US09972822B2
Disclosed is a battery pack including a bushing for connecting an end plate. The battery pack according to the present disclosure connects an upper housing and an end plate for a battery module assembly by the bushing.
US09972821B2
When an electrode assembly of a power storage device is viewed from the front in the direction of lamination, the distance between a positive electrode electricity collecting portion and an imaginary reference line passing through the center of the electrode assembly is different from the distance between a negative electrode electricity collecting portion and the imaginary reference line. Therefore, the electrode assembly has an asymmetrical structure.
US09972814B2
An enhanced multi object potting fixture for exposure to a curing modality that sets an adhesive includes a fixture housing supporting a plurality of objects, the fixture housing having a wall defining a plurality of bonding wells with each the bonding well receiving a first portion of one of the objects, each the bonding well including an aperture in the wall proximate the first portion wherein each bonding well includes a target zone for selective cure of the adhesive to inhibit the adhesive from exiting the aperture; and a fixture enhancement structure integrated into the wall concentrating the curing modality in each the target zone.
US09972809B2
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, an OLED display panel and a display device. The array substrate includes a light-emitting region and a non-light-emitting region, wherein an anode, an organic light-emitting layer and a cathode on a base substrate are arranged at the non-light-emitting region, and a metal structure on the base substrate is arranged at the non-light-emitting region, wherein the array substrate further comprises a first light-absorbing layer arranged at the non-light-emitting region and configured to absorb a light beam from the organic light-emitting layer and arriving at the non-light-emitting region, and the cathode is transparent, and the anode is transparent or nontransparent.
US09972805B2
An organic light emitting display panel includes a light emitting diode array substrate and an encapsulation substrate adhered to the light emitting array diode substrate by an adhesive film. The light emitting array diode substrate includes a driving thin film transistor formed on a substrate, an organic light emitting diode including a first electrode connected to the driving thin film transistor, an organic emission layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic emission layer, and first and second passivation layers formed on the second electrode. In this regard, the first passivation layer is formed of an organic compound having at least one of the structural formulae described in Formula 1 below: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are each independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted C6-C40 aromatic groups.
US09972800B2
A field effect transistor includes a substrate and a gate dielectric formed on the substrate. A channel material is formed on the dielectric layer. The channel material includes carbon nanotubes. A patterned resist layer has openings formed therein. Metal contacts are formed on the channel material in the openings in the patterned resist layer and over portions of the patterned resist layer to protect sidewalls of the metal contacts to prevent degradation of the metal contacts.
US09972793B2
Organometallic compounds comprising an imidazole carbene ligand having a N-containing ring fused to the imidazole ring are provided. In particular, the N-containing ring fused to the imidazole ring may contain one nitrogen atom or more than one nitrogen atom. These compounds may demonstrate high photoluminescent (PL) efficiency, Gaussian emission spectra, and/or short excited state lifetimes. These materials may be especially useful as blue phosphorescent emitters.
US09972777B1
A method for etching a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure is described. A bottom electrode layer is provided on a substrate. A seed layer is deposited on the bottom electrode layer. The seed layer and bottom electrode layer are patterned. A dielectric layer is deposited over the patterned seed layer and bottom electrode layer and planarized wherein the seed layer is exposed. Thereafter, a stack of MTJ layers is deposited on the patterned seed layer comprising a pinned layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a free layer. The MTJ stack is then patterned to form a MTJ device. Because the seed layer was patterned before the MTJ patterning step, the exposure of the device to etching plasma gases is shortened and thus, etch damage is minimized.
US09972774B2
A magnetic memory having a base layer with a wetting layer and seed layer is disclosed. The wetting layer and seed layer promotes FCC structure along the (111) orientation to improve PMA. A surface smoother, such as a surfactant layer, is provided between the wetting and seed layers. This enhances the smoothness of the seed layer, resulting in smoother interface in the MTJ stack, which leads to improved thermal endurance.
US09972764B2
A brazing system (1) for manufacturing an armored superconductor wire (10, 10a) comprises: —a first feeder (5) of a superconductor wire (11), —a second feeder (6) of a conductor wire (12), a layer (13) of brazing alloy being applied to a first face (12a) of the conductor wire (12), —an aligning device (8) for approaching the superconductor wire (11) to said first face (12a), —a furnace for melting the brazing alloy layer (13), —a collimator (15), comprising: —at least one first plurality of rolls (17) rotatable about respective first rotation axes (Y) orthogonal to said axial direction (X) to compress said assembly in direction orthogonal to said first face (12a), —at least one second plurality of rolls (18) rotatable about respective second rotation axes (Z) orthogonal to the axial direction (X) and to the first rotation axes (Y) to compress the sides of the assembly, —cooling means (25) downstream of the rolls (17, 18) to solidify the brazing alloy layer (13).
US09972761B2
A thermoelectric energy harvesting system for charging an energy store from ambient thermal energy includes a thermoelectric energy generator (TEG), an automatic polarity monitor, and switching matrix. The polarity monitor detects when the polarity of an input voltage in the system is reversed relative to a standard voltage polarity, and causes the switching matrix to switch the inputs from the thermoelectric energy harvester.
US09972755B2
Illumination structure (100) and illumination devices comprising such illumination structure are described. The illumination structure comprises a wavelength conversion layer (102) configured for receiving light of at least a first wavelength (108) and converting said received light into light of at least a second wavelength; and, an array of nanoparticles (110) arranged in a plane in close proximity to said wavelength conversion layer, at least part of said array forming a lattice characterized by at least one lattice period, wherein said lattice period is selected such that in operation: localized resonances of said nanoparticles are diffractively coupled into collective resonant modes at said second wavelength in said wavelength conversion layer (102); and, a sideward emitting radiation pattern is generated by said illumination structure that comprises field intensities in one or more directions of large inclination angle Θi (114) with respect to said array plane that are larger than field intensities in one or more directions of small inclination angle.
US09972736B2
An apparatus, method, and system, the apparatus including a receiving member dimensioned to receive an array of microelectronic devices; and a linkage member coupled to the receiving member, the linkage member configured to move the receiving member in at least two dimensions so as to modify a spacing between the electronic devices within the array of microelectronic devices received by the receiving member. The method including coupling an array of microelectronic devices to an expansion assembly; and expanding the expansion assembly so as to expand the array of microelectronic devices in at least two directions within a single plane. The system including a support member; an expansion assembly coupled to the support member, the expansion assembly having a plurality of receiving members configured to move in at least two dimensions within a single plane; and a plurality of microelectronic devices coupled to each of the plurality of receiving members.
US09972729B2
A p− type semiconductor substrate 20 has a first principal surface 20a and a second principal surface 20b opposed to each other and includes a photosensitive region 21. The photosensitive region 21 is composed of an n+ type impurity region 23, a p+ type impurity region 25, and a region to be depleted with application of a bias voltage in the p− type semiconductor substrate 20. An irregular asperity 10 is formed in the second principal surface 20b of the p− type semiconductor substrate 20. An accumulation layer 37 is formed on the second principal surface 20b side of the p− type semiconductor substrate 20 and a region in the accumulation layer 37 opposed to the photosensitive region 21 is optically exposed.
US09972715B2
To more easily form a structure that mitigates the electrical field focus at the bottom portion of the trench gate and prevents decreases and variations in the gate threshold value (Vth), provided is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor region with a second conduction type that is provided above the semiconductor substrate and includes a first semiconductor region with a first conduction type in a portion thereof; a third semiconductor region that is provided above the second semiconductor region and has a higher second conduction type impurity concentration than the second semiconductor region; and a gate trench that penetrates through the third semiconductor region and is provided on top of the first semiconductor region. The gate trench includes a gate insulating film provided on side walls and a bottom portion of the gate trench and a gate electrode provided in contact with the gate insulating film.
US09972701B2
A semiconductor device includes a fin-type active area, nanosheets, a gate, a source/drain region, and insulating spacers. The fin-type active area protrudes from a substrate in a first direction. The nanosheets are spaced from an upper surface of the fin-type active area and include channel regions. The gate is over the fin-type active area. The source/drain region is connected to the nanosheets. The insulating spacers are in the fin-type active area and between the nanosheets. Air spaces are between the insulating spacers and the source/drain region based on positions of the insulating spacers.
US09972694B2
A method and structure for providing a pre-deposition treatment (e.g., of a work-function layer) to accomplish work function tuning. In various embodiments, a gate dielectric layer is formed over a substrate, and a work-function metal layer is deposited over the gate dielectric layer. The work-function metal layer has a first thickness. A pre-treatment process of the work-function metal layer may then performed, where the pre-treatment process removes an oxidized layer from a top surface of the work-function metal layer to form a treated work-function metal layer. The treated work-function metal layer has a second thickness less than the first thickness. In various embodiments, after performing the pre-treatment process, another metal layer is deposited over the treated work-function metal layer.
US09972691B2
A semiconductor device includes: diffusion layers that are formed over a semiconductor substrate in a first direction, that are separated from one another by separation regions, and that serve as drain regions or source regions of respective transistors; a gate electrode of the transistors, which is formed in the first direction so as to straddle the diffusion layers; gate extraction wirings that are formed above the separation regions so as to sandwich therebetween the individual diffusion layers in the first direction, that are electrically coupled to the gate electrode above the separation regions, and that supply a gate signal to the gate electrode.
US09972676B2
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes: a drift layer of a first conductivity type made of silicon carbide; a well region of a second conductivity type formed on the drift layer; a source region of a first conductivity type formed on the well region; a gate insulating film formed on an inner wall of a trench extending from a front surface of the source region through the well region, at least a part of a side surface of the gate insulating film being in contact with the drift layer; a gate electrode formed in the trench with the gate insulating film therebetween; a protective layer of the second conductivity type formed in the drift layer; and a depletion suppressing layer of the first conductivity type formed in the drift layer so as to be in contact with a side surface of the protective layer.
US09972669B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate defining a first pixel portion and one or more second pixel portions. Pixels formed in the first pixel portion can include a first driver circuit. Other pixels formed in the one or more second pixel portions can include a second driver circuit occupying less area along the substrate than the first driver circuit. At least one data driver circuit can then be collocated with the other pixels formed in at least one of the second pixel portions.
US09972666B2
A display device includes a pixel electrode, a pixel isolation insulating film in which an opening through which the pixel electrode is exposed at a bottom is formed, and a light-emitting layer formed inside the opening. The pixel isolation insulating film contains particles that receive light emitted from the light-emitting layer and propagate light in a direction different from that of the light emitted from the light-emitting layer.
US09972665B2
An organic light emitting diode display panel and a fabrication method thereof, a display device are provided, and the method includes: forming an anode layer (41) a light-emitting layer and a cathode layer on a substrate (40) and the method further includes: depositing a first pixel defining layer thin film (51) on the anode layer (41); depositing a second pixel defining layer thin film on the first pixel defining layer thin film (51), and forming a second pixel defining layer (61) by patterning the second pixel defining layer thin film through patterning process; and forming a first pixel defining layer (71) through dry etching and removing the first pixel defining layer thin film that is exposed; wherein the first pixel defining layer (71) has a lyophilic property and the second pixel defining layer (61) has a lyophobic property. A double-layer pixel defining layer prepared in the method is capable of reducing a mask plate, reducing the production cost, and improving the production efficiency.
US09972663B2
An organic light emitting display device can include a plurality of color sub-pixels including first, second and third color sub-pixels, the first and second color sub-pixels disposed along a first direction, and the third color sub-pixel disposed adjacent to the first and second color sub-pixels along a second direction different from the first direction; and a plurality of driving sub-pixels configured to drive light emitting diodes of the color sub-pixels. Also, each of the driving sub-pixels can include a driving transistor and a switching unit, and each and every one of the driving sub-pixels overlapping with at least two color sub-pixels among the plurality of color sub-pixels. In addition, the first, second and third color sub-pixels correspond to a portion of four of the driving sub-pixels, and one of the driving sub-pixels overlaps with three or four corresponding color sub-pixels among the plurality of color sub-pixels.
US09972660B2
A plurality of memory cells in a 3D cross-point array with improved endurance is disclosed. Each memory cell, disposed between first and second conductors, includes a switch in series with a pillar of phase change material. The pillar has a Te-rich material at one end proximal to the second conductor, and an Sb-rich material at the other end proximal to the first conductor, wherein the current direction is from the first conductor to the second conductor.
US09972656B2
An image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras includes a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns for generating exposure-dependent pixel signals. A plurality of column lines, at least one precharge circuit for charging or discharging the column lines and at least one column readout circuit for reading out the pixel signals of the respective column are associated with a respective column. The image sensor has at least one switching device which is adapted to couple, in a first switch state, one of the column lines of a respective column to the precharge circuit and another one of the column lines of the respective column to the column readout circuit.
US09972653B2
In various example embodiments, the inventive subject matter is an image sensor and methods of formation of image sensors. In an embodiment, the image sensor comprises a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of pixel regions. Each of the pixel regions includes an optically sensitive material over the substrate with the optically sensitive material positioned to receive light. A pixel circuit for each pixel region is also included in the sensor. Each pixel circuit comprises a charge store formed on the semiconductor substrate and a read out circuit. A non-metallic contact region is between the charge store and the optically sensitive material of the respective pixel region, the charge store being in electrical communication with the optically sensitive material of the respective pixel region through the non-metallic contact region.
US09972650B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a first substrate that includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a second substrate that includes at least a part of a readout circuit configured to read signals based on electric charges of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and a peripheral circuit including a control circuit, and a wiring structure that is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and includes a pad portion electrically connected to the peripheral circuit via a draw-out wiring and an insulating layer. The wiring structure has, at least at a part thereof, a seal ring disposed in such a way as to surround the photoelectric conversion units and the peripheral circuit.
US09972649B2
A sensor comprises a substrate; an array of nanowire field effect transistors (NWFETs) formed in said substrate, each of the NWFETs having source, drain and gate terminals; a nanowire coupled between the source terminal and the drain terminal of each NWFET; and a layer of radiation sensitive material disposed over said NWFETs and said nanowires with each of the source, drain and gate terminals configured to be coupled to respective ones of first, second or third reference potentials, wherein each NWFET is configured such that the conductivity between the source and drain changes in response to radiation absorbed in the layer of radiation sensitive material such that the sensor generates an output signal in response to radiation absorbed by the radiation sensitive material.
US09972642B2
High voltage three-dimensional devices having dielectric liners and methods of forming high voltage three-dimensional devices having dielectric liners are described. For example, a semiconductor structure includes a first fin active region and a second fin active region disposed above a substrate. A first gate structure is disposed above a top surface of, and along sidewalls of, the first fin active region. The first gate structure includes a first gate dielectric, a first gate electrode, and first spacers. The first gate dielectric is composed of a first dielectric layer disposed on the first fin active region and along sidewalls of the first spacers, and a second, different, dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer and along sidewalls of the first spacers. The semiconductor structure also includes a second gate structure disposed above a top surface of, and along sidewalls of, the second fin active region. The second gate structure includes a second gate dielectric, a second gate electrode, and second spacers. The second gate dielectric is composed of the second dielectric layer disposed on the second fin active region and along sidewalls of the second spacers.
US09972641B1
A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate and memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack. Each memory stack structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel. An isolation trench laterally extends along a horizontal direction and divides at least two topmost electrically conductive layers. Two conductive rail structures are located on lengthwise sidewalls of the isolation trench and are electrically shorted to respective segments of the at least two topmost electrically conductive layers.
US09972640B1
A three-dimensional memory device including self-aligned drain select level electrodes is provided. Memory stack structures extend through an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers. Each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a memory level channel portion. Drain select level channel portions are formed over the memory level channel portions with respective lateral shifts with respect to underlying memory stack structures. The direction of lateral shifts alternates from row to row for each row of drain select level channel portions. Drain select level gate dielectrics and drain select level gate electrodes are formed on the drain select level channel portions. Each drain select level gate electrode controls two rows of drain select level channel portions, and is laterally spaced from neighboring drain select level gate electrodes.
US09972635B2
A semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment, includes an interconnect extending in a first direction, a semiconductor member extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, an electrode provided between the interconnect and the semiconductor member, a first insulating film provided between the interconnect and the electrode, a second insulating film provided between the first insulating film and the electrode, a third insulating film provided between the electrode and the semiconductor member, and a metal-containing layer provided between the first insulating film and the second insulating film or inside the first insulating film, and having a metal surface concentration of 1×1014 cm−2 or more and 5×1015 cm−2 or less.
US09972628B1
Some embodiments include a conductive structure which has a first conductive material having a work function of at least 4.5 eV, and a second conductive material over and directly against the first conductive material. The second conductive material has a work function of less than 4.5 eV, and is shaped as an upwardly-opening container. The conductive structure includes a third conductive material within the upwardly-opening container shape of the second conductive material and directly against the second conductive material. The third conductive material is a different composition relative to the second conductive material. Some embodiments include wordlines, and some embodiments include transistors.
US09972619B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device arrangement including a first semiconductor device having a load path, and a plurality of second transistors, each having a load path between a first and a second load terminal and a control terminal. The second transistors have their load paths connected in series and connected in series to the load path of the first transistor, each of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to the load terminal of one of the other second transistors, and one of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to one of the load terminals of the first semiconductor device.
US09972616B2
Methods of forming resistor structures with tunable temperature coefficient of resistance are described. Those methods and structures may include forming an opening in a resistor material adjacent source/drain openings on a device substrate, forming a dielectric material between the resistor material and the source/drain openings, and modifying the resistor material, wherein a temperature coefficient resistance (TCR) of the resistor material is tuned by the modification. The modifications include adjusting a length of the resistor, forming a compound resistor structure, and forming a replacement resistor.
US09972611B2
A stacked semiconductor package comprising a functional silicon die having embedded thereupon a Wide Input/Output 2 (WIO2) interface, and two or more memory dies forming a corresponding two or more memory layers of the stacked semiconductor package. A plurality of Through Silicon Vias (TSVs) are formed through the two or more memory dies, wherein each of the plurality of TSVs traverse through the two or more memory layers to the functional silicon die via the WIO2 interface of the functional silicon die. A test port interface receives test signals from an external tester and routes the test signals through a steering logic communicably interfaced with the two or more memory dies. The steering logic shifts data into and out of the two or more memory dies through the plurality of TSVs.
US09972603B2
A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) die is provided. In some embodiments, a first IC die comprises a first semiconductor substrate, a first interconnect structure over the first semiconductor substrate, and a first hybrid bond (HB) structure over the first interconnect structure. The first HB structure comprises a HB link layer and a HB contact layer extending from the HB link layer to the first interconnect structure. A second IC die is over the first IC die, and comprises a second semiconductor substrate, a second HB structure, and a second interconnect structure between the second semiconductor substrate and the second HB structure. The second HB structure contacts the first HB structure. A seal-ring structure is in the first and second IC dies. Further, the seal-ring structure extends from the first semiconductor substrate to the second semiconductor substrate, and is defined in part by the HB contact layer.
US09972598B2
Reliability of a semiconductor device is improved.A wire bonding step includes a step of exposing a wire and a pad electrode to a reducing gas atmosphere, forming a first hydroxyl layer on a surface of a ball portion, and forming a second hydroxyl layer on a surface of the pad electrode, a first bonding step of temporarily joining the ball portion to the pad electrode through the first hydroxyl layer and the second hydroxyl layer, and after the first bonding step, a step of actually joining the ball portion to the pad electrode by performing a heat treatment on a semiconductor chip and a base material.
US09972595B2
A bonding wire for a high-speed signal line for connecting a pad electrode of a semiconductor device and a lead electrode on a circuit board contains palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), silver (Ag), and a trace additive element.
US09972593B2
The invention provides a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a base having a device-attach surface and a solder-ball attach surface opposite to the device-attach surface. A conductive via is disposed passing through the base. The conductive via includes a first terminal surface aligned to the device-attach surface of the base. A semiconductor die is mounted on the base by a conductive structure. The conductive structure is in contact with the first terminal surface of the conductive via.
US09972590B2
A semiconductor package and methods for producing the same are described. One example of the semiconductor package is described to include a substrate having a first face and an opposing second face. The package is further described to include a plurality of pads disposed on the first face of the substrate, each of the plurality of pads including a first face and an opposing second face that is in contact with the first face of the substrate. The semiconductor package is further described to include a plurality of solder-on-pad structures provided on a first of the plurality of pads.
US09972587B2
A signal transmission device comprises: a first lead frame having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface; a second lead frame having a third major surface and a fourth major surface and isolated from the first lead frame, the fourth major surface located opposite to the third major surface; a transmission circuit that sends a transmission signal, the transmission circuit located on the first major surface of the first lead frame; a receiving circuit located on the third major surface of the second lead frame; and an electromagnetic resonance coupler located across between the second major surface of the first lead frame and the fourth major surface of the second lead frame to transmit the transmission signal, sent by the transmission circuit, to the receiving circuit in a contactless manner.
US09972585B2
An electronic device includes: a base layer; a first layer located at least partially over the base layer; a second layer located at least partially over the first layer; a first metal layer located at least partially over the second layer, wherein one or more signal outputs of the electronic device are formed in the first metal layer; and a second metal layer located at least partially over the first metal layer, wherein one or more gate connection is formed in the second metal layer, wherein removing a portion of the second metal layer disrupts at least one gate connection and deactivates the device.
US09972577B1
An electromagnetic interference absorber for an integrated circuit is provided. The absorber includes a geometric ring of electromagnetic energy absorbing material, dimensioned to fit over a ball grid array (BGA) integrated circuit package assembled to a substrate. The geometric ring has at least one projection arranged to fit into a gap between the substrate and a body of the BGA integrated circuit package so as to retain the geometric ring to the BGA integrated circuit package. Methods to contain electromagnetic interference and to manufacture an electromagnetic interference absorber are also provided.
US09972569B2
A method and system for a power module is provided. The power module includes a first substrate including a first conductive substrate having a first plurality of power semiconductor switches arranged thereon, and at least one second conductive substrate electrically coupled to the first conductive substrate. A first terminal is electrically coupled to the first conductive substrate. The power module also includes a second substrate including a third conductive substrate having a second plurality of power semiconductor switches arranged thereon, and at least one fourth conductive substrate electrically coupled to the third conductive substrate. The third conductive substrate is electrically coupled to the second conductive substrate. A second terminal is electrically coupled to the fourth conductive substrate.
US09972566B2
An electronic device including a plurality of interconnects are orthogonally arranged in a grid pattern and evenly spaced by a first distance, the plurality of interconnects include: a first conductor pair with conductors arranged next to each other in a first direction, the first direction is oriented diagonally relative to the orthogonal grid pattern, a second conductor pair with conductors arranged next to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, each conductor of the second conductor pair is spaced by the first distance from each signal conductor of the first conductor pair, and a third conductor pair with conductors arranged next to each other in a third direction substantially parallel to the first direction, each conductors of the third conductor pair is spaced by the first distance from one of the signal elements of the second conductor pair.
US09972561B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package and a method for forming a semiconductor package. A lead frame adapted to a semiconductor package includes a first carrier, an adjacent second carrier, a first array of leads, and a second array of leads. The first array and the second array of leads are configured to be connected to circuits located at the first and second carriers at respective near sides of the arrays. The first array of leads and the second array of leads are connected through connecting ribs, and a groove is provided on exposed surfaces. After the connecting rib is removed, a part of the groove still remains. The remaining part of the groove is exposed in a separate die package, and in a surface-mount procedure, molten solder achieves wetting more easily along the groove to make surface mounting more secure.
US09972554B2
A wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) has a device chip, a carrier chip, an offset pad, a conductive spacing bump and a through hole via (THV). The device chip is attached to the carrier chip. The offset pad is disposed on a first surface of the device chip. The conductive spacing bump is formed on the offset pad. The through hole via includes a through hole and a hole metal layer. The through hole penetrates through the carrier chip and the device chip, and the hole metal layer is formed in the through hole and in contact with the offset pad.
US09972550B2
A source/drain epitaxial electrical monitor and methods of characterizing epitaxial growth through capacitance measurements are provided. The structure includes a plurality of fin structures; one or more gate structures, perpendicular to and intersecting the plurality of fin structures. The structure further includes a first connection by a first contact at one fin-end of every other fin structure of the plurality of fin structures, and a second connection by a second contact at one end of an alternate fin structure of the plurality of fin structures.
US09972548B2
A method of proving inline characterization of electrical properties of a fin-shaped field effect transistor (finFET) is provided. Embodiments include applying an electrical current along a length of at least one fin of a finFET disposed over a wafer surface; generating a magnetic field across a width of the at least one fin, wherein the magnetic field is perpendicular in direction to the electrical current; and detecting electron flow concentrated at an upper portion of the at least one fin.
US09972546B2
An etching time detection means and an etching time detection method for an etching device. The detection means comprises: a light wave emitter fixed on one substrate of the etching device, a light wave receiver fixed on another substrate and opposed to the light wave emitter, a detection system communicated with the light wave emitter and the light wave receiver for receiving light intensity signals and calculating etching time. With the detection means and the detection method, the automatical detection of etching time can be achieved and the deviation caused by visual observation can be effectively avoided.
US09972542B1
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include forming stacks of alternating layers of first channel material and second channel material in a first device region and a second device region. A first layer cap is formed at ends of the layers of first channel material. A second layer cap is formed at ends of the layers of second channel material. The first layer caps are etched away in the first device region. The second layer caps are etched away in the second device region. First source/drain regions are grown in the first device region from exposed ends of the layers of the first channel material. Second source/drain regions are grown in the second device region from exposed ends of the layers of the second channel material.
US09972539B2
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, the semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first gate and a second gate. The first gate is disposed on the substrate and includes a first gate insulating layer, a polysilicon layer, a silicide layer and a protective layer stacked with each other on the substrate and a first spacer surrounds the first gate insulating layer, the polysilicon layer, the silicide layer and the protective layer. The second gate is disposed on the substrate and includes a second gate insulating layer, a work function metal layer and a conductive layer stacked with each other on the substrate, and a second spacer surrounds the second gate insulating layer, the work function metal layer and the conductive layer.
US09972537B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a gate structure above a portion of a fin and performing a first epitaxial growth process to form a silicon-carbide (SiC) semiconductor material above the fin in the source and drain regions of a FinFET device. In this example, the method also includes performing a heating process so as to form a source/drain graphene contact from the silicon-carbide (SiC) semiconductor material in both the source and drain regions of the FinFET device and forming first and second source/drain contact structures that are conductively coupled to the source/drain graphene contact in the source region and the drain region, respectively, of the FinFET device.
US09972536B2
A reconfigurable device and an analog circuit are formed on a single chip so that the analog circuit can be controlled by the reconfigurable device. A reconfigurable semiconductor device (1) includes a plurality of logic sections (20) and an analog section (10). The plurality of logic sections (20) are connected to each other by an address line or a data line. The analog section (10) includes a plurality of input/output sections and an output amplifier. Each of the logic sections (20) includes a plurality of address lines, a plurality of data lines, a memory cell unit, and an address decoder that decodes an address signal and that outputs a decoded signal to the memory cell unit. The plurality of logic sections (20) and the analog section (10) are mounted in the same chip package.
US09972527B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a plurality of active areas. A conductive pattern is in contact with an active area. First and second conductive line structures face first and second side walls of the conductive pattern. An air spacer is disposed between the first and second side walls. The first and second conductive line structures include a conductive line and a conductive line mask layer. The conductive line mask layer includes a lower portion having a first width and an upper portion having a second width narrower than the first width. The air spacer includes a first air spacer disposed on a side wall of the lower portion of the conductive line mask layer and a second air spacer disposed on a side wall of the upper portion of the conductive line mask layer. The second air spacer is connected with the first air spacer.
US09972524B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes receiving a silicon substrate having an isolation feature disposed on the substrate and a well adjacent the isolation feature, wherein the well includes a first dopant. The method also includes etching a recess to remove a portion of the well and epitaxially growing a silicon layer (EPI layer) in the recess to form a channel, wherein the channel includes a second dopant. The method also includes forming a barrier layer between the well and the EPI layer, the barrier layer including at least one of either silicon carbon or silicon oxide. The barrier layer can be formed either before or after the channel. The method further includes forming a gate electrode disposed over the channel and forming a source and drain in the well.
US09972514B2
An apparatus for treating a wafer-shaped article comprises a spin chuck configured to hold a wafer-shaped article of a predetermined diameter in a position wherein a lower surface of the wafer-shaped article is spaced a predetermined distance from an upper surface of the spin chuck. A treatment assembly is mounted above the upper surface of the spin chuck and underlying a wafer-shaped article when mounted on the spin chuck. The treatment assembly extends parallel to the upper surface from an axis of rotation of the spin chuck radially to a distance that is at least half the predetermined diameter. The spin chuck comprises upwardly projecting gripping pins configured to hold a wafer-shaped article in position, wherein the gripping pins do not pass through the treatment assembly.
US09972507B2
Provided is an encapsulation method not causing molding failures such as filling failures and flow marks when collectively encapsulating a large-area silicon wafer or substrate with a resin composition. Specifically, provided is a method for encapsulating a semiconductor element-mounted base material, using a curable epoxy resin composition containing: an epoxy resin (A), a curing agent (B), a pre-gelatinizing agent (C) and a filler (D). The semiconductor element-mounted base material is collectively encapsulated under conditions of (a) molding method: compression molding, (b) molding temperature: 100 to 175° C., (c) molding period: 2 to 20 min and (d) molding pressure: 50 to 350 kN.
US09972503B2
A method for selectively etching a first region of silicon oxide with respect to a second region of silicon nitride includes a first step of exposing a target object having the first region and the second region to a plasma of a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas, etching the first region, and forming a deposit containing fluorocarbon on the first region and the second region. The method further includes a second step of etching the first region by a radical of the fluorocarbon contained in the deposit. In the first step, the plasma is generated by a high frequency power supplied in a pulsed manner. Further, the first step and the second step are repeated alternately.
US09972497B2
A method for adjusting a threshold voltage includes depositing a strained liner on a gate structure to strain a gate dielectric. A threshold voltage of a transistor is adjusted by controlling an amount of strain in the liner to control an amount of work function (WF) modulating species that diffuse into the gate dielectric in a channel region. The liner is removed.
