US09276591B2
An endpoint or other communication device of a communication system includes a clock recovery module. The communication device is operative as a slave device relative to another communication device that is operative as a master device. The clock recovery module comprises a clock recovery loop configured to control a slave clock frequency of the slave device so as to synchronize the slave clock frequency with a master clock frequency of the master device. The clock recovery module further comprises a discontinuity detector configured to detect a delay discontinuity in timing messages received in the slave device from the master device, and a loop controller operative to place the clock recovery loop in a particular state responsive to the detected discontinuity. The particular state comprises a state in which a normal operating mode of the loop is interrupted and a compensating drive signal is applied to a clock source of the slave device to at least partially offset phase error accumulation associated with the detected discontinuity.
US09276590B1
An apparatus comprising a delay circuit and a control circuit. The delay circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of intermediate signals in response to (i) a clock signal and (ii) an adjustment signal. The control circuit may be configured to generate the adjustment signal and a plurality of output signals having a quarter-cycle interval in response to (i) the plurality of intermediate signals and (ii) the clock signal.
US09276582B2
A cross-point switch having stacked switching dies on a component die is disclosed. The cross point switch allows scalability by adding switching dies. The switching dies include ingress switches that are coupled to multiplexers to a middle stage switches. The inputs and outputs of the ingress switches are connected to the switching interface region via through silicon vias (TSVs). The outputs of the ingress switches are also coupled by TSVs to multiplexers for routing to middle stage switches on a switching die above. If the switching die is stacked on another switching die, the outputs of the ingress switches are coupled by TSVs to the multiplexers for routing to the middle stage switches of the switching die below. By adding switching dies, the switch is configurable to increase the number of ports as well as the width of the ports.
US09276577B2
Path transistor malfunction is reduced. A path gate circuit includes transistors MP, MW, and MC. The transistor MP functions as a path transistor that connects a signal line INL to a signal line OUTL. The transistor MW connects a signal line BL for inputting a signal for setting the on or off state of the transistor MP and a node SN (gate of the transistor MP). When a high-level potential is written to the node SN, the potential of BL is set higher than a normal high-level potential if the potential of INL is high. Thus, even when the potential of the node SN is dropped in accordance with transition of INL from a high level to a low level, the potential drop does not influence the operation of the transistor MP because a high potential is written in advance.
US09276570B2
Radio-frequency (RF) switch circuits are disclosed having transistor gate voltage compensation to provide improved switching performance. RF switch circuits include a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs) connected in series between first and second nodes, each FET having a gate. A compensation network including a coupling circuit couples the gates of each pair of neighboring FETs.
US09276569B2
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment is provided with a normally-off transistor which includes a first source connected to a source terminal, a first drain, and a first gate connected to a gate terminal, and a normally-on transistor which includes a second source connected to the first drain, a second drain connected to a drain terminal, and a second gate connected to the gate terminal.
US09276567B2
A detection circuit includes a differential circuit including a pair of differential transistors configured to receive the input differential signal and a first current source, the pair of the differential transistors having a common output terminal connected to the first current source, a hold capacitor connected between the common output terminal and a reference potential for generating a hold potential, a level sensing circuit configured to sense a voltage level of the input differential signal and output a switching signal, and a switch configured to receive the switching signal and electrically connect the common output terminal and a second current source when the switching signal exceeds a threshold level being lower than the hold potential by a predetermined amount, and electrically disconnect the common output terminal and the second current source when the switching signal stays lower than the threshold level.
US09276562B2
In one embodiment, a circuit comprises a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor. The first switching transistor and the second switching transistor are coupled in series between an input voltage and ground and having a common node therebetween to provide a switching output. A first switching circuit selective couples a gate of the first switching transistor to the input voltage and a first mid-level voltage supply. A second switching circuit selectively couples a gate of the second switching transistor to a second mid-level voltage supply and ground. A charge-recycling circuit is coupled to the gate of the first switching transistor, the gate of the second switching transistor, the first mid-level voltage supply, and the second mid-level voltage supply to selectively recycle charge between the first mid-level voltage supply and the second mid-level voltage supply.
US09276561B2
An integrated circuit device can include at least one oscillator stage having a current mirror circuit comprising first and second mirror transistors of a first conductivity type, and configured to mirror current on two mirror paths, at least one reference transistor of a second conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled to a first of the mirror paths, and a switching circuit coupled to a second of the mirror paths and configured to generate a transition in a stage output signal in response to a stage input signal received from another oscillator stage, wherein the channel lengths of the first and second mirror transistors are larger than that of the at least one reference transistor.
US09276556B1
In some embodiments, a micromechanical filter includes multiple subfilters, each subfilter comprising multiple piezoelectric resonators mechanically coupled in series, wherein the subfilters are mechanically coupled to each other in parallel.
US09276551B1
A new slide-screw impedance tuner structure uses multi-segment, disc-shaped, rotating metallic probes. This ensures probes covering multiple frequency bands to be served using a single vertical control mechanism, instead of multiple axes, motors, motor control and double or triple carriages. Additional benefits are high resolution in the area where the gap between center conductor and probe is small (high GAMMA), smooth increase of proximity between probe and center conductor (basic anti-corona discharge form) and the possibility to compensate for the negative phase slope at higher GAMMA, native to traditional slide screw tuners.
US09276544B2
A system and method is provided for converting Dynamic Range Control/Compression (DRC) gain values into a spline representation that is compatible with the current standards. The system and method may: 1) minimize the bitrate for encoding and/or 2) minimize the approximation error between reference gain and interpolation values. A strategy for bitrate minimization may be the reduction of the number of spline nodes since gain and slope information must be transmitted for each node. Accordingly, an efficient heuristics based approach is provided that reduces the number of spline nodes needed to represent a series of DRC gain values using interpolation while accounting for overshoots and other inaccuracies.
US09276543B2
Techniques are provided for enhancing the audio component of streamed media provided by an application on a computing device, referred to collectively herein as an enhance audio mode. The mode may be configured to enhance audio by adjusting the volume gain during playback of streamed media from a specific application (e.g., Netflix or Pandora). In some cases, detection of playback from a specific media streaming application may be based on detection of a system file update, which may occur, for example, in a user space level. In some cases, the volume gain adjustment may be applied by an audio codec included with the computing device, which may occur, for example, in a kernel space level. The volume gain adjustment may be determined by analyzing the amplitude of the audio component of media streamed from a specific application relative to the speaker(s) included with the computing device.
US09276540B2
A digital/analog conversion apparatus to convert a digital signal into an analog signal. The digital/analog conversion apparatus can generate a high-quality analog signal, even when elements configuring the digital/analog conversion apparatus have variance, with high resolution and a small circuit size. The data conversion apparatus is provided with a first data converter to reduce the number of bits of an input signal, a second data converter to convert the format of the first output signal, and a third data converter for conversion into a code which corresponds to the history of the output from the second data converter.
US09276538B2
Embodiments include an apparatus, system, and method related to a switch circuit. Specifically, embodiments relate to a low noise amplifier (LNA) drain switch circuit that includes a first field effect transistor (FET) where the drain contact of the first FET is coupled with a gate contact of a second FET. The drain contact of the second FET may also be coupled with the gate of the second FET through a resistor. The source contact of the second FET may be coupled with a diode which may be coupled with an LNA.
US09276528B2
An amplifier includes a coupler, a main amplifier, and an auxiliary amplifier. The main amplifier and the auxiliary amplifier are supplied with signals derived from at least one input signal and amplify these. The coupler combines output signals of the main amplifier and of the auxiliary amplifier. The main amplifier and/or the auxiliary amplifier comprises an operating point adjustable during operation.
US09276526B2
A variable feedback impedance is presented capable of providing high linearity (e.g. as represented by IP2 and IP3) and high linear range (e.g. as represented by P1dB) when used in a feedback path of an RF amplifier in the presence of high voltage amplitudes.
US09276525B2
A circuit comprising a peak detector configured to receive a positive voltage input, a negative voltage input and a reference current source input and to output a peak signal data value. A fast attack current source control coupled to the peak detector and configured to generate a current source control signal as a function of the peak signal data value. A slow decay control coupled to the fast attack current source control and configured to reduce the current source control signal based on a predetermined or user-selected decay rate. A variable current source coupled to the fast attack current source control and configured to generate a variable current as a function of the current source control signal. Amplifier circuitry coupled to the variable current source, the amplifier circuitry configured to receive the variable current.
US09276522B1
In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.
US09276516B2
A refrigeration apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit with a compressor, a power module, a refrigerant cooler in contact with the power module, and an IPM motor which drives the compressor. A refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit flows through the refrigerant cooler, and cooling of the power module is performed by dissipating heat to the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant cooler. A controller in the refrigeration apparatus outputs a driving signal to a drive circuit to reduce the number of switching operations of switching elements by performing overmodulation control such that there exists a carrier cycle in which no switching is performed.
US09276511B2
An output of a generator may vary according to the speed of the engine, physical characteristics of the engine, or other factors. A profile for a generator that describes a periodic fluctuation in an operating characteristic for the generator is identified. A field current of an alternator associated with the generator is modified based on the profile for the generator in order to counter variations in the output of the generator.
US09276510B2
An embodiment of the invention provides an AC motor that is driven by an AC voltage. The AC motor includes a motor coil, a switch circuit, a position detector and a controller. The motor coil receives the AC voltage to drive an axis of the motor. The switch circuit is coupled to the motor coil and controls a current passing through the motor coil. The position detector detects the position of a motor rotor to output a polarity signal. The controller controls the switch circuit according to the polarity signal and the AC voltage to make the current to be a first current with a first direction or a second current with a second direction.
US09276505B2
An electromagnet within an enclosure. The enclosure is capable of elevating the electromagnet to various heights and additionally horizontally repelling the elevated electromagnet from one elevated position to the next. The heights of the elevated electromagnet may vary depending on the voltage of the base electromagnets, the polarities of the electromagnets and the desired height of the elevated electromagnet.
US09276493B2
A method and computer program product are provided for selecting switching cells for voltage contribution in a phase arm of a multilevel converter, a cell selecting control device for a multilevel converter and a multilevel converter. The cell selecting control device and multilevel converter includes a balancing control element that obtains a reference voltage for the phase arm, obtains a measurement of the current running through the phase arm and selects cells for contributing to an AC voltage output from the multilevel converter based on the reference voltage and the magnitude of the phase arm current.
US09276492B2
An LED light source includes a sub-circuit (24) that is connectable via terminals (12,13) to an electronic transformer and to a powered circuit including at least one LED (4). The sub-circuit (24) includes a sub-circuit rectifier (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) that is connectable to the transformer (25), and a constant current regulator (7) and a sub-circuit capacitor (6) that are connected parallel to the sub-circuit rectifier (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d).
US09276481B2
A power control device for dynamically adjusting frequency includes an electric transformer, a controller, a loading feedback unit, and a switching transistor. The electric transformer includes a first side induction coil connected to an input power unit, a second side induction coil connected to a loading unit to generate an output power by electromagnetic induction with the first side induction coil, and an auxiliary induction coil generating a power sensing signal by electromagnetic induction with the first side induction coil. The loading feedback unit generates a loading feedback signal. The controller determines the level of loading based on the loading feedback signal and further detects the valleys of the power sensing signal so as to change the switching signal which controls the switching transistor at the optimal one of the valleys.
US09276474B2
Improved electrical power conversion system configured to transfer power between a DC voltage differential occurring between input DC terminals and lower DC voltage differential made up of the output differential voltages between a positive output DC terminal and a system neutral terminal and a negative output DC terminal and the system neutral terminal. The system actively controls the output differential voltages to account for variations in the electrical loading placed on the system. The system also actively controls the neutral voltage differential between the neutral terminal and Earth Ground. The output differential voltages are controlled to be maintained within an acceptable range for the types of electrical loads powered by the system (e.g. computers, servers, LED lighting) and to the extent the differentials vary, the system corrects the variances at frequencies which do not adversely affect system circuit protection or the electrical loading on the system. Similarly, control of the neutral voltage differential is performed to maintain the differential constant (preferably at about 0 volts) and corrects variances at frequencies which do not adversely affect system circuit protection or the electrical loading on the system.
US09276473B1
A voltage converting controller is applied to a switching voltage converting circuit, in which the voltage converting controller periodically operates a high-side power switch and a low-side power switch in the switching voltage converting circuit with a high-side control signal and a low-side control signal, respectively, so as to convert an input voltage into an output voltage via an inductor. Defining an ideal duty cycle as the rating value of the output voltage divided by the value of the input voltage, when the ideal duty cycle is less than one threshold duty cycle, then the period of the high-side control signal is a constant; and when the ideal duty cycle is greater than the threshold duty cycle, the period of the high-side control signal and the period of the ideal duty cycle are positively correlated.
US09276472B2
The present invention is directed to sufficiently reduce the level of EMI which occurs from a switching FET in a DC/DC converter and minimize deterioration in efficiency of a power supply. A DC/DC converter includes a switching circuit for driving a switching FET for increasing or decreasing voltage, and a switching circuit for driving a ringing frequency changing circuit. One end of a capacitor is connected to a drain of the switching FET for increasing or decreasing voltage, and the other end of the capacitor is connected to a drain of an FET for the ringing frequency changing circuit. A source of the FET for the ringing frequency changing circuit is connected to GND, and a control circuit is provided which makes the ringing frequency changing circuit valid so that a ringing frequency becomes low only in a ringing frequency component exerting large influence on deterioration in EMI.
US09276471B1
A DC-to-DC converter includes one or more switching circuits, a respective energy storage inductor electrically coupled to each of the one or more switching circuits, and a controller. The controller includes a current deficit signal generator, an integration subsystem, one or more modulators, and a clamping subsystem. The current deficit signal generator is adapted to generate a current deficit signal. The integration subsystem is adapted to integrate the current deficit signal to generate a modulator control voltage. The one or more modulators are adapted to control the one or more switching circuits to transfer power from an input power source to a load, based at least in part on the modulator control voltage. The clamping subsystem is adapted to shunt a portion of the current deficit signal away from the integration subsystem, to prevent the modulator control voltage from falling below a predetermined minimum permissible value.
US09276470B2
A system includes a multi-phase switching converter and a converter control module. The multi-phase switching converter receives an input voltage and that supplies an output voltage to a load via a plurality of phases. Each phase includes a plurality of switches, an on-time generator module that determines an on-time of the switches, and a switch control module that controls a switching frequency of the switches based on the on-time and a clock signal, and an inductance that connects the switches to the load. The converter control module varies the switching frequency without varying the on-time or varies the on-time without varying the switching frequency when current through the load varies.
US09276460B2
A power adapter system, method and device having two feedback loops that produces an output voltage on a load with a power converter using an input power. A feedback element coupled with the power converter comprises a first feedback loop that compensates for error on the output voltage. A noise detection element coupled with the power converter comprises a second feedback loop that detects noise and produces a noise feedback voltage based on the detected noise. Based on the noise feedback voltage a controller coupled with the power converter adjusts the operation of the power converter in order to compensate for or not respond to the effects of high frequency noise such as radio frequency noise on the first feedback loop of the system.
US09276457B2
An electric drivetrain of a device, such as a gas compression device, includes an electric machine and a system for supplying power to the electric machine, the electric machine including a rotor and a stator. The electric machine is an asynchronous electric machine, and the power supply system is suitable for supplying voltage to the stator of the electric machine, the power supply system making up a source of voltage.
US09276444B2
A rotor includes a first rotor core, a second rotor core, a field magnet, and an adhesive. The first rotor core includes a first core base, having a first magnet fixing surface, and a plurality of first claw-poles. The second rotor core includes a second core base having a second magnet fixing surface, and a plurality of second claw-poles. The field magnet includes a first axial end face and a second axial end face. At least one of the first magnet fixing surface and the first axial end face includes a first adhesive recess that receives an adhesive. At least one of the second magnet fixing surface and the second axial end face includes a second adhesive recess that receives the adhesive.
US09276435B2
Method and apparatus for a receiving device to wirelessly receive electric power from a transmitting device. A power capacity is configured at the receiving device, based on a default power capacity known by both the receiving device and the transmitting device. A first value of a dependent parameter is read. The dependent parameter is associated with the electric power and varies in accordance with an independent parameter adjustable by the transmitting device. A second value of the dependent parameter is then read. A maximum power capacity of the transmitting device is identified based on at least the first and second values and a predetermined threshold. The electric power is then received from the transmitting device.
US09276434B2
A wireless charging apparatus and a wireless charging system using the same are provided. The wireless charging apparatus includes a sensing resonator that senses for an external device; a transmission resonator that transmits energy to the external device by magnetic resonance; and a transmission circuit that controls the transmission resonator in accordance with an output of the sensing resonator.
US09276423B2
An electronic assembly includes an electronic component and a base. The electronic component and another electronic component have first and second thicknesses respectively. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The base includes a main body having a slot, a supporting element movably disposed at the main body, and a first elastic element connected between the main body and the supporting element. When the supporting element is at a first position, the supporting element is hidden in the main body, and the electronic component having the first thickness is adapted to be inserted into the slot. When the supporting element is moved to a second position by an elastic force of the first elastic element, at least part of the supporting element is in the slot, and the electronic component having the second thickness is adapted to be inserted into the slot and supported by the supporting element.
US09276412B2
A system (10) for supplying energy is provided. The system (10) comprises a shelter (12) for a passenger awaiting transport. The shelter (12) has a roof portion (14) and photovoltaic cells (16) disposed on the roof portion (14). The photovoltaic cells (16) are arranged to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The system (10) also comprises an energy distribution system (18) arranged to receive electrical energy from the photovoltaic cells (16) and to provide the electrical energy to at least one electrically powered component (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) of the system (10).
US09276411B2
[Problem] To provide an electricity supply system that efficiently utilizes electricity. [Solution] An electricity supply system includes: a power generation unit (10) for supplying electricity; a load unit (11) for consuming at least one of the electricity supplied from the power generation unit (10) and system electricity supplied from an electricity system; and a control unit (12) for controlling operations of the power generation unit (10) and the load unit (11). The power generation unit (10) supplies electricity to the electricity system, and the control unit (12) controls the power generation unit (10) and the load unit (11) on the basis of values of a plurality of types of electricity handled by the electricity supply system.
US09276376B2
A laser module includes a Transmitter Optical Sub-Assembly (TOSA) and a heat radiating means. The TOSA generates light by an electrical signal and transmits the generated light through an optical fiber. The heat radiating means is in contact with the TOSA to discharge heat generated by the TOSA.
US09276368B2
A tool for crimping a cable connector (6) comprises a first, U-shaped arm (3) which defines a seat in which the connector (6) may be accommodated in the working position; a second, compression arm (1) suitable for exerting a compression force on the connector (6), comprising a compression profile (5) at one end thereof, which, in turn, comprises a number of rotation pins which project laterally outwards from the compression profile (5) and are suitable for penetrating into corresponding holes in a branch of the first arm (3), to keep the second, compression arm (1) joined to the first arm (3).
US09276367B2
An electrosurgical system for directing energy to tissue includes a generator assembly operable to supply power having a selected phase, amplitude and frequency, and an applicator array assembly. The applicator array assembly includes a shell assembly, a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, and a power divider unit electrically coupled to the generator assembly. The power divider unit is operable to divide power into the applicator array assembly.
US09276366B1
An electrical connection device provides multiple types of sockets for facilitating charging of multiple electronic devices. The device includes a housing having a front face, a rear face, and a perimeter wall extending around and between the front face and the rear face to define an interior space of the housing. An electrical plug is coupled to the housing and configured for insertion into an electrical socket. A plurality of electrical outlets is coupled to the housing. Each electrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electrical plug. A plurality of ports is also coupled to the housing. Each port is electrically coupled to the electrical plug.
US09276358B2
A transceiver module release system is disclosed. The system may be used to release a transceiver module housed in a cage that is permanently mounted on a printed circuit board. The release system may include a bail that rotates a slide-block through a slot to urge the bail forward in a slide-block path on the transceiver module. The bail has a hook shaped structure adapted to be connected with a detachable pull tab. As the bail begins to move forward from the locked position, wedge elements at the end of a pair of slide-block arms extending rearward from the bail may contact locking tabs on the cage, forcing the locking tabs outward. As the locking tabs are forced outward, the shoulders of the transceiver module are released, and the transceiver module is free to slide-block out of the cage as the operator pulls on the bail.
US09276330B2
A cable connector assembly includes a cable connector comprising an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the insulative housing, the conductive terminal having a connecting portion; a cable having a plurality of wires electrically connecting with the connecting portions, the wire comprising a core, an insulative layer enclosing the core, and a grounding layer enclosing the insulative layer, the core extending beyond the grounding layer; and a conductive element electrically connecting with the connecting portion of a selected conductive terminal. The conductive element electrically connects the grounding layers; and the cores of the wires electrically connect with the connecting portions of the remaining conductive terminals.
US09276328B2
A small-caliber, high-performance broadband radiator allows two unit arms of the first and second group of dipoles to be folded inwards, an included angle of 40°-50° is formed between two unit arms of the first/second groups of dipoles and the first/second unit racks, and the unit arms of the first and second groups of dipoles are arranged linearly at interval while flexural loading sections are provided and also connected by dielectric medium. Hence, the broadband radiator allows significant reduction of the aperture of the broadband radiator, and there is a larger adjustment space for the gap of the radiator array, so the interference of low and high bands is less. This allows for improved performance, thus reducing the configuration size and manufacturing cost of antennas, and creating better industrial benefits with improved applicability.
US09276326B2
An electromagnetic wave absorber contains cement and carbon nanotubes and has an absolute value of a complex relative permittivity in a range of from 2.0 to 10.0 in a frequency range of from 1 to 110 GHz and a minimum value of a dissipation factor of 0.35 or greater in the frequency range of from 1 to 110 GHz.
US09276323B2
The present invention relates to a dual polarization antenna comprising a reflection plate, and a radiating module including first to fourth radiating elements having respective first to fourth radiating arms having respective bent portions. The bent portions of the first to fourth radiation arms are sequentially adjacent to each other, and sequentially form and shaped structures. The and shaped structures are located on a third quadrant, a fourth quadrant, a second quadrant, and a first quadrant, respectively. The first to fourth radiating elements have supports integrally extending from the bent portions of the first to fourth radiating arms to the reflection plate. The radiating module includes a first feeder line installed to transmit signals to the first and third radiating arms, and a second feeder line installed to transmit signals to the second and fourth radiating arms.
US09276320B2
A multi-band antenna is to be electrically connected to a transceiving terminal of a radio frequency circuit by a feeding unit and includes a grounding section, a feed-in section electrically connected to the feeding unit, first and second radiator arms respectively disposed at opposite lateral sides of the feed-in section and electrically connected to the feed-in section, and a first coupling component. The first and second radiator arms are configured to generate first and second resonant modes, respectively. When the multi-band antenna transceives radio frequency signals, the second radiator arm and the first coupling component generate a coupling effect such that the first coupling component generates a third resonant mode. Center frequencies of the first, second, and third resonant modes are different from each other.
US09276314B2
A central office node using beam patterns and antenna polarizations, a remote node, and a wireless communication method between the nodes. The central office node includes: a first antenna array with first polarization attributes; a second antenna array with second polarization attributes; and a transmitter unit configured to transmit data to a plurality of remote nodes using beam patterns generated during beamforming and the polarization of the first and second antenna arrays.
US09276313B2
An antenna structure of a Radio Frequency (RF) device includes an antenna and a transmission line circuit coupled to the antenna. The transmission line circuit includes a plurality of transmission line circuit elements and a transmission line coupling circuit that couples at least one of the transmission line circuit elements together to form the transmission line circuit based on a transmission line characteristic signal.
US09276299B2
A vehicle having a battery mounted thereon is provided. The battery includes a cell group having a plurality of cells, each of the cells including an electrolytic solution and a power-generating element within a case of cylindrical shape, and a holding member holding each of the cells in a diameter direction of the cell, wherein the cell group is placed in an area inside an edge of the holding member when viewed from a height direction of the vehicle. Each of the cells can be arranged to extend in the height direction of the vehicle. The holding member may be a heat dissipation plate allowing heat exchange between the cells.
US09276298B2
Embodiments disclosed include automatically determining alarm threshold settings for monitored battery cells in battery systems. Battery monitoring control units are provided that are configured to initiate battery performance tests (e.g., ohmic tests) on battery cells in a battery system. Failing battery cells are identified as those battery cells having battery performance characteristics outside defined battery performance threshold settings. An initial performance alarm threshold setting is established for each battery cell because of unique performance characteristics that can substantially change during initial charging cycles before the battery cells have settled. A settled performance alarm threshold setting specific to each battery cell is then established based on battery cell performance during the defined settling time period. In this manner, more accurate performance alarm threshold settings are automatically established for monitoring each battery cell based on the individual performance characteristics of each battery cell during the settling time period.
US09276293B2
A dynamic formation protocol for a lithium-ion battery cell. An “SEI formation end voltage” is identified, which is the voltage reached during formation at which the SEI layer is substantially formed. Charge rates are selected for the formation, with a first charge current rate to be used until the SEI formation end voltage is reached, and a second charge current rate, faster than the first charge current rate, to be used thereafter the SEI formation end voltage. These charge rates are applied to the cell for at least a first cycle of the dynamic formation process.
US09276292B1
An electrical or electrochemical cell, including a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer is disclosed. The cathode layer includes a first material providing a cathodic electric transport, charge storage or redox function. The electrolyte layer includes a polymer, a first electrolyte salt, and/or an ionic liquid, The anode layer includes a second material providing an anodic electric transport, charge storage or redox function. At least one of the cathode and anode layers includes the ionic liquid, a second electrolyte salt, and/or a transport-enhancing additive.
US09276289B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an ambient temperature molten salt having excellent electron conductivity in addition to ion conductivity. The present invention attains the object by providing an ambient temperature molten salt including a first imidazolium salt having a cationic segment represented by the general formula (1) and an anionic segment represented by MX4 (where M is a transition metal and X is a halogen); and a second salt having a cationic segment as a monovalent cation and an anionic segment as a halogen.
US09276288B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode and the negative electrode occlude and discharge lithium irons. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains an additive and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The additive includes an organic solvent having a donor number of 18 to 24. A content of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon is 0% to 2.0% of a total mass of the nonaqueous electrolyte.
US09276283B1
A self-propelled microbial fuel cell apparatus includes a microbial fuel cell with a cathode electrode and an anode electrode wherein the anode electrode is enclosed within an enclosure that has an opening in it. The microbial fuel cell is positioned within a self-propelled delivery vehicle so that the electrodes of the fuel cell are exposed to interface with a microbial environment.
US09276276B2
The mechanical energy of an actuator is used for producing vibration alerts in a portable electronic device. The same mechanical energy is also utilized to control the flow of fuel or to mix the fuel in a fuel cell of the portable electronic device. Thus, the flow of fuel into a reaction area of a fuel cell is controlled or fuel is mixed in a fuel storage area of a fuel cell assembly. Such fuel flow control and mixing is performed passively whenever a vibration alert occurs, or is performed actively in response to monitoring the status of the fuel cell assembly.
US09276271B2
A fuel cell system (10) with a toggle switch (32) between an ON or OFF position is provided. In the OFF position, gas is purged from the fuel cell. The fuel cell (12) may surround the fuel source (14) with the cathode side of the fuel cell facing the fuel source. Additionally, both the fuel cell (12) and the fuel source (14) may have similar form factor to maximize the available space. Preferably the form factor is substantially an oval shape. The fuel cell system may also have a pressure regulator (26).
US09276267B2
A cathode of a solid-oxide fuel cell includes a first ionic conducting layer, a second layer deposited over the first layer and formed from a mixed ionic and electronic conductor layer including an oxygen ion conducting phase, and a third layer deposited over the second layer and formed from a mixed ionic and electronic conductor layer. A sintering aid and pore formers are added to the second layer and the third layer to establish ionic, electronic, and gas diffusion paths that are contiguous. By adjusting the microstructure of the second and the third layer, a high performance low resistance cathode is formed that bonds well to the electrolyte, is highly electro-catalytic, and has a relatively low overall resistance. By using inexpensive and readily available substances as sintering aid and as pore formers, a low-cost cathode is provided.
US09276262B2
There are provided a battery electrode wherein an active material layer is formed on a collector surface, and the layer contains an active material and a block copolymer having a vinyl alcohol polymer block; and a lithium ion secondary battery having a laminate structure in which a pair of electrodes having an active material layer are disposed in such a manner that the active material layers face each other via a separator, and an electrolyte composition containing a lithium-containing electrolyte salt fills the gaps between the pair of electrodes and the separator, wherein at least one of the pair of electrodes is the above battery electrode. Thus, there can be provided a lithium ion secondary battery which can be easily produced and be less polarized, exhibiting excellent charge/discharge properties and cycle characteristics.
US09276248B2
In order to provide a cell connector for the electrically conductive connection of a first cell terminal of a first electrochemical cell and a second cell terminal of a second electrochemical cell of an electrochemical device comprising a base body and a contact body, which is connected to the base body and is connected to one of the cell terminals in the assembled state of the cell connector, at which an electric potential is detectable in a particularly simple manner, it is proposed that the contact body comprises a voltage tap.
US09276247B2
A separator including a porous substrate, and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and including a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer. A continuous or discontinuous patterned layer is formed on the surface of the porous coating layer to allow an electrolyte solution to permeate therethrough. The continuous or discontinuous patterned layer may be formed with continuous grooves to allow an electrolyte solution to permeate therethrough. Due to this structure, the wettability of the separator with an electrolyte solution is improved, shortening the time needed to impregnate the electrolyte solution into the separator.
