US09949479B2

It relates to a pesticide composition for preventing and controlling fusarium head blight, which contains 1 to 150 parts by weight of jinggangmycin and 1 to 20 parts by weight of metconazole per mu. The pesticide composition of the present invention has an obvious synergistic effect when used for preventing and controlling fusarium head blight, and can remarkably enhance the effect of preventing and controlling head blight, increasing the ability of the human being in preventing and controlling head blight of triticeae crops.
US09949478B2

The present invention relates to a herbicide combination comprising at least two α-monocarboxyl fatty acids having, independently of one another, a hydrocarbon chain having 8 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least one ALS inhibitor.
US09949471B2

A vented combustion chamber for an insect attractant engine is provided for a flying insect trapping device of the type that relies upon combustion of a fuel to generate a flow of carbon dioxide to attract flying insects. The combustion chamber, which is generally tubular and horizontally oriented in operation, is vented through a hole formed in one side of the chamber wall that extends from the outer surface of the chamber into the interior thereof. During operation of the device, this through-hole allows gas inside the chamber to be vented to the outside, changing the effective length of the combustion chamber for the purposes of wave generation is changed so that creation of a resonance cycle or standing wave, and the resulting acoustic phenomenon of howling, is prevented.
US09949467B2

Provided is a fishing line guide that can be manufactured in a simple manner. The fishing line guide according to an embodiment is a fishing line guide mounted on a tip portion of a fishing rod, the fishing line guide including a tubular member where a through-hole extending along an extension direction is formed, a plurality of slits extending while facing each other along the extension direction on an end surface of one end being formed in the tubular member, and a frame member where a through-hole allowing a fishing line to be inserted and guided is formed, a supporting portion engaged with the through-hole and the plurality of slits of the tubular member being formed in the frame member.
US09949466B2

To provide a fishing rod having a flexible tip rod less prone to breakage, and desired degrees of the flexibility and strength can be obtained at a required portion of the tip rod. A fishing rod includes a tip rod made of a fiber-reinforced resin material. The tip rod is formed of a short-fiber reinforced resin material in which short fibers are dispersed in a matrix resin material, the average fiber diameter of the short fibers is 3 to 15 μm, the average fiber length of the short fibers is 0.5 to 10 mm, and the content of the short fibers is 3 to 50 wt %, and a periphery of the short-fiber reinforced resin material is at least partially covered with a prepreg sheet in which reinforced fibers are aligned and extended in one direction and impregnated with a synthetic resin.
US09949451B2

The disclosure features a bioreactor for the growth of macroalgae and methods for using the bioreactor to maintain optimal nutrient levels for the organisms in an aquarium or aquaculture system. The devices and methods of the disclosure provide for the bioremediation of excess nutrients in order to maintain nutrient balance in an aquarium or aquaculture system that facilitates growth and/or health of one or more of the organisms that reside therein.
US09949450B2

A plurality of wireless transmitters tethered to a plurality of soil moisture probes, each of said probes having first and second elongate conductive materials encapsulated in a non-conductive substrate, coupled to a power source and configured to be placed in the soil to form a capacitor. An irrigation control box is equipped with a receiver and a processor coupled to a plurality of irrigation control valves, each irrigation control valve corresponding to an irrigation zone wherein at least one probe is placed. The processor converts signal data received from the plurality of transmitters into a soil moisture value and (i) opens a control valve corresponding to the zone to which the probe corresponds upon detecting that the soil moisture value in the zone has dropped below a threshold value and (ii) closes the control valve upon detecting that the soil moisture value has raised above a threshold value.
US09949449B2

Embodiments are directed to a fluid-emission device. An example fluid-emission device includes a tubular body, a fluid-source coupler, and a tip member disposed opposite the tubular body from the fluid-source coupler. A fluid-transmission lumen in the tubular body fluidly couples the tip member to the fluid-source coupler. The tip member includes a plate having a plurality of fluid-emission lumens that fluidly couple the fluid-transmission lumen to an environment outside the tubular body. The tip member includes a spearhead disposed opposite the plate from the fluid-transmission lumen. The tip member has a spacer disposed between the plate and the spearhead to separate the spearhead from the fluid-emission lumens. The fluid-emission device can be used by inserting the tip member into material and delivering fluid to a target, such as delivering water or fertilizer to plant roots or the like.
US09949434B2

A crop residue spreader including at least one impeller, at least one radial housing, and at least one blower outlet opening. The at least one radial housing includes a crop residue outlet opening. The at least one impeller is configured to be rotatably driven around a rotation axis such that a crop residue flow is ejected through the crop residue outlet opening of the at least one radial housing, such that the crop residue flow is converted from an incoming crop residue flow into a wider outgoing crop residue flow. The at least one separate blower outlet opening is separate from the crop residue outlet opening of the at least one radial housing. The at least one blower outlet opening is configured to provide an outgoing airflow to accelerate the crop residue flow.
US09949432B2

A vegetation chopping roller for an agricultural land roller implement including a drum body having an outer periphery which is generally cylindrical about a drum axis of rotation and a plurality of protruding mounting flanges upon which chopping blades are mounted using threaded fasteners. A seating surface is fixedly supported in relation to the drum body in association with each blade which receives the inner edge of the associated blade abutted thereon such that the threaded fasteners are substantially isolated from shear forces by the abutment of the blades with the seating surfaces.
US09949429B2

An adjustable guided rake apparatus and method, which enable an adjustable guided rake user to configure an adjustable rake guide to a specified height in relation to a secondary surface, which will then define the height of the grading edge of the grading rake head in relation to a primary surface. The adjustable guided rake user is able to move the grading rake head along a primary surface, in order to shift material along the surface, while the adjustable rake guide runs along the secondary surface, guiding the grading rake head.
US09949426B2

A seed delivery apparatus and methods in which a seed conveyor delivers seed from a metering device to a furrow in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within the furrow.
US09955618B2

Disclosed herein is a dispensing head that includes a motor, an air pump operably connected to and powered by the motor, and a first spindle connected to the air pump. The air pump is configured to create airflow in the first spindle. Further disclosed is a method of creating airflow in a dispensing head, and an assembly machine system having a dispensing head.
US09955616B2

A hot/cold aisle air containment system includes a frame structure, at least one electronic equipment enclosure installed at least partially within the frame structure, and a header panel assembly. The frame structure adapted to be at least partially covered by one or more panels to define an interior space and includes at least one horizontal member. The header panel assembly is installed between a top of the at least one electronic equipment enclosure and the at least one horizontal member of the frame structure to prevent circulation of air above the enclosure. The header panel assembly includes a pair of panels. A first of the pair of panels is adjustable horizontally relative to a second of the pair of panels, and the pair of panels, together, are adjustable vertically relative to the least one horizontal member.
US09955612B2

An air deflecting system includes an air deflector that is physically mounted against a hot air exhaust vent of a network equipment element using a rack coupling mechanism that is adjustable to accommodate a variable lateral distance of the hot air exhaust vent from the computing rack. The air deflector receives an airflow from the hot air exhaust vent at a first direction and deflects the airflow in a second direction.
US09955608B2

A rack anti-tip system includes an elongated member that includes a first end, a second end located opposite the elongated member from the first end, and a plurality of coupling members that are provided on the elongated member between the first end and the second end and that are each configured to couple the elongated member to a respective adjustable foot subsystem of a rack having a first tip angle. A plurality of anti-tip members extend from the elongated member. The plurality of anti-tip members are positioned relative to the plurality of coupling members to cause the rack to have a second tip angle that is greater than the first tip angle when the elongated member is coupled to the rack.
US09955605B2

Techniques and mechanisms for providing connectivity to an integrated circuit device via a hardware interface. In an embodiment, the hardware interface includes contacts forming an array of nodes. Some or all such nodes are arranged in cells, wherein the respective node types of each cell's nodes are according to the same cell pattern. The cell pattern includes eight B nodes for the exchange of data bits, four strobe S nodes for the exchange of strobe signals, and ground (G) nodes for the providing of one or more reference potentials. The cell pattern enables formation of a lattice structure including node-contiguous G nodes each of a respective one of the multiple cells. In another embodiment, a ratio of bi-level nodes (including all S nodes and all G nodes) of the cell pattern to a total number of G nodes of the cell pattern is 12:8 or more.
US09955578B2

A circuit structure includes a patterned circuit layer, a patterned insulating layer and a support plate. The patterned insulating layer covers a portion of the patterned circuit layer, wherein an upper surface of the patterned circuit layer is aligned with a top surface of the patterned insulating layer. The support plate is disposed on a bottom surface of the patterned insulating layer, wherein the support plate, the patterned insulating layer and the patterned circuit layer define a plurality of air gaps.
US09955577B2

A conductive component including: a substrate, a first layer comprising a plurality of island structures disposed on the substrate, wherein the island structures include graphene; and a second layer disposed on the first layer, wherein the second layer includes a plurality of conductive nanowires. Also, an electronic device including the conductive component.
US09955573B2

It is an object to provide a prepreg for a printed laminate that has a low thermal expansion coefficient in the planar direction, excellent drillability, and further excellent heat resistance and flame retardancy, and a laminate and a metal foil-clad laminate. A resin composition according to the present invention includes a molybdenum compound (A); an epoxy resin (B); a curing agent (C); and an inorganic filler (D), wherein a Mohs hardness of the inorganic filler (D) is 3.5 or more, and a content of the inorganic filler (D) is 40 to 600 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of a total of resin solid components.
US09955571B2

A PCB page blank includes a flexible substrate, a curable adhesive, a conductive layer, and a conductive layer support. The flexible substrate receives an opaque negative circuit pattern thereon. Portions of the curable adhesive not obscured by the circuit pattern may bond to portions of the conductive layer when exposed to light. The bonded portions of the conductive layer shear or tear from non-bonded portions of the conductive layer such that the bonded portions remain with the flexible substrate and the non-bonded portions remain with the conductive layer support when the flexible substrate and the conductive layer support are separated. The flexible substrate and the bonded portions of the conductive layer thus form a PCB prototype with the bonded portions of the conductive layer forming circuit traces of the circuit pattern.
US09955568B2

A printed circuit board includes a first trace, a second trace, and a first via. The first trace is in a first conductive layer. The second trace is in a second conductive layer. The first via interconnects the first trace and the second trace, and communicates a first signal from the first trace to the second trace through a third conductive layer. The third conductive layer has a higher impedance than the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
US09955567B2

A computer system receives an initial multilayered ceramic package design. The computer system maintains a first selection of mesh line segments of the mesh line segments at a first width and adjusts a second selection of mesh line segments of the plurality of mesh line segments to a second width. The computer system controls fabrication of the multilayered ceramic package based on the modified multilayered ceramic package design.
US09955560B2

Methods and systems are described for replacing a lighting device in a wireless lighting device network. A first lighting device is identified using a mobile device such as, for example, a smart phone. Configuration data for the first lighting device is downloaded to the mobile device from a configuration database. The first lighting device is physically replaced with a second, replacement lighting device and the second lighting device is identified using the mobile device. The downloaded configuration data corresponding to the first lighting device is then uploaded from the mobile device to the second lighting device and is subsequently used by the second lighting device to control the operation of the second lighting device. The configuration database is then updated based on the identification information for the second lighting device and the configuration data uploaded to the second lighting device from the mobile device.
US09955557B2

Disclosed are a lighting device, a lighting system including the same, and a method of operating the same. The lighting device includes a communication unit receiving contents through communication with an outside, a content analyzing unit detecting an output state of the contents by analyzing the contents received through the communication unit, a storage unit storing information of a driving condition of a lighting unit corresponding to the output state of the contents, a controller extracting the information of the driving condition of the lighting unit corresponding to the detected output state of the contents from the storage unit and allowing the lighting unit to operate according to the contents based on the information of the driving condition of the lighting unit, and a lighting unit driver outputting a driving signal used to drive the lighting unit according to a control signal of the controller.
US09955539B2

A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, the intensity of light provided by the one or more light emitting devices is adjusted responsive to a temperature of the one or more light emitting device. The light is adjusted via modifying a current supplied to the one or more light emitting devices.
US09955537B2

Disclosed is a rectifierless light string that uses bidirectional LEDs. Each LED is illuminated on both the positive and the negative portion of an AC signal so that the AC signal does not have to be rectified. In addition, LEDs are mounted on LED holder plugs, which are designed to allow the LEDs and bypass resistors to be automatically inserted in the LED holder plug. The LED holder plugs are inserted into a light string socket that contains a shunt switch that provides a conduction path when the LED holder plug is not firmly inserted in the light string socket. In this manner, conduction can occur in the light string when the LED holder plug is dislodged.
US09955530B2

A feeding fluid warming system broadly includes a liner bag and an ultraviolet light warming device. The liner bag includes an inner bag that receives feeding fluid therein and an outer bag that holds warming fluid therein. The warming device includes a container, an ultraviolet light source, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The container receives the liner bag therein and the ultraviolet light source heats the warming fluid, which in turn heats the feeding fluid to temperatures within a thermal neutral zone so as to effectively and consistently maintains the fluids at these temperatures in addition to sterilizing the warming fluid.
US09955525B2

Embodiments herein disclose a method in a radio base station (12) for handling Discontinuous Reception, DRX, operation at a terminal (10) served by the radio base station (12). The radio base station (12) selects a parameter related to DRX operation based on at least one of: a service type of a packet intended for the terminal (10) and a terminal status of the terminal (10). The radio base station then transmits the parameter to the terminal (10).
US09955514B2

The present disclosure relates to a method of radio communication between a first radio device and a second radio device using a first frequency resource and a first communication protocol by means of a network node, at least one of the radio devices being served by said network node. The method comprises determining a second frequency resource to use for non-network assisted device-to-device (D2D) communication between the first and second radio devices in case of a radio link failure between said at least one radio device and the network node. The method also comprises determining a second communication protocol to use for the non-network assisted D2D communication between the first and second radio devices in the case of a radio link failure between said at least one radio device and the network node.
US09955511B2

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a terminal to report channel state information in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: a step of transmitting first channel state information according to a first channel state information (CSI) process for reporting the first channel state information periodically for every first period; a step of transmitting second channel state information according to a second CSI process for reporting the second channel state information periodically for every second period; and a step of dropping the transmission of either the first channel state information or the second channel state information on the basis of the CSI process index of each of the first and second CSI processes in the event the first channel state information transmission timing and the second channel state information transmission timing conflict.
US09955504B2

A method for multiple access to a frequency band of a communication channel of a communication network with carrier sense and collision avoidance, the said frequency band being divided into a set of sub-bands includes, at a source node, detecting the availability of the communication channel and transmitting to a destination node a request message for authorization to send data on the communication channel sent over one or more sub-bands, and, at the destination node, detecting simultaneous request messages for authorization to send data on the communication channel transmitted by a plurality of source nodes over a plurality of sub-bands. A message is transmitted authorizing the sending of data on the communication channel by at least one source node among the said plurality of source nodes.
US09955502B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for signaling enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter sets, with support for different device types. The apparatus typically includes a processing system configured to generate a frame with an indication of a type of device that is to use a particular enhanced distribution channel access (EDCA) parameter set and an interface for outputting a frame containing the TIM IE for transmission.
US09955498B1

In any cellular communication the network transmits broadcast information with some periodicity which is defined by the network parameters. The client terminal must acquire this system information in order to access the services from the network. The time required by the client terminal to acquire all the necessary system information to initiate network access may depend on the scheduling of the system information broadcast by the network. In some cases the scheduling information about some of the system information may be described in another system information message whose schedule may be fixed or known a priori. Conventional method of decoding the complete system information may involve sequential steps which may increase the time required for accessing the services from the network. A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable faster acquisition of the system information and reduce sequential dependency of system information message decoding. Faster acquisition of system information may enable improved mobility performance of the client terminal.
US09955497B2

Method, systems, and devices are described for low latency, robust acknowledgement reporting in a wireless communication system. A receiving device may receive a transmission in the transmission time interval (TTI), the transmission may include one or a plurality of symbols. The receiving device may identify an uplink acknowledgement channel configuration based on the format of the TTI. The receiving device may send an acknowledgement message to the sending device on the uplink acknowledgement channel according to the uplink acknowledgement channel configuration.
US09955490B2

A radio communication apparatus (11) provides a connection with an external network (17) through a core network (15) and a cellular radio access network (14) to at least one local device (12) that is connected to the radio communication apparatus by means of a personal or local area networking technology. The radio communication apparatus (11) transmits to the core network (15) an additional bearer generation request to request an additional bearer having a QoS parameter corresponding to a first QoS policy applied to a first device (12) in an application layer. The radio communication apparatus (11) uses an additional bearer, configured between the radio communication apparatus (11) and the core network (15) according to the additional bearer generation request, to transmit or receive data packets each containing data which is originated by or destined for the first device (12).
US09955488B2

A recursive algorithm may be applied to group cells in a service network into a small number of clusters. For each of the clusters, different regression algorithms may be evaluated, and a regression algorithm generating a smallest error is selected. A total error for the clusters may be identified based on the errors from the selected regression algorithms and from degrees of separation associated with the cluster. If the total error is greater than a threshold value, the cells may be grouped into a larger number of clusters and the new clusters may be re-evaluated. A key performance indicator (KPI) may be estimated for a cell based on a regression algorithm selected for the cluster associated with the cell. A resources may be allocated to the cell based on the KPI value.
US09955487B2

A method for receiving downlink data by a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes checking a transmission parameter related to data transmitted from an interfering cell, determining presence/absence of an interference signal based on the transmission parameter, determining whether to apply Network Assisted Interference Cancellation and Suppression (NAICS) technology based on at least one of the transmission parameter or the presence/absence of the interference signal, and decoding the downlink data depending on whether to apply the NAICS technology.
US09955483B2

A node of a wireless network transmits information to a user equipment over an aggregated carrier that includes a primary carrier having a first set of primary carrier time/frequency resources and a secondary carrier having a second set of secondary carrier time/frequency resources. Synchronization signals and/or reference symbols are transmitted to the user equipment on the secondary carrier less often than on the primary carrier. An indication of when and/or how often the synchronization signals and/or reference symbols will be transmitted to the user equipment on the secondary carrier may also be transmitted to the user equipment over the primary carrier. By transmitting synchronization signals and/or reference symbols to the user equipment on the secondary carrier less often than on the primary carrier, resources of the secondary carrier may be conserved, energy efficiency of the secondary carrier may be increased, and/or interference with other cells may be reduced or prevented.
US09955476B2

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for providing improved position-location (e.g., time-of-arrival) measurement and enhanced position location in wireless communication systems. In an embodiment, an access point may replace information (e.g., data) transmission by a “known” transmission (or “reference transmission”) at a predetermined time known to access terminals in the corresponding sectors. The access terminals may use the received reference transmission to perform a position-location measurement, and report back the measured information. The access point may also send a reference transmission on demand, e.g., in response to a request from an access terminal in need for a location-based service.
US09955474B2

A method for receiving a downlink control signal by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method includes monitoring the plurality of enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) candidates in an EPDCCH set to decode an EPDCCH transmitted from a base station (BS) using the minimum aggregation level; decoding the EPDCCH transmitted from the BS; and receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) corresponding to the decoded EPDCCH, wherein a minimum aggregation level for a plurality of EPDCCH candidates is determined as 2 if both a downlink (DL) bandwidth includes at least 25 resource blocks (RBs) and a downlink control information (DCI) format is one of DCI formats 2, 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D.
US09955465B2

Compact Downlink Control Information (DCI) format designs reduced the overhead of Physical Downlink Control Channels (PDCCHs) are provided. The compact DCI format designs may include using the extended RBGs size reduces the Resource Block Assignment (RBA) field of DCI; using modified format of extended Carrier Indicator Field (CIF) field supports numerous Component Carriers (CCs); making several CC-specific information field within DCI formats be common achieves a fast CCs activation/deactivation; and one or multiple DCI contents which need to be applied for different CCs are concatenated in a DCI.
US09955463B2

A method at a user equipment having a scheduling carrier and at least one scheduled carrier, the method receiving, at a first subframe from the scheduling carrier, a downlink control indication containing a downlink assignment for the user equipment on the scheduled carrier; and turning on a receiver of the user equipment for the scheduled carrier at a future downlink subframe based on the downlink assignment. Further, a method, at a scheduling cell having a scheduling carrier, for scheduling downlink data reception on a scheduled carrier, the method setting a time skew for the scheduled carrier such that a data transmission start time for a subframe at the scheduled carrier is greater than a blind latency decode time on the scheduling carrier.
US09955458B1

A one or more downlink resource elements of a downlink resource block in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system can be shared by two wireless communication devices (WCDs) by assigning each WCD a different one of two orthogonal modulation axes. To transmit data to two WCDs using the same downlink resource block, a base station may receive a data stream including respective data for each of the WCDs, then modulate the data for one WCD on in-phase modulation axis and modulate that data for the other WCD on the quadrature axis. The two modulation modes can be simultaneously transmitted on a common sub-carrier of an OFDM downlink to both WCDs. Each WCD can demodulate the data on a pre-assigned demodulation axis to recover its intended data. This sharing technique can be applied to some or all of the downlink resource elements of a commonly allocated downlink resource block.
US09955447B2

A clock synchronization method, a mobile network system, a network controller and a network switch are provided. The method computes a round-trip delay ratio between the network controller and the network switch according to a first delay, of which the network controller transmits a packet to the network switch, and a second delay, of which the network switch transmits another packet to the network controller. The method also locks a first clock based on a time-transfer protocol with the round-trip delay ratio, wherein the first clock is synchronized with a master clock of the network controller. The method further sets the first clock being locked as a runtime clock of the network switch.
US09955445B2

A method of and User Equipment (UE) for enhancing reporting information for a Radio Link Failure (RLF) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. The method includes receiving, by a User Equipment (UE), RLF threshold information transmitted from the LTE network, logging, by the UE, the RLF threshold information, and indicating, by the UE, a recovery from a near RLF condition.
US09955444B1

A system synchronizes data across multiple data centers to geographically distributed clients may receive current versions of the objects (or portions of objects) from whatever data center is closest to the client. When one of the data centers receives an application object from a first client, it may save the application object in a data collection at that data center. It may also send the application object to other data centers so that the application object is replicated among each of the other data centers. Each of the data centers will relay the updates to the other data centers subscribing clients via various channels, while at least some of the data centers will make the updates available to clients who request the updates. Optionally, the data centers also may publish change notification messages to the channels.
US09955437B2

A user terminal that communicates using a plurality of CGs (Cell Groups) including a first CG and a second CG, includes a PHY layer processing section that controls transmission power of a PRACH (Physical Random Access Channel) in each CG; and a MAC layer processing section that controls retransmission of the PRACH. When total transmission power of PRACHs of the plurality of CGs that are transmitted in an overlapping manner exceeds allowable maximum transmission power, the PHY layer processing section controls so as to preferentially allocate transmission power to the PRACH of the first CG, and based on notification which is reported from the PHY layer processing section when total transmission power of PRACHs of the plurality of CGs that are transmitted in an overlapping manner exceeds allowable maximum transmission power, the MAC layer processing section controls power-ramping in retransmission of the PRACH of the second CG.
US09955434B1

A technique is provided for controlling a transmit range of a wireless transmitter. The technique includes retrieving Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values measured by one or more sensors, corresponding to the plurality of wireless transmitters distributed in a region in which the sensors are located. A plurality of parameters associated with the wireless transmitter to be placed within the region are received. The plurality of parameters includes a minimum range of transmission of the wireless transmitter and a preferred position in the region. A plurality of clusters are generated based on the retrieved RSSI values and the minimum range. Further, one or more positions for placing the wireless transmitter within a cluster from the plurality of clusters, and a maximum range of transmission at each of the one or more positions, are determined. The maximum range is determined by controlling a range of transmission of the wireless transmitter.
US09955419B2

A method performed by a wireless device for handling suspension of a connection between the wireless device and a wireless communications network. The wireless communications network comprises the first network node.The wireless device receives information from the first network node. The information comprises a first identifier identifying a first cell area. The first cell area comprises one or more cells capable of resuming the connection.The wireless device suspends the connection in a first cell out of the one or more cells.When selecting a cell access method for a cell the wireless device determines whether or not resumption of the connection is allowed in the cell based on the information from the network node.
US09955416B1

The disclosure provides a method including the following steps: receiving, by an electronic device, beacon signals transmitted from access points, and estimating the number of the access points according to the beacon signals; determining by the electronic device whether the electronic device can connect to a base station; when it is determined that the electronic device cannot connect to the base station, estimating the number of connection access points according to the number of the access points and a first data queue by the electronic device; and when it is determined that the electronic device can connect to the base station, determining by the electronic device whether to connect the electronic device to the base station according to the first data queue, and estimating the number of the connection access points according to the number of the access points, the first data queue and a determination result.
US09955400B2

A method and system for handing off a terminal among a plurality of wireless access points (APs) connected to a central management AP. The method comprising: receiving network condition information of a terminal communicatively connected to a first wireless AP among the plurality of wireless APs. Determining a second wireless AP the plurality of wireless APs to which the terminal is to be handed off based on the network condition information of the terminal. The second wireless AP is virtually connected to the terminal. Submitting a handoff request to the second wireless AP. Notifying the terminal to hand off to the second wireless AP in response to receiving a handoff response from the second wireless AP.
US09955396B1

Aspects of the present disclosure provide for systems and methods to enable mobile devices to connect to the Internet while in a moving vehicle that includes one or more internal cabin access points (CAPs) and one or more external vehicle access point (VAPs), but are not so limited. A disclosed system operates to enable passengers to use one or more mobile devices, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. to connect to the Internet via access points (APs) positioned along the path of travel of a moving vehicle. A disclosed method operates to seamlessly maintain network connectivity for wireless device users of a vehicle network moving from one service station AP to another service station AP along a path of travel of a moving vehicle.
US09955393B2

Methods and apparatuses for redirecting a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to a dedicated core network (CN) node are described. An apparatus is configured to initiate a Service Request with a non-dedicated network node. The apparatus is configured to receive a special identifier in response to the Service Request, which indicates the apparatus should be redirected to a dedicated CN node based on subscription information. Radio access network resources associated with the apparatus may be released and the apparatus may then perform a tracking area update (TAU) request which is then forwarded to the dedicated CN node.
US09955390B2

One embodiment of the present specification provides a transmission and reception method of a machine type communication (MTC) device. The transmission and reception method of an MTC device can comprise the steps of: switching from connectivity with the first cell to connectivity with a second cell if data to be transmitted and received is generated in a state of connectivity with a first cell; transmitting and receiving the data in a state of connectivity with the second cell; and switching from connectivity with the second cell to connectivity with the first cell when the transmission and reception of the data are completed.
US09955387B1

A method of managing modulation for transmission of data in anticipation of handover. When a source base station is serving a UE and determines that the UE is going to hand over to a target base station, the source base station automatically transitions to transmit data to the UE with a low-order MCS selected without regard to CQIs reported by the UE, or at least to apply an MCS corresponding with a CQI lower than that reported by the UE. By applying a low-order MCS to transmit data to the UE, the source base station may increase the likelihood that the data will arrive successfully at the UE, as the low-order MCS may be more tolerant to noise than higher-order MCSs.
US09955386B2

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to receive channel information from a node of a first network, wherein the channel information indicates a channel to use to access a second network when a switchover is invoked, wherein the first network and the second network operate according to different communicative standards; store the channel information; attempt to establish a session with another device via the first network; determine whether an establishment of the session via the first network is successful; and invoke the switchover, wherein the switchover includes using the channel information to attempt to establish a same session via the second network, in response to a determination that the establishment of the session via the first network failed.
US09955384B2

Systems and methods for allowing a user to control sharing of network bandwidth in a peer-to-peer environment are described herein. An example telecommunications device includes a user interface device, a processor and a memory device. The telecommunications device identifies one or more time parameters related to bandwidth sharing based on a first operation of the user interface device and identifies one or more bandwidth parameters related to bandwidth sharing based on a second operation of the user interface device. The telecommunications device allows one or more other devices access to one or more networks via one of the telecommunications device or a second device associated with the user, based at least on the identified one or more time parameters and the one or more bandwidth parameters.
US09955369B2

The present invention provides a network self-healing method and system using lighting devices each including a WI-FI module with a wireless access point (AP) function. The lighting devices are wirelessly connected to a wireless router. The lighting devices scan a service set identifier (SSID) of the wireless router to confirm that the wireless router is not able to be connected to and to switch to a self-healing networking mode. The wireless AP function of each lighting device is activated according to a self-healing networking rule. One lighting device is selected from the lighting devices and is used as a first lighting device router. The wireless AP function of each of other non-selected lighting devices remaining in the plurality of lighting devices is deactivated, and wirelessly connected to the first lighting device router respectively.
US09955365B2

Conditional progressive encoding and decoding is discussed, in which a receiver receives a plurality of encoded message segments as a sequence of messages, and sequentially decodes each of the message segments in sequence, in which the decoding of the next encoded message segment is triggered only by successfully decoding the current encoded message segment. On the transmitter side, the transmitter breaks a message payload into a sequence of message segments, and then independently processes each message segment for generating error detection coding and encoding into multiple codeword segments. The transmitter multiplexes each codeword segment over the spectral space of subcarriers to transmit the message.
US09955361B2

A system for networking Wi-Fi Access Points in a Distributed Antenna System includes a plurality of Digital Access Units (DAUs). The plurality of DAUs are coupled and operable to route signals between the plurality of DAUs. The system also includes a plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs) coupled to the plurality of DAUs and operable to transport signals between DRUs and DAUs and a plurality of DAU ports and DRU ports. The system further includes a Framer/Deframer, wherein the cellular payload data is separated from the IP data and a network switch. The IP data from a plurality of DAU and DRU ports are buffered and routed to a plurality of DAU and DRU ports. Furthermore, the system includes a plurality of Wi-Fi access points coupled via a mesh network to Wi-Fi access points connected to a plurality of DRUs.
US09955358B2

In one embodiment, a technique is provided for building a reference database used to estimate a position of a wireless local area network (WLAN) enabled device. Samples are obtained for WLAN access points, the samples for each WLAN access point being based on WLAN signals transmitted by the WLAN access point and received by one or more scanning devices. Software of a WLAN positioning system executing on one or more computing devices estimates a position of each WLAN access point based on the samples of the WLAN access point. The software also estimates a geographical area covered by the samples of each WLAN access point and determines a quality metric of each WLAN access point based on the estimated geographical area covered by the samples of the WLAN access point. The software then builds the reference database based on the estimated position and quality metric of each WLAN access point.
US09955357B2

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). A method for adding an operating channel for a user equipment (UE) that uses an unlicensed band channel by an evolved Node B (eNB) in a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting a first sensing indicator message indicating sensing of an unlicensed band channel, to at least one UE, determining a channel state by sensing the unlicensed band channel, receiving a first feedback message including a channel sensing result of the unlicensed band channel sensed by the UE, from the at least one UE, comparing the determined channel state with the channel sensing result received from the UE, and transmitting a control message indicating addition of the unlicensed band channel to the UE based on the comparison result.
US09955348B2

A method by which a resource management entity requests for acquisition of a specific right on a specific resource in a wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: receiving a search request for a specific resource from a first application entity, wherein the search request includes a search word for identifying the specific resource; acquiring information on resource candidates among resources being managed, on the basis of the search word; transmitting the information on the resource candidates to the first application entity; receiving an acquisition request for a specific right on a first resource among the resource candidates from the first application entity; and determining whether the first application entity has a right on the acquisition request for the specific right, wherein whether the first application entity has a right on the acquisition request for the specific right can be determined on the basis of information indicated by a first attribute of a second resource for verifying a resource right acquisition request, which is lower than the first resource.
US09955343B2