US09972483B2
A method of separating ions according to their time of flight is provided comprising: a. providing an analyzer comprising two opposing ion mirrors, each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis with the outer field-defining electrode system surrounding the inner field-defining electrode system and creating therebetween an analyzer volume; b. injecting ions into the analyzer volume or creating ions within the analyzer volume so that they separate according to their time of flight as they travel along a main flight path while undergoing a plurality of axial oscillations in the direction of the analyzer axis and a plurality of radial oscillations while orbiting about one or more inner field-defining electrodes; c. the plurality of axial oscillations and plurality of radial oscillations causing the separated ions to intercept an exit port after a predetermined number of orbits. Also provided is an analyzer for performing the method, comprising: the two opposing ion mirrors which abut at a first plane, wherein the outer field-defining electrode system of one mirror comprises two sections, the sections abutting at a second plane, comprising a first section between the first plane and the second plane, and a second section adjacent the first section and wherein the first section has at least a portion which extends radially from the analyzer axis a greater extent than an adjacent portion of the second section at the second plane.
US09972477B2
Implementations of the present disclosure relate to an electrode assembly for a processing chamber. In one implementation, the electrode assembly includes a cathode electrode having an inner volume and a ground anode electrode spaced apart from the cathode electrode. A first etchant gas is introduced through the cathode electrode and into the inner volume. The first etchant gas is ionized within the inner volume. The ionized first etchant gas is filtered to allow only radicals to flow from the inner volume into a mixing volume formed within the ground anode electrode. The mixing volume is separated from the inner volume by a gas injection ring. The radicals from the first etchant gas are mixed and reacted with a second etchant gas in molecular phase, which is introduced through the ground anode electrode into a sidewall of the gas injection ring before entering the mixing volume in an evenly distributed manner.
US09972476B2
A film forming device includes: a microwave supplying unit configured to supply microwaves for generating plasma along a treatment surface of a conductive workpiece; a negative voltage applying unit configured to apply to the workpiece a negative bias voltage for expanding a sheath layer thickness along the treatment surface of the workpiece, and a controller configured to control the microwave supplying unit and the negative voltage applying unit, wherein the microwave supplying unit has a microwave transmitting window configured to propagate the supplied microwaves to the expanded sheath layer, wherein the controller is configured to control the microwave supplying unit and the negative voltage applying unit while supplying of the microwaves so that a sheath thickness of the sheath layer changes.
US09972467B2
A vacuum valve according to embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a prescribed shaped vacuum insulation vessel 1 having openings on its both ends, sealing metal fittings 2,3 configured to seal the openings of the vacuum insulation vessel 1 respectively, and a pair of contact points 5,6 which can be brought into contact or out of contact with each other and is arranged within the vacuum insulation vessel 1, wherein the vacuum insulation vessel 1 includes a base material layer 1c of aluminum oxide, a 1st oxidization promotion layer 1a whose oxygen combination was promoted, which 1st oxidization promotion layer 1a is formed on the inner circumference of the base material layer 1c, and a 2nd oxidization promotion layer 1b whose oxygen combination was promoted, which 2nd oxidization promotion layer 1b is formed on the outer circumference of the base material layer 1c.
US09972455B2
A button includes a base, a plurality of restricting members, a cap and a linking member. The base includes two positioning holes disposed on two sides of the base, respectively. Each of the restricting members includes an engaging portion, and the engaging portions are disposed corresponding to the positioning holes, respectively. The cap is disposed opposite to the base and connected with the restricting members. The linking member is disposed on the base, two ends of which are connected with the engaging portions, respectively. The engaging portions drive the linking member to rotate and are respectively inserted into the positioning holes when the cap moves toward a direction of the base. A keyboard device including the button is also disclosed.
US09972443B2
A tantalum capacitor includes a capacitor body containing tantalum powder, having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and including a plurality of tantalum wires spaced apart from each other in a long axis direction of the rectangular parallelepiped shape and protruding from one side surface thereof perpendicular to the long axis direction; a conductive layer provided on one side surface of the capacitor body to be spaced apart from the tantalum wires; a sealing part enclosing the tantalum wires, the conductive layer, and the capacitor body and allowing end portions of the tantalum wires and a surface of the conductive layer to be exposed by the sealing part; an anode terminal provided on one side surface of the sealing part; and a cathode terminal provided on one side surface of the sealing part.
US09972440B2
A multilayer electronic component includes an element body having an internal electrode layer and a dielectric layer. These are substantially parallel to a plane including a first axis and a second axis and are alternately laminated along a third axis direction. Side surfaces facing each other in the first axis direction are respectively equipped with an insulating layer. End surfaces facing each other in the second axis direction are respectively equipped with an external electrode. An elastic modulus of the insulating layer is 12 GPa to 140 GPa.
US09972434B2
An apparatus, a system and a method for wireless power transfer are disclosed. A method of forming a physical core of a wireless power transfer device includes positioning two or more electromagnetically permeable members adjacent to one another and applying longitudinal pressure to an end of the electromagnetically permeable members, the electromagnetically permeable members at least partially encapsulated in retaining compound. A wireless power transfer device includes a casing in which is housed an induction coil, a plurality of electromagnetically permeable members arranged in a line and a retaining compound.
US09972433B2
A multiple winding transformer includes a core unit, a first winding set which has N (N≥3) number of windings, and a second winding set which has at least one winding. The windings of the first winding set are overlappingly wound around the core unit. Each of the windings includes an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of one of the windings is spaced apart from the input terminal of a next one of the windings by (360/N) degrees, and the input terminals are interconnected to form an input end. The output terminal of one of the windings is spaced apart from the output terminal of a next one of the windings by (360/N) degrees, and the output terminals are interconnected to form an output end.
US09972430B2
A coil component includes a magnetic substrate, an insulating layer provided on the magnetic substrate and having conductive coils formed in the insulating layer, and a reinforcing layer provided on the insulating layer and having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulating layer. High attenuation characteristics and mountability of a coil component may be improved and the deviation of the coefficient of thermal expansion between the components may be alleviated.
US09972428B2
Provided is a neodymium-based rare earth permanent magnet having a purity of 99.9 wt % or higher excluding gas components and component elements. The present invention can remarkably improve the magnetic properties in a neodymium-based rare earth permanent magnet by highly purifying the magnetic materials. Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a high-performance neodymium-based rare earth permanent magnet with improved heat resistance and corrosion resistance, which are inherent drawbacks of magnetic materials.
US09972427B2
A chip resistor includes a substrate, and a plurality of resistor elements each having a resistive film provided on the substrate and an interconnection film provided on the resistive film in contact with the resistive film. An electrode is provided on the substrate. Fuses disconnectably connect the resistor elements to the electrode. The resistive film is made of at least one material selected from the group of NiCr, NiCrAl, NiCrSi, NiCrSiAl, TaN, TaSiO2, TiN, TiNO and TiSiON.
US09972426B2
An electronic component is disclosed. In an embodiment, the electronic component includes a plurality of functional layers arranged one on top of the other forming a stack, first inner electrodes, and second inner electrodes, each of the first and second inner electrodes arranged between two adjacent functional layers. The electronic component further includes a first outer contact electrically connected to the first inner electrodes and a second outer contact electrically connected to the second inner electrodes, wherein the functional layers are selected such that the first and second outer contacts are electrically conductively connected to one another via the functional layers both in a basic state and in a hot state of the electronic component, wherein a temperature of the hot state is higher than a temperature of the basic state, and wherein the electronic component is an NTC component.
US09972425B2
A frequency-dependent resistor and circuitry employing the same are provided. In some embodiments, a resistor includes a substrate, an input port, an output port, and a conductive trace on the substrate between the input port and the output port. A resistance between the input port and the output port for a low frequency signal is at least five times lower than the resistance between the input port and the output port for an RF signal and the ratio of the frequencies of the RF signal to the low frequency signal is at least fifty. Circuitry including a transistor adapted to selectively couple the input to the output in response to a control signal provided via a resistor with resistance for a low frequency signal at least five times lower than resistance for an RF signal will have a reduced switching time while still isolating the RF signal.
US09972423B2
Reinforced materials for high temperature superconducting tape. More specifically reinforcement materials for significantly reducing the amount of required reinforcement and attaining much higher stress tolerances at practical conductor dimensions are described herein.
US09972416B2
Polymeric compositions comprising an ethylene-based thermoplastic polymer and an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer. Processes for producing polymeric compositions comprising an ethylene-based thermoplastic polymer and an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer. Such polymeric compositions can be employed in forming coated wires and cables.
US09972415B2
Resin composition comprising a) the reaction product of a1) one or more epoxy compounds having at least 2 epoxy groups, and a2) sorbic acid as component A; b) a solvent containing vinyl groups as component B.
US09972414B2
Provided is a method of preparing a thin film structure having anisotropic, transparent, electroconductive, flexible properties. The method of preparing a thin film structure includes providing a growth substrate; growing silver nanolines on the growth substrate by using a lightning-rod effect; molding the silver nanolines by using a polymer; and separating the silver nanolines molded by the polymer from the growth substrate to form a freestanding anisotropic, transparent, electroconductive, and flexible thin film.
US09972409B2
According to one embodiment, an insulated wire is disclosed. The insulated wire includes an aluminum conductor, and a first insulating film provided on the aluminum conductor. The first insulating film is made of a first polyimide obtained by reacting an acid component containing 50 mol % to 90 mol % of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, 5 mol % to 20 mol % of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, and 5 mol % to 40 mol % of pyromellitic anhydride with a diamine component containing 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether.
US09972407B2
A pressurized water reactor (PWR) comprises a pressure vessel containing primary coolant water. A nuclear reactor core is disposed in the pressure vessel and includes a plurality of fuel assemblies. Each fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods containing a fissile material. A control system includes a plurality of control rod assemblies (CRA's). Each CRA is guided by a corresponding CRA guide structure. A support element is disposed above the CRA guide structures and supports the CRA guide structures. The pressure vessel may be cylindrical, and the support element may comprise a support plate having a circular periphery supported by the cylindrical pressure vessel. The CRA guide structures suitably hang downward from the support plate. The lower end of each CRA guide structure may include alignment features that engage corresponding alignment features of the upper end of the corresponding fuel assembly.
US09972404B2
A semiconductor test device and a semiconductor test method are disclosed. A semiconductor test device may include a DQ signal receiver, a test mode register set signal processor, and a test mode command generator. The DQ signal receiver may receive a first DQ signal through a first DQ pin. The test mode register set signal processor may receive a test mode register set signal in response to the first DQ signal, and may output a test mode register set pulse signal. The test mode command generator may generate a test mode command corresponding to an input address in response to the test mode register set pulse signal.
US09972400B1
The present disclosure provides a calibration method for a nonvolatile memory device having a plurality of unit cells, each of the unit cells corresponding to a word line and a bit line of the nonvolatile memory device. The calibration method includes: calibrating a word signal pulse of each of the word lines with a first calibration value corresponding to the word line; calibrating a bit signal pulse of each of the bit lines with a second calibration value corresponding to the bit line; and calibrating each of the unit cells according to the word line and the bit line corresponding to the unit cell.
US09972398B2
A ROM circuit includes a first N channel transistor having an output and having device geometry and device characteristics adapted to bias the output at a predetermined level when a P channel circuit is connected to the first N channel transistor; a pass transistor connected between the output and a data bus, the pass transistor connected to a word line, the word line adapted to turn ON the pass transistor when the word line is asserted; and the P channel circuit connected to the data bus and adapted to provide leakage current to charge a gate in the first N channel transistor when pass transistor is turned ON.
US09972394B2
A level shifter circuit is designed to shift an input signal that switches within a first voltage range to supply an output signal that switches within a second voltage range, higher than the first voltage range. A first inverter stage has an input receiving the input signal and also has an output. A first capacitive element is connected between the output of the first input inverter stage and a first holding node. A latch stage is connected between the first holding node and a second holding node that is coupled to an output terminal, on which the output signal is present. The first input inverter stage is designed to operate in the first voltage range, and the latch stage is designed to operate in the second voltage range.
US09972393B1
According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for accelerating programming of data, the method may include receiving multiple input data units that were sent from a host computer; wherein the input data units may include first and second input data units; first level programming the first input data units to cache memory pages and first level programming the second input data units to first level target memory pages; and applying a copy back operation that comprises retrieving the first input data units from the cache memory pages and second level programming the first input data units to second level target memory pages; wherein any target page out of the first level target pages and the second level target pages differs from a cache memory page; and wherein the first level programming is faster than the second level programming.
US09972392B2
A SONOS byte-erasable EEPROM is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a plurality of SONOS memory cells forming an EEPROM memory array. The apparatus also includes a controller that generates bias voltages to program and erase the memory cells. The controller performs a refresh operation when programming selected memory cells to reduce write-disturb on unselected memory cells to prevent data loss.
US09972388B2
Disclosed are methods, systems and devices for powering up devices including non-volatile memory elements in an array of non-volatile memory elements. In one aspect, during a sequence for powering up an integrated device, non-volatile memory elements may be isolated from voltage supplies to avoid in advertent changes of memory states stored in the non-volatile memory elements.
US09972384B2
An electronic device comprising a semiconductor memory unit that includes a resistance variable element formed over a substrate, and including stacked therein a bottom electrode, a variable resistance layer and a top electrode, and a barrier layer formed over the resistance variable element, and including an amorphous silicon layer which is doped with at least one kind of impurity.
US09972383B2
A first read operation is performed using a first voltage level to read data from a memory array. An instant bit count corresponding to a number of bits in the data read from the memory array is determined. A recorded bit count corresponding to a number of bits in the data that was written at a time of writing the data to the memory array is accessed. A difference between the instant bit count and the recorded bit count is obtained. Conditioned on determining that the difference is less than or equal to a first threshold value, the data read from the memory array is output using the first read operation. Conditioned on determining that the difference is greater than the first threshold value, a second read operation is performed using a second voltage level that is distinct from the first voltage level.
US09972371B2
A memory device includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell, a third memory cell, a bitline sense amplifier, and a switch circuit. The first memory cell is connected to a first wordline and a first bitline. The second memory cell is connected to the first wordline and a second bitline. The third memory cell is connected to the first wordline and a third bitline. The bitline sense amplifier is connected to the third bitline. The switch circuit is connected to the first bitline, the second bitline, and the bitline sense amplifier. The switch circuit performs charge sharing between the first memory cell and the first bitline to generate a first reference voltage, and charge sharing between the second memory cell and the second bitline to generate a second reference voltage.
US09972364B2
A method of maintaining a power supply voltage during a brownout is disclosed. The method includes the step of storing a charge in a charge reservoir (608) and storing a charge on a power supply capacitor (832). A charge from the charge reservoir is applied to the power supply capacitor in response to a power supply fail signal (BROWNOUT).
US09972359B2
Implementations generally relate to providing video transitions. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a soundtrack. The method further includes determining one or more sound characteristics of the soundtrack. The method further includes determining at least one target portion of the soundtrack based on the one or more sound characteristics. The method further includes receiving one or more video clips. The method further includes adjusting a length of one or more of the video clips based on one or more adjusting policies. The method further includes combining the one or more video clips with the soundtrack.
US09972358B2
Various videolization solutions are provided. A method for generating video is provided according to an example. The method includes obtaining one or more data portions and generating a customizable video using the one or more data portions and using one or more video generation templates; determining one or more selectable objects in the customizable video using one or more object definitions; receiving an indication indicating a user selection of at least one selectable object corresponding to an object definition; obtaining additional data portions related to the at least one selectable object corresponding to the indication; and regenerating the customizable video using the additional data portions and the one or more data portions corresponding to the indication.
US09972357B2
An audio and video synchronizing perceptual model is described that is based on how a person perceives audio and/or video (e.g., how the brain processes sound and/or visual content). The relative emotional impact associated with different audio portions may be employed to determine transition points to facilitate automatic synchronization of audio data to video data to create a production that achieves a particular overall emotional effect on the listener/viewer. Various processing techniques of the perceptual model may utilize perceptual characteristics within the audio portions to determine a transition point for automatic synchronization with video data.
US09972351B1
The magnetic tape device including: a magnetic tape; and a servo head, in which the servo head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a servo pattern reading element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, the magnetic layer includes a servo pattern, and logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050.
US09972349B1
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk surface comprising a plurality of servo tracks, wherein the head comprises at least two read elements including a first read element and a second read element, and at least two of the read elements are offset radially relative to a center of the two read elements by at least a width of a servo track at all radial locations of the head over the disk surface. First servo data recorded in a first servo track is read using the first read element to generate a first read signal, and second servo data recorded in a second servo track is read using the second read element to generate a second read signal. The head is servoed over the disk surface based on at least the first read signal and the second read signal.
US09972345B1
A method includes depositing a layer of pole material on a substrate. The layer of pole material has a bottom surface that is adjacent to the substrate and a top surface that is opposite the bottom surface. A masking material is deposited over a portion of the top surface. Material from the pole material unprotected by the masking material is removed to form a write pole having first and second side walls. At least a portion of a trench formed by removal of the material from the layer of pole material is filled with a sacrificial material. The mask and a portion of the write pole at the top surface are removed to form a beveled trailing edge surface. The sacrificial material is then removed. Front shield gap material is deposited over the beveled trailing edge surface and over portions of the side walls.
US09972338B2
A noise suppression device includes: an adaptive filter unit that suppresses, using an adaptive filter, a noise component contained in a voice signal generated from a voice captured by a voice input unit to generate a corrected voice signal; a noise generation detection unit that detects timing of generation of the noise component in the voice signal; and a period suppression unit that suppresses the corrected voice signal during a predetermined period of time after the timing of the generation of the noise component.
US09972336B2
An apparatus of this invention is directed to a speech input apparatus for obtaining a piece of high-quality speech with included noise reduced. The speech input apparatus includes a sound insulating block attached to a ceiling member in a vehicle, a first microphone that is attached to a side surface of the sound insulating block or the ceiling member in the vicinity of the sound insulating block on a side close to a passenger of the vehicle, inputs a sound mixture including the voice of the passenger and noise in the vehicle, and outputs a first signal to a noise suppressor configured to output an enhanced speech signal, and a second microphone that is attached to a side surface of the sound insulating block or the ceiling member in the vicinity of the sound insulating block on a side far from the passenger, inputs the noise in the vehicle, and outputs a second signal to the noise suppressor.
US09972334B2
A device includes a decoder configured to receive an encoded audio signal at a decoder and to generate a synthesized signal based on the encoded audio signal. The device further includes a classifier configured to classify the synthesized signal based on at least one parameter determined from the encoded audio signal.
US09972332B2
Encoding and decoding methods and apparatus are described. An example method is described for embedding information into audio by determining a first set of frequency components to represent a synchronization block, the synchronization block representing one of a plurality of different message types, one frequency component from each set of frequency components being located in a respective code band, and spacing between adjacent code bands is equal to or less than the spacing between adjacent frequency components of each code band. Determining amplitudes of respective ones of the first set of frequency components representing the synchronization block based on a masking ability of an audio block of the audio. Synthesizing the first set of frequency components representing the synchronization block to determine a first set of synthesized code frequency components, based on the determined amplitudes. Combining the first set of synthesized code frequency components with the audio block.
US09972319B2
A head mounted display device includes an image display unit that allows a user to visually recognize an image and through which outside scenery is transmitted and a microphone that detects a voice. In addition, the head mounted display device further includes a data acquisition unit that acquires data and an additional data display control unit that allows the image display unit to display an image based on the voice detected by the microphone and the data acquired by the data acquisition unit when the outside scenery is visually recognized by the user through the image display unit.
US09972306B2
A system and method are presented for acoustic data selection of a particular quality for training the parameters of an acoustic model, such as a Hidden Markov Model and Gaussian Mixture Model, for example, in automatic speech recognition systems in the speech analytics field. A raw acoustic model may be trained using a given speech corpus and maximum likelihood criteria. A series of operations are performed, such as a forced Viterbi-alignment, calculations of likelihood scores, and phoneme recognition, for example, to form a subset corpus of training data. During the process, audio files of a quality that does not meet a criterion, such as poor quality audio files, may be automatically rejected from the corpus. The subset may then be used to train a new acoustic model.
US09972305B2
An apparatus for normalizing input data of an acoustic model includes a window extractor configured to extract windows of frame data to be input to an acoustic model from frame data of a speech to be recognized, and a normalizer configured to normalize the frame data to be input to the acoustic model in units of the extracted windows.
US09972296B2
An acoustic-to-electronic bass drum conversion kit describes the parts needed to convert an acoustic bass drum into an electronic bass drum trigger and amplification device. My invention includes a front panel assembly which has at least one loudspeaker mounted on a panel which fits over the front of a bass drum shell, and a rear panel assembly which has an amplifier and an impact sensitive kick pad mounted on a rear panel. After discarding the front and rear drum heads and hoops, the front and rear panel assemblies are attached to the bass drum shell using conventional lug, tension rod and claw bracket technology. My invention provides the desired look of an acoustic bass drum for drummers who desire an electronic drum amplification system.
US09972295B2
Provided is an apparatus installed in a cellular phone (700) to control a guitar effector loop. The apparatus includes a patch screen display unit for displaying a patch, which is constituted by combinations of the plurality of foot switches (600) and the compactors (500) set to the respective foot switches (600), on a patch screen (710) of the cellular phone (700), a bank screen display unit for display a bank constituted by the plurality of patches on a bank screen (720) of the cellular phone (700), and a control unit performing a control so that the patch screen (710) corresponding to a selected patch is displayed by the patch screen display unit when one patch is selected from the plurality of patches displayed on the back screen (720).
US09972294B1
Multiple audio files may be synchronized using harmonic sound included in audio content obtained from audio tracks. Individual audio tracks are partitioned into multiple temporal windows of a first and second temporal window length. Individual audio waveforms for individual temporal windows of the first and second window length are transformed into frequency space in which energy is represented as a function of frequency. Individual pitches and magnitudes of harmonic sound determined for individual temporal windows may be compared using a multi-resolution framework to correlate pitches and harmonic energy of multiple audio tracks to one another.
US09972293B1
The Kit Lift is a method of and a portable, modular, light weight apparatus for elevating a drum set and drummer for performances by only supporting the essential elements of the drum set, including the kick drum front support arms, the kick drum pedal(s), hi-hat stand feet and hi-hat pedal, without increasing the stage footprint requirement.
US09972292B2
A method of forming a drum hoop is described and shown. The method can include forming connecting portions into ends of a strip of hoop material. The strip of hoop material can then be rolled such that the connecting portions interconnect. The method can also include forming an elongated edge of the strip and/or hoop of material into a rolled bend, such as a rolled bend toward the outside of the hoop. Finally, the method can include leveling the top and/or bottom surfaces of the hoop, such as leveling the rolled bend. This leveling can be accomplished by stamping one or both of the top and bottom surfaces of the hoop, the top surface in some embodiments being the top of the rolled bend.
US09972290B1
A one-piece, hand-held device that enables users to pick, pluck, strum, or strike strings of a musical instrument simultaneously. The device comprises a first planar plectrum having a grasping surface and a striking surface in the same plane and a second planar plectrum secured to the first planar plectrum by a bracket located at the midsection of the first planar plectrum the top of the second planar plectrum, wherein the first planar plectrum is substantially parallel to the second planar plectrum.
US09972288B2
This apparatus and system provides an acoustic hollow body guitar which allows for the careful adjustment of the instrument neck to body relative angle of inclination and thus the string to fret distance (action height). This adjustment has the capability of being accomplished while the guitar is in the tuned state and in the playing position. The traditional wood jointing is abandoned and replaced by a guitar neck to body hinge-less mounting bracket assembly apparatus. This system employs a single adjusting nut/dial that is accessed through either/and a port in the side of the upper bout or the sound-hole.
US09972279B2
An electronic apparatus to provide an area of an image displayed on a display apparatus in a GUI form. The electronic apparatus transfers a user command related to an external apparatus to the external apparatus, and displays an area of an image displayed on the external apparatus on a display. Therefore, it is possible to display an area of an image displayed on a display apparatus in the GUI form using another display apparatus so that the user may select a desired GUI item more conveniently and more intuitively.
US09972275B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and system for content presentation in a main processor shutoff mode. A method for content presentation includes transferring content to at least one of a co-processor and storage accessible by the co-processor and shutting off the main processor in response to the transferring of content such that the main processor is disabled while the co-processor presents the content stored in the storage. The content may include at least one of multimedia data, text data, and image data. A disclosed system includes a main processor in communication with a co-processor. The main processor includes data transfer logic operative to transfer the content and to shut off the main processor in response to the transferring of content such that the main processor is disabled while the co-processor presents the content stored in the storage.
US09972272B2
The invention discloses an array substrate and a driving method thereof, and a display device, and the array substrate includes: a common voltage generation unit, a timing control unit, a data voltage generation unit, a switch control unit and pixel units, wherein the switch control unit is connected to the common voltage generation unit, the timing control unit, the data voltage generation unit, the common voltage line and the data line, and the switch control unit is used to load a common voltage signal on the common voltage line and load a data voltage signal on the data line when a current frame of image is displayed, and load the common voltage signal on the data line and load the data voltage signal on the common voltage line when a next frame of image is displayed.
US09972260B2
A display device including a processor that includes a first display mode in which the processor displays the image on the display screen; and a second display mode in which the processor displays the image on the display screen from the image data received by the processor. The display device further includes a calculator that calculates a blanking period between a writing end time point of the internal image data corresponding to a final frame immediately before switching from the first display mode to the second display mode and a writing start time point of the image data corresponding to an initial frame immediately after switching from the first display mode to the second display mode, and an adjuster that adjusts at least one of a vertical retrace period, a horizontal retrace period, and a clock frequency, which correspond to the internal image data, depending on the blanking period.
US09972246B2
Provided is a pixel including an organic light emitting diode, a driving circuit, and a light receiving circuit. The driving circuit is configured to supply a driving current corresponding to a data signal supplied through a data line during a scan period to the organic light emitting diode during an emission period, and to supply a first sensing current corresponding to threshold voltage/mobility information of a driving transistor or degradation information of the organic light emitting diode to a feedback line during a current sensing period. The light receiving circuit is configured to supply a second sensing current corresponding to luminance of the organic light emitting diode to the feedback line during the emission period.
US09972245B2
A pixel circuit, a driving method for the pixel circuit, a display panel, and a display device, the pixel circuit includes a selecting module (01), a writing module (02), a driving module (03), and a light emitting element (OLED). When a high-luminance picture needs to be displayed, the selecting module (01) outputs the signal from the first power supply signal terminal (VDDH) to the second node (P2), so that the signal from the first power supply signal terminal (VDDH) drives the light emitting element (OLED) to emit light; when a low-luminance picture is to be displayed, the selecting module (01) outputs a signal from the second power supply signal terminal (VDDL) to the second node (P2), so that the signal from the second power source signal (VDDL) drives the light emitting element to emit light.
US09972242B2
A pixel includes: an organic light emitting diode including a cathode electrode connected to a second power source; a first transistor including a first electrode connected to a first power source, and to control an amount of current flowing from the first power source to the second power source via the organic light emitting diode in response to a data signal; a plurality of second transistors connected in series between a gate electrode of the first transistor and an initialization power source, and to be turned on when a scan signal is supplied to an i−1-th (i is a natural number) scan line; and a first capacitor connected between a voltage source and a first node, the first node being between the plurality of second transistors.
US09972233B2
A display device including a display panel including scan lines, data lines, and first pixels disposed thereon, an expansion detecting unit configured to determine expansion of the display panel, a control unit configured to generate a control signal to correct an image signal depending on a degree of expansion when the display panel is determined to be expanded, a scan driver connected to the scan lines and configured to apply the control signal to the scan lines connected to the corresponding pixels depending on the control signal input from the control unit, and a data driver connected to the data lines and configured to apply the control signal to the data lines connected to the corresponding pixels depending on the control signal input from the control unit.
US09972228B2
An annular multi-surface display device includes: a display panel, with two opposite sides of the display panel being bent toward a back surface of a display area respectively and being sealed together, so that a cross section of the display panel which is obtained along a direction perpendicular to the two opposite sides forms a closed annular structure; where an outer surface of the display panel with the cross section being the closed annular structure is a tubular surface, and a display surface of the annular multi-surface display device is the outer surface of the display panel.
US09972226B2
A signage frame kit for a point of purchase interface, such as a speaker post, is provided. The signage frame kit includes frame elements that can be retrofitted to an existing point of purchase interface. The frame elements provide not only a means for attaching the frame to the point of purchase interface but also provide a means for receiving signage which can be prominently displayed at the point of purchase interface.
US09972222B2
A method of manufacturing a roll of adhesive labels. The method includes the step of providing a plurality of adhesive labels fixed to a backing sheet. A predetermined number of labels are removed from the backing sheet to thereby form a leading edge of the sheet that only includes the backing sheet and no labels. The leading edge includes no labels to thereby facilitate mounting the sheet of carrier material on a printing or applicator machine.
US09972221B2
The repositionable taxidermy mount apparatus is an invention that allows a user to quickly and easily reposition a taxidermy type mounted animal or animal portion. The apparatus provides for motion about a plurality of axes creating the ability to display a taxidermy mounted animal in a multitude of different positions and orientations. The apparatus further includes an easily interchangeable swivel plate device which allows the user to display different mounted animals at various mount angles.
US09972220B2
An omnidirectional neck assembly for a crash test dummy includes a plurality of vertebra discs, a plurality of ligament joints each having a joint element disposed between the vertebra discs, the vertebra discs having a profile that can simulate angles of a human neck in all directions.
US09972214B2
A child hygiene training device for providing inert hygiene items for use by a child to form good hygiene habits at an early age includes a plurality of hygiene tools. Each of the hygiene tools is configured for use by a child to perform a respective hygienic task. The plurality of hygiene tools includes a mock deodorant comprising inert ingredients configured for safe application to the child while mimicking application of a genuine deodorant.
US09972212B1
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for automating the verification of aerial vehicle sensors as part of a pre-flight, flight departure, in-transit flight, and/or delivery destination calibration verification process. At different stages, aerial vehicle sensors may obtain sensor measurements about objects within an environment, the obtained measurements may be processed to determine information about the object, as presented in the measurements, and the processed information may be compared with the actual information about the object to determine a variation or difference between the information. If the variation is within a tolerance range, the sensor may be auto adjusted and operation of the aerial vehicle may continue. If the variation exceeds a correction range, flight of the aerial vehicle may be aborted and the aerial vehicle routed for a full sensor calibration.
US09972211B2
According to an embodiment, a communication device is installed in a movable body and includes a receiver, a verifier, and a mapping generator. The receiver is configured to receive a synthesis message including synthesis information and second verification information. The synthesis information is information about motion of a plurality of movable bodies including the movable body installed with the device; the second verification information is information indicative of a validity of the synthesis information. The verifier is configured to verify the validity of the synthesis information on the basis of the second verification information. The mapping generator is configured to generate mapping information on the basis of the synthesis information verified as valid. The mapping information represents a relative position of at least one of the movable bodies with respect to the movable body installed with the device.
