US09099618B1
A lighting device is provided, comprising: a substrate; two or more light-emitting elements formed over the substrate; a first transparent conformal layer formed over the two or more light-emitting elements in a pattern, the first transparent conformal layer being doped with a luminescent material; a second transparent conformal layer formed over a portion of the substrate not covered by the two or more light-emitting elements, the second transparent conformal layer not being doped with the luminescent material.
US09099615B2
A light emitting device is provided with a semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength conversion portion. The wavelength conversion portion includes an outer peripheral portion between an input surface and an output surface. The outer peripheral portion includes a first inclined part at a side of the input surface and a second inclined part at a side of the output surface. The first inclined part and the second inclined part define a projecting portion that is projected on the outer peripheral portion.
US09099613B2
Aspects include Light Emitting Diodes that have a GaN-based light emitting region and a metallic electrode. The metallic electrode can be physically separated from the GaN-based light emitted region by a layer of porous dielectric, which provides a reflecting region between at least a portion of the metallic electrode and the GaN-based light emitting region.
US09099610B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device and a light emitting device package. The light emitting device includes a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer, a third semiconductor layer between the active layer and the second conductive semiconductor layer, and a light extraction structure on the second conductive semiconductor layer. A top surface of the third semiconductor layer has a Ga-face.
US09099607B2
A solar cell is discussed. The solar cell according to an embodiment includes a substrate of a first conductive type, an emitter layer of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type, which forms a p-n junction along with the substrate, a first anti-reflection layer on the emitter layer, a second anti-reflection layer on the first anti-reflection layer, a first electrode part connected to the emitter layer, and a second electrode part connected to the substrate. The first anti-reflection layer is formed of silicon nitride, and the second anti-reflection layer is formed of silicon oxide.
US09099605B2
The fabrication and characterization of large scale inverted organic solar array fabricated using all-spray process is disclosed, consisting of four layers; ITO-Cs2CO3-(P3HT:PCBM)-modified PEDPT:PSS, on a substrate. With PEDPT:PSS as the anode, the encapsulated solar array shows more than 30% transmission in the visible to near IR range. Optimization by thermal annealing was performed based on single-cell or multiple-cell arrays. Solar illumination has been demonstrated to improve solar array efficiency up to 250% with device efficiency of 1.80% under AM1.5 irradiance. The performance enhancement under illumination occurs only with sprayed devices, indicating device enhancement under sunlight, which is beneficial for solar energy applications. The semi-transparent property of the solar module allows for applications on windows and windshields, indoor applications, and soft fabric substances such as tents, military back-packs or combat uniforms, providing a highly portable renewable power supply for deployed military forces.
US09099592B2
An optical element has a plano-plano body formed of a first material having a greater refraction index n1 and a second material having a lesser refraction index n2. Both indices are greater than one. The absolute value of the index contrast, log10 (n1/n2), is in the range from about 0.001 to about 0.17, preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.05. The materials have an induced absorbance rate ΔAbs/Dose less than or equal to about 0.4, preferably less than or equal to about 0.2. The materials are arranged such that an interface with at least one cusp is defined therebetween. The cusp has an apex pointed toward the material having the greater index of refraction. The cusp is operative to produce a region of increased light intensity on one surface of the optical element in response to light incident on the other surface of the optical element.
US09099587B2
The present invention relates to an educational solar cell module. According to the present invention, the electrodes of the solar cells can be easily and removably connected to each other in series or in parallel, and the variations in voltage and current according to the number of connected solar cells can be easily observed to thereby increase interest in solar energy. The educational solar cell module includes: a plurality of frames; a solar cell panel joined to the top surface of the frames; and a frame coupling member disposed on the frames to couple neighboring frames to each other so that the frames can be continuously joined and arrayed.
US09099581B2
A photonic integrated circuit (I/C) includes a focusing sidewall or in-plane surface that redirects and focuses light from a waveguide to a photodetector structure. The focusing includes redirecting an optical signal to a width smaller than a width of the waveguide. The focusing of the light allows the photodetector structure to be outside a waveguide defined by parallel oxide structures. With the photodetector structure outside the waveguide, the contacts can be placed closer together, which reduces contact resistance.
US09099555B2
A TFET transistor includes an intrinsic channel, source and drain extension regions, source and drain conductive regions, a gate surmounting the channel and laid out such that an end of the channel is not covered by the gate. The transistor includes a first arrangement for forming an isolating space between the sides of the gate and the source conductive region including a first and a second dielectric spacer. The extension region has a thickness strictly greater than that of the channel such that the extension region has an increased thickness opposite the gate dielectric layer. The first face of the first spacer is in contact with the side of the gate followed by the side of the gate dielectric layer such that the first face covers the whole of the side of the layer.
US09099554B2
A semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The semiconductor device include: a trench disposed within a substrate, the trench comprising an upper trench part that is wider than a lower trench part in width; a gate disposed in the trench; an interlayer insulating layer pattern disposed above the gate in the trench; a source region disposed within the substrate and contacting a sidewall of the upper trench part; a body region disposed below the source region in the substrate; and a contact trench disposed above the body region and filled with a conductive material.
US09099547B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a wafer having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. The top surface has a plurality of dicing channels. The wafer has a plurality of dies adjacent the top surface. Each die of the plurality of dies is separated by a dicing channel of the plurality of dicing channels from another die of the plurality of dies. Trenches are formed in the wafer from the top surface. The trenches are oriented along the plurality of dicing channels. After forming the trenches, the plurality of dies is tested to identify first dies to be separated from remaining dies of the plurality of dies. After testing the plurality of dies, the wafer is subjected to a grinding process from the back surface. The grinding process separates the wafer into the plurality of dies.
US09099533B2
A multiple-patterned semiconductor device and a method of manufacture are provided. The semiconductor device includes a conductive layer. The conductive layer includes conductive tracks which may be defined by photomasks. The conductive tracks may have quality characteristics. Distinct quality characteristics of distinct conductive tracks may be compared. Based on the comparison, signals and supply voltage may be routed on particular conductive tracks.
US09099530B2
Integrated circuit methods are described. The methods include providing a photomask that includes two main features for two via openings and further includes an optical proximity correction (OPC) feature linking the two main features; forming a hard mask layer on a substrate, the hard mask layer including two trench openings; forming a patterned resist layer over the hard mask layer using the photomask, wherein the patterned resist layer includes a peanut-shaped opening with two end portion aligned with the two trench openings of the hard mask layer, respectively; and performing a first etch process to the substrate using the hard mask layer and the patterned resist layer as a combined etch mask.
US09099524B2
A die bonder that eliminates the need for moving a recognition camera for capturing an image related to adhesive application and achieves high reliability with high throughput is disclosed. The die bonder includes a lead frame; a syringe located above the lead frame and enclosing therein a paste adhesive; a recognition camera lateral to the syringe; an illumination lamp disposed in the vicinity of the recognition camera; and a reflector plate disposed opposite the illumination lamp. The reflector plate is adapted to reflect light from the illumination lamp onto the lead frame at an application surface of the paste adhesive. The recognition camera, illumination lamp, and reflector plate are arranged in a manner that the reflector plate is disposed on −Y side and the recognition camera and the illumination lamp are disposed on +Y side with respect to the syringe located above the lead frame transported in X direction.
US09099522B2
A semiconductor device includes a stripe-shaped gate trench formed in one major surface of n-type drift layer, a gate trench including gate polysilicon formed therein, and a gate polysilicon connected to a gate electrode. A p-type base layer is formed selectively in mesa region between adjacent gate trenches and a p-type base layer including an n-type emitter layer and connected to emitter electrode. One or more dummy trenches are formed between p-type base layers adjoining to each other in the extending direction of gate trenches. An electrically conductive dummy polysilicon is formed on an inner side wall of dummy trench with a gate oxide film interposed between the dummy polysilicon and dummy trench. The dummy polysilicon is spaced apart from the gate polysilicon and may be connected to the emitter electrode.
US09099521B2
A reverse conducting IGBT that includes an insulated gate; a semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type drift region, a second conductivity type body region, a first conductivity type emitter region, and a second conductivity type intermediate region; and an emitter electrode provided on a surface of the semiconductor layer. The first conductivity type drift region of the semiconductor layer contacts the insulated gate. The second conductivity type body region of the semiconductor layer is provided on the drift region and contacts the insulated gate. The first conductivity type emitter region of the semiconductor layer is provided on the body region and contacts the insulated gate. The second conductivity type intermediate region of the semiconductor layer is provided on the emitter region and is interposed between the emitter region and the emitter electrode.
US09099517B2
New designs for silicon carbide (SiC) bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and new methods of manufacturing such SiC BJTs are described. The SiC BJT comprises a collector region, a base region and an emitter region disposed as a stack, the emitter region and part of the base region forming a mesa. The intrinsic part of the base region includes a first portion having a first doping concentration and a second portion having a second doping concentration lower than the first doping concentration. Further, the second portion is vertically disposed between the first portion and the emitter region in the stack.
US09099513B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes a tray, a mask and a rotary stage. The tray includes a substrate support configured to support an outer edge portion of a substrate, a mask support provided on an outer periphery side of the substrate support and projected above the substrate support, and a recess provided between the substrate support and the mask support. The mask covers the recess and the substrate support of the tray. The rotary stage includes an electrostatic adsorption surface and a tray mounting portion provided on an outer periphery side of the electrostatic adsorption surface and below the electrostatic adsorption surface. The outer edge portion of the substrate is projected toward the tray mounting portion side from the electrostatic adsorption surface. The substrate support is spaced below the outer edge portion of the substrate. The mask is spaced above the outer edge portion of the substrate.
US09099504B2
The substrate treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a substrate holding mechanism which holds a substrate, a nozzle body having a spout which spouts an etching liquid toward a major surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism, a nozzle body movement mechanism which moves the nozzle body in a predetermined movement direction so as to move an etching liquid application position at which the etching liquid is applied on the major surface, a first flexible sheet attached to the nozzle body to be brought into contact with a portion of the major surface located on one of opposite sides of the etching liquid application position with respect to the movement direction, and a second flexible sheet attached to the nozzle body to be brought into contact with a portion of the major surface located on the other side of the etching liquid application position with respect to the movement direction.
US09099503B2
In a plasma etching apparatus, a first high frequency for plasma generation and a second high frequency for ion attraction are respectively applied from two high frequency supplies to a susceptor. Further, DC voltage is applied from a variable DC power supply to an upper electrode via a filter circuit. An annular DC ground part attached to an upper side surface of the susceptor is connected to a filter circuit. This filter circuit allows a specific frequency component of the intermodulation distortion generated in a plasma by a series resonant to selectively flow to a ground line.
US09099500B2
The present invention discloses a hexagonal programmable array based on a silicon nanowire field effect transistor and a method for fabricating the same. The array includes a nanowire device, a nanowire device connection region and a gate connection region, wherein, the nanowire device has a cylinder shape, and includes a silicon nanowire channel, a gate dielectric layer, and a gate region, the nanowire channel being surrounded by the gate dielectric layer, and the gate dielectric layer being surrounded by the gate region; the nanowire devices are arranged in a hexagon shape to form programming unit, the nanowire device connection region is a connection node of three nanowire devices and secured to a silicon supporter. The present invention can achieve a complex control logic of interconnections and is suitable for a digital/analog and a mixed-signal circuit having a high integration degree and a high speed.
US09099494B2
The invention relates to a contact structure of a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a contact structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface and a trench below the major surface; a strained material filling the trench, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer having an opening over the strained material, wherein the opening comprises dielectric sidewalls and a strained material bottom; a semiconductor layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the opening; a dielectric layer on the semiconductor layer; and a metal layer filling an opening of the dielectric layer.
US09099493B2
In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is provided. This SOI substrate comprises a buried oxide layer and an ETSOI layer between the buried oxide layer and a surface of the SOI substrate. A dummy gate is formed on the ETSOI. At least two raised source/drain regions are epitaxially formed adjacent to the dummy gate, and a protective cap is formed thereon. An etch process employing at least one acid is used to remove the dummy gate from the ETSOI. A gate dielectric layer is deposited on the protective cap and the ETSOI after removing the dummy gate. A replacement metal gate is then formed on the gate dielectric layer to replace the removed dummy gate, the gate dielectric layer is removed from the protective metal cap, and the protective cap is removed from the raised source/drain regions.
US09099487B2
Zener diode structures and related fabrication methods and semiconductor devices are provided. An exemplary semiconductor device includes first and second Zener diode structures. The first Zener diode structure includes a first region, a second region that is adjacent to the first region, and a third region adjacent to the first region and the second region to provide a junction that is configured to influence a first reverse breakdown voltage of a junction between the first region and the second region. The second Zener diode structure includes a fourth region, a fifth region that is adjacent to the fourth region, and a sixth region adjacent to the fourth region and the fifth region to provide a junction configured to influence a second reverse breakdown voltage of a junction between the fourth region and the fifth region, wherein the second reverse breakdown voltage and the first reverse breakdown voltage are different.
US09099468B2
An electronic fuse and method for forming the same. Embodiments of the invention include e-fuses having a first metallization level including a metal structure, a second metallization level above the first metallization level, a metal via in the second metallization level, an interface region where the metal via meets the first metallization level, and a damaged region at the interface region. Embodiments further include a method including providing a first metallization level including a metal structure, forming a capping layer on the first metallization level, forming an opening in the capping layer that exposes a portion of the metal structure; forming above the capping layer an adhesion layer contacting the metal structure, forming an insulating layer above the adhesion layer, etching the insulating layer and the adhesion layer to form a recess exposing the metal structure, and filling the fuse via recess to form a fuse via.
US09099454B2
A semiconductor package is manufactured by providing a semiconductor die with a terminal at a first side of the die, providing a material coupled to the die at an opposing second side of the die and embedding the die in a molding compound so that the die is covered by the molding compound on all sides except the first side. The molding compound is thinned at a side of the molding compound adjacent the second side of the die, to expose the material at the second side of the die without exposing the second side of the die. An electrical connection is formed to the terminal at the first side of the die. In the case of a transistor die, the terminal can be a source terminal and the transistor die can be attached source-down to a metal block such as a die paddle of a lead frame.
US09099453B2
A packaged semiconductor device includes a communication pad formed in a side surface, which is operatively coupled to a communication circuit so as to enable the establishing of a wireless communication channel to an adjacently positioned packaged semiconductor device. The communication pad may be formed upon cutting a block including the packaged semiconductor device and an appropriately positioned and dimensioned conductor.
US09099451B2
Disclosed herein are a power module package and a method of manufacturing the same. The power module package includes first and second semiconductor devices mounted on sides of first and second lead frames, ends of which are separated from each other, respectively, a support pin corresponding to a mounting position of the first semiconductor device and formed adjacent to a lower portion of the first lead frame, and a molding portion formed to cover portions of the first and second lead frames and the first and second semiconductor devices.
US09099441B2
Various embodiments provide a power transistor arrangement. The power transistor arrangement may include a carrier; a first power transistor having a control electrode and a first power electrode and a second power electrode; and a second power transistor having a control electrode and a first power electrode and a second power electrode. The first power transistor and the second power transistor may be arranged next to each other on the carrier such that the control electrode of the first power transistor and the control electrode of the second power transistor are facing the carrier.
US09099437B2
A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor layer is formed over a gate electrode with a large aspect ratio, thereby obtaining a channel length of a transistor which hardly causes a short-channel effect even when the transistor is miniaturized. A lower electrode is provided under the gate electrode with an insulating layer provided therebetween so that the electrode overlaps with the semiconductor layer. A potential (electric field) of the lower electrode imparts a conductivity type to the semiconductor layer overlapping with the lower electrode, so that a source region and a drain region are formed in the semiconductor layer. The gate electrode serves as a shield, so that a region in the semiconductor layer, which faces the gate electrode with the gate insulating layer provided therebetween, is not influenced by the electric field from the lower electrode.
US09099436B2
The basic structure and functionality of a probe as disclosed herein allows for flexibly incorporating into the probe, various sensing elements for various sensing applications. Two example applications among these various sensing applications include bio-sensing and chemical-sensing applications. For bio-sensing applications the probe, which is fabricated upon a silicon substrate, includes a bio-sensing element such as a nano-pillar transistor, and for chemical-sensing applications the probe includes a sensing element that has a functionalized contact area whereby the sensing element generates a voltage when exposed to one or more chemicals of interest.
US09099434B2
A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having a device region. The device region includes a source region, a gate region and a drain region defined thereon. The substrate is prepared with gate layers on the substrate. The gate layers are patterned to form a gate in the gate region and a field structure surrounding the drain region. A source and a drain are formed in the source region and drain region respectively. The drain is separated from the gate on a second side of the gate and the source is adjacent to a first side of the gate. An interconnection to the field structure is formed. The interconnection is coupled to a potential which distributes the electric field across the substrate between the second side of the gate and the drain.
US09099432B2
An electronic device for power applications and configured for being mounted on a printed circuit board is disclosed. The electronic device includes a semiconductor chip integrating a power component, and a package. The package comprises an insulating body embedding the semiconductor chip, and exposed electrodes for electrically connecting conductive terminals of the semiconductor chip to external circuitry in the printed circuit board. The electronic device is further configured to be fastened to a heatsink with a back surface of the insulating body in contact with a main surface of the heatsink for removing heat produced by the electronic device during the operation thereof. The insulating body lacks of a fixing portion in which a hole for receiving an insertable fastener element for the fastening of the electronic device to the heatsink is located.
US09099429B2
There is provided a heat sink including: a heat radiation plate having a heating element fixed to one surface thereof; a plurality of heat radiation fins formed on the other surface of the heat radiation plate to radiate heat generated in the heating element; a flange part provided on a heat radiation fin positioned in an outermost position among the plurality of heat radiation fins; and a fixing member inserted into the flange part to fix the heat sink to a printed circuit board, wherein the flange part is compressed in a predetermined position thereof, such that the fixing member and the flange part are coupled and fixed to each other.
US09099424B1
A mobile system, including: a 3D device, the 3D device including: a first layer of first transistors, overlaid by at least one interconnection layer, where the interconnection layer comprises copper or aluminum; a second layer including second transistors, the second layer overlaying the interconnection layer, the second layer including: a plurality of electrical connections connecting the second transistors with the interconnection layer; and at least one thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive contact, the at least one thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive contact thermally connects the second layer to the top or bottom surface of the 3D device.
US09099418B2
A display panel includes, for each pixel, a self light emitting device and a pixel circuit driving the self light emitting device. The pixel circuit has a retention capacitor, a first transistor writing a voltage corresponding to a video signal in the retention capacitor, and a second transistor driving the self light emitting device based on the voltage of the retention capacitor, and the display panel has a light exit face discharging a light emitted from the self light emitting device to outside and also has a light blocking layer blocking an external light introduced from the light exit face to the first transistor.
US09099416B2
An organic light-emitting device including a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixel on a substrate; a plurality of first electrodes in the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel, respectively; a second electrode being a sub-common layer to the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel and facing the first electrodes of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel; and a third electrode in the third sub-pixel and facing the first electrode of the third sub-pixel is disclosed.
US09099410B2
An apparatus including an electronic device having a plurality of substantially collocated components, the plurality of components including an integrated circuit (IC) chip, an energy supply operable to electrically power the IC chip, and an energy harvesting (EH) device operable to convert non-electrical energy to electrical energy supplied to the energy supply. A material substantially encloses at least a portion of at least one of the IC chip, the energy supply, and the EH device.
US09099405B2
According to one embodiment, a display device, includes: a display unit and a control unit. The display unit has a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments includes a plurality of organic light emitting layers to emit light of mutually different colors. The plurality of segments forms one of a plurality types of images by changing the colors of the emitted light from the plurality of segments. The control unit drives each of the plurality of segments of the display unit to emit light.
US09099400B2
Semiconductor device manufacturing methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first pattern in a hard mask using a first lithography process, and forming a second pattern in the hard mask using a second lithography process. A protective layer is formed over the hard mask. Portions of the hard mask and portions of the protective layer are altered using a self-aligned double patterning (SADP) method.
US09099399B2
Methods of forming fine patterns for semiconductor devices are provided. A method may include sequentially forming a lower layer and a mask layer having first openings on a substrate, forming pillars to fill the first openings and protrude upward from a top surface of the mask layer, forming a block copolymer layer on the substrate with the pillars, performing a thermal treatment to the block copolymer layer to form a first block portion and second block portions, removing the second block portions to form guide openings exposing the mask layer, and etching the mask layer exposed by the guide openings to form second openings.
US09099380B2
A methodology enabling the formation of steep channel profiles for devices, such as SSRW FETs, having a resultant channel profiles that enables suppression of threshold voltage variation and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include providing STI regions in a silicon wafer; performing a deep well implantation of a dopant into the silicon wafer between STI regions; forming a recess in the doped silicon wafer between the STI regions; performing a shallow well implantation of the dopant into the silicon wafer in the recess; and forming Si:C on the doped silicon wafer in the recess.
US09099377B2
Micropipe-free, single crystal, silicon carbide (SiC) and related methods of manufacture are disclosed. The SiC is grown by placing a source material and seed material on a seed holder in a reaction crucible of the sublimation system, wherein constituent components of the sublimation system including the source material, reaction crucible, and seed holder are substantially free from unintentional impurities. By controlling growth temperature, growth pressure, SiC sublimation flux and composition, and a temperature gradient between the source material and the seed material or the SiC crystal growing on the seed material during the PVT process, micropipe-inducing process instabilities are eliminated and micropipe-free SiC crystal is grown on the seed material.
US09099359B2
A display device includes an electrode layer formed at a predetermined position on a substrate, an insulating film having a through-hole formed on the top of the electrode layer, and a wiring film connected to the electrode layer via the through-hole formed in the insulating film. Based on a surface of the substrate, the through-hole includes a first taper portion having a first taper angle, a second taper portion formed higher than the first taper portion and having a second taper angle different from the first taper angle, and a third taper portion formed higher than the second taper portion and having a third taper angle different from the second taper angle.
US09099358B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel includes: first and second pixel electrodes neighboring each other; a data line extending between the first and the second pixel electrodes; first and second gate lines extending perpendicularly to the data line; a first TFT including a first gate electrode connected to the first gate line, a first source electrode connected to the data line, and a first drain electrode facing the first source electrode and connected to the first pixel electrode; and a second TFT including a second gate electrode connected to the second gate line, a second source electrode connected to the data line, and a second drain electrode facing the second source electrode and connected to the second pixel electrode. The first source electrode has the same relative position with respect to the first drain electrode as the second source electrode with respect to the second drain electrode.
US09099356B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an array substrate, comprising: a base substrate; a gate line and a data line formed on the base substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing with each other to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, disposed in the pixel region; a strip-like common electrode, disposed above the pixel electrode and the data line, the common electrode comprising a first common electrode which covers above the data line and has a width greater than that of the data line; and a second common electrode, disposed above the pixel electrode; an insulating layer, disposed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode as well as between the common electrode and the data line, wherein a region of the first common electrode corresponding to the data line is hollowed out.
US09099355B2
A display device includes a main body, a support stand, and a display portion. The display portion includes a pixel having a TFT and a capacitor. The capacitor includes a capacitor electrode on an insulating surface, an insulating film on the capacitor electrode, and a pixel electrode of the TFT on the insulating film.
US09099349B2
In a process of dividing gates of multi-layered films in fabricating a NAND flash memory having a three-dimensional structure, a pattern is prevented from deforming and falling. A ratio of a length L to a height h of control gate groups configuring a memory cell of the flash memory is set to be less than 1.65 which is a range in which buckling does not occur. It is desirable that a ratio of a length L to a width W of the control gate groups is set to be less than 16.5.
US09099344B2
A method of electroplating includes forming a seed region to be electroplated on a first portion of a substrate, forming a ground plane on a second portion of a substrate, electrically isolating the ground plane from the seed region, electroplating the region, wherein electroplating includes causing the ground plane and the region to make electrical connection, and then removing the ground plane region on the second portion of the substrate, but not removing the electrical isolation. This creates a structure having a substrate, a passivation layer on the substrate, and at least one electroplated, metal region on the substrate such that there is contiguous contact between the metal region and the passivation layer. And, after an additional flip-chip assembly to a bond pad/heat sinking chip, results in a device having a bond pad chip having bond pads, solder beads formed on the bond pads, and a component connected to the bond pads by the solder beads. Wherein, the component has a substrate, a passivation layer on the substrate, and at least one electroplated, metal region on the substrate such that there is contiguous contact between the metal region and the passivation layer.
US09099338B2
A semiconductor device and method of forming the same includes a substrate having a NMOS region and a PMOS region. The method includes forming a dummy gate structure having a stacked sacrificial dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate material layer on the NMOS and PMOS regions. The method further includes concurrently removing the stacked sacrificial dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate material layer to form a groove, and forming a high-K dielectric layer and a first metal gate layer in the grove. The method also includes forming a hard mask over the NMOS region, removing the first metal gate layer and the high-K dielectric layer in the PMOS region to form a channel groove, forming a second high-K dielectric layer and a second metal gate layer in the channel grove, and removing the hard mask. The work function metal layer in the NMOS and PMOS regions can be independently controlled.
US09099337B2
An integrated circuit includes an NMOS and a PMOS disposed over a substrate. The NMOS transistor includes a first gate dielectric structure over the substrate, a first work function metallic layer over the first gate dielectric structure, a conductive layer over the first work function metallic layer, and a silicide layer over the conductive layer. The PMOS transistor includes a second gate dielectric structure over the substrate, and a second work function metallic layer over the first gate dielectric structure. The PMOS transistor is devoid of any silicide material on the second work function metallic layer.
US09099334B2
An improvement is achieved in the manufacturing yield of a semiconductor device including a plurality of field effect transistors having different characteristics over the same substrate. By combining anisotropic dry etching with isotropic wet etching or isotropic dry etching, three types of sidewalls having different sidewall lengths are formed. By reducing the number of anisotropic dry etching steps, in a third n-type MISFET region and a third p-type MISFET region where layout densities are high, it is possible to prevent a semiconductor substrate from being partially cut between n-type gate electrodes adjacent to each other, between the n-type gate electrode and a p-type gate electrode adjacent to each other, and the p-type gate electrodes adjacent to each other.
US09099330B2
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip operating at a first power supply voltage and a second semiconductor chip operating at a second power supply voltage lower than the first power supply voltage to supply the second power supply voltage to the first semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes an output circuit including a first transistor and a second transistor, interconnected in series and turned on or off complementarily. The output circuit outputs a signal to a first external output terminal. The first semiconductor chip also includes a third transistor connected in series with the first and second transistors and having a gate electrode connected to a second output terminal.
US09099329B2
There is provided an In nanowire including a substrate, an indium thin film formed on the substrate, an insulating film formed on the indium thin film and having at least one through hole through formation of a pattern, and an In nanowire vertically protruded from the indium thin film through the at least one through hole.
US09099328B2
A complementary device including a gate electrode, a channel, a source electrode connected to the gate electrode and the channel, and a first drain electrode and a second drain electrode connected to the gate electrode and the channel is provided. The first/second drain electrode is formed so that, in accordance with a voltage applied to the gate electrode, electron spins injected into the source electrode are moved from the source electrode to the first/second drain electrode through the channel while rotating in a first/second direction. Directions of the electron spins that reach the first drain electrode and the second drain electrode are opposite to each other.
US09099326B2
Provided is a stack-type semiconductor package comprising a first semiconductor package with a first package substrate and a logic chip mounted thereon, a second semiconductor package including a second package substrate disposed on the first semiconductor package and first and second memory chips stacked on the second package substrate, and connection pads disposed between the first and second package substrates to connect the first and second semiconductor packages electrically to each other. The first package substrate has first and second edges that are substantially perpendicular to each other. The first package substrate may include first DQ connection pads electrically connected to the first memory chip, and second DQ connection pads electrically connected to the second memory chip. The first DQ connection pads may be arranged adjacent to the first edge and the second DQ connection pads may be arranged adjacent to the second edge.
US09099322B2
Process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device, wherein a trench is formed in a semiconductor body having a first conductivity type; the trench is annealed for shaping purpose; and the trench is filled with semiconductor material via epitaxial growth so as to obtain a first column having a second conductivity type. The epitaxial growth is performed by supplying a gas containing silicon and a gas containing dopant ions of the second conductivity type in presence of a halogenide gas and occurs with uniform distribution of the dopant ions. The flow of the gas containing dopant ions is varied according to a linear ramp during the epitaxial growth; in particular, in the case of selective growth of the semiconductor material in the presence of a hard mask, the flow decreases; in the case of non-selective growth, in the absence of hard mask, the flow increases.
US09099318B2
A semiconductor chip includes a substrate, a circuit formed over the substrate, a plurality of conductive pads formed over the substrate, and a plurality of bump structures each formed over a corresponding one of the plurality of conductive pads. The plurality of conductive pads includes a first conductive pad having a first pad width and a second conductive pad having a second pad width larger than the first pad width. The first conductive pad is electrically coupled to the circuit, and the second conductive pad is positioned at a corner region of the semiconductor chip and is free from being electrically coupled to the circuit. The first conductive pad is positioned closer to a geometric center of the semiconductor chip than the second conductive pad.
US09099317B2
A package includes a first plated area, a second plated area, a die attached to the first plated area, and a bond coupling the die to the second plated area. The package further includes a molding encapsulating the die, the bond, and the top surfaces of the first and second plated areas, such that the bottom surfaces of the first and second plated areas are exposed exterior to the package. Additional embodiments include a method of making the package.
