector housing, to an electrical connector, to a base and to an electrical connector assembly.
US09917389B2
A flat terminal for a socket of an electrical plug-and-socket connection comprising: a terminal body formed by a metal strip; a connecting end extending from one of the axial ends of the terminal body; a contacting lug extending from the other of the axial ends of the terminal body, said contacting lug being bent back such that a gap remains between the terminal body and the contacting lug to form a resilient contact surface; and a protection against over-bending protruding into said gap to stop a movement of the contacting lug towards the terminal body in a defined distance from the terminal body.
US09917377B2
Disclosed is an antenna device in which an excitation phase changing unit (4) for changing the excitation phases of element antennas (2-1n) to (2-8n) by controlling phase shifters (3-1n) to (3-8n) dependently on preset phase values is disposed, and every time the excitation phases are changed by the excitation phase changing unit (4), a radiation pattern forming unit (12) shifts the phases of a sum signal and a difference signal, and forms a monopulse sum pattern by time-integrating the sum signal after phase shift and also forms a monopulse difference pattern by time-integrating the difference signal after phase shift.
US09917374B2
A dual-Band phased array antenna with built-in grating lobe mitigation includes an array of radiating elements capable of working at both bands and arranged at distances small enough, avoiding grating lobes with respect to the lower band within the desired field of view. The radiating elements are arranged in planar subarrays that can be steered independently from each other and each of the subarrays has a different boresight normal vector, so that grating lobes in the upper band is mitigated.
US09917369B2
An antenna includes a planar ground plane, a planar exciter, and a plurality of passive elements. The planar ground plane and the planar exciter are disposed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the antenna. The planar exciter is spaced apart from the ground plane. The planar exciter is configured to excite right-hand circularly-polarized electromagnetic radiation. The planar exciter is configured to excite first currents orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and substantially no current parallel to the longitudinal axis. The plurality of passive elements is symmetrically disposed azimuthally about the longitudinal axis and spaced apart from the planar exciter. The plurality of passive elements is electromagnetically coupled to the planar exciter. The plurality of passive elements is configured to excite second currents parallel to the longitudinal axis and third currents orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
US09917366B2
An antenna device includes a base including a planar conductor disposed thereon, and a coil antenna. The coil antenna includes a coil conductor wound around a magnetic core. The coil antenna is arranged such that a coil opening of the coil conductor is closed to an edge of the planar conductor. A current passing through the coil conductor induces a current in the planar conductor. Thus, a first magnetic flux occurs in the coil antenna, and a second magnetic flux occurs in the planar conductor. Therefore, a third magnetic flux occurs in an area of the planar conductor. Accordingly, the antenna device achieves a small footprint, a small-sized communication terminal apparatus and a desired communication distance.
US09917363B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically adjusting an angular orientation of cross-polarized antenna array elements to optimize select radio-frequency (RF) parameters. RF uplink signals are received from a plurality of mobile devices, and the signals are analyzed to determine parameters associated with signal strength and/or signal quality. Based on the determination, a first set of cross-polarized antenna array elements are deactivated and a second set of cross-polarized antenna array elements are activated, where the second set of antenna array elements has a different angular orientation relative to the first set of antenna array elements. Activation enables the second set of antenna array elements to transmit and receive communication signals.
US09917362B2
An antenna positioner, and methods of positioning using the antenna positioner, that may track a satellite are described. An antenna positioner may include a base and a mount rotatably coupled to the base to turn the mount about an azimuth axis. The mount may support an antenna element so that the antenna element can rotate about the elevation axis with respect to the mount. A center drive shaft for the elevation drive may pass through the hollow portion of the mount along the azimuth axis to drive a bevel gear set, a first gear of the set being coupled to the drive shaft and a second gear of the set being coupled to the antenna element, to rotate the antenna element about the elevation axis. Drive compensation is provided to counteract elevation rotation resulting from cross-coupling of the azimuth and elevation axes by the bevel gear set during azimuth rotation.
US09917359B2
The disclosure concerns an antenna subsystem that can be used in various repeater systems to optimize gain of the repeater by increasing isolation between donor and server antennas, wherein at least one of the donor and server antennas is an active multi-mode antenna.
US09917357B2
Discussed herein is an antenna system that comprises a feed element and a radiating element that are formed on a dielectric substrate positioned above a circuit board which includes a feed circuit and a ground layer. Specifically, the feed element is disposed within an outer periphery defined by the radiating element. A capacitive coupling is formed between the feed element and the radiating element. With the aforesaid configuration, the antenna system is less affected by the circuit board and interference from other elements that are mounted on the circuit board. Further, manufacturing costs are reduced as compared to the case where the feed element and the radiating element are respectively formed on a front and rear surface of a resin layer.
US09917356B2
A band-notched spiral antenna having one or more spiral arms extending from a radially inner end to a radially outer end for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic radiation over a frequency range, and one or more resonance structures positioned adjacent one or more segments of the spiral arm associated with a notch frequency band or bands of the frequency range so as to resonate and suppress the transmission or reception of electromagnetic radiation over said notch frequency band or bands.
US09917355B1
A vehicular radar system includes a plurality of end-fire antennas including a first array of antennas positioned along a first plane and having a transmission end oriented in a first direction, a second array of antennas positioned along the first plane and having a transmission end oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction, a third array of antennas positioned along a second plane above or below the first plane and having a transmission end oriented in the first direction, and a fourth array of antennas positioned along the second plane and having a transmission end oriented in the second direction. The vehicular radar system also includes at least one RFIC to control the plurality of antennas to scan for objects in the first direction, the second direction, and between the first direction and the second direction by transmitting signals of varying phases to the antennas.
US09917353B2
A roof antenna for a vehicle is provided having an antenna unit that receives radio waves, an antenna cover that covers the antenna unit, and an annular pad interposed between the antenna cover and the roof, wherein the pad includes a base that is retained at an inner side of a lower end of the antenna cover, an extension portion provided at a position opposing the lower end of the antenna cover, that extends from the base to an outer side of the lower end of the antenna cover, that can be tilted in a direction away from the lower end of the antenna cover, and that is formed from an elastic structure, and a lip formed at a tip of the extension portion and that is distanced from the outer side of the lower end of the antenna cover, and the extension portion is tilted to move away from the lower end of the antenna cover when a force in a direction away from the lower end of the antenna cover acts on the lip.
US09917351B2
An antenna comprises a main body and a cable connecting to the main body. The main body has a grounding portion, a cantilevered arm, a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion connects the grounding portion and the cantilevered arm. The first connecting portion is located at the upper side of the cantilevered arm and defines a first slot with the cantilevered arm. The second connecting portion connects the grounding portion and the cantilevered arm. The second connecting portion is located at the lower side of the cantilevered arm and defines a second slot with the cantilevered arm.
US09917350B2
The present invention provides a multi loop antenna module that maximizes antenna performance even in a portable terminal equipped with a metallic rear cover, using an antenna pattern formed in a multi loop shape, and a portable terminal having the multi loop antenna module. The multi loop antenna module may include: an antenna sheet having a radiation pattern with two or more loops on a side; and a magnetic sheet mounted on a rear side of the antenna sheet.
US09917333B2
A lithium ion battery includes a first substrate having a first main surface, and a lid including an insulating material. The lid is attached to the first main surface of the first substrate, and a cavity is defined between the first substrate and the lid. The lithium ion battery further includes an electrical interconnection element in the lid, the electrical interconnection element providing an electrical connection between a first main surface and a second main surface of the lid. The lithium ion battery further includes an electrolyte in the cavity, an anode at the first substrate, the anode including a component made of a semiconductor material, and a cathode at the lid.
US09917325B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell which includes a set of jelly rolls enclosed in a pouch. Each jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first set of conductive tabs and a second set of conductive tabs. Each of the first set of conductive tabs is coupled to the cathode of one of the jelly rolls, and each of the second set of conductive tabs is coupled to the anode of one of the jelly rolls. At least one of the first set and one of the second set of conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell.
US09917321B2
A direct carbon fuel cell DCFC system (5), the system comprising an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell (10) comprising a cathode (30), a solid state first electrolyte (25) and an anode (20), wherein, the system further comprises an anode chamber containing a second electrolyte (125) and a fuel (120). The system, when using molten carbonate as second electrolyte, is preferably purged with CO2 via purge gas inlet (60).
US09917320B2
A sweep membrane separator includes a membrane that is selectively permeable to a selected gas, the membrane including a retentate side and a permeate side. A mixed gas stream including the selected gas enters the sweep membrane separator and contacts the retentate side of the membrane. At least part of the selected gas separates from the mixed gas stream and passes through the membrane to the permeate side of the membrane. The mixed gas stream, minus the separated gas, exits the sweep membrane separator. A sweep gas at high pressure enters the sweep membrane separator and sweeps the selected gas from the permeate side of the membrane. A mixture of the sweep gas and the selected gas exits the sweep membrane separator at high pressure. The sweep membrane separator thereby separates the selected gas from the gas mixture and pressurizes the selected gas.
US09917316B2
An apparatus and a method for controlling a humidification amount of a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell are provided. The humidification amount of the membrane humidifier relative to air supplied to a stack is changed by adjusting a difference in partial pressure of moisture between the inside and the exterior of a hollow fiber membrane that constitutes the membrane humidifier for a fuel cell.
US09917314B2
A method of operating a fuel cell power plant (10) including a stack (11) of fuel cells having an anode catalyst layer and a cathode electrode (15) including a catalyst layer disposed on catalyst support material is characterized by, during normal operation of said power plant, adjusting the voltage of the stack to be substantially equal to or less than a predetermined maximum voltage for the temperature of the stack. Further, said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the stack voltage to the lesser of: a) a predetermined voltage above which corrosion of catalyst support material is significant and below which corrosion of catalyst support material is insignificant at the temperature of the stack; and b) a predetermined voltage above which dissolution of catalyst is significant and below which dissolution of the catalyst is insignificant at the temperature of the stack.
US09917313B2
An apparatus using fuel gas is provided, ensuring charge amount of a battery. The apparatus includes battery, fuel gas reservoir unit, fuel lid, open/close detection unit for detecting open/close state of fuel lid, fuel gas condition detection unit for detecting pressure and/or temperature being condition of fuel gas reserved in the fuel gas reservoir unit, communication unit for communication with fuel gas supply device, and control unit for, upon reception of signal notifying that fuel lid is in open state from open/close detection unit, performing dispensing communication to notify the fuel gas supply device, via communication unit, of condition of fuel gas having been input from fuel gas condition detection unit. The control unit stops dispensing communication when control unit has determined, according to signal received from open/close detection unit that predetermined time has elapsed with the fuel lid remaining in open state after starting dispensing communication.
US09917310B2
Gas flow channels are provided between protrusions arranged in parallel on a first surface of a partition wall of a gas flow channel forming body, and water introduction channels are provided in valleys on the opposite side of each protrusion, on a second surface. In order to allow the gas flow channels and the water introduction channels to communicate so that water can pass there through, communication channels is provided to the partition wall. Intermediate structures are correspondingly provided inside the water introduction channels to the communication channels. A set of communication channels is formed by a pair of communication channels positioned at a first interval. A set of communication channels and another set of communication channels adjacent thereto are positioned on each protrusion with a second interval therebetween.
US09917300B2
A novel hybrid lithium-ion anode material based on coaxially coated Si shells on vertically aligned carbon nano fiber (CNF) arrays. The unique cup-stacking graphitic microstructure makes the bare vertically aligned CNF array an effective Li+ intercalation medium. Highly reversible Li+ intercalation and extraction were observed at high power rates. More importantly, the highly conductive and mechanically stable CNF core optionally supports a coaxially coated amorphous Si shell which has much higher theoretical specific capacity by forming fully lithiated alloy. Addition of surface effect dominant sites in close proximity to the intercalation medium results in a hybrid device that includes advantages of both batteries and capacitors.
US09917298B2
A composite includes a carbonaceous material; a plurality of silicon structures disposed on the carbonaceous material; and a graphene layer, which comprises graphene and is disposed on the plurality of silicon structures, wherein a silicon structure of the plurality of silicon structures includes silicon and a silicon oxide of the formula SiOx which is disposed on a surface of the silicon, wherein 0
US09917290B2
A battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries having a terminal, a holder combined to end portions of the rechargeable batteries and having a first fastening portion, and a bus bar combined to the terminal, electrically connecting the rechargeable batteries, and having a second fastening portion to be fitted into the first fastening portion.
US09917275B2
A display apparatus including a substrate having an active area and a sealing area surrounding the active area; a display unit disposed on the active area of the substrate; a sealing member including a recess, which is formed in the sealing area of the substrate and is concave in a direction from an edge of the substrate to the active area of the substrate or from the active area of the substrate to the edge of the substrate; and an alignment mark disposed between the recess and the edge of the substrate or between the recess and the active area of the substrate.
US09917270B1
The present invention relates to a an organic electroluminescent device comprising an exciton quenching layer C located between the a light-emitting layer B and an electron-transport layer D, wherein the exciton quenching layer C comprises at least one emitter EC and at least 80% by weight of at least one electron transport material ETMD.
US09917259B2
A light-emitting element is provided, in which n (n is a natural number of two or more) EL layers are provided between an anode and a cathode. Between the m-th (m is a natural number, 1≦m≦n−1) EL layer and the (m+1)-th EL layer, a first layer containing any of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth metal, an alkali metal compound, an alkaline earth metal compound, and a rare earth metal compound, a second layer containing a substance having high electron-transport properties in contact with the first layer, and a charge-generation layer containing a substance having high hole-transport properties and an acceptor substance in contact with the second layer are provided in this order over the anode. The charge-generation layer does not have a peak of an absorption spectrum in a visible light region.
US09917239B2
A thermoelectric conversion device includes: a thermoelectric conversion element in which a p-type thermoelectric material and an n-type thermoelectric material that are provided between an upper electrode and a lower electrode of the thermoelectric conversion element are alternately connected in series via the upper electrode and the lower electrode; an insulating layer that is provided between the upper electrode and the lower electrode and covers the p-type thermoelectric material and the n-type thermoelectric material; and an electric storage element that is provided between the upper electrode and the lower electrode and is covered by the insulating layer.
US09917238B2
A thermoelectric element includes a p-type/n-type semiconductor element having an upper end surface and a lower end surface, a lower electrode that is joined to the lower end surface of the p-type/n-type semiconductor element to connect the p-type/n-type semiconductor element and another n-type/p-type semiconductor element adjacently thereto and has an area less than that of the lower end surface in a joint region therebetween. A joint portion is made of a solder and has a surface joint part joining the lower end surface of the p-type/n-type semiconductor element and a surface of the lower electrode while the lower end surface of the p-type/n-type semiconductor element and the surface of the lower electrode are opposed to each other A fillet part is formed to fill a space produced between intersecting surfaces, i.e., the lower end surface and a lateral side of the lower electrode, and composes a step part formed by the lower end surface and the lower electrode.
US09917237B2
A flexible lighting element is provided, comprising: a first substrate; first and second conductive elements over the first substrate; a light-emitting element having first and second contacts that are both on a first surface of the light-emitting element, the first and second contacts being electrically connected to the first and second conductive elements, respectively, and the light-emitting element emitting light from a second surface opposite the first surface; a transparent layer located adjacent to the second surface; and a transparent affixing layer located between the first substrate and the transparent layer, wherein the transparent layer and the transparent affixing layer are both sufficiently transparent to visible light that they will not decrease light transmittance below 70%, and the first and second conductive layers are at least partially transparent to visible light, or are 300 μm or smaller in width, or are concealed by a design feature from a viewing direction.
US09917230B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip is disclosed. In an embodiment the chip includes a semiconductor layer sequence having a bottom face and a top face, wherein the semiconductor layer sequence comprises a first layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer for generating electromagnetic radiation, and a second layer of a second conductivity type and a bottom contact element located at the bottom face and a top contact element located at the top face for injecting current into the semiconductor layer sequence. The chip further includes a current distribution element located at the bottom face, the current distribution element distributes current along the bottom face during operation and a plurality of vias extending from the current distribution element through the first layer and through the active layer into the semiconductor layer sequence, wherein the vias are not in direct electrical contact with the active layer.
US09917229B2
An electrical contact structure (10) for a semiconductor component (100) is specified, comprising a transparent electrically conductive contact layer (1), on which a first metallic contact layer (2) is applied, a second metallic contact layer (3), which completely covers the first metallic contact layer (2), and a separating layer (4), which is arranged between the transparent electrically conductive contact layer (1) and the second metallic contact layer (3) and which separates the second metallic contact layer (3) from the transparent electrically conductive contact layer (1).Furthermore, a semiconductor component (100) comprising a contact structure (10) is specified.
US09917223B2
A solar cell panel is discussed. The solar cell panel includes a plurality of solar cells each including a substrate and an electrode part positioned on a surface of the substrate, an interconnector for electrically connecting at least one of the plurality of solar cells to another of the plurality of solar cells, and a conductive adhesive film including a resin and a plurality of conductive particles dispersed in the resin. The conductive adhesive film is positioned between the electrode part of the at least one of the plurality of solar cells and the interconnector to electrically connect the electrode part of the at least one of the plurality of solar cells to the interconnector. A width of the interconnector is equal to or greater than a width of the conductive adhesive film.
US09917222B2
A frameless solar module having a carrier substrate and a top layer connected thereto, between which there is a layer structure which forms a plurality of solar cells connected in series for the photovoltaic generation of power is described. The carrier substrate and/or the top layer of the frameless solar module is/are provided with mounting holes for mounting the solar module on a module bracket or for connection to at least one further solar module. The mounting holes are produced in a coating-free zone within a photovoltaically active region. Mounting arrangements having such a solar module which contain fixing elements which pass through the mounting holes are also described. Furthermore, a method for producing such a solar module in which the mounting holes are produced in the carrier substrate and/or in the top layer is also described.
US09917213B2
A photovoltaic module has at least one solar cell having an irradiation surface for receiving light. The photovoltaic module is configured to provide a voltage. The photovoltaic module also includes a carrier unit which is arranged laterally offset from the solar cell at least on one side. A first surface of the carrier unit is oriented flush with the irradiation surface of the solar cell within a predefined tolerance range. The photovoltaic module also includes at least one electrical conductor, which contacts a carrier contact connection on a second surface of the carrier unit opposite the first surface via a cell contact connection of an electronic component on the solar cell or the solar cell in an electrically conductive manner. The cell contact connection is arranged on a contacting side of the solar cell opposite the irradiation surface.
US09917189B2
A method for detecting the presence and location of defects over a substrate is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method may include: forming a semiconductor material in a plurality of openings in a reference wafer using an epitaxial growth process; performing one or more measurements on the reference wafer to obtain a baseline signal; forming a plurality of gate stacks and stressor regions in a plurality of substrates; after forming the plurality of gate stacks, forming the semiconductor material in a plurality of openings in a batch wafer; performing the one or more measurements on the batch wafer to obtain a batch signal; comparing the batch signal to the baseline signal; and determining whether a defect in present in the plurality of substrates based on the comparison.
US09917187B2
A semiconductor device comprising at least one active layer on a substrate and a first contact to the at least one active layer, the first contact comprising a metal in contact with the at least one active layer and a capping layer on the metal, the capping layer comprising a diffusion barrier, wherein the capping layer is patterned to form a pattern comprising regions of the contact covered by the capping layer and regions of the contact that are uncovered.