US09972204B2
Various embodiments for logging traffic collision data at a traffic signal, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises recording a media loop of a predetermined time and an associated traffic light sequence by a recording device placed in substantially close proximity to a traffic signal; and upon registering a media event above a predetermined threshold level, saving instant media loop information and the associated traffic light sequence to a storage device for aiding in determining fault in a traffic accident.
US09972199B1
Technologies are described to provide control of traffic signals based at least in part on the presence of non-motorized users. In some examples, a system may include at least one sensor configured to autonomously acquire motorized user presence data at an intersection, and at least one sensor configured to autonomously acquire non-motorized user presence data at the intersection. The system may also include an agent configured to determine a motorized user queue length based on the motorized user presence data, determine a non-motorized user queue length based on the non-motorized user presence data, and control the traffic signals based at least in part on the non-motorized user queue length.
US09972198B2
A method and a radiosonde wherein the radiosonde is launched from a launching station and transmission of the radiosonde is started in order to send measurement data to a receiver. The transmission of the radiosonde is started only after a delay from the launch.
US09972196B2
An isolator system is disclosed in which a pair of circuit systems is separated by an isolation barrier but engage in mutual communication by an isolator device that bridges the isolation barrier. A first circuit system may include a measurement system generating measurement data and status monitor generating status data. The first circuit system also may include a communication system that multiplexes the measurement data and the status data for transmission across a common isolator device. In this manner, the number of isolator devices may be reduced over conventional designs.
US09972195B2
Techniques are described for reducing false alarms related to security and automation systems. One method includes receiving a request to activate a security function associated with a automation system, initiating a first security duration after a predetermined time associated with the received request, detecting an occurrence of an event associated with the automation system during the first security duration, initiating a second security duration based on the detecting, and broadcasting a message requesting authentication credentials at a location of the automation system during the second security duration.
US09972190B2
A detector of an event includes an electrical energy generator formed by a flexible piezoelectric element with a weight fastened to the flexible piezoelectric element that is biased with the weight in a position with the piezoelectric element flexed. In response to detection of the event, a trigger releases the weight so as to cause a vibration of the piezoelectric element. This vibration is converted by the flexible piezoelectric element into electrical energy. An electronic system is power by the electrical energy and is operable to generate an electrical signal indicative of the detected event.
US09972186B2
Operation of a vehicle generally requires that the operator have sufficient range of motion in the upper limbs to 1) steer the vehicle and/or 2) to operate the vehicle's ancillary controls. The presently disclosed technology provides for limiting upper limb movement by requiring a user's upper limbs to be oriented in a way as to limit or prevent the user from being able to operate the vehicle. Cuffs may be secured to a variety of locations on a user's upper limbs. In a predetermined upper limb position, the cuffs are oriented in a specific location and orientation on the user's upper limbs and in a specific proximity and orientation with respect to one another. The user is compliant by maintaining the cuffs in the predetermined upper limb position. To ensure compliance, the cuffs are equipped with a compliance monitor that monitors the cuffs contact, proximity, and/or orientation with one another.
US09972174B2
A wearable device that warms or cools to notify a user wearing the device is provided. The wearable device includes: a plurality of individual heating and/or cooling spots, a plurality of dots pulsating in heating/cooling sections, and/or a plurality of dots moving around in heating/cooling sections. A system is also provided comprising a wearable device, a scheduling device, and a communication between the wearable device and the scheduling device.
US09972163B2
A gaming system includes a wagering game mechanism associating the game-outcome symbol of multiple reels of the wagering game to a unified game-symbol outcome. The wagering game generates an outcome symbol array with independent array elements and one or more associated groups of array elements. The associated groups of array elements are visually coordinated while the reels are spinning. Each associated group of array elements share a common game-outcome symbol based upon reels having a common reel strip for the associated group or a particular game-outcome symbol array element of the associated group. When the reels stop spinning and the wagering game outcome is displayed, the elements of a given associated group share an identical game-outcome symbol. Each array element not a part of a associated group uses a reel having a default reel strip to determine game-outcome symbols, and associated group array elements use a reel having a reel strip containing at least one symbol common to every element of the associated group.
US09972158B2
A method is described for the automatic determination of a planogram in a vending machine using image processing. Novel steps include the use of a Gaussian map in a two-dimensional color space, such as the HS plane, to create high-dimensionally color vectors for all and for selected portions of images. Multiple feature detection/extraction algorithms are run between multiple idealized reference images for a product and one image from one vending machine coil location. The large resulting candidate feature list is pruned in a series of steps using both color and gray-scale color vectors and small area image matching around features. Remaining candidate features are ranked by a RANSAC outlier removal step, with the top ranked product then being the correct product in that coil in the planogram. Steps are repeated for all coils in a vending machine.
US09972148B2
A key-less entry system for motor vehicle uses actuations of one or more pre-existing vehicle components accessible from outside the vehicle, such as door handles, to generate an unlock an unlock code that is stored in a control unit. The code represents a sequence of actuations of component(s). Upon leaving the vehicle, the user locks the vehicle and sets the code by actuating the components in the desired sequence. To later unlock the vehicle, the user repeats the sequence of actuations, and the control unit sends an unlock signal to one or more door latches.
US09972142B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to automated generation a flight log and a squawk list file. A computer records a preliminary flight log data file (PFLDF), and automatically generates a preliminary squawk list file (PSLF) that includes a plurality of squawk events recorded while an aircraft is in flight. A portable wireless communication device executes a software application, which can cause a display to display each squawk event from the PSLF for review. An input system receives an input for each particular squawk event. These inputs for each particular squawk event can be an edit input, an approval input, or a removal input. When all squawk events in the PSLF have been reviewed, the processor can generate a final flight log and a final squawk list file (FSLF) that includes each of the squawk events from the PSLF that have been reviewed and approved for inclusion in the final squawk list.
US09972139B2
According to the present disclosure, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a depth determination unit that determines a reference depth of a stereoscopic view image disposed in a display region of content, and a depth changing unit that changes a depth of at least a part of the stereoscopic view image such that a depth of the display region of the content coincides with the determined reference depth.
US09972138B2
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for augmenting an appearance of a hilt to simulate a bladed weapon. A hilt may be augmented with a blade of a bladed weapon by detecting a landmark associated with the hilt, determining a position and/or an orientation of the hilt, determining an overlay image comprising the blade of the bladed weapon, wherein the blade is placed within the overlay image according to the determined position and/or the determined orientation of the hilt, and displaying the overlay image so that the blade of the bladed weapon appears to be attached to the hilt.
US09972136B2
A method, a system, and a device for navigating in a virtual reality scene, using body parts gesturing and posturing are provided herein. The method may include: projecting a synthetic 3D scene, into both eyes of a user, via a near eye display, so as to provide a virtual reality view to the user; identifying at least one gesture or posture carried out by at least one body part of said user; measuring at least one metric of a vector associated with the detected gesture or posture; applying a movement or action of said user in virtual reality environment, based on the measured metrics; and modifying the virtual reality view so as to reflect the movement or action of said user in the virtual reality environment.
US09972127B1
A computer-implemented method and system provide one or more primitive commands. Each primitive command when executed defines a shape of an object and accepts input data to specify one or more dimensions of the shape. When the dimensions are applied to the shape, a three-dimensional (3D) object that is a 3D part and/or a 3D feature is created. Input data is utilized by a selected primitive command to create a sketch as specified by a definition of the shape on a sketch plane that is automatically selected and to specify a transformation that creates the 3D object from the sketch.
US09972119B2
A method to display a virtual object includes receiving virtual-object data representing a virtual object, a first rendering of the virtual object being displayed on a display screen during a first interval. The method also includes receiving display-screen data indicating a physical size, position, and orientation of the display screen, and receiving display-device data indicating a position and orientation of a near-eye display device. The method includes composing a second, 3D rendering of the virtual object based on the virtual-object data and on the relative position and orientation of the display screen versus the near-eye display device, as indicated by the display-screen and display-device data, and, displaying the second rendering binocularly on the near-eye display device during a subsequent second interval, such that the second rendering coincides with the first rendering in an augmented field of view of the user.
US09972117B2
A flying effects choreography system provides visualizations of flying effects within a virtual environment. The system allows choreographers to define a sequence of waypoints that identify a path of motion. A physics engine of the system may then calculate position data for a performer or other element attached to a free-swinging pendulum cable, as the performer and pendulum cable move along the path of motion. In this manner, the position data describes the motion of the performer, including the pendulum effect or swing of the performer on the pendulum cable. The position data may be used to generate one or more visualizations that show the performer's motion, including the pendulum effect. The choreographer may review the visualizations and make modifications any number of times, until a desired flying effect is produced, without having to physically implement the flying effect in the real world.
US09972116B2
An information processing apparatus includes a bio-information obtaining unit configured to obtain bio-information of a subject; a kinetic-information obtaining unit configured to obtain kinetic information of the subject; and a control unit configured to determine an expression or movement of an avatar on the basis of the bio-information obtained by the bio-information obtaining unit and the kinetic information obtained by the kinetic-information obtaining unit and to perform a control operation so that the avatar with the determined expression or movement is displayed.
US09972115B2
A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with visual characteristics of a computer-generated character and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first visual characteristic and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first visual characteristic for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the value associated with the first visual characteristic.
US09972102B1
Methods and devices to improve the quality of graphics objects based on adaptive stroke thickening are disclosed. The method includes receiving a graphics object having at least one stroke. The graphics object is represented within an object window made of a plurality of cells. The method further includes identifying a fill region being defined by the stroke. Both the fill region and the stroke are represented by a group of cells. The identified fill region is tagged using a predefined flag indicating a tagged fill region or any its attributes. The stroke is strengthened unidirectionally away from the tagged fill region, where a stroke color associated with the stroke being strengthened is replaced by an adapted color provided the stroke color is same as a background color associated with a background, which is a part of the object window.
US09972101B2
Techniques for creating a three dimensional model of an object and eliminate artifacts due to object motion. Such techniques are applied to line scans and slice scans of an object.
US09972098B1
A distance estimation system comprised of a laser light emitter, two image sensors, and an image processor are positioned on a baseplate such that the fields of view of the image sensors overlap and contain the projections of an emitted collimated laser beam within a predetermined range of distances. The image sensors simultaneously capture images of the laser beam projections. The displacement of the laser beam projection from a first image taken by a first image sensor to a second image taken by a second image sensor is extracted by the image processor. The displacement is compared to a preconfigured table relating displacement distances with distances from the baseplate to projection surfaces to find an estimated distance of the baseplate from the projection surface at the time that the images were captured.
US09972084B2
A medical image processing apparatus according to the embodiments includes a display, and processing circuitry configured to execute a program. The processing circuitry extracts at least part of a lung from three-dimensional image data, extracts a tubular structure from at least part of the extracted lung, calculates area ratios between a lumen and a wall of the extracted tubular structure along the tubular structure, and generates area ratio images by allocating pixel values, corresponding to the calculated area ratios, to corresponding positions on the tubular structure having the area ratios being calculated, and displays the area ratio images on the display.
US09972083B2
A method for analyzing a subject tooth. The method includes obtaining volume image data including at least the subject tooth and segments the subject tooth from within the volume data according to one or more operator instructions. An index is generated that is indicative of a suspected fracture or lesion identified for the segmented subject tooth. The subject tooth is displayed with the suspected fracture or lesion highlighted. The generated index also displays.
US09972079B2
Provided is a wafer appearance inspection apparatus that can segmentize an inspection target region, enable expedited execution of an operation to set a sensitivity threshold to each region, and enhance the inspection efficiency. Pattern matching between the image region of a part of a standard wafer, which is defined as a template region, and the entire image region of the standard wafer is performed to compute an image editing value. The computed image editing value is used to edit an inspection target image. A region for which a threshold is to be set can be automatically confirmed by roughly specifying the region from among edited image regions displayed on the display. The confirmed region and a similar pattern region are searched and displayed. When the similar region is selected, the initial sensitivity threshold is displayed, and a change is made on an as-needed basis. The region of the set sensitivity threshold is displayed by the display color corresponding to the determined threshold. Inspection is executed according to the set threshold.
US09972059B2
The present approach includes presenting an e-book having content, in which the content includes selected content and non-selected content. The method includes receiving a first prompt to hide the selected content of the e-book and hiding the selected content, in response to the first prompt, while presenting the non-selected content of the e-book. The method further includes receiving a second prompt to reveal the hidden content of the e-book and temporarily revealing the hidden content, in response to the second prompt, while presenting the non-selected content of the e-book.
US09972049B2
The present embodiments are provided to facilitate the automatic trading of spreads in a fast and accurate manner. One or more market data feeds that contain market information for tradeable objects are received at an exchange. A spread data feed is generated in response to the market data feeds and from one or more spread setting parameters, which can be entered by a user. The spread data feed is preferably displayed in a spread window as bid and ask quantities associated with an axis or scale of prices. The user can enter orders in the spread window and the legs will be automatically worked to achieve, or attempt to achieve, the spread. In addition, other tools disclosed herein may be utilized to assist the user in making such trades.
US09972044B1
A fulfillment system provides an effective way to send a greeting card with gift items in a high velocity fulfillment environment. When a consumer purchases an item, an order may be sent to the fulfillment system that includes a request for the item and a greeting card. The item may be retrieved from an inventory in a warehouse facility, and transported to a sorting station within the fulfillment system. Concurrently, the greeting card is printed on-demand at a recordation station and transported to the same sorting station within the fulfillment system. At the sorting station, the fulfillment system detects the presence of the item and the greeting card and initiates a process to package the item and greeting card in a shared container.
US09972042B2
A system and method for providing recommendations to individuals on a social network, in which the recommendations include information indicating the similarity of the individuals to one another, to aid the individuals in judging the degree to which the opinions of the others are applicable to the themselves.
US09972040B2
A method for determining buying online and picking up in store. A computer receives from a shopper a request for buying online and picking up in store. The computer parses stores carrying an item purchased online and connections of the shopper in a social network. The computer provides the shopper with a list of one or more connections for picking up the item for the shopper. The computer sends to one of the one or more connections a token for picking up the item and information of a store where the item is picked up, after the shopper chooses the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item. The computer sends to the shopper a notification, after the item is picked up by the one of the one or more connections for picking up the item.
US09972038B2
Systems and methods of assisting in an electronic shopping experience are disclosed. A request may be received, from a user on a device having a user interface, to search for an item listed for sale in a marketplace. A balance amount of an account associated with or available to the user at the marketplace is displayed in the user interface. The search results are limited to at least one item having a sales price less than the displayed balance amount and the at least one item is displayed in the user interface. The account may be a user account at a payment service provider.
US09972037B1
Systems and methods for providing wireless charging via radio-frequency (RF) carrier wave. The system can enable user equipment (UE) to charge wirelessly using RF waves when the UE is not it use. The system can activate wireless charging based in part on the battery level of the UE. The system can also initiate wireless charging when the UE is sufficiently idle (e.g., not being used for a call or web browsing). The system can also ensure that the signal strength of the carrier waves at the UE is sufficiently strong to support wireless charging. One or more system components can ensure that the threshold charge level, threshold signal strength, and threshold utilization rate are met and that the UE is authorized for wireless charging on the network. Wireless charging may be billed to the user according to usage (e.g., kWh), at a flat rate, or per instance.
US09972036B2
A power supply and demand control method for a power storage system includes predicting a consumption power of a customer for each of time slots divided by a specific time interval, assigning one of a frequency control or a peak shaving control to each of the time slots based on the predicted consumption power, controlling the storage battery based on the assigned frequency control or the assigned peak shaving control in each of the time slots, wherein the peak shaving control is assigned to each of the time slots in which the predicted consumption power is higher than a contract power, and the frequency control is assigned to each of the times slot in which the predicted consumption power is equal to or lower than the contract power.
US09972034B2
Techniques are provided that include obtaining a Document Object Model of an HTML document, such as a web page of a publisher. Elements of the Document Object Model may be identified that are associated with native advertisement placement candidate containers. Based at least in part on analysis associated with the Document Object Model, and utilizing at least some of the identified elements, one or more native advertisement placement candidate containers may be determined. Some techniques may utilize, in the analysis, construction and utilization of a suffix tree of a string of tags comprising all tags in the Document Object Model. Some techniques may utilize, in the analysis, a node flattening technique in connection with the Document Object Model.
US09972028B2
There are disclosed systems and methods for calculating the “social score” of users of social websites to determine who the “social leaders” are. The activities of users of social websites are monitored and activities weighted. The combined scores for the user's activities provide an absolute score for the particular user. The absolute score from a single social website, or combined absolute scores from a plurality of social websites, can be used. In either instance, the absolute score obtained of a user is compared to the absolute scores of other users and a relative score is obtained. The relative score provides a ranking of each user as compared to the rest of the user population. In this manner, social leaders, e.g., the top ten percent in relative score can be identified. Social leaders are of interest to various entities to provide targets for advertising, product test marketing, and the like.
US09972026B2
A method is disclosed for tracking advertisement effectiveness. First information associated with desired advertising information is broadcast from at least one of a plurality of fixed information nodes. A mobile unit receives the broadcast information and outputs the desired advertising information. An advertisement counter is started at the time of receipt of the broadcast information and presence information is broadcast from at least one of a plurality of fixed monitoring nodes over a restricted broadcast range, which at least one fixed monitoring node is disposed in a predetermined fixed physical proximity with a vendor location. The broadcast presence information is received at the mobile unit and a presence counter is started in response to receipt of the presence information. At the mobile unit loss of receipt of the broadcast presence information, the presence counter is stopped.
US09972024B2
Embodiments provide systems and methods for providing customer insights across multiple channels based on cross-channel interactions with the customer. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a customer insight hub that leverages data sources across a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) product suite of a plurality of different CRM applications to generate rich customer insights that can be easily leveraged across customer channels including but not limited to web, telephony, chat, emails, social, etc. These insights can be used by different processes and/or provided on an agent desktop to facilitate the delivery of a personalized, efficient, and consistent end customer experience across customer touch points or channels. Embodiments include defining and generating commonly used customer insights, including but not limited to customer identity, customer intent, customer priority, and customer preferences, as well as custom insights.
US09972022B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for managing resources. A system for managing resources is configured for categorizing users according to at least one of common user characteristics and common user behaviors with respect to at least a first domain to yield a group of users. The system is also configured for identifying a resource associated with at least one user behavior in a second domain different from the first domain during a first time interval for at least one user from the group of users. The system is further configured for modifying an accessibility of the resource, during a second time interval after the first time interval, with respect to the second domain for at least other users in the group of users based on the at least one user behavior.
US09972020B1
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for providing targeted offers to a user who has a pre-existing account with the offeror based on information of the account and the user's web browsing information. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for such targeted offers, the targeted offer provider may comprise a combination of a web browser toolbar and a computing system linked across a communications network, the networking equipment of an internet service provider, and a proxy computing device.
US09972018B2
Methods and systems of providing advertisements to a user are disclosed. A user indication of preference for an item is received. A first hyperlink that references a first webpage of an advertiser is associated with an advertisement of the item if the user indication of preference for the item is indicative of a first level of interest in the item. A second hyperlink that references a second webpage of an advertiser is associated with an advertisement of the item is the user indication of preference for the item is indicative of a second level of interest in the item. The advertisement is presented to the user on an advertisement provider webpage.
US09972012B1
A computer-implemented system and method that includes receiving, by a messaging hub computer system, from a point of sale (POS) device of a merchant, a request to process a refund for a transaction that occurred between the merchant and a mobile device of a payor, the request comprising a previously used code that was exchanged between the POS device and the mobile device. The method includes determining, by the messaging hub computer system, a first financial institution based at least partially on a portion of the code, and receiving, from a computer system of the first financial institution, payment credential information of an account held by the payor to process the refund using the payment credential information. The method may further include transferring, by the messaging hub computer system, the refund from an account held by the merchant to the account held by the payor.
US09972010B1
Techniques for reducing fraud are disclosed. A transaction request is received from a user to perform a transaction using an account. In one approach, a source icon is displayed prior to executing the request. The source icon includes a graphical representation of an owner of the account. In another approach, at least one of a photograph and a voice of the user is recorded prior to executing the request. In a third approach, the user is informed that at least one of a photograph, a voice print, and location data will be taken prior to executing the transaction request.
US09972007B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium (collectively, the “system”) are provided. The system may include a processor configured to perform operations and/or steps comprising storing, by a processor, a session key on a mobile device, wherein the session key is encrypted. The system receiving a transaction request, decrypting the session key, and broadcasting a signal configured for being received by a magnetic stripe reader. Track 1 data and/or track 2 data may be encoded in the signal. The track 1 data and/or the track 2 data may also comprise a dynamically generated value that is generated based on the session key.
US09972006B2
A method for secure execution of an entrusted management command. The method includes: when an entrusted management command is received by a slave security domain, same parses the command, acquires a predetermined byte in the command, a token length, and a token, and transmits to a master security domain; when data is received by the master security domain, same checks a lifecycle status of the master security domain, a lifecycle status and a permission of the slave security domain, verifies the token when all checks are successful, and returns a status code to the slave security domain; and, the slave security domain determines the received status code, and if same is a predetermined status code, then executes an entrusted management operation. The present invention allows for determination of the validity of an entrusted management command, and further allows for prevention of an invalid entrusted management command from being executed, thus ensuring the security of data in a Java card.
US09972003B2
The PreGame payment system is provided to optimize throughput capacity for retail establishment, such as restaurants, bars, grocery stores, or the like, by providing a secure and speedy method of accumulating and paying expenses on a tab maintained with the retail establishment. The PreGame system provides the everyday patron the opportunity to open, track, and close their own tabs with each retailer via their handheld or mobile device, eliminating any physical monetary exchanges or credit card exchanges between the retail staff person and the patron.
US09971998B2
A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account.
US09971995B2
For each of a plurality of e-mail files contained in a first data repository, at least one score for the e-mail file can be determined. Determining the at least one score can include determining whether the e-mail file contains at least one design element and, responsive to determining that the e-mail file contains at least one design element, determining whether the design element is authored by a template developer. Based on scores assigned to the plurality of e-mail files, a ranking can be assigned to each of the plurality of e-mail files, the ranking assigned to each e-mail file indicating a priority of the e-mail file as a candidate for migration to a second data repository. A listing comprising each of the e-mail files and the ranking assigned to each of e-mail files can be output.
US09971990B1
The invention provides a tag device for a pair of glasses, including: a glue layer, a RFID tag provided on the glue layer; a color changing object provided on the RFID tag; a QR code layer attached on the color changing object, wherein the glue layer is attached on a lens of the pair of glasses, and a QR code on the QR code layer stores information including a size of the pair of glasses, optional colors of the pair of glasses, a stock quantity of the pair of glasses, and a link to a website.
US09971984B2
In a method of characterizing communications in a group of users, a computer system recognizes a group of users. Each user of the group of users is associated with one of a plurality of communication devices. The computer system records a communication between at least two of the communication devices. At least a portion of the communication is an audible communication. The computer system identifies features based upon the communication. The computer system generates a visual representation of the features.
US09971982B2
Manufacturing line simulation device, data input assistance device, and data input assistance method
In a conventional manufacturing line simulation, there are a number of input items, and therefore, time is required for input. In addition, depending on the objective of the simulation, there are also parameters for which input is not required, and therefore, there is the problem of reducing the number of inputs according to the library. The present invention is configured to be provided with: a simulation library presentation unit which presents, to a user, a plurality of items of model libraries which are stored in a storage unit so as to receive specification of items of the model libraries from the user; a priority degree imparting unit which, with respect to the specified items of the model libraries, uses an input association table stored in the storage unit in order to calculate the priorities of the input items so as to present an input screen to the user on the basis of the calculated priorities; a simulation input receiving unit for receiving input of the input items on the user screen; and a duplicate data generation unit which, with respect to the duplicate items indicated in the input item association table, duplicates data that has been already received at the simulation input receiving unit.
US09971978B2
The invention discloses an event-based data management method and apparatus. The method includes: for uniform management of data related to events, creating an event axis connecting the respective events, and creating one or more work boxes related to the respective events, under the event axis; and referring to or newly creating the related data in a work box, and managing the event axis, the work box, and/or the related data, wherein the related data comprise different types of data corresponding to different types of applications.
US09971968B2
A determination method includes: generating, when a logical formula is received, another statement group that shares either one of individual statements and one or plural statements of statement groups with each of the individual statements and statement groups that are included in the logical formula or a changed logical formula acquired with the performance of logically equivalent conversion with regard to the logical formula, the logical formula or the changed logical formula including a logical disjunction of the individual statements or the statement groups that are logical conjunctions of the one or plural statements; and performing a determination process of the logical formula, wherein the logical formula is determined as not satisfied when a determination result indicating that the statements that are included in the other statement group are not satisfied is obtained in the determination process.
US09971967B2
An approach is provided for generating supersets of Q/A action paths based on dynamically generated type sets. In the approach, a corpus of knowledge that is used by the QA system is analyzed. The analyzing is performed according to a natural language processing (NLP) of a number of key words that have been found to exceed an expected frequency, such as a frequency found in general language usage. Runtime code is generated by utilizing the key words. The generated runtime code is able to provide answers from the corpus of knowledge, such as by being in a natural language question or in a structured query language expression, with the provided answers being related to one or more predicted questions.
US09971961B2
The invention relates to a method for transmitting print data, a server (120) and a mobile terminal (100). The invention further relates to a corresponding computer-readable storage medium. In the method, steps are carried out which include receiving the print job, conversion into the printer-specific format, saving the printer-specific format on another server (130), informing the mobile terminal (100) of the completed conversion, reporting the completed conversion to the user and, after confirmation from the user, transmitting the print data to the mobile terminal (100), in order to forward the print data in a last step to a printer (200) connected to the mobile terminal (100).
US09971958B2
A computer-implemented method generates a multimodal digital image by processing a vector with a first neural network to produce a first modality of the digital image and processing the vector with a second neural network to produce a second modality of the digital image. A structure and a number of layers of the first neural network are identical to a structure and a number of layers of the second neural network. Also, at least one layer in the first neural network has parameters identical to parameters of a corresponding layer in the second neural network, and at least one layer in the first neural network has parameters different from parameters of a corresponding layer in the second neural network.
US09971946B2
A traveling road surface detection device includes: a traveling road surface determination unit that determines whether each of image areas into which a captured image is divided is on a traveling road surface based on disparity information; and a traveling road surface interpolation unit that interpolates a first image area into a detected traveling road surface based on brightness information, the first image area among image areas determined as not the traveling road surface, wherein each of the image areas is configured by a plurality of pixel ranges, and the first image area is an image area that a number of first pixel ranges adjacent to a pixel range with brightness difference that is less than or equal to a first threshold, is equal to or larger than a second threshold, or that a ratio of the first pixel ranges is equal to or larger than a third threshold.
US09971941B2
A method for counting a number of people includes detecting a foreground contour from a current frame inputted, performing a head detection by defining a baseline virtually at a point perpendicular to a center point of a camera-captured area, by defining a search area around the baseline, and by detecting, as as candidate heads, circular contours to be recognized as heads of people at a point where the foreground contour crosses the baseline, tracking the candidate heads respectively in subsequent frames until the candidate heads pass through the search area, and counting up the number of people by the candidate heads that respectively pass through the search area.
US09971936B2
Systems and methods for detecting, decoupling and quantifying unresolved signals in trace signal data in the presence of noise with no prior knowledge of the signal characteristics (e.g., signal peak location, intensity and width) of the unresolved signals. The systems and methods are useful for analyzing any trace data signals having one or multiple overlapping constituent signals and particularly useful for analyzing data signals which often contain an unknown number of constituent signals with varying signal characteristics, such as peak location, peak intensity and peak width, and varying resolutions. A general signal model function is assumed for each unknown, constituent signal in the trace signal data. In a first phase, the number of constituent signals and signal characteristics are determined automatically in a parallel fashion by executing multiple simultaneous evaluations iteratively starting with an initial set of trial signals. Making simultaneous evaluations and systematically reducing the number of trial signals allows for convergence to an optimal, final set of signals in a very fast and efficient manner.
US09971930B2
There is provided a test module for testing a fingerprint sensing device comprising: an electrically conductive bottom element comprising an exterior surface portion configured to contact a sensing surface of the fingerprint sensing device; an electrically conductive intermediate element, connected to the bottom element on a side opposing the exterior surface, the intermediate element comprising a flexible material enabling the bottom element to change alignment in response to an applied force occurring when the exterior surface is pressed against a surface being tilted with respect to the exterior surface of the bottom element; and a top element configured connect the test module to a test fixture. There is also provided a method for testing a fingerprint sensing device using the described test module.
US09971922B2
Disclosed are a fingerprint detection device and a mobile terminal. The fingerprint detection apparatus comprises a capacitive fingerprint sensor and a capacitive touch control chip which is electrically connected to the capacitive fingerprint sensor; wherein the capacitive fingerprint sensor is configured to collect fingerprint information and convert the fingerprint information to an analog signal; and the capacitive touch control chip is configured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal, and generate fingerprint image information according to the digital signal. As compared with the dedicated control chip in the related art, the capacitive touch control chip has mature design and manufacture technique, and thus the manufacture and application costs are lower.
US09971915B2
A magnetic stripe reader including a base element defining a first spring seat, a magnetic module support element arranged for limited pivotable motion relative to the base element and defining a second spring seat, a generally truncated conical spring having a first, relatively large diameter end seated in the first spring seat and a second, relatively small diameter end seated in the second spring seat and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto the magnetic module support element.
US09971911B2
Methods and devices for providing a private page are provided. A method includes operations of entering a security mode based on a user input; extracting the private page that corresponds to the security mode; and providing both the private page and a normal page that is provided during a normal mode, wherein the private page includes at least one object that is selected by a user so as to be provided during the security mode. A device includes a user input configured to receive a user input; a controller configured to enter a security mode based on the received user input, and extracting a private page that corresponds to the security mode; and a display configured to provide both the private page and a normal page that is provided during a normal mode, wherein the private page comprises at least one object that is selected by a user so as to be provided during the security mode.
US09971908B2
A method for determining a permission of an application program is presented. The method for determining a permission of an application program in the present disclosure includes receiving an installation request of a first application, where the installation request carries a first permission list that the first application applies for and a first shared user identifier requested by the first application; searching, according to the first shared user identifier, for at least one second application that uses the first shared user identifier and is already installed in a system; and if the first application is a plug-in of the second application already installed in the system, determining a permission of the first application according to the first permission list that the first application applies for and a permission in a second permission list corresponding to the first shared user identifier.
