US09241436B2
A first illuminating devices, when the component adsorbed by an adsorbing nozzle and located in an imaging field of vision is a surface mounted component, illuminate the bottom surface of a component by irradiating light to the component obliquely from below, and a second illuminating device, when the component adsorbed by the adsorbing nozzle and located in the imaging field of vision is a through hole component, only illuminate the downwards extending parts of the component by irradiating light at an irradiation angle closer to a horizontal direction irradiation than the irradiation angle of the light of the first illuminating device to the component are included. That the component is illuminated by the first illuminating devices and that the component is illuminated by the second illuminating devices are switched based on whether the component is a surface mounted component or a through hole component.
US09241426B2
In one embodiment, the disclosure includes an air-based geothermal cooling system for a telecom utility cabinet. The air-based geothermal cooling system includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes configured to extend into an underground environment. The air-based geothermal cooling system also includes an input/output (I/O) manifold coupled to the plurality of heat exchange tubes and providing an airway between the plurality of heat exchange tubes and the telecom utility cabinet.
US09241423B2
A heat dissipation device that includes a base plate having a plurality of substantially circular channels which are substantially concentrically arranged; and a fluid distribution structure adjacent the base plate, wherein the fluid distribution structure has a plurality of inlet conduits extending substantially radially from a central area with each of the plurality of inlet conduits having at least one fluid delivery port extending through the fluid distribution structure to at least one base plate circular channel, and wherein the fluid distribution structure has a plurality of outlet zones defined between adjacent inlet conduits with each of the plurality of outlet zones having at least one fluid removal port extending through the fluid distribution structure to at least one base plate circular channel.
US09241411B2
A substrate having a transparent electrode for a flexible display which has flexibility and transparency and is resistant to stress of bending, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. By forming a transparent electrode of nanowires resistant to stress of bending on a substrate formed of a shape memory polymer (SMP) material, an increase in resistance due to bending can be prevented and the original form can be recovered. The method for fabricating a substrate having a transparent electrode for a flexible display includes: applying a nanowire dispersion solution of methanol to a glass substrate to form a nanowire electrode; coating the glass substrate with the nanowire electrode formed thereon, with an acrylic shape memory polymer (SMP) to form an SMP thin film; curing the SMP thin film through UV irradiation to form an SMP substrate; and removing the glass substrate from the SMP substrate.
US09241410B2
A wired circuit board includes an insulating layer, and a conductive layer including a wire covered with the insulating layer and a terminal continued to the wire to electrically connect the wire to an electronic element. The insulating layer is formed with an insulating opening exposing the terminal, and the terminal is formed in a pattern which is indented in a thickness direction.
US09241407B2
A tape film package is provided including an insulating pattern; a via contact in a via hole in the insulating pattern; first interconnection patterns extending from the via contact to a cutting surface of the insulating pattern; and second interconnection patterns connected to the via contact below the insulating pattern. The second interconnection patterns are parallel to the first interconnection patterns and spaced apart from the cutting surface of the insulating pattern.
US09241406B2
An electronic assembly includes a first substrate, at least one first conductive pad and multiple second conductive pads. The first substrate comprises a base layer and at least one conductive circuit layer. The at least one conductive circuit layer is disposed on the base layer. The at least one first conductive pad is disposed on the first substrate. The first conductive pad is electrically insulated from the conductive circuit layer. The first conductive pad includes multiple first holes. The second conductive pads are disposed on the first substrate. The second conductive pads are electrically connected to the conductive circuit layer.
US09241398B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a high-frequency acceleration cavity component, the method including covering a mold with a conducting material, enclosing, in an outer shell, the mold covered with the conducting material, vacuum-airtight-welding the outer shell enclosing the mold, conducing hot isostatic pressing of the vacuum-airtight-welded outer shell, and taking the conducting material formed in the mold out of the outer shell which has undergone the hot isostatic pressing.
US09241389B2
A digital sub-network interface unit includes a primary digital lighting interface port to couple to a primary lighting network. An address of the digital sub-network interface unit on the primary lighting network is manually set at the digital sub-network interface unit. The digital sub-network interface unit also includes a secondary digital lighting interface port to couple to a secondary lighting network. The digital sub-network interface unit further includes a lighting sub-network processor. The lighting sub-network processor is configured to assign addresses to a plurality of secondary lighting fixtures, and to receive commands from a primary digital lighting controller in association with an address of the digital sub-network interface unit. The lighting sub-network processor is also configured to control a plurality of secondary lighting fixtures based on the commands received from the primary digital lighting controller.
US09241387B2
There is provided an organic light emitting display device capable of reducing power consumption by adjusting a voltage according to an input image and deterioration of the organic light emitting display device and a method of driving the same.
US09241381B2
A LED driving circuit, a control circuit and associated current sensing circuit. The control circuit has a sensing circuit, an estimation circuit, an amplifying circuit, a comparing circuit, a zero-cross detection circuit and a logic circuit. The sensing circuit is configured to sense a switching current flowing through at least one switch of a switching circuit to provide a first sensing signal. The estimation circuit is configured to process the first sensing signal to provide a feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is indicative of a average current signal flowing through a LED. An average current flowing through the LED is regulated by sensing a switching current flowing through at least one switch.
US09241379B2
A method of dimming a light source module including a light guide plate, a first light emitting module including first to k-th light source blocks, wherein the first light emitting module is disposed on a first edge of the light guide plate, and a second light emitting module including first to m-th light source blocks, the second light emitting module being disposed on a second edge of the light guide plate, the second edge disposed opposite the first, the method including; generating a first group of driving signals and a second group of driving signals based on an image signal and driving the first to k-th light source blocks using the first group of the driving signals during a first period in a reference period and driving the first to m-th light source blocks using the second group of driving signals during a second period in the reference period.
US09241376B2
LED backlight driver, LED backlight module, and liquid crystal display are disclosed. The LED backlight driver comprises DC voltage input end, boost circuit, LED string, and constant current driver. The DC voltage input end is used for inputting a DC voltage. The boost circuit is used for boosting the DC voltage input from the DC voltage input end and outputting a boosted DC voltage. The LED string comprises a plurality of LEDs connected in series and a first resistor. The LED string receives the boosted DC voltage from the boost circuit. A sum of forward voltages of all of the LEDs in the LED string is less than or equal to the boosted DC voltage output from the boost circuit. The constant current driver is used for outputting a level signal to the boost circuit based on a voltage across the first resistor and a voltage for a triangular signal.
US09241375B2
A light-emitting apparatus package of the present invention includes (i) an electrically insulated ceramic substrate, (ii) a first concave section formed in the direction of thickness of the ceramic substrate so as to form a light exit aperture in a surface of the ceramic substrate, (iii) a second concave section formed within the first concave section in the further direction of thickness of the ceramic substrate so that one or more light-emitting devices are provided therein, (iv) a wiring pattern for supplying electricity, which is provided in the first concave section, and (v) a metalized layer having light-reflectivity, which is (a) provided between the light-emitting device and the surface of the second concave section of the substrate, and (b) electrically insulated from the wiring pattern.
US09241374B2
To reduce the air exhausted to outside a main body after cooling a heat generating component from being taken in again from an intake port. The flow of cooling wind cooled the heat generating component is discharged from an exhaust port at other than a first peripheral wall with the flow bent inside the main body. When rectified inside the main body and discharged from the exhaust port, the cooling wind grows to a flow speed of a certain extent to become an exhaust air that a flowing direction is clearly defined, so that it is less likely to be taken in again from the intake port, it is less likely to be subjected to the influence of obstacles of the exhaust port, use can be made in a kitchen cabinet of the intake and exhaust air at the back side, and it is satisfactory and is less likely to be damaged without involving sense of unpleasantness by the exhaust air to the user.
US09241372B2
The invention concerns a device for heating an object (6) in an intense magnetic field, comprising:—a light source (1), an optic fiber (2) for transporting the light emitted by said light source (1) and emitting a beam of light in the direction of the object (6) to be heated, a converging optical system (3), a diaphragm (4) positioned at the focusing point of the optical system (3),—a reflector (5), whereof the inner wall is defined by the revolution of a semi-parabola around an axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the parabola and passing through the focal point of said parabola, the optical axis of said reflector (5) coinciding with the optical axis (A) of the optical system (3) and the focal point (F″) of said reflector coinciding with the focusing point of said optical system (3).
US09241371B2
A communication apparatus for performing communication with a communication terminal, and a method of controlling the same. The apparatus performs wireless communication with the communication terminal by a first wireless communication mode and performs wireless communication with the communication terminal by a second wireless communication mode in which either the communication apparatus or the communication terminal becomes an access point. The apparatus receives a switching instruction of communication mode from a user, and determines whether or not the switching of the communication mode in accordance with the received switching instruction is executable, makes a request for an additional instruction to the user when it is determined that it is not executable, and controls the switching of the communication mode in accordance with an additional instruction in response to the request.