US09917172B2
A method of manufacturing a field effect transistor using a gate last process includes providing the field effect transistor which includes a high-k dielectric formed between an elevated source and an elevated drain and surrounding a metal gate, and performing a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process on an upper surface of the elevated source, and in which a height of the metal gate becomes lower than a height of the elevated source according to the CMP process.
US09917170B2
A method of forming a contact structure includes providing a silicon-carbide substrate having a highly doped silicon-carbide contact region formed in the substrate and extending to a main surface of the substrate. A carbon-based contact region is formed which is in direct contact with the highly doped silicon-carbide contact region and which extends to the main surface. A conductor is formed on the carbon-based contact region such that the carbon-based contact region is interposed between the conductor and the highly doped silicon-carbide contact region. A thermal budget for forming the carbon-based contact region is maintained below a level that induces metal silicidization of the highly doped silicon-carbide contact region.
US09917167B2
A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer over a bottom surface and sidewalls of the trench; forming a work function layer over the gate dielectric layer; recessing the work function layer, and forming a gate electrode which is positioned in the trench; and exposing the gate electrode to a thermal process, and forming a dipole induction layer between the gate electrode and the gate dielectric layer.
US09917166B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate comprising a source region and a drain region, a bit storing element formed on the substrate, a memory gate structure, a first insulating layer formed on the substrate, a second insulating layer formed on the substrate, and a select gate structure formed on the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer is formed on the memory gate structure and the select gate structure and between the memory gate structure and the select gate structure.
US09917162B2
A method of forming a gate structure, including forming one or more vertical fins on a substrate; forming a bottom spacer on the substrate surface adjacent to the one or more vertical fins; forming a gate structure on at least a portion of the sidewalls of the one or more vertical fins; forming a gauge layer on at least a portion of the bottom spacer, wherein the gauge layer covers at least a portion of the gate structure on the sidewalls of the one or more vertical fins; and removing a portion of the gauge layer on the bottom spacer.
US09917156B1
Nucleation layers for growth of III-nitride structures, and methods for growing the nucleation layers, are described herein. A semiconductor can include a silicon substrate and a nucleation layer over the silicon substrate. The nucleation layer can include silicon and deep-level dopants. The semiconductor can include a III-nitride layer formed over the nucleation layer. At least one of the silicon substrate and the nucleation layer can include ionized contaminants. In addition, a concentration of the deep-level dopants is at least as high as a concentration of the ionized contaminants.
US09917153B2
A crystalline layer is produced from a crystalline substrate made from a first material on which a masking layer has previously been deposited; the masking layer containing at least one trench forming an access to the substrate, by: forming a crystalline buffer layer situated at least partly in the trench in the masking layer, extending from the substrate and forming a projection beyond the masking layer so that an upper part of the lateral flanks of said buffer layer is left uncovered, the formation step comprising a growth of the buffer layer from the substrate, and forming a crystalline epitaxial layer in a second material, different from the material of the buffer layer, by growth from said upper part of the lateral flanks of the buffer layer left uncovered.
US09917147B2
A capacitor structure includes a plurality of bottom electrodes horizontally spaced apart from each other, a support structure covering sidewalls of the bottom electrodes, a top electrode surrounding the support structure and the bottom electrodes, and a dielectric layer interposed between the support structure and the top electrode, and between the top electrode and each of the bottom electrodes. An uppermost surface of the support structure is positioned at a higher level than an uppermost surface of each of the bottom electrodes.
US09917129B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface that face each other, and having an element region and an isolation region, the element region including a transistor in the first surface, and the isolation region including an element isolation layer surrounding the element region; and a contact plug extending from the first surface to the second surface in the isolation region of the semiconductor substrate.
US09917127B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a pixel arrangement is provided. The pixel arrangement includes a plurality of pixels arranged adjacent to each other; and a substrate configured to receive the plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels comprises a plurality of optical cells electrically coupled to each other; and an electrical interconnection electrically isolated from the plurality of optical cells, the electrical interconnection arranged to provide electrical communication between two separate conducting terminals external to the pixel.
US09917125B2
A back-side imager includes a matrix of photosites in an active layer. An interconnect layer covers the active layer. A layer of germanium is positioned between the active layer and the interconnect layer.
US09917121B2
A backside illumination (BSI) image sensor and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a plurality of photosensitive pixels in a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being opposite the first surface, the substrate having one or more active devices on the first surface. A first portion of the second surface is protected. A second portion of the second surface is patterned to form recesses in the substrate. An anti-reflective layer is formed on sidewalls of the recesses. A metal grid is formed over the second portion of the second surface, the anti-reflective layer being interposed between the substrate and the metal grid.
US09917120B2
A CMOS image sensor may have back-side illuminated pixels and operate in a global shutter scanning mode. The CMOS image sensor may be implemented using three-layer chip stacking. The chip to chip electrical connections between the upper chip and the middle chip may be formed via hybrid bonding. Two bonding pads may be included in each pixel. The electrical connections between the middle chip and the lower chip may be formed at the periphery of the array. Using three-layer chip stacking with hybrid bonding allows for the transferring and storing of signals from the upper chip on the middle chip. A signal from low light level illumination and a charge overflow signal from high light level illumination may both be transferred to the middle chip. The image sensor may be able to use a global shutter scanning mode having high dynamic range.
US09917115B2
A semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer over the first conductive layer, first and second oxide semiconductor layers over the first insulating layer, a second conductive layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer, a third conductive layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, a fourth conductive layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer and the second oxide semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer over the second conductive layer, the third conductive layer, and the fourth conductive layer, a fifth conductive layer electrically connected to the first conductive layer over the second insulating layer, and a sixth conductive layer over the second insulating layer. Each of the first and fifth conductive layers includes an area overlapping with the first oxide semiconductor layer. The sixth conductive layer includes an area overlapping with the second oxide semiconductor layer.
US09917114B2
A display panel is provided, which includes a first substrate, a first insulating layer on the first substrate, a semiconductor layer on the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer has a surface in contact with the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer has a first region. The first region has a thickness of 40 nm from the surface of the second insulating layer, and the second insulating layer has a fluoride ion gain ratio of 80% to 95% in the first region.
US09917108B2
A thin film transistor array panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an insulating substrate; a polycrystal semiconductor layer formed on the insulating substrate; a buffer layer formed below the polycrystal semiconductor layer and containing fluorine; a gate electrode overlapping the polycrystal semiconductor layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode overlapping the polycrystal semiconductor layer and separated from each other; and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode.
US09917107B2
A metal wiring suitable for a substrate of large size is provided. The present invention is characterized in that at least one layer of conductive film is formed on an insulating surface, a resist pattern is formed on the conductive film, and the conductive film having the resist pattern is etched to form a metal wiring while controlling its taper angle α in accordance with the bias power density, the ICP power density, the temperature of lower electrode, the pressure, the total flow rate of etching gas, or the ratio of oxygen or chlorine in etching gas. The thus formed metal wiring has less fluctuation in width or length and can satisfactorily deal with an increase in size of substrate.
US09917097B2
According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a layered body by alternately stacking a first film and a second film in a plurality of layers, and etching a portion of the layered body to penetrate the layered body from a top to a bottom to form a predetermined shape. The second film includes a first processing object film having a predetermined composition and a second processing object film having a composition that causes the second processing object film to be etched by the etching more easily than the first processing object film. The second processing object film is included as at least one of layers of the second film.
US09917096B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a stacked body including a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of inter-layer insulating layers each provided between the plurality of electrode layers; and a columnar portion penetrating the stacked body and extending in a stacking direction of the stacked body. The columnar portion includes a channel body extending in the stacking direction; and a charge storage film provided between the channel body and each of the electrode layers. Each of the electrode layers includes an edge portion provided closer on a central axis side of the columnar portion than the inter-layer insulating layers. The charge storage film covers the edge portion of each of the electrode layers and separated from each other in the stacking direction.
US09917093B2
A three-dimensional memory device includes a plurality of planes, each having a respective alternating stack, strings of memory stack structures which extends through the respective alternating stack, and backside contact via structures vertically extending through the respective alternating stack, extending generally along the first horizontal direction, and laterally separating neighboring pairs of strings of memory stack structures along a second horizontal direction. A first plane includes a first plurality of strings that are laterally spaced apart along the second horizontal direction by a first plurality of backside contact via structures. A second plane laterally shifted from the first plane along the first horizontal direction and including a second plurality of strings that are laterally spaced apart along the second horizontal direction by a second plurality of backside contact via structures which are laterally offset with respect the first plurality of backside contact via structures along the second horizontal direction.
US09917090B1
Semiconductor devices and methods are provided in which vertical antifuse devices are integrally formed with vertical FET devices, wherein the vertical antifuse devices are formed as part of a process flow for fabricating the vertical FET devices. For example, a semiconductor device comprises a lower source/drain region formed on a substrate, and first and second vertical semiconductor fins formed on the lower source/drain region. First and second metal gate electrodes are formed on sidewalls of the first and second vertical semiconductor fins, respectively. An upper source/drain region is formed on an upper surface of the first vertical semiconductor fin, and a vertical source/drain contact is formed in contact with the upper source/drain region formed on the first vertical semiconductor fin. An upper end of the second vertical semiconductor fin is encapsulated in an insulating material so that the upper end of the second vertical semiconductor fin is floating.
US09917089B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming an insulator layer on a semiconductor substrate, removing portions of the insulator layer to form a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity exposing a first portion of the semiconductor substrate an the second cavity exposing a second portion of the semiconductor substrate, growing a first semiconductor material in the first cavity and the second cavity. Growing a second semiconductor material on the first semiconductor material in the first cavity and the second cavity, growing a third semiconductor material on the second semiconductor material in the first cavity and the second cavity. Forming a mask over the third semiconductor material in the first cavity, removing the third semiconductor material from the second cavity to expose the second semiconductor material in the second cavity, and growing a fourth semiconductor material on the second semiconductor material in the second cavity.
US09917083B2
A first transistor required for decreasing leak current and a second transistor required for compatibility of high speed operation and low power consumption can be formed over an identical substrate and sufficient performance can be provided to the two types of the transistors respectively. Decrease in the leak current is required for the first transistor. Less power consumption and high speed operation are required for the second transistor. The upper surface of a portion of a substrate in which the second diffusion layer is formed is lower than the upper surface of a portion of the substrate where the first diffusion layer is formed.
US09917082B1
A method of forming a resistor adjacent to a fin field effect transistor on a substrate, including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on the substrate, forming a dielectric fill layer on the plurality of vertical fins, forming at least two dummy gate structures on the plurality of vertical fins, forming a replaceable resistor structure on the dielectric fill layer over a region of the substrate unoccupied by vertical fins, forming a sidewall spacer on the at least two dummy gate structures and the replaceable resistor structure, removing the replaceable resistor structure to form a trench, and forming a resistor structure in the trench.
US09917076B2
An LED package having a plurality of light emitting regions includes a plurality of LED chips. The LED package further includes a plurality of electrode portions on which each of the plurality of LED chips is mounted, and a package mold portion having a plurality of openings formed on one surface thereof so as to each emit light by the plurality of LED chips.
US09917073B2
A microelectronic package includes first and second encapsulated microelectronic elements, each of which includes a semiconductor die having a front face and contacts thereon. An encapsulant contacts at least an edge surface of each semiconductor die and extends in at least one lateral direction therefrom. Electrically conductive elements extend from the contacts and over the front face to locations overlying the encapsulant. The first and second microelectronic elements are affixed to one another such that one of the front or back surfaces of one of the first and second semiconductor dies is oriented towards one of the front or back surfaces of the other of the first and second semiconductor dies. A plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extend through the encapsulants of the first and second microelectronic elements and are electrically connected with at least one semiconductor die of the first and second microelectronic elements by the conductive elements.
US09917069B2
A method of cleaning an apparatus for processing a semiconductor wafer includes providing a first device having a first surface configured to load a first semiconductor wafer, a second device having a second surface configured to load a second semiconductor wafer, and a first cleaning module; and cleaning the second surface by moving the first cleaning module across the second surface in a first direction with respect to the second device.
US09917053B1
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer comprising an upper surface and a recess through the upper surface and including a lower part, an upper part, and a side surface, the side surface terminating at the upper surface at an upper edge, an insulating member in the lower part of the recess, an insulating film comprising a first portion on the upper edge of the recess, a second portion on the side surface of the recess in the upper part thereof, and a third portion on a portion of the semiconductor layer adjacent to the upper edge of the recess, and an electrode on the insulating member and the portion of the insulating film covering the upper edge of the recess. The first portion of the insulating film is thinner than thicknesses of each of the second and third portions thereof.
US09917052B2
A method includes depositing a first hard mask layer on a first substrate; lithographically patterning and etching the first substrate to form a semiconductor link connected to an anode semiconductor region and a cathode semiconductor region; removing the first hard mask layer from the first substrate; depositing a second hard mask layer on the first substrate; patterning a photoresist on the first substrate and etching to form an opening in the semiconductor link; etching to remove portions of the second hard mask layer to expose a portion of a sidewall of the semiconductor link; removing the photoresist from the first substrate and the semiconductor link; and recessing the sidewalls of the semiconductor link forming first anti-fuse tip and second anti-fuse tip to form an anti-fuse with an opening between the first and second anti-fuse tips.
US09917046B2
Provided is a manufacturing method of a circuit board structure including steps as below. A glass film is provided on an electrostatic chuck (E-chuck). A plurality of first conductive vias are formed in the glass film. A first circuit layer is formed on an upper surface of the glass film, such that the first circuit layer is electrically connected with the first conductive vias. A first polymer layer is formed on the first circuit layer. The first polymer layer covers a surface of the first circuit layer and the upper surface of the glass film. A plurality of second conductive vias are formed in the first polymer layer. A second circuit layer is formed on the first polymer layer, such that the second circuit layer is electrically connected with the second conductive vias. The E-chuck is removed.
US09917038B1
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package with an internal routing circuit. The internal routing circuit is formed from multiple molding routing layers in a plated and etched copper terminal semiconductor package by using a laser to blast away un-designed conductive areas to create conductive paths on each molding compound layer of the semiconductor package.
US09917027B2
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a first opening in an upper dielectric layer, the first opening having a first width, forming a second opening in a lower dielectric layer, the lower dielectric layer being below the upper dielectric layer, the second opening having a second width that is narrower than the first width, the second opening being substantially centered underneath the first opening so as to form a stepped via structure, conformally depositing an aluminum material layer in the stepped via structure and over the upper dielectric layer, and forming a passivation layer over the aluminum material layer.
US09917008B2
A system for interconnecting at least two die each die having a plurality of conducting layers and dielectric layers disposed upon a substrate which may include active and passive elements. In one embodiment there is at least one interconnect coupling at least one conducting layer on a side of one die to at least one conducting layer on a side of the other die. Another interconnect embodiment is a slug having conducting and dielectric layers disposed between two or more die to interconnect between the die. Other interconnect techniques include direct coupling such as rod, ball, dual balls, bar, cylinder, bump, slug, and carbon nanotube, as well as indirect coupling such as inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, and wireless communications. The die may have features to facilitate placement of the interconnects such as dogleg cuts, grooves, notches, enlarged contact pads, tapered side edges and stepped vias.
US09916995B2
A substrate processing tool includes N substrate processing stations arranged in a first transfer plane around a central cavity, where N is an integer greater than one. At least one of the N substrate processing stations is configured to process the substrate. M substrate processing stations are arranged in a second transfer plane around the central cavity, where M is an integer greater than one. The second transfer plane is arranged parallel to and above the first transfer plane. An upper tool portion includes the M substrate processing stations and a first portion of the N substrate processing stations. A rotatable lower tool portion rotates relative to the upper tool portion. A second portion of the N substrate processing stations rotates with the rotatable lower tool portion.
US09916990B2
A packaging substrate includes a holder, a first conductive pad disposed on the holder, a core layer disposed on the holder, a circuit layer disposed on the core layer, a plurality of conductive vias disposed in the core layer, and an insulating protection layer disposed on the core layer, wherein the first electrical pad is embedded in the core layer. By combining the holder on one side of the packaging substrate, cracks due to over-thinness can be prevented during transferring or packaging. A method of fabricating the packaging substrate, a package structure having a holder, a method of fabricating the package structure are also provided.
US09916984B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a gate conductor, formed on a substrate, and a two-dimensional material formed on the gate conductor. Recesses are formed adjacent to the gate conductor in the substrate, and a doped layer is deposited in the recesses and over a top of the two-dimensional material. Tape is adhered to the doped layer on top of the two-dimensional material. The tape is removed to exfoliate the doped layer from the top of the two-dimensional material to form source and drain regions in the recesses.
US09916982B1
Structures for use in a replacement gate process involving a field-effect transistor and methods for forming such structures. A first dielectric layer is formed adjacent to a dummy gate structure, and a second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. After the second dielectric layer is formed, a portion of the dummy gate structure is removed with an etching process to cut the dummy gate structure into disconnected segments. The second dielectric layer caps the first dielectric layer when the portion of the dummy gate structure is removed. The second dielectric layer has a higher etch rate selectivity than the first dielectric layer to the etching process.
US09916976B2
An oxide film is formed on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: continuously performing supplying in advance an oxidant to a substrate in a process chamber and simultaneously supplying the oxidant and a precursor to the substrate in the process chamber, without having to purge an interior of the process chamber between the act of supplying in advance the oxidant and the act of simultaneously supplying the oxidant and the precursor; stopping the supply of the oxidant and the precursor to the substrate in the process chamber and purging the interior of the process chamber; and supplying the oxidant to the substrate in the purged process chamber.
US09916972B2
A device for ionizing sample particles of a sample gas flow comprises a first flow tube for providing the sample gas flow, and an introducing means for providing H2SO4 molecules to an interaction region. In addition the device comprises a generator for producing reagent primary ions from particles of candidate reagent gas flow essentially in a primary ion production region. The device is configured to introduce said reagent primary ions with H2SO4 molecules in said interaction region in order to arrange interaction between the reagent primary ions and the H2SO4 molecules, thereby producing HSO4− ions and again to produce HSO4− ion clusters comprising HSO4− ions and at least two H2SO4 molecules via interactions of HSO4− with other H2SO4 molecules in said interaction region. Furthermore the device is configured to introduce said HSO4− ion clusters with the sample particles of the sample gas flow in order to provide reactions between said HSO4− ion clusters and the sample particles, and thereby provide a sample cluster comprising the HSO4− ion clusters and said base sample to be determined.
US09916962B2
A multi charged particle beam irradiation apparatus includes a shaping aperture array substrate, where plural openings are formed as an aperture array, to shape multi-beams by making a region including entire plural openings irradiated by a charged particle beam, and making portions of a charged particle beam individually pass through a corresponding one of the plural openings; and a plurality of stages of lenses, arranged such that a reduction ratio of multi-beams by at least one lens of a stage before the last stage lens is larger than that of the multi-beams by the last stage lens, to correct distortion of a formed image obtained by forming an image of the aperture array by the multi-beams, and to form the image of the aperture array by the multi-beams at a height position between the last stage lens and a last-but-one stage lens, and at the surface of a target object.
US09916957B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for ion traps are described herein. One apparatus includes a number of microwave (MW) rails and a number of radio frequency (RF) rails formed with substantially parallel longitudinal axes and with substantially coplanar upper surfaces. The apparatus includes two sequences of direct current (DC) electrodes with each sequence formed to extend substantially parallel to the substantially parallel longitudinal axes of the MW rails and the RF rails. The apparatus further includes a number of through-silicon vias (TSVs) formed through a substrate of the ion trap and a trench capacitor formed in the substrate around at least one TSV.
