US09912041B1
Antenna carriers with magneto-dielectric material and beam-shaping elements for enhanced performance and radiation safety of electronic devices are described. One electronic device includes a housing, an antenna element disposed on an antenna carrier, and a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board including radio frequency (RF) circuitry. The antenna carrier can be made up of a plastic cap, a ground plane, and a magneto-dielectric substrate with both dielectric and magnetic properties. The plastic cap is disposed at a first side of the housing and the magneto-dielectric substrate is disposed on a top surface of the plastic cap. The antenna element is disposed on a bottom surface of the magneto-dielectric substrate and electrically coupled to the RF circuitry. The antenna element radiates electromagnetic energy in a resonant mode and the magnetic property of the magneto-dielectric material increase efficiency, frequency bandwidth, or both.
US09912035B2
A retaining and anchoring device forming a retaining and anchoring section on a metal plate on a reflector includes a recess provided in the metal plate. The recess has on an upper face of the metal plate a peripheral edge or edge sections spaced apart from one another. An undercut or several undercut sections are formed below the peripheral edge or the edge sections. The recess is free of bores or passages. A locking device prevents unintentional removal of a snap-on mechanism from the recess beyond an edge section or plural edge sections which cover the undercut section(s).
US09912029B2
A waveguide assembly for propagating electromagnetic signals includes first and second dielectric waveguides and a shield. Each of the first and second dielectric waveguides includes a cladding formed of a first dielectric material. The cladding defines a core region therethrough that is filled with a second dielectric material different than the first dielectric material. The shield is disposed between the first dielectric waveguide and the second dielectric waveguide. The shield is electrically conductive. The shield does not surround an entire perimeter of either of the first dielectric waveguide or the second dielectric waveguide.
US09912023B1
A battery pack for an electric vehicle is disclosed. The battery pack includes an upper tray, a first busbar attached to the upper tray, a lower tray, and a second busbar attached to the lower tray. The battery pack also includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in the upper and lower trays, and a cooling duct mechanically connecting the lower tray to the upper tray.
US09912022B2
The invention is directed to systems and methods for the recycling of lithium ion batteries or the like. The system methods include comminution and destruction of used batteries, controlling the explosive reaction of the battery components during processing, and processing the materials into a suitable form for sampling and recycling.
US09912017B1
An intelligent battery optimization management and equalization system that also monitors all cells within a battery. The system will ensure all cells are charged to maximum capacity, discharges the full capacity of each cell, perform equalization of charges between all the cells, manages and monitors each cell within a battery pack.
US09912015B2
A power system that authenticates multiple battery packs to allow for power transfer between the battery packs and an external load system may include a plurality of modular battery packs, each of which may include a first housing, a plurality of battery cells enclosed in the first housing, a first interface for authentication communication, and a second interface that transmits power from the plurality of battery cells. The power system may also include a second housing configured to removably receive the plurality of modular battery packs, and a processing system that is configured to exchange authentication information with the plurality of modular battery packs through the respective first interfaces, wherein the respective second interfaces are only enabled to transmit power when the authentication information is validated.
US09912010B2
An electrolytic solution for a lithium battery includes a lithium salt, an organic solvent; a disultone-based compound represented by Formula 1, and a non-polar unsaturated group-containing cyclic carbonate-based compound: wherein, in Formula 1, A1 to A4 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C5 alkylene group, a carbonyl group, or a sulfinyl; n1 to n4 are each independently an integer 1 to 3, and when n1 to n4 are each independently two or greater, a respective plurality of any of A1s to A4s are identical to or different from each other. When the lithium battery includes the electrolyte solution, room-temperature and high-temperature lifespan characteristics of the lithium battery may improve.
US09912009B2
In various embodiments an improved binder composition, electrolyte composition and a separator film composition using discrete carbon nanotubes. Their methods of production and utility for energy storage and collection devices, like batteries, capacitors and photovoltaics, is described. The binder, electrolyte, or separator composition can further comprise polymers. The discrete carbon nanotubes further comprise at least a portion of the tubes being open ended and/or functionalized. The utility of the binder, electrolyte or separator film composition includes improved capacity, power or durability in energy storage and collection devices. The utility of the electrolyte and or separator film compositions includes improved ion transport in energy storage and collection devices.
US09912005B2
A method of manufacturing a curved secondary battery, the method including preparing a flat secondary battery such that the flat secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a pouch accommodating the electrode assembly; primary shaping the secondary battery such that the primary shaping includes disposing the flat secondary battery in a first jig, and pressing the flat secondary battery to form a primarily-shaped secondary battery such that the primarily-shaped secondary battery has a first curvature radius; secondary shaping the secondary battery such that the secondary shaping includes disposing the primarily-shaped secondary battery in a second jig, and pressing the primarily-shaped secondary battery to form a secondarily-shaped secondary battery having a second curvature radius; and maintaining the secondarily-shaped secondary battery after forming thereof in the second jig for a predetermined time period.
US09912003B2
A fuel cell stack includes: a cell stack structure formed by stacking a plurality of cells; a pair of current collectors; a pair of end members; and a fastener band wrapped around a cell stack formed by stacking the cell stack structure, the pair of current collectors, and the pair of end members. Each of the pair of end members includes a plurality of plate members. The plate members have a same arched shape in which a height from a surface to contacting a corresponding one of the pair of current collectors gradually increases toward a center portion from both ends, and are disposed in parallel while being apart from each other in a width direction of the fastener band. Adjacent plate members are coupled to each other through a bendable coupling member at part of facing surfaces.
US09911995B2
A fuel cell voltage monitor (12a, 12b, 40, 140, 440) detects and may respond to, a problematic operating condition at or near a fuel cell (10) or within a subset (n) of fuel cells, as in a fuel cell stack assembly (110). Two or more co-planar, spaced voltage leads or contacts in a fuel cell plane, as at a separator plate, detect the presence of a voltage difference within the plate/plane as an indication of an operating problem at or near the fuel cell. Placement of such arrangements of at least two spaced voltage leads at various subset intervals (n), of fuel cells in a stack assembly allow monitoring for such problems throughout the stack assembly, either by analysis of voltage difference between co-planar leads at respective individual fuel cells or by comparison of voltage differences between aligned pairs of voltage leads at opposite ends of a subset.
US09911994B2
A fuel supply system for a fuel cell is described. One embodiment of the fuel supply system includes a fuel supply vessel; a fuel spending line in fluid communication with the fuel supply vessel and the fuel cell; a piezoelectric injector in fluid communication with the fuel spending line; and a pressure sensor connected to the fuel spending line and positioned between the fuel supply vessel and the fuel cell. A method for controlling the pressure to a fuel cell is also described.
US09911990B2
A fuel cell stack includes a stack including a plurality of unit cells, which is stacked on one another in a predetermined direction, first and second end plates disposed on opposing ends of the stack, and a supply line disposed on a first surface of the first end plate to supply fuel or air to the plurality of unit cells, where an insertion hole is defined in a second surface of the first end plate to be adjacent to the supply line, and the second surface of the first end plate is substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the first end plate.
US09911976B2
The present invention relates to a negative electrode active material for a secondary battery, a conductive composition for a secondary battery, a negative electrode material including the same, a negative electrode structure and secondary battery including the same, and a method for manufacturing the same. The present invention includes: a silicon particle; and an amorphous surface layer formed on the surface of the silicon particle. According to the present invention, the negative electrode structure is formed of a composite of a silicon particle and carbon or lithium ion, the oxygen contents of the solid electrolyte and silicon particles are low, and thus aggregation of silicon particles is inhibited. Therefore, in the event of using the negative electrode structure in a negative electrode, a power storage device such as a lithium secondary battery may have high energy density, high output density, and a longer charging/discharging life cycle.
US09911970B2
An improved method of making a cathode for use in a lithium ion battery is comprised of mixing a lithium metal oxide and lithium metal phosphate in a solvent, where both of these are comprised of primary particles that have been agglomerated into secondary particles of particular size and mixing is insufficient to break up the particles of the lithium metal phosphate, coating the mixture of step (A) on to a metal foil and removing the solvent to form the cathode. The lithium metal oxide is also desirably not broken either. The cathode may be one that has lithium metal oxide and a particular lithium metal phosphate wherein the majority of the metal is Mn.
US09911966B2
A battery cell having a first switching member switchable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position of the first switching member, a first electrode of the battery stack is being connected to a first terminal of the battery cell. In the second position of the first switching member the first electrode is being separated from the first terminal. The battery cell may further comprise a control unit in order to control a switching of the first switching member. Optionally there may be a second switching member providing a bypass between the second electrode and the first terminal, once the first terminal is being separated from the first electrode in response to a critical state of the battery cell.
US09911959B2
A multilayer porous membrane comprising a porous membrane containing a polyolefin resin as a main component; and a porous layer containing an inorganic filler and a resin binder and laminated on at least one surface of the porous membrane; wherein the porous membrane has an average pore size d=0.035 to 0.060 μm, a tortuosity τa=1.1 to 1.7, and the number B of pores=100 to 500 pores/μm2, which are calculated by a gas-liquid method, and the porous membrane has a membrane thickness L=5 to 22 μm.
US09911955B2
A method for producing a porous polyimide film comprises: forming a first un-burned composite film wherein the first film is formed on a substrate using a first varnish that contains (A1) a polyamide acid or a polyimide and (B1) fine particles at a volume ratio (A1):(B1) of from 19:81 to 45:65; forming a second un-burned composite film wherein the second film is formed on the first film using a second varnish that contains (A2) a polyamide acid or a polyimide and (B2) fine particles at a volume ratio (A2):(B2) of from 20:80 to 50:50 and has a lower fine particle content ratio than the first varnish; burning wherein an un-burned composite film composed of the first film and the second film is burned, thereby obtaining a polyimide-fine particle composite film; and a fine particle removal step wherein the fine particles are removed from the polyimide-fine particle composite film.
US09911951B2
A battery module includes a housing including a first interior surface, a second interior surface opposite the first interior surface, and a compressed cell assembly disposed within an interior space of the housing between the first and second interior surfaces. The compressed cell assembly includes a plurality of prismatic battery cells arranged in a cell stack that includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a retaining wall disposed between the first end of the cell stack and the first interior surface of the housing. The retaining wall includes a first surface in contact with the first end of the cell stack and a second surface opposite the first surface that contacts the first interior surface of the housing. The first and second interior surfaces are configured to maintain the compressed cell assembly in a compressed state having a compression force above a predetermined threshold.
US09911939B2
An organic light emitting display (OLED) device can include a substrate on which first to third light emitting portions are defined, first electrodes respectively positioned on the first to third light emitting portions, a first stack formed on the first electrodes and including first, second and third light emitting layers corresponding to the first, second and third light emitting portions, respectively, an N-type charge generation layer (CGL) positioned on the first stack, a transition metal oxide layer positioned on the N-type CGL, a second stack positioned on the transition metal oxide layer and including fourth, fifth and sixth light emitting layers corresponding to the first, second and third light emitting portions, respectively, and a second electrode positioned on the second stack.
US09911936B2
A light-emitting element having high emission efficiency which includes a fluorescent material as a light-emitting substance is provided. A light-emitting element includes a pair of electrodes and an EL layer between the pair of electrodes. The EL layer includes a light-emitting layer. The light-emitting layer includes a host material and a guest material. The host material has a difference of more than 0 eV and less than or equal to 0.2 eV between a singlet excitation energy level and a triplet excitation energy level. The guest material is capable of emitting fluorescence. The triplet excitation energy level of the host material is higher than a triplet excitation energy level of the guest material.
US09911930B2
A compound including a ligand having the formula: is disclosed. In these formulas, each R1, R2, and R3 is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, and aryl; at least one of R1 and R2 is a branched alkyl containing at least 4 carbon atoms, where the branching occurs at a position further than the benzylic position; where R1 and R3 are mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, or no substitutions; and R2 is mono-, di-, or no substitutions. Heteroleptic iridium complexes including such compounds, and devices including such compounds are also disclosed.
US09911928B2
A new class of blue emissive complexes are described. The compounds comprise pyridyl benzimidazole ligands with twisted aryl groups for improved color.
US09911922B2
The present invention discloses an organic compound is represented by the following formula(1), the organic EL device employing the organic compound as fluorescent emitting guest shown deep blue color(CIEy=0.09˜0.12)and display good performance. wherein A, m and R1 to R3 are the same definition as described in the present invention.
US09911920B2
A compound is represented by Chemical Formula 1: X1-T-X2 wherein T is a substituted or unsubstituted fused thiophene moiety, and each of X1 and X2 are independently an organic group including an alkenylene group and an electron withdrawing group.
US09911916B2
In order to form a phase change thin film being flat in a nanometer level and having a good coverage, which is essential for realizing a three-dimensional ultra-high integrated phase change memory, an equipment for vapor phase growth of a phase change thin film is provided which form a phase change thin film at low temperature while the film is being kept in a completely amorphous state. A structure is provided in which an ammonia cracker is connected to a reactor of the equipment for vapor phase growth for a nitrogen radical obtained by decomposing ammonia gas. Consequently, low temperature decomposition of metal organic precursor and film formation on a substrate surface are realized. With the use of this equipment, it is possible to realize a completely amorphous film which has a flat surface at a low temperature of 135° C. using an amine complex as a Ge precursor.
US09911909B2
A method for fabricating a thermoelectric material comprising providing an initial feedstock of silicon metal particulates, providing an extracting liquid to extract oxidants from the silicon metal particulates, combining the silicon metal particulates and the extracting liquid into a mixture and milling said mixture, withdrawing at least a portion of the milled mixture, within the withdrawn portion of the milled mixture, separating milled silicon metal particulates from the extracting liquid, and mixing the milled silicon metal particulates with a dopant to form a thermoelectric material.
US09911905B2
A method of producing an optoelectronic component includes providing a substrate with an optoelectronic semiconductor chip arranged on a surface of the substrate; providing a mask having a lower layer and an upper layer, wherein the lower layer has a lower opening and the upper layer has an upper opening, which openings jointly form a continuous mask opening, and the lower opening has a larger area than the upper opening; arranging the mask above the surface of the substrate such that the lower layer faces the surface of the substrate and the mask opening is arranged above the optoelectronic semiconductor chip; spraying a layer onto the optoelectronic semiconductor chip through the mask opening; and removing the mask.
US09911902B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor including a first electrode on a first main surface, a second conductivity-type semiconductor, and an active layer between a second main surface of the first conductivity-type semiconductor and a first main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor. Protrusions are disposed in at least part of a region of a second main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor facing the first electrode. A second electrode is disposed in at least part of a region of the second main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor except the region having the protrusions. The protrusions containing a dielectric material protrude from the second main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor in a direction away from the active layer and are separated by intervals longer than the wavelength of light emitted from the active layer in the medium of the protrusions.
US09911900B2
A profiled surface for improving the propagation of radiation through an interface is provided. The profiled surface includes a set of large roughness components providing a first variation of the profiled surface having a characteristic scale approximately an order of magnitude larger than a target wavelength of the radiation. The set of large roughness components can include a series of truncated shapes. The profiled surface also includes a set of small roughness components superimposed on the set of large roughness components and providing a second variation of the profiled surface having a characteristic scale on the order of the target wavelength of the radiation.
US09911881B2
A thin-film optoelectronic module device (100) and design method comprising at least three monolithically-interconnected cells (104, 106, 108) where at least one monolithically-interconnecting line (250) depicts a spatial periodic or quasi-periodic wave and wherein the optoelectronic surface of said thin-film optoelectronic module device (100) presents at least one set of at least three zones (210, 220, 230) having curves of substantially parallel monolithic interconnect lines. Border zones (210, 230) have a lower front-contact sheet resistance than that of internal zone (220). Said curves of substantially parallel interconnecting lines may comprise peaks of triangular or rounded shape, additional spatial periods that are smaller than a baseline period, and mappings from one curve to the adjacent curve such as in the case of non-rectangular module devices (100). The device (100) and design method are advantageous to reduce costs and materials to manufacture thin-film optoelectronic module devices (100) while increasing production yield, reliability, aesthetic appearance, and range of applications.
US09911876B2
Disclosed is a solar cell module that comprises a solar cell including a first electrode and a second electrode on one main surface thereof, a wiring member electrically connected to the solar cell, and a resin adhesive layer bonding the solar cell and the wiring member to each other. Each of the first and second electrodes includes finger parts extending in one direction. The wiring member includes an insulating substrate, and a wiring disposed on the insulating substrate, and electrically connected to the finger parts of the first or second electrode. The resin adhesive layer includes an adhesive layer body made of a resin, and a conductive member disposed in the adhesive layer. A portion of the conductive member digs into at least one of the finger parts and the wiring.
US09911874B2
A solar cell can include a substrate and a semiconductor region disposed in or above the substrate. The solar cell can also include a contact finger coupled to the semiconductor region via a plurality of weld regions with at least one of the weld regions being a partial weld.
US09911871B1
A photovoltaic module includes colorized reflective photovoltaic cells that act as pixels. The colorized reflective photovoltaic cells are arranged so that reflections from the photovoltaic cells or pixels visually combine into an image on the photovoltaic module. The colorized photovoltaic cell or pixel is composed of a set of 100 to 256 base color sub-pixel reflective segments or sub-pixels. The color of each pixel is determined by the combination of base color sub-pixels forming the pixel. As a result, each pixel can have a wide variety of colors using a set of base colors, which are created, from sub-pixel reflective segments having standard film thicknesses.
US09911867B2
Integrated circuits, nonvolatile memory (NVM) structures, and methods for fabricating integrated circuits with NVM structures are provided. An exemplary integrated circuit includes a substrate and a dual-bit NVM structure overlying the substrate. The dual-bit NVM structure includes primary, first adjacent and second adjacent fin structures laterally extending in parallel over the substrate. The primary fin structure includes source, channel and drain regions. Each adjacent fin structure includes a program/erase gate. The dual-bit NVM structure further includes a first floating gate located between the channel region of the primary fin structure and the first adjacent fin structure and a second floating gate located between the channel region of the primary fin structure and the second adjacent fin structure. Also, the dual-bit NVM structure includes a control gate adjacent the primary fin structure.
US09911849B2
A first aspect of the invention provides for a transistor. The transistor may include a gate stack on a substrate; a channel under the gate stack within the substrate; a doped source and a doped drain on opposing sides of the channel, the doped source and the doped drain each including a dopant, wherein the dopant and the channel together have a first coefficient of diffusion and the doped source and the doped drain each have a second coefficient of diffusion; and a doped extension layer substantially separating each of the doped source and the doped drain from the channel, the doped extension layer having a third coefficient of diffusion, wherein the third coefficient of diffusion is greater than the first coefficient of diffusion.
US09911848B2
A vertical transistor includes a source-channel-drain structure, a gate and a gate dielectric layer. The source-channel-drain structure includes a source, a drain over the source and a channel between the source and the drain. The gate surrounds a portion of the channel. The gate is configured to provide compressive strain substantially along an extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is an n-channel vertical transistor, or the gate is configured to provide tensile strain substantially along the extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is a p-channel vertical transistor. In some embodiments, the vertical transistor further includes an ILD configured to provide tensile strain substantially along an extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is an n-channel vertical transistor, or configured to provide compressive strain substantially along an extending direction of the channel when the vertical transistor is a p-channel vertical transistor.
US09911843B2
A parasitic capacitance and a leak current in a nitride semiconductor device are reduced. For example, a 100 nm-thick buffer layer made of AlN, a 2 μm-thick undoped GaN layer, and 20 nm-thick undoped AlGaN having an Al composition ratio of 20% are epitaxially grown in this order on, for example, a substrate made of silicon, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed so as to be in ohmic contact with the undoped AlGaN layer. Further, in the undoped GaN layer and the undoped AlGaN layer immediately below a gate wire, a high resistance region, the resistance of which is increased by for example, ion implantation with Ar or the like, is formed, and a boundary between the high resistance region and an element region is positioned immediately below the gate wire.
US09911838B2
An IGBT die structure includes an auxiliary P well region. A terminal, that is not connected to any other IGBT terminal, is coupled to the auxiliary P well region. To accelerate IGBT turn on, a current is injected into the terminal during the turn on time. The injected current causes charge carriers to be injected into the N drift layer of the IGBT, thereby reducing turn on time. To accelerate IGBT turn off, charge carriers are removed from the N drift layer by drawing current out of the terminal. To reduce VCE(SAT), current can also be injected into the terminal during IGBT on time. An IGBT assembly involves the IGBT die structure and an associated current injection/extraction circuit. As appropriate, the circuit injects or extracts current from the terminal depending on whether the IGBT is in a turn on time or is in a turn off time.
US09911827B2
A process for manufacturing a Schottky barrier field-effect transistor is provided. The process includes: providing a structure including a control gate and a semiconductive layer positioned under the gate and having protrusions that protrude laterally with respect to the gate; anisotropically etching at least one of the protrusions by using the control gate as a mask, so as to form a recess in this protrusion, this recess defining a lateral face of the semiconductive layer; depositing a layer of insulator on the lateral face of the semiconductive layer; and depositing a metal in the recess on the layer of insulator so as to form a contact of metal/insulator/semiconductor type between the deposit of metal and the lateral face of the semiconductive layer.
US09911825B2
Semiconductor devices and methods for forming the devices with spacer chamfering. One method includes, for instance: obtaining a wafer with at least one source, at least one drain, and at least one fin; forming at least one sacrificial gate with at least one barrier layer; forming a first set of spacers adjacent to the at least one sacrificial gate; forming at least one second set of spacers adjacent to the first set of spacers; and etching to remove a portion of the first set of spacers above the at least one barrier layer to form a widened opening. An intermediate semiconductor device is also disclosed.
US09911813B2
A semiconductor device includes a first region having a first semiconductor material and a second region having a second semiconductor material. The second region is formed over the first region. The semiconductor device also includes a current blocking structure formed in the first region between first and second terminals of the semiconductor device. The current blocking structure is configured to reduce current flow in the first region between the first and second terminals.
US09911802B2
A method for manufacturing a display device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, includes forming a semiconductor of a transistor on a substrate, forming a gate insulating layer on the semiconductor, forming a control electrode and a first pad on the gate insulating layer, forming an interlayer insulating layer on the control electrode and the first pad, forming a first photosensitive film on the interlayer insulating, forming a plurality of first contact holes and a second contact hole by etching the interlayer insulating layer using the first photosensitive film patterns as a mask, removing a first portion of the interlayer insulating layer, forming a metal layer on the interlayer insulating layer, forming a second photosensitive film pattern on the metal layer, forming an input electrode and an output electrode, and removing the second photosensitive film pattern and a second portion of the interlayer insulating layer.
US09911796B2
A display device, which includes a plurality of unit pixels, includes a plurality of first electrodes respectively corresponding to the plurality of unit pixels, an insulating layer which includes a plurality of through holes, a light emitting element layer, and a second electrode. Each of the plurality of through holes have inner surfaces including a forwardly tapered surface, which is inclined in a direction of enlarging the apertures toward a light emitting direction, and a reversely tapered surface, which is inclined in a direction of reducing the apertures toward the light emitting direction. The forwardly tapered surface is formed between the unit pixels arranged side by side in the first direction. The reversely tapered surface is formed between the unit pixels arranged side by side in the second direction.
US09911787B2
A semiconductor device includes an active region defining an isolation region. First and second cell interconnection structures are on the active region and the isolation region, and have line shapes that are parallel to each other. An isolation pattern is on the active region and the isolation region. The isolation pattern is between the first and second cell interconnection structures. Contact structures are between the first and second cell interconnection structures. The contact structures are at both sides of the isolation pattern and overlap the active region. Insulating patterns are between the first and second cell interconnection structures. The insulating patterns are at both sides of the isolation pattern and overlap the isolation region. Common source regions are under the first and second cell interconnection structures. The common source regions are in the active region. An isolating gate pattern that has a line shape is under the isolation pattern.
US09911781B2
Photosensitive devices and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a photosensitive imager device can include a semiconductor substrate having multiple doped regions forming at least one junction, a textured region coupled to the semiconductor substrate and positioned to interact with electromagnetic radiation, and an electrical transfer element coupled to the semiconductor substrate and operable to transfer an electrical signal from the at least one junction. In one aspect, the textured region is operable to facilitate generation of an electrical signal from the detection of infrared electromagnetic radiation. In another aspect, interacting with electromagnetic radiation further includes increasing the semiconductor substrate's effective absorption wavelength as compared to a semiconductor substrate lacking a textured region.
US09911777B2
An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a first pair of photoelectric conversion regions in a first pixel region of the substrate and a first isolation structure between the photoelectric conversion regions of the first pair of photoelectric conversion regions. The sensor further includes a second pair of photoelectric conversion regions in a second pixel region of the substrate adjacent the first pixel region and a second isolation structure between the photoelectric conversion regions of the second pair of photoelectric conversion regions and having different optical properties than the first isolation structure. First and second different color filters (e.g., green and red) may be disposed on respective ones of the first and second pixel regions.
US09911775B2
An image sensor includes a substrate including a pixel array region and a logic region where a surface of the pixel array region is higher than a surface of the logic region, and a light shielding pattern formed over the substrate of the logic region and having a surface on substantially the same plane as a surface of the substrate.
US09911765B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) located on a thin film transistor substrate includes a first insulating film formed so as to cover a gate electrode, a channel layer that is formed at a position on the first insulating film overlapping the gate electrode and formed of an oxide semiconductor, a second insulating film formed on the channel layer, and a third insulating film formed so as to cover the second insulating film. A source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on the third insulating film. Each of the source electrode and the drain electrode is connected to the channel layer through the corresponding one of contact holes penetrating the second insulating film and the third insulating film.
US09911762B2
A display device is provided, which includes a substrate structure containing a substrate with a pixel region, and the pixel region includes an aperture region. A metal oxide semiconductor transistor is disposed over the substrate and includes a metal oxide semiconductor layer with a first channel region, a first gate electrode corresponding to the first channel region, and a silicon oxide insulating layer on the metal oxide semiconductor layer. The silicon oxide insulating layer includes an opening corresponding to the aperture region. A polysilicon transistor is disposed over the substrate. The display device also includes an opposite substrate structure, and a display medium between the substrate structure and the opposite substrate structure.
US09911760B2
A thin film transistor substrate including a second electrode connected to a first electrode within a shared contact hole; and a fourth electrode connected to a third electrode within the shared contact hole, wherein the shared contact hole penetrates through a plurality of stacked insulating layers, and wherein an insulating layer below at least one of a connection portion in which the first electrode and the second electrode are connected and a connection portion in which the third electrode and the fourth electrode are connected has an undercut structure within the shared contact hole.
US09911758B2
A display substrate, a display device and a method to identify a display device are provided. The display substrate comprises a display region and a periphery region. The periphery region comprises a plurality of first bonding pads electrically connected to metal wires disposed at the display region and a plurality of second bonding pads including at least two identification bonding pads. The at least two identification bonding pads are electrically connected to voltage-level signal lines respectively, and are labeled with identify information according to voltage-level signals provide by the voltage-level signal lines.
US09911752B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a stacked body provided on the semiconductor substrate and including a plurality of electrode films being disposed to be separated from each other along a vertical direction, a first semiconductor member provided inside the stacked body and contacting the semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor member provided on the first semiconductor member inside the stacked body, contacting the first semiconductor member and extending in the vertical direction, and an insulating film provided between the second semiconductor member and the electrode films. A configuration of a contact surface between the first semiconductor member and the second semiconductor member is convex downward.
US09911751B2
A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device includes forming a first stacked structure, forming a first hole penetrating the first stacked structure, forming a reflective metal pattern in the first hole, filling an etch stop layer in the first hole and over the reflective metal pattern, forming a second stacked structure over the first stacked structure, and forming a second hole penetrating the second stacked structure to expose the etch stop layer.
US09911745B2
A vertically integrated circuit device can include a substrate having a first region reserved for first functional circuits of the vertically integrated circuit device, where the first functional circuits has a substantially constant top surface level across the first region and having a second region reserved for second functional circuits of the vertically integrated circuit device and spaced apart from the first region. The second functional circuits can have a varied top surface level across the second region. A doped oxidation suppressing material can be included in the substrate and can extend from the first region to the second region at an interface of the substrate with the first functional circuits and the second functional circuits, respectively.
US09911744B2
An SRAM cell structure. In one embodiment, a bit cell first level contacts formed at a first and a second CVdd node, a first and a second CVss node, at a bit line node, at a bit line bar node, at a data node and at a data bar node; and second level contacts formed on each of the first level contacts at the first and second CVdd nodes, the first and second CVss nodes, the bit line node and the bit line bar node; wherein the first level contacts formed at the data node and the data bar node do not have a second level contact formed thereon. In another embodiment, a word line is formed and bit lines and a CVdd and a CVss line are formed overlying the SRAM cell and coupled to the corresponding ones of the nodes. Methods are disclosed for forming the cell structure.
US09911742B2
A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes sequentially providing a semiconductor substrate having NFET regions and NFET regions; forming an insulation layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a sacrificial layer on the insulation layer; forming first trenches in the PFET regions, and second trenches in the NFET regions; forming a third trench on the bottom of each of the first trenches and the second trenches; forming a first buffer layer in each of the first trenches and the second trenches by filling the third trenches; forming a first semiconductor layer on each of the first buffer layers in the first trenches and the second teaches; removing the first semiconductor layers in the second trenches; forming a second buffer layer with a top surface lower than the insolation layer in each of second trenches; and forming a second semiconductor layer on each of the second buffer layers.
US09911741B2
Silicon fins are formed in a bulk silicon substrate and thereafter trench isolation regions are formed between each silicon fin. The silicon fins in nFET and pFET device regions are then recessed. A relaxed silicon germanium alloy fin portion is formed on a topmost surface of each recessed silicon fin portion or on exposed surface of the substrate. A compressively strained silicon germanium alloy fin portion is formed on each relaxed silicon germanium alloy fin portion within the pFET device region, and a strained silicon-containing fin portion is formed on each relaxed silicon germanium alloy fin portion within the nFET device region. Sidewall surfaces of each compressively strained silicon-containing germanium alloy fin portion and each tensile strained silicon-containing fin portion are then exposed. A functional gate structure is provided on the exposed sidewall surfaces of each compressively strained silicon-containing germanium alloy fin portion and each tensile strained silicon-containing fin portion.
US09911735B2
A FinFET device and method for fabricating a FinFET device is disclosed. An exemplary device includes a fin structure formed over a semiconductor substrate. The fin structure includes a source region and a drain region that include a first material layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate, a second material layer disposed over the first material layer, and a third material layer disposed over the second material layer. The first, second, and third material layers are different from each other. The fin structure also has a channel defined between the source and drain regions. The channel includes the first material layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor material layer disposed over the first material layer.