US09241370B2
Techniques are disclosed for controlling, in a network device, multiple radio circuits operating in a same or similar frequency band and in close physical proximity. In some embodiments, the radio circuits operate on the same network protocol. The network device can include a coexistence controller coupled to the network circuits. According to some embodiments, the network circuits are each assigned a priority, and the coexistence controller can control operations among the network circuits by selectively adjusting one or more transmission operating parameters of a respective network circuit based on a plurality of operating criteria, which include each network circuit's priority. Among other benefits, the embodiments disclosed herein can increase wireless network bandwidth and reduce mobile device power consumption by providing coordination among the radio circuits so that the transmitting and receiving operations are performed in a way that they do not interfere with their respective antennas.
US09241368B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for providing wireless communication. A Bluetooth (BT) communication protocol and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication protocol are enabled in a station. A WLAN fragmentation threshold utilized by the WLAN communication protocol is modified based on a WLAN modulation rate and an HV3 frame duration that is utilized by the BT communication protocol.
US09241366B2
Operating a user equipment (UE) which comprises a first radio that is configured to operate according to a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT. The UE may receive a request to perform tune away operations (e.g., page decoding) for the second RAT while performing warm up procedures for the first RAT. If the request is received during crystal oscillator or radio frequency circuitry warm up, the tune away operations may be performed after these operations. If the request is received during tracking loop operations, they may be cancelled and the tune away operations may be performed. After the tune away operations, the tracking loop operations may be restarted or resumed.
US09241360B2
Systems, apparatus, methods, and non-transitory media for programmatically associating nearby users are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include user-wearable gesture exchange device including a motion sensor and circuitry. The motion sensor may be configured to generate motion data values indicating motion of the gesture exchange device. The circuitry may be configured to monitor motion data values generated by the motion sensor for detection of a gesture exchange signature, such as a handshake, being performed by the user. In some embodiments, the gesture exchange device may be configured to establish a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device for exchange of user data, such as in response to detecting user performance of the gesture exchange signature and/or determining that the second gesture exchange device is within a predetermined proximity.
US09241353B2
Method, device, and computer program product that may improve communications between a mobile device and an access point device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of communicating between a mobile device and an access point device comprises control a plurality of beacons in the access point device, establishing a communication between the access point device with the mobile device using a first beacon in the plurality of beacons, broadcasting availability of the plurality of beacons in the access point device via the first beacon, and establishing the communication with the mobile device using a second beacon in the plurality of beacons.
US09241342B2
A method and an apparatus for ACK/NACK transmission. When a terminal device only receives a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in which a downlink assignment index (DAI) value is equal to 1 in a feedback window, the terminal device transmits ACK/NACK feedback information corresponding to the SPS PDSCH and ACK/NACK feedback information corresponding to the PDCCH on PUCCH format 1a/1b resource using PUCCH format 1b with channel selection or ACK/NACK bundling.
US09241341B2
An approach is provided for carrier indication and carrier sensing. Interference information relating to radio interface with one or more neighboring nodes is generated. The interference information is transmitted over a designated channel to the one or more neighboring nodes.
US09241333B2
A base station module configured to be part of a group of base station modules comprising the base station module and other base station modules, the group of base station modules together forming a base station, and having antennas for receiving radio signals from mobile stations in a base station communication band, a communication interface for transferring data obtained via the received radio signals to the other base station modules and for receiving corresponding data from the other base station module, a data handling unit selects data for transfer to the other base station modules and an uplink data processing unit processes channels used by a subset of the mobile stations communicating with the base station, where the subset is assigned to the base station module. The base station module uses the data received from the other base station modules to influence processing in the uplink data processing unit.
US09241329B2
Disclosed are a wireless communication apparatus and frequency hopping method which minimize the change in the instantaneous power distribution characteristics of the time waveform of transmission signals when a plurality of channels are multiplexed by frequency division. At a terminal (200), a mapping unit (212) maps the PUCCH to frequency resources of a first slot, maps the PUSCH to frequency resources, among the frequency resources of the first slot, separated exactly by predetermined frequency spacing (B) from the frequency resources to which the PUCCH is mapped, and cyclically shifts the frequencies so as to map the PUCCH and PUSCH to frequency resources, within an IDFT or IFFT bandwidth, of a second slot while maintaining the predetermined frequency spacing (B), thereby allowing frequency hopping of the PUCCH and PUSCH between the first slot and the second slot.
US09241321B2
A lightweight, wireless geolocation node monitors mobile wireless devices for the purpose of the geolocation and has restricted functionality to better preserve privacy information. MAC addresses acquired from probe signals of mobile wireless devices may be one-way encrypted before being transmitted from the node. Reduced transmission strength may be used for localized transmission without consumer tracking.
US09241310B2
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for reducing a state transition time from a power saving state for a user equipment (18) in a communication network. The state transition time is reduced by retaining in the user equipment (18) one or more information parameter, such as the radio network temporary identifier for a high speed downlink shared channel (H-RNTI), when performing a state transition to said power saving state so as to enable a time reduction when said user equipment switches back from said power saving state.
US09241292B2
In some implementations, a request to switch to using a second network connection is received at a first computing device that is currently communicating with a second computing device over a first network connection. While still using the first network connection, the second network connection may be initiated. During a period of transition, the first computing device may communicate with the second computing device using both the first network connection and the second network connection. To use both the first and second network connections, data from the second computing device may be received over the first network connection, and data may be sent to the second computing device over the second network connection. The first computing device may identify an end of the period of transition. In response, the first computing device may communicate with the second computing device using only the second network connection.
US09241289B1
A method of operating a wireless communication device to facilitate cell reselection comprises achieving downlink timing synchronization with a cell associated with a wireless access node based on information broadcast by the wireless access node over a synchronization signal, and performing a number of attempts to achieve uplink timing synchronization with the cell, wherein each of the attempts includes transmitting a preamble identifier and waiting to receive a positive acknowledgement. The method further comprises, if the number of attempts to achieve the uplink timing synchronization with the cell exceeds a threshold amount without receiving the positive acknowledgement, applying an offset to cell reselection parameters to generate modified cell reselection parameters, and responsive to the modified cell reselection parameters satisfying cell reselection criteria, performing both intra-frequency and inter-frequency measurements for potential cell reselection and selecting a different cell for potential synchronization based on the intra-frequency and the inter-frequency measurements.
US09241288B2
This method for changing the radio access point associated with a terminal, within a Wi-Fi-DECT wireless telecommunication network comprising dual-mode Wi-Fi-DECT radio terminals (PP) and Wi-Fi-DECT radio access points (AP1, AP2) connected to a local area network; comprises a step consisting of changing the Wi-Fi-DECT radio access point for the Wi-Fi part of the terminal in question (PP) whenever it is decided to change the Wi-Fi-DECT radio access point for the DECT part of the terminal in question (PP).
US09241287B2
A method of wireless communication provides narrow bandwidth operation within a wider LTE system bandwidth. Wideband information is transmitted to a first set of user equipments (UEs). Also, narrowband information is transmitted to a second set of UEs. The second set of UEs operate in a narrower bandwidth than the first set of UEs.
US09241285B1
In a packet communication system, a PCRF processes communication policy data to generate a communication policy instruction and a user notice. The PCRF transfers the communication policy instruction for delivery to a packet gateway system. The PCRF transfers the user notice for delivery to an ANDSF. The ANDSF processes the user notice to generate and transfer a data file for delivery to a user communication device that displays the user notice based on the data file. The packet gateway system processes the communication policy instruction to filter packets exchanged with the user communication device.
US09241284B2
A method, an apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium for accessing a wireless sensor network with a multimode user equipment. The method includes a user equipment receiving broadcasted wireless sensor network information; requesting access information for the wireless sensor network from a base station of a mobile data network; receiving the access information from the base station; and accessing the wireless sensor network using said access information.
US09241282B2
A method and radio access network device includes a processing unit configured to: separate a network measurement configuration command into at least first network measurements and second network measurements; forward the first network measurements of the network measurement configuration command over an air interface to a user equipment; receive, from the user equipment, the first network measurements on downlink communication channels to form first network measurement results; perform, in the radio access network device, the second network measurements on uplink communication channels to form second network measurement results; and combine, in the radio access network device, the first network measurement results from the user equipment with the second network measurement results from the radio access network device to form an aggregated network measurement report.
US09241280B2
A method in a first radio network node for testing a transmission parameter value in a wireless communication system is provided. The first radio network node is configured to, during operational mode thereof, perform transmissions using available resources divided in to resource blocks. The first radio network node allocates a test resource block, for test purposes, among the available resources. The first radio network node defines for the test resource block, a test value for the transmission parameter. The test value differs from the nominal value. The first radio network node performs, during operational mode, a test transmission using the resource block. During the test transmission, the transmission parameter is set to the test value. The test transmission is configured to form the basis for an evaluation of the test value.
US09241274B2
The present invention provides a method, terminal and base station for avoiding device coexistence interference of a wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal includes a Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) communication module and a coexistence communication module. The method includes the following steps: a first sending step, sending a coexistence communication module startup notification message to the base station, and a first interference avoidance step, before sending auxiliary information to the base station, the wireless communication terminal using a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) mode between the LTE/LTE-A communication module and the coexistence communication module.