US09971907B2
Provided is a process of operating a zero-knowledge encrypted database, the process including: obtaining a request for data in a database stored by an untrusted computing system, wherein the database is stored in a graph that includes a plurality of connected nodes, each of the nodes including: an identifier, accessible to the untrusted computing system, that distinguishes the respective node from other nodes in the graph; and an encrypted collection of data stored in encrypted form, wherein: the untrusted computing system does not have access to an encryption key to decrypt the collections of data, the encrypted collections of data in at least some of the plurality of nodes each include a plurality of keys indicating subsets of records in the database accessible via other nodes in the graph and corresponding pointers to identifiers of the other nodes.
US09971900B1
Implementations are provided herein for maintaining a set of cryptographic algorithms in the kernel. User space applications can call on the set of cryptographic logic algorithms in the kernel to perform computations on data payloads residing in kernel space memory without having to copy the data payloads out of kernel space memory into user space memory. The results of the cryptographic logic being applied to data payloads can be packaged together with message framing originating from user space and data payloads in the kernel space as a protocol message that can sent through the network stack to a socket. It can be appreciated that by retaining protocol logic in user space, just the cryptographic algorithms need be added to the kernel.
US09971890B2
Methods and systems may provide for identifying a thermal management setting in a computing system, and comparing the thermal management setting to valid configuration information. In addition, the thermal management setting may be modified if it does not comply with the valid configuration information, wherein the modification can cause the thermal management setting to comply with the valid configuration information. Additionally, a threat risk notification can be initiated in order to notify users of the non-compliance.
US09971880B2
A monitoring system can monitor computing processes in clouds. The monitoring system can verify software license compliance in the computing processes instantiated in the clouds. The monitoring system can generate and maintain a software license knowledge base. The software license knowledge base can include the software license requirements for various software programs. To verify software license compliance, the monitoring system can determine the software programs utilized by the computing processes instantiated in the clouds. The monitoring system can compare the software programs utilized by the computing processes to the software license knowledge base to determine the number of software licenses required by the computing processes. The monitoring system can compare the number of software licenses required to the number of software licenses currently held by the user to determine if the user is in compliance.
US09971867B2
Systems and methods to characterize one or more microorganisms or DNA fragments thereof are disclosed. Exemplary methods and systems use comparison of DNA sequencing information to information in one or more databases to characterize the one or more microorganism or DNA fragments thereof. Exemplary systems and methods can be used in a clinical setting to provide rapid analysis of microorganisms that may be a cause of infection.
US09971866B2
A method of evaluating fatty liver related disease includes (I) an obtaining step of obtaining amino acid concentration data on a concentration value of an amino acid in blood collected from a subject to be evaluated and (II) a concentration value criterion evaluating step of evaluating a state of a fatty liver related disease including at least one of fatty liver, NAFLD, and NASH in the subject, based on the amino acid concentration data of the subject obtained at the obtaining step.
US09971855B2
A method for determining and or monitoring at least one process- and/or system specific parameter in automation technology. An oscillatable system is provided, which interacts with a medium located in a container, wherein the oscillatable system is excited to oscillate via a real input signal, wherein the real output signal of the oscillatable system is ascertained, wherein the real output signal is digitized and a real output sequence yu(k) is produced. The real input signal is digitized and a digital input sequence (u(k)) is produced, wherein the digital input sequence (u(k)) is fed to a function block (model), which provides at least one mathematical model of the oscillatable system in interaction with the medium. The mathematical model is defined by a number of process- and/or system specific parameters, wherein via the mathematical model a virtual output sequence (ym(k)) is produced, wherein the virtual output sequence ym(k) is compared with the real output sequence yu(k). In the case of a deviation, at least one process- and/or system specific parameter of the mathematical model is adaptively changed, until the deviation between the virtual output signal and the real output signal of the oscillatable unit lies within a predetermined tolerance range and wherein at least one of the process- and/or system specific parameters is provided.
US09971850B2
Described herein are hash table structures and system and methods for creating and storing data in the hash table structures. Hash tables and input buffers associated with same are configured in several arrangements, including multi-level hash tables and nested multi-level hash tables. The hash table structures described herein are well suited for being configured in the memory blocks of field-programmable gate arrays.
US09971846B1
A first document may be requested and received from a server device. Based on the first document, a web page may be rendered for display. The rendered web page may include a set of selectable items, each corresponding to a respective type of web page content. The set of selectable items may be defined in a user profile of a user associated with the client device. It may be determined that a scroll position of the rendered web page has a particular characteristic. Perhaps in response to determining that the scroll position of the rendered web page has the particular characteristic, one of the selectable items may be selected. A second document may be requested and received from the server device. The second document may be associated with the selected item. Based on the first document and the second document, the web page may be re-rendered for display.
US09971841B2
Mechanisms are provided for integration of Web information architecture taxonomy and Web metrics taxonomy. When the author creates source content, the mechanism classifies the content using a rich taxonomy. The mechanism also adds unique identifiers into the source content pages as tags. The mechanism may then transform the source content into Web content that contains the identifiers in the tags. When users view the Web content, the tags generate usage data, which contain the identifiers. A Web metrics mechanism generates a Web metrics report from the usage data. The page tags are the identifiers from the source content. The Web metrics report associates each page of Web content with the rich taxonomy available in the source content.
US09971828B2
Techniques for managing big data include tagging of documents and subsequent retrieval using per-subject dictionaries having entries with subject-determining-power scores. The subject-determining-power scores provide an indication of the descriptive power of the term with respect to the subject of the dictionary containing the term. The same term may have entries in multiple dictionaries with different subject-determining-power scores in each of the dictionaries. A retrieval request for one or more documents containing search terms descriptive of the one or more documents can be processed identifying a set of candidate documents tagged with subjects and optional terms, and then applying subject-determining-power scores from the multiple dictionaries for the search term to determine a subject for the search term. The method then selects the one or more documents from the candidate documents according to the subject.
US09971825B2
A system and method for dynamic and secure communication and synchronization of personal data records through a distributed network. More specifically, a system that receives, stores and secures personal data records for users and then transmits and synchronizes personal data records between users in a distributed network based on rule-based security controls.
US09971821B1
Techniques presented herein disclose techniques for evaluating application-level data in a storage system for search and analysis. A backup analysis tool retrieves a backup object stored in the storage system. The backup analysis tool reconstructs an application object from the backup object. The backup analysis tool accesses the first application object according to a native application format associated with the first object.
US09971812B2
Systems and methods provide for data management and governance to enforce proper usage of data. Data is tagged with data governance metadata dictating usage of the data. Standard types of data governance metadata are set forth with each type having predefined options such that applications can share data and understand the associated data governance metadata. For a given data, one or more options are selected for each type of data governance metadata and tagged to the data to control usage of the data.
US09971804B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a new method of entity integration using high-level scripting languages. In one embodiment, a method of and computer product for entity integration is provided. An entity declaration is read from a machine readable medium. The entity declaration describes an entity including at least one nested entity. An index declaration is read from a machine readable medium. The index declaration describes an index of nested entities. An entity population rule is read from a machine readable medium. The entity population rule describes a mapping from an input schema to an output schema. The output schema conforms to the entity declaration. A plurality of input records is read from a first data store. The input records conform to the input schema. The entity population rule applies to the plurality of records to create a plurality of output records complying with the output schema. An index of nested entities is populated. The index complies with the index declaration.
US09971802B2
A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes determining an audit object to analyze, retrieving the audit object from a dispersed storage network (DSN) and verifying the integrity of the audit object. When the integrity of the audit object is verified, a set of audit records is extracted from the audit object, the set of audit records are transformed utilizing a transformation function into at least one transformed record for storage in the DSN.
US09971795B2
A system and method for information technology (IT) migration includes determining a relationship among objects to be migrated such that the relationship includes a set of objects having at least one of a common feature or dependency between the objects in the set. The objects are grouped into a plurality of migration waves such that cross-wave relationships are minimized among the plurality of migration waves. The objects are migrated wave by wave.
US09971792B2
A method and an image processing system of processing thermal images captured using a thermal imaging system. The processing comprises determining a reference image depicting a scene and retrieving, from a number of thermal images comprised in a data storage, a set of one or more thermal images based on a predetermined similarity measure. A measurement location in the reference image is determined, and for each of the one or more retrieved thermal images: a corresponding measurement location in the respective retrieved thermal image is determined; and a thermographic tool is placed on the corresponding measurement location in the respective retrieved thermal image.
US09971786B2
Embodiments describe document synchronization between a client and an online document management system. In one embodiment, a computing device identifies a mapping between a local folder and a remote folder, identifies a local file in the local folder, and determines if a remote copy of the local file exists in the remote folder. When the remote copy does not exist, the computing device either uploads the local file to the remote folder or moves the local file to an archive folder on the computing depending on whether the local file was modified after a previous synchronization. When the remote copy does exist, the computing device either uploads the local file to the remote folder or skips the upload depending on whether the remote copy was modified after a previous synchronization, the local file was modified after the remote copy, and the local file and the remote copy have different file sizes.
US09971780B2
A data management apparatus is provided. In the data management apparatus, a real-time database stores data collected from a power system; a power system data recording (PSDR) server reads and stores data stored in the real time database and creates policy data and a data file on the basis of the stored data and a PSDR history file storage unit backs up data processed by the PSDR server.
US09971776B1
A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for extending the functionality of an operating system is described. The method comprises installing an installable file system as a root file system of the operating system, mounting a default file system of the operating system as a folder accessible by the installable file system and using the installable file system to process data between the operating system and the default file system. The apparatus is a system for extending the functionality of an operating system comprising a computing device comprising a processor and a memory for executing the operating system, wherein the operating system mounts an installable file system other than a default file system of the operating system as a root file system and the installable file system mounts the default file system of the operating system as a folder.
US09971775B2
A method and system for processing a user request for a recommended area of interest includes the steps of receiving the request including an indication of an electronic device geo-location and a user defined search constraint; receiving data associated with photographs associated with geo-objects, the data comprising geo-location coordinates of the photographs, the geo-location coordinates of the photographs being in proximity with the device geo-location; computing a plurality of region representations based on the geo-location coordinates of the photographs, each region representation being associated with a unique photograph density calculation parameter, the computing comprises determining a potential area of interest in each region representation, each region representation being a candidate for an optimal region representation; determining the optimal region representation based on the user defined search constraint; and displaying to the user the recommended area of interest that corresponds to the potential area of interest of the optimal region representation.
US09971773B2
A music service remote from a local device user identifies matching video and music content. An identification of a piece of media content that is part of a collection or playlist, is received by the service, the selected piece of media content being included in a unified catalog of video and music content that is accessible by the music service. If the selected piece of media content has a matching member in the unified catalog, the matching member replaces the selected piece of media content during playback of the collection on the local device. The service analyzes a collection of media content associated with the user, the content collection being either i) stored locally on the local device, or ii) stored remotely from the local device in a store that is accessible by the music service, or iii) stored using a combination of local and remote storage.
US09971763B2
Named entity recognition is described, for example, to detect an instance of a named entity in a web page and classify the named entity as being an organization or other predefined class. In various examples, named entity recognition results are used to augment text from which the named entity was recognized; the augmentation may comprise information retrieval results about the named entity mention. In various embodiments, labeled training sentences in many different languages and for many different classes, are obtained to train machine learning components of a multi-lingual, multi-class, named entity recognition system. In examples, labeled training sentences are obtained from at least two sources, a first source using a multi-lingual or monolingual corpus of inter-linked documents and a second source using machine translation training data. In examples, labeled training sentences from the two sources are selectively sampled for training the named entity recognition system.
US09971753B2
A computer system may include a server(s) for storing electronic textbook data and a plurality of computing devices each including a display, a memory, a user input device, and a processor. The processor may display the electronic textbook data on the display, receive comment data from a respective user of the computing device with respect to the electronic textbook data, and provide the comment data to the server(s). The server(s) may be configured to distribute the comment data among the plurality of computing devices. The processor of each computing device may be configured to receive a respective user rating for the distributed comment data and provide the user rating to the server(s). The server(s) may be configured to permanently incorporate given distributed comment data into the electronic textbook data when the user ratings for the given distributed comment data reach a rating threshold.
US09971749B2
Methods, systems, and devices for editing websites are disclosed herein. A website editor for editing a website includes an editor display component, a website modification component, and a website display component. The editor display component is configured to display an editor interface for receiving user input for editing a website. The editor interface is displayed within a browser substantially simultaneously with the website. The website modification component is configured to update website data corresponding to the website based on the user input received through the editor interface. The website display component is configured to automatically update display of the website based on the updated website data. The display of the website is updated in real-time in response to receiving the user input.
US09971747B2
Systems and methods for alert management in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computing device includes a processor, an operating system configuring the processor to create a computing environment, an alert platform application, an alert pop up page file stored within the storage and containing instructions written in the rendering language to render a pop up page, and an alert history database containing alert data including an alert ID, display metadata, and application data, wherein the alert history database is configured to be queried to retrieve alert data, wherein the alert platform application is configured to query the alert history database to retrieve alert data, and wherein the alert platform application is configured to inject at least a portion of display metadata from alert data into the instructions from the alert pop up page file and render an alert pop up page.
US09971746B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining summary content for resources in a domain. In one aspect, a method includes accessing a first resource belonging to a particular domain, selecting an anchor in the first resource linking to a second resource belonging to the particular domain, identifying particular text content in the first resource that is subordinate to the anchor that the second resource includes the particular text content that is subordinate to the anchor, based on determining that the second resource includes the particular text content that is subordinate to the anchor, generating a domain template for the particular domain, the domain template specifying a location of the particular text content in the second resource, and determining, for each respective resource belonging to the particular domain having a structure matching the domain template, respective text content for the respective resource.
US09971744B2
As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, portions of media content data corresponding to respective sets of media content received from disparate content providers are restructured into renditions having an article-oriented structure. Device-indeterminate ID linking data is generated to link respective portions of each rendition with media content in the respective sets of media content. For each content provider, access is provided to portions of the restructured renditions bearing the content provider's content, based on the device-indeterminate ID linking data (e.g., providing verification of resulting content layout). Access is also provided to tracked subscriber access to ones of the restructured renditions bearing the content provider's content.
US09971740B2
A system for converting formatting of display object, including a logic (e.g., a computing device) that can be operable to traverse and record a part of source code or binary data related to a first visible item displayed on a visual output device. The logic can then convert a first data type or data structure that includes the recorded part of source code or binary data to a second data type or data structure that still includes the recorded part of source code or binary data, where the second data type or data structure is related to a second visible item displayable on the visual output device.
US09971730B2
A link layer to physical layer (PHY) serial interface is disclosed. In one aspect, a system on a chip (SoC) integrated circuit (IC) includes a link layer circuit, and a remote IC includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) PHY circuit. A bus having four or fewer wires connects the two ICs. A link bridge communicates with the link layer circuit and serializes USB Transceiver Macrocell Interface (UTMI) signaling received from the link layer circuit as high speed (HS) USB messages for transmission to the remote IC. The link bridge also receives HS messages from the USB PHY circuit on the remote IC. The link bridge deserializes the HS messages to extract UTMI signaling and passes the extracted UTMI signaling to the link layer circuit.
US09971725B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) connector that has a plurality of power supply terminals and a plurality of signal terminals, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory unit disposed on the substrate, and a memory control circuit disposed on the substrate, configured to control the nonvolatile semiconductor memory unit, and having a data input terminal connected to a first power supply terminal of the SATA connector and a data output terminal connected to a second power supply terminal of the SATA connector. A serial signal of input data is transmitted from the first power supply terminal to the data input terminal, and a serial signal of output data is transmitted from the data output terminal to the second power supply terminal.
US09971724B1
A multicore processor system and a method of operating the system defines a processor partition (which may include one or more processor cores) as a network offload engine for a network connected to the processor system. Network operations requests from other cores or partitions of the processor system are forwarded to the network offload engine by a cross-platform inter-partition communications component including a relay task in the network offload engine for receiving network operations requests from network proxies in the other partitions. The network offload engine then controls access to network resources by the other cores or partitions and applications running thereon. A second or additional core or partition of the processor system may be similarly defined as a network offload engine for a second or additional network, receiving network operations requests from the other partitions through a similar system of relay task and network proxies.
US09971722B2
An onboard apparatus comprising a connection portion, a control block, and a bus switch is provided. The connection portion connects with an external device mounted to a vehicle, and includes at least a data terminal to input and output a communication data and a control terminal to output a communication availability signal that indicates communication is available or not. The control block performs data communication with the external device, which is connected to the connection portion. The bus switch, according to a permission signal, changes a non-conduction state to a conduction state of a transmission path from the control block to the data terminal. A signal level of the permission signal varies when an output of the control block is stabilized after the onboard apparatus starts.
US09971720B1
An island-based integrated circuit includes a configurable mesh data bus. The data bus includes four meshes. Each mesh includes, for each island, a crossbar switch and radiating half links. The half links of adjacent islands align to form links between crossbar switches. A link is implemented as two distributed credit FIFOs. In one direction, a link portion involves a FIFO associated with an output port of a first island, a first chain of registers, and a second FIFO associated with an input port of a second island. When a transaction value passes through the FIFO and through the crossbar switch of the second island, an arbiter in the crossbar switch returns a taken signal. The taken signal passes back through a second chain of registers to a credit count circuit in the first island. The credit count circuit maintains a credit count value for the distributed credit FIFO.
US09971717B2
According to an embodiment, a bus interface circuit disposed in each of a plurality of slave devices to which a common data channel and a clock channel are supplied from a master device includes a head information detection circuit, an inner clock control circuit, and a data analyzing circuit. The head information detection circuit detects head information from the data channel indicating a head of the data from the data channel, destination information indicating a destination of the data, and a data body in this order. The data analyzing circuit is synchronized with the inner clock generated from the clock control circuit after the head information is detected, and detects the destination information from the data channel, and then analyzes the data body. The inner clock control circuit stops the inner clock when the destination information does not match the destination information of the bus interface circuit.
US09971702B1
An example system that includes a processor and a memory device. The processor may include multiple execution units to execute instructions and a memory device coupled to the processor. The memory device stores the instructions in an unprotected region and a protected region. The processor may determine that a first exception occurred while executing a first set of instructions for an application stored in a secured page of the protected region. The processor may invoke a first subroutine to forward exception context for the first exception to a second subroutine, where the first subroutine is stored in the protected region and the second subroutine is stored in the unprotected region. The processor may invoke, by the second subroutine, a third subroutine to execute a second set of instructions associated with the exception context for the first exception.
US09971701B2
Embodiments disclose techniques for sharing a context for a coherent accelerator in a kernel of a computer system. According to one embodiment, a request is received from a first application to perform an I/O operation within a kernel context. The request specifies a first effective address distinct to the first application. The first effective address specifies a location in a first effective address space and a first effective segment identifier. The first effective address is remapped to a second effective address. The second effective address specifies a location in a second effective address space of the kernel context and a second effective segment identifier. A virtual address mapping to a virtual address space within the kernel context is determined. The virtual address is translated to a physical memory address.
US09971699B2
A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for decoupling data pre-fetch from demand loads. The method includes the steps of receiving, by a processor, a set of instructions that includes a load instruction; and executing, by the processor, the load instruction to perform a load operation. The load operation loads data from a cache unit into a register file. The load instruction includes a no-update operator that prevents the cache unit from updating the cache state information in response to the load operation. The result is that the eviction policy for the cache unit responds to the order of pre-fetch memory access requests rather than the demand load operations.
US09971695B2
An apparatus is connected to a main memory, includes a cache memory holding data and a memory storing prediction information in plural areas thereof. The prediction information is referenced to determine whether to execute prefetch, which holds data from the main memory to the cache memory, in a case where a plurality of unrolled instructions produced by unrolling a target instruction included in a loop sentence are executed individually, and corresponds to individual memory accesses executed at certain address intervals in accordance with the respective unrolled instructions. The apparatus executes memory access to the main memory, and executes the prefetch. When the plurality of unrolled instructions are executed individually, the apparatus consolidates a plurality of pieces of prediction information respectively stored in the plural areas of the memory into one based on the number-of-unrolling information, and stores the consolidated prediction information into any one of the plural areas.
US09971692B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a cache storage device and a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to receive a plurality of access requests for data in the cache storage device, each request being directed to data in a common cache block descriptor (CBD). The CBD stores metadata corresponding to a storage location of the data in the cache storage device. The logic is also configured to update a request queue to reflect each access request from the plurality of access requests in an order in which individual access requests were received. Moreover, the logic is configured to delay at least some overlapping access requests.
US09971691B2
Technology for an apparatus is described. The apparatus can include a plurality of cache memories and a cache controller. The cache controller can allocate a cache entry to store data across the plurality of cache memories. The cache entry can include a value in a metadata field indicating an interleave policy. The cache controller can selectively assign the interleave policy to be applied based on a type of data stored in the plurality of cache memories.
US09971690B2
Execution of a transaction mode setting instruction causes a computer processor to be in an atomic write-only mode ignoring conflicts to certain read-sets of a transaction during transactional execution. Write-set conflicts may still cause a transactional abort. Absent any aborting, the transaction's execution may complete, by committing transactional stores to memory and updating architecture states.
US09971689B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for invoking Input/Output (I/O) threads and demote threads on processors to demote tracks from a cache. An Input/Output (I/O) thread, executed by a processor, processes I/O requests directed to tracks from the storage stored in the cache. A demote thread, executed by the processor, processes a demote ready list, indicating tracks eligible to demote from cache, to select tracks to demote from the cache to free cache segments in the cache. After processing a number of I/O requests, the I/O thread processes the demote ready list to demote tracks from the cache in response to determining that a number of free cache segments in the cache is below a free cache segment threshold.
US09971687B2
A multi-slice processor that includes execution slices, and a history buffer, where the history buffer includes a plurality of entries, where at least one of the entries includes transactional memory state data that corresponds to a transactional memory instruction updating a transaction memory state, and where operation of such a multi-slice processor includes: propagating a flush signal to the plurality of entries of the history buffer; responsive to the flush signal, generating, from an entry of the history buffer, the transactional memory state data; and restoring to a transactional memory state in dependence upon the transactional memory state data.
US09971686B2
A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of packed data registers, and a decode unit to decode a vector cache line write back instruction. The vector cache line write back instruction is to indicate a source packed memory indices operand that is to include a plurality of memory indices. The processor also includes a cache coherency system coupled with the packed data registers and the decode unit. The cache coherency system, in response to the vector cache line write back instruction, to cause, any dirty cache lines, in any caches in a coherency domain, which are to have stored therein data for any of a plurality of memory addresses that are to be indicated by any of the memory indices of the source packed memory indices operand, to be written back toward one or more memories. Other processors, methods, and systems are also disclosed.
US09971684B2
A device for interleaving/deinterleaving digital data delivered by processing elements (P0 . . . Pn-1) suitable for being used both with turbo-codes and with LDPC codes. The device includes memory banks (B0 . . . Bm-1) for storing data coming from or going to the processing elements, an interconnection network (INT) for directing the data between the processing elements and the memory banks, and a control unit (CTRL) for controlling the interconnection network and the memory banks. The control unit (CTRL) includes a calculation circuit (CAL) capable of the online generation of command words for the interconnection network and addressing and control sequences of the memory banks, ensuring conflict-free memory access on the basis of the interleaving rule to be applied, the size of the digital data frames, the number of processing units and memory banks, and the interconnection network.
US09971670B2
A pre-initialized value of contents of a memory location is identified. A load value of contents loaded from the memory location by execution of a first instruction that loads from the memory location is also identified. A comparison is made between the load value and the pre-initialized value. Based on the comparison, a determination is made that the load value and the pre-initialized value are the same. In response to this determination, it is indicated that the first instruction contains an uninitialized memory reference.
US09971664B2
Assessing the need for disaster recovery (DR) protection for a virtual application may include accessing resource consumption history for constituent VMs that support the virtual application. The resource consumption history may include usage metrics corresponding to resources used by each VM. A change in a cost of downtime of the given virtual application may be produced and used to assess criteria or rules. The given virtual application may be designated for DR protection based on an assessment of the criteria. DR protection may be activated for the designated virtual applications. The DR protection may automatically expire after a period of time.
US09971660B2
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems determine that a first physical network interface controller of a first host computer has lost a client traffic network connection. At least one data compute node running on the first host computer has client traffic transmitted via the client traffic network connection. In response to the loss of the client traffic network connection, one or more host computers each having a physical network interface controller with a functioning network connection for the client traffic are identified. Further in response to the loss of the client traffic network connection, the data compute node is moved to one of the identified host computers. The first host computer utilizes a second physical network interface controller to move data compute node.
US09971656B2
An exposed Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) target of a backup repository is defined as a source of, and a storage volume to be recovered as a target of, a mirrored pair of storage resources. The iSCSI target represents a point-in-time backup snapshot. Data from the iSCSI target is synchronized to the storage volume. The mechanisms of the illustrated embodiments leverage iSCSI with Instant Restore to reduce a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and provide a secure transport when recovering a volume over a WAN.
US09971655B1
A recipe is stored for an application where the recipe specifies parameters and actions for restoring, shutting down, and backing up the application. A snapshot backup of the application is copied from a backup system to a recovery system where the application is restored according to the recipe. After the application is restored, the application is shutdown. While the application is shutdown, the application is backed up to create an application-consistent backup of the application.
US09971654B2
A computer-implemented method and system for safe storing data is disclosed. A sending queue manager associated with a client computer transmits an asynchronous write of a transaction message containing data to a receiving queue manager associated with a transaction processing computer not colocated with the client computer. The receiving queue manager transmits a synchronous write of the transaction message to a remote queue manager associated with a remote disaster recovery computer to safe store the transaction message before it can be operated upon by the transaction processing computer.
US09971647B2
The NAND flash memory array in a memory device may be programmed using a cache program execute technique for fast performance. The memory device includes a page buffer, which may be implemented as a cache register and a data register. Program data may be loaded to the cache register, where it may be processed by an error correction code (“ECC”) circuit. Thereafter, the ECC processed data in the cache register may be replicated to the data register and used to program the NAND flash memory array. Advantageously, immediately after the ECC processed data in the cache register is replicated to the data register, the cache register may be made available for other operations. Of particular benefit is that a second page of program data may be loaded into the cache register and ECC processed while the first page of program data is being programmed into the NAND flash memory array.
US09971645B2
Apparatus and method for managing a media cache of a data storage device. In some embodiments, a media cache master table is maintained in a memory as a data structure having a plurality of entries that describe data sets stored in a non-volatile media cache memory. A first timecode stamp value is written to respective first and second locations in the table at the commencement of a data transfer operation to transfer data associated with the plurality of entries in the table. The first location is updated with a new, second timecode stamp value responsive to detection of an error condition that interrupts the data transfer operation. An error recovery operation is subsequently performed responsive to a detected mismatch between the timecode stamp values in the first and second locations.
US09971643B2
A method, computer program product, and apparatus for processing an input/output IO operation request by maintaining a first chain table and a first cache table for each of the plurality of storage array groups, the method, computer program product, and apparatus including generating a second cache table comprising a second plurality of cache slots for the cache slot in the first plurality of cache slots, corresponding to a specific storage address range for which a number of times of the IO operation requests exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and processing the IO operation request received by the first processor based at least on the first chain table and the first cache table and/or the second cache table.
US09971634B2
The present invention is notably directed to systems and methods for detecting resource contention on a computerized system collocation of computer processes. Most basically, such methods comprise: monitoring data produced by each computer process of a set of computer processes co-located on the computerized system; detecting in the monitored data a change in a behavior of data produced by a given computer process of the set of computer processes; and throttling other computer processes of the set than said given computer process to detect potential resource contention at said given computer process. Such systems and methods advantageously apply to co-located virtual machines.
US09971632B2
A system, method and program product for implementing a garbage collection (GC) process that manages dynamically allocated memory in a multithreaded runtime environment. A method is disclosed that includes defining a threshold value, wherein the threshold value defines a number of GC cycles an object must be observed as unreferenced before being reclaimed; traversing objects in an object graph; and reclaiming a traversed object from the dynamically allocated memory if the traversed object has been observed as unreferenced for more than the threshold value.
US09971629B2
A computer-implemented method includes, in a transactional memory environment, identifying a transaction and identifying one or more cache lines. The cache lines are allocated to the transaction. A cache line record is stored. The cache line record includes a reference to the one or more cache lines. An indication is received. The indication denotes a request to demote the one or more cache lines. The cache line record is retrieved, and the one or more cache lines are released. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.
US09971623B2
An isolation method for a management virtual machine and an apparatus, which resolves problems that performance of communication between service components is deteriorated, more resources are required for running a virtual machine, and security of the service components is relatively low. The method includes: acquiring a guest identifier; searching, according to the guest identifier, the management virtual machine for a kernel virtual machine; when the kernel virtual machine is not found in the management virtual machine, creating the kernel virtual machine in the management virtual machine; dividing a service provided for a guest virtual machine by the kernel virtual machine into multiple service components; and running the multiple service components in execution environments corresponding to permission of the service components, where the kernel virtual machine includes the multiple execution environments, and the multiple execution environment have different permission.
US09971615B2
In one embodiment, a predefined behavior of a virtual machine monitor (VMM) with respect to one or more virtual machines (VMs) is identified, and processor-managed resources associated with the one or more VMs are utilized based on the predefined behavior of the VMM.
US09971612B2
A method of controlling a widget execution device configured for use with a television includes: using a control application on a mobile terminal to wirelessly identify one or more widgets in a data network environment, such that the one or more widgets are suitable for download to the widget execution device; and using the control application to cause the download of the one or more widgets to the widget execution device. The method may involve identifying the one or more widgets on a remote server, the remote server being in communicable relation with the widget execution device; and causing the download of the one or more widgets by selecting the one or more widgets.
US09971606B2
A storage enclosure includes a plurality of hard drives coupled to a logic device that, in turn communicates with an operating system (OS) executing on a host computer system. When the storage enclosure is powered on, the hard drives become active at different times and transmit activation reports to the logic device in a random order. The logic device receives these activation reports, and then reorders then to align with the bay numbers where the hard drives are mounted. The logic device then transmits the reordered activation reports, and the OS assigns logical IDs to the hard drives that match the bay numbers.
US09971605B2
A microprocessor includes an indicator and a plurality of processing cores. Each of the plurality of processing cores is configured to sample the indicator. When the indicator indicates a first predetermined value, the plurality of processing cores are configured to collectively designate multiple of the plurality of processing cores to be a bootstrap processor. When the indicator indicates a second predetermined value distinct from the first predetermined value, the plurality of processing cores are configured to collectively designate a single processing core of the plurality of processing cores to be the bootstrap processor.
US09971603B2
Some implementations provide techniques and arrangements for causing an interrupt in a processor in response to an occurrence of a number of events. A first event counter counts the occurrences of a type of event within the processor and outputs a signal to activate a second event counter in response to reaching a first predefined count. The second event counter counts the occurrences of the type of event within the processor and causes an interrupt of the processor in response to reaching a second predefined count.