Apparatuses, devices, and methods of initializing an electronic device such as a wrist-worn device are provided. An optical input device may read the display of the wrist-worn device to obtain input corresponding to a pairing token presented at the display. An optical input processor may process the input to identify the pairing token. The pairing token may be provided to the wrist-worn device during a handshake process in order to establish a wireless communications session with the wrist-worn device. An initialization process may be performed via the wireless communication session. The initialization process may initialize the wrist-worn device such that a user may operate the wrist-worn device following the initialization process.
US09955339B2

The present disclosure provides a method, an apparatus, and a method for online subscription data configuration. This method for online subscription data configuration includes: acquiring, by a subscription data configuration function device (SMF), equipment capability information of a user equipment (UE) and information of a service supported by the UE; generating, by the SMF, user subscription data according to the equipment capability information of the UE and the information of service supported by the UE, and generating user service subscription data according to the information of the service supported by the UE; where the user subscription data and the user service subscription data include an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) allocated to the UE by the SMF; performing, by the SMF, subscription data configuration on a home subscriber server (HSS) and a subscription profile repository (SPR), according to the user subscription data and the user service subscription data.
US09955334B2

A method of performing proximity discovery for a network entity and a user equipment (UE). In one of the exemplary embodiments, this disclosure is directed to a generating method that is applicable to a network entity and includes at least but not limited to receiving a discovery request message comprising a ProSe application identifier (ID) and a UE identity, obtaining a discover code for performing the proximity discovery according to a target group of the UE identity, and transmitting a discovery response message comprising the discovery code in response to the discovery request message. The ProSe application ID indicates the target group of the UE identity.
US09955333B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications and, more particularly, to ultra low power paging frames for wake up and discovery. One example apparatus for wireless communications generally includes at least one interface configured to obtain a frame via a first radio and a second radio, wherein the interface receives a frame from another apparatus via the second radio while the first radio is in a first power state; and a processing system configured to take one or more actions based on a command field included in the frame. A second example apparatus for wireless communications generally includes at least one interface configured to obtain a frame via a first radio and a second radio, wherein the interface receives a frame from another apparatus via the second radio while the first radio is in a first power state; and a processing system configured to take one or more actions based on whether or not an authentication code included in the frame matches a local authentication code.
US09955326B2

Technologies for generating a warning based on environmental conditions sensed in a vehicle include an in-vehicle warning system for determining whether an operator of the vehicle is present, determining whether a non-operator occupant is present in the vehicle, and determining whether environmental conditions sensed within the vehicle satisfy a reference condition threshold. Such technologies may also include performing an emergency action in response to determining that the environmental conditions sensed within the vehicle satisfy the reference condition threshold, determining that the operator of the vehicle is not present, and determining that the non-operator occupant is present in the vehicle.
US09955324B2

A short message service (SMS) message processing method for a mobile terminal and a mobile terminal are provided. An SMS message Favorites bar is added to an SMS message interaction interface such that when sending or receiving an SMS message, a user can tap the SMS message Favorites bar on a current user SMS message interaction interface. The method includes receiving a first touch operation on a Favorites button, obtaining a Favorite SMS message from storage space of the mobile terminal according to the first touch operation, and displaying the obtained Favorite SMS message on a touchscreen.
US09955322B2

[Problem] To provide an audio communication system in which a relaying device is connected to terminal devices via a communication network and said terminal devices communicate with each other on the basis of assignments for said terminal devices.[Solution] This relaying device is provided with a network communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The network communication unit is connected to a communication network and communicates with a plurality of terminal devices over said communication network. The storage device assigns each terminal device to one of a plurality of subsystems and stores, for each terminal device, the assigned subsystem and identifying information. When an audio signal is received from a given terminal device, the control unit identifies the subsystem to which said terminal device is assigned from originating-terminal-device information attached to the audio signal and forwards the audio signal to another terminal device assigned to the identified subsystem. The terminal devices transmit audio signals to the relaying device, each of said audio signals having forwarding-destination information that specifies the forwarding destination for said audio signal attached thereto.
US09955320B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for using multiple configuration groups having corresponding configuration identity (CID) parameters to configure a transmission channel and a reception channel for a user equipment device in a cellular communication network. In one embodiment, a user equipment device in a cellular communication network obtains CID values for CID parameters for a number of configuration groups. Each of the configuration groups includes one or more transmission channel or reception channel parameters. For each of the configuration groups, the user equipment device configures the parameters in the configuration group based on the CID value obtained for the CID parameter for the configuration group. In this manner, the transmission channel and the reception channel for the user equipment device are configured based on multiple CID values rather than a single physical layer cell identifier for a cell in which the user equipment device is located.
US09955319B2

Embodiments of a method for improving movement characteristic determination using a plurality of mobile devices associated with a vehicle can include: collecting a first movement dataset corresponding to at least one of a first location sensor and a first motion sensor of a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices; collecting a second movement dataset corresponding to at least one of a second location sensor and a second motion sensor of a second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices; determining satisfaction of a device association condition indicative of the first and the second mobile devices as associated with the vehicle, based on the first and the second movement datasets; and after determining the satisfaction of the device association condition, determining a vehicle movement characteristic based on the first and the second movement datasets.
US09955316B2

A method of determining room occupancy of a room in a facility having an indoor positioning system with wireless access point fingerprints each correlated to a location in the facility. The method may include receiving a request from a computing device for a room occupancy assessment associated with the room. It may further include obtaining location data that correlates to the location of one or more people from the indoor positioning system and determining from the location data associated with the room whether the room is occupied. The determination of whether the room is occupied is then sent to the computing device.
US09955306B1

According to aspects of embodiments of the invention, a computer-implemented process comprises: operating a server holding a database of visual data identifying a plurality of vehicles and a communication contact identifier associated with each of the plurality of vehicles; and providing to a user a software application constructed and arranged to retrieve a communication contact identifier from the database using visual data provided by the user identifying a vehicle with which communication is desired.
US09955294B2

A wireless transmitter device that has a baseline ‘off’ status, turning its data transmission module ‘on’ only under certain specific circumstances, thus allowing the device to be used on aircraft without concern of the device activating and transmitting location data that might interfere with the aircraft navigation and/or communication systems. The data transmission module may be turned on manually (i.e., manual activation), may be activated based on time (i.e., time-based activation), or may be activated based on motion (i.e., motion-based activation). Activation of the data transmission module occurs only after it has been determined that it is safe to activate the module(s), for example, if no motion of the device has been sensed for a predetermined period of time. Only after the device has assuredly determined that the aircraft is in a mode where data transmission is allowed (e.g., not in flight) is the data transmission module activated.
US09955289B1

The present disclosure provides a near field communications (NFC) detector network for use in an implantable medical device. The NFC detector network includes a combined Bluetooth low energy (BLE)NFC antenna, a BLE transceiver, a BLE path electrically connecting the combined BLE/NFC antenna to the BLE transceiver and configured to communicate BLE signals received at the combined BLE/NFC antenna to the BLE transceiver, and an NFC path electrically connecting the combined BLE/NFC antenna to the BLE transceiver, the NFC path configured to generate an activation signal for the BLE transceiver based on an NFC signal received at the combined BLE/NFC antenna.
US09955277B1

A processor-implemented method for spatial sound characterization is described. In one implementation, each of a plurality of source signals detected by a plurality of sensing devices, is segmented into a plurality of time frames. For each time frame, time-frequency transform of the source signals is derived, an estimated number of sources and at least one estimated direction of arrival corresponding to each of the source signals is obtained. Further, source signals are extracted by spatial separation based at least on the estimated directions of arrival and the estimated number of sources, and separated source signals are processed to yield a reference signal and side information.
US09955276B2

A control section (1009) receives signaling (S) indicating one of at least two coding formats (F1, F2, F3) of an M-channel audio signal (L, LS, LB, TFL, TBL), the coding formats corresponding to different partitions of the channels of the audio signal into respective first and second groups (601, 602), wherein, in the indicated coding format, first and second channels (L1, L2) of a downmix signal correspond to linear combinations of the first and second groups, respectively; and a decoding section (900) reconstructs the audio signal based on the downmix signal and associated upmix parameters (αL). In the decoding section: a decorrelation input signal (D1, D2, D3) is determined based on the downmix signal and the indicated coding format; and wet and dry upmix coefficients, controlling linear mappings of the downmix signal and a decorrelated signal, generated based on the decorrelation input signal, are determined based on the upmix parameters and the indicated coding format.
US09955275B2

A method of processing a sound signal includes obtaining a phase difference or a time difference between sound signals received at both ears; determining a level difference between the sound signals based on the phase difference or time difference; determining gains of the sound signals to be output to both ears based on the level difference; and outputting the sound signals based on the determined gains.
US09955260B2

A loudspeaker configured to provide asymmetrical beam coverage. A first group of drivers to outputs a first beam pattern. A second group of drivers, which is different from the first group of drivers, is configured to output a second beam pattern. A transmission line is adapted to output signals to the first driver group and the second driver group to provide an asymmetrical beam pattern. The first driver group outputs a beam pattern different than the second driver group. This can improve acoustic coverage, e.g., sound pressure levels, in the acoustic environment. In an example, the transmission line is separated into two distinct parts that feeds the first driver group and the second driver group respectively.
US09955252B2

A multi-diaphragm planar magnetic electro-acoustic transducer is provided, having a plurality of diaphragms arranged in one or more diaphragm modules. Each diaphragm comprises a substrate and at least one electrically conductive circuit on at least one surface of the substrate. Each diaphragm module comprises at least one diaphragm, each held taut by a frame. Each diaphragm module is disposed to one side or the other of at least one planar magnetic array, the diaphragm module being parallel to and aligned with the planar magnetic array to form the multi-diaphragm planar magnetic transducer.The planar magnets many have a vertical arrangement, a sideways arrangement, a staggered arrangement, and may comprise stators and/or a low reluctance backing plate or channel piece. The planar magnet arrays can be linear or circular.
US09955251B1

Disclosed is a sounder module, which comprises a housing for accommodating a vibration system and a magnetic circuit system. The housing is provided with a sound hole which is formed to deviate from the center position of the vibration system and is higher than the surface of the housing. The vibration system comprises a vibrating diaphragm. A dome is provided at one side of the vibrating diaphragm closer to the sound hole. A pressure regulating part is arranged on the dome. The pressure regulating part is higher than other positions of the dome and projects towards the sound hole. The sounder module in the present invention is capable of balancing asymmetrical sound field distribution of the front acoustic cavity, and locally increasing the sound pressure distribution on the surface of the vibrating diaphragm to balance it with other parts, effectively decreasing system polarization, and reducing harmonic distortion.
US09955237B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine the location of endpoints of interest. An example method involves in response to detecting a transmission from the endpoint, determining whether the endpoint is an endpoint of interest. If the endpoint is the endpoint of interest, the example method involves sending a first command to the endpoint to increase a transmission rate of the endpoint, determining an estimated location of the endpoint using signal strengths of subsequent transmissions from the endpoint, and enabling the transmission rate of the endpoint to decrease.
US09955236B2

The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing supplemental content during a broadcast. The supplemental content is provided by the operation of an interactive application resident on a receiver. The interactive application is initiated through a trigger that is received during an otherwise standard broadcast. The trigger includes an interactive prompt that is to be displayed during a particular portion of the broadcast. The prompt including a means for enabling receipt of a user input. The user input may be a request for further information.
US09955232B2

Methods and apparatus for content delivery and managing and conserving network bandwidth in a content delivery system are described. In accordance with one aspect of some embodiments, when the number content playback devices, e.g., IP set top boxes, iPADs, etc., in a region or service group receiving the same program content via individual unicast streams over a first network, e.g., cable network, exceeds a threshold number large, the IP capable playback devices are instructed to switch to receive the same programming content from a local device, e.g., a gateway device, via a home network. The local device receives the programming content via the cable network over a broadcast or SDV or VOD channel established by the cable service provider's headend/hubsite.
US09955228B2

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system receiving a request from a mobile device to distribute mobile video content from the mobile device by way of a television service. The system determines a particular television channel of the television service based on the request, receives the mobile video content and provides program content for the particular television channel. The program content includes the mobile video content. The system also distributes the program content to a television receiver by way of the television service, so that the television receiver can present the mobile video content at a display. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09955223B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device including a base station communicatively coupled to a communication system, and a communicative device communicatively coupled to the base station for providing voice communication services to a user, wherein the communicative device serves as a proxy to make telephone calls on behalf of a set-top box presenting media services to a presentation device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09955222B2

A method and system for providing video content on a data network connected device having a display and a device display controller including a player. The method comprises the steps of a data network connected device, accesses a reference file including a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one or more content sources. Play control commands are provided to the player based on the play control parameter values. Content data is acquired by the player from one or more content sources via the data network using the linking data, and the content acquired from each source played on the display in accordance with the player control commands. The reference file may be a pre-existing reference file or a reference file created in response to a request to play the video content data. A reference file compiler is provided for generating the reference file.
US09955214B2

Systems and methods are described for aggregating media content from multiple sources for viewing on a local display or for placeshifting to a remote display. The aggregation system responds to instructions received from a remote device via the digital network to provide the video output incorporating the media content received from any of the media sources to the locally-connected display. The media aggregation system also simultaneously provides a placeshifted video stream to the remote device via the digital network that incorporates media content received from any of the plurality of media sources selected in response to the instructions received from the remote device.
US09955212B2

Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and method for recording television content. For example, in one embodiment, a method performed by a digital video recorder is disclosed that includes communicating with a home gateway to determine whether a device connected to the home gateway has enough free storage space to store a television program in the event that the digital video recorder determines that an internal data storage unit associated with the digital video recorder has enough free storage space to store the television program. In one embodiment, the method routes the storage of a recording of the television program to the device via the home gateway in response to a determination that the device connected to the home gateway has enough free storage space on the data storage unit associated with the device to store the television content.
US09955208B2

A method of performing time-shift function and television receiver having a tuner and a personal video recorder for storing broadcast programs of at least one channel enables a broadcast program of a currently tuned channel to be continuously and efficiently stored to enable time-shifting, regardless of an interruption by switching channels or changing input sources or even in the case of an inadvertent power-off condition. The method includes steps of setting a time-shift lock function; storing in the personal video recorder the broadcast program of a first channel that is currently viewed; storing in the personal video recorder the broadcast program of a second channel and the broadcast program of the first channel, if the currently viewed first channel is switched to the second channel; and supplying power only to the tuner and the personal video recorder, if a power-off condition occurs, wherein the supply of power to the tuner and the personal video recorder causes a continuous storing of the broadcast programs of the first and second channels in the personal video recorder.
US09955207B1

An interface system is configured to toggle audio and visual signals on a touring bus. The interface system includes a plurality of video displays, electrically coupled to a microcontroller with a video distribution amplifier. Passenger speakers and a passenger audio amplifier are electrically coupled to the microcontroller. Two media players are electrically coupled to the microcontroller. Three microphones and auxiliary audio/video inputs are electrically coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed with instructions to detect a digital video disc in the first media player. Then, transmit a first video signal from the first media player to the plurality of video displays. Next, transmit a first audio signal from the first media player to the plurality of passenger speakers. After that, transmit a second audio signal from the second media player to the plurality of driver speakers.
US09955206B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive viewing experience. Viewers of a video program, a motion picture, or a live action broadcast may access information regarding products displayed in the video program, motion picture or live action broadcast, and, if desired, enter transactions to purchase the featured products that are displayed in the video program, motion picture or live action broadcast. The video program, motion picture, or live action broadcast is presented to viewers on a primary interface device such as a television, a video display monitor, a computer display, a projector projecting moving images onto a screen, or any other display device capable of receiving and displaying moving images. The featured products are purposefully placed in the various scenes of the video program motion picture, or live action broadcast so that they are prominently displayed when the video program, motion picture or live action broadcast presented to one or more viewers. A secondary interface presents information about the featured products as the featured products appear during the presentation of the video program, motion picture, or live action broadcast. The secondary interface further provides a mechanism by which viewers may purchase the featured products via the secondary interface.
US09955203B2

A recording device and a method are described herein that provide a network-based personal video recording service utilizing adaptive bit rate technology for a plurality of users. In operation, the recording device records at a minimum a single bit rate (one set of segmented files) of the broadcast content within each user's network personal video recorder storage unit. Plus, the recording device stores the other bit rates (remaining sets of segmented files) in a central storage location or some other storage location.
US09955202B2

Software is provided to handle the playback of media in browsers that in addition may use second display protocols to instruct a separate display device to play the media. The software can transmit the content or specify a network location of the same for subsequent playback on a content playback device. The software may be in the form of a web browser or other application that is configured for the playback of selected media types. The browser maintains a list of favorite and/or recently viewed services and content items and is configured to filter the list to eliminate those content items or services which are no longer available. In this way, favorite content items and services and/or recently viewed content items and services, as available to the user, are made accessible using the second display.
US09955198B2

The invention is directed to a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file.
US09955186B2

An example method includes determining a respective variance value for pixels of each respective sub-block of at least four sub-blocks of a current block of video data of a particular block size; determining an average of the determined variance values for the at least four sub-blocks; determining a maximum difference value for the current block based on the average and the variance values for the at least four sub-blocks; determining whether pixels of the current block are homogeneous based on whether the maximum difference value for the current block satisfies a threshold difference value; and in response to determining that the pixels of the current block are homogeneous, selectively including block sizes that are greater than or equal to a threshold block size in a sub-set of block sizes to evaluate for use when intra encoding the pixels of the current block.
US09955181B2

When a block (MB22) of which motion vector is referred to in the direct mode contains a plurality of motion vectors, 2 motion vectors MV23 and MV24, which are used for inter picture prediction of a current picture (P23) to be coded, are determined by scaling a value obtained from averaging the plurality of motion vectors or selecting one of the plurality of the motion vectors.
US09955150B2

A display processor of a display system may receive an image that includes a test pattern. An input checksum may be associated with the test pattern. Hardware units of the display processor may process the image. The display system may generate an output checksum based at least in part on the test pattern after processing of the image. The display system may detect a fault in the hardware units of the display processor based on determining a difference between the input checksum and the output checksum.
US09955149B2

According to the present invention there is provided a method for projecting a 3-D viewable image onto a display surface, comprising the steps of, providing two or more projection systems; arranging the two or more projection systems into a first group and second group, wherein the first group and second group each comprise one or more projection systems; arranging the first and second group of projection systems such that each group of project systems can project an image on a display surface, wherein the first group of projection systems is arranged such that the first group of projection systems can project an image to a first position on the display surface and the second group of projection systems is arranged such that the second group of projection systems can project an image to a second position on the display surface, wherein the first and second positions are off-set from one another; configuring the first and second group of projection systems such that the first and second group of projection systems alternately project onto the display surface. There is further provided a corresponding projection system.
US09955144B2

An apparatus for displaying auto-multiscopic 3D images includes a parallax barrier; an image source layer with a first side facing the rear surface of the parallax barrier; and an electromechanical system facing the second side of the image source layer. The parallax barrier comprises an array of transparent spots. The image source layer comprises at least one clear spot and is configured to emit light away from the parallax barrier. The electromechanical system comprises one or more mirrors pivotably mounted and controllable to reflect light towards the at least one clear spot in the image source layer.
US09955135B2

To be able to simply record RAW image data, and quickly output images according to the recorded RAW image data. First, the apparatus can shift operation modes to a still image photographing mode, a still image playing mode, a moving image photographing mode, or a moving image playing mode. Photographed images are subjected to rough development and recorded in a recording medium, and RAW files are generated and recorded. Then, the apparatus shifts to an idle state when processing loads are small in each mode and performs high image quality development processing using the recorded RAW files if high image quality development has not been performed to replace the image files subjected to rough development.
US09955134B2

The invention provides for a system and method for the simultaneous capturing and storage of digital audio data in association with still image data. The captured audio clip is instantaneously associated and embedded with the photographic image, and allows for the user to digitally play back, view, and share the still image embedded with the audio clip.
US09955128B2

The present invention provides an imaging apparatus which can reduce the lowering of the precision of the object detection, when detecting the object by using photometric optical elements and a photometric image sensor. The imaging apparatus detects the object by using the photometric optical elements and a photometric, sensor. In this case, weighting coefficients Wr, Wg and Wb are each set at a region in which H in the photometric region is divided into three from the image height 0. The imaging apparatus is structured so as to form information for the object detection by using weighting coefficients which have been set for each of the wavelength regions according to the regions in the photometric region, and accordingly can reduce the lowering of the precision of the object detection.
US09955121B2

An electronic device displays an image during a communication between two people. The image represents one of the people to the communication. The electronic device determines a location where to place the image and displays the image such that the image appears to exist at the location.
US09955117B1

Disclosed aspects relate to dynamic video image management. A set of dynamic image quality factors may be collected with respect to a dynamic video image. A set of display parameter values may be determined based on the set of dynamic image quality factors. The set of display parameter values may be of a set of display parameter values for a set of computing assets. The set of display parameter values may be determined to benefit the set of dynamic image quality factors with respect to the dynamic video image. The set of computing assets may be configured using the set of display parameter values. The set of computing assets may be configured to benefit the set of dynamic image quality factors with respect to the dynamic video image.
US09955105B2

An audio-video (AV) system in one embodiment includes a mounting apparatus for mounting the system to a wall support located behind a wall surface and within an in-wall space. The mounting apparatus includes a support member for supporting at least one component in a support space within the in-wall space, a display mounting member 30 for mounting a display device, and a removable wall opening cover for concealing at least a portion of the in-wall space that would otherwise be visible through a wall opening to a viewer. Various multimedia-supportive devices, including loudspeakers and a subwoofer, may be concealed behind the cover in the in-wall space.
US09955101B2

In a photoelectric conversion apparatus, a signal generation circuit includes an amplification unit which generates a reference signal and which is configured the same as amplification units included in pixel output circuits, and a signal based on a reference signal is supplied to input nodes of a plurality of signal processing circuits or input nodes of a plurality of signal output circuits.
US09955095B2

There is provided an image sensor including a pixel unit, the pixel unit including a photodiode, a first color filter and a second color filter each disposed in a different position on a plane above the photodiode, and a first on-chip lens disposed over the first color filter and a second on-chip lens disposed over the second color filter.
US09955090B2

An image sensor includes a plurality of photodetectors that are identically sized and fabricated in semiconductor material with identical semiconductor processing conditions. The photodetectors are organized into virtual high-low sensitivity groupings, each including a first photodetector and a second photodetector. A plurality of attenuators is disposed over the semiconductor material. Each one of the plurality of attenuators is disposed along an optical path between a microlens and the first photodetector of each virtual high-low sensitivity grouping such that all incident light directed into the first photodetector is directed through a respective one of the plurality of attenuators. There is no attenuator along a second optical path between a microlens and the second photodetector of each virtual high-low sensitivity grouping such that all the incident light directed into the second photodetector is not directed through one of the plurality of attenuators.
US09955089B2

There is used an XY address type solid-state image pickup element (for example, a MOS type image sensor) in which two rows and two columns are made a unit, and color filters having a color coding of repetition of the unit (repetition of two verticals (two horizontals) are arranged, and when a thinning-out read mode is specified, a clock frequency of a system is changed to 1/9, and on the basis of the changed clock frequency, a pixel is selected every three pixels in both a row direction and a column direction to successively read out a pixel signal.
US09955081B2

An imaging apparatus receives a command including a first coordinate value and a second coordinate value, from a client apparatus. A determination unit determines whether or not a target region exists at or near a boundary of an imaging range corresponding to the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value. In a case in which the determination unit determines that the target region exists at the boundary of the imaging range, a control unit adjusts an imaging range to include the target region. In a case in which the determination unit determines that the target region does not exist at the boundary of the imaging range, the control unit sets an imaging range to be captured, to the imaging range corresponding to the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value.
US09955078B2

An image shake correction device provided in an image pickup apparatus drives an image shake correction lens on the basis of detection information about shaking and corrects the image shake. An angular velocity sensor detects an angular velocity of shaking, and a motion vector detection unit detects a motion vector from a plurality of images that has been captured. An adaptive digital filter and an adaptive algorithm unit perform a process that generates a compensation value for a shake correction remainder, and FF (feed forward) control is performed in accordance with the result of the process. In the FF control, a filter coefficient of the adaptive digital filter is adjusted on the basis of the motion vector and a detection signal for shaking. The control filter calculates a feedback control amount so as to track the position of the image shake correction lens to a target position. An image shake correction lens drive unit performs the drive control of the image shake correction lens in accordance with the output of the control filter.
US09955075B2

[Problems to be solved] To provide an information terminal, a power saving method in the information terminal and a recording medium which records a program which are capable of efficiently suppressing power consumption related to human detection.[Solution] A human detector performs human detection processing using a captured image by a camera and notifies a control unit of the detection result. Various sensors, an RF unit and a position information detector acquire information related to a change in a position of the information terminal and notify the control unit. The control unit performs power control for the camera on the basis of at least one of the human detection processing result and the information related to the change in the position of the information terminal.
US09955069B2

A control apparatus includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a driving amount of the optical element from a motion vector detected in an object area that contains an image of the object in a motion image generated by capturing, and a control unit configured to control the optical element according to the driving amount. The calculation unit calculates the driving amount for each of a plurality of motion vectors having different magnitudes detected in a plurality of object areas in the motion image. The control unit controls the optical element for each of the plurality of calculated driving amounts and for each capturing of a plurality of still images.
US09955068B2

A method and an electronic device are provided. An electronic device wirelessly connects to another electronic device including a camera unit, receives image data from the other electronic device, displays an image using the image data, receives a user input for changing a photographic composition, and transmits, to the other electronic device, a control signal formed based on the user input.
US09955066B2

According to the present invention, an imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit which acquires image data by an imaging lens forming an image of an object on an imaging surface on which imaging pixels are arrayed; a designated position acquiring unit which acquires a designated position on the image data; a sighting device which allows a user to visually recognize an optical axial direction of the imaging lens; and a controller which, on the image data, adjusts a position of an object on an imaging optical axis of the imaging lens, based on the designated position.
US09955065B2

Dynamic motion path blur techniques are described. In one or more implementations, paths may be specified to constrain a motion blur effect to be applied to a single image. A variety of different techniques may be employed as part of the motion blur effects, including use of curved blur kernel shapes, use of a mesh representation of blur kernel parameter fields to support real time output of the motion blur effect to an image, use of flash effects, blur kernel positioning to support centered or directional blurring, tapered exposure modeling, and null paths.
US09955058B2

A multi-codec camera system includes a multi-codec camera that acquires video in the form of multiple compression-rate image data and a determination module that selects image data from the multiple compression-rate image data acquired by the multi-codec camera according to a predetermined reference, wherein when a predetermined object is detected from the video acquired by the multi-codec camera, the determination module selects image data at a compression rate according to the size of the detected object.
US09955050B2

Motion sensing devices for computer security are provided herein. In various embodiments, a security device includes a sensor for detecting movement of a computing device to which the security device is coupled, a transmitter, a processor, a memory, and instructions that are executed to receive from the sensor a message indicative of the movement of the computing device, determine if the computing device has been moved using the sensor message, and activate a camera to obtain image or video of an area proximate the computing device.
US09955049B2

A helmet can include a helmet body comprising an energy-absorbing layer and an outer shell disposed over the energy-absorbing layer. An electronic device can be integrated with the helmet body. A first electrical contact can be formed at an exterior of the outer shell and adapted to be in electrical communication with the electronic device. A helmet visor can be coupled to the helmet body with at least one visor arm, the helmet visor comprising controls integrated within the visor. A second electrical contact can be formed at an inner surface of the at least one visor arm and adapted to be in electrical communication with the controls integrated within the visor. The second electrical contact can be adapted to mateably couple with the first electrical contact such that the electronic device and the controls are adapted to be in electrical contact.
US09955047B2

Method and device for acquiring stream of the precisely time-stamped images, including the modulated light source, controlled by the absolute global real-time-base (e.g. provided by global navigation satellite system (GNSS) controller) and the image acquisition and processing unit, decoding the light modulation waveform and determining the time-stamp for every image frame. The GNSS time and position messages can be used to provide the full time- and location stamps for each frame. Multi-element light sources can be used to have more informative light modulation in the time domain. For time-stamping of several image streams (e.g. from several cameras) multiple light sources with the same modulation can be used.
US09955044B2

An input unit receives first image data to be printed with a first ink. A luminance value calculator calculates the luminance value of each pixel included in the first image data. A luminance value converter converts the luminance value to a value which is equal to or greater than a previously-set luminance setting lower limit, and is equal to or less than a previously-set luminance setting upper limit. A printing unit prints a first image based on the first image data with the luminance values converted by the luminance value converter on a print body with a first ink, and prints a second image based on second image data on the print body with a glossy second ink to form a glossy image including the first and second images superimposed on the print body.
US09955043B2

An image processing apparatus comprises: an accepting portion that accepts a request for a temporary use permission to use a function of the image processing apparatus from a second portable terminal apparatus in place of a first portable terminal apparatus having a proper use permission to use the function, an obtaining portion that obtains application information of an application installed on the second portable terminal apparatus; a determining portion that determines a scope of the temporary use permission with reference to reference data stored on a management apparatus and on the basis of the application information; a judgment portion that judges whether or not the requested process falls within the determined scope when a request for a process requiring the function is received from or transferred to the second portable terminal apparatus; and an executor portion that executes the requested process if it falls within the determined scope.
US09955020B2

A call control method is provided. The call control method includes broadcasting a message with a base station, wherein the message includes a plurality of check values respectively corresponding to different types of applications; receiving the message with a terminal device; selecting, with the terminal device, the check value corresponding to a specific application initiated with the terminal device; performing, with the terminal device, a persistence test to initiate a call to the base station for the specific application according to the selected check value; and requesting a MAC layer of the terminal device to initiate an access procedure of the call when the persistence test is passed.
US09955017B1

A system for simulated communication is described. A simulator module generates simulated communication information. A Graphical User Interface module (“GUI module”) generates graphical data based at least in part on the simulated communication information. The graphical data creates the appearance of an ongoing communication between a reserved agent and a third party user that is not yet occurring. The GUI module sends the graphical data to a display associated with the reserved agent device so that the display depicts a simulated communication.
US09955015B2

Information associated with messages and/or missed calls is provided to a subscriber. Calls received but not answered by the subscriber may be monitored. Each monitored call is classified as one of a missed call and a message. The monitored calls may be summarized based on a customizable rule set to create a summary. The summary is provided to the subscriber via, for example, a voice notification.
US09955013B1

Techniques for L3 pairing in a contact center system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for L3 pairing in a contact center system comprising determining a minimum amount of agent choice, determining a maximum amount of delay, postponing agent selection until at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (a) the maximum amount of delay has elapsed; or (b) the minimum amount of agent choice has been reached, and selecting an agent among one or more agents for connection to an available contact within the contact center system.
US09955011B1

The availability of one or more agents of an institution to communicate with a user may be determined and reported to the user. Information pertaining to whether at least one of a plurality of agents is available to communicate with a user is determined. A number of selectable agent characteristics is provided to the user. A selection of at least two of a plurality of the selectable agent characteristics is received from the user, as is a priority ordering of the selectable agent characteristics. A call is established between the user and the at least one of a plurality of agents based on the information and the priority ordering. Call volume statistics may be provided to the user and may be used to determine when an agent is most likely unavailable and/or most likely available.
US09955008B2