US09276246B2
An electrochemical cell may have a PVDF microporous membrane that may be adhesively bonded to electrodes. The adhesive may be a mixture of a solvent and non-solvent that may cause the PVDF membrane to become tacky and adhere to an electrode without collapsing. An adhesively bonded cell may be constructed using multiple layers of adhesively bonded membranes and electrodes. In some embodiments, the adhesive solution may be used as a sizing to prepare electrodes for bonding.
US09276242B2
A battery cell arrangement having a battery cell which is in the form of a film cell and includes a flat cell body with two end faces, a flexible cell rim surrounding the cell body, and two contact sections arranged on a rim side of the battery cell. The battery cell arrangement further has a frame arrangement which includes a first frame element and a second frame element which frames the cell body on all sides on the rim. At least one vent opening is provided on a side of the frame arrangement which faces away from the end faces of the cell body, in order to allow fluid, in particular gas, to emerge from the battery cell arrangement in the event of damage.
US09276235B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, an organic light-emitting device on the substrate, and a thin film encapsulation layer including a first inorganic film, a first organic film, and fine particles including silica with platinum particles. The fine particles are dispersed on the first organic film, and the thin film encapsulation layer is on the organic light-emitting device.
US09276231B2
A method for fabricating an organic electroluminescence device according to the present invention includes: preparing an organic electroluminescence device having a lower electrode, an organic layer including an emitting layer, an upper electrode, and a shorted part in which the lower electrode and the upper electrode are shorted; and irradiating a part surrounding the shorted part in which the lower electrode and the upper electrode are shorted to alter a material composing the lower electrode or the upper electrode and to form a space between the lower electrode and the upper electrode in a region corresponding to a region surrounded by an altered part.
US09276227B2
An organic light-emitting device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and an organic layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the organic layer includes a compound of Formula 1 and a compound of Formula 2; and a flat panel display device including the organic light-emitting device. Substituents in Formulae 1 and 2 are the same as described in the specification
US09276218B2
An arylamine compound of Formula 1 below and an organic light-emitting device including the arylamine compound are provided: Substituents in Formula 1 are as defined in the specification.
US09276213B2
A photoelectric conversion material, which acts as an electron donor for donating an electron or an electron acceptor for accepting an electron, contains a polymer having at least one structural unit selected from graphenes represented by the following general formulae (1) to (4): wherein at least one of R1 to R6 in each of the general formulae (1) to (4) is a solubilizing group, and the polymer exhibits a higher solubility in an organic solvent with the solubilizing group than without the solubilizing group.
US09276205B2
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes first electrodes, second electrodes, a resistance change layer provided between the first electrodes and the second electrodes, and ion metal particles that are formed in an island form between the first electrodes and the resistance change layer and that contain a metal movable inside the resistance change layer. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are formed of a material which is more unlikely to be ionized as compared to the metal, and the first electrodes are in contact with the resistance change layer in an area around the ion metal particles.
US09276203B2
Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells having switching layers that include hafnium, aluminum, oxygen, and nitrogen. The composition of such layers is designed to achieve desirable performance characteristics, such as low current leakage as well as low and consistent switching currents. In some embodiments, the concentration of nitrogen in a switching layer is between about 1 and 20 atomic percent or, more specifically, between about 2 and 5 atomic percent. Addition of nitrogen helps to control concentration and distribution of defects in the switching layer. Also, nitrogen as well as a combination of two metals helps with maintaining this layer in an amorphous state. Excessive amounts of nitrogen reduce defects in the layer such that switching characteristics may be completely lost. The switching layer may be deposited using various techniques, such as sputtering or atomic layer deposition (ALD).
US09276200B2
A magnetic sensor includes a plurality of groups, each group comprising a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices having a plurality of conductors configured to couple the MTJ devices within one group in parallel and the groups in series enabling independent optimization of the material resistance area (RA) of the MTJ and setting total device resistance so that the total bridge resistance is not so high that Johnson noise becomes a signal limiting concern, and yet not so low that CMOS elements may diminish the read signal. Alternatively, the magnetic tunnel junction devices within each of at least two groups in series and the at least two groups in parallel resulting in the individual configuration of the electrical connection path and the magnetic reference direction of the reference layer, leading to independent optimization of both functions, and more freedom in device design and layout. The X and Y pitch of the sense elements are arranged such that the line segment that stabilizes, for example, the right side of one sense element; also stabilizes the left side of the adjacent sense element.
US09276199B2
Some implementations provide a die that includes a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cell array that includes several MRAM cells. The die also includes a first ferromagnetic layer positioned above the MRAM cell array, a second ferromagnetic layer positioned below the MRAM cell array, and several vias positioned around at least one MRAM cell. The via comprising a ferromagnetic material. In some implementations, the first ferromagnetic layer, the second ferromagnetic layer and the several vias define a magnetic shield for the MRAM cell array. The MRAM cell may include a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). In some implementations, the several vias traverse at least a metal layer and a dielectric layer of the die. In some implementations, the vias are through substrate vias. In some implementations, the ferromagnetic material has high permeability and high B saturation.
US09276198B2
A magnetic memory device according to embodiments includes a first reference magnetic layer on a substrate, a second reference magnetic layer on the first reference magnetic layer, a free layer between the first reference magnetic layer and the second reference magnetic layer, a first tunnel barrier layer between the first reference magnetic layer and the free layer, and a second tunnel barrier layer between the second reference magnetic layer and the free layer. The first reference magnetic, second reference magnetic and free layers each have a magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate. A resistance-area product (RA) value of the first tunnel barrier layer is greater than that of the second tunnel barrier layer.
US09276195B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic random access memory includes a magnetoresistive element, a contact arranged under the magnetoresistive element and connected to the magnetoresistive element, and an insulating film continuously formed from a periphery of the contact to a side surface of the magnetoresistive element and including a protective portion covering the side surface of the magnetoresistive element.
US09276193B2
A piezoelectric material contains a first component that is a rhombohedral crystal that is configured to have a complex oxide with a perovskite structure and Curie temperature Tc1, a second component that is a crystal other than a rhombohedral crystal that is configured to have a complex oxide with the perovskite structure and Curie temperature Tc2, and a third component that is configured to have a complex oxide with the perovskite structure in which the component is formed as the same crystal system as the second component and Curie temperature Tc3, in which Tc1 is higher than Tc2, and Tc3 is equal to or higher than Tc1.
US09276188B2
Some embodiments provide a waste heat recovery apparatus including an exhaust tube having a cylindrical outer shell configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid; a first heat exchanger extending through a first region of the exhaust tube, the first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cylindrical outer shell; a second region of the exhaust tube extending through the exhaust tube, the second region having a low exhaust fluid pressure drop; an exhaust valve operatively disposed within the second region and configured to allow exhaust fluid to flow through the second region only when a flow rate of the exhaust fluid becomes great enough to result in back pressure beyond an allowable limit; and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with an outer surface of the outer shell.
US09276168B2
A component including a substrate, at least one layer including a color conversion material comprising quantum dots disposed over the substrate, and a layer comprising a conductive material (e.g., indium-tin-oxide) disposed over the at least one layer. (Embodiments of such component are also referred to herein as a QD light-enhancement substrate (QD-LES).) In certain preferred embodiments, the substrate is transparent to light, for example, visible light, ultraviolet light, and/or infrared radiation. In certain embodiments, the substrate is flexible. In certain embodiments, the substrate includes an outcoupling element (e.g., a microlens array). A film including a color conversion material comprising quantum dots and a conductive material is also provided. In certain embodiments, a component includes a film described herein. Lighting devices are also provided. In certain embodiments, a lighting device includes a film described herein. In certain embodiments, a lighting device includes a component described herein.
US09276165B2
The present application discloses a composite substrate with a protective layer for preventing metal from diffusing, comprising: a thermally and electrically conductive layer (2) having a melting point of greater than 1000° C., and a GaN mono-crystalline layer (1) located on the thermally and electrically conductive layer (2). At least the side wall of the composite substrate is cladded with a protective layer (3) for preventing metal from diffusing. The composite substrate not only takes account of the homoepitaxy required for GaN epitaxy and improves the quality of the crystals, but also can be used directly to prepare LEDs with vertical structures and significantly reduce costs. The disclosed composite substrate effectively avoids the pollution of experimental instruments by the diffusion and volatilization of a metal material during the growth of MOCVD at high temperature.
US09276162B2
In order to improve reliability by preventing an edge breakdown in a semiconductor photodetector having a mesa structure such as a mesa APD, the semiconductor photodetector comprises a mesa structure formed on a first semiconductor layer of the first conduction type formed on a semiconductor substrate, the mesa structure including a light absorbing layer for absorbing light, an electric field buffer layer for dropping an electric field intensity, an avalanche multiplication layer for causing avalanche multiplication to occur, and a second semiconductor layer of the second conduction type, wherein the thickness of the avalanche multiplication layer at the portion in the vicinity of the side face of the mesa structure is made thinner than the thickness at the central portion of the mesa structure.
US09276152B2
A photovoltaic cell tab including: a front contact portion having a first profile; and a back contact portion having a second profile, wherein the first profile or second profile are complex shapes that may be dissimilar to each other. A system and method for forming photovoltaic cell tabs comprising: a feeding mechanism to feed wire; a first forming tool to trim and shape the wire to tabs; and a placement tool configured to match a profile of the tabs and place and attach the tabs on photovoltaic cells. In the system and method, the tabs may be formed to have a complex profile or shape that will affect incident light and/or mechanical or other characteristics of the tabs.
US09276147B2
A method of processing a semiconductor assembly is presented. The method includes fabricating a photovoltaic module including a semiconductor assembly. The fabrication step includes performing an efficiency enhancement treatment on the semiconductor assembly, wherein the efficiency enhancement treatment includes light soaking the semiconductor assembly, and heating the semiconductor assembly. The semiconductor assembly includes a window layer having an average thickness less than about 80 nanometers, wherein the window layer includes cadmium and sulfur. A related system is also presented.
US09276139B2
A polyimide film which rarely undergoes the formation of bubbles, blisters or the like, even when heated to a high temperature; and a production method and a production apparatus for the polyimide film. The polyimide film production apparatus includes a support body, a cast furnace and a cure furnace, wherein the cure furnace is partitioned into multiple zones so that the temperature of a self-supporting film can be increased in a stepwise manner, and an infrared electric heater, which is disposed at a predetermined distance from the film, is arranged in a zone for heating the atmosphere of the self-supporting film to a temperature of 450° C. or higher on the upper surface side and/or the lower surface side of the self-supporting film. The polyimide production apparatus enables the production of a polyimide film which has a volatile content of 0.1 mass % or less after being heated at 450° C. for 20 minutes.
US09276136B2
The present invention provides a dynamic quantity device which reduces stress received by a sensor due to resin packaging and reduces variation in sensor characteristics due to stress. The dynamic quantity sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a fixing part and a flexible part and a movable part positioned on an interior side of the fixing part, and a cap component configured to cover the flexible part and the movable part, wherein the fixing part includes an interior frame configured to enclose the flexible part and the movable part and an exterior part positioned on a periphery of the interior frame, a slit configured to divide the interior frame and the exterior frame, and a linking part configured to link the interior frame and the exterior frame.
US09276135B2
An embodiment relates to a JFET with a channel region and a gate region forming a pn junction. Between a source region and a drain region in a semiconductor portion, the pn junction extends along a vertical direction perpendicular to a first surface of the semiconductor portion. The source, channel and drain regions have a first conductivity type and are arranged along the vertical direction. The gate region and a shielding region between the gate and drain regions have a second, complementary conductivity type. An auxiliary region separates the gate and shielding regions in the semiconductor portion.
US09276134B2
In some embodiments, a transistor includes a stack having a bottom source/drain region, a first insulative material, a conductive gate, a second insulative material, and a top source/drain region. The stack has a vertical sidewall with a bottom portion along the bottom source/drain region, a middle portion along the conductive gate, and a top portion along the top source/drain region. Third insulative material is along the middle portion of the vertical sidewall. A channel region material is along the third insulative material. The channel region material is directly against the top and bottom portions of the vertical sidewall. The channel region material has a thickness within a range of from greater than about 3 Å to less than or equal to about 10 Å; and/or has a thickness of from 1 monolayer to 7 monolayers.
US09276133B2
A method of manufacturing a vertical memory device is disclosed. In the method, a plurality of insulation layers and a plurality of first sacrificial layers are alternately stacked on a substrate. A plurality of holes is formed through the plurality of insulation layers and first sacrificial layers. A plasma treatment process is performed to oxidize the first sacrificial layers exposed by the holes. A plurality of second sacrificial layer patterns project from sidewalls of the holes. A blocking layer pattern, a charge storage layer pattern and a tunnel insulation layer pattern are formed on the sidewall of the holes that cover the second sacrificial layer patterns. A plurality of channels is formed to fill the holes. The first sacrificial layers and the second sacrificial layer patterns are removed to form a plurality of gaps exposing a sidewall of the blocking layer pattern. A plurality of gate electrodes is formed to fill the gaps.
US09276131B2
This invention teaches stress release metal electrodes for gate, drain and source in a field effect transistor and stress release metal electrodes for emitter, base and collector in a bipolar transistor. Due to the large difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between semiconductor materials and metal electrodes, significant strain and stresses can be induced in the devices during the fabrication and operation. The present invention provides metal electrode with stress release structures to reduce the strain and stresses in these devices.
US09276126B2
This semiconductor device (100A) includes: a substrate (1); a gate electrode (3) and a first transparent electrode (2) which are formed on the substrate (1); a first insulating layer (4) formed over the gate electrode (3) and the first transparent electrode (2); an oxide semiconductor layer (5) formed on the first insulating layer (4); source and drain electrodes (6s, 6d) electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer (5); and a second transparent electrode (7) electrically connected to the drain electrode (6d). At least a portion of the first transparent electrode (2) overlaps with the second transparent electrode (7) with the first insulating layer (4) interposed between them, and the oxide semiconductor layer (5) and the second transparent electrode (7) are formed out of the same oxide film.
US09276122B2
Disclosed herein is a thin-film transistor having a gate electrode; a source electrode and a drain electrode which form a source/drain-electrode pair; and a channel layer which is provided between the gate electrode and the source/drain-electrode pair, includes a poly-crystal oxide semiconductor material and has a film thickness smaller than the average diameter of crystal grains of the poly-crystal oxide semiconductor material.
US09276121B2
A semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used for a channel formation region and which has a positive threshold voltage to serve as a normally-off switching element, and the like are provided. Stable electrical characteristics are given to the semiconductor device including the transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used for the channel formation region, and thus the semiconductor device has high reliability. In a semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film including a channel formation region, source and drain electrode layers, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode layer are stacked in this order over an oxide insulating film, a conductive layer overlapping with the gate electrode layer with the channel formation region provided therebetween and controlling the electrical characteristics of the transistor is provided in the oxide insulating film including an oxygen excess region.
US09276108B2
A read-only memory (ROM) cell array and a cell structure thereof is disclosed. The ROM cell array is coupled to a plurality rows of bit-lines and a plurality columns of word-lines and comprises: a plurality of sub-cell-arrays arranged along the column direction, each sub-cell-array comprising a plurality of unit cell structures. Each unit cell structure comprises: an cell base region defining a cell boundary, comprising an blanket OD layer having a wide-block profile arranged on a substrate and defining a continuous common source node, a drain pad disposed above the OD layer, arranged in selectively connection with a bit line, a vertical channel structure bridging between the drain pad and the OD layer, and a gate structure disposed vertically between the drain pad and the OD layer and arranged in connection with a word-line. The sub-cell-array boundary is defined entirely within the coverage of the OD layer.
US09276106B2
A silicon carbide film includes a first range having a first breakdown voltage holding layer, a charge compensation region, a first junction terminal region, and a first guard ring region. The silicon carbide film includes a second range having a second breakdown voltage holding layer, a channel forming region, and a source region. The first and second breakdown voltage holding layers constitutes a breakdown voltage holding region having a thickness in an element portion. When voltage is applied to attain a maximum electric field strength of 0.4 MV/cm or more in the breakdown voltage holding region during an OFF state, a maximum electric field strength in the second range within the element portion is configured to be less than ⅔ of a maximum electric field strength in the first range.
US09276105B2
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes an element region and a guard ring region. A semiconductor element is provided in the element region. The guard ring region surrounds the element region in a plan view and has a first conductivity type. The semiconductor element includes a drift region having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. The guard ring region includes a linear region and a curvature region continuously connected to the linear region. A value obtained by dividing a radius of curvature of an inner circumference portion of the curvature region by a thickness of the drift region is not less than 5 and not more than 10. Accordingly, there can be provided a silicon carbide semiconductor device capable of improving a breakdown voltage while suppressing decrease of on-state current.
US09276101B2
A low leakage current switch device (110) is provided which includes a GaN-on-Si substrate (11-43) covered by a passivation surface layer (43) in which a T-gate electrode with sidewall extensions (48) is formed and coated with a conformal passivation layer (49) so that the T-gate electrode sidewall extensions are spaced apart from the underlying passivation surface layer (43) by the conformal passivation layer (49).
US09276100B2
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer disposed over a substrate, a second semiconductor layer disposed over the first semiconductor layer, a gate recess disposed, through removal of a part of or all the second semiconductor layer, in a predetermined region over the first semiconductor layer, an insulating film disposed over the gate recess and the second semiconductor layer, a gate electrode disposed over the gate recess with the insulating film therebetween, and a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed over the first semiconductor layer or the second semiconductor layer, whereby a central portion of the gate recess is higher than a peripheral portion of the gate recess.
US09276099B2
A semiconductor device of one embodiment, including the semiconductor layer including a III-V group nitride semiconductor; a groove portion formed in the semiconductor layer; the gate insulating film formed at least on a bottom surface of the groove portion, the gate insulating film being a stacked film of a first insulating film and a second insulating film of which dielectric constant is higher than that of the first insulating film; the gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor layer across the gate electrode, in which the second insulating film is selectively formed only under the gate electrode.
US09276093B2
Aspects of the invention provide a method of forming a bipolar junction transistor. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate including a uniform silicon nitride layer over an emitter pedestal, and a base layer below the emitter pedestal; applying a photomask at a first end and a second end of a base region; and performing a silicon nitride etch with the photomask to simultaneously form silicon nitride spacers adjacent to the emitter pedestal and exposing the base region of the bipolar junction transistor. The silicon nitride etch may be an end-pointed etch.
US09276090B2
A self-rectified device is provided, comprising a bottom electrode, a patterned dielectric layer with a contact hole formed on the bottom electrode, a memory formed at the bottom electrode and substantially aligned with the contact hole, and a top electrode formed on the bottom electrode and filling into the contact hole to contact with the memory, wherein the top electrode comprises a N+ type semiconductor material or a P+ type semiconductor material, and the memory and the top electrode produce a self-rectified property.
US09276087B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes patterning a substrate to form an active fin, forming a sacrificial gate pattern crossing over the active fin on the substrate, forming an interlayer insulating layer on the sacrificial gate pattern, removing the sacrificial gate pattern to form a gap region exposing the active fin in the interlayer insulating layer, and oxidizing a portion of the active fin exposed by the gap region to form an insulation pattern between the active fin and the substrate.
US09276070B2
Methods of forming ternary III-nitride materials include epitaxially growing ternary III-nitride material on a substrate in a chamber. The epitaxial growth includes providing a precursor gas mixture within the chamber that includes a relatively high ratio of a partial pressure of a nitrogen precursor to a partial pressure of one or more Group III precursors in the chamber. Due at least in part to the relatively high ratio, a layer of ternary III-nitride material may be grown to a high final thickness with small V-pit defects therein. Semiconductor structures including such ternary III-nitride material layers are fabricated using such methods.
US09276069B2
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing high power circuits and semiconductor devices. In one aspect, a method for fabricating a silicon carbide (SiC) device includes forming a thin layer of a protection material over a SiC substrate, in which the protection material has a lattice constant that substantially matches a lattice constant of SiC and the thin layer has a thickness of less than a critical layer thickness for the protection material over SiC to form a uniform interface between the protection material and SiC, forming a layer of an insulator material over the thin layer of the protection material, and forming one or more transistor structures over the insulator material.
US09276068B2
A silicon oxide film is formed on an epitaxial layer by dry thermal oxidation, an ohmic electrode is formed on a back surface of a SiC substrate, an ohmic junction is formed between the ohmic electrode and the back surface of the SiC substrate by annealing the SiC substrate, the silicon oxide film is removed, and a Schottky electrode is formed on the epitaxial layer. Then, a sintering treatment is performed to form a Schottky junction between the Schottky electrode and the epitaxial layer.
US09276056B2
A magnetically-coupled structure is integrated with an integrated circuit in back end-of-line (BEOL) digital CMOS fabrication processes. A differential primary (or secondary) coil is formed by patterning a thick copper (Cu) metal layer, and a single-ended secondary (or primary) coil is formed by patterning a thick aluminum (Al) top metal bonding layer. Crossovers and/or cross-unders are formed using thin metal layers. One embodiment provides a stacked balun with a differential primary input winding defined in the copper layer, directly underneath a single-ended spiral winding defined in the aluminum layer. The spiral forms the single-ended secondary output of the balun and is rotated by 90° to prevent metal shorting for its cross-under connections. Another embodiment provides a transformer with one differential primary (or secondary) coil defined in the copper layer and another differential secondary (or primary) coil defined in the aluminum layer and adding a center tap. The position of the tap is selected to compensate for phase differences and provide desired balance.
US09276037B2
A display device includes a load, a transistor for controlling a current value supplied to the load, a capacitor, a first wiring, a second wiring, and first to fourth switches. Variations in the current value caused by variations in the threshold voltage of the transistor can be suppressed through the steps of: (1) holding the threshold voltage of the transistor in the storage capacitor, (2) inputting a potential in accordance with a video signal, and (3) holding a voltage that is the sum of the threshold voltage and the potential in accordance with the video signal, in the storage capacitor. Accordingly, a desired current can be supplied to the load such as a light emitting element.
US09276035B2
A light receiving layer is formed with an array of photodiodes for accumulating signal charge produced by photoelectric conversion of incident light. A wiring layer provided with electrodes and wiring for controlling the photodiodes is formed behind the light receiving layer in a traveling direction of the incident light. In the light receiving layer, there is formed a projection and depression structure in which a pair of inclined surfaces have symmetric inclination directions and each inclined surface corresponds to each photodiode. Each inclined surface makes the incident light enter each photodiode by a light amount corresponding to an incident angle.
US09276025B2
An active matrix image sensing panel comprises a substrate and an image sensing pixel. The image sensing pixel is disposed on the substrate and comprises a scan line, a data line crossing the scan line, a photo sensing element and a TFT element. The photo sensing element includes a first terminal electrode and a second terminal electrode, and the voltage of the first terminal electrode is higher than that of the second terminal electrode. The TFT element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected to the data line, the second electrode is electrically connected to the first terminal electrode, the first gate electrode is electrically connected to the scan line, and the second gate electrode is electrically connected to the first or second terminal electrode. An active matrix image sensing apparatus is also disclosed.
US09276024B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device including forming a mask with apertures corresponding to a pixel pattern on the surface of a semiconductor layer, implanting second-conductivity-type impurity ions into the semiconductor layer from the front side of the layer to form second-conductivity-type photoelectric conversion parts and forming a part where no ion has been implanted into a pixel separation region, forming at the surface of the semiconductor layer a signal scanning circuit for reading light signals obtained at the photoelectric conversion parts after removing the mask, and removing the semiconductor substrate and a buried insulating layer from the semiconductor layer after causing a support substrate to adhere to the front side of the semiconductor layer.
US09276021B2
An electronic device according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprises a plurality of first output lines and a plurality of current to voltage convertors. Current signals from a plurality of signal sources are output to the first output lines. Each of the current to voltage convertors are electrically connected to a corresponding one of the first output lines. The current to voltage convertor includes a first amplification unit. An offset reduction unit in a subsequent stage of the current to voltage convertor is provided for each of the first output lines.
US09276020B2
A display device and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, a display device includes a substrate having a pixel region, a transistor region and a capacitor region, a transistor arranged within the transistor region of the substrate and a capacitor arranged within the capacitor region of the substrate, wherein the capacitor includes a lower electrode arranged on the substrate, a gate insulating layer arranged on the lower electrode and an upper electrode arranged on the gate insulating layer and overlapping the lower electrode, the upper electrode includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer arranged on the first conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer is opaque.
US09276006B1
A non-volatile memory cell including a substrate having first and second regions with a channel region therebetween. A floating gate is disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region which is adjacent the first region. A select gate is disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region which is adjacent to the second region. The select gate includes a block of polysilicon material and a work function metal material layer extending along bottom and side surfaces of the polysilicon material block. The select gate is insulated from the second portion of the channel region by a silicon dioxide layer and a high K insulating material layer. A control gate is disposed over and insulated from the floating gate, and an erase gate is disposed over and insulated from the first region, and disposed laterally adjacent to and insulated from the floating gate.
US09275990B2
An integrated circuit is formed on a p-type semiconductor substrate connected to ground potential. A deep n-well is disposed in the p-type substrate. A p-well is disposed in the deep n-well. An n+ drain region and an n+ source region are disposed in the p-well, the n+ source region connected to a common potential. A p-type contact is disposed in the p-well and is connected to ground potential through a resistor.
US09275987B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can store data even after the application of power supply voltage is stopped, a manufacturing method thereof, or a driving method thereof. Data stored in a first circuit portion is transmitted to a second circuit portion, the data is stored in the second circuit portion in a period during which the application of power supply voltage is stopped, and data corresponding to the data is transmitted to the first circuit portion at the time of applying power supply voltage again. With such a configuration, a semiconductor device can store data even in a period during which the application of the power supply voltage is stopped. In particular, the second circuit portion includes a transistor including an oxide semiconductor, whereby the data can be accurately stored.
US09275986B2
According to a first aspect embodiments provide a transistor including at least one gate region between at least one drain region and at least one source region, wherein a ratio between a width of the gate region and a length of the gate region exceeds 300.
US09275980B2
The invention relates to a method for embedding a non-embedded or bare LED network. To this end, the method of embedding a non-embedded LED network comprises the steps of: •(a) providing said non-embedded LED network associated with a continuous flexible support; •(b) applying in a continuous manner a flexible insulation layer on a liquid basis onto said non-embedded LED network associated with said continuous flexible support.
US09275974B2
An optical sensor chip device and a corresponding production method. The optical sensor chip device includes a substrate having a front side and a rear side; at least one first optical sensor chip for acquiring a first optical spectral range, the chip being attached to the substrate; and a first sealed cavern fashioned above an upper side of the first optical sensor chip. The first optical sensor chip is situated on a first side of the first cavern, and a first optical device is situated on an opposite, second side of the first cavern.
US09275966B2
An electronic apparatus includes a base substrate, the base substrate including an interconnect. The electronic apparatus further includes a first die including a first semiconductor device, the first semiconductor device being coupled to the interconnect, and further includes a second die including a second semiconductor device, the second semiconductor device being coupled to the interconnect. The first and second die are attached to the base substrate in opposite orientations.
US09275961B2
A low-cost high-frequency electronic device package and associated fabrication method are described wherein waveguide structures are formed from the high frequency device to the package lead transition. The package lead transition is optimized to take advantage of waveguide interconnect structure.
US09275956B2
A semiconductor substrate includes scribe and product regions, with grooves formed in the scribe region. The grooves are embedded with an insulating film to provide an isolation region, and an active region, including semiconductor elements, is formed in the product region. Dummy patterns are formed in the scribe region, which include a first dummy pattern and second dummy patterns for preventing dishing of the insulating film. The second dummy patterns are surrounded and defined by the isolation region. A target pattern for optical pattern recognition is arranged over the first dummy pattern, and includes a first conductive film. A plane area of the first dummy pattern is larger than a plane area of each of the second dummy patterns, and the first dummy pattern and the second dummy patterns are arranged in order from an edge of the semiconductor substrate toward the product region.
US09275940B2
A semiconductor device is provided which complies with restrictions on layout on a mounting substrate side. The semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate having a plurality of bonding leads at an upper surface having a rectangular shape, a semiconductor chip mounted over the upper surface of the wiring substrate, and having a plurality of electrode pads at a main surface having a rectangular shape similar to a square shape, and a plurality of metal wires for coupling the bonding leads of the wiring substrate to the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip. In a BGA, the metal wires are arranged at three sides of a main surface of the semiconductor chip, the bonding leads are provided in lines at the upper surface of the wiring substrate outside the respective opposed short sides of the main surface of the semiconductor chip, and the metal wires are coupled to the bonding leads.
US09275938B1
A wire bondless, double flip chipped discrete power package including a base plate for structural support, heat spreading, and thermal connection, power substrate for electrical interconnection and isolation, lead frames for external connections, an upper substrate for topside electrical interconnection, and injection molded housing for mounting, isolation, and protection.
US09275937B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a plurality of contact surfaces, an interlayer dielectric layer formed over the substrate and having a first open portion which exposes a part of the contact surfaces and a second open portion which exposes the other contact surfaces, a storage node contact (SNC) plug filling the first open portion, and a damascene structure filing the second open portion and including a bit line, a spacer formed on both sidewalls of the bit line, a capping layer formed over the bit line and the spacer, and an air gap formed between the bit line and the spacer. The bit line includes a conductive material of which the volume is contracted by a heat treatment to form the air gap.
US09275927B1
Self-heating integrated circuits are provided. In one embodiment, a self-heating integrated circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to drive a device and a controller configured to selectively operate the drive circuit in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the controller is configured to operate the drive circuit to drive the device and, in the second mode, the controller is configured to operate the drive circuit to heat the integrated circuit to a target temperature.