US09971601B2
Dynamic resource allocation is provided in which additional resources, such as additional architected registers, are provided to an instruction, if it is determined that resources in addition to those configured to be provided to the instruction are to be used for the particular instruction. An instruction to be executed is dispatched on a pipe of a pipeline and that pipe is configured to have a set number of architected registers for use by the instruction. However, if one or more other architected registers are needed, those additional architected registers are dynamically allocated to the instruction by assigning one or more source ports of an additional pipe to the instruction.
US09971599B2
A processor includes support for executing binary-translated code including code modifications. The processor includes a processor core that includes a cache to store translation indicators from a physical map, each translation indicator to indicate whether a corresponding memory location includes translated code to be protected. The processor core also includes logic to execute a translated instruction. The translated instruction is translated from an instruction stored in a memory location. The processor core further includes logic to set a translation indicator in the cache corresponding to the memory location to indicate that it includes translated code to be protected. The processor core also includes logic to request senior store buffer drains of other processor cores of the processor based upon the execution of the translated instruction.
US09971581B1
Systems and methods for converting an application to new programming language or framework is provided. A source application written in a legacy framework is analyzed and divided into smaller segments of code. The smaller segments are evaluated for quality in view of best practices design for writing applications. A rubric is determined for each segment and compared to a best practice threshold. Segments can be evaluated for features that can be passed through a model. The model converts the features into code in the new programming language. Machine learning and rules databases are updated with details of the conversion.
US09971565B2
Random numbers within a processor may be scarce, especially when multiple hardware threads are consuming them. A local random number buffer can be used by an execution core to better manage allocation and consumption of random numbers. The buffer may operate in a number of modes, and allow any hardware thread to use a random number under some conditions. In other conditions, only certain hardware threads may be allowed to consume a random number. The local random number buffer may have a dynamic pool of entries usable by any hardware thread, as well as reserved entries usable by only particular hardware threads. Further, a user-level instruction is disclosed that can be stored in a wait queue in response to a random number being unavailable, rather than having the instruction's request for a random number simply be denied. The random number buffer may also boost performance and reduce latency.
US09971548B1
Performance of a computing system is improved by avoiding and/or eliminating overload conditions in storage systems. Performance utilization calculations are used to predict that a candidate placement configuration of storage resources within the storage systems will avoid overload conditions. The performance utilization calculations use performance profiles in conjunction with workload profiles to account for both storage system performance and actual workload traffic. Performance utilization calculations can also be used to report storage controller utilization information.
US09971547B2
Methods, systems and computer-readable storage media for determining, by a storage controller, a read unit address and encoded length information of one of the plurality of read units of a non-volatile memory (NVM) based at least in part on a page address of a particular one of a plurality of pages in a storage space address. The encoded length information may be decoded. The storage controller may determine a span specifying an integer number of the read units and a length in units having a finer granularity than the read units based at least in part on the page address. The storage controller may read data associated with the particular page based at least in part on the read unit address and the span. The storage controller may update space usage information of the NVM based at least in part on the length.
US09971543B2
Methods and apparatus (10) are disclosed for storing electronic documents in a distributed electronic storage system comprising a plurality of electronic storage devices (16) together providing a total storage capacity, the system having a target number of copies in respect of each document stored therein; the method comprising: determining the current number of copies of a requested document stored in the system and increasing the number of copies of that document unless the number of copies of that document is already at or above the target number of copies in respect of that document; and otherwise selecting at least one other document the number of copies stored in the system of which is below the target number of copies in respect of that at least one other document, and increasing the number of copies of that at least one other document instead.
US09971541B2
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for data movement. An example apparatus includes a memory device that includes a plurality of subarrays of memory cells and sensing circuitry coupled to the plurality of subarrays. The sensing circuitry includes a sense amplifier and a compute component. The memory device also includes a plurality of subarray controllers. Each subarray controller of the plurality of subarray controllers is coupled to a respective subarray of the plurality of subarrays and is configured to direct performance of an operation with respect to data stored in the respective subarray of the plurality of subarrays. The memory device is configured to move a data value corresponding to a result of an operation with respect to data stored in a first subarray of the plurality of subarrays to a memory cell in a second subarray of the plurality of subarrays.
US09971534B2
An apparatus and associated method for interfacing a plurality of electronic devices with a network to execute input/output (I/O) commands. A power manager is configured to individually control amounts of power supplied to each of the electronic devices. The power manager selectively increases an amount of power supplied to a first one of the electronic devices based on an amount of power being supplied to a different second one of the electronic devices.
US09971523B2
According to one embodiment, a memory controller includes a compression unit and a padding processing unit. The compression unit compresses first data to be written into a first page and second data to be written into a second page. The padding processing unit performs a padding processing such that the compressed first data is written into first memory cells, first padding data is written into second memory cells, the compressed second data is written into third memory cells, and second padding data is written into fourth memory cells.
US09971522B2
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller reads write data associated with a first write command from a host memory by a unit of a first size in response to the first write command from a host. The host memory is included in the host. In a case where the size of first data not yet read from the host memory out of the write data is less than a second size, in response to a second write command, the controller reads second data of the second size and writes the read second data into the nonvolatile memory. The second data includes the first data and third data included in write data associated with the second write command. After writing the second data into the nonvolatile memory, the controller transmits a notice for the first write command to the host.
US09971517B2
A method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a recirculation command; performing a coarse page lookup to determine valid ones of logical pages to be recirculated; requesting performance of a fine page lookup on source physical addresses containing the valid logical pages to verify the valid logical pages; and sending write commands corresponding to verified valid logical pages from the fine page lookup. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
US09971516B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products retrieve data from a low retrieval speed device. A request is made to retrieve data from the low retrieval speed device. A determination is made that the time to respond to the request will exceed a threshold amount of time. In response to the determination that the time to respond to the request will exceed the threshold amount of time, a load stall interrupt is generated. In response to the load stall interrupt, one or more system resources associated with a source of the request are released.
US09971514B2
A memory system or flash card may include a controller that indexes a global address table (GAT) with a single data structure that addresses both large and small chunks of data. The GAT may include both large logical groups and smaller logical groups for optimizing write amplification. The addressing space may be organized with a large logical group size for sequential data. For fragmented data, the GAT may reference an additional GAT page or additional GAT chunk that has a smaller logical group size.
US09971509B2
A chassis management controller includes a root file system, a shared memory, a daemon process module, and an interposer library. The root file system includes a plurality of directories associated with firmware applications of the chassis management controller. The daemon process module is configured to read the parameters of the directories, and to create, in the shared memory, a table including parameters of the directories. The interposer library is configured to intercept an input/output library call for an operation associated with one of the firmware applications, to read table entries associated the one or the firmware applications, to determine whether the operation associated with the input/output library call would result in an over-allocation of a parameter in the entries of the table, and if the operation would not result in the over-allocation, pass the output operation to a standard system library, otherwise to return an out of space error message.
US09971507B2
Systems and methods of reducing storage requirements for storing information defining a virtual space are presented herein. In particular, a compressed format of information defining a virtual space may be generated. The virtual space may include virtual space content modeled as polygons. An individual polygon may be defined by an individual set of vertices. The information defining the virtual space may include vertex position information, and/or other information. The vertex position information may comprise individual positions of individual vertices of individual polygons represented as vectors having vector components.
US09971505B2
Memory systems are provided. A memory system may include a plurality of nonvolatile memories and a memory controller configured to control the plurality of nonvolatile memories. Moreover, the memory system may include an input/output buffer circuit connected between the memory controller and the plurality of nonvolatile memories. A data channel may be connected between the memory controller and the input/output buffer circuit, and first and second internal data channels may be connected between the input/output buffer circuit and respective first and second groups of the plurality of nonvolatile memories. The input/output buffer circuit may be configured to connect the data channel to one of the first and second internal data channels.
US09971497B2
A method for controlling an equipment item or a function by means of a touch interface includes: displaying, on a touch screen of the interface, a first graphical object that can be manipulated to control said equipment item or said function and a second graphical object having a first configuration in which the first graphical object is disabled and a second configuration in which the first graphical object can be activated; —detecting a first gesture on the screen tending to switch the second graphical object from the first configuration to the second configuration; activating said first graphical object while the second graphical object is being manipulated; and detecting a second gesture on the screen tending to activate the first graphical object. Applicable to the activation of a protected function implemented onboard an aircraft.
US09971482B2
Disclosed are some examples of methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products related to a user interface providing a call center service. In some implementations, the user interface presents session tabs and application tabs. A session tab can have a parent-child relationship with an application tab. Customer data can be retrieved from a database, where the customer data includes account data and child data. The customer data can be provided to cause display in the user interface of the account data in association with a first session tab and the child data in association with a first application tab. Edits to the child data can cause the first application tab to be designated as unsaved.
US09971480B2
A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to be executed by a processor to define a set of indicators encoding a set of content segments from the set of content segments. The processor further defines, for each content segment, a first link between that content segment and an indicator from the set of indicators, such that the first link associates a center component of the content segment to that indicator. The processor also defines, for each content segment, a second link between that content segment and an adjacent content segment within the sequence of content segments, such that the second link associates an edge component of that content segment to an edge component of the adjacent content segment. The processor also defines a presentation of the set of content segments based on the first link and the second link, for each content segment.
US09971471B2
A tool-tip presentation system for multimedia files. The tool-tip presentation system can be configured to respond to proximity events associated with a selected entry in a list of multimedia files such as screen captured images or complete audio files. Based upon the selected entry, a corresponding multimedia sample such as a thumbnail image of a screen captured image or an audio sample of the audio file can be retrieved and presented as a tool-tip. In particular, the tool-tip can be displayed in a position which is proximate to the selected entry. In this way, one who interacts with the list of multimedia files need not load each complete multimedia file in the list in order to determine the contents of the multimedia file. Rather, the multimedia sample in the tool-tip can suffice.
US09971450B2
A touch panel includes a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of wirings. Each of the plurality of first electrodes has a first portion formed on a layer different from that on which the second electrodes are formed and intersecting the second electrodes, and a second portion formed on the same layer as that on which the second electrodes are formed, but separated from the second electrode. The second electrode and the second portion of the first electrode are formed on a layer different than the layer where the wiring is formed. The first portion of the first electrode is connected to the second portion through a contact portion formed in an insulating film made of a negative resist between the first portion and the second electrode.
US09971444B2
Touch sensors with multiple electrically isolated touch regions are disclosed. A touch sensor may be electrically partitioned into a first touch region and a second touch region. The first touch region and the second touch region may be physically connected and electrically isolated from each other. The first touch region and the second touch region may each independently define an independently operable portion of the touch sensor such that a failure in one of the first touch region or the second touch region does not impair operations in another one of the first touch region or the second touch region. A touch sensor configured in this manner may be implemented as a standalone touch sensing device, or as a component of other devices such as electronic displays or the like.
US09971441B2
A touch sensor is presented. The touch sensor comprises a first electrode (21a); a second electrode (21b); a spacing layer (22) disposed between the first and second electrodes to separate the first and second electrodes; a first sealing layer (23a) and a second sealing layer (23b), wherein the first and second electrodes and the spacing layer are disposed between the first and second sealing layers; wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, the spacing layer, the first sealing layer and the second sealing layer are bendable; a capacitive touch circuitry (24) arranged to sense a capacitive coupling between the first and second electrodes and to output a capacitive touch signal as a response to a change in the capacitive coupling; and a charge inducing circuitry (25) connected to the first and second electrodes arranged to independently induce electric charge to the first and second electrodes. A touch sensitive system comprising the touch sensor is also presented.
US09971440B2
To reduce power consumption. Included are a selection signal output circuit, a reset signal output circuit, and a plurality of photodetector circuits. After the selection signal output circuit outputs part of the selection signals, output of the other selection signals from the selection signal output circuit is stopped. After the reset signal output circuit outputs part of the reset signals, output of the other reset signals from the reset signal output circuit is stopped.
US09971439B2
A configuration of a touch-panel-equipped display device in which the occurrence of moire can be suppressed is provided. A touch-panel-equipped display device (1) includes: a color filter layer (121) that includes a plurality of pixels (PX) arranged in matrix along a first direction and a second direction that intersect at a right angle; and a sensor pattern layer (1220) that includes a plurality of electrodes (1220) arranged along the second direction at a predetermined sensor interval (SY) and is disposed so as to overlap the color filter layer (121) in a plan view. Each of the plurality of pixels (PX) includes n color filters (121R, 121G, 121B) that transmit light in different wavelength regions from one another, where n represents an integer of 3 or more. The n color filters are arranged at predetermined subpixel intervals (CSFY) along the second direction. The sensor interval (SY) and the subpixel interval (CSFY) satisfy the following expression (1): CFSY×(n×m+1)≤SY≤CFSY×(n×(m+1)−1) (1) where m represents a positive integer.
US09971436B2
A touch user interface may be implemented at a display edge, such as a display included with a portable information handling system. An edge touch element may provide structural support for the display along with touch functionality. The edge touch element may be integrated with a touch panel included with the display. The edge touch element may wrap around to a back face of the display.
US09971435B2
A method for transmitting emotions in accordance with a touch pressure, a touch area and a touch time period may include: determining characteristics of a message; detecting at least one of the magnitude of the touch pressure, touch area, and touch time period of the touch when the touch is input to a touch screen of a sender's terminal; changing state information of the characteristics in accordance with at least one of the detected magnitude of the touch pressure, touch area, and touch time period of the touch; and transmitting the message including the changed state information.
US09971432B2
A touch panel and a display device including the same are disclosed. The touch panel in a curved state includes a first electrode that includes a plurality of electrode parts spaced apart from each other. The plurality of electrode parts include a first electrode part, extending through the center region of the touch panel, and a second electrode part extending through a lateral side region of the touch panel. The second electrode part has a lower resistance than the first electrode part.
US09971431B2
A flexible device, an instruction signal generation apparatus for the flexible device, and a bend detection method for the flexible device. The instruction signal generation apparatus comprises a sensing module (101) and a responding module (102), the sensing module (101) is configured to generate a sense signal having a magnitude associated with a bend degree of the flexible device when the flexible device is bent; and the responding module (102) is configured to receive the sense signal outputted from the sensing module (101) and generate an instruction signal according to the sense signal. A bend type user input manner for the flexible device can be achieved.
US09971428B2
Devices, systems and methods for using corrugated tessellation to create surface features are disclosed. In embodiments, a device comprises a touch-sensitive surface capable of being in a first configuration and a second configuration different than the first configuration. When the touch-sensitive surface is in the second configuration an input device may be provided that is not present when the touch-sensitive surface is in the first configuration. For example, the touch-sensitive surface can be a flat surface in the first configuration and can be a three-dimensional surface comprising a physical keyboard in the second configuration. In embodiments, a device, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer, comprises a touch-sensitive display that comprises the touch-sensitive surface.
US09971425B2
A method, a computer program product, and an information handling system is provided for controlling a device sensitivity based on a change of movement of the device. A device movement with a device sensitivity controlled by a user movement is monitored for a change in rate of movement or direction. The sensitivity of the device is controlled based on the change.
US09971424B2
The present invention provides an all-in-one machine, a method for the all-in-one machine to realize quick touch in all channels, and a computer storage medium. The method includes: detecting which channel is currently connected to the main board, and controlling a USB selecting switch to connect a first data port of a touch frame with a USB port of a device or module to which the currently connected channel belongs, based on the detected channel information; determining whether there is an action to call a touch menu when detecting that the channel connected to the main board is an internal PC module channel or an external device channel; and if so, activating the main board to start a touch menu application program, and making response, by the main board, to touch data within an area of the touch menu transmitted from the touch frame through the second data port, after the touch menu has been called and before an action of leaving the touch menu is detected. The present invention avoids wasting time in waiting for the USB to be identified that the user can perform a touch manipulation immediately after the USB selecting switch is switched.
US09971423B2
A stylus device for interacting with a computer is disclosed. The stylus device can comprise an operational circuit, an operational switch for activating and deactivating the operational circuit, and a driving and sensing circuit configured for driving a voltage supply to the operational circuit and sensing a state of the operational switch, wherein the driving and the sensing are executed intermittently on an electrical conductor.
US09971422B2
A digitizer system includes a stylus comprising a plurality of transmitters for transmitting signals, wherein each of the plurality of transmitters are distanced from one another by a defined distance, a digitizer sensor operable for sensing signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitters, and circuitry associated with the digitizer sensor for tracking a projected location on the digitizer sensor of each of the plurality of transmitters based on the signals sensed, and for tracking a geometric relationship between the projected locations.
US09971414B2
Examples of systems, devices, and methods are described herein that can provide for gesture recognition. Wireless communication signals are received from sources in an environment (e.g. cellular telephones, computers, etc.). Features of the wireless communication signals (e.g. Doppler shifts) are extracted and utilized to identify gestures. The use of wireless communication signals accordingly make possible gesture recognition in a whole-home environment that identifies gestures performed through walls or other obstacles.
US09971413B2
The present invention discloses a positioning method and apparatus, which relate to the field of computer technologies and may simplify an operation of selecting a target application icon or function button and makes the operation less time-consuming. According to embodiments of the present invention, a gazed area on a screen under the gaze of a user is acquired by detecting a screen gazing operation of the user, a projection area on the screen to be pressed by the user is acquired by detecting the user's hover gesture operation of pressing the screen; when the gazed area does not include the projection area, the user's hover gesture operation of pressing the screen is re-detected to acquire the projection area on the screen to be pressed by the user; when the gazed area includes the projection area, an application icon or a function button included in a match area is processed.
US09971410B2
An actuator configured to provide haptic feedback to a user. The actuator is located on a plate and is configured to apply various excitations to the plate to generate a mechanical wave propagating in the controlled direction. The excitations can be a translational motion of the actuator (or a portion of the actuator) in two or three perpendicular axes. Alternatively, the excitations can be a non-translational motion (e.g., rotation about an axis) of the actuator (or a portion of the actuator). By generating the mechanical wave traveling in the controlled direction, loss of energy due to scattering of the mechanical wave can be obviated.
US09971408B2
In various example embodiments, a system and method for simulating touch in a virtual environment is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving an indicator of a touch in a virtual environment, the indicator including a physical touch location and a texture of the touch, generating one or more commands that simulate the texture of the touch at the physical touch location by stimulating one or more micro-touch simulators in an array of micro-touch simulators according to the texture of the touch at the physical touch location, and executing the one or more commands at the physical touch interface to simulate the touch at the physical touch location for the user.
US09971407B2
An electronic device is disclosed. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a mechanical input configured to rotate in a first direction about a rotation axis in response to a first input at the mechanical input. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a mechanical input sensor coupled to the mechanical input and configured to sense a rotation of the mechanical input about the rotation axis. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a mechanical input actuator coupled to the mechanical input and configured to rotate the mechanical input in a second direction about the rotation axis. In some examples, the mechanical input comprises a shared driving and sensing segment. In some examples, the mechanical input sensor is configured to sense the rotation of the mechanical input at the shared driving and sensing segment. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator is configured to generate magnetic fields for rotating the mechanical input at the shared driving and sensing segment. In some examples, the mechanical input is further configured to translate along the rotation axis in response to a second input. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator comprises at least one piezoelectric element configured to allow the mechanical input to translate along the rotation axis. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator comprises at least one piezoelectric element configured to rotate the mechanical input in the second direction about the rotation axis.
US09971395B2
A USB hub has a USB hub controller, and an embedded controller, a USB port connector and associated port power control device and a controllable bypass switch providing a supply voltage to the USB port connector when the embedded controller enables it, a controllable voltage supply regulator unit providing a first output voltage which can be turned off and supplied to the port power control device, and a programmable current monitor circuit with a current sensor providing a second supply voltage to the monitor circuit, wherein during a low power mode, the USB hub controller and any port power control device are turned off and the monitor circuit is configured to provide the second supply voltage through the sensor and bypass switch to the USB connector and detects a current when a USB device is plugged into the USB port connector and wakes up the embedded controller.
US09971382B2
Systems, methods and apparatuses may provide for a flexible display assembly including a flexible display and a backplane coupled to the flexible display, wherein at least a portion of the backplane comprises a super elastic sheet. In one example, the backplane includes a first rigid sheet metal portion and a second rigid sheet metal portion, wherein the super-elastic sheet is joined between the first and second rigid sheet metal portions.
US09971366B2
In-service diagnostic testing of containers with a climate control system used in intermodal freight transport includes automatically testing the functioning of the climate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection. According to the invention in-service diagnostic testing is performed with cargo in the container during transportation from origin to destination at a suitable time before expected arrival to the destination so that the approval resulting from the in-service diagnostic testing is fresh and up-to-date. Results of the in-service diagnostic testing are transmitted wirelessly to a receiver at a central facility where managing and allocating a large number of containers to individual transport tasks is performed, and containers which have not passed the in-service diagnostic testing can be taken out of service for maintenance and repair.
US09971359B2
The invention relates to a controlled three-way proportional valve unit comprising: a valve assembly with two individual valves; an actuating device actuating valves of the valve assembly; and a control unit acting upon the actuating device and having a control signal input, the valves of the valve assembly being designed as poppet valves arranged on opposite sides and having counter-rotatable valve spindles. The valve spindles are prestressed relative each other in opposite directions by a prestressing element such that, when the actuating unit is inactive, a first poppet valve is open and the second poppet valve is closed. The actuating device comprises an actuator common to both poppet valves, acts upon the two valve spindles and changes the position of the valve spindles counter to the effect of the prestressing element.
US09971358B2
An adjustable passive flow regulator may be used in the field of drug delivery (liquid or gaseous, e.g. for pain management) or for draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for hydrocephalus patient.
US09971344B2
In one embodiment, a system includes an industrial automation device and a computing device. The computing device includes a display configured to display a set of procedures. The computing device also includes a processor configured to receive an input after each step of the set of procedures is performed by a user, analyze the input in view of one or more scoring factors associated with performance of the at least one step, determine a first score for the user, the industrial automation device, or both based on the scoring factors, and store the first score in a cloud-based computing system. The cloud-based computing system is configured to provide access to the first score.
US09971340B1
A system for adjusting the height of a workstation for use by a user, the system comprising a frame, a worktop vertically slidably attached to said frame and selectably adjustable in elevation to different positions, at least one drive mechanism mechanically connected between said frame and said worktop and arranged to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to said frame when activated, a processor controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop to different positions, the processor monitoring at least one condition with respect to the worktop and, when the at least one condition is met, generating at least one reminder for a workstation user, the processor providing the reminder to a workstation user by driving the worktop through at least one small vertical displacement.
US09971337B2
A method for machining a selected part with a machine tool, comprises obtaining a master part replicating at least a portion of a geometry of a selected part. The master part is loaded in a machine tool. A signature of the machine tool is defined by measuring at least dimensional data of the master part relative to the machine tool, the dimensional data being limited to a selected-part-specific working volume substantially smaller than a complete working volume of the machine tool. The machine tool is certified as being within tolerances to machine the selected part within the working volume, using the dimensional data of the signature. The selected part is machined from a workpiece with the machine tool.
US09971333B2
A PLC programming auxiliary system and a method thereof are provided. The system comprises: a web server providing a complex algorithm for programming PLC, correctness checking of the programming and user logic compilation functions; a plurality of client computers connecting with a web server and the programmed PLC devices via a network link. When a client computer is linked to the website server by a user, a web browser on the client computer requests from the web server to download client programming software for programming an appropriate PLC device, and the client programming software for programming the appropriate PLC device is executed within the web browser on the client computer, to enable the client computer to configure the PLC device and program the user logic through the client programming software for programming the appropriate PLC device, and the client computer implements an interface connection and an interaction operation of the web server with the user through the client programming software for programming the appropriate PLC device.
US09971331B2
A monitoring device for a programmable controller can resume continuous operation from an appropriate step, when the equipment is restarted after abnormality handling process. The monitoring device includes: a read device that reads operating state information of equipment from the programmable controller during individual operation; a relationship information storage device that stores relationship information showing relationship between the first step to be executed out of the steps when the equipment is restarted after the individual operation and the operating state information; a selection device that refers to the operating state information and selects the first step to be executed when the equipment is restarted, based on the relationship information; and a command transmission device that transmits a command to change an in-execution flag of the programmable controller which shows the first step to be executed when the equipment is restarted, based on the selection result of the selection device.
US09971328B2
A flow control center can include a barometric sensor, at least one ball valve assembly, and a computing device. The ball valve can be controllable among a plurality of discreet positions to selectively change a flow of fluid. The computing device can have a communication device configured to receive signals from the barometric sensor. The computing device can determine a first flow rate in response to the sensed pressure represented by the first signal. The computing device can also control a motor of the ball valve assembly to move a ball valve to a first of the plurality of discreet angular positions. The first of the plurality of discreet angular positions can correspond to the sensed pressure represented by the first signal.
US09971325B2
A method for controlling the readiness of an appliance in a system having a mobile device capable of determining its current location, storing a previous location and storing a home location for a delivery point of the appliance, and determining a location change event by comparing the current to previous location to result in a difference. If the mobile device is determined to be close to the home location and the difference magnitude is greater than a threshold, a first distance corresponding to the distance between the current and home location and a second distance corresponding to the distance between the previous and home location are computed. If the first distance is smaller than the second distance, the readiness of the appliance is enhanced. Otherwise, the readiness of the appliance is relaxed.
US09971318B2
A method includes obtaining information identifying (i) uncertainties associated with multiple time-domain parameters of a model and (ii) time-domain performance specifications for a model-based industrial process controller. The model mathematically represents a MIMO industrial process. The method also includes generating multiple tuning parameters for the controller based on the uncertainties and the time-domain performance specifications. The tuning parameters include vectors of tuning parameters associated with the controller, and each vector includes values associated with different outputs of the industrial process. The time-domain parameters could include a process gain, a time constant, and a time delay for each input-output pair of the model. The time-domain performance specifications could include requirements related to worst-case overshoots, settling times, and total variations. The uncertainties could be specified as intervals in which the time-domain parameters lie.
US09971316B2
A process variable transmitter for use in an industrial control or monitoring process is provided and includes a housing with a cavity formed therein which extends between first and second housing openings. The transmitter further includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable of the industrial process. An electronics carrier assembly is mounted in the cavity and is configured to define a first compartment and a second compartment in the cavity and provide a seal therebetween. Measurement circuitry is carried by the electronics carrier assembly in the first compartment and configured to receive a process variable signal and provide an output. An electrical connection is carried on the electronics carrier assembly in the second compartment and is electrically coupled to the output of the measurement circuitry.
US09971313B2
Processor processing sensor signal corresponding to wrist muscle movement and devices including same
A wrist watch includes a wrist band attached to a device module, where sensors disposed on the wrist band and the device module sense wrist muscle movements made by a user and generate corresponding sense signals. The device module includes a main memory that stores a sensing application and a target application, a secondary memory that stores a reference input value, and a controller that executes the sensing application in conjunction with the execution of the target application, such that the sensing application generates a current input value in response to the corresponding sense signal, and compares the current input value with the reference input value to execute one function selected from among a plurality of functions defined for the target application.
US09971302B2
A method for processing a sequence of holographic images, with a view to its rendition by a holographic display device to at least one observer. A holographic image is decomposed over a Gabor wavelet basis into a set of wavelet coefficients. The method includes the following acts, implemented for an image of the sequence: obtaining items of information representative of the decomposition over the Gabor wavelet basis; obtaining of items of information representative of a location of the at least one observer in a reference frame of the display device; selecting a subset of wavelet coefficients as a function of the wavelet items of information and of the location items of information obtained.
US09971301B2
An image processing apparatus comprises a container mounted on a side wall of the image processing apparatus and comprising a bottom extending upwards in the vertical direction at a predetermined angle from the side wall for supporting an end of a sheet and a wall member vertically arranged on the bottom and forming a space with the bottom, and configured to house a sheet in the space through an opening formed on the upper side of the container; and a pickup unit located adjacent to the bottom of the container and having a pickup roller and configured to move the pickup roller to the inside of the container if a pickup operation for conveying the sheet to the inside of the image processing apparatus is executed, and keep the pickup roller at a waiting position outside of the space of the container if the pickup operation is not executed.
US09971294B2
In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a sheet feed section and a conveyance control section. The sheet feed section is provided with a plurality of cassettes in which sheets of a plurality of categories are stored for each category of the sheets, and feeds a sheet stored in the cassettes. The conveyance control section enables, in a case in which a sheet is fed from a cassette in which sheets to be printed after the printing surfaces thereof are aligned are stored among the cassettes, a reversal unit reversing the front side and the back side of the sheet at the time when the sheet is fed to convey and discharge the sheet regardless of a printing method designated by a user.
US09971290B2
An image forming apparatus comprises a sensor which emits light with a spot diameter serving as a predetermined size to a pattern for position detection formed on a transfer medium conveyed by a conveyance section, and outputs a read signal corresponding to reflected light of the emitted light; a processing circuit which generates a differential signal obtained by differentiating the read signal output by the sensor, and outputs a signal obtained through an exclusive OR of the read signal and the differential signal obtained by differentiating the read signal; and a control section configured to specify a position at which a image forming section forms a image on the basis of the signal output by the processing circuit.
US09971288B2
A fixing device includes a first pressing member, a fixing belt, a second pressing member, a load adjustment unit, a tension adjustment unit and a control unit. The first pressing member has an elastic layer. The fixing belt is wound around the first pressing member. The second pressing member presses against the first pressing member via the fixing belt, conveys the recording member and forms a fixing nip. The load adjustment unit adjusts pressing load of the first pressing member and the second pressing member. The tension adjustment unit adjusts tension of the fixing belt. The control unit controls the load adjustment unit so as to change a width of the fixing nip in a recording member conveyance direction and controls the tension adjustment unit so as to change the tension of the fixing belt.
US09971285B2
Provided is an image forming apparatus including a fixing member that transports a recording medium on which an image is transferred while nipping the recording medium to fix the image to the recording medium, a discharge member that discharges the recording medium by rotating forwardly, a guide member that guides the recording medium to a reverse transport path in which a front surface and a rear surface of the recording medium are reversed by coming in contact with the recording medium transported by the discharge member that reversely rotates, and a waving member that is disposed at a downstream side of the fixing member in the transport direction of the recording medium, and waves the recording medium transported by the fixing member in a width direction of the recording medium.
US09971283B2
A belt conveyance apparatus includes an endless belt conveyed while being supported by a plurality of support rollers in a tensioned state. The plurality of support rollers include a tension roller and a steering roller. The tension roller, which is disposed adjacent to and downstream of the steering roller in a conveyance direction of the endless belt, has a reverse crown shape in which end portions in a rotational axis direction each have an outer diameter larger than a middle portion.