A system for interacting with a multimedia presentation includes one or more machine-readable codes embedded in a plurality of sequential frames or in individual slides of a multimedia presentation, the frames or slides defining at least one interactive portion of a larger multimedia presentation, a touch-screen driver extension resident on a digital medium and transferable over a network to the digital medium of a touch-screen operated multi-media device, the extension enabling interpretation at the multimedia-enabled interactive response unit of touch-screen taps input during play of the multimedia presentation, and a set of machine instructions resident on a digital medium coupled to or accessible to a multimedia-enabled interactive response system, the machine instructions executable by physical interaction with the one or more of the machine-readable codes in the multimedia presentation to serve one or more additional multimedia presentations to the touch-screen multimedia device.
US09955007B1

A method of operating a captioned telephone, comprising storing analog test data in a captioned telephone memory, dialing a telephone number to a relay gateway, connecting to the relay gateway over a communication network and performing a test of the communication network quality using the test data to determine if the network is sufficient to carry analog data, the test including at least one of transmitting the test data to the relay gateway and receiving test data from the relay gateway via the communication network, wherein the network is one of a POTS network and a VOIP network.
US09954996B2

A portable electronic device with a touch screen display displays an incoming message from a party to a user of the device while the device is locked. The device responds to detecting a user request to view the incoming message by immediately displaying a set of messages between the user and the party in a chronological order. While the device is unlocked, if an incoming message is longer than a predefined length the device displays a portion of the incoming message, a view icon, and a long-message indicia. Alternately, if the incoming message is equal to or less than the predefined length, the device displays the entire incoming message and a reply icon. In response to user selection of either the view icon or the reply icon, the device immediately displays a set of messages between the user of the device and the party in a chronological order.
US09954991B2

A status notification method for use in a terminal, includes: acquiring usage information of a target apparatus, the usage information including at least each usage duration of the target apparatus; calculating current consumption of the target apparatus according to the usage information of the target apparatus; and generating an alert regarding a current status of the target apparatus after the current consumption of the target apparatus reaches a preset consumption alerting threshold.
US09954989B2

A device is configured to generate and present a lock screen graphical user interface while the device is in a locked state in which, for example, the device displays a lock screen to a user of the device. The device is further configured to detect a current activity of the user while the device is in its locked state. This detection may be based on context data generated by a sensor within the device. The device is further configured to select an activity icon from a set of activity icons based on the detected current activity of the user. The device then causes the selected activity icon to be displayed while the device is in its locked state. The selected and displayed activity icon is operable to cause display of a pop-up window that corresponds to the selected activity icon while the device is still in its locked state.
US09954986B2

The present invention relates to a mobile device. A mobile device, according to an embodiment, comprises: a first main body which has a display unit having an image output on one side thereof; a second main body which is positioned at a predetermined distance away from the first main body and has a substrate unit, inside which an electronic component is mounted, and a power source battery for supplying a power source; and a connecting member which electrically connects the first main body and the second main body on the lower ends of the first main body and the second main body. The connecting member comprises: a body portion which forms the external shape; a mounting portion which is provided on the upper side of the body portion and has the first main body and the second main body placed thereon; a flexible substrate which is placed on the inside of the body portion and electrically connects the first main body and the second main body; and terminals which are formed on both end portions of the flexible substrate, are externally protruded from the mounting portion, and which are coupled to the first main body and the second main body, respectively.
US09954984B2

A receiver, transmitter and method for enabling a replay using a packetized link protocol are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) transmitting a stream of packets including an untagged packet and (2) using synchronized counters to determine a sequence ID of the untagged packet, which is a corrupt/lost packet that needs to be retransmitted.
US09954983B2

A system for efficient routing of an OAM) frame in an Ethernet switch receives an OAM frame at a first port; building a first classification key dependent on an OAM frame header; classifies in a context of the first port to create a first classification; resolves action dependent on the first classification; modifies the first classification key to create a second classification key; classifies the frame in a context of the second port to create a second classification; sends the second classification key to an OAM engine coupled to the Ethernet switch for modification into a third classification key; receives the third classification key from the OAM engine; modifies the third classification key into a final classification key; modifies the header of the OAM frame with the final classification key; and sends the modified OAM frame to a switching fabric of the Ethernet switch.
US09954968B2

A remote access gateway configurable control system. There may be a series of control commands to set or adjust a gateway device's running parameters and modify the behavior of the device or start process action. There may be configuration commands for remote control of the device and server commands for unattended devices.
US09954967B1

A method for uploading flight data into one or more avionics systems onboard an aircraft is provided. The method establishes a communication connection to one or more remote servers; downloads a set of flight data via the communication connection; transmits the set of flight data to a wireless access point storage device onboard the aircraft; receives wireless data transmissions comprising the set of flight data, wherein the wireless access point storage device is communicatively coupled to a data loader device, and wherein the data loader device is communicatively coupled to one or more avionics systems onboard the aircraft; extracts the set of flight data from the wireless access point storage device inserted into a storage device reader of the data loader device, wherein the extracting is performed by the data loader device; and transmits the set of flight data to the one or more avionics systems.
US09954965B2

Communications by a device in a private network to a site operating outside of the network can be programmatically inspected. Unstructured data, including messages and application content, originating from outside of the network may be dynamically converted to structured data that can be tagged. Interactions and activities can be monitored and processed differently according to internal policies and/or business rules. For example, at least a portion of the structured data can be modified prior to forwarding to the device, access by the device to at least a portion of the structured data can be blocked or limited, access by the device to one or more features associated with the structured data can be blocked or limited, etc.
US09954959B2

An electronic device and method are disclosed, including a communication interface adapted to allow communicative coupling with a plurality of electronic devices, and a processor, implementing the method, which includes: identifying an application to be executed in the first electronic device, selecting candidate devices from the plurality of electronic devices having at least one function associated with execution of the application, selecting a second electronic device from among the candidate devices based a factor including at least one of: status information of each of the candidate devices, position information of each of the candidate devices in relation to at least one of a user or the first electronic device, and at least one property of data associated with the at least one function of the candidate devices, and executing the application in the first electronic device utilizing the at least one function of the second electronic device.
US09954956B2

Apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for secure discovery and connection to internet of things devices in a wireless local-area network are disclosed. An apparatus of a station comprising processing circuitry is disclosed. The processing circuitry may be configured to: encode a first packet to indicate to an access point to start discovery of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and decode a second packet from the access point. The second packet may include identifications of IoT devices unauthenticated with the access point. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive a selection from an application of the station of one of the one or more identifications of the IoT devices, and encode a third packet including the identification of the IoT device and an indication that the access point is to request establishment of a secure session with the IoT device.
US09954955B2

A shared radar and communication system for a vehicle includes capabilities for radar detection and communication with vehicles equipped with similar systems. The radar system is equipped with pluralities of transmit antennas and pluralities of receive antennas. The radar transmits a signal modulated with spread codes that are information bits. A receiver discriminates the signals sent from own transmitters and multiple reflections to detect objects of interest. In addition, the receiver discriminates signals transmitted from different systems on other vehicles. This requires the receiving system to have knowledge of the codes transmitted by the other vehicle. The receiving system determines the information bits sent by the other vehicle. If multiple radar systems on multiple vehicles use different sets of codes (but known to each other), the multiple systems can create a communication infra-structure in addition to radar detection and imaging.
US09954951B2

A communication method and device for remote control of an actuator for mobile equipment in a building. The present invention concerns an operating method of a communication device (DC) for remote control of an actuator (ACT) for a piece of mobile equipment (ME) in a building, comprising the steps consisting of receiving a first signal (RS) according to a determined configuration communication mode (MCi), defining an operational communication mode (MUO) on the basis of at least a portion of the content of the first received signal (RS), receiving a second signal (RS2) according to the operational communication mode (MUO), and interpreting the second received signal (RS2) according to the operational communication mode (MUO), in such a way as to identify control data in the second received signal (RS2). The invention also concerns a method for configuring a communication device of an actuator, and a communication device and a tool for configuring said device.
US09954946B2

One or more techniques and/or computing devices are provided for directory level incremental replication. For example, a first storage controller may evaluate a base snapshot and an incremental snapshot of a source subdirectory to generate a set of operations that can be used by a second storage controller for reconstructing a mirror of the source subdirectory as reflected by the incremental snapshot. Accordingly, the first storage controller may send the set of operations and/or source data to the second storage controller for constructing a destination directory structure mirroring the source subdirectory. In this way, replication may be achieved at an arbitrary level of granularity, such as to replicate a particular subdirectory of a volume.
US09954940B2

A device for improving the use efficiency of a content delivery network (CDN) service and an operating method of a service distribution device are provided. The operating method includes receiving a service request signal from one or more electronic devices, determining an available domain for the service request signal based on the amount of idle traffic of one or more service domains in response to the reception of the service request signal, and transmitting a service response signal that includes the available domain information to the one or more electronic devices.
US09954930B2

Disclosed are various examples for specifying portions of content files that can be stored on a client device. A content file stored in a remote storage area can be segmented into content fragments. A manifest file that specifies which portions of the content file correspond to content fragments can also be generated. The manifest file and content fragments can be packaged into a content package file that is stored on a client device and interpreted by a content proxy server.
US09954925B2

Provided is a transmission device including a stream input unit configured to input a plurality of streams each constituted of continuous packets, a stream synthesizing unit configured to synthesize the plurality of input streams to obtain one stream, and a stream transmission unit configured to transmit the one obtained stream. The stream synthesizing unit encodes at least a typical pattern portion of each packet of the plurality of streams using keys that are intrinsic to the respective streams for separation of packets of each stream on a reception side, and thereafter performs time-division multiplexing on the packets of the plurality of streams to obtain the one stream.
US09954922B2

A method and a system for rendering digital content across multiple client devices are provided. Digital content is downloaded to a first client device from a network accessible library. As the digital content is rendered, a current position is tracked. A bookmark is created by setting the current position as a bookmarked position. The bookmark is transferred to a second client device, and digital content including the bookmarked position is downloaded to the second client device from the network accessible library, enabling a continuous user experience across multiple client devices.
US09954920B1

Embodiments are directed to a secure MapReduce model for distributed processing and decoding of big data streams. An encoding engine may be employed to divide a data stream into equally sized segments. The segments may be encoded using a document key provided in a set of bundles. The bundles may contain encoded segment metadata, including the document key used to encode the stream. The document key and segment metadata may be encrypted using public key cryptography, and optionally included in the bundles. The encrypted bundles may be embedded into the encoded segments which may be provided to other network computers that include a decoding engine and an application engine. The encrypted bundles may be decrypted to obtain the document key for each encoded segment. The encoded segments may then be decrypted using the document key. And, each decoded segment may be provided to an application engine for further processing.
US09954917B2

A transmitting apparatus is provided. The transmitting apparatus includes: an L1 signaling generator configured to generate L1 signaling including first information and second information; a frame generator configured to generate a frame including a payload including a plurality of sub frames; and a signal processor configured to insert a preamble including the L1 signaling in the frame and transmit the frame. The first information includes information required for decoding a first sub frame among the plurality of sub frames. Therefore, a processing delay in a receiving apparatus is reduced.
US09954916B2

A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system for providing a live stream of event content is provided. In an embodiment, a method may include defining an online collaborative space associated with an event. A plurality of event participants may be associated with the event. Content contributions may be received from one or more of the event participants. An event content update may be transmitted to a client event application based on the received content contributions to provide a live stream of event content.
US09954915B2

Systems and methods for remotely viewing medical images on a client device having a zero-client web application with a buffering module. The zero-client web application receives an image series selection from a user and receives corresponding series details from a web server. The zero-client web application generates an off-screen image array according to the series details. The buffering module outputs image requests based on the series details to a web server. The web server is in communication with a medical image database storing images in a non-web browser compatible format (e.g., DICOM). The buffering module then populates the off-screen image array with converted medical images received from the web server. The zero-client web application further includes an on-screen image and a display module. The display module sequentially sets converted medical images of the off-screen array as the on-screen image to stream the converted medical images.
US09954914B2

A method and apparatus for providing collaborative workspace are disclosed. The method receives a request to establish a video conference for two or more participants, and obtains information from historical information on the two or more participants to be used with the collaborative workspace. The method determines preferences for each of the two or more participants as to a presentation of the collaborative workspace. The method receives one or more live images of the two or more participants and presents the collaborative workspace to each of the two or more participants in accordance with the preferences for each of the two or more participants.
US09954893B1

Methods and apparatus are described for automatically modifying web page code. Specific implementations relate to the modification of web page code for the purpose of combatting Man-in-the-Browser (MitB) attacks.
US09954892B2

Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for controlling CAN traffic is disclosed. The method for controlling CAN traffic involves decoding bits of an identifier of a CAN message from a TXD path, obtaining a weighted value using the decoded bits of the identifier, adding the weighted value to a running weighted value for received CAN messages, and throttling transmission of CAN messages via the TXD path if the running weighted value exceeds a pre-established threshold.
US09954890B1

A system and method for detecting malicious activity within a Portable Document Format (PDF) document. The system includes a parser and one or more virtual machines. The parser that, when executed by a hardware processor, examines one or more portions of the PDF document to determine if one or more suspicious characteristics indicative of malicious network content are included in the one or more examined portions of the PDF document. The examined portion(s) in total are less than an entirety of the PDF document. The virtual machine(s) are adapted to receive the PDF document in response to the one or more examined portions of the PDF document being determined to include one or more suspicious characteristics indicative of malicious network content. The virtual machine(s) to process at least the one or more examined portions of the PDF document so as to determine whether the PDF document includes malicious network content.
US09954889B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed towards detecting and identifying malicious code injected into other legitimate web pages. The detection is divided into two processes. The first process is to detect a malicious code string within received web page code using a set of one or more criteria. The criteria include length of the string, as well as whether the string changes between received instances, and the status of the string within the web page code, particularly whether it is encapsulated between scripting tags, or otherwise indicated as being executable. The second process is based on using a proxy that will help in extracting and scanning the decrypted code against any malicious content. In particular, the second phase acts to remove the armour and evasion features that may be built into the malicious code, so that the code may then be inspected by the existing anti-virus or other host intrusion detection system (HIDS) present on the target system. Inspection may take place by dumping the memory contents to a file and then passing the file for inspection to the existing anti-virus or other HIDS.
US09954884B2

Embodiments of a system and method for a cyber modeling and simulation framework arc generally described herein. In some embodiments, an interface (212) for ingest of network and vulnerability data associated with a node of a targeted network, a network visualization device (232) for presenting the network data and the vulnerability data, and for creating a network model based on the network and vulnerability data, a threat analysis simulator (240) for launching threat attacks on the targeted network and for applying modeled defenses against the threat attacks, the threat analysis simulator producing simulation results (244) and a data farming module for performing data fanning on the simulation results using different scenarios to generate a farm of data for use in designing anti-cyber-attack strategies (280) for the targeted network.
US09954874B2

System, method and product for detection of mutated apps and usage thereof. A method comprises obtaining features of an Application Under Check (AUC); comparing the features with sets of features of applications to determine a host application of the AUC; determining that the AUC is a mutated application of the host application, wherein said determined comprises comparing the AUC with the host application; and in response to said determining, performing a predetermined action. A server may be configured to perform the steps of collecting features relating to trusted applications, wherein the trusted applications are potentially useable as a basis for a mutated application, wherein the features are features that are indicative of a mutated versions of the trusted applications; and retaining the features in a repository, whereby collecting and retaining a list of positive signatures of trusted applications that are useful to approximately identify a host application of a mutated application.
US09954870B2

Approaches for providing security in a networked computing environment are provided. The method includes detecting, by at least one computer device, a breach of a first system in the networked computing environment. The method also includes identifying a second system in the in the networked computing environment as an at-risk system based on a proximity of the second system to the first system. The method additionally includes re-generating, by the at least one computer device, the second system as a new system at a new location in the networked computing environment. The method further includes converting, by the at least one computer device, the second system to a decoy system.
US09954857B2

A system and method for controlling access to a digital asset. A first host device is provided to a first host device owner and rights are determined to a digital asset. A digital charm is selected, wherein selecting includes granting to the digital charm certain rights to the digital asset. The digital charm is attached to the first host device to form a charm system, wherein attaching includes conferring, to the first host device owner, the rights to the digital asset that were granted to the digital charm.
US09954855B2

The present disclosure is applicable to the field of network communications, and provides a login method and apparatus, and an open platform system. The method includes: receiving an Access Token parameter provided by a login platform after a user is authenticated and authorized; acquiring an open digital identity (OpenID) of the user by using the received Access Token parameter; and generating a corresponding command word according to a browser environment of a third-party page, and returning the command word to the third-party page, the command word including the Access Token parameter and the OpenID of the user. In the present disclosure, a login platform provides a unified callback address page for a third-party page, and the third-party page can access an open platform without developing a callback-free address page, thereby reducing development costs of the third-party page; a complete login and an openAPI call JS interface are provided and automatic update is supported, and a JS SDK of the latest version can be automatically applied without adjustment of the third-party page, and therefore can work on various intelligent terminals.
US09954849B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing online advertising data secure sharing. One method includes receiving, at a server, a request for proprietary data from a data consumer, the request including a data consumer identifier; retrieving, from a database of proprietary data, proprietary data based on the request; determining, by the server, whether the retrieved proprietary data is at least one of: designated to be processed and designated to have privileges set; processing, by the server, the proprietary data when the server determines the proprietary data is designated to be processed; setting one or more privileges to the proprietary data using the certificate associated with the data consumer identifier when the server determines the proprietary data is designated to have privileges set; encrypting the proprietary data using the certificate associated with the data consumer identifier; and transmitting the encrypted proprietary data to the data consumer.
US09954846B2

An authentication approval request can be received by a first system from a second system. The first system can determine whether the user is required to be logged into at least a second online account hosted by at least a third system unrelated to the second system in order to approve the authentication request. If the user is required to be logged into at least the second online account in order to approve the authentication request, the first system can determine whether the user presently is logged into at least the second online account in at least one presently active user session. If the user presently is logged into at least the second online account in at least one presently active user session, the first system can communicate to the second system a response indicating that the user is approved for authentication with the second system.
US09954836B2

Apparatus and methods for conditioning wireless information flow in a wireless network. The system may include a processor that stores a digital key in a mobile device machine readable memory location designated for an optional WIFI frame field. The digital key may have a length (e.g., in bits) that is equal to a standard-specified length of the optional field. The digital key may have a length that is different from (e.g., longer or shorter than) the standard-specific length of the optional field. The optional field may include an IEEE 802.1Q virtual local area network (“VLAN”) address, tag or field or any other suitable optional WIFI-related field. The key may correspond to a user flow conditioning database record that corresponds to an individual having access to the processor. The record may be used to provide service to the user.
US09954824B2

A method includes extending an interface, to a device outside a firewall, for requesting a service performed by a device inside the firewall. The interface is extended using a software component, executing outside the firewall, which executes a separate interface to accept requests for services from devices outside the firewall. The separate interface, exposed outside the firewall, is configured for accepting a subset of the services available inside the firewall.
US09954823B2

An engineering method for establishing an engineering system includes establishing the engineering system in a virtual system by performing a communication and permitting an access to the virtual system via an internet, the communication being performed by using a service which is provided via the internet, the service being used by a first communication system which is connected to the internet, the virtual system being disposed in the first communication system, and the virtual system virtually implementing the engineering system, and inspecting the engineering system by performing an access to an inspection system via a virtual private network, the access is performed by a second communication system which is connected to the virtual private network, the inspection system being disposed in the second communication system, and the inspection system inspecting operations of the engineering system which is established in the virtual system.
US09954816B2

Provided is a method for delegation of local content delivery service. The method includes receiving a Domain Name System (DNS) query from a client to resolve a domain name to a network address associated with content provider by a content provider, determining that distribution of the content has been delegated by a content provider to a local content server associated with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and based on predetermined criteria, resolving the domain name to the local content server. The resolution can include responding to the DNS query with an answer from a caching server, and returning, to the client, the answer pointing to the local content server, wherein upon receiving the answer, the client can establish a data communication channel with the local content server. The content can be downloaded to the local content server upon a request received by a provisioning system associated with the ISP.
US09954815B2

A domain name dependency server (DDS) stores known relationships between domain names. In response to a domain relationship query from a local DNS server for a given domain name, the DDS supplies the domain names that are related to the given domain name. This reduces or eliminates serial requests for the related domain names from the local DNS server, reducing overall DNS lookup latency for the requested service. The DDS can be shared among multiple local DNS servers, and can be updated dynamically or manually to enhance the accuracy of its stored domain name relationships.
US09954812B2

A message-browsing system includes an image storage unit storing user images corresponding to respective multiple users, a motion storage unit storing pieces of motion information defining motions of the images associated with types of feelings or forms of posts, a keyword storage unit storing keywords according to the types of feelings, a determination unit determining whether or not any of the types can be identified from a sentence of a post by determining whether the sentence includes any of the keywords stored in the keyword storage unit, and a setting unit, when a type of feelings can be identified, selecting one of pieces of motion information that corresponds to the identified type of feelings, selecting one piece of motion information that corresponds to a form of the post when the type cannot be identified, and setting a motion of a user image corresponding to the user who has contributed the post based on the selected piece of motion information.
US09954809B2

A communication server, computer-readable storage medium and computer-implemented method for executing commands embedded in messages are provided. The method may include detecting user input of a special character while a user is composing a message and in response to detecting the user input of the special character, presenting a selectable list of command operators to the user. The method may further include causing a command operator to be included in the message in response to user selection of the command operator from the selectable list of command operators. The command operator is operative to execute an action performed by a network-based service executing on an application server. The method may further include identifying, at an outbound communication serer, the command operator included in the message, and transmitting a request to the application server to perform the action corresponding thereto.
US09954802B2

A system and method for translating requests and responses between different types of devices are described. An enterprise service bus generates a first list of one or more devices, receives a selection from a user associated with a first device of a second device in the first list, generates a second list that includes functions associated with the selection from the first user, receives a request from the first device to perform one of the functions in the second list, translates a first communication protocol of the request received from the first device into a second communication protocol used by the second device to create a translated request, translates a first message format of the request into a second message format and transmits the translated request to the second device.
US09954799B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for fulfilling a service chain request. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to collect network data of a plurality of instances of services and connections between the plurality of instances of services and redefine service chains to direct flow to an alternative instance of a service responsive to determining that an instance of a service in a service chain has become inaccessible. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to fulfill a service chain request and avoid one or more instances of services (and/or connections there between) that could cause a delay between transmitting data packets through the service chain.
US09954797B2

An interconnect apparatus enables improved signal integrity, even at high clock rates, increased bandwidth, and lower latency. An interconnect apparatus can comprise a plurality of logic units and a plurality of buses coupling the plurality of logic units in a selected configuration of logic units arranged in triplets comprising logic units LA, LC, and LD. The logic units LA and LC are positioned to send data to the logic unit LD. The logic unit LC has priority over the logic unit LA to send data to the logic unit LD. For a packet PKT divided into subpackets, a subpacket of the packet PKT at the logic unit LA, and the packet specifying a target either: (A) the logic unit LC sends a subpacket of the packet PKT to the logic unit LD and the logic unit LA does not send a subpacket of the packet PKT to the logic unit LD; (B) the logic unit LC does not send a subpacket of data to the logic unit LD and the logic unit LA sends a subpacket of the packet PKT to the logic unit LD; or (C) the logic unit LC does not send a subpacket of data to the logic unit LD and the logic unit LA does not send a subpacket of the packet PKT to the logic unit LD.
US09954792B2

Traffic control logic is provided to support a plurality of channels on a link. A plurality of reserved credit counters is provided to each identify reserved flow control credits for a corresponding one of the plurality of channels. Further, a shared credit counter is provided to identify shared flow control credits to be shared between two or more of the plurality of virtual channels.
US09954784B2

The disclosure is directed to a method for balancing VPN network bandwidth. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: obtaining weather data and social media sentiment for a plurality of geographical regions; analyzing the weather data and the social media sentiment for factors that may influence network bandwidth usage in each of the plurality of geographical regions; predicting network bandwidth requirements for each of the plurality of geographical regions based on the analysis of the weather data and the social media sentiment; and balancing the network bandwidth among the plurality of geographical regions based on the predicted network bandwidth requirements.
US09954778B2

A device may include a processor and a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for forwarding a sensor data packet. The operations may include receiving the sensor data packet. In one example, the sensor data packet includes a sensor identification, a sensor classification, and sensor data. The operations may further include forwarding the sensor data packet to a second device based upon the sensor identification and the sensor classification.
US09954771B1

A packet processing system comprises a plurality of packet processing nodes configured to process packets. The packet processing nodes are arranged in a plurality of packet processing clusters. The packet processing system also includes a plurality of prefetch buffers respectively associated with different ones of the packet processing clusters. A first prefetch buffer of the plurality of prefetch buffers is associated with a first packet processing cluster and is configured to store packets distributed for processing to the first packet processing cluster when the first packet processing clusters does not include any packet processing nodes available for processing of the packets.
US09954764B2

Embodiments generally relate to enabling encapsulation in networks. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a message from an edge configuration device, wherein the message contains shortest path bridging (SPB) configuration information. The method also includes performing provider backbone bridge (MAC-in-MAC) encapsulation in response to receiving the message.
US09954762B2

A method includes each switch in a network maintaining a forwarding database table in which each record identifies a media access control (MAC) address, a port identifier, and a source identifier. A frame is received from a first network device at a first port of a first switch, wherein the frame includes a MAC address of the first network device. The first switch prepares a synchronization packet including the MAC address, a port identifier identifying the first port, a source identifier identifying the first switch and an instruction, in response to determining that the MAC address is not associated with the first switch in the first forwarding database table. The synchronization packet is sent to each other switch, and the forwarding database tables of the other switches are modified to implement the instruction.
US09954761B2

A method for automatically detecting and configuring Virtual Private Network (VPN) sites is provided. A Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) message is received from a Provider Edge (PE) router. The BGP message includes one or more attributes. The VPN site is identified based on the one or more attributes. Such attributes may include extended community attributes.
US09954756B2

Disclosed are system, method, and computer-readable medium embodiments for a network to provide network applications and services and estimate network metrics for individual applications and services. In an embodiment, a first routing device receives a packet and determines that the packet is to be sampled. The first routing device samples the packet by storing first information associated with the packet and transmits the first information to a measurement server. The first routing device transmits the packet towards a destination according to routing information. A second routing device receives the packet and determines that the packet is to be sampled. The second routing device samples the packet by storing second information associated with the packet and transmitting the second information to the measurement server. The measurement server determines a measurement based on the first information and second information.
US09954747B2

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture to generate file transfer monitoring criteria are disclosed. An example method obtains a file transfer log file from a first network entity and obtains from the transfer log file file transfer metadata that is associated with file transfer activity between the first network entity and a second network entity. The file transfer metadata is used to generate a file transfer monitoring criterion that is associated with selectively monitoring the file transfer activity between the first network entity and the second network entity. Service level criteria associated with the file transfer event is automatically updated based on the file transfer monitoring criterion.
US09954728B2

A network environment can include a proxy management server. The proxy management server can have access to multiple disparately located MDM servers. A mobile device receives configuration information including a network address of the proxy management server. The mobile device stores the network address of the proxy management server. In response to receiving a management notification such as notification that one or more of the multiple MDM servers has management information (e.g., commands, data, etc., to be executed by the mobile device) available for the mobile device, the mobile device utilizes the stored network address to communicate with the proxy management server. The proxy management server checks availability of the management information from multiple disparately located MDM management servers. The proxy management server retrieves the management information from the management servers and forwards it to the mobile device.
US09954723B2

In a packet switch with databases (250, 404) used for packet forwarding, the database pieces are identified by version identifiers (410V) which are used by the packet switch's modules (LCx, RPM0, RPM1) in exchanging information on the databases and requesting updates to the databases. For example, if a primary management module fails and the management is transferred to a secondary management module, the secondary management module requests forwarding modules (e.g. line cards) to identify the database pieces stored on the forwarding modules, and to update the databases as needed. Use of version identifiers reduces the amount of data that has to be transferred in connection with such requests.
US09954718B1

Disclosed are various embodiments of a server application that facilitates selecting a computing device in which to host execution of an application. The selected application host provides application output to a client, and the client provides application input to the application host. In some embodiments, the application server may be a communications proxy between the client and a remote application host.
US09954717B2

An apparatus comprising a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to obtain a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) (DASH) Media Presentation Description (MPD) from an HTTP server, wherein the MPD describes a media presentation as a combination of an HTTP source and a non-HTTP source. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor, cause a network element (NE) to receive a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) (DASH) Media Presentation Description (MPD) from an HTTP server; and dynamically switch between a HTTP source and a non-HTTP source of the media presentation described according to the MPD.
US09954709B2

A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals comprises an encoder for encoding service data, a mapper for mapping the encoded service data into a plurality of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) symbols to build at least one signal frame, a frequency interleaver for frequency interleaving data in the at least one signal frame by using a different interleaving-seed which is used for every OFDM symbol pair comprised of two sequential OFDM symbols, a modulator for modulating the frequency interleaved data by an OFDM scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data.
US09954707B2

According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a crest factor reduction (CFR) core, including: a clipper clipping an input signal; a delay unit delaying the input signal; a first subtractor subtracting the clipped input signal from the delayed input signal; an error shaping filter filtering the subtracted signal for shaping an error which occurs by the clipping of the input signal; a digital filter filtering the input signal for cancelling noise of the input signal; and a second subtractor subtracting the filtered subtracted signal from the filtered input signal.
US09954702B2

A radio communication device has a local oscillator to generate a local signal, a first mixer to mix a binary continuous phase frequency shift keying signal and the local signal so as to generate a baseband signal, a first filter to remove an unnecessary frequency component included in the baseband signal, a delay device to delay an output signal of the first filter by one symbol, and a wave detector to demodulate the continuous phase frequency shift keying signal, wherein a modulation index m of the continuous phase frequency shift keying signal is a value expressed by m=n+k where 0
US09954697B2

Provided is an apparatus for equalizing a channel and determining reception data of a packet communication receiver. The apparatus includes: an input interface unit which receives a reception sample string of a packet having a midamble and location information of the midamble; a sample dividing unit which divides the reception sample string into a first sub sample string and a second sub string stream using the location information of the midamble; and a channel equalizing unit which performs channel equalization on the first sub sample string and the second sub sample string, respectively, using a channel equalizing algorithm of the channel equalizer.
US09954695B2

Provided are a channel measurement method for large-scale antennas, and a user terminal. The method comprises: antennas at a base station side are divided into more than two groups in advance, a user terminal receives pilot signals transmitted from the antennas at the base station side, where the antennas in one group transmit the pilot signals in a frequency-division mode, and the antennas in different groups transmit the pilot signals in a time-division mode; and the user terminal performs a spatial channel estimation based on the pilot signals received from partial groups of the antennas, to obtain a channel measurement result for all the antennas.
US09954694B2

In one example, a method includes configuring a first provider edge (PE) router of a Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) to join an Ethernet Segment in active-active mode with at least a second PE router that is operating as a designated forwarder for the Ethernet Segment; receiving, by the first PE router from a remote PE router and prior to the first PE router performing Media Access Control (MAC) learning of a customer-MAC (C-MAC) address that is reachable via a backbone-MAC (B-MAC) address associated with the Ethernet Segment, a network packet that includes the C-MAC address; and in response to determining that the C-MAC address has not been learned by the first PE router and the B-MAC address included in the network packet is associated with the Ethernet Segment, forwarding, by the first PE router, the network packet to a destination identified by the C-MAC address.
US09954690B2