US09241272B2
An access control method and device, wherein the method comprises: a wireless access device receiving a request message from a user equipment (UE), the request message carrying timing advance information; and the wireless access device controlling the access of the UE according to the timing advance information. In embodiments of the present application, the wireless access device acquires the timing advance information of the UE during an RRC connection establishment process or a cell updating process, thus performing access control to the UE based on the timing advance information of the UE, and thereby timely controlling the access of the UE.
US09241262B2
A short-range communication tag includes a transmitter, a clock circuit providing a clock value and a memory containing a unique identification value. The tag further includes a processor which generates encryption keys with a period of K seconds and combines the unique identification value with the encryption key, according to a predetermined encryption method, to generate an obfuscated unique identification value. The tag further includes a short-range transmitter to transmit the tag identification value.
US09241257B1
A mobile device and a control method thereof are disclosed. The control method of the mobile device includes receiving device information from at least one external device, detecting at least one controllable external device based on the received device information, and switching the mobile device to a sharing standby mode when the mobile device is charging or when an input to the mobile device is not sensed for a predetermined time. The mobile device in the sharing standby mode may switch to a personal mode or a sharing mode based on whether mobile device receives a personal authentication input.
US09241253B2
Disclosed are a network-based device, method and computer-readable medium for operating an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to provide registration review. The method embodiment includes tracking and storing all current registrations for each user in an IMS system, receiving a request from a user for a status of the user's current registrations and presenting, in response to the request, the current status of current registrations for the user.
US09241240B2
Techniques for server-controlled tiling of location-based information are described. An apparatus may comprise a communication component and a tile component. The communication component may be operative to receive a location-based search request from a client application, the location-based search request comprising a geographic area, and to transmit a plurality of tiles to the client application. The tile component may be operative to determine the plurality of tiles as a set of tiles that cover the geographic area, each tile of the plurality of tiles covering a portion of the geographic area and comprising a set of locations. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09241232B2
A method, a Network Node and a machine is provided, wherein the machine initially is not provided with an identity which is valid for communication with the communication network. According to the method, the network receives an Activation Request (140, 352, 452, 552, 652) from a User Equipment (320, 420, 520, 620), which User Equipment has an identity which is valid in the communication network and which User Equipment is authenticated in the communication network, the Activation Request comprising a machine identity for the machine. An identity which is valid in said communication network for said machine is obtained (160, 354, 454, 555, 655) on the basis of the Activation Request being received from a User Equipment having a valid identity and being authenticated in the communication network. The obtained identity is transmitted (170, 360, 461, 564, 662) to the machine for enabling the machine to subsequently authenticate itself in one or more communication networks using the obtained identity.
US09241231B2
In an exemplary information processing system including an information processing section, a first loudspeaker, and a second loudspeaker, predetermined music data composed of two channels is separated into first channel music data and second channel music data. A first sound source object associated with one of the first channel music data and the second channel music data, a second sound source object associated with the other one, and a virtual microphone are placed in a virtual 3-dimensional space. The reproduction volume of a sound reproduced from the first loudspeaker, and the reproduction volume of a sound reproduced from the second loudspeaker are determined based on the direction of the virtual microphone and the positional relationship between the virtual microphone and each of the first sound source object and the second sound source object.
US09241227B2
An electroacoustic transducer includes a housing and a moving portion adapted to move relative to the housing. The moving portion has a first surface and includes a first electrode. A second electrode on a first surface of the housing is located proximate to a first region of the first electrode, and a third electrode on the first surface of the housing is located proximate to a second region of the first electrode. A capacitance between the first and second electrodes and a capacitance between the first and third electrodes vary similarly with displacement of the moving portion relative to the housing. An impedance buffer is coupled to the second electrode and the third electrode.
US09241225B2
A hearing aid interconnection system is disclosed. The hearing aid interconnection system comprises an abutment provided with means for being attached to a fixture for anchoring the hearing aid interconnection system to a skull bone. The hearing aid interconnection system comprises means for attaching a hearing aid device to the abutment. The hearing aid interconnection system comprises an extension member attached to the abutment in such a manner that the extension member extends the length of the abutment.
US09241223B2
Various implementations described herein include directional filtering of audible signals, which is provided to enable acoustic isolation and localization of a target voice source. Without limitation, various implementations are suitable for speech signal processing applications in, hearing aids, speech recognition software, voice-command responsive software and devices, telephony, and various other applications associated with mobile and non-mobile systems and devices. In particular, some implementations include systems, methods and/or devices operable to emphasize at least some of the time-frequency components of an audible signal that originate from a target direction and source, and/or deemphasizing at least some of the time-frequency components that originate from one or more other directions or sources. In some implementations, directional filtering includes applying a gain function to audible signal data received from multiple audio sensors. In some implementations, the gain function is determined from the audible signal data and target values associated with directional cues.
US09241219B2
A portable electronic device includes a built-in speaker, an interface configured to connect to an external audio device to output sound, a switch, and a main microchip. The main microchip detects whether the external audio device is connected to the portable electronic device. When the external audio device is connected to the portable electronic device, the main microchip selects the audio device to output sound. When the audio device is not connected to the portable electronic device, the main microchip selects the built-in speaker to output the audio signals.
US09241215B2
A mobile apparatus and control method thereof are provided, which includes an audio data signal input unit arranged to receive an audio data signal. An audio output unit is arranged to output an audio signal according to the received audio data signal within a first reproduction frequency. A balanced armature is arranged to output an audio signal according to the received audio data signal within a second reproduction frequency band. The second reproduction frequency band is different from the first reproduction frequency band. An audio signal processor is arranged to adjust the first reproduction frequency band and the second reproduction frequency band such that a combination of the first reproduction frequency band and the second reproduction frequency band is wider than the first reproduction frequency band and the second reproduction frequency band individually.
US09241184B2
A method includes receiving an indication of interest in a garment depicted within media content displayed at a video display and determining, based on the media content, one or more garment identifiers associated with the garment. The method includes after determining the one or more garment identifiers, generating an image representation including a garment overlay and a viewer representation, the garment overlay at least partially covering the viewer representation. The viewer representation is generated based at least partially upon measurement input associated with the viewer. The garment overlay is based at least partially on the one or more garment identifiers and at least partially on the measurement input.
US09241182B2
A method of setting time information of a display apparatus is provided. The method includes: receiving a Turn-on signal from a remote controller; receiving time information from the remote controller in response to a determination that resetting the time information is necessary; and setting time information of the display apparatus based on the received time information.
US09241178B2
Systems, methods, and receiver devices enable broadcasters with restricted content license areas (e.g., Designated Market Areas (“DMAs”) to distribute content via Over the Top (“OTT”) IP networks. Embodiments enable client reporting and authentication as well as broadcast content encryption. In an embodiment, information from the client may be reported back to the broadcasters, such as a view history/use report. In an embodiment, hand off between DMAs may be enabled. In an embodiment, local advertisement insertion in network content may be enabled. Embodiments may enable Multicast-Broadcast Single Frequency Network (“MBSFN”) operation across DMA boundaries.
US09241167B2
A video decoder is disclosed that uses metadata in order to make optimization decisions. In one embodiment, metadata is used to choose which of multiple available decoder engines should receive a video sequence. In another embodiment, the optimization decisions can be based on length and location metadata information associated with a video sequence. Using such metadata information, a decoder engine can skip start-code scanning to make the decoding process more efficient. Also based on the choice of decoder engine, it can decide whether emulation prevention byte removal shall happen together with start code scanning or not.
US09241166B2
Methods, systems and devices are provided for efficiently receiving and displaying content in a mobile computing device. The computing device's reception and decoding operations are adjusted to match the capabilities of available device resources and/or to meet battery consumption needs/requirements. Higher level components (e.g., application layer components) selectively pull data from lower-level components (e.g., physical-layer or adaptation-layer components). The quality of video displayed is intelligently balanced against the amount of resources available, and a subset of the video data sufficient to display the content is pulled from the lower layer, providing users with an optimal balance between content quality and power consumption.
US09241165B2
A method of controlling a compression of an image according to a degree of photo-realism in the image, comprising computing a value indicating a degree of photo-realism for an input image based on a distribution of pixel luminance values within the image, calculating a configuration parameter based on the photo-realism value for the image, and configuring an encoder to compress the image according to the configuration parameter.
US09241153B2
A system adjusts contrast of an anaglyph image and includes a contrast adjuster processor that generates a contrast-adjusted first luma signal and second luma signal and a contrast-adjusted third luma signal from a first input image signal and second input image signal. An upstream summing node determines a first difference between the first luma signal and third luma signal and a downstream summing node subtracts the first difference from the first signal component of the first input signal. A fine adjuster circuit receives a signal for the first difference and applies a fine adjustment as a gain adjustment, an offset adjustment, and a horizontal and vertical shift.