US09911734B2
A semiconductor structure with a MISFET and a HEMT region includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A third III-V compound layer is disposed on the second III-V compound layer is different from the second III-V compound layer in composition. A source feature and a drain feature are disposed in each of the MISFET and HEMT regions on the third III-V compound layer. A gate electrode is disposed over the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature. A gate dielectric layer is disposed under the gate electrode in the MISFET region but above the top surface of the third III-V compound layer.
US09911733B2
A semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of trenches formed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of gate electrodes formed in the trenches, a base region and an anode region formed between adjacent trenches respectively in first and second element regions of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of emitter regions and contact regions selectively formed in the base region, an interlayer insulating film covering the gate electrodes, first and second contact holes penetrating the interlayer insulating film, a plurality of contact plugs embedded in the first contact holes, a first electrode contacting the contact plugs and contacting the anode region via the second contact hole, a collector region and a cathode region formed on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate respectively in the first and second element regions, and a second electrode contacting the collector region and the cathode region.
US09911731B2
A power circuit is described that includes a semiconductor body having a common substrate and a Gallium Nitride (GaN) based substrate. The GaN based substrate includes one or more GaN devices adjacent to a front side of the common substrate. The common substrate is electrically coupled to a node of the power circuit. The node of the power circuit is at a particular potential that is equal to, or more negative than, a potential at one or more load terminals of the one or more GaN devices.
US09911727B2
A memory circuit includes a first memory cell and a second memory adjacent to the first memory cell. The first memory cell includes a first word line strapping line segment electrically coupled with a pass device of the first memory cell; and a second word line strapping line segment. The second memory cell includes a first word line strapping line segment; and a second word line strapping line segment electrically coupled with a pass device of the second memory cell. The first word line strapping line segment of the first memory cell and the first word line strapping line segment of the second memory cell are connected with each other at a first interconnection layer. The second word line strapping line segment of the first memory cell and the second word line strapping line segment of the second memory cell are connected with each other at the first interconnection layer.
US09911726B2
In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a system of stacked and connected layers of circuits that includes at least one pair of adjacent layers having very few physical (electrical) connections. The system includes multiple logical connections. The logical interconnections may be made with light transmission. A majority of physical connections may provide power. The physical interconnections may be sparse, periodic and regular. The exemplary system may include physical space (or gap) between the a pair of adjacent layers having few physical connections. The space may be generally set by the sizes of the connections. A constant flow of coolant (gaseous or liquid) may be maintained between the adjacent pair of layers in the space.
US09911718B2
Methods and apparatuses relate generally to a packaged microelectronic device for a package-on-package device (“PoP”) with enhanced tolerance for warping. In one such packaged microelectronic device, at least one redistribution layer includes first interconnect pads on a lower surface and second interconnect pads on an upper surface of the at least one redistribution layer. Interconnect structures are on and extend away from corresponding upper surfaces of the second interconnect pads. A microelectronic device is coupled to an upper surface of the at least one redistribution layer. A dielectric layer surrounds at least portions of shafts of the interconnect structures. The interconnect structures have upper ends thereof protruding above an upper surface of the dielectric layer a distance to increase a warpage limit for a combination of at least the packaged microelectronic device and one other packaged microelectronic device directly coupled to protrusions of the interconnect structures.
US09911714B2
A lead frame includes adjacent die pads which lie adjacent to each other; grounding leads extended from the adjacent die pads; a connecting bar by which the grounding leads extended from the adjacent die pads are interconnected. The grounding leads and the connecting bar are formed to be thinner at one surface than a maximum thickness of leads of the lead frame, the grounding leads extended from the adjacent die pads are aligned on a common axis while providing the connecting bar between the grounding leads, and a support projection is provided at the one surface on the connecting bar in the common axis.
US09911709B1
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor die, a second semiconductor die and a plurality of supporting structures. The first semiconductor die includes a plurality of first bumps disposed adjacent to a first active surface thereof. The second semiconductor die includes a plurality of second bumps disposed adjacent to a second active surface thereof. The second bumps are bonded to the first bumps. The supporting structures are disposed between the first active surface of the first semiconductor die and the second active surface of the second semiconductor die. The supporting structures are electrically isolated and are disposed adjacent to a peripheral region of the second active surface of the second semiconductor die.
US09911707B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a substrate, and a first metal layer over the substrate. The integrated circuit structure further includes a second insulating layer over the first metal layer, the second insulating layer having a damascene opening and two via openings. The damascene opening has a first depth. The two via openings have a second depth greater than the first depth. The integrated circuit structure further includes a stress buffer having a flat upper surface extending from a first side of the stress buffer to a second side of the stress buffer, the first side and second side being parallel, the stress buffer having a thickness between the upper surface of the stress buffer and the first metal layer, the thickness being less than the second depth and greater than the first depth. The integrated circuit structure further includes a second metal layer over the stress buffer.
US09911698B1
A semiconductor device is provided which comprises a metal interconnect structure having a metal alloy capping layer formed within a surface region of the metal interconnect structure, as well as methods for fabricating the semiconductor device. For example, a method comprises forming a metal interconnect structure in a dielectric layer, and applying a surface treatment to a surface of the metal interconnect structure to form a point defect layer in the surface of the metal interconnect structure. A metallic capping layer is then formed on the point defect layer of the metal interconnect structure, and a thermal anneal process is performed to convert the point defect layer into a metal alloy capping layer by infusion of metal atoms of the metallic capping layer into the point defect layer. The resulting metal alloy capping layer comprises an alloy of metallic materials of the metal capping layer and the metal interconnect structure.
US09911692B2
Conductive structures include a plurality of conductive steps and a contact extending at least partially therethrough in communication with at least one of the plurality of conductive steps and insulated from at least another one of the conductive steps. Devices may include such conductive structures. Systems may include a semiconductor device and a stair step conductive structure having a plurality of contacts extending through a step of the stair step conductive structure. Methods of forming conductive structures include forming contacts in contact holes formed through at least one conductive step of a conductive structure. Methods of forming electrical connections in stair step conductive structures include forming contacts in contact holes formed through each step of the stair step conductive structure.
US09911687B2
A device comprises a package component comprising a plurality of bumps formed on a first side of the package component, a semiconductor die mounted on the first side of the package component, a dielectric material formed over the first side of the package component, wherein four corners of the top surface of the package component are free from the dielectric material and a top package bonded on the first side of the package component, wherein the semiconductor die is located between the top package and the package component.
US09911683B2
The film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor according to the present invention is a film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor to be formed on a back surface of a semiconductor element having been flip-chip connected onto an adherend, wherein a tensile storage elastic modulus at 23° C. after thermal curing is 10 GPa or more and not more than 50 GPa. According to the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor of the present invention, since it is formed on the back surface of a semiconductor element having been flip-chip connected onto an adherend, it fulfills a function to protect the semiconductor element. In addition, since the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor according to the present invention has a tensile storage elastic modulus at 23° C. after thermal curing of 10 GPa or more, a warp of the semiconductor element generated at the time of flip-chip connection of a semiconductor element onto an adherend can be effectively suppressed or prevented.
US09911676B2
Improved methods and systems for passivating a surface of a high-mobility semiconductor and structures and devices formed using the methods are disclosed. The method includes providing a high-mobility semiconductor surface to a chamber of a reactor and exposing the high-mobility semiconductor surface to a gas-phase chalcogen precursor to passivate the high-mobility semiconductor surface.
US09911674B2
Apparatus, and methods of manufacture thereof, in which a molding compound is formed between spaced apart microelectronic devices. The molding compound comprises micro-filler elements. No boundary of any of the micro-filler elements is substantially parallel to a substantially planar surface of the molding compound, or to a substantially planar surface of any of the microelectronic devices.
US09911672B1
A semiconductor device including an integrated circuit, a plurality of conductive pillars, and a protection layer is provided. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and an interconnection structure covering the semiconductor substrate, wherein the interconnection structure includes a plurality of patterned conductive layers and a plurality of inter-dielectric layers stacked alternately, the topmost patterned conductive layer of the patterned conductive layers is covered by the topmost inter-dielectric layer of the inter-dielectric layers, and the topmost patterned conductive layer is exposed by a plurality of openings of the topmost inter-dielectric layer. The conductive pillars are disposed on the topmost patterned conductive layer exposed by the openings, and the conductive pillars are electrically connected to the topmost patterned conductive layer through the openings. The protection layer covers the integrated circuit and the conductive pillars. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device and a method for fabricating integrated fan-out packages including the semiconductor device are also provided.
US09911670B1
An integrated circuit, in the form of a wafer, die, or chip, includes multiple standard cell-compatible fill cells, configured to enable non-contact electrical measurements. Such fill cells include mesh pads that contain at least three conductive stripes disposed between adjacent gate stripes. Such fill cells further include geometry to enable non-contact evaluation of via opens and/or resistances.
US09911655B2
A method of dicing a wafer may include forming a plurality of active regions in a wafer, each active region including at least one electronic component, the active regions extending from a first surface of the wafer into the wafer by a height and being separated by separation regions, forming at least one trench in the wafer by plasma etching in at least one separation region from the first surface of the wafer. The at least one trench is extending into the wafer farther than the plurality of active regions. The method may further include processing a remaining portion of the wafer in the separation region to separate the wafer into individual chips.
US09911653B2
Semiconductor device interconnect structures having low capacitance and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an interconnect structure includes forming an opening in a surface of a semiconductor device and forming an interconnect structure at least within the opening. Forming the interconnect structure includes depositing a first insulator material on both the surface and a sidewall of the opening, selectively removing a first portion of the first insulator material on the surface over a second portion of the first insulator material on the sidewall, depositing a second insulator material on the second portion, and depositing a conductive material on the second insulator material. The method further includes selecting the thickness of the first and second insulators materials based on a threshold level of capacitance between the sidewall and the conductive material.
US09911649B1
Wafers, chips, or dies that contain fill cells with structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). Such NCEM-enabled fill cells may target/expose a variety of open-circuit, short-circuit, leakage, or excessive resistance failure modes, and may include NCEM pads that comprise a mesh of GATECNT and AACNT stripes. Such wafers, chips, or dies may include Designs of Experiments (“DOEs”), comprised of multiple NCEM-enabled fill cells, in at least two variants, all targeted to the same failure mode(s).
US09911648B2
A method for forming at least one Ag or Ag based alloy feature in an integrated circuit, including providing a blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy in a multi-layer structure on a substrate. The method further includes providing a hard mask layer over the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy. The method further includes performing an etch of the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy, wherein a portion of the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy that remains after the etch forms one or more conductive lines. The method further includes forming a liner that surrounds the one or more conductive lines. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer on the multi-layer structure.
US09911647B2
A method for forming conductive lines on a wafer comprises forming a first hardmask, a planarizing layer, a second hardmask, a layer of sacrificial mandrel material on the second hardmask, and patterning a mask on the layer of sacrificial material. A first sacrificial mandrel and a second sacrificial mandrel and a gap are formed. A layer of spacer material is deposited in the gap. Portions of the first sacrificial mandrel and the second sacrificial mandrel are removed, and exposed portions of the second hardmask, the planarizing layer and the first hardmask are removed to expose portions of the insulator layer. The second hardmask, the spacers, and the planarizing layer are removed. Exposed portions of the insulator layer are removed to form a trench in the insulator layer, and the trench is filled with a conductive material.
US09911646B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are a method of forming a semiconductor device and methods of patterning a semiconductor device. An embodiment is a method of forming a semiconductor device, the method including forming a first hard mask layer over a semiconductor device layer, forming a set of mandrels over the first hard mask layer, and forming a first spacer layer over the set of mandrels and the first hard mask layer. The method further includes forming a second spacer layer over the first spacer layer, patterning the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer to form a mask pattern, and patterning the first hard mask layer using the mask pattern as a mask.
US09911639B2
A composite substrate 10 is formed by bonding together a piezoelectric substrate 12 and a support substrate 14 that has a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the piezoelectric substrate. The support substrate 14 is formed by directly bonding together a first substrate 14a and a second substrate 14b at a strength that allows separation with a blade, the first and second substrates being formed of the same material, and a surface of the first substrate 14a is bonded to the piezoelectric substrate 12, the surface being opposite to another surface of the first substrate 14a bonded to the second substrate 14b.
US09911620B2
Methods of selectively etching silicon nitride on a semiconductor substrate by providing silicon to the plasma to achieve high etch selectivity of silicon nitride to silicon-containing materials are provided. Methods involve providing silicon from a solid or fluidic silicon source or both. A solid silicon source may be upstream of a substrate, such as at or near a showerhead of a process chamber, or in a remote plasma generator. A silicon gas source may be flowed to the plasma during etch.
US09911613B2
A method of fabricating a memory device is described. Generally, the method includes forming a channel from a semiconducting material overlying a surface of a substrate, and forming dielectric stack on the channel. A first cap layer is formed over the dielectric stack, and a second cap layer including a nitride formed over the first cap layer. The first and second cap layers and the dielectric stack are then patterned to form a gate stack of a device. The second cap layer is removed and an oxidation process performed to form a blocking oxide over the dielectric stack, wherein the oxidation process consumes the first cap layer. Other embodiments are also described.
US09911604B1
Disclosed are methods of using a lithography-lithography-etch (LLE) technique to form a sidewall spacer pattern for patterning a target layer. In the methods, a photoresist layer is patterned by performing multiple lithographic processes with different photomasks, including a first photomask with a first pattern of parallel bars separated by spaces and a second photomask with a second pattern of opening(s) oriented in an essentially perpendicular direction as compared to the bar(s). The photoresist layer is then developed, creating a third pattern. The third pattern is transferred into a mandrel layer below to form mandrels of different lengths. Then, sidewall spacers are formed on the mandrels and the mandrels are selectively removed to form the sidewall spacer pattern. This sidewall spacer pattern is subsequently used in a sidewall image transfer (SIT) process to pattern a target layer below.
US09911600B2
A method for fabricating a III-nitride semiconductor body that includes high temperature and low temperature growth steps.
US09911599B2
A device includes a substrate, a buffer layer, a nanowire, a gate structure, and a remnant of a sacrificial layer. The buffer layer is above the substrate. The nanowire is above the buffer layer and includes a pair of source/drain regions and a channel region between the source/drain regions. The gate structure surrounds the channel region. The remnant of the sacrificial layer is between the buffer layer and the nanowire and includes a group III-V semiconductor material.
US09911598B2
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a symmetric tunnel field effect transistor and methods of manufacture. The structure includes a gate structure including a source region and a drain region both of which comprise a doped VO2 region.
US09911597B2
A method including forming an oxygen gettering layer on one side of an insulating layer of a deep trench capacitor between the insulating layer and a substrate, the oxygen gettering layer including an aluminum containing compound, and depositing an inner electrode on top of the insulating layer, the inner electrode including a metal.
US09911590B2
Method of deposition on a substrate of a dielectric film by introducing into a reaction chamber a vapor of a precursor selected from the group consisting of Zr(MeCp)(NMe2)3, Zr(EtCp)(NMe2)3, ZrCp(NMe2)3, Zr(MeCp)(NEtMe)3, Zr(EtCp)(NEtMe)3, ZrCp(NEtMe)3, Zr(MeCp)(NEt2)3, Zr(EtCp)(NEt2)3, ZrCp(NEt2)3, Zr(iPr2Cp)(NMe2)3, Zr(tBu2Cp)(NMe2)3, Hf(MeCp)(NMe2)3, Hf(EtCp)(NMe2)3, HfCp(NMe2)3, Hf(MeCp)(NEtMe)3, Hf(EtCp)(NEtMe)3, HfCp(NEtMe)3, Hf(MeCp)(NEt2)3, Hf(EtCp)(NEt2)3, HfCp(NEt2)3, Hf(iPr2Cp)(NMe2)3, Hf(tBu2Cp)(NMe2)3, and mixtures thereof; and depositing the dielectric film on the substrate.
US09911589B2
A processor controlled induction RF fluorescent lamp, where the control processor runs a load control algorithm at least for switching the electrical load for connection to an external dimming device, the lamp comprising a vitreous envelope filled with an ionizable gas mixture; a power coupler comprising at least one winding of an electrical conductor; and an electronic ballast providing appropriate voltage and current to the power coupler.
US09911585B1
A mass spectrometry method comprises: acquiring a series of survey mass spectra of first-generation ions generated from a sample; acquiring a series of fragment-ion mass spectra, each being a record of a respective set of fragment-ion species generated by fragmentation of a respective subset of the first-generation ions within a respective mass-to-charge isolation range; adjusting mass spectrometer operational parameters used to acquire a later one of the survey mass spectra based on results of an earlier one of the survey mass spectra; dividing the acquired series of fragment-ion mass spectra into a first group wherein an appearance of a fragment-ion species correlates with the appearance of a first-generation ion species observed in a survey mass spectrum and a second group wherein no obvious correlation is observed between fragment-ion species and first-generation ion species; and mathematically processing the spectra of the first and second groups by different mathematical procedures.
US09911583B1
An apparatus has a primary cathode configured for free space interaction with a substrate operative as an anode. A first annular cathode faces a second annular cathode. The primary cathode, the first annular cathode, the second annular cathode are axially aligned. The outer diameters of the first annular cathode and the second annular cathode correspond to the outer diameter of the primary cathode. The primary cathode provisions deposited material on the substrate with controllable plasma density to levels above 1×1018 m−3, with ignition capability above 0.05 Pa.
US09911579B2
Embodiments of showerheads having a detachable gas distribution plate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a showerhead for use in a semiconductor processing chamber may include a base having a first side and a second side opposing the first side; a gas distribution plate disposed proximate the second side of the base, wherein the gas distribution plate is formed from a material having an electrical resistivity between about 60 ohm-cm to 90 ohm-cm; a clamp disposed about a peripheral edge of the gas distribution plate to removably couple the gas distribution plate to the base; and a thermal gasket disposed in a gap between the base and gas distribution plate.
US09911568B2
A metal jet x-ray tube is proposed, that is affected less than conventional tubes by the problem of the power density at the point of incidence of the electron beam on the anode component. To this end, the metal jet x-ray tube provides a metal jet as an anode component that is so thin that this metal jet only partly decelerates an electron beam incident thereon. Moreover, the metal jet of the anode component is at least embedded or dissolved in a single second material that passes electrons relatively well and is heat absorbing.
US09911562B2
An actuator for a mechanical switch, a mechanical switch, a circuit breaker and a high voltage power transmission system including such an actuator are disclosed. The actuator includes at least one armature and a first primary coil with turns wound around a central coil axis, where the armature is movable along the central coil axis and there is a magnetic flux concentrator provided at least around the first primary coil.
US09911547B2
An electric storage device having a multilayer body in which a separator layer is provided between a positive or negative first electrode and a second electrode of the opposite polarity to the first electrode, an electrolyte, and a package that holds the multilayer body and the electrolyte, and includes at least two first-polarity compound sheets, each configured by integrating a first-polarity collector electrode, a first-polarity active material layer provided on one main surface of the first-polarity collector electrode, and a separator layer that covers at least part of the one main surface. Another main surface of the first-polarity collector electrode in one of the at least two first-polarity compound sheets and another main surface of the first-polarity collector electrode in another of the first-polarity compound sheets are opposed to each other and joined via a joining layer. The joining layer contains a high-polymer having imide coupling in its main chain.
US09911546B2
A current collector which is suitable for discharging and charging at a large current density is provided. The present invention provides a current collector including a conductive substrate and a conductive resin layer provided on one side or both sides of the conductive substrate. The conductive resin layer contains a soluble nitrocellulose-based resin and a conductive material.
US09911533B2
A capacitor is provided with a case having a receptacle with an expandable section that allows the receptacle to extend axially when internal pressure builds within the case as a result of a fault. Terminals are mounted on the cover and electrically connected to the electrodes of a capacitor element through an interrupter plate, via leads. The plate is attached to the section of the case that extends under pressure, whereby the plate is drawn away from the cover, thereby breaking the electrical connections to the terminal. The plate may also work in conjunction with a cover that expands outward in response to internal pressure, to provide a second pressure interrupter mechanism.
US09911531B2
A common mode filter includes a substrate; an insulating layer disposed on the substrate and including coil patterns, the insulating layer having a cavity disposed in a central portion therein; and a magnetic particle-resin composite layer including a core part filling the cavity and a cover part covering the insulating layer. The core part contains fine magnetic particles having an average particle diameter of 30 μm or less, and the cover part contains the fine magnetic particles having the average particle diameter of 30 μm or less and coarse magnetic particles having an average particle diameter greater than that of the fine magnetic particles.
US09911530B2
A coil component includes: a coil part including a first coil layer and a second coil layer disposed above the first coil layer, wherein the first coil layer includes a first insulating layer having a first opening pattern and a first conductive layer disposed in the first opening pattern, and the second coil layer includes a second insulating layer having a second opening pattern, a seed layer covering inner side surfaces and a lower surface of the second opening pattern, and a second conductive layer disposed in the second opening pattern.
US09911519B2
Provided are a paste for contacts and a solar cell using the same. The paste for contacts includes Al powder, glass frit, inorganic binder, and P-type oxidation containing I group elements.
US09911516B2
A cooling system for spent nuclear fuel may include a device configured to generate electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel. The cooling system may be configured to use the electricity when cooling the spent nuclear fuel. A cask for storage, transport, or storage and transport of spent nuclear fuel may include the cooling system and a container configured to hold the spent nuclear fuel. A method for cooling spent nuclear fuel may include generating electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel, and using the electricity in a cooling system for the spent nuclear fuel when cooling the spent nuclear fuel.
US09911508B2
A processor includes a cache memory having a plurality of entries. Each of the entries holds data of a cache line, a state of the cache line and a tag of the cache line. The cache memory includes an engine comprising one or more finite state machines. The processor also includes an interface to a bus over which the processor writes back modified cache lines from the cache memory to the system memory in response to encountering an architectural writeback and invalidate instruction. The processor also invalidates the state of the entries of the cache memory in response to encountering the architectural writeback and invalidate instruction. In response to being instructed to perform a cache diagnostic operation, for each entry of the entries, the engine writes the state and the tag of the entry on the bus and does not invalidate the state of the entry.
US09911507B2
A semiconductor device includes a memory region suitable for providing a plurality of read data in parallel at every read operation cycle, an output path suitable for outputting the plurality of read data at a set time in response to an internal clock and one or more internal control signals at the every read operation cycle, and an output path control unit suitable for generating the internal control signal in response to a read command and generating the internal clock in response to a system clock, wherein a shifting time of a first edge of the internal clock is adjusted by a set level at the every read operation cycle during a test mode.
US09911504B2
A data storage cell for storing data is disclosed. In one aspect, the data storage cell comprises a first nano electromechanical switch comprising a first moveable beam fixed to a first anchor, a first control gate and a second control gate, a first output node against which the first moveable beam can be positioned. The data storage cell also comprises a second nano electromechanical switch comprising a second moveable beam fixed to a second anchor, a third control gate and a fourth control gate. The second moveable beam can be positioned against the first output node. Further, the first nano electromechanical switch and the second nano electromechanical switch are configured for selecting a first or a second state of the data storage cell and are configured for having their moveable beam complementary positioned to the first output node. A memory arrangement of such data storage cells is also disclosed, as well as methods for writing data to the data storage cells and for reading data from the data storage cells.
US09911502B2
According to one embodiment, a data storage device includes a controller driven by a first power supply voltage, a nonvolatile memory controlled by the controller and driven by a second power supply voltage, and a switch element determining whether the second power supply voltage is applied to the nonvolatile memory. The controller is configured to turn off the switch element in a first mode and turn on the switch element in a second mode.
US09911495B2
A technique including using an array of memory cells for data storage. A given cell of the memory cells includes a capacitive storage element and a resistive storage element that is coupled in series with the capacitive storage element. The technique includes accessing the given memory cell to write a value to the given memory cell or read a value stored in the memory cell. The accessing includes applying a time varying voltage to the memory cell.
US09911492B2
Structures and methods for a multi-bit phase change memory are disclosed herein. A method includes establishing a write-reference voltage that incrementally ramps over a write period. The increments of the write-reference voltage correspond to discrete resistance states of a storage cell of the multi-bit phase change memory.
US09911489B2
Memory cells, memory systems and methods are described. In one embodiment, a memory cell includes electrodes and a memory element, and a first electrically conductive structure is formed within dielectric material providing the memory element in a low resistance state as a result of a first voltage of a first polarity being applied across the electrodes. Additionally, the first electrically conductive structure is removed from the dielectric material providing the memory element in a high resistance state as a result of a second voltage of a second polarity, which is opposite to the first polarity, being applied across the electrodes. A permanent and irreversible electrically conductive structure is formed within the dielectric material providing the memory element in the low resistance state as a result of a third voltage of the second polarity and having an increased potential compared with the second voltage being applied across the electrodes.
US09911486B2
A static random access memory (SRAM) chip includes a first and second conductor, a set of SRAM cells and a set of first and second tracking cells. The first conductor extends in a first direction, is coupled to a first supply voltage, and on a first metal layer. The second conductor extends in a second direction, is coupled to a second supply voltage, and on a second metal layer. A first cell of the set of first tracking cells includes a first tracking bit line conductor, first and second CMOS, and a first and second pass gate device. A first cell of the set of second tracking cells includes a third pass gate device, a third PU device, and a third PD device having a source configured to be electrically floating. A gate of the first PD device or the first PU device is electrically coupled to the first conductor.
US09911484B2
Various embodiments comprise methods and apparatuses for selecting a randomly-chosen seed row from among a stream of available data in a memory system. A refresh operation is then performed on at least one selected row of memory in the memory system based on the randomly-chosen seed row. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
US09911478B1
In some aspects, a calibration method includes performing a write/read test for each one of multiple combinations of write/read delay settings, wherein each one of the multiple combinations of write/read delay settings includes one of a plurality of write delay settings of a first delay device and one of a plurality of read delay settings of a second delay device. The method also includes obtaining test results for the write/read tests, determining a pass region based on the test results, determining a center of the pass region, and selecting one of the multiple combinations of write/read settings based on the center of the pass region.
US09911477B1
Integrated circuits that include memory interface and controller circuitry for communicating with external memory are provided. The memory interface and controller circuitry may include a user logic interface, a memory controller, and a physical layer input-output interface. The user logic interface may be operated in a first clock domain. The memory controller may be operated in a second clock domain. The physical layer interface may be operated in a third clock domain that is an integer multiple of the second clock domain. The user logic interface may include only user-dependent blocks. The physical layer interface may include memory protocol agnostic blocks and/or memory protocol specific blocks. The memory controller may include both memory protocol agnostic blocks and memory protocol dependent blocks. The memory controller may include one or more color pipelines for scheduling memory requests in a parallel arbitration scheme.
US09911475B1
A semiconductor device includes an information signal conversion circuit suitable for generating a flag signal from an external control signal in response to an information signal, and an implicit precharge signal generation circuit suitable for generating an implicit precharge signal for performing a precharge operation between successive active operations, in response to the flag signal.
US09911473B1
In some embodiments, a memory device includes a memory bank, a global data line, a first tri-state unit, a latch, a second tri-state unit and a pre-charge unit. The first tri-state unit is configured between the memory bank and the global data line. The latch is configured to provide a state signal based on a data signal from the memory bank. The second tri-state unit is configured between the global data line and the latch. The pre-charge unit pre-charges the global data line to a first intermediate level or a second intermediate level depending on the state signal during the global data line is caused to be electrically isolated from the memory bank by the first tri-state unit and electrically isolated from the latch by the second tri-state unit.
US09911463B2
According to one embodiment, a controller-implemented method collecting data relating to operation of a tape drive, storing the collected data in wrap sections of a tape map, where the wrap sections of the tape map correlate to physical lengths of tape. The method also includes and storing a subset of the collected data in a slice region upon at least one of experiencing a first trigger condition and reaching a predefined location on a tape. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
US09911456B2
A cup portion of a base member includes a cylindrical portion and a bottom plate portion. The cylindrical portion is arranged to be coaxial or substantially coaxial with a central axis extending in a vertical direction. The bottom plate portion is defined integrally with the cylindrical portion, and is arranged to close a lower portion of the cylindrical portion. A bearing mechanism is arranged inside of the cup portion. An outer circumferential surface of the bearing mechanism and an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion have an adhesive layer arranged therebetween. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a communicating hole passing through the cylindrical portion in a direction that crosses an axial direction is defined in the vicinity of a junction of the cylindrical portion and the bottom plate portion. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base member includes a communicating hole passing through the bottom plate portion in the axial direction.
US09911449B2
The first, third, fourth, and seventh photosensors are disposed on one side with respect to the centerline, and the second, fifth, sixth, and eighth photosensors are disposed on another side with respect to the centerline. The first and seventh photosensors are positioned between the third and fourth photosensors in the direction parallel to the centerline. The second and eighth photosensors are positioned between the fifth and sixth photosensors in the direction parallel to the centerline. The first photosensor receives overlapped light of the 0th-order light with the +1st-order diffracted light, the second photosensor receives overlapped light of the 0th-order light with the −1st-order diffracted light, each of the third to sixth photosensors receives the 0th-order light, and does not receive the +1st-order diffracted light and the −1st-order diffracted light, and each of the seventh and eighth photosensors receives at least the 0th-order light.
US09911448B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to an embodiment includes a substrate and perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer includes a recording portion and non-recording portion. The recording portion has patterns regularly arranged in the longitudinal direction, and includes magnetic layers containing Fe or Co and Pt as main components, and at least one additive component selected from Ti, Si, Al, and W. The non-recording portion includes oxide layers formed by oxidizing the side surfaces of the magnetic layers, and nonmagnetic layers formed between the oxide layers.
US09911444B1
According to one embodiment, a head for a disk drive includes a slider including an air-bearing surface having a pair of side edges, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface and a trailing-side end surface, and a head section provided in the slider. The slider includes a leading step in a leading-side end portion of the air-bearing surface, a deep trench provided downstream side of the leading step, and a trailing step in a trailing side end portion of the air-bearing surface and including the head section built therein, and side trenches having a depth of 100 to 300 nm formed respectively along the pair side edges of the air-bearing surface.
US09911443B2
A method according to one embodiment includes gathering information about how an array of writers write and/or are expected to write to a magnetic medium during shingled recording, and computing, using the gathered information, data describing a lateral writing position to use during writing such that shingled track edges are aligned according to a format. A method according to another embodiment includes obtaining a lateral offset from a nominal writing position, and applying the lateral offset for repositioning a writing position of an array of writers relative to a nominal writing position during writing in a first direction. A product according to one embodiment includes a magnetic recording medium; and data indicative of whether a lateral writing position offset was used while writing.