Commands relating to a conference session being handled by a first conference server are logged, where the commands are exchanged between an application server and the first conference server. Failure of the first conference server is detected. In response to detecting the failure, the logged commands are used to transfer the conference session to a second conference server.
US09954689B2

A system for distributing digital content obtained from a variety of sources in a variety of formats is described that utilizes a content distribution system configured to receive and store the content files, convert the content file both into a standardized format file and into a thumbnail file, and associate the content with one or more tags that can signify characteristics or relevant facts about the content file. Users of the system select one or more tags on their remote devices in order that the content distribution system automatically transmit to the remote device thumbnail images of those content files that match the selected tags. Users can then select the thumbnail image in order to cause the system to transmit to the remote device the standardized format version of the content.
US09954676B2

A method of performing a keyed cryptographic operation mapping an input message to an output message, wherein the cryptographic operation includes at least one round including a non-linear mapping function configured to map input data to output data, including: splitting the input data into n split input data, wherein the splitting of the input data varies based upon the value of the input message; inputting each split input data into the non-linear mapping function to obtain n split output data, wherein a combination the n split output data indicates an output data, wherein the output data results when the input data is input to the non-linear mapping function.
US09954675B2

The invention relates to a method for transmitting an actuation signal and a first data signal between a control device and an actuation device of a power semiconductor device. To minimize the expenditure for the operation of the physical transmission channels and the costs for the laying of the physical connection between control device and actuation device, the transmission of the actuation signal and the first data signal between the control device and the actuation device takes place simultaneously and via a common transmission channel, wherein the first data signal is combined with the actuation signal by means of a digital modulation method or coding method. A feedback signal and second data signal are transmitted in the opposite direction. A first coding length is shorter than the interval length of the actuation signal. A second coding length is shorter than the interval length of the feedback signal.
US09954671B2

An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a transmission unit for transmitting a query request for querying another device for a count value held by such other device, a reception unit for receiving a return of the count value from such other device, a correction unit for performing, at a predetermined period, correction processing for synchronizing sampling frequency with such other device based on the received count value, and a reproduction unit for reproducing content in synchronization with such other device based on the sampling frequency. The correction unit corrects by taking into account a Round Trip Time between the transmission of the query request and the reception of the return and residual difference occurred at a previous correction time.
US09954665B2

A server is connected via a wireless communication network to be capable of receiving sensor information from a wireless device and provide control signals based on at least the sensor information to the wireless device for enabling the wireless device to perform a control task. The server is arranged to receive an estimate of imminent connection state of the wireless device and adapt operation such that upon the estimated imminent connection state indicates a connection quality parameter to have a quality below a first threshold, the server provides an information package to be sent to the wireless device for enabling the wireless device to perform at least an increased part of the operation task locally at the wireless communication device, and upon the estimated imminent connection state indicates the connection quality parameter to have a quality above a second threshold, the server provides an information package to be sent to the wireless device for enabling the wireless device to be relieved from performing at least a part of the operation task by the server providing increased aid in performing the control task. The wireless device, methods and computer programs are also disclosed.
US09954658B2

Exemplifying embodiments herein relate to a relay node and a method therein for communicating data to a user equipment, the relay node being associated with a base station, is provided. The method comprises receiving information from the base station indicating a first set of resource blocks of a subframe comprising control information. The method further comprises identifying, based on the received information, at least one resource block outside the first set of resource blocks, and scheduling, to the user equipment, transmissions on the at least one identified resource block.
US09954656B2

In a WLAN, a device sets a first NAV to a bandwidth used by a signal from a second device. The device selects a channel that does not correspond to the bandwidth from among a plurality of channels when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition includes a condition that the first NAV is set. The device transmits a first frame on the selected channel.
US09954646B1

Techniques for output frame correction for unstable video streams are described herein. A video item may be transmitted via an input video stream from a first entity to a second entity over one or more electronic communications networks. The incoming frames from the input video stream may then be used, by the second entity, to generate an output video stream for presentation to one or more viewers. The transmission of the input video stream may temporarily become unstable and may be interrupted such that one or more frames of the input video stream are delayed and/or lost. When a transmission interruption is detected, the output video stream may be adjusted by inserting one or more correction frames into the output video stream. The inserted correction frames may include one or more repetitions of one or more prior frames in the output video stream and/or one or more interpolated frames.
US09954641B2

The teachings relate to a method 100 performed in a network node 2 for determining a link adaptation parameter, SINRLA,i, for a wireless device 3. The network node 2 supporting a multi-antenna transmission mode comprising spatial multiplexing layers for transmission of data on a channel between the wireless device 3 and the network node 2. The method 100 comprises: determining 110 a channel covariance matrix H HH for the channel, wherein H is the channel matrix for the channel; approximating 120 a post-equalizer signal to interference plus noise ratio SINRapprox., for a spatial multiplexing layer i using the channel covariance matrix H HH; determining 130 an offset SINRoffset, i to be the difference between a received signal to interference plus noise ratio SINRreceived and the approximated post-equalizer signal to interference plus noise ration SINRapprox.,i, and determining 140 the link adaptation parameter SINRLA,i to be the approximated post-equalizer signal to interference plus noise ratio SINRapprox.,i compensated by the determined offset SINRoffset. Corresponding network node, computer program and computer program products are also provided.
US09954638B2

An optical module has an optical modulator configured to perform phase modulation on each of divided light components of an input light and output at least two phase-modulated signal lights, a semiconductor optical amplifier configured to amplify the phased-modulated signal lights in a same polarization mode, and a polarization multiplexer configured to convert the amplified signal lights into two orthogonally polarized signal lights and multiplex the orthogonally polarized signal lights.
US09954637B2

A wavelength-selective device includes: a storage in which a wavelength management table is stored; and a processor configured to execute a procedure, the procedure including: searching for one or more paths used as a new path having a first ending time in a network, based on the wavelength management table; selecting a wavelength having a second ending time closest to the first ending time, from one or more wavelengths used on paths found by the searching; and configuring a path using the selected wavelength as the new path.
US09954633B2

The present application relates to a receiver for performing a decimation on a signal for pattern detection and a method of operating thereof. A frequency-domain decimator component and a pattern detector component arranged at the receiver are provided. The frequency-domain decimator component is coupled to at least one antenna to receive an input sequence of samples of the signal received at the at least one antenna. The frequency-domain decimator component is further configured to apply an anti-aliasing filter and to decimate the input sequence. The frequency-domain decimator component is further arranged to output the input sequence filtered and decimated as output sequence. The pattern detector component is coupled to the frequency-domain decimator component to receive the output sequence. The pattern detection component is further configured to perform a pattern detection based on cross-correlation values in frequency domain between the output sequence and predefined patterns.
US09954631B2

Time division duplex transmission over copper physical channels is managed. In one example, upstream time slots for upstream transmission in a first physical channel are scheduled. Downstream time slots for downstream transmission in a second physical channel are scheduled. Transmission in the upstream time slots is substantially not simultaneous with transmission in the downstream time slots.
US09954620B2

A method for performing optical constellation conversion, according to which each received symbol from a constellation of input symbols is optically split into M components and each component is multiplied by a first predetermined different complex weighing factor, to achieve M firstly weighted components with different amplitudes. Then a nonlinear processor optically performs a nonlinear transform on each M firstly weighted components, so as to obtain M outputs which are linearly independent, Finally, a linear processor optically performs a linear transform to obtain a new converted constellation by optically multiplying, in the complex plane, each of the M outputs by a second predetermined different complex weighing factor, to achieve M secondly weighted components and then summing the M secondly weighted components.
US09954609B2

A method is provided for detecting intrusion into optical fibers of a Passive Optical Network (PON) of the type which includes a multiplexing system at the head end for separating a data signal output at the head end to the plurality of fibers for supply to user end terminals and a data transmission system at each of the user end terminals for entering onto the fiber data as an optical signal. The method includes providing a monitor system having a transmitter at the head end and a monitor signal analysis system for analyzing changes in the optical monitor signal after transmission along the fiber for detecting an intrusion event. A monitor signal analysis system is provided at one or more user end terminals for detection and conversion of data from the analysis into a digital signal which is then transmitted from the user end terminals back to the head end using the data transmission system through the PON system or separately from the PON system.
US09954579B2

“Smart” connectors with embedded processors, measurement circuits and control circuits are disclosed for establishing a “contactless” radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) Extremely High Frequency (EHF) communications link between two electronic devices having host systems. The connectors are capable of monitoring, controlling, and directing (managing) link operation to dynamically adapt to conditions, as well as monitoring and altering (or modifying) data passing through the connector, and selecting a protocol suitable for a communications session. The connectors are capable of identifying the type of content being transferred, providing authentication and security services, and enabling application support for the host systems based on the type of connection or the type of content. The connectors may operate independently of the host systems, and may perform at least one of sensing proximity of a nearby object; detecting a shape of a nearby object; and detecting vibrations.
US09954576B2

A method includes receiving a serial data stream at a transmitter of a serial channel, encoding the serial data stream using a quaternary pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) scheme into a stream of 2-bit symbols, wherein a particular symbol is represented as a signal at one of four signal levels provided for a unit interval of time, determining that a first symbol of the encoded serial data stream is represented as a highest state of the PAM-4 scheme, and, in response, providing a first output signal on an output of the transmitter, wherein the first output signal includes a first portion at a first voltage level associated with the highest state for a first half of a first unit interval of time associated with the first symbol, followed by a second portion at a second voltage level associated with a de-emphasized highest state of the PAM-4 scheme for a second half of the first unit interval of time.
US09954566B2

Contactless extremely high frequency (EHF) signal directing and blocking structures are disclosed herein. The EHF signal directing structures may focus EHF signal energy along a desired EHF signal pathway. The EHF signal blocking structures may minimize signal propagation through substrates such as circuit boards. Focusing EHF signal energy and selectively blocking the EHF signal energy can minimize or eliminate crosstalk and enhance data transmission speed and integrity.
US09954558B1

A method for fast decoding, the method may include (a) performing a hard read of a group of flash memory cells to provide hard read data; wherein the group of flash memory cells store a codeword that comprises component codes of multiple dimensions; (b) hard decoding the hard read data to provide a hard decoding result; wherein the hard decoding result comprises first suggested values of component codes of at least one dimension of the multiple dimensions; (c) performing at least one additional read attempt of the group of flash memory cells to provide additional data; (d) performing a partial extensiveness soft decoding the additional data, in response to the first suggested values, to provide a soft decoding result; and (e) wherein the soft decoding result comprises second suggested values of component codes of one or more dimensions of the multiple dimensions.
US09954550B1

Data compression with window-based selection from multiple prediction functions is provided. A predefined default predictor and a plurality of other predictors are applied to a floating point number to generate a plurality of predictions. A compression metric over a collection of floating point numbers is evaluated for the default predictor and the plurality of other predictors. Based on the compression metric, (i) the floating point number is encoded using the predefined default predictor, or (ii) the collection of floating point numbers is encoded using one of the other predictors. Stored indexes indicate which predictor was used for the encoding. A set of predictors out of a larger set of predictors can be determined for a specific data set based on a performance-based ranking. The default predictor and the alternate predictors can be represented as ensembles of predictors. Decompression involves evaluating which predictor was used for the encoding and optionally, whether an ensemble was used for the encoding.
US09954548B2

An embodiment electronic circuit includes an electronic switch comprising a load path, a first protection circuit configured to generate a first protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current through the load path of the electronic switch, and a drive circuit configured to drive the electronic switch based on the first protection signal. The first protection circuit includes a logarithmic analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an ADC input signal representing the load current and to output an ADC output signal that includes a sequence of values such that each of the values represents a respective sample of the ADC input signal, a filter configured to filter the ADC output signal and output a filter output signal, and a comparator circuit configured to generate the first protection signal based on comparing the filter output signal with a predefined threshold.
US09954532B2

An integrated circuit according to an embodiment includes: a first block including a first logic block configured to perform a logical operation, a first switch block circuit configured to control connection and non-connection with the first logic block, and a second switch block circuit configured to control connection and non-connection with the first logic block; and a second block including a second logic block configured to perform a logical operation, a third switch block circuit configured to control connection and non-connection with the second logic block, and a fourth switch block circuit configured to control connection and non-connection with the second logic block, wherein the first switch block circuit is mutually connected with the third and fourth switch block circuits, and the second switch block circuit is mutually connected with the third and fourth switch block circuits.
US09954530B2

An integrated circuit (IC) that includes multiple clock domains is provided. Each clock domain operates at a user specified data rate, and the data rates of at least two of the clock domains are related by a common base clock. The specified data rate of each clock domain is controlled by a modulating signal. Each clock domain includes reconfigurable circuits that operate on the common base clock, and the modulating signal controls the data rate of the clock domain by modulating reconfiguration of the reconfigurable circuits. The reconfigurable circuits reconfigure when the modulating signal enables the reconfiguration.
US09954529B2

Logic circuits, or logic gates, are disclosed comprising vertical transport field effect transistors and one or more active gates, wherein the number of CPP's for the logic circuit, in isolation, is equal to the number of active gates. The components of the logic circuit can be present in at least three different vertical circuit levels, including a circuit level comprising at least one horizontal plane passing through a conductive element that provides an input voltage to the one or more gate structures and another conductive element that provides an output voltage of the logic circuit, and another circuit level that comprises a horizontal plane passing through a conductive bridge from the N output to P output of the field effect transistors. Such logic circuits can include single-gate inverters, two-gate inverters, NOR2 logic gates, and NAND3 logic gates, among other more complicated logic circuits.
US09954525B2

A touch- and/or proximity-sensitive input device has a cover plate with a control section. The side of the control section facing a user forms a control field for the user and a side facing away from the user forms a sensor plane. A sensor film has at least one capacitive sensor field within the control section of the cover plate. A carrier plate has at least one electric contact field. The cover plate has a contacting section next to the control section and the side facing away from the user forms a contacting plane. The sensor film has an electric contact field next to the sensor field. At least one electric contact element connects the electric contact field of the sensor film electrically conductively to the at least one electric contact field of the carrier plate.
US09954523B1

An illustrative integrated circuit configured for galvanically isolated signaling includes a receiver having: a detector module coupled to receive a differential signal from terminals of a transformer secondary, the detector module responsively presenting an impedance that varies based on a magnitude of the differential signal; a biasing module that converts the detector module impedance to a response signal; and a comparator module that compares the response signal to a reference signal to obtain a detection signal indicative of oscillation in the differential signal. A method of receiving a pulse modulated alternating current (AC) signal from a resonantly-coupled signaling path comprises: supplying balanced quiescent currents from a cross-coupled FET pair in a common gate amplifier configuration thereby obtaining an impedance that varies based on an AC signal magnitude; converting the impedance into a response signal; and comparing the response signal to a reference signal to obtain a detection signal representing pulses in the differential AC signal.
US09954520B2

A power on reset circuit applied to a gate driver of a display apparatus is disclosed. The power on reset circuit is coupled between an operating voltage and a ground terminal. The power on reset circuit includes an output terminal, a first transistor, a second transistor, a resistor, and a buffer circuit. The first transistor is coupled between the operating voltage and a first node. A gate of first transistor is coupled to the first node. The second transistor is coupled between the operating voltage and the first node. A gate of second transistor is coupled to the ground terminal. The resistor is coupled between the first node and ground terminal. The buffer circuit is coupled between the first node and output terminal and outputs a reset signal through the output terminal. A second threshold voltage of second transistor is larger than a first threshold voltage of first transistor.
US09954518B2

A sensing circuit configured to activate a controller is disclosed. The circuit comprises a first transistor configured to output an activation signal to the controller and a plurality of switches in connection with a base of the transistor. Each of the switches is connected to an identifying resistor. A first output node and a second output node are in communication with the base of the transistor and each of the switches. The first output node and the second output node are separated across an additional identifying resistor. The first output node and the second output node are configured to output a characteristic voltage corresponding a ratio of each of the identifying resistors in response to an input received by one or more of the plurality of switches.
US09954516B1

A timing device that includes an OTP NVM, a first periodic signal generator operable to generate a periodic signal having a first frequency, a second periodic signal generator operable to generate a periodic signal having a frequency that is lower than the first frequency, and selection logic. In a first operating mode, the selection logic is configured to output the first periodic signal at an output terminal as long as a crystal clock feedback signal is received at the input terminal and output the second periodic signal when the crystal clock feedback signal is not received at the input terminal. In a second operating mode, the selection logic is configured to output the first periodic signal as long as a output enable signal is received at the input terminal and not provide any output at the output terminal when the output enable signal is not received at the input terminal.
US09954515B2

An apparatus includes a plurality of delay elements, a plurality of multipliers and an accumulator to form a biquad stage; and a precision logic circuit. The biquad stage includes feedback paths; at least one feedback path has an adjustable bit precision; and the precision logic is adapted to regulate the bit precision of the feedback path(s) based at least in part on at least one parameter that is associated with the biquad stage.
US09954504B2

A power amplification module includes a first input terminal that receives a first transmit signal in a first frequency band, a second input terminal that receives a second transmit signal in a second frequency band having a narrower transmit/receive frequency interval than the first frequency band, a first amplification circuit that receives and amplifies the first transmit signal to produce a first amplified signal and outputs the first amplified signal, a second amplification circuit that receives and amplifies the second transmit signal to produce a second amplified signal and outputs the second amplified signal, a third amplification circuit that receives and amplifies the first or second amplified signal to produce an output signal and outputs the output signal, and an attenuation circuit located between the second input terminal and the second amplification circuit and configured to attenuate a receive frequency band component of the second frequency band.
US09954502B2

A multiport amplifier MPA is provided with an N-input input network, INET, an N-output output network, ONET, and N amplifiers interposed between the INET and the ONET, the MPA comprising N wanted signal paths and N.(N−1) null signal paths wherein N is divisible by 2, half of the N amplifier paths comprise a signal inversion with respect to the other half of the N amplifier paths, the INET and the ONET each comprise one or more quadrature hybrid couplers, QHC, wherein a pair of amplifier paths is arranged between the output of a first QHC in the INET and the input of a second QHC at the ONET, and each signal inversion is arranged in one of the amplifier paths of each pair of amplifier paths such that the ideal amplitude gain of at least one of the N.(N−i) null signal paths is zero.
US09954501B2

An amplifier includes a first input branch and a second input branch that form a differential input stage and a current mirror connected to the differential input. The current mirror is governed as a function of a common mode feedback signal applied to a control node of the current mirror. A second, amplification, stage includes a branch flowing through which is a current, which is a function of the current that flows in the first input branch, and is in turn connected to a first output branch. A capacitive element is coupled between the control node and the second stage. The circuit is symmetrical with respect to the input stage.
US09954499B2

A switching amplifier provided, at a minimum, with: a first input transistor into which one of two input signals that operate in a complementary manner is input; a first cascode transistor cascade-connected between the first input transistor and a power supply; a second input transistor into which the other of the two input signals is input; and a second cascode transistor cascade-connected between the second input transistor and the first input transistor; the switching amplifier extracting an output signal, a connection point between the first input transistor and the second cascode transistor being used as an output terminal; wherein a first potential limiting circuit and a second potential limiting circuit for limiting the potential fluctuation range are respectively connected to the input terminal of the first cascode transistor and the input terminal of the second cascode transistor.
US09954493B2

A high-frequency semiconductor amplifier circuit includes a first transistor provided on a SOI (Silicon on Insulator) substrate having a grounded source, a second transistor provided on the SOI substrate and cascode-connected to the first transistor, and a bias generation circuit provided on the SOI substrate and generating a gate voltages for the first and second transistors, and a first voltage for a drain of the second transistor. The bias generation circuit sets the gate voltage of the first transistor to a voltage between a second voltage and a third voltage, wherein the gate voltage is smaller than a voltage between a drain-to-source voltage of the first transistor, and wherein the second voltage is a threshold voltage of the first transistor and the third voltage is a gate-to-source voltage at which a second derivative of a square root of the drain current with respect to the gate-to-source voltage becomes a maximum.
US09954482B2

A rigidly mountable solar panel includes lenses supported above a movable panel to focus sunlight onto photovoltaic material carried on the movable panel. Flexible supports space the movable panel at the focal points of the lenses, and a servo-mechanism enables movement of the movable panel to adjust position as the focal point moves with the sun. A light detector on the movable panel, sensing movement of the focal point signals the servo-mechanism to adjust the position of the movable panel automatically, thereby tracking the sun's movement. Concentrating sunlight on photovoltaic material selected to have higher conversion efficiency increases output. Segmenting the photovoltaic material so the output of the segments can be combined in a series-parallel relationship and using mirrors on the ends of the movable panel to reflect sunlight onto the segments allows electricity that is generated by the photovoltaic material to be more uniform during daylight.
US09954480B2

This invention relates to a roofing panel for interconnection with one or more additional roofing panels. The roofing panel comprises a PV cell coupled to an inverter, and wireless (or optionally wired) power transfer circuitry for transmitting power to another roofing panel and/or the AC grid and/or to an AC inverter, and/or for receiving power from another roofing panel.
US09954478B2

Systems and methods for disposing and supporting a solar panel array are disclosed. The embodiments comprise various combinations of cables, support columns, and pod constructions in which to support solar panels. Special installations of the system can include systems mounted over structures such as parking lots, roads, aqueducts, and other bodies of water. Simplified support systems with a minimum number of structural elements can be used to create effective support for solar panel arrays of varying size and shapes. These simplified systems minimize material requirements and labor for installation of the systems.
US09954470B2

An apparatus for controlling operation of a rotating electric machine including a plurality of winding sets. The apparatus includes a plurality of inverters for the respective winding sets and a control unit. The control unit includes a physical quantity comparator configured to compare physical quantities that are responsive to power supplied to the respective winding sets, a temperature estimator configured to estimate system temperatures that are temperatures of respective systems, each of which systems is a combination of a respective one of the plurality of winding sets and its associated components, and a parameter modifier configured to modify a parameter used to estimate a temperature of each system in response to a result of comparison between the physical quantities.
US09954469B2

The present teaching relates to a magnetic sensor that comprises a housing, an input port and an output port, both extending from the housing and the input port being connected to an external alternating current (AC) power supply, and an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit comprises an output control circuit coupled with the output port and configured to be responsive to a magnetic induction signal to control the magnetic sensor to operate in a state in which a load current flows through the output port when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and operate in another state when the predetermined condition is not satisfied. The operating frequency of the magnetic sensor is positively proportional to the frequency of the external AC power supply.
US09954465B2

A dynamic limitation device of a dynamic output parameter of an electric motor capable of receiving a working setpoint comprises: a generator of a dynamic maximum current proportional to a first working setpoint of the motor to supply the motor to generate a rotating torque of a shaft of the electric motor as a function of the first setpoint, a first estimator of a first dynamic output parameter of the electric motor, and a first dynamic limiter of the first output parameter of the motor, which comprises: a first comparator of the value of the first estimated parameter with a predefined maximum value of the first parameter, a first corrector to generate a first correction current, the value of which depends on the result of the comparison to be added to the dynamic maximum current to supply the motor. A dynamic limitation method implementing this device is provided.
US09954459B2

Between smoothing capacitor connected between connection conductors for positive and negative poles and semiconductor power modules constituting inverter, a circuit inductance might be increased due to imbalance of current circuit loops. Phase arms each formed by a series combination of semiconductor power modules are stacked, and the group of semiconductor power modifies connected with positive connection conductor and the group of the semiconductor power modules connected with negative connection conductor are arranged in the same direction. There is formed an interspace between the arrangement of semiconductor power modules for positive pole and the arrangement of semiconductor power modules for negative pole. Connection conductors for positive and negative poles extend in a parallel state with an insulator interposed between connection conductors, through the interspace. The connection conductors are bent in a region near connection terminals of the semiconductor power modules and connected with the semiconductor power modules.
US09954457B2

An overvoltage protection circuit adapted for a switching power supply is provided. The overvoltage protection circuit can use the time difference of the start of the overvoltage protection to distinguish that the overvoltage of the output voltage of the switching power supply is caused by the failure of the internal feedback or by the internal power supply, thereby avoiding a short and harmless external power supply to affect the normal operation of the switching power supply but can immediately stop the switching power supply to achieve protection when the switching power supply has an internal feedback failure.
US09954455B2

The present invention discloses a constant on-time isolated converter comprising a transformer with a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side is connected to an electronic switch and secondary-side is connected to a load and a processor. The processor is connected to a driver on primary side through at least one coupling element and to the electronic switch. The processor receives an output voltage or an output current across the load generating a control signal accordingly. The driver receives the control signal through the coupling element and accordingly changes the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch, regulating the output voltage and the output current via the transformer, where the duration of the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch is determined between the moment control signal changes from negative to positive and the moment it changes from positive to negative to achieve a high-speed load transient response.
US09954449B2

An output current calculating circuit for a flyback converter operating under CCM and DCM is disclosed. The off current value IOFF and the blanking current value ILEB flowing through a sensing resistor are calculated using a detection module and are summed together using a current summing unit. A voltage converted from the sum value of the off current value IOFF and the blanking current value ILEB is transmitted through an output stage in a predetermined time ratio of a cycle with the duty cycle determined by a logic control unit, in which the logic control unit controls the output stage to receive the voltage converted from sum current in a predetermined time period of each cycle, and prevents the output stage to receive the voltage converted from sum current in the remaining time other than such predetermined time period of each cycle.
US09954446B2

System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal processing component configured to receive at least a sensed signal and generate a first signal. The sensed signal is associated with a primary current flowing through a primary winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a second signal processing component configured to generate a second signal, an integrator component configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and generate a third signal, and a comparator configured to process information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal.
US09954443B2

A power supply for converting AC to a regulated DC output current, utilizing two serial switched mode power supplies, the first providing an intermediate DC output voltage with only moderate ripple properties, this output being input to the second, which operates as a DC/DC converter to provide the desired output with low ripple and good regulation. The diode rectifier assembly has no reservoir/smoothing capacitor, or one of much smaller capacitance than in prior art power supplies. The large resulting rectifier output ripple is overcome by use of the two power supply units, at least the first having a smoothing capacitor at its output. A majority of the energy stored in this capacitor is utilized during each AC half cycle. Such power supplies also provide improved hold-up times. The power supply is also constructed to have low standby power consumption, by use of a double burst configuration.
US09954439B1

A control circuit of a switching power-supply device that converts a first DC voltage supplied from an input power source to a second DC voltage, includes: a first A/D converter that converts the second DC voltage into a first digital value, in response to a sampling clock depending on a first sampling clock and a second sampling clock; a control signal generation unit that generates a control signal for controlling on-and-off of the switching element based on of a difference between the first digital value and a target value; a regeneration completion sensing unit that senses completion of regeneration of the inductor and outputs a regeneration completion signal; and a sampling clock generation unit that: generates the first sampling clock, in response to the control signal to turn on the switching element, and generates the second sampling clock, in response to the regeneration completion signal.
US09954437B2

One charge pump includes at least one delay element, a number of inverters, and a flip flop coupled in series, with an output of one inverter coupled in a feedback loop to one of the delay elements. The charge pump monitors a first supply voltage level, and turns off an oscillator of the charge pump when the first supply voltage drops below a certain level. This is accomplished in one embodiment by monitoring a first supply voltage level supplied to a charge pump, and turning off an oscillator of the charge pump when the first supply voltage drops below a certain level.
US09954428B2

A controller, and related method, to control switching elements of a plurality of voltage converters of a power system. The controller receives a signal representing an operating condition that indicates a contribution of each of the plurality of voltage converters to a ripple component of an input current or an input voltage of the power system. The controller ranks the plurality of voltage converters based on the contribution of each of the plurality of voltage converters to the ripple component. The controller calculates a switching phase offset for each switching element of the plurality of voltage converters by determining a switching order for each switching element of the plurality of voltage converters based on an alternating extremum contribution to the ripple component, and arranging control signals for each switching element of the plurality of voltage converters based on the switching order.
US09954392B2

An energy storage system that includes an uninterruptible power supply configured to supply first power to a load and a battery array comprising a backup battery unit. The system further includes a controller to cut off the first power supplied by the uninterruptible power supply at a first time and control the uninterruptible power supply and the battery array to supply second power to the load using power stored in the battery array. Typically, the second power is supplied when the first power is cut off.
US09954388B2

A wireless power delivery system includes a wireless charging pad and a pad covering device. The wireless charging pad includes a first antenna to provide wireless power to a first information handling system. The pad covering device is in physical communication with the wireless charging pad. The pad covering device includes a cover located within the pad covering device. The cover to extend from the pad covering device, to cover the wireless charging pad, and to lock with the wireless charging pad to securely cover the wireless charging pad.
US09954387B2

A wireless power transmission antenna is disposed at a wireless charging mat. Another second wireless power transmission antenna is disposed at another location at the wireless charging mat. A temperature sensor is disposed at a location between the antennas. The temperature sensor is responsive to heat propagated from both of the antennas. A controller regulates charging power at each antenna based on information provided by the temperature sensor.
US09954384B2

An energy storage system for use with an external device including: an energy storage cell; a microcontroller; an internal communication bus; an interface including two power terminals and a communications port electrically connected to the internal communication bus; power conversion circuitry for performing a charging operation during which energy is transferred from the power terminals to the energy storage cell and a discharging operation during which energy is transferred from the energy storage cell to the power terminals; and one or more sensors for monitoring one or more parameters of the energy storage cell, wherein it is all packaged to form a single, integrated unit.
US09954382B2

A power system adapted for supplying power in a high temperature environment is disclosed. The power system includes a rechargeable energy storage that is operable in a temperature range of between about seventy degrees Celsius and about two hundred and fifty degrees Celsius coupled to a circuit for at least one of supplying power from the energy storage and charging the energy storage; wherein the energy storage is configured to store between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a joule and about one hundred megajoules of energy, and to provide peak power of between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a watt and about one hundred megawatts, for at least two charge-discharge cycles. Methods of use and fabrication are provided. Embodiments of additional features of the power supply are included.
US09954379B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system, and a method of preventing a battery rack from being damaged by measuring a voltage, which, when a battery module is abnormally connected with a relay in some battery racks in installing the relay, which conducts or blocks a current flowing in the battery rack including a plurality of battery modules, so that a voltage smaller than a predetermined voltage limit value is applied to the battery rack, prevent a short-circuit phenomenon, by controlling an operation state of the relay before the battery rack and the relay form a short circuit.
US09954373B2

Systems and techniques are provided for a power receiver circuit. A power receiver circuit may include power generating elements that may generate alternating current. The power receiver circuit may include group circuits that may connect power generating elements in parallel to combine the alternating current from the power generating elements into a single alternating current. The power receiver circuit may include rectifier circuits which may include rectifier channels connected to the group circuits and may include a rectifier that may generate direct current from alternating current. The power receiver circuit may include a step down converter connected to rectifier circuits that may convert direct current to direct current of a target voltage level. An output switch and linear regulator may be connected to the step down converter, and a microcontroller may be connected to the linear regulator and the output switch and may control the output switch.
US09954364B2

A transfer switch including a lockout-tagout assembly and lockout-tagout method are provided. An example method includes a latch of a transfer switch actuating a first switch, wherein actuating the first switch sends an inhibit signal to an electronic controller of the transfer switch. The example method further includes the latch actuating a second switch, wherein actuating the second switch opens operator cutoff thereby preventing function of an operator assembly of the transfer switch. Still further, the example method includes, after the latch actuating the first switch and the second switch, locking the latch so as to mechanically prevent the source contact from closing.
US09954361B2