US09241147B2
External depth map transformation method for conversion of two-dimensional images to stereoscopic images that provides increased artistic and technical flexibility and rapid conversion of movies for stereoscopic viewing. Embodiments of the invention convert a large set of highly granular depth information inherent in a depth map associated with a two-dimensional image to a smaller set of rotated planes associated with masked areas in the image. This enables the planes to be manipulated independently or as part of a group and eliminates many problems associated with importing external depth maps including minimization of errors that frequently exist in external depth maps.
US09241144B2
Systems and methods of displaying panorama images can provide for copying a first portion of a panorama image to a first memory space, and mapping a display to the first memory space. A copy may be initiated of a second portion of the panorama image to a second memory space in response to a scroll view associated with the display transitioning to a predetermined position. In addition, the display may be mapped to the second memory space in response to a transition of the scroll view into an overlap region that is shared by the first and second portions of the panorama image.
US09241143B2
Dedicated projectors and devices with projection abilities such as digital cameras or camcorders have projections that are corrected to compensate for irregularities in the surfaces receiving the projection. The image data being projected is compensated to account for the irregularities by observing the irregularities with a camera to produce image data and creating the compensation based on that image data. Irregularities of the projection receiving location including angular relationships to the projector causing keystoning, noisy surfaces with reflectivity or absorption, color patterns, non-planar regions, intervening objects, and the like may be accounted for during the compensation. The projection of the image itself may be utilized to capture the result of projecting onto the irregularities. Projection of target grids, such as using infrared, may be used to capture the result of projecting onto the irregularities. The captured image may be processed to produce a compensated image to be projected.
US09241140B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for video surveillance with at least one video camera which can be directed into different positions by a remote controlled pan and/or tilt and/or zoom unit and with at least one video signal receiving device, which comprises means for demultiplexing the video Signals of the video camera in such a way that the at least one video signal receiving device receives video Signals generated by the video camera while remaining in one of the different positions only.
US09241136B2
An approach is provided for creating a personalized programming guide. A guide manager receives input from a user for creating a personalized programming guide. The guide manager retrieves one or more search criteria associated with a community of other users to construct a query. The guide manager then performs the query and displays the results of the query in a personalized programming guide.
US09241132B2
A reception apparatus configured to receive content data including a plurality of pieces of segment data includes a metadata reception unit configured to receive metadata indicating a reproduction order of the segment data, an acquisition unit configured to acquire storage information indicating whether the reception apparatus is in a storage mode for storing the content data, and a control unit configured to, if the storage information does not indicate the storage mode, perform control to transmit a request for acquiring a piece of segment data that is later in the reproduction order than a piece of the segment data to be requested to be acquired if the storage information indicates the storage mode.
US09241127B2
An image processing method includes the operations of receiving N×N raw data from an N×N sub pixel array including a plurality of first exposure pixels and second exposure pixels having different exposure times, respectively; obtaining a difference value between a value obtained by normalizing an interpolated value of the first exposure pixels and an interpolated value of the second exposure pixels for each channel in the N×N sub pixel array based on the N×N raw data; setting a mismatching value to a maximum value among difference values obtained for the respective channels; and setting a corrected value of a central pixel in the N×N sub pixel array based on the N×N raw data and based on the mismatching value and a threshold value.
US09241121B2
Various embodiments present information about programs of interest. Some embodiments provide electronic program guides based on previously viewed programs. In some cases, an electronic program guide generator (“EPGG”) generates an electronic program guide for a designated time period, the electronic program guide including information about one or more scheduled programs, based on the one or more scheduled programs each having at least one attribute that matches an attribute of a program that was previously viewed at a time of day corresponding to the designated time period. The generated electronic program guide may then be presented on a presentation device. Another embodiment provides information about one or more programs that are related to a designated program of interest.
US09241111B1
A photography device includes a plurality of cameras arranged as an array. The array may include multiple cameras with different focal distances. Each camera has a different focal distance. Or groups of cameras in an array may share multiple focal distances. The cameras may provide a similar field of view and similar magnification. A unified image is formed by combining the images from the different cameras.
US09241109B2
An image capturing apparatus sequentially obtains images obtained by image capturing of a subject and detects the angle of view of each obtained image at the time of image capturing. The apparatus sequentially selects a plurality of images, of the obtained images, which are used to generate one frame. The apparatus combines the selected images to generate a moving image including an obtained composite image as a frame. If the selected images differ in angle of view at the time of image capturing, the apparatus changes all the selected images into images having the same angle of view and the same number of pixels by adjusting angles of view of selected images which differ in angle of view from one reference image of the selected images, and combines the images.
US09241106B2
Provided are an image processing program and an image processing apparatus that support imaging setting in an imaging apparatus. In a focus value display window, temporal change of a focus value (index value) in an input image is outputted. A user operates the imaging apparatus with reference to graph display in the focus value display window to adjust the focus. The focus value displayed in the focus value display window indicates a relatively high value in a “focused” state to a subject such as a work. In the focus value display window, a maximum focus value indicating bar is displayed in association with a focus value indication. The user adjusts the focus state in the imaging apparatus so that the focus value indication “approaches” or “exceeds” this maximum focus value indicating bar as much as possible.
US09241097B1
Systems and methods of manufacturing compact camera modules for use in electronic device are provided. These designs may provide small form factor autofocus (AF) camera modules for incorporation into thin mobile devices, such as tablets or smartphones. The camera module includes a flexible tape substrate having an image sensor die wire bonded to an upper side of the substrate and a molded stiffener formed on the lower side of the substrate.
US09241092B2
A signal processing device which is used in a liquid crystal apparatus, includes a detection portion that detects a boundary between a first pixel correlated with a first signal for applying a first voltage lower than a first reference voltage and a second pixel correlated with a second signal for applying a second voltage higher than a second reference voltage on the basis of signals for controlling voltages applied to pixels, and a correction portion that corrects a signal correlated with M pixels including the first pixel to a third signal for applying a third voltage which is higher than the first voltage and lower than the second voltage in a correction period, wherein the correction portion varies M in the correction period.
US09241091B2
Provided are an image processing device, image processing method, and computer program which can accurately detect noise in an input image and eliminate or reduce the noise. A display device extracts a specific area including a target pixel from an input image and determines whether the boundary of noise is included in the specific area. If so determined, the display device performs filtering using a smoothing filter to smooth the target pixel. If not so determined, the display device performs filtering using an edge-preserving smoothing filter to smooth the target pixel. At this time, the display device determines whether to apply the result of the smoothing process using the edge-preserving smoothing filter, on the basis of the pixel values in the specific area, the result of the smoothing process using the edge-preserving smoothing filter, and the like.
US09241079B1
Described herein is a framework to monitor mobile application usage. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, sensor data from one or more sensors in a mobile computing device is received. Usage of one or more mobile applications implemented on the mobile computing device may be monitored based on such sensor data to generate monitoring results. A report may be generated based on the monitoring results.
US09241073B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing an event scheduling request in a telephony system. According to certain embodiments, a call between a first communication device and a second communication device is established. Upon authenticating a user identity associated with the second communication device, an event scheduling request is determined based on one or more attributes provided to the first communication device. A notification is provided to the second communication device based on the event scheduling request.
US09241067B2
A system and method are presented for self-service callback modification. A user may request a callback. A unique confirmation identifier may be issued which may be used by the system to look up the callback record. A user may modify their callback request at any time during the callback process to receive their callback at a requested point in time, change the address to which the callback is addressed, alter the media through which the callback is placed, etc. Modification may occur in real time. Confirmation may be sent to the user after modification.
US09241066B2
In one embodiment, a secure computer telephony integration (CTI) connection is established between a call analysis and/or screening device and a call control agent. The call analysis device sniffs secure media packets between the endpoints and receives CTI events from the call control agent via the secure CTI connection. The device correlates the CTI events with the secure media packets, enabling the device to decrypt the packets to perform voice quality troubleshooting or call screening in real-time.
US09241058B2
A mobile communication apparatus comprises an anti-theft control circuit and a transmission control circuit. The anti-theft control circuit has an information management module and a security module. The information management module is used for storing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database. The transmission control circuit is used for transmitting data and/or signals. When the transmission control circuit receives a remote message, the security module examines whether the remote message is a predetermined legitimate remote control message; wherein if YES, the transmission control circuit sends out at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database to an electronic apparatus indicated by the remote message.
US09241043B2
A method is described of connecting a hardware module to a fieldbus, wherein a data connection between the hardware module and the fieldbus is established by a network module which is connected to the fieldbus and which has an internal memory, said method comprising the steps that the hardware module is connected to the network module, that the communication software is read out of the memory of the network module by the hardware module, said software being provided for the communication of the hardware module with the fieldbus, that the communication software is stored in the hardware module, and that the hardware module is use to communicate over the fieldbus.