US09275925B2
Presented herein are an interconnect structure and method for forming the same. The interconnect structure comprises a contact pad disposed over a substrate and a connector disposed over the substrate and spaced apart from the contact pad. A passivation layer is disposed over the contact pad and over connector, the passivation layer having a contact pad opening, a connector opening and a mounting pad opening. A post passivation layer comprising a trace and a mounting pad is disposed over the passivation layer. The trace may be disposed in the contact pad opening and contacting the mounting pad, and further disposed in the connector opening and contacting the connector. The mounting pad may be disposed in the mounting pad opening and contacting the opening. The mounting pad separated from the trace by a trace gap, which may optionally be at least 10 μm.
US09275924B2
A semiconductor package includes a passivation layer overlying a semiconductor substrate, a bump overlying the passivation layer, and a molding compound layer overlying the passivation layer and covering a lower portion of the bump. A sidewall of the passivation layer is covered by the molding compound layer.
US09275911B2
A substrate including a handle substrate, a lower insulator layer, a buried semiconductor layer, an upper insulator layer, and a top semiconductor layer is provided. Semiconductor fins can be formed by patterning a portion of the buried semiconductor layer after removal of the upper insulator layer and the top semiconductor layer in a fin region, while a planar device region is protected by an etch mask. A disposable fill material portion is formed in the fin region, and a shallow trench isolation structure can be formed in the planar device region. The disposable fill material portion is removed, and gate stacks for a planar field effect transistor and a fin field effect transistor can be simultaneously formed. Alternately, disposable gate structures and a planarization dielectric layer can be formed, and replacement gate stacks can be subsequently formed.
US09275906B2
A non-planar semiconductor structure includes mixed n-and-p type raised semiconductor structures, e.g., fins, having epitaxial structures grown on top surfaces thereof, for example, epitaxial silicon and silicon germanium, naturally growing into a diamond shape. The surface area of the epitaxial structures is increased by removing portion(s) thereof, masking each type as the other type is grown and then subsequently modified by the removal. The removal may create multi-head (e.g., dual-head) epitaxial structures, together with the neck of the respective raised structure resembling a Y-shape.
US09275902B2
Approaches for front side laser scribe plus backside bump formation and laser scribe and plasma etch dicing process are described. For example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having integrated circuits on a front side thereof involves forming first scribe lines on the front side, between the integrated circuits, with a first laser scribing process. The method also involves forming arrays of metal bumps on a backside of the semiconductor wafer, each array corresponding to one of the integrated circuits. The method also involves forming second scribe lines on the backside, between the arrays of metal bumps, with a second laser scribing process, wherein the second scribe lines are aligned with the first scribe lines. The method also involves plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the second scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09275901B1
A semiconductor device including at least one self-aligned contact has at least one gate electrode on a bulk substrate layer of the semiconductor device. A gate cap encapsulates the at least one gate electrode. The semiconductor device further includes at least one contact separated from the at least one gate electrode via a portion of the gate cap. The at least one contact includes a metal portion that directly contacts the gate cap.
US09275899B2
A composition and method for tungsten is provided comprising: a metal oxide abrasive; an oxidizer; a tungsten removal rate enhancing substance according to formula I; and, water; wherein the polishing composition exhibits an enhanced tungsten removal rate and a tungsten removal rate enhancement.
US09275897B2
An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a through silicon via penetrating a semiconductor substrate including a circuit pattern on one side of the substrate, a first doped layer formed in the other side, and a bump connected with the through silicon via.
US09275895B2
A method for producing a semiconductor component with a semiconductor body includes providing a substrate of a first conductivity type. A buried semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type is provided on the substrate. A functional unit semiconductor layer is provided on the buried semiconductor layer. At least one trench, which reaches into the substrate, is formed in the semiconductor body. An insulating layer is formed, which covers inner walls of the trench and electrically insulates the trench interior from the functional unit semiconductor layer and the buried semiconductor layer, the insulating layer having at least one opening in the region of the trench bottom. The at least one trench is filled with an electrically conductive semiconductor material of the first conductivity type, wherein the electrically conductive semiconductor material forms an electrical contact from a surface of the semiconductor body to the substrate.
US09275892B2
A method of transferring a layer from a donor substrate onto a receiving substrate comprises ionic implantation of at least one species into the donor substrate and forming a layer of concentration of the species intended to form microcavities or platelets; bonding the donor substrate with the receiving substrate by wafer bonding; and splitting at high temperature to split the layer in contact with the receiving substrate by cleavage, at a predetermined cleavage temperature, at the layer of microcavities or platelets formed in the donor substrate. The method further comprises, after the first implantation step and before the splitting step, ionic implantation of silicon ions into the donor substrate to form a layer of concentration of silicon ions in the donor substrate, the layer of concentration of silicon ions at least partially overlapping the layer of concentration of the species intended to form microcavities or platelets.
US09275890B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a plurality of spaced-apart fin structures in a semiconductor substrate, wherein the fin structures define a portion of an alignment/overlay mark trench where at least a portion of an alignment/overlay mark will be formed, forming at least one layer of insulating material that overfills the alignment/overlay mark trench and removing excess portions of the layer of insulating material positioned above an upper surface of the plurality of fins to thereby define at least a portion of the alignment/overlay mark positioned within the alignment/overlay mark trench. A device disclosed herein includes a plurality of spaced-apart fin structures formed in a semiconductor substrate so as to partially define an alignment/overlay mark trench, an alignment/overlay mark consisting only of at least one insulating material positioned within the alignment/overlay mark trench, and a plurality of FinFET semiconductor devices formed in and above the substrate.
US09275887B2
A substrate processing chamber comprises an electrostatic chuck comprising a ceramic puck having a substrate receiving surface and an opposing backside surface. In one version, the ceramic puck comprises a thickness of less than 7 mm. An electrode is embedded in the ceramic puck to generate an electrostatic force to hold a substrate, and heater coils in the ceramic puck allow independent control of temperatures at different heating zones of the puck. A chiller provides coolant to coolant channels in a base below the ceramic puck. A controller comprises temperature control instruction sets which set the coolant temperature in the chiller in relation prior to ramping up or down of the power levels applied to the heater.
US09275879B1
Multi-chip underfills and methods for multi-chip module fabrication include connecting one or more chips to a substrate with one or more electrical connections; partially curing an underfill material such that the underfill provides structural support to the electrical connections; electrically testing the one or more chips to identify one or more defective chips; and replacing the one or more defective chips.
US09275877B2
A semiconductor device has a first insulating layer formed over a carrier. A first conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the first conductive layer. Vias are formed through the second insulating layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the second insulating layer and extends into the vias. A semiconductor die is mounted to the second conductive layer. A bond wire is formed between a contact pad on the semiconductor die and the second conductive layer. The second conductive layer extends to a mounting site of the semiconductor die to minimize the bond wire span. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die. A portion of the first insulating layer is removed to expose the second conductive layer. A portion of the first conductive layer is removed to electrically isolate remaining portions of the first conductive layer.
US09275874B2
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits using chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) for recessing metal are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes filling a trench with a metal and forming an overburden portion of the metal outside of the trench. The method further includes performing a planarization process with an etching slurry to remove the overburden portion of the metal and to recess the metal within the trench.
US09275870B2
A plasma processing method for a plasma processing device is provided. The plasma processing device includes a reaction chamber, multiple Radio Frequency (RF) power supplies with different RF frequency outputs apply RF electric fields to the reaction chamber, the output of at least one pulse RF power supply has multiple output states, and the processing method includes a match frequency obtaining step and a pulse processing step. In the match frequency obtaining step, the output state of the pulse RF power supply is switched to make the reaction chamber have multiple impedances to simulate the impedances in the pulse processing step. The output frequencies of the variable frequency RF power supply are adjusted to match the simulated impedances. The adjusted output frequencies are stored as match frequencies. In the subsequent pulse processing step, the fast switched impedances are instantly matched by the stored match frequencies.
US09275869B2
A method for etching a layer in a plasma chamber with an inner injection zone gas feed and an outer injection zone gas feed is provided. The layer is placed in the plasma chamber. A pulsed etch gas is provided from the inner injection zone gas feed at a first frequency, wherein flow of pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed is ramped down to zero. The pulsed etch gas is provided from the outer injection zone gas feed at the first frequency and simultaneous with and out of phase with the pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed. The etch gas is formed into a plasma to etch the layer, simultaneous with the providing the pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed and providing the pulsed gas from the outer interjection zone gas feed.
US09275859B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting device using a neutral particle beam. According to the present invention, since the kinetic energy of the neutral particle beam is provided as a portion of the reaction energy for causing a nitride semiconductor single crystal thin film to be formed on a substrate, and the reaction energy is not provided as heat energy by heating a substrate as in the prior art, the substrate may be treated at a relatively low temperature. Furthermore, elements such as Si, Mg, and the like, which are solid elements required for doping are sprayed onto the substrate from a source which generates solid elements for doping together with the neutral particle beam to achieve high doping efficiency at a lower temperature. According to the present invention, since the substrate is treated at a low temperature, the degradation of the substrate and thin film may be prevented, and the undesired diffusion of the doping elements may be prevented to enable the manufacture of the semiconductor light-emitting device having superior light-emitting properties in a relatively easy manner.
US09275854B2
A structure includes a substrate having a surface and a first transistor disposed in a first region supported by the surface of the substrate. The first transistor has a channel formed in a first compound (Group III-V) semiconductor having a first energy bandgap. The structure further includes a second transistor disposed in a second region supported by the substrate. The second transistor has a channel formed in a second compound (Group III-V) semiconductor having a second energy bandgap that is larger than the first energy bandgap. In one embodiment the first compound semiconductor is a layer that overlies a first portion of the surface of the substrate and the substrate is the second compound semiconductor. In another embodiment the second compound semiconductor is provided as a second layer that overlies a second portion of the surface of the substrate. Methods to form the structure are also disclosed.
US09275845B2
A ceramic metal-halide lamp is provided that can improve both lamp efficacy and color characteristics, and in which light color shift from the white region can be prevented when the lamp is dimmed. The lamp includes a luminous material, which contains sodium iodide (NaI), cerium iodide (CeI3), thallium iodide (TIl), dysprosium iodide (DyI3) and indium iodide (InI). The amount D[DyI3] of dysprosium iodide DyI3 is selected so as to fall within a range of 0.07 mg/cm3≦D[DyI3]≦1.53 mg/cm3 and a weight ratio R[InI/TIl] of indium iodide InI relative to thallium iodide TIl contained in the luminous material is selected to so as to fall within a range of 0
US09275843B2
An electrostatic lens (3), including five cylindrical electrodes (31-35) arrayed along an ion-optical axis (C) and an aperture plate (38) located on a common focal plane of two virtual convex lenses (L1 and L2) formed under an afocal condition, is used as an ion-injecting optical system for sending ions into an orthogonal acceleration unit. The diameter of a restriction aperture (39) formed in the aperture plate (38) determines the angular spread of an exit ion beam. When voltages for making the electrostatic lens (3) function as an afocal system are set, a measurement with high mass-resolving power can be performed at a slight sacrifice of the sensitivity. When voltages for making the lens function as a non-afocal system having the highest ion-passage efficiency are set, a measurement with high sensitivity can be performed at a slight sacrifice of the resolving power.
US09275841B2
A time of flight (TOF) spectrometer and a method for operating the same is disclosed. The spectrometer includes an event extractor, a streaming processor, and a FIFO buffer. The event extractor generates a ion event record corresponding to each detected ion, the ion event record including an intensity of a plurality of aliases for that detected ion. The streaming processor includes a memory array that stores a TOF spectrum and a probability processor that provides a probability for each alias in each received ion event record and updates the TOF spectrum based on the probabilities. A FIFO buffer receives each of the ion event records after the TOF spectrum has been updated and outputs the oldest ion event record to the streaming processor when a new ion event record is processed by the streaming processor.
US09275836B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber that accommodates a substrate therein; a lower electrode positioned within the processing chamber and serving as a mounting table; an upper electrode positioned to face the lower electrode within the processing chamber; a first high frequency power supply that applies high frequency power for plasma generation of a first frequency to the lower electrode or the upper electrode; a second high frequency power supply that applies high frequency power for ion attraction of a second frequency lower than the first frequency to the lower electrode; at least one bias distribution control electrode positioned at least in a peripheral portion above the lower electrode; and at least one bias distribution control power supply that applies an AC voltage or a square wave voltage of a third frequency lower than the second frequency to the at least one bias distribution control electrode.
US09275824B2
A multi charged particle beam writing method includes emitting each corresponding beam in an “on” state while starting and continuing tracking control, shifting a writing position by beam deflection of the multi beams, in addition to tracking control, while continuing tracking control, emitting each corresponding beam in the next “on” state to the next writing position having been shifted while continuing tracking control, and returning the tracking position by resetting tracking control, after emitting each next corresponding beam to the next writing position having been shifted at least once, wherein writing of a predetermined region is completed by repeating the number of preset times a group of performing emitting, shifting, emitting, and returning, wherein the tracking time from start to reset of tracking control in at least one of the repeated groups is longer than the others.
US09275822B2
Liquid metal containment in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube anode assembly includes a shaft terminated by a head and an anode connected to an anode hub. The anode hub is at least partially surrounding the head of the shaft. The anode hub is configured to contain a volume of a liquid metal and to rotate around the stationary shaft. The anode hub may also define a catch space within the anode hub that is configured to catch the liquid metal in order to contain the liquid metal within the hub while in a non-rotating state and regardless of the orientation of the x-ray tube anode assembly.
US09275811B2
A switching unit includes a pawl and a pawl spring, embodied such that, when a switching lever of the switching unit is moved from an ON position into a TRIP position and/or from the TRIP position into a RESET position, the pawl spring is bent by contact with a lateral face of the pawl. An electrical switching device, such as a circuit breaker, including at least one such switching unit is also disclosed.
US09275804B2
A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body, a glass coating layer, and an electrode terminal. The ceramic body includes a plurality of internal electrodes whose ends are exposed on the surface of the ceramic body. The glass coating layer covers a portion of the ceramic body on which the internal electrodes are exposed. The electrode terminal is provided directly on the glass coating layer. The electrode terminal includes a plating film. The glass coating layer is made of a glass medium in which metal powder particles are dispersed. The metal powder particles define conduction paths that electrically connect the internal electrodes with the electrode terminal.
US09275800B2
A method for patterning a metal substrate includes a series of surface treatments to control tunnel initiation at a micron or sub-micron level. In particular, the series of surface treatments include forming a hydration layer which acts as a mask while etching the surface of the metal substrate. The hydration layer mask enables control of the tunnel initiation on a micron or sub-micron level because the etching does not undercut the interface between the metal substrate and the hydration layer. As a result, the tunnels can be initiated in an orthogonal direction and closer together, thereby increasing the tunnel density.
US09275794B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet that exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and maintains excellent adhesion strength to an adherend even under severe conditions, and a method for producing the same. A corrosion-resistant magnet of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by comprising a chemical conversion film containing at least Zr, V, Al, fluorine, and oxygen as constituent elements and not containing phosphorus over a surface of an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet with a film made of Al or an alloy thereof therebetween.
US09275793B2
According to one embodiment, a current input converter includes a first metal plate having a solid shape, which has one end attached to the terminal table and one other end attached to one end of a primary-side coil of the transformer, and connects the terminal table and the one end of the primary-side coil of the transformer to each other, and a second metal plate having a solid shape, which has one end attached to the terminal table and one other end attached to one other end of the primary-side coil of the transformer, and connects the terminal table and the other end of the primary-side coil of the transformer to each other.
US09275788B2
The invention relates to a control transformer that is designed as a phase-shifting transformer, wherein semiconductor switching components are provided for each phase at a regulating winding with several partial windings. According to the invention, an additional connecting line with an additional electronic switching component is provided in each phase wherein each of these connecting lines connects a module of the respective phase with the end of the main winding of the adjacent phase.
US09275786B2
A three-dimensional (3D) orthogonal inductor pair is embedded in and supported by a substrate, and has a first inductor having a first coil that winds around a first winding axis and a second inductor having a second coil that winds around a second winding axis. The second winding axis is orthogonal to the first winding axis. The second winding axis intersects the first winding axis at an intersection point that is within the substrate.
US09275783B2
A system and a method are described herein for demagnetizing a region of a magnetic structure. In one embodiment, the system comprises: (a) a pulsed magnetizer; and (b) at least one magnetizing coil that receives a sequence of discrete current with continually decreasing current values from the pulsed magnetizer and outputs a sequence of discrete magnetizing fields with continually decreasing field strengths to overwrite and at least partly demagnetize the region of the magnetic structure. The at least one magnetizing coil is located adjacent to the region of the magnetic structure.
US09275769B2
A template for radiography and methods of using and making a template are described. The template can include a contoured sheet having first portions and second portions. The first portions are radiodense and the second portions are radiolucent to provide markings on a radiograph. At least one surface of the contoured sheet can correspond to at least one surface of a target part to provide alignment of the contoured sheet to the target part.
US09275768B2
A container for a non-irradiated nuclear fuel assembly including a single casing for receiving at least one nuclear fuel assembly, the casing being formed from an elongate tubular shell, the shell including a metallic internal layer delimiting at least one individual housing for receiving a nuclear fuel assembly, and a metallic external layer surrounding the internal layer, the shell being filled between its internal layer and its external layer, and from lids for closing the or each housing at the longitudinal ends of the shell.
US09275766B2
Apparatus for longitudinally segmenting a cruciform shaped irradiated boiling water reactor control rod having four elongated blades radially extending from a central spline, into four flat panels. The apparatus employs a double bladed band saw with the band saw blades orthogonally oriented at two different elevations and having one side of each band saw blade crossing over the center of the spline of the control rod in between the control rod blades.
US09275762B2
A multi-layered cladding material including a ceramic matrix composite and a metallic material, and a tube formed from the cladding material. The metallic material forms an inner liner of the tube and enables hermetic sealing of thereof. The metallic material at ends of the tube may be exposed and have an increased thickness enabling end cap welding. The metallic material may, optionally, be formed to infiltrate voids in the ceramic matrix composite, the ceramic matrix composite encapsulated by the metallic material. The ceramic matrix composite includes a fiber reinforcement and provides increased mechanical strength, stiffness, thermal shock resistance and high temperature load capacity to the metallic material of the inner liner. The tube may be used as a containment vessel for nuclear fuel used in a nuclear power plant or other reactor. Methods for forming the tube comprising the ceramic matrix composite and the metallic material are also disclosed.
US09275760B2
A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger body defining an exit plenum chamber therein shaped for uniform flow of a hot primary heat transfer fluid through the chamber. A plurality of adjacent heat transfer members are connected to the heat exchanger body and spaced apart by a predetermined distance for defining a plurality of flow passages between the heat transfer members. The flow passages open into the exit plenum chamber. Spacing of the heat transfer members by the predetermined distance evenly distributes flow of the primary heat transfer fluid through the flow passages, across the surfaces of the heat transfer members and into the exit plenum chamber. Each heat transfer member defines a flow channel therethrough for flow of a cooler secondary heat transfer fluid. Heat transfer occurs from the hot primary heat transfer fluid to the cooler secondary heat transfer fluid as the primary heat transfer fluid flows through the chamber and as the secondary heat transfer fluid simultaneously flows through the flow channel.
US09275758B2
The technology may include: a first error detection operation unit configured to perform a serial error detection operation on a data signal which is inputted in sequence through each of multiple input/output pads, and to generate multiple pieces of preliminary information; and a second error detection operation unit configured to perform a parallel error detection operation on the multiple pieces of preliminary information, and to generate an error detection code.
US09275753B2
An active precharge circuit for a non-volatile memory array which minimizes write disturb to non-selected memory cells during programming is disclosed. In a programming cycle, all bitlines are pre-charged to a program inhibit voltage level and held at the program inhibit voltage level with current or voltage sources coupled to each of the bitlines in a precharge operation and a following programming operation. In the programming operation, a bitline connected to a memory cell to be programmed is driven to a programming level, such as VSS, while the active precharge circuit is enabled to enable programming thereof. Because the other non-selected bitlines are held at the program inhibit voltage level, they will not be inadvertently programmed when the programming voltage is supplied by the word line.
US09275750B2
Methods and apparatuses for reduction of read disturb errors in a memory system utilizing modified or extra memory cells.
US09275749B1
The invention is an internal power voltage generating circuit, adjusted such that an internal power voltage becomes the reference voltage. The internal power voltage generating circuit further includes: a charge share circuit, including a charging capacitor, an initial voltage adjusting circuit and a charge reset circuit. The charging capacitor is connected to a differential amplifier via a switch circuit, and is charged by charges of a control voltage. The initial voltage adjusting circuit adjusts and applies an initial voltage to the charging capacitor. The charge reset circuit discharges the charging capacitor. When the internal power voltage is lower than a reference voltage, the charging capacitor having the initial voltage is connected to the differential amplifier, and the charges of the control voltage are transferred to the charging capacitor during a transfer period.
US09275744B1
A method of enhancing a thermal anneal of a flash memory in an integrated circuit (IC) chip package by addition of an electric field may include heating an integrated circuit (IC) chip, disposed within an IC chip package, to an elevated temperature that does not degrade the IC chip package, where the IC chip includes a flash memory that includes blocks of flash memory cells. A negative electric field may be applied to each of the blocks of flash memory cells at the elevated temperature. The application of the negative electric field and the heating of the IC chip may be terminated. Stored data for each of the blocks of flash memory cells may be retrieved from a storage device and rewritten into each of the blocks of flash memory cells.
US09275742B2
Disclosed is a memory system and a method of programming a multi-bit flash memory device which includes memory cells configured to store multi-bit data, where the method includes and the system is configured for determining whether data to be stored in a selected memory cell is an LSB data; and if data to be stored in a selected memory cell is not an LSB data, backing up lower data stored in the selected memory cell to a backup memory block of the multi-bit flash memory device.
US09275738B2
A flash memory device may operate from two supply voltages, one being provided externally, and the other being generated within the flash memory device from the external supply voltage. The flash memory device may be provided with a selectable-level buffer for interfacing with either low supply voltage or high supply voltage integrated circuits. To provide even greater flexibility, the flash memory device may be provided with the capability of receiving a second supply voltage from an external source, which may take precedence over the internally-generated second supply voltage or may be combined with the internally-generated second supply voltage.
US09275736B2
The semiconductor device includes a CAM block including a plurality of vertical strings having a perpendicular configuration with respect to a semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the plurality of vertical strings is electrically coupled to a plurality of word lines and each of the plurality of word lines is electrically coupled to a plurality of CAM cells, a peripheral circuit configured to program CAM cells selected from the plurality of CAM cells, and a control circuit configured to issue at least one command to the peripheral circuit to simultaneously apply a program voltage to an nth word line, an n−1th word line and an n+1th word line to simultaneously program CAM cells electrically coupled to the n−1th word line, the nth word line and the n+1th word line, wherein the n−1th word line and an n+1th word line are adjacent to the nth word line and the selected CAM cells are electrically coupled to the nth word line.
US09275726B2
A static memory cell is provided. The static memory cell includes a data latch circuit and a voltage provider. The data latch circuit is configured to store a bit data. The data latch circuit has a first inverter and a second inverter, and the first inverter and the second inverter are coupled to each other. The first inverter and the second inverter respectively receive a first voltage and a second voltage as power voltages. The voltage provider provides the first voltage and the second voltage to the data latch circuit. When the bit data is written to the data latch circuit, the voltage provider adjusts a voltage value of one of the first and second voltages according to the bit data.
US09275720B2
A storage device stores data in groups of memory cells using vectors corresponding to voltage code codewords, each codeword having k entries. Entries have values selected from a set of at least three entry values and 2n distinct inputs can be encoded into k-entry codewords for some n>k. A vector storage element comprising k cells can store an k electrical quantities (voltage, current, etc.) corresponding to a codeword. The voltage code is such that, for at least one position of a vector, there are at least three vectors having distinct entry values at that position and, for at least a subset of the possible codewords, the sum of the entry values over the positions of the each vector is constant from vector to vector in that subset. The storage device might be an integrated circuit device, a discrete memory device, or a device having embedded memory.
US09275717B2
A refresh address generator includes a refresh sequence buffer and a refresh address generating unit. The refresh sequence buffer stores a sequence of memory groups, each memory group including a plurality of memory cell rows. The refresh address generating unit generates a plurality of refresh row addresses according to the sequence of memory groups stored in the refresh sequence buffer, in response to a refresh signal.
US09275694B1
The present invention provide circuits, methods, and apparatus directed to an integrated circuit having a memory interface that is configurable to have one of a multiple different bus widths. The memory interface has a first set of lines and a second set of lines. The first and second set of lines are arranged such that there are multiple locations at which a via may be placed to connect a line of the first set to a line of the second set. The placement of the vias determines the bus width of the memory interface.
US09275688B2
A semiconductor device includes a system-on-chip (SOC) and at least one wide input/output memory device. The SOC includes a plurality of SOC bump groups which provide input/output channels, respectively, independent from each other. The at least one wide input/output memory device is stacked on the system-on-chip to transmit/receive data to/from the system-on-chip through the SOC bump groups. The SOC bump groups are arranged and the at least one wide input/output memory device is configured such that one of the wide input/output memory devices can be mounted to the SOC as connected to all of the SOC bump groups, or such that two wide input/output memory devices can be mounted to the SOC with each of the wide input/out memory devices connected a respective half of the SOC bump groups.
US09275666B1
A recording head actuator assembly for correcting for tape mis-registration (TMR) in a tape drive. The assembly includes a recording head actuator including a recording head and actuators for laterally positioning the head relative to tracks of a tape. The assembly also includes a dynamic azimuth control (DAC) assembly that includes a flexural pivot and a rotation driver. The rotation driver applies a driving force on the flexural pivot causing the flexural pivot to rotate about a hinge axis and the head to rotate about a rotation axis passing through the head, from a first azimuth angle to a second azimuth angle. The rotation axis and the hinge axis coincide, and the rotation axis of the head is transverse to a direction of tape travel. In some useful implementations, the flexural pivot may include a planar outer flexure and a planar inner flexure arranged as a cross strip pivot.
US09275659B2
An apparatus for a heat assisted magnetic recording device that includes a write pole, a near-field transducer, and a heat sink. The near-field transducer is comprised only of a peg disposed adjacent the write pole. The heat sink is disposed between the write pole and at least a portion of the near-field transducer.
US09275656B1
Disk drives with a Channel System and Write Driver Preamp architecture that dynamically adjusts the write driver's signal wave-shape depending on the write data signal pattern are described. The wave-shape control signal is generated in the Channel and transmitted to the Write Driver Preamp. Embodiments of the invention provide discrete n-level overshoot amplitude control using amplitude-level modulated (AML) signal. One embodiment implements a look-ahead strategy overshoot amplitude control where the overshoot amplitude for each transition depends only on the subsequent (following) bits in the data stream and not on any previously recorded data.
US09275650B2
A new hybrid audio decoder and a new hybrid audio encoder having block switching for speech signals and audio signals are provided. Currently, very low bitrate audio coding methods for speech and audio signals are proposed. These audio coding methods cause very long delays. Generally, in coding an audio signal, an algorithm delay tends to be long to achieve higher frequency resolution. In coding a speech signal, the delay needs to be reduced because the speech signal is used for telecommunication. To balance fine coding quality for speech and audio input signals with very low bitrate, a combination of a low delay filter bank like AAC-ELD and a CELP coding method is provided.
US09275647B2
In particular embodiments, one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embody software that is operable when executed to receive an audio waveform fingerprint and a client-determined location from a client device. The received audio waveform fingerprint may be compared to a database of stored audio waveform fingerprints, each stored audio waveform fingerprint associated with an object in an object database. One or more matching audio waveform fingerprints may be found from a comparison set of audio waveform fingerprints obtained from the audio waveform fingerprint database. Location information associated with a location of the client device may be determined, and the location information may be sent to the client device. The client device may be operable to update the client-determined location based at least in part on the location information.
US09275646B2
Methods and devices for a low complex inter-channel difference estimation are provided. A method for the estimation of inter-channel differences (ICDs), comprises applying a transformation from a time domain to a frequency domain to a plurality of audio channel signals, calculating a plurality of ICD values for the ICDs between at least one of the plurality of audio channel signals and a reference audio channel signal over a predetermined frequency range, each ICD value being calculated over a portion of the predetermined frequency range, calculating, for each of the plurality of ICD values, a weighted ICD value by multiplying each of the plurality of ICD values with a corresponding frequency-dependent weighting factor, and calculating an ICD range value for the predetermined frequency range by adding the plurality of weighted ICD values.
US09275633B2
Technologies are described herein for providing validated text-to-speech correction hints from aggregated pronunciation corrections received from text-to-speech applications. A number of pronunciation corrections are received by a Web service. The pronunciation corrections may be provided by users of text-to-speech applications executing on a variety of user computer systems. Each of the plurality of pronunciation corrections includes a specification of a word or phrase and a suggested pronunciation provided by the user. The pronunciation corrections are analyzed to generate validated correction hints, and the validated correction hints are provided back to the text-to-speech applications to be used to correct pronunciation of words and phrases in the text-to-speech applications.
US09275623B2
There is provided a mounting system for a fish finding device to a watercraft which has a support for supporting a fish finding device on a watercraft. The support has a top, a bottom and a peripheral side wall which form a receptacle housing for a battery. Mounting means are positioned at the top of the support to receive a fish finder. Securing means are provided on the bottom of the support for mounting the support to a surface on a watercraft. Mounting means are provided for detachably securing a transducer to a watercraft.
US09275622B2
Vibro-acoustic attenuation or reduced energy transmission. The present invention relates to devices that display frequency zones of strong vibro-acoustic attenuation or reduced energy transmission. This can be used in particular, although not necessarily solely, in applications that require lightweight materials with good mechanical properties and good vibro-acoustic response or in applications that require materials with high sound reflection, absorption or sound isolation in a certain frequency band.