A demand side electric power supply management system is disclosed. The system comprises an islanded power system having a point of coupling to a supply grid. The islanded power system supplies a plurality of electric loads, each of which is associated with a load controller to control the maximum power demanded by that load. A measuring means associated with the point of coupling measures the total power transfer between the grid and the islanded system, and a system controller monitors the measured power transfer relative to a set point and provides a control signal to a plurality of load controllers. Each load controller receives substantially the same control signal and determines the maximum power which each load associated with the load controller is allowed to draw from the islanded power system based on information contained in the control signal.
US09954359B2

A power supply circuit coupled to a power source for providing electronic energy to a workload includes a first switch, a control circuit, a first diode, and a backup power, in which the input of the first switch is coupled to the power source, the output of the first switch is coupled to the workload, the control circuit is coupled to the control terminal of the first switch for determining the state of the power source, the anode of the first diode is coupled to the power source, the cathode of the first diode is coupled to the first terminal of the backup power, the first terminal of the backup power is further coupled to the workload, when the control circuit determines that the power source is in a power-off state, a control signal is applied to the control terminal of the first switch to turn off the first switch.
US09954355B1

A transient voltage suppressor (TVS) apparatus includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) pins, a plurality of ground pins, and a substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of division parts and a carrier part. The carrier part carries a chip. The division parts are disposed between each of the I/O pins and the ground pins. The chip is electrically connected to the I/O pins and the ground pins, and the division parts are electrically insulated from the I/O pins and the ground pins.
US09954347B1

A wire harness assembly includes a housing defining an interior volume which extends into the housing along an axis and also defines an outer surface having a retention protuberance extending outward therefrom. A seal is received within the interior volume and a wire extends through the seal into the interior volume. A seal includes skirt segments which extend from the seal retainer wall such that each of the skirt segments is positioned laterally to the outer surface and such that one of the skirt segments is a lock arm having a lock aperture which captures the retention protuberance therein, thereby retaining the seal retainer to the housing. A flex limiting strap joins the lock arm to an adjacent one of the skirt segments and limits the extent to which the lock arm flexes away from the axis.
US09954344B2

A spark plug 1 includes a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical insulator, a center electrode, a terminal bracket, a ground electrode, and a resistor. The insulator is held on the inside of the housing. The center electrode 4 is held on the inside of the insulator, with a tip end being projected therefrom. The terminal bracket is held on the inside of the insulator, with a base end part and being projected therefrom. The ground electrode forms a spark discharge gap G between itself and the center electrode. The resistor contains carbon and is disposed on the inside of the insulator so as to be located between the center electrode 4 and the terminal bracket. In an axial direction X of the spark plug, the resistor has a higher carbon content in a first region positioned on a tip side, compared to a second region positioned on a base end side.
US09954333B2

A commutator is formed by providing an electrically insulating commutator body. First and second areas are defined on the commutator body covering a brush contact surface in an alternating manner. At least the surfaces of the first areas are formed of laser direct structured material. The first areas are treated by a laser to form metal particle layers. Conductive layers are formed on the metal particle layers by a plating process to form commutator segments. Terminals are connected to the conductive layers for connecting the commutator to rotor windings.
US09954332B2

Apparatuses and processes associated with a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) adaptor card. Specifically, the DIMM adaptor card may be configured to removeably couple with a slot of a printed circuit board (PCB). The DIMM adaptor card may further be configured to removeably couple with a first DIMM and a second DIMM. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09954331B2

A terminal unit has a terminal unit body, a first terminal connector located adjacent a first opening in the terminal unit body for connection of a first conductor passing through the first opening, and a second terminal connector located adjacent a second opening in the terminal unit body for connection of a second conductor passing through the second opening. The first terminal connector conductor terminates internally of the terminal unit at a first link connection point, and the second terminal connector conductor terminates internally of the terminal unit at a second link connection point. The first and second link connection points are accessible via a link opening in the terminal unit body and a removable link comprising a link conductor and a link handle is removably insertable into the link opening. With the removable link inserted a normal orientation, the link conductor electrically connects the first link connection point and the second link connection point to electrically connect the first terminal connector to the second terminal connector.
US09954330B2

A protective arrangement for an electronic device includes a flexible cover having a panel and a skirt that form an interior cavity to receive an electronic device; and an adapter fixedly positioned in the flexible cover and having a male plug with connectors extending into the interior cavity of the flexible cover for mating with a female socket of the device and a contactor with contacts adjacent outwardly from the flexible cover and electrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug. A docking cradle or external adapter can receive the electronic device and cover. A docking cradle may have a movable arm.
US09954323B2

A connector includes an conductor engager, coupler-driver and a compressor-body. A coupler is disposed over and engages a grounding end of the conductor engager while a torque drive member rotationally drives the coupler to threadably engage an interface port. Threaded engagement of the coupler causes the conductor engager to move forwardly toward the interface port and the torque drive member to move rearwardly relative to the conductor engager. Rearward movement of the torque drive member causes a compressor to slide axially over plurality of radially compliant fingers of the compressor-body. The compliant fingers are displaced radially inward to compress a prepared end of the coaxial cable, i.e., an outer conductor and a radially compliant outer jacket, against a tubular-shaped retention end of the conductor engager. Compression of the prepared end connects the coaxial cable to the connector.
US09954321B2

A card edge connector includes an elongated insulative housing forming a central slot with two rows of terminals disposed by two sides of the central slot and retained in the housing. The housing includes two opposite lengthwise walls and two end walls connected to two opposite ends of the corresponding lengthwise walls, and a bottom wall linked to both the lengthwise walls and the end walls below the central slot. A removable key element is assembled to the two lengthwise walls and intersecting with the central slot. A receiving cavity is formed in the bottom wall to receive a light emitting device located under the key element and mounted upon the printed circuit board on which the connector is seated.
US09954318B2

Combined connector receptacles that provide isolation between individual connector receptacles and have structures arranged to reduce or eliminate damage to through-hole contact portions during insertion of the combined connector into a board.
US09954316B2

A module retracting type installing and uninstalling device, including a base, a slide block, a pressing cover and a bail. The slide block includes a long-strip-shaped slide block base body, and U-shaped grooves are respectively formed in the middle part of two side walls of the slide block base body. A square hole is formed at the rear end of the slide block base body, and is sheathed onto a triangular lock catch of the base. First and second rotating shafts of the bail are respectively located in two snapping grooves at the front end of the base, and third and fourth rotating shafts are respectively located in the U-shaped grooves. The pressing cover includes a square pressing cover base body, and a pressure resilient sheet attached to the upper surface of the slide block and being pressed to the base.
US09954309B2

Discussed generally herein are methods and devices including or providing a magnetic, detachable, conductive connector to provide an electrical and mechanical connection between parts. A device can include a first substrate, at least one electric component on or at least partially in a first surface of the first substrate, an adhesive on the first surface of the first substrate to temporarily attached the device to skin of a user, a contact pad electrically coupled to an electric component of the at least one electric component, the contact pad on or at least partially in a second surface of the substrate, the first surface opposite the second surface, and a conductive magnetic connector electrically and mechanically connected to the contact pad through a first conductive adhesive.
US09954307B2

A plug (301) adapted to hold a wire (320) and to be received within a socket (330). The plug (301) comprises a plug body (302) comprising at least two plug body portions (500) that are connected to a plug body end (305), and a passage (307) extending substantially along a central longitudinal axis (501) of the plug body (302) for receiving the wire (320). The plug body (302) is configurable in a first wire-receiving configuration so that the wire (320) can be placed within the passage (307) and a second clamping configuration so that the plug body (302) can clamp to and retain the wire (320) within the passage (307) such that conducting strands (321) of the wire (320) extend substantially along the central longitudinal axis (501) of the plug body (302). The at least two plug body portions (500) are moveable away from the central longitudinal axis (501) into the first wire-receiving configuration, and are moveable towards the central longitudinal axis (501) into the second clamping configuration.
US09954300B2

A connector includes a female terminal having a tubular electric connection portion, and a housing having a terminal receiving chamber. The electric connection portion includes a bottom wall, side walls, a plate spring, a top wall overlaid on an outer side of the plate spring, a plurality of top wall holding protrusions overlaid on an outer side of the first side wall, and lock portions provided contiguously with the top wall holding protrusions and locked at the reception holes of the first side wall. An inner wall of the terminal receiving chamber of the housing includes an engagement groove provided in a recessed manner along a direction in which the female direction is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber. The engagement groove engages with the top wall holding protrusions on the outer side of the first side wall to guide the insertion of the female terminal.
US09954299B2

A connector configured to make a contact with an electrical apparatus includes a contact formed of a metal material; and a housing that houses the contact. The contact includes an exposed part that is exposed outside the housing, a contact portion provided in the exposed part and configured to come into contact with an electrode of the electrical apparatus, and a projecting part provided in the exposed part and positioned between the contact portion and the housing. The housing includes an exterior wall that forms a surface of the housing that faces the electrode. The exterior wall and the projecting part are configured to be in contact with each other when the electrode and the contact portion come into contact with each other to establish an electrical connection between the contact and the electrode.
US09954290B2

A terminal fixing jig includes a terminal insertion support portion that is open outward, the terminal insertion recess portion being formed in a shape that allows a plate-shaped counterpart connecting portion to be inserted thereinto through the opening, and a terminal fitting fixing portion that includes a fitting portion being able to fit in a hole formed in the counterpart connecting portion and a fitting portion support portion for supporting the fitting portion to enable advance and retraction of the fitting portion while biasing the fitting portion in an advancing direction, wherein the terminal fitting fixing portion is fixed to the terminal insertion support portion such that it can come into contact with the counterpart connecting portion to be advanced or retracted, and the fitting portion can be fitted into the hole of the counterpart connecting portion with the counterpart connecting portion inserted to a rear side of the terminal insertion recess portion.
US09954288B2

A complementary antenna (e.g., wideband complementary antenna) is presented herein. A complementary antenna can include a first dipole portion, a second dipole portion, a first electrically conductive surface, and a second electrically conductive surface. The first dipole portion can include a first patch antenna portion and a second patch antenna portion. The second dipole portion can include a third patch antenna portion and a fourth patch antenna portion electrically coupled to the second patch antenna portion via a strip antenna portion. The first electrically conductive surface can be coupled to the first dipole portion and the second dipole portion via a first set of electrically conductive pins. The second electrically conductive surface can be coupled to the first electrically conductive surface via a second set of electrically conductive pins.
US09954285B2

The disclosure concerns a microstrip patch antenna configured for operation in the WiFi bands, including 2.4 GHz and 5.2/5.8 GHz. The microstrip patch antenna includes a pair of opposing u-shaped slots embedded in the patch conductor. The patch includes a patch width configured to provide a resonance at 2.4 GHz, and a slot width configured to provide a resonance at 5.2/5.8 GHz. Thus, the antenna provides a dual band WiFi patch antenna.
US09954275B2

A Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna is provided, which includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), an antenna connected with the PCB, a feed system, and a match circuit, wherein the antenna is connected with the feed system through the match circuit, the antenna connected with the PCB is the antenna having a Loop structure, and a gap having a fixed width is provided between a ground loop of the antenna connected with the PCB and the PCB. An MIMO antenna system and a mobile terminal are also provided. By adopting the MIMO antenna, system and mobile terminal, a coupling current between the MIMO antenna and the PCB can be relatively concentrated and current amplitude is small, thereby isolation between antennas is improved.
US09954274B2

An antenna device includes: a case; a board which is encased in the case and receives a signal from an antenna element; and a base for which closes a bottom face of the case. The base is integrally provided with a metal fastening member, and includes a sheet metal part for conducting earth connection between an earth electrode of the board and a vehicle panel, and the sheet metal part is surrounded with resin to be integrally molded therewith.
US09954266B2

Communication device comprising a stripline circulator and at least a coupling piece. The stripline circulator comprises: magnetic assemblies comprising a first magnetic assembly and a second magnetic assembly, the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly are opposite to each other so as to generate a magnetic field; and a conductive jointing piece positioned between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly, the conductive jointing piece comprises a center conductor which is positioned within outer peripheral edges of the magnetic assemblies and positioned in the magnetic field and at least three line connecting arms which extend outwardly from the center conductor. Each coupling piece comprising a first coupling portion positioned within the outer peripheral edges of the magnetic assemblies and positioned in the magnetic field, the first coupling portion is positioned in a space between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly, the first coupling portion and one corresponding line connecting arm are opposite to each other so as to generate a coupling action.
US09954263B2

A radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) package includes a first mounting substrate, a signal line formed on a top surface of the first mounting substrate, the signal line comprising a MEMS device selectively electrically coupling a first portion of the signal line to a second portion of the signal line, and a ground assembly coupled to the first mounting substrate. The ground assembly includes a second mounting substrate, a ground plane formed on a bottom surface of the second mounting substrate, and at least one electrical interconnect extending through a thickness of the second mounting substrate to contact the ground plane, wherein the ground plane is spaced apart from the signal line.
US09954258B2

Provided is a method of manufacturing high-purity, high-quality manganese sulfate which can be immediately used for manufacturing a lithium ion secondary battery from manganese sulfate waste liquid of a wasted battery. Since impurities are removed from the manganese sulfate waste liquid by using sulfides causing no secondary contamination in the manganese sulfate waste liquid and the manganese sulfate is manufactured by performing evaporation concentration through heating, the manufacturing method is very environment-friendly and economical. Since the manganese recovering process improving the manufacturing yield of the manganese sulfate and the waste water treatment process capable of recycling the source materials and discharging waste water are integrated, the manufacturing method is very efficient and environment-friendly. The manufacturing method is applied to the recycling industry, and thus, it is possible to obtain effects of preventing environmental pollution and facilitating recycling the resources.
US09954248B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a solid lithium secondary battery in which occurrence of short-circuit is suppressed during charging. The object is attained by providing a solid lithium secondary battery comprising an anode current collector, a solid electrolyte layer, a cathode active material layer, and a cathode current collector in this order, wherein the solid electrolyte layer is provided on a surface of the anode current collector, the solid electrolyte layer contains a sulfide solid electrolyte particle, a surface shape of the solid electrolyte layer, which faces the anode current collector, is formed in correspondence with a surface shape of the anode current collector, and 10-point average roughness (Rz) of the surface of the anode current collector on a solid electrolyte layer side, and 10-point average roughness (Rz) of a surface of the solid electrolyte layer on an anode current collector side are in a range of 1.8 μm to 2.5 μm, respectively.
US09954241B2

A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a polyelectrolyte membrane and a solution of reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide functionalized with metallized nanoparticles. The electrodes are coated with a polymer and the polyelectrolyte membrane has a hydrophobic exterior surface that is subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) exposure, which changes the hydrophobic, exterior surface to a hydrophilic exterior surface. The polyelectrolyte membrane is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and can include a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer. The solution forms a coating on the hydrophilic exterior surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the positive and negative electrodes. The positive and negative electrodes can be coated with a polymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that can be subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) exposure. The metallized nanoparticles increase the efficiency of the fuel cell by at least 50% when the feed gas includes at least 1000 ppm carbon monoxide.
US09954236B2

A humidifier has a stack unit having a plurality of water-vapor-permeable membranes which are arranged parallel one above the other and spaced apart from one another. Two adjacent membranes are connected to one another via fixing elements, wherein a first fixing element acts on the top membrane from above and a second fixing element acts on the bottom membrane from below.
US09954235B2

Described herein are articles, systems, and methods relating to fuel cell systems that include anode chambers with variable volumes. The volume of the anode chamber may be relatively small or essentially zero upon start up to prevent influx of contaminants that would have to be purged from the system. As fuel is directed into the anode chamber, the chamber volume increases to accommodate the flow of fuel.
US09954228B2

An LFP electrode material is provided which has improved impedance, power during cold cranking, rate capacity retention, charge transfer resistance over the current LFP based cathode materials. The electrode material comprises crystalline primary particles and secondary particles, where the primary particle is formed from a plate-shaped single-phase spheniscidite precursor and a lithium source. The LFP includes an LFP phase behavior where the LFP phase behavior includes an extended solid-solution range.
US09954221B2

The present invention relates to a cathode active material for a lithium rechargeable battery, a method of manufacturing the same, and a lithium rechargeable battery including the same, and provides the cathode active material for the lithium rechargeable battery, including a core including a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a coating layer positioned on the core and including a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 2. xLi2MnO3—(1-x)LiM1O2  [Chemical Formula 1] In Chemical Formula 1, 0
US09954216B2

A rectangular secondary battery (1) includes a current interrupting portion (60) disposed in a current path between a collector plate (21) connected to a rolled electrode group (40) and an external terminal (61) and configured to interrupt the current path when an internal pressure of a battery container (2) is increased. The current interrupting portion (60) has a diaphragm (68) whose top portion (68a) is electrically connected to the collector plate (21) and whose edge portion (68b) is electrically connected to the external terminal (61). The diaphragm (68) is formed into a convex shape protruding inside the battery container (2) and into a planar shape elongated in a longitudinal direction of the battery container (2).
US09954213B2

Electrochemical systems with electronically and ionically conductive layers have electronic, mechanical and chemical properties useful for a variety of applications including electrochemical storage and conversion. Electronically and ionically conductive layers may be introduced between an electrode and the separator. Embodiments provide structural, physical and electrostatic attributes useful for managing and controlling dendrite formation and for improving the cycle life and rate capability of electrochemical cells including silicon anode based batteries, air cathode based batteries, redox flow batteries, solid electrolyte based systems, fuel cells, flow batteries and semisolid batteries and may include multilayer, porous geometries supporting excellent ion transport properties, providing a barrier to prevent dendrite initiated mechanical failure, shorting or thermal runaway, or providing improved electrode conductivity and improved electric field uniformity. An electronically and ionically conductive layer may provide electronic conductivity greater than or equal to 1 S/cm and ionic resistance less than or equal to 10 Ωcm2.
US09954211B2

A separator includes a porous substrate, a porous organic-inorganic coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate, and an organic coating layer formed on the surface of the organic-inorganic coating layer. The porous organic-inorganic coating layer includes a mixture of inorganic particles and a first binder polymer. The first binder polymer contains a copolymer including (a) a first monomer unit including either at least one amine group or at least one amide group or both in the side chain thereof and (b) a (meth)acrylate having a C1-C14 alkyl group as a second monomer unit. The organic coating layer is formed by dispersing a second binder polymer on the surface of the organic-inorganic coating layer, leaving scattered uncoated areas. The porous organic-inorganic coating layer of the separator has a high packing density, enabling the fabrication of a thin battery in an easy manner without losing stability. The porous organic-inorganic coating layer has good ability to bind to the porous substrate, which prevents the inorganic particles from separating from the porous organic-inorganic coating layer. In addition, the organic coating layer enhances the bindability of the separator to an electrode without a substantial increase in resistance.
US09954210B2

A method for manufacturing a separator includes (S1) preparing a porous substrate having pores, (S2) coating at least one surface of the porous substrate with a first solvent, (S3) coating the first solvent with a slurry containing inorganic particles dispersed therein and formed by dissolving a binder polymer in a second solvent, (S4) drying the first and second solvents simultaneously to form a porous organic-inorganic composite layer on the porous substrate. Since the phenomenon that the pores of the porous substrate are closing by the binder polymer is minimized, it is possible to prevent the resistance of the separator from increasing due to the formation of the porous organic-inorganic composite layer.
US09954208B2

A battery package includes a card, a cover attached to the card, and a tray positioned between the card and the cover. The cover includes a body having an opening and a door with the door movable between an open position to provide access to the opening and a closed position in which the door closes the opening. The tray includes multiple receptacles arranged symmetrically about a central post. The front surface of the central post is spaced apart from the interior surface of the front portion of the cover by a distance. The battery package also includes multiple batteries and multiple tabs. The tray is rotatable to selectively align one of the receptacles with the opening in a battery removal position. With the door in the open position, the tab attached to the battery in the receptacle in the battery removal position is accessible through the opening.
US09954207B2

Apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a starter battery for a starter motor of an internal combustion engine in a battery pack arrangement with one or more lithium based cells. The invention includes a solid state switching configuration for high powered battery systems for protecting against over-charging, over-discharging and short circuiting of batteries, especially starter batteries for internal combustion engines. The invention is also useful as a Deep Cycle battery.
US09954203B2

Disclosed herein is an electrode group stack including a plurality of electrode groups, each of which includes a cathode, an anode, and a first separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, and a second separator disposed between the electrode groups, wherein the electrode groups are stacked in a height direction on the basis of a plane, some or all of the electrode groups have different areas of opposite stack surfaces at a stack interface therebetween, and the electrode group stack includes an electrode group satisfying equation (1): T≥(Tsum×0.5) (1), where T indicates a thickness of an arbitrary electrode group and Tsum indicates a sum of thicknesses of the electrode groups constituting the electrode group stack.
US09954190B2

An organic electroluminescent element that uses a compound expressed by the following general formula emits dark blue light and exhibits little change in chromaticity during brightness modulation. (n1 is an integer from 0 to 8; the R1 [groups] are each independently a substituent substituted for a hydrogen atom of the pyrene skeleton; X is CRaRb (Ra and Rb are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent), O, S, or SiRdRe (Rd and Re are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent); and A1 to A4 represent each independently either N or CRf (Rf represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and two adjacent Rf [groups] may jointly form a saturated or unsaturated ring, but no more than two rings may be formed jointly by two or more of the Rf [groups]).)
US09954186B2

Embodiments relate to a delayed fluorescence compound of Formula 1: or Formula 2: The excitons in the triplet state are engaged in emission such that the emitting efficiency of the delayed fluorescent compound is increased. Embodiments also relate to a display device with an organic light emitting diode (OLED) that includes the delayed fluorescence compound.
US09954184B2

Some embodiments provide a compound represented by Formula 1, wherein ET1, ET2 and ET3 are optionally substituted quinolinyl or optionally substituted quinoxalinyl; and wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-3 alkyl, and C1-3 perfluoroalkyl. Other embodiments provide an organic electron transmission element and an organic light-emitting diode device comprising a compound of Formula 1.
US09954178B2

An aromatic amine derivative represented by the following formula (1). In the formula, Ar1 and Ar2 are independently a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group including 6 to 60 ring carbon atoms; L1 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group including 6 to 60 ring carbon atoms; L2 is a single bond or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group including 6 to 60 ring carbon atoms; R1 and R2 are independently a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group including 6 to 60 ring carbon atoms or the like; n is an integer of 0 to 3; m is an integer of 0 to 4; X1 to X5 are independently a nitrogen atom or CR3; provided that at least one of X1 to X5 are a nitrogen atom; R3 is a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group including 6 to 60 ring carbon atom or the like.
US09954175B2

A nanotube-graphene hybrid nano-component and method for forming a cleaned nanotube-graphene hybrid nano-component. The nanotube-graphene hybrid nano-component includes a gate; a gate dielectric formed on the gate; a channel comprising a carbon nanotube-graphene hybrid nano-component formed on the gate dielectric; a source formed over a first region of the carbon nanotube-graphene hybrid nano-component; and a drain formed over a second region of the carbon nanotube-graphene hybrid nano-component to form a field effect transistor.
US09954174B2

There is provided a copolymer having Formula I In Formula I: A is a monomeric unit containing at least one triarylamine group; B′ is a monomeric unit having at least three points of attachment in the copolymer; C′ is an aromatic monomeric unit or a deuterated analog thereof; E is the same or different at each occurrence and can be H, D, halide, alkyl, silyl, germyl, aryl, arylamino, siloxane, a crosslinkable group, deuterated alkyl, deuterated silyl, deuterated germyl, deuterated aryl, deuterated arylamino, deuterated siloxane, or a deuterated crosslinkable group; a, b, and c are the same or different and are mole fractions, such that a+b+c=1, and a and b are non-zero.
US09954169B2

An organic EL display including lower electrodes arranged on a substrate to correspond to first organic EL elements of blue and second organic EL elements of any other color, respectively; hole injection/transport layers arranged on the lower electrodes; second organic light-emitting layers of the other color arranged on the hole injection/transport layers for the second organic EL elements; a first organic light-emitting layer of blue arranged on whole surfaces of the second organic light-emitting layers and the hole injection/transport layers for the first organic EL elements; an electron injection/transport layer arranged on a whole surface of the first light-emitting layer, the electron injection/transport layer made of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound with an electron mobility of 1.0×10−6 cm2/Vs to 1.0×10−1 cm2/Vs both inclusive and having one or both of electron injection properties and electron transport properties; and an upper electrode arranged on the electron injection/transport layer.
US09954163B2

Structures and methods are disclosed for shielding magnetically sensitive components. One structure includes a substrate, a bottom shield deposited on the substrate, a magnetoresistive semiconductor device having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the first surface of the magnetoresistive semiconductor device deposited on the bottom shield, a top shield deposited on the second surface of the magnetoresistive semiconductor device, the top shield having a window for accessing the magnetoresistive semiconductor device, and a plurality of interconnects that connect the magnetoresistive semiconductor device to a plurality of conductive elements.
US09954160B2

A method of manufacturing a vibrator which includes a method of manufacturing a wiring board includes disposing one granular conductor within each of through holes of a ceramic substrate having the through holes formed therein, supplying a glass paste into the through holes, baking the glass paste, forming an electrode, and disposing a vibrator element and a lid. When a maximum diameter of the granular conductor is set to d1 and a minimum diameter of each of the through holes is set to d2, d1/d2 is preferably equal to or greater than 0.8 and equal to or less than 1.
US09954157B2

A thermoelectric generator includes a first channel for passing a warm fluid along a direction of flow, a second channel for passing a cold fluid, a plurality of thermocouple elements disposed along the direction of flow between the first and second channels, a first member includes portions disposed between the elements and the first channel and associated with the individual elements for providing a heat coupling between the associated element and the first channel, and a second member including portions disposed between the elements and the second channel and associated with the individual elements for providing a heat coupling between the associated element and the second channel. The sum of the thermal resistances of those portions that are associated with a first element positioned upstream of a second element is bigger than the sum of the thermal resistances of those portions that are associated with the second element.
US09954140B2

The present disclosure provides a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device comprises: a substrate; an intermediate layer on the substrate; a first window layer comprising a first semiconductor optical layer on the intermediate layer and a second semiconductor optical layer on the first semiconductor optical layer; and a light-emitting stack on the second semiconductor optical layer; wherein a difference between the lattice constant of the intermediate layer and the lattice constant of the first semiconductor optical layer is greater than 2.3 Å.
US09954136B2

An apparatus for carrying a plurality of photovoltaic structures is provided. The apparatus can include a pair of end plates, a set of stationary posts coupling together the end plates, and a wafer-locking mechanism that can be engaged when the apparatus changes orientation. At least one stationary post can be shaped like a comb and have a first array of comb teeth for separating the photovoltaic structures. The wafer-locking mechanism can be configured to lock the photovoltaic structures in position, thereby preventing motion-induced damage to the photovoltaic structures.
US09954135B2

A method for manufacturing solar cell includes the following. A solution containing aluminum elements is misted. The misted solution is sprayed onto the main surface of a p-type silicon substrate in the atmosphere, to thereby form an aluminum oxide film. Then, a solar cell is produced using the p-type silicon substrate including the aluminum oxide film formed thereon.
US09954130B2

A method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming a doped portion having a first conductive type on a semiconductor substrate, growing an oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of recess portions in the oxide layer, further growing the oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a doped portion having a second conductive type on areas of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the recess portions, forming a first conductive electrode electrically coupled to the doped portion having the first conductive type, and forming a second conductive electrode on the semiconductor substrate and electrically coupled to the doped portion having the second conductive type, wherein a gap between the doped portions having the first and second conductive types corresponds to a width of the oxide layer formed by further growing the oxide layer.
US09954127B1

A solar module configured in a frame assembly with multi-configuration attachment member(s), which has locking and unlocking characteristics.
US09954126B2

Various stamping methods may reduce defects and increase throughput for manufacturing metamaterial devices. Metamaterial devices with an array of photovoltaic bristles, and/or vias, may enable each photovoltaic bristle to have a high probability of photon absorption. The high probability of photon absorption may lead to increased efficiency and more power generation from an array of photovoltaic bristles. Reduced defects in the metamaterial device may decrease manufacturing cost, increase reliability of the metamaterial device, and increase the probability of photon absorption for a metamaterial device. The increase in manufacturing throughput and reduced defects may reduce manufacturing costs to enable the embodiment metamaterial devices to reach grid parity.
US09954118B2

The method comprises implanting a deep well of a first type of electrical conductivity provided for a drift region in a substrate of semiconductor material, the deep well of the first type comprising a periphery, implanting a deep well or a plurality of deep wells of a second type of electrical conductivity opposite to the first type of electrical conductivity at the periphery of the deep well of the first type, implanting shallow wells of the first type of electrical conductivity at the periphery of the deep well of the first type, the shallow wells of the first type extending into the deep well of the first type; and implanting shallow wells of the second type of electrical conductivity adjacent to the deep well of the first type between the shallow wells of the first type of electrical conductivity.
US09954107B2

A semiconductor structure, such as a strained FinFETs, includes a strain relief buffer (SRB) layer isolated and separated from a source and a drain by a second spacer simultaneously formed with a first spacer upon the sidewalls of a gate structure. The second spacer limits the source and drain from contacting the SRB layer thereby limiting source drain junction leakage. Further, the second spacer limits source and drain punch through to the SRB layer underneath a channel. An etch partially removes a SRB layer portion 24 within a fin stack. The etch undercuts the source and drain forming a fin void without under cutting the channel. The second spacer is formed by depositing spacer material with the fin void.
US09954091B2

A compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a channel layer over the substrate; a carrier supply layer over the channel layer; a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode above the channel layer and the carrier supply layer; and an insulating film that covers the carrier supply layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The insulating film includes: a first region that contains anion under the gate electrode; and a second region on the source electrode side or on the drain electrode side of the first region, an anion concentration in the second region being lower than an anion concentration in the first region.
US09954085B2

A tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a p-type GaN source layer, an ntype GaN drain layer, and an interlayer interfaced between the source-layer and the drain layer. These devices employ polarization engineering in GaN/InN heterojunctions to achieve appreciable interband tunneling current densities. In one example, the interlayer includes an Indium Nitride (InN) layer. In one example, the interlayer includes a graded Indium gallium nitride layer and an InN layer. In one example, the interlayer may include a graded Indium gallium nitride (InxGa1-xN) layer and an Indium gallium nitride (InGaN) layer. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes an in-line configuration. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a side-wall configuration. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a nanowire cylindrical gate-all-around geometry to achieve a high degree of gate electrostatic control.
US09954082B1

A method of fabricating an embedded nonvolatile memory device is disclosed. A semiconductor substrate having thereon a fin body protruding from an isolation layer is provided. A charge storage layer crossing the fin body is formed. An inter-layer dielectric layer is deposited on the semiconductor substrate. The inter-layer dielectric layer is polished to expose a top surface of the charge storage layer. The charge storage layer is then recess etched and cut into separate charge storage structures. A high-k dielectric layer is formed on the charge storage structures. A word line is formed on the high-k dielectric layer.
US09954074B2