US09971282B2
A cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a rotatable member, a blade member contacted to the rotatable member, and a frame configured to support the blade member and the rotatable member. The cartridge also includes a seal member configured to fill a gap between the frame and the blade member at a longitudinal end portion of the blade member.
US09971278B2
An image forming apparatus includes a storage container, a detection portion, a determination portion, a first calculation portion, and a first notification processing portion. The storage container stores waste toner collected. The detection portion detects that an amount of waste toner stored in the storage container has reached a predetermined reference amount. The determination portion determines, after the detection portion detects that the amount of waste toner has reached the predetermined reference amount, whether the storage container is in a full state. The first calculation portion calculates a set time based on a waste toner increase speed at which the waste toner increases up to a point of time of the detection by the detection portion. The first notification processing portion, when the set time has elapsed since the point of time of the detection by the detection portion, makes a notification regarding a pre-full state.
US09971272B2
The present invention relates to an optical scanning device and an image forming apparatus. In order to suppress jitter, the degree of convergence of a first incident optical system and the degree of convergence of a second incident optical system are both equal to or greater than 0, and the degree of convergence of the second incident optical system is greater than the degree of convergence of the first incident optical system. An angle of incidence, within a sub-scanning section, of a light beam incident on a deflection surface of an optical deflector from the second incident optical system is less than an angle of incidence, within the sub-scanning section, of a light beam incident on the deflection surface of the optical deflector from the first incident optical system.
US09971270B2
Temperature of a printing medium 110 is sufficiently decreased by stopping the printing medium 110 in a discharge path, conveying the printing medium at a low speed, switching a conveyance path, or the like. If the temperature of the printing medium 110 can be sufficiently decreased, the thermochromism phenomenon is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving highly accurate color matching and color stability.
US09971268B2
A curable liquid developer that contains a toner particle, a polymerization initiator, and a cationically polymerizable liquid monomer, wherein the cationically polymerizable liquid monomer contains a compound given by the following formula (A): (R—CH═CH—O—)n—CmH(2m+2−n) formula (A) [in formula (A), m represents an integer that is at least 12 and not more than 50; n represents an integer that is at least 2; and R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having at least 1 and not more than 3 carbons].
US09971255B2
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the one or more meniscus pinning features, wherein the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size.
US09971248B2
A shutter unit that opens and closes an optical path of light for a lithography apparatus is provided. The shutter unit includes a motor which rotatably drives a shaft extended along a rotation axis of the motor, and a plurality of shutter members attached to the shaft, each including a light shielding portion and a light transmissive portion. The shutter unit further includes a partition plate arranged at a location between the shutter members to avoid a portion through which a light beam passes and configured to shield light that has leaked from a front stage shutter member.
US09971247B2
A pattern-forming method comprises applying a chemically amplified resist material on an antireflective film formed on a substrate to form a resist material film. The resist material film is patternwise exposed to ionizing radiation or nonionizing radiation having a wavelength of no greater than 400 nm. The resist material film patternwise exposed is floodwise exposed to nonionizing radiation having a wavelength greater than the nonionizing radiation for the patternwise exposing and greater than 200 nm. The resist material film floodwise exposed is baked. The resist material film baked is developed with a developer solution. An extinction coefficient of the antireflective film for the nonionizing radiation employed for the floodwise exposing is no less than 0.1. The chemically amplified resist material comprises a base component and a generative component that is capable of generating a radiation-sensitive sensitizer and an acid upon an exposure.
US09971238B2
The present invention provides a mask blank including: a transparent substrate, a half-transparent layer for controlling a phase and a transmittance of the exposure light, formed on the transparent substrate, a middle layer formed on the half-transparent layer, and a light-shielding layer formed on the middle layer, wherein the light-shielding layer is constituted with a single metal material not including a transition metal; a film thickness of the light-shielding layer is 40 nm or less; and an optical density of a laminated body, in which three kinds of layers: the half-transparent layer, the middle layer, and the light-shielding layer are laminated, with respect to the exposure light is a value to the extent that the laminated body functions as a light-shielding region or more; the mask blank is used for producing a half tone type phase shift mask, and suitable for a lithography technique on a wafer from 40 nm half pitch and on for its high light-shielding property even thinning the light-shielding pattern film, capability of decreasing the value of EMF bias, and excellency in pattern processability, light-shielding property and chemical resistance.
US09971229B2
Apparatuses and methods for supercontinuum generation using a laser beam and a plurality of condensed state transparent plates are presented. As an example, plate material to be used for one of the plurality of plates is determined. A thickness of the one of the plurality of plates is also determined. An allowable laser intensity of the laser beam is then determined to be λ/(2n0n2L), where λ is the central incident wavelength in vacuum, n0 is the linear refractive index, n2 is the third-order nonlinear coefficient. A location of a next plate is then determined to be a distance downstream from the one of the plurality of plates where a laser intensity of the laser beam returns to a value of the determined allowable laser intensity.
US09971226B2
An optoelectronic filter having at least one input and an output includes a modulator circuit having at least first and second inputs with a first one of the modulator circuit inputs adapted to couple to a respective one of the at least one input of the optoelectronic filter. The modulator circuit receives at least a first radio frequency (RF) signal having a first power level and a second RF signal having a second, different power level at the first one of the modulator circuit inputs and in response thereto generates a modulated signal at an output thereof. The first RF signal is suppressed relative to the second RF signal in the modulated signal. The optoelectronic filter additionally includes a light source adapted to couple to a second one of the modulator circuit inputs. A corresponding method is also provided.
US09971223B2
The present application discloses a method for fabricating a display substrate including forming an electrode layer comprising a plurality of electrode blocks on a base substrate; each electrode block corresponding to a subpixel region; and forming an electrochromic layer comprising a plurality of electrochromic blocks on the electrode layer by electrochemically depositing an electrochromic material onto the plurality of electrode blocks on a side of the electrode layer distal to the base substrate, each electrochromic block corresponding to each electrode block in a one-to-one relationship.
US09971220B2
A COA (Color filter On Array) substrate and a manufacturing method using the same are disclosed. The method includes: forming a first metal layer, a gate insulation layer, a color resist layer, an active layer, a second metal layer, a passivation layer, a via hole, and a transparent conductive layer in order. The via hole is used for connecting to the transparent conductive layer with the second metal layer. The transparent conductive layer is formed on the passivation layer. A gate electrode is formed by pattering the first metal layer. A drain electrode and a source electrode are formed by pattering the second metal layer. In the present invention, the color resist layer is made before the second metal layer.
US09971211B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide an array substrate and a display device, which can reduce the phenomenon of point discharge for the pixel electrode. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel units; a pixel electrode is provided in each pixel unit; wherein at least one corner of at least one pixel electrode is provided with a notch.
US09971205B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate (1), a CF substrate (2) arranged to correspond to the array substrate (1), liquid crystal filled between the array substrate (1) and the CF substrate (2), enclosing resin (3) coated between the array substrate (1) and the CF substrate (2), and a photosensitive gap material barrier (4) arranged between the array substrate (1) and the CF substrate (2). The photosensitive gap material barrier (4) is arranged to circumferentially surround an outer periphery of a display zone (6) of the liquid crystal display panel. The photosensitive gap material barrier (4) has a height that is less than a distance between the array substrate (1) and the CF substrate (2). The photosensitive gap material barrier (4) includes a plurality of recessed cavities (41) formed therein. The liquid crystal display panel prevents air bubbles of the outer periphery of the display zone from spreading into the display zone to cause abnormal displaying and enhances the displaying quality of the liquid crystal display panel and improves product yield rate.
US09971196B2
Provided are a light source device capable of suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles on an optical sheet even if the optical sheet expands due to heat generated at the time of light emission, and a display apparatus including the light source device. In the light source device, an optical sheet is disposed with one surface facing the light source unit, while the light source unit and the optical sheet are supported by a support member. A contact portion being in contact with the peripheral edge part of the other surface of the optical sheet is pressed to the optical sheet by a connecting member, and the optical sheet is held between the contact portion and the support member. The contact portion and the support member holding the optical sheet are connected with each other by the connecting member. The connecting member is configured to have a weakened force of pressing the contact portion if a surrounding temperature reaches a predetermined temperature or higher.
US09971193B2
A liquid crystal display panel (100A, 100B) includes a transverse electric field mode liquid crystal cell (10), a first polarizing plate (22A, 22B) disposed on a back surface side of the liquid crystal cell (10), and a second polarizing plate (24A, 24B) disposed on a viewer's side of the liquid crystal cell (10). A liquid crystal layer (18) contains a nematic liquid crystal whose dielectric anisotropy is negative. The liquid crystal layer (18) has Δnd of less than 550 nm, where Δn is the birefringent index of the nematic liquid crystal and d is the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer (18) is in a twist alignment state when no voltage is applied. When polarized light whose Stokes parameter S3 takes on an absolute value |S3| of 1.00 enters the liquid crystal layer (18), |S3| of polarized light having perpendicularly passed through the liquid crystal layer (18) is 0.85 or greater. The first polarizing plate (22A, 22B) and the second polarizing plate (24A, 24B) are circularly polarizing plates or elliptically polarizing plates whose ellipticity is 0.422 or greater.
US09971188B2
Provided is a display device, in which: a center position of a row-wise width of a black matrix located between a red pixel and a green pixel is displaced toward a red pixel side from the center position of a row-wise line width of a data line overlapping with the black matrix in a plan view; and the center position of the row-wise width of the black matrix located between the green pixel and a blue pixel is displaced toward a blue pixel side from the center position of the row-wise line width of the data line overlapping with the black matrix in a plan view.
US09971184B2
Discussed is a liquid crystal display device that includes a substrate having a pixel electrode and a common electrode formed thereon, a first polarizing plate on a bottom surface of the substrate, and having a polarizing axis of a first direction, a nanocapsule liquid crystal layer on the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and including a buffer layer and nanocapsules, each nanocapsules being filled with liquid crystal molecules, being oil-soluble, and being dispersed in the buffer layer, and a second polarizing plate on the nanocapsule liquid crystal layer, and having a polarizing axis of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US09971175B2
A display device including a liquid crystal panel configured to selectively transmit light for each pixel of the liquid crystal panel; a light guide plate provided behind the liquid crystal panel; a light source array including a plurality of LEDs arranged in a row at first lateral side of the light guide plate, and configured to emit light to the first lateral side of the light guide plate; and a mirror provided in a second lateral side of the light guide plate and configured to reflect the light having reached the second lateral side back along the light guide plate. Further, a rear surface of the light guide plate includes a stepped unevenness having first surfaces configured to reflect light toward the liquid crystal panel and second surfaces configured to reflect light toward the mirror, and a thickness of the light guide plate increases in a first direction from the first lateral side to the second lateral side such that the second lateral side of the light guide plate is thicker than the first lateral side of the light guide plate.
US09971173B2
A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include a substrate, an optical waveguide segment (12) formed on the substrate, and first and second zones of opposite conductivity types configured to form a first bipolar junction perpendicular to the substrate. The phase shifter may also include a dynamic control structure configured to reverse bias the first junction and a static control structure configured to direct a quiescent current in the second zone, parallel to the first junction.
US09971170B2
A device for controlling a lens for adjustable vision correction is provided. The device, e.g., a smartphone, comprises circuits to determine if a user of the device is gazing at the device, and, if the user is gazing at the device, to determine a distance between the eye and the device, and to control the lens to adjust its focal length based on the determined distance. Thereby, the lens is adjusted only if required, i.e., if the user is gazing at the device. The circuits may be suitable for correcting presbyopia if the user is gazing at a device located at close distance, and alleviate the need for the user to actively operate a switch or move her head for adjusting the focal length of her lenses.
US09971166B2
A liquid crystal lens panel includes a lower lens electrodes divided into lower lens electrode groups; an upper lens electrode positioned opposite to the lower lens electrodes; alignment layers positioned on the lower lens electrodes and the upper lens electrode, respectively; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the lens electrodes that includes liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal layer forms a liquid crystal lens upon application of an electric field by the upper lens electrode and the lower lens electrode groups, and each of the lens electrode groups corresponds to a unit of the liquid crystal lens. The alignment layer is divided into a first region and a second region positioned about a center of the liquid crystal lens, and the liquid crystal molecules included in the first region and the second region are aligned at different angles whose signs are opposite to each other.
US09971156B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the see-through computer display systems with a wide field of view.
US09971155B2
A transmission type head mounted display device includes an image display unit including an image-light generating unit configured to generate image light on the basis of image data and emit the image light, the image display unit causing a user to visually recognize the image light as a virtual image and transmitting an outside scene in a state, a display-unit-direction specifying unit configured to specify a display unit direction, which is a direction of the image display unit, a specific-direction setting unit configured to set a specific direction on the basis of an image light generation region where the image-light generating unit generates the image light and the display unit direction, and a control unit configured to set a position of the image light generation region on the basis of the display unit direction.
US09971152B2
A projector includes a light source portion that emits laser light, a first reflection portion that is swingable and reflects the laser light from the light source portion, and a second reflection portion that is swingable and reflects the laser light from the first reflection portion. The laser light from the light source portion passes through an opening provided near the second reflection portion and is irradiated to the first reflection portion.
US09971149B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a wavefront-corrected optical arrangement comprising at least two optical elements. Using the method, a total wavefront error in the optical arrangement is determined and compared to a permissible tolerance range for the total wavefront error. To perform the method, the optical elements are individualized by assigning an individual identifier to each of them, such that individualized optical elements are obtained, individual surface defects are measured with correct coordinates on all the individualized optical elements and the measured individual surface defects are stored with correct coordinates assigned to the appropriate individualized optical element. The optical arrangement comprising the individualized optical elements is produced virtually as a virtual optical arrangement and a total wavefront error is calculated for the virtual optical arrangement.
US09971142B2
An optical lens assembly adapted for a solar telescope including a diverging lens, a converging lens, an etalon filter, and a housing. The diverging lens, the converging lens, and the etalon filter being positioned within the housing. The diverging lens being located between the first opening and the converging lens, and the etalon filter being located between the converging lens and the second opening. The housing including at least one baffle located between the diverging lens and the converging lens.
US09971138B2
A system, apparatus and method for using modular microscopes is disclosed. Connecting the housings of the individual microscope modules provide the structural framework of the modular microscope. Furthermore, the modular microscope can include specialized software, the distribution and use of which can be controlled using security keys or identifiers stored on one or more of the microscope modules. The security keys and identifiers can be based on calibration data associated with the physical, electrical, or optical properties of one of more of the modules. The illumination modules disclosed provide for selectable wavelengths and controllable levels of output illumination for both bright field and dark field illumination.
US09971136B2
Method and device to achieve spatially confined photointeraction at the focal volume of a microscope
The invention relates to a method and a system to achieve spatially (e.g. three-dimensionally) confined photomodulation at the focal volume (50) in a ample (55) mounted in a microscope system, comprising two or more laser light sources (41, 42) emitting light (32, 34) of different wavelengths adapted to excite a material in an identical number of independent excitation steps to a higher vibrational state from which the material relaxes, either emitting a conversion light to be detected (“photoexcitation”) or modulating the spectral properties of the material (“photomodulation”).
US09971134B2
A lighting device (1) is provided comprising a base (5), at least one light source (4) arranged at the base, at least one light transmissive optical element (7), and a light transmissive envelope (6) arranged to cover the at least one light source and the at least one optical element. At least a portion of the at least one optical element has a thickness (D) increasing in direction towards the base such that the at least one optical element refracts light emitted by the at least one light source for creating at least one virtual light source (8) spaced from the base. The present aspect is advantageous in that each one of the envelope and the optical element may be manufactured separately, e.g. by standard injection molding technique.
US09971133B2
In order to provide a multireflection cell making it possible to decrease the volume of a cell main body into which measurement target gas is introduced as well as reducing the amount of light that is lost without being reflected in a multireflection mechanism, the multireflection cell includes the multireflection mechanism adapted to multiply reflect incident light and then emit the multiply reflected light outward. In addition the multireflection mechanism includes a field mirror, a first objective mirror that faces to the field mirror and is provided on a light incident side in the multireflection mechanism, and a second objective mirror that faces to the field mirror and is provided on a light emitting side in the multireflection mechanism. Further, the light incident into the multireflection mechanism is configured to be first reflected by the second objective mirror.
US09971132B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from a magnified side to a minified side, a first lens group, an aperture stop, and a second lens group. The second lens group has at least one aspheric surface. The zoom lens satisfies the conditions: 0.1
US09971130B1
Disclosed is a composite array camera lens module, including: a first lens layer disposed at a position from a diaphragm toward an object space having a first-type lens and a second-type lens; a second lens layer disposed at a position from the diaphragm toward an image space having a third-type lens and a fourth-type lens, wherein the first-type lens and the third-type lens are positive lenses and form a first camera lens with a first effective focal length, and the second-type lens and the fourth-type lens are a negative lens and a positive lens, respectively, and form a second camera lens with a second effective focal length less than the first effective focal length; and an image sensor arranged at a side of the second lens layer away from the diaphragm, wherein the first lens layer, the second lens layer and the image sensor are designed to be parallel flat planes.
US09971127B2
An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, and a seventh lens. At least one lens among the first to the sixth lenses has positive refractive force. The seventh lens have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof can be aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the seventh lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09971122B2
A lens barrel that is capable of easily switching a state where a lens position is adjustable and a state where the lens position is not adjustable only by rotating a lens holding frame with respect to a support barrel. The lens holding frame holds a lens. The support barrel supports the lens holding frame at a first support position and a second support position that is reached by rotating the lens holding frame from the first support position around an optical axis with respect to the support barrel. The support barrel supports the lens holding frame so that the position of the lens is adjustable with respect to a reference axis at the first support position, and supports the lens holding frame so that the position of the lens is not adjustable with respect to the reference axis at the second support position.
US09971121B2
The invention relates to a device (98) for the spatial alignment of X-ray optics (100) with an entry point (104) and an exit point (108). The device (98) comprises a parallel displacement mechanism (200) for gauging the entry point (104) of the X-ray optics (100) to a first predetermined point (100) by parallel displacement of the X-ray optics (100). Further, the device (98) comprises a goniometer mechanism (300) for gauging the exit point (108) of the X-ray optics (100) to a second predetermined point (106) by at least approximate pivoting of the X-ray optics (100) around the entry point (104). Further, the invention relates to an apparatus (96) which comprises the device (98) and X-ray optics (100).
US09971113B2
An optical receiver module that recovers signals from a wavelength multiplexed optical signal is disclosed. The optical receiver module includes photodiodes (PDs) arranged in an array by a pitch, an amplifier that integrates trans-impedance amplifiers (TIAs) each corresponding to the PDs, and a sub-mount that mounts the PDs thereon. The sub-mount provides metal patterns on which the PDs are mounted by the flip-chip bonding. The metal patterns compensate a difference between the pitch of the arrayed PDs and another pitch of the TIAs in the amplifier as maintaining the characteristic impedance thereof substantially equal to each other.
US09971099B2
A grating coupler includes a grating including a core and an anti-phase reflection coating provided on at least one part of the grating. The anti-phase reflection coating includes a high refractive index layer and a buffer layer. The high refractive index layer has at least one selected from a plurality of attributes characterizing the high refractive index layer. The at least one selected attribute gradually deceases along a propagation direction of light in the core of the grating.
US09971088B2
An optical subassembly includes a thru optical via (104) formed through a semiconductor substrate (102), an optoelectronic component (108) secured to the substrate (102) such that an active region (106) of the optoelectronic component is aligned with the thru optical via (104), and circuitry (110) formed into the substrate (102), the circuitry to connect to and operate in accordance with the optoelectronic component (108).
US09971084B2
Described is an illumination structure for a key of a keyboard. The illumination structure is used to uniformly illuminate the key and any glyphs that are present on the key. The illumination structure includes a light guide having various features that increase total internal reflection and also illuminate the glyphs of the key.
US09971077B2
A multilayer structure including a metal particles-containing layer, a layer A having a refractive index, n1, and a layer B having a refractive index, n2, and satisfying one of the conditions (1-1) and (2-1) is capable of suppressing reflection of light at a wavelength λ intended to prevent reflection. n1
US09971068B2
There is provided a cellulose acylate film including a core layer and a skin layer, in which a mixed layer is formed between the core layer and the skin layer, wherein a cellulose acylate included in the core layer has an average acyl substitution degree S2 of 2.00 to 2.55, a cellulose acylate included in the skin layer has an average acyl substitution degree S3 of 2.60 to 2.95, and an average acyl substitution degree S1 of the cellulose acylate of the mixed layer satisfies Equation (A1), and the mixed layer has a thickness of 100 nm to 300 nm: Equation (A1): S2+0.05×(S3−S2)
US09971064B2
An optical film to be arranged on a display surface is adapted so as to allow uniform application of an interlayer filler and thus also is applicable to an image display device equipped with a front plate. Preferably, such optical film is for use in an image display device. The optical film is adapted so that a relationship of the following formula (1) is satisfied: b≤0.2a+1.8 (1), where a is the viscosity (Pa·s) of an interlayer filler at the time of attaching the front plate to a surface of the optical film via the interlayer filler, and b is the atomic percentage (atm %) of silicon atoms on the surface of the optical film. The atomic percentage of oxygen atoms on the surface of the optical film is at least 26 atm %.
US09971058B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to detect rugosity in a borehole. Additional activity may include generating a rugosity correction, responsive to detecting rugosity in the borehole, by finding an effective borehole diameter, consistent with the presence of rugosity, for which a simulation of a model of the borehole using the effective borehole diameter generates simulation resistivity measurements that match, within a tolerance, resistivity measurements before execution of a borehole correction algorithm. Additional activity may include applying rugosity correction by generating resistivity logs, using the effective borehole diameter, that are corrected for rugosity and borehole effect. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09971054B2
An apparatus for measuring resistivity in a borehole includes first and second modules configured to be conveyed through the borehole and a transmitter connected to the first module, the transmitter transmitting a transmitter signal that causes a field signal to be created in a formation surrounding the borehole. The apparatus also includes a receiver connected to the second module configured to sense the field signal, a reflection generator and a delay determination circuit that includes a pulse generator and a timer. The apparatus also includes a communication link coupling the delay determination circuit and the reflection generator. The delay determination circuit causes a first pulse to be transmitted to the reflection generator and determines an indication that is related to the time until a reflection is received back from the reflection generator.
US09971042B2
[Problem] Provided is a scintillator panel which is capable of imaging at a low dose while suppressing the contrast deterioration caused by scattered radiation, and further has improved luminance and MTF.[Solving Means] A scintillator panel having a scintillator layer for converting radiation into light, characterized in that the scintillator layer is in direct contact on a photoelectric conversion element and includes a reflecting layer and a scattered radiation diffusing layer on a radiation incident side of the scintillator layer, the scattered radiation diffusing layer is present closer to the radiation incident side than the reflecting layer, and the scattered radiation diffusing layer has an X-ray transmittance of 99.5% or more.
US09971030B2
An apparatus and method for correcting the ionospheric distortion of an SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) interferogram are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a multiple aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) interferogram generation unit, a transformed MAI interferogram generation unit, an ionospheric distortion interferogram generation unit, and a corrected SAR interferogram acquisition unit. The multiple aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) interferogram generation unit generates a multiple aperture SAR interferometry (MAI) interferogram using an SAR interferogram. The transformed MAI interferogram generation unit generates a transformed MAI interferogram representative of the azimuth direction derivatives of ionospheric distortion phases using the phases of the MAI interferogram. The ionospheric distortion interferogram generation unit generates an ionospheric distortion interferogram using the transformed MAI interferogram. The corrected SAR interferogram acquisition unit acquires a corrected SAR interferogram by eliminating the generated ionospheric distortion interferogram from the SAR interferogram.
US09971025B2
In a method of determining the distance of an object (10), a polarization-modulated transmission light beam (LS) is reflected at the object (10) and is received as a reception light beam (LE) by a polarization analyzer, and the output signal thereof is fed to an evaluation unit (A) for determining the distance. The polarization-modulated transmission light beam (LS) is generated by at least two light sources (D1, D2, D3) which emit differently polarized light beams (L1, L2, L3), wherein the light sources (D1, D2, D3) are each respectively operated with a distinct defined mark-space pattern (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6). The polarization analyzer has polarization filters (P1, P2, P3) corresponding at least to the number of light sources. The respective polarization plane of each one of the polarization filters is correspondingly adapted to a respective polarization plane (E1, E2, E3) of the light beams (L1, L2, L3).
US09971008B2
Magnetic field temporal variations in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volume are determined based on the slope of a phase difference Δφ between spin responses in plural slices at a given temporal sampling time. Representations of the determined temporal magnetic field variations are stored for subsequent use, e.g., to achieve more accurate re-gridding of acquired k-space date before reconstruction of images in the spatial domain.
US09970997B2
A magnetic field sensing apparatus including a substrate, first, second, and third magnetic field sensing units, and a switching circuit is provided. The substrate has a surface, and has a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The first magnetic field sensing unit includes a plurality of magnetoresistance sensors connected together to form a Wheatstone full bridge and disposed on the surface. The second magnetic field sensing unit includes a plurality of magnetoresistance sensors connected together to form a Wheatstone half bridge and disposed on the first inclined surface. The third magnetic field sensing unit includes a plurality of magnetoresistance sensors connected together to form a Wheatstone half bridge and disposed on the second inclined surface. The switching circuit electrically connects the second magnetic field sensing unit and the third magnetic field sensing unit. A magnetic field sensing module is also provided.
US09970993B1
Systems and methods for sensing internal states of vehicle batteries are described. From this internal state information, various physical characteristics of the battery can be measured, calculated or inferred. A vehicle can include an electric motor, a battery to store electrical energy for the electric motor, and a sensor connected to the battery to sense a battery state, to receive an input signal, and to wirelessly transmit an output signal indicating the battery state. The sensor may be passive and built into the structure of the battery. The sensor can be a surface wave acoustic sensor with a magnetic field sensor, which can be a magnetoimpedance sensing device and a temperature sensor.
US09970987B2
An embodiment provides a circuit for testing an integrated circuit. The circuit includes an input converter that receives N scan inputs and generates M pseudo scan inputs, where M and N are integers. A scan compression architecture is coupled to the input converter and generates P pseudo scan outputs in response to the M pseudo scan inputs. An output converter is coupled to the scan compression architecture and generates Q scan outputs in response to the P pseudo scan outputs, wherein P and Q are integers. The input converter receives the N scan inputs at a first frequency and generates the M pseudo scan inputs at a second frequency and the output converter receives the P pseudo scan outputs at the second frequency and generates the Q scan outputs at the first frequency.
US09970981B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor device that includes an active region having a semiconductor fin and a gate structure across the semiconductor fin. The gate structure includes a gate electrode. The semiconductor structure also includes a gate line extending from the gate electrode and a metal wiring that is positioned above the gate line and is electrically connected to the gate line through two or more nodes. The semiconductor structure also includes a first measuring electrode and a second measuring electrode coupled respectively to two ends of the metal wiring, the first measuring electrode disposed closer to the gate electrode than the second measuring electrode. The semiconductor structure is configured to measure the temperature of the semiconductor device. During temperature measurement, the first measurement electrode is coupled to a first potential and the second measurement electrode is coupled to a second potential that is lower than the first potential.
US09970969B1
Systems, methods, and software for measuring the spatially variable relative dielectric permittivity of materials along a linear or otherwise configured sensor element, and more specifically the spatial variability of soil moisture in one dimension as inferred from the dielectric profile of the soil matrix surrounding a linear sensor element. Various methods provided herein combine advances in the processing of time domain reflectometry data with innovations in physical sensing apparatuses. These advancements enable high temporal (and thus spatial) resolution of electrical reflectance continuously along an insulated waveguide that is permanently emplaced in contact with adjacent soils. The spatially resolved reflectance is directly related to impedance changes along the waveguide that are dominated by electrical permittivity contrast due to variations in soil moisture. Various methods described herein are thus able to monitor soil moisture in profile with high spatial resolution.
US09970962B2
A voltage sensor and the method for compensating installation position variation thereof are disclosed. The voltage sensor may comprise a casing, two substrates, a plurality of voltage sensing units and an iterative operation unit. One side of the casing may include two grooves. The substrates may be respectively disposed in the grooves, and an accommodating space is formed between the substrates. The voltage sensing units may be disposed on the substrates to measure a plurality voltage parameters of a dual-wire power cable disposed in the accommodating space. The iterative operation unit can be disposed in the casing and connected to the voltage sensing units, wherein the iterative operation unit can perform an iterative operation process according to a compensation database and the voltage parameters for compensating the horizontal and vertical displacements occurring when installing the voltage sensor on the cable, and calculate the estimated input voltage of the cable.
US09970955B1
Systems and methods are provided for detecting the depth, flow rate, and other properties of regions of blood flow in biological tissue by illuminating the biological tissue with beams of coherent light and detecting responsively emitted light. This includes detecting lights emitted from the tissue having a plurality of respective different exposure times. The relationship between the intensity of the received light and the exposure times is determined and used to determine the depth, flow velocity, or other properties of regions of flow within the biological tissue. This can include determining a spatial and/or temporal contrast of the received light intensity. Determining the depth of a region of flow can include comparing determined properties of light received from the tissue at two different polarizations. Determining the depth of a region of flow can include comparing determined properties of light received from the tissue at two different locations.
US09970953B2
The present invention provides a machine for automated extraction of nucleic acid, which includes: a machine bottom plate, a support frame, and a vertical movement unit. The machine of the present invention can extract large-volume samples for automated extraction of nucleic acid, and if so desired, the extracted nucleic acid can be concentrated to produce high-quality nucleic acid samples.
US09970946B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a marker substance capable of determining a risk of hyperglycemia in vivo with high accuracy. The present invention provides the following: a marker peptide for determining the risk of hyperglycemia; an antibody or an aptamer bound to the marker peptide for determining the risk of hyperglycemia; a microarray wherein the antibody or the aptamer to be bound to the marker peptide for determining the risk of hyperglycemia has been immobilized onto a carrier; a method of determining the risk of hyperglycemia wherein an amount or the presence/absence of the marker peptide for determining the risk of hyperglycemia is measured in a biological sample collected from a subject; and a kit for determining the risk of hyperglycemia comprising the antibody or the aptamer, or the microarray.
US09970934B2
Methods for detecting and quantifying toxins present in the oral cavity. The methods may include providing a biological sample, providing reporter cells expressing one or more Toll like receptors, exposing the cells to the biological sample, measuring the EC50 value of the lipopolysaccharide on activation of a Toll like receptor, quantification of the lipopolysaccharide in the biological sample.