US09916954B2
A switching contact is disclosed. The switching contact has an actuation section including a plurality of spring elements. The actuation section is less rigid in a first direction than an opposite second direction.
US09916947B2
A control handle with a mounting portion, having an upper mounting portion and a lower mounting portion. An upper removable portion forms a substantially spherical portion with the upper mounting portion. A control plate is disposed between the upper mounting portion and the lower mounting portion, and control buttons are disposed on the control plate. A lower removable portion forms a substantially cylindrical portion with the lower mounting portion.
US09916944B2
A pair of open/close and current-passing movable contact pieces is supported on a movable contact terminal such that the pair is rotatable along with the reciprocation of an operating element. An open/close movable contact is mounted on the open/close movable contact piece and is rotatably biased by a spring member. A current-passing movable contact is mounted on the current-passing movable contact piece. By moving the operating element, a restriction imposed on a position of the operating element is released so that the open/close movable contact piece is rotated by a spring force of the spring member whereby the open/close movable contact is brought into pressure contact with an open/close fixed contact mounted on a fixed contact terminal. The current-passing movable contact piece is rotated by the operating element so that the current-passing movable contact is brought into pressure contact with a current-passing fixed contact mounted on the fixed contact terminal.
US09916943B2
A linkage mechanism includes a left wing having two left arms, two left supporting rods that are respectively formed on the left arms, and two left sliding rods that are respectively formed on the left arms, a right wing having two right arms, two right supporting rods that are respectively formed on the right arms, and two right connecting rods that are respectively formed on the right arms, and a hinge unit having two left hinge pins, two right hinge pins, two left hinge holes and two right holes. Each left hinge hole is formed in a respective left arm and is engaged with a respective right hinge pin. Each right hinge hole is formed in a respective right arm and is engaged with a respective left hinge pin.
US09916940B2
Power controller includes a switching circuit that is configured to provide electrical power to a load. The switching circuit includes a first path having a first switch and a second path that is in parallel with the first path prior to the load. The second path includes a second switch. The switching circuit is in a soft-switching state when the second path is activated and the first path is deactivated. The switching circuit is in an operational state when the second path is deactivated and the first path is activated. The power controller includes a processing unit that is configured to open or close the first and second switches to change the switching circuit between the soft-switching state and the operational state.
US09916939B1
An electrical device includes a case defining an interior space. The case includes a sidewall and a cover. The sidewall defines an opening therethrough to provide access to the interior space. The electrical device also includes a power connector coupled to the case and disposed at least partially within the interior space. The power connector is coupleable to a cable extending through the opening into the interior space of the case. The electrical device further includes a shield removably coupleable to the case. The shield includes an engagement feature and a wall. The engagement feature is arranged to engage the case. The wall is arranged to at least partially cover the opening when the shield is coupled to the case such that the wall and the cable are spaced apart a distance that is less than a width of the opening when the cable is coupled to the power connector.
US09916931B2
The present disclosure provides an energy storage device comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a solid multilayer structure disposed between said first and second electrodes. The solid multilayer structure can be in contact with said first and second electrodes. The solid multilayer structure can include layers disposed parallel to said electrodes, the layers have a sequence (A-B)m-A, wherein, A is an insulating layer and B is a polarization layer comprising a colloidal composite with a micro-dispersion of electro-conductive nano-particles in an insulator matrix, and ‘m’ is a number greater than or equal to 1. Layer A can have a breakdown voltage of at least about 0.05 volts per nanometer (nm), and layer B can have a dielectric permittivity of at least about 100.
US09916930B2
A method is provided for making a high permittivity dielectric material for use in capacitors. Several high permittivity materials in an organic nonconductive media with enhanced properties and methods for making the same are disclosed. A general method for the formation of thin films of some particular dielectric material is disclosed, wherein organic polymers are utilized to produce low conductivity dielectric coatings. Additionally, a method whereby the formation of certain transition metal salts as salt or oxide matrices is demonstrated at low temperatures utilizing mild reducing agents. Further, a circuit structure and associated method of operation for the recovery and regeneration of the leakage current from the long-term storage capacitors is provided in order to enhance the manufacturing yield and utility performance of such devices.
US09916929B2
A first metal terminal includes a first connection portion connected to an electrode portion of a second external electrode, and a first leg portion extending from the first connection portion. A second metal terminal includes a second connection portion connected to a conductor portion of a connection conductor, and a second leg portion extending from the second connection portion. A multilayer capacitor and an overcurrent protection device are disposed in such a manner that a first principal surface and a third side surface oppose each other. An electrode portion of a first external electrode and an electrode portion of a fourth external electrode are connected to each other.
US09916927B1
Electrically insulating Al2O3—SiO2 thin coatings have been deposited on long-length 316 stainless steel (SS) tape using a reel-to-reel continuous sol-gel dip coating process for co-winding insulation into YBCO pancake coils, a high temperature superconductor magnet technology. Coatings with a thickness of ˜2 μm are achieved after just one dip with a tape withdrawal speed of ˜16 mm/s (1 m/min) and a calcination at 700° C. The coatings were measured to have a room-temperature breakdown voltage of about 100 V, corresponding to a dc dielectric strength of about 50 MV/m. Consequently, this process has low cost and high throughput and produces a thin electrical insulation with excellent thermal, dielectric, and mechanical properties. A new technique has been developed in the coating process to mitigate coating buildup near the edges of the tape.
US09916926B2
A method of manufacturing a multilayer electronic component comprises steps of: preparing first insulating sheets having internal electrode patterns formed thereon; moving one or more of the first insulating sheets having the internal electrode patterns formed thereon onto a lower mold; arranging a second insulating sheet to be disposed between an internal electrode pattern disposed in an uppermost position among the internal electrode patterns formed on the lower mold and an upper mold and pressing the first insulating sheets having the internal electrode patterns formed thereon by the upper mold to form a laminate; and sintering the laminate to form a multilayer body. In a cross section in a width-thickness direction of the internal electrode pattern included in the multilayer body, 0.45≦t2/t2≦1.0, where t1 is a thickness of one side of the internal electrode pattern in relation to a central line connecting both vertices of the internal electrode pattern in a width direction and t2 is a thickness of the other side of the internal electrode pattern in relation to the central line and t2 is larger than or equal to t1.
US09916923B2
Apparatus for controlling heat transfer between two objects. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlled heat transfer is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a first and second conductive elements, a container of magnetorheological fluid disposed between the first and second conductive elements, a first electromagnet disposed about the container, wherein the electromagnet is configured to produce a first magnetic field within the container of magnetorheological fluid and conductively couple the first and second conductive elements, and a second electromagnet configured to produce a second magnetic field perpendicular to the first magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field is configured to conductively couple the first conductive element and the second conductive element.
US09916911B2
Systems and methods for storing spent nuclear fuel below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising: a shell forming a cavity for receiving a canister of spent nuclear fuel, at least a portion of the shell positioned below grade; and at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an above grade inlet to a below grade outlet at or near a bottom of the cavity; the inlet ventilation duct connected to the shell so that the cavity is hermetically sealed to ingress of below grade fluids. In another aspect, the invention is a method comprising: providing a below grade hole; providing a system comprising a shell forming a cavity for receiving a canister of spent nuclear fuel, at least a portion of the shell positioned below grade, and at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an inlet to an outlet at or near a bottom of the cavity, the inlet ventilation duct connected to the shell; positioning the apparatus in the hole so that the inlet of the inlet ventilation duct is above grade and the outlet of the inlet ventilation duct into the cavity is below grade; filling the hole with engineered fill; and lowering a spent fuel canister into the cavity.
US09916908B2
A gas supply apparatus of the present invention includes a gas discharge line of a first electromagnetic valve having s a switching valve placed therein, and a second electromagnetic valve placed between the switching valve and a gas supply source. The switching valve switches between a gas discharge from the first electromagnetic valve and a gas supply to the first electromagnetic valve. At the time of a normal operation, the second electromagnetic valve opens a gas discharge line side and closes a switching valve side, and when the power source is lost, the second electromagnetic valve opens the switching valve side and closes the gas discharge line side. In this way, even when the power source is lost, an operating valve can not only be operated remotely but also be operated safely by a remote operator.
US09916894B2
A method of sensing a resistance change memory device includes preparing a memory cell including a variable resistance element storing different data on the basis of a variable resistance, and a switching element connected to the variable resistance element and performing a threshold switching operation, measuring a first cell current by applying a first read voltage to the memory cell, the first read voltage being selected in a threshold-sensing range of a current-voltage characteristic curve of the memory cell, measuring a second cell current by applying a second read voltage to the memory cell, the second read voltage being selected in a resistance-sensing range of the current-voltage characteristic curve, and when at least one of the first cell current and the second cell current is greater than a corresponding reference current, outputting a data signal having a first logic value as data stored in the memory cell.
US09916886B2
Provided is a periodic signal generation circuit including: a clock generation unit suitable for generating first to Nth clocks which have a basic period and have a phase increasing sequentially by a time interval obtained by dividing the basic period by “N”; a pulse generation unit suitable for generating first to Nth periodic pulses having an equal pulse width and having a phase increasing sequentially by a time interval obtained by dividing the basic period by “N” by combining two or more clocks among the first to Nth clocks; and a periodic signal generation unit suitable for generating a periodic signal by combining one or more periodic pulses among the first to Nth periodic pulses depending on combination information.
US09916882B2
A magnetic memory of an embodiment includes: a first to third terminals; a magnetoresistive element including a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a first nonmagnetic layer; a second nonmagnetic layer including a first to third portions, the first portion being located between the second and the third portions, the second and third portions being electrically connected to the second and third terminals respectively, the first magnetic layer being disposed between the first portion and the first nonmagnetic layer; and a third nonmagnetic layer including a fourth to sixth portions, the fourth portion being located between the first portion and the first magnetic layer, the fifth portion including a first region extending from the magnetoresistive element to the second terminal, the sixth portion including a second region extending from the magnetoresistive element to the third terminal.
US09916878B2
Systems and methods are provided for parallel column twist interleaving. Parallel bit-interleaving with column twist may be applied to an input bitstream based on one or more interleaving parameters. Bits in the input bitstream may be read, in sets having size based on a first interleaving parameter, and may then be processed based on a second interleaving parameter. The processing may comprise applying a shift to a combination of bits that include a current bit set and additional bits corresponding to previously processed bit sets and/or pre-set bits. The shift may be determined based on a column twist associated with the current corresponding. Bits generated based on processing in current and/or previous cycles may be stored into memory, and bits may be read from the memory, based on a third interleaving parameter, for generating an output interleaved bitstream.
US09916876B2
An apparatus with an ultra low power architecture is described herein. The apparatus includes a first power supply rail, wherein a plurality of subsystems are to be powered by the first power supply rail. The apparatus also includes a second power supply rail, wherein a plurality of autonomous subsystems are to be powered by the power supply rail, wherein the second power supply rail is to be always on, always available, and low power.
US09916873B2
A memory module uses dynamic data buffers for providing extended capacity for computing systems. The memory module comprises an external interface having a first set of data pins and a second set of data pins. The memory module includes a first set of memory chips and a second set of memory chips. The memory module includes a first registering clock driver to control the first set of memory chips and a second registering clock driver to control the second set of memory chips. The memory module further includes a first data buffer to connect the first set of memory chips to the first set of data pins and a second data buffer to connect the second set of memory chips to the second set of data pins.
US09916872B1
A data storage system assembly includes a hermetically-sealed enclosure, a double-barrier sealing system comprising first and second sealing members spaced from each other, and a vacuum source that operates in the space between sealing members to generate a lower pressure in the space than in the enclosure. A lighter-than-air gas may be enclosed in the enclosure, and a plurality of non-hermetically-sealed data storage devices may be housed within the enclosure. Air, humidity, and other contaminants may be intercepted by the vacuum system rather than leak into and pollute the sealed internal environment of the storage system enclosure.
US09916869B1
A method of servicing a data storage library having at least one access opening and at least one access door to permit access to an interior of the data storage library, the method including providing at least one barrier configured to at least partially surround the at least one library access opening when the at least one access door is opened, wherein the at least one barrier is configured to resist environmental conditions from exterior the barrier and data storage library from intruding into the interior of data storage library when the barrier is deployed. The method also includes deploying the at least one barrier when the at least one access door is opened to form an interior working space, accessing the interior space formed by the at least one barrier, and accessing the interior of the data storage library via the at least one library access opening.
US09916865B2
A mobile terminal including a touchscreen; and a controller configured to display a video list in a first region of the touchscreen, display a selected video from the video list in a second region of the touch screen different than the first region, in response to a first type of input for selecting the video, and display the selected video in the first region of the touch screen, in response to a second type of input for selecting the video different than the first type of touch input. Further, the first type of input corresponds to a direct touch input to the touchscreen, and the second type of input corresponds to a proximity touch input to the touchscreen.
US09916860B2
A device for recording and/or reading data to and/or from a magnetic tape includes a read/write head which has a first device set including a first plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements and a second device set including a second plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements. The device also includes a lateral positioning actuator and an azimuth actuator. The lateral positioning actuator and azimuth actuator are used together to position both device sets on the magnetic tape. The lateral positioning actuator laterally positions the read/write head such that during write and/or read operations the first and second pluralities of magnetic data write and/or read elements align laterally to first and second pluralities of recordable and/or readable data tracks on the magnetic tape. The azimuth actuator rotates the read/write head about an azimuthal angle. such that the elements align to lateral spacings.
US09916850B1
A preamplifier circuit can include a control line dedicated to receive a control signal that corresponds to indicating a specific register of the preamplifier circuit, which can allow the preamplifier to switch between utilizing two or more registers to control a current output of the preamplifier circuit. The preamplifier circuit may also have a serial input to program multiple registers of the preamplifier circuit in a serial fashion. In some embodiments, the current output may be a laser bias current. The preamplifier may adjust an output current that drives a laser emitter based on a control signal indicating which specific registers controls the output current. Further, a controller, such as a system-on-chip controller, may selectively vary the control signal to affect the current output of the preamplifier circuit. These systems and methods may be particularly useful for lasers and heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR).
US09916846B2
A system and method for determining an amount of speech in an audio signal may include for example: obtaining segments of the audio signal, wherein the segments are grouped into blocks; for each one of the segments, calculating a segment value indicative of an amplitude of the audio signal of a respective segment; for each one of the blocks calculating a block value indicative of the amplitude of the audio signal of a respective block; and calculating an audio signal speech grade based on segment values and block values, wherein the audio signal speech grade is indicative of the amount of speech in the audio signal.
US09916845B2
This method for determining alcohol use comprises the steps of: detecting an effective frame in an input audio signal; detecting a difference in signal within the original signal of the effective frame; performing a fast Fourier conversion on the difference signal to be transformed into a frequency domain; detecting high-frequency components within the difference signal subjected to the fast Fourier transform; and determining the state of alcohol use on the basis of a gradient difference between the high-frequency components. Accordingly, the present invention can identify the state and extent of alcohol use by a driver or an operator from a long distance and thus can prevent accidents caused by driving or operating vehicles and machines under the influence of alcohol.
US09916839B1
Techniques are described for shared audio functionality between multiple computing devices, based on grouping the multiple computing devices into a device set. The devices may provide audio output, audio input, or both audio output and input. The devices may discover each other via transmitted radio signals, and the devices may be organized into one or more device sets based on location, supported functions, or other criteria. The shared audio functionality may enable a voice command received at one device in the device set to be employed for controlling audio output or other operations of other device(s) in the device set. Shared audio functionality between devices in a device set may also enable synchronized audio output through using multiple devices in the device set.
US09916835B2
A digital wireless audio transmission system having a wireless receiving unit for wirelessly receiving a high-frequency signal. An HF analysis unit analyzes the received high-frequency data, detects errors in the transmission within a time window, and outputs the received data and first items of information in respect of the detected errors. A decoding unit converts/decodes the received high-frequency data into audio data. An error detection unit checks errors in the conversion of the decoding unit within a previously established time window and outputs second items of information in respect of errors during decoding of the received high-frequency data. An error rate is determined based on the first and second items of information. If the error rate exceeds a first threshold value then no audio signal is outputted. Only if the error rate falls below a second value, lower than the first value, is an audio output is then again effected.
US09916822B1
A derivative track for an audio track may be generated. An audio track duration of the audio track may be partitioned into partitions of a partition size. A current partition may be compared to remaining partitions of the audio track. Audio information for the current partition may be correlated to audio information for remaining partitions to determine a correlated partition for the current partition from among the remaining partitions of the track duration. The correlated partition determined may be identified as most likely to represent the same sound as the current partition. This comparison process may be performed iteratively for individual ones of the remaining partitions. One or more regions of the audio track may be identified. Individual regions may include multiple correlated partitions that are temporally adjacent along the audio track duration. One or more partitions within one or more regions may be removed to generate the derivative track.
US09916820B2
A musical instrument includes a supporter for supporting a plurality of sound tubes to be hung therefrom using wires. The supporter includes at least one hanger bar and a plurality of hanger pins extending from the at least one hanger bar toward a hanging side of the at least one hanger bar from which the sound tubes are hung. The at least one hanger bar and the hanger pins are integrally formed in one piece.
US09916817B2
The present invention relates to a display method of a display panel, a display panel and a display device, and the display method of a display panel is used for enabling each row of N pixel units in the display panel to display an image having 2N+x−1 pixel points. The display method comprises steps of: acquiring an image, each row of which comprises 2N+x−1 pixel points corresponding to the N pixel units; and determining a display parameter of each sub-pixel according to the components, which have the same color as the sub-pixel, in the pixel points corresponding to the sub-pixel.
US09916807B2
An output circuit of a display driving device may include: an output buffer unit configured to buffer a pair of input signals having different polarities and output a pair of output signals; and a switching unit configured to transmit the pair of output signals to a pair of output terminals through a direct path or a cross path during an output period, and charge-share the pair of output terminals using a middle voltage of a pull-up voltage and a pull-down voltage of the output buffer unit during a charge-sharing period.
US09916806B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a gamma mapping unit configured to receive red, green, and blue image information from an external device. During the first field, the gamma mapping unit generates first to third data signals for controlling the first to third pixels based on the red, green, and blue image information in synchronization with the backlight unit. During the second field, the gamma mapping unit generates fourth and fifth data signals for controlling the first and second pixels based on at least one of the first to third data signals or based on the red, green, and blue image information. As the quantity of the second color light leaked is adjusted through the first and second color filters in the second field, a color reproduction range and brightness of the liquid crystal display panel are improved. Thus, the display quality of the liquid crystal display apparatus is improved.
US09916798B2
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a first drive module. A first source line is located between a first divisional electrode and a second divisional electrode. One frame period includes a first display period, a second display period, a sense period, and a first pre-charge period. The first drive module supplies a first image signal having a first polarity to the first source line in the first display period, supplies a first pre-charge signal having a second polarity to the first source line in the first pre-charge period, and supplies the first image signal having the first polarity to the first source line in the second display period.
US09916796B2
The present examples relate to a liquid crystal display device with a repair function. The present examples repair a defect of a line or a defect of a pixel, using a specialized data signal structure, wherein the data signal structure integrates channel data, which is required for channel driving of a liquid crystal display element, and repair amplifier data, which is used for repairing a defect of a line and/or a pixel. Thus, examples have a better repair function than an alternative liquid crystal display device.