US09911441B1
A solid-immersion mirror has two reflective portions surrounding a focal region. A thermal sensor that senses temperature as a function of resistance is proximate at least one of the two reflective portions of the solid-immersion mirror. A near-field transducer is located proximate the focal region of the solid-immersion mirror. The near-field transducer directs optical energy to a magnetic recording medium.
US09911440B2
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors.
US09911438B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a magnetic recording medium, and a magnetic head including a first reproducing unit. The first reproducing unit includes a first magnetic field generator separated from the magnetic recording medium in a first direction, and a first stacked body. At least a portion of the first stacked body is provided between the magnetic recording medium and the first magnetic field generator in the first direction. The first stacked body includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer separated from the first magnetic layer in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a first intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first stacked body performs an operation of generating a first alternating magnetic field. The first magnetic field generator generates a first magnetic field.
US09911427B2
In an encoding method that is expected to produce a smaller code amount out of a periodicity-based encoding method and a non-periodicity-based encoding method, the amount of code or an estimated value of the amount of code of an integer value sequence which is derived from an audio signal is obtained while adjusting gain. In the other encoding method, an integer value sequence obtained in this process is substituted to obtain the amount of code or an estimated value of the amount of code of the integer value sequence. The obtained code amounts or estimated values are compared to choose one of the encoding methods and the integer value sequence is encoded using the chosen encoding method to obtain and output an integer signal code.
US09911416B2
A method for controlling an electronic device in response to speech spoken by a user is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input sound by a sound sensor. The method may also detect the speech spoken by the user in the input sound, determine first characteristics of a first frequency range and second characteristics of a second frequency range of the speech in response to detecting the speech in the input sound, and determine whether a direction of departure of the speech spoken by the user is toward the electronic device based on the first and second characteristics.
US09911409B2
A speech recognition apparatus includes a processor configured to recognize a user's speech using any one or combination of two or more of an acoustic model, a pronunciation dictionary including primitive words, and a language model including primitive words; and correct word spacing in a result of speech recognition based on a word-spacing model.
US09911398B1
A video display hub is mounted in a common household area such as a kitchen or family room. The display hub is configured to display various types of information for users in the area, such as weather, traffic updates, schedules, notes, messages, lists, news, etc. When the user is at a distance from the display hub, information is presented at a relatively low density, with a low level of granularity and detail in conjunction with large fonts, graphics, and icons. When the user is close to the display hub, information is presented at a relatively high density, with a high level of granularity and detail in conjunction with small fonts, graphics, and icons.
US09911393B2
The present invention provides a device and a method for compensating a voltage of a primary color subpixel, and a display device. The voltage compensation device includes: a grayscale determination module for determining whether a display grayscale value corresponding to a data voltage of the primary color subpixel is larger than a preset grayscale value; a first compensation module for performing voltage compensation on the primary color subpixel according to primary color mura information acquired in advance in a primary color test picture, when the display grayscale value is determined to be larger than the preset grayscale value; and a second compensation module for performing voltage compensation on the primary color subpixel according to gray mura information acquired in advance in a gray test picture, when the display grayscale value is determined to be equal to or smaller than the preset grayscale value.
US09911384B2
A scan driver of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device includes a plurality of sequentially-connected stages each connected to a plurality of pixels through a plurality of first-scan lines and a plurality of second-scan lines. Each stage of the sequentially-connected stages includes a common driver and a sub-driver unit. The common driver is configured to concurrently provide a common first-scan signal to the first-scan lines of the stage in response to at least a first initialization signal and a second initialization signal. The sub-driver unit is configured to serially provide second-scan signals to the second-scan lines of the stage in response to a plurality of output enable signals, the first-scan signal, and one of the first initialization signal and the second initialization signal. An order of the serial providing of the second-scan signals to the second-scan lines is dynamically configurable based on the output enable signals.
US09911379B2
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a substrate and an active pattern formed over the substrate and including first to fourth regions, the first and fourth regions connected to each other. The display also includes a gate insulation layer formed over the active pattern, and a first gate electrode formed over the gate insulation layer. The first gate electrode, the first region and the second region define a first transistor. The display also includes a second gate electrode formed over the gate insulation layer, and the second gate electrode, the third region and the fourth region define a second transistor. The display also includes a first insulating interlayer formed over the first and second gate electrodes and a conductive pattern formed over the first insulating interlayer. An OLED is configured to receive a driving current from the first transistor.
US09911371B2
A display panel driver includes an image data generator, a brightness correction circuit performing a correction calculation on image data, a drive section driving the display panel in response to corrected image data; and a display timing generator outputting a timing control signal. The correction calculation by the brightness correction circuit is adjustable. When the display panel driver is placed into a test mode, the display timing generator is configured to output an internally-generated timing control signal and the image data generator outputs internally-generated evaluation image data. The evaluation image data are generated so that the evaluation images are switched from one to another in response to the internally-generated timing control signal.
US09911364B2
A resettable injection training device having a an outer shell including a proximal end and a distal end, the outer shell defining a chamber there within, an actuation member near a proximal end, and a plunger slidable within the chamber is provided. The device further including a safety shield having an extended locked position, an extended unlocked position and a retracted position, a locking sleeve configured to interact with the safety shield, and a reset shuttle disposed within the safety shield at a distal end of the device, wherein the reset shuttle is slidable relative to the safety shield, such that movement of the reset shuttle toward the proximal end of the device unlocks the safety shield.
US09911361B2
An apparatus is provided for audibly reading text retrieved from a captured image. In one implementation, the apparatus comprises an image sensor configured to capture image data from an environment of a user, and at least one processor. The processor is configured to determine an existence of a pointing trigger in the image data, the trigger being associated with a user's desire to hear text read aloud, and wherein the trigger identifies an intermediate portion of the text a distance from a level break in the text. The processor is further configured to perform a layout analysis on the text to identify a level break associated with the trigger; and cause the text to be read aloud from the level break associated with the trigger.
US09911359B2
Arc welding simulations that provide simulation of virtual destructive and non-destructive testing and inspection of virtual weldments for training purposes. The virtual testing simulations may be performed on virtual weldments created using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system). The virtual inspection simulations may be performed on “pre-canned” (i.e. pre-defined) virtual weldments or using virtual weldments created using a virtual reality welding simulator system. In general, virtual testing may be performed using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system), and virtual inspection may be performed using a standalone virtual weldment inspection (VWI) system or using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system). In accordance with certain enhanced embodiments of the present invention, virtual testing may also be performed on a standalone VWI system.
US09911354B2
A hands-free music notation display system for playing digital sheet music. The system includes a tablet that displays digital sheet music and houses the system's operating components therein. The housing within the tablet includes a communication link connecting the tablet to one or more foot controls. The foot controls provide the ability for a user to display the next or previous page on the tablet with his or her foot, thereby permitting the user to remain hands-free to play an instrument. The tablet includes a plurality of buttons that permit a user to load and play sheet music thereon.
US09911345B2
Provided is a navigation system that processes a route plan and data from the surrounding environment to identify a potential threat of undesirable contact anywhere along the route plan. The provided navigation system generates an informative, anticipative display of the vehicle's surrounding environment. When a potential threat is identified, the provided navigation system provides a visual threat alert that enables rerouting the vehicle, thereby averting the potential threat.
US09911339B2
Systems and methods for enhancing aircraft performance are provided. In one example, a method can include accessing an initial model that defines operating cost of an aircraft at a series of model operating states. The method also can include identifying one or more sample operating states for analyzing aircraft cost during flight. The method also can include receiving one or more real-time flight performance parameters indicative of aircraft operating cost while the aircraft is operating at the identified sample operating states. The method also can include generating an updated model that defines operating cost of the aircraft using the initial model as well as data defined by the real-time flight performance parameters. The method also can include determining an enhanced operating state based at least in part on the updated model and outputting the enhanced operating state for control of the aircraft.
US09911331B2
An apparatus for determining a degree of shade for a parking position for a vehicle having a sensor device which determines an outside temperature and an interior temperature for the vehicle. The apparatus also includes an evaluation device which takes the outside temperature and the interior temperature as a basis for determining whether the vehicle is in a shaded or sunny parking position and a transmission device which sends information about the degree of shade for the parking position of the vehicle to a processing device.
US09911326B2
An approach is provided for processing and/or facilitating a processing of probe trace data to determine one or more mode indicators, wherein the one or more mode indicators include, at least in part, one or more attributes of the probe trace data. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a modeling of one or more statistical patterns of at least one pedestrian mode of transport, at least one non-pedestrian mode of transport, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on determining one or more probabilities that one or more mode indicators are associated with the at least one pedestrian mode of transport, the at least one non-pedestrian mode of transport, or a combination thereof. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a classification of other probe trace data as being associated with the at least one pedestrian mode of transport or the at least one non-pedestrian mode of transport based, at least in part, on the one or more mode indicators that are associated with the other probe trace data and the one or more statistical patterns.
US09911325B2
Upon receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device, a key code generator device identifies a codeset usable to communicate with a selected consumer device. The keystroke indicator signal contains an indication of a pressed key, which corresponds to a function of the selected consumer device. Using the identified codeset and the key indication, the key code generator device generates a key code and modulates that key code onto a radio frequency carrier signal, thereby generating a first key code signal. The remote control device receives the first key code signal from the key code generator device and modulates the key code onto an infrared frequency carrier signal, thereby generating a second key code signal. The remote control device relays the key code to the selected consumer device in the second key code signal. The key code causes the selected consumer device to perform the desired function.
US09911323B2
Toolstring topology mapping systems having a downhole toolstring including a master node controller and a plurality of nodes and related methods. The methods involve querying each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring for actual topology information, receiving actual topology information from each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring in response to querying, and generating a topology map of the downhole toolstring based on the actual topology information from each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring. The methods can also involve comparing the topology map with the input topology information to identify topology mismatch and then take remedial actions if needed.
US09911320B2
A remote control system includes a control unit configured to send a control signal to a machine to be controlled from a position remote from the machine. A sensor system is operatively linked with the control unit, and is configured for registering a presence of an operator in a predetermined proximity to a predetermined location. Operation of the machine to be controlled is responsive to the sensor system.
US09911319B2
Systems and techniques are provided for automatic security system mode selection. A set of signals may be received from sensors distributed in an environment with a security system. The security system may be in a first mode. An occupancy model may be received. An occupancy estimate may be generated for the environment based on the set of signals from the sensors and the occupancy model. Mode rules may be received. The mode rules associate occupancy estimates with modes of the security system. A second mode for the security system may be determined based on the occupancy estimate and mode rules. The second mode may be different from the first mode. The mode of the security system may be automatically changed from the first mode to the second mode.
US09911317B2
A system and methods for determining maintenance needs of an alarm system are provided. The system may include a central monitoring station configured to receive operational measurements and apply maintenance rules to the operational measurements and a maintenance history for the alarm system to determine maintenance needs of the alarm system. Additionally, the central monitoring station may be configured to receive points, which may be modules or devices, and status updates and apply installation rules to the points and status updates to determine the maintenance needs for one or more of the points.
US09911308B2
In some embodiments, a method includes producing, from an adapter, a first wireless signal characterized by a first communication mode with a computing device when a portion of at least one of a medicament delivery device or a simulated medicament delivery is disposed within the adapter. An indication is received when the portion of the medicament delivery device or the simulated medicament delivery device is removed from the adapter. A second wireless signal characterized by a second communication mode with the computing device is produced in response to the indication. The second communication mode is different from the first communication mode. The second communication mode can be, for example, a hold mode, a sniff mode or a park mode.
US09911306B2
Systems and methods for providing a smart hydration container or bottle which accurately tracks a user's liquid intake. The smart hydration container utilizes a new capacitive sensing technology which does not require a complicated design for capacitive conductive surfaces and provides accurate capacitive measurements which map to volume measurements. Through the use of calibrated data, the smart hydration container accurately measures capacitance “as a whole” of the entire container's contents even when the container is not resting upright. In some implementations, the smart hydration container utilizes a combination of capacitive sensing, motion sensing, position sensing, and/or temperature sensing to provide an accurate measure of liquid volume in the container. The capacitive sensor may be electrically shielded by a passive conductive sensor shield, a grounded conductive sensor shield, or an active conductive sensor shield.
US09911303B2
A system to evaluate airborne hazards having at least one sensor module which detects atmospheric conditions and generates output signals representative of those atmospheric conditions. A model module receives the output from the sensor and generates a model output signal representative of a calculated wind flow and plume footprint, when applicable, over an area of interest. A display module receives the model output signal and visually displays the calculated wind flow and its effect on a plume if present in near real-time. The final system output is provided to authorized end users in near real-time.
US09911302B2
A stairway safety system and method including movement sensors and/or force sensors, a safety button, a central processing unit, a user notify device configured to generate audio or visual indications prompting the stairway user to engage the safety button, and a communication device configured to send a message requesting help. The central processing unit is configured to measure the length of time between detecting signals from the sensors and also to instruct the first user notify device to generate audio or visual indications when the measured time between detecting the signals is shorter or longer than a stairway user's actual or estimated typical travel time through the stairway. The central processing unit is configured to measure time and to instruct the communication device to send the message requesting help if a safety signal is not detected within a safety time period which indicates a request for help may be needed.
US09911301B1
The lost child notification system is a transponder based alarm system that monitors the position of a tracked person relative to an appropriate authority who should be in the vicinity of the person. The lost child notification system comprises a supervisory bracelet and a tracking bracelet. The supervisory bracelet is a finding that is worn or carried by the appropriate authority. The tracking bracelet is worn or carried by the tracked person. The supervisory bracelet sends out a first electromagnetic signal that stimulates the tracking bracelet to respond to the supervisory bracelet with a second electromagnetic signal. If the supervisory bracelet does not detect the second electromagnetic signal, the supervisory bracelet generates an alarm. The tracking bracelet further detects whether the security of the tracking bracelet has been compromised. If the tracking bracelet has been compromised, the tracking bracelet generates the second electromagnetic signal.
US09911299B2
A system and method are described. The system utilizes data entry devices commonly found in some workplaces, such as warehouses, to generate an emergency signal. The emergency signal is used to generate an emergency response. In one embodiment, an emergency sign with a printed emergency symbol may be scanned using a network-connected barcode scanner to generate the emergency signal. In another embodiment, a user may utter an emergency speech input into a network-connected speech recognition device to generate the emergency signal. The system and method may expand and improve safety in a workplace by offering a more convenient way to summon help.
US09911293B2
This invention relates to an apparatus and retrofit method for integrating a safe into a security system, said apparatus comprising a wireless transmitter that transmits the condition of the safe to the receiver of a security system. The apparatus comprises at least one battery-operated transmitter in wireless communication with at least one receiver through an antenna concealed on the exterior surface of the safe and sensors connected to the transmitter. The design of the safe body and the integration with a wireless interface allows for flexibility and portability of the safe while maintaining strong security.
US09911292B1
This disclosure relates to haptic actuators, and suitably haptic actuators based on repulsion and attraction between a coil and a magnet. Such haptic actuators are useful in structural materials, such as elements of wearables or accessories.
US09911284B2
A system and method are provided for play of a lottery second-chance game wherein players visit one or more physical locations to satisfy requirements for entry into the second chance game. The players are provided with the identity and location of the communication-enabled locations, and such locations are configured with a transmitter device that broadcasts an ID signal that is unique to the respective communication-enabled location. In one embodiment, the players are provided an application for download to a mobile smart device, the application enabling recognition and receipt by the device of the unique ID signals emitted by the transmitter devices. A game server is in secure communication with one or both of the player's mobile smart device or a functional component within the communication-enabled location, the game server identifying the player and the particular communication-enabled location upon receipt of a transmission that includes at least part of the unique ID signal. Receipt of the transmission by the server functions to verify that the player is within the communication-enabled location, and the server automatically credits to the player satisfaction of a requirement for entry into the second chance game.
US09911281B2
A game system including a plurality of symbols, a rotor and an award amount. The plurality of symbols include at least one secondary award group of the symbols. A wager is placeable on the secondary award group. The rotor displays the symbols and a plurality of ball landings adjacent to the symbols. A plurality of the symbols are indicatable after multiple spins of the rotor. The game system is operable to provide a secondary award based on the indication of one or more symbols within the secondary award group.
US09911279B2
A system and method are provided for play of a game of chance wherein players visit one or more physical locations to increase a likelihood of success or enhanced winnings in the game. A plurality of physical locations are designated as authorized communication-enabled locations and are configured with a transmitter device that broadcasts a unique ID signal or a receiver that receives the unique ID signal. The identity and address of the locations are published to the players. The players are provided with any one or more of: one of the unique transmitter devices; an application for download to a mobile smart device that enables receipt and recognition by the device of the unique ID signals; or a downloaded application to cause the mobile smart device to transmit a respective unique ID signal for receipt by the receiver in the communication-enabled locations. A game server is in secure communication with one or all of: the player's mobile smart device, the transmitter device at the communication-enabled location, or the receiver at the communication-enabled location. The server identifies the player and the particular location upon receipt of a transmission of the unique ID signal, and generates a personalized message to the player with instructions as to how the player can increase their likelihood of success in the game of chance by taking certain actions at the location.
US09911277B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are presented for operating a generalized progressive gaming system which offers a common progressive jackpot for a various games with different sets of winning hands and different denominations. The generalized progressive system represents a jackpot in terms of probability and adds a normalizing random event to a player's bet and the hand player receives. In order to win a jackpot the player must receive a qualified hand and a combined probability of these two events, namely a hand and a normalizing random event, must be smaller than a required value. Any qualified hand can win the jackpot. Handling of various denominations is proposed. Generalized progressive system apparatus is also provided that includes a display, a user interface, a processor and a server.
US09911276B2
A universal jackpot controller permits jackpots to be implemented at unlimited combinations of gaming machines and systems, including different types of gaming devices and systems of different operators and including land-based and online systems.
US09911275B2
An electronic gaming machine is disclosed. The electronic gaming machine includes an interactive controller constructed to: determine that a user has used a power-up in a skill-based game; provide to the user an advantage in the skill-based game; communicate to an application controller, application telemetry data of the user's use of the power-up; receive from the application controller, a wager outcome; and present to the user the wager outcome. The electronic gaming machine further includes the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and a wager controller. The application controller is constructed to: receive the application telemetry data; determine that the user has used the power-up; generate a wager request on the determination that the user has used the power-up; communicate to the wager controller, the wager request; receive from the wager controller, a wager outcome; and communicate the wager outcome to the interactive controller for display to the user.
US09911273B2
The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques for facilitating access to a target device. During operation, a target device presents a unique code to a user device that is located in proximity to the target device. The user device presents this unique code to a management server that is associated with the target device to gain access to the target device, with the management server linking the two devices. The target device receives notification that the user device has been linked and displays a set of received user account information on a display. Subsequently, the target device receives notification from the management server that the linked user device has applied a credit to the target device, and initiates an operation that is associated with consuming the credit.
US09911259B1
A system includes a remote controller, such as a fob, and a base station at a target device, such as a vehicle. The remote controller and the base station are configured to communicate authorization communications and time-of-flight (ToF) communications between one another over a common communications channel. The base station is further configured to confirm from the authorization communications whether the remote controller is authorized for controlling a function of the target device and to confirm from the ToF communications whether the remote controller is within a predetermined range of the target device. The base station is further configured to prevent the function from being controlled by the control unit when the control unit is not within the predetermined range of the target device.
US09911242B2
A method for adjusting pixel colors between image frames includes scanning, at a processor, a first image frame of a sequence of image frames. The method also includes determining a grayscale threshold based on characteristics of the first image frame to identify gray pixel candidates in the first image frame. The method further includes adjusting a pixel value of each pixel in the first image frame based on a chromatic adaptation transform estimation. The chromatic adaptation transform estimation is based on the gray pixel candidates. The grayscale threshold may be computed for each image frame in the sequence of image frames.
US09911235B2
A method for spatial interaction in Augmented Reality (AR) includes displaying an AR scene that includes an image of a real-world scene, a virtual target object, and a virtual cursor. A position of the virtual cursor is provided according to a first coordinate system within the AR scene. A user device tracks a pose of the user device relative to a user hand according to a second coordinate system. The second coordinate system is mapped to the first coordinate system to control movements of the virtual cursor. In a first mapping mode, virtual cursor movement is controlled to change a distance between the virtual cursor and the virtual target object. In a second mapping mode, virtual cursor movement is controlled to manipulate the virtual target object. User input is detected to control which of the first mapping mode or the second mapping mode is used.
US09911226B2
A method for cleaning or processing a room uses an autonomously mobile device. In order the relieve the user of the task of finding the exact subarea to which the device must travel, or avoid, on a map of the room, the user in order to select a subarea takes a photograph of the subarea and transmits it to a processing unit. In this way a method is provided that is less time-consuming and more convenient for the user.
US09911222B2
A method for augmenting a threaded conversation between a first device and a second device. The method includes: receiving a selection of a selectable animation, via a selection of a selectable animation representation, at the first device, wherein the selectable animation is configured for augmenting the threaded conversation; and incorporating the selection of the selectable animation into the threaded conversation such that the selectable animation appears in a conversation view of the first device and the second device.
US09911220B2
The present disclosure is directed to integrating external 3D models into a character creation system. In general, a character creation system imports an external 3D model by determining correspondence values for each vertex within the 3D model. Once imported, a user can customize the 3D character by adding texture to the character, adjusting character features, swapping out one or more character features, adding clothes and accessories to the character, automatically rigging the character, and/or animating the character.
US09911199B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining data referred to as target change data which can be used for performing radiotherapy treatment, the target change data describing information on the change of position of a target included in a body of a patient, the method being performed by a computer and comprising the following steps: acquiring determination rule data describing a rule for mapping an indicator change set to the target change data, the indicator change set being a set which comprises more than one element, the elements of the indicator change set respectively representing information on respective changes of positions of indicators, at least two of the indicators respectively indicating a change of position of different body structures referred to as indicator structures, acquiring set data describing an acquired indicator change set; and determining the target change data based on the determination rule data and the set data by applying the rule for mapping to the acquired indicator change set.
US09911195B2
The method comprises the steps of, successively for each image following a preceding image based on a map of motion vectors that corresponds to the motion from said preceding image toward said following image, building a pixel mask for said following image, applying said pixel mask to the corresponding following image in order to obtain a corresponding masked image that samples the pixels of said following image. The application of this method to color clustering allows the iterative update of the colors clusters with limited computer resources.
US09911181B2
Method comprising, for each pixel, obtaining a pixel expansion exponent value (E′(p)) by low pass filtering luminance values of colors of pixels in its spatial neighborhood, obtaining a pixel luminance-enhancement value (Yenhance(p)) by extraction of high frequencies of luminance values of colors of pixels in its spatial neighborhood, and then inverse tone mapping the luminance (Y(p)) according to the equation Yexp(p)=Y(p)E′(p)×[Yenhance(p)]c.
US09911177B2
An image processing pipeline may apply chroma suppression to image data at a scaler implemented in the image processing pipeline. Image data collected for an image may be received at a scaler that is encoded in a color space that includes a luminance component and chrominance components. When resampling the image data to generate a different size of the image, the scaler may attenuate the chrominance components of the image data according to the luminance component of the image data. The scaler may also perform dot error correction and convert the image data from one subsampling scheme to another.
US09911176B2
A system is disclosed for improving the flexibility and performance of video walls including a method for using a primary GPU for initial rendering to a GPU frame buffer, copying of this frame buffer to system memory for processing into multiple sub-frames then outputting the sub-frames via multiple secondary graphics controllers. This system enables the video wall server to leverage performance advantages afforded by GPU acceleration and maintaining performance while providing full flexibility of the CPU and system memory to apply the required transformations to the sub-images as well as flexibility in the selection of secondary graphics controllers (including network graphics approaches where the graphics controller is connected over a network) for outputting the multiple sub-images to a plurality of displays. This has applications generally in the field of real-time multiple display graphics processing as well as specific applications in the field of video walls and network video walls. A method and computer readable medium are also disclosed that operate in accordance with the system.
US09911174B2
An image processing pipeline may process image data at multiple rates. A stream of raw pixel data collected from an image sensor for an image frame may be processed through one or more pipeline stages of an image signal processor. The stream of raw pixel data may then be converted into a full-color domain and scaled to a data size that is less than an initial data size for the image frame. The converted pixel data may be processed through one or more other pipelines stages and output for storage, further processing, or display. In some embodiments, a back-end interface may be implemented as part of the image signal processor via which image data collected from sources other than the image sensor may be received and processed through various pipeline stages at the image signal processor.
US09911168B2
Physical location information for a specified user is corrected according to vehicle location and trajectory analysis. Vehicles, such as delivery vehicles, produce physical location information for the vehicle during delivery events to the specified user and a surrounding physical area. The physical location information for the vehicle is accessed to correct erroneous physical location information for the specified user.
US09911164B1
This invention is a system and method for managing restaurant customer data elements.
US09911154B2
A smart payment device is issued to a user; the device is capable of both offline and online transactions and has a total available balance split. The split is between an available offline balance and an available online balance. It is determined whether the user has entered a primarily offline environment or will imminently enter a primarily offline environment. If this is so, the total available balance split is redistributed to favor offline transactions.
US09911152B2
Systems and methods are provided for providing a platform to provide virtual storefronts to consumers. Environmental elements are associated with specific consumer services on computer server. A user in the environment takes audio or visual recordings of an environmental element and uploads the recordings to the server. The server determines the appropriate consumer service associated with the recorded environmental element and provides the user with a reference to the service. Accordingly, any space, such as a bus stop, subway or train terminal, movie theater, or airport, may be turned into a virtual store.
US09911146B2
A system and method for securely authenticating a user for the purpose of accessing information, such as private financial or personal information, in an online environment are disclosed. In addition, a system and method for allowing consumers to make secure payments from an electronic wallet with biometric authentication are disclosed.
US09911144B1
A method of presenting information to a party through a messaging application is described. Responsive to receipt of a communication from a party (e.g., the first user), a reply is sent. The communication and the reply is presented in an interface to the sender. The messaging system determines matching content that is relevant to one or both of the communication and the reply and determines a quality of the match. Determining the quality of the match may include determining a score for an advertisement based on the advertisement's responsiveness to content identified in the reply message that was sent. Based on a determination that the quality is above a threshold, the matching content is presented along with the communication and the reply.
US09911141B2
One or more text blocks, one or more images, and one or more contextual advertisements related to the text blocks are input into a mixed-content page layout model. One or more pages are generated by the mixed-content page layout model such that the text blocks, the images, and the contextual advertisements are displayed on the pages. For each contextual advertisement, a dynamic weight to a particular text block is determined. The mixed-content page layout model uses the dynamic weight for a contextual advertisement in determining where the advertisement is displayed within the pages in relation to the particular text block.
US09911134B2
A method of communicating messages between a sender and a recipient using a communications protocol over a data network, which includes: (a) receiving communication preferences specified by the recipient that includes constraints required to be met for delivery of a message, (ii) publishing the profile with visible preferences from the communication preferences of the recipient when the sender selects the recipient to send the message, (iii) processing a request received from the sender to send the message to the recipient, (iv) generating a customized message form based on the communication preferences of the recipient to enable the sender to compose the message, (v) providing an indication to the sender if any of the constraints are not met, and (vi) delivering the message to the recipient when the constraints specified by the recipient and any constraints applied by a messaging system are met by the message.
US09911129B2
Demographic assessment of information is facilitated using targeted location oversampling. In one example, a device determines mobile devices communicatively coupled to a base station device associated with a first defined region, wherein the first defined region is relative to a defined location of interest. The device can transmit a set of instructions to the mobile devices that instruct the mobile devices to power on respective location information components configured to transmit location information. The respective location information can be configured to transmit respective global positioning system information for the mobile devices. The device can also determine which ones of the mobile devices are within a second defined region based on respective location information received from the mobile devices.
US09911121B2
A method and apparatus for conducting a secure transaction involving generation of a dynamic authentication code on a mobile device, based on secret data which does not identify an account. The authentication code and financial account identifying information are transmitted to a validating entity, which shares information about the secret data, to authorize the transaction.
US09911113B2
An electronic money server groups a parent who owns a parent mobile phone and children who own child mobile phones to be registered as a family, and credit information of the parent is also registered. When the child accesses the electronic money server by using the child mobile phone and specifies a money amount to request family charge, the electronic money server requests the parent mobile phone for permission of the family charge. When the parent grants the family charge, the electronic money server allows the parent mobile phone to decrease a value by the money amount specified by the child and to make the family settlement, and allows the child mobile phone to increase the value by this money amount and to effect the family charge. Further, the child mobile phone can accept issue of credit from a credit server on credit of the parent, thereby effecting the family charge.
US09911093B2
Mechanisms are provided for dynamically determining one or more automation levels for tasks of a workflow. The mechanisms receive a workflow from a source component and receiving context and state information for an environment in which the workflow is to be performed. One or more tasks and associated task attributes are identified in the workflow and applying one or more automation rules to the context and state information and the task attributes to generate one or more automation level settings from the one or more tasks. The one or more tasks are performed in the environment in accordance with the one or more automation level settings. The automation level settings specify a degree of automation to be used when performing the one or more tasks.
US09911091B2
A method of managing a supply chain comprises providing at a customer interface module a plurality of order fulfillment options to a customer, and receiving from the customer a selection of a particular order fulfillment option. The method also includes receiving a first order from the customer, and receiving a first inventory status from a first distribution center. A first distribution center sends a first product to the customer in response to determining that the particular order fulfillment option comprises a fill-partial order fulfillment option, and a duration between the time that the first product is directed to be sent and the time when the first product is actually sent is determined. An alert is generated if the duration is greater than a predetermined duration.
US09911085B2
Methods and systems are provided for helping a customer select seats when purchasing tickets, such as from an online ticket seller. A venue map can be provided to help the customer select the seat. The venue map can show the different seating areas and their relationship to an attraction area, such as a stage, game court or field. The venue map can also show features of the venue. For example, the venue map can show wheel chair accesses, restaurants, drink stands, playgrounds, stores, parking lots, restrooms, and the like. Ticket prices for each seating area can be provided, either on the map or elsewhere. Thus, a customer can use the map to determine which seats the customer desires for a particular event.
US09911084B2
An aspect of the disclosure includes a method, a system and a computer program product for scheduling a pickup of a passenger with an autonomous vehicle at a facility with a plurality of egress locations. The method includes receiving a pickup request for a passenger from a facility having a plurality of egress locations. A first pickup time is determined for each of the plurality of egress locations. A first egress location is selected from the plurality of egress locations based at least in part on the first pickup time at the first egress location, a position of the passenger and a queue time. A first signal is transmitted that includes a proposed pickup time and location to the passenger. An autonomous vehicle is moved from a first location to the first egress location. The passenger is picked up at the first egress location.