US09970933B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a multiple-diagnosis membrane sensor provided with multiple channels by using screen printing, and more specifically, to a method for manufacturing a membrane sensor capable of performing multiple-diagnosis by screen-printing hydrophobic ink on a membrane to form multiple channels.The membrane sensor according to the present invention may enable mass-production of sensors and secure reliability of detection by forming the plurality of channels on the membrane by a simple method.
US09970929B2
Methods, compositions and kits are disclosed directed at voriconazole derivatives, immunogens, signal generating moieties, antibodies that bind voriconazole and immunoassays for detection of voriconazole.
US09970927B2
Method of detecting Symmetrical dimethyl arginine (SDMA) in biological samples. SDMA analogs for generating anti-SDMA antibodies having little or no cross-reactivity with asymmetrical dimethyl arginine, arginine, and monomethylarginine. The analogs have a protected or free thiol (—SH) group or hydroxyl (—OH) group that allow them to be linked to a suitable conjugation target which can be, for example, a protein containing molecule of a label. The anti-SDMA antibodies can be used in diagnostic immunoassay for the diagnosis of SDMA associated disorders and/or diseases.
US09970924B2
The present invention pertains to a method for screening a compound useful in reducing astroglial edema, said method comprising: (i) providing a compound; (ii) bringing said compound in contact with an astrocyte; and (iii) determining the cAMP level in said astrocyte contacted with said compound; wherein said compound is identified as a compound useful in reducing astroglial edema, if the cAMP level in the astrocyte increases after contact. The present invention further pertains to an agent elevating the cAMP level in astrocytes for use in reducing astroglial edema.
US09970921B2
Provided are, by using an index with which the influence on the strength of coke can be evaluated, a method for evaluating a weathering degree of coal and a coking property of weathered coal within the ranges in which the weathering degree and coking property cannot be determined by using conventional methods, and a method for controlling the weathering degree of coal with which it is possible to add weathered coal to a coal blend to be used for producing coke without decreasing the strength of coke by using the index. The weathering degree of coal is evaluated by using the surface tension of semicoke which is prepared by performing a heat treatment on weathered coal as an index. The weathering degree of each brand of coal is controlled so that the interfacial tension γinter of a semicoke blend which is prepared by blending the plural brands of semicoke in accordance with the proportions is 0.03 mN/m or lower.
US09970920B2
A non-destructive testing system for propellant for a rocket is provided. The system includes an insertion tube having a first end and a second end in addition to a support sleeve configured to mate with a casing of the rocket. The insertion tube includes a channel that extends from the first end to the second end of the insertion tube to receive a probe and also includes a probe tip generally disposed at the second end of the channel. The support sleeve includes an insertion tube opening configured to receive the insertion tube and allow the insertion tube to slide along the support sleeve.
US09970912B2
Apparatus and methods for detecting smoke in an area. The apparatus may include a first detector module comprising a sensor configured to detect smoke in a volume of air received from the area, and a display module configured to receive input from the first detector module and provide output to a detection management device. The apparatus may also include a first backplane electrically coupled to the first detector module, and a second backplane electrically coupled to the display module and to the first backplane so as to transmit power, signals, or both between the display module and the first detector module. The first and second backplanes may be interchangeable.
US09970904B2
Ultrasonic transducers and methods for detecting oblique flaws in cylindrically-shaped objects using pulse-echo testing are provided. By mounting one or more transducers on a rotary tester for testing manufactured objects such as tubes and bars, offsetting each transducer horizontally from its position if it were to emit a beam that is perpendicular to the object's outer surface, and actuating the transducer so as to emit an angled beam, oblique surface flaws and internal flaws may be reliably detected without reducing inspection speed, significantly adding to transducer cross-talk, or requiring significant additional hardware or processing.
US09970900B2
Systems and methods are provided for selectively filtering 1,2-diolein and 1,3-dioleine ions from an olive oil sample. An ion source is instructed to ionize a mixture of an olive oil sample and a pre-ionization modifier. The pre-ionization modifier includes silver (Ag). A differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) device is instructed to separate ions received from the ion source and affected by a post-ionization modifier based on ion mobility. The second post-ionization modifier is butanol, for example. The DMS device is instructed to selectively filter separated 1,2-diolein precursor ions by selecting a first compensation voltage (CoV) for the DMS device. The first CoV is specific to separate 1,2-diolein precursor ions from 1,3-diolein precursor ions. The DMS device is instructed to selectively filter separated 1,3-diolein precursor ions by selecting a second CoV for the DMS device. The second CoV is specific to separate 1,3-diolein precursor ions from 1,2-diolein precursor ions.
US09970898B2
Devices and methods generate an ordered restriction map of genomic DNA extracted from whole cells, nuclei, whole chromosomes, or other sources of long DNA molecules. The devices have a fluidic microchannel that merges into a reaction nanochannel that merges into a detection nanochannel at an interface where the nanochannel diameter decreases in size by between 50% to 99%. Intact molecules of DNA are transported to the reaction nanochannel and then fragmented in the reaction nanochannel using restriction endonuclease enzymes. The reaction nanochannel is sized and configured so that the fragments stay in an original order until they are injected into the detection nanochannel. Signal at one or more locations along the detection nanochannel is detected to map fragments in the order they occur along a long DNA molecule.
US09970891B2
A method and system for use in reconstruction and retrieval of phase information associated with a two-dimensional diffractive response are presented. The method comprising: providing (75) input data indicative of one or more diffractive patterns corresponding to diffractive responses from one or more objects (50). Dividing (130) said input data into a plurality of one-dimensional slices and determining (140) one-dimensional phase data for at least some of said one-dimensional slices. Tailoring (150) the reconstructed phase data of said one-dimensional slices to form a two-dimensional phase solution. The two-dimensional phase solution is defined by phase shifts of said reconstructed one-dimensional phase data of said one-dimensional slices. The two-dimensional phase solution thus enables obtaining two-dimensional reconstructed phase data suitable for reconstruction of image data (250).
US09970887B2
Slit light is irradiated onto an object to be photographed (for example, an automobile body) in order to obtain a source image. Next, either one of a maximum value filtering process or a minimum value filtering process is performed on the source image to thereby obtain a first filter-processed image. Furthermore, after obtaining a second filter-processed image by carrying out a remaining one of the minimum value filtering process or the maximum value filtering process with respect to the first filter-processed image, a difference is determined between the second filter-processed image and the source image, and a difference image is obtained. Thereafter, a binarization process is implemented with respect to the difference image.
US09970880B2
An apparatus for measuring a curvature of a thin film includes a light emitting module, a first optical module, a second optical module, a third optical module, and an image analysis module. The light emitting module emits a single laser to be used as an incident light. The incident light is transmitted through a first optical path provided by the first optical module, then the incident light is guided by the second optical module to be incident to the thin film through a second optical path. A reflected light reflected by the thin film is transmitted through the second optical path, then guided by the third optical module to be transmitted along a third optical path. The image analysis module determines the curvature of the thin film according to the characteristic of the reflected light.
US09970878B2
Organic dyes that are covalently bonded multimers or higher order symmetrical structures where one or more dye units may optionally contain deuterium substitutions are disclosed. The disclosed dyes are particularly useful for optical coatings, new optical nanomaterials, high density storage devices. The structural and optical characteristics of the disclosed dyes provide avenues for increased information-content through surface-enhanced Raman resonance spectroscopy.
US09970877B2
A method for detecting chemical aerosols and particulates on a surface by contacting a sample with a Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrate where the sample is an aerosol or a particulate on a surface, encapsulating the SERS substrate with the sample, heating the encapsulated sample so it vaporizes inside the encapsulation, cooling the vaporized sample so it deposits onto the SERS substrate, and irradiating the SERS substrate to collect a SERS spectrum of the sample. Also disclosed is the related system for detecting chemical aerosols and particulates on a surface.
US09970866B1
A Terahertz laser system for remote weapon detection is disclosed. The human target potentially having a weapon is swept with multiple wavelengths of Terahertz laser beams and the reflected return radiation is detected and transformed into a composite image gradated by brightness or color to represent gradations in intensity of the returned radiation indicative of possible weapon(s) or the absence thereof.
US09970864B2
A method and a system for detecting the presence of propellant gas in a gaseous sample exploit laser light especially in the 3.30-3.5 μm range. The propellant can be propane, n-butane, i-butane, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, HFA 134a, HFA 227, or any other propellant exhibiting absorption in the requisite wavelength range. The presence of the application of this method in leak testing of propellant-containing containers such as aerosols or fuel canisters, permits high-speed, high accuracy leak detection capable of replacing existing testing methods.
US09970856B2
A vehicular dust sensor may include a case having an inner space, a light source module disposed in the inner space of the case, and irradiating an air passage with light, the air passage being provided in the light source module for introduction and pass of air and dust, a condensing lens to collect light, emitted from the light source module and scattered by dust in air in the air passage, a light receiving module receiving the scattered light collected by the condensing lens to output an electric signal corresponding to a dust concentration, and an inner housing disposed in the inner space of the case to form the air passage.
US09970852B2
A method for determining the tensile strength of a rock sample comprising the steps of obtaining the rock sample, measuring a water content of the rock sample through a water measurement method, determining a matrix bulk modulus of the rock sample, wherein the matrix bulk modulus is determined through a matrix modulus method, heating the rock sample with electromagnetic energy such that the electromagnetic energy heats the water content in the rock sample from an initial temperature, wherein heating the water content causes a pore-water pressure of the rock sample to increase, detecting a break in the rock sample with a sensor, wherein the increase in the pore-water pressure causes the rock sample to break, wherein the break occurs at a break time, at a break temperature; and calculating the pore-water pressure through the water content, the matrix bulk modulus, and the break temperature of the water content.
US09970848B2
The invention relates to providing a method for more conveniently evaluating stratum corneum condition. A stratum corneum sheet is contacted with a solution of a water-soluble dye, and the staining intensity or fluorescence intensity is measured to allow convenient evaluation of the stratum corneum condition. There is further provided a method for evaluating the ameliorating effect of a cosmetic or cosmetic treatment on the stratum corneum, by implementing the method for evaluating stratum corneum condition using a water-soluble dye according to the invention.
US09970847B2
Provided is a method for staining a tissue enabling highly precise staining, by which the expression amount and/or the location of a biological substance in a tissue sample can be detected with a high quantitativity together with detailed information that can be obtained by bright field observation.The tissue staining method of the present invention is a method for staining a tissue, in which both staining that allows bright field observation and fluorescence staining are carried out for the same specific biological substance.
US09970835B2
A string pot system for a crash test dummy includes a pulley adapted to be disposed inside a body of the crash test dummy and a string wound around the pulley. The string pot system also includes a motor and/or flywheel connected to the pulley and an active control system in communication with the motor and/or flywheel that maintains a constant tension on the string.
US09970827B2
A fuel temperature estimation device that can improve the estimation accuracy of a fuel temperature in each part of a fuel channel, is provided. In the invention, the fuel temperature estimation device estimates the fuel temperature of each part of the fuel channel in a vehicle (for example, an injection nozzle, a pressure accumulator, a high-pressure pump), and includes a flow rate measuring device that measures a fuel flow rate of a fuel return system of the fuel channel and a controller. The controller includes a fuel temperature correction unit that corrects an estimated fuel temperature in a fuel injection system based on the fuel flow rate of the fuel return system, and has a function of estimating the fuel temperature using the fuel flow rate of the fuel return system as a parameter.
US09970818B2
Disclosed is a method, computer method, system, and apparatus for measuring two-dimensional distributions of optical emissions from a plasma in a semiconductor plasma processing chamber. The acquired two-dimensional distributions of plasma optical emissions can be used to infer the two-dimensional distributions of concentrations of certain chemical species of interest that are present in the plasma, and thus provide a useful tool for process development and also for new and improved processing tool development. The disclosed technique is computationally simple and inexpensive, and involves the use of an expansion of the assumed optical intensity distribution into a sum of basis functions that allow for circumferential variation of optical intensity. An example of suitable basis functions are Zernike polynomials.
US09970815B2
A LIBS analyzer and method includes a laser configured to produce a plasma on a sample at a focal point on the sample and a spectrometer responsive to radiation emitted from the plasma and configured to produce an output spectrum. A detector is positioned to detect low intensity pre-firing radiation produced by the laser and reflected off the sample from the focal point. The intensity of the low intensity pre-firing radiation is compared to a predetermined minimum and the laser pump sequence is halted if the intensity of the low intensity pre-firing radiation is less than the predetermined minimum.
US09970814B2
A device for processing items, in particular items in a production sequence, in different processing steps, has at least one sensor arrangement having a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one item is measured in a detection mode by at least a partial quantity of the sensors as the detection means, wherein an impacting of the at least one item with an irradiation means is determined by a control means while considering a result of the measuring procedure of the at least one item; and wherein the at least one item is irradiated in an irradiation mode by at least a further partial quantity of the plurality of sensors as the irradiation means. If appropriate, at least part of the method is repeated with a renewed measuring, determination and/or irradiation.
US09970809B2
A digital filter for a digital weigher reduces a calculation time in an adapted filter while maintaining weighing accuracy, a digital weigher includes the filter for the weigher, and a wave filtering process method uses the digital filter for the digital weigher. A fixation section of a FIR filter removes an oscillating component in a predetermined frequency range, from a digital weighing signal. A determination device determines whether an amplitude of an oscillating component contained in a digital weighing signal derived by performing a wave filtering process falls within a predetermined damping range. A control device changes a frequency range of an oscillating component to be removed by an adaptive section of the filter based on a result of the determination. The adaptive section of the filter performs the wave filtering process with respect to the oscillating component in the frequency range changed by the control device.
US09970805B2
A meter assembly includes: a meter housing including a top portion, the top portion including a mounting boss, the mounting boss including an engagement hook and protruding axially from a top surface of the top portion of the first housing; a register housing connected to the top portion of the first housing and configured to rotate with respect to the first housing about a rotation axis; and a retaining fastener connecting the second housing to the first housing, the retaining fastener including a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the mounting boss and a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the second housing.
US09970798B2
A flow meter system includes a first ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to a pipe. The system also includes a second ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to the pipe. The system further includes a controller coupled to the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays and configured to cause bidirectional beam steering between the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays.
US09970789B2
An automatic angle-measured apparatus includes a driving unit coupled with a clamping plate and a driving seat, an encoding unit located at an end of the driving unit facing the driving seat and signally connected to the driving unit, at least one attitude sensor located at the driving seat, and a control unit signally connected to the encoding unit and the attitude sensor. The attitude sensor senses the un-rotated and the rotated driving seat to generate a first and a second signals, respectively. The control unit bases on the first and the second signals to calculate an offset. The control unit controls the driving unit to rotate a predetermined angle. The encoding unit bases on the predetermined angle to generate location information. The control unit bases on the first signal, the second signal and the location information to calculate angle information and compensation for performing a correction procedure.
US09970773B2
A navigation system stores navigation data in an access-protected manner. The navigation system includes navigation units that utilize the navigation data retained in a memory. The system includes a module for authenticating the access code. The system may include a module for generating an access protection code for storing the navigation data in memory. The access code and the access protection code may be used in a complementary scheme to secure the navigation data set.
US09970769B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided which allow for flexible organization of navigation attributes to support hybrid navigation and data streaming. A system may receive a request for geographic data. The system may identify a map attribute from the request. The system may query a metatable with the map attribute for a binary large object entry address, wherein the metatable includes a plurality of binary large object entry addresses. The system may access a navigation database using the binary large object entry address for a binary large object including data for the map attribute. The system may generate a map command including the data for the map attribute.
US09970766B2
One embodiment includes an artificial vision system mounted on a platform. The system includes an image system comprising a video source that is configured to capture a plurality of sequential images. The image system also includes an image processing system configured, via at least one processor, to process the plurality of sequential images to calculate situational awareness (SA) data with respect to each of the plurality of sequential images and to convert the processed plurality of sequential images to visible images. The system further includes a video display system configured to display the visible images associated with the processed plurality of sequential images and to visibly identify the SA data relative to the platform.
US09970762B2
The invention pertains to a target point detection method for an automatic search of at least one target point in a surveying environment in advance of a precise measurement of the at least one target point with a surveying device. In some embodiments, the surveying environment may include a plurality of points of non-interest, where a point of non-interest is a reflective object or surface, or a target comprising at least one retroreflector being positioned at each target point. In some embodiments, a method may include emitting electromagnetic radiation to illuminate retroreflectors emitted in the form of a vertical fan which is movable through a horizontal angular range; receiving signals reflected from retroreflectors within a fan-shaped detection area, determining at least a horizontal angle to the retroreflectors, assigning a time mark and/or a distance to each of the signals, and storing the detected signal in a two-dimensional data structure.
US09970753B2
A system includes a light emitting unit, a front mirror, a rear mirror, an imaging unit and a processor. The light emitting unit is configured to emit a collimated light beam. The front mirror is configured to reflect part of the collimated light beam to produce and project a front focused ring of structured light to an object to obtain a front reflected ring of light, and configured to allow part of the collimated light beam to pass by. The rear mirror is positioned downstream of a light transmitting path of the front mirror. The rear mirror is configured to reflect at least part of the collimated light beam passing by the front mirror to produce and project a rear focused ring of the structured light to the object to obtain a rear reflected ring of light.
US09970752B2
A method for determining a headlight range alignment of at least one first headlight of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes at least one optical sensor which is designed for detecting at least one part of a first illuminated area of the first headlight and generating a first image having the part of the first illuminated area. The method includes the following steps: reading in the first image from the optical sensor, selecting at least one first image area in the first image, whereby a cut-off line of the first headlight is intended to be imaged in the first image area, and determining the headlight range alignment as a function of the first image area.
US09970747B2
An apparatus (AS) measures positions of marks (202) on a lithographic substrate (W). An illumination arrangement (940, 962, 964) provides off-axis radiation from at least first and second regions. The first and second source regions are diametrically opposite one another with respect to an optical axis (O) and are limited in angular extent. The regions may be small spots selected according to a direction of periodicity of a mark being measured, or larger segments. Radiation at a selected pair of source regions can be generated by supplying radiation at a single source feed position to a self-referencing interferometer. A modified half wave plate is positioned downstream of the interferometer, which can be used in the position measuring apparatus. The modified half wave plate has its fast axis in one part arranged at 45° to the fast axis in another part diametrically opposite.
US09970740B2
This invention relates to the construction of a rocket motor and fuel system thereof and, in particular to a new and useful Viscous Liquid Monopropellant (VLM) rocket motor containing a liquid propellant that is pumped into the combustion chamber, atomized and then ignited. The atomization step significantly increases the surface area of the propellant, delivering faster burn rates and smoother combustion. VLM is a non-Newtonian fluid containing both oxidizers and fuels. These monopropellants are comprised of a variety of liquid and solid components, mixed together to form a homogenous fluid, although heterogeneous in composition. The solid constituents are retained within the liquid phase by dispersion, suspension, bonding or chemical emulsification techniques, so as when a motive force is applied to the propellant, all the constituents are also transported, and held in correct proportion while doing so.
US09970728B1
A windowed ejection port cover having an ejection port cover body; a window aperture formed through the body; a window element, wherein the window element is formed so as to be at least partially received within the window aperture; and a window coupling element utilized to attach or couple at least a portion of the window element within at least a portion of the window aperture.
US09970722B1
A recoil buffer system having a buffer element, wherein the buffer element extends from a first buffer element end to a second buffer element end; a shoulder extending from a portion of the buffer element; a spacer, wherein the spacer extends from a first spacer end to a second spacer end, wherein the spacer is slidable along at least a portion of the buffer element; a first recoil spring, wherein the first recoil spring extends from a first end of the first recoil spring to a second end of the first recoil spring; and a second recoil spring, wherein the second recoil spring is positioned between the shoulder and the first spacer end of the spacer, and wherein the first recoil spring is positioned such that a first end of the first recoil spring is abutted against and extends from the second spacer end of the spacer.
US09970716B2
The heat exchanger HE comprising a case 2 housing a plurality of heat transfer tubes 1 and a header 3 having a hollow main body 30 with an open edge 33. A side wall 21 of the case 2 is provided with a bulging portion 22 having a cylindrical circumferential wall 22a bulging out of the case 2 and an end wall 22b which blocks a tip portion of the circumferential wall 22a. Each end of the heat transfer tubes 1 is inserted into a penetrating hole 22c provided for the end wall 22b of the bulging portion 22, and is jointed to the end wall 22b, and the open edge 33 of the header 3 is fitted onto the circumferential wall 22a of the bulging portion 22, thereby forming a chamber 36 communicating with the inside of each heat transfer tube 1. Therefore, it is possible that the number of the members of the heat exchanger HE is reduced, the configuration is simplified, and the heat exchanger HE is easily manufactured at low cost.
US09970708B2
Methods and apparatuses for drying electronic devices are disclosed. Embodiments include methods and apparatuses that heat and decrease pressure within the electronic device. Some embodiments increase and decrease pressure while adding heat energy, such as by using a heated platen in contact with the electronic device or by supplying a gas (e.g., air), which may be heated, into the interior of the electronic device. Embodiments include heating the gas supplied into the interior of the electronic device with pump used to decrease pressure within the electronic device and/or a separate heater. Still other embodiments include controlling the temperature of the gas supplied into the electronic device. Still further embodiments automatically control, such as by using an electronic processor, some or all aspects of the drying of the electronic device.
US09970705B2
Fire retardant dryer seals and related methods are provided herein. A fire retardant dryer seal can include a first base substrate having a first end and a second end. At least a portion of the first base substrate can include a low-melt polymer with the first base substrate forming contact surfaces of the dryer seal for contacting portions of a dryer when installed in the dryer. The first end and the second end of the first base substrate can be secured together so that the first base substrate forms at least a portion of an annular shape. The fire retardant dryer seal can also include a heat resistant coating disposed on the dryer seal that does not comprise the contact surfaces of the first base substrate.
US09970697B2
Example multi-part icemaker bail arms are disclosed. An example multi-art icemaker bail arm includes a first member having a first end rotationally attached to the icemaker, and a second member attached to an opposite end of the first member, the second member moveable relative to the first member in response to a lateral force applied to the second member. An example icemaker includes a bail arm, a power source monitor to provide a signal representative of a power source state, a direct-current motor to retract the bail arm when the signal represents a power source interruption, and a battery to power the motor.
US09970693B2
A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes refrigerant circuits each configured to circulate a refrigerant of the same composition. The refrigerant circuit is provided with a radiator configured to condense the refrigerant to transfer heat to external fluid, and the refrigerant circuit is provided with a radiator configured to transfer heat to the external fluid while allowing the refrigerant to be maintained in a supercritical state. The radiator is arranged upstream of the radiator in a direction of a flow of the external fluid. A capacity of a refrigerant flow channel of the radiator is smaller than a capacity of a refrigerant flow channel of the radiator.
US09970689B2
In an aspect, a cooling system has a cooling circuit that includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a sub-cooler and an expansion device configured in a direct expansion cooling circuit with the sub-cooler coupled in series between an outlet of the condenser and an inlet of the expansion device. The condenser has a micro-channel cooling coil and the sub-cooler has a fin-and-tube cooling coil. In an aspect, the fin-and-tube cooling coil of the sub-cooler has a total hydraulic volume equivalent to the total hydraulic volume of the micro-channel cooling coil of the condenser but the fin-and-tube cooling coil of the sub-cooler has a face area more than two times smaller than a face area of the micro-channel cooling coil of the condenser.
US09970679B2
A burner assembly for a fuel-fired heating furnace. The assembly comprises a burner body having an inlet opening to receive fuel delivered by a fuel control module, and, to receive an ambient source of primary air there-through. The furnace also comprises one or more burner heads connected to a common outlet opening of the burner body to receive a mixture of the fuel and the primary air.
US09970677B2
An air-conditioning vent vane adjusting device includes a board for driving a vane to rotate, a push-button slidably installed on a panel, and a connecting plate fixedly attached to the board. A fixed plate is coupled to the push-button and is moved together with the push-button, and the fixed plate has a guide notch tilted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the board. The board has a lug accommodated in the guide notch and capable of sliding in the guide notch. With the tilted guide notch and the lug, the board can be moved reciprocally to overcome the problems of requiring a large operating force of the push-button of the tight assembly of the conventional board and connecting plate and the difficulty of opening and closing a vane.
US09970676B2
An indoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising an air duct, an air outlet in communication with the air duct, and an air deflector for guiding the direction of air outflow of the air conditioner, with a volute tongue being provided at an end of the air duct proximately to the air outlet, wherein it further comprises a rotation driving motor in drive connection with a left support end of the air deflector.
US09970675B2
A system allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may include a controller that outputs a listing of one or more building automation system contractors having a service area that overlaps a geographical location of a customer or a potential customer or of a related HVAC system. In some cases, the disclosed system may output a listing of one or more building automation system contractors having a service area that overlaps a geographical location of a building automation system for which an alert has been indicated.
US09970674B2
An adaptive ventilation system and method for a data center are provided. The adaptive ventilation system includes: one or more system-controlled vents facilitating dynamic redirection of airflow passing through the vent(s), and including (for instance) a plurality of adjustable louvers; and a plurality of sensors dispersed within the data center for ascertaining one or more feedback parameters within different zones of the data center. The system also includes a controller configured or programmed to automatically manage adjustment of the system-controlled vent(s) based on the ascertained feedback parameter(s) within the data center. The automatically managing includes, for instance, automatically controlling orientation of multiple louvers of the system-controlled vent(s) to dynamically facilitate a desired airflow discharge adjustment to at least one system-controlled vent based, at least in part, on the sensed feedback parameter(s) within the different zones.
US09970673B2
A method includes pairing manipulated variables and controlled variables in an HVAC system, perturbing a variable, controlling the HVAC system to maintain controlled variables in a comfort range, determining a state of the system, and deriving a model from the state of the system.
US09970667B2
A high-efficiency air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within an interior of a building that includes: at least two independent ductwork systems within a building wherein each independent ductwork system directs heating and cooling to one zone within the building; a single outdoor unit a refrigerant flow pathway having a common refrigerant flow path portion, a first divergent flow path, and a second divergent flow path; at least one throttling device and at least a first indoor air handling unit providing cooling to a first independent ductwork system and a second indoor air handling unit providing cooling to a second indoor ductwork system. The compressor is incapable of simultaneously supplying both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity.
US09970665B2
A heat pump system with a hybrid heating system is disclosed. The heat pump system includes a first housing comprising a heat exchanger, a compressor, and a fan. The heat pump system also includes a second housing that includes a supplemental heat source that is activated when the outside air falls below a certain temperature. The second housing includes a series of dampers that permit recirculation of the air passing through the first housing so that the supplemental heat source can provide heat to the recirculated air. The supplemental heat source increases the heating capacity of the heat pump system.
US09970663B2
A stove top includes a stove top plate having at least one area-connected cooking zone for placement of an item of cookware in variable positions. Formed on the stove top plate is a display unit for displaying information about a position of the item of cookware on the cooking zone. The display unit has a first display field in which a plurality of separate display regions are fixedly arranged adjacent to one another, with each display region displaying a reduced symbol depiction of the entire cooking zone. Lighting devices are assigned to the symbol depictions of the display regions, respectively, to illuminate the symbol depictions in at least a plurality of partial areas having different surfaces and/or different surface-areas.
US09970661B2
This invention relates to portable cooking stoves and in particular, to lightweight, flat-packable stoves that are easily deployed into the cooking arrangement and that have an integrated cooking chamber. The integrated food chamber should be capable of holding sufficient water to be boiled for a drink, or to heat sufficient food to provide for a hot meal for one person. The cooking stoves of the present invention are intended primarily for outdoor leisure pursuits such as backpacking, hiking and camping, as well as serving humanitarian and military dismounted soldier needs.
US09970648B2
A light source module includes at least one light source, and a body supporting the light source. The body includes a heat sink supporting the light source on a top surface thereof, the heat sink absorbing heat from the light source and dissipating the heat to the outside, an insulating layer provided on at least one surface of the heat sink, the insulating layer having electrical insulating properties, and a conductive layer provided on the insulating layer. The conductive layer includes connection regions through which electric current is supplied to the light source, and a light source region disposed between the connection regions, the light source region having the light source mounted therein. A protective layer is stacked in the connection region. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain effects such as rapid fabrication processes, inexpensive fabrication cost, facilitation of mass production, improvement of product yield, protection of a conductive material, improvement of the lifespan of products, and enhancement of the stability of products.
US09970645B1
A high-intensity LED lighting system is presented whereby one or more LED lighting fixtures are affixed to an elevating structure, the elevating structure having a substantially continuous internal pathway. Said pathway can be used as a conduit or duct for pressurized air which is introduced at or near the bottom of the elevating structure and forced upwardly toward the lighting fixtures so to provide cooling of one or more components of the lighting fixtures so to, ultimately, improve the efficacy of the LEDs contained therein. A method of designing lighting systems, including analysis of whether or not to add air cooling to increase light source efficiency is also disclosed.
US09970641B2
An outlet and nightlight device with a solid base. The base has a front, back, top and two outlets on the front the base. There are two plugs on the back of the base, a light sensor, and a light emitter. The front of the base is attached to a raised section which is attached and in moveable communication with a face plate. In some embodiments the face plate slides across the raised section and in others it can rotate away from the raised section via a hinge on the base plate. The light sensor can trigger to the light emitter to emit light in low light conditions and in some embodiments there is a manual trigger for the light emission. In some embodiments the base has USB port for utilization. In some embodiments the face plate can lock to the base plate. In some embodiments the present invention has ancillary light emitters on the raised plate. In some embodiments of the invention there is a battery back up to supply energy to the light emitter in case of power failure.
US09970639B2
A light fixture having master circuit boards and one or more LED circuit boards connectable in various alternative combinations for light fixtures having alternative lengths, the master board including a switch and AC-DC rectifier and the LED boards including linear AC drivers and one or more LED arrays, the switch on the master board controlling the linear AC drivers on the LED board or boards.
US09970636B1
A lighting system includes a pivot bracket that includes a first arm, a second arm, and a connector band that couples both the arms. The pivot bracket is pivotably coupled to a trim assembly at the first end of each arm such that the pivot bracket is pivotable with respect to the trim assembly about a first axis of rotation defined by and axially passing through a first aperture of each arm located at the respective arm's first end. Further, the pivot bracket is pivotably coupled to a socket bracket at an opposite second end of each arm such that the socket bracket is pivotable with respect to the pivot bracket about a second axis of rotation defined by and axially passing through a second aperture of each arm located at the respective arm's second end. Further, the lighting system includes a light source coupled to the socket bracket.