US09916789B2
An organic light-emitting diode display and a method of driving the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a light emission control line configured to provide a light emission control signal and a power line configured to provide a power voltage. An operation control TFT is electrically connected to the power line and configured to be turned on based on the light emission control signal so as to provide the power voltage. A driving TFT is electrically connected to the operation control TFT, an OLED is electrically connected to the driving TFT, and an initialization TFT is configured to provide the power voltage to the driving TFT. In a frame of the OLED display, the power voltage provided when the initialization TFT is turned on and the power voltage provided when the operation control TFT is turned on are different from each other.
US09916781B2
An illuminated vehicular sign is provided including a vehicle and luminescent planar sheet. The luminescent planar sheet is constructed to provide illuminated alpha-numeric characters which are mounted to the horizontal planar surfaces of a vehicle. The alpha-numeric characters are mounted substantially horizontally so as to be seen from the air such as by helicopters or planes. The illuminated vehicle sign includes a switching system electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for selectively controlling the transfer of power from said power source to the luminescent planar panels. The switching system including one or more adjustable variable resistors electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for allowing one to selectively adjust the wattage provided to them.
US09916770B2
Methods and systems (100) for tactile code interpretation are described herein. In an embodiment, a tactile code interpretation system (100) includes a tactile code device (102) having a plurality of tactile units (106). Each of the plurality of tactile units (106) includes a tactile code (108) for representing a notation and a corresponding acoustic code (110). The acoustic code (110) encodes information pertaining to a plurality of data blocks. The plurality of data bocks includes a start block corresponding to a start pattern, an end block corresponding to an end pattern, and one or more information blocks corresponding to information pertaining to the tactile code (108). Further, the acoustic code (110), when swiped, generates a unique sound wave to facilitate semantic interpretation of the corresponding tactile code (108).
US09916764B2
A common operating environment (COE) display system for vehicle operations, such as for air transport provides coordination of logistics information with dispatch or a controller. An operational plan, such as a flight plan or other operational plan describing vehicle deployment is stored, and a map visualization system displays a map region. An in-vehicle display depicts the operational plan, providing displays of current and projected operational conditions of the vehicle within different time phases of the operational plan. Communication as either text or other data allows transmission can be performed as text, attachments or a combination of text and attachments. Messages (text) and attachments (files) are exchanged only through the server, and the items exchanged are recorded for analysis and forensic purposes.
US09916763B2
A method of visibility event navigation includes receiving, via processing circuitry of a client device, a first visibility event packet from a server, the first visibility event packet including information representing 3D surface elements of an environmental model that are occluded from a first viewcell and not occluded from a second viewcell, the first and second viewcells representing spatial regions of a specified navigational route within a real environment modeled by the environmental model. The method also includes acquiring, surface information representing the visible surfaces of the real environment at a sensor and determining, a position in the real environment by matching the surface information to the visibility event packet information. The method further includes transmitting, the position from the client device to the server and receiving a second visibility event packet from the server if the at least one position is within the specified navigational route.
US09916753B2
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods in which a controllable device transfers to the remote device, such as to a remote control application (“app”) located on a smartphone, a data structure identifying various functions that can be controlled by a remote device, together with the identity of the signal type that will achieve the desired operation. The remote device, upon accepting input directly from the remote device, can then allow the remote device user to select how controls of the various functions are to be configured and presented to, or otherwise selectively arranged for a user on a user interface of the remote device. In this way, the present disclosure provides a single highly customizable system. Distributors, resellers, and/or manufacturers of various electronic devices will be able utilize the same controllable device instructions, yet visually distinguish its brand name from other solutions using the same instructions.
US09916751B2
Systems and techniques are provided for learned overrides for home security. A sensor of a security system may be armed. A trip signal may be received indicating a tripping of the sensor. It may be determined that the trip signal can be automatically overridden based on matching an identity of the sensor and a state of the security system with a pattern in a model. The pattern may represent a state of the security system in which automatically overriding the trip signal from the sensor is permitted. The trip signal from the sensor may be automatically overridden without input from a user.
US09916746B2
A security system is coupled to a door lock system. A sensor is at a dwelling. The sensor is coupled to a drive shaft of a lock device to assist in locking and unlocking a lock of a lock device at a door. An engine, an energy source and a memory are coupled together. The engine is coupled to the sensor. The memory provides information relating to open or closed status of a door to a dwelling occupant or a third party designated by the dwelling occupant. At least one motion detection device is provided to detect a person at or near a door or window at the dwelling. A security system includes a video apparatus that captures video and coupled to the motion detection device to take a video of an image of the person or an outline of the person, wherein the video is configured to begin before motion detection begins.
US09916745B2
A container fraud detection system and method using one or more wireless communication tags attached to a container in specific ways to ensure the authenticity of the contents. The tag is affixed to the container in such a way that the tag is destroyed upon opening of the container, thereby indicating fraud upon scanning. The tag may be affixed to the container by an adhesive strip, polymer film or wax composition. The tag may be affixed to an adhesive strip prior to application of the strip to a container. Two tags on the container or strip may be cryptographically linked. The tag information is accessible through a scanning device which communicates with a database that stores information about the container and analyzes the probability of fraud with an algorithm.
US09916738B2
Methods and apparatus for detection and notification of pressure waves are described herein. A lighting unit (100) may include one or more light sources (104) such as LEDs, a pressure wave sensor (106), a communication interface (108), and a controller (102) operably coupled with the one or more LEDs, the pressure wave sensor, and the communication interface. In various embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive a signal from the pressure wave sensor, the signal representative of one or more pressure waves detected by the pressure wave sensor. The controller may be configured to determine, based on the signal received from the pressure wave sensor, that the detected one or more pressure waves satisfy a predetermined criterion. The controller may be configured to transmit, to one or more remote lighting units via the communication interface, notification that the predetermined criterion has been satisfied.
US09916736B2
In an example embodiment, an automated banking machine that allows a customer to employ a mobile wireless device for performing banking transactions. The customer may request assistance from a teller or other bank personnel at a remote location. An audio, and optionally video, communication may be initiated between the remote location and the customer. The customer may use either the automated banking machine, mobile wireless device, or both for communicating with the remote location.
US09916714B2
A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.
US09916712B2
In an apparatus for checking sheet material a plurality of sensors is arranged along a sensor path along which the sheet material is transported. The sensors each have two components, which are arranged at opposite sides of the bank note transport path. For the functioning of many sensors it is necessary that the opposing sensor components are exactly aligned to each other. So as to achieve that the alignment of the sensor components arranged opposite each other is set with high accuracy and reproducible, the relative position of the sensor components opposing each other is defined by means of docking elements.
US09916706B1
A customer vehicle management system includes fob devices that each include a customer portion and a key portion, that are separable and may be magnetically interlocked with a charging and communication link between them. The system provides dynamic association of fob customer portions, fob key portions and docking units housed within a cabinet. Customer portions are deployed to a customer (driver) who may later request retrieval of a vehicle the keys of which were left with an operator (valet). Vehicle requests are made through a wireless link. A communications and management module within a fob and key storage cabinet receives the request signal and activates an indicator on a docking unit associated with the customer portion and where an associated key portion is docked. The operator may then retrieve vehicle keys associated with the customer portion from which the request was made.
US09916699B2
A method for determining a corrected yaw rate for a vehicle includes receiving a first yaw rate input from a yaw rate sensor of the vehicle and determining if the vehicle is moving or stationary. If the vehicle is determined to be moving, the method includes determining a steering angle of the vehicle, and determining an offset correction value based at least in part on a determined speed of the vehicle and the determined steering angle. A yaw rate offset is determined based at least in part on the determined offset correction value and the received first yaw rate input. A second yaw rate input is received from the yaw rate sensor of the vehicle, and a corrected yaw rate value is determined based at least in part on the received second yaw rate input and the determined yaw rate offset.
US09916691B2
A head mounted display which allows a user to visually recognize a virtual image and external scenery, and includes an image display unit that forms the virtual image which is visually recognized by the user, and a superimposition processing unit that causes the image display unit to form the virtual image based on superimposition information for superimposing invisible information which is not shown in an appearance of an object on the object included in the external scenery.
US09916687B2
An example computer includes: an image acquiring unit that acquires an image of a real space captured by an imaging device; a feature detecting unit that detects a feature from the image; a determining unit that determines a virtual object, or, a virtual object and an aspect of the virtual object while changing the same in accordance with a recognition condition of the detected feature; an image generating unit that generates an image of a virtual space in which the determined virtual object or the virtual object in the determined aspect is placed on a basis of the feature; and a display controlling unit that displays an image on a display device such that the image of the virtual space is visually recognized by a user while being superimposed on the real space.
US09916674B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for improving path rendering on computer systems with an available graphics processing unit. The technique involves reducing complex path objects to simpler geometric objects suitable for rendering on a graphics processing unit. The process involves a central processing unit “baking” a set of complex path rendering objects to generate a set of simpler graphics objects. A graphics processing unit then renders the simpler graphics objects. This division of processing load can advantageously yield higher overall rendering performance.
US09916671B2
Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices for method of providing spatial visualizations of metrics. In embodiments, the method includes referencing a spatial map having multiple spatial regions. A set of metric stacks is also referenced. The metric stacks graphically indicate values associated with multiple metrics. Further, each metric stack corresponds with one of the spatial regions based on location with which the values associated with the multiple metrics correspond. The metric stacks are overlaid on the corresponding spatial region within the spatial map such that a user can simultaneously view metrics associated with particular spatial regions.
US09916663B2
An image processing method includes the steps of detecting edge information from an input image, identifying a plurality of lines from the edge information, dividing the input image into a plurality of areas based on the relative locations of the plurality of identified lines, calculating a similarity between adjacent areas of the plurality of divided areas, detecting boundaries between the adjacent areas as line segments partitioning the adjacent areas based on a degree of dissimilarity of the adjacent areas, wherein each of the line segments is at least a portion of the plurality of lines, and connecting the line segments forming the boundaries, and generating a connected shape using the boundaries.
US09916661B2
An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry selects from a plurality of diffusion-weighted images with different applied directions of a motion probing gradient magnetic field pulse or different diffusion sensitive coefficients, a diffusion-weighted image that conforms to a predetermined condition. The processing circuitry configured to register the selected diffusion-weighted image with a reference image for which the diffusion sensitive coefficient being set to a reference value to correct the selected diffusion-weighted image. The processing circuitry configured to register the corrected diffusion-weighted image with each of the other diffusion-weighted images of the plurality of diffusion-weighted images to correct each of the other diffusion-weighted images.
US09916660B2
A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera may include a fisheye lens. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. The vision system provides enhanced camera calibration using a monoview noncoplanar three dimensional calibration pattern. The system may include a plurality of cameras configured to be disposed at the vehicle so as to have respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle.
US09916653B2
One embodiment relates to an apparatus for detecting defects on a manufactured substrate. The apparatus includes an imaging tool arranged to obtain image frames from the manufactured substrate. The apparatus further includes a data processing system which includes computer-readable code configured to compute features for pixels in an image frame and divide the pixels in the image frame into feature-defined groups of pixels. The computer-readable code is further configured to select a feature-defined group, and generate a multi-dimensional feature distribution for the selected feature-defined group. Another embodiment relates to a method of detecting defects from a test images frame and multiple reference image frames. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.
US09916642B2
A setting circuit sets a quantization value per input image on the basis of a noise value of the whole input image, and a quantization circuit performs quantization on first image data to generate second image data. Quantization value based on the noise value the whole input image can realize appropriate denoising depending on the noise level of the whole input image.
US09916633B1
Techniques for managing services provided on behalf of a user are provided. A user profile generator accesses a first user profile, applies modifications to the first user profile, and saves the modifications as a second user profile, without modifying the first user profile, such that the first user profile remains saved without modifications. In response to a second user profile invocation input indicating that the second user profile should be invoked, a second provision of services associated with the second user profile are invoked in place of a first provision of services related to the first user profile. The first provision of services related to the first user profile are re-invoked when a determination is made that the second user profile should no longer be invoked.
US09916632B1
Methods, systems, and computer program products for data collection and/or software registration during software installation. One or more embodiments involve a computer presenting a screen or interface comprising a screen to a user through a display, during a software installation process of a software program, a web form embedded into a web screen. The web screen may be installation web screen for the software installation process. In at least one embodiment, the web form allows the user to input data. One or more embodiments further involve the computer providing the data inputted by the user to the software program after the installation process is complete. In one or more embodiments, the data is user identification data, customer information data, software registration data, software configuration data, and/or answers by the user to at least one survey.
US09916621B1
A score factor system that may generate a score factor user interface that displays summary credit information for a particular consumer in selected credit categories. The system constructs flippable score factor interfaces for such display that, when touched, may be reversed to display explanatory text on how the corresponding credit category affects their credit report.
US09916619B2
A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a user location includes receiving at least one payment location restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment location restriction includes at least one authorized user location or at least one unauthorized user location for making payments using the account. The at least one payment location restriction is associated with the account in a database. A request to make a payment using the account is received over the network. A current user location is determined. The request to make the payment is then authorized or denied based, at least partly, on whether the current user location is included in the at least one authorized user location or the at least one unauthorized user location.
US09916613B1
Systems and methods are provided for generating color-related item recommendations using color palette information. A request may be received from a user for a color-related item recommendation. The request may include an input image and one or more item attributes. Based at least in part on an analysis of the input image to identify affiliated colors to the input image and the one or more item attributes, one or more items corresponding to the affiliated colors and the one or more item attributes are identified. Where there is more than one identified item, a ranking for the identified plurality of items may be generated. Item recommendations comprising at least a portion of the identified plurality of items in accordance with the generated ranking may be provided for presentation on a user device.
US09916612B2
Systems and methods may provide purchasing suggestions to consumers based on the emotional, financial, social or physiological state of the consumer. The state of a consumer is based on data that may be collected from a variety of sources, including image data and biosensor data collected at the point of sale, as well as data accessible via smart phone or stored elsewhere. The systems and methods may be practiced in the context of a vending machine, bricks-and-mortar store, on-line store, or other venue.
US09916609B1
A feedback module identifies one or more social network data entries received from the at least one social network provider that are related to a content item. The feedback module parses the identified one or more social network data entries to identify feedback related to the content item. The feedback module then generates a feedback result based on the feedback identified in the one or more social network data entries.
US09916596B1
Embodiments of system are disclosed in which selection strategies for a direct marketing campaign that identify consumers from a credit bureau or other consumer database can be planned, tested, and/or refined on a stable subset of the credit database. In some embodiments, once refined, consumer selection criteria may be used to execute the direct marketing campaign on the full consumer/credit database, which is preferably updated approximately twice weekly. In one preferred embodiment, the data for the test database represents a random sampling of approximately 10% of the full database and the sampling is regenerated approximately weekly in order to provide a stable set of data on which campaign developers may test their campaign. For each consumer in the sampling, the environment may allow a client to access and use both attributes calculated by the credit bureau and proprietary attributes and data owned by the client. The system allows for a plurality of clients to use the system substantially simultaneously while protecting the privacy and integrity of the client's proprietary data and results.
US09916591B2
A communications system and method by which information is transmitted and received bi-directionally between digital signage and individuals viewing scenes displayed on digital signage. The digital signage transmits and receives information via an RFID reader and the individual transmits and receives information via an RFID tag. The system and method are useful in providing subscribers to a product/service information database with individually customized information about products and services based on the personal profiles of the individual subscribers.
US09916585B2
Systems and methods for generating a transaction lifecycle output using a transaction lifecycle (TL) computer system are provided herein. The TL computer system includes a memory device for storing data and a processor in communication with the memory device. The processor is programmed to receive transaction data associated with a transaction being processed over a payment network. The transaction data includes authorization data, clearing data, and fraud data. The processor is also programmed to generate the transaction lifecycle output by processing the authorization data, the clearing data, and the fraud data. The transaction lifecycle output includes output data organized by pre-defined stages of the transaction.
US09916583B2
A server computer is disclosed. It comprises a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium comprises code executable by the processor for implementing a method comprising: a) receiving an authorization request message, wherein the authorization request message requests authorization to proceed with a transaction conducted between a first party and a second party using a portable device; b) analyzing the authorization request message by a server computer to determine if the portable device is enrolled in a transaction alert program; c) if the portable device is enrolled in the transaction alert program, sending a transaction alert request message to a third party requesting approval to proceed with the transaction; d) receiving a transaction alert response message from the third party; e) sending the authorization request message to an issuer associated with the portable device; f) receiving an authorization response message from the issuer; and g) sending the authorization response message to the second party.
US09916568B2
Mechanisms are provided, in a data processing system, for retrieving and utilizing item information to perform a transaction. The mechanisms receive an identification of an item present in a detection field of the item identification system. A determination is made as to whether valid item information for the item is present in a cache of the data processing system in response to detecting the item as being present in the detection field of the item identification system. If valid item information is present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from the cache. If valid item information is not present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from a remotely located cloud computing system. The transaction is performed based on the valid item information.
US09916565B2
A computer program product for using an undo stack to explore past actions and apply new actions to previous states in a data view is provided. The computer program product includes program instructions to detect a change in an application data view. The application then displays an undo stack and stores the data change in the application data view to the undo stack. Upon detecting a selection of the undo stack entry for undo, the application returns the application data view to the state represented by the undo stack entry. The computer program product further includes program instructions to provide a user interface allowing a user to perform operations on undo stack entries. Responsive to the user utilizing the user interface and making selections, the application then adjusts the application data view state based on the performed actions.
US09916564B1
Computer-based systems and methods for providing real-time collaborative travel planning among a group of travelers. The systems and methods may use an Internet website that provides travelers with real-time visibility into both planned and/or booked travel itineraries of the traveling companions for a particular journey. When a traveler books or selects part of the traveler's itinerary, notifications of the booking or selection may be sent to the other travelers in the group. Various embodiments of the present invention provide for real-time interactive discussions by the traveling companions about the journey. Throughout the life of the journey, each traveler may collaborate with his or her traveling companions to plan the most efficient journey utilizing real-time visibility of each traveler's itinerary.
US09916561B2
The location of a container and the location of a storage device that stores a particular item are determined. A determination is made that the particular item is placed in the container. The locations of the particular item and the container are tracked as the container moves through a premises. For a purchase-related transaction, a determination is made whether the location of the particular item corresponds to the location of the container. If the location of the particular item corresponds to the location of the container, a cost for the particular item is included in the purchase-related transaction. If not, the cost for the particular item is not included in the purchase-related transaction, and the location of the particular item is accounted for.
US09916548B2
An apparatus for assessing and controlling the quality of a project in a production environment is provided. The apparatus is configured to: receive a first score, wherein the first score comprises a first numerical value associated with a first level of quality, wherein the first level of quality is associated with a first deliverable; receive a second score, wherein the second score comprises a second numerical value associated with a second level of quality, wherein the second level of quality is associated with the first deliverable; and process the first score and the second score to generate a third score.
US09916546B2
A system that facilitates direct communication of a transaction between an automation controller and a business system comprises a request analyzer that receives a request for data relating to the automation controller and locates a transaction definition within the automation controller based upon the request. A subscribing component subscribes the business system to the automation controller based at least in part upon the located transaction definition.