US09241036B2
To display a news feed in a social network environment, a social networking system generates news items regarding activities associated with a user of a social network environment. The social networking system may also attach an informational link associated with at least one of the activities to at least one of the news items, limit access to the news items to a predetermined set of viewers, and assign an order to the news items. The news items may be displayed in the assigned order to at least one viewing user of the predetermined set of viewers, and the number of news items displayed may be dynamically limited.
US09241034B2
The embodiments disclosed herein provide a system, apparatus, and method for managing requests in a peer-to-peer network. A processor determines whether to reduce an amount of checks for connectivity for the device in the peer-to-peer network in response to a device being in the peer-to-peer network. The processor configures the device to send a message indicating a status of the device to a number of other devices in the peer-to-peer network without receiving a request for the status of the device in response to a determination to reduce the amount of checks for connectivity for the device in the peer-to-peer network.
US09241031B2
A method includes registering with a proxy for an auxiliary event-package, wherein the auxiliary event-package is provided by a plurality of auxiliary event-package servers. The method may further include subscribing to the auxiliary event-package through the proxy. The proxy forwards the subscription to the plurality of auxiliary event-package servers. The method may include receiving notification from each of the auxiliary event-package servers. The notification includes an indicator of capacity of the auxiliary event-package server. The method may include determining an auxiliary event-package server having a highest capacity based on the indicators of capacity of the auxiliary event-package servers. In addition, the method may include selecting the auxiliary event-package server having the highest capacity as a primary handle for the auxiliary event-package.
US09241021B2
A method and system to enable remote management of a media content subscription are described. The method includes receiving, at a local point of presence from a consumer, a request to access media content that is available under a media content subscription. The method further includes capturing, at the local point of presence from a consumer, a request to access media content from the local media content provider and transforming the captured media content into a digital stream that is suitable for streaming over a network. Finally, the method includes streaming the digital stream over the network, via which the consumer, using a computer device, accesses the media content.
US09241015B1
A system and method for suggesting discussion topics in a social network is provided. The method may include identifying a first participant associated with an online group discussion. The method may further include determining one or more interests of the first participant of the online group discussion based upon, at least in part, data associated with the first participant. The method may also include generating interface instructions based at least in part on the one or more interests of the first participant, the interface instructions usable to generate a user interface of the one or more interests for a second participant associated with the online group discussion. The method may additionally include transmitting the interface instructions to a computing device associated with the second participant.
US09241012B2
A communication application server is provided with a unified framework for call control and media control. The framework supports a unified API having class objects and functions conforming to a telephony object model. The class objects are invoked and manipulated by a finite set of commands and an application program essentially issues a series of such commands to operate the communication application server. More particularly, an API server on the communication application server defining a messaging API protocol enables an application script to pass commands remotely to the communication application server to operate it. This allows application scripts to be processed remotely by appropriate scripting engines. In this way, application scripting is decoupled from the operation of the communication application server, which only needs to focus on providing basic communication services.
US09241008B2
According to certain embodiments, a cyber threat analysis system generates a network model of a network infrastructure that is used by an organization, assigns a weighting value to each of a plurality of network elements of the network infrastructure according to a relative importance of the each network element to the organization, and generates an attack vector according to a determined vulnerability of the network infrastructure. The attack vector represents one or more illicit actions that may be performed to compromise the network infrastructure. The system may simulate, using a network modeling tool, the attack vector on the network model to determine one or more resulting ramifications of one or more of the plurality of network elements due to the attack vector, and determine a criticality level of the attack vector according to the weighting value of the one or more network elements.
US09241007B1
A system, method, and computer program are provided for providing a vulnerability assessment of a network of industrial automation devices. A user interface that enables a user to select an IP address range and a plurality of industrial automation protocols is provided. The system attempts to establish a communication session with each device within the selected IP address range using each of the selected industrial automation protocols. If a communication session is established with a device, the system attempts to read device information. If device information can be read, the system determines a threat level associated with the device using the device information. The system then provides a vulnerability assessment to the user, identifying each device with which a communication session was established and the industrial automation protocol(s) with which the communication session was established and any threat level determined for the device.
US09241006B2
A method and system of detecting website visit attempts by browsers includes monitoring networking operations generated by a client and intercepting a network address associated with the networking operations, detecting a type of website from the intercepted network address, and determining that a browser on the client has attempted to visit a website of the detected type based on the browser being in a running state and a website identified as historically visited by the browser matching the detected type of website. This can allow for the accurate detection of a browser's attempt to visit a restricted website, thereby accomplishing accurate monitoring of networking activities of the browser and enhancing the accuracy of subsequent prompting or intercepting of the networking activities of the browser.
US09241002B2
Some embodiments of supporting trusted relationships between multiple organizations in a networked system have been presented. In one embodiment, a centralized server manages a networked system, which includes the centralized server and a set of computing machines coupled to each other within an internal network of a customer. The centralized server may segregate data and encapsulating resources within the networked system by a set of organizations created by the customer. Furthermore, a trusted relationship defined by a system administrator of the centralized server may be applied to a first one and a second one of the set of organizations.
US09240996B1
Risk-adaptive access control techniques are disclosed. In various embodiments, a value for a threat level attribute is determined based at least in part on threat detection data generated by a security system or process. The determined value for the threat level attribute is used to make, at least in part, an access control decision with respect to a request to access the resource. In various embodiments, the threat level attribute is used as an environment attribute provided as input to an XACML-based access control system.
US09240994B2
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, receive secret information and non-secret information from a secure download application function, provide a request for a first verification to a secure element where the first verification is associated with access to content and/or an application that is accessible via the secure download application function, receive the first verification which is generated by the secure element based on the secret information without providing the secret information to the secure device processor, receive the non-secret information from the secure element, and generate a second verification for the access based on the non-secret information, where the content and/or application is accessible from the secure download application function responsive to the first and second verifications. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09240993B1
A certificate credential is generated based on a user device's private key securely stored, or accessible, by a certificate authority. When the certificate authority has been compromised, the credential, which typically includes information encrypted with the device's private key and the corresponding unencrypted information, is sent to the device. The device receives the information in encrypted and unencrypted form and decrypts the encrypted information. If the result of the decryption matches the unencrypted information, the device trusts the signer of the credential.
US09240992B2
The invention relates to a method for reading the at least one attribute stored in an ID token (106, 106′), wherein the ID token is assigned to a user (102), having the following steps: Authentication of the user with respect to the ID token, Authentication of a first computer system (136) with respect to the ID token, after successful authentication of the user and the first computer system with respect to the ID token, read access of the first computer system to the at least one attribute stored in the ID token, generation of a first soft token through providing a signature to the at least one attribute read from the ID token via the first computer system, sending the first soft token to a device.
US09240989B2
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, receiving an over-the-air programming message that is utilizing a hypertext transfer protocol where the over-the-air programming message including programming data for use by the mobile communication device, converting the over-the-air programming message to a short message service transport protocol to generate an adjusted message that includes the programming data, and providing the adjusted message to a universal integrated circuit card of the mobile communication device via a baseband proxy operating in a device processor of the mobile communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09240987B2
One or more terminals that are coupled to a packet-based network are installed with a first instance and/or a second instance of a communication client application of a first user. At times, the communication client application can be configured to enable the first user to communicate with other users using a first communication system implemented over the packet-based network. In some cases, a controller coupled to the packet-based network can be used to maintain separate privacy settings for each of the first and second instances, and thereby control the privacy of the first user in relation to the other users within the first communication system in dependence on which of the first and second instances is active.
US09240983B2
Disclosed herein are mechanisms to support the management of multicast keys for a multicast group comprising one or more optical line terminals (OLTs), one or more fiber to coax units (FCUs), and a plurality of coax network units (CNUs). The disclosed embodiments may support the management of multicast keys over optical and coaxial networks. In some embodiments, an FCU may facilitate communication of operations administration and maintenance (OAM) messages containing multicast keys from one or more OLTs to one or more CNUs (typically a plurality of CNUs). Some embodiments may employ one multicast key over both the optical network and coaxial network. Other embodiments may employ an optical domain multicast key over the optical network and an electrical domain multicast key over the coaxial network. Embodiments may comprise adding a first CNU to a multicast group as well as adding subsequent CNUs to the multicast group.
US09240977B2
Techniques for protecting mobile applications are presented. A user's mobile device is provisioned and proxied over a cloud environment with enterprise policy enforced in that cloud environment. Enterprise applications run on the mobile device within the cloud environment. Administrative reporting and control occurs within the cloud environment and the enterprise applications establish connections to, authenticate to, and communicate with remote enterprise services via the provisioned cloud environment.
US09240976B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing security monitoring in a computer network, in an embodiment, a service accessible via a network port of a network node within the network is identified. The assigned port number for the identified service is changed to a second port number and a trap is configured including one or more criterion. A trap may be configured to capture network traffic that meets the one or more criterion of the trap. A data packet is then received. It is determined whether data packet meets the one or more criterion of the configured trap, and if so, the data packet is redirected to a ghost network. The ghost network may replicate network services, applications, and infrastructure in the computer network. The ghost network may additionally gather activity data based on the redirected data packet.