US09911075B1
A RFID transponder includes an active load modulation unit and an energy harvesting unit coupled to the active load modulation unit. The active load modulation unit performs active load modulation on transmitted signals. The energy harvesting unit harvests RF energy from the ambient environment, converts the RF energy to DC energy, stores the DC energy, and supplies the DC energy to the active load modulation unit.
US09911073B1
Systems and methods for using facial patterns for information access via optical barcodes are provided. In example embodiments, a computer accesses an image, the image including a geometric shape. The computer determines, using a facial recognition module, that the accessed image includes a face inside the geometric shape. The computer determines, using the face inside the geometric shape, an orientation of the geometric shape. The computer decodes, based on the determined orientation of the geometric shape, data encoded within the geometric shape. The computer accesses, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded data. The computer presents, at a display device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.
US09911070B2
An information processing apparatus prints, when a first product is read by a reading apparatus, a first work instruction sheet including information about all products to be delivered to a first destination of the read first product, prints, if all products to be delivered to the first destination are read by the reading apparatus, a first shipping label for delivery to the first destination, determines, if a second product to be delivered to a second destination different from the first destination is read by the reading apparatus, whether any other product is to be delivered to the second destination, and prints, if it is determined that there no other product is to be delivered to the second destination, a second shipping label for delivery to the second destination.
US09911065B2
The PLACEMETER PLATFORM APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“PM-PLATFORM”) transform sensor data and/or feedback via PM-PLATFORM components into notifications, updates, coupons, promotions, transactions and/or activities notifications, updates, coupons, promotions, transactions and/or activities. In one implementation, the PM-PLATFORM comprises a sensor, a memory, and a processor disposed in communication with the sensor and memory, the memory storing processor-issuable instructions to receive raw environment data at a sensor for at least two discrete points in time, analyze the received raw environment data locally to determine an at least one occupancy metric, store the occupancy metric, receive further raw environment data for a further point in time, process the further raw environment data to determine a further occupancy metric, compare the further occupancy metric to at least one previous occupancy metric, and issue a notification based on the comparison.
US09911054B2
The present specification discloses a foldable display device displaying stored images by a folding or unfolding action of a foldable housing and a method of controlling therefor. The foldable display device according to the present specification includes a display unit including a first display area spatially or visually separated by the folding or unfolding action of the foldable housing. When the first display area changes a state from a state of facing a second direction (e.g., user direction) to a state of facing a first direction (e.g., third party direction), stored images are displayed on the first display area. By doing so, a third party can easily check the stored images displayed on the first display area.
US09911053B2
Provided is a technology which enables early removal from a tracking target of an object unnecessary to be tracked and which, together therewith, when the tracking target is temporarily in a state of being not detected, enables continuous tracking of the relevant tracking target without removing it from the tracking target.A detection unit 2 detects, as a tracking candidate, an object included in an image by using image processing. A corresponding degree calculation unit 3 calculates a corresponding degree which is index representing a probability that the detected tracking candidate corresponds to the tracking target registered as an object to be tracked. When having determined that it is unnecessary to track the tracking target based on an evaluation value calculated by using the corresponding degree, a decision unit 4 deletes the registration of the object to be tracked with respect to the relevant tracking target.
US09911041B2
A monitoring device monitors facility elements in a building. Self-localization of the monitoring device is estimated by collating measured three-dimensional shapes with a map for localization including the shapes and positions of structural objects inside a building excluding the shapes and positions of facility elements. The monitoring device extracts the shape and position of a facility element candidate from the measured three-dimensional shapes; and calculates a similarity between the shape and position of each of the facility elements in the periphery of the self-localization extracted from the facility element collation map. The monitoring device identifies which of the facility elements in the periphery of the self-localization extracted from the facility element collation map is the facility element candidate extracted from the measured three-dimensional shape on the basis of the calculated similarity.
US09911033B1
A method comprising: training a price tag detector, comprising a gross feature detector and a classifier, to automatically detect a price tag in an image, by: a) training the gross feature detector using supervised learning with labeled images, and b) training the classifier using a two-phase hybrid learning process comprising: c) applying an initial supervised learning using the labeled images, yielding a semi-trained version of the classifier, and d) applying a subsequent unsupervised learning using unlabeled images, yielding a fully trained version of the classifier, wherein applying the unsupervised learning comprises: for each unlabeled image: i) detecting multiple price tag hypotheses using the gross feature detector, ii) classifying each price tag hypothesis using the semi-trained classifier, ii) rating each classification based contextual data extracted from the unlabeled image, iv) retraining the semi-trained classifier with the rated classifications, and repeating steps ii) through iv) until the reclassification converges.
US09911023B2
An indicia reader that utilizes its image sensor for more than one function is disclosed. The image sensor's functionality is derived by designating areas on the image sensor according to function and then filtering the light focused onto each area according to the area's particular function. The data (i.e., pixel information) from each area may then be processed accordingly to facilitate a variety of functions such as image capture and object detection.
US09911020B1
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device, including a radio frequency interface configured to receive, from a radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency that indicates a personal identifier. A transceiver can be configured to generate a transmission signal of second carrier frequency that indicates the personal identifier and location information associated with the device and to transmit electromagnetic waves in response to the transmission signal at a first physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path. The electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium and are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, and the transmission signal can be extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09911018B1
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag integrated circuit (IC) stores a subportion of a digital signature and a subportion indicator that may be used to authenticate the IC, a tag including the IC, and/or an item associated with the tag. The subportion of the digital signature is generated, at least in part, by applying a cryptographic function to an identifier associated with the IC, the tag, and/or the item.
US09911014B2
There is disclosed a method of transferring data using a tag, said tag comprising an RF interface unit, a host interface unit and a memory, the method comprising: the RF interface unit connects the tag to an RF device; the host interface unit connects the tag to a host device; the tag enters into a pass-through mode; in said pass-through mode, the tag transfers data, either in a first configured transfer direction, from the RF device to the host device, or, in a second configured transfer direction, from the host device to the RF device; in said pass-through mode, the tag buffers said data in the memory. Furthermore, a corresponding computer program product and a corresponding tag are disclosed.
US09911009B2
A device and method for providing the security of data by using multiple modes in the device are provided. The device includes a storage unit that includes a normal mode data area and a security mode data area which is isolated from the normal mode data area and access to which is allowed only in a security mode; and a controller that processes data in the normal mode data area during a normal mode, and processes data in the security mode data area during the security mode.
US09911002B2
Provided is a user device including: a storage configured to store data; and a controller configured to recognize a person included in an image captured by the user device or received by the user device from an external source, and change a part of the image corresponding to the recognized person to be unrecognizable in response to a degree of closeness between the recognized person and a user of the user device being lower than a predetermined level based on the data stored in the storage.
US09911001B2
A method of automatically modifying a computer data query is disclosed herein. The modification of the computer data query can be performed to restrict access to data. The computer data query can be modified by receiving the computer data query, identifying tables in the query and retrieving providers associated with the tables identified in the query. These providers can be linked to one or several predicates. These predicates can be retrieved and used to modify the query. The modified query can then be used to retrieve data from one or several tables identified within the query.
US09910996B2
Mass storage devices and methods for securely storing data are disclosed. The mass storage device includes a communication interface for communicating with a connected host computer, a mass-memory storage component for storing data, a secure key storage component adapted to securely store at least one master secret, and an encryption-decryption component different from the secure key storage component and connected to the secure key storage component and the mass-memory storage component. The encryption-decryption component may be adapted to encrypt data received from the host computer using an encryption algorithm and at least one encryption key and to write the encrypted data into the mass-memory storage component. The encryption-decryption component may also be adapted to decrypt encrypted data stored in the mass-memory storage component for returning the data to the host computer in response to a read data command from the host computer using a decryption algorithm and at least one decryption key the security of which is protected using a master secret securely stored in the secure key storage component.
US09910991B2
An apparatus is provided for protecting a basic input/output system (BIOS) in a computing system. The apparatus includes a BIOS read only memory (ROM), an event detector, and a tamper detector. The BIOS ROM has BIOS contents that are stored as plaintext, and an encrypted message digest, where the encrypted message digest comprises an encrypted version of a first message digest that corresponds to the BIOS contents, and where and the encrypted version is generated via a symmetric key algorithm and a key. The event detector is configured to generate a BIOS check interrupt that interrupts normal operation of the computing system upon the occurrence of an event, where the event includes one or more occurrences of an operating system call. The tamper detector is operatively coupled to the BIOS ROM and is configured to access the BIOS contents and the encrypted message digest upon assertion of the BIOS check interrupt, and is configured to direct a microprocessor to generate a second message digest corresponding to the BIOS contents and a decrypted message digest corresponding to the encrypted message digest using the symmetric key algorithm and the key, and is configured to compare the second message digest with the decrypted message digest, and configured to preclude the operation of the microprocessor if the second message digest and the decrypted message digest are not equal. The microprocessor includes a dedicated crypto/hash unit disposed within execution logic, where the crypto/hash unit generates the second message digest and the decrypted message digest, and where the key is exclusively accessed by the crypto/hash unit. The microprocessor further has a random number generator disposed within the execution logic, where the random number generator generates a random number at completion of a current BIOS check, which is employed by the event detector to randomly set a number of occurrences of the event that are to occur before a following BIOS check.
US09910982B2
Large-scale, time-sensitive secure distributed control systems and methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes detecting an anomaly at a module among a plurality of modules in a network. The method also includes adjusting a reputation level of the module associated with the detected anomaly. Further, the method includes controlling interaction of the module associated with the detected anomaly within the network based on the adjusted reputation level.
US09910981B2
A malware analysis system for automating cause and effect analysis of malware infections is provided. The malware analysis system monitors and records computer system activities. Upon being informed of a suspected malware infection, the malware analysis system creates a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that were conducted within a time frame prior to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system may also create a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that are conducted within a time frame subsequent to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system provides the created snapshot or snapshots for further analysis.
US09910972B2
Methods and systems may provide for selecting a hypervisor protocol from a plurality of hypervisor protocols based on a communication associated with a remote agent. The selected hypervisor protocol may be used to conduct a trust analysis of one or more digitally signed values in the communication, wherein a cloud attestation request may be processed based on the trust analysis. Processing the cloud attestation request may involve generating a trustworthiness verification output, a geo-location verification output, etc., for a cloud computing node corresponding to the remote agent.
US09910969B2
A system, method, and device includes a platform data storage that stores a wrap that secures an executable controller and executable sensors. The wrap is verified, optionally through a downloaded authentication driver. After verifying the wrap, the wrap is opened and a sister of the executable controller is installed into the platform memory to cooperate with the executable controller. Additionally or alternatively, the authentication driver may cooperate with the executable controller. The executable controller allows the platform processor to access data secured in a vault and/or verify the platform to create a connection to an application server.
US09910961B2
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate consultations between a referral source (e.g., labs, pathologists and patients) and a consultant (e.g., pathologist, radiologist, or other digital image analyst). Links between the various referral sources and consultants are established through a scanning center via a data communication network such as the Internet. The referral source sends a slide to the scanning center where the corresponding digital slide is posted for review and analysis by the consultant. Upon completion of the analysis and report, a digital slide conference is conducted through the scanning center that provides a venue for direct communication regarding the consultation. The scanning center may also facilitate payment from the referral source to the consultant.
US09910960B2
Methods and systems are presented for indicating the proximity of a process requirement metric to a corresponding system process requirement in a physiological monitor. Metrics are determined based on a received physiological signal, such as a PPG signal. At least one of the metrics is compared to a corresponding system process requirement, such as a threshold, which can be used to trigger a system process, such as an alarm, a recalibration, or a measurement. The proximity of the metric to the corresponding system process requirement is calculated and indicated. Indicating the proximity to a system process requirement may provide valuable information to clinicians and allow them to manually trigger system processes, such as measurements or recalibrations, when a metric is close to a system process requirement for a significant period of time.
US09910944B2
Embodiments relate to the emulation of circuits, and representation of unknown states of signals. A disclosed system (and method and computer program product) includes an emulation environment to convert a digital signal of a DUT in a form capable of representing an unknown state. In addition, the disclosed system converts digital logic circuits such as Boolean logic, flip flops, latches, and memory circuits to be operable with signals having unknown states. Thus, an unknown state of a signal is indicated and propagated through digital logic circuits represented in a disclosed semantic to enable prompt detection of improper operation of the DUT, for example, due to power shut down or inadequate initialization.
US09910943B2
This application discloses a computing system to implement a design verification tool and simulate a circuit design with a test bench. The computing system can correlate transactions captured during simulation of a circuit design to distributed states for multiple components in the circuit design. The computing system can identify at least a portion of the distributed states for the multiple components correspond to system level coverage events. The computing system can generate a graphical presentation to illustrate the portion of the distributed states for the multiple components in the circuit design that correspond to system level coverage events.
US09910940B2
A method of modeling a segment of a pipeline transporting a product comprising defining within the segment a plurality of discrete cells, each disposed between knots, preparing a system of equations relating the conservations of mass, momentum and energy for each cell along with equations for the liquid phase flow area of cells with tight, slack and minimum area flow modes, providing data relating to the product and the location and elevation of the cells, sensing a plurality of conditions within known cells, solving the system of equations, initiating a re-stepping process by re-assessing the flow modes of each cell and re-setting flow modes for cells with unstable flow modes, and resolving the system of equations using stable flow modes. An embodiment of the method includes excepting one or more cells from the re-stepping portion where a recurrent pattern of flow mode change is detected.
US09910938B2
A method can include providing data for at least one shale gas formation; performing a statistical analysis on the data for each of the at least one shale gas formation; providing a simulation model; history matching the simulation model for each of the at least one shale gas formation based at least in part on the performed statistical analysis to generate a history matched model for each of the at least one shale gas formation; and forecasting production for another shale gas formation by plugging in data for the other shale gas formation into each generated history matched model. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09910933B2
A computer receives event information associated with a user. The computer determines one or more social media contacts associated with the event, wherein the social media contacts are further associated with the user. The computer determines one or more terms utilized by the determined one or more social media contacts. The computer detects an input by the user, wherein the input includes one or more characters. The computer determines one or more autocomplete suggestions based on the one or more terms utilized by the determined one or more social media contacts.
US09910929B2
A web browser-based content management system which includes a web browser; a web server engine embedded into the web browser so that the web browser has web server functionality, the web server engine having web server, database and scripting language components; and a content management system to support the creation, collection, management and publication of digital content, the content management system deployed on the web browser embedded web server to provide a web browser-based content management system. Also included is a browser to browser content sharing system.
US09910922B2
One or more files associated with a user are scanned. Metadata corresponding to the one or more files is determined. One or more categories based on the one or more files is determined, wherein the one or more categories is associated with the user. One or more categories are modified based on the metadata corresponding to the one or more files.
US09910913B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for generating a plan for document processing. A plurality of electronic documents are received from a data store. The plurality of electronic documents are analyzed. Textual data within the identified tabular data are identified, by performing a first natural language search of the analyzed plurality of electronic documents. Textual hints are generated, where the generated textual hints are mapped to a lookup set. References are identified, and a count of identified references are determined. A priority score is calculating based on the count of identified references. In response to receiving a priority score modifying value, a modified priority score is calculated. Ingestion plans are generated based on the modified priority score. Generated ingestion plans are communicated by the computer using the network.
US09910909B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to managing user interactions and, more particularly, to performing analysis on data generated by user interactions. Embodiments of the invention use text mining to extract personal information of users from user interactions automatically. A topic model is used to reduce the number of dimensions required to represent the text, yet all the information of interest is highly pronounced. This enables a lower dimensional representation of the data leading to significantly faster computations.
US09910906B2
Managing data in a cloud computing environment, including data transfers. File level and block level similarities are identified, including for archive and nested archive files, residing on datacenters and regional repositories. A replication plan is generated based on receiving a replication instruction, and further based on similarity clusters by transferring unique data blocks and files from best available sources including regional repositories.
US09910901B2
Presenting a diagram indicating relationships among data items stored in a data management system includes: receiving a request that identifies a first data item stored in the data management system from a user interface; retrieving stored configuration information that includes a plurality of selection specifications for selecting data items in the data management system that are related to a given data item of a predetermined type, where each selection specification is associated with a different respective predetermined type; querying the data management system to identify a set of one or more data items according to a selection specification from the configuration information that is associated with a type of the first data item; for each of multiple returned data items in the identified set, querying the data management system to determine whether additional data items are identified according to a selection specification from the configuration information that is associated with a type of the returned data item; generating a diagram indicating relationships among data items identified using the configuration information; and presenting the generated diagram over the user interface.
US09910900B2
A method and an apparatus for providing a search result are provided. The method can include obtaining at least one search result card, in a computer memory, according to an input search term, in which each of the at least one search result card comprises a first surface and a second surface, and a search result is recorded on the first surface and/or the second surface. The first surface of each of the at least one search result card can be displayed on a display. A request to turn a first search result card over can be determined to have been received, in which the first search result card is the search result card firstly selected from the at least one research result card. The first search result card can be visually turned over to display the second surface of the first search result card on the display.
US09910899B1
A data analysis method and computer system electronically mines potential intellectual property related to enterprise business needs. The method and system may utilize various text mining techniques to perform associative discovery, where existing enterprise documents or data are harvested and correlated with the latest industry trends in order to inspire new insights and stimulate the discovery of new or potential intellectual property. In one aspect, an area of interest may be identified. After which, identifiers associated with the area of interest, e.g., keywords and/or linking terms, may be determined. An enterprise database may be searched using the identifiers. The documents flagged by the search may be ranked with respect to their relevance to the area of interest based upon which and/or how many identifiers are contained within each respective document. The identification of highly relevant documents associated with an area of interest may lead to discovery of intellectual property.
US09910892B2
One embodiment is a method to manage queries in a database. The method identifies a query that executes on the database for an elapsed time that is greater than a threshold and then implements a remedial action when the query executes on the database for an execution time that is greater than an estimated execution time.
US09910889B2
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for matching data to a dynamic set of signatures. The mechanism creates a state transition, result, and mask (STR&M) table based on a set of signatures. The mechanism executes scanner code in each of a plurality of hardware devices in parallel to form a plurality of matching engines. The mechanism loads the STR&M table into each of the plurality of matching engines. Responsive to receiving a plurality of input records, the mechanism distributes input strings from the plurality of input records among the plurality of matching engines and receiving signature set match results from the plurality of matching engines.
US09910887B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from a user of an online social network a search query input comprising a character string having a number of characters; accessing one or more verticals that each store objects associated with the online social network, where if the number of characters is less than or equal to a threshold number, then accessing a first set of verticals, and if the number of characters is greater than the threshold number, then accessing the first set of verticals and a second set of verticals; searching each accessed vertical to identify one or more objects associated with the vertical that substantially match the character string; and sending to the user references to the identified objects.
US09910884B2
Functionality is described herein for presenting representations of the z most recently presented items. The functionality also presents indicators which convey the presentation modes that were last used to present the z items. When the user selects one of the z items, the functionality presents it, as a default, using the last-used presentation mode, as conveyed by the indicator associated with this item. In one particular case, the last-used presentation mode corresponds to a full mode or a snap mode.
US09910882B2
In an approach for calculating a probability of a consistency violation of a transaction in a database management system, a processor receives a plurality of transactions within a predetermined time period. A processor identifies a first pattern in a first transaction of the plurality of transactions based on at least an isolation level of the transaction. A processor identifies a second pattern, wherein the second pattern is the cooperation between the first transaction and the second transaction. A processor determines that the first pattern of the first transaction substantially matches a preexisting pattern, wherein the preexisting pattern corresponds to values for a mathematical model for estimating a percentage of transactions in violation of consistency criteria. A processor extracts values from the first transaction based on the determined preexisting pattern. A processor calculates the mathematical model using the values from the first transaction and the values from the preexisting pattern.
US09910873B2
Techniques are disclosed for sorting an input data set. A sort tool determines a distribution of values of a data set that includes a plurality of data records. The sort tool partitions the data set into a plurality of subsets based on the distribution. Each of the data records is inserted into one of the subsets based on a corresponding sort value of the data record. The sort tool identifies one or more of the subsets that contain at least two distinct sort values. In each of the identified subsets, the data records are sorted by a corresponding sort value of the data record.
US09910867B2
A representative image system is described herein that provides a representative image for any given search query. Upon receiving a search for a term (or terms), the system accesses an inverted index to identify images associated with that term. The system then receives a ranked list of images. The ranked list includes image identifiers, and once an item in the list is selected the system can use the associated image identifier to retrieve the image from a thumbnail or other server. If an editor has overridden the default image for the present search query, then the system returns the image identifier for the overridden image, which can be used to access the image from the thumbnail or other server. Thus, the representative image system provides a reliable and universal mechanism for retrieving representative images for any given topic dynamically in real time.
US09910858B2
A system and method for providing contextual analytics data receives display entity data into a first virtual container, the display entity data including one or more instructions of the first virtual container. Instructions performing process operations are present within a second virtual container isolated from the first virtual container. The display entity data is analyzed to identify a webpage, for example, associated with the display entity data. If necessary, executable code is injected into the first virtual container in order to expose data of the first virtual container to the operations of the second virtual container so that further identification of the display entity may be made. A request is made by the second virtual container to one or more computing systems to provide available analytics data pertaining to the display entity data, after which the available analytics data is displayed for a user.
US09910853B2
A method, system and computer program product for providing translated web content is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request from a user on a web site, the web site having a first web content in a first language, wherein the request calls for a second web content in a second language. The method further includes dividing the first web content into a plurality of translatable components and generating a unique identifier for each translatable component. The method further includes identifying a plurality of translated components of the second web content using the unique identifier of each of the plurality of translatable components of the first web content and putting the plurality of translated components of the second web content to preserve a format that corresponds to the first web content. The method further includes providing the second web content in response to the request that was received.
US09910851B2
Disclosed are on-line voice translation method and device. The method comprises: conducting voice recognition on first voice information input by a first user, so as to obtain first recognition information; prompting the first user to confirm the first recognition information; translating the confirmed first recognition information to obtain and output first translation information; extracting, according to second information which is fed back by a second user, associated information corresponding to the second information; and correcting the first translation information according to the associated information and outputting the corrected translation information. By means of the on-line voice translation method and device, smooth communication can be ensured in cross-language exchanges.
US09910850B2
A system and method for translating a phrase for video game development for games to be made available in a plurality of natural languages is disclosed. The method includes determining that code for a video game being developed has been created or modified. The method further includes inspecting the code to determine whether a phrase to be displayed or to be spoken during game play is present therein, wherein the phrase comprises a plurality of words. The method further includes comparing the entire phrase to a collection of phrases for which one or more translations to another natural language are already available, and if an exact match is determined, then reusing the one or more available translations for one or more corresponding languages.
US09910845B2
The disclosed solution uses machine learning-based methods to improve the knowledge extraction process in a specific domain or business environment. By formulizing a specific company's internal knowledge and terminology, the ontology programming accounts for linguistic meaning to surface relevant and important content for analysis. Based on the self-training mechanism developed by the inventors, the ontology programming automatically trains itself to understand the business environment by processing and analyzing a defined corpus of communication data. For example, the disclosed ontology programming adapts to the language used in a specific domain, including linguistic patterns and properties, such as word order, relationships between terms, and syntactical variations. The disclosed system and method further relates to leveraging the ontology to assess a dataset and conduct a funnel analysis to identify patterns, or sequences of events, in the dataset.
US09910843B2
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for creating an electronic spreadsheet using a web-based spreadsheet application. A web-server hosting a web-based spreadsheet website comprises one or more computer(s) having at least one computer processor, memory, data storage and a network communication device (e.g. a network adapter). The web-server is configured to transmit a spreadsheet web application to a user computing device (e.g. a personal computer, smartphone, etc.) having a web-browser via the internet. The spreadsheet web application is configured to program the web-browser of the computing device to display and execute a spreadsheet web application having various features and functionality, including one or more of a separate design section and preview panel, a test data feature, line by line building of a spreadsheet without a starting grid of rows and columns, an embedded spreadsheet feature, an embedded worksheet display within a line feature, or any combination of these features.
US09910831B2
A display apparatus and a method for providing a font effect thereof are provided. The method includes obtaining character information and font information of a character; determining an attribute value of a font effect according to at least one of characteristics of the character and characteristics of the display apparatus; rendering the font effect based on the determined attribute value and applying the rendered font effect to the character; and outputting the character to which the font effect is applied.
US09910828B2
A method of performing context inference is described. The method includes collecting ambient light at a spectrometer sensor integrated in a portable device, characterizing the collected light to obtain optical information, comparing the optical information to optical data predetermined to match one or more contexts, inferring at least one characteristic of a specific context based on the comparison, and determining a probability that the portable device is in the specific context.
US09910827B2
Examples herein relate to circuits for computing vector-matrix multiplications involving negative values. A first memory crossbar array may be mapped to a first matrix which includes the positive values of an input matrix. A second memory crossbar array may be mapped to a second matrix which includes the negative values of the input matrix. An analog-to-digital converter may generate digital intermediate multiplication results based on analog results computed by the memory crossbar arrays. The digital intermediate multiplication results may include an intermediate result corresponding to a multiplication of each of the first vector and second vector with each of the first matrix and the second matrix. A controller may aggregate the digital intermediate results to generate a combined multiple result that represents the vector-matrix multiplication of the input vector and the input matrix.
US09910825B1
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods used to search for information (e.g., from multiple sources). In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), such systems and methods may select a subset of available relevant Internet information sources, such as suppliers and/or purchasers of goods, services, and/or commodities. In another example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), a system and method are provided for determining when to launch an information search and for determining the set of information sources to search.
US09910823B2
A stack processor using a non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) for both code and data space. The stack processor is operative in response to as many as 64 possible instructions based upon a 16 bit word. Each of the instructions in the 16 bit word comprises 3 five bit instructions and a 16th bit which is applicable to each of the 3 five bit instructions thereby making each instruction effectively 6 bits wide.
US09910821B2
A storage device stores results of first data processing previously performed. A splitting unit splits, with reference to the storage device, data into a first segment for which the results stored in the storage device are usable and a plurality of second segments for which the results stored in the storage device are not usable. A control unit assigns the plurality of second segments to a plurality of nodes, and uses the plurality of nodes in parallel to perform the first data processing on the plurality of second segments. A control unit exercises control so as to perform second data processing on a previous result corresponding to the first segment, which is stored in the storage device, and results obtained from the plurality of second segments using the plurality of nodes.
US09910818B2
A local device, such as a field-programmable gate array, has a local state machine and a local interface component for communicating with a remote device that implements a remote state machine. The local interface component receives a new set of incoming data from the remote device and determines whether the new set is good data or bad data. If good data, then the local interface component causes the new set of data to transmitted internally for use by the local state machine. If bad data, then the local interface component does not forward the new set of data to the local state machine, which instead continues to use a previously received set of good data. Although the clock rate of the local and remote state machines may differ from the frame rate of the local interface component, their operations are nevertheless synchronized.
US09910814B2
Techniques and mechanisms for exchanging single-ended communications with a protocol stack of an integrated circuit package. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a protocol stack comprising a transaction layer which performs operations compatible with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express™ (PCIe™) specification. Transaction layer packets, exchanged between the transaction layer and a link layer of the protocol stack, are compatible with a PCIe™ format. In another embodiment, a physical layer of the protocol stack is to couple the IC chip to another IC chip for an exchange of the transaction layer packets via single-ended communications. A packaged device includes both of the IC chips.
US09910808B2
In at least some examples, a computing node includes a processor and a local memory coupled to the processor. The computing node also includes a reflective memory bridge coupled to the processor. The reflective memory bridge maps to an incoming region of the local memory assigned to at least one external computing node and maps to an outgoing region of the local memory assigned to at least one external computing node.
US09910803B2
A multi master system on chip (SoC) includes a plurality of masters comprising a first master and a second master, each configured to generate a request. A next state generator in the multi master SoC is configured to generate a next state of a round robin pointer in response to the request and a current state of the round robin pointer. The round robin pointer is configured to generate an enable signal to enable a priority encoder for the first master in response to the current state of the round robin pointer. Further, the next state of the round robin pointer is generated such that a priority is maintained for the first master until there is a request from the second master.
US09910788B2
A processor device includes a cache and a memory storing a set of counters. Each counter of the set is associated with a corresponding block of a plurality of blocks of the cache. The processor device further includes a cache access monitor to, for each time quantum for a series of one or more time quanta, increment counter values of the set of counters based on accesses to the corresponding blocks of the cache. The processor device further includes a transfer engine to, after completion of each time quantum, transfer the counter values of the set of counters for the time quantum to a corresponding location in a system memory.
US09910787B2
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to virtual address tables. An example method comprises generating an object file that comprises: an instruction comprising a number of arguments; and an address table comprising a number of indexed address elements. Each one of the number of indexed address elements can correspond to a virtual address of a respective one of the number of arguments, wherein the address table can serves as a target for the number of arguments. The method can include storing the object file in a memory.
US09910779B2
An arithmetic processing apparatus has OS arithmetic processing unit executing instruction of OS, general-purpose arithmetic processing units each executing an instruction other than OS, a shared cache unit including a shared cache memory, a cache control unit and a request selection circuit which selects a memory access request from the arithmetic processing units, and a data buffer temporarily storing data of the memory access request, and a memory access control unit controlling a memory access to a main memory. The shared cache unit has a memory access band control register to which either one or both of a first set value, which includes an entry criterion for the request selection circuit to enter the memory access request from OS arithmetic processing unit, and a second set value which sets a capacity of a storage area in the data buffer for storing the data are set.
US09910777B2
A system and method facilitate processing atomic storage requests. The method includes receiving, from a storage client, an atomic storage request for a first storage device that is incapable of processing atomic write operations. The method also includes processing the atomic storage request at a translation interface. The method also includes storing the atomic storage request in one or more storage operations in a second storage device capable of processing the atomic storage request.
US09910776B2
Execution of the memory instructions is managed using memory management circuitry including a first cache that stores a plurality of the mappings in the page table, and a second cache that stores entries based on virtual addresses. The memory management circuitry executes operations from the one or more modules, including, in response to a first operation that invalidates at least a first virtual address, selectively ordering each of a plurality of in progress operations that were in progress when the first operation was received by the memory management circuitry, wherein a position in the ordering of a particular in progress operation depends on either or both of: (1) which of one or more modules initiated the particular in progress operation, or (2) whether or not the particular in progress operation provides results to the first cache or second cache.
US09910775B2
A computing system includes: an adaptive back-up controller configured to calculate an adaptive back-up time based on a reserve power source for backing up a volatile memory to a nonvolatile memory; and a processor core, coupled to the adaptive back-up controller, configured to back up at least a portion of the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory within the adaptive back-up time based on a back-up priority.