US09970626B1
Promotional items with enhanced advertising messaging. More specifically, embodiments are directed to a metallic-finished promotional item with a laser-engraved message that is illuminated or backlit by incorporating a light source into the promotional item. The light source acts to illuminate or brighten the laser-engraved message when the light source is powered on. Furthermore, according to embodiments, when the light source is not in use, the laser-engraved message remains appealing, hereinafter referred to “daylight appeal”, due to its enhanced contrast with the surrounding metallic finish.
US09970612B2
Provided is a decorative light with a tubular body having a bundle of optical fibers, one or more light sources, powered by a rechargeable battery and a solar panel which charges the rechargeable battery. Also provided is a decorative light with a tubular body having a plurality of light sources on a strip, an integrated circuit chip for controlling the timing of the light sources, powered by a rechargeable battery and a solar panel which charges the rechargeable battery. The decorative light can receive a transparent or translucent decorative element, such as an animal, mesh ball, snowflake, or a Christmas tree. The light sources are placed in electronic communication via a switching mechanism with the solar panel, the rechargeable battery, and an optional external source of electricity.
US09970609B2
An arrangement of decorative elements includes a frame, a plurality of strands of ornaments supported from the frame, a plurality of slats supported from the frame, and wherein the plurality of slats are interspersed with the plurality of strands of ornaments to define a row of strands of ornaments and slats. The frame may include an inner support for supporting the plurality of strands of ornaments and slats, and an outer support that extends around a peripheral edge of the inner support.
US09970607B2
A lighting assembly, mounted within a cavity of a structure having an exposed outer surface, includes a lighting source having a light output surface and a push-retract mechanism. The push-retract mechanism includes at least one biasing assembly operable to displace the lighting source between an extended position where the light output surface extends beyond the outer surface of the structure, and a retracted position, where the light output surface does not extend beyond the outer surface of the structure.
US09970601B2
A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes a bulb portion extending between a first end and a second end, the bulb portion comprising a support structure, a plurality of white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an elongate light-transmissive cover. The support structure has a first surface extending between the first end and the second end. The plurality of LEDs are supported by the first surface and arranged between the first end and the second end. The elongate light-transmissive cover extends between the first end and the second end and over the first surface of the support structure. A first end cap and a second end cap are disposed on the first end and the second end, respectively, each configured to fit with a socket for a fluorescent light tube. A power supply circuit is configured to provide power to the plurality of LEDs. The plurality of LEDs are arranged to emit light through the elongate light-transmissive cover and at least a portion of the power supply circuit is packaged inside at least one of the end caps.
US09970600B1
A light stick, primarily useful in the locomotive industry for signally between train personnel, includes a longitudinally extending housing which contains a first light source and a second light source. The first light source provides for general purpose illumination of the light stick. The second light source provides illumination primarily for purposes of signaling. The light stick may include a lens cap which is positioned at a forward end of the housing, and from which the illumination from the second light source may extend. Preferably, the light that is emitted from the lens cap has a blue color for purposes of railroad signaling.
US09970595B2
A filling station for a breathing apparatus includes a cradle that houses a fill panel, a manifold and a cascade bank system. The fill panel has one or more sequence valves for controlling filling of one or more compressed air breathing apparatus with air stored in the cascade bank system. The manifold connects the fill panel to the cascade bank system. The cascade bank system has a cylinder store including five or more banks. Also provided is a filling station recharging device that has a cradle, a manifold, a cylinder store and a pump. The control panel has one or more valves for controlling recharging of one or more breathing apparatus filling station with air stored in the cylinder store. The manifold connects the control panel and pump to the cylinder store. The pump and cylinder store at least partially power the recharging.
US09970592B2
Detachable mounting device includes mounting member defining therein accommodation open chamber, mounting through hole, annular inside flange between accommodation open chamber and mounting through hole and annular positioning groove between annular inside flange and mounting through hole, and fastening member having head positioned in the annular positioning groove and fastening shank suspending in the mounting through hole and adapted for fastening to mating connection member of predetermined panel member to secure the mounting member to the predetermined panel member. The outer diameter of the fastening member is larger than the inner diameter of the annular inside flange and the inner diameter of the mounting through hole, so that the fastening member is prohibited from falling out of the annular positioning groove. The wide top and narrow bottom design of the mounting member facilitates user holding the base portion with the hand to lift and delivery the predetermined panel member conveniently.
US09970587B2
A cap for water closet flange which fits over the water closet flange is disclosed. The cap for water closet flange contains a round structure, the round structure contains a top surface section, the top surface section containing: first threaded screw opening, second threaded screw opening, a first screw, a second screw a side section and an underside, with the underside comprising a first projection having a first head, a second projection having a second head, a continuation of said fast threaded screw opening; and a continuation of the second threaded screw opening. The underside of the cap for water closet flange is aligned with a water closet flange. The first head of the first projection and the second head of the second projection are inserted into head slots of the water closet flange and rotated. The first screw and the second screw are screwed into position, locking the cap for the water closet flange into position.
US09970583B2
A water hammer arrester having a cap assembly, a piston assembly, a pair of o-rings, and a base assembly, wherein the cap assembly, piston assembly and base assembly are made from plastic.
US09970578B2
A flexible coupling includes a liner, a bellow, and a liner sleeve preferably defined by a compressed woven mesh strip spirally wound around the liner between the bellow and liner and moveable longitudinally with respect to the bellow and liner when the coupling expands linearly. An alternate sleeve in the form of a cylinder is disposed about the liner, under the bellow and is formed of a woven non-compressed mesh.
US09970574B2
The invention is directed to a multilayer system, and to an article comprising said multilayer system. The multilayer system of the invention comprises—one or more polyvinyl chloride layers; and—one or more polyolefin layers, wherein said one or more polyvinyl chloride layers comprise a copolymer containing one or more moieties that are miscible with polyvinylchloride and one or more epoxy groups, and wherein said one or more polyolefin layers comprise one or more polyolefins modified to have one or more carboxyl groups.
US09970573B2
A cable tie assembly including a fastener that includes base member. A retention leg extends from the base member for being received by and secured to a bore defined by the support structure. The fastener further includes a first hook that extends from the base member. The cable tie assembly also includes a lock housing that defines a channel that receives the base member of the fastener. The lock housing also includes a strap for being wrapped about the article. The lock housing further includes a second hook for engaging the first hook of the fastener when the lock housing is received by the channel to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the lock housing. The lock housing further includes a cross-member disposed below the second hook for preventing downward movement of the first hook while the first hook is positioned in engagement with the second hook.
US09970559B2
Pressure volume regulator (20) for control of supply and pressure of barrier fluid for pumps and compressors subsea, comprising an inlet (18) for barrier fluid at an inlet pressure, a first outlet (19) and a second outlet (15), the inlet pressure is higher than the first outlet pressure that is higher than the second outlet pressure. The pressure volume regulator is distinctive in that the inlet and the second outlet are interlocked between a movable longitudinal interlock member (5) with valve elements operatively arranged at either end, the length of the interlock member plus said valve elements is shorter than the distance between an open-close valve mechanism of the inlet and an open-close valve mechanism of the second outlet.
US09970553B2
A gate valve assembly includes a valve body with an inlet and outlet, a first valve element and second valve element located between the inlet and outlet. The first valve element is engageable with and disengageable from the second valve element, which is in sliding contact with the valve body and slidable between a first position, which prevents flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a second position, which permits flow from the inlet to the outlet. The assembly provides a first flow path from the inlet to the outlet when the first valve element is disengaged from the second valve element, and a second flow path from the inlet to the outlet when the second valve element is moved from the first position to the second position. Upon actuator operation, initially the first valve element disengages from the second valve element to permit fluid flow through the first flow path to equalise upstream and downstream pressure on the second valve element. Further operation slides the second valve element from the first position to the second position to permit fluid flow through the second flow path.
US09970552B2
A solenoid actuated valve (10) holds pressure and volume of an accumulator with low leakage and provides low actuation drag during a release stroke for dumping fluid contents of the accumulator at very low current draw. Two elongate valve members (10a, 10b) are assembled to be movable axially relative to one another with a gland or groove (10c) formed in one of the two valve members (10a). An o-ring (12) located within the groove (10c) is in a non-contacting relationship to the other valve member (10b) when in a non-energized state. An energizer ring (14) located within the groove (10c) can reciprocate axially with respect to the o-ring (12). The energizer ring (14) moves axially toward the o-ring (12) in response to fluid pressure against a surface (14a) of the energizer ring (14) opposite from the o-ring (12) to axially compresses the o-ring (12), causing the o-ring (12) to expand radially outwardly into sealing contact with the other valve member (10b).
US09970551B2
A valve, which has at least one seal ring arranged in a recess of a valve housing, which seal ring has a seal housing having a U-shaped cross-section, in which seal housing an annular sealing element is arranged. The seal housing has a multi-part design and contains at least one separate housing leg, which is fixed to an annular bottom section of the seal housing in a joining region. The sealing element has a static sealing section, which engages in a sealing groove formed in the bottom section and is suitable for interacting with the two groove flanks of the sealing groove in a sealing manner.
US09970546B2
A seal structure includes a seal body. The seal body is sandwiched between a case and a cover and provided between a space and fastening regions. The space is formed by the case and the cover. The case and the cover is fastened at the fastening regions to compress the seal body in a compression direction. The seal body includes first regions and second regions. The first regions correspond to the fastening regions. Each of the second regions is provided between one of the first regions and another of the first regions. Reaction force in the compression direction in the seal body located at the first regions is smaller than reaction force in the compression direction in the seal body located in the second regions.
US09970538B2
A method of controlling an electromechanical interface includes commanding, by a controller, a motor to provide an operating torque on a selector, wherein the operating torque is based on a position of the selector relative to first and second positions, and commanding, by the controller, the motor to provide a detent torque on the selector at approximately the first position and at approximately the second position, wherein the detent torque is only applied over a first time period.
US09970533B2
A method of rebuilding a pressure control solenoid includes uncrimping a housing of the solenoid, and disassembling the solenoid. An original spool valve of the solenoid is removed from a hydraulic bore of the solenoid. The hydraulic bore is reamed such that an inner diameter of the bore is enlarged. A replacement spool valve is inserted into the hydraulic bore. An outer diameter of the replacement spool valve is larger than an outer diameter of the original spool valve.
US09970532B2
A power train subsystem for a motorized vehicle and methods of programming such power train controllers of the power train subsystem are disclosed. The power train subsystem may include a power train component, a controller, and a memory device. The controller may be coupled to the power train component to control operation of the power train component. The memory device may include boot code, application software, standard calibration parameters, and custom calibration parameters. The boot code provides an environment upon which the application software executes per the standard calibration parameters and custom calibration parameters. The standard calibration provides parameters which configure the controller for a range of vehicular applications. The custom calibration parameters provide parameters which configure the controller for a particular vehicular application in the range of vehicular applications.
US09970529B2
The present invention relates to a shift lever assembly for controlling the transmission of a vehicle, said shift lever assembly (1) comprising a housing (2) comprising a detent track (290) having a number of seats, a shift lever (31) arranged to pivot about a first axis (α), located within said housing (2), along a first gate (73) between a number of positions corresponding to different modes of transmission, the positions of the shift lever (31) corresponding to one position each along said detent track (290), a sensor assembly (6) for detecting the position of the shift lever (31) in relation to said detent track (290), said sensor assembly (6) comprising a first member (63) connected to and jointly displaceable with said shift lever (31) along said first gate (73), and a second member (69) mounted on a carrier body (60), said first member (63) and said second member (69) being arranged to interact for detecting the position of the shift lever (31) in relation to said detent track (290), wherein said carrier body (60) is displaceable in at least one direction within said housing (2) in a first stage of assembly and is arranged to be fixed in said direction at a predetermined position in relation to said detent track (290) in a second stage of assembly.
US09970527B2
A manifold for distributing lubricant in a transmission includes an inlet supply nozzle for receiving transmission lubricant, and a main body in fluid communication with the supply nozzle. The main body defines a channel having open side. The manifold also includes a cover connected to the main body at the open side that creates a fluid seal along an edge of the channel. A first port extends from the main body for dispersing lubricant in a solid stream spray pattern onto traction components of the transmission. A second port extends from the main body for dispersing lubricant in a fan spray pattern onto traction components of the transmission. The manifold also includes an exhaust nozzle to discharge lubricant from the manifold for recirculation within the transmission.
US09970525B2
A coupling assembly comprises a coupling which is arranged between a driving gear and a differential drive; a controllable actuator for actuating the coupling; a sensor for determining switching positions of the coupling; and a target element which cooperates with the sensor, wherein the target element is axially moved upon actuation of the actuator; wherein a first coupling part of the coupling is connected to a differential carrier of the differential drive and wherein a second coupling part of the coupling is held in a rotationally fixed and axially movable way relative to a differential housing of the differential drive, and wherein the target element is secured to the second coupling part by a bayonet-type connection.
US09970512B2
Nine or more forward speeds and one or more reverse speed are achieved by a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle. The planetary gear train includes: an input shaft, an output shaft, four planetary gear sets, and six control components. In particular, each of the four planetary gear sets includes a sun gear, a planet carrier, and a ring gear. Selective connections between the sun gears, planet carriers, ring gears, and a transmission housing are performed by the the six control components.
US09970503B2
End mounts are used to secure a helical tension spring to end fixtures with various shapes and sizes. These end mounts contain an inner hole to encase the inner spring end mount and secure the end mount making it like a cap. There is also a keyhole created in the top surface that goes through the end mount allowing it to fit over the fixtures but not over the inner end mount, holding it in place. Grooves are machined in a helical pattern on the cylindrical side wall of the end mount. The spring is wound onto the grooves of the end mount.
US09970494B2
Method for the production of braking elements for vehicles, in particular brake pads, including a die forming step by means of fine and/or traditional shearing of a metal support and a molding step upon the metal support of a block of friction material; the friction material is selected from the group of asbestos free materials, while the metal plate is made of an aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys subjected to precipitation hardening (age-hardening alloys) and is made from the fine and/or traditional shearing of a metal sheet when the alloy is in a solubilized state; the alloy, being aged during a friction material baking step, gains its mechanical properties needed for its operation.
US09970491B2
A wedge friction clutch with onboard enable and disable function, including: an axis of rotation; an inner race; an outer race located radially outward of the inner race; and a wedge assembly including at least one wedge plate located between the inner and outer races in a radial direction; at least one resilient element; and at least one piston. For a locked mode in which the inner and outer races are non-rotatably connected, the at least one resilient element is arranged to displace the at least one wedge plate in at least one first circumferential direction. For a free wheel mode in which the inner and outer races are independently rotatable with respect to each other, the at least one piston is arranged to displace the at least one wedge plate in at least one second circumferential direction.
US09970490B2
An agricultural metering system includes a meter roller having multiple flutes and recesses, in which the meter roller is configured to meter product from an agricultural product storage compartment to a product distribution system via rotation of the meter roller. The agricultural metering system also includes a shaft configured to drive the meter roller to rotate, and a clutch assembly operatively coupled to the meter roller. The clutch assembly includes a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, a rotation rate of the meter roller is at least partially dependent on an effective viscosity of the MR fluid, and the effective viscosity of the MR fluid is controllable based at least in part on an effective magnitude of a magnetic field applied to the MR fluid.
US09970488B2
A friction disc. The friction disc includes a plate having a forward facing plate surface, a rearward facing plate surface, an inward facing plate surface, and an outward facing plate surface. An inward facing plate surface has a plate lug extending radially inwardly. The friction disc includes a hub having an inward facing hub surface and an outward facing hub surface. The outward facing hub surface has a hub lug extending radially outwardly. The friction disc includes a damping web connecting the plate to the hub to transmit torque between the plate and the hub to rotate the plate and the hub mutually. The damping web includes a resiliently deformable material that limits transmission of shock between the plate and the hub.
US09970486B2
Improved systems and methods facilitate precise adjustment of wheel-end tapered roller bearing preload force on an axle spindle with a diameter, a longitudinal groove or flat, and a thread pattern to receive a hexagonal adjustment nut with six outer edges. A system may include a flat inner washer, an inner adjustment nut, a flat outer washer having an outer tab extending from the outer edge and a plurality of markings on the outer surface or the outer edge of the outer washer, each marking indicating the amount of rotation needed to cause a predefined lateral movement of the inner adjustment nut as a function of the diameter and thread pattern of the axle, and an outer adjustment nut.
US09970485B2
A holder support part, into which a holder main body part constituting a sensor holder is fitted, is provided to an upper position of two vertically adjacent positions of an axially inboard-side surface of a bottom plate part so as to project. A nut holding part, which holds a nut, into which is threaded a bolt for joining a sensor holder, is provided to a lower position of the two vertically adjacent positions. The holder support part and the nut holding part are apart from each other. The holder support part is configured as a notched cylinder shape having a discontinuous part at a lower part. An upper surface of the nut holding part is configured as a convex curved surface of which a part facing the discontinuous part is positioned at the uppermost part.
US09970479B2
A thrust bearing disposed facing a thrust collar provided on a rotary shaft, the thrust bearing includes: a top foil disposed facing the thrust collar; a back foil disposed on a side of the top foil opposite to another side of the top foil facing the thrust collar; and an annular plate-shaped base plate supporting the back foil. The back foil is formed of a plurality of back foil pieces. The top foil is formed of a plurality of top foil pieces. A vibration-damping foil piece is disposed in each of the positions between the back foil pieces and the top foil pieces.
US09970459B2
A vacuum pump connecting apparatus has a first vibration absorbing portion and a second vibration absorbing portion which are connected to an evacuation connection portion so as to dispose the first and second vibration absorbing portions opposite each other via the evacuation connection portion. A first end of the first vibration absorbing portion is connected to the evacuation connection portion and a second end of the first vibration absorbing assembly opposite to the second end is connected to an intake port of a vacuum pump. The first vibration absorbing portion and the second vibration absorbing portion are elastic bellows. A first end of the second vibration absorbing portion is connected to the evacuation connection portion. The vacuum pump connecting apparatus has a rigid coupling member which is connected to a second end of the second vibration absorbing portion opposite to the first end of the second vibration absorbing portion.
US09970455B2
A compressor includes a housing; an impeller rotatably installed in the housing; a guidance unit connected to the housing at a first end of the guidance unit and configured to guide a fluid discharged by the impeller, the guidance unit configured to change a flow direction; and a scrolling unit connected to a second end opposite to the first end of the guidance unit. A width of an opening via which the fluid enters a circular space of the scrolling unit is about 1.5 to about 3.5 times a height of the guidance unit.
US09970452B2
Embodiments of a forward-swept impeller are provide, as are embodiments of a gas turbine engine containing a forward-swept impeller. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes a shaft and a forward-swept impeller mounted to the shaft. The forward-swept impeller includes, in turn, an inboard impeller section, an outboard impeller section circumscribing the inboard impeller section, and a plurality of hub flow paths extending over the forward-swept impeller from the inboard impeller section to the outboard impeller section. The plurality of hub flow paths each have a flow path exit that is tilted in a forward direction, as taken along a line tangent to the flow path exit.
US09970439B2
In a vane compressor, a transmission pin is accommodated in a communication hole that provides communication between a first vane slot and a second vane slot. The transmission pin includes a loose-fit portion that is loosely inserted in a recessed portion formed in a bottom surface of each of first and second vanes, a shaft portion, and a flange portion formed between the loose-fit portion and the shaft portion and in contact with the bottom surface. A coil spring is disposed in the communication hole to urge the first vane and the second vane in opposite directions away from each other via the flange portion. The coil spring is disposed around the shaft portion and supported by the flange portion so as to urge and support the transmission pin.
US09970438B2
A scroll compressor is provided that may include a casing including a rotational shaft, a cover fixed inside of the casing to partition the inside of the casing into a suction space and a discharge space, a first scroll that is revolved by rotational of the rotational shaft, a second scroll disposed on or at a side of the first scroll to define a plurality of compression chambers together with the first scroll, the second scroll having an intermediate pressure discharge hole that communicates with a compression chamber having an intermediate pressure of the plurality of compression chambers, a back pressure plate coupled to the second scroll, the back pressure plate having an intermediate pressure suction hole that communicates with the intermediate pressure discharge hole, and a floating plate movably disposed on or at a side of the back pressure plate to define the back pressure chamber together with the back pressure plate. The discharge space may have a volume greater by a set ratio or more than a volume of the back pressure chamber.
US09970436B2
A pump having two pistons placed in a rotor, situated in a stator forming two opposite parallel eccentric pumping chambers having at least one inlet port through which the fluid is drawn into at least one of the pumping chambers during the filling movement of at least one of the pistons and, subsequently, expelled from at least one of the pumping chambers, during the emptying movement of at least one of the pistons, to at least one outlet port, characterized by an inlet cavity in connection with the inlet port, an outlet cavity in connection with the outlet port and two port changeover transition zones situated between each side of the cavities.
US09970424B2
A system includes a solid feed fuel pump configured to route a solid fuel flow from an inlet to an outlet. The solid feed fuel pump includes an actuated valve that is disposed within the outlet. The actuated valve is configured to adjust a compaction of the solid fuel flow while in the outlet. The actuated valve adjusts the compaction in response to active control based on sensed feedback from the system.
US09970422B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a self-pumping structure, methods of self-pumping, and the like.
US09970421B2
A pump for use in pressurizing a cryogenic fluid. The pump may have a barrel, and a boost enclosure disposed around the barrel. The pump may also have a boost plunger disposed inside the barrel and configured to discharge fluid into the boost enclosure. The pump may further have a main plunger disposed inside the barrel and configured to receive fluid from the boost enclosure and to increase a pressure of the fluid.
US09970414B2
The present disclosure is directed to a pitch assembly for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the pitch assembly includes a first pitch bearing having a first outer race and a first inner race rotatable relative to the first outer race via a first set of rolling elements, a second pitch bearing having a second outer race and a second inner race rotatable relative to the second outer race via a second set of rolling elements, and at least one spacer configured axially between and contacting the first and second pitch bearings. Further, at least a portion of the first pitch bearing and at least a portion of the second pitch bearing are axially aligned between the rotatable hub and the rotor blade in a generally span-wise direction.
US09970410B2
A fluid turbine comprises a rotor rotatable in use about an axis transverse to the direction of fluid flow, the rotor having a first part carrying a plurality of arcuate blades that may be arranged selectably in compact straight shapes or in arcuate shapes and a second part journalled in a base structure by two or more bearings. Another aspect of the invention discloses an installation frame, devised to support the turbine or other elongated structures in a folded arrangement for transportation on a trailer, and to support assembly and erection thereof.
US09970407B2
An internal combustion engine includes a plasma ignition system having an in-cylinder dielectric barrier-discharge igniter, and a direct-injection fuel injector having an in-cylinder fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle protrudes into the combustion chamber proximal to the igniter. A controller operatively connects to the internal combustion engine, the plasma ignition system and the fuel injection system. The controller controls the internal combustion engine at an air/fuel ratio that is lean of stoichiometry. The fuel injector injects a first fuel pulse prior to activation of the igniter, and then the igniter initiates a plasma energy pulse. The fuel injector is controlled to inject a second fuel pulse during the plasma energy pulse.
US09970403B2
When a start condition is satisfied after the internal combustion engine has been stopped according to an automatic stop control, a control apparatus reversely rotates the engine to compress an air in an expansion stroke cylinder at that time point, and thereafter generates a first time combustion. The apparatus determines whether the start condition becomes satisfied based on a first start request owing to a driving operation by a driver of a vehicle on which the engine is mounted. When the start condition becomes satisfied based on the first start request, the control apparatus makes a maximum value of an engine generating torque by the first time combustion and/or a maximum torque of the engine generating torque by a second time combustion larger as compared to when the start condition becomes satisfied based on a second start request other than the first start request.
US09970400B2
A pre-chamber fuel admission valve includes a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, an actuated valve, and a check valve. The fuel inlet receives a supply of a fuel. The fuel outlet delivers the fuel to a pre-chamber. The actuated valve is between and in fluid communication with the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The actuated valve controls a flow of the fuel from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet. The check valve is biased in a closed position and between and in fluid communication with the actuated valve and the fuel outlet. The check valve is configured to open and allow the fuel to exit the fuel outlet in response to a fuel pressure exceeding a pre-chamber pressure plus a bias pressure, and the check valve is configured to close in response to the pre-chamber pressure plus the bias pressure exceeding the fuel pressure.
US09970394B2
The present invention generally relates to filtration, and more particularly to filter assemblies including filter housings, filter elements and safety filter elements for filtering flowing fluid such as air.
US09970392B2
The present invention relates to a gas adsorption filter for an automobile, and provides an adsorption filter formed by coupling an adsorption block including an adsorbent, which collects and separates evaporation gas introduced into a canister, and a processing body in which a vent channel is ensured.
US09970388B2
A pivot thrust reverser includes a first tandem pivot door subassembly comprising an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel and outer panel are connected by a first sliding rail. A second tandem pivot door subassembly is included comprising an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel and outer panel are connected by a second sliding rail.
US09970386B2
An exhaust nozzle for a turbine engine includes multiple daisy style corrugations arranged circumferentially about the exhaust nozzle. Each of the daisy style corrugations has a radially inner base portion and multiple lobes protruding radially outward from the base portion.
US09970383B2
The present invention provides a porous polymer resin layer that comprises a binder resin with pores having a mean maximum diameter of about 0.5 mm to 1.6 mm; and aerogels dispersed in the binder resin. In particular, the porous polymer resin layer has a density of about 0.5 g/ml to 1.6 g/ml.
US09970375B2
Disclosed is a device for detecting any fixed closure of a fuel shut-off valve 7 which opens/closes a feed line 5 for feed of fuel 3 to a fuel addition valve 6. The device is provided with a pressure sensor 8 which detects a pressure of the fuel 3 between the fuel addition and shut-off valves 6 and 7 and a controller 9 which determines the fuel shut-off valve 7 to be fixed closed when a detection value of the pressure sensor 8 falls below a threshold set depending on a rotation frequency of an engine.
US09970370B2
The invention relates to a system for heating a storage container (1) for an aqueous operating liquid in a motor vehicle having a combustion engine cooled by means of a liquid heat transfer medium, using the waste heat from the combustion engine, which is transferred to the heat transfer medium. The system comprises a first heat exchanger (9), which is provided in or on the storage container (1) and can be heated by means of the heat transfer medium in a cooling circuit (3) for the combustion engine, wherein the first heat exchanger (9) is part of a storage container heating circuit (10), which comprises a heat transfer medium feed (11) and a heat transfer medium return (12), wherein the storage container heating circuit (10) is connected hydraulically in parallel with a second heating circuit (7b) with a second heat exchanger (7) for heating the passenger cell (8) of the motor vehicle. The storage container heating circuit (10) comprises a valve with a controllable volume flow and further comprises means for measuring the M volume flow of heat transfer medium in the storage container heating circuit (10) and means for controlling the valve (13) in accordance with one or more temperature signals from various temperature sensors (T1 to T5). The invention furthermore relates to a method for heating a storage container (1) using the system.
US09970352B2
An exemplary turbomachine clutch assembly includes a clutch that moves from a first position to a second position in response to rotation of a turbomachine fan at a speed greater than a threshold speed. The clutch permits rotation of the turbomachine fan in a first direction whether the clutch is in the first position or the second position. The clutch limits rotation of the turbomachine fan in an opposite, second direction when the clutch is in the first position.
US09970349B2
To enhance responsivity of temperature sensor detecting an engine temperature. A temperature sensor component 40 includes a metal washer 42. The temperature sensor component 40 transfers the engine temperature to a sensor body 46 via the heat transfer washer 42. A cylinder portion 8 of a cylinder block 64 has two bosses 30. The washer 42 of the temperature sensor component 40 is fixed to the boss 30 together with the electronic control unit 20.
US09970343B2
The production efficiency of ammonia is more raised while avoiding the necessity for a user to supply water for himself/herself in order to produce the ammonia. An exhaust gas purification apparatus comprises a catalyst which purifies an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by using ammonia; and an ammonia supplier which supplies the ammonia to the catalyst; wherein the ammonia supplier includes an ammonia producer which produces the ammonia from nitrogen and water; a nitrogen supplier which separates the nitrogen from air and which supplies the nitrogen to the ammonia producer; and a water supplier which separates the water from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and which supplies the water to the ammonia producer.
US09970333B2
A cam shaft phase setter for adjusting the rotational angular position of a cam shaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine by means of a hydraulic fluid, the cam shaft phase setter including a stator which can be rotary-driven by the crankshaft; a pressure chamber for the fluid; a rotor which is connected, rotationally fixed, to the cam shaft and coupled to the stator such that torque is transmitted and which can be adjusted in its rotational angle relative to the stator by introducing the fluid into the pressure chamber; a control valve including a valve housing and a valve piston; the valve housing including a housing inlet, an operating port to the pressure chamber and a reservoir port to a reservoir for the fluid and being connected, rotationally fixed, to the cam shaft or being formed by the cam shaft; the valve piston being axially adjustable back and forth in the valve housing between a first position and a second position and including a piston feed which is connected to the housing inlet and is connected to the operating port in the first position of the valve piston and separated from the operating port in the second position of the valve piston; an actuating unit, coupled to the valve piston, for axially adjusting the valve piston; and a feedback through which fluid which flows through the valve housing can be fed back into an engine housing of the internal combustion engine which rotatably mounts the cam shaft; wherein the cam shaft phase setter is configured such that the fluid flowing through the control valve flows back into the engine housing through one or more components of the phase setter which rotate with the cam shaft.
US09970332B2
An engine control module includes at least one high side driver connected to at least one intake camshaft actuator and at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A plurality of low side drivers is connected to the at least one intake camshaft actuator and the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A sliding camshaft control module selectively actuates the at least one high side driver and the plurality of low side drivers based on a status associated with the at least one intake camshaft actuator and/or the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator.
US09970329B2
In an exhaust heat recovery device provided with a Rankine cycle device, a clutch for transmitting and interrupting power between an engine and the Rankine cycle device is released appropriately to prevent the Rankine cycle from becoming a load on the engine. An exhaust heat recovery device 1A includes a Rankine cycle device 2A, a power transmission mechanism 3A, and a control unit 4. The power transmission mechanism 3A has a clutch 31 and is capable of transmitting power between an engine 10 and the Rankine cycle device 2A when the clutch 31 is engaged. The control unit 4A controls the engagement and disengagement of the clutch 31 based on a first correlation value correlated with consumed power when the Rankine cycle device 2A is started, and a second correlation value correlated with consumed power of the Rankine cycle device 2A when the output of the Rankine cycle device 2A is negative during the operation of the Rankine cycle device 2A after the start-up.