US09240974B2
Disclosed is a wireless communication method, comprising: determining a type of a media access control MAC frame header according to a type of a media access control protocol data unit MPDU; assigning a value to a function field in the MAC frame header to generate the MAC frame header; generating an MPDU, the MPDU at least comprising the MAC frame header; and encapsulating the MPDU and sending the encapsulated MPDU. Further disclosed are a transmitting device and a receiving device. By using the method and devices of the present invention, a signaling format having complete functions and compact structure and being easy to implement and extend is implemented, which is applicable to a newly defined medium-to-short distance wireless communication system, and reduces the complexity in processing. Moreover, the present invention is simple in processing, stable, convenient in resolving, and has low requirement on system performance, thereby implementing high-efficient transmission of services and increasing the utilization of air interface resources.
US09240960B2
A method and network device provides port scheduling for data ports in the network device. The network device may assign data ports of the network device into port groups according to port characteristics of the data ports. The network device may schedule processing time slots for active data ports by determining a selected port group based on group selection parameters. The network device may then determine a selected data port from the selected port group using port selection criteria. The port selection criteria may maintain minimum and maximum packet spacing requirements for the data ports of a port group. The network device may also maintain an active ports list to disqualify inactive data ports from selection.
US09240956B2
Different data communication architectures deliver a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, to consumers. The architectures may utilize orbital angular momentum to deliver more bandwidth across multiple channels than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures distribute data across multiple orbital angular momentum channels in a bonded channel group.
US09240953B2
A system for managing traffic in a communication network. The system includes a plurality of queues each configured to store data packets and a plurality of scheduling nodes each configured to process data packets from one or more of the plurality of queues. A scheduler is configured to schedule, using the plurality of scheduling nodes, respective transfers of the data packets from the plurality of queues. Each of the plurality of scheduling nodes is assigned to one or more of the plurality of queues. Each of the plurality of scheduling nodes and each of the plurality of queues is assigned a respective scheduling priority. The respective scheduling priorities are selectively changeable between a predetermined scheduling priority and a dynamic scheduling priority, wherein the dynamic scheduling priority corresponds to a priority propagated from the one or more of the plurality of queues.
US09240949B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predicting imminent Diameter overload conditions using load information are disclosed. One embodiment of a system for implementing the subject matter described herein includes a first Diameter node including at least one network interface for receiving Diameter messages and a Diameter overload prediction unit. The Diameter overload prediction unit may be configured to extract load information from the Diameter messages, detect a traffic pattern using the extracted load information, predict at least one overload condition associated with one or more other Diameter nodes, and communicate an indication of the predicted overload condition to at least some of the other Diameter nodes before a time at which the overload condition is predicted to occur.
US09240946B2
Communication networks and methods are disclosed for providing a message restriction process used to control the transmission of Diameter messages. The communication network includes a Diameter server operable to serve a plurality of Diameter clients. The Diameter server detects a triggering event for initiating the message restriction process, such as detecting an overload condition. The Diameter server then generates control information that defines the Diameter messages that the Diameter clients are authorized to transmit during the message restriction process. The Diameter server generates a message restriction instruction that includes the control information, and transmits the message restriction instruction to one or more of the Diameter clients to initiate the message restriction process based on the control information.
US09240945B2
A method or system for managing packet flow is disclosed. The packets each include an inserted application identifier identifying a registered application. The method includes receiving packets destined for one or more resources, determining, by a packet processor, the inserted application identifier for each of the respective packets received and managing the packet flow of each received packet sent from a security node based at least in part on the inserted application identifier of the received packet.
US09240941B2
A system and method for processing communication media in a regionally distributed communication platform that includes at a first platform region, establishing a communication session comprising establishing a media communication to at least one endpoint from the first region and establishing signaling communication to a second platform region; selecting a media resource in response to a change in media processing requirements of the communication session; when the selected media resource is outside the first region, routing media communication through a media resource outside of the first region; when the media resource is available in the first region, routing media communication through the media resource of the first region; and when the media resource is outside of the second region, storing the media communication in the first region at least temporarily and tunneling a branch of the media communication to a central media service in the second region.
US09240926B2
A base station 100 maps the system information formed of multiple blocks (SIB) to predetermined regions of a downlink shared channel and transmits the mapped system information to the mobile station. The base station 100 includes: a system information transmission control unit 105 configured to divide each of the predetermined regions into a first half and a second half in a time direction; and a transmission data generation unit 111 configured to map the system information to at least one of the first half and the second half. The system information transmission control unit 105 switches positions of the first half and the second half in rotation every transmission timing of the predetermined regions on the shared channel.
US09240908B2
In an embodiment, a transmitter includes first and second transmission paths. The first transmission path is configurable to generate first pilot clusters each including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position, and the second transmission path is configurable to generate second pilot clusters each including a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to use a recursive algorithm, such as a Vector State Scalar Observation (VSSO) Kalman algorithm, to estimate the responses of these channels.
US09240906B2
The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for monitoring performance of a packet network. In one embodiment, a method includes determining network performance information of a packet network by monitoring performance information packets that are communicated along network paths of the packet network. The method also includes appending the network performance information gathered at a network node along the network paths to data stored in the performance information packets. The method stores the network performance information collected by monitoring the performance information packets in memory and analyzes the stored network performance information to generate historical network performance information. The method automatically alters network operation in response to current network performance information indicating that the packet network is not operating properly based on the historical network performance information.
US09240896B2
Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over distinct network data plane connections, including the following steps: USB hosts are connected with respective USB host adaptors (USBHs) according to USB specification timings. USB devices are connected with respective USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over a network that can connect each USBD with each USBH, wherein the network includes network control plane and network data plane. Initiating first, second, and third USB-over-network-data-plane connections from the USB hosts to the USB devices. And operating the at least two USB-over-network-data-plane connections essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.
US09240893B2
Systems and methods for implementing a bidirectional multicast protocol with two types of join messages are disclosed. The two types of join messages, upstream joins and downstream joins, are used to control the Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface is added to the outgoing interface list for a particular multicast group, which in turn controls when multicast packets will be forwarded to the rendezvous point. One method involves receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G. The method inhibits the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface, unless the outgoing interface list corresponding to the multicast group G already identifies the RPF interface. The RPF interface can be added to the outgoing interface list in response to reception of a downstream join message via the RPF interface, as well as in response to monitoring, via the RPF interface, an upstream join message on a shared network segment.
US09240889B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for secure data access among two devices. The method comprises: retrieving unique information corresponding to a first electronic device and a storage device; generating an encryption key according to the unique information; generating a password string for secure a data file; encrypting the password string with the encryption key; and locking and storing the data file together with the encrypted password string in the storage device.
US09240886B1
A system and method are provided to allow access to one or more computing resources using a single authentication scheme even though some of the computing resources may support different authentication schemes. In various embodiments, upon receiving a user request to access one or more computing resources, a first authentication credential according to a first authentication scheme is generated subsequent to successful authentication of the user. If processing of the request requires a second authentication credential according to a second authentication scheme, the second credential may be encapsulated in the first authentication credential and later extracted and combined with additional information, if necessary, for providing the requested access to the one or more computing resources.
US09240882B2
According to an embodiment, a key generating device connected to an external device includes a generating unit configured to generate an encryption key; a first communicating unit configured to transmit and receive the encryption key to and from the external device; a storage unit configured to stores therein state information indicating a communication state with respect to an application using the encryption key; and a controller configured to make a control of changing a frequency at which the generating unit generates the encryption key or a frequency at which the first communicating unit transmits and receives the encryption key according to the state information.
US09240878B2
Techniques and methods for performing asymmetric, full-duplex communication via a signal line. In an embodiment, a transceiver includes transmit circuitry to transmit a first signal via a node coupled to a signal line, where the first signal is transmitted concurrently with the transceiver receiving a second signal via the node at a substantially different data rate than that of the first signal. In another embodiment, signal processing circuitry of the transceiver detects a composite signal at the node, the composite signal including a combination of the first signal and the second signal. Based on the combination of the first signal and the second signal, the signal processing circuitry generates a processed signal, including the signal processing circuitry reducing a contribution by the first signal. The processed signal is provided to receiver circuitry of the transceiver.
US09240877B2
Systems and methods of scheduling sub-carriers in an OFDMA system in which a scheduler takes into account channel conditions experienced by the communication devices to optimize channel conditions. The scheduler can partition a set of sub-carriers spanning an operating bandwidth into a plurality of segments. The segments can include a plurality of global segments that each includes a distinct non-contiguous subset of the sub-carriers spanning substantially the entire operating bandwidth. One or more of the global segments can be further partitioned into a plurality of local segments that each has a bandwidth that is less than a channel coherence bandwidth. The scheduler determines channel characteristics experienced by each communication device via reporting or channel estimation, and allocates one or more segments to communication links for each device according to the channel characteristics.