An insulated gate bipolar transistor and a manufacturing method therefor. The insulated gate bipolar transistor comprises a semiconductor substrate (1) of a first conductive type, which is provided with a first major surface (1S1) and a second major surface (1S2), wherein the semiconductor substrate (1) comprises a primitive cell area (2) and a terminal protection area (4) which is located outside the primitive cell area; a first semiconductor layer (5) of a first conductive type which is formed at the side of the first major surface of the semiconductor substrate (1), wherein the doping concentration of the first semiconductor layer (5) is higher than the doping concentration of the semiconductor substrate (1); and an insulated gate transistor unit which is formed at the side of the first major surface of the first semiconductor layer (5) in the primitive cell area, wherein the insulated gate transistor unit is conducted, a channel of a first conductive type is formed. Compared with the prior art, the present invention not only can improve the voltage resistance reliability of the insulted gate bipolar transistor, but also can reduce the forward conductive voltage drop of the insulated gate bipolar transistor.
US09954073B2

A method for manufacturing a SiC semiconductor device includes: forming recesses to be separated from each other on a cross section in parallel to a surface of the substrate by partially removing a top portion of the drift layer with etching using a mask after arranging the mask on a front surface of a drift layer; forming electric field relaxation layers having the second conductivity type to be separated from each other on the cross section by ion-implanting a second conductivity type impurity on a bottom of each recess using the mask; and forming a channel layer by forming a second conductivity type layer on the front surface of the drift layer including a front surface of each electric field relaxation layer in a respective recess.
US09954071B2

A method for preparing a TiAl alloy thin film, wherein a reaction chamber is provided, in which at least one substrate is placed; an aluminum precursor and a titanium precursor are introduced into the reaction chamber, wherein the aluminum precursor has a molecular structure of a structural formula (I); and the aluminum precursor and the titanium precursor are brought into contact with the substrate so that a titanium-aluminum alloy thin film is formed on the surface of the substrate by vapor deposition. The method solves the problem of poor step coverage ability and the problem of incomplete filling with regard to the small-size devices by the conventional methods. Meanwhile, the formation of titanium-aluminum alloy thin films with the aid of plasma is avoided so that the substrate is not damaged by plasma.
US09954070B2

A thin film transistor, a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode (21), an active layer (23), a source electrode (241) and a drain electrode (242). The source electrode (241) and the drain electrode (242) are formed of at least two materials, the forming materials of the source electrode (241) and the drain electrode (242) can create a cell reaction in a corresponding etching solution so as to be etched, and material of the active layer (23) is not corroded by the etching solution. With the thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof according to embodiments of the invention, a problem that an active layer is liable to be corroded in an etching procedure of a source electrode and a drain electrode can be solved, and thus the thin film transistor device can be manufactured by using a back channel etch process. Consequently, the process number for manufacture of the thin film transistor is decreased, and the manufacturing cost is saved.
US09954062B2

A method of making a field-effect transistor device includes providing a substrate with a fin stack having: a first sacrificial material layer on the substrate, a first semiconductive material layer on the first sacrificial material layer, and a second sacrificial material layer on the first semiconductive material layer. The method includes inserting a dummy gate having a second thickness, a dummy void, and an outer end that is coplanar to the second face. The method includes inserting a first spacer having a first thickness and a first void, and having an outer end that is coplanar to the first face. The method includes etching the first sacrificial material layer in the second plane and the second sacrificial material layer in the fourth plane. The method includes removing, at least partially, the first spacer. The method also includes inserting a second spacer having the first thickness.
US09954061B2

A semiconductor device includes an isolation pattern on a substrate, the isolation pattern having a lower insulating pattern on the substrate, and a spacer to cover side surfaces of the lower insulating pattern, a vertical structure through the isolation pattern to contact the substrate, the vertical structure having a first semiconductor layer on the substrate, a lower end of the first semiconductor layer being at a lower level than a lower surface of the isolation pattern, a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer on the second semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode crossing the vertical structure and extending over the isolation pattern.
US09954057B2

A semiconductor device having a high and stable operating voltage and a method of manufacturing the same, the semiconductor device including: a substrate having an active region including a channel region; a gate insulating layer that covers a top surface of the active region; a gate electrode that covers the gate insulating layer on the top surface of the active region; buried insulating patterns in the channel region of the active region at a lower side of the gate electrode and spaced apart from a top surface of the substrate; and a pair of source/drain regions in the substrate at both sides of each of the buried insulating patterns and extending from the top surface of the substrate to a level lower than that of each of the buried insulating patterns.
US09954056B2

A semiconductor device includes a transistor cell region and a transition region. The transistor cell region includes a first portion of a super junction structure and a first contact structure electrically connecting a first load electrode with first source zones of transistor cells. The first source zones are formed on opposite sides of the first contact structure. The transition region directly adjoins to the transistor cell region and includes a second portion of the super junction structure and a second contact structure electrically connecting the first load electrode with a second source zone. The second source zone is formed only at a side of the second contact structure oriented to the transistor cell region.
US09954054B2

A fourth impurity region includes a first region facing a bottom portion of a trench and a part of a second impurity region and a second region facing the second impurity region. A first impurity region includes a third region in contact with a side surface of the trench, the second impurity region, the first region, and a second region and a fourth region which is located on a side of a second main surface relative to the third region, electrically connected to the third region, and lower in impurity concentration than the third region. A surface of the first region facing the second main surface is located on the side of the second main surface in a direction perpendicular to the second main surface relative to a surface of the second region facing the second main surface.
US09954049B2

The present invention relates to a circular display device including: a substrate (21) having a circular shape; a plurality of data lines (15) formed on the substrate; a plurality of gate lines (16) extending in a direction orthogonal to the plurality of data lines; a plurality of pixels (14) respectively formed at areas in which the plurality of data lines and the plurality of gate lines intersect; and a circular cover (25) that is air-tightly adhered to the substrate and covers the pixels. The cover has a driving integrated circuit (27) and a plurality of wiring patterns formed thereon, wherein the driving integrated circuit supplies scan signals and data signals to the plurality of pixels, and the wiring patterns extend and are drawn out from the driving integrated circuit. The respective plurality of wiring patterns are electrically connected to each of the plurality of data lines and the plurality of gate lines through connection wires (29).
US09954039B2

An organic light emitting display device can include a substrate; an anode electrode on the substrate; an organic emitting layer on the anode electrode; a cathode electrode on the organic emitting layer; an auxiliary electrode connected to the cathode electrode; a bank provided on either side of the auxiliary electrode; and a partition spaced apart from the bank and provided on the auxiliary electrode, in which the partition includes a plurality of first partitions provided on the auxiliary electrode and spaced apart from each other, and the partition further includes a second partition provided on the plurality of first partitions, and a width of an upper surface of the second partition is larger than a width of a lower surface of the second partition.
US09954034B2

An image sensor comprising: a first layer having a plurality of groups of photodiodes formed in a semiconductor substrate, each group representing a 2×2 array of photodiodes, with 2 first pixels configured to detect light of a first wavelength and 2 second pixels configured to detect light of a second wavelength, each first pixel positioned adjacent to the second pixels; and a second layer overlapping the first layer, the second layer is organic, having a plurality of organic photodiodes configured to detect light of a third wavelength, each organic photodiode positioned to partially overlap 2 first photodiodes and 2 second photodiodes of the first layer.
US09954028B2

A light emitting device package includes a substrate for growth having a plurality of light-emitting windows, a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting units corresponding to the plurality of light-emitting windows, each semiconductor light-emitting unit having a first surface contacting the substrate for growth and a second surface opposite the first surface, and each semiconductor light-emitting unit having a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer stacked on each other, a plurality of wavelength conversion units respectively disposed inside the plurality of light-emitting windows, each wavelength conversion unit is configured to provide light having a wavelength different from light emitted by the respective semiconductor light-emitting unit, a metal support layer disposed on at least one surface of each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting units and having a lateral surface coplanar with a lateral surface of the substrate for growth, and an insulating layer disposed between each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting units and a respective metal support layer.
US09954022B2

The present disclosure relates to a CMOS image sensor having a doped region, arranged between deep trench isolation structures and an image sensing element, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the CMOS image sensor has a pixel region disposed within a semiconductor substrate. The pixel region has an image sensing element configured to convert radiation into an electric signal. A plurality of back-side deep trench isolation (BDTI) structures extend into the semiconductor substrate on opposing sides of the pixel region. A doped region is laterally arranged between the BDTI structures and separates the image sensing element from the BDTI structures and the back-side of the semiconductor substrate. Separating the image sensing element from the BDTI structures prevents the image sensing element from interacting with interface defects near edges of the BDTI structures, and thereby reduces dark current and white pixel number.
US09954017B2

A radiation image-pickup device includes: a plurality of pixels configured to generate signal charge based on radiation; a first substrate including a transistor configured to read out the signal charge; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate; a conversion layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, the conversion layer being provided for each of the pixels, and being configured to convert the radiation to other wavelength or an electric signal; a partition provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, to partition the conversion layer for each of the pixels; and a radiation shielding layer provided to face the partition.
US09954015B2

The present invention relates to a thin film transistor array substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor array substrate may comprise a substrate which has a plurality of gate lines extending in a column direction along a boundary of pixels, a plurality of data lines extending in a row direction along the boundary of the pixels, and at least one thin film transistor formed in the pixel region; a first insulating film which covers the thin film transistor; a color organic film which is disposed on the first insulating film and has a valley area formed with a valley by partial superimposition of organic films of different colors based on the data lines; a second insulating film which covers the color organic film and the valley area; and a pixel electrode which is disposed on the second insulating film and connected to the thin film transistor via a contact hole, wherein the thin film transistor array substrate is provided with a separating organic film which extends from the color organic film and is disposed between the valley area and the contact hole.
US09954013B2

This invention aims at reducing the probability of short-circuiting between terminals in a display device in which an IC driver is connected by COG. Terminals for connection with the IC driver are formed in a terminal region of a TFT substrate (100). The terminals are each comprised of a terminal metal (60), a first through-bole formed in a first insulation film (107), a second through-hole formed in a second insulation film (109), a first ITO (20) formed in the first through-hole and being in contact with the terminal metal (60), and a second ITO (30) formed over the first ITO (20). The second ITO (30) is formed within an area where the second ITO is in contact with the first ITO but is not formed outside the second through-hole. This ensures that the distance between the ITOs of the adjacent terminals can be enlarged, whereby the probability of short-circuiting between the terminals can be lowered.
US09954009B2

A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a first wire disposed in the inactive area of the substrate, a first pad overlapping the first wire in the depth dimension of the display device, and a first connecting layer configured to electrically connect the first wire to the first pad. The display device also includes a second wire located on a different layer from the first wire, a second pad overlapping the second wire in the depth dimension of the display device, and a second connecting layer configured to electrically connect the second wire to the second pad.
US09953990B1

Embodiments relate to an anti-fuse device with a transistor. The transistor may be a FinFET. The anti-fuse device includes a first electrode, an insulating layer, and a second electrode. The gate of the transistor may be formed in a same layer as the first electrode. The gate insulating layer on the gate of the transistor may be formed in a same layer as the insulating layer. The second electrode may be formed in a same layer as a local interconnect or a via and overlap the first electrode vertically over the insulating layer.
US09953983B2

A vertical tunneling FET (TFET) provides low-power, high-speed switching performance for transistors having critical dimensions below 7 nm. The vertical TFET uses a gate-all-around (GAA) device architecture having a cylindrical structure that extends above the surface of a doped well formed in a silicon substrate. The cylindrical structure includes a lower drain region, a channel, and an upper source region, which are grown epitaxially from the doped well. The channel is made of intrinsic silicon, while the source and drain regions are doped in-situ. An annular gate surrounds the channel, capacitively controlling current flow through the channel from all sides. The source is electrically accessible via a front side contact, while the drain is accessed via a backside contact that provides low contact resistance and also serves as a heat sink. Reliability of vertical TFET integrated circuits is enhanced by coupling the vertical TFETs to electrostatic discharge (ESD) diodes.
US09953980B2

In an output amplifier stage of an operational amplifier circuit, the first p-well of the first nMOSFET and the second p-well of the second nMOSFET are connected to the fourth node. Further, the first n-well of the first pMOSFET and the second n-well of the second pMOSFET are connected to the fifth node. At least one of the fourth node and the fifth node is connected to an output terminal VOUT.
US09953978B2

A transistor device includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconductor substrate, and spaced-apart sidewall spacers positioned above the substrate and adjacent sidewalls of the gate structure. An internal sidewall surface of each of the spaced-apart sidewall spacers includes an upper sidewall surface portion and a lower sidewall surface portion positioned between the upper sidewall surface portion and a surface of the substrate, wherein a first lateral width between first upper ends of the upper sidewall surface portions is greater than a second lateral width between second upper ends of the lower sidewall surface portions.
US09953977B1

Fabricating a semiconductor structure, including: forming a fin structure on a substrate by: forming a first fin layer on the substrate; forming a first insulator layer on the first fin layer; forming a second fin layer on the first insulator layer; forming a second insulator layer on the second fin layer; forming a third fin layer on the second insulator layer; and forming a gate structure on a plurality of opposing sides and a top surface of the fin structure.
US09953969B2

A semiconductor power device having shielded gate structure in an active area and having ESD clamp diode with two poly-silicon layer process is disclosed, wherein: the shielded gate structure comprises a first poly-silicon layer to serve as a shielded electrode and a second poly-silicon layer to serve as a gate electrode, and the ESD clamp diode formed between two protruding electrodes is also formed by the first poly-silicon layer. A mask specially used to define the ESD clamp diode portion is saved.
US09953965B2

A semiconductor package may include a DRAM chip mounted on a substrate; an interposer stacked over the DRAM chip and including redistribution structures; a nonvolatile memory chip stacked over the interposer; a memory controller chip mounted on the substrate, and including a control circuit for controlling the nonvolatile memory chip and first pads and second pads electrically coupled to the control circuit; first conductive coupling members configured to electrically couple bonding pads of the nonvolatile memory chip to the redistribution structures; second conductive coupling members configured to electrically couple the redistribution structures to the first pads; and third conductive coupling members configured to electrically couple the second pads to the substrate.
US09953949B2

A through package vias (TPV), a package including a plurality of the TPVs, and a method of forming the through package via are provided. Embodiments of a through package via (TPV) for a package include a build-up film layer, a metal pad disposed over the build-up film layer, a polymer ring disposed over the metal pad, and a solder feature electrically coupled with the metal pad.
US09953942B2

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor package, which includes a substrate, a passivation layer, a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) having a top surface; and a conductive structure. The top surface of the PPI includes a first region receiving the conductive structure, and a second region surrounding the first region. The second region includes metal derivative transformed from materials made of the first region. The present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package, including forming a first flux layer covering a portion of a top surface of a PPI; transforming a portion of the top surface of the PPI uncovered by the first flux layer into a metal derivative layer; removing the first flux layer; forming a second flux layer on the first region of the PPI; dropping a solder ball on the flux layer; and forming electrical connection between the solder ball and the PPI.
US09953932B2

Disclosed herein is an electronic circuit package includes: a substrate having a power supply pattern; an electronic component mounted on a surface of the substrate; a mold resin covering the surface of the substrate so as to embed therein the electronic component; a laminated structure of a magnetic film and a metal film, the laminated structure covering at least an upper surface of the molding resin. The metal film is connected to the power supply pattern, and a resistance value at an interface between the magnetic film and the metal film is equal to or larger than 106Ω.
US09953925B2

A 3D IC device including: a first semiconductor layer including first mono-crystallized transistors, where the first mono-crystallized transistors are interconnected by at least one metal layer including aluminum or copper; a second layer including second mono-crystallized transistors and overlaying the at least one metal layer, where the at least one metal layer is in-between the first semiconductor layer and the second layer; a global power grid to distribute power to the device overlaying the second layer; and a local power grid to distribute power to the first mono-crystallized transistors, where the global power grid is connected to the local power grid by a plurality of through second layer vias, and where the vias have a radius of less than 150 nm.
US09953923B2

A metallization stack, comprising: at least an interlayer dielectric layer comprising a dielectric material and a negative capacitance material, wherein: at least a pair of first conductive interconnecting components formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, which are at least partially opposite to each other, comprise both the dielectric material and the negative capacitance material sandwiched between their opposite parts; and/or at least a second conductive interconnecting component formed in an upper interlayer dielectric layer and at least a third conductive interconnecting component formed in a lower interlayer dielectric layer, which are at least partially opposite to each other, comprise both the dielectric material and the negative capacitance material sandwiched between their opposite parts.
US09953914B2

A method for making a microelectronic unit includes forming a plurality of wire bonds on a first surface in the form of a conductive bonding surface of a structure comprising a patternable metallic element. The wire bonds are formed having bases joined to the first surface and end surfaces remote from the first surface. The wire bonds have edge surfaces extending between the bases and the end surfaces. The method also includes forming a dielectric encapsulation layer over a portion of the first surface of the conductive layer and over portions of the wire bonds such that unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds are defined by end surfaces or portions of the edge surfaces that are unconvered by the encapsulation layer. The metallic element is patterned to form first conductive elements beneath the wire bonds and insulated from one another by portions of the encapsulation layer.
US09953906B2

In a plasma processing step that is used in the method of manufacturing the element chip for manufacturing a plurality of element chips by dividing a substrate which has a plurality of element regions and of which an element surface is covered by insulating film, the substrate is divided into element chips by exposing the substrate to a first plasma, element chips having first surface, second surface, and side surface are held spaced from each other on carrier, insulating film is in a state of being exposed, recessed portions are formed by retreating insulating film by exposing element chips to second plasma for ashing, and then recessed portions are covered by protection films by third plasma for formation of the protection film, thereby suppressing creep-up of the conductive material to side surface in the mounting step.
US09953902B2

A semiconductor device includes first and second conductive layers on a substrate and separated from each other. A first semiconductor chip is mounted on the first conductive layer and has a first electrode on a side opposite the first conductive layer. A second semiconductor chip is mounted on the first conductive layer and has a second electrode on a side opposite the first conductive layer. A first metal member is mounted on the first electrode. A second metal member is mounted on the second electrode. A metal plate has a first portion disposed on the first and second metal members, and a second portion connected to the second conductive layer. The metal plate electrically connects the first and second electrodes to the second conductive layer through the first and second metal members.
US09953901B2

A semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor light source, a resin package surrounding the semiconductor light source, and a lead fixed to the resin package. The lead is provided with a die bonding pad for bonding the semiconductor light source, and with an exposed surface opposite to the die bonding pad The exposed surface is surrounded by the resin package in the in-plane direction of the exposed surface.
US09953898B2

A flow channel member according to the present invention includes a ceramic substrate, a flow channel inside the ceramic substrate through which a fluid flows, and multiple protrusions on an outer surface of the substrate.
US09953889B1

Improved processes for manufacturing semiconductor wafers, chips, or dies utilize in-line data obtained from non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”) of fill cells that contain structures configured to target/expose a variety of open-circuit, short-circuit, leakage, and/or excessive resistance failure modes. Such processes include evaluating one or more Designs of Experiments (“DOEs”), each comprised of multiple NCEM-enabled fill cells, in at least two variants, targeted to the same failure mode. Such DOEs include multiple means/steps for enabling non-contact (NC) detection of GATECNT-GATE via opens.
US09953883B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor layer on a substrate, the semiconductor layer including a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, patterning the semiconductor layer to form a preliminary active pattern, oxidizing at least two sidewalls of the preliminary active pattern to form an oxide layer on each of the at least two sidewalls of the preliminary active pattern, at least two upper patterns and a semiconductor pattern being formed in the preliminary active pattern when the oxide layers are formed, the semiconductor pattern being disposed between the at least two upper patterns, and removing the semiconductor pattern to form an active pattern, the active pattern including the at least two upper patterns. A concentration of the second semiconductor material in each of the at least two upper patterns is higher than a concentration of the second semiconductor material in the semiconductor pattern.
US09953867B2

Disclosed are a method of forming a seed layer on a high-aspect ratio via and a semiconductor device having a high-aspect ratio via formed thereby. Thus, efficient Cu filling-plating is possible, and plating adhesion of the seed layer to filling-plated Cu can be simply and profitably enhanced, thus imparting high durability upon forming metal wiring for electronic components. Moreover, stress of the seed layer can be lowered, thereby enhancing plating adhesion.
US09953866B1

A method is provided which includes dispensing and removing different deposition solutions during an electroless deposition process to form different sub-films of a composite layer. Another method includes forming a film by an electroless deposition process and subsequently annealing the microelectronic topography to induce diffusion of an element within the film. Yet another method includes reiterating different mechanisms of deposition growth, namely interfacial electroless reduction and chemical adsorption, from a single deposition solution to form different sub-films of a composite layer. A microelectronic topography resulting from one or more of the methods includes a film formed in contact with a structure having a bulk concentration of a first element. The film has periodic successions of regions each comprising a region with a concentration of a second element greater than a set amount and a region with a concentration of the second element less than the set amount.
US09953850B2

Provided is a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus in which processes with respect to substrates are performed includes a lower chamber having an opened upper side, the lower chamber including a passage allowing the substrates to pass therethrough in a side thereof, an external reaction tube closing the opened upper side of the lower chamber to provide a process space in which the processes are performed, an internal reaction tube disposed within the external reaction tube, the internal reaction tube being disposed around a substrate holder placed in the process position to define a reaction region with respect to the substrates, a heater disposed outside the external reaction tube to heat the process space, the substrate holder on which the one or more substrates are vertically stacked, the substrate holder being movable between a stacking position in which the substrates are stacked within the substrate holder and a process position in which the processes with respect to the substrates are performed, and a heat-shield plate disposed under the substrate holder to close an opened lower side of the internal reaction tube when the substrate holder is disposed at the process position.
US09953844B2

When a plating layer is formed on through holes in semiconductor packages, first and second stacked bodies are stacked with first and second cavities formed in the first and second stacked bodies facing the inner side and are bonded together by applying adhesive to peripheral regions so that the cavities of the first and second stacked bodies form sealed spaces, and the through holes are formed such that part of the first and second stacked bodies including the bonding surface remains. Then, the through holes are plated to form the plating layer, the peripheral regions are removed as cutting allowances, i.e., removal regions, and the first and second stacked bodies are divided into a plurality of pieces along dicing lines to form semiconductor packages.
US09953843B2

Apparatuses suitable for etching substrates at various pressure regimes are described herein. Apparatuses include a process chamber including a movable pedestal capable of being positioned at a raised position or a lowered position, showerhead, and optional plasma generator. Apparatuses may be suitable for etching non-volatile metals using a treatment while the movable pedestal is in the lowered position and a high pressure exposure to organic vapor while the movable pedestal is in the raised position.
US09953841B2

Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including the following steps. A substrate is provided. A material layer having an opening is formed on the substrate. A first passivation material layer is formed on sidewalls of the opening and on the substrate. A treatment process is performed to the first passivation material layer to form a second passivation material layer. A first surface of the second passivation material layer and a second surface (at an inner side) of the second passivation material layer are differ in a property, and the first surface is located at a side of the second passivation material layer relatively away from the material layer.
US09953839B2

This invention relates to an apparatus, system, and method for creating a high-k gate stack structure that includes a passivation layer. The passivation layer can be constructed from a deposition of silicon carbide. The silicon carbide provides robustness against oxidation, which can reduce the capacity of the stack. The silicon carbide is thermodynamically stable during the deposition process and results in a clean interface.
US09953838B2

In accordance with an embodiment, a substrate treatment apparatus includes a housing, a magnetic field generating portion and a microwave supply portion. The housing is configured to contain a substrate comprising a conductive layer and an insulating film in contact with the conductive layer. The magnetic field generating portion is configured to generate a magnetic field which penetrates the substrate. The microwave supply portion is configured to generate a microwave to heat the substrate, to apply the microwave to the substrate provided in the magnetic field in such a manner that the microwave is absorbed by unpaired electrons at an interface between the conductive layer and the insulating film or in the insulating film.
US09953837B2

A MOS transistor having a gate insulator including a dielectric of high permittivity and a conductive layer including a TiN layer, wherein the nitrogen composition in the TiN layer is sub-stoichiometric in its lower portion and progressively increases to a stoichiometric composition in its upper portion.
US09953834B1

A method includes providing a structure having a dielectric layer, a 1st hardmask layer, a 2nd hardmask layer and a 1st mandrel layer disposed respectively thereon. A 1st mandrel plug is disposed in the 1st mandrel layer. A 2nd mandrel layer is disposed over the 1st mandrel layer. The 1st and 2nd mandrel layers are etched to form a plurality 1st mandrels, wherein the 1st mandrel plug extends entirely through a single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrel plug is etched such that it is self-aligned with sidewalls of the single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrels are utilized to form mandrel metal lines in the dielectric layer. The 1st mandrel plug is utilized to form a self-aligned mandrel continuity cut in a single mandrel metal line formed by the single 1st mandrel.
US09953831B1

Device structures for field-effect transistors and methods of forming device structures for a field-effect transistor. A first dielectric layer is formed on a semiconductor layer and nitrided. A nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at a first interface between the first dielectric layer and the semiconductor layer. Another nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at a second interface between the semiconductor layer and a second dielectric layer. Device structures may include field-effect transistors that include one, both, and/or neither of the nitrogen-enriched layers.
US09953830B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an oxide film containing a metal element on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including non-simultaneously performing: supplying a precursor containing a metal element and a halogen group to the substrate; and supplying an oxidant to the substrate. In the act of supplying the oxidant, a catalyst is supplied to the substrate together with the oxidant. In the act of supplying the precursor, the catalyst is not supplied to the substrate.
US09953823B2

An ionizing apparatus for ionizing a sample of gaseous fluid. The ionizing apparatus comprises an ionizer configured to provide reactant ions; an ion modifier configured to modify the reactant ions, and a reaction region arranged to receive the modified reactant ions and a sample and to combine the sample with the modified reactant ions to ionize the sample for analysis by a detector configured to identify a substance of interest in the sample.
US09953817B2

An ion transfer tube assembly, a mass spectrometry system, and a method for providing an ion stream to an ion detection device are described that include using an ion transfer tube that provides a coaxial sheath gas flow. In an implementation, an ion transfer tube assembly includes an ion transfer tube for delivering the ion stream, where a sheath gas flows through the ion transfer tube, and where the ion transfer tube receives the ion stream from a first conduit coupled to an ion source; a pump fluidly coupled to the ion transfer tube, where the pump causes the sheath gas to flow through the ion transfer tube, where the ion stream is separated from the ion transfer tube walls by the coaxial sheath gas flow, and where the ion stream is received by a second conduit coupled to the ion detection device.
US09953812B2

Embodiments of process kits and process chambers incorporating same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit includes: a one-piece process kit shield having a cylindrical body having an upper portion and a lower portion; an adapter section extending radially outward and having a resting surface to support the one-piece process kit shield on walls of a chamber and a sealing surface on which a chamber lid rests to seal off an inner volume of the chamber when the one-piece process kit shield is placed in the chamber; a heat transfer channel extending through the adapter section; and a protruding section extending radially inward from the lower portion; a resting bracket having an upper portion coupled to the adapter section and a lower portion extending radially inward; a cover ring disposed beneath the protruding section; and a deposition ring disposed beneath the cover ring.
US09953811B2

A plasma processing method for performing a plasma process on a processing target substrate is provided. The plasma processing method includes: segmenting a RF antenna into an inner coil, an intermediate coil, and an outer coil with gaps therebetween in a radial direction, respectively, the inner coil, the intermediate coil and the outer coil being electrically connected to one another in parallel between a first node and a second node; providing a variable intermediate capacitor and a variable outer capacitor between the first node and the second node, the variable intermediate capacitor being electrically connected in series to the intermediate coil, the variable outer capacitor being electrically connected in series to the outer coil, no reactance device being connected to the inner coil; and controlling plasma density distribution on the processing target substrate by selecting or variably adjusting electrostatic capacitances of the intermediate capacitor and the outer capacitor.
US09953808B2

Provided is an arc evaporation source for melting and evaporating a cathode material by arc discharge for film formation on a surface of a substrate, and including a cathode formed in a substantially disc shape and a magnetic field generating apparatus, disposed at a back side of the cathode. The magnetic field generating apparatus generates a magnetic field which forms magnetic lines that form an acute angle with respect to a substrate direction at an outer circumferential surface of the cathode, magnetic lines that are substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface at an outermost circumference part of the discharge surface of the cathode, and magnetic lines that form an acute angle with respect to a center direction of the cathode at a region towards the outer circumferential surface of the discharge surface of the cathode, by at least one permanent magnet disposed at the back side of the cathode.
US09953807B2

A method for forming reliefs on the surface of a substrate, including a first implantation of ions in the substrate according to a first direction; a second implantation of ions in the substrate according to a second direction that is different from the first direction; at least one of the first and second implantations is carried out through at least one mask having at least one pattern; an etching of areas of the substrate having received by implantation a dose greater than or equal to a threshold, selectively to the areas of the substrate that have not received via implantation a dose greater than said threshold; the parameters of the first and second implantations being adjusted in such a way that only areas of the substrate that have been implanted both during the first implantation and during the second implantation receive a dose greater than or equal to said threshold.
US09953804B2

The system described herein relates to a high-voltage supply unit for providing an output voltage for a particle beam apparatus, wherein the particle beam apparatus is embodied as, for example, an electron beam apparatus and/or an ion beam apparatus. The system described herein is based on the fact that it was recognized that a bipolar voltage supply unit can be formed by means of a unipolar first current source and a unipolar second current source, said bipolar voltage supply unit enabling a load current in two directions. The high-voltage supply unit according to the system described herein can be operated in the 4-quadrant operation. In the 4-quadrant operation, a first voltage source for supplying the first current source and a second voltage source for supplying the second current source are embodied as different voltage sources.
US09953797B2

A flat emitter configured for use in an X-ray tube is presented. The X-ray tube includes a first conductive section including a first terminal. Further, the X-ray tube includes a second conductive section including a second terminal. Also, the X-ray tube includes a third conductive section disposed between the first conductive section and the second conductive section, wherein the third conductive section is configured to emit electrons toward a determined focal spot, and wherein the third conductive section includes a plurality of slits subdividing the third conductive section into a winding track coupled to the first conductive section and the second conductive section, wherein at least two of the plurality of slits are interwound spirally to compose the winding track, and wherein the winding track is configured to expand and contract based on heat provided to the third conductive section.
US09953795B2

A fuse cutout insulator for use in power distribution systems includes three electrically conductive pieces spaced apart and encapsulated by a dielectric material. The conductive components include a top hood, bottom pin, and central pin. The central pin is generally tube shaped and includes an outwardly extending flange to facilitate attachment of the fuse cutout to a utility pole. The top hood and bottom hinge include the traditional components for operable holding of a fuse tube member. The top hood and bottom hinge are accepted in opposite ends of the central pins bore and sealed in spaced relationship during manufacturing by the dielectric material added for fabricating the weathersheds.
US09953786B2

A self-holding magnet has a spring (accumulator spring) and a first armature. The self-holding magnet is capable of holding the first magnet armature against the spring force in a lift position which is determined by a stop. The stop determines a remaining air gap of a working air gap. The magnetic circuit of the self-holding magnet has a magnetic shunt with particularly low reluctance of the same order of magnitude as a series reluctance of the remaining working air gap(s). The working air gap(s) and the shunt are magnetically connected in parallel with the flow generated by a permanent magnet but in series with the flow generated by the trigger coil. The self-holding magnet additionally has at least one positive feedback device such as a compressible resilient stop or a shunt.
US09953785B2