US09275621B2
An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, allow the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a background audio signal from an earpiece microphone, the earpiece microphone configured to convert sound from a surrounding environment into the background audio signal; and allow a user of the apparatus to control the generation and characteristics of a noise cancellation signal, the noise cancellation signal configured to interfere destructively with the background audio signal to alter the amplitude of the background audio signal.
US09275612B2
A keyboard instrument includes: an instrument body; at least one speaker; and at least one acoustic pipe configured to collect a sound emitted from the at least one speaker and guide the sound to at least one sound emitting opening formed in a front face of the instrument body.
US09275609B2
The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a display device comprising: a data driver; a display panel for displaying an image in response to a data signal supplied from the data driver; and a programmable gamma unit for supplying a gamma reference voltage to the data driver, wherein a different number of bits is allocated to each of decoders included in the programmable gamma unit.
US09275608B2
According to an aspect, a display device includes a display unit and a control unit. The display unit stereoscopically displays a display object. When a movement of an object is detected in a three-dimensional space where the display object is stereoscopically displayed, the control unit for changes the display object in the three-dimensional space according to the movement of the object.
US09275604B2
A constant speed display method applied in an electronic device is provided. The electronic device is in a full screen view for illustrating images in a photograph. The method has the following steps of: determining whether consecutive swiping touch actions matching specific criteria have been received by the electronic device; and displaying an aligning animation of the images in the photograph at a constant speed without being affected by a next swiping action after the consecutive swiping touch actions matching the specific criteria have been received by the electronic device.
US09275577B2
The present disclosure provides a frame scanning pixel display driving unit and a driving method thereof, and a display apparatus. The frame scanning pixel display driving unit includes: a driving control module for receiving a first frame data signal, and controlling the driving transistor to drive the pixel to display based on the first frame data signal; a data writing module for receiving and latch the second frame data signal when the driving transistor drives the pixel to display based on the first frame data signal, and transmitting the second frame data signal to the driving control module after the displaying of the first frame data signal is completed. The present disclosure enables a frame scanning display mode, and can reduce the power consumption during the signal writing phase and effectively reduce the power consumption of the panel display.
US09275573B2
A display device which includes a substrate having a pixel unit that receiving first and second voltages is disclosed. In one aspect, the first and second power lines are coupled to the first and second voltages, and are supplied to the pixel unit via first and second power pads. In some aspects, the first and second power pads are alternately disposed while being spaced apart from each other in at least a portion of the peripheral area, and the second power pads are disposed in the space between the respective first power pads.
US09275568B2
A detection circuit and a detection method for liquid crystal display are provided. The detection circuit comprises gate driver for providing row scan signal to liquid crystal cell to be detected; signal source for providing polarity inversion signal to source driver, polarity inversion signal comprises continuous high level signal and continuous low level signal; source driver for performing digital-analog conversion on received display data signal according to preset reference voltage and polarity inversion signal, generating pixel voltage signal, and sending pixel voltage signal to liquid crystal cell to be detected, polarity inversion mode formed by pixel voltage signal is column inversion mode. The polarity inversion mode of column inversion, formed by pixel voltage signal in technical solution makes white dot of damaged area of alignment film is more prominent during detection process, so it would be easy for the operator to recognize it and avoid the issue of missing detection.
US09275566B2
The present disclosure provides for a customizable, portable billboard system. The portable billboard has a number of sidewalls enabling advertisement graphic placement. These sidewalls sit upon a support base that has structures, preferably wheels, which help to facilitate movement of the billboard. The advertisement graphical overlay is attached to the sidewalls via framing that surrounds the perimeter of each of the sidewalls. The entire system is self-contained and has a generator to power any lights or speakers or the like that may be required. The system has a hitch attachment so that it may be easily maneuvered or transported to a particular location by motor vehicle.
US09275563B1
A sign holder includes a pair of upright posts, each having a lower ground engaging end and an upwardly disposed portion having a serpentine area with a plurality of bend areas leading to an upper end which is not aligned with the lower end. A relatively thicker transverse member joins the upright posts such that the upper ends thereof are spaced farther apart than the lower ends thereof.
US09275561B2
An optical adhesive film for improving the adhesive strength between constitutional elements of a flat panel display device, and a flat panel display device having the same. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical adhesive film for use in a flat panel display module that displays an image, the optical adhesive film including a transmission unit disposed on the flat panel display module and allowing the image to transmit through the transmission unit; a wing member extending from at least one side surface of the transmission unit, and covering side surfaces and a portion of a rear surface of the flat panel display module; and an adhesive member disposed covering all surfaces of the transmission unit and the wing member.
US09275553B2
A flight simulator rests on a plurality of air cushions as a hovercraft and assumes spatial attitudes depending upon the relative heights of the air cushions. Flight controls determine the volume of air supplied to each air cushion and thereby control the pitch and roll attitudes of the flight simulator. The simulator may be connected to an external support frame and may thereby be subjected to longitudinal, lateral, and rotational movements.
US09275545B2
A system and method for monitoring objects, such as vehicle traffic, and controlling a flow of the objects, such as vehicle traffic, through a flow point, such as an intersection having traffic control signals. At least one three-dimensional (3D) vector imaging sensor is operable for detecting an object and capturing node-based object with motion vector data relating to the object. A Sensor Processing Unit (SPU) is associated with the vector imaging sensor(s) and operable for processing the mode-based object with motion vector data, determining a tracked object from a plurality of the objects detected by the vector imaging sensor(s) and extracting the object data of the tracked object to an object database. A Central Tracking Unit (CTU) is associated with the SPU and operable for classifying the tracked object, generating object tracking data from the tracked object, predicting a future object state of the tracked object, and generating an object control output for controlling a control signal to thereby facilitate the flow of the objects through the flow point.
US09275533B2
An intelligent medical vigilance system that observes and analyzes, and, only in the event of a clinically significant negative condition, notifies and reports the event to the care staff utilizing the hospital's existing nurse call system. The device includes a bedside unit connected to a pad or coverlet with a sensor array (placed under the patient) and also to an existing hospital nurse call system via an interface. The bedside unit is a wall-mounted unit with a display that becomes active when an alarm condition is enabled. Vigilance alarms are suspended if a patient is detected out of bed. An unable-to-measure alert is provided if the system is unable to reliably monitor. An alert message is generated and maintained on the display screen to inform a responding caregiver of the time and reason for any alarm.
US09275515B2
A method for playing a wagering game allows an opportunity to achieve a progressive award. A wager input is received from a player for playing the wagering game. A triggered progressive game includes player-selectable elements, each of the player-selectable elements being capable of association with a progressive-winning outcome. An outcome is assigned to each of the player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that the outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of the wager input. The player-selectable elements are displayed.
US09275507B2
A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage, which control unit is provided with a display panel and an input wherein the control unit is provided furthermore with an operating unit for displaying by the display panel a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user, and for controlling a preparation unit of the automatic device, wherein the display panel has selection fields for mutually exclusive settings for formulations of the beverage to be prepared, wherein the control unit enables the user to select one of the settings by designation of one of the selection fields, wherein a collecting field with at least one setting field shows the chosen setting of the formulation, and wherein the non-designated selection fields remain visible and selectable.
US09275499B2
A system, method, and computer program product for automatically combining computer-generated imagery with real-world imagery in a portable electronic device by retrieving, manipulating, and sharing relevant stored videos, preferably in real time. A video is captured with a hand-held device and stored. Metadata including the camera's physical location and orientation is appended to a data stream, along with user input. The server analyzes the data stream and further annotates the metadata, producing a searchable library of videos and metadata. Later, when a camera user generates a new data stream, the linked server analyzes it, identifies relevant material from the library, retrieves the material and tagged information, adjusts it for proper orientation, then renders and superimposes it onto the current camera view so the user views an augmented reality.
US09275496B2
A computer system is described for automatically generating a 3D model, including hardware and non-transitory computer readable medium accessible by the hardware and storing instructions that when executed by the hardware cause it to create wire-frame data of structures within a geographic area; identify a geographic location of a structure of the structures; receive multiple oblique images representing the geographic location and containing a real façade texture of the structure; locate a geographical position of a real façade texture of the structure; select one or more base oblique image from the multiple oblique images by analyzing, with selection logic, image raster content of the real façade texture depicted in the multiple oblique images, and, relate the real façade texture of the one or more base oblique image to the wire-frame data of the structure to create a three dimensional model providing a real-life representation of physical characteristics of the structure.
US09275495B2
Representing a transparent object as a summation of substantially zero step functions of a visibility curve for the object. An array may be used to store nodes to represent the visibility function. The size of the array may be limited to be storable within a memory of an on-chip graphics processing unit.
US09275490B2
A method of applying a post-render motion blur to an object may include receiving a first image of the object. The first image need not be motion blurred, and the first image may include a first pixel and rendered color information for the first pixel. The method may also include receiving a second image of the object. The second image may be motion blurred, and the second image may include a second pixel and a location of the second pixel before the second image was motion blurred. Areas that are occluded in the second image may be identified and colored using a third image rendering only those areas. Unoccluded areas of the second image may be colored using information from the first image.
US09275484B2
Examples disclose selecting an error calculation corresponding to a measure of goodness of fit and identifying a fit type among multiple fit types based on the selected error calculation. The identified fit type indicates a better fit type of goodness of fit than the multiple fit types. The examples further disclose providing the goodness of fit based on the selected error calculation and the identified fit type.
US09275482B1
A method may include receiving a selection of a streaming data source, where the streaming data source provides data to a display component in a graphical model; determining a data type for the data associated with the streaming data source. Determining the data type may include reading a portion of the data from the data source, analyzing the read data portion to determine a data pattern, and identifying the data type based on the data pattern, where the identified data type is one of a plurality of available data types. The method may further include selecting, in response to determining the data type, a visual representation for the data associated with the data source; and displaying the data associated with the data source using the selected visual representation within the display component.
US09275481B2
A system receives a description of a first set of elements representing physical and/or logical entities in a geographic area to be displayed on a digital map. The system determines current boundaries of a viewport within which the digital map is to be displayed and generates a metric indicative of how frequently the elements in the first set occur within the current boundaries of the viewport relative to at least a second set of elements displayed on the digital map. The system determines one or more visual attributes for the first set of elements based at least in part on the generated metric and displays representations of the first set of elements on the digital map in accordance with the determined one or more visual attributes.
US09275480B2
The encoding of a line pattern representation. The line pattern representation has a changing value in a first dimension as a function of a value in a second dimension. The line pattern representation is segmented into multiple segments along the second dimension. The line pattern representation is then encoded by assigning a quantized value to each of the segments based on the changing value of the line pattern in the first dimension as present within the corresponding segment. If the line pattern generally falls within a given range within a segment, the segment will be assigned a quantized value corresponding to that range. The encoding may be used to assign the line pattern representation into a category.
US09275478B2
A method for compressing digital breast tomosynthesis data, a system and a control unit for image reconstruction of three-dimensional digital breast tomosynthesis volumes (DBT). The volume to be reconstructed is analyzed in order to identify clusters of regions in the volume with a low and high degree of diagnostically relevant information. Depending on the affiliation or belonging to a certain cluster, a specific reconstruction algorithm and a specific slab thickness are determined in order to be used for reconstruction of the cluster. Thus, different clusters are reconstructed differently.
US09275470B1
A computer processor of the mobile device may overlay a shape graphic on a fixed area of a screen of the mobile device. A camera of the mobile device may search the fixed area for a ball with a marking. The computer processor may recognize the marking on the ball. The computer processor may calibrate the movement of the ball in the overlayed shape graphic in view of the recognized marking of the ball. The camera may track and may record data pertaining to the movement of the ball. The computer processor may calculate one or more metrics relating to ball controlling abilities from the data. The computer processor may display the one or more metrics on the screen.
US09275466B2
An image processing method includes, calculating a partial distance between a pixel of interest in an image and each of reference pixels, sequentially calculating a total distance between the pixel of interest and each of the plurality of the reference pixels based on the partial distance, determining a shortest total distance among the total distances that have been already calculated, in the sequential calculation of the total distance, and categorizing the pixel of interest based on the reference pixel corresponding to the shortest total distance, wherein, if the partial distance between the pixel of interest and a specific one of the reference pixels to be calculated is equal to or greater than the shortest total distance in the sequential calculation of the total distance, the calculation of the total distance between the pixel of interest and the specific one of the reference pixels to be calculated is omitted.
US09275465B2
A system for cleaning up and preparing an image for segmentation is disclosed. An image transmitting device is configured to transmit a first image to an image receiving device. The image receiving device is configured to: receive the first image; apply a Dual Tree Complex Wavelet transform to the first image to form a plurality of sub-images; generate a high pass image based on the plurality of sub-images; generate a rotational invariant resultant image based on the high pass image; generate a low pass image based on the plurality of sub-images; and combine the rotational invariant resultant image and the low pass image to form a pseudo-fluorescent image.
US09275463B2
Provided is a stereo image processing device, with which it is possible to compute disparity with high precision even for an object of a small image region size in a baseline length direction. With this device, an image matching unit (102) acquires a correspondence point of a reference image for a target point of a target image. An image cropping unit (201) extracts first two-dimensional pixel data including the target point from the target image, and extracts second two-dimensional pixel data including the correspondence point from the reference image. An image reconfiguration unit (202) reconfigures the respective first two-dimensional pixel data and second two-dimensional pixel data into first one-dimensional pixel data and second one-dimensional pixel data. A peak position detection unit (104) computes disparity based on the correlation between the first one-dimensional pixel data and the second one-dimensional pixel data.
US09275451B2
A method for analyzing a functional map of at least one tissue of a patient. The method comprises managing a plurality of functional maps each being associated with a plurality of first biological activity indications, receiving a functional map which is associated with a plurality of second biological activity indications, identifying a matching set of the managed functional maps by matching between the plurality of first and second biological activity indications, and using the matching set for a member of a group consisting of: an image data acquisition, a diagnosis of the received functional map, a classification of the received functional map.
US09275446B2
A method of large-radius edge-preserving low-pass filtering is performed on a digital signal having data points. The method includes computing a weighted average of a signal layer at vertices spaced a distance apart such that an amount of the vertices is less than an amount of the data points and producing, for each of the data points, a large-radius edge-preserving low-pass filtered signal based on the weighted average of the signal layer at vertices neighboring the data point.
US09275445B2
Algorithms for improving the performance of conventional tone mapping operators (TMO) by calculating both a contrast waste score and a contrast loss score for a first tone-mapped image produced by the TMO. The two contrast scores can be used to optimize the performance of the TMO by reducing noise and improving contrast. Algorithms for generating an HDR image by converting non-linear color space images into linear color space format, aligning the images to a reference, de-ghosting the aligned images if necessary, and merging the aligned (and potentially de-ghosted) images to create an HDR image. The merging can be performed with exposure fusion, HDR reconstruction, or other suitable techniques.
US09275442B2
The present disclosure relates to the re-sampling of pixel data, with one application being micro-lithography. In particular, it relates to a first pixel map, including a plurality of white, black and grey scale pixels and gradient directions for one or more of the grey scale pixels, that is resampled to produce a second pixel map using edge geometry data generated from the gradient directions and grey scale values.
US09275440B2
An image processing device (100) is configured such that an edge histogram creating section (130) calculates interproximal pixel luminance difference for each of pixels constituting a frame, and a first ratio, which is a ratio of pixels whose interproximal pixel luminance difference is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and an edge enhancement section (140) performs edge enhancement in such a way that a shoot component to be added is smaller for a frame having a larger first ratio.
US09275437B2
A system and method for performing DSA (digital subtraction angiography), which does not require a non-enhanced or “mask” image to be obtained.
US09275430B2
A computing system employing a multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem supporting single-GPU non-parallel (i.e. multi-tasking) and multi-GPU parallel application-division modes of graphics processing operations, in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data (GCAD) render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during the run-time of the multiple graphics-based applications, while managing and conserving electrical power and graphics processing resources. An automatic mode control module (AMCM) analyzes the application profiles assigned to graphics applications running on the computing system, and automatically controls the mode of operation of the multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem during the run-time of the multiple graphics-based applications.
US09275418B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing e-receipts to customers. Embodiments receive authorization from a customer for the customer to be enrolled in a point of transaction e-receipt communication program; receive transaction data corresponding to at least one transaction performed by the customer at a point of transaction of a merchant; and initiate communication, to the customer, of an e-receipt based at least in part on the received transaction data. Some embodiments receive authorization from a plurality of enrolling merchants for enrollment in the point of transaction e-receipt communication program; and build a cooperating merchant list comprising information corresponding to a plurality of cooperating merchants cooperating with a financial institution implementing the point of transaction e-receipt communication program.
US09275413B2
The systems and methods described herein relate to a system for documenting transactions. A filter is provided that captures content associated with transactions. The filter may be configured to start and stop the capture at predetermined times, and may be further configured to specify what content is to be captured during a transaction. The system may store any documents or data associated with a transaction, including dynamic content and user selections and inputs. A document repository may be provided for storing unstructured data representing data, text, forms, and so forth presented to a party during a transaction. A viewer may be provided for displaying data stored in the document repository.
US09275410B2
A system and method for facilitating payment for online purchases is disclosed. The system allows consumers/customers who shop online to select, at the time of checkout, direct payment from an account as the payment option. An electronic bill (ebill), independent of any confidential financial information pertaining to the consumer, is automatically displayed and emailed to the consumer. The consumer pays the ebill at their bank the same way they pay their utility bill, which then results in a payment confirmation sent from the bank to the payee. Payment information from the bank is sent to the system to update the purchase transactions. Once the payment information is processed, the consumer and merchant accounts are balanced and both receive automatic notification of the payment.
US09275408B1
A service provider provides instances of computing resources for customer use, such as instances of data processing resources, data storage resources, database resources, and networking resources. A customer of the service provider might create a solution that utilizes one or more instances of computing resources provided by the service provider. The customer can request to transfer control and payment responsibility for computing resources, such as those utilized in a solution, to another customer of the distributed computing environment. In response to such a request, control and payment responsibility for the resources may be transferred to the receiving customer. The request to transfer resources might be received by way of a solution marketplace or through another mechanism.
US09275404B2
Techniques for determining the popularity of a business entity are provided. A communication is received at a computing system. The computing system searches the received communication for a business entity name. The computing system also searches the received communication for information related to an opinion about the business entity. Based on the information related to the opinion, the computing system determines a customer satisfaction rating of the business entity.
US09275403B2
User commentary concerning a user experience is received and a user experience data card is generated for the user experience based, at least in part, upon the user commentary. The user experience data card is stored, wherein the stored user experience data card corresponds to a first view of the user experience data card and receiving a request for an experience data card from a second user. The user experience data card is provided to the second user at least in part based on the request received from the second user and receiving feedback from the second user concerning the user experience data card. A second view of the user experience data card is generated based, at least in part, upon the feedback from the second user, wherein the second view of the user experience data card is distinct form the first view of the experience data card.
US09275400B2
Advertising method and system for creating a personalized advertisement, and for recommending a product being advertised. An uploaded facial photograph is received, the facial photograph including a plurality of facial features. At least one facial feature of the plurality of facial features is detected. Personal information may be extracted by analyzing the at least one detected facial feature. A product being advertised may be recommended, wherein the recommended product applies to a treatment related to the extracted personal information.
US09275389B1
A modular device payment module includes a chassis. A modular device connector is located on the chassis. A payment module database in the chassis stores funding source information and security information. A payment module engine in the chassis determines that the modular device connector has been connected to a modular device frame of a modular device, and retrieves modular device identifying information from the modular device. The payment module then determines that the modular device identifying information matches an authorized modular device identified by the security information in the payment module database and, in response, enables the transmission of at least some of the funding source information from the payment module database to conduct a payment transaction.
US09275380B1
A method and system is provided that enables generation of messages for various types of card activated terminal devices such as automated teller machines. Automated teller machines operate responsive to a variety of ATM message formats. The transaction processing system may generate ATM messages one of the ATM message formats using information associated with the ATM message format that is stored in a data store. The transaction processing system may include among its software components a message gateway router (MGR) which is operate to use information stored in the data store to convert messages from an internal message format to a variety of external message formats used by the automated teller machine.
US09275375B2
A method and system for increasing the computational and network efficiency of presence servers having collections of publications is provided. The presence system uses several techniques that enable a presence server to provide rich presence information without requiring expensive processing. First, the presence system accepts batches of publication updates in a single presence update request. Similarly, the presence system accepts batches of subscription requests. Next, the presence system supports new expiration types for publication update requests that eliminate the need for a publishing user to continually refresh presence information that has not changed. Finally, the presence system accepts access lists that contain membership groups rather than an individual list of users that are to have access to a particular presence collection.
US09275368B1
A method for annotation mapping includes identifying a set of differences between a first version of a document and a second version of the document, the first version comprising annotations. The method further includes generating a position map that maps differences between the first version and the second version, where the position map facilitates the migration of the annotations from the first version to the second version.
US09275364B2
In an embodiment, a method is provided for customizing a task associated with a business process. In this method, a business process platform is accessed. The business process platform includes a business process definition and a provider semantic configuration. A group semantic configuration is generated, where the group semantic configuration extends the provider semantic configuration. A task defined in the business process definition is the customized based on the group semantic configuration.
US09275362B2
A method and system for handling files with mobile terminals and a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used in particular for handling e-mail attachments and the like on mobile terminals (PDAs, Smartphone, mobile phone) are described. According to the described method, an original file is stored on a data processing device different from the mobile terminal, and a file corresponding to the original file is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal. The corresponding file includes information about the storage location of the original file. The original file is handled on the data processing device. An application installed on the mobile terminal processes at least part of the data in the corresponding file according to user input entered on the mobile terminal. First processing device is thereby prompted to execute handling of the original file according to the user input.
US09275358B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for automatically creating and submitting defect information associated with defects identified during a software development lifecycle to a defect tracking system. In use, creation of a defect ticket is initiated for an identified defect for submission to a defect tracking system, the identified defect being identified during a software development life cycle. Additionally, a list of potential originating teams from which the identified defect was potentially identified is presented, the list of potential originating teams being presented in a user selectable format. Further, a list of teams in which to assign the identified defect is presented, the list of teams in which to assign the identified defect being presented in a user selectable format. Furthermore, a user selected originating team and a user selected team in which to assign the identified defect is identified. Additionally, details associated with the identified defect are collected from one or more data sources. Further, a description associated with the identified defect is generated utilizing the details associated with the identified defect. Moreover, the defect ticket is generated for the identified defect utilizing the identified user selected originating team, the identified user selected team in which to assign the identified defect, and the generated description associated with the identified defect.
US09275345B1
The interaction of a plurality of users with a computer system is monitored and measurements are made of different features of this interaction such as process creation, registry key changes, and file system actions. These measurements are then analyzed to identify those features that are more discriminatory. The set of features is then used to develop for each user a model of his/her interaction with the computer system that can then be used to authenticate that user when interacting with the computer system at a later time. Advantageously, these steps are performed automatically and may be performed periodically or even continuously to verify that each user of the computer system is indeed the individual he/she purports to be. Illustratively, the feature extraction is performed using Fisher's criteria; and the user model is developed using a Gaussian mixture model. A method for updating the user model is also disclosed.
US09275344B2
A computer-implemented system and method for generating a reference set via seed documents is provided. A collection of documents is obtained. One or more seed documents are identified. The seed documents are compared with the document collection and those documents that are similar to the seed documents are identified as reference set candidates. A size threshold is applied to the reference set candidates, which are grouped as the reference set when the size threshold is satisfied.
US09275338B2
Embodiments are directed towards the visualization of machine data received from computing clusters. Embodiments may enable improved analysis of computing cluster performance, error detection, troubleshooting, error prediction, or the like. Individual cluster nodes may generate machine data that includes information and data regarding the operation and status of the cluster node. The machine data is received from each cluster node for indexing by one or more indexing applications. The indexed machine data including the complete data set may be stored in one or more index stores. A visualization application enables a user to select one or more analysis lenses that may be used to generate visualizations of the machine data. The visualization application employs the analysis lens to produce visualizations of the computing cluster machine data.
US09275336B2
A method and corresponding system for providing a skip group rule feature is disclosed. When a search for a key matches a skip group rule in a group of prioritized rules, the search skips over rules having priorities lower than the skip group rule and the search continues to a next group. A convenient example of a compiler rewrites the lower priority rules by subtracting the skip group rule from them. The subtraction includes subtracting range, exact-match, mask, and prefix fields. The rewritten rules appear to a search processor as typical rules. Beneficially, the search processor requires no additional logic to process a skip group rule, skip over lower priority rules, and go on to search a next group of rules. Advantageously, this approach enables any number of skip group rules to be defined allowing for better classification of network data.
US09275331B2
Machines, systems and methods for classifying documents, the method comprising: classifying a document from among a plurality of documents in a first class, in response to applying statistical analysis to data associated with the document; classifying the document in a second class, in response to determining that a rule from among a plurality of rules applies to the document, wherein a proposed rule is added to the plurality of rules, in response to determining that application of the proposed rule to one or more of the plurality of documents to which the rule is applicable does not diminish accuracy of overall classification for the plurality of documents.
US09275328B1
A neuromorphic compiler includes a placement module to provide analytic placement of neurons in a neural network description. The analytic placement is to produce placed neurons. The neuromorphic compiler further includes a smoothing module to perform diffusion-based smoothing of the placed neurons; a legalization module to adjust locations of the placed neurons to correspond to legal locations of neuromorphic neurons within a neural fabric; and a simulated annealing module to refine locations of the placed neurons within the neural fabric using simulated annealing following location adjustment by the legalization module. The neural fabric is to implement a synaptic time-multiplexed (STM) neuromorphic network.
US09275327B2
Described herein are systems and methods for identifying herbal ingredients effective in treating illnesses in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) using an artificial neural network.
US09275319B2
An electric power system includes: a switching power supply converting an AC into a DC and operating in an on mode and an off mode; a power supply control unit activated when electric power is supplied from the AC power supply, and the power supply control unit being configured to control an oscillation operation of the switching power supply according to the mode designation signal; a mode control unit generating the mode designation signal; and an auxiliary power supply configured to supply electric power to the mode control unit when the switching power supply does not oscillate. In one of the on mode and off mode, the mode control unit performs outputs a consecutive-pulse signal to the power supply control unit. In the other mode, the mode control unit performs a restriction process of restricting output of the consecutive-pulse signal.
US09275315B2
A recording device, a control method for a recording device, and a program can record even when recording using a font that is not internally stored by the recording device is specified. A printer 2 that records on a recording medium using a font specified by a host computer 4 has font substitution information 24C that correlates specified fonts to internal fonts based on the number of columns per line that can be recorded on the recording medium using the specified font. When a font is specified by the host computer 4, the printer 2 substitutes an internal font for the specified font based on the font substitution information 24C.
US09275314B2
An image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit to receives an XML paper specification (XPS) file, an XPS file processing unit which converts the XPS file into an output data corresponding to printing paper to print the XPS file using information regarding the height and width of a FixedPage in the XPS file, and a control unit which controls the image forming apparatus to print the output data. Accordingly, even when an XPS file does not include information regarding printing paper, a user can select and print printing paper suitable for the user's demand.
US09275306B2
Systems, devices, and methods for generating an image representation obtain a set of low-level features from an image; generate a high-dimensional generative representation of the low-level features; generate a lower-dimensional representation of the low-level features based on the high-dimensional generative representation of the low-level features; generate classifier scores based on classifiers and on one or more of the high-dimensional generative representation and the lower-dimensional representation, wherein each classifier uses the one or more of the high-dimensional generative representation and the lower-dimensional representation as an input, and wherein each classifier is associated with a respective label; and generate a combined representation for the image based on the classifier scores and the lower-dimensional representation.
US09275300B2
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating an image description vector, an image detection method and apparatus. The method for generating an image description vector comprising: an encoding step of encoding each of a plurality of pixel regions of an image into M pieces of N-bit binary codes, wherein each bit of an N-bit binary code represents a neighboring pixel region which is in neighborhood of a corresponding pixel region; and a generating step of generating an image description vector of the image based on matching at least one of the M pieces of N-bit binary code of each pixel region of the plurality of pixel regions with a particular code pattern, where M is an integer of 3 or larger, and N is an integer of 3 or larger.
US09275299B2
The same person is automatically recognized in different images from his or her clothing. Color pixel values of a first and second image are captures and areas are selected for a determination whether they show the same person. First histograms of pixels area are computed, representing sums of contributions from pixels with color values in histogram bins. Each histogram bin corresponds to a combination of a range of color values and a range of heights in the areas. The ranges of color values are normalized relative to a distribution of color pixel values in areas. Furthermore, second histograms of pixels in the areas are computed, the second histograms representing sums of contributions from pixels with color values in further histogram bins. The further histogram bins are at least partly unnormalized. First and second histogram intersection scores of the first and second histograms are computed. A combined detection score is computed from the first and second histogram scores.
US09275298B2
Gloss-based material classification of an object fabricated from an unknown material, particularly where the unknown material is one from a limited set of predetermined materials. The object is illuminated with an area light source such that the object is illuminated from multiple angles. An image of the object is obtained, and specular reflections from the object are measured by analyzing the image. The object material is classified based on a number of high-intensity specular reflections.
US09275297B2
Processing and analyzing at least one remotely-sensed image to automatically detect and identify parking lots within a region of the remotely-sensed image. This may include: (1) receiving a remotely-sensed image having zero or more parking lots; (2) identifying a set of pixels related to parking lot features within the remotely-sensed image; (3) identifying at least one parking row within the remotely-sensed image; and (3) identifying a parking lot based on the identified parking rows. Identifying at least one parking lot may further include using first, second, third, and fourth level modules, such as a concrete/asphalt detection module, a road marking detection module, a vehicle detection module, and a Hough aggregation for parking row detection module.