US09099316B2
Within a cassette of a press pack module, a conductive shim is bonded to the backside of a device die by a layer of sintered metal. The die, sintered metal, and shim together form a sintered assembly. The cassette is compressed between a metal top plate member and a metal bottom plate member such that the backside of the assembly is pressed against the top plate member, and such that the frontside of the assembly is pressed against another shim. A central portion of the frontside surface of the die is contacted on the bottom by the other shim, but there is no shim contacting a peripheral portion of the frontside surface. Despite there being no shim in contact with the peripheral portion of the frontside surface, the peripheral portion is in good thermal contact with the top plate member through the sintered metal and the bonded conductive shim.
US09099313B2
An embedded package in which active elements, such as semiconductor chips, are embedded within a package substrate. The semiconductor chips, embedded within a dielectric layer, are coupled with circuit wires to ensure electrical and signal continuity. When connections between the semiconductor chip and the package substrate are performed in different directions, there is a reduction in overall interconnection area, connection reliability is improved, leakage currents are reduced, and higher device yields can be realized.
US09099311B2
A method for forming a double step surface on a semiconductor substrate includes, with an etching process used in a Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) process, forming a rough surface on a region of a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes, with an annealing process used in the MOCVD process, forming double stepped surface on the region of the semiconductor substrate.
US09099306B2
An integrated circuit (IC) device including an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection network for a high voltage application. The ESD protection network includes a common diode structure coupled between an external contact of the IC device and a substrate of the IC device, such that the common diode structure is forward biased towards the external contact, a Darlington transistor structure coupled between the external contact and the substrate of the IC device, and the Darlington transistor structure includes: an emitter node coupled to the external contact; a collector node coupled to the substrate; and a base node coupled between the emitter node of the Darlington transistor structure and the common diode structure. The at least one ESD protection network further comprises an isolation diode structure coupled between the emitter node and the base node of the Darlington transistor structure such that the isolation diode structure is forward biased towards the base node.
US09099298B2
A substrate cleaning device is capable of removing more diverse contaminants from substrates than ultra-low temperature aerosol ejection, while avoiding technical problems inherent to wet cleaning, such as micro-roughness, watermarks, loss of substrate material and destruction of the device structure. A substrate cleaning device for cleaning wafers to which cleaning target objects have adhered includes a cluster spraying unit which sprays the wafer with one or more types of clusters formed of cleaning preparation molecules agglomerated together, a suction unit which sucks the cleaning target objects separated by spraying the clusters of the cleaning agent molecules; and a unit for moving the wafer and the cluster spraying unit relative to the one another along the surface of the wafer W to which the cleaning target objects have adhered.
US09099290B2
Mass spectrometer collision/reaction cell multipole and method. The multipole may have first and second portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, the first and second portions operating at first and second q values lower than a third q value at the intermediate portion. A low-mass cut-off of the multipole may be controlled by varying a q value from a first to at least a second value. The multipole may have multipole electrodes disposed about a central axis and having a respective first portion, second portion, and intermediate portion therebetween which is radially closer to the central axis. This offers relatively high acceptance and ion transmission, while providing low-mass cut-off for removing undesired/interfering ions and helping reduce background count.
US09099288B2
Systems and methods are used to store an electronic record of all product ion spectra of all detectable compounds of a sample. A plurality of product ion scans are performed on a tandem mass spectrometer one or more times in a single sample analysis across a mass range using a plurality of mass selection windows. All sample product ion spectra of all detectable compounds for each mass selection window are produced. All sample product ion spectra for each mass selection window are received from the tandem mass spectrometer using a processor. All sample product ion spectra for each mass selection window are stored as an electronic record of all detectable compounds of the sample using the processor. The electronic record is used to characterize compounds known at the time the electronic record is stored or to characterize compounds that became known after the electronic record was stored.
US09099280B2
An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a cathode electrode which is disposed in one end of a vacuum container and includes an emitter emitting an electron; a gate electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container to be adjacent to the cathode electrode; an anode electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container of the other end of a direction in which the vacuum container extends and inclines with respect to the cathode electrode; and a focusing electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container along an inner circumference surface of the vacuum container between the gate electrode and the anode electrode. The focusing electrode has an opening of which a plan cross section has a maximum width and a minimum width different from each other.
US09099279B2
An x-ray tube for generating a sweeping x-ray beam. A cathode is disposed within a vacuum enclosure and emits a beam of electrons attracted toward an anode. The anode is adapted for rotation with respect to the vacuum enclosure about an axis of rotation. At least one collimator opening corotates with the anode within the vacuum enclosure, such that a swept x-ray beam is emitted.
US09099276B1
A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) apparatus that includes a scanning electron microscope, an x-ray detector, and an auxiliary acceleration voltage source. The scanning electron microscope includes a sample holder, and a layered electron beam column arranged to output an electron beam towards the sample holder at an initial beam energy. The auxiliary acceleration voltage source is to apply an auxiliary acceleration voltage between the sample holder and the layered electron beam column to accelerate the electron beam to a final beam energy. At the final beam energy, the electron beam is capable of generating x-rays at multiple wavelengths from a larger range of atomic species than the electron beam at the initial beam energy.
US09099265B2
A high-voltage disconnection knife insulated by air for external use in high-voltage electrical transmission and distribution networks, the disconnection knife includes two copper arms for the disconnection or contact, mounted in a parallel relation to each other, a front and rear contact base, a turning support in the vicinity of the rear base such that the arms turn at one of its ends about an axis perpendicular to them, a central copper block for distribution of the current flowing through the copper arms; the distance between the arms is defined by the set of stainless steel axes, the copper block and the turning mechanism. At the ends of the disconnection arms an aluminum spring of with transverse section of gradually reduced thickness is connected to the external surface, said spring being fixed to the ends of the arms by means of a pair of stainless steel axes. The front and rear L-shaped bases are formed by the bending of a copper sill with rounded edges to define an area of contact.
US09099257B2
The present invention relates to a moving element for a low voltage switching device and to a switching device comprising this moving element. The moving element according to the invention comprises for each pole a housing unit suitable to receive an elastic element which interacts with an electrical contact. This latter comprises a first contact portion susceptible to contact a further electrical contact and a second portion connectable to a conductive element of the switching device. The electrical contact comprises a pin shaped portion positioned rotating in a seat defined on the housing unit so as to configure a mutual rotation axis of the electrical contact with respect to the housing unit.
US09099251B2
The present invention relates to an energy storage apparatus capable of preventing performance degradation by reducing resistance during movement of charges between layers in a multilayer capacitor with very high capacity includes: a plurality of cathode layers for storing positive charges; a plurality of anode layers for storing negative charges; a plurality of separation layers for electrically separating the cathode layers and the anode layers; a cathode hole for introducing the positive charge into the cathode layer from the outside or discharging the positive charge from the cathode layer to the outside; an anode hole for introducing the negative charge into the anode layer from the outside or discharging the negative charge from the anode layer to the outside; a cathode conducting unit for moving the positive charge; and an anode conducting unit for moving the negative charge.
US09099248B2
A variable capacitor device is disclosed in which the capacitive tuning ratio and quality factor are increased to very high levels, and in which the capacitance value of the device is tuned and held to a desired value with a high level of accuracy and precision using a laser micromachining tuning process on suitably designed and fabricated capacitor devices. The tuning of the variable capacitor devices can be performed open-loop or closed-loop, depending on the precision of the eventual capacitor value needed or desired. Furthermore, the tuning to a pre-determined value can be performed before the variable capacitor device is connected to a circuit, or alternatively, the tuning to a desired value can be performed after the variable capacitor device has been connected into a circuit.
US09099245B2
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic main body having internal and floating electrode layers laminated therein and spaced apart from each other; and external electrodes formed on ends of the ceramic main body and including a first layer including a conductive metal and a second layer formed on the first layer and including a conductive resin. When Tc is thickness of a cover layer, G is gap between internal electrodes, L1 is length from either end of the ceramic main body in a length direction thereof to an end of the first layer formed on the upper or lower surface of the ceramic main body, Te is thickness of the internal electrode, Td is distance between internal and floating electrode layers, Lm is length of a margin part of the floating electrode layer, and L is length of the ceramic main body, Tc≦80 μm, (1.5)Lm≦G≦(L−2Lm), and L1
US09099242B2
A laminated chip electronic component includes: a ceramic body including internal electrodes and dielectric layers; external electrodes formed to cover both end portions of the ceramic body in a length direction; an active layer in which the internal electrodes are disposed in an opposing manner, while having the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, to form capacitance; and upper and lower cover layers formed on upper and lower portions of the active layer in a thickness direction, the lower cover layer having a thickness greater than that of the upper cover layer.
US09099241B1
An enhanced energy storage device such as double layer capacitor or battery is made starting with a substrate capable of conducting stored energy. The substrate material is one in which ordered pores can be formed, creating a template of densely arrayed pores. An electrode comprised of high density carbon nanotubes within the template is grown from and oriented substantially perpendicular to the substrate to constitute an axi-symmetric, ultra-high surface area electrode, and then the template is then selectively and only partially etched. An electrolyte is structurally confined anisotropically around the nanotubes by a remaining portion of the selectively and partially etched template so that substantially enhanced energy storage is obtained. The optimal structural confinement, which causes optimal charge storage, depends upon the amount of partial etching of the template which is defined by the electrolyte selected.
US09099239B2
A contactless power supplying system, which excites a primary coil of a power supplying device to generate an induced electromotive force at a secondary coil of an appliance arranged on the device and supply the induced electromotive force to a load of the appliance, includes a metal foreign object detection device. The metal foreign object detection device includes an antenna coil, an oscillation circuit, and a detection circuit. The oscillation circuit includes a component having a design value that generates oscillation in a range of oscillation conditions from immediately after the oscillation circuit starts to generate oscillation to just before a stable and continuous oscillation condition. The detection circuit detects a suspension of the oscillation or an attenuation in amplitude of the oscillation based on a change in an electric characteristic of the antenna coil caused by a metal foreign object on the power supplying device.
US09099234B2
The present invention discloses a filter for removing noise, which includes: a lower magnetic body; an insulating layer provided on the lower magnetic body and including at least one conductor pattern; and an upper magnetic body including a primary ferrite composite provided on the insulating layer and a secondary ferrite composite provided on the primary ferrite composite to cover a pore formed on a surface of the primary ferrite composite, and a method of manufacturing the same.According to the present invention, it is possible to implement a filter for removing noise with high performance and characteristics by increasing magnetic permeability and improving impedance characteristics through simple structure and process.
US09099222B2
Methods of patterning films that enable visual identification of patterned films and the patterned regions on them, while still achieving minimally discernible optical differences between the patterned and unpatterned regions in devices incorporating the patterned films. Such methods can exhibit wide successful manufacturing operating windows and the patterned films are useful in electronic applications.
US09099221B2
A monomer for binding nano-metal, which is useful for the preparation of a conductor having increased conductivity with ensuring flexibility and transparency. Polymerization of the monomer for binding nano-metal provides a conductive polymer composite including a nano-metal rod. A method of preparing the conductive polymer composite is also provided.
US09099219B2
An oxide evaporation material according to the present invention includes a sintered body containing indium oxide as a main component thereof and cerium with a Ce/In atomic ratio of 0.001 to 0.110. The L* value in the CIE 1976 color space is 62 to 95. The oxide evaporation material with the L* value of 62 to 95 has an optimal oxygen amount. Accordingly, even when a small amount of an oxygen gas is introduced into a film-formation vacuum chamber, a transparent conducting film having a low resistance and a high transmittance in the visible to near-infrared region is formed by vacuum deposition methods. Since the amount of the oxygen gas introduced is small, the difference in composition between the film and the evaporation material is made small. This reduces the variations in composition and characteristics among films formed in large quantities.
US09099211B2
Disclosed herein is a prompt gamma-ray detection apparatus for analyzing chemical materials using femtosecond pulse laser-induced neutrons, which can be effectively used in the nondestructive inspection of various materials, such as metals, coal, cement, radioactive materials and the like as well as explosives and chemical materials, and which can provide better measurement results for the analysis of basic materials, and a method of measuring prompt gamma-rays using the apparatus. The prompt gamma-ray detection apparatus is advantageous because it can non-destructively analyze the elements in a chemical sample using a femtosecond pulse laser-induced neutron generator that solves the problems of an atomic reactor for research or a radioactive isotope as a neutron radiation source.
US09099209B2
A shielding device includes two elongated, parallel tubes joined at a distal portion, and a shield at least one of removably and slidably situated at the distal portion. An assembly includes an applicator configured for a treatment site, an assembly block attached to the applicator, at least one rotary unit configured to be rotatably received in the assembly block, and at least one shielding device that is configured to be movably received in a respective rotary unit. A method of using the shielding device with an applicator includes inserting the distal portion of the shielding device to a treatment site, and adjusting a position of the distal portion relative to a distal end of the applicator.
US09099206B2
According to an embodiment, a nuclear reactor monitoring device comprises: an ultrasonic wave transmission means which is installed on the outside surface of a reactor pressure vessel and transmits ultrasonic pulses to the interior of the reactor pressure vessel; an ultrasonic wave receiving means which is installed on the outside surface of the reactor pressure vessels and receives reflected pulses including ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic pulses reflected by an inspection object in the reactor pressure vessel; a preprocessing means which specifies and removes the reflected ultrasonic pulses generated in the wall of the reactor pressure vessel from the reflected pulse signal received by the ultrasonic wave receiving means or selectively extracts the reflected pulse signal; and a calculation means which determines the vibration of the inspection object from the reflection pulse signal processed by the preprocessing means in accordance with the observation time of the inspection object.
US09099199B2
A memory cell includes a first, second, and third columns of devices. The first column of devices includes a first pull-down transistor, a second pull-down transistor, a first switch, and a second switch. The second column of devices includes a third pull-down transistor, a fourth pull-down transistor, a third switch, and a fourth switch. The third column of devices includes a first pull-up transistor, and a second pull-up transistor. The first pull-up transistor, the first pull-down transistor, and the third pull-down transistor are connected as a first inverter, and the second pull-up transistor, the second pull-down transistor, and the fourth pull-down transistor are connected as a second inverter. The first inverter and the second inverter are cross-coupled. The first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch are coupled with output terminals of the first and second inverters.
US09099198B2
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a memory block to include memory cells to hold data; a precharge control unit to control precharging the memory cells; a row decoder to output a row selection signal identifying a row address of the memory cells; an integral circuit to integrate a signal level of the row selection signal for a same row address, and to have an integral characteristic where an integral value of the signal level becomes a predetermined value when the row selection signal for the same row address is consecutively output for a predetermined number of times; and a determination unit to determine whether the integral value of the integral circuit becomes the predetermined value or greater. The precharge control unit turns off precharging the memory cells when the integral value of the integral circuit becomes the predetermined value or greater.
US09099194B2
A memory component includes a memory core comprising dynamic random access memory (DRAM) storage cells and a first circuit to receive external commands. The external commands include a read command that specifies transmitting data accessed from the memory core. The memory component also includes a second circuit to transmit data onto an external bus in response to a read command and pattern register circuitry operable during calibration to provide at least a first data pattern and a second data pattern. During the calibration, a selected one of the first data pattern and the second data pattern is transmitted by the second circuit onto the external bus in response to a read command received during the calibration. Further, at least one of the first and second data patterns is written to the pattern register circuitry in response to a write command received during the calibration.
US09099178B2
This invention belongs to the technical field of memories and specifically relates to a resistive random access memory structure with an electric-field strengthened layer and a manufacturing method thereof. The resistive random access memory in the present invention can include a top electrode, a bottom electrode and a composite layer which is placed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode and have a first resistive switching layer and a second resistive switching and electric-field strengthened layer; the second resistive switching and electric-field strengthened layer cab be adjacent to the first resistive switching layer and have a dielectric constant lower than that of the first resistive switching layer. The electric-field distribution in the RRAM unit is adjustable.
US09099176B1
A resistive switching memory device can include a plurality of resistive memory cells, where each of the resistive memory cells includes: (i) a first diode having an anode coupled to a first word line and a cathode coupled to a common node; (ii) a second diode having an anode coupled to the common node and a cathode coupled to a second word line; and (iii) a resistive storage element having an anode coupled to a bit line and a cathode coupled to the common node, wherein the resistive memory cell is configured to be programmed to a low resistance state by application of a program voltage in a forward bias direction, and to be erased to a high resistance state by application of an erase voltage in a reverse bias direction.
US09099166B2
A memory module comprises a plurality of semiconductor memory devices each comprising a mode register set (MRS) circuit configured to generate an enable signal corresponding to an error mode of the semiconductor memory device in response to an MRS command received from a command decoder, and an address buffer configured to store a predetermined address signal, to receive an address signal and corresponding data from an external device, and to compare the address signal received with the predetermined address signal in response to the enable signal. As a consequence of determining that the address signal received from the external device is the same as the predetermined address signal stored in the address buffer, data different from the corresponding data received from the external device is written to a memory cell corresponding to the predetermined address signal.
US09099160B2
A disc drive system provides increased reliability by detecting and correcting errors associated with bit-patterned media. Write synchronization errors associated with bit-patterned media are addressed by including data storage for temporarily storing data that is being written to the disc drive. The data is read from both the disc drive and the storage medium and compared to detect write synchronization errors. A disc drive system for correcting write synchronization errors includes an encoder, non-volatile storage, and decoder device for implementing a parity-based scheme for increased reliability. Data strings being written to the disc drive are combined in an encoder to generate a parity string. The address of the data being written to the disc drive, along with the updated parity string is stored to the non-volatile storage. The data strings are read from the disc drive by the decoder. If uncorrectable errors are identified, the decoder employs the parity string in conjunction with the other data strings written to the disc drive to reconstruct the data string with uncorrectable errors.
US09099148B2
Systems and methods are described for providing a magnetic clutch to limit Z-directional motion of a mass (e.g., a carriage for transporting a robotic mechanism in context of a storage library). According to embodiments, the mass is suspended by cabling, and its Z-directional movement is controlled by a Z-drive assembly. The Z-drive assembly includes a drive gear made of a magnetic or conductive material, and the drive gear is in magnetic communication with a biasing magnet. Embodiments configured the biasing magnet with a particular magnetic moment and a position relative to the drive gear, so that the spinning of the drive gear induces magnetic currents that tend to counteract the motion of the gear. For example, in the event of power loss to the Z-drive assembly, magnetic clutching is used to limit or prevent motion of the mass under the force of gravity.
US09099140B2
In order to provide a thermal energy assisted medium capable of improving anti-sliding reliability over long periods of time in low flying head conditions, while also maintaining a high SNR, a unique medium is proposed. A soft magnetic layer is formed on a substrate, a soft magnetic layer is formed thereon via a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and an intermediate layer, a crystal oriented control intermediate layer, an artificial lattice intermediate layer having an artificial lattice film in which a first layer comprising Co and a second layer comprising Pt and Pd are laminated repeatedly to form a recording layer, and a cap layer and an lubricating layer are formed. The concentration of Pd comprising the second layer is from about 20 atomic % to about 40 atomic %. Other mediums and systems are also described.
US09099131B1
A novel suspension assembly includes a suspension assembly mounting plate, a microactuator mounting structure extending from the suspension assembly mounting plate, a load beam extending from the microactuator mounting structure, and a laminated flexure attached to the load beam. The laminated flexure includes a tongue that has a read head bonding surface. The suspension assembly includes a stainless steel surface having a gold coating, and a piezoelectric microactuator attached to the microactuator mounting structure and electrically connected to the gold coating.
US09099120B1
The embodiments generally relate to a read head in a magnetic recording head. The read head utilizes a sensor structure having a pinned magnetic structure with a magnetic field, a barrier layer disposed on top of the pinned magnetic structure, a free layer disposed on top of the barrier layer, and an interlayer coupling field canceling layer disposed on top of the free layer. The interlayer coupling field canceling layer has a cancelling magnetic field pinned anti-parallel the magnetic field of the pinned magnetic structure.
US09099119B2
A magnetic sensor utilizing the spin Hall effect to polarize electrons for use in measuring a magnetic field. The sensor eliminates the need for a pinned layer structure or antiferromagnetic layer (AFM layer), thereby reducing gap thickness for increased data density. The sensor includes a non-magnetic, electrically conductive layer that is configured to accumulate electrons predominantly of one spin at a side thereof when a current flows there-through. A magnetic free layer is located adjacent to the side of the non-magnetic, electrically conductive layer. A change in the direction of magnetization in the free layer relative to the orientation of the spin polarized electrons causes a change in voltage output of the sensor.
US09099116B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a magnetic device having a discontinuous array of columns disposed near a magnetic pole. Each column has a length extending perpendicular to an air bearing surface and a width. The length is greater than the width.
US09099111B2
The present invention generally relates to a HAMR head. An insulating layer isolates the NFT from the magnetic lip of the magnetic pole. A noble metal alloy diffusion barrier layer is present between the insulating layer and the magnetic lip to prevent diffusion from the insulating layer into the magnetic lip. The noble metal alloy has a melting point of greater than about 1065 degrees Celsius, and the noble metals may be selected from Au, Pt, Ir, Re and Ru. The alloying elements comprise less than 10 percent of the alloy. The alloying elements can include Rh, W, Mo, Ni, Pt, Co, B, Ru and combinations thereof. The diffusion barrier layer may surround the magnetic lip, may surround the insulating layer, or may simply be at the interface of the insulating layer and the magnetic lip.
US09099110B1
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic write head. The magnetic write head includes a write pole, a shield and a first coil disposed around the write pole. The magnetic write head further includes a magnetic circuit and the magnetic circuit includes a loop of magnetic material and a second coil disposed around the loop of magnetic material. The magnetic circuit magnetically resets the shield to improve far track interference.
US09099102B2
Approaches to improving the signal-to-noise ratio in a microwave-assisted magnetic recording hard disk drive over the entire region from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the disk, especially in the context of shingled magnetic recording, include a narrower side gap on the side opposing a spin torque oscillator offset direction than the side gap in the offset direction, thereby increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction and reducing the track edge noise of the recording pattern. Embodiments include use of a side shield on the side opposing the offset direction that has a higher saturation magnetization than the side shield on the side in the offset direction, thereby further increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction.
US09099099B2
System and method embodiments are provided for very short pitch detection and coding for speech or audio signals. The system and method include detecting whether there is a very short pitch lag in a speech or audio signal that is shorter than a conventional minimum pitch limitation using a combination of time domain and frequency domain pitch detection techniques. The pitch detection techniques include using pitch correlations in time domain and detecting a lack of low frequency energy in the speech or audio signal in frequency domain. The detected very short pitch lag is coded using a pitch range from a predetermined minimum very short pitch limitation that is smaller than the conventional minimum pitch limitation.
US09099095B2
An apparatus and a method thereof, processes a voice signal of a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system. The apparatus to process a received-voice signal received through a wireless channel in a mobile terminal includes a digital signal processing unit to generate an encoded packet and frame type information defining a characteristic of the encoded packet by performing voice encoding on an audible signal input from a microphone. The apparatus also includes a received-voice controlling unit to determine a noise level in consideration of the frame type information and a level of the audible signal, and to control at least one of a tone and a volume of a received voice by the determined noise level.
US09099092B2
Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for open-domain voice-enabled searching that is speaker sensitive. Techniques include using speech information, speaker information, and information associated with a spoken query to enhance open voice search results. This includes integrating a textual index with a voice index to support the entire search cycle. Given a voice query, the system can execute two matching processes simultaneously. This can include a text matching process based on the output of speech recognition, as well as a voice matching process based on characteristics of a caller or user voicing a query. Characteristics of the caller can include output of voice feature extraction and metadata about the call. The system clusters callers according to these characteristics. The system can use specific voice and text clusters to modify speech recognition results, as well as modifying search results.
US09099087B2
A method for producing speech recognition results on a device includes receiving first speech recognition results, obtaining a language model, wherein the language model represents information stored on the device, and using the first speech recognition results and the language model to generate second speech recognition results.
US09099080B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing targeted location-based communications. An exemplary apparatus is configured to receive an encoded signal, decode the encoded signal such that embedded data is retrieved, send the embedded data a remote server; and receive a message based at least partially on sending the embedded data. Another exemplary apparatus is configured to provide the encoded signal by receiving data input, receiving a host signal, embedding the data input within the host signal such that an encoded signal is generated, and transmitting the encoded signal. A third exemplary apparatus is configured to provide the targeted communications by storing one or more messages associated with an entity, receiving data, selecting at least one of the one or more messages based at least partially on the data received, and sending the at least one of the one or more messages selected.
US09099070B2
An electronic percussion instrument may include a percussion member that generates vibrations when percussed, a vibration resonance member, and a vibration damping member. The vibration resonance member may include a hub portion centrally located in the vibration resonance member, a plurality of radial portions extending radially from the hub portion, and a plurality of ring portions. Each of the radial portions may traverse through and connect at least some of the plurality of ring portions. Ring portions of the plurality of ring portions may be concentrically arranged with each ring portion adjacent to one another. The vibration damping member, disposed between and in direct contact with the percussion member and the vibration resonance member, may propagate the vibrations generated by the percussion member to the vibration resonance member.
US09099068B2
An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.
US09099067B1
Inventive methods and apparatuses for causing one or more effects to be generated based on analysis of an audio signal are disclosed. The apparatuses may be electrically coupled to an audio signal, may analyze the audio signal to determine if a control cue is present in the audio signal, and direct the effects generated by one or more effect generating devices if a control cue is present.
US09099063B2
A stringed instrument work station and hanging system 10 includes a low profile cabinet 12 configured with a slide-out drawer 14 that is shaped to support a guitar or other type of stringed instrument when repairing, adjusting, or otherwise working on the instrument. The drawer includes longitudinal walls or rails for spanning between the drawer end walls (46) for not only holding tools and spare parts for the stringed instruments, but also for supporting the body portion of the stringed instrument when the instrument is positioned on the opened drawer. Various neck supports (78) and (80) are utilized with the drawer (14) for supporting the neck of the stringed instrument when being serviced. The neck supports (78) and (80) can be positioned at various locations across the drawer (14).
US09099061B1
The drum stand includes a stand main body, a drum support, and an attachment that attaches the drum support to the stand main body. The drum support is composed of a first arm and two second arms that open and close with respect to the first arm. The first and second arms all extend obliquely and linearly from near the upper end of a post toward a bottom surface of a snare drum.
US09099056B2
In displaying a map on a wireless communications device, a method is provided that resolves labelling of sharp curves. The method entails a determination of whether a curvature of a map element associated with the map feature exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g. whether a rate of change in slope of a path or the change in angular orientation of each successive character in the label exceeds a threshold that is a function of zoom level. If the curvature exceeds the threshold, the label is rendered on the map in a new map location that avoids the map location where the curvature exceeds the threshold.
US09099055B2
A display driving device a driving unit, an output unit, and an output control unit. The driving unit includes a first buffer and a second buffer generating a first driving voltage and a second driving voltage, respectively. The output unit includes a first output pad and a second output pad to which voltages are respectively applied via first second data driving paths, respectively, and which output the voltages to outside. The output control unit includes a charge share path that connects the first output pad and the second output pad. Each of the first data driving path and the second data driving path includes a first electro-static discharge (ESD) protection element, and the charge share path includes a second ESD protection element that is disposed separately from the first data driving path and the second data driving path.
US09099051B2
A method, computer program product, and system that includes a virtual function module with an emulated display timing device, a first independent resource, and a second independent resource, where the first and second independent resources signal a physical function module that a new surface has been rendered, and where the physical function module signals the virtual function module via the emulated timing device and the first and second independent resources when the rendered new surface has been displayed, copied, used, or otherwise consumed.
US09099046B2
Dual modulator displays are disclosed incorporating a phosphorescent plate interposed in the optical path between a light source modulation layer and a display modulation layer. Spatially modulated light output from the light source modulation layer impinges on the phosphorescent plate and excites corresponding regions of the phosphorescent plate which in turn emit light having different spectral characteristics than the light output from the light source modulation layer. Light emitted from the phosphorescent plate is received and further modulated by the display modulation layer to provide the ultimate display output.
US09099045B2
Disclosed herein is a backlight apparatus for controlling a backlight wherein light emitting devices for emitting light of red, green and blue and a switching device for switching on or off light emission of the light emitting devices are provided for each of a plurality of divisional regions formed by division of a lighting region such that the light emission luminance can be varied for each of the regions, the backlight apparatus including: light emission luminance control means; current value storage means; and current control means.
US09099044B2
A driving apparatus for driving at least one first light emitting diode unit and a second light emitting diode unit includes a data transmitting unit and a driving unit. The data transmitting unit is used for receiving and storing driving data. The driving data includes first data corresponding to a first driving signal and second data corresponding to a second driving signal. The driving unit divides the first driving signal into a plurality of first sub-driving signals and the second driving signal into a plurality of second sub-driving signals, and then alternately outputs the first sub-driving signals and the second sub-driving signals to alternately drive the first light emitting diode unit and the second light emitting diode unit.
US09099043B2
A light source device including: a boost-type conversion unit configured to convert an input AC voltage into a DC voltage; a detection unit configured to detect a voltage value of the input AC voltage; and a control unit configured to control the brightness of a light source unit on the basis of an input image signal. The control unit changes the timing of brightness change of the light source unit according to a voltage value detected by the detection unit.
US09099039B2
An organic electro luminescence display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels arranged at intersections of m columns and n rows, a data driver unit configured to generate data signals and to provide the data signals to the pixels, and a gate driver unit configured to generate a first luminescence control signal, a second luminescence control signal, and scan signals, wherein the scan signals are sequentially provided to the pixels by a row unit, the first luminescence control signal is provided to the pixels via the left-most side of the pixels of the display panel, and the second luminescence control signal is provided to the pixels via the right-most side of the pixels of the display panel.
US09099032B2
Disclosed herein is a light-emitting panel including: an organic electroluminescence element adapted to emit electroluminescence light toward a transparent substrate; a pixel circuit formed on the transparent substrate and adapted to drive the organic electroluminescence element; a color filter formed not only between the transparent substrate and organic electroluminescence element but also immediately on or above the pixel circuit; and a conductive layer formed between the pixel circuit and color filter, the conductive layer being more conductive than the color filter.