US09240873B2
Provided are a radio terminal device, a radio base station device, and a channel signal forming method which can prevent quality degradation of the downlink source allocation information by reducing the frequency of the zero information addition process to the downlink resource allocation information when executing communication using an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands correlated to the uplink unit band. A base station can execute communication using the uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands correlated to the uplink unit band. The base station includes: a PDCCH generation unit which includes the uplink allocation information relating to the uplink unit band only in some of the channel signals formed for each of the downlink unit bands; and a padding unit which adds zero information to the downlink allocation information only in the selected some channel signals having the bandwidth of the corresponding downlink unit band smaller than that of the uplink unit band until the downlink allocation information size becomes equal to the uplink allocation information size.
US09240872B2
Disclosed is a method for configuring a pilot frequency in a wireless communication system, comprising: on the basis of at least one item among a current wireless channel characteristic parameter, device capability information of a correspondent node, and system requirement information, configuring in real-time a pilot frequency for different transmissions during a transmission process; and transmitting the configuration result to the correspondent node. Also disclosed is a corresponding device for configuring the pilot frequency. The present invention allows for configuration in real-time of the pilot frequency. This facilitates improved transmission reliability and guaranteed communication quality, and reduces pilot frequency overhead, and at the same time, is applicable in additional number of channel environments and application scenarios.
US09240870B2
A method and system for carrier aggregation scheduling in a communication system are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for carrier aggregation scheduling includes selecting a set of at least one component carrier from a group of candidate component carriers upon which to transmit data in a queue. The selecting of all component carriers in the set is performed prior to determining an amount of data to be assigned to any one of the component carriers in the set. Blocks of data from the queue are assigned to at least one of the component carriers in the set of selected component carriers based at least in part on an estimated amount of data that can be carried by each component carrier in the set.
US09240867B1
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from a common digital information sequence. Each received signal vector is decoded using, for example, a maximum-likelihood decoder to produce log-likelihood ratios. The results of the decoders are combined by addition to produce a final decoding estimate. In some embodiments, each of the received signals may be processed prior to decoding. The disclosed decoding scheme may utilize all received information without increasing hardware complexity.
US09240863B2
An apparatus for iteratively estimating a channel in a receiver of a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a channel estimator configured to estimate a first channel value by using a pilot symbol included in a received signal, a demodulator configured to demodulate the received signal by using the first channel value, a decoding unit configured to decode the received signal demodulated by the demodulator, a feedback determining unit configured to determine whether to iteratively estimate the channel, and a feedback device configured to feed back an input value of the decoding unit when the feedback determining unit determines to iteratively estimate the channel, wherein when the feedback determining unit determines to iteratively estimate the channel, the channel estimator estimates a second channel value by using at least one of the pilot symbol included in the received signal and a data symbol received from the feedback device.
US09240862B2
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof. The apparatus comprises an encoder for encoding service data corresponding to each of a plurality of data transmission path, wherein each of the data transmission path carries at least one service component for broadcast services, an encoder for encoding signaling data, wherein the signaling data includes static data and dynamic data, a frame builder for building signal frames, wherein each of signal frames includes the encoded service data and the encoded signaling data, wherein each of signal frames belongs to one of the broadcast services, wherein the static data remain constant in the signal frames belonging to the broadcast service in a duration of a super frame and the dynamic data changes by the signal frames, a modulator for modulating the signal frames by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals carrying the modulated signal frames.
US09240857B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, fiber optic communications method is described. The method comprises a first operation of dynamically identifying frequencies at which spectral nulls occur in a signal received via an optical fiber, and thereafter, segregating communications over the optical fiber into a set of inter-null bands defined by the spectral nulls.
US09240856B2
A network apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers (110) each of which has a frequency variable characteristic and communicates on an allocated channel, a channel allocation unit (154) which allocates channels of standby transceivers that are not connected to a network and are set to a standby state, among the plurality of transceivers (110) so that the channels are different from each other, a tuning unit (158) which tunes the standby transceivers to the frequencies of the allocated channels by changing respective parameters, and a selection unit (156) which preferentially selects and uses a transceiver having a short channel setting time among the standby transceivers, when a path is newly set in the network.
US09240851B2
A broadcast signal receiver capable of displaying relation information corresponding to a broadcast signal in real time.
US09240850B2
Spectrum sensing in wireless communications is provided to identify utilized and/or unutilized frequency bands reserved for primary users using a cyclostationary beamforming approach. An adaptive cross self-coherent restoral (ACS) algorithm can be utilized to extract signals of interest (SOI) at unique cycle frequencies related to primary and/or secondary users from an antenna array measurement. Based on the SOI, one or more users of the spectrum can be identified or the spectrum can be regarded as vacant; this can be based on lobe identification in the frequency spectrum of the SOI, in one example. This mechanism is less complex than traditional cyclic spectrum analysis methods. The cyclostationary beamforming based approach is more effective than the energy detection method. Also, the need for quiet periods in spectrum sensing is eliminated when using this mechanism such that signals can be transmitted simultaneously with receiving signals over the antenna array.
US09240823B2
Apparatuses, receivers, systems and methods for receiving data via a power line infrastructure. An exemplary apparatus includes a base station configured to receive a signal from a power line of a structure by coupling to the power line through an electrical outlet. The base station may include an impedance matching circuit configured to match an impedance of the power line of the structure, and a receiver coupled to the impedance matching circuit. The receiver may be configured to demodulate the signal received from the power line of the structure, convert the demodulated signal into a digital signal, and provide the digital signal to a decoder.
US09240820B2
A network communication structure, system and method are disclosed in the invention. The network communication structure includes client devices, a power line network and access points. One of the access points is connected to an external internet. The access points are all connected in the power line network, such that a first local area network is formed between the access points. Each of the access points utilizes an omni-directional antenna to form a local area sub-network between the access point and a client device. Each of the access points utilizes a directional antenna to form a second local area network between access points. According to a network quality of the power line network, each of the access points transmits an information packet to another access point via the first local area network or the second local area network.
US09240811B2
The disclosed invention relates to a transceiver system having a bypass signal path that enables low power consumption. The transceiver system has a plurality of signal paths respectively having a filtering element with a stop band and with a pass band. An antenna switching module (ASM) has a plurality of RF ports and a plurality of switching elements. Respective RF ports are connected to a separate one of the plurality of switching elements that selectively connect the RF port to an antenna port of the ASM. A control unit generates control signals that operate the plurality of switching elements to selectively connect the plurality of signal paths to the antenna port. A filtering response at the antenna port is equal to a combination of the filtering responses of filtering elements within the connected signal paths.
US09240808B2
Serially-concatenated codes are formed in accordance with the present invention using a constrained interleaver. The constrained interleaver cause the minimum distance of the serial concatenated code to increase above the minimum distance of the inner code alone by adding a constraint that forces some or all of the distance of the outer code onto the serially-concatenated code. This allows the serially-concatenated code to be jointly optimized in terms of both minimum distance and error coefficient to provide significant performance advantages. Constrained interleaving can be summarized in that it: 1) uses an outer code that is a block code or a non-recursive convolutional code, and as such, there are multiple codewords present in the constrained interleaver, 2) selects a desired MHD, 3) selects an interleaver size and a set of predefined interleaver constraints to prevent undesired (low-distance) error events so as to achieve the desired MHD, and 4) performs uniform interleaving among the allowable (non-constrained) positions, to thereby maximize or otherwise improve the interleaver gain subject to the constraints imposed to maintain the desired MHD.
US09240798B2
A method for testing linearity of an ADC, comprising receiving a trigger signal indicating an ADC input voltage step adjustment, reading an ADC output sample upon receiving the trigger signal, wherein the ADC output sample has a value range of N integer values that correspond to N discrete ADC output codes, computing a histogram of code occurrences for M consecutive ADC output codes, wherein the histogram comprises M number of bins corresponding to the M consecutive ADC output codes, and wherein M is less than N, updating a DNL value and an INL value according to the histogram at an interval of K number of ADC output sample readings, and shifting the histogram by one ADC output code after updating the DNL and the INL values.
US09240797B2
According to an embodiment, a power supply noise cancelling circuit includes a generator, a first multiplier, a subtractor and a digital-to-analog converter. The generator generates a sine wave signal. The first multiplier multiplies a digital input signal by a digital signal based on the sine wave signal to generate a first digital product signal. The subtractor subtracts a digital signal based on the first digital product signal from the digital input signal to generate a digital difference signal. The digital-to-analog converter performs a digital-to-analog conversion on the digital difference signal to obtain an analog output signal.
US09240796B2
A phase-locked loop circuit using a multi-curve voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having a set of operating curves, each operating curve corresponding to a different frequency range over a control voltage range. The phase-locked loop circuit includes a digital control circuit configured to generate a curve select signal using a closed loop curve search operation to select one of the operating curves in the multi-curve VCO, the selected operating curve being used by the VCO to generate an output signal with an output frequency being equal or close to a target frequency of the phase-locked loop. In one embodiment, the digital control circuit implements a binary jump method and an operating curve is selected when the operating curve has an output frequency meeting the target frequency with the control voltage being within a first voltage range being a narrowed and centered voltage range within the control voltage range.