The reliability of testing a normally closed contact in a relay unit may involve the following. While the load is de-energized, sending a test signal to a normally closed contact (b1, b2) and detecting the state of the returning test signal sent. Resending a test signal when a detection result does not satisfy a predetermined criteria, and re-detecting the state of the returning test signal resent. The state of the returning test signal resent may be assessed as normal when the re-detection result satisfies the predetermined criteria.
US09953780B2

A “five-prevention” interlocking pole type high-voltage switchgear includes a pole bracket, embedded poles, and spring and earthing isolated switch operating mechanisms; every three poles are arranged in a row on the bracket, the spring operating mechanism is joined with the switch operating mechanism through the chamber door interlocking piece and mechanism interlocking piece; the chamber interlocking piece, mechanism interlocking piece and door lock plate are joined, the door lock plate is opposite the opening semi-axis pinch plate in the spring operating mechanism and the door lock plate is set with a door lock pin. Chamber interlocking piece movement is used to open or close the switch operating mechanism crank operation hole and corresponds to the start of close brake operation and limit brake of opening pinch plate in the spring operating mechanism and the limiting and opening of the opening semi-axis and cable chamber door in the spring operating mechanism.
US09953776B2

A keyswitch includes a base plate, a cap having a longitudinal axis, a returning device, a support mechanism, and a lifting mechanism including first and second support plates. The first support plate has first and second edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The second support plate has third and fourth edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The base plate is disposed through openings of the first and second support plates to make the first and second support plates movably connected to the base plate. The returning device drives the cap to a non-pressed position with rotation of the first and second support plates. The support mechanism has first and second support members pivoted to each other to be movably connected to the cap and the base plate.
US09953775B2

An electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can comprise: a housing which has an opening part penetrating through the inside and the outside of the electronic device and forms the outside of the electronic device; a key button inserted into the opening part so as to be movable; a sealing member which is disposed such that the sealing member slidably contacts the outer surface of the key button, and prevents communication between the inside and the outside of the electronic device through the inner surface of the opening part and the outer surface of the key button; and a push switch accommodated in the housing and pressed by an inward movement of the key button. Various other embodiments are possible.
US09953772B2

A visual status indicator for an electrical apparatus is disclosed. The status indicator can be mounted within a lower cover of the electrical apparatus such that various display faces of the indicator are visible through one or more viewing windows of the lower cover. The status indicator can comprise a mounting base with protrusions and at least one wing, wherein the wing comprises at least one display face. At least one swing arm can be attached to the mounting base via the protrusions and the at least one swing arm can comprise at least one display face. The swing arm can be actuated such that either the display face on the wing or the display face on the swing arm is visible through the viewing window to indicate the status of the electrical apparatus.
US09953767B2

There is provided a conductive polymer having high conductivity with excellent heat resistance. Using the conductive polymer, there can be provided solid electrolytic capacitors having low ESR, high reliability, and less leakage current. There can be also provided conductive films having high conductivity and superior heat resistance. There is provided a conductive polymer dispersion liquid obtained by a method in which in the presence of a copolymer from styrenesulfonic acid, and at least one kind of a non-sulfonic acid monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylate, acrylate, and an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing alkoxysilane compound or its hydrolysate, thiophene or its derivative is polymerized by oxidation polymerization in water, or in an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of water and a water miscible solvent to produce the conductive polymer dispersion liquid. Using the conductive polymer as solid electrolyte, a solid electrolyte capacitor can be provided. Also, using the conductive polymer, a conductive film can be provided.
US09953754B2

Provided are a medical apparatus and a method of operating the same. The medical apparatus includes a body including a user input unit to which a user instruction is input, a display device displaying a medical image and is rotatable about the body, and a locking member setting the display device to be rotatable when the display device is touched and fixes the display device when the display device is not touched.
US09953753B2

An electronic component includes a magnetic body having internal coil patterns. The magnetic body includes a core part including the internal coil patterns; and upper and lower cover parts disposed above and below the core part, respectively. Magnetic wires are disposed in the core part, and magnetic plates are disposed in the upper and lower cover parts.
US09953752B2

A method for producing grain-oriented electrical steel sheets includes subjecting a steel slab to hot rolling to obtain a hot rolled sheet, the steel slab having a composition consisting of, by mass % or mass ppm, C: 0.08% or less, Si: 2.0% to 4.5% and Mn: 0.5% or less, S, Se, and O: less than 50 ppm each, sol.Al: less than 100 ppm, N: 80 ppm or less, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, and satisfying the relation of sol.Al (ppm)−N (ppm)×(26.98/14.00)≤30 ppm; then subjecting the hot rolled sheet to annealing and rolling to obtain a cold rolled sheet; then subjecting the cold rolled sheet to nitriding treatment, under specific condition, before, during or after primary recrystallization annealing; then applying an annealing separator on the cold rolled sheet; and subjecting the cold rolled sheet to secondary recrystallization annealing.
US09953750B2

A sintered Nd base magnet segment has a coercive force high at the periphery and lower toward the inside. A method for preparing the magnet includes the steps of: (a) providing a sintered Nd base magnet block having surfaces and a magnetization direction, (b) coating the surfaces of the magnet block excluding the surface perpendicular to the magnetization direction with a Dy or Tb oxide powder, a Dy or Tb fluoride powder, or a Dy or Tb-containing alloy powder, (c) treating the coated block at a high temperature for causing Dy or Tb to diffuse into the block, and (d) cutting the block in a plane perpendicular to the magnetization direction into a magnet segment having a coercive force distribution on the cut section that the coercive force is high at the periphery and lower toward the inside and a constant coercive force distribution in the magnetization direction.
US09953745B2

A shielded wire includes an electrical wire including a conductor portion and a covering portion, a shield braid in which electrically conductive wire members are braided, and which covers an outer circumference of the electrical wire, a tubular sheath disposed on an outer circumference of the shield braid and made of an insulating resin.
US09953742B2

A cable separator comprising a preshaped article having a longitudinal length, wherein said preshaped article is substantially entirely formed of a foamed polymer material having a glass transition temperature greater than 160° C. and being halogen-free is provided. A data communications cable comprising a plurality of conductors and the cable separator of the present invention, wherein said cable separator separates the plurality of conductors is provided. A method of manufacturing a cable comprising the separator of the invention is also provided.
US09953733B2

A system using a radioisotope concentrator device comprising a body having at least one injection port and at least one valve being configurable between a first open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the at least one injection port and the concentrator column and a second open configuration to prevent fluid communication between the at least one injection port and the concentrator column in use, the system further comprising an injection device comprising an eluent for eluting through the concentrator column via the at least one injection port when the at least one valve of the radioisotope concentrator device is in a selected open configuration in use.
US09953719B2

The present invention relates to a flash memory cell with only four terminals and decoder circuitry for operating an array of such flash memory cells. The invention allows for fewer terminals for each flash memory cell compared to the prior art, which results in a simplification of the decoder circuitry and overall die space required per flash memory cells. The invention also provides for the use of high voltages on one or more of the four terminals to allow for read, erase, and programming operations despite the lower number of terminals compared to prior art flash memory cells.
US09953716B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a non-volatile semiconductor storage device including a non-volatile memory, a monitoring section, a determining section, and a notification processing section. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of memory cells driven by word lines and a voltage generating section that generates a read voltage to be applied to the word lines. The monitoring section monitors a change in a threshold distribution of the plurality of memory cells upon performing a read processing to read data from the plurality of memory cells by applying the read voltage to the word lines. The determining section determines a degree of deterioration of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a monitoring result by the monitoring section. The notification processing section notifies a life of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a determining result by the determining section.
US09953715B2

According to one embodiment, A level shifter includes a first circuit configured to generate a first signal, the first signal being inverted and delayed signal of a second signal, a NAND circuit including a first input terminal and a second input terminal, the second signal being input to the first terminal, the first signal being input to the second terminal, a first transistor, a first voltage being applied to a first terminal of the first transistor, a second terminal of the first transistor being connected to a third input terminal of the NAND circuit, a third signal which inverts the second signal being applied to a gate of the first transistor, a second transistor, a second voltage being applied to a first terminal of the second transistor, the second voltage being higher than the first signal, a gate of the second transistor being connected to an output terminal, a third transistor, the second voltage being applied to a first terminal of the third transistor, a second terminal of the third transistor being connected to a second terminal of the second transistor, the second signal being applied to a gate of the third transistor, and a fourth transistor, a first terminal of the fourth transistor being connected to the second terminal of the third transistor, a second terminal of the fourth transistor being connected to the output terminal, an output terminal of the NAND circuit being connected to a gate of the fourth transistor.
US09953713B2

When selectively erasing one sub-block, a control circuit applies, in a first sub-block, a first voltage to bit lines and a source line, and applies a second voltage smaller than the first voltage to the word lines. Then, the control circuit applies a third voltage lower than the first voltage by a certain value to a drain-side select gate line and a source-side select gate line, thereby performing the erase operation in the first sub-block. The control circuit applies, in a second sub-block existing in an identical memory block to the selected sub-block, a fourth voltage substantially identical to the first voltage to the drain side select gate line and the source side select gate line, thereby not performing the erase operation in the second sub-block.
US09953693B2

Embodiments of the invention describe a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device that may abort a self-refresh mode to improve the exit time from a DRAM low power state of self-refresh. During execution of a self-refresh mode, the DRAM device may receive a signal (e.g., a device enable signal) from a memory controller operatively coupled to the DRAM device. The DRAM device may abort the self-refresh mode in response to receiving the signal from the memory controller.
US09953691B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a semiconductor substrate, a first substrate area in the semiconductor substrate, a first cell unit in the first substrate area, the first cell unit including a first memory cell and a first transistor, and the first transistor having a control terminal connected to a first word line, using the first substrate area as a channel and supplying a read current or a write current to the first memory cell, and a substrate potential setting circuit setting the first substrate area to a first substrate potential when the read current is supplied to the first memory cell, and setting the first substrate area to a second substrate potential different from the first substrate potential when the write current is supplied to the first memory cell.
US09953688B1

A precharge control device includes a pulse generator, a bank address controller, and a precharge signal generator. The pulse generator generates a write precharge signal in response to a write burst end signal activated after a write burst operation and a read precharge signal in response to a read burst end signal activated after a read burst operation. The bank address controller generates a write address and a read address designating an address for the precharge operation in response to a write bank address and a read bank address. The precharge signal generator generates a precharge signal for performing the precharge operation in a bank selected in response to the write address when the write precharge signal is activated, or generates a precharge signal for performing the precharge operation in a bank selected in response to the read address when the read precharge signal is activated.
US09953687B1

An interlock circuit utilizes a single combinatorial pseudo-dynamic logic gate to take inputs from two voltage domains at the same time without requiring either input to be level shifted. The interlock design allows hold timing to be met across a large voltage range of both supplies in a dual-voltage supply environment while not significantly hurting setup time by having much lower latency than the latency of a level shifter.
US09953680B2

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of capturing videos, and a method of controlling the same. The mobile terminal includes a display unit capable of outputting a first video captured in response to a preset user input, and outputting a timeline of the first video in a camera preview mode, a camera capable of capturing a second video consecutive to the first video, in response to a preset user input, and a controller capable of storing the first video and the second video as one full video, and outputting a timeline of the full video, which a timeline of the second video follows the timeline of the first video, in the camera preview mode.
US09953673B2

A storage device disclosed herein includes a transducer head with a proximity sensor that generates head-disc proximity signals, a digitizer configured to convert the analog proximity signals from the proximity sensor to digitized sample data, a discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) module configured to analyze the digitized sample data by performing an enhanced DWT on the digitized sample data to generate DWT coefficients, and a modal filter configured to determine dominant head-disc interference (HDI) modes for a transducer head by analyzing the DWT coefficients.
US09953668B1

A data storage device may employ a suspension that positions a transducing head proximal a data storage medium. The suspension can consist of an active fiber composite that spans a portion of a loadbeam. The active fiber composite can be configured with at least one active fiber contacting a supporting layer.
US09953640B2

Method and systems are provided for interpreting speech data. A method and system for recognizing speech involving a filter module to generate a set of processed audio data based on raw audio data; a translation module to provide a set of translation results for the raw audio data; and a decision module to select the text data that represents the raw audio data. A method for minimizing noise in audio signals received by a microphone array is also described. A method and system of automatic entry of data into one or more data fields involving receiving a processed audio data; and operating a processing module to: search in a trigger dictionary for a field identifier that corresponds to the trigger identifier; identify a data field associated with a data field identifier corresponding to the field identifier; and providing content data associated with the trigger identifier to the identified data field.
US09953639B2

Disclosed are a voice recognition system and a construction method for the voice recognition system. By way of layering the system, a general semantic recognition operation for the system is separated from a specific semantic recognition operation for an application program; and by way of classifying the application programs and abstracting out a common performance function, the system can find the application program matching the voice content semantics very efficiently and a third-party program is easily added into the existing voice recognition system. The present invention maps the performance function to a regular expression with semantic variables, so that the system can recognize more semantic expression manners with optimization of the semantic recognition. Therefore, the system can show more humanized characteristics.
US09953638B2

A computer-implemented method is described for front end speech processing for automatic speech recognition. A sequence of speech features which characterize an unknown speech input provided on an audio input channel and associated meta-data which characterize the audio input channel are received. The speech features are transformed with a computer process that uses a trained mapping function controlled by the meta-data, and automatic speech recognition is performed of the transformed speech features.
US09953627B2

An exemplary engine noise control includes directly picking up engine noise from an engine of a vehicle at a pick-up position to generate a sense signal representative of the engine noise, and active noise control filtering to generate a filtered sense signal from the sense signal. The control further includes converting the filtered sense signal from the active noise control filtering into anti-noise and radiating the anti-noise to a listening position in an interior of the vehicle. The filtered sense signal is configured so that the anti-noise reduces the engine noise at the listening position.
US09953626B2

In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor applies filters and control gains of both the feed-forward and feedback active noise cancellation signal paths. The signal processor is configured to apply first feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path and apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path during a first operating mode providing effective cancellation of ambient sound, and to apply second feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a second operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with ambient naturalness.
US09953618B2

Systems and methods for performing localization and mapping with a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for performing localization and mapping with a mobile device includes identifying geometric constraints associated with a current area at which the mobile device is located, obtaining at least one image of the current area captured by at least a first camera of the mobile device, obtaining data associated with the current area via at least one of a second camera of the mobile device or a sensor of the mobile device, and performing localization and mapping for the current area by applying the geometric constraints and the data associated with the current area to the at least one image.
US09953617B2

A flexible display device that includes a display unit to display content information on a screen, wherein the screen can be expandable or reducible; a sensing unit to detect a size of the screen; and a control unit to display at least one of a first indicator for indicating a degree to which the screen of the display unit is expandable and a second indicator for indicating an amount of remaining content information.
US09953614B2

An extraction unit determines whether, in a display area of a display unit in which content data obtained from an acquisition unit are displayed, there is a character area in which an area occupied by a character has a proportion greater than a predetermined value. Based on color information of the character in an area which is determined to be the character area by the extraction unit, a setting unit sets a target color temperature when the content data is displayed. A converter changes an original color temperature of the content data to the target color temperature, based on the target color temperature set by the setting unit.
US09953610B2

A method for regulating a common voltage, a regulating device and a display device. It relates to the display field, which ensures the flicker in the center region of the display panel being relative small meanwhile improving the flicker situation of the edge region of the display panel, thereby improve the flicker uniformity of the display panel. The present disclosure provides a method for regulating a common voltage including: arranging sampling points which at least include: sampling points arranged in the center region of the display panel and sampling points arranged in the edge region of the display panel; optimizing the common voltage value written into the driving chip, such that the flicker values of the sampling points located in the display panel are less than or equal to a first threshold when the common voltage value is applied to the display panel for display.
US09953609B2

A display panel driving apparatus includes a control circuit, a data driver and a gate driver. The control circuit is configured to receive a first control signal for recovering a clock signal from a display signal including image data and the clock signal, and calculate a root mean square of the first control signal to output a second control signal. The data driver is configured to receive the display signal, receive the second control signal, recover the clock signal from the display signal according to the second control signal, and output a data signal based on the image data to a data line of a display panel. The gate driving part is configured to output a gate signal to a gate line of the display panel.
US09953601B2

The present invention discloses a bending action recognition device and a flexible display device, the bending action recognition device comprises: a first electrode, a second electrode, a current detecting unit and a plurality of electrical conductors, a first voltage is applied on the first electrode, a second voltage is applied on the second electrode, first ends of all the electrical conductors are connected to the first electrode, different electrical conductors are located at different positions on the flexible substrate, and different electrical conductors have different resistances; when the flexible substrate is bent backward, at least one electrical conductor is electrically connected to the second electrode, and a first current is generated on the first electrode and the second electrode, and when different electrical conductors are electrically connected to the second electrode, the first current has different current values.
US09953598B2

Provided is a method of controlling a display driver IC. The method includes controlling an application processor to operate in a frequency range, which is changed from an operating frequency range of a preset specification and is a range in which data noise is decreased, through a plurality of frequency noise filtering operations.
US09953596B2

A display panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. A dustproof construction is provided at a peripheral region of the display panel, and the dustproof construction is located on the outer side of the display region on the display panel, and on the inner side of an outer edge of a sealant applying region. The dustproof construction includes a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein, slits are arranged in the second electrode. With the display panel and manufacturing method thereof and the display device, impurity ions from outside or in the sealant can be prevented from entering the display region, so that the peripheral badness of the display is improved.
US09953590B2

A color display device for displaying an n-primary color image, wherein n is greater than three, the device including an array of sub-pixel (801) configured to have at least one repeating unit having one sub-pixel representing each of the n primary colors, wherein repeating unit (906) is configured to optimize at least one attribute of the n-primary color image.
US09953589B2

An electrowetting display device may comprise pixels that include: a hydrophobic layer portion disposed on a first electrode, electrowetting fluids overlying the hydrophobic layer portion, and a thin film transistor (TFT) that is in electrical contact with the first electrode. The electrowetting display device also comprises a display control circuit in electrical contact with a drain or a source of the TFT of each of the pixels to provide a drive voltage to the drain or the source of the TFT of each of the pixels, and a reset control circuit in electrical contact with the drain or the source of the TFT of each of the pixels to provide a reset voltage pulse to the drain or the source of the TFT of each of the pixels. A magnitude of the reset voltage pulse may be based, at least in part, on the drive voltage.
US09953588B1

A variable transmission medium comprises a fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in the fluid, wherein addition of acid to the fluid causes the nanoparticles to flocculate and form aggregates of particles that scatter light. The nanoparticles may comprise at least one metal oxide, such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or zirconium dioxide. The fluid may have a dielectric constant less than about 10.
US09953585B2

A display device includes a display which is configured to display an image; a backlight which is turned on in the rear face of the display; a storage unit which is configured to store luminance characteristics at the center of the display; an optical sensor which is configured to measure luminance in the periphery of the display; and a signal processing unit which is configured to correct the measured value measured with the optical sensor in the periphery of the display based on luminance characteristics stored in the storage unit, thus controlling the luminance of the display based on the corrected measured value.
US09953580B2

The present invention provides an OLED gate driving circuit structure, comprising an OLED panel, a gate charge/discharge driving circuit, a logic process unit and a source driving circuit; the gate charge/discharge driving circuit is located at one side of the OLED panel, and the gate charge/discharge driving circuit comprises a plurality of output ends, and each output end is electrically coupled to the logic process unit with one signal line; the logic process unit is located inside the OLED panel, and the logic process unit receives a scan signal transmitted by the gate charge/discharge driving circuit through the signal line, and converts the scan signal into a discharge scan signal and a charge scan signal to be provided to the OLED panel; the source driving circuit is coupled to the OLED panel, and provides a data signal to the OLED panel, and only one gate driving integrated circuit is utilized in the structure for achieving the charge and discharge procedures of the gate driving circuit to save the hardware cost and to simplify the panel layout circuit and to make the frame of the panel narrower.
US09953572B2

An electro-optical device includes a scanning line, a data line intersecting with each other, a pixel circuit which is provided corresponding to the intersection thereof, and a wire. The pixel circuit includes a light emitting element, one transistor which controls a current flowing to the light emitting element, and the other transistor of which conduction state is controlled according to a scanning signal which is supplied to the scanning line between a gate node of the one transistor and the data line. The wire is provided between the data line and the one transistor.
US09953566B2

The present invention discloses a pixel circuit and a driving method thereof, and a display device. The pixel circuit comprises a reference voltage set up sub-circuit, a charging sub-circuit and a driving sub-circuit. The reference voltage set up sub-circuit and the charging sub-circuit are connected with the driving sub-circuit respectively, and the reference voltage set up sub-circuit being used for, within a first period of time, providing for the driving sub-circuit, the charging sub-circuit being used for, within a second period of time, providing for the driving sub-circuit a data signal voltage. The driving sub-circuit comprises a driving transistor for driving the light emitting device to emit light, and a first capacitor for maintaining the reference voltage and the data signal voltage. Within a third period of time, the first capacitor discharges so that the driving transistor is turned on to drive the light emitting device to emit light.
US09953565B2

An organic light emitting diode display and a method for driving the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a display panel driver configured to drive signal lines of the display panel, and a timing controller configured to divide one frame into a plurality of subframes, divide data of an input image at each bit, map the data of the input image to the plurality of subframes, control an operation of the display panel driver, and adjust data addressing speeds of the plurality of subframes for adjusting the emission times of the upper and lower display lines of the display panel differently.
US09953561B2

There are provided an array substrate and a driving method thereof, and a display apparatus. Multiple gate lines are arranged on the array substrate, two ends of the gate lines are connected to a first gate driving circuit and a second gate driving circuit respectively, each of the gate lines is divided into a first gate line portion connected to the first gate driving circuit and a second gate line portion connected to the second gate driving circuit, and a switch element is arranged between the first gate line portion and the second gate line portion. Simultaneous turning-on of display TFTs controlled by one gate line is avoided, and the pulling to the voltage of a common electrode is reduced.
US09953558B1

A transparent display apparatus and a method for driving a transparent display panel thereof are provided. The transparent display apparatus includes a first and second transparent display panels, an image processor and a display driver. The image processor receives an image signal having display data, a transparency control signal having transparent values, a first and second transparent parameters. The image processor calculates according to the image signal, the transparency control signal, the first and second transparent parameters to provide a first display signal having first gray data and a second display signal respectively having second gray data. The display driver drives the first and second transparent display panels according to the first and second gray data, so as to display a display image having all gradations between a black state, a white state and a transparent state through the coincided first and second transparent display panels.
US09953555B2

A driving circuit for a touch screen, an in-cell touch screen and a display apparatus. A timing controller of the driving circuit controls a power supply circuit to output a clock signal with a first amplitude to an (N+1−n)th-stage to an Nth-stage shift registers (SR(n)) in a first time period at a display stage, and controls the power supply circuit to output a clock signal with a second amplitude to each stage of shift register (SR(n)) in a second time period at the display stage; and then levels of scanning signals output by the (N+1−n)th-stage to the Nth-stage shift registers (SR(n)) are higher than levels of scanning signals output by other stages of shift registers (SR(n)).
US09953554B2

Disclosed is a method for obtaining a compensation value of gray scale of a pixel. The method comprises steps of: acquiring a display area of a display panel; dividing the display area equally into a plurality of first sub-areas according to a first preset rule, each of the first sub-areas comprising at least two pixels; obtaining pre-stored multinomial coefficients of each of the first sub-areas, and according to a second preset rule, establishing a multinomial corresponding to each of the first sub-areas; and obtaining a value range of an independent variable of the multinomial, and according to a corresponding multinomial, obtaining a compensation value of gray scale of each of the first sub-areas.
US09953543B2

Systems and methods for secured computer based assessment are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing of proctoring data at a candidate assessment device from a candidate at predefined time intervals during an examination. The proctoring data includes biometric data, still image, and surround sound associated with the at least one candidate. The proctoring data captured at the candidate assessment device is then transmitted to a central assessment server connected to the candidate assessment device. At the central assessment server, the proctoring data is compared with registration data, of the candidate, stored in the central assessment server. Based on the comparison, malpractice by the candidate during the examination is determined when the proctoring data deviates from the registration data.
US09953539B1

A method for providing a demand-responsive transportation system includes receiving mobility trace data of collaborative individuals. Clusters of individuals are generated and mobility-activity models for the clusters are defined. Non-collaborative individuals are assigned to the clusters using a combinatorial optimization problem. An Origin-Destination (OD) demand is determined from the clusters. Non-collaborative individuals are re-allocated to different ones of the clusters using an approximation function that learns from an observed OD and the mobility trace data. The mobility-activity models are trained based on the re-allocation of the non-collaborative individuals to different ones of the clusters. An OD database (OD-DB) is maintained to be queried with a geographic location and time so as to receive information from the OD-DB about the current OD demand for the geographic location and time. Control actions are issued to vehicles in a fleet of the transportation system based thereon.
US09953533B1

A hazard warning system for vehicles including hazard detection sensors and a primary transmitter for a primary vehicle configured to transmit information regarding a hazard and a path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary receiver for a secondary vehicle is configured to receive the information regarding the hazard detected by the hazard detection sensors, and the path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary vehicle control module is configured to notify a driver of the secondary vehicle of the hazard when the secondary vehicle is traveling along a path similar to that of the primary vehicle.
US09953527B1

An intersection communications system includes a vehicle intersection traffic movement indicator; a traffic movement surface indicator positioned behind an edge of the vehicle traffic intersection; a pedestrian lane surface indicator; one or more traffic direction surface indicators positioned within the vehicle traffic intersection; and a communications server configured to transmit a first signal to a first traffic movement surface indicator when a first monitored event occurs, transmit a second signal to a first right-turn traffic direction surface indicator directing the first vehicle to turn right from a first street to a second street when a second monitored event occurs, transmit a third signal to a second left-turn traffic direction surface indicator directing the first vehicle to turn left from the first street to the second street when a third monitored event occurs, and transmit a fourth signal to the pedestrian lane surface indicator when a fourth monitored event occurs.
US09953517B2

The present application discloses a risk early warning method and apparatus. An implementation of the method includes: monitoring, in real time, search traffic for a predetermined location from users using an online map within a preset period; determining whether the search traffic exceeds a preset search traffic threshold; and sending early warning information of a crowd gathering risk if the search traffic exceeds the preset search traffic threshold. The implementation effectively utilizes the map search traffic capable of reflecting the intention of users and realizes the early warning for the crowd gathering risk.
US09953514B2

This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.
US09953504B2

A fire alarm device includes: a base portion; a press portion capable of moving relative to the base portion to deviate away from the base portion or close to the base portion; an alarm switch capable of moving relative to an alarm circuit, to control turn-on and turn-off of the alarm circuit; and a plurality of buttons mounted on the base portion and capable of converting movement of the press portion to movement of the alarm switch; wherein the device has an alarm enable position, wherein, the press portion deviates close to the base portion, to press the plurality of buttons and indirectly press the alarm switch to turn on the alarm circuit; and an alarm disable position, wherein, the press portion deviates away from the base portion, to release the plurality of buttons and indirectly release the alarm switch to turn off the alarm circuit.
US09953498B2

A merchandise security device configured for use with an electronic key for locking and/or unlocking a lock mechanism is provided. The merchandise security device may include a housing operably coupled with a cable, wherein the cable is configured to be extended and retracted relative to the housing and to at least partially surround an item of merchandise. The security device may also include a lock mechanism configured to releasably secure the cable relative to the housing for locking the cable about the item of merchandise. In addition, the lock mechanism is configured to receive electrical power for unlocking the lock mechanism so that the housing and the cable may be removed from the item of merchandise.
US09953497B2

A merchandise security system with data collection features and a relevant method are disclosed. The system has: a data management unit, at least one alarm unit and at least one alarm disabling unit, wherein the data management unit is configured to synchronize unlocking data in the alarm disabling unit and set unlocking judgment data in the alarm unit; the alarm unit can detect, in an alarm enabled state, whether a merchandise to be protected is in a normal state, and send out an alarm signal when judging that the merchandise to be protected is not in a normal state; and the alarm unit judges, according to the unlocking judgment data stored therein, whether the unlocking data is legitimate, and disable the alarm enabled state when judging that the unlocking data is legitimate. In the present disclosure, each of the unlocking judgment data corresponds to unique legitimate unlocking data embedded in the alarm disabling unit. The alarm unit can realize a data collection function, and can not only collect information related to enabling an alarm and disabling the alarm, but also can collect other data related to user behaviors for later data analysis.
US09953496B2

A sensor assembly as part of a wireless alarm system for building entrances like windows and doors. An elongated sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising at least one sensor switch configured to detect a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state, a microprocessor configured to detect the change of state of the at least one sensor switch, an antenna system, a wireless transmitter configured to receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of the state of the at least one sensor switch and transmit the signal by means of the antenna system, and a power source for providing electric power, wherein the at least one sensor switch, the microprocessor, the antenna system, the wireless transmitter, and the power source are incorporated in the elongated sensor assembly having a maximum height of less than 5 mm.
US09953495B2

An active automated anti-boarding device for a maritime asset security system includes a housing for mounting the device on a maritime asset. The deterrence device includes visual and sound deterrence emitters within said mount to disperse a directional fan pattern of sight and visual deterrence response outward from the housing to unauthorized boarders. An active automated anti-boarding maritime asset security system includes detection devices configured to mount to maritime asset, the detection devices each including emitters and receivers for generating and detection beams that form a virtual fence to form a detection network on a portion or around an entire maritime asset. Deterrence devices responsive to the interruption of the spaced apart detection beams produce a deterrent response that is non lethal. The deterrence response can be a law enforcement level of deterrence, it can induce discomfort and/or disorientation to deter unauthorized boarders. The deterrence response can be strong enough to cause physical pain in an authorized boarder.
US09953494B2

Devices, systems and methods for communicating to another user or users through skin response technology are provided. The present disclosure provides for receiving at least one message over a network by a mobile device; transmitting the received at least one message to a vibrotactile device configured to be worn on the skin of a user; converting, by the vibrotactile device, the transmitted at least one message into a predefined vibration pattern; and effecting the predefined vibration pattern onto the skin of a user by at least one actuating element of the vibrotactile device.
US09953491B2

A system and method for conducting a game between at least one live player and at least one computer-controlled player includes executing a training program between at least two agents to generate probability weights correlating actions or meta-actions representing a set or sequenced set of actions with a probability that the action or meta-action will produce a game outcome meeting a specified criterion or specified criteria. A game is conducted in which at least one live player plays against at least one computer-controlled player in which the computer-controlled player selects actions at one or more of the decision nodes in the game based, at least in part, on the probability weights.
US09953486B2

Systems and methods for controlling access to online casino games are described herein. In one aspect, an authoritative image of a remote player is received and stored in a biometrical facial recognition database. The authoritative image can be linked with a player profile of a player tracking card holder. To play an online casino game, the remote player can provide an authentication image. The player's presence in the authentication image can be determined using a biometrical facial recognition software application. Upon successful authentication, a selection of online casino games can be displayed to the remote player. The real-time (e.g., during game play) identity of the remote player can be determined. If an authorized remote player has been replaced by an unauthorized remote player, the game play can be terminated. In another aspect, the remote player provides the authoritative image after receiving an invitation.
US09953480B2

The present application provides a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include a temperature controlled compartment, a product input system adjacent to the temperature controlled compartment, and a multi-chute product dispensing mechanism positioned within the temperature controlled compartment. The multi-chute product dispensing system may include a number of product chutes in communication with a dispense activation mechanism.
US09953473B2