US09916544B2
An information providing apparatus caches, based on a number of reservation remains which is periodically acquired from a management apparatus managing numbers of reservation remains of services, a number of remains of a reservation target in a cache means for each reservation target identified by a combination of a service and a time of providing the service; estimates, for each of a plurality of reservation targets corresponding to a request of a user, a probability that information related to a reservation target is browsed by the user; acquires the number of remains of a reservation target where the probability is greater than or equal to a threshold value from the management apparatus and acquires the number of remains of a reservation target where the probability is smaller than the threshold value from the cache means; and provides a state of remains of each of the plurality of reservation targets, the state of remains corresponding to the number of remains.
US09916532B2
A method for providing cognitive insights via a cognitive information processing system comprising: receiving data from a plurality of data sources; receiving and processing queries; and, bridging the queries into a cognitive graph.
US09916529B1
The present invention provides a multifunctional touch smart card, having: an operation center, a touch part, a security element, and a battery. The touch part is capable of controlling operation of the operation center and the security element. The battery supplies power to the operation center, the security element, and the touch part. A touch button design is adopted for the smart card of the present invention, so a button of the present invention can be disposed at any position of the smart card. Thus, not only may the card have a more beautiful appearance design, but also it is easier to lay out circuits of the smart card.
US09916525B2
A computer-implemented method for providing image quality optimization individualized for a user includes a computer receiving raw image data acquired from an image scanner and identifying one or more raw image quality features based on the raw image data. The computer automatically determines one or more target image quality features by applying one or more user preferences to the one or more raw image quality features. The computer also automatically determines one or more processing parameters based on the one or more target image quality features. The computer may then process the raw image data using the one or more processing parameters to yield an image.
US09916523B2
An automatic classifying system in a dining environment includes a picture uploading module implemented in an electronic device for transmitting a set of pictures via the Internet, and a server for directly or indirectly receiving the set of pictures. The server has a picture analysis module for classifying one of the pictures according to at least two classifications and generating an analysis result to a web-platform system so as to display the picture and the analysis result.
US09916520B2
A food recognition assistant system includes technologies to recognize foods and combinations of foods depicted in a digital picture of food. Some embodiments include technologies to estimate portion size and calories, and to estimate nutritional value of the foods. In some embodiments, data identifying recognized foods and related information are generated in an automated fashion without relying on human assistance to identify the foods. In some embodiments, the system includes technologies for achieving automatic food detection and recognition in a real-life setting with a cluttered background, without the images being taken in a controlled lab setting, and without requiring additional user input (such as user-defined bounding boxes). Some embodiments of the system include technologies for personalizing the food classification based on user-specific habits, location and/or other criteria.
US09916515B2
A system for processing an image comprises a region detector (1). The region detector comprises an artifact detector (7) for detecting a region comprising an artifact in the image. The system comprises a parameter determining unit (2) for determining a parameter, based on a portion of the image excluding the detected region. The system comprises an image processing module (3) for processing the image, using the derived parameter. The system comprises a display unit (5) for displaying the processed image with an indication of the detected region. The parameter determined by the parameter determining unit (2) can comprise a normalization parameter, and the image processing module (3) can be arranged for performing a normalization of the image according to the normalization parameter.
US09916509B2
A detection system for a vehicle is provided. The detection system may include at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area forward of the vehicle, the area including a curb separating a road surface from an off-road surface and a data interface. The detection system may also include at least one processing device programmed to receive the plurality of images via the data interface, and determine a plurality of curb edge line candidates in the plurality of images. The at least one processing device may be further programmed to identify at least one edge line candidate as an edge line of the curb.
US09916502B2
Embodiments are disclosed for eye tracking systems and methods. An example eye tracking system comprises a plurality of light sources and a camera configured to capture an image of light from the light sources as reflected from an eye. The eye tracking system further comprises a logic device and a storage device storing instructions executable by the logic device to acquire frames of eye tracking data by iteratively projecting light from different combinations of light sources of the plurality of light sources and capturing an image of the eye during projection of each combination. The instructions may be further executable to select a selected combination of light sources for eye tracking based on a determination of occlusion detected in the image arising from a transparent or semi-transparent optical structure positioned between the eye and the camera and project light via the selected combination of light sources for eye tracking.
US09916496B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for operating, calibrating, and dynamically optimizing a system for a virtual reality environment where colored marker lights are attached to objects, the objects including players, controllers, and devices related to the game. One or more color cameras are used to view one or more spaces, and track positions and orientations of players and other objects according to the attached marker lights. A hierarchical system of servers may be used to process positions and orientations of objects and provide controls as necessary for the system. A method for color assignment is described as well as a calibration process, and a dynamic optimization process. A synchronization process is also described that ensures that a plurality of cameras and attached servers are properly coordinated. Head-mounted devices may also be used in conjunction with marker lights to provide information regarding players.
US09916490B2
A fingerprint sensor includes a pixel array, an offset cancellation circuit, a correlated double sampling and integration circuit, a sample and hold circuit, and an analog-to-digital converter. The pixel array includes unit pixels arranged in rows and columns, each of which generates an analog signal by detecting a fingerprint of a user. The offset cancellation circuit receives the analog signal from the unit pixels through a plurality of column lines, and outputs one of the analog signal and an offset cancellation signal as an integration signal based on an offset control signal. The correlated double sampling and integration circuit accumulatively performs a correlated double sampling operation and an integration operation on the integration signal to generate an accumulation signal. The sample and hold circuit samples the accumulation signal based on a hold signal to generate a sampling signal. The analog-to-digital converter converts the sampling signal to a digital signal.
US09916476B2
Maintaining cryptoprocessor types in a multinode system includes receiving a selection of a cryptoprocessor type; identifying, within a multinode system, a node having a cryptoprocessor of the selected cryptoprocessor type; and designating the node having the cryptoprocessor of the selected cryptoprocessor type as a primary node for the multimode system.
US09916465B1
A dynamic data minimization server implements minimization protocols to entity-specific information based on access rights (e.g., privacy rights) of a requesting entity. The minimization may be applied on the fly (e.g., as the entity-specific information is requested) and the level, type, protocol, etc., of encryption (or other minimization process) may be selected based on a particular type of a data item. The dynamic data minimization server may determine and apply transformation functions, such as encryption, to items of protected information, transforming those items of protected information into items of minimized information. If a requesting entity has appropriate rights, the dynamic data minimization server may selectively apply a reverse transformation function, such as decryption, to recover the original information. The systems and methods include generation and presentation of user interfaces for presenting minimized information and processing requests to de-minimize information, and may be used to provide minimization services to pre-existing data stores.
US09916448B1
Software development kit (SDK) class tree structures of malicious SDKs are created, with each node of the SDK class tree structures representing a class of a corresponding malicious SDK. An app class tree structure of a mobile app is also created, with each node of the app class tree structure representing a class of the mobile app. To determine if the mobile app has been created (e.g., repackaged or originally created) using at least one of the malicious SDKs, the app class tree structure is compared against the SDK class tree structures to find an SDK class tree structure that matches the app class tree structure. For confirmation, the similarity of classes of the app class tree structure relative to classes of the SDK class tree structure can be determined.
US09916444B2
Techniques for recovering from unexpected removal of (or other unexpected power loss) a flash memory device from a computer system. An interpolated device driver notes whenever the flash memory device is unexpectedly removed, or otherwise unexpectedly powers off or enters a locked state. If the flash memory device is reinserted, the interpolated device driver reinitializes the flash memory device, and satisfies any flash memory device security protocol, so the flash memory device and the computer system can be restored to their status just before unexpected removal. The interpolated device driver caches requests to the flash memory device, and when status is restored to just before removal, replays those requests to the flash memory device, so the flash memory device responds to those requests as if it had ever been removed. The computer system does not notice any break in service by the flash memory device due to removal and reinsertion.
US09916441B2
A mobile device includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store a plurality of commands; the processor is configured to receive the commands and execute the following steps: receiving a function call and datum of a mobile application; determining if the received function call is a call to an predetermined application programming interface; determining if the received datum is labeled datum; and processing the received function call with a predetermined monitoring procedure when the received function call is the call to the predetermined application programming interface and the received datum is the labeled datum.
US09916437B2
An identity management system detects the occurrence of a trigger event, such as a time period expiration, or an action on the identity management system. The identity management system accordingly generates a new password for an account of a user on a third-party service and causes the account of the user on the third-party service to use the new password. The identity management system can also detect a manual user change of a password for a third-party service and cause configuration of client devices of the user to reflect the new password.
US09916434B2
A mission-specific computer peripheral, incorporating an integrated biometric login system, provides a portable linkable work platform. The device is used for establishing a shareable office computing infrastructure on a host personal computer and for accessing securely thereon (i.e., through biometric identification) a comparatively extensive selection of applications, services, and functions. In its principal embodiment, the device includes data storage (used for reading and writing both system and user data), user executable code (for launching the shareable office computing infrastructure on the host personal computer), and a power button containing an integrated fingerprint scanner (used to capture biometric data for authentication together with a unique device identification code). Incorporation of the biometric login system into the device promotes its accessibility and convenience.
US09916426B2
A system for filling a prescription order for a patient includes a plurality of trays each having an RFID tag for storing a unique identifier corresponding to the prescription order, and a plurality of workstations operatively linked to one another, each workstation having an antenna for detecting the unique identifier in one of the plurality of trays, where the detecting is operative to trigger displaying of a profile of at least one prescription item for the corresponding prescription order.
US09916425B2
The present invention provides a diagnosis support system for presenting medical support information on a case. The system includes an inference unit, an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a display control unit. The inference unit identifies a diagnostic name of the case and obtains its inferred probability in accordance with medical information including a set having a plurality of elements. The acquisition unit acquires an influence of each of first subsets contained in the set and an influence of each of second subsets contained in each of the first subsets upon the inferred probability. The determination unit determines, in accordance with the influence of each of the first subsets and the influence of each of the second subsets, a subset of the plurality of elements that is to be displayed. The display control unit allows a display unit to display the identified diagnostic name and the determined subset.
US09916421B2
The description relates to surgical computer systems, including computer program products, and methods for implant planning using corrected captured joint motion information. Data representative of a corrected limb pose at a plurality of poses within a range of motion of a joint associated with a particular individual is captured, the joint comprising a first bone and a second bone, while the first bone, the second bone, or both are subject to a corrective force aligning the first and second bones in a desired alignment. The first bone of the joint is represented. The second bone of the joint is represented. A first implant model is associated with the representation of the first bone. A second implant model is associated with the representation of the second bone. Based on the captured data, a relationship is determined between the first implant model and the second implant model at one or more poses of the plurality of poses within the range of motion of the joint. Information representative of the determined relationship is displayed.
US09916415B2
Disclosed are embodiments for modeling integrated circuit (IC) performance. In these embodiments, a parasitic extraction process is performed to generate a netlist that, not only accounts for various parasitics within the IC, but also accounts for substrate-generated signal distortions (e.g., substrate-generated harmonic signal distortions) that occur within the IC. During this netlist extraction process, the design layout of the IC is analyzed to identify parasitics that are to be represented in the netlist and to also identify any circuit elements with output signals that are subject to substrate-generated signal distortions. When such circuit elements are identified, signal distortion models, which were previously empirically determined and stored in a model library, which correspond to the identified circuit elements, and which account for the signal distortions, are selected from the model library and incorporated into the netlist. Simulations are subsequently performed using this netlist to generate a performance model for the IC.
US09916410B2
One aspect is a method that includes identifying a substantially uniform distribution of signal vias for a multi-layer circuit board based on a design file defining a layout that includes via groups in a two-to-one signal-to-ground via ratio configuration. A signal via pitch is determined as a center-to-center distance between a neighboring pair of signal vias. The signal via pitch is compared to a target minimum drilling distance. A ground via is identified proximate the neighboring pair of the signal vias. Based determining that the signal via pitch of the neighboring pair is less than the target minimum drilling distance, at least one of the signal vias is positioned closer to the ground via such that after the positioning, the signal via pitch of the neighboring pair meets or exceeds the target minimum drilling distance. The design file is modified to include the positioning of the signal vias.
US09916409B2
In an approach for generating a file, a computer generates a modified layout for an integrated circuit. The computer receives a draft layout for an integrated circuit. The computer identifies a resonator, wherein the resonator comprises a capacitor connected to ground and an inductor connected to a clock grid. The computer creates alternative resonator wiring of the received draft layout associated with the identified resonator. The computer generates a modified draft layout based on the created alternative resonator wiring for the integrated circuit.
US09916401B2
A package design system creates one or more package design files by creating cut line instructions and fold line instructions. If the system determines that the package should be split across two or more substrates, it will select a fold line and convert the selected fold line to a seam. Conversion to a seam may occur by creating cut line instructions for the selected fold line, imparting a first set of functional elements on a first side of the seam, and imparting a second set of functional elements on a second side of the seam. The first set of functional elements and the second set of functional elements will form a functional connection when the three-dimensional structure is formed.
US09916376B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method may include obtaining a wordlist from a digital document. The method may further include creating a keyword candidate list derived from the wordlist and noting the relationships between the keyword candidates. The method may also include obtaining scores for the keyword candidates. The method may further include selecting keyword candidates as keywords of the digital document based on the scores and the relationships between the keyword candidates.
US09916372B1
Computing devices may synchronize respective copies of a repository in part by sharing status information for records stored in the repository. Status information may be conveyed by encoding record identifiers in a hashtable. A hash function may be selected to have an output range equal to or larger than a number of records in the repository. A plurality of hash function outputs may be mapped to a storage location containing a sum of identifiers and a count of identifiers included in the sum. The storage location may be transmitted to a remote computing device, which may unfold the data in the storage location to identify changed records.
US09916368B2
Methods for non-exclusionary searching within clustered in-memory databases are disclosed. The non-exclusionary search methods may allow the execution of searches where the results may include records where fields specified in the query are not populated or defined. The disclosed methods include the application of fuzzy matching and scoring algorithms, which enables the system to search, score and compare records with different schemata. This may significantly improve the recall of relevant records.
US09916367B2
In embodiments, a computer-implemented method may entail receiving a search request. A first data store and a second data store, that contains data archived from the first data store, may be identified. Data from the first data store may remain available in the first data store for a limited period of time once archived to the second data store. The first data store storing data in a first format and the second data store storing data in a second format, the first format and the second format being different from one another. Determining that a subset of data that has been archived into the second data store and is to be searched as part of the search request is still available from the first data store, and executing the search request on the subset of data utilizing the first data store. Additional embodiments are described and/or claimed.
US09916365B1
The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for linking documents that refer to other documents through implicit linkages. A first document is identified. The first document comprises an authoritative comment regarding a second document and has been explicitly linked to the second document. Then, one or more third documents are identified. The second document cites or is being cited by the one or more third documents and shares common information. Based upon the authoritative comment, the first document is implicitly linked to the one or more third documents via the common information.
US09916359B2
A system includes storage of data of a hierarchy, where each node of the hierarchy is represented by a row, and each row includes a level of its respective node, a pointer to a lower bound entry of an order index structure associated with the hierarchy, and a pointer to an upper bound entry of the order index structure associated with the hierarchy, reception of a pointer l, and determination of an entry e of the order index structure to which the received pointer l points.
US09916358B2
A method for obtaining sample data includes associating data extracted from an incoming query with a key corresponding to an index table file, downloading data based on a filename, offset, and data range obtained from a table entry corresponding to the key, inserting the downloaded data to an inner join between a query table and a big data table, and obtaining data corresponding to a sample from the inner join.
US09916333B2
An approach for enabling collaborative development of a database application is provided. Specifically, this approach provides a database development and collaboration tool (DDCT), which can be utilized by multiple developers involved in a particular software project, to enable automated synchronization and database version control by allowing a database development language and data changes to be stored in a metadata form that is general to more than one database management system (DBMS). Each developer is united and able to collaborate through the system, thus ensuring that a change to a database structure and/or data in a static data table created in a particular database language by one developer is automatically incorporated in the overall development process. Furthermore, the DDCT provides the opportunity to maintain a single repository entry for more than one DBMS, which simplifies synchronization.
US09916322B2
Techniques to enforce policies with respect to managed files and/or endpoints are disclosed. A policy to be applied with respect to one or more files included in a synchronization set and/or an endpoint associated with the synchronization set is received. Compliance with the policy is ensured across a plurality of heterogeneous endpoints associated with the synchronization set.
US09916319B2
Compression of data for database movement, includes: selecting a first group of categorical columns for compression; selecting a next group of categorical columns from remaining columns for compression; repeating the selecting of the next group until a predetermined compression threshold is met; creating first compression files comprising compressed representations of the columns in the first group; creating next compression files comprising compressed representations of the columns in each of the next groups; storing initial row sort order, group identity, and column positions corresponding to each of the next groups; and storing any columns not selected for compression in an uncompressed file in the original row sort order. Decompression of the data includes: rebuilding categorical columns in each group of compression files using group identity and column positions corresponding to the group; and sorting rows comprising the rebuilt categorical columns to the initial row sort order.
US09916318B2
An indication to load data into a database table is received. A determination is made whether an existing set of frequency distribution statistics is available. In response to determining that an existing set of frequency distribution statistics is available, the data is loaded into the database table using the existing set of frequency distribution statistics.
US09916313B2
Data including a text file is received. The text file is arranged in an extensible format and includes a plurality of metadata lines, a header line, and a plurality of content lines. Metadata from the metadata lines is mapped to a plurality of metadata tables in a database that are formed according to a relational database schema using prefix parameters from each metadata line. Content from the content lines is mapped to a plurality of content tables in the database that are formed according to the relational database schema using the header line. A first subset of the content tables have a static structure and a second subset of the content tables have a dynamic structure. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US09916311B1
Improved techniques are provided for storing bursty data, such as checkpoints, in parallel computing environments. A parallel file system is provided comprising at least first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of storage; and at least one processing device configured to store burst data from a plurality of distributed processes for a given burst operation during the given burst operation on both of the at least first and second storage tiers. The given burst operation comprises a multi-phase input/output (IO) task, such as a checkpoint, having alternating periods of idle time and bursts of write and/or storage activity. A method is also provided for provisioning a parallel file system by obtaining a specification of burst data requirements for the parallel file system and determining an amount of storage required for at least first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of storage to satisfy the burst data requirements.
US09916306B2
Systems and method for statistical linguistic analysis. According to some embodiments, methods may include evaluating a source text using one or more types of statistical linguistic analysis to determine a translatability of the source text and providing the translatability of the source text to a client node.
US09916305B1
This disclosure covers systems and methods that create references for locating a translation of a term expressed within a digital communication. In particular, in certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods create a hashkey to identify a translation (or multiple translations) of an initial term from a source language to a target language. By referring to this hashkey corresponding to the initial term, the disclosed systems and methods can identify a translation (or multiple translations) of the same or similar term within a digital communication to translate a digital communication from a source language to a target language.
US09916303B2
A method providing an answer to an input question containing at least one time-sensitive word or at least one time-sensitive phrase using natural language processing (NLP) is provided. The method may include receiving the input question. The method may also include performing natural language processing (NLP) analysis on the input question to extract a required value phrase. The method may further include forming at least one mathematical equation based on the extracted required value phrase. Additionally, the method may include forming at least one interim question based on the extracted required value phrase. The method may further include solving the at least one formed mathematical equation and the at least one formed interim question. The method may also include narrating the answer to the input question in natural language based on the solved at least one interim question or the solved at least one mathematical equation.
US09916302B2
Provided is a text processing system capable of classifying a plurality of texts into groups whose overviews are able to be grasped and classifying texts semantically having entailment relation into the same group even if the texts are not determined to have the entailment relation. Entailment recognition means 71 performs entailment recognition between texts on given texts. Group generation means 72 selects an individual text and generates a group including texts entailing the selected text as members. Group integration means 73 integrates groups in the case where groups satisfy a predetermined condition based on the degree of overlap of members between groups.