US09099029B2
A control circuit for driving a display panel is disclosed. The control circuit includes a timing controller, outputting a timing control signal; and a driving module, electrically coupled to the timing controller and the display panel for driving the display panel in response to the timing control signal, and the timing controller is switchable to a modifying state according to a driving condition of the driving module. A control method for driving a display panel is also disclosed.
US09099028B2
Systems and methods may provide for determining a mode of operation associated with a Red, Green, Blue, White (RGBW) display and controlling a yellow-to-white (Y/W) luminance ratio of the RGBW display based on the mode of operation. In one example, the Y/W luminance ratio is decreased if the RGBW display is in a low power mode and increased if the RGBW display is in a high color fidelity mode.
US09099027B2
A display panel driving device has a signal line driver. The signal line driver applies a pixel driving voltage based on an input image signal to each signal line of a display panel at a timing corresponding to a clock signal. The signal line driver is divided into a plurality of driver chips connected in cascade by the clock line. The display panel driving device supplies a clock signal through the driver chips. The duty ratio of the clock signal is stabilized when the clock signal passes through the driver chips, without leading to an increase in power consumption and in manufacturing costs.
US09099025B2
A plurality of data signals to be supplied to a first pixel and a second pixel formed by a first sub-pixel, two second sub-pixels, and two third sub-pixels on the display panel are rendered. Input data corresponding to a first sampling window with respect to the second sub-pixel of the first pixel among the input data applied to the stripe pattern is used to render a second data signal supplied to the second sub-pixel through filtering sampled input data for a color of the second sub-pixel. The first data signal to be supplied to the first sub-pixel is rendered through filtering of the input data of a second window unit for a color of the first sub-pixel with respect to the first sub-pixel of the first pixel among the sampled input data.
US09099023B2
A display driver circuit, including a source driver configured to drive source lines of a display panel, and a timing controller configured to transfer image data to the source driver and to control the source driver such that the transferred image data is displayed via the display panel, the timing controller also being configured to transfer to the source driver a control signal and a test pattern, which are used to test a bit error rate, and the source driver being configured to test the bit error rate of the transferred test pattern in response to the transferred control signal.
US09099018B2
Disclosed is a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a light source, and a cover bottom internally accommodating the light source. Here, the cover bottom is divided into re-numbered (n>1) sub-cover bottoms, and a coupling unit for mutually fixing and coupling the divided cover bottoms is formed at ends of each of the cover bottoms facing each other.
US09099017B1
An apparatus for dropping multiple objects into a visual field to create imagery including hollow ducts for conveying the objects to the visual field and computer-controlled gating devices for releasing the objects at desire times and sequences to produce the imagery.
US09099015B2
A procedure for pre-operating assessment of one or more anatomical structures generated from medical images and provided in a rendered 3D space, and an imaging system, apparatus, and computer program, that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure comprises providing one or more safety margin indicators in the rendered 3D space, each having a shape corresponding to that of a respective one of the anatomical structures within an organ and having a predetermined size of safety margin from the respective one of the anatomical structures. The procedure also comprises manipulating at least one of the shape and predetermined size of safety margin of at least one of the safety margin indicators in the rendered 3D space, and immediately providing a rendering in the 3D space of a manipulated version of the at least one safety margin indicator. Also provided is a procedure for defining at least one cutting surface to resect one or more medical anatomical structures using an imaging system.
US09099013B2
The present invention relates to a method for representing musical scales by means of tiles, including pentatonic scales (arbitrary scales with five notes per octave), heptatonic scales (arbitrary scales with seven notes per octave). Major blues and Minor blues scales (specific scales with six notes per octave), and to an electronic musical device with an interface that uses this representation. More specifically, the device uses a multi-touch interface with or without strings which allows the musician to concentrate on the melodic line only, making it easier to improvise and perform music composed in one of said scales. The representation differs from the traditional interfaces on string instruments (such as a guitar) in that only the notes of a given scale (with five, six or seven notes per octave) can be played.
US09099008B2
A motion platform for use with a video simulation system is described. The platform is configured to provide simultaneous roll-axis and yaw-axis motion about a pivot point for simulating a aircraft environment. Additionally, the motion platform is configured to achieve motion using a single linear actuator, and thus is provided at a significantly reduced cost compared to conventional motion platforms. Other benefits of the motion platform include improved power efficiency, reduced weight for increased portability, and reduced maintenance due to only one linear actuator driving the system.
US09099002B2
A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, has a device for influencing the attention of the driver. The vehicle includes a display unit for displaying information content. The vehicle includes a central operating panel associated with the display unit. The vehicle includes a system for detecting a danger in traffic. The vehicle includes a system for issuing a warning regarding a detected danger, and the vehicle further includes a computing unit. The computing unit ascertains a viewing probability of the driver looking in the direction of the display unit during an operating sequence and at a viewing point in time. The computing unit takes the interaction of the driver with the vehicle into consideration for ascertaining the viewing probability. The warning is issued as a function of the ascertained viewing probability.
US09098995B2
A delay of a scheduled transport which runs along a route according to a timetable is determined The route comprises at least one leg. Determining the delay is based on a detailed reference schedule indicating arbitrary time-stamped reference positions of a transport that is on time. A request is received for the transport's delay by a user device located on the transport. The request indicates at least the current position of the transport. The transport's delay is calculated on the basis of the current position indicated in the request, a time-stamp and the corresponding time-stamped reference position of the detailed reference schedule. The calculated delay is returned to the user device. The calculated delay is stored into a logbook. In response to a request not indicating the current position of the transport, the delay is returned on the basis of the logbook.
US09098994B2
An electric meter (EM) network system, an EM node and a broadcasting method thereof are provided. The EM node, which is electrically connected to a power supply loop, stores a layer number and a total layer number. When the power supply loop recovers from a power disconnect condition to a power supplying condition, the EM node obtains a waiting time according to a difference value between the layer number and the total layer number, and broadcasts a route message after the waiting time.
US09098992B2
The electronic apparatus includes a submergence detector for detecting submergence of the electronic apparatus in the water and retrieval thereof, a light-emitting device provided within an enclosure of the electronic apparatus, an illumination circuit for lighting the light-emitting device when an illumination signal is input, a controller for causing the light-emitting device to blink by generating the illumination signal at prescribed blinking intervals at least during a period from a point of submergence to a point of retrieval of the electronic apparatus and inputting the illumination signal to the illumination circuit, and a power control circuit for activating the controller by supplying electric power thereto if the electric power is not supplied to the controller when the submergence detector detects submergence.
US09098991B2
In one aspect of the disclosed implementations, a device includes one or more motion sensors for sensing motion of the device and providing activity data indicative of the sensed motion. The device also includes one or more feedback devices for providing feedback, a notice, or an indication to a user based on the monitoring. The device also includes one or more processors for monitoring the activity data, for determining one or more activity metrics based on the activity data, and for causing one or more of the feedback devices to produce an indication to the user that an activity goal has been achieved by the user based on one or more of the activity metrics. The device further includes a portable housing that encloses at least portions of the motion sensors, the processors and the feedback devices.
US09098986B2
An indicator light interpretation device and method for indicator lights of an electronic device are provided. The indicator light interpretation device in one example embodiment includes a storage system configured to store one or more device images of an electronic device and a processing system coupled to the storage system, with the processing system configured to process the one or more device images, with the one or more device images including one or more indicator lights, identify the electronic device from the one or more device images, identify one or more indicator lights in the one or more device images, and generate indicated information for the electronic device from the one or more indicator lights.
US09098976B2
Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more paylines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. A trigger event, such as the occurrence of a certain plurality of special symbols, initiates a series of free games. The number of free games and an award multiplier associated with each free game are dependent on the particular type of special symbols making up the trigger event.
US09098975B2
Portable wagering media may be utilized to alter play of wagering games.
US09098971B2
The gaming system that includes a server, a Class II gaming machine communicatively coupled to the server, and a processor. The processor is programmed to, upon an input of a wager by a player operating the Class II gaming machine, provide a bingo based game on the Class II gaming machine, the bingo based game including gaming content that includes at least one bingo game card, determine that a triggering event has occurred during play of the bingo based game, and based on the triggering event, providing the player with at least one free bingo card in a bingo based bonus game.
US09098970B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive operational power from a primary power supply at a processor housed within a wagering game machine, where the processor is operable to present a wagering game. Further activities may include determining that the wagering game machine is currently in a hibernation state, authenticating at least one hibernation file, and resuming operation of the wagering game machine to a base operation state defined by the at least one hibernation file. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09098965B2
In a first aspect, a method is provided that includes the steps of (1) providing an auxiliary unit adapted to allow a gaming machine to be retrofitted to provide communications services; and (2) retrofitting a non-communications-enabled gaming machine with the auxiliary unit so that the non-communications enabled gaming machine is adapted to provide communications services based on game play at the non-communications-enabled gaming machine. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US09098960B1
After loss of communications between a cash handling device and a financial institution, transactions may continue to be processed. In one configuration, the transactions may be processed up to a predefined transaction limit. Transaction limits may be defined by a number of transactions, a dollar amount transacted or to be transacted, an amount of time and/or combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the transaction limit may be specific to one or more types of transactions. Transaction data may be stored in memory until communication has been re-established, at which time the data may be transmitted to the financial institution for processing.
US09098958B2
A method and apparatus for providing mobile commerce, electronic commerce, customer care and communication services via a plurality of networks, including receiving in a roaming network from a user device, an identification number and a request for a service, forwarding from the roaming network, to a home network, the identification number, the request for the service, and adding a service provider identification number that relates to a service provider and a cost or rate of the service, if the service is to be charged, verifying, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the service and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service, providing an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value, if the service is to be charged and charging the valid user account on a real time basis, if necessary, for providing the service, if the service is to be charged.
US09098957B1
A method of controlling a wireless hotspot at a vehicle includes receiving one or more Wi-Fi control variables along with a vehicle identity at a central facility; authenticating the received Wi-Fi control variables at the central facility using the vehicle identity; establishing a cellular connection between the central facility and a vehicle providing the Wi-Fi hotspot identified by the transmitted vehicle identity; and transmitting a command to change the Wi-Fi control variables from the central facility to the vehicle when the Wi-Fi control variables have been authenticated.
US09098954B1
A self-contained portable unit with an integral access control and tracking system, which provides a portable, unmanned, entry and access control system. The system for logging tagged assets while simultaneously allowing or denying access to a perimeter area and egress from a perimeter area of vehicular, human and animal traffic. The system monitors and/or records radio frequency identification tagged assets and stops assets with radio frequency identification tags from entering a site unless a login/logout device is used with libraries of login information. The system can generate on-site audible and visual alarms and generate reports on asset movement and non-asset non-tagged movement.
US09098946B2
An image processing apparatus includes an estimating unit and a hiding unit. The estimating unit extracts a subject specifying mark image corresponding to a specifying mark from a recording area image corresponding to a recording area in which an image is recorded, plural predetermined types of specifying marks having predetermined attributes different from an attribute of the image of the recording area and being used for specifying a region within the recording area by using different specifying methods, at least one of the plural predetermined types of specifying marks being recorded in the recording area. The estimating unit estimates the type of specifying mark corresponding to the extracted subject specifying mark image. The hiding unit hides the region specified by the type of specifying mark estimated by the estimating unit by using a hiding method which is uniquely determined for the estimated type of specifying mark.
US09098945B2
Described is a search technology in which spatially varying anisotropic reflectance is modeled using image data captured from a single view. Reflectance at each point is represented using a microfacet-based Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF). Modeling processes the image data, which provides a partial normal distribution function (NDF) for each surface point. The NDF at each selected point is completed by texture synthesis using similar, overlapping partial NDFs from other points. Also described is a scanning device that illuminates a sample surface from a two-dimensional set of light directions using a linear array of LEDs moved over a flat sample.
US09098941B2
In some embodiments, a method includes selecting a first and a second predetermined number of points of graphical data; determining an initial distance between each of the first predetermined number of points, generating a fast approximate distance oracle comprising identifiers of points and oracle distances between at least one point and another point, determining a graphical distance for each of the second predetermined number of points relative to other points of the first and second predetermined number of points, calculating a potential error between the determined graphical distance and a topologic distance between each of the second predetermined number of points, approximating a correction for at least one of the second predetermined number of points, adjusting a position of the at least one of the second predetermined number of points, and displaying the at least one of the second predetermined number of points.
US09098940B2
The present application discloses a method, apparatus and system for processing graphic objects in a flow diagram. Said method comprises obtaining a flow diagram and execution stage information generated when executing said flow diagram; obtaining a layout policy, wherein said layout policy at least designates the conditions for determining a primary path in the flow diagram using the execution stage information; determining the primary path using the execution stage information based on the layout policy; and displaying prominently said primary path during displaying said flow diagram. Owing to the present invention, the elements, such as a primary path, in a diagram in which a user takes interest can be found by the user easily to facilitate the user to understand the diagram. Furthermore, the diagram automatically arranged using the present invention is usually clear enough so that it is almost not required to be manually adjusted by the user.
US09098939B2
A method and system for generating light maps for use with an out the window, or a night vision goggles display utilizes inputs from a variety of different geographical and structural data sources. These data sources are then used to determine the locations of structures, roads, and areas of interest within a selected land area. Realistic light maps can then be created quickly and automatically.
US09098934B2
The embodiment discloses an improved Augmented Reality Multi Marker Positioning system that detects the distance and relative position of each marker, correlates the detected multiple markers and dynamically renders different objects for a single marker.
US09098931B2
Apparatus (20) for mapping includes an illumination module (30), which includes a radiation source (32), which is configured to emit a beam of radiation. A scanner (34) receives and scans the beam over a selected angular range. Illumination optics (35) project the scanned beam so as to create a pattern of spots extending over a region of interest. An imaging module (38) captures an image of the pattern that is projected onto an object (28) in the region of interest. A processor (46) processes the age in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object.
US09098930B2
Embodiments of methods and systems for stereo-aware image editing are described. A three-dimensional model of a stereo scene is built from one or more input images. Camera parameters for the input images are computed. The three-dimensional model is modified. In some embodiments, the modifying the three-dimensional model includes modifying one or more of the images and applying results of the modifying one or more of the images to corresponding model vertices. The scene is re-rendered from the camera parameters to produce an edited stereo pair that is consistent with the three-dimensional model.
US09098924B2
One embodiment sets forth a method for associating each stencil value included in a stencil buffer with multiple fragments. Components within a graphics processing pipeline use a set of stencil masks to partition the bits of each stencil value. Each stencil mask selects a different subset of bits, and each fragment is strategically associated with both a stencil value and a stencil mask. Before performing stencil actions associated with a fragment, the raster operations unit performs stencil mask operations on the operands. No fragments are associated with both the same stencil mask and the same stencil value. Consequently, no fragments are associated with the same stencil bits included in the stencil buffer. Advantageously, by reducing the number of stencil bits associated with each fragment, certain classes of software applications may reduce the wasted memory associated with stencil buffers in which each stencil value is associated with a single fragment.
US09098922B2
Special blend operations (referred to as “image seam-matching”) are described that keep the pixel values in the two images being blended the same along their transition border or seam, and smoothly increases/decreases pixel values on either side of the seam through the images' transition band (an area around the seam in which image blend operations are constrained). Image seam-matching provides many of the benefits of gradient blending (e.g., the avoidance of ghosting), without the associated computational overhead. This makes image seam-matching a particularly useful approach for real-time image processing such as during the real-time generation of wide area-of-view images. In situations where image seam-matching may be inappropriate, such as when the images being blended include long objects that span an entire overlap region(s), a mechanism is described which allows the selection of either, or both, seam-matching and cross-fading blend operations in a graceful or smooth manner.
US09098909B2
A three-dimensional distance measurement apparatus comprising: a distance information calculation unit configured to calculate distance information of a measurement object based on a captured image of the measurement object on which pattern light is projected; and a local pattern setting unit configured to adaptively set a spatial resolution of measurement points of the pattern light for each local region, wherein the local pattern setting unit sets the spatial resolution of the measurement points of the pattern light based on information about an arithmetic amount of the distance information calculation unit.
US09098901B2
A device and a method process data derivable from remotely detected electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by a subject, which data includes physiological information. An input signal is received and indicative entities thereof are transmitted. The indicative entities are indicative of physiological information representative of at least one vital parameter in a subject of interest. The indicative entities are detected under consideration of at least one defined descriptive model describing a relation between physical skin appearance characteristics and a corresponding representation in the input signal such that non-indicative side information represented by non-indicative entities in the input signal is substantially undetectable in a resulting transmitted signal. The at least one vital parameter is detected from the transmitted signal including the indicative entities under consideration of detected skin color properties representing circulatory activity.
US09098900B2
A pill identification system includes a device which is configured to collect three-dimensional image data of surfaces of one or more pills, generate geometric features of the pill(s) from the three-dimensional image data, and identify the pill(s) using the geometric features. In some embodiments, the identified pills can be verified for patient administration by comparing the identified pills to prescription information.
US09098886B2
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a chroma calculation unit, a lightness calculation unit, a glossiness calculation unit, and a correction unit. The chroma calculation unit is configured to calculate a chroma of each pixel of an image to be processed. The lightness calculation unit is configured to calculate a lightness of each pixel of the image. The glossiness calculation unit is configured to estimate a glossiness of each pixel of the image, based on the chroma and the lightness. The correction unit is configured to correct each pixel of the image so that a correction amount of a pixel is larger when the glossiness of the pixel is higher.
US09098877B2
A method for displaying a matrix of correlations or other statistical measures of co-movement associated with a plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes is disclosed. The method includes: converting the matrix of correlations or other co-movement measures into a probability transition matrix; defining a corresponding abstract distance measurement between any two of the plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes based on the probability transition matrix; assigning coordinates in a Euclidean space to each of the plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes, wherein a Euclidean distance between any two financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes in the Euclidean space corresponds to the corresponding abstract distance measurement; and displaying on a display device the plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes based on more significant dimensions of the Euclidean space.
US09098868B1
A system and method for coordinating advertisements on multiple playback devices during playback of heterogeneous content are provided. In general, a virtual group of playback devices or users of the playback devices is formed and managed by a virtual group (VG) control function. In operation, the VG control function operates to coordinate advertisement slots in heterogeneous content being played by the playback devices and provide targeted advertisements to the playback devices for insertion into the coordinated advertisement slots. The targeted advertisements may be, for example, targeted advertisements for each user or playback device, targeted advertisements for subsets of the users or playback devices in the virtual group, targeted advertisements for the virtual group, targeted complementary advertisements for subsets of users or playback devices in the virtual group, or targeted complementary advertisements for the virtual group.
US09098867B2
A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, the steps of transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes, determining a first advertisement based on the first comment, and transmitting the first advertisement to the first set top box for presentation with the overlay and the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09098865B2
Systems and methods for near-field communications with a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for near-field communication may comprise: detecting, by a source device located at a point-of-sale, the proximity of a receiving device; encoding purchase data on an audio signal with one or more ultrasonic frequencies; and transmitting the encoded purchase data to the receiving device, wherein the encoded purchase data is transmitted using a speaker of the source device.
US09098864B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing game operations. One method includes an operation for receiving a request from a player to acquire a first game asset to be utilized in the game, the first game asset being associated with a token usable in the real world outside the game. After assigning the first game asset to the player in the game, the player is rewarded in the game with a second asset in response to the request. Further, the method includes an operation for detecting a commercial operation executed outside the game by the player with the token, and the player is rewarded in the game with a third asset in response to the detecting.
US09098862B2
Providers of goods and services may desire human input regarding the products that they offer. A vocal query service provides a mechanism to present queries to human respondents. A human respondent may be presented with information and subsequently queried as to their opinion. The respondents receiving the query may be selected based upon profiles containing demographic information, interest information, desired contact time, and the like. Prospective respondents may be contacted via a personal telephone at a time of their choosing and may choose whether or not to respond. During the query, should a respondent require assistance, the respondent may be contact a customer service agent. Query respondents may be motivated to participate, as the query is designed to appeal to respondent's interest and is presented at a convenient time. The query service may also increase the customer service agents to expand the query to additional human respondents in near-real time.
US09098853B2
A system and method of determining whether to make an item listing visible to a user are disclosed. A user is enabled to navigate an e-commerce site. A returns frequency index is calculated for the user based on the user's transaction history. The user's transaction history includes the user's history of item returns. It is determined whether or not to make an item listing visible to the user on the e-commerce site based on the returns frequency index for the user. In some embodiments, the returns frequency index is calculated using the mathematical expression (VRet/NRet)/(VPurch/NPurch), wherein VRet is a total value of items returned by the user, NRet is a total number of items returned by the user, VPurch is a total value of items purchased by the user, and NPurch is a total number of items purchased by the user.
US09098851B2
A predetermined amount, which may, in general, be zero, less than, the same as, or greater than a (yet-to-be-determined) final transaction amount, is charged upon first presentation of a payment device to a merchant. A final transaction amount is calculated, preferably at a central server, subsequent to the first presentation. A variable adjustment value is calculated, preferably at the central server, by comparing the predetermined amount already charged with the final transaction amount. A new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of the payment device, is modified by the variable adjustment value.
US09098845B2
The process encompasses the communication between trade system accessible over GUI of the mobile communication device (4), when after the item being purchased is selected, the acquirer's (12) identification is loaded from the removable memory card (1). The acquirer's (12) identification is sent to the trade system's (2) headquarters, where after it is approved, the transaction payment parameters are created and these enter the removable memory card (1) as an initiator of the payment terminal application. The payment terminal application runs on the removable memory card (1) and it creates a payment cryptogram. This one is sent into the trade system's (2) headquarters, where it can be handled as a common cryptogram of usual POS terminals. The process can encompass even a preparation and pre-preparation phase, thanks to which corresponding applications of individual participants of the system are installed, configured and activated. The online payment can preferably realize even the reset of the counter on the payment device.
US09098843B2
One embodiment of the invention is directed to a system comprising a database and a server computer coupled to the database, wherein the server computer comprises a processor and a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable storage medium comprising code executable by the processor for implementing a method comprising: receiving transit transaction data, determining a hotel based on the transit transaction data, and sending the transit transaction data to the hotel, wherein the hotel places a transit charge based on the transit transaction data onto a hotel folio. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method, the method comprising receiving transit transaction data, determining a hotel based on the transit transaction data, and sending the transit transaction data to the hotel, wherein the hotel places a transit charge based on the transit transaction data onto a hotel folio.
US09098837B2
Methods and systems are provided for presenting a plurality of shared calendars in a single electronic display frame or window where each of the plurality of shared calendars is displayed in a common view mode relative to other displayed shared calendars. Users may select one or more shared calendars to be displayed in the same display frame or window as their own calendar. Upon selection of a shared calendar to be displayed alongside a first calendar, an aggregate view object is called to control and coordinate all shared calendars selected for display in the common window or frame. The aggregate view object determines the view data object, including view mode (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly) and other calendar display settings of the first or active calendar displayed in the common view of shared calendars.
US09098832B1
A system and method for recording a photo chat session are provided. In one embodiment, an online photo album is hosted by a peer node in a peer-to-peer (P2P) photosharing system, and a photo chat session is established between an owner at the peer node and a guest viewing the online photo album at a guest node. At the end of the photo chat session, either the owner or the guest requests that the photo chat session be saved. In response, the peer node generates a chat history including a slideshow for each shared image recreating a portion of the photo chat session related to the shared image. In another embodiment, an online photo album is hosted by a central node in a centrally hosted photosharing system, wherein the central node generates the chat history in response to a request from either the owner or the guest.
US09098828B2
Techniques are provided that allow users to collaborate in relationship to data views, application displays, applications or events. A user can type in a text view related to a specific view in an application display, and the information is shared with other users that take part in sharing that view. A user that expresses an interest in an event is notified about the event and has the capability to interact, in relation to the event, with other users (e.g. by text). The particular form of interaction (and sharing) can be selectively specified. This interaction is comparable to a dynamic bulletin board where the subject is event driven, and where a user can specify who are allowed to participate. In the case of an event interest(s), users specify their interest (e.g. in other user application events or system events) and the system automatically alerts them to the occurrence of the event.
US09098827B2
A chat room system interfaces with an automated processing system. When an interactive query message from a user is addressed to the automated processing system, the interactive query message is passed to the automated processing system. The automated processing system extracts one or more keywords from the interactive query message and obtains response information from a data structure based on the one or more keywords. The automated processing system then returns an interactive response to the user through instant messaging. When the interactive query message is not addressed to the automated processing system, the interactive query message is forwarded to a support group through a chat room system. When the interactive response exceeds a predetermined size, part of the interactive response may be sent through instant messaging and the remainder through e-mail.
US09098814B2
An automatic live publisher event system and method interact with multiple travel reservation systems and social network applications, and instantaneously publishes a user's travel-related information in real-time upon the occurrence of an event regardless of whether the user is connected to the system. The system may parse information from reservations so that users do not have to manually enter information in the system to send to members of their social networks. The system may include an event journal repository, an event parser module, a media manager module, a publisher module and a GPS manager module, which are integrated with each other, and which may interface with a reservation system. The system facilitates the customization of content and communications media of a user's travel-related information associated with an event that is published and shared with multiple users via multiple communications media concurrently.
US09098806B2
A method, machine readable storage medium, and system for providing personalized semantic controls for semantic systems. A semantic network may be set up with initial configuration. A business application user interface, including semantic controls, may be coupled to the semantic network to interact with the semantic network. Semantic objects and relations may be defined in the semantic network for business terminology. A user request for business data may be received. The semantic network may update the objects and relations for business terminology based on the request. The business application user interface may provide for personalized semantic controls based on the updated objects and relations.
US09098799B2
Business processes are implemented using a collection component for storing system knowledge comprising usage history and user input relative to activities within community of users, where the system knowledge comprises at least a folksonomy. At least one of a user client component interacts with the data collection component to enable a corresponding user to contribute user-derived information to the folksonomy and a monitoring component monitors activities associated with the community of users and interacts with the data collection component to contribute usage information to the system knowledge. Still further, a composition design application interacts with a user to build and/or modify processes built using services, wherein the composition design application recommends candidate services that can implement aspects of the business processes based upon information derived from the system knowledge.
US09098789B2
An electronic device (200) includes a single antenna (211), a communication circuit (202), and a RFID circuit (207). A switch (212) selectively couples the single antenna to one of the communication circuit or the RFID circuit. For example, the RFID circuit can be coupled to the single antenna when the electronic device is OFF, and the communication circuit can be coupled to the single antenna when the electronic device is ON. Accordingly, RFID information can be received from an RFID communication device when the electronic device is OFF. When the electronic device is ON, an interrupt can cause the switch to connect the RFID circuit to the single antenna, sometimes only for less than a predetermined duration.
US09098788B2
A method for setting the clock frequency of a processing unit of an electromagnetic transponder, wherein a ratio between data, representative of a voltage across an oscillating circuit of the transponder and obtained for two values of the resistive load, is compared with one to decide whether to increase or decrease the clock frequency of the processing unit.
US09098778B2
To prevent a user from their confusion when a cover mounted on a case is opened, when a cover mounted on a case is opened, in a case that a condition of an inkjet printer is a detection state that performs detection of an ink remaining amount by an ink sensor, a cover open error is outputted to a display part. On the other hand, in a case that the condition of the inkjet printer is not a detection state, the cover open error is not outputted to the display part.
US09098777B2
A method, system, and computer program product for evaluating digital images of handwritten documents comprising handwritten symbols are disclosed. A set of symbols from the digital image is determined by applying a first predefined technique. If the set of symbols determined by applying the first predefined technique does not match with a predefined set of symbols, a second predefined technique is applied to determine the set of symbols from the digital image. Thereafter, an evaluation report is created based on the determining by applying the first predefined technique or the determining by applying the second predefined technique.
US09098773B2
A system and method of detecting one or more objects in a three-dimensional point cloud scene are provided. The method includes receiving a three-dimensional point cloud scene, the three-dimensional point cloud scene comprising a plurality of points; classifying at least a portion of the plurality of points in the three-dimensional point cloud into two or more categories by applying a classifying-oriented three-dimensional local descriptor and learning-based classifier; extracting from the three-dimensional point cloud scene one or more clusters of points utilizing the two or more categories by applying at least one of segmenting and clustering; and matching the extracted clusters with objects within a library by applying a matching-oriented three-dimensional local descriptor.
US09098770B2
An image processing device for recognizing an object corresponding to a registered image registered beforehand from an imaged image, comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain the imaged image; a recognizing unit configured to recognize an object corresponding to the registered image from the imaged image; and a detecting unit configured to detect, based on a registered image corresponding to an object recognized from the imaged image thereof, an area where another object is overlapped with the object corresponding to the registered image thereof.
US09098764B2
Barcode decoding bypassing binarization is provided which relies on deformable templates to makes use of all the gray level information of each pixel in the barcode image. Parameterization of the deformable templates allow for efficiently performing maximum likelihood estimation independently on each barcode digit and enforcing spatial coherence across the barcode digits.
US09098757B2
A semiconductor wafer includes a plurality of dies. Each of the plurality of dies includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag circuit and a coil. The RFID tag circuit includes a tag core, an RF front-end circuit, an ID decoder, a comparator and conductive line for a unique ID. The RF front-end circuit is configured to receive electromagnetic signals through the coil in each of the plurality of dies and to convert the received electromagnetic signals into commands. The ID decoder is configured to receive the commands and to generate an expect ID. The comparator is configured to compare the unique ID with the expect ID to generate a comparison result. The comparison result is arranged to decide if the tag core is configured to receive commands.