US09275286B2
A method for detecting a vehicle running a stop signal positioned at an intersection includes acquiring a sequence of frames from at least one video camera monitoring an intersection being signaled by the stop signal. The method includes defining a first region of interest (ROI) including a road region located before the intersection on the image plane. The method includes searching the first ROI for a candidate violating vehicle. In response to detecting the candidate violating vehicle, the method includes tracking at least one trajectory of the detected candidate violating vehicle across a number of frames. The method includes classifying the candidate violating vehicle as belonging to one of a violating vehicle and a non-violating vehicle based on the at least one trajectory.
US09275277B2
A method of determining hand features information using both two dimensional (2D) image data and three dimensional (3D) image data is described. In one implementation, a method includes: receiving a 2D image frame; receiving 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame; using the 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame, transforming the 2D image frame; and using the 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame, scaling the 2D image frame, where the transforming and scaling results in a normalized 2D image frame, where the normalized 2D image frame is a scaled and transformed version of the 2D image frame, and where the scaling and transforming is performed using a computer.
US09275258B2
This invention discloses a verifying system and method thereof. The verifying system comprises a plurality of objects to be verified and a verifying end. Each of the objects to be verified respectively comprises an identifying code. The verifying end has a database, and the database stores a plurality records of information of the objects respectively corresponding to each of the indentifying codes. When a user utilizes an electronic device to read one of the indentifying codes for making the electronic device connect to the verifying end, the verifying end compares the identifying code with the plurality records of information of the objects to generate an information of verification results which is then transmitted back to the electronic device. Herewith the effect of the present invention being verifying authenticity of the object by the indentifying code is achieved.
US09275254B2
Described are computer implemented augmented reality techniques for public and private seminars that includes receive an indication of a start of a segment of a live presentation, the live presentation comprising at least one segment, with the at least one segment having at least one presentation component; receive information related to a plurality of users, receive rules to analyze the information and select from the information, private information pertaining to a particular user, with the selected information being relevant to the at least one presentation component of the at least one segment of the live presentation, generate an image that when rendered on a display device renders the private information pertaining to the particular user for that presentation component, and send the image of the private information to a device associated with the particular user.
US09275246B2
A system and method for static detection and categorization of information-flow downgraders includes transforming a program stored in a memory device by statically analyzing program variables to yield a single assignment to each variable in an instruction set. The instruction set is translated to production rules with string operations. A context-free grammar is generated from the production rules to identify a finite set of strings. An information-flow downgrader function is identified by checking the finite set of strings against one or more function specifications.
US09275244B2
Provided is an authentication apparatus that, in case of showing an inputted password as an unrecognizable state, shows it a recognizable state with maintaining confidentiality according to operation by a user. The password inputted by the user is shown on a password input area as the unrecognizable state, such as “*.” While a password peripheral region is pushed by the user along with a password input area, a control part changes the password from the unrecognizable state, where a displaying condition of the password shown on password viewing area being hidden by “*,” into the recognizable state, and the inputted password itself are shown.
US09275242B1
A cloud-based email system is accessed by way of a cloud access security system. The cloud access security system allows for encryption of incoming emails and outgoing emails stored in the cloud-based email system. The cloud access security system includes a protocol proxy for providing an interface between a client computer of a user and the cloud-based email system, an encryption module for indexing and encrypting emails, and an event listener for receiving email event notifications from the cloud-based email system and replacing emails with corresponding encrypted emails. The cloud access security system may receive encryption keys from a key manager hosted by a key server, which may be part of the cloud access security system or hosted on premise in the same private computer network as client computers employed by users.
US09275233B1
Generating a modified protected file is disclosed, including: creating a modified protected file at least in part by embedding a protected file into an at least partially unprotected file; and modifying a set of content type information included in the at least partially unprotected file to include a content type associated with the protected file as embedded. Using the modified protected file is disclosed, including: receiving, using a processor, a data access operation to an at least partially unprotected file; determining that the at least partially unprotected file includes a portion associated with a content type associated with embedded protected content; and redirecting the data access operation to the portion of the at least partially unprotected file associated with the content type associated with embedded protected content.
US09275230B2
A computing system and a method of communicating with a virtual trusted runtime BIOS. The computing system can include hardware and a virtual machine monitor. A virtual trusted runtime BIOS can be managed by the virtual machine monitor. A communication channel can communicate with the virtual trusted runtime BIOS. The communication channel can be secured by a secure socket layer.
US09275221B2
Controlling access to secure resources of a data processing system is provided. An input-to-output mapping of an application installed on the data processing system is generated that determines whether a secure resource in the data processing system is shared with an external entity associated with the application and under what specified conditions. It is determined whether the specified conditions exist during runtime of the application. In response to determining that the specified conditions do not exist during runtime of the application, sharing of the secure resource of the data processing system with the external entity associated with the application is prevented. In response to determining that the specified conditions do exist during runtime of the application, sharing of the secure resource of the data processing system with the external entity associated with the application is allowed.
US09275206B2
A method, system or computer usable program product for securing pages that contain sensitive information including utilizing a processor to provide a user interface on a display allowing a user to select a page as password protected on a device, responsive to a user utilizing the UI to select the page as password protected, receiving a password from the user, and requiring entry of the password before displaying the page on the display.
US09275202B2
Method for processing data, in which a Petri net is encoded, written into a memory and read and executed by at least one instance, wherein transitions of the Petri net read from at least one tape and/or write on at least one tape symbols or symbol strings, with the aid of at least one head. In an alternative, data-processing, co-operating nets are composed, the composition result is encoded, written into a memory and read and executed from the memory by at least one instance. In doing this, components can have cryptological functions. The data-processing nets can receive and process second data from a cryptological function which is executed in a protected manner. The invention enables processing of data which prevents semantic analysis of laid-open, possibly few processing steps and which can produce a linkage of the processing steps with a hardware which is difficult to isolate.
US09275198B2
Systems and methods for electronically publishing content are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a content selection and receiving a selection of rights assigned to the content. The method also includes receiving a selection of one or more tags and associating the content with the rights assigned and the tag to enable a security trimmed rank adjusted search return of the content.
US09275194B2
A system and a method of multi-user coaching are introduced herein. Motion-sensing cameras are applied to capture images, and a depth image stitching module is applied to perform a depth image stitching process on the captured images to expand the motion-sensing range, so as to establish a virtual environment for multi-user coaching. Each user can be coached individually by a one-to-multiple approach to improve his or her motions. By using the system and the method of multi-user coaching, that is, the system can only calculates on motion similarities of the users, and instructions are fed back to each user. Therefore, the system and the method described herein can be extensively applied to various products, such as a virtual gymnasium, a virtual aerobics classroom, a virtual Budokan, and so on.
US09275192B2
A method for customizing an interactive control boundary based on a patient-specific feature comprises identifying a reference feature associated with a virtual implant model. The method also comprises determining an intersection between the identified reference feature and a virtual model associated with an anatomy of the patient. A virtual boundary is generated based on the determined intersection between the identified reference feature associated with the virtual implant model and the virtual model associated with the anatomy of the patient.
US09275182B2
Roughly described, the invention involves ways to characterize, take account of, or take advantage of stresses introduced by TSV's near transistors. The physical relationship between the TSV and nearby transistors can be taken into account when characterizing a circuit. A layout derived without knowledge of the physical relationships between TSV and nearby transistors, can be modified to do so. A macrocell can include both a TSV and nearby transistors, and a simulation model for the macrocell which takes into account physical relationships between the transistors and the TSV. A macrocell can include both a TSV and nearby transistors, one of the transistors being rotated relative to others. An IC can also include a transistor in such proximity to a TSV as to change the carrier mobility in the channel by more than the limit previously thought to define an exclusion zone.
US09275180B1
To implement a circuit design on a programmable integrated circuit (IC), first data are generated for implementing the circuit design. Critical and non-critical portions of the circuit design are determined, and second data are generated for programming configuration memory cells of the programmable IC to implement the circuit design. A first subset of the second data is assigned to program a first type of configuration memory cells to implement the critical portion of the circuit design on a first subset of programmable logic resources and a first subset of programmable interconnect resources of the programmable IC. A second subset of the second data is assigned to program a second type of configuration memory cells to implement the non-critical portion of the circuit design on a second subset of programmable logic resources and a second subset of programmable interconnect resources. The second data are stored in an electronically readable storage medium.
US09275177B2
A transistor model defines the carrier mobility as a combination of both drift-diffusion mobility and ballistic mobility. The ballistic mobility is calculated based on the assumption that the kinetic energy of carriers near an injection point is no greater than the potential energy difference of carriers near that injection point. The abruptness of the onset of velocity saturation, as well as the asymptotic velocity associated therewith is made dependent on the degree to which the velocity is ballistically limited. The model further takes into account the inertial effects on the velocity and/or charge flux associated with carriers. The model computes the mobility and hence the velocity of carriers in accordance with their positions in the channel both along the direction of the current flow as well as the direction perpendicular to the current flow.
US09275170B2
An advertising system generates customized advertising for social network members. The ads results are personalized based on members' explicit and implicit interests derived from user actions, content selections, etc.
US09275167B2
A system includes a mobile device and an optimization server. The mobile device is capable of transmitting request data that includes a requested webpage and identification data. The optimization server is configured to receive response data that corresponds to the request data from a content server, to adapt the response data based on the identification data, and to transmit the adapted response data to the mobile device.
US09275162B2
A web service for pre-caching web content on a mobile device includes receiving a request from the mobile device for first web content, fetching the first web content, determining second web content to pre-fetch based upon the first web content, fetching the second web content, and causing the second web content to be stored in a content cache on the mobile device responsive to the request for the first web content. Pre-caching web content in this manner provides web content to the mobile device that the user of the mobile device is likely to access. Pre-caching of additional web content prior to receiving an explicit request improves web browsing performance of the mobile device.
US09275157B2
The content metadata directory system connects consumers of identified content to managed metadata databases and other digital resources. The system manages links between identifiers in content objects and metadata sources. It supports a variety of different type of content identifiers and allows for overlap among different content identification schemes. One method of associating a content object with metadata uses a combination of a content identifier and a bounding identifier to enable handling of disparate sets of content identifiers for content objects with potentially conflicting content identifiers. The method receives a content identifier for a content object from among a set of content identifiers and provides a unique bounding identifier for the set of content identifiers. This unique bounding identifier is used in combination with the content identifier to form a globally unique identifier for the content object. This globally unique identifier is associated with a metadata source, which enables routing of a user to the metadata source.
US09275142B2
Various methods are described for expanding the display of a web application across multiple devices. One example method may comprise receiving an indication of content associated with a main frame of a web application. The method may further comprise displaying of the content associated with the main frame. Furthermore, the method may comprise searching for one or more external devices. Each of the one or more external devices may comprise a display for rendering content associated with a respective expanded frame of the web application. The method of this example embodiment may further comprise establishing a connection with the one or more external devices. Furthermore, the method may comprise providing for transmission to each of the one or more external devices of an indication of the content associated with the respective expanded frame. Similar and related example methods, example apparatuses, and example computer program products are also provided.
US09275141B2
Methods and systems for processing a sample of a media stream are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a sample of a media stream rendered by a media rendering source, and for matching media recordings from which the sample was obtained, the method also includes receiving a signature file including a temporally mapped collection of features describing content of the matching media recordings. Each received signature file may be stored in memory. In addition, a signature stream may be received that includes features extracted from the media stream, and a number of matching features between the signature stream of the media stream and the signature file for at least one matching media recording can be determined. In one example, when substantially matching features between the signature stream of the media stream and the signature file for a matching media recording stop occurring, a discontinuity can be identified.
US09275140B2
A method of searching for a scene based on a stream of images archived in a video surveillance database including: a first phase of preprocessing prior to archiving of the images including extracting generic information from the images of the stream, systematically annotating the scenes of the images by at least one indication defined as a function of the generic information, and indexing the scenes of the images based on information extracted from the indications originating from one or more streams; a second phase of investigation by preselecting video segments from the stream of images including the annotation indications associated with the images; and a third phase of searching for a particular scene based on at least one additional characteristic not forming part of the annotations associated with the preselected video segments.
US09275139B2
System and method to search audio data, including: receiving audio data representing speech; receiving a search query related to the audio data; compiling, by use of a processor, the search query into a hierarchy of scored speech recognition sub-searches; searching, by use of a processor, the audio data for speech identified by one or more of the sub-searches to produce hits; and combining, by use of a processor, the hits by use of at least one combination function to provide a composite search score of the audio data. The combination function may include an at-least-M-of-N function that produces a high score when at least M of N function inputs exceed a predetermined threshold value. The composite search score employ a soft time window such as a spline function.
US09275137B2
A network based system for distributing audio recordings of discrete transmissions from land mobile radio systems received by plural radio terminals having scanning receivers to plural client terminals, including methods of selecting the best available recordings and selectively storing content both locally in the radio terminals and at network based storage locations.
US09275131B2
A data indexing system is provided. The system includes: a time interval splitting unit configured to split a predetermined time range into a plurality of time intervals. A first index creating unit is configured to create a first-level index for data in a current time interval, the first-level index including a time interval index and a subspace index. A second index creating unit is configured to create, in a time interval after the current time interval, a second-level index for data in the current time interval. The second-level index has a finer granularity than the first-level index. A data indexing method and a data querying method are also provided. The cost for index maintenance can be greatly reduced in a case of frequent updates. Further, invalid scans during the query process can be reduced and the query performance can be improved.
US09275130B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for indexing or retrieving materials accessible through computer networks.
US09275125B1
A system and related methods for organizing incoming data into profiles and persons based upon identifying characteristics. Profiles contain identifying characteristics that are assigned different values based upon reliability factors, such as age of the data, or generality of the data. These values are used to link a plurality of profiles together into a person. As persons are created and stored by the system, the introduction of new persons causes both new data and existing data to be evaluated so that when information for a person already present in the system is entered the objects are merged rather than duplicated. Self healing mechanisms allow data integrity to be maintained despite changes in configuration or data reliability valuation by re-evaluating links between profiles and identification of persons when a change is detected. Several APIs allow end users to insert new data an access existing data.
US09275122B2
A cloner is configured to assist users in deploying templates from a source environment into a target environment. The cloner includes a source identification module configured to identify source objects in a source environment from one or more business intelligence reports. The cloner also includes a mapping module configured to provide a declarative mapping screen showing the source objects and a list of available objects in a target environment to map the source objects against, and to receive mapping information selections from a user. The cloner further includes a duplication module configured to duplicate the one or more business intelligence reports into the target environment based on the mapping information selections.
US09275121B2
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for creating and using shared queries based on heterogeneous data sources. One example method includes receiving a request to execute a shared query, identifying at least one data source and a query specification associated with the shared query, generating a native query for each identified data source based on the identified query specification, executing the generated native queries at the respective data sources to collect a set of query results from the respective data sources, and formatting the set of query results from the respective data sources into a unified set of query results.
US09275119B2
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph that includes a plurality of nodes and edges, receiving from a user a selection of a structured query the user wants to share, where the structured query comprises references to nodes and edges of the social graph, and sending the structured query for display on a page associated with one or more other users.
US09275117B1
A system and method is provided in which access patterns of data blocks are used to predict future accesses to the data blocks. One of the types of patterns that may be used in connection with the system described herein is depended blocks. Dependent blocks are blocks that are often referenced one after another in a short period of time. For example, one block (block b) is commonly referenced after another block (block a) a noted time period. The system described herein provides a block dependency algorithm that enables a search task involving searching of block dependencies with respect to proposed dependency definitions. In an embodiment, the search task may be performed based on using of a branch and bound methodology. A search tree is built in which a set of activity vectors (V) are ordered, and a search algorithm is used to traverse and “prune” branches of the tree.
US09275106B2
A system may receive one or more terms of a search query. The system may automatically identify prior search queries that include the one or more terms of the search query from a history of prior search queries. The system may automatically identify possible spelling corrected search queries based on the one or more terms of the search queries. The system may automatically receive remote server-based query completion suggestions including the one or more terms of the search query. The system may present query refinement options, the query refinement box being populated with the prior search queries as suggested queries for possible selection by a user, the identified possible spelling corrected search queries, and the received query completion suggestions.
US09275103B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for optimizing execution of a query that includes a JOIN against a system utilizing data relationship concepts. A computer determines whether one or more data structures in JOIN include a parent/child relationship. The one or more data structures can be one or more tables. Responsive to determining that the one or more data structures in JOIN include a parent/child relationship, the computer determines whether the query that includes the JOIN includes a filter applied on one or more data structures in the JOIN with an OR condition between filters. Responsive to determining that the query that includes the JOIN does not include the filter applied on one or more data structures in JOIN with an OR condition between filters, the computer modifies the query that includes the JOIN into a query utilizing relationship constructs.
US09275102B2
Techniques are disclosed for query processing. In one embodiment, a query is received for execution in a processing environment. Based on a measure of current load of the processing environment, a maximum amount of a resource that the query is allowed to consume is determined. An amount of the resource that the query is to consume is estimated. Execution of the query is managed based on a comparison between the maximum amount and the estimated amount.
US09275098B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system. These techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system may enable embodiments to provide great flexibility to a tenant of the architecture to perform desired functions on content of the database while allowing the owner of the architecture schedule the processing of the functions on the content.
US09275094B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods for implementing enterprise level social and business information networking are provided. Users can receive relevant information about a database system and its users at an appropriate time. Users can then use this relevant information to reduce errors and limit redundant efforts. For example, an update of a record in the database can be identified, and a story created automatically about the update and sent to the users that are following the record. Which updates have stories created and which stories are to be sent to which users can be configured. Other events besides updating of records can also be tracked. For example, actions of a user that result in an event can be tracked, where such tracking can also be configurable. Subscriptions to follow an object can be automatic, and access checks can be used to ensure that unauthorized users do not see certain data.
US09275090B2
A system for avoidance records comprises an interface and a processor. An interface is configured to receive an abbreviated record associated with a non-event profile identifier. A processor is configured to determine a counter value associated with the non-event profile identifier and, in the event that the counter value is greater than a predetermined threshold, create and store an avoidance record.
US09275089B2
Arrangements described herein relate to managing reusable artifacts. Responsive to receiving a request to create a placeholder for a reusable artifact representing a reusable unit, the placeholder for an appropriate version of the reusable artifact is created within a container and a first parameter identifying the reusable artifact is assigned to an artifact property of the placeholder. The placeholder further includes a branch property configured to indicate a first null value or a second parameter identifying a branch of the reusable artifact corresponding to a particular variant of the reusable artifact, and a version property configured to indicate a second null value or a third parameter identifying a particular version of the reusable artifact.
US09275085B2
A method of interpreting data in a first version of a data structure, the method comprising determining if the first version of the data structure is different to a currently used version of the data structure; and if the versions are different, then for each field of the currently used version of the data structure, determining if a corresponding field is present in the first version of the data structure; and if not, adding data to the field in the currently used version of the data structure according to interpretation rules.
US09275083B2
Described herein are systems and methods for providing data policy management over application objects in a storage system environment. An application object may comprise non-virtual or virtual objects (e.g., non-virtual-based applications, virtual-based applications, or virtual storage components). An application object manager may represent application objects by producing mapping graphs and/or application object data that represent application objects in a standardized manner. A mapping graph for an application object may describe a mapping between the application object and its underlying storage objects on a storage system. Application object data may describe a mapping graph in a standardized format. Application object data representing application objects may be received by an application policy manager that manages data policies on the application objects (including virtual applications and virtual storage components) based on the received application object data. Data policies may include policies for backup, service level objectives, recovery, monitoring and/or reporting.
US09275078B2
During a training phase, a machine accesses reference images with corresponding depth information. The machine calculates visual descriptors and corresponding depth descriptors from this information. The machine then generates a mapping that correlates these visual descriptors with their corresponding depth descriptors. After the training phase, the machine may perform depth estimation based on a single query image devoid of depth information. The machine may calculate one or more visual descriptors from the single query image and obtain a corresponding depth descriptor for each visual descriptor from the generated mapping. Based on obtained depth descriptors, the machine creates depth information that corresponds to the submitted single query image.
US09275077B2
A method of capturing content, performed by a mobile terminal, is provided. The method includes sensing a user's gesture requesting the mobile terminal to capture at least one content, selecting a type of content to be captured, based on a time period that the user's gesture requesting the mobile terminal to capture at least one content is maintained for or a number of times that the user's gesture requesting the mobile terminal to capture at least one content, and capturing the selected type of the content. The type of the content includes internal content to be reproduced in the mobile terminal, and external content from outside the mobile terminal.
US09275071B2
Systems and methods are provided for transmitting data to at least one storage system. A request is received to store a data set in a storage location. In response, a first plurality of shares is generated, each containing a distribution of data from the data set, and at least one share is stored in a local memory configured for backup in at least one remote storage system. At least one share is transmitted to the at least one remote storage system. Systems and methods are also provided for improving data availability. In response to a restoration event, if insufficient shares of data are available to reconstruct a data set, a read instruction in a journaling message is transmitted to a remote storage system requesting an additional share. The additional share is received and stored in a local storage, and the data set is reconstructed.
US09275052B2
A digital work may be annotated using an eBook reader device. Upon receiving an annotation relating to a specific portion of the digital work, an invariant location reference identifier corresponding to the specified portion of the digital work may be appended to the annotation. The annotation may then be stored in association with the digital work for later reference. In some instances, an annotation may be presented on an eBook reader device upon receipt of a valid authorization credential granting access to the annotation.
US09275041B2
There is provided a computer-implemented method of performing sentiment analysis. An exemplary method comprises performing a first sentiment analysis on microblogging data based on a method using an opinion lexicon. The method also includes training a classifier using training data from the first sentiment analysis. Additionally, the method includes identifying a new opinion term in the microblogging data by performing a statistical test. The new opinion terms are not in the opinion lexicon. The method also includes identifying new microblogging data based on the new opinion term. Further, the method includes performing a second sentiment analysis on the new microblogging data using the classifier.
US09275027B2
A system and method for enabling capture and replay of digital media files using multimodal documents including a context manager for managing multimodal documents with a virtual media content management system coupled to the context manager. The virtual media content management system contains digital content which is adapted to be managed by the virtual media content management system. An input system is coupled to the context manager and includes a stylus operable to select digital content to be processed. The context manager is operable to issue multimodal document management instructions to the virtual media content management system to process digital content selected by the stylus based on input information from the input system.
US09275023B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for further adapting XSL to HTML document transformations includes identifying with a web computing device one or more rules in an HTML document. An action associated with each of the identified one or more rules is identified with the web computing device. The identified actions are filtered with the web computing device based on one or more filtering rules when two or more of the identified actions have a match. The remaining identified actions after the filtering are applied with the web computing device to transform the one or more rules in the HTML document. The transformed HTML document is provided by the web computing device.
US09275020B2
In one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a calculation section, an identification section, and a notification section. The calculation section is configured to calculate similarity among a plurality of documents. The identification section is configured to identify, in response to a change made to a first document, a second document having a similarity greater than or equal to a first criterion as compared to the first document before the change. The notification section is configured to notify a user of the identified second document that the first document has been changed, in response to the change to the first document.
US09275019B2
System and method for performing Unicode matching for comparing and merging similar data objects having Unicode strings that are equivalent yet not exact matches. Unicode characters are characterized by number of strokes, stroke order, radicals, geometry, phonemes in association with input method editor and keyboard characteristics such as location of a character on an IME or keyboard (or number of GUI interface interactions used in entering the character, e.g., via tapping where “a” on a mobile device keyboard takes 1 tap of a key, “b” takes 2 taps). These characteristics associated with code points and IME's/keyboards are utilized to create subdomains for matching and determining “distance” to other Unicode code points (e.g., number of keyboard keys away). Allows for determining whether close, yet incorrect data entry may have taken place. Enables merging of duplicate data objects into master data object where minor differences or spelling errors introduce actually represent duplicate data.
US09275011B2
A quantum phase estimator may include at least one phase gate, at least one controlled unitary gate, and at least one measurement device. The quantum phase estimator receives at least one ancillary qubit and a calculational state comprised of multiple qubits. The phase gate may apply random phases to the ancillary qubit, which is used as a control to the controlled unitary gate. The controlled unitary gate applies a second random phase to the calculational state. The measurement device may measure a state of the ancillary qubit from which a phase of the calculational state may be determined.
US09275007B2
In a parallel computer, a plurality of logical planes formed of compute nodes of a subcommunicator may be identified by: for each compute node of the subcommunicator and for a number of dimensions beginning with a first dimension: establishing, by a plane building node, in a positive direction of the first dimension, all logical planes that include the plane building node and compute nodes of the subcommunicator in a positive direction of a second dimension, where the second dimension is orthogonal to the first dimension; and establishing, by the plane building node, in a negative direction of the first dimension, all logical planes that include the plane building node and compute nodes of the subcommunicator in the positive direction of the second dimension.
US09275001B1
A personal content stream comprising a plurality of videos is generated for a user. The user selects topics used in the generation of a personal content stream. The plurality of user selected topics is expanded to include topics related to one or more of the user selected topics. Each of the topics in the expanded plurality of topics includes a topic weight. Videos are selected that are related to one or more of the expanded plurality of topics to generate a plurality of stream videos. Additional videos are selected and added to the plurality of stream videos as the user watches videos. The topic weights are adjusted during video playback based on feedback from the user.
US09274997B2
The present disclosure provides an improved point-to-point serial peripheral interface, a system comprising an improved point-to-point serial peripheral interface, and a method for use in a system comprising an improved point-to-point serial peripheral interface. A master comprises a SPI initiating port. Each slave comprises at least one SPI receiving port and at least one SPI forwarding port. The master provides a set of SPI signals to the SPI receiving port of the first slave in the chain, and the entire SPI signals are forwarded via the SPI forwarding port of each of the slaves until the SPI transaction reaches a target slave, which is identified by an in-band device addressing mechanism.
US09274992B2
A cable with circuitry that enables the cable to communicate data in one of at least two different signal modes of operation is presented. In a first signal mode, the cable enables data communication between the circuitry and either a source device or a sink device. The first signal mode can be used either to communicate properties of the cable itself or of a signal passing through the cable to either the source device or the sink device. In a second signal mode, the cable enables data communication between the source device and the sink device. The second signal mode can be used to communicate data in accordance with a predetermined protocol.
US09274978B2
Systems and methods for compression, formatting, and migration of data for data storage systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, data repacking can be used in any situation where embedded metadata needs to be accessed, such as during data migration, and where the underlying data is encrypted. In some embodiments, performance is increased because encrypted data is repacked without first performing decryption. In addition, data may also be compressed and repacking can be performed without performing decompression. Advantageously, there is no need to retrieve or wait for the availability of encryption key (or keys) or expand resources in decrypting (and decompressing) data before repacking it and encrypting repacked data. Available capacity for storing user data, reliability, and performance of the data storage system can be increased.
US09274974B1
Virtualization software establishes multiple execution environments within a virtual machine, wherein software modules executing in one environment cannot access private memory of another environment. A separate set of shadow memory address mappings is maintained for each execution environment. For example, a separate shadow page table may be maintained for each execution environment. The virtualization software ensures that the shadow address mappings for one execution environment do not map to the physical memory pages that contain the private code or data of another execution environment. When execution switches from one execution environment to another, the virtualization software activates the shadow address mappings for the new execution environment. A similar approach, using separate mappings, may also be used to prevent software modules in one execution environment from accessing the private disk space or other secondary storage of another execution environment.
US09274971B2
According to one embodiment, a method for exchanging data in a system that includes a main processor in communication with an active memory device is provided. The method includes a processing element in the active memory device receiving an instruction from the main processor and receiving a store request from a thread running on the main processor, the store request specifying a memory address associated with the processing element. The method also includes storing a value provided in the store request in a queue in the processing element and the processing element performing the instruction using the value from the queue.
US09274957B2
A technique is provided for monitoring a value without repeated storage access. A processing circuit processes an instruction of a program that specifies a memory address of a memory location to be monitored. The processing circuit configures a monitor station for monitoring the memory location. The memory location includes a state descriptor for the program. The processing circuit receives a cross-invalidate request from a memory controller. The cross-invalidate request indicates to the monitor station that content of the memory location has been changed by another processing circuit.
US09274955B2
A processing network comprising a cache configured to store copies of memory data as a plurality of cache lines, a cache controller configured to receive data requests from a plurality of cache agents, and designate at least one of the cache agents as an owner of a first of the cache lines, and a directory configured to store cache ownership designations of the first cache line, and wherein the directory is encoded to support substantially simultaneous ownership of the first cache line by a plurality but less than all of the cache agents. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving coherent transactions from a plurality of cache agents, and storing ownership designations of a plurality of cache lines by the cache agents in a directory, wherein the directory is configured to support storage of substantially simultaneous ownership designations for a plurality but less than all of the cache agents.
US09274949B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking updates during memory migration. The method includes computer instructions for establishing communication from a source virtual machine to a target virtual machine, the source virtual machine including a memory. Contents of the memory on the source virtual machine are transmitted to the target virtual machine. The contents include a plurality of pages. Pages in the memory that are modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine are tracked. The tracking includes creating a data structure having a plurality of bits corresponding to the pages in the memory, the bits indicating if the corresponding pages have been modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine. The data structure also includes a first bit location index to identify the location of the first bit in the data structure that corresponds to a modified page. Bits in the data structure are updated in response to detecting that the corresponding pages have been modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine. The data structure is scanned starting at the first bit location index to identify pages that have been modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine. The identified pages are transmitted to the target virtual machine.