US09916286B2
The invention relates to electronic document processing. Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for copying a text format pattern. In one embodiment of the present invention there is a method for copying a text format pattern, including: receiving a selection of a sample object from a user, the sample object including multiple sample paragraphs of which at least two sample paragraphs have different format patterns; receiving a format copying instruction of from the user, the format copying instruction indicating reformatting a target object with the format pattern of the sample object, where the target object contains multiple target paragraphs; determining a corresponding relationship of the format pattern of the sample paragraphs with the target paragraphs; and applying the format pattern of the sample paragraphs to the target paragraphs in accordance with the corresponding relationship.
US09916281B2
A method for securing a data processing system having a processing unit is disclosed. At least a group of N1 digital words of m1 bits is selected from among the set of M1 digital words. N1 is less than M1. These words are selected in such a way that each selected digital word differs from all the other selected digital words by a number of bits at least equal to an integer p which is at least equal to 2. The group of N1 digital words of m1 bits forms at least one group of N1 executable digital instructions. The processing unit is configured to make it capable of executing each instruction of the at least one group of N1 executable digital instructions.
US09916270B2
Devices and techniques for implementing virtual system management controllers are described herein. A baseboard management controller (BMC) can include processing circuitry to monitor system sensors, and to provide monitoring information for system sensors responsive to requests for monitoring information. The processing circuitry may further implement a virtual satellite controller within a firmware stack. The BMC and the virtual satellite controller may comply with a specification of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) family of specifications to provide monitoring information for the system sensors. Other embodiments are also described.
US09916263B2
A method for managing access of virtual machines executed by a host computer system to storage area networks, the storage area networks connecting the host computer system with storage systems via switches, where the host computer system includes one or more host ports to connect with a switch each, and where one or more port names are assigned to each virtual machine. The method includes, for each storage area network connected with the host computer system, sending the port names of a virtual machine and a target port name as part of a validate access command to the respective switch; and when receiving the validate access command by the switch, the switch returning success information to the sending host computer system in case all received virtual machine port names have access to a target port assigned to the received target port name, otherwise returning a fail information.
US09916260B2
A memory manager in a computer system that ages memory for high performance. The efficiency of operation of the computer system can be improved by dynamically setting an aging schedule based on a predicted time for trimming pages from a working set. An aging schedule that generates aging information that better discriminates among pages in a working set based on activity level enables selection of pages to trim that are less likely to be accessed following trimming. As a result of being able to identify and trim less active pages, inefficiencies arising from restoring trimmed pages to the working set are avoided.
US09916246B1
A processing system includes a shadow tag memory, which stores a plurality of entries containing coherency information for the cachelines residing at the various levels of private caches. If a cache miss occurs at a private cache, or if coherency information for a cacheline requires updating, a probe is sent to the shadow tag memory maintained at the shared cache to determine whether the requested (or affected) cacheline is stored at another private cache. The probe includes a tag which can be divided into two or more portions. To more efficiently compare the probe tag to the shadow tag entries, the comparison is performed in multiple stages based on the portions of the probe tag.
US09916232B2
A system and methods are provided for distributed tracing in a distributed application. In one embodiment, a method includes observing a plurality of messages sent and received among components of the distributed application, generating a probabilistic model of a call flow from observed messages of the distributed system, and constructing a call flow graph based on the probabilistic model for the distributed application. Distributed tracing may include observing messages by performing the subscription-based observation techniques and operations to receive, message traces describing messages being communicated among components of the distributed application. In this regard, the tracing service may merge message traces from different instrumentation points with message traces obtained by observing message queues to generate a probabilistic model and call flow graph. A distributed application developer or other relevant user may benefit in efficiently and effectively tracking down a cause of an abnormal behavior or analyzing performance profiles.
US09916231B2
A method for testing an application running on an electronic device includes parsing, by a test processor, a state model of the application representing relationships among a plurality nodes, each node representing an application state. The method further includes parsing, by the test processor, a test implementation file including a plurality of commands for manipulating at least one of the application and the electronic device, each of the plurality of commands associated with respective ones of the plurality of nodes, traversing, by the test processor, the state model of the application by selecting for testing an application node in accordance with the node relationships in the state model. The method also includes selecting, by the test processor, one or more of the plurality of commands for testing the application based on at least one criteria, and executing, by the test processor, the one or more selected commands.
US09916223B2
A method to detect and diagnose where an error occurs in a source code that is associated with a software program or a website is provided. The method may include receiving a log report associated with the software program or the website, whereby by the log report is sent based on a hidden tag associated with the software program or the website. The method may also include analyzing the received log report. The method may further include detecting at least one error based on the analysis of the received log report. The method may include reverting back to a previous line in the source code associated with the software program or the website, whereby the reverting is based on the detection of the at least one error.
US09916212B2
Method, apparatus, and system for improving semiconductor device writeability at row/bit level through bias temperature instability. Such a device may comprise a plurality of cells of an array, wherein each of the cells comprises a pass gate and a latch; a plurality of word lines, wherein each word line comprises a supply voltage line (VCS) which supplies voltage to each latch of a first number of cells; an array VCS driver electrically connected to each VCS; and a control line configured to provide an operational array supply voltage, a first array supply voltage, or a second array supply voltage to each VCS, wherein the first array supply voltage and the second array supply voltage are greater than the operational array supply voltage. By virtue of BTI, application of the first array supply voltage may lead to improved writeability of one or more cells of the device.
US09916207B2
The invention relates to a computer implemented method for creating a backup of data by a computer system. The creation of the backup comprises: assigning a first memory space in a main memory to data and loading the data into the first memory space; allocating a second memory space in the main memory for acting as container of one or more images of the data in the first memory space; creating the one or more images of the data in the first memory space; and storing the created one or more images in the second memory space and storing a respective copy of at least one of the one or more images in the one or more non-volatile storage media.
US09916202B1
A technique for providing access to a data object serving as a target of snapshot-shipping replication includes taking a system snap of the data object after completion of each of multiple snapshot-shipping updates. In response to a data storage system receiving an IO (input/output) request to read and/or write to the data object, a data storage system redirects the IO request to a previously generated system snap, so that the data storage system performs the operation specified in the IO request on the system snap rather than of the data object itself.
US09916194B2
System component failure diagnosis is provided. In response to determining that a number of component failure cases corresponding to a complex system stored in a historical diagnosis database is less than a pre-defined threshold number of component failure cases, a system component failure root cause is predicted using a rule-based reasoning method. In response to determining that the number of component failure cases corresponding to the complex system is greater than or equal to the pre-defined threshold number of component failure cases, the system component failure root cause is predicted using the rule-based reasoning method and a machine learning method. The diagnosis accuracy of the system component failure root cause predicted by the rule-based reasoning method and the machine learning method is calculated using a cross-validation method. The performance of the rule-based reasoning method and the machine learning method is evaluated using a statistical process control method.
US09916190B1
A web service tagging tool that includes a memory operable to store subscription tags and a web service application. The web service application includes a tagging engine configure to generate a subscription tag linking target data fields, target data location information, and a triggering event. The tagging engine is further configured to send data content comprising the subscription tag to the user application. The web service application further includes a data collection engine configured to receive data from the target data fields in response to the triggering event. The web service application further includes a data feed engine operably coupled to the data collection engine. The data feed engine is configured to generate one or more data feeds comprising at least a portion of the user data and to forward the one or more data feeds based on routing instructions.
US09916176B2
A methods and device for accessing virtual machine (VM) data are described. A computing device for accessing virtual machine comprises an access request process module, a data transfer proxy module and a virtual disk. The access request process module receives a data access request sent by a VM and adds the data access request to a request array. The data transfer proxy module obtains the data access request from the request array, maps the obtained data access request to a corresponding virtual storage unit, and maps the virtual storage unit to a corresponding physical storage unit of a distributed storage system. A corresponding data access operation may be performed based on a type of the data access request.
US09916174B2
Methods, computer program products, and network authority devices are presented. The methods include, for instance: updating a source network with migration information of a virtual machine to redirect network traffic for the virtual machine to a destination network; and updating at least one remote network with the migration information of the virtual machine. In one embodiment, the updating includes updating the source network concurrent with a migration of the virtual machine to minimize interruption of the network traffic. In another embodiment, the updating includes updating a network device of the source network to forward the network traffic for the virtual machine to another network device of the destination network. In a further embodiment, the updating includes updating the source network to redirect the network traffic from at least one client on the at least one remote network.
US09916171B2
In an approach for detecting one or more applications in a VM, one or more processors establish a time duration. One or more processors detect two or more files, each file in the two or more files having a time stamp time that differs from a last modified time stamp time of at least one other file in the two or more files by no more than the time duration. One or more processors record an identifier for each file of the two or more files, a location, a name, and a last modified time stamp time of each file of the two or more files. One or more processors map the two or more files to an application installed on the VM.
US09916168B2
Testing correct mirroring of a GUI. Two GUI specifications are received, one that specifies text elements in a left-to-right natural language and another that specifies text elements in a right-to-left natural language and corresponds to a horizontally mirrored counterpart of the first GUI specification. For each child element in the first specification a start position, width, and a width of its parent GUI element are determined; for the corresponding specification a start position and width for the counterpart element is determined, a horizontally mirrored start position is calculated for the child element, it is determined whether the start position and width of the counterpart child GUI element are within a predefined tolerance of the calculated horizontally mirrored start position and the width, respectively, of the child GUI element; and, if not, the second GUI specification is updated with the calculated horizontally mirrored start position or width.
US09916166B2
This invention provides an array-type processing device which can reduce power consumption and can also reduce a processing performance drop caused by switching of configuration information. An array-type processing device, which includes a first domain and a second domain, the device comprises a plurality of processing units which are allocated in the first domain, and each of which includes a plurality of processing elements and a router configured to control connections between the plurality of processing elements, a configuration information supply unit configured to supply configuration information to one or more processing units of the plurality of processing units, the configuration information supply unit being allocated in the second domain, and a power supply control unit configured to control the power supply to the plurality of processing units, the power supply control unit being allocated in the second domain.
US09916161B2
A processor includes a front end, an execution unit, a retirement stage, a counter, and a performance monitoring unit. The front end includes logic to receive an event instruction to enable supervision of a front end event that will delay execution of instructions. The execution unit includes logic to set a register with parameters for supervision of the front end event. The front end further includes logic to receive a candidate instruction and match the candidate instruction to the front end event. The counter includes logic to generate the front end event upon retirement of the candidate instruction.
US09916152B2
A computer-based method for managing a plurality of computer components in an organization is provided. The method is implemented using a Component Manager (CM) computing device. The method includes receiving, from a stakeholder computing device, component data for at least one computer component of the plurality of computer components. The method also includes storing the component data in a memory block in the memory device. The method further includes assigning a first lifecycle classification, a domain, and at least one stakeholder to the at least one computer component by updating the memory block in the memory device. The method also includes causing the stakeholder computing device to electronically display an interactive dashboard that includes a graphical representation of the at least one computer component. The method further includes prompting a stakeholder to update a component utilization scheme for the computer component, by electronically displaying the graphical representation.
US09916144B2
Mechanisms are provided for arranging binary code to reduce instruction cache conflict misses. These mechanisms generate a call graph of a portion of code. Nodes and edges in the call graph are weighted to generate a weighted call graph. The weighted call graph is then partitioned according to the weights, affinities between nodes of the call graph, and the size of cache lines in an instruction cache of the data processing system, so that binary code associated with one or more subsets of nodes in the call graph are combined into individual cache lines based on the partitioning. The binary code corresponding to the partitioned call graph is then output for execution in a computing device.
US09916127B1
Provided are techniques for audio input replay enhancement. It is determined that an audio input has been replayed a pre-determined number of times. In response to the determination, a key segment in the audio input is identified and a preferred language of a user listening to the audio input is identified. In response to determining that a language of the audio input is not the preferred language of the user, the key segment is translated into the preferred language of the user. While replaying the audio input, playing of the key segment is automatically slowed down and closed captioning is displayed for the key segment in the preferred language of the user.
US09916124B2
System and method for controlling and monitoring a sound masking system from an electronic floorplan
A system and mechanism for monitoring and/or controlling a sound masking system from a computer aided design drawing. According to an embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to “click” sound masking components on the design drawing and view operating/configuration settings, and/or edit, change or modify the operating/configuration settings, which are then applied via an interface to the associated physical sound masking component in the sound masking system. According to another embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to design or configure sound masking components on a design drawing. The sound masking components correspond to physical sound masking components in a sound masking system and comprise one or more active sound masking elements, which are configured to be responsive to an input and allow an operator to monitor, change and/or modify operating/configuration settings for physical sound masking component via the sound masking element in the design drawing.
US09916117B2
A control device includes: a first acquisition unit which, when a specific data storage server is selected, acquires specific server identification information; a second acquisition unit which, upon acquiring the specific server identification information, acquires specific file type information of specific data from the specific data storage server; a determination unit which determines whether the specific data has an interpretable format, based on the specific server identification information and the specific file type information; a conversion processing execution unit which, when the specific data does not have the interpretable format, causes a specific conversion server to convert the specific data to data having the interpretable format; and an output processing execution unit which causes an image output apparatus to output a specific image expressed by the specific data without causing the specific conversion server to execute the conversion when the specific data is determined to have the interpretable format.
US09916116B2
Dynamically replicated memory is usable to allocate new memory space from failed memory pages by pairing compatible failed memory pages to reuse otherwise unusable failed memory pages. Dynamically replicating memory involves detecting and recording memory faults, reclaiming failed memory pages for later use, recovering from detected memory faults, and scheduling access to replicated memory pages.
US09916103B2
A memory control device includes a control unit that performs data write/read control on a nonvolatile memory having at least a first area and a second area. In a case where writing sets of data into the first area, the control unit temporarily writes the sets of data into the second area. In a case where copying the respective sets of data written into the second area into the first area, the control unit sets a flag indicating whether the copying of the sets of data into the first area has been completed.
US09916093B2
A nonvolatile memory device is provided. The nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array comprising a first area that stores memory management information and a second area that stores user data, a decoder configured to select at least one of rows of the first area or the second area based on an address, a page buffer configured to store data in memory cells connected to the selected at least one row or to detect data stored in the memory cells, and control logic configured to control the decoder and the page buffer in response to a specific command, to access the first area. The memory management information is iteratively programmed by a specific memory unit and is written at different columns of specific memory units.
US09916090B1
Described are techniques for determining slice sizes. First I/O workload information is received for a slice having a corresponding logical address subrange of a logical address range of a logical device. The corresponding logical address subrange is a first size denoting a size of the slice at a first point in time when the slice has a current I/O workload denoted by the first I/O workload information. It is determined, in accordance with the first I/O workload information, whether to adjust the size of the slice. Responsive to determining to adjust the size of the slice, first processing is performed that adjusts the size of the slice such as by partitioning the slice or merging the slice with one or more other adjacent slices.
US09916089B2
The present disclosure includes methods and apparatuses that include write command overlap detection. A number of embodiments include receiving an incoming write command and comparing a logical address of the incoming write command to logical addresses of a number of write commands in a queue using a tree data structure, wherein a starting logical address and/or an ending logical address of the incoming write command and a starting logical address and/or an ending logical address of each of the number of write commands are associated with nodes in the tree data structure.
US09916088B2
A memory system includes a memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, wherein each of the plurality of memory blocks includes a plurality of pages, wherein each of the plurality of pages includes a plurality of memory cells electrically coupled to a plurality of word lines, wherein read data and write data requested from a host are stored in the plurality of memory cells; and a controller configured to (i) program first data corresponding to a write command/read command received from the host in a first page of a first memory block selected among the plurality of memory blocks (ii) record position information of second data in the first page, and (iii) program the second data in a second page next to the first page in the first memory block.
US09916086B2
Techniques described herein are generally related to storing and retrieving data from a content-addressable memory (CAM). A data value to be stored in the CAM may be received, where the data value has two or more bits. The CAM may include a plurality of memory sets. An index corresponding to the data value may be determined. The index may be determined based on a subset of bits of the data value that correspond to an index bit set. A memory set of the CAM may be identified based on the determined index and the data value may be stored in a storage unit of the identified memory set.
US09916080B2
A method includes: displaying a first view of a first application; detecting a first portion of a first input; if the first portion of the first input meets application-switching criteria, concurrently displaying portions of the first application view and a second application view; while concurrently displaying the portions of the application views, detecting a second portion of the first input; if the second portion of the first input meets first-view display criteria (liftoff of contact detected in a first region), ceasing to display the portion of the second application view and displaying the first application view; and if the second portion of the first input meets multi-view display criteria (liftoff of contact detected in a second region), maintaining concurrent display of a portion of the first application view and a portion of the second application view on the display after detecting the liftoff of the contact.
US09916055B2
The present disclosure provides a technology related to a multi-chip touch system. In the multi-chip system, in a case in which two touch ICs share one receiving electrode and an even number of receiving electrodes are connected to one touch IC, when another touch IC senses the shared receiving electrode, the one touch IC does not connect another receiving electrode, which that is disposed at the outermost portion, as well as the shared receiving electrode.
US09916042B2
A fingertip position estimation apparatus includes a processor that executes a process. The process includes: identifying a first fingertip position of a finger included in an image, based on a color area model that defines a color of a finger; calculating dimensions of an area that is different from a background of the image, within an area of a prescribed size that is in contact with the first fingertip position and that is positioned in a direction in which a fingertip is pointing; and when the dimensions are larger than a prescribed threshold, estimating a second fingertip position that is positioned away from the first fingertip position in the direction in which the fingertip is pointing.
US09916032B2
A touchscreen display includes a first planar surface that comprises a first value-indicating virtual button showing a first value displayed in a first area of the first planar surface, a touch sensor operably coupled with the first planar surface, wherein the touch sensor is configured to detect a touch within the first area of the first planar surface, a second planar surface that is non-coplanar with respect to the first planar surface, the first and second planar surfaces forming a first common edge, a first swipe sensor operably coupled with the second planar surface, wherein the first swipe sensor is configured to detect a swiping motion in a first direction or in a second direction along the second planar surface, the second direction being opposite the first direction. The touchscreen display can be implemented in a vehicle, such as an aircraft.
US09916028B2
The present invention provides a touch system and a display device, belongs to the technical field of display, and can solve the problem that misoperation is caused as an existing touch screen has a narrow frame and the edge area of the screen is easy to touch mistakenly. The touch system comprises a touch screen, a touch position analysis unit and a switch unit, wherein the touch screen comprises a center touch area and an edge touch area, and the touch position analysis unit is used for analyzing a position of a touch on the touch screen; and the switch unit is used for controlling whether a touch on the edge touch area is effective.
US09916018B1
A transaction automation and archival system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing video display for imaging the various documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for allowing participants to sign, indicate choices, and otherwise interact directly on documents and images presented on the display. A computer controls the progress of the transaction, controlling, for example, the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receiving signatures on the displayed documents, offering choices of various packages to the purchaser, and insuring that the transaction is carried out properly. The transaction is logged for future review which may include a video record. One or more fingerprint readers allow participants to select between options while simultaneously verifying the identity of the individual making the selection.