US09098753B1
Methods and systems for object detection using multiple sensors are described herein. In an example embodiment, a vehicle's computing device may receive sensor data frames indicative of an environment at different rates from multiple sensors. Based on a first frame from a first sensor indicative of the environment at a first time period and a portion of a first frame that corresponds to the first time period from a second sensor, the computing device may estimate parameters of objects in the vehicle's environment. The computing device may modify the parameters in response to receiving subsequent frames or subsequent portions of frame of sensor data from the sensors even if the frames arrive at the computing device out of order. The computing device may provide the parameters of the objects to systems of the vehicle for object detection and obstacle avoidance.
US09098751B2
A system and method are disclosed for determining the presence and period of dashed line lane markers in a roadway. The system includes an imager configured to capture a plurality of high dynamic range images exterior of the vehicle and a processor, in communication with the at least one imager such that the processor is configured to process at least one high dynamic range image. The period of the dashed lane markers in the image is calculated for detecting the presence of the dashed lane marker and for tracking the vehicle within the markers. The processor communicates an output for use by the vehicle for use in lane departure warning (LDW) and/or other driver assist features.
US09098749B2
Methods, systems, and processor-readable media for pruning a training dictionary for use in detecting anomalous events from surveillance video. Training samples can be received, which correspond to normal events. A dictionary can then be constructed, which includes two or more classes of normal events from the training samples. Sparse codes are then generated for selected training samples with respect to the dictionary derived from the two or more classes of normal events. The size of the dictionary can then be reduced by removing redundant dictionary columns from the dictionary via analysis of the sparse codes. The dictionary is then optimized to yield a low reconstruction error and a high-interclass discriminability.
US09098747B1
Embodiments include a computer-implemented method for identifying locations of infrastructure assets. The method including identifying a location of a first infrastructure asset and a location of a second infrastructure asset, identifying a region of interest extending at least partially between the locations of the first and second infrastructure assets, obtaining an aerial image of the region of interest, determining that the aerial image of the region of interest comprises a third infrastructure asset, determining a location of the third infrastructure asset based at least in part on the aerial image, and storing the location of the secondary infrastructure asset in an infrastructure asset datastore.
US09098746B2
A building texture extracting apparatus and a method thereof are provided, wherein the building texture extracting apparatus comprises a storage unit and a processor. The storage unit is configured to store an aerial image and a panoramic image of a building. There is a coordinate correlation between the aerial image and the panoramic image. The processor defines an edge segment of a building in the aerial image, calculates an edge function according to the edge segment, projects the edge function onto the panoramic image according to the coordinate correlation to derive an edge curve function, decides an edge curve segment according to the edge curve function, captures an image area under the edge curve segment to be a building texture of the building, and stores the building texture in the storage unit.
US09098743B2
A fundus image processing apparatus that processes a fundus image of an examinee's eye, the fundus image processing apparatus includes: a processor; and a memory storing computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the fundus image processing apparatus to: identify the optic disc included in the fundus image; identify a blood vessel included in the fundus image; calculate an upper diameter ratio which is a diameter ratio of those of the identified blood vessels that are positioned in a region above a height of the optic disc; calculate a lower diameter ratio which is a diameter ratio of those of the identified blood vessels that are positioned in a region under the height of the optic disc; and calculate an arteriovenous diameter ratio in the fundus of the examinee's eye based on the upper diameter ratio and the lower diameter ratio.
US09098738B2
A system for contamination monitoring includes a tracking component, a material identification component, a procedural component, and a notification component. The tracking component tracks an individual and one or more objects in a work area using a three-dimensional tracking system. The material identification component identifies a material of the one or more objects based on a captured image. The procedural component determines that an object of the one or more objects is contaminated based on tracked locations of the one or more objects and the individual. The notification component provides a notification of the contamination.
US09098732B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods predict behavior of sprays based on receiving a selection of one or more variables affecting spray. Relative amounts of the droplets forming the spray are grouped into various droplet size classes, where each droplet size class represents a range of droplet sizes. The relative amounts of the spray in the classes is visually depicted on a computer display according to a distribution of droplets, a volume of spray falling within the droplet size classes, a chart depicting relative amounts of the spray as a function of droplet size, or according to a spray quality based on environmental factors.
US09098731B1
An image associated with a poll may be acquired via a camera. One or more symbols indicating responses may be found by analyzing the image. The responses specified by the symbols may be determined and saved. The responses may also be displayed to the operator and/or to the respondents.
US09098722B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for parsing of a token stream for user generated content in order to prevent attacks on the user generated content. The systems and methods include a database which stores one or more whitelists, and a parser. The parser removes tokens from the token stream by comparing the tokens against the whitelist. Next, the parser validates CSS property values, encodes data within attribute values and text nodes, reconciles closing HTML tags, and coerces media tags into safe variants. The tokens removed may be any of HTML tags, HTML attributes, HTML protocols, CSS selectors and CSS properties.
US09098717B2
A system is provided to ensure a timely secure data erase by determining an erasure deadline for each physical volume of a plurality of physical volumes and calculating a remaining time for each physical volume. The remaining time is calculated for each physical volume by comparing a current date to the erasure deadline of each physical volume respectively. The physical volumes may then be sorted based on the remaining time and the physical volume with a shortest calculated remaining time will be selectively secure data erased.
US09098716B2
An authentication system for an instruction processing apparatus includes first and second authentication portions each for performing user authentication at the time of using the instruction processing apparatus, and a controller which makes the first authentication portion execute the user authentication and switches from the first authentication portion to the second authentication portion when the user authentication by the first authentication portion cannot be established.
US09098710B2
According to one general aspect, a computer-implemented method for implementing default security features for web applications and browser extensions includes receiving a request to include a web application or a web browser extension in a digital marketplace. A determination is made if the web application or the web browser extension conforms to default security features, wherein the default security features include a prohibition against running in-line script on web pages. The web application or the browser extension is included in the digital marketplace if the web application or the browser extension conforms to the default security features.
US09098703B2
A system-on-chip (SOC) for semiconductor intellectual property (IP), a device including the same, and a method of operating the same are provided. The SOC includes: an interface which receives scanning data from a main module in which the SOC is mounted; and an anti-virus engine which determines whether a virus exists in the received scanning data. Accordingly, the security of a device is tightened.
US09098700B2
Systems and methods for detecting design-level attacks against a digital circuit which includes various functional units. A target unit is selected from among the functional units for monitoring and a predictor unit is arranged to receive events before they reach the target unit. A reactor unit is selected from among the functional units of the digital circuit which are arranged to receive events after they pass through the target unit. A monitor unit is arranged to receive predicted event messages from the predictor unit and actual event messages from the reactor unit. The monitor unit is configured to indicate an alarm based on a comparison of the predicted event messages received from the predictor unit and the actual event messages received from the reactor unit.
US09098695B2
Techniques are disclosed for recording secure notes from the lock screen of a computing device. A note recording user interface may be accessed from the lock screen to allow a user to leave a note, such as a text, video, audio, or drawn note, or some combination thereof. The notes left using the note recording user interface may be saved such that only the intended recipient can access them, for example, after unlocking the computing device, thereby preventing others from seeing previously saved notes. The secure note system may include a retrieve notes function that allows users and/or recipients to retrieve the recorded notes directly from the lock screen of the computing device used to record them. The secure note system may also be configured to send notifications to inform the recipient when a secure note has been recorded (e.g., email or text message including copy of note).
US09098681B2
Methods and apparatus for providing a personalized entertainment experience, which may be customized for each user. A user's playback/presentation history and/or user actions may be captured and associated with each played/presented composition. A target time for playback/presentation of a composition to the user may be determined by using a user's playback/presentation history and/or user actions. A customized sequence of compositions may be automatically generated for each user. The personalized sequence may automatically adapt to changing user actions and preferences over time. In one embodiment, a target time for playback or presentation of a composition to a user, is at least partially based on: a cumulative-time of playback or presentation of the composition to a user, and a time when the composition was previously played or presented to the user.
US09098678B2
One or more devices transmit, to a user device, an application for secure mobile streaming, and receive, from the user device, a registration request for the application. The registration request includes a user ID and a unique device identifier (UDID) for the user device. The one or more devices initiate a validation procedure for the user ID or UDID. When the user ID or UDID is validated, the one or more devices generate a device-token for the user device. The device-token includes a hash value based on information in the registration request and an expiration date for the device-token. The one or more devices send the device-token to the user device via a private network. The device-token is required to permit the user device to receive a secure content stream via a public network.
US09098677B2
A method and system for automated clock wind-back recovery are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises requesting a license to access an application and storing a time anchor, the time anchor comprising a recent system time observation. Clock modification is detected, wherein detecting clock modification comprises comparing a license expiration date to a current system time. The time anchor is compared to a trusted time authority value, the trusted time authority value comprising the current system time and a tolerance. The time anchor is updated, clock modification is corrected, and access to the application is retrieved.
US09098673B2
Optimum gauges of components in a vehicle side structure that meet minimum roof crush test requirement and side impact crashworthiness analysis (SICE) requirements with minimal mass are identified using a global optimization algorithm. A grouping of iterations, wherein each iteration contains input components of varying thicknesses, is simulated using the roof crush and SICE models. A self adaptive evolution optimization algorithm is used to generate additional groupings of iterations based on intermediate optimum results of a previous grouping. The additional groupings are simulated one or more times to identify a global optimum thickness of components in a vehicle side structure.
US09098671B2
A method and apparatus for power delivery network (PDN) analysis comprises obtaining time-domain single-pulse current response of the PDN, computing a maximum transient simultaneous switching noise (SSN) of the PDN according to the time-domain single-pulse current response, and determining that noise performance of the PDN conforms to a design requirement of the PDN if the maximum transient SSN is less than a PDN SSN threshold. Transient characteristics of the PDN can be analyzed.
US09098669B1
Boundary timing in the design of an integrated circuit is facilitated by designating a subset of boundary latches in the circuit, and applying placement constraints to the boundary latches. Global placement is performed while maintaining the boundary latch placement constraints, and a timing driven placement is performed after implementing timing assertions. Boundary latches are designated using a depth-first search to identify the first latches along interconnection paths with the PI/PO, and filtering out ineligible latches according to designer rules. A latch can be filtered out if it is in a large cluster of latches driven by a primary input or driving a primary output, if it drives too many POs, or is a feed-through latch. Constraints include movebounds, preplacement, or attractive forces between boundary latches and other boundary fixed objects, i.e., a fixed gate or a PI/PO.
US09098667B1
Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufactures for implementing a physical design with force directed placement or floorplanning and layout decomposition by identifying multiple nodes and then iteratively generating multiple cells by using the multiple nodes in a decomposition process and applying force model(s) to iteratively morph the cells until convergence criteria are satisfied to generate a layout or floorplan of an electronic design without requiring complete conductivity for the electronic design. The initially identified custom conductivity information is maintained throughout this iterative process.
US09098663B2
A method and system for generating and matching complex series and/or parallel combinations of nominally identical initial elements to achieve an arbitrary compound value is disclosed. A recursive algorithm successively adds one or more similar nominal two-terminal elements to generate a series and/or parallel compound combination of nominal elements, the compound combination having a desired impedance. The compound value, and thus the ratio between two compound values, can be determined to almost any desired degree of accuracy, with potential errors greatly reduced from those typical in the construction of individual elements of different values. Since the initial elements are nominally identical, the compound value, and the ratio between values, depends primarily upon the connections of the initial elements, rather than their geometry, and thus remain virtually constant regardless of variations in the manufacturing process.
US09098662B1
Techniques and mechanisms allow a device such as a programmable logic device (PLD) to support real-time debugging of a system. The PLD may be configured to include a debug design without disturbing the configuration of a base logic design in the PLD.
US09098655B2
A damage assessment module operating on a computer system generating a model undamaged roof shingle includes using a method based on the average nearest-neighbor distance. The damage assessment module identifies a set of points comprising a first point cloud representing a first shingle and a set of points from a second point cloud representing a second shingle. The damage assessment module then calculates an average nearest-neighbor distance for the set of points. Based on the average, the damage assessment module calculates a threshold distance. The damage assessment module then stores the set of points to memory as a point cloud representing a model roof shingle that can be later retrieved and compared to point clouds of individual shingles. The damage assessment module improves the consistency and accuracy associated with assessment of the roof and eliminates the need for the estimator to use subjective assessment results, which can be inadequate.
US09098642B2
In some embodiments, an electronic system includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, a bus in communication with the processor, an Express Card controller coupled to the bus, the Express Card controller providing an interface to an external device, a USB3 controller coupled to the bus and in communication with the Express Card controller, and a PCIE controller coupled to the bus and in communication with the Express Card controller. The Express Card controller may be configured to determine whether the external device is a USB3 device or a PCIE device and to switch between the USB3 controller and the PCIE controller based on the state of a USB3 select pin strap. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09098639B2
A media processing apparatus is provided. The media processing apparatus includes an interface unit which is connected to each of a plurality of terminal devices through a communication interface including a video channel, an audio channel, and a data channel, a processor which receives a control signal from a first terminal device having control rights, a control unit which notifies the first terminal device if there is an access attempt from at least one of a second terminal device and transfers the control rights to the second terminal device if a message to permit the transfer of the control rights is received from the first terminal device. Accordingly, control rights may be transferred and shared in a reasonable manner.
US09098636B2
Certain example embodiments relate to white-box testing techniques, e.g., for graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Responsive to a first parameter received from a test suite executer, test bootstrap code included in an application is executed, where the application and the test suite executer run in the same browser. A test case to be run on the application and a test case executer to execute the test case are retrieved by the executed test bootstrap code. The retrieved test case is executed in a same context of the browser as the application. Results from executing the test case are stored.
US09098633B2
A process application layer receives a command that define a generic test for an application under test. A test code generator transforms the command into test engine instructions that exercise the generic tests on the application under test.
US09098632B2
Systems, methods and computer-executable instructions for testing computer programs are provided. A computer program (application under test—AUT) is analyzed and data records are created for each user interface object of each screen of the AUT. The data records form a dataset which may be copied and edited to define a series of test functions to be performed on the AUT. Corresponding test code is provided to perform the test functions, the test code referencing the data records of the dataset.
US09098630B2
In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a data selection method may include receiving first data representative of program code having a plurality of database operations. Second data is generated and is representative of a sequence of operations encounterable in an execution of the program code, where the sequence of operations includes at least one of the database operations. A third data is selected from a database, by using the second data.
US09098629B2
System and method for reversibility categories and characteristics of computer application functions
Disclosed embodiments provide a system, machine-readable medium, and a method that may test computer application functions. A system provides for testing a computer application function by analyzing a testing characteristic of the computer application function information. Based on the analysis of the testing characteristic, the computer application function may be activated for testing in any one of a plurality of test environments. The test environment is selected according to the testing characteristic that indicates the effects that the testing of the selected computer application has on the test environment. This allows users to select a test environment based on the effects that it has on a test system.
US09098623B2
A method includes accessing a validator routine having an input string and one or more return points, each return point returning a return value having two possible values; finding the return points in the validator routine; for each of the return points, performing a backwards traversal from a return point through a code section and determining constraints on the input string based at least on one or both of the two possible return values for the return point; using the determined constraints for the input string, determining whether all of the return values returned from the one or more return points meet validation constraints; and outputting one or more indications of whether all of the returned values returned from the return points meet the validation constraints for the one or both of the two possible return values. Apparatus and computer program products are also disclosed.
US09098609B2
A health monitoring technique monitors the health and performance of applications executing in a guest partition in a virtualized environment. In an embodiment, a guest integration component interacts with an application through an application programming interface in order for the virtualization platform to monitor the health and performance of the application. In another embodiment, the guest integration component may include a monitoring agent that accesses an event log and/or a performance monitor log to access the health and performance of the application. The health and performance of the application may then be analyzed by the virtualization platform to determine an appropriate remedial action.
US09098602B2
A method, apparatus, program and system is provided for storing a desired address in a device of a control system in which at least one device of a first type and one or more devices of a second type are connected to one another via a communication medium for the purpose of interchanging data. An index value and a unique address of a device of the second type are associated to one another and stored in the device of the first type. The association can be automatically retrieved when a device of the second type is replaced with a replacement device, and the new address of the replacement device can be automatically determined based on the association.
US09098594B2
Various aspects are directed to a computer system for implementing an interface for presenting metric data to a user, the computer system may comprise a storage medium, which may, in turn, comprise a sitemap. The sitemap may define an organization of portal pages and wherein each portal page comprises at least one region defining a metric data type and a metric data presentation. The computer system may also comprise at least one processor configured to implement a controller unit. The controller unit may be configured to query a data source to retrieve a first data collection, where the first data collection comprises metric data of a first business context. The controller unit may also be configured to render a first portal page selected from the organization of portal pages according to the first data collection. In response to a request for a portal page change, the controller unit may be configured to render a second portal page selected from the organization of portal pages according to the first data collection. Also, in response to a request for a business context change, the controller unit may be configured to query the data source for a second data collection comprising metric data of a second business context; and render the second portal page according to the second data collection.
US09098589B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for geographic annotation of electronic resources. In one aspect, a method includes generating a spatial index for a plurality of resources from a plurality of distinct publishers, including, for each resource of the plurality of resources: receiving a plurality of location data points for the resource, each location data point corresponding to one of a plurality of requests for the resource, and assigning each location data point for the resource to a spatial cluster of a plurality of spatial clusters, each spatial cluster corresponding to a particular geographic region. The spatial index is stored. The spatial index is used to identify a plurality of address locations for resources assigned to a spatial cluster corresponding to a first geographic region in response to a request from a requester to identify resources associated with the first geographic region.
US09098585B2
A method for clustering a set of web search results is disclosed. A first signature is compared based at least in part on an analysis of multimedia content associated with a first web search result with a second signature based at least in part on an analysis of multimedia content associated with a second web search result. The first web search result is clustered with the second web search result based at least in part on the comparison of the first signature with the second signature.
US09098580B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating and using imbedded Shortcodes. An imbedded Shortcode (ISC) and Shortcode may be uniquely associated with a full name that identifies an item of interest. The Shortcode may be visually identified when the full name is displayed by the ISC, which is select characters of the full name that are visually distinguished from the other characters of the full name. Thus, subsequent reference to the associated full name and its item of interest may be identified simply by using the Shortcode instead of the full name. For example, a user of an electronic device may observe the full name with the ISC in a visual display, and sequentially enter the characters of the Shortcode from the ISC into the electronic device to obtain additional information regarding the item of interest.
US09098569B1
A user supplied search query is received. Historical search queries are identified that are relevant and/or similar to the user supplied search query. The identified historical queries are then ranked according to various factors. Suggested search queries that are relevant to the user supplied query are identified.
US09098561B2
In one embodiment, a processor includes multiple cores and a power control unit (PCU) coupled to the cores. The PCU has a stress detector to receive a voltage and a temperature at which the processor is operating and can calculate an effective reliability stress, maintain the effective reliability stress over multiple boot cycles of a computing system such as personal computer, server computer, tablet computer, smart phone or any other computing platform, and control one or more operating parameters of the processor based on the effective reliability stress. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09098555B2
A method and system is disclosed for monitoring the status of a system by providing a health score. A health scoring module accesses a configuration management database (CMDB) comprising a plurality of configuration items referencing physical, service and process information. A target value for each configuration item is decided, followed by collecting their current value. Comparison operations are then performed between each configuration item's current and target value and a health subscore is generated. The resulting health subscore is then indexed to its corresponding configuration item. Once indexed, a health score is generated from a predetermined plurality of health subscores.
US09098547B1
A device receives a search query, and transforms the search query into a transformed search query understood by a technical computing environment (TCE)-based search engine. The device determines information requested by the transformed search query, and selects one or more TCE models from a repository based on the information requested by the transformed search query. The device provides the information requested by the transformed search query to the selected one or more TCE models. The device executes the selected one or more TCE models, based on the information requested by the transformed search query, to generate an answer to the search query, and provides the answer for display.
US09098539B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for enabling access to a resource of a multi-tenant on-demand database service utilizing a token. These mechanisms and methods for enabling access to a resource of a multi-tenant on-demand database service utilizing a token can be utilized to prevent identification of a user attempting to access the resource, and thus unwanted use of the user's identity.
US09098538B2
A method, system, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to maintain multiple versions of structured views of data in a computer system. A relational database management system (RDBMS) is executed that stores master data in the computer system in master RDBMS tables. The master data is hierarchical in nature and hierarchy metadata for the master data is stored in the RDBMS tables. As part of a process and framework, a series of business rules and process workflows are maintained to manage the master data. Version tables are created in the RDBMS that correspond to each of the master RDBMS tables. Each of the version tables includes an attribute denoting version information. Versions of the master data are defined by replicating the master data and hierarchy metadata into the corresponding version tables. The version tables are used to graphically visualize, manage, and manipulate the versions of the master data.
US09098535B2
A global information management system (GIMS) includes a collection of standards and methods that allow information management on a global scale. A GIMS computer network includes a central registration database (CRD) and one or more GIMS computer systems connected over a network. Each GIMS computer system includes a relational database having a set of standardized tables. The CRD may provide a GIMS network-unique system ID to each GIMS computer system. Each GIMS computer system uses the GIMS network-unique system ID as part of a primary key for each record generated by and stored in the set of standardized tables of the GIMS database. The GIMS enables global database normalization through the globally unique identification of database records.
US09098531B2
A web-based digital file storage system is disclosed. The storage system may include a digital file repository for storing and retrieving digital files, such as photos, a digital tagging system configured to assign digital tags to the digital files, a sorting system, and a user interface.
US09098527B2
A method of managing files in a Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV)-embedded image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus that performs the method. The method includes receiving a connection request from the WebDAV client to manage at least one of a file and a directory stored in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus; receiving login information from the WebDAV client, authenticating the received login information of the WebDAV client, receiving a WebDAV command to control the at least one of the file and the directory from the authenticated WebDAV client, and executing a process with respect to the at least one of the file and the directory with reference to the received WebDAV command.
US09098525B1
A method and system for providing shared access to a target storage device by multiple clients through one or more network storage nodes. A network server includes control interfaces to the one or more storage nodes and executes logic processes that control the node processes. The logic processes contain definitions of the storage nodes, maps of which storage nodes have access to the desired target storage, and assigns the preferred storage nodes to the client upon request. Each storage node implements a dynamic volume sharing process that replaces existing monolithic daemon processes and allows for scalability of backup/restore operations and concurrent execution of different storage access operations and different types of storage access operations.
US09098503B1
An image review system presents an image to a reviewer and records reviewer feedback, including reviewer position indicators relating to portions of the image and reviewer commentary data, which can be audio, visual, textual, etc. The reviewer position indicators and reviewer commentary data each have a time component, corresponding to when the reviewer indicated a position on the image and when the reviewer provided the commentary, respectively. During playback, the viewer can select a subset of the image of interest and get a playback of the reviewer commentary data that corresponds to the times represented by the reviewer position indicators that fall within the selected subset of the image. The reviewer position indicators can be collectively indicated by a heat map that, when laid over the image, indicates which portions of the image are commented on and how much time is spent there.
US09098498B2
Information is exchanged between a mobile communications device and an automated information system. In one embodiment, the mobile communications device is equipped with a video display and a digital camera, and the automated information system is equipped with a video display and a graphical representation receiver. The automated information system displays a first graphical representation encoded with a first dataset. The mobile communications device captures an image of the first graphical representation, decodes the first dataset, processes the first dataset, generates a second dataset, encodes the second dataset in a second graphical representation, and displays the second graphical representation. The automated information system receives the second graphical representation, decodes the second dataset, and processes the second dataset. Examples of graphical representations include barcodes.
US09098494B2
Processes capable of accepting linguistic input in one or more languages are generated by re-using existing linguistic components associated with a different anchor language, together with machine translation components that translate between the anchor language and the one or more languages. Linguistic input is directed to machine translation components that translate such input from its language into the anchor language. Those existing linguistic components are then utilized to initiate responsive processing and generate output. Optionally, the output is directed through the machine translation components. A language identifier can initially receive linguistic input and identify the language within which such linguistic input is provided to select an appropriate machine translation component. A hybrid process, comprising machine translation components and linguistic components associated with the anchor language, can also serve as an initiating construct from which a single language process is created over time.
US09098493B2
A computer implemented method for performing sign language translation based on movements of a user is provided. A capture device detects motions defining gestures and detected gestures are matched to signs. Successive signs are detected and compared to a grammar library to determine whether the signs assigned to gestures make sense relative to each other and to a grammar context. Each sign may be compared to previous and successive signs to determine whether the signs make sense relative to each other. The signs may further be compared to user demographic information and a contextual database to verify the accuracy of the translation. An output of the match between the movements and the sign is provided.
US09098487B2
Examples disclosed herein relate to categorizing a target word based on word distance. A processor may determine a difference level threshold for a category based on difference levels between words associated with the category and determine difference levels between a target word and the words associated with the category. If one of the difference levels of the target word is below the threshold associated with the category, the processor outputs the category.
US09098485B2
A simulator for testing a wireless device includes at least one module capable of being connected with other modules. Each simulator module includes first and second sets of ports, combiners and a channel emulator. Each combiner provides a low insertion loss pathway between a common port and first and second ports of the combiner, and isolation between the first port and the second port of the combiner. The combiners allow interconnection of multiple modules, thereby scaling the number of devices that can be tested by the simulator at a given time.
US09098483B2
According to some embodiments, a system, method, means, and/or computer program code are provided to facilitate use of a spreadsheet application to access information stored in a multidimensional data source. Some embodiments include determining, at an add-in module, that a local member is to be attached to an attachment element of a report generated based on the multidimensional data source. The add-in module may receive a refresh indication from the spreadsheet application and dynamically update a reference in a spreadsheet cell based on a change associated with the attachment element.
US09098480B2
A mobile terminal is provided that includes a touch screen configured to display an e-book including one or more pages. The mobile terminal further includes a controller configured to set a bookmark on a selected page of the one or more pages when a touch input applied in a touch direction from an inner portion of the selected page toward an outer portion of the selected page is detected. The controller is further configured to generate and display a first type bookmark icon or a second type bookmark icon corresponding to the bookmark set on the selected page.
US09098477B2
A request for a web page is received at a proxy server. The request originates from a client network application of a client device. The requested web page includes multiple references to multiple images. The proxy server retrieves the requested web page. The proxy server modifies code of the retrieved web page such that the client network application will not, for each one of those images, initially request those images when parsing the page. The proxy server also adds code to the retrieved web page that, when executed by the client network application, causes at least two of the images to be requested with a single request. The proxy server transmits the modified web page to the client device.
US09098473B2
An out-space actuator is selected to access an out-space user interface for a document editor program. An out-space actuator is associated with an in-space user interface having a displayed document. When the out-space actuator is selected, an out-space user interface is displayed that includes an expanded feature selection surface.
US09098466B2
Techniques for switching between mirrored volumes are described. A system may comprise a multi-path device driver and a processor device, in communication with the multi-path device driver, operable in the computing storage environment. The processor device creates a copy relation identification (ID) between mirrored volumes for using the copy relation ID in conjunction with a multi-path device driver for switching input/output (I/O) for applications between a first path to a second path between the mirrored volumes.
US09098463B2
A computer network with distributed shared memory, including a clustered memory cache aggregated from and comprised of physical memory locations on a plurality of physically distinct computing systems. The network also includes a plurality of local cache managers, each of which are associated with a different portion of the clustered memory cache, and a metadata service operatively coupled with the local cache managers. Also, a plurality of clients are operatively coupled with the metadata service and the local cache managers. In response to a request issuing from any of the clients for a data item present in the clustered memory cache, the metadata service is configured to respond with identification of the local cache manager associated with the portion of the clustered memory cache containing such data item.
US09098461B2
A system and method are disclosed for servicing requests to create live snapshots of a plurality of virtual disks in a virtualized environment. In accordance with one example, a computer system issues one or more commands to create a first snapshot of a first virtual disk of a virtual machine and a second snapshot of a second virtual disk of the virtual machine while the virtual machine is running. The computer system determines that the creating of the second snapshot failed and, in response, destroys the first snapshot.
US09098460B2
A matrix calculation system for calculating funny matrix multiplication (FMM) of a matrix A and a matrix B, including: sequentially calculating a permutation of indices {ai} in which values are arranged in a non-decreasing order with respect to each i-th row where i=1 to the number of rows of the matrix A; storing a value, which is greater than expected as a value of a matrix, for C[i, j] with respect to each j-th column where j=1 to the number of columns of the matrix A in the i-th row; sequentially calculating a permutation of indices {bj} in which values are arranged in a non-decreasing order with respect to each j-th column where j=1 to the number of columns of the matrix B; and setting the values of C[i, j], which are i and j components of the matrix C.
US09098456B2
A system and method for reducing service latency includes dividing an information technology service for a customer into an infrastructure management service and a data management service. Data associated with the information technology service is stored in a backup memory. A set of infrastructure images related to the information technology service is stored at a cloud service provider. The infrastructure images are updated with software updates and hardware updates, as needed, and the data associated with the information technology service is updated through backup and restore mechanisms. The set of infrastructure images that have been updated with data with latest updates are started for recovery, continuity, testing, etc.
US09098452B2
Provided are a computer program product, method, and system for backing-up a volume of blocks of data in a storage system. Selection is received of selected files in a volume indicating files to backup. A determination is made from the selected files blocks in the files to backup. A volume backup map is generated indicating the determined blocks to backup. A file list of the selected files to backup and the volume backup map are stored in backup information for the backup. The blocks indicated to backup in the volume backup map are copied to a backup file on a block-by-block basis.
US09098444B2
In one embodiment, a method of coordinating data recovery in a storage stack with a hierarchy of layers includes, upon an input/output (I/O) request from a layer of the stack, issuing a help response to recover the data from a higher layer in hierarchy order. The method further includes processing the help response, at the higher layer, by issuing a return code of success or further help response to an even higher layer.