US09910772B2
A flash memory storage management method includes: providing a flash memory module including single-level-cell (SLC) blocks and at least one multiple-level-cell block such as MLC block, TLC block, or QLC block; classifying data to be programmed into groups of data; respectively executing SLC programming and RAID-like error code encoding to generate corresponding parity check codes, to program the groups of data and corresponding parity check codes to the SLC blocks; when completing program of the SLC blocks, performing an internal copy to program the at least one multiple-level-cell block by sequentially reading and writing the groups of data and corresponding parity check codes from the SLC blocks to the multiple-level-cell block according to a storage order of the SLC blocks.
US09910757B2
A semiconductor device includes a CPU access detection unit configured to detect a predetermined access among accesses from a CPU to the semiconductor device, based on an access detection condition; an internal signal detection unit configured to detect a predetermined internal signal among internal signals from a function module in the semiconductor device, based on an event detection condition, the predetermined access and the predetermined internal signal being subjects for the log acquisition; an internal memory unit configured to store at least one of log data for the predetermined access detected by the CPU access detection unit and log data for the predetermined internal signal detected by the internal signal detection unit; a setting input unit configured to receive an input of setting data; and a detection condition setting unit configured to set the access detection condition and the event detection condition based on the setting data.
US09910753B1
A data storage system has first and second computing nodes that are interconnected by a switchless fabric. Each storage node includes first and second paired storage directors with an interconnecting communication link. Atomic operations sent between the computing nodes are mediated by network adapters. Atomic operations sent between paired storage directors via the interconnecting communication link are provided to a network adapter via an internal port and mediated by network adapter. The interconnecting communication links can be used as a backup path for atomic operations in the event of a link failure of the switchless fabric.
US09910742B1
An information processing system comprises a plurality of front-end storage tiers, a plurality of back-end storage tiers, a plurality of data mover modules arranged between the front-end and back-end file storage tiers, and a metadata warehouse associated with the data mover modules and the front-end and back-end storage tiers. The data mover modules are configured to control movement of data between the storage tiers. The metadata warehouse is configured to store for each of a plurality of data items corresponding metadata comprising movement information characterizing movement of the data item between the storage tiers. The movement information for a given data item illustratively comprises locations, timestamps and checksums for different stages of movement of the given data item. Other types of metadata for the given data item illustratively include lineage information, access history information and compliance information.
US09910740B1
The present disclosure relates to managing concurrent recovery operations. Operation state may be stored in a repository managed by a service. The service may query the repository as requests come in, and take appropriate actions based on an identified state.
US09910732B2
A method includes receiving, from a user device, a data object for storage. The method further includes determining dispersed storage error encoding parameters for the data object based on the virtual storage vault. The method further includes determining to adjust the pillar width number based on activation status of storage units in the set of storage units and others. When it is determined to adjust the pillar width number, adjusting the pillar width. The method further includes dispersed storage error encoding the data object in accordance with the decode threshold number, the encoding function, and the adjusted pillar width number. The method further includes sending a subset of encoded data slices from each of the sets of encoded data slices to active storage units of the set of storage units and sending an encoded data slice from each of the sets of encoded data slices to an active storage unit.
US09910726B2
Technical solutions are described for analyzing a system dump. An example computer implemented method includes determining a fingerprint of the system dump, which identifies a model of the system and a type of the system dump. The method further includes receiving, from a first user device, a request to identify system dumps matching a set of system dump criteria and identifying the first user device based on the fingerprint of the system dump matching the set of system dump criteria specified, and sending access information of the system dump. The method also includes recording a query and its result as executed by the first user device against the system dump and sending, for receipt by a second user device, access information of the result of the query in the database, in response to the second user device requesting identification of system dumps matching said set of system dump criteria.
US09910710B2
Event processing is prioritized based on system workload. A time constraint attribute is defined in an event rule. The event rule uses one or more events. An event processing system is monitored to determine when the system is under a predefined level of stress. If the system is determined to be under the predefined level of stress, the time constraint attribute in the event rule is used to establish when the processing of a received event used in an event rule must be carried out.
US09910699B2
A method comprising is described. The method includes receiving an interrupt targeting a virtual processor, determining a status of the virtual processor and directly delivering the interrupt to the virtual processor upon determining that the virtual processor is operating in a running state.
US09910697B2
Fault-tolerant and highly available configuration of distributed services including a computer-implemented method for distributed task orchestration. The method includes setting a watch on a first key in a first replica of a distributed configuration store and setting a value of a second key in a second replica of the distributed configuration store where the value of the second key indicates that a first sub-task of a distributed task is successfully complete. The value of the second key is received based on the watch set on the first key and execution of the second sub-tasks is initiated based on receiving the value of the second key. Also disclosed are techniques for service lifecycle management.
US09910680B2
The domain of genericity of an existing generic class may be expanded to include not just reference types, but also primitive and value types even though some members of the existing class do not support the expanded genericity. A subdivided version of the class may be created that includes a generic layer including abstract versions of class members and a reference-specific layer that including non-abstract versions of class members that are abstract in the generic layer. The subdivided version of the class may also include information that indicates to which layer a class member belongs. Problematic methods (e.g., methods that have built-in assumptions regarding the domain of genericity) may be moved into the second, reference-specific, layer, thereby retaining compatibility with classes that currently instantiate or reference those methods, while still allowing use within the expanded domain of genericity.
US09910674B2
In the data processor in which a combination of multiple specific instructions is prohibited, an instruction set is employed that additionally defines that prohibition combination pattern as a separate instruction. With respect to the prohibition combination pattern additionally defined as the separate instruction, for example, in order to make a definition in such a manner that an instruction dispatch mechanism for the instruction set that is present before the additional definition is used as is, the instruction to be additionally defined by the prohibition combination pattern is limited to an instruction type that is the same as the instruction defined only with a latter-half code of the instruction in a case of an instruction set in which the instruction set that is present before the additional definition includes a prefix code.
US09910673B2
A reconfigurable, multi-core processor includes a plurality of memory blocks and programmable elements, including units for processing, memory interface, and on-chip cognitive data routing, all interconnected by a self-routing cognitive on-chip network. In embodiments, the processing units perform intrinsic operations in any order, and the self-routing network forms interconnections that allow the sequence of operations to be varied and both synchronous and asynchronous data to be transmitted as needed. A method for programming the processor includes partitioning an application into modules, determining whether the modules execute in series, program-driven parallel, or data-driven parallel, determining the data flow required between the modules, assigning hardware resources as needed, and automatically generating machine code for each module. In embodiments, a Time Field is added to the instruction format for all programming units that specifies the number of clock cycles for which only one instruction fetch and decode will be performed.
US09910672B2
A method and load and store buffer for issuing a load instruction to a data cache. The method includes determining whether there are any unresolved store instructions in the store buffer that are older than the load instruction. If there is at least one unresolved store instruction in the store buffer older than the load instruction, it is determined whether the oldest unresolved store instruction in the store buffer is within a speculation window for the load instruction. If the oldest unresolved store instruction is within the speculation window for the load instruction, the load instruction is speculatively issued to the data cache. Otherwise, the load instruction is stalled until any unresolved store instructions outside the speculation window are resolved. The speculation window is a short window that defines a number of instructions or store instructions that immediately precede the load instruction.
US09910664B2
A system includes a baseboard management controller (BMC), capable of online update of the BMC without shutting down any services. The BMC includes a processor, a volatile memory configured to perform multiple service instances, and a non-volatile memory storing a computer executable code and a root file system. The root file system includes multiple service modules as origin of the service instances. The computer executable code, when executed at the processor, is configured to: receive an update command and perform an update process based on the update command. The update process includes: copying the root file system from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory; switching the origin of the service instances to the copy of the root file system; receiving an update root file system code; and writing the update root file system code to the non-volatile memory to obtain an updated root file system.
US09910662B2
Techniques are described for segregating a monolithic computing device that contains many installed applications into separate application storage volumes that can be attached or detached from the computing device as needed. Once the monolithic device has been segregated, the application storage volumes can be managed remotely from a management server and can be enabled or disabled on the device based on instructions from an administrator. Additionally, the administrator is enabled to select which application storage volumes are migrated during an operating system (OS) upgrade on the computing device.
US09910660B2
Embodiments are disclosed for a method of replacing an original operating system with a new operating system. In one example embodiment, a method to selectively replace a first in-vehicle operating system includes receiving a temporary update including a second in-vehicle operating system for storage in a memory location of the first in-vehicle operating system and receiving a request to update the first in-vehicle operating system based on the temporary update. The method may further include triggering a reboot of the first in-vehicle operating system including installing the second in-vehicle operating system.
US09910659B2
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing anti-rollback protection in a device which has no internal non-volatile memory are presented. One embodiment is a device for providing anti-rollback protection. The device may obtain a firmware version number associated with a first firmware installation for the device, wherein the device is implemented on a substrate that includes no non-volatile memory. The device may obtain a lowest acceptable firmware version number, wherein the lowest acceptable firmware version number is stored in a secure element environment, wherein the secure element environment utilizes memory separated from the substrate. The device may compare the firmware version number and the lowest acceptable firmware version number, wherein if the firmware version number is less than the lowest acceptable firmware version number, then disallow the first firmware installation.
US09910654B1
Technologies are disclosed herein for automated software release lifecycle management. In particular, a software release management network service is disclosed that provides functionality for allowing a software developer to automate aspects of a software release pipeline. A software release pipeline can have multiple stages, each of which can have multiple actions. The actions can include internal actions that utilize network services internal to a service provider network. The actions can also include external actions that utilize network services that are external to a service provider network. The internal and external actions can perform various release-related functions, such as obtaining source code, building the source code, deploying built program code, and for performing tests. Stage gates and/or action gates can also be defined for conditional execution of the next stage or action in a software release pipeline, respectively. A gate bypass can also be specified to override stage or action gates.
US09910653B2
An electronic device comprising: receiving means for receiving a first packaged installation file; installation means for installing a first version of a software application using the received first packaged installation file; packaging means for creating a second packaged installation file, for installing a second version of the software application; and transfer means for transferring the second packaged installation file to a second host device. A hand-portable electronic device, for sending data to another device during a session to enable the interactive production of music by the devices as an ensemble, comprising: output means operable, during a session, to send musical synchronisation information to the other device; a user input for controlling, during a session, the content of at least one of first musical control data and musical synchronisation information; and a synthesiser for producing music in dependence upon the first musical control data and the musical synchronisation information.
US09910651B2
A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to deploy files of a web-based application, wherein a deploying includes: receive an upload of the files from a user device via a web browser, and store the files; receive from the user device via the web browser, a first request to run the web-based application that has been deployed; run the web-based application in response to the first request, and wherein during a running of the web-based application: determine a type of a second request for data to be used to generate a user interface of the web-based application; obtain the data based on the type of the second request; and render the user interface based on the obtained data.
US09910647B2
A method and apparatus for allowing for field size calculation and color coding display options usable in an emulated integrated development environment (IDE). A user may be able to quickly and accurately calculate the field size of variables in a code structure, irrespective of the length of the structure or the number of variables selected. The user may also be able to match the variables with their redefinitions accurately and easily when required. A user may also be able to easily identify the names of sections, paragraphs, referenced variables, and unreferenced variables visually in a code editor. The users may also be able to assign colors of his choice to the sections, paragraphs, referenced variables, and unreferenced variables.
US09910645B2
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a set of complete source instructions to process a source code entity, an incremental build part, and a set of file definitions. The method analyzes the set of complete source instructions. The method identifies, from the set of analyzed source instructions, a set of operations that reference the incremental build subset. The method repeats: (i) determining, for each operation, whether any additional files are affected by the operation, the additional files forming a set of affected files; (ii) creating a combined set of files, the combined set of files consisting of the set of affected files and the incremental build subset; and (iii) updating the set of operations to include those from the analyzed source instructions that reference the combined set of files; until no new files are added to the combined set of files. The method generates a set of incremental source instructions.
US09910644B2
A computing system comprises, in one example, a display system configured to generate user interface displays, a first application configured to define an entity in the computing system, an interface component configured to control a second application to generate a notebook component corresponding to the entity, and an association component configured to generate and store an association between the entity and the notebook component. The first application is configured to control the display system to generate a first application user interface display that displays data for the entity in the first application and includes a user input mechanism corresponding to the notebook component in the second application based on the association.
US09910641B2
Examples of the disclosure provide a system and method for receiving a component at a design surface, the component representing a user interface element of an application. A selection of the component is received and a selection of at least a portion of a first target component is detected. Based on the selection of the first target component, a first property of the first target component is determined to use in an expression, the expression to be dynamically evaluated at runtime of the component. The expression automatically generated to change a property of the component based on the first property of the first target component.
US09910637B2
Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for performing signed division operations. An apparatus can include a first group of memory cells coupled to a first access line and a number of sense lines. The apparatus can include a second group of memory cells coupled to a second access line and the number of sense lines. The apparatus can include a controller configured to cause sensing circuitry to divide a signed dividend element stored in the first group of memory cells by a signed divisor element stored in the second group of memory cells by performing a number of operations. At least one of the number of operations can be performed without transferring data via an input/output (I/O) line.
US09910606B2
Method and apparatus for managing a solid state memory, such as but not limited to a NAND flash memory. In some embodiments, a storage device includes a non-volatile solid state memory and a control circuit configured to transfer user data between the memory and a host device. The control circuit maintains, in a local memory, a data structure indicative of measured readback error rates associated with memory locations in the memory in relation to erasure counts associated with the memory locations. The control circuit retires a subset of the memory locations identified by the data structure from further availability to store user data from the host device responsive to the measured readback error rates, and responsive to the erasure counts of said memory locations indicating the memory has reached an end of life (EOL) condition.
US09910605B2
A die-stacked hybrid memory device implements a first set of one or more memory dies implementing first memory cell circuitry of a first memory architecture type and a second set of one or more memory dies implementing second memory cell circuitry of a second memory architecture type different than the first memory architecture type. The die-stacked hybrid memory device further includes a set of one or more logic dies electrically coupled to the first and second sets of one or more memory dies, the set of one or more logic dies comprising a memory interface and a page migration manager, the memory interface coupleable to a device external to the die-stacked hybrid memory device, and the page migration manager to transfer memory pages between the first set of one or more memory dies and the second set of one or more memory dies.
US09910588B2
A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard displayed on a display, generating a set of predicted input characters based on the input character, and displaying the generated set of characters in partitions of the virtual keyboard in proximate association with candidate letters is disclosed. An electronic device and a keyboard configured to perform the method are also disclosed.
US09910578B2
A user interface for controlling a plumbing fixture includes an electronic display configured to display multiple different graphical menus for controlling a plurality of valves. The user interface includes a selector control configured to receive input from a user for navigating the multiple different graphical menus and for selecting items displayed in the multiple different graphical menus. A controller receives a first user input from the selector control and causes the electronic display to switch from displaying one of the graphical menus to another of the graphical menus in response to the first user input. The controller receives a second user input from the selector control and causes the plurality of valves to make multiple different adjustments in response to the second user input based on which of the multiple different graphical menus are displayed when the second user input is received.
US09910572B2
A method of graphically duplicating graphic objects through the steps of a computer: receiving a selection of at least two objects and a direction of duplication along an axis. A zero axis point, a farthest axis point for the objects based on the direction of duplication, and a proximal object is determined. A proximal offset point equivalent to a farthest point on the proximal object from the zero axis point is set. A distal object is determined from the objects based on the direction of duplication along the axis, with a starting point of the distal object being designated as a distal offset point. An offset distance equal to a distance between the distal offset point and the proximal offset point is determined. The selection of the objects is duplicated and placed immediately after the farthest axis point plus the offset distance from the farthest axis point.
US09910569B2
An address bar user interface control includes one or more interactive segments. A segment may include one or more filters or selection criteria for selecting content from physical and/or virtual locations. In some instances, a segment may include two or more filters or selection criteria which are logically combined for selecting content.
US09910567B2
A system for providing a user interface includes a gadget definition, a style definition, and a scene file. The gadget definition includes one or more XML-based gadget definition tags defining a gadget element and the style definition includes one or more XML-based style definition tags defining one or more style attributes to be applied to the gadget element. The scene file is an XML-based document that includes a gadget element tag that specifies the gadget element. The system further includes a parser to parse the scene file, the style definition, and the gadget definition, and to generate an object that includes a gadget object corresponding to the gadget element. The system also includes a layout engine to determine, based on the object model, a layout of the user interface, and a rendering engine to render, based on the determined layout, the user interface including the gadget element.
US09910564B2
A method and medium are disclosed for accessing, generating, presenting and manipulating Internet and non-Internet related information, data and content, including information netcast over the Internet. A number of graphical user interfaces are utilized to facilitate user access, manipulation and control of information, data and content and networked devices. Some of the graphical user interfaces are time and topic oriented, are customizable by the user, and allow for the manipulation of information, data, content, and operatively connected networked devices from the graphical interfaces themselves. The system is preferably enhanced through the use of an intelligent, dynamically updated user profile that is fully integrated with the system.
US09910556B2
A method for controlling a mouse cursor in this invention includes: upon detecting an event that represents a focus was moved between plural objects displayed on a screen, identifying an object of a movement destination of the focus; identifying a position of the object of the movement destination; setting an end point to which a mouse cursor is moved, based on the identified position of the object of the movement destination; and performing first movement of the mouse cursor to a position that is nearer to the end point, plural times, until the position of the mouse cursor reaches the end point.
US09910554B2
A method for assisting graphical user interface design includes extracting a first interface element from a first GUI under a first cultural background; searching in a rule repository for at least one transformation rule corresponding to the first interface element, where each of the at least one transformation rule includes at least an action taken on the first interface element; based on the at least one transformation rule, transforming the first interface element into a second interface element under a second cultural background; and providing a second user interface comprising at least the second interface element.
US09910552B2
A wiring body includes a first conductor layer including a first conductor wire, a resin layer covering the first conductor layer, and a second conductor layer disposed on the first conductor layer through the resin layer and including a second conductor wire. The wiring body satisfies the formula |H1−H2|
US09910541B2
Provided are a mis-operation recognition method and device. In the method, a profile of a touch is determined according to the touch on a touch screen; whether a horizontal coordinate corresponding to a maximum vertical length of the profile is located within a predetermined location range on the touch screen or not is judged; and in a case that it is judged that the horizontal coordinate is located within the predetermined location range, the touch corresponding to the profile is recognized as a mis-touch. By means of the technical solution, a problem caused by a mis-touch generated when a touch screen device is held by a hand is solved, and a mis-operation is prevented, thereby improving user experience.
US09910534B2
A time based touch screen input recognition system detects a touch on a touch screen display by receiving a first signal indicating a start of the touch and starts a timer in response to the first signal. The system monitors a length of the touch as the touch continues, determines a current time period covering the length of the touch using a current value of the timer and identifies a first function corresponding to a current time period. The system further identifies a second function corresponding to a second signal indicating an end of the touch and causes a processing device to implement the corresponding function.
US09910533B2
Various timing schemes can be used to synchronizing display functions with touch and/or stylus sensing functions for devices including a variable refresh rate (VRR) display. In a continuous-touch mode, for example, extended blanking can result in frame judder due to mismatch or latency between reporting of sensing data and the display. To minimize these issues, sensing operations can reset to re-synchronize with the display operation, and unreported data from sensing scans can be discarded or ignored. In some examples, a display frame can be divided into two sub-frames, and a system can be configured to perform a touch sensing scan during the first sub-frame of a display frame. At the conclusion of extended blanking, the sensing operations can reset to re-synchronize with the display. The touch sensing scan can be completed in one intra-frame pause and can begin at the start of the display frame.
US09910529B2
Method, device, and system for detecting transmitter approaching or touching touch sensitive display
A method is provided for detecting a transmitter approaching or touching a touch sensitive display. The transmitter transmits an electrical signal which is mixed from a plurality of signals having different frequencies. The display includes a liquid crystal layer between pixel electrodes and common electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. The common electrodes include a plurality of first electrodes. A plurality of sensing points is located in the intersections of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes. The method includes: calculating the total signal strength of a received signal with respect to each of the first electrodes; calculating the total signal strength of a received signal with respect to each of the second electrodes; calculating a relative position between the transmitter and the display according to the calculated total signal strengths of the received signals with respect to each of the first and second electrodes.
US09910525B2
A touch screen comprises a fixed electrode disposed on a side of an array substrate away from a color filter substrate, the array substrate comprises a base substrate, a plurality of sensing lines and a plurality of common electrodes arranged in a matrix, orthographic projections of the sensing lines and the fixed electrode on the base substrate overlap with orthographic projections of the common electrodes on the base substrate, an extending direction of the sensing line is parallel to a column direction of arrangement of the common electrodes; a portion of the common electrodes function as first driving electrodes during a pressure sensing touch control, the sensing lines corresponding to the rest common electrodes function as sensing electrodes during the pressure sensing touch control; the fixed electrode assists the first driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes to detect a touch pressure during the pressure sensing touch control.
US09910521B2
This specification relates to a control apparatus for a mobile terminal, capable of checking information through first and/or second sub display(s) in an easy, convenient manner, and a control method thereof. The control apparatus includes a main display that is located on a front surface of the mobile terminal, a first sub display that extends from the main display and is located on the left of the mobile terminal, a second sub display that extends from the main display and is located on the right of the mobile terminal, a communication unit that is configured to receive event information, and a controller that is configured to generate indication information indicating that the event information has been received, and output the indication information on the first or second sub display while the mobile terminal is gripped by a user.
US09910519B2
Method for receiving an indication of an input from a separate apparatus comprising beads, determining that the separate apparatus is associated with a designated operation of a designated program, and performing the designated operation based on the bead input.
US09910518B2
An industrial automation display is provided. The industrial automation display in one example includes a substantially transparent display panel associated with and in view of an industrial automation process portion, a light-control layer formed as part of the substantially transparent display panel, and a display controller coupled to the light-control layer, with the display controller configured to receive industrial automation data related to the industrial automation process portion, generate industrial automation display data using at least a portion of the industrial automation data, and display the industrial automation display data on the light-control layer of the substantially transparent display panel, wherein the industrial automation display data is viewable in conjunction with the industrial automation process portion.
US09910517B2
According to some aspect, an image display apparatus may include a communication section receiving a plurality of remote operation signals corresponding to remote operations of a plurality of input apparatuses, and a combination section combining a first image based on the plurality of individual remote operation signals received by the communication section and a second image supplied from other apparatus into a third image, and outputting the third image.
US09910515B2
A user interface (102) for a touchscreen (106) is provided. The user interface (102) comprises a physical overlay (108) having a rotatable guide wheel (110) with access through-holes (112, 114) formed therein. The touchscreen (106) of a portable communication device (104) can be accessed though the access through-holes (112, 114) and controlled via the rotatable guide wheel (110) without having to view the screen. Fingertip insertion into the access through-holes (112, 114) activates and selects different predetermined functions, while rotation of the rotatable guide wheel (110) controls variation for each predetermined function. The user interface may (102) be incorporated as part of a carry case, holster (130), harness or formed as an attachable and removable overlay plate (308) to correspond with the touchscreen (106).
US09910506B2
The invention relates to a method for interacting with an object that is displayed to a user by smart glasses, which includes a display. The method includes displaying the object for the user using the display, detecting that the user closes a first eye and keeps the first eye closed during a predetermined period of time using a first camera, recording a hand of the user using a second camera determining that the user performs an input action during the predetermined period of time, wherein the input action includes the hand assuming an attitude, and a position from a perspective of a second eye of the user with respect to the object, that meet a predetermined condition, and performing an action with respect to the object, wherein the action is associated with the input action in advance.
US09910505B2
Approaches are described for managing content via an electronic device. In particular, various embodiments enable single-handed approaches to adjusting content provided by a computing device. For example, the computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) or other portable computing device can detect a touch-based gesture input (e.g., a tap and hold) on a display screen to activate a content control mode (e.g., a zoom control mode, a panning control mode, a volume control mode). As the device is moved relative to user of the device or some other reference point, the device can cause a zooming, panning, or audio function to be executed. In this way, as the user holds the device and tilts, rotates, or otherwise changes the orientation of the device, or as the user's relative position or orientation changes with respect to the device, the content can appear to be zoomed-in or zoomed-out on, panned, or otherwise adjusted based at least in part on the function executed.
US09910496B2
Systems and methods for mapping message contents to virtual physical properties for vibrotactile messaging are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor configured to detect an interaction with a messaging device, determining a virtual physical property of a virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the virtual physical parameter; and generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect.
US09910489B2
Techniques are disclosed for providing a transit vending machine that accommodates its users by automatically adjusting a layout of the user interface based on information determined about the user as obtained from image information of the user. Information about the user can be indicative of user height, hand used to interact with the touchscreen display, an offset of user input, and the like.
US09910478B2
A collation system includes a first node, a second node and a third node. The first node includes: an encryption unit; a distance calculation unit t; and a collation data generation unit. The second node includes: a key generation unit; and a collation unit. The third node includes: a storage unit; and a collation information generation unit.
US09910467B2
An approach is provided in which a system includes a lid detection mechanism that prevents a power supply unit from being electrically coupled to the system when a lid is detached from the system's chassis. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the system includes a power supply unit detection mechanism that prevents the lid from being detached from the system's chassis when the power supply unit is electrically coupled to the system.
US09910461B2
According to one embodiment, a circuit board attachment structure comprise a housing to which a circuit board is attached, a mount provided on the housing and provided outside a portion of the housing where the circuit board is attached, holding piece detachably attached to the mount and pressing the circuit board against the housing with a predetermined force, and fixing unit for detachably fixing the holding piece to the mount.
US09910453B2
An apparatus for generating a sinusoid at a pre-set frequency f includes a DC power source with a controllable output voltage, a transformer, a power switch, a sequencer, and an output filter. The power switch is configured to apply the output of the DC power source to the primary of the transformer in either direction or to remain off based on control signals that are applied to its control input. The sequencer applies control signals to the control input in a choreographed sequence to form an oversampled version of a sine wave. The output filter is connected to the secondary of the transformer, and it passes the pre-set frequency f and attenuates frequencies above a cut-off frequency. In some preferred embodiments, the cut-off frequency is 3f and the transfer function of the output filter has a zero at 5f.
US09910448B2
A method of measuring a molecular rate of gas flow from an upstream source of gas at a pressure higher than a pressure of a destination includes flowing the gas through an upstream valve into a cavity of known volume, then through a restrictor element before proceeding to the destination, controlling the upstream valve to vary a flow rate of the gas through the upstream valve in a determined manner such that its average pressure in the cavity correlates with an average level of gas flow and such that variations in pressure in the cavity induced by varying the flow rate of gas through the upstream valve in the determined manner induce instantaneous pressure variations smaller than 30% of the average pressure in that cavity; and using the variations in the pressure in the cavity associated with varying the flow rate of gas through the upstream valve in the determined manner to determine the molecular rate of gas flow to the destination in real time.
US09910444B2
The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Advantageously, such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are economically practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. Certain embodiments contemplate improvements to the front-end processing in a SLAM-based system. Particularly, certain of these embodiments contemplate a novel landmark matching process. Certain of these embodiments also contemplate a novel landmark creation process. Certain embodiments contemplate improvements to the back-end processing in a SLAM-based system. Particularly, certain of these embodiments contemplate algorithms for modifying the SLAM graph in real-time to achieve a more efficient structure.
US09910443B1
A drive control apparatus and method for an autonomous vehicle is provided. The drive control method includes: determining whether a subject vehicle has entered a pocket lane area during autonomous driving; determining whether the subject vehicle enters a pocket lane according to pocket lane conditions that are determined on the basis of surrounding environment information of the subject vehicle when the subject vehicle enters the pocket lane area; generating a tracking path with respect to a front vehicle when it is determined to enter the pocket lane; and performing the autonomous driving by controlling the subject vehicle to follow the front vehicle according to the tracking path with respect to the front vehicle.
US09910442B2
Ray tracing and static obstacle maps can be used in the operation of a vehicle. Sensor data of at least a portion of an external environment of the vehicle can be acquired. A dynamic obstacle in the external environment of the vehicle can be detected based on the acquired sensor data. In response to detecting a dynamic obstacle, it can be determined whether a secondary occluded area is located behind the dynamic obstacle relative to a current location of the vehicle based on a static obstacle map. Responsive to determining that a secondary occluded area is located behind the dynamic obstacle relative to a current location of the vehicle based on a static obstacle map, a driving maneuver for the vehicle can be determined based on at least the dynamic obstacle and the secondary occluded area. The vehicle can be caused to implement the determined driving maneuver.
US09910441B2
Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an autonomous vehicle fleet as a service. More specifically, systems, devices, and methods are configured to generate trajectories to influence navigation of autonomous vehicles. In particular, a method may include receiving path data to navigate from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, generating data representing a trajectory with which to control motion of the autonomous vehicle based on the path data, generating data representing a contingent trajectory, monitoring generation of the trajectory, and implementing the contingent trajectory subsequent to an absence of the trajectory.
US09910434B1
A MAS for a machine that includes an implement, and a related method of controlling such machine is provided. The MAS may comprise a plurality of Vehicle ECMs, a local transceiver, an Ethernet LAN, a first CAN, an AECM, an environment monitoring system and an RSM. The AECM is configured to generate output control signals based, at least in part, on input from the environment monitoring system, and to transmit the output control signals to at least one of the Vehicle ECMs, wherein the output control signals control an operation of the machine. The MAS is configured to execute semi-autonomous functions of the machine based on input from the environment monitoring system.
US09910428B2
Each of a plurality of tape feeders arranged in a component feed section includes a display part which displays setting information stored in a feeder storage part, an operation input part which displays the setting information in the display part and a modification process part which outputs a signal for modifying the setting information stored in a main body storage part and the feeder storage part in accordance with an input of a modification operation. The modification operation of the setting information can be carried out in a flexible form and with a good working property.
US09910421B2
A control device for a machine tool for cutting a rotationally-symmetric workpiece by a tool, includes a machining command making unit for making a machining command for an auxiliary motor based on rotation speeds of the workpiece and the tool, and feed rates of the tool and the workpiece, an oscillation command making unit for making an oscillation command for the auxiliary motor, based on the rotation speeds and the feed rates, so that the oscillation command is asynchronous with the rotation speed of the workpiece around the axis of rotation, and so that the tool intermittently cuts the workpiece, an addition unit for adding the oscillation command to the machining command, and a control unit for controlling the auxiliary motor based on the machining command to which the oscillation command has been added.