US09916008B2
A microfluidic transducer is overlaid on a two-dimensional display and controlled in accordance with metadata corresponding to a displayed image to cause raising of a surface of the microfluidic transducer to represent objects depicted in the image and at least the relative distance of such objects from a viewing point of the image to form a touch screen allowing the image to be navigated and manipulated in the form of a tactile display, particularly for persons having visual impairment. The distance information is preferably captured during initial capture of the image and stored as metadata but can also be determined by image analysis. Object analysis is also provided for objects in the image for identification that can be conveyed by touch or audibly and the relative hardness of softness, texture and color of objects is conveyed by compliance, motion and/or temperature of the surface of the microfluidics transducer.
US09916007B2
An apparatus comprising a first part configured to form at least part of the case of the apparatus, a second part configured to form at least part of the display for the apparatus, and a flexible membrane attached at a first area of contact to the first part and at a second area of contact to the second part and furthermore configured to connect the first part to second part.
US09916003B1
A controller device for a virtual environment includes a handle and a contact device having a substantially planar surface. A position of the contact device relative to the handle is adjustable. An actuator module is arranged to adjust the position of the contact device relative to the handle. A control module in communication with the virtual environment selectively controls the actuator module to adjust the position of the contact device in response to data received from the virtual environment. The data includes an indication of an interaction between a user and an object represented within the virtual environment.
US09916000B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for collect historical power consumption data and power consumption statistics for one or more locations and devices at the location to generate historical power consumption and health data (“historical data”). The historical data are used to develop and provide multiple different protection and monitoring functions. The system may be deployed within a single customer location, e.g., within a building or a plant, and local analytics are developed at the location. Alternatively, the system may be distributed among several locations for a particular customer or multiple different customers and include cloud-based analytics in addition to, or instead of, local analytics.
US09915999B2
An information processing apparatus operable in a first power state and a second power state includes a noncontact communication unit configured to be driven by power of a radio wave from a mobile terminal and to communicate with the terminal, a storage unit configured to store data necessary for authentication, which the noncontact communication unit has received from the terminal in the second power state, a control unit configured to recover, when the noncontact communication unit receives data from the terminal in the second power state, the information processing apparatus from the second power state to the first power state, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, after the information processing apparatus has been recovered to the first power state by the control of the control unit, the data necessary for authentication stored in the storage unit to an authentication unit.
US09915987B2
A method, system and computer program product for implementing thermal air flow control management of a computer system. A temperature profile of the server system is identified. One or more dual in-line memory-modules (DIMMs) are used to pivot on an axis to direct air flow to cool identified hot spots based upon the temperature profile of the server system.
US09915985B1
A computing system includes a chassis having an airflow entrance and an airflow exhaust, a duct structure disposed in the chassis, and a redirection mechanism located on a wall of the duct structure and extending through a cutout in the wall of the duct structure. In the computing system, the duct structure has a first end facing the airflow entrance and a second end facing the airflow exhaust. The redirection mechanism has a deflector having an inlet airfoil extending away from the duct structure towards the airflow entrance and at least one exhaust airfoil extending into the duct structure.
US09915983B2
A component carrier coupling system includes a carrier base including a carrier wall. A handle is coupled to the carrier wall by a plurality of link elements that each include a first end rotatably connected to the handle and a second end rotatably connected to the carrier wall. The handle is maintained in a substantially parallel orientation to the carrier wall when the plurality of link elements are rotated in a first direction that moves the handle away from the carrier wall, and in a second direction that is opposite the first direction and that moves the handle immediately adjacent the carrier wall. A cam element is provided on at least one of the plurality of link elements and engages a component enclosure when the carrier base is located in the component enclosure and the plurality of link elements are rotated in the second direction.
US09915972B2
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a bezel configured to mechanically couple to a housing for housing components of an information handling system may include one or more mechanical features for mechanically coupling the bezel to the housing, an information handling resource mechanically coupled to a mechanical structure of the bezel, and a bezel connector having a plurality of pins communicatively coupled to the information handling resource. The bezel connector may be configured to communicatively couple the information handling resource to a second information handling resource of the information handling system housed within the housing when the bezel is mechanically coupled to the housing.
US09915968B2
The present disclosure is directed to mitigating voltage droops. An aspect includes outputting, by a clock module coupled to a multiplexor, a first clock signal to the multiplexor, the first clock signal generated by a clock delay component of the clock module, receiving, by the clock module, a second clock signal from a phase-locked loop (PLL), wherein the PLL outputs a third clock signal to a processor coupled to the PLL and the multiplexor, selecting, by the multiplexor, the first clock signal to output to the processor based on detecting a droop in voltage on a power supply, and selecting, by the multiplexor, the third clock signal to output to the processor based on detecting that the droop in the voltage on the power supply has passed, wherein the clock module and the processor are coupled to the power supply.
US09915965B2
Systems and techniques are disclosed for flexible, secure energy management that enable control of individual devices in a customer site's energy infrastructure, which can allow optimization (e.g., by minimizing energy cost or usage) across the infrastructure. A system management component may centralize optimization and control capabilities across the energy infrastructure by determining an energy model and directing consumption, storage, and energy draw activities for the totality of the energy infrastructure devices. Systems may include modular, secure terminal devices that can be attached to or paired with the devices in an energy infrastructure in order to provide input data such as power load metrics, as well as to control the operation of the devices. A dynamic, adaptive prediction of system parameters, such as future demand, cost, generation capacity, and other metrics, may be provided. Dynamic, adaptive prediction may be performed without detailed historical usage data. A system gateway device may centralize communications between the system devices so that energy customer privacy is maintained.
US09915963B1
Devices and methods to design voltage regulators requiring lower power consumption, wide output current and input voltage range, low dropout, and small footprint. The disclosed methods and devices provide solutions to stabilize such regulators in the presence of widely varying loads.
US09915961B2
A semiconductor device drive method achieves a balance between a lifetime and a detection sensitivity which are required for a temperature detection diode formed via an insulating film on a substrate on which an active element is formed. The semiconductor device drive method includes energizing the temperature detection diode with a constant current, the constant current having a current density value between an upper limit defined based on the lifetime of the temperature detection diode, and a lower defined based on a variation allowable voltage of an output voltage of the temperature detection diode with respect to a standard deviation.
US09915951B2
An autonomous vehicle can encounter an external environment in which an object overhangs a current road of the autonomous vehicle. For example, the branch of a tree may overhang the road. Such an overhanging object can be detected and suitable driving maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle can be determined. Sensor data can be acquired from at least a forward portion of the external environment. One or more floating obstacle candidates can be identified based on the acquired sensor data. The identified one or more floating obstacle candidates can be filtered to remove any floating obstacle candidates that do not meet one or more predefined parameters. A driving maneuver for the autonomous vehicle can be determined at least partially based on a height clearance between the autonomous vehicle and floating obstacle candidates that remain after being filtered out. The autonomous vehicle can be caused to implement the determined driving maneuver.
US09915946B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes receiving, by the UAV, flight information describing a job to perform an inspection of a rooftop. A particular altitude is ascended to, and an inspection of the rooftop is performed including obtaining sensor information describing the rooftop. Location information identifying a damaged area of the rooftop is received. The damaged area of the rooftop is traveled to. An inspection of the damaged area of the rooftop is performed including obtaining detailed sensor information describing the damaged area. A safe landing location is traveled to.
US09915944B2
A method and system for providing simultaneous localization of defects in both the time and frequency domain. A high frequency repeating pattern is written on media, and the pattern is read to generate a readback signal, which is converted into ADC samples. The ADC samples are analyzed, in-line, to determine the type of wavelet, level of decomposition, and threshold level for a wavelet transform of the particular readback signal. The wavelet transform provides details and/or approximations (wavelet coefficients) that are analyzed to determine the type, location, and duration of any identified defects. Any noise in the details and/or approximations (wavelet coefficients) is removed by a wavelet based denoising operation. Flags indicating the type, location, and duration of any defects are generated so that the defects may be mapped.
US09915943B2
A monitoring system has a vehicle and a monitoring device. The vehicle is movable along a predetermined route, and the monitoring device is mounted to the vehicle. The monitoring device has a sensor configured to monitor an environmental parameter and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to record the monitored environmental parameter along the predetermined route as data points associated with time tags, record position information, and associate the position information with corresponding time tags. The number of time tags associated with the position information is less than the number of time tags associated with the monitored environmental parameter. A server is configured to receive and display a visualized presentation of the recorded monitored environmental parameter and the recorded position information.
US09915936B2
An approach is disclosed that provides assistance to disabled individuals when utilizing public spaces. In the approach, a wireless message is received at a detector of the system with the wireless message being from a device worn by a disabled individual. The wireless message includes impairment data pertaining to the disabled individual. In addition, reception of the wireless message indicates that the disabled individual has entered a physical area that provides accommodations to disabled individuals. The approach identifies an impairment pertaining to the disabled individual and adjusts a device setting of a device in the physical area based on the identified impairment of the disabled individual.
US09915934B2
A motion control system includes a motion control application generated by a motion control system designer, a motion control component defining an application programming interface comprising an API function, and a security system comprising security settings for determining access by the motion control application to an API function of the application programming interface. A motion control application comprises an API function call. The motion control application makes an API function call to the motion control component. The motion control component generates a motion control command based on the API function call. The security system limits generation by the motion control component of a motion control command based on the security settings. The motion device performs the motion task based on the motion control command.
US09915933B2
A system-on-chip (SoC) includes a logic circuit having a scan flip-flop and a an on-chip clock controller. The scan flip-flop is configured to store data using a passive keeper. The on-chip clock controller is configured to receive a reference clock for driving the logic circuit, to generate an internal clock based on a high-state interval of the reference clock, and to provide the internal clock to the scan flip-flop.
US09915928B2
An availability prediction apparatus includes an access section that accesses a storage section and a prediction section. The storage section stores availability specified periods occurred before a present time associated with respective frequencies of the availability specified periods, and the access section acquires the availability specified periods from the storage section. The prediction section predicts at least one target availability specified period within a prediction term, which begins at the present time and ends at a time later than the present time by a predetermined term. The prediction section includes a correlating section that correlates the availability specified periods with candidate periods included in the prediction term, and a selection section that specifies and selects one of the candidate periods having a highest occurrence probability as the target availability specified period.
US09915924B2
A display assembly including a display including a light source and a semi-transparent element for showing the display only when the display is activated, wherein the semi-transparent element includes a mother-of-pearl dial under which is disposed a semi-reflective element.
US09915921B2
[Problem] A penlight used for decoration or as a flashlight for the purpose of illuminating the surroundings lacks functionality for optimal enjoyment of a hologram, and no conventional illumination device for a hologram has decorative effect. [Solution] The present invention has a hologram support unit, a light source, and a light diffuser, and by primarily irradiating the light diffuser from the light source, decorative effect is increased, and primarily a hologram image region can be illuminated from a predetermined angle from the same light source or a different light source. Appropriate observation is made possible by making note to an observer on a portion of a medium material integrated with a hologram material whether to irradiate illuminating light from above or irradiate illuminating light from below.
US09915919B2
A microscope, method and computer program for obtaining quantitative phase images by digital holographic microscopy. The microscope includes: a coherent light source (1) and a beam splitter (3) for generating an object beam (Lo) for illuminating a sample, and a reference beam (Lr); an optical system with a main optical path making up a telecentric afocal system, and a reference optical path; and recording means (12) recording a hologram of said sample in the image plane of the optical system. The method includes recording a hologram in the image plane of an optical telecentric afocal system. The computer program is adapted for implementing part of the steps of the method.
US09915913B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a cover, a driving unit, and a film. The main body is configured to accommodate an image forming portion which forms an image on a recording material. The cover is provided on the main body and covers the image forming portion. The driving unit is provided on the main body and drives the image forming portion. The film is attached to the cover with a gap formed against an inner wall of the cover. The film faces the inner wall of the cover while a tension is given thereto and without coming into contact with the driving unit.
US09915906B2
A sheet post-processing device of the present disclosure is provided with a punch hole forming device, a processing tray, an ejection tray, a conveyance roller pair, an ejection roller pair, and a stiffening member. In a case where a sheet through which punch holes have been formed is to be ejected on the ejection tray without being subjected to post-processing on the processing tray, in a state where the stiffening member is retracted in a direction away from the sheet, the conveyance roller pair conveys the sheet until at least a tip end thereof reaches on the ejection tray.
US09915897B2
A fixing device includes a heating member including a base layer, first and second electroconductive layers and a plurality of heat generating resistors provided on the base layer and having a volume resistivity smaller than a volume resistivity of the base layer; a temperature detecting member; and an electrode member. The heat generating resistors are provided helically around the base layer so that a helical axis thereof extends along the longitudinal direction of the rotatable member, and are disposed with intervals. One end and the other end of each of the heat generating resistors are electrically connected with the first and the second electroconductive layers, respectively. A temperature detecting region of the rotatable member by the temperature detecting member overlaps with the heat generating resistors.
US09915894B2
An electrographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes toner cartridge having a housing that includes a toner reservoir. An outlet port faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A linkage is positioned on the first side of the housing and has an engagement surface that is accessible at the rear of the housing. A projection is positioned on the first side of the housing and is movable between a first position and a second position. The projection is operatively connected to the linkage such that the projection moves upward from the first position to the second position when the engagement surface receives a forward force that is toward the front of the housing. The projection extends outward sideways from the first side when the projection is in the second position.
US09915886B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that contains an electrostatic charge image developer which contains a carrier and an electrostatic charge image developing toner, wherein the toner includes toner particles which contain a polyester resin, which is a polycondensate of a polycarboxylic acid and a polyol, and has a glass transition temperature of 50° C. to 70° C., the polyol includes a polyol not having a bisphenol A structure in a range of 50% by weight to 100% by weight, and a melt viscosity A of the toner at 110° C. after storage for 2 hours under the environment of absolute humidity of 82.7 (g/m3) and a melt viscosity B of the toner at 110° C. after storage for 2 hours under the environment of absolute humidity of 16.5 (g/m3) each are in the ranges specified in the specification.
US09915882B2
An exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate by exposure light via liquid between an optical member and the substrate, the exposure apparatus includes: an apparatus frame, an optical system including the optical member, a liquid immersion member that is configured to form an immersion liquid space and that includes a first member disposed at at least a portion of surrounding of the optical member and a second member disposed at at least a portion of surrounding of the optical member, a driving apparatus configured to relatively move the second member with respect to the first member, and a vibration isolator by which the first member is supported to the apparatus frame.
US09915881B2
A lithography apparatus includes an original conveying path, a substrate conveying path, and a plurality of patterning devices each configured to perform patterning on a substrate using an original. The plurality of patterning devices are arranged in two rows. The substrate conveying path is provided between and along the two rows. The original conveying path is provided in each of two rows between and along which the two rows of the patterning devices are arranged.
US09915880B2
A measurement system configured to measure a position dependent signal of an object table, the measurement system including at least one sensor mountable on the object table and a sensor target object mountable on a substantially stationary frame, and a mounting device configured to mount the sensor target object on the substantially stationary frame, wherein the measurement system further includes a compensator configured to compensate movements and/or deformations of the sensor target object with respect to the substantially stationary frame. The compensator may include a passive or an active damper and/or a feedback position controller. In an alternative embodiment, the compensator includes a gripping device which fixes the position of the sensor target object during a high accuracy movement of the movable object.
US09915879B2
A pattern from a patterning device is applied to a substrate by a lithographic apparatus. The applied pattern includes product features and metrology targets. The metrology targets include large targets which are for measuring overlay using X-ray scattering and small targets which are for measuring overlay by diffraction of visible radiation. Some of the smaller targets are distributed at locations between the larger targets, while other small targets are placed at the same locations as a large target. By comparing values measured using a small target and large target at the same location, parameter values measured using all the small targets can be corrected for better accuracy. The large targets can be located primarily within scribe lanes while the small targets are distributed within product areas.
US09915871B2
A method for measuring an angularly resolved intensity distribution in a reticle plane (24) of a projection exposure apparatus (10). The apparatus includes an illumination system (16), irradiating a reticle (22) arranged in the reticle plane (24) and having a first pupil plane (20). All planes of the projection exposure apparatus which are conjugate thereto are further pupil planes, and the reticle plane (24) and all planes which are conjugate thereto are field planes. The method includes: arranging a spatially resolving detection module (44) in the region of one of the field planes (24, 30) such that the detection module is at a smaller distance from this field plane than from the closest pupil plane (20), radiating electromagnetic radiation (21) onto an optical module (42) from the illumination system, and determining an angularly resolved intensity distribution of the radiation from a signal recorded by the detection module.
US09915870B2
There is provided a pattern forming method comprising (a) a step of forming a film on a substrate using an electron beam-sensitive or extreme ultraviolet radiation-sensitive resin composition, (b) a step of forming a top coat layer on the film using a top coat composition containing a resin (T) containing at least any one of repeating units represented by formulae (I-1) to (I-5) shown below, (c) a step of exposing the film having the top coat layer using an electron beam or an extreme ultraviolet radiation, and (d) a step of developing the film having the top coat layer after the exposure to form a pattern.
US09915865B2
A photomask including monitoring marks is disclosed. In one aspect, the photomask includes a transparent substrate, a mask pattern formed on an upper surface of the transparent substrate, and a monitoring mark having a line width pattern shared with the mask pattern. The monitoring mark is configured to receive a laser beam so as to measure a power state of the laser beam.
US09915861B2
A device for converting wavelength and a projection light source are disclosed in the present disclosure. According to an example, the device may comprise a roller, a drive motor, a first reflector, a support shaft, a drive module and a dichroic film. An axis of the support shaft may be coincided with an axis of the roller. The support shaft may be not rotated with rotation of the roller. The drive motor may drive the roller rotate around the support shaft and the drive module may drive the roller to move back and forth along an axial direction of the support shaft. So excitation light reflected by the first reflector may be incident uniformly on the sidewall of the roller. Therefore, fluorescent powder conversion efficiency may be improved compared with that of the excitation light incident on a fixed area.
US09915860B2
The invention relates to a wavelength conversion element including: a base material including a light-reflecting surface; a dichroic film; and a wavelength conversion layer provided between the light-reflecting surface and the dichroic film. The dichroic film reflects portion of light in a wavelength band that the wavelength conversion layer absorbs, and has a reflectance distribution, with respect to the light along a predetermined direction.
US09915840B2
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including an outer peripheral wiring which is formed along an outer periphery of an active area that displays an image, and which has a first reflective surface, a second substrate including a reflective layer which is formed by a plurality of segments that are mutually spaced apart, and which has a second reflective surface opposed to the first reflective surface, a sealant formed of a photosensitive resin material, which surrounds the active area, is formed along the outer peripheral wiring, and attaches the first substrate and the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer held in a cell gap in an inside surrounded by the sealant.
US09915835B2
This application relates a liquid crystal alignment film, a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal alignment film, an optical filter, and a display device. According to one illustrative liquid crystal alignment film, for example, a stereoscopic image can be displayed in wide viewing angles without losses of the brightness.
US09915833B2
A Faraday rotator mirror, including: a polarizing beam splitter, a polarizing beam converging device made from birefringent crystal, a Faraday rotator, a reflecting mirror. In operation, light rays from an optical coupling element pass through the polarizing beam splitter, the polarizing beam converging device, the Faraday rotator, and the reflecting mirror, in that order, and then return back through the Faraday rotator, the polarizing beam converging device, and the polarizing beam splitter, in that order, and are output from the optical coupling element in reverse to the original incidence path.