US09098443B2
Phase information of a rotation system is obtained by a) reading the present output value Sk, (k=0, . . . , N−1) of the sensor at a sequence of N points of time during a first period of a periodic modulation function (PHA,PHB,PHC, PHD), b) storing read output values Sk or a value derived from this output value at least temporarily in a memory, c) extracting information on the phase of the rotating system, wherein said information is extracted based on evaluation of a function of the type, wherein=and, and d) sampling and storing sequentially further output values Sk, k=N,N+1, . . . of the sensor at corresponding points of time in the following periods of the periodic modulation function (PHA,PHB,PHC, PHD). Each reading information on the phase of the rotating system based on the function is extracted and a controller device (100) for application of this technique.
US09098441B2
A method begins by a processing module generating an integrity check value for each encoded data slice of a set of encoded data slices to produce a set of integrity check values. The method continues with the processing module encoding the set of integrity check values to produce encoded integrity check values. The method continues with the processing module sending the encoded integrity check values for storage in a memory system.
US09098439B2
An approach to providing failure protection in a loosely-coupled cluster environment. A node in the cluster generates checkpoints of application data in a consistent state for an application that is running on a first node in the cluster. The node sends the checkpoint to one or more of the other nodes in the cluster. The node may also generate log entries of changes in the application data that occur between checkpoints of the application data. The node may send the log entries to other nodes in the cluster. The node may similarly receive external checkpoints and external log entries from other nodes in the cluster. In response to a node failure, the node may start an application on the failed node and recover the application using the external checkpoints and external log entries for the application.
US09098437B2
A mobile computing device with a mobile operating system and desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a shared kernel without virtualization. The mobile operating system provides a user experience for the mobile computing device that suits the mobile environment. The desktop operating system provides a full desktop user experience when the mobile computing device is docked to a secondary terminal environment. Applications of the desktop operating system communicate with applications and services of the mobile operating system through a cross-environment communication framework. The cross-environment communication framework may include interfaces to remotable objects allowing processes in the mobile operating system and processes in the desktop operating system to share memory in a thread-safe manner. The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile operating system and a full desktop Linux distribution on a modified Android kernel.
US09098435B1
A filter and method for finite impulse response filtering an input signal is described. In one embodiment, the filter includes an input circuit configured to receive input samples in parallel, where the parallel input samples correspond to sequential samples of the input signal. In another embodiment, the filter includes a coefficient memory configured to store filter response coefficients and output a subset of those coefficients corresponding to a selected decimation factor.
US09098433B1
Techniques for optimizing data storage are disclosed herein. In particular, methods and systems for implementing redundancy encoding schemes with data storage systems are described. The redundancy encoding schemes may be scheduled according to system and data characteristics. The schemes may span multiple tiers or layers of a storage system. The schemes may be generated, for example, in accordance with a transaction rate requirement, a data durability requirement or in the context of the age of the stored data. The schemes may be designed to rectify entropy-related effects upon data storage. The schemes may include one or more erasure codes or erasure coding schemes. Additionally, methods and systems for improving and/or accounting for failure correlation of various components of the storage system, including that of storage devices such as hard disk drives, are described.
US09098426B2
A multiplier of a binary number A by a binary number B may be configured to add each term AiBj with a left shift by i+j bits, where Ai is the bit of weight i of number A, and Bj the bit of weight j of number B. The multiplier may include a first counter associated with the number A and may count modulo n and be paced by a clock. The multiplier may include a second counter associated with the number B and paced by the clock. Switching circuitry may produce the terms AiBj by taking the content of the first and second counters respectively as weights i and j. Shifting circuitry is configured to shift the content of one of the first and second counters when the other counter has achieved a revolution.
US09098425B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing attachment of a user mode foreign device to a memory channel in a computer system. A user mode foreign device is attached to the memory channel using memory mapping of device registers and device buffers to the processor address space. The storage capacity on the device is doubly mapped in the address space creating separate control and data address spaces to allow user mode processes to control the device therefore eliminating the need for software system calls. A processor Memory Management Unit (MMU) coordinates multiple user processes accessing the device registers and buffers providing address space protection of each of interfaces, shifting device protection to the processor MMU from system software.
US09098424B2
Various embodiments for improving hash index key lookup caching performance in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, for a cached fingerprint map having a plurality of entries corresponding to a plurality of data fingerprints, reference count information is used to determine a length of time to retain the plurality of entries in cache. Those of the plurality of entries having a higher reference counts are retained longer than those having lower reference counts.
US09098415B2
A method and apparatus for enhancing/extending a serial point-to-point interconnect architecture, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is herein described. Temporal and locality caching hints and prefetching hints are provided to improve system wide caching and prefetching. Message codes for atomic operations to arbitrate ownership between system devices/resources are included to allow efficient access/ownership of shared data. Loose transaction ordering provided for while maintaining corresponding transaction priority to memory locations to ensure data integrity and efficient memory access. Active power sub-states and setting thereof is included to allow for more efficient power management. And, caching of device local memory in a host address space, as well as caching of system memory in a device local memory address space is provided for to improve bandwidth and latency for memory accesses.
US09098413B2
Aspects of the invention are provided to support partial file caching on a file system block boundary. All read requests are converted so that offset and count are aligned on a block boundary. Data associated with read requests is first satisfied from local cache, with cache misses supported with a call to persistent or remote system. Similarly, for a write request, any partial blocks are aligned to the block boundary. Data associated with the write request is performed on local cache and placed in a queue for replay to the persistent or remote system.
US09098411B1
In iterative decoding, a data recovery scheme corrects for corrupted or defective data by determining reliability metrics for blocks of decoded data. Block or windowed detectors generate block reliability metrics for data blocks (rather than individual bits) of decoded data using soft information from the regular decoding mode or from new iterative decoding iterations performed during error recovery mode. An error recovery system triggers corrective decoding of selected data blocks based on the block reliability metrics, by for example, comparing the block reliability metrics to a threshold or by selecting an adjustable number of the least reliable data blocks.
US09098390B2
A method of operation includes receiving, by a power supply with battery backup, a battery test command from a user interface on a remote device, switching the power supply to the battery backup in response to the battery test command, monitoring voltage and discharge current of the battery, determining that the battery has reached a threshold capacity due the battery discharge, terminating the battery discharge test and switching the power supply off of the battery backup. The battery backup test command received may be a one-click selection input at a user interface on the remote device where the battery test command is sent to the power supply in response to the one-click selection input. An apparatus that performs the method of operation is also disclosed.
US09098381B2
A modular arithmetic unit includes a first input generator receiving first data to generate a first operand; a second input generator receiving second data to generate a second operand; an accumulator performing an accumulate/shift operation to add the first and second operands and outputting the carry and sum; a carry propagation adder adding the carry and the sum to output a result; and a data handler receiving either external data or the result and outputting the first data and the second data.
US09098370B2
Various embodiments for improving application uninstallation from a computing device are described. In one or more embodiments, a scanning application may generate a files list that includes information about what other applications may use ancillary files. When an application is deleted, a user interface presents a list of ancillary files used by the deleted application and what other applications may use the ancillary files. The user may then select which ancillary files to delete along with the application. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09098369B1
A method for delivering and installing applications on media devices includes receiving a video file includes a video at a processor remote from the media devices; associating, at the processor, an in-video programming element with the video; receiving application access data for a mobile application; associating the application access data with the in-video programming element; receiving a request for displaying the on a first media device; providing the video and the in-video programming element to the first media device; receiving a signal to install the mobile application; and executing a mobile media device application installation process to install the mobile application.
US09098361B1
A system and method for enabling interoperability between an embedded object and an external application. A method may include modifying an original component included in a system to generate a modified component, the modified component adapted to intercept a call to create an instance of the embedded object; obtaining a reference to the instance of the embedded object; storing the reference in a pointers container; generating a representation of the instance based on information in the pointers container, and providing the representation to the external application.
US09098359B2
Executing a long running application while maintaining state of the application. A method includes identifying that a new event has taken place with respect to an execution of an orchestration. The method includes establishing the state of the orchestration by replaying the execution of the orchestration by replaying any previous state from a history of the execution of the orchestration. The method further includes executing a next instruction of the execution of the orchestration. The next instruction is an instruction coded in the orchestration to execute after items in the history have been replayed.
US09098358B2
A program (e.g., an operating system) is provided a warning that it has a grace period in which to perform a function, such as cleanup (e.g., complete, stop and/or move a dispatchable unit). The program is being warned, in one example, that it is losing access to its shared resources. For instance, in a virtual environment, a guest program is warned that it is about to lose its central processing unit resources, and therefore, it is to perform a function, such as cleanup.
US09098355B2
An executable program compiled according to a source instruction set architecture (source ISA) is loaded for execution by a target instruction set architecture (target ISA)-based hardware execution unit, wherein the source and target ISA's are different. The loading includes mapping a compiler built-in helper function in the executable program to a target ISA machine instruction. The loaded program is then executed. As part of the execution, the helper function is replaced with the target ISA machine instruction to which the helper function was mapped, and the target ISA machine instruction is executed rather than the helper function.
US09098350B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for adaptive auto-pipelining of a stream processing application, wherein the stream processing application includes one or more threads. Runtime of the stream processing application is initiated with a stream processing application manager. The stream processing application is monitored with a monitoring module during the runtime, wherein the monitoring of the stream processing application includes identifying threads in the stream processing application that execute operators in a data flow graph, and determining an amount of work that each of the threads are performing on operators of the logical data flow graph. A processor identifies one or more operators in the data flow graph to add one or more additional threads based on the monitoring of the stream processing application during the runtime.
US09098343B2
A method and system for managing allocation of tasks to a plurality of crowdsourcing arms is disclosed. The method includes distributing a set of tasks to the plurality of crowdsourcing arms based on a predefined condition. In response to the distributing, a verification data corresponding to the plurality of crowdsourcing arms is received after a predefined interval. The predefined condition is then updated based on the verification data received. Further, the set of tasks among the plurality of crowdsourcing arms are redistributed based on the updated predefined condition.
US09098341B2
A service manager that facilitates managing requests that are obtained at a middleware tier of a communications network includes a monitor component that evaluates data associated with effectuating a request that is received at a middleware tier. The monitor component identifies resources associated with effectuating the request. Additionally, the service manager includes a request component that accepts and/or rejects the request based at least in part upon the identified resources.
US09098332B1
Circuitry for performing arithmetic operations on a plurality of inputs efficiently performs both fixed-point operations and floating-point operations. Each of at least first and second respective operator circuits operates on a respective subplurality of the plurality of inputs. Other circuitry selectively interconnects the respective operator circuits so that they can operate together or separately, according to user selection, on selected ones of (a) the full plurality of inputs, (b) individual ones of the respective subpluralities of the plurality of inputs, or (c) combinations of portions of the respective subpluralities of the plurality of inputs. At least one of the respective operator circuits includes circuits for simultaneously computing multiple different results and for selecting among the multiple different results based on an output of another one of the respective operator circuits. One or more of the multiple different results are selectably usable to perform both fixed-point operations and floating-point operations.
US09098327B2
A method, apparatus, and computer readable article of manufacture for executing a transaction by a processor apparatus that includes a plurality of hardware threads. The method includes the steps of: executing, by the processor apparatus using the plurality of hardware threads, a main software thread for executing the transaction and a helper software thread for executing a barrier function; and deciding, by the processor apparatus, whether or not the barrier function is required to be executed when the main software thread encounters a transactional load or store operation that requires the main software thread to read or write data.
US09098326B1
We describe a high-level computational framework especially well suited to parallel operations on large datasets. In a system in accordance with this framework, there is at least one, and generally several, instances of an architecture deployment as further described. We use the term “architecture deployment” herein to mean a cooperating group of processes together with the hardware on which the processes are executed. This is not to imply a one-to-one association of any process to particular hardware. To the contrary, as detailed below, an architecture deployment may dynamically spawn another deployment as appropriate, including provisioning needed hardware. The active architecture deployments together form a system that dynamically processes jobs requested by a user-customer, in accordance with customer's monetary budget and other criteria, in a robust and automatically scalable environment.
US09098325B2
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to a persistent volume at an offset of a virtual block device of a storage server. Example embodiments include requesting that a persistent volume be dissociated from a virtual block device in response to the termination of a virtual machine.
US09098322B2
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may comprise instructions for managing a server template stored thereon. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause at least one computing system to at least convert the server template to a corresponding virtual machine, manage the corresponding virtual machine, and convert the corresponding virtual machine back into a template format.
US09098319B2
An improved technique for inserting reference count code in a garbage collection technique. When there are two or more successor basic blocks to a basic block, a given variable is live at the entry of one or more of the successor basic blocks, and the variable is dead in another basic block S, a new basic block is inserted between the original basic block and a successor basic block in which the variable is dead, and RC− related to the variable is generated in the new basic block.
US09098306B2
An image forming apparatus which executes a program and updates the program, and is provided with an updating part configured to store a program prior to updating or a copy of the program prior to the updating and to generate an updating program by executing an updating process of the program, to thereby set the updating program as a boot target, a boot judging part configured to judge whether or not a booting of the updating program was successful and to record information indicating a result of judgement in a storage part, and a restoring part configured to confirm whether or not the booting of the updating program was successful based on the information, and to set the stored, program prior to the updating, as the boot target, if the booting of the updating program failed.
US09098304B2
Device enumeration support techniques are described for busses that do not natively support enumeration. In one or more embodiments, an intermediate controller of a computing device is configured to interconnect and manage various hardware devices associated with the computing device. The intermediate controller may detect connection and disconnection of hardware devices in association with one or more communication busses employed by the computing device. In response to such detection, the intermediate controller may send appropriate notifications to an operating system to alert the operating system when hardware devices come and go. This enables the operating system to enumerate and denumerate hardware devices within a device configuration and power management system implemented by the operating system that facilitates interaction with the hardware devices through corresponding representations.
US09098302B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to improve system boot speed. A disclosed example method includes associating a first serial peripheral interface (SPI) with a baseboard management controller (BMC), copying an image from the first SPI to a volatile memory in response to receiving power at the BMC, and in response to receiving an access request associated with the first SPI, providing access to the image stored in the volatile memory.
US09098295B2
The described embodiments provide a processor that executes vector instructions. In the described embodiments, while dispatching instructions at runtime, the processor encounters an Actual instruction. Upon determining that a result of the Actual instruction is predictable, the processor dispatches a prediction micro-operation associated with the Actual instruction, wherein the prediction micro-operation generates a predicted result vector for the Actual instruction. The processor then executes the prediction micro-operation to generate the predicted result vector. In the described embodiments, when executing the prediction micro-operation to generate the predicted result vector, if the predicate vector is received, for each element of the predicted result vector for which the predicate vector is active, otherwise, for each element of the predicted result vector, generating the predicted result vector comprises setting the element of the predicted result vector to true.
US09098293B2
A method for a discrete event simulation model of a system utilizing a just-in-time compilation for one or more code blocks associated with an event in one or more discrete event simulation models is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the event in a discrete event simulation model according to a kind of event, retrieving the code block associated with the event, compiling the code block into an object file using a compiler, linking the object file with a predetermined function in a simulation library, compiling the object file and the predetermined function into a customized dynamic link library, loading the customized dynamic link library (DLL) within a discrete event simulation program execution and linking the customized DLL to a simulation program. The method allows user entered logic to be executed in high speed by integrating a just-in-time compiler embedded into the simulation model to allow dynamic generation of high speed code blocks within one or more simulations.
US09098292B1
A device receives a model that includes blocks and lines provided between the blocks, and identifies first candidate boundaries for the model. Each of the first candidate boundaries defines a group of blocks. The device generates an intermediate representation (IR) of the model, performs an optimization of the IR to generate an optimized IR, and identifies second candidate boundaries for the model based on the optimized IR. Each of the second candidate boundaries defines a group of blocks, and the first and second candidate boundaries define a set of candidate boundaries. The device reduces the set of candidate boundaries, to a reduced set of boundaries, based on code efficiency metrics or metrics associated with a hardware platform. The device generates code for the model based on the reduced set of boundaries, and outputs the code.
US09098288B1
Exemplary embodiments provide an interactive tool that allows users to design and evaluate storage mechanisms while program code executes. For example, an embodiment uses compact histogram density scales (CHDS's) to display count information for bins making up the storage mechanism (e.g., a register). The user can determine whether counts are within a desirable range, exceeding an overflow threshold, or exceeding an underflow threshold for a bin. Embodiments allow the user to observe overflow/underflow thresholds, signedness, word lengths, fraction lengths, etc., while program code that interacts with the register executes.
US09098284B2
A method and apparatus for disabling ways of a cache memory in response to history based usage patterns is herein described. Way predicting logic is to keep track of cache accesses to the ways and determine if an access to some ways are to be disabled to save power, based upon way power signals having a logical state representing a predicted miss to the way. One or more counters associated with the ways count accesses, wherein a power signal is set to the logical state representing a predicted miss when one of said one or more counters reaches a saturation value. Control logic adjusts said one or more counters associated with the ways according to the accesses.
US09098282B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to manage power consumption at a graphics engine. An example method to manage power usage of a graphics engine via an application level interface includes obtaining a policy directive for the graphics engine via the application level interface, the policy directive identifying a threshold corresponding to power consumed by the graphics engine operating in a first graphics state. The example method also includes determining a power consumed by the graphics engine during operation. The example method also includes comparing the power consumed to the threshold of the policy directive, and when the threshold is met, setting the graphics engine in a second graphics state to cause the graphics engine to comply with the policy directive.
US09098278B1
A method and apparatus is provided wherein a server is powered by a battery connected to a charging circuit. The voltage output by the battery is monitored and when it falls below a threshold, a determination is made that the battery is being depleted. In response to the determination, the server is brought into a reduced power consumption state or a data saving state.
US09098277B2
An IHS configuration system includes a plurality of IHS components including a processor system having a first maximum load current. A power system controller is coupled to the plurality of IHS components and operable to couple to a power supply. The power system controller is operable to retrieve a power output limit of the power system and determine a first system power budget for the plurality of IHS components using the first maximum load current of the processor system. The power system controller then determines whether the first system power budget exceeds the power output limit and, in response to the first system power budget exceeding the power output limit, the power system controller provides a second maximum load current for the processor system to create a second system power budget that does not exceed the power output limit.
US09098276B2
A redundant power supply method is provided. The method includes communicatively coupling a load to a first source via a plurality of first power supplies and to a second source via a plurality of second power supplies. The method further includes bi-directionally communicatively coupling a controller to the plurality of first power supplies and to the plurality of second power supplies. The method includes activating a first portion of the plurality of first power supplies to supply power to the load, wherein the controller determines the number (“N”) of first power supplies activated, and activating at least one of the plurality of second power supplies to supply power to the load. The method also includes monitoring for at least one fault condition in each of the active first power supplies and in each of the active second power supplies.
US09098274B2
Embodiments of an apparatus for improving performance for events handling are presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a number of processing elements and task routing logic. If at least one of the processing elements is in a turbo mode, the task routing logic selects a processing element for executing a task based at least on a comparison of performance losses.
US09098272B2
An automatic load detection system. A first reference signal that may be known apriori can be used for load detection. For example, the first reference signal may be used for invisible portion of a frame. The DAC receives the first reference signal and outputs a signal that is based on the first reference signal. The output of the DAC may have two known values depending on whether the load is coupled to the DAC, e.g., by having a different impedance. Thus, the output signal may be used for detecting whether the load is uncoupled from the DAC. If it is determined that the load is uncoupled from the DAC, the clocking signal to the DAC may be turned off. Thus, DAC no longer consumes power when the load is uncoupled, thereby saving power.
US09098269B2
A language extension that advances safety in system programming in that an entire type may be declared to be immutable in the case in which all instances of that type are immutable. The immutable type declaration automatically causes any instances of that type to be treated as immutable, and automatically causes all directly or indirectly reachable members (e.g., fields, methods, properties) of the instance to also be treated as immutable. Furthermore, any construction time reference that allows for field assignment of the instance is not permitted to survive beyond the point at which the instance becomes accessible to its creator. Accordingly, this instance, and any other instance of that same type, will be immutable from the very time of construction. The ability to classify all such instances as immutable is beneficial as the immutable characteristic permits actions that normally would not be allowed due to resource access safety.
US09098268B2
A system and method for fencing memory accesses. Memory loads can be fenced, or all memory access can be fenced. The system receives a fencing instruction that separates memory access instructions into older accesses and newer accesses. A buffer within the memory ordering unit is allocated to the instruction. The access instructions newer than the fencing instruction are stalled. The older access instructions are gradually retired. When all older memory accesses are retired, the fencing instruction is dispatched from the buffer.
US09098266B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for a token management application. A data block tokenization call to a data layer service fails when a data store is unavailable. The token management application issues a temporary data token to the service calling the data layer service. The token management application completes the data block tokenization call on behalf of the service to obtain a valid data token. The valid data token is then communicated to services having the temporary data token.
US09098256B2
The disclosure provides a motherboard module, which includes a motherboard, a cover, a plurality of raised posts and a plurality of plates. The cover covers the motherboard thereon and a first space is formed by the cover and the motherboard. The raised posts are disposed in the first space. The plates are detachably assembled to the raised posts and connected between any two adjacent raised posts so as to partition the first space into a plurality of second spaces. The plates and the raised posts can restrict the heat generated by the heat sources at different limited areas, which is advantageous for the cooling air-flow to cool the heat sources and the motherboard module thereby has better cooling performance.
US09098254B2
An information handling system accepts a storage device in a bay that interfaces through a standardized connector having a first set of pins, such as a SATA connector. The standardized connector has a second set of pins inserted within the standardized footprint to support communication by devices other the storage device. For example, a SATA connect shares one or more of its standardized pins with a USB connector so that one common connector within an information handling system bay supports multiple types of devices.
US09098252B2
A fastener useable with a peripheral component interconnect riser cage is provided herein. The fastener includes a body, a rotation limiter, and a housing. The body includes an engagement end that engages with a receptacle on a sub-pan and a cap end that positions the body. The rotation limiter includes a receiving member and a positioning member. The receiving member couples with the body. The positioning member extends from the rotation limiter to limit rotation of the body coupled thereto. The housing receives the rotation limiter and the body. The housing includes a rotation aperture that receives a positioning member such that the rotation limiter is rotatable along the rotation aperture. The housing further includes a lateral aperture to receive the body such that the body is inserted through the lateral aperture and coupled to the rotation limiter.
US09098238B2
A protective case for an electronic device may have flexible components in impact areas, such as corners of the case, where the case may be designed to flex. In many embodiments, a gap may exist between the protective case and the electronic device, and impact to the case may be absorbed by the protective case before damaging the electronic device. In some embodiments, the protective case may be manufactured from a two shot molding process where a hard plastic case may have overmolded thermoplastic elastomer. Some embodiments may have two case portions that may be joined to enclose a device. Other embodiments may be a single case that snaps over a device. Still other embodiments may be a permanently attached cover that attaches using fasteners or snap features.
US09098234B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a cooling fan in the housing including an intake and a discharge hole, and a wind shielding portion between the intake of the cooling fan and the discharge hole of the cooling fan. The wind shielding portion partitions at least partially an inner space of the housing.
US09098228B2
In a method for determining content rendering capabilities of one or more web browsers, a computer receives an indication of an event affecting one or more content rendering capabilities of a first web browser of one or more web browsers. The computer, in response to receiving the indication of the event affecting the one or more content rendering capabilities of the first web browser, determines the one or more content rendering capabilities of the first web browser. The computer updates a data file responsive to the determination of the one or more content rendering capabilities of the first web browser.
US09098226B2
A script language compatible with HTML is used to define methods or objects capable of communicating directly with an intelligent module for printing operations without going through a web browser's print selection option. A print API library provides the needed methods/objects for embedding into a web page. The intelligent module may be a stand-alone electronic device, or may be an intelligent device incorporated into a printer. The intelligent module may manage multiple printers directly or through a network, and it functions to provide a communication bridge for translating/conveying communication between the print APIs on a web page and a target printer. The print API knows the fixed IP address of the intelligent module, and define a print document or print commands and send it directly to the intelligent module by means of the known IP address.
US09098201B2
A command is received to alter data storage in a cluster, along with parameters for executing the command. Information is obtained relating to one or more volumes in the cluster and information relating to devices in the cluster. A formal description of a placement function is generated that maps one or more object identifiers to a storage device set. Placement function code is generated by compiling the formal description of the placement function to computer-executable code.
US09098198B2
A keyboard is provided having 26 letters assigned to only 17 to 21 keys, and preferably 21 keys. This advantageous system of typing makes use of either one or two hands. The 26 letters of the English alphabet are all displayed. Five keys have two letters—those letters are PQ, JK, UW, VX and YZ for a total of ten letters. Sixteen keys have one letter assigned to each key—namely the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, O, N, R, S and T for a total of sixteen letters assigned to a specific key—for a total of 26 letters.
US09098197B2
An operation apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a touch panel, an instruction detection unit, a different language acceptance unit, and a character string changing unit. The different language acceptance unit displays a language switching key including a character string in a different language corresponding to the first character string in the vicinity of the first character string displayed on a setting item key identified by the changing instruction thus detected, such that an input operation thereon can be accepted by the touch panel, upon detection of the changing instruction by the instruction detection unit. The character string changing unit, upon detection of an input operation to the language switching key by the touch panel, changes the language of the first character string and the second character string to character strings in a predetermined different language.
US09098192B2
A display device comprises a display panel including a display region configured to display one or more image objects and an overscan region configured to prevent the display of images within the overscan region, a touchscreen panel overlying the display region and the overscan region configured to detect and generate engagement data indicative of detected engagement, and a computer processor configured to access first engagement data, determine that the first engagement data reflects engagement with at least one portion of the touchscreen panel correspondingly overlapping with the overscan region, identify a first particular engagement input type based on the first engagement data, and instruct the display panel to invoke the display of the one or more image objects in the display region or to change the display of the one or more image objects in the display region.
US09098191B2
A sketch processing system is described herein for assisting a user in producing a drawing. In one implementation, the sketch processing system operates by: receiving ink strokes in response to creation of an original drawing; recognizing components and geometric constraints within the original drawing, to produce a recognized drawing; beautifying the original drawing by modifying at least one aspect of the recognized drawing in accordance with the recognized constraints, to produce a beautified drawing; and recognizing a recurring pattern in the beautified pattern (if any) and using that pattern to produce at least one added component to the beautified drawing.
US09098189B2
An electronic device is disclosed for use with a touch-sensitive display. The electronic device includes a processor that displays indicia on the touch-sensitive display that can be touch selected by a user, and defines a size and location of a plurality of selection zones on the touch-sensitive display that are each associated with different ones of the indicia. The processor identifies a first one of the selection zones that has been selected by the user on the touch-sensitive display, and outputs a first one of the indicia that is associated with the first selection zone. The processor changes the size of a second one of the selection zones in response to it being associated with a second one of the indicia that is more likely to be selected next following selection of the first selection zone associated with the first indicia than at least another one of the selection zones. Related methods of operating an electronic device are disclosed.
US09098183B2
Example embodiments relate to drag and drop application launches within a user interface (UI). In example embodiments, a command is received by which a UI object currently displayed in a window of a first application is dragged from the window and dropped onto a home screen of an operating system. A second application suitable for displaying an object type of the UI object is then identified. Finally, the second application is launched in a new window in response to the drop of the UI object on the home screen, such that the new window displays the UI object.
US09098175B1
A location system and method receives a location to be displayed on a diagrammatic map, determines the relative position of the location to nearby map features on the diagrammatic map and using that relative position, displays the location on the diagrammatic map.
US09098174B1
Systems and methods for expanding the functionality of a browser URL input box are provided. A first input is received from a navigation field at a browser. An input type of the first input is determined. A plurality of repositories are searched for one or more browser extensions based on the input type. A set of browser extension results are displayed within the navigation field based on a confidence score associated with each repository of the plurality of repositories. The confidence score indicates a probability of a user's intent to use a browser extension included in the browser extension results.
US09098166B2
Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. Overlaid, information-bearing windows whose contents remain unchanged for a predetermined period of time become translucent. The translucency can be graduated so that, over time, if the window's contents remain unchanged, the window becomes more translucent. In addition to visual translucency, windows also have a manipulative translucent quality. Upon reaching a certain level of visual translucency, user input in the region of the window is interpreted as an operation on the underlying objects rather than the contents of the overlaying window.
US09098165B2
A method includes monitoring an activity stream to identify actions that match stored sponsored story specifications, for providing one or more sponsored stories to a viewing user. The sponsored story specifications include a visual specification for the sponsored story, and matched sponsored stories are ranked for a viewing user. Users can set privacy preferences related to sponsored stories. The ranking and privacy settings contribute to which sponsored stories are provided for display to the viewing user.
US09098150B2
A dual light-source position detecting system for use in touch screens is provided that utilizes parallax to determine the position of an interposing object, and a prismatic film that is brightly retroreflective over a broad entrance angle to enhance to accuracy of the parallax determination of position. The position detecting system includes at least one camera positioned to receive light radiation traversing a detection area and that generates a signal representative of an image; two spaced-apart sources of light radiation, which may be LEDs, or IR emitters positioned adjacent to the camera for outputting light radiation that overlaps over at least a portion of a detection area, and a prismatic film positioned along a periphery of at least a portion of the detection area that retroreflects the light radiation from the two sources to the camera.
US09098148B2
A method for touch detection that is performed by a touch processor in an optical touch detection system is provided. The method includes receiving an image of an illuminated surface in the optical touch detection system, wherein the image is captured by a camera in the optical touch detection system, identifying a set of candidate touch locations in the image, classifying the candidate touch locations in the set of candidate touch locations to generate a set of validated candidate touch locations, wherein classifying the candidate touch locations includes using a machine learning classifier to classify each candidate touch location as valid or invalid, wherein the machine learning classifier is trained to classify a candidate touch location based on a combination of features of the candidate touch location, and outputting a set of final touch locations.