US09274947B1
Embodiments are directed towards garbage collection for an application running on a non-cooperative target platform. Where the garbage collection optimistically manages thread state for transitions to and from native and managed code and that some threads are suspended while others are left executing during garbage collection. When a characteristic of the native code call indicates that a duration of the native code call may exceed a defined duration, state information for the thread may be updated to transition the thread to the unmanaged code environment. When a garbage collection event occurs, thread state information is updated to communicate suspend requests to the threads. Then the runtime may wait for each thread in the managed code environment to be reach a safe state before garbage collection may commence.
US09274939B2
A memory system includes: a memory controller configured to change data to be stored in memory cells according to an address of a weak cell in order to store changed data having a lower program level than a highest program level among a plurality of program levels in peripheral cells adjacent to the weak cell; and a memory device configured to execute a program loop in order to store the changed data in a selected page.
US09274926B2
Configurable testing of a computer program includes: storing a set of one or more testing specifications, and attribute information defining one or more attributes of a recognizable portion of the computer program; and processing, using at least one processor, the computer program according to at least a first testing specification associated with the computer program. The processing includes: traversing a representation of the computer program that includes elements that represent recognizable portions of the computer program, and while traversing the representation, recognizing recognizable portions of the computer program, and storing values of attributes, defined by the attribute information, of the recognized portions of the computer program.
US09274925B2
A method of analyzing a software program includes compiling the software program into an intermediate representation. The method also includes finding an instruction in the intermediate representation that matches a pattern in a check pattern. The method also includes generating an instrumented intermediate representation in which the instruction is modified according to an action specified in the check pattern. The method also includes symbolically executing the instrumented intermediate representation.
US09274923B2
A method for extracting static information from user code, analyzing the static information to determine location expressions for program information and comparing the location expressions to reference location expressions of the user code. In addition, a system having a reading module configured to read and extract static information from user code, an analyzing module configured to analyze the static information to determine location expressions for program information and a comparison module configured to compare the location expressions to reference location expressions of the user code.
US09274912B2
The disclosed examples provide techniques for simulation of a wireless mobile network that includes block level simulation of burst errors. The simulation allows input of a variable burst error rate to a system level simulation of a communications network. Theoretical error rates are replaced with variable burst error rates in the simulation. Injecting burst errors at the system level provides a network simulation that more realistically reflects the effects of burst errors on network performance.
US09274898B2
An approach is provided for providing criticality based data backup. A data backup platform determines one or more state trajectories associated with one or more information management processes operating on at least one information space. The data backup platform further processes and/or facilitates a processing of the one or more state trajectories to determine criticality information associated with one or more data items of the at least one information space. The data backup platform also determines (a) one or more data backup processes, (b) one or more data restoration processes, (c) one or more parameters for the one or more data backup processes, the data restoration processes, or a combination thereof, or (d) a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the criticality information.
US09274896B2
A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. Each structured data representation corresponds to a version, and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a borrow window. When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time, i.e., to perform a “restore,” it is only required to walk a single structured data representation. During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is pulled back from the cloud when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system is restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously. A fast restore is performed if an object being restored exists within a borrow window of the version from which the system is restoring.
US09274893B2
The present invention provides a data storage device including a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory is capable of operating in a SLC mode and a non-SLC mode. The controller is configured to perform a first read operation to read a page corresponding to a first word line of the flash memory in the SLC mode according to a read command of a host, and perform an adjustable read operation when data read by the first read operation cannot be recovered by coding, wherein the controller is further configured to enable the flash memory to operate in the non-SLC mode in the adjustable read operation, and write logic 1 into a most-significant-bit page corresponding to the first word line in the non-SLC mode to adjust voltage distribution of the first page.
US09274888B2
A system for replacing a page stored in system memory when reading the page incurs a multiple-bit error. Upon reading a page in system memory for which a multiple-bit error is detected, backup data in flash memory is loaded into a redundant page in the system memory, and a re-mapper is configured so that future accesses to the page are redirected to the redundant page.
US09274887B2
This can relate to non-regular parity distribution of a non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as flash memory, and detection of the non-regular parity via a metadata tag. For example, each codeword of the NVM can include one or more parity pages that may be distributed at random through the NVM. To identify the page as a parity page, a parity page marker can be included in the metadata of that page. During power-up of the NVM, an address table including the logical-to-physical address mapping of the pages can be created. Pages including a parity page marker, however, can be skipped during the creation of this address table. Additionally, by having two or more parity pages associated with a codeword, an additional layer of protection can be provided for repairing errors in that codeword.
US09274878B2
Control apparatus having pre-defined error-states and related methods are described. An example non-transitory computer-readable medium disclosed herein comprises instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to analyze, via a controller coupled to a field device, a communication from a control system remotely located from the controller, the control system to operate the field control device during a non-error condition; detect an error condition while the field control device is communicatively coupled to and receives the communication from the control system; and override the communication between the control system and the controller to operate the field control device based on a pre-defined error-state instruction stored in the controller when the error condition is detected to cause the field control device to move to a first position for a first amount of time and subsequently move the field control device to a second position for a second amount of time, the first position being different than the second position.
US09274876B2
Various embodiments for retaining diagnostic information for data in a computing storage environment. In one such embodiment, a diagnostic component, apart from a volume table of contents (VTOC), associated with an integrated catalog facility (ICF) catalog and with a base data set from data sets via a catalog association record, is initialized. The diagnostic component is configured to retain base data set-specific diagnostic information retrievable by the computing storage environment to assist in error diagnosis and the ICF catalog is one of the data sets storing information about the data sets for facilitating a retrieval of a name of the base data set and assists with retaining and retrieval of the base data set-specific diagnostic information. The base data set-specific diagnostic information is stored pursuant to at least one event associated with the base data set.
US09274873B2
Various embodiments include a method and system for high-volume distributed script error report handling. An error report group threshold may be obtained. The error report group threshold may be determined by available computing resources, at an error facility, to receive error reports. A subset of current user terminals with representative user terminal environments may be identified. The subset may have a cardinality less than the error report group threshold. Members of the subset may be notified to report errors for a distributed program.
US09274863B1
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to reducing latency for consensus in geographically distributed disaster-safe persistent data-store systems. These distributed systems may include registry system having redundant storage for maintaining the system status. Each registry system may include a server and a storage component. Consensus may be achieved by querying all of other servers of the registry system. In one example, the consensus data may be sharded into independent small groups. This may allow for multiple consensus transactions to be generated and run in parallel, which, in turn may reduce the latency. In addition, or alternatively, requests to a server to write or otherwise change the data-store may be batched at the server side. Thus, for the consensus, the server need only communicate with the other servers only once per batch. This may also reduce the latency of the distributed system.
US09274860B2
Provided are a multi-process device and an inter-process communication (IPC) method thereof. The multi-processor device includes a first processor, a second processor, a first memory connected to the first processor, and a second memory connected to the second processor. When an inter-process communication (IPC) operation is performed between the first processor and the second processor, data is exchanged between the first memory and the second memory.
US09274856B2
A technique for processing an instruction sequence that includes a barrier instruction, a load instruction preceding the barrier instruction, and a subsequent memory access instruction following the barrier instruction includes determining, by a processor core, that the load instruction is resolved based upon receipt by the processor core of an earliest of a good combined response for a read operation corresponding to the load instruction and data for the load instruction. The technique also includes if execution of the subsequent memory access instruction is not initiated prior to completion of the barrier instruction, initiating by the processor core, in response to determining the barrier instruction completed, execution of the subsequent memory access instruction. The technique further includes if execution of the subsequent memory access instruction is initiated prior to completion of the barrier instruction, discontinuing by the processor core, in response to determining the barrier instruction completed, tracking of the subsequent memory access instruction with respect to invalidation.
US09274855B2
A method and apparatus for optimizing weak atomicity overhead is herein described. A state table is maintained either during static or dynamic compilation of code to track data non-transactionally accessed. Within execution of a transaction, such as at transactional memory accesses or within a commit function, it is determined if data associated with memory access within the transaction is to be conflictingly accessed outside the transaction from the state table. If the data is not accessed outside the transaction, then the transaction potentially commits without weak atomicity safety mechanisms, such as privatization. Furthermore, even if data is accessed outside the transaction, optimized safety mechanisms may be performed to ensure isolation between the potentially conflicting accesses, while eliding the mechanisms for data not accessed outside the transaction.
US09274846B2
A method and apparatus are provided for determining a chain of individual functions associated with a service. The functions are designed to be interconnected in order to supply the service to a client entity in a communications network. The method includes the following steps implemented by a determination device: receiving from an access node to the service a temporary chain of individual functions associated with the service requested by the client entity together with a context associated with the client entity; determining an action to be performed on the temporary chain of individual functions associated with the service as a function of the context associated with the client entity; implementing the determined action on the temporary chain in order to obtain a final chain of individual functions; and sending the final chain to the service access node. This method can be implemented for supplying the service to the client entity.
US09274844B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are described herein for managing computer system resources. A plurality of modules (e.g., virtual machines or other applications) may be allocated across multiple computer system resources (e.g., processors, servers, etc.). Each module is assigned a priority level. Furthermore, a designated utilization level is assigned to each resource of the computer system. Each resource supports one or more of the modules, and prioritizes operation of the supported modules according to the corresponding assigned priority levels. Furthermore, each resource maintains operation of the supported modules at the designated utilization level.
US09274841B2
Assigning of application-hosting virtual machines to a plurality of servers inclusive of active and inactive servers in a data or calculation center is described.
US09274835B2
A method of orchestrated shuffling of data in a non-uniform memory access device that includes a plurality of processing nodes includes running an application on a plurality of threads executing on the plurality of processing nodes and identifying data to be shuffled from source threads running on source processing nodes among the processing nodes to target threads executing on target processing nodes among the processing nodes. The method further includes generating a plan for orchestrating the shuffling of the data among the all of the memory devices associated with the threads and shuffling the data among all of the memory devices based on the plan.
US09274829B2
A mechanism is provided for handling interrupt actions for inter-thread communication. In association with a first processor thread, a thread action data structure is provided that comprises a non-blocking synchronization data structure and an internal list data structure of pending interrupts having no form of synchronization. A post of an interrupt action is received from a second processor thread to the thread action data structure associated with the first processor thread, where the interrupt action is added to the non-blocking synchronization data structure of the thread action data structure. The interrupt action is moved from the non-blocking synchronization data structure to the internal list data structure of pending interrupts for handling by the first processor thread. The internal list data structure of pending interrupts is processed to thereby handle interrupt actions moved to the internal list data structure.
US09274816B2
Systems and methods allow a user to select one or more applications that are intended to be downloaded to a device (e.g., phone, tablet, PC) and create an emulation environment for testing aspects of the one or more applications prior to download. The emulation environment can be virtual (via emulation or virtual machine) or instrumented by remotely controlling actual hardware. Metrics collected from the emulation environment can include security and usability related aspects of the applications. Interaction between the applications themselves, the applications and other resources, and the user and the applications (e.g., configuration preferences, usage patterns) can be monitored by systems facilitating hosting of the emulation environment. For example, collected metrics can be used to create a measure for security, reputation, user-preference, etc. regarding the applications. Metrics can be shared amongst other potential users to assist in their purchase or usage of the applications.
US09274812B2
A method of storing configuration data for mobile computing devices can comprise the steps of providing a master configuration file including one or more parameter records and providing a device file including one or more device records. Each parameter record can map a parameter value to a parameter identifier. Each device record can map a parameter identifier to a mobile computing device identifier.
US09274802B2
Compression and decompression of numerical data utilizing single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) instructions is described. The numerical data includes integer and floating-point samples. Compression supports three encoding modes: lossless, fixed-rate, and fixed-quality. SIMD instructions for compression operations may include attenuation, derivative calculations, bit packing to form compressed packets, header generation for the packets, and packed array output operations. SIMD instructions for decompression may include packed array input operations, header recovery, decoder control, bit unpacking, integration, and amplification. Compression and decompression may be implemented in a microprocessor, digital signal processor, field-programmable gate array, application-specific integrated circuit, system-on-chip, or graphics processor, using SIMD instructions. Compression and decompression of numerical data can reduce memory, networking, and storage bottlenecks. This abstract does not limit the scope of the invention as described in the claims.
US09274796B2
A method and apparatus provide means for compressing instruction code size. An Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) encodes instructions compact, usual or extended bit lengths. Commonly used instructions are encoded having both compact and usual bit lengths, with compact or usual bit length instructions chosen based on power, performance or code size requirements. Instructions of the ISA can be used in both privileged and non-privileged operating modes of a microprocessor. The instruction encodings can be used interchangeably in software applications. Instructions from the ISA may be executed on any programmable device enabled for the ISA, including a single instruction set architecture processor or a multi-instruction set architecture processor.
US09274795B2
A microprocessor processes conditional non-branch instructions that specify a condition and instruct the microprocessor to perform an operation if the condition is satisfied and otherwise to not perform the operation. A predictor provides a prediction about a conditional non-branch instruction. An instruction translator translates the conditional non-branch instruction into a no-operation microinstruction when the prediction predicts the condition will not be satisfied, and into a set of one or more microinstructions to unconditionally perform the operation when the prediction predicts the condition will be satisfied. An execution pipeline executes the no-operation microinstruction or the set of microinstructions. The predictor translates into a second set of one or more microinstructions to conditionally perform the operation when the prediction does not make a prediction. In the case of a misprediction, the translator re-translates the conditional non-branch instruction into the second set of microinstructions.
US09274792B2
A compiler-controlled technique for scheduling threads to execute different regions of a program. A compiler analyzes program code to determine a control flow graph for the program code. The control flow graph contains regions and directed edges between regions. The regions have associated execution priorities. The directed edges indicate the direction of program control flow. Each region has a thread frontier which contains one or more regions. The compiler inserts one or more update predicate mask variable instructions at the end of a region. The compiler also inserts one or more conditional branch instructions at the end of the region. The conditional branch instructions are arranged in order of execution priority of the regions in the thread frontier of the region, to enforce execution priority of the regions at runtime.
US09274791B2
A method for verification of a vector execution unit design. The method includes issuing an instruction into a first instance and a second instance of a vector execution unit. The method includes issuing a random operand into a first lane of the first instance of the vector execution unit and into a second lane of the second instance of the vector execution unit. The method further includes receiving results from execution of the instruction and the random operand in both the first and the second instance of the vector execution unit and comparing the received results.
US09274787B2
Method and system for updating firmware on a beacon device. The system includes: a communication unit and a control unit. The system broadcasts a beacon signal within a certain radius and exchanges information with the service device and the control unit and inquires of the service device about a firmware program version at a predetermined period basis by receiving the firmware program version from the service device and comparing a preset firmware program version with the received firmware program version for controlling the communication unit to stop broadcasting of the beacon signal if both versions are different from each other. The system also requests the service device to update the firmware program through the communication unit, and installs the firmware program received from the service device through the communication unit.
US09274785B2
Disclosed is a method of updating software for a vehicle. The method includes determining whether a vehicle terminal of the vehicle is running out-of-date software; selecting a target vehicle among neighboring vehicles via wireless communication, wherein the target vehicle is running updated software; receiving a shared update file from the target vehicle via wireless communication, the shared update file based on the updated software; storing the shared update file; and updating the out-of-date software using the shared updated file.
US09274777B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for communicating a command to a networked device that requires a driver via an endpoint device that does not have the driver installed are disclosed. For example, the method establishes a first connection with virtual device server, establishes a second connection with a universal device driver API server, transmits a command to the universal device driver API server, receives a translated command compatible with the driver of the networked device from the virtual device server, wherein the translated command is received by the virtual device server from the driver that is called by the universal device driver API server, establishes a third connection with the networked device using identical connection information associated with the second connection with the virtual device server and transmits the translated command to the networked device over the third connection.
US09274774B2
Systems and techniques to provide for software installation. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes detecting selection of one or more applications by a user; creating a manifest for the one or more applications, the manifest including a reference to the one or more applications and a reference to one or more installers, where each of the one or more applications is associated with a unique one of the one or more installers; and providing the manifest to a target system where each of the one or more applications can be installed, none of the applications or installers being provided in the manifest.
US09274771B1
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for automatically and adaptively optimizing compilation of application code using a rule-based optimization analyzer (RUBOA) that can command a compiler to apply and adapt optimizations at the code segment level according to gathered performance data. For example, source code can be canonically compiled, and annotations can associate compiled code sections with source code sections. The generated binary can then be executed and monitored to gather performance characteristics. The RUBOA can apply the gathered performance characteristics and annotations to a pre-defined rule set to generate compiler optimizations, each associated with and parametrically tailored to respective source code segments. The RUBOA can automatically generate optimization control data from the generated compiler optimizations, and the source application code can be re-compiled according to the set of optimization control data to generate executable code that is adaptively optimized at the code segment level.
US09274761B1
A computer-implemented method for providing an informal interface and a formal interface to a computing application using a computer is provided. The informal interface includes first routines, the first routines using an informal input format. The method also includes providing a formal interface using the computer, where the formal interface includes second routines. The second routines support developer functionality, and the second routines using a formal input format. The method includes receiving a first input having a first routine input format, the first routine input format complying with the informal input format, or a second input having a second routine input format, the second routine input format complying with the formal input format. The method includes processing the received first input or the received second input and performing a computing operation based on the processing.
US09274760B2
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for providing an adaptive application development environment (ADE). An embodiment operates by receiving a selection of either a simple or complex project type corresponding to an application development environment (ADE). One or more development tools for generating executable code are selected used on the project type. A project view, corresponding to the project type, is generated.
US09274759B2
There is provided a module management apparatus, that coordinates, in a time of start of a module management infrastructure carrying out integrated management of: a bundle having a module formed by a program described by an object oriented language and definition information including an attribute of the module; and a module group including a plurality of pieces of the bundle, when the bundle is loaded from a folder, and, if the definition information collides between different bundles, a reference relationship of the bundle by changing the definition information dynamically.
US09274756B1
A system and method are disclosed which provide visual representations of information related to source code, in the form of annotations, to users who are viewing the source code. In an example system, information related to source code may be provided by multiple sources. This information may be displayed as an annotation related to the information in close proximity to the associated source code. When a user selects the annotation, related additional information may be displayed.
US09274754B2
In one embodiment, there is provided a program generating apparatus. The apparatus includes: a generator configured to generate a first program based on a second program and a third program. The second program includes a procedure of communicating with an operating apparatus through a network. The third program includes a procedure of allowing a first service and a function of the operating apparatus to collaborate with each other. The first program includes a procedure of realizing a collaboration service in which the first service and the function of the operating apparatus collaborate with each other through the network.
US09274751B2
A multiplier circuit comprises a fused Booth encoder multiplexer which produces partial product bits, a tree which uses the partial product bits to generate partial products, and an adder which uses the partial products to generate intermediate sum and carry results for a multiplication operation. The fused Booth encoder multiplexer utilizes encoder-selector cells having a logic tree which carries out a Boolean function according to a Booth encoding and selection algorithm to produce one of the partial product bits at a dynamic node, and a latch connected to the dynamic node which maintains the value at an output node. The encoder-selector cells operate in parallel to produce the partial product bits generally simultaneously. A given one of the encoder-selector cells has a unique set of both multiplier operand inputs and multiplicand operand inputs, and produces a single partial product bit.
US09274748B2
A contextual input device includes a plurality of tactually discernable keys disposed in a predetermined configuration which replicates a particular relationship among a plurality of items associated with a known physical object. The tactually discernable keys are typically labeled with Braille type. The known physical object is typically a collection of related items grouped together by some common relationship. A computer-implemented process determines whether an input signal represents a selection of an item from among a plurality of items or an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items. Once the selected item or attribute pertaining to an item is determined, the computer-implemented process transforms a user's selection from the input signal into an analog audio signal which is then audibly output as human speech with an electro-acoustic transducer.
US09274747B2
A system and method are disclosed for combining interactive gaming aspects into a linear story. A user may interact with the linear story via a NUI system to alter the story and the images that are presented to the user. In an example, a user may alter the story by performing a predefined exploration gesture. This gesture brings the user into the 3-D world of the displayed image. In particular, the image displayed on the screen changes to create the impression that a user is stepping into the 3-D virtual world to allow a user to examine virtual objects from different perspectives or to peer around virtual objects.
US09274746B2
A multi-modal user interface is described that hides response latency delays. A graphical user interface (GUI) supports different user input modalities including low delay inputs which respond to user inputs without significant delay, and high latency inputs which have a significant response latency after receiving a user input before providing a corresponding completed response. The GUI accepts user inputs in a sequence of mixed input modalities independently of response latencies without waiting for responses to high latency inputs, and responds to each user input in the sequence as if each preceding user input in the sequence had been performed without response latencies.
US09274745B2
A musical apparatus including a first audio looping device for being electrically coupled to a second audio looping device is provided. The first audio looping device being configured to receive a first audio signal from a first musical instrument and to store the first audio signal. The first audio looping device being further configured to playback the stored first audio signal as a first loop a first number of times. The first audio looping device being further configured to transmit synchronization information to the second audio looping device that stores a second audio signal and that plays back the stored second audio signal as a second loop a second number of times. The synchronization information enabling the first loop and the second loop to be synchronized with one another during playback.
US09274737B2
Provided is an information sharing system which allows setting information relating to a second communication device to be shared with a first communication device. The information sharing system includes an information collection device that retains the setting information and is communicatively connected to the first communication device, and a management device that makes a request for transmission of the setting information with respect to the information collection device. The management device includes a communication management unit that determines whether or not communication is established between the first and second communication devices when receiving the request for transmission of the setting information, and an information request unit that makes a request for transmission of the setting information with respect to the information collection device in a case where it is determined by the communication management unit that the communication is established between the first and second communication devices. The information collection device includes an information management unit that transmits the setting information to the first communication device in response to the request made by the information request unit.
US09274736B2
An information processing apparatus, output system, information processing method, and an information processing program stored in a non-transitory recording medium, each of which controls interaction between an upper-level program and a lower-level program, by providing the functions of: storing output processing information relating to output processing being performed or to be performed on output data, in association with output data identification information; and sending the output processing information associated with the output data identification information to the upper-level program, in response to the output data identification information received from the upper-level program.
US09274729B2
A system and method of transferring data between human readable documents using a virtual print driver is disclosed. A first user's computer has a standard text application having a print capability able to output documents in a standard Page Description Language (PDL) file. A virtual print driver then produces an encrypted file that identifies the document source and an intended recipient, establishes a secure link, and transfers the file to a secure cloud store via a secure cloud server that translates the document into a structured format, allowing elements of the document to be accessed individually. The stored document is then accessed in whole, in part, by the intended recipient and third parties authorized by them via a secure communication channel. The intended recipient and the third parties can use the document and/or incorporate further data into, or remove from, the document.
US09274723B2
Proposed are a storage apparatus and its control method capable of restoring data of a virtual page to an appropriate device hierarchy according to its data value. This storage apparatus stores, in a backup-destination storage medium, data stored in the respective physical pages allocated with the virtual volume and management information of the virtual volume including information concerning the device hierarchy to which the respective physical pages belong according to a backup command of the virtual volume, and allocates a physical page of the same device hierarchy as the device hierarchy of the physical page that was allocated before the backup to each of the restoration-target virtual pages of the virtual volume, respectively, and writes corresponding data, which was read from the storage medium, into each of the allocated physical pages according to a restoration command of the virtual volume and based on the management information of the virtual volume stored in the storage medium.
US09274711B2
Aspects of the present invention include a system, method, and computer program product for skewing expected wearout times of memory devices in an array are provided according to some embodiments of the present invention. In general, the method includes determining or receiving an amount of spare space to provide in an array of memory devices, allocating the spare space non-uniformly to the memory devices in the array, and skewing expected wearout times of the memory devices by controlling writing of data to the array according to the allocation of the spare space.
US09274709B2
Techniques for indicators for storage cells are provided. In one aspect, an indicator is provided that indicates if a portion of storage cells of a storage device contains a pre-defined value. In another aspect, a range of storage cells are initialized to a known value. An indicator may be set to indicate the range of storage cells has been initialized to the known value. In yet another aspect, a request for the indicator may be sent to a storage device. Based on the indicator, initialization of the storage device may be bypassed.
US09274702B2
A game device includes: an input position acquiring unit for acquiring the position of an input entry to a touch panel capable of concurrently detecting input entries at a plurality of points; a drawing start determination unit for determining, when the respective positions of concurrent input entries to the touch panel at two points are acquired, to start drawing a graphic if a distance between the two points is within a first range; a drawing unit for drawing, while the input entries at the two points continue to be input after drawing a graphic is started, a graphic calculated based on the respective movement trajectories of the two points and displaying the graphic on a display device; and a drawing end determination unit for determining to end drawing the graphic when the input of the input entries at the two points ends.
US09274698B2
A system and method is disclosed that provides for character or text selection and editing. The text and character selection is made by user contact with a touch sensitive screen. In order to allow for refinement of the selection, a second expanded view is implemented as compared to the original display configuration of the screen. Furthermore, the selection is described in relation to two endpoints of the block of text. Additionally, a point is specified as the point desired for insertion of the selected text. The expanded view is implemented along with the original view as required when making character selection.
US09274691B2
One or more messages may be selected and grouped and one or more group-level actions may be initiated for the group, such that the group-level action is performed on each message in the group. Each message in a group shares the at least one attribute value. A messaging user interface may comprise a listing of the set of messages and a message group display portion that displays one or more message groups and a group-level toolbar comprising a selectable indicator for each group-level action. A message, or messages, shown in a message list portion of the user interface may be selected from the message list based on similarity of the message(s) to previously selected messages, and the selected message(s) may be grouping based on shared attribute values. The messages belonging to a group may be modified in the same way via a single action taken on the group.
US09274688B2
Systems and methods may replace and/or enhance green screens. A green screen may be replaced and/or enhanced by receiving green screen data, determining a modification to be applied to the green screen data, generating a user interface screen including the green screen data and the modification, and causing the user interface screen to be displayed on a display.
US09274685B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for predictive text entry for small touch-screen devices. A two-state input interface (116) of a device (102) can include a seek area (120), which displays a subset of letters representing the full range of available letters. The user can select a first letter in that subset. A prediction engine (160) can generate a next most-likely letter (162) based on the currently inputted letter, using look-up tables or other techniques based on letter sequence probabilities. The user can respond with a right or left-swipe gesture, causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the most-likely next letter upstream or downstream in the alphabet. The user can also respond by touching the seek area causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the next predicted letter closest to the touch point. The prediction engine (160) can also generate a predicted completed word, for convenient user selection.
US09274684B2
A method for navigating information includes identifying a value for a property of a first object associated with one or more devices managed by a management system. The method includes displaying a first plurality of tiles for a plurality of objects, including the first object. A first of the tiles is associated with the first object and includes a display of a graphic associated with the object and the identified value for the property. The method includes identifying a plurality of related objects that are related to the first object and displaying a second plurality of tiles for the related objects in response to receiving a selection of the first tile for the first object. Additionally, the method includes displaying, in response to receiving a selection of a second tile in the second plurality of tiles for one of the related objects, information about the one related object.
US09274679B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interfaces and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard can be provided. The method can include identifying a widget, assigning a care label to the identified widget based on a type of datafeed payload information associated with the identified widget and displaying the identified widget with the assigned care label in a user interface to enable a user to make a visually matched selection of widgets to create a self service dashboard.
US09274676B2
Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to determining that at least a portion of content would be obscured by a border of a graphical user interface if the content were to be presented in a two-dimensional state via the graphical user interface, and presenting the at least the portion of the content in a stereoscopic three-dimensional state in response to the determining that the at least the portion of the content would be obscured by the border of the graphical user interface, wherein a stereoscopic depth effect of the stereoscopic three-dimensional state makes the at least the portion of the content appear to extend beyond the border of the graphical user interface.
US09274673B2
Methods, systems, and media for rewinding media content based on detected audio events are provided. In some embodiments, a method for providing media guidance is provided, the method comprising: causing media content to be presented; receiving, using an audio input device, audio data that includes ambient sounds in an environment in which the media content is being presented; receiving a user command to rewind the media content; detecting that a portion of the audio data corresponds to an audio event that occurred during the presentation of the media content in response to receiving the user command to rewind the media content; determining a playback position in the media content based on the audio event; and causing the media content to be presented from the determined playback position.
US09274667B2
A content receiver may establish a communication connection with an entertainment system component. Utilizing the communication connection, the content receiver may control the entertainment system component in order to synchronize user interfaces the content receiver is operable to provide with user interfaces the entertainment system component is operable to provide. Hence, the user interfaces provided by the various entertainment system components may more closely resemble user interfaces of the content receiver, reducing user confusion. The content receiver may synchronize such user interfaces by altering software of the entertainment system component. In altering the software, the content receiver may replace or modify the software to change one or more aspects of one or more entertainment system user interfaces to that of one or more aspects of a content receiver user interface. The aspects may include visual properties, audio properties, and so on.
US09274653B2
A touch detection device includes: a detection surface; a plurality of sensor lines formed from a plurality of types of wiring lines having a different line capacitance; and a touch detection unit which detects an electric variation generated in a plurality of the sensor lines in response to touch or proximity of a detection target object to the detection surface, wherein the touch detection unit has an operational circuit for generating a detection signal representing the electric variation by performing an operation process using a line capacitance ratio for a plurality of outputs from a plurality of types of the sensor lines neighboring to one another with a different line capacitance.