US09915830B2
An optical device including at least one corrective optical lens that is adapted to be attached to and detached from at least one non-corrective optical lens, wherein the at least one corrective lens further includes at least one thermoplastic polymer having predetermined optical characteristics that confer vision correcting or magnifying properties to the at least one thermoplastic polymer; and at least one non-phthalate plasticizer blended with the at least one thermoplastic polymer, wherein the corrective optical lens is adapted to be attachable to a surface of the non-corrective optical lens by utilizing inherent van der Waals forces of attraction occurring between the corrective optical lens and the non-corrective optical lens, and wherein the inherent van der Waals forces of attraction occurring between the corrective optical lens and the non-corrective optical lens are enhanced by blending the at least one non-phthalate plasticizer with the at least one thermoplastic polymer.
US09915827B2
Disclosed are methods, circuits, optical assemblies, devices, systems and associated computer executable code for estimating for three dimensional imaging. According to some embodiments, there may be provided a projector operable to project a bi-dimensionally coded pattern to provide a first projection of the bi-dimensionally coded pattern and a second projection of the bi-dimensionally coded pattern. The first projection and the second projection may be offset or rigidly shifted with respect to one another, such that a first reflection off an object which is associated with the first projection and a second reflection off the object which is associated with the second projection are provided. A signal corresponding to the first reflection and a signal corresponding to the second reflection may be co-processed.
US09915824B2
Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner, a light modulator configured to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, a substrate to direct image information to a user's eye, wherein the substrate houses a plurality of reflectors, a first reflector of the plurality of reflectors to reflect transmitted light associated with a first frame of image data at a first angle to the user's eye, and a second reflector to reflect transmitted light associated with a second frame of the image data at a second angle to the user's eye.
US09915822B2
A thermoplastic film for a laminated-glass pane, having a non-linear continuous wedge insert in both a vertical and horizontal direction in some sections, is described. In the vertical direction, the laminated-glass pane is, from the perspective of an observer, further at a lower end than at an upper end. In a laminated-glass pane equipped with the thermoplastic film, the thermoplastic film is located between two glass layers. The thermoplastic film has at least a first section having a wedge angle profile that is continuous and non-linear in the vertical and horizontal direction, such that ghost images from a head-up display are minimized in the region of the first section. The thermoplastic film also minimizes double images in transmission in the first section and in further sections.
US09915814B2
A fluorescence observation unit includes a scanner that scans ultrashort pulsed laser light, a pupil projection lens that focuses the scanned ultrashort pulsed laser light, an image-forming lens that converts the focused ultrashort pulsed laser light to substantially collimated light and causes the ultrashort pulsed laser light to be incident on the objective lens, and a dichroic mirror that splits off, from the optic path of the ultrashort pulsed laser light, fluorescence generated in a sample due to irradiation with the ultrashort pulsed laser light and collected by the objective lens. The image-forming lens includes a first optical system having positive refractive power, and a second optical system having negative refractive power and disposed at a position closer to the scanner than the first optical system is. The dichroic mirror is disposed between the first optical system and the second optical system.
US09915812B2
A compact display module, such as can be used in wearable computing headset applications, includes a microdisplay with a display surface that is virtually imaged by a lens. The lens is positioned to receive light from the display surface of the microdisplay. The lens defines an angled fold, whereby light from a display generated at the display surface is reflected within the lens to thereby form a virtual image of the display in a virtual image plane that is angled non-perpendicularly relative to the display surface of the microdisplay.
US09915796B2
An interconnect system includes a first circuit board, first and second connectors connected to the first circuit board, and a transceiver including an optical engine and arranged to receive and transmit electrical and optical signals through a cable, to convert optical signals received from the cable into electrical signals, and to convert electrical signals received from the first connector into optical signals to be transmitted through the cable. The transceiver is arranged to mate with the first and second connectors so that at least some converted electrical signals are transmitted to the first connector and so that at least some electrical signals received from the cable are transmitted to the second connector.
US09915795B2
The light receptacle has: a light transmitting light receptacle main body (130); support parts (140) disposed on both ends of the light receptacle main body (130); first optical surfaces (132) to which light emitted by light-emitting elements (114) is made incident; second optical surfaces (136) that output light made incident at the plurality of first optical surfaces (132) toward the end surfaces of a plurality of light transmitting bodies (116); and four adhesive holding parts (142) that are through holes or recesses with the entire periphery thereof surrounded by the support parts and that are disposed at the four corners of the light receptacle (120) in a plane view. The light receptacle main body (130) and the support parts (140) have a plane-symmetrical shape, and the four adhesive holding parts (142) are disposed in plane-symmetrical positions.
US09915786B2
A transmissive photonic crystal fiber ring resonator employing single optical beam-splitter comprises: a first fiber-optic collimator, a second fiber-optic collimator, a first photonic crystal fiber collimator, a second photonic crystal fiber collimator, an optical beam-splitter, and a fixture. The first fiber-optic collimator, the second fiber-optic collimator, the first photonic crystal fiber collimator, the second photonic crystal fiber collimator, and the optical beam-splitter are fixed on the fixture; the fiber pigtails of the first fiber-optic collimator and the second fiber-optic collimator are the input/output ports; the fiber pigtails of the first photonic crystal fiber collimator and the second photonic crystal fiber collimator are connected. The number of components of the photonic crystal fiber ring resonator is reduced by half: only one optical beam-splitter and two photonic crystal fiber collimators besides two fiber-optic collimators; therefore, the resonator structure can be simplified and the size can be reduced.
US09915772B2
The illumination apparatus includes a light guide plate, a light source disposed opposing an incident light surface of the light guide plate, at least one optical sheet stacked on a light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and a frame for accommodating the light guide plate. On principal surfaces of the light guide plate, a protruding part and a recessed part are provided so as to form a pair at least along an end surface of the light guide plate extending in a direction that intersects an end surface serving as the incident light surface of the light guide plate, or along an end surface that opposes the incident light surface of the light guide plate.
US09915764B2
An object of the present application is to thin a thick lens used in an automobile headlamp optical system and a projector lighting optical system while maintaining the optical properties of the lens. A diffractive lens includes, on at least one surface, an optical surface with a plurality of areas defined by a plurality of steps. A blaze wavelength of the diffractive lens is within a wavelength spectral range of a light source used. An optical path difference between adjacent areas at the blaze wavelength is larger than a coherence length of the light source. The diffractive lens substantially acts as a Fresnel lens at a wavelength other than the blaze wavelength.
US09915762B2
A sheet comprising: (1) a core member comprising one or more layers and having a first major surface and (2) a slip control layer disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface, wherein the slip control layer comprises: (i) a footing layer disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface of the core member, (ii) a binder layer disposed on the footing layer, and (iii) an array of particles disposed in the binder layer and footing layer and protruding therefrom, wherein the average diameter of the particles is greater than the combined thickness of the foot layer and binder layer. A process for making such a sheet comprising: (1) providing a core member; (2) forming a footing layer on at least a portion of the first major surface of the core member, wherein the footing layer is viscoelastic and has a Tg that is lower than either the Tg or the Tm of the polymer at the first major surface of the core member; (3) applying a binder layer composition comprising a film forming polymer and particles to the surface of the footing layer; then (4) tentering the assembly under sufficient heat to soften the footing layer such that the particles sink into the footing layer, wherein the average diameter of the particles is greater than the combined thickness of the footing layer and binder layer.
US09915752B2
This invention is directed towards finding, locating, and confirming threat items and substances. The inspection system is designed to detect objects that are made from, but not limited to, special nuclear materials (“SNM”) and/or high atomic number materials. The system employs advanced image processing techniques to analyze images of an object under inspection (“OUI”), which includes, but is not limited to baggage, parcels, vehicles and cargo, and fluorescence detection.
US09915751B2
The present application discloses a detector module, which is arranged on a detector arm, comprising one or a plurality of detector units arranged in a scattered configuration, wherein each of the detector units in the detector module is installed aiming at a beam center of a ray source, thus improving imaging quality and reducing the size of a detector frame drastically.
US09915748B2
The invention provides a target object detection system, comprising a plurality of sensing nodes (10) for positioning at respective detection locations with respect to a detection area (12) that is situated within a field generated by an ambient AC source of excitation. Each sensing node has at least one electric potential sensor (22, 42) designed to detect perturbations in said field caused by a target object (14), said one sensor including an electrode (20, 40) responsive to the AC excitation field for generating detection signals, an amplifier (28) connected to the electrode for receiving and amplifying the detection signals to produce AC measurement signals as output, and at least one feedback circuit (30, 36) from an output of the amplifier to an input thereof for enhancing the input impedance of the amplifier. A signal processing arrangement (24, 26, 44) is associated with each sensing node and comprising a filter circuit (24) adapted to filter out frequencies generated by the ambient AC source of excitation that are outside a pre-defined bandwidth, and a level detector (26) responsive to the AC measurement signals for monitoring signal amplitude and generating amplitude information for use in producing target object data.
US09915732B2
Object detection systems are provided herein. An example system includes an enclosure formed by a sidewall to define an interaction volume, at least one light source for illuminating the interaction volume with a light, at least one light sensor that senses disturbances in light intensity due to scattering, reflection, or absorption of the light by objects within the interaction volume, and a controller that is configured to detect an object or object behavior within interaction volume based on the disturbances in the light intensity.
US09915723B1
Aspects receive different instances of reception data from different respective wireless communication receivers that include broadcast data packets broadcast from a mobile device, geographic locations of the communication receivers and times of reception of the broadcast data packet by the respective receivers. Each broadcast data packet includes a time of broadcast by the mobile device and a unique identifier of the mobile device. Aspects determine a geographic location of the mobile device at the time of broadcast of the data packets as a function of triangulating to the geographic locations of the different communication receivers; and/or of determining a Doppler shift in frequency transmission data of an instance of reception of a first data packet relative to frequency transmission data of another instance of reception of another, second data packet transmission broadcast at a different time than the first data packet.
US09915719B2
In a method and apparatus for recording magnetic resonance (MR) signals from an examination object, raw data space is filled with MR signals in raw data lines. Movement information of the examination object is detected during recording of the MR signals and the movement information is grouped into different movement phases of the examination object. A temporally randomly distributed sequence of the recording of the raw data lines is determined, with which at least one predetermined portion of the raw data space is filled MR signals. The MR signals are acquired in the determined temporally randomly distributed sequence of the raw data lines in the predetermined portion. Each recorded raw data line is allocated to one of the movement phases of the examination object.
US09915718B2
In a method for the determination of sensitivity profiles of local coils in the acquisition of magnetic resonance data, a first measurement data set of an examination area is acquired with a first acquisition coil, a second measurement data set of the examination area is acquired with a local coil, and a sensitivity profile of the local coil that is used is determined on the basis of the first measurement data set and the measurement data set. The first measurement data set and the second measurement data set are acquired using a pulse sequence with ultrashort echo times. In the determination of the sensitivity profile, errors due to dephasings are avoided as best as possible by the acquisition of the measurement data sets with a pulse sequence with ultrashort echo times (i.e. in particular echo times TE shorter than 0.5 ms); in particular, the dephasings are smaller given these echo times than in the case of gradient echo (GRE)-based pulse sequences.
US09915713B2
A method of determining the position of at least one magnetic field probe located within a pre-defined volume of interest within a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy arrangement comprises applying a spatially and temporally variable magnetic reference field having a unique time-course at every point in said volume of interest during a preselected time window. An MR signal is ac-quired from said magnetic field probe during said time window, and the position of the probe is determined from the probe MR signal.
US09915712B2
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The system includes a main field magnet generating a main magnetic field B0. Moreover, the system further includes radio frequency (RF) receiver coils including a first combination of two coils, the two coils of the first combination decoupled based on quadrature decoupling such that the two coils of the first combination are able to receive signals orthogonal to each other and to B0. The two coils can be butterfly coils, the loop plane of the butterfly coils arranged along a surface, the longitudinal axis of the butterfly coils being substantially orthogonal and crossing at substantially midpoint. The surface can be substantially orthogonal to B0 and be curved. The first of the two coils can also be a loop coil and the second of the two coils a butterfly coil.
US09915709B2
A motor system includes a motor including two Hall sensors configured to output binary values, and a controller configured to control the motor. The two Hall sensors are placed 120 or 60 electrical degrees apart. The controller is operable to monitor output signals of the two Hall sensors and to determine a third Hall sensor output binary value. The controller is operable to fulfill the commanded requirements to operate in a servo system, by controlling commutation of a drive current into the motor, and by keeping track of the motor rotor position based on the third generated signal and the outputs of the two Hall sensors.
US09915705B2
A battery control device includes: a battery; a storage circuitry configured to store a disconnection time which indicates a time at which a power supply is disconnected; and a diagnosis circuitry configured to, when the power supply is reactivated, diagnose a charge capacity of the battery at the time of reactivation based on a disconnection period obtained from the disconnection time and a time at when the power supply is reactivated, a temperature of the battery in a state during the power supply is disconnected and a deterioration degree of the battery.
US09915704B2
The disclosure relates to a method for determining a Coulombic efficiency of battery modules of a rechargeable battery with a circuit arrangement connected to the battery modules. The circuit arrangement has multiple current paths, each of which has a series circuit of switch modules and at least one power semiconductor element which can be operated in a linear mode in order to regulate the current flowing through the respective current path, and one of the battery modules is connected to each of the switch modules. Each of the switch modules is configured as a switch module for selectively connecting the connected battery module into the respective current path or to alternatively remove the connected battery module from the respective current path. In each of the current paths at least one of the battery modules is selected with the switch module.
US09915687B2
A real current meter reads current from a current probe coupled around power lines of a transformer-based UPS system coupled to a transformer having a high resistance ground with a HRG resistance and determines a real current component of the current read from the current probe.
US09915685B2
A current detection system includes: first and second magnetic plates arranged in parallel with a predetermined distance; a bus bar for flowing current; and a magneto-electric conversion element converting a lateral direction component of a measurement object magnetic flux, generated by current flowing through the bus bar, to an electric signal. When an external magnetic flux in a lateral direction passes through an accommodation space between the first and second magnetic plates, a trajectory of the external magnetic flux is bent by the first and second magnetic plates, and the accommodation space is divided into a permeable space, through which the external magnetic flux passes, and a non-permeable space, through which the external magnetic flux does not pass. The bus bar is arranged in the accommodation space. The magneto-electric conversion element is arranged in the non-permeable space. The bus bar and the magneto-electric conversion element are lined in the height direction.
US09915677B2
A data acquisition method of a substrate processing apparatus for acquiring data on gas current directions in a plurality of measurement regions on a surface of a substrate, includes: loading a sensing substrate having a plurality of pairs of sensors on a loader, wherein each pair of sensors includes a first sensor and a second sensor configured to acquire vector data of the gas current on the surface of the sensing substrate; acquiring vector data of the gas current in a first linear direction by the first sensor; acquiring vector data of the gas current in a second linear direction slanted to the first linear direction by the second sensor; and combining the gas current vectors based on a starting point associated with the respective pair of sensors; and calculating a gas current direction from the starting point associated with the respective pair of sensors.
US09915675B2
Methods and apparatus for determining aspiration and/or dispensing volume and/or pipette positioning
Methods of determining or verifying proper operation of a diagnostic device are disclosed. The methods include monitoring, with one or more image capture devices, one or more locations to determine proper aspiration, dispense, and/or overall assay component volume fill of one or more bio-liquid containers. Tip immersion depth and location may be also measured and/or verified. Diagnostic devices and apparatus adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.
US09915672B2
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.
US09915667B2
Provided herein are methods for diagnosing the presence or the risk of development, or for the therapy control of vasculitis, in particular of large vessel vasculitis, like giant-cell arteritis (GCA), polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and Takayasu's arteritis, in a subject analyzing for the presence of antibodies against ferritin, in particular heavy chain ferritin or immunoreactive peptides thereof or ferritin analog protein, preferably bacterial ferritin analog protein, or immunoreactive peptides thereof, in a subject. In addition, test kits for use in the diagnosis of the presence or the risk of development, or for the therapy control of vasculitis, in particular of large vessel vasculitis, like GCA, PMR and Takayasu's arteritis, in a subject are also provided.
US09915665B2
System and methods are disclosed for identifying and isolating antibodies with specific affinity with an antigen of interest. Multiple DNA libraries encoding antibodies or their fragments are designed such that the encoded antibodies from different libraries are tagged differently. These libraries may be transformed into yeast cells. The variants of the antibodies are displayed on the surface of the yeast cells and flow cytometry may be used to sort the cells based on antigen affinity and the different tags on the antibodies. By allowing multiple libraries to be screened simultaneously, the disclosed methods help improve the efficiency of affinity.
US09915663B2
Provided are methods for determining the amount of thyroglobulin in a sample using various purification steps followed by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve purifying thyroglobulin in a test sample, digesting thyroglobulin to form peptide T129, purifying peptide T129, ionizing peptide T129, detecting the amount of peptide T129 ion generated, and relating the amount of peptide T129 ion to the amount of thyroglobulin originally present in the sample.
US09915662B2
The present invention concerns materials and methods for characterizing monoclonal immunoglobulin specificity of a Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) or Myeloma patients using a protein microarray comprising (a) a substrate, (b) antigens immobilized on the substrate, said antigens being selected from a defined group consisting of infectious agent antigens and/or self-antigens. In particular said protein microarray may be used to improve diagnosis, for the prognosis of myeloma or MGUS, for preventing transformation of MGUS toward myeloma, for adapting treatment of MGUS and myeloma or for monitoring the response to therapy of MGUS and myeloma patients.
US09915661B2
Provided are a composition, a kit, and a method of predicting prognosis of ovarian cancer or a risk of recurrence of ovarian cancer. Provided are a composition for treating ovarian cancer or preventing recurrence of ovarian cancer and a method of screening a material for treating ovarian cancer or preventing recurrence of ovarian cancer. According to the present disclosure, prognosis or recurrence of ovarian cancer can be efficiently diagnosed, and a candidate material that can treat ovarian cancer or prevent recurrence of ovarian cancer can be efficiently screened.
US09915657B2
Fungal infections are difficult to diagnose. The most common filamentous fungal infection, aspergillosis, carries with it a high mortality. Culture of the organism is difficult and obtaining samples, e.g., through a lung biopsy, sometimes causes morbidity. Biomarkers that indicate ‘early’ infection in it development are sought after. One such biomarker is detection of galactomannan (GM), a polysaccharide that is attached to hyphal cell walls and secreted during growth of the organism. Galactomannan is excreted in urine. Disclosed herein is a lateral flow assay comprising monoclonal antibodies that recognize specific residues of Aspergillus fumigatus for detecting GM in urine samples to provide a point-of-care detection device to allow for frequent screening and early diagnosis in patients at high risk for infection.
US09915656B2
A hand-held measuring instrument is used for detecting hidden mold damage in interior spaces. The measuring instrument includes at least one collection unit configured to intake at least of one interior space sample, at least one buffer unit, at least one immunological test unit, an evaluation unit and a control panel. The at least one buffer unit has a first compartment and a second compartment.
US09915653B2
Method of localizing a sulfhydryl (—SH) group containing biomolecule to the surface of a cell membrane by mixing in a volatile reaction buffer a molar excess of the sulfhydryl (—SH) group containing biomolecule with a lipid conjugated maleimide of the structure F-S-L as defined in the specification to provide a reaction mix, incubating the reaction mix for a time and at a temperature sufficient to allow all the lipid conjugated maleimide to have reacted with the sulfhydryl (—SH) group, and freeze-drying the reaction mix to remove the volatile reaction buffer and provide a reaction product. An aqueous solution of the reaction product is contacted with the cell membrane.