US09910420B2
An expansion module for a PLC, used in such a manner that at least one expansion module is sequentially connected to a basic unit in order to exchange massive data at high speed by using USB communication, is provided. Each of the expansion module includes a USB hub and a USB device, and is allocated with an exchange number from a USB host of the basic unit by activating the USB device according to input of a trigger signal. In addition, whether the USB hub is to be used is determined by deciding whether the expansion through the USB hub is required according to the allocated exchange number. Thus, a user needs only to arrange each of the expansion modules by a designation.
US09910406B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with an image holder that holds an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image of the image holder, a biasing unit that biases the developing unit toward the image holder; and a holding member that holds the biasing unit and is disposed so that a part which is opposite to a biasing direction of the biasing unit is in contact with an image forming apparatus main body directly or via another member.
US09910404B2
A process cartridge includes: a developing unit; a drum unit; an urging member; and an electrically-conductive member. The developing unit includes a developing roller. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum. The developing unit is pivotally movable relative to the drum unit about a pivot axis extending along the developing roller. The urging member is configured to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum. The electrically-conductive member is provided at the developing unit and configured to apply voltage to the developing roller. The electrically-conductive member is made of an electrically-conductive resin. The electrically-conductive member includes a contact portion configured to contact an electric contact provided at an image forming apparatus. The pivot axis and the contact portion define a first distance therebetween. The pivot axis and the urging member define a second distance therebetween. The first distance is smaller than the second distance.
US09910400B2
Provided is an opening/closing unit including a cover member and a conveying unit. The cover member is provided to one side surface of an apparatus main body so as to open and close a sheet conveying path. The conveying unit is provided inside of the cover member in the apparatus main body. The sheet conveying path includes a first conveying path formed between the conveying unit and the apparatus main body, and a second conveying path formed between the conveying unit and the cover member. When an operating lever of the cover member is rotated to a second position, opening operation of the cover member is enabled. When the operating lever is rotated to a first position in a state where the cover member is opened, the conveying unit rotates with respect to the cover member so that the second conveying path is opened.
US09910399B2
An image forming apparatus according to the invention includes a plurality of image forming units and a changeover unit. The plurality of image forming units form multicolor images on an image carrier by overlapping, on a medium, developer images developed using developers. The changeover unit changes a layer overlapping sequence of the developer images on the medium. The developers include a developer emitting light according to radiation of non-visible light, and the changeover unit changes the layer overlapping sequence of the developer images using the developer emitting the light according to radiation of the non-visible light.
US09910398B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an organic photoreceptor in which at least a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a protective layer are laminated in order on a conductive support includes at least a unit for supplying a lubricant onto a surface of the organic photoreceptor and a unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the organic photoreceptor with a cleaning blade, and satisfying the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the protective layer of the organic photoreceptor contains at least metal oxide fine particles in a cured resin obtained by curing a polymerizable compound; (2) a universal hardness of the surface of the organic photoreceptor is in a range of 220 to 280 N/mm2; and (3) a JIS-A hardness of a portion of the cleaning blade to be abutted on the organic photoreceptor is in a range of 70 to 78°.
US09910397B2
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing drum; a toner image transfer device; a cleaning blade for cleaning the drum after transfer of the image; a rotatable furbrush provided downstream of the transfer device and upstream of the blade, the furbrush being rotatable counterdirectionally with respect to a peripheral movement of the drum; an executing portion for executing a first mode for forming an image on the transfer material on the basis of a signal inputted to the apparatus and a second mode for supplying a band of the toner to the blade; and a controller for controlling a peripheral speed difference between the drum and the furbrush, wherein the difference when the band of the toner passes the furbrush in the second mode is smaller than that when the toner on the drum after the image transfer passes the furbrush in the first mode.
US09910396B2
An image forming apparatus includes an inlet to which a power cable can connect. The inlet is sandwiched and fixed by two plate members from a direction crossing to a connection direction of the power cable.
US09910393B1
An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section, a second image forming section, a first processing section, a second processing section and a controller. The first image forming section uses a color material for non-removal. The second image forming section uses a color material for removal. The first processing section carries out a first processing for making a hole in the image receiving medium. The second processing section carries out a second processing which does not make a hole in the image receiving medium. The controller executes the second processing at the time of executing a job if the job contains formation of the image with the color material for removal and carries out the first processing.
US09910392B2
A rotation detection mechanism has a pulse plate, an optical sensor, a holder, and an input gear. The pulse plate has a light-blocking portion formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The optical sensor has a detection portion that detects whether an optical path thereof is opened or interrupted by the light-blocking portion of the pulse plate. The holder has a bearing hole that rotatably supports a rotary shaft of the pulse plate. The rotary shaft has a convex portion formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof and thus is in a key shape when seen from an axial direction thereof. On an inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole, a groove portion is formed through which the convex portion passes when the rotary shaft is inserted into the bearing hole, and the bearing hole is in a circular shape when seen from an axial direction thereof.
US09910386B2
A developing device includes a developing container and a second stirring member. The developing container includes a second feeding chamber and a developer discharge outlet disposed on the downstream side end of the second feeding chamber. The second stirring member includes a second feeding blade, a restricting part for conveying developer in the opposite direction to the second feeding blade, and a discharging blade for conveying the developer in the same direction as the second feeding blade so as to discharge the developer from the developer discharge outlet. The second rotation shaft includes a large shaft diameter part provided with the second feeding blade, a small shaft diameter part provided with the restricting part and the discharging blade, and a shaft diameter changing part positioned at a boundary between the large shaft diameter part and the small shaft diameter part.
US09910384B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge having a toner supply port; and a developing unit including: a developing roller; a developing frame; and a conveyance portion capable of conveying toner contained in the toner cartridge to the developing frame. The conveyance portion including: a coupling tube capable of being coupled to the toner cartridge and having a toner receiving port that faces the toner supply port in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge; a conveyance tube fixed to the developing frame, the conveyance tube being movable with respect to the coupling tube, in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge and the toner receiving port faces the toner supply port; and a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position.
US09910381B2
An image-forming apparatus includes a first photosensitive member, a second photosensitive member, an exposure unit, a first developing unit and a second developing unit. The first developing unit includes a first developing roller, a first casing and a first thickness-regulating blade having a first base end and a first free end. The second developing unit includes a second developing roller, a second casing and a second thickness-regulating blade having a second base end and a second free end. The first thickness-regulating blade is disposed between the first developing roller and the exposure unit, or between the first developing roller and a first optical axis of the light to which the first photosensitive member is exposed. The first thickness-regulating blade extends from the first base end to the first free end in a following direction with respect to a moving direction of a peripheral surface of the first developing roller.
US09910378B2
An image forming apparatus which, to the extent possible, prevents an operation for protecting a printer engine from being uncompleted before power to the printer engine is shut down due to cancellation of a process that should be carried out by the printer engine. When a predetermined time period has elapsed since an instruction to reduce power consumption was detected, power to the printer engine is shut down. When the instruction is detected, a canceling instruction for canceling the process that should be carried out by the printer engine is issued to the printer engine. Responsive to this, a cancellation process for the process is started, and an engine protecting instruction for protecting the printer engine without waiting for completion of the cancellation process is issued to the printer engine. After the operation for protecting the printer engine is carried out, power to the printer engine is shut down.
US09910376B1
A chemically prepared toner composition according to one example embodiment includes a core including a first polymer binder, a colorant and a release agent; a shell that is formed around the core that includes a second polymer binder; and a borax coupling agent between the core and the shell and an alkoxysilane hydrocarbon or combination of different alkoxysilane hydrocarbons that are bonded to the outer surface of the shell using a hydrolytic deposition process. This successful alkoxysilane hydrocarbon surface treatment on the outer surface of the toner particle results in attaining a desirable charge stability in hot and humid environments and ultimately improving the quality of the toner, especially by reducing toner dusting, toner fuming and ultra-fine particles generation.
US09910373B2
A cold pressure fix toner composition includes at least one C16 to C80 crystalline organic material having a melting point in a range from about 30° C. to about 130° C. and at least one C16 to C80 amorphous organic material having a Tg of from about −30° C. to about 70° C. A method of cold pressure fix toner application includes providing the cold pressure fix toner composition, disposing the cold pressure fix toner composition on a substrate and applying pressure to the disposed composition on the substrate under cold pressure fixing conditions. The cold pressure fix toner compositions can be formed into latexes.
US09910358B2
A negative pattern is formed by coating a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having a carboxyl and/or hydroxyl group optionally substituted with an acid labile group and an acid generator capable of generating fluorinated tetraphenylborate onto a substrate, prebaking, exposing, baking, and developing in an organic solvent so that the unexposed region of resist film is dissolved away and the exposed region of resist film is not dissolved. The resist composition exhibits a high sensitivity and high dissolution contrast during organic solvent development and forms a fine hole or trench pattern via positive/negative reversal.
US09910354B2
A composition for forming a resist underlayer film which make possible to form a desired high-adhesion resist pattern. A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography containing a polymer having the following structure Formula (1) or (2) at a terminal of a polymer chain, crosslinker, compound promoting crosslinking reaction, and organic solvent. (wherein R1 is a C1-6 alkyl group optionally having a substituent, phenyl group, pyridyl group, halogeno group, or hydroxy group, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, hydroxy group, halogeno group, or ester group of —C(═O)O—X wherein X is a C1-6 alkyl group optionally having a substituent, R3 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, hydroxy group, or halogeno group, R4 is a direct bond or divalent C1-8 organic group, R5 is a divalent C1-8 organic group, A is an aromatic ring or heteroaromatic ring, t is 0 or 1, and u is 1 or 2.)
US09910347B2
An image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a solid-state light source, an emission unit, and a selection unit. The solid-state light source is capable of emitting first visible light having a predetermined wavelength range. The emission unit includes an illuminant that emits second visible light, the illuminant being excited by the first visible light emitted from the solid-state light source, the second visible light having a wavelength range different from that of the first visible light, the emission unit being capable of emitting combined light including the first and second visible light. The selection unit selects third visible light from the combined light, the third visible light including the first visible light and light in a predetermined part of wavelength range of the second visible light.
US09910344B2
A retractable camera platform system allows a mounted camera to be hidden while not in use. The system retracts a camera platform into a recess in the ceiling, wall and the like of a room, building, hallway or other structure. The system includes the camera platform that opens a lowering assembly having doors so that the camera may deploy when needed. The lowering assembly or cover hides the camera and the associated frame structure when not in use. Actuators and linear slide tracks raise and lower the camera as desired. The lowering assembly may be removed from the frame structure.
US09910338B2
In certain embodiments, a system may include a housing, one or more lenses, and a scanning system. The housing has an interior region. A lens is disposed within the interior region and transmits a light beam. The scanning system is disposed within the interior region and comprises a number of scanning cells, where each scanning cell comprises an electro-optical (EO) material. The scanning system performs the following for a number of iterations to yield a spot pattern: receive one or more voltages and electrically steer the light beam with the EO material from a current direction to a next direction in response to the voltages.
US09910336B2
This disclosure describes insulated glass units (IGUs) that incorporate electrochromic devices. More specifically, this disclosure focuses on different configurations available for providing an electrical connection to the interior region of an IGU. In many cases, an IGU includes two panes separated by a spacer. The spacer defines an interior region of the IGU and an exterior region of the IGU. Often, the electrochromic device positioned on the pane does not extend past the spacer, and some electrical connection must be provided to supply power from the exterior of the IGU to the electrochromic device on the interior of the IGU. In some embodiments, the spacer includes one or more holes (e.g, channels, mouse holes, other holes, etc.) through which an electrical connection (e.g., wires, busbar leads, etc.) may pass to provide power to the electrochromic device.
US09910335B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a display panel, a method of manufacturing the display panel, and a display apparatus. The display panel includes: a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to each other; a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a plurality of pixel electrodes on a side of the first substrate facing towards the liquid crystal layer. Liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in a region corresponding to each of the plurality pixel electrodes are in a polymer network state, and the more a distance between the each of the plurality of pixel electrodes and a light source of an edge-lighting type light source module of the display panel is, the more an area occupied by a polymer network in the region corresponding to the each of the plurality of pixel electrodes is.
US09910328B2
A pixel array of a liquid crystal display is discussed. The pixel array can include a first pixel including a first pixel electrode charged to a first data voltage, an upper common electrode which is positioned opposite the first pixel electrode and forms an electric field, a lower common electrode applying a common voltage to the upper common electrode, and a first storage capacitor for holding the first data voltage during a predetermined period, and a second pixel including a second pixel electrode charged to a second data voltage, the upper common electrode, the lower common electrode, and a second storage capacitor for holding the second data voltage during a predetermined period. The first and second storage capacitors are located in a storage area between the first and second pixels, which are positioned adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction.
US09910325B2
According to one embodiment, a display device comprises image signal lines, scanning signal lines, pixels, a display area, pixel electrodes, and common electrodes. The common electrodes are configured to detect an object and to display an image in the display area. The common electrodes include first and second common electrodes which are arranged in a first direction. A first slit is provided between the first and second common electrodes. The first and second common electrodes are supplied a signal different from each other. A second slit is provided in the first common electrode. Each of the first slit and the second slit overlaps one of the image signal lines and extends in an extension direction in which the image signal line extends.
US09910323B2
A liquid crystal display device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode and a common electrode, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel or common electrode includes, in a single subpixel, belt-like portions arranged in a first direction, and coupling portions coupling the adjacent belt-like portions. Each belt-like portion continuously extends from one side to an other side of a central line of the subpixel, that is parallel with the first direction. The coupling portions include one or more first coupling portions provided on the one side of the central line, and one or more second coupling portions provided on the other side of the central line.
US09910322B2
A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate positioned parallel to the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. A black matrix disposed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and configured to define a pixel region. A lower pixel electrode on the first substrate corresponding to the pixel region. An upper insulating layer disposed on the lower pixel electrode and having at least one groove. An upper pixel electrode disposed on the upper insulating layer and receiving a data signal from a thin film transistor, the data signal applied from a data line.
US09910320B2
A display device includes a base substrate, a first color filter on the base substrate, the first color filter extending in a direction, a plurality of second color filters on the base substrate, the plurality of second color filters being adjacent to the first color filter, a passivation layer on the base substrate, the first color filter, and the plurality of second color filters, a light blocking portion on the passivation layer, a main column spacer protruding from the light blocking portion, and a sub-column spacer spaced apart from the main column spacer and protruding from the light blocking portion where the main column spacer overlaps the first color filter, and the sub-column spacer is disposed between two of the plurality of second color filters that are adjacent to each other.
US09910318B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The LCD comprises, a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and includes liquid crystal molecules, an alignment film disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, a pixel electrode disposed between the alignment film and the first substrate, a photo-curable layer between the liquid crystal layer and the alignment films, a common electrode disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate, and a vertical alignment inducing layer between the common electrode and the liquid crystal layer. The vertical alignment inducing layer includes a self-aligned vertical alignment inducer, and the vertical alignment inducer includes a hydrophilic group, and an affinity liquid crystal group having high affinity with the liquid crystal molecules.
US09910310B2
Anisotropic film laminates for use in image-preserving reflectors such as rearview automotive mirror assemblies, and related methods of fabrication. A film may comprise an anisotropic layer such as a light-polarizing layer and other functional layers. The film having controlled water content is heated under omnidirectional pressure and vacuum to a temperature substantially equal to or above a lower limit of a glass-transition temperature range of the film so as to be laminated to a substrate. The laminated film is configured as part of a mirror structure so as to increase contrast of light produced by a light source positioned behind the mirror structure and transmitted through the mirror structure towards a viewer. The mirror structure is devoid of any extended distortion and is characterized by SW and LW values less than 3, more preferably less than 2, and most preferably less than 1.
US09910306B2
A display device includes a display panel, a back light unit configured to provide light to the display panel, and a guide panel covering side surfaces of the display panel and the back light unit. The guide panel includes a dual partition wall structure of an inner partition wall and an outer partition wall, a first extension that is extending from and integral with the dual partition wall structure, and a second extension protruding in a direction perpendicular to the dual partition wall structure to be between the back light unit and the display panel.
US09910302B2
A novel phase shifter design for carrier depletion based silicon modulators, based on an experimentally validated model, is described. It is believed that the heretofore neglected effect of incomplete ionization will have a significant impact on ultra-responsive phase shifters. A low VπL product of 0.3V·cm associated with a low propagation loss of 20 dB/cm is expected to be observed. The phase shifter is based on overlapping implantation steps, where the doses and energies are carefully chosen to utilize counter-doping to produce an S-shaped junction. This junction has a particularly attractive VπL figure of merit, while simultaneously achieving attractively low capacitance and optical loss. This improvement will enable significantly smaller Mach-Zehnder modulators to be constructed that nonetheless would have low drive voltages, with substantial decreases in insertion loss. The described fabrication process is of minimal complexity; in particular, no high-resolution lithographic step is required.
US09910299B2
The present invention is a crystal body configured with a crystal and having a pair of light passing surfaces which face each other and pass light and at least one side surface which connects the pair of the light passing surfaces. In the crystal body according to the present invention, a ratio B/A of a dislocation density A (number/cm2) in the light passing surfaces and a dislocation density B (number/cm2) in the side surface satisfies the following general formula. 1≦(B/A)≦3600 (1)
US09910292B2
A method for making spectacle arms from composite material with differentiated rigidity, the arms defining a first portion and an adjacent second portion which is less rigid than the first portion. The method includes: providing a first layer of non-cross-linked fiber-reinforced polymer material in the first and second portions; providing a separating element in the first portion, and superimposing a second layer of non-cross-linked fiber-reinforced polymer material on the first layer so as to cover the separating element at the first portion and contact the first layer at the second portion; subjecting the first layer, the second layer, and the separating element interposed between them to a molding process at predetermined pressure and temperature levels so as to cross-link the polymer of the composite material, thus obtaining a thickness and rigidity of the arm at the first portion which are greater than the thickness and rigidity at the second portion.
US09910289B2
A miniature lens driving apparatus includes an optical image stabilization mechanism having a lens holder for holding therein a lens which defines an optical axis, an autofocus mechanism having an autofocus moving platform, and a plurality of wires adapted to couple the lens holder with the autofocus moving platform. The optical image stabilization mechanism is capable of moving the lens holder along a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, and the autofocus mechanism is capable of moving the autofocus moving platform along the optical axis.
US09910287B2
A display device has a first, see-through mode of operation (30), (34) in which the display panel does not emit light and the display device blocks the light of a first polarization (state A) but allows light of a second polarization (state B) to pass through in both opposite directions. In a second, 3D display mode, the emissive pixels output light of the first polarization (state A) from the display output face and a view forming arrangement forms multiple views (36) in one output direction.
US09910284B1
Aspects of the present disclosure relate a head-worn computer with a see-through display wherein computer content is presented to a user wearing the head-worn computer and through which the user sees a surrounding environment, wherein the see-through display generates image light comprised of narrow bandwidths of red, green and blue light and wherein the see-through display further includes a tristimulus notch mirror positioned to reflect the image light towards the user's eye, and wherein the tristimulus notch mirror reflects less than a full width half max of the red image light.
US09910281B2
A head-mounted display includes a display unit, a detector, and a first control unit. The display unit is mountable on a head of a user and configured to be capable of providing the user with a field of view of a real space. The detector detects an azimuth of the display unit around at least one axis. The first control unit includes a region limiter, a storage unit, and a display control unit. The region limiter is capable of limiting a display region of the field of view along a direction of the one axis in three-dimensional coordinates surrounding the display unit. The storage unit stores images including information relating to a predetermined target present in the field of view with the images being made corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinates. The display control unit is configured to display, based on an output of the detector, an image in the three-dimensional coordinates, which corresponds to the azimuth, in the field of view.
US09910279B2
A HUD includes a light source unit 57, a light modulation element 54 that modulates light that is emitted from the light source unit 57, a projection portion that projects the modulated light onto a projection surface, wind guide paths 61 and 62 that guide wind W sent from an air conditioning device 9 of a car 100 to the light source unit 57, the wind guide path 61 that guides the wind W to the light modulation element 54, a shutter 63 for performing blocking and opening of the wind guide paths 61 and 62, and a system control unit 64 that selectively performs control for blocking the wind guide paths 61 and 62 and control for opening the wind guide paths 61 and 62 by controlling the shutter 63.
US09910278B1
A visualization device allows a user to be immersed in visual content by projecting the visual content to the user. A projection element is positioned such that visual content projected from the projection element is reflected off of a mirror, which is angled such that the reflected projection is reflected onto a lens doublet. The lens doublet is angled such that the visual content projection reflected onto the lens doublet is partially reflected toward the user. In addition, an electrochromic slab can be controlled to allow configurable amounts of ambient light into the visualization device. If the electrochromic slab is configured such that no ambient light is allowed into the visualization device, the user is only able to see the visual content projected by the display device. The electrochromic slab can also be configured to allow some or all ambient light to travel into the visualization device.
US09910275B2
Various devices, arrangements and methods for managing communications using a head mounted display device are described. In one aspect, tracking data is generated at least in part by one or more sensors in a head mounted display (HMD) device. The tracking data indicates one or more facial movements of a user wearing the HMD device. A patch image is obtained based on the tracking data. The patch image is merged with a facial image. Various embodiments relate to the HMD device and other methods for generating and using the patch and facial images.
US09910272B2
An integrated camera mounting and image window cleaning device includes a mounting bracket, a housing and a seal provided between the housing and the mounting bracket. A delivery channel extends around the outer periphery of the image window of the camera allowing the delivery of cleaning fluid which flows across the entire image window for cleaning.
US09910271B2
An actuator device includes a frame, a movable member to rotate about a rotation axis, a reflection member formed on the movable member to reflect a light flux that enters the reflection member, a first deformable member disposed on the frame to support and move the movable member, at least one first driver to deform the first deformable member, a detection-use line formed on the first deformable member and on the movable member to allow an electric current, and a light shield unit disposed at least one of a light incident side and a light exit side of the reflection member. The light shield unit blocks at least one of an entry of the light flux to the reflection member and an exit of the light flux from the reflection member when the detection-use line is damaged.
US09910261B2
A foldable support includes a shell, a cover, a lens, and a stand. The shell receives and secures a mobile device having a screen. The cover rotatably connects to the shell. The lens rotatably connects to the cover. The stand rotatably connects to the lens.
US09910256B2
The present invention provides a novel simple, portable, compact and inexpensive approach for interferometric optical thickness measurements that can be easily incorporated into an existing microscope (or other imaging systems) with existing cameras. According to the invention, the interferometric device provides a substantially stable, easy to align common path interferometric geometry, while eliminating a need for controllably changing the optical path of the beam. To this end, the inexpensive and easy to align interferometric device of the invention is configured such that it applies the principles of the interferometric measurements to a sample beam only, being a single input into the interferometric device.
US09910250B1
The present disclosure discloses an optical camera lens, which includes: an aperture, a first lens having positive refraction power, a second lens having negative refraction power, a third lens having negative refraction power, a fourth lens having positive refraction power, a fifth lens having positive refraction power, and a sixth lens having negative refraction power; the optical camera lens satisfies following relative expressions: 0.7
US09910248B2
A lens module may include a first lens having positive refractive power, a second lens having positive refractive power, a third lens having refractive power, a fourth lens having positive refractive power, a fifth lens having negative refractive power, and a sixth lens having negative refractive power and having one or more inflection points formed on an image-side surface thereof. An overall focal length of the lens module f and a focal length of the first lens f1 may satisfy the following Conditional Expression: 1.0
US09910245B2
A manually operated reflecting device includes a base, at least one rotary sleeve pivoted to the base, and a release module and an angle-adjustment module disposed between the first and second rotary sleeves and the base. The release module and the angle-adjustment module allow the base to be adjusted and fixed at a certain angle with respect to the first and second rotary sleeves. On the rotary sleeve is disposed a reflecting member. The rotary sleeve is rotated and fixed at a predetermined angle with respect to the base, so as to maintain the reflecting member at a best-view position.
US09910239B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a wafer level optical assembly comprising a first wafer level optical element, the first wafer level optical element comprising a first alignment structure and a second wafer level optical element, the second wafer level optical element comprising a second alignment structure, wherein the first alignment structure contacts the second alignment structure.
US09910237B2
The manifold is provided with a first cable passage at a first longitudinal position and a second cable passage at a second longitudinal position, wherein a releasable pipe segment is present between the first and the second longitudinal positions. It is suitable for use in a pipe, such as a pressure sewer. In use, a cable would be laid through the pipe with the manifold. Thereafter, the releasable pipe segment would be removed from neighboring pipe shells. The cable would be inserted into the cable passages, and a second pipe segment would replace the initial pipe segment.
US09910232B2
Methods and systems for a chip-on-wafer-on-substrate assembly are disclosed and may include in an integrated optical communication system comprising an electronics die and a substrate. The electronics die is bonded to a first surface of a photonic interposer and the substrate is coupled to a second surface of the photonic interposer opposite to the first surface. An optical fiber and a light source assembly are coupled to the second surface of the interposer in one or more cavities formed in the substrate. The integrated optical communication system is operable to receive a continuous wave (CW) optical signal in the photonic interposer from the light source assembly; and communicate a modulated optical signal to the optical fiber from said photonic interposer. A mold compound may be on the first surface of the interposer and in contact with the electronics die. The received CW optical signal may be coupled to an optical waveguide in the photonic interposer using a grating coupler.
US09910226B2
A unitary fiber optic ferrule reflects light off an interior lens and through the fiber optic ferrule. Optical fibers can be easily secured in the unitary fiber optic ferrule. An adapter to secure the unitary fiber optic ferrule to a optical component assembly is also presented. The adapter provides a sealing function for the lenses and to provide routing for optical fibers from other assemblies of unitary fiber optic ferrules and adapters.
US09910211B2
A backlit system comprises a base panel, a plurality of keys disposed on the base panel, a substantially planar light guide panel disposed between the base panel and the plurality of keys, at least one light source disposed on the light guide panel, and at least one light management feature disposed on the light guide panel. The at least one light management feature is configured to at least partially reflect incident light within the light guide panel.
US09910205B2
In one embodiment, a light-emitting device includes a light source unit which emits polarized light in a first direction, a bending portion which is irradiated with the polarized light in the first direction and bends the light in a second direction, and a lightguide member which is irradiated with the polarized light caused to bend in the bending portion. The lightguide member comprises an exit surface, bends the polarized light in a third direction, and emits the light through the exit surface. The light source unit includes a first source which emits first light, and a second source which emits second light. The bending portion includes a first incident portion which the first light enters, and a second incident portion which the second light enters.
US09910195B2
An optical wavelength dispersion device includes a first substrate, an input unit formed on the first substrate having a slit for receiving an optical signal, a grating formed on the first substrate for producing a diffracted light beams from the optical signal, a first optical reflector formed on the first substrate for reflecting the diffracted light beams from the grating for outputting, and a second substrate covered on the top of the input unit and the grating, wherein the input unit, the grating and the first optical reflector are formed from a photo-resist layer by high energy light source exposure.
US09910184B2
The present disclosure discloses an alignment system and an alignment method for a container or vehicle inspection system, and an inspection system. The inspection system comprises comprising an ray source, a collimator, a detector arm and a detector module mounted on a detector arm, the ray source, the collimator and the detector module are arranged to form an inspection passage, a ray beam emitted from the ray source passes through collimator and irradiates onto an inspected object, and an attenuated ray beam is collected by the detector module so as to complete inspection. The alignment system comprises a measuring module arranged to receive the ray beam emitted from the collimator and to measure the ray beam so as to determine positions and orientations of the ray source and the collimator. With the alignment method, alignment between a center point of the ray source, a central line of a detector tip and a central line of the collimator may be more accurately measured.
US09910182B2
A method for inverting dielectric logging tool measurement data to estimate an electrical characteristic of an earth formation includes: receiving measurement data from the logging tool having a transmitter antenna and receiver antennas spaced known distances from the transmitter antenna; establishing an equation relating magnetic field measurements made by the receiver antennas to the distances and a wave vector; establishing an error equation that quantifies a difference between the magnetic field measurements made by the receiver antennas to magnetic field measurements made by the receiver antennas that would be obtained with an estimated formation electrical characteristic; calculating an error using the error equation for an initial estimated value of the wave vector that comprises a term having a first number multiplied times a second number of radians to provide a plurality of calculated errors; and determining a minimum error from the plurality of calculated errors to estimate the electrical characteristic.
US09910177B2
A system and method for deep detection of petroleum and hydrocarbon deposits is disclosed. The system includes a sensing array that includes a plurality of electrodes positioned in the ground at a testing site, a sensing device, and a system for generating a seismic event that generates below-ground signals that are received by the sensing array. The system enables detection and depth determination of underground features such as petroleum and hydrocarbon deposits at greater depths compared to conventional systems.
US09910165B2
A detector system for a CT scanner is provided. The detector system may include a plurality of detector modules. Each of the detector modules may include a supporting frame, two or more detectors and an interface board. A supporting frame may be connected to a casing of the detector system. Detectors may be mounted onto a supporting frame and may convert an X-ray beam within a CT scanner into an electrical signal. An interface board may be disposed in an outer side of a supporting frame away from the focus of an X-ray tube, and may be electrically connected to a plurality of detectors through a connector, so as to provide a control signal and a power supply to the detectors, and to transmit a digital signal outputted by the detectors to a backplane of the detector system through an output line.
US09910164B2
Disclosed is a three-dimensional radiation detection and visualization system. The three-dimensional radiation detection and visualization system includes a first sensing module including one radiation sensor, a second sensing module including one image sensor, a first supporting body in which the first sensing module and the second sensing module are coupled to one side and the other side thereof to be vertically rotated, and a second supporting body coupled with the first supporting body so that the first supporting body is vertically rotated.
US09910162B2
For calibration (24) for quantitative SPECT, a multiple energy emission source (11) is used for calibration. The planar sensitivities and/or uniformities are determined at different emission energies based on detections from the multiple energy emission source. For estimating (32) the activity concentration, sensitivities and/or uniformities based on measures (26) at different emission energies increase accuracy. The multiple energy emission source (11) may alternatively or additionally be used to calibrate (40) a dose calibrator (15).
US09910159B2
A method and apparatus are presented for providing a compact extended ephemeris package for GNSS processing. An extended ephemeris service provides orbit trajectories and clock corrections which are predicted into the future for navigation satellites. The extended ephemeris package format used allows the ephemeris information to be sent quickly and efficiently, even when using a low bandwidth communication network. Client GNSS receiver devices obtain the extended ephemeris package and extract the satellite ephemeris information for later use. This allows a client device to operate for many days or weeks without needing to decode or receive new satellite ephemeris information.