US09274649B2
The present invention provides a touch-sensitive apparatus and a method for determining a coordinate position in response to a proximity detection for the touch-sensitive apparatus. The method comprises the steps of: evaluating a plurality of designed measurement modes by measuring noise over a plurality of measurement cycles when a proximity event on the touch-sensitive apparatus has been detected; selecting an optimal measurement mode from the plurality of designed measurement modes; assigning the optimal measurement mode to be a working measurement mode; performing the proximity detection for the touch-sensitive apparatus in use of the working measurement mode; and calculating the coordinates of the touched position based on results obtained with the working measurement mode.
US09274647B2
This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).
US09274643B2
A circuit for measuring a capacitive charge comprises a latched comparator and a determination module. The latched comparator comprises an input and an output. The input is coupled with a sensor electrode of a capacitive input device. An inverted version of the output is coupled with a feedback loop. The feedback loop is configured to provide feedback to the input to maintain the input at a predetermined voltage. The feedback is provided in clocked charge quanta steps based on a clock signal. The determination module is coupled with the output and configured to determine a change in capacitance on the sensor electrode by equating output signals from the output with an amount of charge provided to the input to reach the predetermined voltage.
US09274642B2
An indirect interaction input device, such as but not limited to a touch sensor, can provide multiple points of input. These multiple points are in turn mapped to multiple positions on an output device such as a display. The multiple points of input, however, make the application of pointer ballistics and resolution differences between the input sensor and target display more difficult to manage. Thus, a characteristic of the set of points is identified and used to adjust the mapping of each of the points. For example, one way to solve this problem is to identify the input point with the least displacement from a prior frame, whether from its prior point or from a reference point. This displacement is used to adjust the mapping of the set of input points from the input device to their corresponding display coordinates.
US09274636B2
The present invention discloses an embedded touch array substrate, which comprises: multiple pairs of gate scanning lines and data lines arranged alternately; a pixel switch electrically connected with the gate scanning lines and the data lines; a pixel electrode electrically connected with the pixel switch; a touch emission line provided between two pairs of the gate scanning lines adjacent to each other; a touch receiving line provided between two pairs of the data lines adjacent to each other and intersecting the touch emission line; and a touch unit electrically connected with the intersection of the touch emission line and the touch receiving line. The gate scanning line and the data line according to the present invention utilize double lines, which provide individual trace area for the touch emission line and the touch receiving line. It further decreases the interference between the panel driving signal and the touch signal.
US09274627B2
A touch panel includes a first plate, an antenna component and a decoration layer. A touch input area and a peripheral area aside to the input area are defined on the first plate. The antenna component is located at the peripheral area. The decoration layer is located at the peripheral area and hides the antenna component from view.
US09274621B2
An apparatus is provided, which comprises: a display configured to display an image, a sensor arrangement (100), and a processing arrangement, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises first, second and third linear sensor arrays (102,104,106), each of the linear sensor arrays being disposed generally orthogonal to each of the other linear sensor arrays and converging with each of the other linear sensor arrays at or near one end thereof, and wherein the processing arrangement is configured, in response to determining that two consecutive inputs are on different ones of the first and second linear sensor arrays, to rotate the image displayed on the display about a first axis, in response to determining that two consecutive inputs are on different ones of the second and third sensor arrays, to rotate the image displayed on the display about a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and in response to determining that two consecutive inputs are on different ones of the first and third linear sensor arrays, to rotate the image displayed on the display about a third axis, the third axis being substantially perpendicular to both the first and second axes.
US09274619B2
An operation detecting unit detects an operation input direction to an operation input unit attached to a steering wheel, and when an operation input direction recognizing unit recognizes that a vehicle is running, the operation input direction detected by the operation detecting unit is recognized to be a direction corresponding to an arrangement of element images constituting a part of an image to be displayed on an image display unit. Moreover, an operation input direction control unit uses the direction recognized by the operation input direction recognizing unit as the operation input direction related to at least any one of the element images.
US09274614B2
An optical mouse apparatus includes a light source unit, a sensing unit, and a processing unit. The light source unit is arranged for generating and emitting an optical signal, wherein the optical signal is emitted upon a surface, and then reflected to form an optical reflected signal. The sensing unit is arranged for generating a sensed image output according to the optical reflected signal, wherein the sensed image output is utilized for estimating an image displacement of the optical mouse apparatus. The processing unit is coupled to the light source unit and the sensing unit, and arranged for controlling the light source unit to emit the optical signal and determining a operation status of the optical mouse apparatus according to an image variation of at least a partial region of each of consecutive images of the sensed image output.
US09274608B2
Systems, methods and non-transitory computer-readable media for triggering actions based on touch-free gesture detection are disclosed. The disclosed systems may include at least one processor. A processor may be configured to receive image information from an image sensor, detect in the image information a gesture performed by a user, detect a location of the gesture in the image information, access information associated with at least one control boundary, the control boundary relating to a physical dimension of a device in a field of view of the user, or a physical dimension of a body of the user as perceived by the image sensor, and cause an action associated with the detected gesture, the detected gesture location, and a relationship between the detected gesture location and the control boundary.
US09274603B2
The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback.
US09274599B1
The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method. The method can include receiving eye-scan data from one or more linear sensors while operating in a locked mode, wherein the eye-scan data corresponds to an eye. The method can also include determining that the eye-scan data matches predetermined authorization data. Responsive to determining that the eye-scan data matches the predetermined authorization data, the method can also include causing the computing device to switch from operating in the locked mode to operating in an unlocked mode.
US09274580B2
Systems and methods may provide for monitoring a current provided from a voltage regulator to a non-core region of a processor, and asserting a throttle signal to the non-core region of the processor if the current exceeds a supply capability threshold of the voltage regulator. In one example, a specified current supply capability of the non-core region is greater than a current supply capability of the voltage regulator, and the supply capability threshold is less than the specified current supply capability of the non-core region and an over current protection threshold of the non-core region.
US09274578B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for enabling a power path between a power source and a host device via an accessory. A host device may send, to an accessory arranged within the power path, via a first data pin arranged in the host device, a request for an accessory identifier. The accessory identifier identifies the accessory. The host device may then determine whether the accessory identifier is received from the accessory within a specified period of time or whether a received accessory identifier is valid. If the accessory identifier is not received from the accessory within the specified period of time, or a received accessory identifier is not valid, the host device sends a new request for the accessory identifier to the accessory via a second data pin different than the first data pin.
US09274577B2
An adaptive universal serial bus (USB) charging method and system are disclosed. In a low-power state, a USB device is charged with a non-USB charging mode. The non-USB charging mode is retained when no variation of a data signal coupled to the USB device is detected. When the data signal possesses variation for a first period, it is switched to a third proprietary charging mode.
US09274569B2
The instant disclosure relates to a memory module comprising a PCB and a detachable assembly. The PCB has a terminal portion and a free portion away from the terminal portion. The detachable assembly includes a plurality of metal members disposed on the free portion of the PCB. Thereby, user can averagely force the metal members to install or detach the memory module from a memory slot of a computer system to prevent the interference of outer ESD to affect the normal function of PCB.
US09274560B2
A flexible display device includes a housing, a supporting plate, and a flexible panel. The housing has a central plate, a first wing plate, and a second wing plate, and the first and second wing plates are arranged on edges of the central plate, respectively. The supporting plate is on a surface of the housing, and the supporting plate is combined with the central plate and the first and second wing plates. The flexible panel is combined with the supporting plate. A flat state and a bending state of the flexible panel are provided according to states of the first and second wing plates with respect to the central plate.
US09274555B2
A wearable electronic device according to the present disclosure includes a first belt, front surface of the first belt being provided with a displaying unit having a curved display face; a second belt; a hinge that connects a first end of the first belt to a first end of the second belt. A shape of a space formed by the first and second belts is an elliptical shape when the device worn around a subject is viewed from a side. The hinge has higher flexibility than the first and second belts. The device has a first engagement unit provided at a second end and a rear surface of the first belt, and in a region where the elliptical shape has smaller curvature than other regions. The device has a second engagement unit provided at an outer side of the second belt and engaging with the first engagement unit.
US09274553B2
A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display.
US09274535B2
A converter for converting an input current to an output voltage may include: a first region; a second region galvanically separated from the first region; an input reference node in the first region, wherein the converter allows a flow of the input current through a device to the input reference node; a circuitry for generating, based on the input current, the output voltage relative to an output reference electric potential, the circuitry including a voltage transfer component for transferring the output voltage from the first region to the second region, wherein the voltage transfer component comprises a first circuit in the first region and a second circuit in the second region, wherein the first circuit is driven by a first electric supply voltage relative to a first supply reference potential; and an output terminal, located in the second region and connected to the second circuit, for outputting the output voltage.
US09274532B2
A temperature controller for controlling a thermal module that raises or lowers the temperature of a thermal control platform that includes a reading interface and a control unit. The reading interface is used for reading parameters of the thermal control platform that are stored in a memory module. The control unit is connected to the reading interface for receiving the parameters read by the reading interface and for sending a control signal to the thermal module according to the corresponding parameters. The thermal module then raises or lowers the temperature according to the control signal. Accordingly, the temperature controller automatically adjusts the temperature control to different thermal control platforms.
US09274513B2
A method and apparatus for controlling electric power supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Measurements of the supplied electricity are detected. Estimated deviant voltage levels that the supplied electricity will not drop below or exceed as a result of varying electrical consumption by the one or more electrical devices is computed based on a predetermined confidence level and the detected measurements. A voltage level output of the electricity supplied to the electrical device is adjusted based on the computed deviant voltage level.
US09274510B2
A light grid (10) is provided having a plurality of light transmitters (14) for transmitting a respective monitoring light beam (38) and having a plurality of associated light receivers (22) to generate an objection detection signal (42a-d) depending on the reception of the monitoring light beam, having a control (30, 32) which is configured to divide the monitoring light beams (30) into groups and to consecutively activate the monitoring light beams (38) of the groups, wherein, in a group-wise parallel monitoring sequence, a respective monitoring light bream (34) of each group is activated in parallel, as well as having a first bus (34) over which the object detection signals can be output to the control (32) by the light receivers (26, 26). The light receivers (22, 26) are in this respect configured to output the object detection signals to the control (32) in a time multiplex process.
US09274506B2
A wearable electric device includes a main body with a circuit module inside and at least a detachable battery strap with a battery module inside, and the main body and the detachable battery strap are detachably fastened together. A female buckle member is formed on the edge of the main body and includes a receiving chamber, a pair of locking notches arranged on the respective sides of the receiving chamber and a plurality of metal conductive points connected with the circuit module. A male buckle member is attached on the front part of the detachable battery strap to be fastened with the female buckle member and includes a plurality of pogo pin connectors for connecting with the metal conducting points, and a locking block for fastening with the receiving chamber.
US09274501B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a main body provided with a drive-force supplying part; a cartridge comprising a rotary body and a drive-force transmission part; and a moving member supporting the cartridge. The drive-force transmission part transmits a drive force transmitted from the drive-force supplying part to the rotary body. The moving member is accommodated in and withdrawn from the main body. The cartridge is attached to and detached from the moving member when moving member is withdrawn from the main body. The moving member includes a drive-force relay part having an input portion and an output portion, the input portion receiving the drive force from the drive-force supplying part, the output portion outputting the drive force from the input portion to the drive-force transmission part of the cartridge attached to the moving member.
US09274489B2
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes: a member to be supplied with electric energy; a frame molded with a resin material; and an electrode member formed on the frame by injection molding of an electroconductive resin material. The electrode member includes a supporting portion for supporting the member to be supplied with electric energy and a contact portion to be contacted to a main assembly electric contact, provided in the main assembly, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.
US09274485B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a cassette attaching section and a media cassette. The media cassette includes a loading plate, a pushing up member, a projecting portion and a plate holding portion that engages the loading plate. A release portion engages the plate holding portion. The cassette attaching section has a media supplying roller that supplies media to the image forming apparatus body. The plate holding portion engages the loading plate and holds the loading plate against a pushing up force of the pushing up member. The plate holding portion holds the loading plate when the support section of the media cassette is located outside the cassette attaching section. The media cassette may be inserted into the cassette attaching section.
US09274483B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a controller. The image forming unit forms an image on a continuous recording medium by transferring to the continuous recording medium a toner image obtained by developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor. The controller controls the image forming unit such that an image based on image information is formed in a specific image area on the continuous recording medium, and at the same time, a specific image pattern is formed in a specific side area outside the image area on the continuous recording medium.
US09274480B1
A media supply tray includes a cable and pulley system attached to side paper guides. Movement of one side guide causes the opposing side guide to move in the opposite direction. When the side guides are moved, a flag attached to the cable moves and can be detected to provide accurate feedback to a printer regarding media size in the tray. Alternatively, a Bowden cable can be attached to the side guides for enhanced accuracy in size sensing.
US09274465B2
An image forming apparatus includes a controller including a primary heating control portion to control a heater to perform a primary heating to heat a fixing rotator with a first amount of power determined based on a temperature of the fixing rotator, a secondary heating control portion to control the heater to perform a secondary heating to heat the fixing rotator with a preset second amount of power, and a switch portion to control the heater to switch between the primary heating and the secondary heating during an identical print job and to perform at least one of a primary switching from the primary heating to the secondary heating and a secondary switching from the secondary heating to the primary heating at a time different from a preset control cycle that defines a power supply time in the primary heating and the secondary heating.
US09274461B2
A transfer device includes a transfer member and a bias applicator. The transfer member contacts a surface, on which a toner image is borne, of an image bearing body, to form a transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage and an AC voltage as transfer bias to transfer the toner image on the image bearing body to a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage having a same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias and an AC voltage having an amplitude smaller than the AC voltage of the transfer bias or applies the DC voltage having the same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias without applying an AC voltage, when an inter-sheet area that exists on the image bearing body passes through the transfer nip during a continuous image formation period.
US09274460B2
The semiconductive roller according to the present invention includes: a roller body having an outer peripheral surface made of a semiconductive rubber composition; and an oxide film covering the outer peripheral surface of the roller body, while the semiconductive rubber composition contains a base polymer and a crosslinking component for crosslinking the base polymer, the base polymer is a mixture of a bicopolymer E containing epichlorohydrin and nitrile-butadiene rubber N, the mass ratio E/N of the bicopolymer E and the nitrile-butadiene rubber N in the mixture is 50/50 to 80/20, and the crosslinking component includes a thiourea-based crosslinking component for crosslinking the bicopolymer E and a sulfur-based vulcanizing component for vulcanizing the nitrile-butadiene rubber N.
US09274458B2
An image formation device comprises: a first image carrier for a first developer image; a second image carrier for a second developer image; an intermediate transfer body opposed to the first image carrier and the second image carrier; a first transfer unit to transfer the first developer image to the intermediate transfer body; a second transfer unit to transfer the second developer image onto the first developer image transferred onto the intermediate transfer body; a third transfer unit to transfer, to a recording medium, the first and second developer images transferred onto the intermediate transfer body; and a control unit to control a value of a voltage to be applied to each of the first and second transfer units, according to a type of the recording medium.
US09274455B2
An image forming apparatus including a replaceable container having toner stored therein includes: an image forming unit including an accumulating unit for accumulating developer containing toner and configured to form an image by using the developer in the accumulating unit; a measurement unit configured to measure a toner density in the accumulating unit; a portion to which the container is attached; a supplementing unit configured to supplement the toner from the attached container to the accumulating unit; and a controller configured to control the supplementing unit based on first information corresponding to a difference between the toner density and a target toner density and second information corresponding to an accumulated value obtained by accumulating differences, wherein the second information does not change in a period from replacement of the container by another container until a predetermined number of times of supplement is performed.
US09274452B2
A developing device and an image forming apparatus including the developing device are provided. The developing device includes a housing, a developer carrier which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which carries developer on a circumferential surface thereof, a layer thickness regulating member which includes, a blade contacting the circumferential surface of the developer carrier along a rotational axial direction of the developer carrier, and a support member supporting the blade, the layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface of the developer carrier. The support member includes: a contact part which contacts the blade; and a pair of attachment parts which are attached to the housing. The attachment parts are provide at both sides of the contact part in the rotational axial direction and are further protruded than the contact part in a direction away from the developer carrier.
US09274443B2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a laminated body including a conductive support, a first intermediate layer on the conductive support, and a second intermediate layer on the first intermediate layer, the first intermediate layer containing a binder resin and a metal oxide particle whose surface have been treated with an organic compound, and the second intermediate layer containing a cured product having electron transportability, in which the laminated body satisfies the following expression (1): R—nV/R_0V≦0.80 (1).
US09274442B2
Provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a charge transport layer as a surface layer having a matrix-domain structure including specific resins. The charging member comprises an electro-conductive substrate, and an electro-conductive elastic layer. The electro-conductive elastic layer comprises a binder, and holding a bowl-shaped resin particle having an opening, so that at least a part of the bowl-shaped resin particle is exposed, and the charging member has a concavity derived from the opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle on the surface thereof, and a protrusion derived from an edge of the opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle on the surface thereof.
US09274434B2
An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a light modulator which includes a modulator substrate and an array of mirrors that are supported by the modulator substrate. At least some adjacent mirrors partly overlap. The light modulator further comprises a plurality of actuators that are supported by the modulator substrate and are configured to tilt the mirrors individually.
US09274432B2
A method for isolating microstructural regions or features on a surface for electrochemical experimentation comprising polishing a metal sample, coating the metal sample with a photoresist, selecting a region of interest of the metal sample, exposing the region of interest with light energy, developing the exposed photoresist and creating a developed region.
US09274425B2
A resist composition comprises a metal compound obtained from reaction of a starting metal compound having formula (A-1) or a (partial) hydrolyzate or condensate or (partial) hydrolytic condensate thereof, with a di- or trihydric alcohol having formula (A-2). M(OR1A)4 (A-1) R2A(OH)m (A-2) In formula (A-1), M is Ti, Zr or Hf, and R1A is alkyl. In formula (A-2), m is 2 or 3, R2A is a divalent group when m=2 or a trivalent group when m=3. The resist composition exhibits improved resolution and edge roughness when processed by the EB or EUV lithography.
US09274424B2
A resist composition which generates an acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution by the action of the acid contains a high-molecular weight compound (A1) having a constituent unit (a0) represented by a general formula (a0-1) and a constituent unit (a1-1) including a monocyclic group-containing acid decomposable group whose polarity increases by the action of an acid. In the formula (a0-1), R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a halogenated alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; Ya01 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; X01 represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; and Ra01 represents an optionally substituted cyclic group, chain alkyl group, or chain alkenyl group.
US09274414B2
A method of fabricating a mask is described. The method includes receiving receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that has a first pattern layer including a first feature and has a second pattern layer including a second feature, wherein the first pattern layer and the second pattern layer are spatially related when formed in a substrate such that the first and second features are spaced a first distance between a first edge of the first feature and a second edge of the second feature, modifying the IC design layout by adjusting a dimension of the first feature based on the first distance, and generating a tape-out data from the modified IC design layout for mask making. The method further includes applying a logic operation (LOP) to the IC design layout.
US09274413B2
A method for forming a layout pattern includes the following processes. First, a first layout pattern consisting of mandrel patterns and dummy mandrel patterns, a second layout pattern consisting of geometric patterns, and a third layout pattern consisting of pad patterns and dummy pad patterns, are respectively defined on a first mask, a second mask, and a third mask. Then, the first layout pattern is transferred to form a first patterned layer. Afterwards, spacers having a first critical dimension are formed on the sidewalls of the first patterned layer so as to constitute loop-shaped patterns. Then, the third layout pattern is transferred to form a second patterned layer having a second critical dimension, wherein the second critical dimension is greater than the first critical dimension. Finally, the loop-shaped patterns, the pad patterns, and the dummy pad patterns are transferred into a target layer on the substrate.
US09274409B2
Provided is an image projection apparatus, such as a projector, including a light source; an image generating element such as a DMD that receives light from the light source and forms an image; an image generating unit that irradiates the image generating element with the light from the light source; a first optical system including multiple transmission refractive optical elements; a second optical system arranged on an optical path of outgoing light of the first optical system and including a reflection optical element; and a projection optical system that enlarges and projects an image conjugate to the image generated by the image generating element as a projected image. The light source, the image generating unit, and the first optical system are arranged side by side in series in a direction parallel with the projected image plane.
US09274408B2
A projection display device having a plurality of light sources and including a plurality of light sensors installed in association with the light sources, respectively, and a controller for controlling amounts of lights emitted from the light sources depending on corresponding output signals from the light sensors to keep constant a ratio of the amount of light emitted from the light sources. The controller controls each light sources used in control signals whose frequencies are different from each other.
US09274393B2
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor array panel, a liquid crystal display, and a method capable of reducing an effect on neighboring pixels in a process of repairing a pixel defect. The thin film transistor array panel may include: a thin film transistor connected to a gate line and a data line to define a pixel area; a pixel electrode formed in the pixel area and connected to the thin film transistor; and a storage electrode including a first portion overlapping the data line between two adjacent gate lines. The storage electrode may also include a second portion connected to the first portion and enclosing an edge of the pixel area except for a region where the first portion is formed. The storage electrode may be branched between pixel electrodes respectively formed in two adjacent pixel areas.
US09274389B2
The present invention relates to a flat display device and method of fabricating the same which can make narrow bezel design easy and minimize resistance variation between adjacent link lines for improving of a picture quality. The flat display device includes a display region having a plurality of pixels, a driving integrated circuit for forwarding driving signals for driving the plurality of pixels, and a plurality of link lines for transmitting the driving signals to the display region, wherein each of the plurality of link lines includes a first metal line, a second metal line formed on a layer different from the first metal line, and a contact portion for connecting the first and second metal lines to each other.
US09274378B2
The present invention relates a technique of liquid crystal display, especially to an alignment film applied to a substrate of a liquid crystal display. The alignment film includes a plurality of alignment molecules formed by polymerizing monomers having at least a photosensitive group, and has formula e as wherein the component A and/or the component B in formula e comprise(s) terphenyl. The present invention further provides a method of fabricating the alignment film and a liquid crystal display using the same. Due to the photosensitive group of the monomers, the plurality of alignment molecules can be formed with an appropriated rate, and the alignment film formed thereby has homogeneity. Therefore, the optic quality and overall performance of the liquid crystal display are enhanced.
US09274374B2
A receiving container for a display device includes a bottom plate, a sidewall and a grounding unit. The sidewall is extended from the bottom plate to define a receiving space. The grounding unit is integrally formed with the bottom plate. The grounding unit includes a grounding member that grounds a circuit board received in the receiving space. The circuit board includes a grounding electrode and the grounding member corresponds to the grounding electrode. The grounding member is formed on a rear surface of the bottom plate. The grounding member may include a protrusion or a projected portion having an elastic structure.
US09274369B1
A display tile includes a display panel and a fused fiber bundle overlay. The display panel includes display pixels and a bezel surrounding the display pixels. The fused fiber bundle overlay includes an input side mounted adjacent to the display panel and optically aligned with the display pixels to receive image light, an emission side opposite the input side to emit the image light, and an array of fused fibers each extending from the input side to the emission side and each including an input end and an emission end. At least a portion of the fused fibers are tapered.
US09274368B2
A COA substrate and its fabrication method as well as a display device are disclosed. The method includes steps of: forming a TFT (10) on a base substrate (1); forming a color film layer (6) pattern on the base substrate (1) having the TFT (10) formed thereon; forming a pattern which includes a color film via hole (5) on the color film layer (6) through a patterning process, the patterning process includes an ashing process; and forming a pattern comprising a pixel electrode (7) on the base substrate (1). The pixel electrode (7) is electrically connected to a drain electrode (12) of the TFT (10) by way of the color film via hole (5).
US09274365B2
An anisotropic scatterer is configured to allow a scattering characteristic of light in a display region of a display device to have an angle dependence, and is configured to change the scattering characteristic of the light continuously in an in-plane direction.
US09274361B2
A display includes: a display panel; a front-face member being provided on a front face of the display panel, the front-face member covering a surrounding section, or the surrounding section and other part of the display panel; a back-face member being provided on a back face of the display panel, the back-face member covering the back face, or the back face and other part of the display panel; and an adhesion section adhering the back-face member and the front-face member to each other, the adhesion section covering a circumference section of the display panel.
US09274357B2
A main voltage step-up circuit includes a coil which one end thereof is connected to a power supply; a main switching element which is connected between the other end of the coil and a ground potential, and which is controlled by the main control circuit; a diode which is connected to the other end of the coil; a smoothing capacitor which is connected to the diode and is a ceramic capacitor; and an auxiliary voltage step-up circuit which is connected to the other end of the coil. The auxiliary voltage step-up circuit is ON when the main step-up voltage circuit is OFF, and compensates a potential change in the smoothing capacitor. The auxiliary voltage step-up circuit includes an auxiliary switching element which is connected between the other end of the coil and a ground potential; and an auxiliary control circuit which controls the auxiliary switching element.
US09274355B2
A low-voltage optical modulator includes a substrate, a waveguide, a first pair of electrodes, and a second pair of electrodes. The waveguide is diffused into the top surface of the substrate, into a major branch and a parallel modulating branch. A structure of the first and second pair of electrodes are same. The first pair of electrodes includes a first and a second electrode parallel to each other. The first electrode is formed on the modulating branch and the second electrode is opposite to the modulating branch and away from the major branch. The second pair of electrodes includes parallel third and fourth electrodes. The third electrode is formed on the major branch. The fourth electrode is opposite to the major branch and away from the modulating branch.
US09274353B1
The modulator includes a ring resonator having a phase modulator that tunes blocked wavelengths within phase modulator bandwidths. The blocked bands include blocked wavelengths at which the intensity of an output light signal is minimized. Each of the blocked bands is associated with the phase modulator bandwidth within which the blocked wavelength is tuned. A bandwidth shifting device is configured to shift a selection of wavelengths that falls within each of the phase modulator bandwidths. Electronics are configured to operate the bandwidth shifting device so as to shift the phase modulator bandwidths from a location where a first target wavelength falls within a first one of the phase modulator bandwidths to a location where a second target wavelength falls within a second one of the phase modulator bandwidths.
US09274350B2
An ophthalmic lens (1) has a front surface (2) and a rear surface, each of the front and rear surfaces comprising a central optical zone (4) which is surrounded by a peripheral zone (3). The ophthalmic lens (1) further comprises a unique lens identification code which is arranged in the peripheral zone (3) of one of said front and rear surfaces. The unique lens identification code has the form of an N×M dot matrix (5) comprising N rows and M columns of matrix elements (50), and the N×M dot matrix (5) represents a binary code.
US09274341B2
According to one embodiment, a head mounted display includes a holder, a projector, an optical part, a weight, a detector, a first calculator, and a movement part. The holder includes a frame, a first temple, and a second temple. The first temple and the second temple are respectively connected to each end part of the frame. The projector is provided on the first temple. The projector emits light. The optical part is provided on the frame. The optical part reflects at least part of the light emitted from the projector. The weight is provided on opposite side of the projector. The detector detects tilt of the holder. The first calculator calculates an optimal position of the weight based on the tilt of the holder. The movement part changes the position of the weight according to the optimal position.
US09274339B1
A worn display, includes a projector and at least one wearable diffraction grating member. The member includes an input end for receiving an image from a projector and a combiner end for receiving light from a scene and providing the image received at the input end and the light received from the outside scene to the user. The worn display can be used in aircraft applications to provide guidance information to a pilot. The diffraction grating member can have periscopic characteristics.
US09274335B2
Methods for controlling light transmission through a medium by transmitting light from a single spatial portion of an input optical field through the medium creating an output optical field, superposing the output optical field with a reference optical field creating an optical interference field, detecting an intensity of a spatial portion of a polarization component of the optical interference field and using the detected intensity to determine a value of an optical field amplitude and of an optical field phase for each of a plurality of spatial portions of the input optical field and for each of first and second orthogonal input polarization states of transmitted light entering the medium. The method may be used in the control of the transmission of light 1) through a medium, which is randomizing in amplitude, phase and/or polarization or 2) through a multi-mode fiber or for beam shaping, optical trapping and/or optical manipulation.
US09274333B2
This application relates to a display including a first layer of material including a first aperture having at least one side, a first substrate separated from the first layer of material by a gap, where the first substrate is arranged to pass through a portion of light emitted from a light source into the gap. The display further includes a movable shutter arranged within the gap, where the shutter is movable to at least a first position and a second position, to obstruct passage of the portion of light through the first aperture at the first position. The movable shutter has a first edge, and in the first position, the movable shutter is aligned with the first aperture such that the first edge extends a first length past the at least one side of the first aperture.
US09274326B2
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a first lens unit having negative optical power; a second lens unit having positive optical power; a third lens unit having negative optical power; and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the third lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, the fourth lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, the first lens unit has at least one air space between lens elements constituting the first lens unit, and the condition: Dair/fW>0.75 (Dair: an air space located on the most object side in the first lens unit, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided.
US09274325B2
A zoom lens includes: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power; and a rear unit having two or more lens units, in the order from an object side to an image side, an interval between the adjacent lens units being changed in order to carry out at least one of zooming and focusing, wherein the rear unit includes a focus lens unit that has a negative refractive power and that moves during the focusing, and wherein, when the zoom lens focuses on a specific object distance, the focus lens unit moves integral with the other lens unit during zooming.
US09274324B2
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having positive optical power; a fourth lens unit; and at least one subsequent lens unit, wherein the subsequent lens unit(s) includes a lens unit having negative optical power, the first lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, the third lens unit is composed of four or more lens elements, the first lens unit and the second lens unit move along an optical axis in zooming, and the condition: 0<|fW/fe<2 (fe: a focal length of a lens unit having negative optical power and located closest to the image side in the entire system, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied.