US09098145B2
The present disclosure discloses a touch-screen liquid crystal display, comprising: an array substrate, a counter substrate provided opposite to the array substrate, spacers and liquid crystal between the array substrate and the counter substrate, an induction read-out circuit and a scanning circuit; the counter substrate is provided thereon with an upper electrode plate, and the array substrate is provided thereon with a lower electrode plate; the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate form an induction capacitor; the array substrate comprises a touch unit provided within a pixel region; the drain electrode of the photosensitive TFT is connected to the lower electrode plate, and the drain electrode of the photosensitive TFT is also connected to the scanning circuit; and an output-signal line of the touch unit is connected to the induction read-out circuit.
US09098144B1
Embodiments of optical navigation modules (ONM) and methods of operating the same to block auto-movement due to ambient light are described. Generally, the method includes: (i) collecting a plurality of PD signal samples from a photodiode (PD) in an optical navigation module (ONM); (ii) determining a peak-to-peak variation (ΔPD) in the plurality of PD signal samples; (iii) comparing the peak-to-peak variation (ΔPD) to a specified threshold peak-to-peak variation (ΔPDSPEC); and (iv) if ΔPD is less than ΔPDSPEC, suppressing reporting of motion data derived from signals from a photodetector array (PDA) in the ONM to block auto-movement in an output from the ONM. Other embodiments are also described.
US09098139B2
An input device comprises a display, a plurality of sensor electrodes, and a processing system. The plurality of sensor electrodes is configured to detect an input object in a sensing region of the input device. The sensing region overlaps the display. The processing system is coupled with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The processing system is configured for: acquiring a capacitive image from the plurality of sensor electrodes; and correlating a part of the capacitive image with at least one input object template image to determine a type of an input object interacting with the input device.
US09098133B2
Tools (systems, apparatuses, methodologies, computer program products, etc.) for pairing electronic devices including touchscreen-enabled electronic devices, and for facilitating communication between paired electronic devices.
US09098132B2
In a Line On Glass (LOG) type Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating the same, LOGs and Outer Lead Bonding (OLB) lines are designed in a parallel structure, and a structure of contact holes within Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) pads and bumpers of Integrated Circuits (ICs) changes, so as to prevent a broken fault due to corrosion and scratch, resulting in improvement of quality of an image displayed on the LCD device.
US09098131B2
Discussed is an input system that includes a sensor panel including plural first and second channels intersecting each other, a stylus pen including a first core and a second core divided from each other, a primary coil and a secondary coil wound on the first and second cores, an elastic member interposed between the first core and the second core, a resonant capacitor and a switch connected to the secondary coil in series, and a conductive tip connected to the primary coil, a ground unit connected to the stylus pen, an antenna loop formed at the edge area of the sensor panel, and a touch controller connected to the first and second channels and the antenna loop.
US09098129B2
A hand-held device can communicate with at least one electronic device via a communicating platform. The hand-held device includes a location database, at least one orientation device, a computing module, a comparing module, a control unit, and a transmitting module. The at least one orientation device detects a direction information related to the pointed-to electronic device relative to the hand-held device. The location database stores a location information related to the position of each electronic device relative to the hand-held device. The computing module can calculate a pointed-to location information related to the position of the pointed-to electronic device relative to the hand-held device based on the direction information. The comparing module can distinguish the pointed-to electronic device by comparing the pointed-to location information with the location information in the location database.
US09098118B2
A computer pointer control device includes a support base and a keyboard. The device includes a structure configured to reduce friction between the support base and an underlying surface. A wrist support is positioned on the support base, configured to receive a user's wrist thereon such that keys of the keyboard are under the fingers of the user's hand, while the user is able to slide the device over the underlying surface by applying lateral pressure to the wrist support. A position tracking mechanism coupled to the device detects horizontal movement of the base over the underlying surface and transmit a signal to an associated computer to control an on-screen pointer. The keyboard includes a column of special use keys between the right- and left-hand keys, for easy access to selected functions.
US09098115B2
A computer-implemented method for manipulating graphics objects within a display viewed by an end-user is disclosed. The method involves: receiving motion information generated in response to the end-user moving an object that is external to the display; determining at least one zone of motion in which the end-user moves the object; determining a first motion type associated with the movement of the object within the at least one zone of motion; and based on the at least one zone of motion and the first motion type, determining at least one change to a viewpoint associated with one or more graphics objects displayed to the end-user within the display. The at least one change to the viewpoint causes an alteration in how the one or more graphics objects are displayed to the end-user within the display.
US09098112B2
The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein enables 3D viewing on conventional 2D displays such as home television sets by tracking a person's viewpoint. Detecting a player's viewpoint movement to change the viewing of the displayed object gives the illusion that the object is physically present in three-dimensional space. Viewpoint movement detection can provide collision-related game logic benefits such as allowing a player to dodge projectiles, giving a game character an ability to “see” the player when not behind line-of-sight obstacles, and other advantages.
US09098104B2
A low drop out voltage regulator comprising: a transistor having an input node, an output node, and a control node; a differential amplifier having an output connected to the control node of the transistor and having a first input node; and a feedback capacitor connected between the output node of the transistor and the first input of the differential amplifier, wherein a voltage at the output of the transistor is dependent on a charge across the feedback capacitor.
US09098102B2
A reference voltage generating circuit includes a first switching element having a first end connected to a first terminal, and a second end short-circuited to a control end thereof, and a second switching element having a first end, a second end connected to the second end of the first switching element, and a control end to which a bias voltage is applied. The reference voltage generating circuit further includes a third switching element having a first end short-circuited to a control end thereof and connected to a reference voltage output terminal, and a second end connected to the first end of the second switching element, a bias voltage generating section, and a fourth switching element having a first end connected to a second terminal, a second end to which the bias voltage is applied, and a control end connected to the control end of the third switching element.
US09098097B2
An integrated circuit die includes multiple temperature sensor units each for measuring the temperature of respective regions of a semiconductor substrate of the integrated circuit die. The temperature sensor units are each coupled to a multiplexer by respective groups of signal lines. The signal lines include resistance compensation areas for maintaining a particular ratio of resistances of the signal lines of each group.
US09098089B2
A media alignment device is described. The device comprises: a media drive turret including a drive member; and a controller. The controller is operable to: receive information about a lateral position of a media item as the media item is transported longitudinally along a transport path, rotate the media drive turret to an angular position required to drive the media item to an aligned position, and activate the drive member to move the media item in a direction transverse to the transport path.
US09098086B2
A system for controlling a first machine performing a turn includes a controller configured to identify a desired turn for the first machine. The desired turn is formed by two adjacent traffic lanes. The two traffic lanes include a first traffic lane and a second traffic lane. The controller is further configured to receive information regarding a second machine and determine whether to control the first machine to follow a lane crossing path for performing the desired turn based on the received information. The lane crossing path includes a portion of the first traffic lane and a portion of the second traffic lane such that the first machine changes between the first traffic lane and the second traffic lane to perform the desired turn.
US09098080B2
Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle are described. A mechanical control system can receive manual inputs from a mechanical operation member to operate the vehicle in manual mode. An actuator can receive autonomous control signals generated by a controller. When the actuator is engaged, it operates the vehicle in an autonomous mode, and when disengaged, the vehicle is operated in manual mode. Operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode can include automatically controlling steering, braking, throttle, and transmission. A system may also allow the vehicle to be operated via remote command.
US09098070B2
A timepiece, including a main mechanism operable to indicate time, the main mechanism positioned upon or within a face of the timepiece; a first counter including a first operation mechanism, the first counter appearing upon or within the face; a second counter including a second operation mechanism, the second counter appearing upon or within the face; and a third counter including a third operation mechanism, the third counter appearing upon or within the face. When the timepiece is in operation, the first operation mechanism, the second operation mechanism, and the third operation mechanism each have an operation status differing from one another. When the timepiece is in operation, the first operation mechanism, the second operation mechanism, and the third operation mechanism maintain a continuous time loop prior to resetting one or more of the first operation mechanism, the second operation mechanism, and/or the third operation mechanism.
US09098057B2
An electrode for an image forming apparatus, the electrode including: an elastically deformable spring portion including a wire which is spirally wound and formed in a tube shape; an electrical contact portion provided continuously to the spring portion at one side in an axial direction of the spring portion, including the wire which is wound at least twice, and formed in an annular shape, where a center axis of the annular shape extends in an intersecting direction which intersects with the axial direction of the spring portion; and an extending portion provided continuously to the electrical contact portion and extending at least in the intersecting direction.
US09098054B2
Disclosed are an interlock switch mechanism and an image formation device. The interlock switch mechanism comprising a main body; a first link rod which is disposed on the main body, and may swing by centering on a supporting point, wherein, a supporting shaft is disposed at one end of the first link rod; a second link rod which is supported by the supporting shaft, wherein, two ends of the second link rod may swing by centering on the supporting shaft; an action part which, under a second force, may touch one end of the second link rod so as to cause another end of the second link rod to swing toward an actuator; and a stroke extension mechanism which, under a first force, may cause the first link rod to swing so as to cause the other end of the second link rod to swing toward the actuator.
US09098053B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a drawer; a plurality of cartridges; a contact member; and an urging member. The main frame includes a cover and a positioning portion. The cover is movable between a closed position covering the opening and an open position exposing an opening of the main frame. The drawer is movable relative to the main frame in a prescribed direction. The plurality of cartridges is detachably mounted in the drawer. The contact member is configured to contact the drawer in response to the movement of the cover to the closed position. The urging member is disposed between the cover and the contact member. The urging member is configured to urge the contact member toward the drawer in response to the movement of the cover to the closed position such that the drawer is pressed against the positioning portion.
US09098048B2
A transmission device for a photosensitive drum includes a sleeve having at least one guiding groove, a transmission unit having a shaft disposed in the sleeve and capable of moving and rotating at the same time, an elastic member, and a gear member receiving the sleeve and the elastic member so that the elastic member exerts elastic force on the shaft of the transmission unit. The transmission unit has two engagement blocks and a receiving space between them. Each engagement block has an inclined outer surface, an inner surface, an inclined top surface and an engagement concave connecting the inner and outer surfaces. The engagement concaves are opened toward opposite directions for engagement with two pillars of a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus respectively. As a result, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly.
US09098043B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body and fixes a developer image onto a recording medium; a setting unit that is provided in the fixing device and in which a size of a recording medium to be used in the fixing device is set; an acquiring unit that is provided in the apparatus body and acquires size information of a recording medium onto which the developer image is to be fixed; a determining unit that compares the size of the recording medium set in the setting unit with the size of the recording medium acquired by the acquiring unit so as to determine whether or not a fixing process is performable by the fixing device; and a notifying unit that at least provides notification of a negative determination result obtained by the determining unit.
US09098039B1
A roller-shaped rotator includes an endless belt and a roller-shaped base member. The roller-shaped base member is formed by winding a thin plate material plural times through elastic deformation into a roller shape. The roller-shaped base member is inserted into the endless belt, and brought into press contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt by an elastic repulsive force due to the deformation. The roller-shaped base member is supported at both end portions in an axial direction so as to be rotatable about an axis of the roller-shaped base member.
US09098034B2
In order to suppress excessive temperature rise at a non-sheet-passing region while suppressing the deterioration of fixability in case of heating small size sheets, a heater includes a first heat-generation line and a second heat-generation line, which are independently controllable, wherein the first heat-generation line is configured so that a plurality of heat-generation resistors having positive resistance-temperature characteristics is electrically connected in parallel to each other between a first electro-conductive element and a second electro-conductive element, and the heat-generation resistors are adjusted so that a heat-generation amount per unit length of the first heat-generation line in a lengthwise direction of the heater decreases from a recording material conveyance reference towards a end portion in the lengthwise direction, and an image heating device having the heater.
US09098030B2
An image forming apparatus having: an endless fixing belt; a heating member heating the fixing belt; a support member maintaining the fixing belt substantially circular; a pressing member in contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip portion; a temperature sensor; a position detector; a storage storing temperatures and positions of the fixing belt detected by the temperature sensor and the position detector; and a control unit. The control unit is operable in a characteristic storing mode and in a fixing mode. In the characteristic storing mode, temperatures of the fixing belt associated with positions are detected, and the detected temperatures and positions are stored in the storage. In the fixing mode, temperatures of the fixing nip portion are predicted with reference to the temperatures and positions stored in the storage, and the heating member is controlled such that the predicted temperatures become a target temperature.
US09098026B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a sheet of paper; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image formed on the sheet of paper by heat; a power control unit for, when power to be supplied to the fixing unit is increased, determining an amount of increase of the power; and a current limiting unit for determining whether current consumption of the image forming apparatus exceeds an upper limit value in response to an increase of the amount of increase determined by the power control unit and, if it is determined that the current consumption exceeds the upper limit value, decreasing the amount of increase of the power determined by the power control unit.
US09098020B2
An image forming apparatus includes transferring current to the transfer portion; a cleaning blade, provided downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of an image forming station with respect to a rotational moving direction of an intermediary transfer member, for removing toner from the intermediary transfer member; an executing portion for executing an operation in a cleaning mode for removing the toner by the cleaning blade, in which a cleaning current is applied to a transfer portion in a direction opposite to that of an image transferring current to shift the toner from the transfer roller onto the intermediary transfer member; and a controller for setting the cleaning current, in which the set cleaning current is lower when a cumulative number of fed recording materials from the execution of the previous cleaning mode is larger.
US09098016B2
A roller includes a cylindrical body having openings on both ends thereof and a press-fit member fitted in at least one of the openings of the cylindrical body with an outer circumferential face thereof in contact with an inner face of the cylindrical body. The outer circumferential face of the press-fit member is grooved obliquely to an axis of the cylindrical body, and the inner face of the cylindrical body is smooth at least in a portion that contacts the outer circumferential face of the press-fit member.
US09098015B2
A toner cartridge comprises a toner container which contains toner, a driving member which rotationally drives a conveying member, an agitating member which agitates a toner in the toner container while being rotated, a driven member which rotates in association with the driving member which is for rotationally driving the agitating member, and a rotational body which rotates according to rotation of the driven member, has a plurality of slits in rotational circumference for identifying a type of the toner cartridge, and has 1/K or more of the slits when a ratio of a rotational speed R1 (rad/s) of the driving member and a rotational speed R2 (rad/s) of the driven member is K=R2/R1.
US09098013B2
A developing roller, including: a shaft containing a metal; an elastic layer on a circumference of the shaft; and a surface layer on a circumferential surface of the elastic layer, wherein the surface layer contains: a polyurethane which is a reaction product between a fluoroethylene vinyl ether copolymer and an isocyanurate form of an isocyanate; and particles having an average primary particle diameter of 5 nm to 30 nm, and wherein the polyurethane has a peak intensity ratio of a NCO group to a hydroxyl group of 5.6 to 8.8 in an infrared absorption spectrum obtained by an attenuated total reflection method.
US09098012B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member (drum); a developer carrying member; a cleaning blade for cleaning the drum; a developer seal member of a peripheral surface seal type, provided at an end portion of the developer carrying member, for preventing leakage of the developer; and a developer retaining member provided at an end portion of the cleaning blade. With respect to a longitudinal direction of the drum, the developer seal member is disposed in a region where the cleaning blade is provided, an inside end position of the retaining member is located at the same position as or inside an inside end position of the developer seal member, and an outside end position of the retaining member is located at the same position as or outside an outside end position of the developer seal member.
US09098008B2
A blowing device includes a blower and an air duct including an inlet, an outlet, and a body. The outlet faces a longitudinal portion of an oblong target structure toward which air is blown. The outlet allows air to be discharged in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction in which the longitudinal portion extends. The inlet has an opening and the outlet has an oblong opening, and the opening of the inlet and the opening of the outlet having different shapes. The body has a passage space formed therein. Plural restraining portions that restrain airflow are disposed at different positions in the passage space in the direction of airflow. A most downstream one of the restraining portions is formed so as to at least partially cover the passage space with an air-permeable member having plural air passage portions that are distributed the air-permeable member.
US09098005B2
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image, a plurality of development devices including a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image, a rotatable development device supporting member configured to support the plurality of development devices. The developer bearing member is configured to execute development while contacting the image bearing member at a development position via the developer, rotating in the same direction as rotating direction of the image bearing member at the development position, and rotating at a speed faster than a surface speed of the image bearing member.
US09098004B2
A liquid developer containing toner particles containing a resin and a pigment, and an insulating liquid, the toner particles being dispersed in the insulating liquid, wherein the insulating liquid contains an olefin having 12 carbon atoms or more and 18 carbon atoms or less in an amount of 10% by mass or more. The liquid developer of the present invention can be suitably used in developing latent images formed in, for example, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US09098000B2
The present disclosure relates to polymer particles comprising a polymer matrix having a coating of an inorganic semimetal oxide or metal oxide, wherein the polymer matrix has at least one first functional group A and at least one second functional group B, both functional groups A and B being able to enter into at least one covalent bond with one another, functional group A being selected from the group consisting of an azide group, C —C double bond, C —C triple bond, aldehyde group, ketone group, imine group, thioketone group and thiol group, and functional group B being selected from the group consisting of a C —C double bond, C —C triple bond, C —N triple bond, diene group, thiol group and amine group.
US09097999B2
Provided is a pigment dispersant for improving the dispersibility of an azo pigment for a water-insoluble solvent. More specifically, provided is a polyester, including at least one unit represented by one of the following formula (1) and the following formula (2): in the formula (1) and the formula (2): R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl group; R2 to R6 each represent a hydrogen atom, a COOR7 group, or a CONR8R9 group, provided that at least one of the R2 to R6 represents the COOR7 group or the CONR8R9 group; and the R7 to R9 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
US09097997B2
A magnetic toner is provided that exhibits an excellent electrostatic offset resistance both initially and after long-term use. The magnetic toner contains: magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin and a magnetic body; and inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles, wherein the inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles contain a prescribed metal oxide fine particle in a prescribed proportion; the magnetic toner has prescribed numerical value ranges for a coverage ratio A of the magnetic toner particle surface covered by the inorganic fine particles and for a coverage ratio B by the inorganic fine particles that are fixed to the magnetic toner particle surface; the magnetic toner particle contains a crystalline polyester; and measurement of the magnetic toner with a differential scanning calorimeter provides a characteristic differential scanning calorimetric curve.
US09097996B2
The invention relates to silicon dioxide powder which is present in the form of aggregated primary particles having an average diameter of at least 40 nm and a ratio of the BET surface area to the STSA surface area of at least 3.5. The invention also relates to a toner composition containing said silicon dioxide powder.
US09097981B2
An illumination optical apparatus guides exposure light emitted from an exposure light source, to an illumination target object. The illumination optical apparatus has a plurality of spatial light modulation members arranged in an array form, and each spatial light modulation member is so configured that a plurality of reflecting optical elements each including a movable reflecting surface are arranged in an array form. At least one of the spatial light modulation members is arranged in an optical path of the light emitted from the light source.
US09097973B2
Provided is a method of forming a pattern, including (a) forming a chemically amplified resist composition into a film, (b) exposing the film to light, and (c) developing the exposed film with a developer containing an organic solvent, wherein the developer contains an alcohol compound (X) at a content of 0 to less than 500 ppm based on the total mass of the developer.
US09097971B2
A compound represented by formula (I). In the formula, R1 represents a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Z represents a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a cyano group; provided that R1 and Z may be mutually bonded to form a ring; X represents a divalent linking group having any one selected from —O—C(═O)—, —NH—C(═O)— and —NH—C(═NH)— on a terminal that comes into contact with Q; p represents an integer of 1 to 3; Q represents a hydrocarbon group having a valency of (p+1), provided that, when p is 1, Q may be a single bond; R2 represents a single bond, an alkylene group which may have a substituent or an arylene group which may have a substituent; q represents 0 or 1; r represents an integer of 0 to 8; and A+ represents a metal cation or an organic cation.
US09097970B2
A photorefractive composite, a spatial light modulator and a hologram display device using the same include at least one carborane compound expressed as the following Chemical Formulae 1A through 1C: wherein the photorefractive composite exhibits photoconductivity and optical nonlinearity.
US09097967B2
A projection device includes a first and a second tilting mirror matrix, each including a plurality of tilting mirrors. A cover glass covers the tilting mirrors. An imaging lens system includes a relay lens system which images the tilting mirrors of the first tilting mirror matrix onto the tilting mirrors of the second tilting mirror matrix. Thus light reflected by the tilting mirrors of the first tilting mirror matrix onto tilting mirrors of the second tilting mirror matrix, and a projection lens system, which projects light reflected by tilting mirrors of the second tilting mirror matrix, in order to produce an image, is provided. The imaging lens system further includes a correction element which corrects at least one image error caused by the light obliquely passing through the cover glasses.
US09097965B2
An image projection device includes beam generation means that emits a plurality of beams in one direction such that the plurality of beams are superimposed each other, a convergence angle of each beam being different from each other; and scanning means that scans projection surface with the beams emitted from beam generation means.
US09097958B2
There is provided a camera module including: a housing including a lens barrel disposed therein; a first shield can coupled to the housing so that a lower end portion of an outer surface of the housing is exposed; a circuit board mounted at the lower end portion of the housing; and a second shield can covering the first shield can and the lower end portion of the housing, wherein the second shield can is provided with protrusion parts pressing an outer surface of the first shield can.
US09097956B2
A direct-type LED backlight module includes a backlight plate, an LED mounted on the backlight plate to emit light, and a lens mounted on the backlight plate and encapsulating the LED therein. The lens includes a light input part to allow the light in, a light output part extending from a top surface of the light input part to allow the light radiate out from a periphery thereof, and a microstructure formed on a bottom surface of the light input part to reflect a part of light reflected by the light output part to make the reflected light travel through a central portion of the light output part.
US09097955B2
Provided is an optical unit comprising a shake detecting sensor which is less likely to unnecessarily vibrate even with the optical unit being designed to have a thinner profile. At a first step in the assembly of an optical unit provided with a shake correction mechanism, a module cover is mounted on a fixed body with a spring member therebetween and a movable module driving mechanism is provided between the module cover and the fixed body. At a second step, an image-capturing unit is inserted into the interior of the module cover by way of a fixed-body-side opening portion and a module-cover-side opening portion, and at a third step, a holding member is attached to a module cover.
US09097942B2
Disclosed is a display device for use of a surface display of an arbitrary shape, including a plural number of display element units, each made up of a circuit that forms a single stage of a scanning circuit and a pixel circuit connected to an output of the scanning circuit, are arranged in a unicursal fashion on a display substrate.
US09097941B2
A vertically aligned type liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between pixel electrodes and a common electrode and containing vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules being controlled by an electric field. An orientation controller is formed on the common electrode at a position opposing the pixel electrode and an aspect ratio, i.e., a vertical to horizontal length ratio of the pixel electrode is set to at least 2. Alternatively, the pixel electrode is partitioned into at least two electrode regions so that each region represents a divided pixel electrode. An orientation controller is formed on the common electrode so as to correspond to each divided pixel electrode, an aspect ratio of each divided pixel electrode is set to at least 2. As such, the influence at the edge sections of the pixel electrode is reduced, viewing angle characteristic and transmittance are improved, and average response time is shortened.
US09097939B2
A liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates; an electrode group formed on at least one substrate of the pair of substrates, for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer; a plurality of active elements connected to the electrode group; and a liquid crystal alignment film disposed on at least one substrate of the pair of substrates, in which the liquid crystal alignment film, which is formed by a photo-alignment process, contains polyimide formed using tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and/or diamine each having a specific chemical structure.
US09097926B2
A display device substrate includes a transparent substrate arranged in parallel with a face on which an image is displayed and a light-shielding film partially formed on the transparent substrate for shielding light. The light-shielding film has, at a portion of the transparent substrate along an edge thereof on at least one side, a low light-shielding portion having a lower light-shielding capability. The low light-shielding portion is formed with a smaller thickness than that of the other portion in the light-shielding film. With this configuration, even when, in a gang printing display panel in which a plurality of display panels each having the display device substrate are arranged, the light-shielding films of the display panels adjacent to each other are formed continuously, cutting can be performed more easily at a position to be cut.
US09097914B2
This invention includes a wettable biomedical device containing a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer and a hydroxyl-functionalized silicone-containing monomer.
US09097904B2
A display apparatus including a plurality of image generating units is provided. Each of the image generating units includes an image source and a dioptric module. The image source provides an image beam. The dioptric module is disposed on a light path of the image beam and has dioptric power. The dioptric module forms an image floating in the air and corresponding to the image source, and the dioptric module is located between the image source and the image. The image generating units are arranged in an array, and the images formed by the image generating units are arranged in an array and combined to form an image frame.
US09097902B2
An auto stereoscopic frame system and the associated method of manufacturing is disclosed. The frame system generally comprises a frame defining an opening for housing a lens structure, said frame being operative for removable attachment to a display device which projects at least one image such that when the image is viewed through the lenticular sheet it is viewed in three dimensions. The frame is attached to the display device via a mounting mechanism. The lenticular sheet may be manufactured by providing a substantially transparent substrate material; forming a plurality of lenses on a first side of the substrate; and shaping the substrate to correspond to a display area of a display device, wherein the plurality of lenses are angled to correspond to the pixel size and pitch of the display area of a display device.
US09097899B2
An achromatic scanner in which pre-scan optics and post-scan optics are designed and disposed with respect to one another in such a way that for a light beam imaged onto the target surface a first image plane of the pre-scan optics coincides with a first object plane of the post-scan optics for a first beam portion and a second image plane of the pre-scan optics coincides with a second object plane of the post-scan optics for a second beam portion, wherein an image plane of the post-scan optics which lies on the target surface is associated with the first object plane of the post-scan optics and the second object plane of the post-scan optics.
US09097884B2
In a zoom lens of a fixed total length, at the time of changing the magnification from the wide-angle end toward the telephoto end, the first lens group is anchored while the second lens group is moved, and the third and fourth lens groups are moved so as to be located at the object side of the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end, such that: the interval between the second and third lens groups is decreased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end; the interval between the third and fourth lens groups is increased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end; and the interval between the fourth and fifth lens groups is increased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end, and at the time of focusing a near object point from a remote object point, the second lens group is moved.
US09097879B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein, during magnification change from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, at least the first lens group and the second lens group are moved along the optical axis such that the interval between the first lens group and the second lens group is decreased and the interval between the second lens group and the third lens group is increased. The second lens group includes, in order from the object side, a positive lens, a cemented lens formed by a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens and a negative lens. The zoom lens satisfies given conditional expressions.
US09097876B2
The present invention provides a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises six lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces and/or the refracting power of the lens elements, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened.
US09097857B2
A polarizing plate with high reliability even under a high-temperature or high-humidity environment is provided. A substrate has a non-formation region on a circumferential edge part, the non-formation region where a grid is not formed.
US09097834B2
An optical fiber preform has a core portion having a first core portion including a central axis, a second core portion disposed around the first core portion, and a third core portion disposed around the second core portion. The first core portion contains 10 atomic ppm or more of an alkali metal and 10 to 600 atomic ppm of chlorine, the second core portion contains 10 atomic ppm or less of the alkali metal and 10 to 600 atomic ppm of chlorine, and the third core portion contains 10 atomic ppm or less of the alkali metal and 2,000 atomic ppm or more of chlorine. An optical fiber has a core region doped with an alkali metal and chlorine, wherein the minimum concentration of chlorine in the core region is 1,000 atomic ppm or more, and the average concentration of the alkali metal therein is 0.2 atomic ppm or more.
US09097833B2
A light emitting device includes a light source including an inorganic material substrate, a light emitting element mounted on a mounting surface of the inorganic material substrate, and a metalized pattern formed on a non-mounting surface of the inorganic material substrate on which the light emitting element is not mounted, a mounting substrate including an mounting surface on which the light source is mounted, and a conductor pattern formed on the mounting surface and bonded to the metalized pattern, and an optical member disposed on the mounting surface of the mounting substrate so as to guide a light emitted from the light source in a predetermined direction. The optical member includes a heat absorbing surface at least a part of which faces the conductor pattern of the mounting substrate, and a heat radiating surface that radiates heat of the light source conducted from the conductor pattern via the heat absorbing surface.
US09097822B2
Provided are a lenticular lens sheet which can be used in a stereoscopic display, a rear projection display, a projection screen, and the like, and means for manufacturing the lenticular lens sheet at low cost without using any mold. The lenticular lens sheet includes at least a transparent support substrate; a plurality of lenticular lenses; and a partition between adjacent ones of the plurality of lenticular lenses, and the lenticular lens sheet is obtained by applying a transparent resin composition ink by an inkjet method to an area partitioned by the partition and subsequently curing the transparent resin composition ink with ultraviolet rays.
US09097821B2
Disclosed are various embodiments of a workflow or method for petrophysical rock typing of carbonates in an oil or gas reservoir or field comprising determining a Data Scenario (DS) for the reservoir or field, determining a plurality of Depositional Rock Types (DRTs) for the reservoir or field, determining a Digenetic Modification (DM) from a plurality of diagenetic modifiers or primary textures associated with the plurality of DRTs, selecting a Reservoir Type (RT) corresponding to the plurality of DRTs, determining at least one pore type, and determining, on the basis of the plurality of DRTs, the Diagenetic Modification (DM), and the at least one pore type, a plurality of Petrophysical Rock Types (PRTs) associated with the RT.
US09097820B2
Apparatus, Tool and Method for Look-Ahead Advance Formation Evaluation which investigates the formation or formation characteristic in advance of the drill-bit before the formation or formation feature of interest has been penetrated or traversed.A closed-loop real-time look-ahead formation evaluation tool which provides acoustic and/or electro-magnetic formation data beyond the drill-bit using a novel angular sensor orientation which also allows for optimized signal propagation and signal returns according to an axial plane and vertical depth.