US09910151B2
A radar object detection system includes a first sensor and a controller. The first sensor emits a first radar signal toward a first area about a vehicle, and outputs a first signal indicative of detected targets proximate to the vehicle. The controller receives the first signal from the first sensor, determines when a trailer is connected to the vehicle based on the first signal, defines a shadow-zone that corresponds to a first portion of the first area obstructed by the trailer from being viewed by the first sensor, and ignores detected targets within the shadow-zone that are indicated by the first signal.
US09910147B2
A radar antenna is provided. The radar antenna includes a radar case having a front side and a rear side, a signal processor provided inside the radar case and configured to perform signal processing on a reception signal that is received by an EM radiator configured to transceive an electromagnetic wave, and a wireless LAN antenna fixed inside the radar case, having a horizontal directivity, and configured to transmit the reception signal processed by the signal processor to an external terminal device, the wireless LAN antenna being oriented such that a direction of the horizontal directivity of the wireless LAN antenna is in parallel to the front-and-rear directions of the radar case.
US09910140B2
Provided are an ultrasonic measurement apparatus, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an ultrasonic measurement method that achieve an increase in processing speed together with an increase in resolution and are user friendly. An image is generated by adding together, with a weight having a fixed value, reception signals obtained by ultrasonic echoes being received by an ultrasonic element array, and an area of interest is set within the area in which the generated image is to be displayed. When an area of interest is acquired, the reception signals received by the ultrasonic element array are added together with weights that depend on the reception signals, with respect to data forming the basis of the image to be displayed in the area of interest, and image generation is performed.
US09910129B1
A method of calibrating analog transceiver delay includes generating a signal in a portion of a first device to arrive at a first known time at analog transmit circuitry of the first device, transmitting the signal from the analog transmit circuitry of the first device, receiving the transmitted signal, and deriving transceiver delay from the received signal. The transmitting may be performed via a closed loop to analog receiver circuitry of the first device, detecting the signal at a second known time at an output of the analog receiver circuitry of the first device. The transmitting also may be performed wirelessly to receiver circuitry of a second device placed at a predetermined distance from the first device, detecting the received signal at a second known time at the receiver circuitry of the second device. Transceiver delay can be determined from transit time and apportioned between transmit delay and receive delay.
US09910125B2
The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for adaptive calibration of test systems to interconnects. In some examples, a control circuit performs a method for adaptive calibration including determining, for each configurable calibration parameter of a number of configurable calibration parameters for a receiver for processing a received signal from an interconnect coupled to the receiver, a range of valid values for the configurable calibration parameter. The method further includes for each configurable calibration parameter: sweeping the configurable calibration parameter across a subset of values from the range of valid values for the configurable calibration parameter; and testing the received signal from the interconnect for each value in the subset of values and storing a result of the testing for the value. The method further includes determining a set of calibrated values for the configurable calibration parameters based on the results of the testing.
US09910121B2
Provided are apparatuses and methods for diagnosing failure of a current sensor of a battery system for an eco-friendly vehicle. One apparatus for diagnosing failure of a current sensor of a battery system for an eco-friendly vehicle includes a high voltage battery, a current sensor configured to measure a current output from the high voltage battery, and a controller configured to measure an offset current through the current sensor when an ignition key is turned off or turned on, and diagnose failure of the current sensor on the basis of the measured offset current.
US09910113B2
A local coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system for acquisition of magnetic resonance signals includes a receiving mechanism for wireless transmission of operating energy of the local coil and/or a signal of the magnetic resonance imaging system. The receiving mechanism is configured to take the operating energy and/or the signal from a supply field. A magnetic resonance imaging system is also provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system includes a transmitting mechanism for wireless transmission of operating energy of a local coil and/or a signal of the magnetic resonance imaging system. The transmitting mechanism has a transmission signal generator that is connected to a field source and a field sink. The transmitting mechanism is constructed such that, in operation, the operating energy and/or the signal is transmitted by a supply field that is present as an electrical alternating voltage field between the field source and the field sink.
US09910104B2
A system for magnetic detection includes a nitrogen vacancy (NV) diamond material comprising a plurality of NV centers, a radio frequency (RF) excitation source configured to provide RF excitation to the NV diamond material, an optical excitation source configured to provide optical excitation to the NV diamond material, an optical detector configured to receive an optical signal emitted by the NV diamond material, and a controller. The optical signal is based on hyperfine states of the NV diamond material. The controller is configured to detect a gradient of the optical signal based on the hyperfine states emitted by the NV diamond material.
US09910090B2
Aspects include techniques for bypassing an encoded latch on a chip during a test-pattern scan and using on-chip circuitry to generate a desired encoded pattern, which is inserted into a scan-bypassed latch, to test the on-chip circuitry for defects. A computer-implemented method may include applying a global control bit to the chip; initializing a scan of the chip while bypassing the encoded latch; and applying an extra scan clock to initiate the encoded latch after completing the scan, wherein the encoded latch is updated with check bits generated by the on-chip circuitry.
US09910083B2
A method of detecting a diode fault in an AC signal rectifier circuit, the AC signal rectifier circuit including a plurality of diodes, and being arranged to supply a rectified output voltage to a load, wherein the method includes the steps of deriving an operating value indicative of the ratio of the voltage magnitudes of a first harmonic frequency and another harmonic frequency of the rectified output voltage across the load; and determining whether a fault has occurred in one or more diodes on the basis of the derived operating value. The first harmonic frequency is preferably the fundamental harmonic frequency, and/or the another harmonic frequency is preferably the 6th harmonic frequency.
US09910082B2
The invention relates to an apparatus, method and system for measuring and optionally detecting an electrical discharge having a discharge magnitude, wherein the electrical discharge causes a corresponding emission of optical radiation. The apparatus embodies the system and method in accordance with the invention, wherein the method comprises measuring electrical discharge by firstly storing pre-determined calibration data comprising calibrated quantitative measurement values associated with magnitudes of electrical discharge and detector parameters corresponding thereto, the detector parameters being operating parameters associated with the optical detector, receiving and processing a particular detector parameter with the stored calibration data to detect an electrical discharge, and determine a quantitative measurement associated with the magnitude of the detected electrical discharge.
US09910079B2
A grounding resistance measurement apparatus measures a grounding resistance at an AC power terminal, and is electrically connected to an equipment input terminal which provides an AC power source. The grounding resistance measurement apparatus includes a DC power generation circuit and a DC voltage detection circuit. The DC power generation circuit receives the AC power source at the equipment input terminal and converts the AC power source into a DC power source. The DC power source is provided to produce a DC resistance voltage across the grounding resistance. A voltage difference between the equipment input terminal and an equipment grounding point is equal to the DC resistance voltage so that the grounding resistance is calculated according to the zero DC component in an AC power loop.
US09910073B2
A measurement circuit for a sensor, the measurement circuit includes at least one detection branch including at least a first series of at least one dipole and a second series of at least one dipole, the series being connected in parallel and connected at their inputs to a common input terminal, each series of dipole being connected to a distinct output terminal, and an electronic circuit including a bias circuit configured to apply a bias current to the detection branch from the input terminal, and a read circuit configured to impose on each output terminal the same potential referred to as the “reference potential” (VREF); the electronic circuit including a determination circuit for determining variations in impedances of each series of dipole of the detection branch on the basis of the current applied to each output terminal by the read circuit so as to keep the potentials equal.
US09910072B2
A power-supply voltage sensing device is disclosed, which relates to a technology for detecting a level of an external power-supply voltage during a test mode. The power-supply voltage sensing device includes a reference voltage trimming unit configured to trim a reference voltage in response to a code signal, a power-supply voltage detection unit configured to select one of a power-supply voltage and an external power-supply voltage in response to a test signal, compare the external power-supply voltage with the reference voltage, and output a detection signal according to the result of comparison, and a reference voltage control unit configured to output the code signal in response to the detection signal.
US09910071B2
Disclosed is a metrology assembly that utilizes a multi-Hall effect device configuration which eliminates the necessity of a magnetic concentrator. In some embodiments, the metrology assembly includes a substrate or support platform configured to support at least two Hall effect devices per phase of an electricity meter. The metrology assembly may further include one or more electrical conductors coupled to the substrate and configured to conduct electric current. The at least two Hall effect devices may be coupled to the substrate at opposing sides of an associated electrical conductor, each Hall effect device being configured to detect a magnetic field created by the electric current of the associated electrical conductor, and to generate an output.
US09910061B2
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for extracting system parameters from nonlinear periodic signals from sensors. A sensor such as an inertial device includes a first structure and a second structure that is springedly coupled to the first structure. The sensor is configured to generate an output voltage based on a current between the first and second structures. Monotonic motion of the second structure relative to the first structure causes a reversal in direction of the current.
US09910054B2
An analytical laboratory system and method for processing samples is disclosed. The system includes a manager unit, as well as an aliquotter unit and a centrifuge unit.
US09910036B2
A lateral flow assay detects and differentiates between viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In one preferred embodiment, the bacterial marker is CRP. In another preferred embodiment, the viral marker is MxA. In some embodiments, it is unnecessary to lyse the cells in the sample prior to applying it to the device.
US09910032B2
There is provided a method of identifying at least one foetal erythroblast in a sample, the method comprising analyzing the morphology of at least one cell in the sample; wherein at least one analyzed cell that is nucleated, is CD45 negative and comprises a relatively high cytoplasmic to nuclear ratio is identified as the foetal erythroblast.
US09910031B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for modulating c-Rel-dependent cytokine production without materially altering the level of expression of NFκB and/or the amount of IκB. The present invention is also directed to screening for modulators of c-Rel activity as determined by assaying for altered subcellular localization of c-Rel but where the level of expression of NFκB and/or the amount of IκB is materially unaltered.
US09910023B2
A gas sensor having a heater layer; and a gas detector that is heated by the heater layer to detect a measurement target gas. The gas detector has a gas sensing layer, a diffusion layer that covers a surface of the gas sensing layer, and an absorption layer that covers a surface of the diffusion layer. The absorption layer has greater absorption of the measurement target gas than the diffusion layer, and the diffusion layer has greater diffusion of the measurement target gas than the absorption layer.
US09910016B2
An ultrasonic guided wave system for defect detection in a plate-like structure, includes at least one first circumferentially-polarized piezoelectric d15 shear ring element configured to be coupled to a structure. The controller includes a machine readable storage medium and a processor in signal communication with the machine readable storage medium. The processor is configured to cause a pulse generator to pulse the at least first circumferentially-polarized piezoelectric d15 shear ring element such that shear horizontal-type guided wave energy is transmitted in all directions in the plate-like structure, process at least one guided wave signal to identify the presence and location of at least one possible defect in the plate-like structure, and store the guided wave signal and defect detection data in the machine readable storage medium.
US09910014B2
A method for the detection of a gas flowing from a location in a structure is described. A hollow-core optical fiber is placed in a position adjacent the structure. The fiber includes a sound-conductive cladding layer; and further includes at least one aperture extending into its cross-sectional diameter. A beam of pulsed, optical is transmitted into the fiber with a tunable laser. The optical energy is characterized by a wavelength that can be absorbed by the gas that flows into the fiber through the aperture. This causes a temperature fluctuation in the region of gas absorption, which in turn generates an acoustic wave in the absorption region. The acoustic wave travels through the cladding layer, and can be detected with a microphone, so as to provide the location of gas flow, based on the recorded position and movement of the acoustic wave. A related system is also described.
US09909994B2
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for measuring the smoothness of grains. In one embodiment, the arrangement includes a channel for supplying grains, especially rice grains, an obstacle arranged at the channel to slow down grains falling on the obstacle, so that the flow of grains forms a heap on the obstacle and an image capturing device placed facing the obstacle. The image capturing device is arranged to capture an image of the heap, where the area under the curve of the captured heap image indicates the degree of smoothness of the grains or the course of the curve of the captured heap image indicates the degree of smoothness of the grains.
US09909992B2
The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and sensors configured to characterize a radiation beam. At least one embodiment relates to an optical system. The optical system includes an optical radiation guiding system. The optical radiation guiding system includes a collimator configured to collimate the radiation beam into a collimated radiation beam. The optical radiation guiding system also includes a beam shaper configured to distribute power of the collimated radiation beam over a discrete number of line shaped fields. A spectrum of the collimated radiation beam entering the beam shaper is delivered to each of the discrete number of line shaped fields. The optical system further includes a spectrometer chip. The spectrometer chip is configured to process the spectrum of the collimated radiation beam in each of the discrete number of line shaped fields coming from the beam shaper.
US09909983B2
An optical system (10) includes an arrangement for splitting a source beam into a measurement beam and a reference beam. The reference beam is reflected off a reflective element (42) which mounted on a delay line (44). A target (35) scatters the radiation from the measurement beam. The scattered radiation and the reference beam are brought to interfere on a detector (40) by calibrating the delay line (44). The detected interference pattern is Fourier-transformed and filtered to select a region of interest around a side-band of the Fourier-transformed interference pattern in order to remove noise caused by stray radiation that hits the detector.
US09909981B2
An optical detection device is provided. The detection device includes a light source emitting light rays, a focusing lens, and a sample testing member. The focusing lens refracts the light rays emitting from the light source to a pre-defined area on the sample testing member and focuses light rays diffusely reflected by the sample testing member. The detection device further includes an aperture diaphragm having an aperture. The aperture is configured to allow the focused reflected light rays to pass through. The detection device further includes a photodetector configured to receive the focused reflected rays passing through the aperture.
US09909980B2
A fluid analyzer includes a substrate, a quantum cascade laser formed on a surface of the substrate and including a first light-emitting surface and a second light-emitting surface facing each other, a first quantum cascade detector formed on the surface and including the same layer structure as the quantum cascade laser and a first light incident surface facing the first light-emitting surface, a second quantum cascade detector formed on the surface and including the same layer structure as the quantum cascade laser and a second light incident surface facing the second light-emitting surface, and a resin member covering at least the second light-emitting surface and the second light incident surface and having optical transparency and an electrical insulation property. A first space in which a fluid to be analyzed is disposed is provided in a first area between the first light-emitting surface and the first light incident surface.
US09909977B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining both (a) the haematocrit value and (b) the fibrinogen content in whole blood of an individual in less than 5 minutes, as well as to associated portable apparatus.
US09909976B2
The invention relates to a method for investigating a sample, the sample being impinged upon by illuminating light, and detected light emerging from the sample being directed to a detector, and the illuminating light being directed through an acousto-optic component with which the impingement upon the sample by illuminating light can be temporarily interrupted. The method is notable for the fact that the sample is illuminated with a first illuminating light bundle that has a first linear polarization direction, and with a second illuminating light bundle whose linear polarization direction is continuously switched over between the first linear polarization direction and a second linear polarization direction different from the first linear polarization direction, the illuminating light having the first linear polarization direction proceeding along a first light path and illuminating light having the second linear polarization direction proceeding along a second light path, and the acousto-optic component combining the light paths.
US09909970B2
Disclosed is a method of calibrating apparatus for optically characterizing samples of particles of small size. Also disclosed is a method of estimating the concentration of particles in a population of small size particles.
US09909968B2
Disclosed herein are devices for measuring, at one or more time points, one or more properties or changes in properties of a fluid sample. The devices may comprise a chamber defining an internal volume of the device suitable for receiving and retaining the fluid sample; a plurality of layers, the plurality comprising at least a first layer below the chamber, at least a second layer above the chamber, and a substrate layer between the first and second layers, wherein: the substrate layer is linked to at least one suspended element located within the chamber; the suspended element is linked to the substrate layer by at least two compliant structures located within the chamber; and the suspended element is configured to oscillate upon application of an actuating signal to at least one electrically conductive path, which runs across at least two of the compliant structures and the suspended element. Related methods and uses are also disclosed.
US09909966B2
The present invention relates to a shear test device and test method of rock mass discontinuities under constant normal stiffness condition. The device includes: a base used for placing a test piece; a loading framework fixedly connected with the base; a shear loading system used for applying a shear force to the test piece; a normal loading system used for applying a normal pressure to the test piece; a normal displacement monitoring system used for measuring the magnitude of normal displacement of the test piece in real time; and a computer control system used for receiving the data of the normal displacement of the test piece in real time, and constantly adjusting the normal pressure applied by the normal loading system to the test piece according to the principle that the normal stiffness of the test piece is unchanged.
US09909963B2
The present disclosure provides methods for carrying out Romanowsky-type stains, specifically Wright-Giemsa and May-Grünwald stains, quickly and efficiently. The methods greatly reduce the overall amount of time required to complete a Wright-Giemsa stain or a May-Grünwald stain of sufficient quality on a biological sample. The subject methods can be applied to both manual and automated staining procedures.
US09909954B2
A method of quantifying a viscous damping steering feel characteristic of a vehicle equipped with an electric power steering system includes connecting the electric power steering (EPS) system to a rotary actuator and kingpin actuators of a simulator system, communicating a triangle wave control input from a simulator controller to the rotary actuator, and receiving outputs from sensors in the simulator system by the simulator controller in response to the triangle wave control input. The simulator controller is programmed to execute logic embodying a method using the triangle wave control input provided via the rotary actuator and deconvolution of the outputs remove phase lag between the input and output signals, to generate a deconvoluted hysteresis loop for each of a plurality of steering cycles conducted during a vehicle simulation event, and to characterize a viscous damping steering feel characteristic of the EPS system.
US09909953B2
An impact-acoustic method for testing a tire is provided along with a tire anomaly detection system in which an actuatable impactor is provided with an acoustic transducer and a force transducer. A plurality of discriminator quantities is calculated from acoustic signals and force signals and the calculated discriminator quantities are compared with stored discriminator quantities to determine whether an anomaly is present in the tire.
US09909951B2
A system and method for evaluating individual Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors in a multiplexed acoustic sensor system, the system comprising: a broadband pulsed source; a circulator that passes a laser pulse to a multiplexed series of N FBG sensors and one reference Fresnel reflector, wherein said circulator also receives a return N+1 reflection pulse train from the N FBG sensors and one reference Fresnel reflector; and an optical switch that receives the return N+1 reflection pulse train from the N FBG sensors and one reference Fresnel reflector.
US09909949B2
The present invention is a leakage determination method comprising: comparing a correlation profile including a cross-correlation function obtained from measurement data measured at at least a pair of measurement positions and position information for the measurement positions, and a correlation profile at the time of the leakage determination including the cross-correlation function obtained from the measurement data measured at the pair of measurement positions and the position information for the measurement positions; and determining leakage.
US09909947B2
In an embodiment, a pressure sensor includes a tip secured to a port. The tip includes an opening for receiving pressure to be measured by the pressure sensor. The port includes a threaded section for mounting the pressure sensor in a fixture such as, for example, a rail. The port also includes a flexible section, a cavity, and an opening. The opening in the tip receives pressure from an outside source and channels the pressure to the opening of the port. The opening of the port receives the pressure from the tip and channels the pressure to the cavity. The pressure received in the cavity applies a force to the flexible section which flexes in response to the force. Moreover, forces are provided by the tip and the threaded section to keep the tip secured to the port.
US09909928B2
A wireless thermometer is provided, which measures a deep temperature with high accuracy and has an improved communication distance. A wireless thermometer includes a flat film-like substrate. A quartz crystal vibrator and an antenna are disposed on a principal surface of the substrate. A quartz crystal vibrator and an antenna are disposed on the other principal surface of the substrate. A winding conductor of the antenna is substantially symmetrical with a winding conductor of the antenna with respect to the substrate. A lead conductor of the antenna is connected to the winding conductor at one end and is connected to the quartz crystal vibrator at the other end. A central portion of the lead conductor is bent. By folding the central portion, the quartz crystal vibrator can be positioned opposite the quartz crystal vibrator with a heat insulator interposed there between.
US09909918B2
An ultrasonic scanning device for scanning a turbine component. The device includes an ultrasonic transducer attached to a moveable fluid distribution block, wherein the block includes a block opening and an internal passageway for receiving a fluid. The device also includes a fluid pad having a fluid pad opening that is in fluid communication with the block opening, wherein the fluid pad and block openings form a channel that extends between the ultrasonic transducer and the turbine component. Fluid received by the internal passageway moves to the channel and forms a fluid column between the ultrasonic transducer and the turbine component that facilitates transmission of ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer. In addition, the device includes a control module for controlling operation of the ultrasonic transducer and an encoder for providing travel information to the control module for determining a position of the device relative to the turbine component.
US09909909B2
A venturi flowmeter for connection to single-use containers is provided. The venturi flowmeter includes a meter body formed of a polymer and configured to allow fluid flow therethrough. A first annular diaphragm is mounted proximate an inner surface of the meter body has a first internal diameter. A second annular diaphragm is mounted proximate an inner surface of the meter body has a second internal diameter different from the first internal diameter.
US09909904B2
An optical fiber sensor system and a method for determining a location of a disturbance having a signal processor with a plurality of activation cells adapted to react to components of a back-scattered signal and label the disturbance.
US09909903B2
The application describes methods and apparatus for distributed fiber sensing, especially distributed acoustic/strain sensing. The method involves launching at least first and second pulse pairs into an optical fiber, the first and second pulse pairs having the same frequency configuration as one another and being generated such that the phase relationship of the pulses of the first pulse pair has a predetermined relative phase difference to the phase relationship of the pulses of the second pulse pair. In one embodiment there is a frequency difference between the pulses in a pulse pair which is related to the launch rate of the pulse pairs. In another embodiment the phase difference between the pulses in a pair is varied between successive launches. In this way an analytic version of the backscatter interference signal can be generated within the baseband of the sensor.
US09909895B2
In a method for providing adaptive audio guidance, determining, by one or more processors, a route of a computing device, wherein the route is from an initial location of the computing device to a destination. Determining, by one or more processors, an estimated time of arrival at which the computing device would arrive at the destination. Prompting, by one or more processors, a user to input a desired arrival time. Determining, by one or more processors, whether to provide audio guidance based on a determination of whether the estimated time of arrival is within a pre-determined time period before the desired arrival time.
US09909894B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided for componentized junction models. A plurality of road junction configurations are defined with a different set of road segment models corresponding to each of the plurality of road junction configurations. One of the plurality of road junction configurations are selected for a route through a physical road junction. A model of the physical road junction is generated by assembling the set of road segment models corresponding to the selected road junction configuration. The three-dimensional model of the physical road junction is rendered.
US09909893B2
The present disclosure provides an intelligent blind guiding device, wherein a satellite positioning module is configured to acquire a location information representative of a user's location; an ultrasonic module is configured to acquire an obstacle information by detecting surrounding obstacles; a positioning analysis module is configured to acquire a revised location information; a voice input module is configured to acquire a destination information; a central processing unit is configured to determine a travel solution; and a prompt module is configured to broadcast the travel solution. The present disclosure may realize a precise positioning, and provide an optional travel mode for a blind person.
US09909886B2
Computer implemented methods are disclosed for providing geographical information to a user. One method may include receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, user input data including at least the destination location and a break point parameter and calculating one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, based on the user input data. The method may also include identifying one or more intermediate break point locations along the one or more routes based on the break point parameter received from the user and identifying a range extending around each intermediate break point location, and potential break points. A step may also be executed in which a density or type of points of interest within each potential break point may be evaluated by the electronic device and a recommended for a break point made.
US09909879B2
Successive offer communications are sent to an offer recipient. A first offer communication includes an offer of a merchant and the second offer communication includes an announcement about the offer. The first and second offer communications are each formatted to be rendered by respective communication device, such as a mobile phone of the offer recipient or a Point of Interaction (POI) terminal. The content of the offer communications may be tailored to the offer recipient based on the offer recipient's past transactions within a transaction processing system or a real time geographical location of the offer recipient.
US09909871B2
The invention provides a surveying instrument, which comprises a horizontal rotating unit and a measuring unit installed on the horizontal rotating unit, wherein the horizontal rotating unit comprises a driving unit for rotating the measuring unit, a horizontal angle detector for measuring horizontal angle data, a first synchronization data generating unit, a first storage unit and a first control unit, the first control unit associates the horizontal angle data with the first synchronization data and stores in the first storage unit, wherein the measuring unit comprises a distance measuring unit for performing a distance measurement, a vertical angle detector for detecting a vertical angle at a time of distance measurement, a second synchronization data generating unit, a second storage unit and a second control unit, the second synchronization data generating unit outputs second synchronization data which indicate timings of a time of acquisition of the distance measurement data and a time of acquisition of the vertical angle data, the second control unit associates the two-dimensional measurement data with the second synchronization data and stores in the second storage unit, and the horizontal angle data and the two-dimensional measurement data can be converted to three-dimensional data based on the first synchronization data and the second synchronization data.
US09909864B2
The present invention generally relates to a system, device and a method for loading and/or unloading a cargo to and/or from a second vehicle where a loading device is mounted on a first vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and a device for a sensor system (with sensor platform deployed at the crane tip) used for heave compensation and 3D positioning of cargo and second vehicle during loading and unloading process of cargo to/from a ship where a crane is mounted on an oil rig.
US09909862B2
The present disclosure relates to curved arrays of individually addressable light-emitting elements for sweeping out angular ranges. One example device includes a curved optical element. The device may also include a curved array of individually addressable light-emitting elements arranged to emit light towards the curved optical element. A curvature of the curved array is substantially concentric to at least a portion of the circumference of the curved optical element. The curved optical element is arranged to focus light emitted from each individually addressable light-emitting element to produce a substantially linear illumination pattern at a different corresponding scan angle within an angular range. The device may further include a control system operable to sequentially activate the individually addressable light-emitting elements such that the substantially linear illumination pattern sweeps out the angular range.
US09909861B2
The invention relates to a method and device for detecting the edge profile of bottles or similar containers that are moved past a measuring and/or receiving region of a measuring and/or receiving system, using at least one opto-electric receiver on one side of the measuring and/or receiving region and using at least one light-emitting device on the side located opposite of the receiver in the measuring and/or receiving region.
US09909852B2
An operation position detection apparatus includes: an operation body including front and back side operation surfaces; a casing; three strain generating bodies on at least one operation surface, wherein each strain generating body includes a connection section connected to the operation body, a fixed section fixed to the casing, and a displacement transmission surface displaceable by a pushing pressure to each operation surface; a distortion detection section arranged on each displacement transmission surface and detecting a distortion of the displacement transmission surface; and an operation position calculation section detecting which of the front side operation surface and the back side operation surface is pushed, the magnitude of the operation force generated by the pushing pressure, and an operation position of the pushing pressure, according to a detected distortion.
US09909844B2
Armor plating is provided for armored land vehicles or watercraft, the armor having a base armor plate and an additional armor plate fixed thereto on the enemy side, such that it can be removed. A structural component can be used as a base armor plate for such vehicles, and comprises a layered structure with a core composite having an inner honeycomb core and at least one covering layer. The layered structure does not contain supporting metal layers or ceramic, hard material layers. Another essential characteristic is the use of fixture elements which are anchored in the core composite to allow additional armor plating to be detachably fixed on the enemy side. The core composite therefore essentially offers basic protection itself, while also acting as the carrier structure for interchangeable additional armor plating.
US09909842B2
Armor comprises an array of tiles or pellets confined between at least a pair of sheets, and in which at least one of said at least a pair of sheets is weakened overlying boundaries between adjacent tiles or pellets.
US09909839B1
A sight apparatus with a rack and pinion mechanism, used to raise or lower a scope head and/or sight pin. The sight apparatus may also include a number of adjustment mechanisms for pivotally adjusting the sight, a locking mechanism and selectively interchangeable spools, e.g. spools for different arrow velocity and/or trajectory.
US09909829B2
A muzzle device that may be attached to the barrel of a firearm that includes structures which influence the flow characteristics of exhausting propellant gases for suppressing muzzle flash, counter acting the rearward and upward motion of the muzzle during firing, and reducing the concussion directed towards the shooter as well as personnel to the sides of the shooter.
US09909824B2
A liquid distributor is provided for receiving and distributing a liquid stream in a mass transfer column. The liquid distributor has a plurality of elongated primary troughs and a plurality of secondary troughs that are positioned adjacent the primary troughs at a location to receive at least some of the individual primary discharge streams from the primary troughs. Splash baffles are spaced a preselected distance from liquid discharge holes in the side walls of the secondary troughs to receive at least some of the individual secondary discharge streams and cause a lateral spreading thereof as the individual second discharge streams descend along the splash baffles and drip from lower edges thereof.
US09909819B2
A metal heat exchanger tube for the evaporation of liquids on the outside of the tube, having a tube axis, a tube wall, and integrally formed ribs that run circumferentially on the outside of the tube. The ribs have a rib foot, rib flanks, and a rib tip, wherein the rib foot projects substantially radially from the tube wall. A respective groove is located between every two ribs that are adjacent to one another in the axial direction. At least first, second, and third lateral material projections, which are formed from the material of the ribs, are arranged on a first, second, and third level on the rib flanks in such a way that the grooves are largely covered by all of the material projections. The first, second, and third lateral material projections are formed on levels that are in each case differently spaced apart from the tube wall in the radial direction.
US09909811B1
An exchanger for a pool, large storage tank, or pond is described herein. In one embodiment, the exchanger includes a diffuser hub, exchanger extension arms that extend radially outward from the diffuser hub, one or more exchanger rings that intersect with the heat exchanger extension arms, and a fill tube that extends to the diffuser hub. One or both of the heat exchanger arms and/or the exchanger rings include fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool. Fluid pumped into the fill tube may flow through into the diffuser, through the exchanger extension arms and/or the one or more exchanger rings, and out through the fluid apertures at various locations into the pool. As such, heated fluid, or fluid to be mixed, for example, may be more evenly and quickly distributed into the pool.
US09909809B2
The heat treatment apparatus includes: a processing chamber which accommodates a processing object; a heating unit which heats the processing object accommodated in the processing chamber; a temperature detecting unit which detects an internal temperature of the processing chamber; and a controller which sets a second setting temperature identical to as a temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit falls below a predetermined first setting temperature due to an external disturbance; controls the heating unit so that a third setting temperature between the second setting temperature and the first setting temperature becomes identical to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit; and controls the heating unit so that the first setting temperature becomes identical to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit after the third setting temperature becomes identical to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit.
US09909806B2
The invention relates to a dryer for a lacquering facility: a) having a dryer housing, in which heated air is circulated, b) having an exhaust air line for a exhausting exhaust air from the dryer housing; c) having a combustion unit, which is connected to the exhaust air line, and which is used for thermal post-treatment of the exhaust air from the dryer housing and for providing hot air to a heat exchanger; d) wherein said heat exchanger is set up to supply said dryer housing with heated fresh air; and wherein e) at least one heating unit for heating the air circulated in said dryer housing is associated with said dryer housing. It is provided according to the invention that a combustion air supply of the heating unit is connected so it communicates with the dryer housing.