US09274323B1
An imaging hypercentric lens assembly comprising of a First Lens Group that includes: 1) At least a first high NA (0.40 or greater) aspheric lens element followed by 2) at least a second lens element that converges the light emitted from the first element to a small spot. It is further comprised of a Second Lens Group whose entrance pupil is placed at the same position as said small light spot. The Second Lens Group serves to refocus the light and form an image of an object placed in front of the First Lens Group. In this combination, the present invention allows high NA aspheric lens elements to produce good quality images of objects whose size is not limited to being considerably smaller than the diameter of the clear aperture of the high NA aspheric lens element.
US09274318B1
An optical imaging lens includes: a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth lens element, the first lens element has a positive refracting power, the second lens element has a negative refracting power and an object-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of its periphery, the third lens element has an object-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of its periphery, and an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, the fourth lens has an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, the fifth lens element has object-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of its periphery, and an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, the sixth lens element has an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery.
US09274315B2
Provided are a photographing lens and an electronic apparatus including the same. The photographing lens includes: a first lens that includes a convex object-side surface and has a positive refractive power; a second lens that includes a convex image-side surface and has a positive or negative refractive power; a third lens that has a negative refractive power; a fourth lens that has a positive or negative refractive power; a fifth lens that includes a convex image-side surface and has a positive refractive power; and a sixth lens that includes an image-side surface that is concave near an optical axis, and has a negative refractive power, wherein the first through sixth lenses are sequentially arranged from an object side.
US09274312B2
An imaging lens assembly includes first, second, third and fourth optical lens elements that are arranged sequentially from an object side to an image side along an optical axis and that respectively have negative, positive, positive and negative refractive powers, and a fixed aperture stop that is disposed between the first and second optical lens elements. The fourth optical lens element has object-side surface and an image-side surface that has at least an inflection point. The imaging lens assembly satisfies the optical condition of 1.8
US09274304B2
A camera lens assembly includes: a lens holder unit to which a lens module is mounted; a wire member fixed to the lens holder unit and the lens module, and resiliently supporting the lens module such that the lens module is driven in an optical axis direction; and a fixing member mounted to the lens holder unit to fix the wire member and dampen an impact generated in the wire member due to an impact generated in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Also, a camera lens assembly can include: a wire module resiliently supporting a lens module such that the lens module is movable in an optical axis direction on a lens holder unit, dampening an impact generated in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and transferring a current applied to drive the lens module to a circuit board.
US09274297B2
The system (200) provides a photonic waveguide (210) formed on a substrate (220) and a plurality of steering mirrors (230) within the photonic waveguide. The steering mirrors can be configured to direct a light beam (240) between two or more computing components (260). A plurality of steering mirror supports (250) are located within the waveguide having preset locations. The steering mirror supports are configured to enable the steering mirrors to be selectively repositioned at the preset steering mirror supports within the photonic waveguide to create varying configurations. The steering mirrors in the varying configurations direct one or more optical beams to form multiple connectivity channels between computing components within the photonic waveguide.
US09274294B2
An optical communication module includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers that emit optical signals with different wavelengths, a plurality of first mounts each including a first mounting surface on which a corresponding one of the semiconductor lasers is mounted and a first side surface that intersects with the first mounting surface, a second mount including a second mounting surface on which a lens array that collimates an optical signal emitted from a corresponding one of the plurality of semiconductor lasers and a multiplexing optical system that multiplexes the plurality of optical signals that have been collimated by the lens array and a second side surface that intersects with the second mounting surface. Each of the first mounts is fixed to the second mount in a state where a corresponding one of the semiconductor lasers is aligned with the lens array and the first side surface abuts the second side surface.
US09274291B2
A plug connector for connecting a cable to a receptacle connector includes a housing (209) comprising an upper housing portion (212) assembled to a lower housing portion (211), the assembled portions defining a cavity (280) within the housing. One or more printed circuit boards (201, 202) are disposed in the housing cavity and a cable (100) is disposed in the housing cavity and connected to printed circuit boards. The assembled upper and lower housing portions define a first housing sidewall comprising an upper sidewall portion (221u) at the upper housing portion and a lower sidewall portion (221b) at the lower housing portion. The upper and lower sidewall portions define a gap (220-1) in the first housing sidewall at an interface between the upper and lower sidewall portions of the first housing sidewall. The gap extends only partially or at least partially along a length of the first housing sidewall.
US09274288B2
Methods for fabricating connectors for multilayered optical waveguides, as well as apparatuses for multilayered optical waveguides that embody ferrules and connectors. The method of fabricating a connector includes the steps of: stacking in a containing unit of a ferrule, a plurality of optical waveguides that are each preliminarily formed in the shape of layers; and injecting resin or adhesive through a space lying between the plurality of optical waveguides and the containing unit of the ferrule, with the plurality of optical waveguides contained in a stacked manner so that resin or adhesive reaches each of the plurality of optical waveguides.
US09274282B2
An optical device may include a waveguide converter that couples an external light-carrying medium to a waveguide embedded within the optical device. In one embodiment, the optical signal emitted from the light-carrying medium enters the converter which focuses the signal (e.g., shrinks the mode of the optical signal) to better match the physical dimensions of the waveguide. Using the converter may improve transmission efficiency relative to directly coupling (e.g., butt-coupling) the light-carrying medium to the waveguide. Specifically, the converter may enable the light-carrying medium to transmit the optical signal directly into the optical device without the use of any external lenses, even if the waveguide is a sub-micron waveguide.
US09274272B2
A photonic device and methods of formation that provide an area providing reduced optical coupling between a substrate and an inner core of the photonic device are described. The area is formed using holes in the inner core and an outer cladding. The holes may be filled with materials which provide a photonic crystal. Thus, the photonic device may function as a waveguide and as a photonic crystal.
US09274260B2
In a lighting device of a display device, a plurality of light emitting elements are mounted on a surface of a light source substrate, and the light source substrate is supported by a light source support member by means of a positioning (fixing) structure such as a metal screw. The plurality of light emitting elements are divided into a plurality of blocks, and the emission light amount can be controlled with respect to each of the blocks. Although the head of the screw is exposed on the surface of the light source substrate, the screw is located between adjacent ones of the blocks. Therefore, even though the illuminating light intensity becomes partially discontinuous owing to the presence of the screw, degradation of display quality originating from such discontinuity can be suppressed.
US09274257B2
An exemplary light reflective film painted on a smooth reflective surface of a base includes a composition. The composition consists of polyester polyols, isocyanate, N-butyl acetate and light reflective powders. A mass of the polyester polyols and isocyanate is 15%-30% of the total mass of the composition, a mass of the N-butyl acetate is 50% of the total mass of the composition, and a mass of the light reflective powders is 20%-35% of the total mass of the composition. A method for manufacturing the light reflective film is also provided.
US09274252B2
To provide a polycarbonate resin composition having a high Abbe's number, high strength and excellent stainability.Disclosed is a polycarbonate resin composition prepared by blending a polycarbonate resin (A) prepared by forming carbonate bonds in tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decanedimethanol with a diester or phosgene, and a weight-averaged molecular weight (Mw) of the polycarbonate resin (A) being equal to or more than 25,000, and a polycarbonate resin (B) prepared by reacting 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane and phosgene, and weight-averaged molecular weight (Mw) of the polycarbonate resin (B) being equal to or more than 30,000, wherein a ratio thereof, 100×(A)/((A)+(B)), is from 1 to 99% by weight.
US09274242B2
A method for estimating fracture aperture from multi-axial electromagnetic induction measurements made in a wellbore includes determining a fracture indicator and a fracture orientation indicator. The value of the fracture indicator is determined from components of the measurements made transverse to the tool axis. A relationship between the value of the fracture indicator and the fracture aperture for the subsurface formation is determined by estimating the fracture indicator using a plurality of values of fracture aperture and a resistivity of drilling fluid in the wellbore over a background formation with estimated horizontal resistivity and vertical resistivity. The fracture aperture is determined using the determined fracture indicator and the determined relationship.
US09274235B2
Disclosed herein are an X-ray detection panel, an X-ray image generating module, an X-ray imaging apparatus, and a method of generating an X-ray image. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generator configured to emit X-rays; an X-ray detection panel comprising a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group configured to detect X-rays having an energy band and to convert the detected X-rays into electrical signals; and an image processor configured to acquire readout data from the electrical signals of at least one of the plurality of pixel groups, to calculate estimated data, and to generate an X-ray image by combining the readout data and the estimated data.
US09274232B2
An apparatus and method for determining real time location of assets by calculating the relative position of a plurality of GPS enabled devices transported together, taking advantage of multiple GPS enable devices being transported together including dual band GPS and averaging location data between US and European GPS data. Additionally, an IMB acts to receive GPS data from multiple devices in a shipment and IMB combines and averages data from both GPS systems to create more liable location determination.
US09274229B2
Disclosed are various embodiments of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chipsets or architecture. Based upon a requested accuracy and/or update of a host application, embodiments of the disclosure can calculate position data points on-board the GNSS chipset or allow a host processor to calculate position data points, which can allow the host processor to enter a low power mode if the requested update rate and/or accuracy allow.
US09274223B2
A system for determining the distance from and the direction to an object includes an emitter and at least two receiver elements for receiving a signal which is transmitted by the emitter and reflected by the object. The receiver elements are arranged as a linear array, as two linear arrays situated at an angle to one another, as an array which surrounds the emitter and forms a circle, or as a two-dimensional array. The diameter of the array may be greater than one-half the wavelength of the signal, and the receiver elements each have an individual surface area whose height or diameter corresponds at most to one-half the wavelength of the signal, and the emitter has a height or a diameter which is greater than one-half the wavelength of the signal.
US09274217B2
A microwave sensor is disclosed. The microwave sensor includes an active antenna module, a first low pass filter, a second demodulator, a modulation module, and a discrimination control module. The active antenna module is utilized for transmitting a first FMCW signal towards a target and receiving a second FMCW signal reflected back from the target according to a sweep period. The active antenna module includes a loop antenna and a radio frequency transistor. The first low pass filter and the radio frequency transistor form a first demodulator. The first demodulator and the second demodulator perform two-stage down converting and demodulating to extract information for calculating range and velocity, respectively. The present invention adjusts a radio frequency bandwidth of the FMCW signal by first adjusting an amplitude of a modulation signal generated by the modulation module to control various detection ranges.
US09274214B2
The control apparatus of the present invention determines a motion state of an object and provides an IRLED switching control signal suitable for the motion state in an apparatus for sensing/recognizing a motion of the object by using an infrared light-emitting diode (IRLED) and a photodiode (PD). Such a control apparatus is an LED driving control apparatus, and includes a motion velocity generating unit, a previous section average value generating unit, a state value generating unit, a control unit, and an LED switching control signal generating unit.
US09274200B2
A frequency detection circuit includes a filter, a power detector and a voltage comparator. The filter receives and filters a converted signal to generate a filtered signal. The power of the filtered signal relates to a frequency of the converted signal. The power detector generates a voltage according to the power of the filtered signal. The voltage comparator compares the voltage with multiple reference voltages to generate multiple comparison results. At least one of the inductance and capacitance of an LC tank in an amplifier is adjusted according to the comparison results.
US09274193B2
A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a radial cone k-space trajectory is provided. The radial cone k-space trajectory is defined by the application of a radial magnetic field gradient and one or more oscillating magnetic field gradients. The amplitude of the radial magnetic field gradient increases with time before decreasing with time. While the amplitude of the radial magnetic field gradient is decreasing, the one or more oscillating magnetic field gradients are applied. As a result, the radial cone k-space trajectory is one that is oriented along an axis and that extends outward from an origin along a substantially radial trajectory before extending outward from the origin while circumscribing a conical volume having a radius that increases nonlinearly with distance from the origin.
US09274184B2
A magnetic sensor with increased sensitivity, lower noise, and improved frequency response is described. The sensor's free layer is ribbon shaped and is closely flanked at each long edge by a ribbon of magnetically soft, high permeability material. The side stripes of soft magnetic material absorb external field flux and concentrate the flux to flow into the sensor's edges to promote larger MR sensor magnetization rotation. The free layer may be deposited simultaneously with the soft magnetic layer when they are aligned in the same plane. When the flux absorbing stripes are positioned above or below the MR sensor, then the free layer and flux absorbing stripes are deposited in separate steps.
US09274183B2
A vertical Hall device includes a Hall effect region formed in a substrate and a sequence of at least six contacts arranged in or at a surface of the Hall effect region between a first contact and a last contact. The vertical Hall device also includes a first contact interconnection connecting the first contact with a third to the last contact. A vertical Hall device further includes a second contact interconnection connecting a third contact with the last contact. Further embodiments made to a sensing method for sensing a magnetic field parallel to a surface of a substrate.
US09274174B2
An apparatus can include a circuit board; a processor chip mounted to the circuit board that includes a Test Access Port (TAP); a controller mounted to the circuit board that includes a port operatively coupled to the Test Access Port (TAP) of the processor chip; and a network interface operatively coupled to the controller. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09274169B2
An asynchronous debug interface is disclosed that allows TAG agents, JTAG-based debuggers, firmware, and software to debug, access, and override any functional registers, interrupt registers, power/clock gating enables, etc., of core logic being tested. The asynchronous debug interface works at a wide range of clock frequencies and allows read and write transactions to take place on a side channel, as well as within the on chip processor fabric without switching into a debug or test mode. The asynchronous debug interface works with two-wire and four-wire JTAG controller configurations, and is compliant with IEEE standards, such as 1149.1, 1149.7, etc., and provides an efficient and seamless way to debug complex system-on-chip states and system-on-chip products.
US09274167B2
A chip-to-chip signal transmission system is provided, which includes a first chip, a second chip, and a dielectric layer. A signal transmission is performed between a transmitter of the first chip and a receiver of the second chip through a transmission-metal-pad unit and a receiving-metal-pad unit. The transmitter transmits a transmission-testing-coupling signal through the transmission-metal-pad unit according to a driving-testing signal when the transmitter receives the driving-testing signal. A first testing unit receives the transmission-testing-coupling signal and outputs a transmission-testing signal according to the transmission-testing-coupling signal. A second testing unit transmits a receiving-testing-coupling signal through the receiving-metal-pad unit according to the driving-testing signal when the second testing unit receives the driving-testing signal. The receiver receives the receiving-testing-coupling signal and outputs a receiving-testing signal according to the receiving-testing-coupling signal.
US09274165B2
The designed circuit is used for testing all kinds of discharge counter for lightning arresters. Discharge counter for lightning arresters are used in substation and all power plants with various voltages and discharge currents. The lightning arresters counter tester creates the needed voltage and current that operates the counter and simulates the conditions that the counter works in; therefore it can be concluded whether the counter works well or not.
US09274151B2
A frequency comparator outputs an input reference signal and a comparison target signal as pulse-form signals, and is charged or discharged with a voltage corresponding to the reference signal to output a reference voltage having a variable first frequency range, and charged or discharged with a voltage corresponding to the comparison target signal to output a comparison target voltage having a variable second frequency range. The frequency comparator compares the reference voltage having the first frequency range and the comparison output voltage having the second frequency range.
US09274146B2
An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a sensor and a processing circuit supported by a base of the meter, and a magnetic element carried by the cover of the meter, in which the cover is removably mounted to the base. The sensor includes at least two magnetizable elements, such as inductors, that are magnetized at opposite polarities when the meter is closed and operable. The magnetizable elements are positioned in very close proximity so that as cover is removed the magnetic element passes the elements to cause the magnetizable elements to assume the same polarity. The processing circuit continuously polls the magnetizable elements to evaluate their respective polarities and is configured to issue a tamper indication when the detected polarities are the same.
US09274141B1
A contact for use in a test set which can be mounted to a load board of a tester apparatus. The contact, which serves to electrically connect at least one lead of a device being tested with a corresponding metallic trace on the load board, has a first end defining multiple contact points. As the test pin is rotated about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the contact, successive contact points are sequentially engaged by a lead of the device being tested. The test pin has a hard stop edge which engages a hard stop wall which limits its rotation movement. The bottom of the pin has a shallow convex curvature preferably with a flat region and the tip of the test pin has a chisel edge.
US09274136B2
A multi-axis microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is fabricated in a vacuum sealed single packaged device. An FM vibratory gyroscope and an FM resonant accelerometer both for generating FM output signals is fabricated in the silicon chip using MEMS. A signal processor is coupled to the an FM vibratory gyroscope and to the FM resonant accelerometer for receiving the FM gyroscopic output signals and the FM accelerometer output signals. The signal processor generates simultaneous and decoupled measurement of input acceleration, input rotation rate, and temperature and/or temperature distribution within the IMU, self-calibration of the biases and scale factors of the IMU and its support electronics against temperature variations and other common mode errors, and reduction of the cross axis sensitivity by reducing acceleration errors in the gyroscope and rotation errors in the accelerometer.
US09274133B2
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.
US09274132B2
Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.
US09274125B2
Methods and kits for measuring a component to be measured by reacting the component in the presence of a fatty acid alkanolamide, with a first antibody which binds to the component, then reacting a labeled second antibody that binds to the component so as to form an immunocomplex comprising the first antibody, the component and the labeled second antibody. The amount of the label in the formed immunocomplex is measured and correlated to the amount and concentration of component.
US09274124B2
Methods for interpretation of mass spectrometric tests for clinical biomarkers in which the amounts of internal standards are set to equal clinical evaluation thresholds, and preparations for adding stable isotope labeled peptide species to sample digests while minimizing losses and alterations in peptide stoichiometry.
US09274117B2
The use of SIRT7 (sirtuin 7) as a marker for diagnosis of liver cancer is described. The disclosure variously relates to a liver cancer diagnostic marker including SIRT7 gene, a liver cancer diagnostic composition, a kit and microarray including the same, and a method of diagnosing liver cancer using the same. Also described is a method for screening a substance capable of treating liver cancer by inhibiting the expression of SIRT7 gene or protein, and a composition for preventing or treating liver cancer, which includes such substance. The disclosure further relates to the use of SIRT7 gene as a cancer diagnostic marker and the anticancer use of inhibition of SIRT7 expression, as well as the use of the specific miRNA to regulate the cell cycle and inhibit tumor growth by the expression of SIRT7 gene.
US09274109B2
The present application relates to a composition including gut flora-derived extracellular vesicles, and to an animal disease model using same. In addition, the present application relates to a method for using the gut flora-derived extracellular vesicles to efficiently search for a candidate drug which may prevent or treat diseases that occur due to gut flora-derived extracellular vesicles, and to a vaccine which can efficiently prevent or treat infections caused by gut flora or diseases that occur due to gut flora-derived extracellular vesicles. Further, the development of diagnostic technology to discover, using the gut flora-derived extracellular vesicles of the present application, the etiology of diseases that occur due to gut flora-derived extracellular vesicles, can be achieved.
US09274102B2
It is intended to identify a substance inhibiting an odor caused by 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone. The present invention provides a method for searching for an inhibitor of an odor caused by 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone, comprising: adding a test substance and 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone to an olfactory receptor OR5K1 or a polypeptide having at least 80% amino acid sequence identity thereto; measuring the response of the olfactory receptor or the polypeptide to 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone; and identifying a test substance inhibiting the response of the olfactory receptor or the polypeptide, on the basis of the measured response.
US09274096B2
An in vitro cell assay for detecting an effect a test condition has on one or more cells. The assay comprises providing a binary half-adder system comprising first and second oscillating cells, and detecting an effect a test condition has on the oscillation of said first and/or second cells.
US09274095B2
Disclosed herein are generally to methods and systems that facilitate imaging of cells on a substrate and more particularly to pre-implantation (in vitro) and post-implantation (in vivo) imaging of cell-seeded substrates implanted in target tissues in the context of stem cell therapy.
US09274093B2
Disclosed are methods for determining the redox condition of cementitious materials. The methods are leaching methods that utilize a redox active transition metal indicator that is present in the cementitious material and exhibits variable solubility depending upon the oxidation state of the indicator. When the leaching process is carried out under anaerobic conditions, the presence or absence of the indicator in the leachate can be utilized to determine the redox condition of and location of the oxidation front in the material that has been subjected to the leaching process.
US09274084B2
A magnetic particle imaging device is provided. The device includes a magnetic field source configured to produce a magnetic field having a non-saturating magnetic field region, an excitation signal source configured to produce an excitation signal in the non-saturating magnetic field region that produces a detectable signal from magnetic particles in the non-saturating magnetic field region, and a signal processor configured to convert a detected signal into an image of the magnetic particles. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods of imaging magnetic particles in a sample, and methods of producing an image of magnetic particles in a subject. The subject devices and methods find use in a variety of applications, such as medical imaging applications.
US09274080B2
An electrochemical, measuring probe, for measuring a chemical or physical, measured variable, of a measured medium, wherein the measuring probe comprises: at least one measuring half cell and at least one reference half cell, and the reference half cell includes: a housing of electrically insulating material, in which a reference electrolyte chamber containing a liquid, reference electrolyte is formed, and which has in a housing wall a diaphragm permeable for the reference electrolyte for providing electrolytic contact between the reference half cell and the measured medium; a potential indicating element extending into the reference electrolyte; and a supply opening opening into the reference electrolyte chamber for supply of reference electrolyte into the reference electrolyte chamber. The reference half cell has a check valve blocking exit of reference electrolyte from the reference electrolyte chamber through the supply opening, especially a check valve arranged at least partially within the supply opening.
US09274075B2
A method determines a type of an object in a proximity to a resonant structure having a resonant frequency as a metallic object if the object changes a phase of a power signal reflected by the resonant structure at frequencies below and above the resonant frequency. Otherwise, the method determines the type of the object as a non-metallic object.
US09274073B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining the composition of medical liquids with regard to their fraction of electrolytes and non-electrolytes, comprising the steps of: determining at least one first physical parameter of the medical liquid for unambiguously determining the fraction of non-electrolytes in the medical liquid; simultaneously determining at least a second physical parameter of the medical liquid for determining the fraction of electrolytes in the medical liquid; and determining the fraction of electrolytes and non-electrolytes in the medical liquid based on the first and second physical parameter. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for determining the composition of medical liquids with regard to their fraction of electrolytes and non-electrolytes, comprising a first measuring apparatus (7) for measuring a first physical parameter of the medical liquid, which is unambiguously related to the non-electrolyte in medical liquid, a second measuring apparatus (8) for determining at least a second physical parameter of medical liquid, which is unambiguously related to the fraction of electrolytes in the medical liquid, and an evaluating apparatus (9) for determining the fraction of electrolytes and non-electrolytes in the medical liquid on the basis of the measured values of the first measuring apparatus (7) and the second measuring apparatus (8).
US09274071B2
Provided herein are techniques for identification of viable and nonviable cells in a cell culture that include measuring a resonance impedance spectral response of at least one resonator in proximity to the cell culture and correlating the measured response to the concentration of viable cells in cell culture and/or the concentration of nonviable cells in cell culture.
US09274066B2
A method for performing reconstruction for a region of interest (ROI) of an object is provided. The method includes designating the ROI within the object, the ROI being located within a scan field of view (FOV) of a combined third- and fourth-generation CT scanner, the CT scanner including fixed photon-counting detectors (PCDs), and an X-ray source that rotates about the object in synchronization with a rotating detector. Further, the method includes determining, for each PCD, as a function of view angle, an on/off timing schedule, based on a size and location of the designated ROI, and performing a scan to obtain a first data set from the rotating detector and a second data set from the plurality of PCDs, while turning each PCD on and off according to the determined schedule. Finally, the method includes performing reconstruction using the first and second data sets to obtain ROI spectral images.
US09274063B2
The invention is a building inspection device for inspecting a side of a building comprising a body having a underside, a line attachment means connected to the body for movably connecting the body to a guide line, an alignment means for aligning the body so that the underside of the body faces the side of the building, a system controller for controlling the inspection device, and a sensing device disposed in the body having a sensor located on the underside of the body for inspecting a portion of the side of the building, wherein the sensing device is controlled by the system controller. The line attachment means may be connected to a vertical weight-bearing guide line, and the alignment means may comprise a second vertical guide line also connected to the line attachment means.
US09274060B1
Measuring oxygen concentration and monitoring changes in oxygen concentration within an enclosed space by applying a transmembrane photoluminescent oxygen probe to the external surface of the membrane forming the enclosed space, wherein the transmembrane photoluminescent oxygen probe has an oxygen impermeable support layer carrying a spot of an oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent dye and a layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive on a first major surface of the support layer.
US09274056B2
The present invention includes an assay method for detecting an analyte in a sample. The assay includes a solid surface such as a nitrocellulose membrane. It also includes providing a sample is applied to the solid surface and detecting the presence or absence of the analyte using a fluorescent label from a lanthanide label. The invention also includes a device for detecting the fluorescence in or on an assay test strip. The device includes a housing, a solid surface and an ultraviolet radiation emitting LED.
US09274055B2
A submersible fluorometer (10), includes: an excitation module (40) for exciting the fluorophore; and a detection module (42) for detecting the light emitted by the excited fluorophore, wherein the excitation module (40) includes a first light source (44) including a first UV LED and having a first wavelength lower than 300 nm, the excitation module (40) includes a second light source (46) including a second UV LED and having a second wavelength lower than 300 nm, the first and second wavelengths being different from each other, and the fluorometer includes an electronic circuit having a plurality of printed circuits positioned one below the other.
US09274052B2
Material classification for a sample fabricated from an unknown material, particularly a specular sample such as a metallic sample fabricated from an unknown metal. A measurement is obtained of a specular reflection of the sample at at least one observation angle and in at least two spectral bands including first and second spectral bands; a feature vector is calculated using a homogeneous function that combines the measured specular reflections in the first and second spectral bands; and the sample is classified based on the feature vector. The homogeneous function may include a ratio of values of the first and second spectral bands of the measured specular reflections, and the feature vector may be based on a histogram of such ratio values. Classification may include determining a distance between the feature vector of the sample and a feature vector of a reference sample in a predetermined database of labeled samples.
US09274051B2
The present invention relates to a movement detection device for detecting a movement of an object in a space range. The movement detection device includes a light source, a light guiding element, at least two light sensing elements and a processing unit. The light sensing elements have an offset therebetween along a first direction such that the object, when moving in the space range, reflects the light from the light source sequentially to the light sensing elements through the light guiding element. The processing unit identifies the movement of the object along the first direction according to a sequence that the light sensing elements detect the light reflected by the object.
US09274035B2
A clamping device for clamping a flat material test sample while a material test is carried out is provided. The clamping device includes a substantially cylindrical clamping part, from the free end of which there extends a receiving slot for receiving the material test sample, a pressure ring surrounding the clamping part in the region of the receiving slot, and a pressure sleeve provided between the clamping part and the pressure ring, the pressure sleeve is formed and actuable such that, under radial expansion, it connects the clamping part and the pressure ring together and clamps the material test sample held in the receiving slot.
US09274030B2
A sample introduction device having a channel configuration which allows recapture of samples and in which thorough purging is performed so that no sample components remain inside the channel. In the trap capture process, a first six-way switching valve is placed in state where ports a-f, b-c and d-e are connected, a second six-way switching valve is placed in state where ports a-b, c-d and e-f are connected, and an electromagnetic valve is opened. Carrier gas is introduced through a carrier gas channel, and is discharged via the first six-way valve-sample channel-second six-way switching valve-trap channel-second six-way switching valve-channel-first six-way valve-discharge channel. Carrier gas is also introduced through the path going through the electronic control flow controller, so the operation of stabilization of the analysis channel continues to be performed.
US09274023B2
In various embodiments, a flexible lid seal detector is disclosed. The flexible lid seal detector comprises a compression body. A compression rim extends from a distal end of the compression body. The compression rim comprises an outer perimeter and inner perimeter. The inner perimeter defines a recessed lid deflection area. The compression rim is configured to apply a force to a flexible lid coupled to a container. A sensor is coupled to the compression body and positioned to detect the deflection of the flexible lid in response to the force applied to the flexible lid. The sensor is configured to detect an amount of deflection of the flexible lid within the recessed lid deflection area.
US09274018B2
A process pressure measuring system includes a transmitter having a first sealed system in which a first outlet couples to a pressure sensor, a first isolator diaphragm assembly, a first capillary passage, and a first isolation fluid. The first isolation fluid couples a first pressure from the first isolator diaphragm to the first outlet and the pressure sensor. A second sealed system includes a second pressure outlet that is coupled to the first isolator diaphragm assembly, a second isolator diaphragm assembly, a second capillary passage and a second isolation fluid. The second isolation fluid is adapted for use in a first temperature range and couples a pressure from the second isolator diaphragm assembly to the second pressure outlet. A third sealed system includes a third pressure outlet that is coupled to the second isolator diaphragm assembly, a third isolator diaphragm assembly, a third capillary passage and a third isolation fluid. The third isolator fluid is adapted for use in a second temperature range and couples a process pressure to the third pressure outlet.
US09274014B2
A sensor assembly comprises a base plate and a sensor member displaceable relative to the base plate. A spring arrangement operates in first and second stages in response to displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate. Different resolutions of force and torque measurements are associated with the first and second stages. A light sensitive transducer senses displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate and generates corresponding output signals. A collimator directs a plurality of light beams onto the light sensitive transducer so that the light beams strike different pixels of the light sensitive transducer to sense displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate.
US09274013B2
Tension monitoring is described using a sensor which may exhibit an offset for which compensation may be provided to produce a zero voltage amplified output or to increase dynamic range. An arrangement determines whether a power reset is responsive to a battery bounce such that an initially-measured system start-up parameter can be retained. The start-up parameter is automatically saved at start-up if the power reset is responsive to a start-up from a shut-down condition. The start-up parameter may be a zero tension amplified output responsive to the sensor offset at zero tension. Protection of a tension data set is provided such that no opportunity for altering the data set is presented prior to transfer of the data set. A housing configuration forms part of an electrical power circuit for providing electrical power to an electronics package from a battery.