US09097805B2
A dual polarization radar system is calibrated based on real-time data measurements, such as measured horizontal and vertical reflectivities, ZH and ZV. In this regard, the radar system analyzes the reflected power measurements to identify which measurements are associated with reflections from a respective spherical object. Using such measurements, the system determines a system differential reflectivity value, and combines such value with reflected power measurements for calibration. Since the calibration is based on real-time data measurements, the calibration process may run simultaneously with the collection of weather data. Further, the calibration process is immune to the weather events within range of the radar system. Accordingly, it is possible for the calibration to be performed at any time and without interfering with the weather monitoring activities regardless of the types of weather events occurring within the vicinity of the radar system.
US09097789B2
Electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus comprises an encoded device that has an electromagnetic wave-transparent material having a three-dimensional volume and electromagnetic wave-opaque walls, and a plurality of electromagnetic wave-opaque projections projecting into the electromagnetic wave-transparent material. The apparatus further comprises an interrogating device that has a transceiver operable to transmit an electromagnetic wave into the electromagnetic wave-transparent material, the electromagnetic wave being modulated and reflected by the electromagnetic wave-opaque walls and projections, an antenna operable to receive the reflected electromagnetic waves, and a decoder operable to decode the received reflected electromagnetic waves.
US09097780B2
A computer-implemented method for reconstruction of a magnetic resonance image includes acquiring a first incomplete k-space data set comprising a plurality of first k-space lines spaced according to an acceleration factor and one or more calibration lines. A parallel imaging reconstruction technique is applied to the first incomplete k-space data to determine a plurality of second k-space lines not included in the first incomplete k-space data set, thereby yielding a second incomplete k-space data set. Then, the parallel imaging reconstruction technique is applied to the second incomplete k-space data to determine a plurality of third k-space lines not included in the second incomplete k-space data, thereby yielding a complete k-space data set.
US09097775B2
A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a rechargeable battery determines a dynamic impedance of the battery while discharging the battery, and determines a battery condition category based on the dynamic impedance. The battery can be discharged in a manner that recovers the stored energy being discharged from the battery.
US09097765B1
A performance screen ring oscillator (PSRO) is formed from multi-dimensional pairings of scan chains. In one embodiment, there is a multi-dimensional arrangement of scan chains in an integrated circuit. Each of the scan chains has interconnected scan chain elements that form a shift register to apply test patterns to inputs of combinational logic in the integrated circuit and read outputs from the combinational logic based on the inputted test patterns. A scan chain link links selected scan chain elements from the scan chains to form at least one PSRO loop within the multi-dimensional arrangement of the scan chains.
US09097753B2
A Hall sensor is provided having a first Hall element with a first terminal contact and with a second terminal contact and with a third terminal contact, a second Hall element with a fourth terminal contact and with a fifth terminal contact and with a sixth terminal contact, a third Hall element with a seventh terminal contact and with an eighth terminal contact and with a ninth terminal contact, and a fourth Hall element with a tenth terminal contact and with an eleventh terminal contact and with a twelfth terminal contact. The first Hall element and the second Hall element and the third Hall element and the fourth Hall element are connectable in series.
US09097748B2
A MEMS-actuated autofocus camera module configured for continuous capacitance measurement includes a bridge balance detector coupled to a MEMS actuator driver. The MEMS actuated autofocus camera module is configured to permit online MEMS actuator capacitance measurements to automatically focus images of objects disposed at arbitrary distances from autofocus camera module.
US09097740B2
A probe for testing an electrical device under test. The probe has at least two outer layers and a core layer that is highly conductive. The core layer is disposed between the outer layers.
US09097734B2
Ceramic heating devices with a three-dimensional ceramic element are disclosed for protecting surfaces from icing. The shape of the three-dimensional ceramic element can be configured to physically match to the three-dimensional profile of the protected surface, allowing for high thermal coupling with the surface. The shape of the three-dimensional ceramic element can also be configured to form an aerodynamic surface typically found on the exterior of aircraft.
US09097732B2
The invention relates to the detection of DHA and EPA. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting DHA and EPA by mass spectrometry and kits for carrying out such methods.
US09097716B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining the presence of anti-Tr antibodies in a subject comprising the steps of obtaining a sample from said subject testing the presence of said antibodies in said sample by addition of DNER protein or an antigenic part thereof and checking whether said DNER protein is bound by any antibodies in said sample Such an assay is useful for the diagnosis of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration that is associated with Hodgkin lymphoma, or, more generally, to type patients suffering from cerebellar ataxia. Also comprised in the invention is a kit for performing such an assay.
US09097696B2
A method and a device for determining a composition of a fuel mixture, in particular for determining the ethanol content and/or a water component in the fuel mixture. Fuel flows sequentially through spatially separated sensor elements. The sensor elements generate time-dependent output signals, which are unambiguously dependent on the ethanol content of the fuel mixture. A difference between the time-dependent output signals is ascertained and subjected to a plausibility check. A received plausibility-checked output signal is ascertained, having at least one item of information about the direction of change in the ethanol content of the fuel mixture.
US09097693B2
The invention provides a method for simple, rapid and inexpensive analysis of drugs such as nicotine and other drugs which are accumulated in biological samples of addictive drugger of tobacco, stimulant drug and the like. The method comprises the steps of introducing the biological sample into an injection needle, inserting the needle into an injector of a chromatograph and injecting a carrier into the needle to conduct chromatography treatment.
US09097677B1
In one embodiment, a magnetic gas sensor includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a gas-sensitive metallic interlayer positioned between the first and second ferromagnetic layers, wherein at least one physical property of the metallic interlayer changes in the presence of a gas that is to be detected, wherein a magnetic coupling between the first and second ferromagnetic layers, and a magnetic state of the sensor, can change depending upon the state of the physical property of the metallic interlayer.
US09097668B2
A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation and observing the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant. A system and method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream is also provided.
US09097660B2
Analyte sensors for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample. The sensors have a sample chamber having an inlet with a projection extending from an edge of the sensor for facilitating flow of sample into the sample chamber.
US09097655B2
Programmable gain amplifier with multi-range operation for use in body sensor interface applications
A system for analyte measurement includes a programmable gain amplifier including a first input terminal operatively coupling to the output of a sensor for sensing an analyte, a second input terminal operatively coupling to a voltage source, and an output terminal for providing an output based on a difference between inputs on the first input terminal and the second input terminal A controller is operatively coupled to the programmable gain amplifier for configuring the operation range of the programmable gain amplifier and/or selecting the output of the programmable gain amplifier for analyte measurement. The method includes monitoring an output from a programmable gain amplifier operatively coupling to a sensor for sensing an analyte, and controlling the operation range of the programmable gain amplifier, and/or selecting the output of the programmable gain amplifier for analyte measurement.
US09097649B2
Disclosed are methods and techniques for providing favorable fabrication characteristics for optical elements. One method includes providing a desired integrated computational element (ICE) design comprising a plurality of layers, each layer having a design thickness, randomizing the design thickness of each layer of the desired ICE design to simulate a fabrication error in each layer, thereby generating a plurality of randomized ICE designs, calculating a standard error of calibration between each randomized ICE design and the desired ICE design, correlating the standard error of calibration between a given layer of the desired ICE design and the fabrication error of each corresponding layer of each randomized ICE design, and ranking the plurality of layers of the desired ICE design based on the sensitivity to changes in the standard error of calibration.
US09097644B2
This invention relates generally to magnetic resonance (MR)-based methods and kits for measuring the viscosity of liquid samples.
US09097637B2
An electronic device is for detecting and monitoring a local parameter within a solid structure. The electronic device may include an integrated detection module having a functional IC including an integrated sensor to detect the local parameter within the solid structure, and an antenna and having a functional circuitry surface facing towards an outside of the functional IC, and a passivation layer to cover at least the functional circuitry surface of the functional IC so that the functional IC is hermetically sealed and galvanically insulated from a surrounding environment. The electronic device may also include an RF circuit to be coupled with the integrated detection module and having a remote antenna configured to transmit/receive signals for telecommunications and energy exchange with the antenna. The antenna, the RF circuit, and the remote antenna may wirelessly communicate via an electromagnetic coupling.
US09097635B2
Disclosed herein is a property measurement apparatus including: a first plate installed in a state of being rotatable and/or vibratable; and a second plate placed to face the first plate and provided with an impedance measurement section, wherein a stress caused by a distortion generated by rotating or vibrating the first plate to serve as a distortion given to a sample provided in a gap between the first and second plates is measured, and at the same time, the impedance measurement section measures the impedance of the sample.
US09097632B2
In a device (1) for rapid pressure-freezing an aqueous sample (3), such as a biological specimen, a pressurized cooling medium can be fed into a high-pressure chamber (11) into which a sample holder (30) containing a sample (3) is inserted and which is sealed with a pressure-tight seal, to the location of the sample holder (30) held therein. The high-pressure chamber (11) comprises a viewing window structure (2) with a pressure-tight window (20), through which light can be directed from the outside onto the sample (3) located in the sample holder (30). The window (20) can comprise a transparent window element made of a high-pressure-resistant material, wherein the window element (20) is held by a pressure- and temperature-resistant window bearing provided in the high-pressure chamber.
US09097625B2
A gas injection system for an energetic-beam instrument having a vacuum chamber. The system has a cartridge containing a chemical serving as a source for an output gas to be delivered into the vacuum chamber. The cartridge has a reservoir containing the chemical, which rises to a fill line having a level defined by an amount of the chemical present in the reservoir at a given time. An outlet from the reservoir is coupled to an output passage through an outlet valve and configured so that when the system is tilted the outlet remains above the level of the fill line. Embodiments include isolation valves allowing the cartridge to be disconnected without destroying system vacuum.
US09097624B1
An external filter assembly adapted for modifying a suction cleaning device to sample relatively small particles from various surfaces and/or the ambient air, includes a housing having a first open end, a second open end and a throughbore between the first and second open ends, a filter adapted for capturing particles with particle sizes greater than 0.1 micrometer, the filter being mounted on and enclosing the first open end, and means for securely retaining the second open end of the housing on an exhaust port of the suction cleaning device in communication with the housing throughbore.
US09097620B2
A method, and apparatus, for determining bend resistance of a sample includes applying a weight to a sample and measuring an amount of deflection of the sample caused by applying the weight. The sample is provided on a sample holder and an initial position of the sample is measured with respect to the sample holder. A weight is applied to the sample and a change in position from the initial position to a deflection position of the sample due to the weight applied to the sample is measured. An amount of deflection of the sample is determined by dividing the change in position by the basis weight.
US09097619B2
A specimen slicing guide is provided for assisting in slicing a specimen taken from a human or an animal. The specimen slicing guide includes a base extending in a direction having a horizontal component. A plurality of needles extend from the base with gaps provided between the needles in the extension direction of the base. The needles extend at least substantially parallel to each other and at least substantially perpendicular to the horizontal component of base. A needle spacer has a plurality of holes and the plurality of needles are respectively disposed in the plurality of holes. The needle spacer is configured to press against the specimen and to move relative to the base.
US09097615B2
A system includes a wavelength tunable laser to provide a first optical pulse of a first wavelength and a second optical pulse of a second wavelength to an optical fiber, a reflection detector to determine a first fiber attenuation curve from the first reflected pulse and a second fiber attenuation curve from the second reflected pulse, and a discontinuous loss event analyzer to identify a discontinuous loss event at a discontinuous loss point in at least one of the first fiber attenuation curve and the second first fiber attenuation curve, determine a return loss slope based on a return loss at the discontinuous loss point for the first fiber attenuation curve and a return loss at the discontinuous loss point for the second first fiber attenuation curve, and determine whether the discontinuous loss event is a bad fiber bending event based on the return loss slope.
US09097613B2
In order to possibly suppress noise components contained in a signal value of a detection signal for use in controlling a rate of rotations or speed, an driving controller receives a detection signal in accordance with a rate of rotations or speed and acquires a signal value of the detection signal every predetermined sampling time, and controls an actuator at control timings with predetermined intervals using the signal value, so that the rate of rotations or speed is controlled at each of the control timings in accordance with variation aspects of a plurality of signal values acquired before the outstanding control timing.
US09097605B2
A method and a device including the steps of: locally detecting an event in a pipe; generating at least one signal, coded according to the detected event; and detecting a frequency signature of said signal in images generated by a synthetic aperture radar.
US09097602B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus, includes: a mandrel; an expansion cylinder, comprising: opposite first and second ends; an inner circumferential surface extending between the ends and characterized by an inner diameter, the inner circumferential surface defining a hollow cavity; an outer circumferential surface extending between the ends and characterized by an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter; and a plurality of slots extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface and latitudinally oriented between the ends; and one or more base plates configured to engage one of the ends of the expansion cylinder. In another embodiment, a method includes: arranging an expansion cylinder inside a test cylinder; arranging a mandrel inside the expansion cylinder; applying a force to the mandrel for exerting a radial force on the expansion cylinder; and detecting one or more indicia of structural failure of the test cylinder.
US09097583B2
A tunable mid-infrared laser operated in a pulsed mode is coupled off-axis into a high-finesse optical cavity to produce a long-path spectrometer. The cavity receives a gas sample. Laser pulses may be wavelength-scanned by stepping an external grating, allowing the grating to mechanically settle, then measuring the ring-down with a set of laser pulses, before moving on the next wavelength. A detector receiving infrared light exiting the cavity supplies a cavity ring-down trace representative of sample absorption of the infrared pulses. A processor determines an absolute absorption spectrum of the gas sample from the ring-down trace and analyzes sample gas composition and trace concentration from that spectrum. The absorption baseline is highly reproducible and stable, improving the accuracy of multivariate fits, and the spectral resolution can be better than 0.001 cm−1 (contingent upon the laser source), allowing for high-resolution measurements of sharp absorption features.
US09097582B2
A sensor for range finding and ambient light measurement wherein the sensor includes an array of pixels capable of sensing illumination in a plurality of wavelengths and generating a response thereto for each wavelength; the sensor including an ambient light sensing system which includes a module for adjusting the response from the ambient light sensor, such that the response for each wavelength is independent of the wavelength of the illumination.
US09097562B2
The invention relates to a flexible strip (1) for a civil engineering structure, that can extend longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and comprises at least one optical fiber (20) enabling a structure to be localized and measured in terms of deformation and/or temperature, where said optical fiber (20) is essentially arranged along the longitudinal axis and is surrounded by an at least partially reinforced thermoplastic polymeric matrix of continuous reinforcement fibers (30), essentially along the longitudinal axis, and where the mass quantity of continuous reinforcement fibers extending essentially along the longitudinal axis, WCF, is higher than, or equal to, ten times the mass quantity of optical fiber(s), WOF. The invention also relates to metrology devices and associated methods.
US09097558B2
A position sensor includes a detector, an oscillation circuit, a signal processing circuit, and a resonance circuit having a detection coil and a capacitor. The oscillation circuit forms a negative feedback loop from: an amplitude detection circuit that detects an amplitude of an oscillation signal outputted from the resonance circuit; an integrating circuit that outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between a predetermined reference voltage and the amplitude of the oscillation signal; a negative conductance control circuit that, based on the output of the integrating circuit, controls the negative conductance of the oscillation circuit such that the amplitude of the oscillation signal is equals to the predetermined reference voltage; and an operational amplifier that adjusts such that the oscillation voltage of the resonance circuit is equal to the applied voltage of the negative conductance control circuit.
US09097547B2
A vehicle routing system and method in which routing is based in part on the monetary cost of various candidate routes. The candidate route that has a monetary cost less than a user determined cost parameter is selected as the route to be presented to the user.
US09097543B2
A road information update system comprising a navigation apparatus and an information center is disclosed. The navigation apparatus collects a travel trace when traveling a new road not present in a road map data, and sends the collected travel trace to the information center. The information center compares multiple road map data to extract a new road and an abandoned road, and generates multiple road change models based on the abandoned road and the new road. The information center receives the travel trace in the new road from the navigation apparatus, and estimates the new road and the abandoned road based on the received travel trace in the new road and the road change models.
US09097534B2
The present invention provides an improved architecture for integrating an inertial navigation system (INS) into a dynamic positioning (DP) system for a vessel. The architecture includes an INS unit and a DP system having a Kalman filter or other algorithm for combining data supplied by a plurality of position measuring equipment (PME) and the INS unit to derive an estimate of the position or speed of the vessel. A switch array and a switch array controller are also provided. These may optionally form a part of the DP system. The switch array is operable under the control of the switch array controller to supply data supplied by one or more of the plurality of position measuring equipment to the INS unit for the purposes of correcting drift. The selection of which of the one or more PME is/are to be combined with the INS unit is made automatically, in real time, to dynamically optimise the DP system.
US09097524B2
A system and method in accordance with an embodiment reduces the cross-axis sensitivity of a gyroscope. This is achieved by building a gyroscope using a mechanical transducer that comprises a spring system that is less sensitive to fabrication imperfection and optimized to minimize the response to the rotations other than the intended input rotation axis. The longitudinal axes of the first and second flexible elements are parallel to each other and parallel to the first direction.
US09097522B2
Methods and marking devices for indicating and/or detecting a color of marking material used in performance of a marking operation to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility are described. Information about the color of the marking material may optionally be logged or stored by a marking device and/or transmitted to an external device.
US09097512B2
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.
US09097511B2
A displacement detecting device includes: a diffraction grating having a relief shape; an irradiation optical system adapted to irradiate two beams onto the diffraction grating as p-polarized light; a reflection optical system adapted to reflect two first diffracted lights generated when the two beams is diffracted by the diffraction grating, and cause the first diffracted lights to be incident again on the diffraction grating as p-polarized light so as to generate two second diffracted lights; an interference optical system adapted to cause the two second diffracted lights to interfere with each other to obtain interference light; a light receiving section adapted to receive the interference light; and a position information detecting section adapted to detect position information of the diffraction grating based on an interference signal. The period of the relief of the diffraction grating is no more than 1.5 times the wavelength of coherent light.
US09097510B2
The present invention relates to a system (S) for measuring the position of a coupling member (1) that comprises a shaft part (2), a first flange (3), a second flange (4) and a first resilient bushing (5), which secures the first flange (3) to the shaft part (2), and a second resilient bushing (6), which secures the second flange (4) to the shaft part (2). Each resilient bushing (5, 6) is arranged with a resilient yield between the respective flange (3, 4) and the shaft part (2). The flanges (3, 4) are intended to be secured to a respective first shaft (7) and second shaft (8). When the coupling member (1) is placed between the first shaft (7) and the second shaft (8), it is intended to transfer a rotation movement from the first shaft (7) to the second shaft (8). The system (S) further comprises at least a first head unit (9) mounted on a first fixture (10), where the first fixture (10) is designed to be mounted between the first flange (3) and the shaft part (2) via existing mounting elements for the first resilient bushing (5). The fixture (10)comprises at least one sensor (15) arranged for position measurement between the first flange (3) and the shaft part (2).
US09097508B2
A method for reconditioning a railcar articulated connector is provided. The method comprises the steps of marking a surface of a portion of an articulated connector to divide the surface into sections, pre-heating the surface of a portion of an articulated connector, adding weld to a first section of the pre-heated portion of the articulated connector, and adding weld to a second section of the pre-heated portion of the articulated connector.
US09097506B2
A ruler assembly comprising a ruler having a top extending along a ruler width and a ruler length. The top has an inner top surface and an outer top surface. The assembly has at least one side wall extending along the ruler length. The side wall extends from a side wall bottom edge to a side wall top edge proximal to the outer top surface. The outer top surface comprises a plurality of step surfaces, each having a step height measured from the side wall bottom edge to the side wall top edge of each of the plurality of step surfaces. In some embodiments, the inner top surface and the inner side wall surface define a ruler cavity configured to removably couple to an insert ruler.
US09097505B2
A fiber optic transducer is provided. The fiber optic transducer includes a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest, a moveable portion having a range of motion with respect to the fixed portion, a spring positioned between the fixed portion and the moveable portion, and a length of fiber wound between the fixed portion and the moveable portion. The length of fiber spans the spring. The fiber optic transducer also includes a mass engaged with the moveable portion. In one disclosed aspect of the transducer, the mass envelopes the moveable portion.
US09097502B2
An all-fire detection circuit for an electrically initiated inertial igniter munition. The all-fire detection circuit including: an input configured for receiving an input voltage over a duration responsive to an acceleration of the munition; an electrical storage device configured to receive a portion of the input voltage over the duration and to thereby accumulate a charge, an output coupled to the electrical storage device to deliver an all-fire indication when at least a portion of the charge exceeds a first predetermined voltage; and a first diode having a first anode coupled to the input and a first cathode coupled to the electrical storage device, the first diode selected to have a backward leakage draining the charge when the input voltage drops below a second predetermined voltage.
US09097496B2
An armor system with a lightweight armored panel manufactured as a multi-material structure having a multiple of layers including a hard ballistic material layer of a Ceramic/CMC (Ceramic Matrix Composite) hybrid armor material capable of defeating ballistic threats. The monolithic ceramic layer includes a surface enhancement to the expected projectile impact face of a minimal weight yet which provides significant ballistic performance improvement.
US09097488B2
This apparatus is a helical path paintball delivery system, comprising a structure with an internal helical type cavity that interfaces between a paintball marker with unique design characteristics preventing the use of alternative hoppers and any paintball hopper, regardless of manufacturer, providing a path for paintballs residing in a player's chosen hopper to flow freely from the hopper through the helical path paintball delivery connector into the firing chamber of the paintball marker.
US09097483B2
A toy launcher and safety projectile combination, wherein the launcher only launches a safety projectile. The slingshot has a body with a first arm and a second arm that contain spring-loaded joints. A first elastomeric element extends laterally from the first arm. Likewise, a second elastomeric element extends laterally from the second arm. A safely projectile is provided. The safety projectile has a first slotted channel that is accessible through a first open end and a second slotted channel that is accessible through a second open end. The safety projectile temporarily attaches to the first elastomeric element and the second elastomeric element during launching by having the first slotted channel receive the first free end of the first elastomeric element and having the second slotted channel receive the second free end of the second elastomeric element. The safety projectile is then pulled back and released.
US09097479B1
A trigger lock that can be mounted to the trigger guard of a handheld firearm. The trigger lock has a cover assembly displaceably mounted to a lock housing assembly. The cover assembly is displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A mount adapter is removeably mated to a housing body within the lock housing assembly. The removeable mount adapter has a mount surface shaped to correspond with the outer surface of the trigger guard, allowing the trigger lock to be used on various makes and models of firearms. The trigger lock includes a locking means which in one embodiment has a lock rotor with a camming surface to displace one or more locking members into the cover assembly.
US09097470B2
An internal liquid separating hood-type condensation head exchange tube, comprising an external heat exchange tube and an internal liquid separating hood disposed in the cavity of the external heat exchange tube and coaxial with the external heat exchange tube. The internal liquid separating hood is a hollow tube with a plurality of micropores or gaps distributed on a wall surface. The condensate formed during the heat exchange is pumped to the internal liquid separating hood in time under the effect of surface tension of the liquid via the micropores or gaps, and then is discharged from the heat exchange tube by the internal liquid separating hood. Vapor is retained to flow in the annular region between the external heat exchange tube and the internal liquid separating hood, so the inner wall of the external heat exchange tube comes into contact with the vapor to the greatest extent.
US09097468B2
The present invention relates to a heat-dissipating device for an electronic device, comprising a graphite planar body, one or more metal layers, an insulation film and an adhesive. The heat-dissipating device is optionally attached to a heat sink. The method of using the heat-dissipating device to dissipate heat is also disclosed.
US09097467B2
A heat exchanger including a first heat exchanger module with a first evaporator channel and a first condenser channel. The first evaporator channel and the first condenser channel are arranged in a first conduit. The first evaporator channel and the first condenser channel are fluidly connected to one another by a first upper distribution manifold and a first lower distribution manifold such that the first evaporator channel and the first condenser channel form a first loop for a working fluid. The first heat exchanger module includes a first evaporator heat transfer element and a first condenser heat transfer element. The heat exchanger includes a second heat exchanger module coupled to the first heat exchanger module by a fluid connection element for an exchange of the working fluid between the first heat exchanger module and second heat exchanger module.
US09097464B2
A continuous scrap feed into an electric smelting furnace (EAF) having a channel connected at one end to an opening in a wall of the smelting furnace and has at its other end a charging device for the scrap. An extraction device for the off-gases which are guided through the channel serve to preheat the scrap, this extraction device being connected to the channel between the two ends of the channel located closer to the smelting furnace than the scrap feed in relation to the total length of the channel. The extraction device is a single-stage blower whose intake opening is oriented in the direction of the smelting furnace, and the clear cross section of the channel between the extraction device and the scrap feed is adapted to the amount of scrap so that the height of the scrap charge substantially fills the clear cross section.
US09097462B2
A home laundry drier (1) includes a laundry drum (4) which is located inside a casing (3) to rotate about an longitudinal axis (A), and a closed circuit hot-air generator (7) provided with: an air recirculating conduit (8) connected to laundry drum (4); a centrifugal fan (9) and heat-pump means (10). The heat pump means (10) includes first (12) and second air/refrigerant heat exchangers (13) located in the air recirculating conduit (8) to cool the airflow coming out from the laundry drum, and respectively, to heat the airflow returning back into laundry drum (4). The home laundry drier (1) further includes an electric motor (14) designed to simultaneously rotate both centrifugal fan (9) and the laundry drum (4) through transmission system means (16); and inverter means (23) controlling the electric motor (14) and configured to receive a predetermined speed which is associated to a nominal airflow rate within the air recirculating conduit (8) and to a nominal drum speed. The electric motor (14) is controlled so that the output motor speed is maintained substantially equal to a predetermined speed, independently of decreasing of the airflow rate caused by clogging-up of particles within the first (12) and/or second air/refrigerant heat exchangers (13) of the heat-pump means (10).
US09097452B2
Thermal regulation of perishable products is achieved using a container (2) having an elongate thermal member (14) which extends into a central region of the container. Thermal regulation is also achieved by selected direction of airflow about walls (4) of the container and providing the container with a rib (5) to facilitate air circulation between adjacent containers.
US09097451B2
Provided is a water tank for a refrigerator. The water tank includes a body part, a supply hole, and a supply part. The body part provides a space in which water for making ice is stored. The supply hole is opened to the outside of the body part. The water is introduced through the supply hole. The supply part is insertable and withdrawable into/from the body part. The supply part selectively opens the supply hole and guides the supplied water such that the water is introduced inside the body part through the supply hole. Thus, the water can be supplied by withdrawing the supply part to improve a user's convenience.
US09097440B2
A roof panel abutment structure is disclosed. The structure comprises; a roof frame, a first roof panel having one end coupled to the roof frame, the one end formed in a shape in which a recess is inserted between a pair of ridges on a cross section thereof, a bolt fastened to the recess portion to fix the first roof panel to the roof frame; a second roof panel having an opposite end thereof coupled to one end of the first roof panel; a first adaptor having a base and a wing portion connected to both side of the base, wherein the base is fixed to the recess portion by means of the fastening of the bolt, and the wing portion is coupled to both side of T groove, a second adaptor formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of T groove, a clamp installed such that a bottom is coupled to the second adaptor, and a solar panel coupled to the clamp and installed to cover the roof panel. The roof panel abutment has increased strength, and even if a portion of the roof panel is deformed, the upper panel is not disengaged so as to maintain the abutment structure.
US09097439B2
This comprises at least one cleaning device set on at least one arm (2) fitted at one end with a brush which adapts to the surface of the mirror, and a set of devices for spraying water onto the surface or the mirror, in which the arm (2) also comprises an extendible portion (4) articulated to the truck body, and a retractable portion, said retractable portion consisting of a support structure (6) for the cleaning devices, said cleaning devices being a rotating brush (7) with the same shape as the mirror to be cleaned, water-spraying strips (14) close to the support structure (6) and a moving water-spraying strip (8), secured by means of a retractable arm (9), which can be folded from a retracted position close to the support structure (6) in the area swept by the rotating brush (7) to an operating position, outside the area swept by the rotating brush (7).
US09097438B2
The aim of the invention is to build central receiver solar power plants in which the heliostat fields can be used more efficiently. To achieve said aim, a heliostat field consisting of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density ρ of more than 60% is preferably combined with a far field whose reflector surface density ρ decreases as the distance from the receiver increases. The invention also comprises central receiver solar power plants which consist exclusively of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density ρ of more than 60%. The high reflector surface density ρ in the near field and in areas of the far field is achieved by the use of heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid horizontal axle suspension (FHA) or, alternatively, by heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid quasipolar axle suspension (FQA). The heliostat field concentrates the solar radiation on a receiver whose target surface, aperture, thermal absorber or photovoltaic absorber has a normal vector which is directed downward to the heliostat field that extends below the receiver in the directions North, East, South and West. The receiver is mounted in a suspended manner to a support structure that extends over the heliostat field.
US09097416B2
This invention relates to a lighting device having a light source (102, 103), a light output unit, a drive unit (106a) arranged to drive the light source, an electrical connection unit connected with the drive unit and arranged to receive input power, and a heat sink (112), which has been provided with multiple reception portions (115, 116). At least the light source and the drive unit are mounted at a first respectively a second reception portion of the heat sink. The heat sink is a formed sheet structure, which has been formed into a predetermined shape from a sheet shaped heat sink blank.
US09097414B2
A light source device (100), comprising: a light source (200); an input terminal (108) coupled to the light source (200) for the supply of input voltage; an output terminal (108) coupled to the light source (200) for providing an output voltage; a first bridging terminal (114) and a second bridging terminal (114); and a printed circuit board (102) coupled to the light source (200); wherein the printed circuit board (102) has at least one conductor track (402) coupled to the first bridging terminal (114) and the second bridging terminal (114) for guiding an electrical potential from the first bridging terminal (114) to the second bridging terminal (114) in a manner that bridges the light source (200).