Various system and method for creating profiles of fuel quality are described herein. A system to create profiles of fuel quality comprises a receiving module arranged to receive vehicle performance data of a vehicle, the vehicle performance data describing the vehicle's performance over a time period; an association module arranged to associate the vehicle performance data with fuel used by the vehicle during the time period; an analysis module arranged to analyze the vehicle performance data with respect to the fuel to calculate a performance metric of the fuel; and a storage module arrranged to store the performance metric in a performance database at the computing system.
US09953465B2

Sales people (agents) get engaged with a lot of contacts from past, present and future prospects that manifests on multiple contact platforms. They end up having their contacts and calendars split in multiple places including communication and messages leading to inefficiencies, loss of business and delayed response time to the end customer. Customer Relationship Management today is still a one dimensional tool, one that featured Email as the core for direct agent-client relationship. CRM should be redefined and relabeled as Communication Management to open up the idea that relationships with clients are developed across multiple platforms though multiple channels. As will be understood by reading below, the invention accomplishes this in an elegant manner. The phrases Communication Management in the main patent title and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) have the same semantics in this document.
US09953455B2

Techniques are disclosed for storing post-z coverage data in a render target. A color raster operations (CROP) unit receives a coverage mask associated with a portion of a graphics primitive, where the graphics primitive intersects a pixel that includes a multiple samples, and the portion covers at least one sample. The CROP unit stores the coverage mask in a data field in the render target at a location associated with the pixel. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that the GPU computes color and other pixel information only for visible fragments as determined by post-z coverage data. The GPU does not compute color and other pixel information for obscured fragments, thereby reducing overall power consumption and improving overall render performance.
US09953447B2

According to aspects of the present disclosure, certain areas of the display screen are logically considered to be “privileged.” For example, a user may run a utility program and selected areas of the wallpaper to be privileged. In another example, a utility scans the wallpaper looking for, say, a face or text and marks the location around the face or text as privileged. In any case, when an icon (or other visual information) needs to be placed on the display screen, the icon is preferentially placed at a location that does not overlap with the privileged areas. If no non-privileged area is available, then an alert can be sent to the user.
US09953443B2

An aggregation approach allows for a dynamic, interactive, adaptive level-of-detail for 2D, 2.5D, and 3D treemaps for visualization of complex information. For example, the 2.5D treemap visualization concept is extended by providing adaptive identification of aggregates by means of an interactive node scoring approach based on contextual relevance and various other task, interaction, visibility, and/or performance specific criteria. For the resulting mapping and rendering, a per-frame aggregation of blocks and accumulation of those attributes mapped to visual variables (context) is described. Since every embodiment is also targeted for dynamic, interactive visual display of 2.5D treemaps, the rendering is designed to be capable for execution in real-time. Visual preservation of important information is conveyed by hierarchy elements and their mapped attributes (nodes-of-interest) as well as compliance to known aggregation guidelines including visualization of aggregated color and height information, visualization of aggregates that are discernible from non-aggregates, and visualization of outliers within aggregates. Applications include visualization of software maps, business intelligence data, file hierarchies for storage devices, and the like.
US09953442B2

A method includes overlaying a grid on a set of dynamic PET, SPECT, CT or MR data, so as to define a set of voxels defining a plurality of cluster seeds; extracting a respective time activity curve (TAC) for dynamic PET or SPECT data or time varying signals in the case of dynamic CT or MR data, for each voxel based on the data; selecting a subset of the cluster seeds defined by the grid as initial cluster centroids of a set of clusters; assigning each TAC to a respective cluster in the set of clusters; computing a respective average TAC of each cluster; generating a parametric image based on the respective average TACs for the clusters; repeating the overlaying, determining, selecting, assigning, computing, and generating; and averaging the generated parametric images.
US09953440B2

The present approaches relate to frequency-split iterative reconstruction approaches. In some embodiment, such approaches provide for the combination of the low frequency components of an analytical reconstruction (e.g., a filtered back projection) and the high frequency components of an iterative reconstruction. In certain embodiments, frequency-split iterative reconstruction is used for generating region of interest images.
US09953436B2

A method for compressing data is disclosed. The method may include receiving data from one or more data sources. The method may also include selectively classifying the data into one or more data streams, the one or more data streams including at least PCM-encoded data and image data. The method may further include separately compressing the PCM-encoded data and the image data into first and second compressed bit-streams. The method may also include shuffling the first and second compressed bit-streams.
US09953416B2

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for evaluating treatment parameters for a patient undergoing radiotherapy. The method includes the step of generating a portal dosimetry image showing differences between a planning image obtained prior to a treatment session and a portal image obtained during the treatment session. A database of prior portal dosimetry results is accessed, and a processor is used to perform a similarity measurement between the portal dosimetry image and the prior portal dosimetry results. Based on the similarity measurement, the system determines whether radiation was delivered as planned during the treatment session.
US09953411B2

To analyze a tire surface, a 3D elevational image is captured, which is formed of pixels representing points on the surface. Each point is assigned a grey-level value proportional to its elevation relative to a surface level. Based on the elevations in the elevational image, an orientational image is formed showing elevation gradients of the surface. In the orientational image, which is formed of pixels representing points on the surface, each point is assigned a grey-level value proportional to an angle formed with a direction given by a projection in an image plane of a non-zero norm vector substantially corresponding, at this point, to a gradient vector tangent to the surface and oriented in a direction of greatest slope. A filtered image is determined by transforming the orientational image using a filter to select areas that include structures similar to those in a reference orientational image of a blow hole.
US09953404B2

A method for applying a filter to data to improve data quality and/or reduce file size. In one example, a region of interest of an image is identified. A histogram is generated of pixel intensity values in the region of interest. The histogram is iteratively updated to focus (zoom) in on the highest peak in the histogram. A Gaussian curve is fitted to the updated histogram. A bilateral filter is applied to the images, where parameters of the bilateral filter are based on the parameters of the Gaussian curve.
US09953398B2

A computer detects a person in an environment. The computer determines a view direction of the person. The computer displays content relevant to the determined view direction of the person.
US09953396B1

The present invention relates to the technical field of visualization in scientific computing, and specifically discloses a ray casting visualization multi-user interaction processing method based on Hadoop and CUDA. On one hand, the method of the present invention employs the parallel processing capability of Hadoop, MapReduce, and NVIDIA CUDA for accelerated rendering, and, on the other hand, the present invention designs a method to avoid duplicate computation for a multi-user interaction environment, thereby reducing the time consumption of duplicate computation. The method of the present invention realizes the fast operation of each pixel gradient, ray resampling and data synthesis and can accomplish the 3D visualization imaging rapidly and efficiently.
US09953395B2

The tessellation processing rate of a graphics processor may be increased using of local tessellation work redistribution. The redistribution mechanism may avoid the need for large on-die buffers and, as the distribution is local, the performance and power penalty incurred by use of off-chip memory accesses may also avoided in some embodiments.
US09953393B2

An analyzing method and an analyzing system for graphics process are provided. The analyzing method includes the following steps. A graphics application program is provided and a plurality of graphics parameters of the graphics application program are obtained. The graphics application program is classified to be at least one of a plurality of groups according to the graphics parameters. A plurality weighting coefficients are obtained. A total loading of a graphics processing unit for performing the graphics application program is calculated according to the weighting coefficients and the graphics parameters.
US09953391B2

Methods of expressing animation in a data stream are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of expressing animation in a data stream includes defining animation states in the data stream with each state having at least one property such that properties are animated as a group. The animation states that are defined in the data stream may be expressed as an extension of a styling sheet language. The data stream may include web content and the defined animation states.
US09953390B2

Signal processing devices and methods estimate transforms between signals using a least squares technique. From a seed set of transform candidates, a direct least squares method applies a seed transform candidate to a reference signal and then measures correlation between the transformed reference signal and a suspect signal. For each candidate, update coordinates of reference signal features are identified in the suspect signal and provided as input to a least squares method to compute an update to the transform candidate. The method iterates so long as the update of the transform provides a better correlation. At the end of the process, the method identifies a transform or set of top transforms based on a further analysis of correlation, as well as other results.
US09953385B2

In a method for measuring healthcare quality, a plurality of computers operating in parallel receive from a patient dataset representative of patients within a healthcare organization, the patient dataset being distributed across the plurality of computer as subsets of patient datasets. The plurality of computers receive at least one healthcare quality measure definition comprising a numerator and a denominator. The plurality of computers identify, in the subsets of patient datasets, patient data that corresponds to the measure definition. The plurality of computers attribute the identified patient data to at least one provider based on an attribution rule. The plurality of computers calculate at least one healthcare quality measure for the at least one provider, according to the healthcare quality measure definition, based on the attributed patient encounters. The plurality of computers store the at least one calculated healthcare quality measure in a measure dataset.
US09953384B2

A method and system is provided to improve the throughput and processing time of ediscovery by breaking batches of electronically stored information (ESI) into individual documents or related pieces of ESI, and allowing the individual documents or pieces of ESI to proceed or stream to a subsequent stage in the ediscovery process while other documents or pieces of ESI are still completing earlier stages in the process. The system provides for tracking evidence media and file processing, which includes copying, extraction of documents from container files, document meta-data extraction, text extraction, text indexing, data culling, and transmittal to document review systems, with streaming system throughput and substantially less human intervention which will substantially reduce wait time and human labor.
US09953377B2

The discussion relates to visitor-driven, venue-specific media. One implementation can obtain a venue media profile of a venue and obtain visitor profiles of visitors at the venue. This implementation can generate a playlist of visitor-driven, venue specific media based on both the venue media profile and the visitor profiles.
US09953355B2

Identifying products in a physical store shopping environment. The method includes, using a first detection method, identifying that a given product likely belongs to a given set of products. The method further includes, using one or more other detection methods, determining that the product is likely a specific product from the given set of products.
US09953340B1

A companion advertisement is displayed on a control client which is also used to control the content being shown on a display client. The companion advertisement is related to a video or advertisement being displayed on the display client. Such a companion advertisement takes advantage of previously unused screen real estate and enables the user to interact with the advertisement or view further information without any interruption of the content being displayed on the display client. A server keeps the content displayed on the display client and control client synchronized. The server recognizes when a user is logged into both a display client and a control client and notifies the control client that an advertisement should be displayed. The control client then retrieves an advertisement related to the content on the display client.
US09953336B2

There is provided a scheme of communicating reward data from a first application running on a data processing device (100) to a second application on the data processing device (100) for use by the second application. The method comprises the first application obtaining a reward value in response to a user of the first application completing a predetermined task in the first application. In response to a request from the user to claim a reward, the first application generates and transmits: an instruction to place the second application into an interactive state; and reward data, which is generated on the basis of the reward value, for use by the second application in the interactive state. The passing of the reward value from the first application to the second application occurs within the data processing device (100), with no communication between the data processing device (100) and the backend server (200) via the Internet (400) taking place.
US09953316B2

Systems and methods for creating fingerprints for encryption devices are described herein. In various embodiments, the system includes an encryption device operatively connected to a device management system. According to particular embodiments, the device management system: 1) receives a first payload from the encryption device, the first payload including data in a particular format; 2) creates a fingerprint for the encryption device, the fingerprint including a section format for each of one or more distinct sections of the particular format; 3) storing a record of the fingerprint for the encryption device and the unique identifier at the at least one database; and 4) comparing a format of each subsequent payload received from the encryption device to the fingerprint for the device to determine whether the device has been compromised.
US09953314B2

A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for enabling an individual to use a purchase-proxy mechanism to conduct a financial transaction from a computing device with an online merchant, whereby the individual is enabled to use stored personal data, such as financial account information and fulfillment information, without having to store the personal data with the online merchant. The system, method, and computer-readable storage medium furthermore enable an individual to change a payment and/or fulfillment option at the time of purchase with minimal inconvenience.
US09953307B2

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with generating payments to volunteers in clinical trials are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving volunteer data that specifies a clinical event that has been completed by a given volunteer. The example method also includes determining a payment associated with the clinical event. A financial record is generated that records the determined payment. The financial record is transmitted using a web based browser to a financial system to populate at least one field in a financial database table that is used to generate payments to the volunteer.
US09953303B2

A system and method to manage employee time at a set of job sites. A time management system comprises a server in communications with a database in which a set of job site data is stored. An employee device application is installed on a set of employee devices. The set of employee devices are in communication with the server through the employee device application. The set of employee devices collect a set of time punch data and a set of photos from the set of employees at check-in events and check-out events. The set of time punch data and the set of photos are sent to the server and stored in the database with the set of job site data. A supervisor management application is installed on a set of supervisor devices to monitor the set of job site data, validate photos and activate employee devices.
US09953299B2

At least one server connects with clients via networks such that each client communicates using a different network. The server divides an image based on an application into portions. The server assigns version numbers to the portions such that each version number corresponds to a different portion. The server generates lists that include the version numbers, wherein each list corresponds to a different client. The server shares the image by transmitting image data to each client separately based on the respective list. The server receives update(s) for the image and identifies portion(s) that has changed based on the update. The server assigns an updated version number to the identified changed portion and generates updated lists that include the updated version numbers for the clients such that each updated list corresponds to a different client. The server transmits updated image data to each client separately based on the respective updated list.
US09953295B2

Event data management is disclosed. Event data management can include receiving a first set of event data including events classified using local contexts. Event data management can include receiving a second set of event data including one or more event data classified using the local contexts and using a global context. Event data management can include determining a first subset of event data corresponding to a first data flow and a second subset of event data corresponding to a second data flow. Event data management can include establishing a global relationship between the first and second data flow. Event data management can include receiving a third set of event data corresponding to the first data flow and having a local bookend identifier. Event data management can include clearing, in response to determining that the third event datum includes the local bookend identifier, the first subset of event data.
US09953294B2

The embodiments provide a system for linking an application with an in-memory database system for enabling an in-memory-enabled transactional application. The system includes an in-memory transactional processor configured to receive contextual data related to an instantiation of a first business transaction of the application and instantiate at least one second business transaction of the application during a course of processing the first business transaction. The in-memory transactional processor is configured to store results of at least one process step of the at least one second business transaction during the course of processing the first business transaction in an in-memory database, evaluate, at a decision point within the first business transaction, a plurality of alternative process steps, during runtime, and determine a subsequent process step from the plurality of alternative process steps based on the contextual data and captured information stored in the in-memory database.
US09953290B1

An inventory system can include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and RFID tuners that can be brought into interacting proximity with one another to provide input or other information about the location or other condition of movable elements within the inventory system. A wearable accessory that is wearable by a human operator can include RFID tuners thereon for interacting with RFID tags on other elements of the inventory system in order to communicate details about the elements and facilitate functions of the inventory system.
US09953288B2

Systems and methods of constructing and managing virtual planograms are presented. Contemplated systems allow for construction of a virtual planogram, which can be used to present consumers virtual inventory items as being available for purchase via a display device. The display device can include an electronic billboard within an establishment, a mall for example, or include a user's smart device, a cell phone or tablet for example.
US09953287B1

This disclosure describes a system and method for utilizing an automated aerial vehicle for rapidly transporting a priority pick item when an exception occurs (e.g., an item that was to be picked from another location or otherwise processed is found to be missing or damaged). In some implementations, a priority pick instruction may be generated that directs picking of the item from an alternative location after which the item may be transported by the automated aerial vehicle to a processing location (e.g., a problem solve station). A flight path may be determined which may have starting and ending points at designated locations where the automated aerial vehicle can safely land and take off for acquiring and/or delivering the priority pick item.
US09953277B2

Systems and methods for managing and utilizing competencies of employees of an organization are provided. The system comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprises a Role Managing Module (RMM) configured to define a set of roles in a database. Each role of the set of roles indicates a functional job in the organization. The RMM is further configured to assign an expected maturity level in a set of knowledge dimensions to each role in the set of roles. The set of knowledge dimensions comprises at least one of a Solution Dimension, a Technology Dimension, a Process Dimension, and an Organization Dimension. The system further comprises a planning module configured to create a career progression plan based on the set of roles. The system further comprises an analysis module configured to cater to organizational requirements of managing employee competencies.
US09953275B2

A system and methods for third-party access to a network-based system for providing location-based upcoming event information are described. The location-based upcoming event information may be accessed from the network-based system by a server-side web application implemented by a third party. The server-side web application may be configured to communicate with the network-based system that provides online marketplace and ticket fulfillment services and to generate a query based upon the location of a user and other event criteria. The server-side web application may communicate the query to the network-based system and, in response, receive location-based upcoming event information which may be displayed to a user as a list and/or information on a map. The location-based upcoming event information may comprise an aggregate of ticket inventory available from multiple online marketplaces providing the user with multiple purchasing options.
US09953273B2

Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable media for updating information stored in a database system over a network. In some implementations, first contact data is retrieved from a first virtual portion of a database system, where the first contact data provides first contact information associated with at least one entity. In some instances, the first contact data is compared with second contact data, where the second contact data provides second contact information associated with the at least one entity. In some instances, at least some of the second contact information is retrieved from a social networking system. In various implementations, at least one difference between the first contact data and the second contact data is identified, where the at least one difference is capable of being presented in a user interface displayed at a computer system. In some instances, a selection identifying contact data to store is received.
US09953270B2

Optimization of machine intelligence utilizes a systemic process through a plurality of computer architecture manipulation techniques that take unique advantage of efficiencies therein to minimize clock cycles and memory usage. The present invention is an application of machine intelligence which overcomes speed and memory issues in learning ensembles of decision trees in a single-machine environment. Such an application of machine intelligence includes inlining relevant statements by integrating function code into a caller's code, ensuring a contiguous buffering arrangement for necessary information to be compiled, and defining and enforcing type constraints on programming interfaces that access and manipulate machine learning data sets.
US09953261B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to a neuromorphic network for producing spike-timing dependent plasticity. The neuromorphic network includes a plurality of electronic neurons and an interconnect circuit coupled for interconnecting the plurality of electronic neurons. The interconnect circuit includes plural synaptic devices for interconnecting the electronic neurons via axon paths, dendrite paths and membrane paths. Each synaptic device includes a variable state resistor and a transistor device with a gate terminal, a source terminal and a drain terminal, wherein the drain terminal is connected in series with a first terminal of the variable state resistor. The source terminal of the transistor device is connected to an axon path, the gate terminal of the transistor device is connected to a membrane path and a second terminal of the variable state resistor is connected to a dendrite path, such that each synaptic device is coupled between a first axon path and a first dendrite path, and between a first membrane path and said first dendrite path.
US09953258B1

The disclosed embodiments generally relate to transaction cards and methods for manufacturing transaction cards. The transaction card may include a first card component having a first surface and a first structural feature associated with the first surface. The transaction card may also include a second card component separate from the first card component and attachable thereto. The second card component may include a second surface and a second structural feature associated with the second surface. The first and second structural features may be configured to interconnect.
US09953257B2

An integrated circuit card (200) is described. The integrated circuit card comprises a card body (204, 306) and two components located in the card body (204), wherein a first component (214) of the two components includes an integrated circuit, and wherein the two components are in communication with a common electrical contact (208).
US09953250B2

An image processing apparatus includes a converter, a reuse portion storage unit, and a reuse information output unit. The converter converts page description language (PDL) data into printable data. The converter stores a conversion result of converting an object appearing in the PDL data multiple times into printable data in a storage device and reuses the conversion result for the object which appears after the conversion result has been stored, instead of converting the object into printable data. The reuse portion storage unit stores information indicating a portion of a page image described by the PDL data for which the conversion result has been reused. The reuse information output unit outputs reuse information indicating a portion of the page image for which the conversion result has been reused, by using the information stored in the reuse portion storage unit.
US09953247B2

A method of determining eye position information includes identifying an eye area in a facial image; verifying a two-dimensional (2D) feature in the eye area; and performing a determination operation including, determining a three-dimensional (3D) target model based on the 2D feature; and determining 3D position information based on the 3D target model.
US09953246B2

A noise removal method includes receiving in a de-noising system multiple noisy copies of a target image; providing the noisy copies as input data to the de-noising system in a training phase, and determine a noise distribution for the plurality of noisy copies. The method further includes, for n stages of the de-noising system, transforming the input data into an output; reconstructing the output; and providing the reconstructed output as input data. The method may further include receiving a new image and generating a de-noised image based on the determined noise distribution.
US09953240B2

An image processing system includes: a first identification unit that identifies a static area from an input image captured at each of a plurality of time points; an image generation unit that generates a first image by using the static areas of respective input images captured in a first time span from a processing time point and generates a second image by using the static areas of respective images captured in a second time span from the processing time point; and a second identification unit that compares the first image and the second image and identifies an area having a difference.
US09953232B2

In real biometric systems, false match rates and false non-match rates of 0% do not exist. There is always some probability that a purported match is false, and that a genuine match is not identified. The performance of biometric systems is often expressed in part in terms of their false match rate and false non-match rate, with the equal error rate being when the two are equal. There is a tradeoff between the FMR and FNMR in biometric systems which can be adjusted by changing a matching threshold. This matching threshold can be automatically, dynamically and/or user adjusted so that a biometric system of interest can achieve a desired FMR and FNMR.
US09953231B1

Techniques are described for authenticating a user to access information through an application executing on a computing device. Multiple authentication methods may be used in combination to authenticate the user with greater confidence than authentication provided by a single method, and to verify that the user is a live person and not an image or video. Facial recognition may be used in conjunction with heartbeat detection, via video analysis, to verify the user's identity and confirm that the user is live. Facial recognition may include capturing an image of the user's face and comparing certain points on the face with previously gathered information regarding the user. Heartbeat detection may include capturing a video segment of the user, stabilizing the captured video data, applying motion magnification techniques to the stabilized video data, and analyzing the stabilized, magnified video data to determine a presence of the user's heartbeat.
US09953230B2

Systems and methods for detecting a subject in a vehicle are provided. A temperature sensor installed in the vehicle is automatically activated when the vehicle ignition switch is switched off. The temperature sensor monitors the internal vehicle temperature and activates a detection module when the monitored internal vehicle temperature reaches a threshold temperature. The detection module includes a camera that is configured to capture a first image of the vehicle interior and to subsequently capture a second image of the vehicle interior, and a monitoring module that is configured to analyze the first image and the second image to detect the subject. A response module is coupled to the detection module and configured to activate one or more alert mechanisms when the subject is detected.
US09953227B2

An in-vehicle image processing device processes camera images to determine a parkable area and includes an overhead image generation section generating an overhead image relative to a road surface by converting the view point of an image of a nearby vehicle and the road surface taken by a vehicle-mounted camera; a tire recognition section recognizing the tires of the nearby vehicle; a three-dimensional object recognition section recognizing three-dimensional objects including the nearby vehicle; an area-under-vehicle recognition section calculating the ground contact position of the tire and the above-ground height from the ground contact position to the vehicle body and recognizing an area under the vehicle body on the road surface from the overhead image; and a parkable area recognition section for recognizing the area occupied by the vehicle body and the area under the vehicle body as a non-parking area and recognizing a parkable area on the road surface.
US09953226B2

The subject of the invention is a method for detecting and classifying events of a scene by means of a single-pupil imaging system equipped with a VisNIR detector in the 0.6 μm-1.1 μm band and with an SWIR detector, which comprises steps of acquiring synchronized VisNIR and SWIR successive 2D images, of displaying the VisNIR images, and of processing these images, which consists in: comparing the SWIR images so as to determine, for each pixel, the variation in illumination from one SWIR image to another and the peak value of these SWIR illuminations, if this variation in SWIR illumination is greater than a threshold, then an event associated with said pixel is detected and: its date, its temporal shape and its duration are determined, in the VisNIR images, the coordinates are determined of the corresponding pixel for which: the variation in the illumination from one VisNIR image to another and the peak value of these VisNIR illuminations are calculated, and these variations in SWIR and VisNIR illumination and their peak values are compared so as to estimate a temperature of the event, the distance of the corresponding point of the scene is estimated so as to calculate the intensity of the event on the basis of the SWIR and VisNIR illuminations and on the basis of this distance, the total energy of the event is estimated on the basis of its temporal shape and of its intensity, the event is classified as a function of its duration, its temperature, its intensity and its energy, the previous steps are repeated for another pixel of the SWIR images.
US09953225B2

An image processing apparatus includes an object detection unit configured to detect an object from an image, a tracking unit configured to track the detected object, a trajectory management unit configured to manage a trajectory of the object being tracked, and a specific object detection unit configured to detect a specific object from the image. In a case where the specific object determination unit detects the object being tracked by the object tracking unit to be the specific object, the trajectory management unit manages a trajectory of the object being tracked at a time point before the time point the object being tracked is detected to be the specific object as the trajectory of the specific object.
US09953220B2

Cutout object merge techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, a cutout object is identified for insertion into a scene. The cutout object may, for instance, be selected from a library of cutout objects, each of which was extracted from an already-captured image. Before capturing an image of the scene, the selected cutout object may be placed in a substantially real-time display of the scene, such as that which is displayed via a camera's view finder. Using an image capturing device, an image of the scene may then be captured. Once an image of the scene is captured, the cutout object and the captured image may be merged to form a composite image that includes the cutout object at a location in the scene specified by the placement.
US09953217B2

A pose-aware feature learning system includes an object tracker which tracks an object on a subject in a plurality of video frames, a pose estimator which estimates a pose of the subject in a track of the plurality of video frames, an image pair generator which extracts a plurality of image pairs from the track of the plurality of video frames, and labels the plurality of image pairs with the estimated pose and as depicting the same or different object, and a neural network trainer which trains a neural network based on the labeled plurality of image pairs, to predict whether an image pair depicts the same or different object and a pose difference for the image pair.
US09953210B1

Devices, systems, and methods provide for improved facial detection and facial recognition in vehicle interior inspections. In various embodiments, one or more high-resolution cameras having one or more lens and filter attachments operate in conjunction with one or more auxiliary illumination devices and a related computer system. According to various embodiments, an auxiliary illumination device can be synchronized to one or more cameras, and configured to supply auxiliary illumination to facilitate capture of accurate and usable images. The filter(s) and advanced image processing solutions assist with facial detection and identifying individuals inside a vehicle, removing light glare and undesired reflections from a window surface, and capturing an image through a tinted window, among other things. Further, embodiments can compare a captured image to an authenticated image from a database, in order to confirm the identity of a vehicle occupant.
US09953184B2

The techniques discussed herein facilitate the transmission, storage, and manipulation of data in an encrypted database management system (EDBMS). An untrusted machine is connected to a data store having encrypted records, a client machine that sends encrypted queries, and a trusted machine that receives and decrypts the encrypted records and encrypted queries. The trusted machine processes the query using semantically secure query operators to produce a query result. The trusted machine ensures the size of the query result conforms to an upper bound on the number or records in the query result and returns the query result.
US09953176B2

A method for processing activity records. The method includes obtaining an activity record, and generating an anonymization dictionary. Generating the anonymization dictionary includes detecting, in the activity record, a set of target entities to be anonymized, making a determination that a resource is associated with a subset of the target entities of the set of target entities, and after making the determination, assigning an anonymized identity to the subset of target entities, and generating an anonymization identifier for each target entity in the subset of target entities to obtain a set of anonymization identifiers, each including the anonymized identity. The method further includes processing the activity record using the anonymization dictionary to obtain an anonymized activity record and storing the anonymized activity record.
US09953175B2

Embodiments are described of systems and methods for prevention, detection, mitigation of risk, and such, of unauthorized manipulation, e.g., substitution, of high-value data files (including electronic document files).
US09953170B2

The invention provides a flash memory which may effectively protect information with a high security level. A flash memory includes a setting part. When the setting part is inputted a specific command, the setting part sets up specific address information to a nonvolatile configuration register, and sets up specific data in a hidden storage region. The flash memory also includes: a comparing part, which compares inputted address information and the specific address information during a reading operation; and a control part, which reads specific data set in the storage region and erases a specific address when two address information are consistent, and reads data stored in a memory array according to the inputted address information when two address information are inconsistent.
US09953169B2

Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to modifying execution of an application under test to act as if a user is a power user. The application under test is hosted in a real-time modifier. A security crawl is performed on the application under test logged in as the user. The user is treated as a power user.
US09953165B2

Generally, this disclosure describes devices, methods and systems and for securely updating software on a mobile platform using trusted hardware based authentication. The device may include an image update module configured to receive a software update image from an update server, the image update module executing at an operating system (OS) level; a critical component database configured to identify critical software components associated with the secure operation of the device; a secure update application module configured to verify the inclusion of the critical software components in the software update image prior to installation of the software update image on the device; and a trusted execution environment (TEE) configured to restrict control access and data access to the secure update application module and the critical component database, the restriction enforced against the OS and against modules executing at the OS level.
US09953164B2

A device may receive a trigger to determine whether one or more client devices, of a set of client devices, are infected by a malicious file. The device may generate file identification information associated with the malicious file based on receiving the trigger to determine whether the one or more client devices are infected by the malicious file. The device may obtain remote access to the one or more client devices using a connection tool based on receiving the trigger to determine whether the one or more client devices are infected by the malicious file. The device may obtain information, associated with the one or more client devices, using the remote access. The device may provide information indicating whether the one or more client devices are infected by the malicious file based on the file identification information and the information associated with the one or more client devices.
US09953151B2

The present system and method enables the automatic detection and identification of authorized users within proximity of a computing apparatus and, after verifying, using biometric detection and analysis, that the user is authorized to access the target, providing the user with such access. The system comprises a computer appliance target requiring authentication of a user in order to access the target, including software stored on and executing from the target, a biometric input device, and a transceiver enabling short-range wireless communication with other wireless capable devices; a database accessible to the target; and a beacon device associated with the user, including at least a transceiver and a locally stored encrypted identity token associating the device with the identity of the user; wherein the transceiver on the target periodically scans for the beacon device within the short-range, and upon detection, establishes communication with the beacon device and requests the identity token, the beacon device receives the request and sends the identity token back to the target which decrypts and validates the token by comparing token data with stored token data in the database and upon successful decryption and validation of the identity token, the software initializes a biometric test input to positively identify the user in possession of the beacon, wherein the software of the target attempts to match the biometric input with second biometric input of the user stored in the database and upon a successful match, unlocks the target and allows the user to operate the target.
US09953149B2

Systems and methods for enrolling and authenticating a user in an authentication system via a user's camera of camera equipped mobile device include capturing and storing enrollment biometric information from at least one first image of the user taken via the camera of the mobile device, capturing authentication biometric information from at least one second image of the user, capturing, during imaging of the at least one second image, path parameters via at least one movement detecting sensor indicating an authentication movement of the mobile device, comparing the authentication biometric information to the stored enrollment biometric information, and comparing the authentication movement of the mobile device to an expected movement of the mobile device to determine whether the authentication movement sufficiently corresponds to the expected movement.
US09953141B2

The present disclosure provides a method for coordinating data between a plurality of sample processing systems comprising: providing, using a central control unit, data to a pre-analytical sample processing system identifying a sample undergoing pre-analytical processing, receiving data, at the central control unit, indicating the transfer of the sample to an analytical system, providing, from the central control unit (CCU), data associated with the sample to the analytical system, and receiving a result associated with the sample from the analytical system.
US09953119B2

A method for designing a multiple tuned filter (MTF) in a high voltage direct current (HVDC) system includes setting an input parameter constituting the MTF; setting a resonance frequency of the MTF; extracting at least one LC combination case constituting the MTF on the basis of the input parameter and the resonance frequency; performing optimization for harmonic reduction on the LC combination case; and extracting an LC combination case determined based on a result obtained by performing the optimization.
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