US09909805B2
A razor drying device for drying razors includes a housing having a top, a base, a back, a front, a left side and a right side defining an interior space within the housing. A wall and a divider are coupled to and positioned within the interior space of the housing, defining respectively a compartment and a chamber. A motor, power module and a processor are coupled to and positioned in the compartment. The motor has a shaft with a terminus extending through the wall. A fan is coupled to the terminus. The power module and the processor are operationally to each other and to the motor. The chamber has a screen for a bottom. The device has a tray, removable from the housing through a complimentary opening in the front. A plurality of inlets is positioned in the back of the housing and in the wall.
US09909803B2
A process and apparatus for separating a feed containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, and optionally nitrogen to form a product gas having a desired H2:CO molar ratio and optionally a hydrogen product gas and a carbon monoxide product gas. The feed is partially condensed to form a hydrogen-enriched vapor fraction and a carbon monoxide-enriched liquid fraction. The hydrogen-enriched vapor fraction and carbon monoxide-enriched liquid fraction are combined in a regulated manner to form an admixture, which is cryogenically separated to form the product mixture having the desired H2:CO molar ratio.
US09909802B2
A refrigerator and/or freezer unit and system for storing, monitoring, and maintaining a supply of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products in compliance with regulatory requirements. The unit contains compartments for each product type in multiple controlled temperature zones with sensors and readers to track product status and content. A user interface device in communication with an application service provider provides the user with a secure access to the content of the unit and product information. The application service provider provides the user with web accessed optimal management of product inventory.
US09909794B2
There is disclosed an air-conditioning device of a so-called heat pump system which acquires comfortable heating of a vehicle interior by preventing or inhibiting frost formation to an outdoor heat exchanger. A controller calculates a maximum heating capability predicted value without frosting QmaxNfst as a target value of a maximum heating capability which can be generated by a radiator 4 in a range in which an outdoor heat exchanger 7 is not frosted, and controls heating by the radiator 4 and heating by a heating medium-air heat exchanger 40 of a heating medium circulating circuit 23 on the basis of the maximum heating capability predicted value without frosting QmaxNfst and a required heating capability Qtgt which is the heating capability required for the radiator 4 to achieve the required heating capability Qtgt without causing frost formation to the outdoor heat exchanger 7.
US09909792B2
A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger, pressure reducing devices which reduce the pressure of a refrigerant, an air-side heat exchanger, an outdoor fan which delivers air to the air-side heat exchanger, a geothermal-side heat exchanger, a switching device which switches a flow passage so that the air-side heat exchanger or the geothermal-side heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and a controller. The controller controls the switching device so that, when the geothermal-side heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, the air-side heat exchanger and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger are connected in parallel, and stops the outdoor fan.
US09909790B2
An integrated air conditioning system having a first air conditioning unit having a first evaporator with a first input and a first output; a second air conditioning unit having a second evaporator with a second input and a second output; a first conduit fluidly connecting the first input with the second output; a second conduit fluidly connecting the second input with the first output. The first and second conduits and the first and second evaporators form a working fluid circuit.
US09909785B2
A heat pump device that collects heat both air and geothermal heat sources, and a controller determines, by comparing the temperature of an additional heat source and the current refrigerant temperature, whether or not to switch to simultaneous operation when there is insufficient capacity during single operation. During heating operation, the operation is switched to simultaneous operation if the temperature of the additional heat source is greater than the current refrigerant temperature, and single operation is continued if the temperature of the additional heat source is no greater than the current refrigerant temperature. As another determination method for during heating operation, the refrigerant temperature after addition of geothermal heat source is estimated and the heat pump is switched to simultaneous operation if the estimated refrigerant temperature is greater than the current refrigerant temperature. Single operation is continued if the estimated refrigerant temperature is no greater than the current refrigerant temperature.
US09909782B2
A method of harnessing geothermal energy to produce electricity by lowering a geothermal generator deep into a pre-drilled well bore below the Earth's surface. The Self Contained In-Ground Geothermal Generator (SCI-GGG) includes a boiler, a turbine compartment, an electricity generator, a condenser and produces electricity down at the heat sources and transports it up to the ground surface by cable. The Self Contained Heat Exchanger (SCHE) is integral part of (SCI-GGG) system and can function independently. It consists of a closed loop system with two heat exchangers. No pollution is emitted during production process. There is no need for hydro-thermal reservoirs although not limited to hot rocks. It can be implemented in many different applications. The SCHE also includes an in-line water pump operatively coupled to the closed loop system and can be used in many different applications.
US09909779B2
A method is described of manufacturing a set of heat exchange cells (1a-1d) having a thermal power falling within a predetermined range of minimum and maximum values, each heat exchange cell (1a-1d) comprising at least one heat exchanger (2) mounted in a respective containment casing (5), wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing a single containment casing (5) of a plurality of heat exchange cells (1a-1d) of the set, the casing (5) having a constant axial extension as the thermal power of the cell (1a-1d) varies within the range of thermal power values and equal to the axial extension of the cell having the minimum thermal power within the range of thermal power values; b) providing a plurality of helically-shaped heat exchangers (2) each having a thermal power falling within said range of minimum and maximum values and each comprising at least one tubular duct (3) for the flow of a first heat transfer fluid coiled about a longitudinal axis (X-X) of the helix according to a plurality of coils; c) mounting within said single containment casing (5) at least one helically-shaped heat exchanger (2) of the plurality of heat exchangers (2) of the set; wherein the plurality of heat exchangers (2) of the set has an internal diameter that is substantially constant as the thermal power of the heat exchanger (2) varies within the range of thermal power values; and wherein the tubular duct (3) of the heat exchanger (2) has a radial extension of the coils proportional to the thermal power of the heat exchanger (2) and such to maintain substantially constant the axial extension of the heat exchanger (2) as its thermal power varies and equal to the axial extension of the heat exchanger (2) having the minimum thermal power within the range of thermal power values of the set.
US09909778B2
A condensation trap comprising an inlet chamber configured to receive condensate liquid through a receiving opening therein. The trap also comprises an internal chamber in fluid communication with the inlet chamber via a first internal opening defined by a sidewall shared by the inlet chamber and the internal chamber, the first internal opening located at an opposite end of the inlet chamber from the receiving opening. The trap also comprises an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the internal chamber via a second internal opening located at an opposite end of the internal chamber from the first internal opening. The trap also comprises a bleed orifice located in a sidewall shared by the internal chamber and the outlet chamber, wherein at least a portion of the bleed orifice is lateral to first internal opening.
US09909777B2
A smart-home device may include a user interface having a first operating mode and a second operating mode, and a four-channel thermopile. A processing system may be programmed to receive an indication of a user presence near the smart-home device from the thermopile, and determine a motion signature based on the responses from the thermopile. The processing system may also be programmed to process the determined motion signature to determine the presence of a condition warranting user interface entry into the first mode from the second mode, and cause the user interface to transition from the first mode to the second mode based on the determined motion signature.
US09909768B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for providing conditioned air to at least one enclosed structure. The system may include at least one conditioning module configured to provide conditioned air to the at least one enclosed structure. The conditioning module(s) may include a conditioning energy exchanger. The conditioning module(s) is configured to circulate desiccant through a desiccant circuit to condition air passing through the conditioning energy exchanger. The conditioning module(s) may be configured to receive at least one of concentrated desiccant or diluted desiccant in order to vary temperature or concentration of the desiccant circulating through the desiccant circuit.
US09909759B2
In a combustion system, a charge source is configured to cooperate with a collection plate and a director conduit to cause at least one particle charge-to-mass classification to be reintroduced to a flame for further reaction.
US09909750B2
A wavelength converting device includes a heat dissipating member, a wavelength converting member, and a connecting member. The wavelength converting member is disposed on the heat dissipating member and contains a fluorescent material and a holding body including aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, lutetium oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, tungsten oxide, divanadium pentoxide, molybdenum trioxide, sodium oxide, yttrium oxide, silicon dioxide, boron oxide, or diphosphorus pentoxide. The connecting member contains a metal material and connecting the heat dissipating member and the wavelength converting member. The wavelength converting member includes an upper surface, side surfaces, and a lower surface. The connecting member is thermally connected to the side surfaces and the lower surface of the wavelength converting member.
US09909739B2
An LED light device includes an LED night light or LED bulb having a moving projection image. The movement effect is obtained by (1) causing LEDs to illuminate with a time difference, (2) using a magnetic field force to cause a film, opening, printed piece, or slide to move, shake, spin, rotate, or vibrate, or (3) using a motor or movement to cause the film/opening/printed piece/slide or a projection-lens to move, shake, spin, rotate, or vibrate. Light beams from an LED light source pass through the film/opening/printed piece/slide and then through a projection lens that causes a tiny lighted image to become a bigger or more colorful moving projected image having a wider viewing angle.
US09909733B2
A lighting apparatus for vehicle use that projects light forward includes: a base; a first light emitting device disposed on the base; a second light emitting device disposed on the base; a first lens body disposed in front of the first light emitting device; a second lens body disposed in front of the second light emitting device; and a light restrictor adjacent to the first lens body, the light restrictor restricting light emitted by the second light emitting device from entering the first lens body.
US09909730B2
A heliostat optimized to be positioned near a skylight or other aperture is disclosed. The heliostat comprises a plurality of reflective elements arranged in a substantially planar array, each element being mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation. A first motor rotates the array about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the array; and a second motor rotates the reflective elements about their respective axes of rotation. A processor provides control signals to operate the first motor as required to orient the array such that the respective axes of rotation of the reflective elements are substantially perpendicular to an azimuth to the sun and to operate the second motor as required to rotate the reflective elements about their respective axes of rotation to position the reflective element to reflect the sun's light to a target area.
US09909727B2
A luminaire (12), such as an external light for an automobile or a wall sconce, includes at least first set of optical features (16B, 16F) and a second set of optical features (16A, 16C, 16E, 16G). The first set of optical features (16B, 16F) is configured for use with an LED bulb (10) emitting a first type of light emission pattern (20), such that the luminaire outputs a particular light emission pattern. The second set of optical features (16A, 16C, 16E, 16G) is configured for use with a bulb (10) emitting a second type of light emission pattern (24), such that the luminaire outputs a different type of light emission pattern. In this way, the same luminaire may output different light emission patterns depending on the emission pattern of the bulb. The luminaire's emission pattern may also be dependent on the color emitted by the bulb. Different bulbs may be used or different LEDs may be energized in a single bulb to generate the emission patterns.
US09909723B2
A small form factor LED lighting system provides for color-controlled dimming. Embodiments of the invention use one or more small-footprint LED(s) that can emit light of different correlated color temperatures (CCTs, colors or spectral outputs). The CCT of the fixture or bulb can change when dimmed by disproportionate adjustment of the driving power for each color. The small size and footprint of the LEDs enables use in decorative LED lamps, such as those designed to replace candelabra style incandescent bulbs. Various options can be used to tune the performance and lighting characteristics of a lamp according to embodiments of the invention, such as the use of differing LED device package optics, the use of reflective materials in and/or around LED device packages, and the use of a secondary optic to produce an omnidirectional light pattern.
US09909717B2
Device for supplying gas comprising a support frame (2) housing a plurality of pressurized-fluid cylinders (3) connected to a fluidic circuit (4, 5) for withdrawing from or filling the cylinders (3), said circuit (4, 5) comprising at least a first connection end (6) connected to the cylinders (3) via a first isolation valve (7) to allow filling of and withdrawal from the cylinders (3), the support frame (2) comprising a base (34) on which the cylinders (3) rest and a set of uprights (30) and transverse beams (31, 32, 33) defining a cage of parallelepipedal overall shape to hold the cylinders (3), the frame (2) comprising, on one of the lateral faces thereof referred to as the “front” face (35), an interface panel (20) comprising at least one opening (23, 24, 25) providing access to the circuit (4, 5), characterized in that the lateral face referred to as the “rear” face (36) of the frame (2), which face is situated opposite the front face (35), is delimited by uprights (30) longer than the uprights (30) of the front face, which means to say that the rear face (36) is taller than the front face (35).
US09909714B2
A lubricator includes a pump body configured to include a cylinder, an inlet passage, a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage, a piston configured to include an inlet port, a circumferential groove and an inner passage, and inserted into the cylinder, first to fourth check valves provided on the inlet side of the inlet passage, the outlet sides of the first and second outlet passages and the inner passage of the piston, a lubricant containing unit connected to the first check valve, and a piston driving unit configured to reciprocate the piston.
US09909709B2
A support for supporting a structure on a surface, comprising at least one support element, each support element comprising a piston, a cylinder in which the piston is moveable, and a brake for maintaining the piston in a position that is stable relative to the cylinder, wherein the piston and the cylinder are arranged so that a loading associated with the structure effects an adjustment of the support element, and wherein an increase in hydraulic pressure within the cylinder, effected by the loading associated with the structure, activates the brake.
US09909705B2
An unload tee has a tee body with a front side and a rear side. The tee body includes an extendable link pivotally connected to the front side of the tee body wherein the extendable link is slidable from a first position wherein the extendable link is shortened to a second position wherein the extendable link is lengthened. An arm is pivotally connected at an opposite end of the extendable link and a door is pivotally connected to an end of the arm unconnected to the shaft. The door is configured to cover an opening of the tee body, wherein an end of the door unconnected to the arm is pivotally connected proximate the rear side of the tee body.
US09909698B2
According to one embodiment, a flange joint for joining a first pipe to a second pipe includes an adapter coupled to the first pipe. The adapter includes a convex surface. The flange joint also includes a gasket with a first concave surface and a second convex surface. The first concave surface of the gasket is matingly engageable with the convex surface of the adapter. The second convex surface is matingly engageable with the second pipe. The gasket is supported on the first pipe. The flange joint further includes a clamp that includes a concave surface that is matingly engageable with the second pipe to secure the gasket to the adapter.
US09909681B2
A diaphragm actuator (10, 40) for a control valve is shown including an actuator housing (12, 42), in which a diaphragm (14, 44) including a diaphragm disk (16, 46) is sealingly fitted thus forming a pressure chamber (20, 50), and furthermore at least one spring (24, 54) is provided which rests against the diaphragm disk (16, 46) and the actuator housing (12, 42), with the diaphragm disk (16, 46) being connected to a valve stem (22, 52) for actuating a valve body. At least two springs (26, 56) are provided and are disposed one after another in an axial direction between the actuator housing (12, 42) and the diaphragm disk (16, 46), with a spring seat element (28, 58) linearly guided by at least one linear guiding element (30, 60) being provided between the at least two springs (26, 56).
US09909674B2
A pulse-width-regulating valve is for the regulation of a fluid flow or a fluid pressure. The pulse-width-regulating valve comprises a cut-off valve connected in series with an inflow valve, at least one of the cut-off valve and the inflow valve being provided with an axially displaceable or rotatable valve element which has an opening position or a closing position at a distance from a starting position of the valve element. A method of operating a pulse-width-regulating valve comprises: regulating a valve gear device by a valve synchronizer, in accordance with at least two displacement curves; and by one or more valve actuators, displacing or rotating corresponding valve elements arranged in the pulse-width-regulating valve.
US09909673B2
A fluid supply system for providing a turbomachine fluid to a component of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The fluid supply system includes a fluid container, a moveable barrier, and an airbag. The moveable barrier fluidly divides the fluid container into a first portion and a second portion. The moveable barrier is moveable between a flow-permitting position and a flow-restricting position. The turbomachine fluid experiences a circulating flow between the component and the second portion of fluid container when the moveable barrier is in the flow-permitting position. The circulating flow is at least partially impeded by the moveable barrier when the moveable barrier is in the flow-restricting position. The airbag is positioned within the first portion of the fluid container. The airbag is selectively operable to move the moveable barrier from the flow-permitting position to the flow-restricting position.
US09909672B2
Severe service industrial valves having at least one valve ball and seat that can be repaired or replaced while the valve remains connected in-line with inlet and outlet pipe lines.
US09909671B2
A hybrid spool valve includes a body having a longitudinal bore. The bore has a fluid inlet chamber in fluid communication with a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet chamber in fluid communication with a fluid outlet port. A spool is slidably mounted in the bore and is movable between a fully open position, a fully closed position, and a plurality of partially open positions. A pilot microvalve is mounted within the bore and is configured to control the sliding movement of the spool by varying the flow of fluid therethrough. A seal is disposed in a groove formed in an outside surface of the spool such that when the spool is in the fully closed position the seal engages a wall of the bore, and when the spool is the fully open position or one of the partially open positions the seal does not engage the bore.
US09909667B2
A seal is adapted to be received in an annular groove in a first member and is compressed against a groove bottom by a second member that defines a gap between the first and second members. The seal includes a reinforcement member and an elastomer body over-molded on the reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is disposed on an outboard side of the elastomer body and the elastomer body extends both above and below the reinforcement member. The compression of the seal causes the elastomer body to deform such that the reinforcement member provides a reinforcement substantially along the entire gap to prevent the elastomer body of the seal from being extruded through the gap.
US09909662B2
A method for operating an automatic transmission includes shifting the automatic transmission to a substitute gear if, after adjusting a first one of at least one positive-locking shift element towards a closed configuration, the first one of the at least one positive-locking shift element occupies an intermediate position. The first one of the at least one positive-locking shift element does not participate in the transmission of power in the substitute gear. A related transmission control device for an automatic transmission is also provided.
US09909661B2
A carrier is provided with a circular plate section, a cylinder section, a planetary gear arrangement section, a first hydraulic fluid flow path, and a second hydraulic fluid flow path. The cylinder section has a second support section for supporting a support pin for a planetary gear, a first clutch attachment section for attaching to a first clutch, a second clutch attachment section for attaching to a second clutch, and a piston attachment section for attaching to a piston for driving the second clutch. The first hydraulic fluid flow path has a first inlet which is provided in the circular plate section to receive hydraulic fluid to lubricate the first clutch. The second hydraulic fluid flow path has a second inlet which is provided in the circular plate section to receive hydraulic fluid to drive the piston.
US09909656B2
A conveying device drivable by rack gear has a towed hook further forward than a front end of a rack gear mounted to a conveying traveling body. A driving pinion gear, disposed at an entrance of a rack gear drive section, has a drawing-in claw that engages the towed hook and draws in the conveying traveling body to a position where the front end of the rack gear meshes with the driving pinion gear. The towed hook has, at a position at a rear side of a hook portion at a distal end thereof and further forward than the front end of the rack gear, an advance preventing claw portion disposed continuous thereto that, together with the hook portion, sandwiches the drawing-in claw, and the hook portion has a length such that it enters more deeply inside a rotation locus of the drawing-in claw than the advance preventing claw portion.
US09909654B2
A linear gear shift power transfer mechanism includes a gear shift unit; a power input clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power input ring surface, first teardrop-shaped recesses and first radial positioning hole; a power output clamp ring element having an inward-tilted power output ring surface, second teardrop-shaped recesses and second radial positioning hole; a first ball ring element whose first positioning ring element has a first positioning portion and bulging ring element each provided with limiting slots; a power input rotator having a third teardrop-shaped recesses and first axial positioning hole; a power output rotator having fourth teardrop-shaped recesses and second axial positioning hole; helical resilient elements having radial and axial positioning posts and received in bulging ring elements, with the radial positioning posts disposed in first and second radial positioning holes through the limiting slots, the axial positioning posts disposed in first and second axial positioning holes.
US09909650B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, a compound planetary gear set formed by combining third and fourth planetary gear sets and including seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth rotation elements, a fifth planetary gear set including eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth rotation elements, and six friction elements disposed between at least one rotation element among thirteen rotation elements and another rotation element or the input shaft, or between at least one rotation element among the thirteen rotation elements and a transmission housing.
US09909645B2
A flywheel used for kinetic energy storage and the construction of the flywheel using composite materials. The present invention provides a rotor support for coupling an annular flywheel rotor to a shaft for rotation with the shaft, the support comprising a body having a longitudinal axis about which it rotates in the finished flywheel assembly, wherein the body comprises a stack of sheets of a composite material including fibers, the stack includes at least two unidirectional sheets, each having substantially all of their fibers extending in the same direction, and the fibers of one of the unidirectional sheets are orientated at a different angle to the longitudinal axis of the body to the fibers in another unidirectional sheet. The body includes at least one side layer of woven fabric provided over a side of the stack of sheets. The rotor support configuration of the present invention provides a stiff construction.
US09909643B2
A torque transmission device for a motor vehicle, having a torque input element, a torque output element, and at least one pair of elastic members mounted between the torque input and output elements and counteracting rotation of input and output elements with respect to one another. The elastic members are arranged serially by means of a phasing member so that the elastic members deform in phase with one another. The stiffness K1 of the elastic member mounted between the torque input element and the phasing member is less than the stiffness K2 of the elastic member mounted between the phasing member and the torque output element, the ratio K2/K1 being equal to at least 2. One elastic member of the at least one pair of elastic members includes two coaxial helical springs mounted one inside the other.
US09909639B2
A shock absorber includes a cylinder housing including a piston chamber in which oily liquid is disposed, a piston movable in the piston chamber, a rod connected to the piston and protruding out from the cylinder housing, and a return mechanism for the rod. In the shock absorber, a cylindrical bearing made of a synthetic resin having a shock-absorbing property, a dust collecting member for avoiding entry of dust particles, and a lubricating member for supplying a lubricating oil to a surface of the rod are disposed in a rod guiding hole in the cylinder housing. A leading end of the bearing protrudes outside with respect to an outer end surface of the cylinder housing and acts as a contact portion that allows a moving object to come into contact therewith, and thus the bearing functions to guide the rod and also functions as a stopper for avoiding the moving object from coming into contact with the outer end surface of the cylinder housing.
US09909637B2
A damper device includes a stator, a rotor, and a viscous fluid imparting a resistance to a rotation or a relative rotation of the rotor, and forms a braking force by the resistance. In the rotor, an annular seal portion made of soft synthetic resin is provided by integral molding. The stator includes an annular space in which the viscous fluid is filled, and a main member portion of the rotor is housed in the annular space. The annular seal portion comprises an outside annular portion provided in an outer circumferential portion of the rotor; an inside annular portion provided in an inner circumferential portion of the rotor; and a connection portion therebetween.
US09909629B2
A drive force transmission device provided in a vehicle includes a rotating shaft, a gear chamber, a first clutch chamber, a hydraulic oil supplier, an oil reservoir, and an oil temperature sensor. The rotating shaft extends in an axial direction and is rotatable around the axial direction to transmit a drive force to left and right drive wheels of the vehicle. The gear chamber houses a gear via which the drive force is to be transmitted to the rotating shaft. The drive force transmission device has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the gear chamber in the axial direction. The first clutch chamber is disposed on the first side and houses a clutch that is to distribute the drive force transmitted from the rotating shaft to the left or right drive wheels.
US09909625B2
A damper device is provided with a first rotating body, a second rotating body, a coil spring and a spring seat. The coil spring is interposed in a circumferential direction between the first and second rotating bodies. The resin spring seat includes a metallic core member inside. The resin spring seat has a seat portion and an overhang portion. The metallic core member has an overhang metallic core part that has a low-rigidity portion and a high-rigidity portion. The low-rigidity portion is provided on a side close to the seat portion with a relatively lower rigidity. The high-rigidity portion is provided on a side far from the seat portion with a relatively higher rigidity.
US09909623B2
A bearing lubrication apparatus for use with a piece of rotating equipment includes a lubrication device having a bearing chamber with bearings located in the bearing chamber, a mist generating unit positioned below the bearing chamber and being in fluid communication with the bearing chamber, at least one mist inlet directed into the bearing chamber and being in fluid communication with the mist generating unit, and a coalescing unit adjacent the bearing chamber.
US09909622B2
A rolling bearing device includes: a bearing part having an inner ring, an outer ring, and balls; and an oil supply unit provided adjacent to an annular space between the inner ring and the outer ring and capable of supplying lubricating oil to the annular space. The bearing part has an annular cage provided in the annular space. The cage has a pair of annular parts and a plurality of bars. An outer circumferential surface of the annular part located on a first axial side has a contact portion capable of coming in contact with a part of an inner circumferential surface of the outer ring. A radially outer surface of the cage has, with the contact portion being a top, a first inclined surface provided from the top toward the first axial side and a second inclined surface provided from the top toward a second axial side.
US09909603B2
The present disclosure describes a spring connection element, by means of which at least two components can be connected to each other by means of a claw-fit in at least one component opening. The spring connection element is characterized by the following features: a spiral spring-like wire coil with a first and a second end, said coil comprising a plurality of axially spaced windings, a spiral collar which extends radially beyond a circumference of the wire coil and which is arranged at the first end of the wire coil, and a central traction element protruding radially into the wire coil, which is arranged at the second end of the wire coil, which does not extend axially beyond the wire coil, and by means of which the spring connection element can be pulled into a component opening substantially rotation-free.
US09909596B2
In various implementations, a fan system may include a housing and a fan. The fan may reside in an orifice of the housing. The fan system may include a grate disposed proximate a top surface and an ice deflector. The ice deflector may inhibit ice formation on portions of the housing, orifice, and/or fan residing in the orifice.
US09909592B2
A vacuum pump has a working space, a bearing space, a dividing wall arranged between the working space and the bearing space and at least one rotor shaft which extends through the dividing wall and which forms a gap with the dividing wall and having a blocking device for blocking between the working space and the bearing space. The blocking device is formed by a Siegbahn pump stage which is configured for providing a pump action passing through the gap between the working space and the bearing space.
US09909585B2
Disclosed is a pump having adjustable conveying volumes, in particular a vane, roller-cell or pendulum-slide pump, comprising a rotation assembly, a lifting ring and a rotationally driven rotor with extendable and retractable vanes, rollers or pendulum sliders that are guided in slots.
US09909581B2
A compressor includes: a cylinder crankcase defining a cylinder closed by a valve plate provided with at least one discharge orifice; a cylinder cap seated against the valve plate and in the interior of which is defined a discharge chamber. A hollow body defines at least one plenum mounted internal to the cylinder cap, maintaining a gap with the latter. The hollow body is seated against the valve plate, preventing the direct contact thereof with the inner volume of the hollow body, the latter being provided with an inlet nozzle communicating the plenum with the discharge orifice of the valve plate, and with an outlet nozzle communicating the plenum with a gas outlet of the cylinder cap.
US09909579B2
A tubing assembly is provided that can comprise a plurality of tubes or lumens that can be disposed within a head of a peristaltic pump. The tubing assembly can provide a flow rate or volume capacity that is generally equal to or greater than that achieved with a comparable prior art tube while operating at higher pressures than that possible using the prior art tube. Further, in accordance with some embodiments, the tubing assembly can achieve a longer working life than a comparable prior art tube, and the load on the pump motor can be reduced such that the pump life is increased and/or a larger pump motor is not required to achieve such advantageous results.
US09909566B2
A device comprising a vertical axis wind turbine comprising an arm, a housing coupled to the arm, a generator housed within the housing, and a blade extending along the housing vertically.
US09909564B2
A wind turbine including a controller configured to periodically enter an Eigen frequency detection mode in which the controller gain is incremented in a controlled manner to detect the Eigen frequencies. During normal operations, the controller output may be monitored to detect the Eigen frequency which, if detected, may allow damage control operations to be undertaken.
US09909557B2
A blade loading system for imposing a force on a wind turbine blade includes a portable load device having a cable, a tower support movably coupled to the tower, and a blade attachment device coupled to the blade and coupled to the cable, wherein when the blade attachment device is coupled to the blade and the tower support is adjacent the blade, the load device induces tension in the cable so that a force is imposed on the blade in a direction toward the tower. A method of applying a force to a blade includes: coupling a tower support to the tower adjacent the base, coupling a cable to the blade attachment device, raising the tower support along the tower, coupling the blade attachment device to the blade, and tensioning the cable to provide a force on the blade in a direction toward the tower.
US09909555B2
Various embodiments of an underwater power generation apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, an underwater power generation apparatus is provided, comprising: a conduit having a bore defined by an interior surface of the conduit, the bore comprising a void extending about a length of the conduit; an exterior cylinder, the conduit oriented within the exterior cylinder, and the conduit rotatable relative to the exterior cylinder; at least three bearings oriented between the conduit and the exterior cylinder; at least one blade having a first blade direction, the at least one blade having a first blade direction oriented on the interior surface of the conduit at a first end of the conduit; and at least one blade having a second blade direction, the at least one blade having a second blade direction oriented on the interior surface of the conduit at a second end of the conduit.
US09909554B2
A device and a method for converting wave motion energy into electric power are described. The device includes at least one support structure and a support frame to connect the floating element to the support structure. A linear element of motive power mounted on the support frame is movable with respect to the floating element and transfers motion to a motion conversion and transmission unit that converts linear motion into rotary motion, which drives kinetic energy accumulation elements and one or more electric power generators. The motion conversion and transmission unit, the kinetic energy accumulation elements and the electric power generators are all incorporated in the floating element.
US09909551B2
An engine control system and method of reducing knocking combustion in a spark-ignited internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation by controlling engine timing based on detection of a misfire in an engine cylinder. The engine control system determines a number of combustion cycles indicative of an amount of time that will pass before misfire gas from the detected misfire will be recirculated to a combustion chamber of any cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and the engine control unit reduces or prevents knocking combustion by adjusting the ignition timing of at least one subsequent combustion cycle after the determined number of combustion cycles have occurred since the misfire was detected.
US09909542B2
A fresh air system for an internal combustion engine may include an inlet section, an air filter and a connecting section fluidly connecting the inlet section to the air filter. The air filter may include a filter element arranged in a filter housing, and a housing cover closing the filter housing and configured to be removable from the filter housing to change the filter element. The connecting section may be movably connected to the inlet section on an inlet side and detachably connected to the housing cover on an outlet side. To change the filter element when the inlet section is connected to the connecting section, the connecting section may be detachable from the housing cover and adjustable relative to the filter housing to such an extent that the housing cover can be removed from the filter housing.
US09909536B2
A gas valve, in particular a metering valve for a gaseous medium, having a valve washer (10) which is arranged in the gas valve so as to be able to move with respect to a longitudinal axis (8), and having a valve plate (12) with a valve seat (19) formed thereon, wherein the valve washer (10) interacts with the valve seat (19) for opening and closing the gas valve, and having a first circumferential sealing edge (30) between the valve seat (19) and the valve washer (10). The valve washer (10) has a central opening (13) through which the gaseous medium passes, wherein the first circumferential sealing edge (30) surrounds the central opening (13) and wherein, in the central opening (13), there is formed a first pressure face (25) upon which the gaseous medium acts in the closing direction. Furthermore, there is arranged on the valve washer (10) a second pressure face (26) which is formed radially outside the first circumferential sealing edge (30) and on which the gaseous medium also acts. The first pressure face (25) and the second pressure face (26) are connected via a connection passage (15; 17; 24) formed in the valve plate (12).