US09097412B1
An apparatus comprising a base, a heat sink, a plurality of thermal elements, and a plurality of LED elements. The base may be configured to attach to a screw in light socket. The heat sink may be connected to the base. The plurality of thermal mounts may project from the heat sink. The thermal mounts may be electrically connected to the base and thermally connected to the heat sink. The plurality of LED elements may be connected to the thermal mounts. The LED elements may form a pattern about a central axis to project light evenly from the apparatus.
US09097409B2
A luminaire heat sink housing (40) which has a lens locking clip (20) which retains the lens (30) against a gasket (50). Both the hinged locking clip (20) and the heat sink housing (40) may be extruded to any desired length and allows the lens be readily removed. The hinged locking clip (20) extends along a side of the housing (40) and lockingly slides into place to bias the lens (30) against a gasket (50) and seals the light engine within the interior of the heat sink housing. The locking clip is removable from the housing and includes a locking clip rotation head, lens retention surface and locking head to affix the lens in position against the gasket and in front of the LEDs (55).
US09097407B2
A backlight module includes a bezel, a supporting frame, and a light source module. The bezel includes a back plate and a side wall connected to an edge of the back plate; the supporting frame includes a lower frame body and an upper frame body extending from a top of the lower frame body, wherein the lower frame body is disposed on the back plate and surrounded by the side wall. The upper frame body has at least a portion laterally shifted relative to the lower frame body to be located over the side wall. The light source module is surrounded by the lower frame body, wherein the portion of the upper frame body located over the side wall encloses a panel accommodation space above a top of the light source module. A display device includes the above-mentioned backlight module and a display panel disposed in the panel accommodation space.
US09097399B2
A decorative cordless lamp has a replaceable rechargeable energy storage device for powering an LED lighting element. The LED lighting element may be controlled by a variety of switches, timers, and sensors to enable the user to selectively tailor the operation of the decorative cordless lamp.
US09097397B2
The invention provides alighting unit (100) comprising a light source (10) and a light conversion layer (20). The light source (10) comprises a light emitting diode (LED) (110) and a first luminescent material layer (120) in physical contact with a light emitting surface (115) of the LED (110). The first luminescent material layer (120) comprises a first luminescent material (130), configured to convert at least part of LED light (111) into light (131) having a red component. The light source (10) is configured to generate light (11) having a blue component and having the red component of the light (131). The light conversion layer (20), configured at a non-zero distance (d) from the light source (10), comprises a second luminescent material (30) configured to convert at least part of the light (11) into light (31). The lighting unit (100) is configured to provide white lighting unit light (111).
US09097396B2
An LED lighting system comprises an LED assembly for emitting light. A bulb comprises an enclosure and an optic element in the enclosure for receiving the light from the LED assembly and transmitting the light from the enclosure. An Edison-style or other traditional-style base is provided on the bulb for connecting the bulb to an Edison-style or other traditional-style socket.
US09097382B1
A holder for holding a sheet of material in overlying relationship with a display screen. The holder conforms in shape and size with the display screen and is of generally rectangular form. The holder is in the form of a frame that includes a pair of spaced, opposed, parallel longitudinal frame members and a pair of spaced, opposed, parallel lateral frame members that define a rectangular frame. A suitable sheet material, such as a privacy filter, is carried within the frame, which includes a pair of frame mounting members that extend from the frame and engage an uppermost portion of the housing in which the display screen is housed.
US09097371B2
An elongate tape element and method of manufacturing flexible pipe body are disclosed. The elongate tape element which is for providing at least one helically wound layer of windings in a flexible pipe body, comprises an elongate body having a base surface, a top surface opposed to the base surface and opposed first and second side walls extending between the base and top surfaces wherein at least one surface and/or side wall of the body comprises a recessed region for receiving a respective portion of a tape element holder member when said tape element is wound to form a layer of windings.
US09097366B2
The invention relates to a pipe element comprising at least one hoop-wound tube (T), the hoop-wound tube (T) comprising a central part consisting of a metal core (A) covered by at least one hoop layer (F), at least one connecting part(C). Hoop-wound tube (T) also comprises at least one transition element (B) welded, on one side, to one end of the core (A) and, on the other side, to one end of connecting part (C). This pipe element can be used as an auxiliary line of a drilling riser pipe.
US09097358B2
A temperature activated valve is provided comprising a trigger for effecting actuation of the valve. The trigger includes a temperature responsive trigger portion including a plurality of constituent trigger segments connected to one another in series. The constituent trigger segments include a plurality of temperature responsive trigger segments. Each one of the temperature responsive trigger segments, independently, includes a composite material, the composite material including: (a) a shape changing material-comprising component configured to assume a change in shape in response to receiving of heat energy by the temperature responsive trigger segment, and (b) a relatively inelastic material-comprising component having a modulus of elasticity that is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the shape changing material-comprising component.
US09097357B2
An apparatus consisting of check valves (1, 2, 3) and one or more pressure tanks (4) plumbed into a water service line to provide a method of storing, reserving and delivering said stored water through the water service line to both the water user and the water supply. This method and apparatus can be used for emergency water supply by the water user or reduce water peak demand challenges caused by fluctuating water pressure if used extensively throughout a water supply system. This method and apparatus can create individual water storage collectives that can share water between users.
US09097353B2
A ventilation device has a frame (12) made of a first material component, and a non-return flap element (14) made of a second material component, wherein the first material component is harder than the second material component. The non-return flap element (14) includes a movable non-return flap (18), which is arranged such that it exclusively rests against the non-return flap element (14) or the ventilation device (10) is mountable on a vehicle component (28), wherein that part of the ventilation device (10) which engages the vehicle component (28) is part of the non-return flap element (14).
US09097349B2
A seal device is provided for sealing intermediate spaces formed between bodies arranged to be relatively movable, wherein the seal device has a resilient, gas-tight main body which is extendable in a peripheral direction and through which a portion of the first of the two bodies is guided, and a first end portion, which fastenable to the second body, and a second end portion, which is settable against the first movable body, wherein the second end portion is movable with respect to the first end portion in a first transverse direction which extends at an angle different from 0° with respect to a longitudinal direction. A sliding seal device, which is applicable to the first movable body so that a relative rotation is made possible between the first body and the second body by a pre-set angle, is arranged on the second end portion of the seal device.
US09097347B2
A carbon seal assembly comprises an annular seal runner adapted to be sealingly mounted to a shaft to rotate therewith. An annular member is secured to a structure, the annular member having an annular body and a projection extending from the body toward the seal runner in an axial direction relative to an axis of the runner. A axial gap is defined between the member and the seal runner when secured to the shaft and structure respectively, with the projecting extending into only a portion of the gap, such that the gap defines a first width portion and a second width portion, with the member and the seal runner being made of complementary materials for magnetic attraction therebetween. An annular carbon element is mounted to the seal runner to rotate therewith and positioned in the first width portion of the gap, the carbon element having an annular wear surface abutting against the annular member, a plane of the annular wear surface being axially offset from the second width portion of the gap.
US09097341B2
A brake system and method includes a test mode for determining a capacity of the brake system provided on a machine having a hydrostatic drive. A hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range is determined to simulate a test torque. A machine ground speed limit, hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure, and actual ground speed of the machine are determined. An output pressure of the hydrostatic pump is modulated to drive the hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure toward the hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range. A first test fault condition is determined when the actual ground speed exceeds the machine ground speed limit. A second test fault condition is determined when the hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure is outside the hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range.
US09097333B2
The wear compensation device for a gear set comprises a support for attaching the device to an external element, a bearing intended to be mounted on a shaft comprising one of the wheels of the gear set, an eccentric mounted on the bearing and able to move angularly with respect to the support, an actuator mounted axially between the support and the eccentric and able to apply a circumferential force to the said eccentric, and at least one maintaining means for temporarily maintaining the angular indexing of the eccentric relative to the support in an angular position in which the actuator is preloaded between the said eccentric and the said support.
US09097326B2
The invention relates to a hydraulic oil-driven structural support rotating mechanism comprising at least two hydraulic cylinders for driving the rotational movement of the structural support with respect to at least one axis, selected from vertical, horizontal or a combination of both, and a hollow core, comprising at least one opening on its side surface for the passage of a first and a second pivotable hydraulic cylinder, fixed to the core by means of two parallel vertical shafts, the ends of each hydraulic oil cylinder being fixed by attachment means to a rotating mechanical element selected from a slew ring or bearing, located inside the hollow core to which it is fixed by rotating mechanical element-core attachment means, and attached to the structural support by structural support-rotating mechanical element attachment means.
US09097320B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission may include: a first input shaft; a second parallel shaft; a compound planetary gear set on the second shaft, and including a first rotation element engageable with the first shaft through two paths respectively having an external gear, a second rotation element connected to an output gear so as to be operated as an output element, a third rotation element engageable with the first shaft through one path having an external gear and selectively fixed, and a fourth rotation element engageable with the first shaft through one path having an external gear and selectively fixed; four transfer gears forming the external gears; frictional elements including clutches selectively connecting the first, third, and fourth rotation elements to the first shaft and brakes selectively connecting the third and fourth rotation elements to a transmission housing.
US09097318B2
A cycloid pinwheel reducer includes a housing, two cycloid pinwheels, a plurality of rollers, an output flange, and a first transmission assembly. The housing forms an inner teeth ring in an inner wall of the housing. The two cycloid pinwheels are received in the housing. Each cycloid pinwheel forms a meshing portion. The rollers roll in position between the housing and the meshing portions. The output flange is non-rotatably connected with the cycloid pinwheels. The first transmission assembly includes a first transmission gear, a second transmission gear meshed with the first transmission gear. The second transmission gear includes a base body, a second teeth portion positioned on the base body, a first eccentric portion, and a second eccentric portion. The second teeth portion is meshed with the first transmission gear. The two cycloid pinwheels is sleeved on the first and second eccentric portions respectively.
US09097317B2
A high ratio epicyclic gear train (A) with improved load carrying capability for transmitting power from a driven input shaft, such as may be driven by a turbine engine or engines, to a output shaft, as may be coupled to a rotor of a rotary wing aircraft. The compound epicyclic gear train incorporates a load sharing mechanism consisting of a drive sun gear (10), an idler sun gear (11), a ring gear (12), a set of drive planet gear assemblies (13), a set of idler planet gear assemblies (14), and a planet carrier assembly (15) coupled to provide at least two power pathways through said epicyclic gear train (A) between said driven input shaft and said output shaft to provide an improved overall power density of the transmission.
US09097316B1
An apparatus for moving one or multiple flexible members to produce kinetic imagery where the flexible members have two spaced endpoints and are suspended in a curve from the endpoints. A drive mechanism is provided for continuously lengthening and shortening the distance between the endpoints and/or for varying the lengths of the flexible members, and a control unit is present for operating the drive mechanism.
US09097313B2
A cleaner head includes a drive mechanism connecting a drive means to a rotatable brush member. The drive mechanism comprises an input drive member connected to the drive means, an output drive member connected to the rotatable brush member, and a flexible drive element extending therebetween. The drive mechanism is provided with an adjustment mechanism operable to vary the distance between the input and output drive members in order to vary the tension of the flexible drive element. The adjustment mechanism is movable in a first direction from a first position in which the flexible drive element has a relatively low tension through a plurality of further positions which increases the tension in the flexible drive element. The adjustment mechanism is lockable in a selected one of the plurality of further positions against movement in a direction opposite to the first direction.
US09097311B2
A geared motor reduces a speed of rotation of a DC motor with a gear train and outputs the rotation to the outside. The gear train includes a second gear including a cylindrical portion a third gear a first insertion portion that is inserted in the cylindrical portion the second gear. The second gear and the third gear are made of a resin material. A projecting-and-recessed portion is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the second gear. The projecting-and-recessed portion extends continuously in a circumferential direction over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. Pressing portions are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction on an outer peripheral surface of the first insertion portion of the third gear. The pressing portions are configured enter recesses in the projecting-and-recessed portion and press wall surfaces of the recesses.
US09097307B2
A connecting rod including two non-connected rod elements coaxial with a longitudinal axis which are offset along the longitudinal axis, and an energy-absorption device that absorbs energy by plastic deformation. The energy-absorption device includes a coaxial hollow tube with a wall which deforms plastically when subjected to an axial compressive force exceeding a certain threshold, a coaxial pin having ends immobilized with respect to the rod elements in the event of tensile forces, and a sleeve fitting over the two facing ends of the rod elements which are positioned one on each side of the energy-absorption device, the sleeve being slidable with respect to one rod element in order to allow the hollow tube and/or the pin to deform and absorb energy. The sleeve limits a range of deformation so that a breaking point of the energy-absorption device is not reached.
US09097294B2
A system and method of controlling a clutch fill command based on the hydraulic state of an oncoming clutch is provided. A vehicle includes a hydraulically-actuated oncoming clutch that is configured to engage during a shift event from one operating mode of the vehicle to another. A controller is configured to generate a clutch fill command at an initial time such that completion of the clutch fill command is synchronized with an identified speed profile of the oncoming clutch. The oncoming clutch defines a real-time hydraulic state when the clutch fill command is generated. The controller is configured to generate a real-time acceptable speed margin for the oncoming clutch based at least partially on the real-time hydraulic state of the oncoming clutch. The controller is configured to cancel the clutch fill command if a real-time speed of the oncoming clutch is outside the generated real-time acceptable speed margin.
US09097285B2
A magnetic encoder type hub bearing unit may include a sealed cap which is coupled to a knuckle for fixing a hub bearing located on a hub so that an inner space for blocking the hub bearing to the outside is defined, an inner housing made of a steel material being exposed toward the inner space, an encoder which is located in the inner space while being spaced apart from a surface of the inner housing, and a WSS (Wheel Speed Sensor) which is inserted into the sealed cap such that a sensor head portion is located toward the surface of the inner housing, wherein an air gap is formed by a distance between the encoder and the surface of the inner housing and a thickness of the inner housing.
US09097245B2
A method for refilling an emptied hydraulic coupler of a fuel injector comprises the steps of: connecting a pressure generator to a return line of the fuel injector; operating the pressure generator in order to generate a return pressure in the return line; operating the fuel injector. The method can also include the step of monitoring the pressure level in the return line.
US09097239B2
An asymmetric torque limiting coupling system for use on wind turbines, in which a forward torque limiting clutch and a reverse torque limiting clutch are provided in paired relation, with the reverse torque limiting clutch having a characteristic slip torque that is significantly less than that of the forward torque limiting clutch. In a specific embodiment disclosed, an asymmetric torque limiter interconnects a wind turbine with a generator shaft. The coupling includes an input housing and an output hub, with an overrunning mechanism interposed between the two. A first torque limiting mechanism is provided in series interconnection with the overrunning mechanism between the input housing and hub, while a second torque limiting mechanism is provided in parallel interconnection with the overrunning mechanism between the input housing and output hub.
US09097237B2
Tools, systems, and methods for use in conjunction with maintenance, assembly, rebuilding, or other procedures which involve displacing components of an assembly are disclosed. These tools, systems, and methods may be used in conjunction with a crane or other lifting device and may be configured to assemble, disassemble, or otherwise maintain components of an uptower gearbox.
US09097236B2
Method of operating a wind power plant including the steps of: operating the wind power plant at an current parameter schedule (Pcurrent(v)) performing a wind prediction of wind data (Vw) for a time frame (ΔT) extending to a future time T, determining a desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) of a wind power plant component at the future time T, and during operation of said wind power plant generating an updated parameter schedule (Pdesired(v)) to provide the desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) at time T if exposed to the predicted wind conditions (Vw(t)) during said time frame (ΔT).
US09097233B1
The present invention is a hydrokinetic turbine consisting of a multi-stage suction-producing engine for converting the kinetic energy of canal or river flow into mechanical energy to power an electrical generator. It can be described as a ducted rotary hydro-craft, which has a buoyant body of fiberglass, ABS plastic, or other suitable material, comprising a concentric funnel and nozzle which enclose a torpedo-shaped hydrofoil structure at their center. A rotor or propeller attached to the torpedo-shaped internal structure drives an electrical generator. These ducts create suction forces that pull water through the rotor by creating an extreme low pressure zone behind the rotor, and this force combined with the direct pressure of canal flow onto the face of the rotor, produces an augmented volume of power.
US09097230B2
An engine start system which may be employed in automotive idle stop systems. To start an engine, the system brings a pinion gear into engagement with a ring gear coupled to the engine and turns on an electric motor to rotate the ring gear through the pinion gear to crank the engine. When it is requested to start the engine during deceleration of the engine before stop thereof, the system thrusts the pinion into engagement with the ring gear and then turns on the motor to rotate the pinion gear, in other words, delays the activation of the motor until after the pinion gear has engaged the ring gear. This minimizes mechanical impact or noise arising from the engagement of the pinion gear with the ring gear and improves the reliability in engagement with the ring gear during the deceleration of the engine and durability of the system.
US09097223B2
A part of an air cleaner main body overlapped with vehicle body frames in a side view has a shape in which an upper surface portion of the part is narrower than a bottom surface portion of the part. The air cleaner main body is formed to have approximately uniform gaps along inner surfaces of the vehicle body frames, and the air cleaner main body is inserted from a position below the vehicle body frames and is fixed to the vehicle body frames before mounting an engine.
US09097220B2
An acoustic attenuator 20 for an engine booster such as a turbocharger 10 for an engine 4 is disclosed in which the acoustic attenuator 20 includes an attenuator chamber 28 in which is located at least one absorption media 140. The acoustic attenuator 20 is located adjacent an inlet port of the turbocharger 10 so as to attenuate any acoustic pressure waves by dissipative reaction with the absorption media 140 before they have chance to reach other components of a low pressure supply system 50 for the engine 4.
US09097218B2
A canister is provided with a plurality of adsorbent chambers filled with adsorbent, and the adsorbent chambers are connected together so as to form a U-turn-shaped passage. The canister has a communication chamber through which both end portions of adjacent two adsorbent chambers communicate with each other; a middle chamber formed at the end portion of one of the adjacent two adsorbent chambers, which is positioned at a downstream side of the communication chamber, and connected to the communication chamber through a communication hole; a baffle plate set in the middle chamber with the baffle plate facing to the communication hole so that an incoming air flow from the communication hole strikes against the baffle plate and diffuses in the middle chamber; and a tubular portion protruding in the communication chamber from an opening edge of the communication hole along a longitudinal direction of the one adsorbent chamber.
US09097212B2
A carburetor for a gas powered internal combustion engine having a plurality of pressure reducing stages for reducing the pressure of the gas phase in a liquified petroleum gas storage bottle prior to the mixing of the gas phase of the liquified petroleum gas with ambient air.
US09097203B2
A piston engine may include a clearance gap between a piston assembly and a cylinder. The piston may be configured to translate in a bore of the cylinder. The clearance gap between the piston assembly and the bore may be actively or passively controlled. A control system may provide one or more adjustments based on, for example, a detected temperature, pressure, flow rate, work metric, and/or other indicator. The adjustments may include, for example, adjusting a cylinder liner, adjusting a flow through a bearing element, adjusting a coolant flow, adjusting a heat pipe property, and/or other adjustments. One or more auxiliary systems may be used to provide the adjustments.
US09097202B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a piston crown connected to and above a body portion of the piston. The body portion forms two pin bores and the piston crown defines an outer cylindrical wall. At least one piston ring seal groove is formed in the outer cylindrical wall and extends peripherally around the piston crown. A first oil collection groove is formed in the outer cylindrical wall below the piston ring seal groove. The first oil collection groove has a first width measured along a centerline of the piston. A second oil collection groove is formed in the outer cylindrical wall below the first oil collection groove, extends parallel to the first oil collection groove around the entire periphery of the piston, and has a width that is at least double the width of the first oil collection groove.
US09097201B2
A motorcycle includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that drives a fuel heating device when a fuel heating condition is satisfied and the result of a fuel heating prohibition determination process indicates that heating is permitted. On the other hand, the CPU does not drive the fuel heating device when the fuel heating condition is not satisfied or when the result of the fuel heating prohibition determination process indicates that heating is prohibited. In the fuel heating prohibition determination process, the CPU determines a tilted state of the motorcycle, and prohibits or permits heating of fuel in a fuel pipe by the fuel heating device based on a detection result of the tilted state.
US09097198B2
A method for calibrating an injection quantity of an injection system, using which fuel is to be injected into at least one combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine of a device, in which data of at least one zero point quantity calibration, which is carried out in an idling operation of the mechanical device, and data of at least one zero point quantity calibration, which is carried out in an overrun condition of the device, are combined.
US09097197B2
Methods and systems for engine control optimization are provided. One or more operating conditions of a vehicle engine are detected. A value for each of a plurality of engine control parameters is determined based on the detected one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine. A range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine is identified and a region of optimization is defined based on the range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine. The engine control optimization routine is initiated when the one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine are within the defined region of optimization.
US09097194B2
Control device of an internal combustion engine that determines whether or not to perform sensor element heating control of an air-fuel ratio sensor with high accuracy based on the mass of condensed water in an exhaust pipe. The control device computes the rate of change of condensed water mass in an exhaust pipe based on the saturated water vapor pressure and the water vapor partial pressure of exhaust gas, and computes the rate of change of evaporation mass in the exhaust pipe based on the amount of heat which the condensed water receives in the exhaust pipe. The control device updates the mass of condensed water based on the rate of change of condensed water mass and the rate of change of evaporation mass, and determines whether or not to perform heating control by a heating controlling unit based on the updated mass of condensed water.
US09097191B2
An engine air system for charge flow temperature estimation includes a charge air cooler outlet temperature sensor configured to provide a first temperature signal, an exhaust gas recirculation outlet temperature sensor configured to provide a second temperature signal, and a control module configured to receive the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal. The control module includes a charge flow temperature estimation module configured to determine an the estimated charge flow temperature at an intake manifold temperature sensing position based on a combination of the first temperature signal multiplied by an estimated fresh air fraction and the second temperature signal multiplied by an exhaust gas recirculation fraction.
US09097169B2
A heat management system of a gas turbine engine for cooling oil and heating fuel, includes an oil circuit having parallel connected first and second branches. The first branch includes a fuel/oil heat exchanger and a first fixed restrictor in series and the second branch includes an air cooled oil cooler and a second fixed restrictor. The first and second fixed restrictors limit respective oil flows through the first and second branch differently, in response to viscosity changes of the oil caused by temperature changes of the oil during engine operation to modify oil distribution between the first and second branches.
US09097162B2
A system including: a HEP generator creating HEP generator exhaust; a prime engine creating prime engine exhaust; a SCR system through which the prime engine exhaust and the HEP generator exhaust run; an HEP generator exhaust pipe running from the HEP generator to an exhaust mixing duct where the HEP generator exhaust is mixed with the prime engine exhaust, wherein the HEP generator exhaust pipe discharges into the exhaust mixing duct at a distance from the SCR less than ten times the diameter of the exhaust mixing duct; and a single urea injector injecting urea into the HEP generator exhaust pipe at a distance from the exhaust mixing duct of more than ten diameters of the HEP generator exhaust pipe.
US09097157B2
An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an exhaust purification catalyst which includes an upstream side catalyst and a downstream side catalyst and removes NOX. The upstream side catalyst has an oxidation ability, while the downstream side catalyst has catalyst particles of precious metals and basic exhaust flow surface parts. The system makes the concentration of hydrocarbons which flow into the exhaust purification catalyst vibrate by within a predetermined range of amplitude and by within a predetermined range of period and reduces the NOX. The upstream side catalyst includes an upstream side substrate and an upstream side container, while the downstream side catalyst includes a downstream side substrate, a downstream side container, and a channel of exhaust between the downstream side substrate and the downstream side container.
US09097153B2
Exhaust systems of a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, motor vehicles with exhaust systems, and methods for operating an exhaust system of a combustion engine in a motor vehicle are provided. An exhaust system includes an exhaust line comprising a heat exchanger branch and a bypass branch. The exhaust line has an adjustable control element by which combustion gas flowing through the exhaust line is fed to the heat exchanger branch and/or the bypass branch. A heat exchanger is connected to the heat exchanger branch and to a cooling circuit and an adjusting mechanism has an actuator for adjustment of the adjusting mechanism. The adjusting member of the adjusting mechanism is configured such that the actuator is spaced from the exhaust line.
US09097144B2
A valve drive arrangement for actuating gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine having a camshaft, on which first and second cam carriers are arranged on first and second contact regions in a non-positive and/or positively locking manner, the first cam carrier having at least one cam for actuating a gas exchange valve and the second cam carrier having at least one cam for actuating an ancillary unit, the first contact region being configured with regard to the geometric dimensions differently in relation to the second contact region in such a way that the second cam carrier can be mounted, without being impeded by the contact regions for the first cam carrier.
US09097140B2
A ventilation arrangement for an annular cavity located about the core engine of a gas turbine, the annular cavity having an axis and an inner wall located about the axis and an outer wall radially spaced from the inner wall, the outer wall being interposed between the cavity and an engine bypass duct. The ventilation arrangement comprises a plurality of ventilation ducts passing through said outer wall and providing for fluid communication between the bypass duct and the cavity and a flow diverter arranged at an oblique angle to a radial alignment with said axis so as to induce in the ventilation flow from said ducts a vortical flow within the cavity about the inner wall such that said vortical flow has a vortex width of magnitude substantially equal to that of a diameter of the annular cavity. The ducts may be shaped to provide the flow diverter. The internal geometry of the ducts may provide for a sudden expansion to control the exit profile of the flow into the cavity.
US09097132B2
A gas turbine engine has a signal transmission system comprising a waveguide 40 which enables the transmission of microwave radio signals between a rotor 24 and stationary receiving electronics 32 of the engine. The waveguide 40 is centered on the engine axis 9.
US09097125B2
A new, more economical design for intentionally frequency mistuned turbine blades for more efficient turbine engines is disclosed. A rotating disk of a turbine engine includes first turbine blades that alternate between second turbine blades. The second turbine blades are thicker than the first turbine blades, within manufacturing tolerances, in sections from about their mean line to their airfoil tip. The first and second turbine blades can be cast using two different molds, resulting in an economical manufacturing method. As such, the natural frequency of the second turbine blades is about 3% less than the natural frequency of the first turbine blades. As a result of the intentional difference in natural frequencies of the two different turbine blades, the rotating disk does not experience flutter instability.
US09097122B2
A turbine engine system includes a turbine engine shaft, a first rotor, a second rotor and an engine monitoring system. The shaft includes a shaft bore formed by a shaft wall. The shaft bore extends along an axial centerline through the shaft between a first shaft end and a second shaft end. The first rotor is connected to the shaft at the first shaft end, and the second rotor is connected to the shaft at the second shaft end. The engine monitoring system includes a sensor connected to the second rotor, a transmitter arranged at the first shaft end, and a plurality of conduit assemblies. Each conduit assembly includes a conduit that extends axially within the shaft bore and is connected to the shaft wall. A first of the conduit assemblies also includes a wire that extends through a respective conduit and connects the sensor and the transmitter.
US09097121B2
The invention relates to a turbine casing (1) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (62), having an inlet connection piece (2) adjoined by a spiral (3), and having an outlet connection piece (4), characterized by an insulating device (5) for reducing the input of heat into the inlet connection piece (2), the spiral (3) and/or the outlet connection piece (4).
US09097120B2
An assembly includes a cast cartridge component and a curved wall where the cast cartridge includes a base plate having an opening configured for receipt of a turbine wheel, an exhaust conduit having an inlet and an outlet, a cylindrical wall, and vanes disposed between the cylindrical wall and the base plate where adjacent vanes define throats; where the curved wall includes a proximal end and a distal end, and an upper edge and a lower edge; and where joinder of the proximal end and the outlet of the exhaust conduit, joinder of the upper edge and the cylindrical wall and joinder of the lower edge and the base plate forms a volute configured to direct exhaust received via the inlet to a turbine wheel via the throats. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09097117B2
A cooling system for a transition duct for routing a gas flow from a combustor to the first stage of a turbine section in a combustion turbine engine is disclosed. The transition duct may have a multi-panel outer wall formed from an inner panel having an inner surface that defines at least a portion of a hot gas path plenum and an intermediate panel positioned radially outward from the inner panel such that at least one cooling chamber is formed between the inner and intermediate panels. The transition duct may also include an outer panel. The inner, intermediate and outer panels may include one or more metering holes for passing cooling fluids between cooling chambers for cooling the panels. The intermediate and outer panels may be secured with an attachment system coupling the panels to the inner panel such that the intermediate and outer panels may move in-plane.
US09097111B2
A pick tool for degrading asphalt or rock, comprising a PCD element; the PCD element comprising a PCD structure (20) bonded to a cemented carbide support body (30) at an interface; the PCD structure comprising a first region (24) and a second region (25) adjacent the first region, the second region bonded to the first region by intergrowth of diamond grains; the first region (24) comprising a plurality of alternating strata (24c, 24t), each stratum having a thickness in the range of about 30 to 300 microns; the second region comprising a plurality of strata (25a, 25b), one or more strata in the second region (25a) having a thickness greater than the thicknesses of the individual strata in the first region (24c, 24t), wherein the alternating strata in the first region (24) comprise first strata alternating with second strata, the first strata being in a state of residual compressive stress and the second strata being in a state of residual tensile stress.
US09097110B2
Methods for recovering viscous oil include receiving electrical power from an electrical grid fed by at least one fluctuating electricity supply. The methods also include using at least a portion of the received electrical power to heat a first fluid stream using an electrical heater. The methods also include heating a second fluid stream with a fired-heater using a combustible fuel. The methods further include using both the first and second heated fluid streams to aid oil recovery. In accordance with these methods, the heat output of the electrical heater is adjusted during production operations to at least partially match an estimated mismatch between electrical power supply from and demand on the grid. At the same time, the heat output of the fired-heater is adjusted to at least partially compensate for fluctuations in the electrical heater heat output.