US09240780B1
Transient voltages are not propagated through a P-channel MOSFET used as a switch with output slew rate control feedback, by connecting a low or near-zero impedance across the source and gate terminals of the device whenever the MOSFET is supposed to be off. The low or near-zero impedance is provided by a second P-channel MOSFET connected across the source and gate of the MOSFET switch.
US09240779B2
A gate driving circuit is provided which is capable of alleviating the effect of a switching noise generated when an IGBT is turned on/off or a common mode noise on a gate driving signal. The gate driving circuit, a primary side and a secondary side thereof being insulated from each other by a pulse transformer; the primary side of the pulse transformer being grounded to a first ground potential point; the secondary side of the pulse transformer being grounded to a second ground potential point insulated from the first ground potential point; and a gate driving signal generated in a secondary winding of the pulse transformer being outputted through a receiver having impedance matching resistors on the input side, includes an electrostatic shield plate between a primary winding of the pulse transformer and the secondary winding, the electrostatic shield plate being grounded to the second ground potential point.
US09240766B2
A coupling circuit, including: a coupler including a first conductive line and a second conductive line coupled to the first one; at each end of the second line of the coupler, a two-output signal splitter; and at each output of each splitter, a filtering function.
US09240754B2
An oscillator includes an oscillating circuit for generating an output signal having an output signal frequency. The oscillating circuit includes an inductive element and a capacitive element, the capacitive element having a variable capacitance for coarsely tuning the output signal frequency. The oscillator further includes a current supply for supplying current to the oscillating circuit, the current supply being variable for finely tuning the output signal frequency.
US09240751B2
A motor control system includes an inverter and a plurality of current sensors each positioned in-line between the inverter and a phase coil of the motor. Each current sensor measures the current provided to each phase coil of the motor and provides a signal indicative of each phase current to a controller. In some embodiments, the currents sensors are provided as one or more current sense integrated circuits. A protection circuit protects the current sense integrated circuit from ground bounce by coupling a diode and an opposite facing Zener diode in series between the power supply pin and the ground pin of the integrated circuit.
US09240750B2
Power conversion sub-blocks are combined to be configured as a power conversion block. The power conversion sub-blocks include power conversion modules including cooler base sections on which semiconductor elements are mounted and cooler fin sections provided on the rear surface side of semiconductor element mounting surfaces in the cooler base sections and cooler attachment members to which cooler fin sections are attached back to back, the cooler attachment members being configured to be capable of separating an opened section where the cooler fin sections are present and external air circulates and a closed section where the semiconductor elements are present and circulating cooling air to the cooler fin sections.
US09240747B2
An overspeed protection subsystem is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The overspeed protection subsystem is comprised of: a motor switch coupled in series with the motor; a motor control module interfaced with the motor switch to control switching operation of the motor switch; and an overspeed detection module that determines rotational speed of the motor and disables the power tool when the rotational speed of the motor exceeds a threshold.
US09240742B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a current boost to support a voltage. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a voltage node; a switch coupled to the voltage node; a sensing circuit including an input coupled to the voltage node and an output for providing a corresponding voltage; and a voltage regulator coupled to receive the corresponding voltage and coupled to control the switch responsive to the received corresponding voltage. In an embodiment, a method comprises sensing a voltage; using a voltage regulator to turn on a switch responsive to the sensed voltage being less than a certain value; and providing additional current through the on switch to substantially maintain the voltage from being less than the certain value.
US09240737B2
A mode controller shifts, along with increase in an electric power in first and second of chopper circuits and, operation modes of the first and the second of the chopper circuits from a first mode to a third mode via a second mode. An operation controller causes, in the first mode, the first of chopper circuit to perform an chopping operation, and the second of chopper circuit to suspend the chopping operation, in the second mode, causes the first and the second of chopper circuits to alternatively perform the chopping operations, and in the third mode causes both of the first and the second of chopper circuits to perform the chopping operations.
US09240729B2
Embodiments are described for reducing common-mode current in electronic devices. In the various embodiments, a resonant converter is employed, for example in a power supply, and the resonant converter is driven by a DC input to generate an AC primary voltage on the primary windings of a power transformer. The DC input may be derived from an AC line voltage or a DC-to-DC converter. The AC primary voltage drives the primary winding of the transformer to generate an AC secondary voltage on at least one secondary winding of the transformer. The AC secondary voltage may then drive a rectifier, which in turn drives a low-pass filter to produce a DC output voltage. Phase-shift modulation is employed which, in conjunction with the resonant converter, applies a sinusoidal waveform to the primary of the transformer resulting in a reduced amount of common-mode current injected onto the secondary.
US09240719B2
A control circuit (24) includes a calculation means (28) which determines ON time and OFF time of a main switching element (14) and a drive pulse generating means (30) which generates drive pulses that turn the main switching element (14) ON and OFF. A control function formula which prescribes a relationship between an output voltage (Vo) and an output differential value (Vd) by a negative linear function and the like is defined in the calculation means (28). The calculation means (28) samples an input voltage signal (Vi) and an output voltage signal (Vo) at a timing synchronized with a switching cycle of the main switching element (14), and calculates the ON time and OFF time of the main switching element (14) thereafter so as to satisfy the control function formula. The drive pulse generating means (30) generates drive pulses (V14) which turn the main switching element (14) ON and OFF on the basis of the ON and OFF time determined by the calculation means (28).
US09240716B2
A switching power supply circuit is disclosed in an embodiment. The switching power supply circuit includes a power output stage, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator, a compensation module, and a overshooting protection module. The power output stage is used for generating an output signal to drive a load device. The PWM signal generator generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal which is used for controlling the power output stage. The compensation module is used for generating a compensation signal to the PWM signal generator according to the output signal. The overshooting protection module receives the output signal to enable or disable the PWM signal generator.
US09240707B2
A coil is configured so that: N conductor wires of wave windings each divided at at least two positions in a circumferential direction are provided in one of a plurality of slots; within a unit of the divided wave windings in which conduction is made, the N conductor wires are connected in one of series and parallel to each other at division positions located at substantially the same circumferential position of conductor-wire end portions; division units of the divided wave windings are connected in series to each other, and a total number of series turns of the series-connected division units of the each phase is a predetermined number of series turns, which does not exceed an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the rotary electric machine; and the series-connected division units of the each phase have the same total number of series turns.
US09240704B2
A circuit (20, 50) for voltage stabilization in an onboard power supply (10), particularly for motor vehicles, which is electrically connected between the onboard power supply (10) to be stabilized and a first energy store (E1) is disclosed. The circuit (20, 50) includes a diode element (24) which contains a plurality of semiconductor switches (34) connected in parallel. The circuit (20, 50) also includes a pilot and control circuit (33). The control circuit (33) determines the level of a current flowing through the diode element (24) and controls the semiconductor switches (34) of the diode element (24) on the basis of the determined current level. The circuit (20, 50) includes a second energy store (E2) which is electrically connected to the diode element (24) and to the onboard power supply (10).
US09240691B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for remedying a charging error. In use, a battery and a battery charger are identified. Additionally, an error associated with the charging of the battery by the battery charger is detected. Further, the error is remedied.
US09240690B2
A power transfer device is provided. The power transfer device includes a circuit arrangement including a primary side having a primary coil; a secondary side having a secondary coil inductively coupled to the primary coil and a load transformation unit; wherein the load transformation unit includes an inductor and a capacitor; wherein the secondary coil, the inductor and the capacitor respectively includes a first terminal and a second terminal; wherein the first terminal of the secondary coil is coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor, the second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, and the second terminal of the inductor is coupled to the second terminal of the secondary coil.
US09240687B2
Described herein are embodiments of microgrid systems which may be used as stand-alone systems or may be connected to a larger, integrated power supply system. In some embodiments, a system comprises a smart microgrid system comprising at least one electrical power bus connectable to at least one input power source by one or more switchable connections, a communication network coupled to the smart microgrid system, and a controller coupled to the communication network. In some embodiments the controller comprises logic to monitor power outputs from the at least one input power source, to monitor one or more power loads coupled to the at least one electrical power bus, and to selectively connect one or more of the input power sources to the at least one electrical power bus.
US09240686B2
The loads of a vehicle electrical system are connected to a power distribution bus through a first or through first and second latching relays. A set of vehicle mandatory loads are connected to an output side of the first latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay. A set of vehicle optional loads are connected to an output side of the second latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay or the second latching relay. Opening and closing of the first and second latching relays depends of the values for the measured current and measured voltage. Among factors relating to opening and closing of the first and second latching relays are measured voltage exceeding a voltage high threshold, in which case the first latching relay opens, measured voltage falling below a low voltage threshold in which case the second latching relay opens while the first latching relay remains closed and a positive current transient exceeding a minimum threshold, which opens the first latching relay.
US09240684B2
There is described a structure (14) that is disposed on an electrically non-conductive, electrostatically chargeable strip-type carrier film (12) and that has electrically conductive and/or semiconducting structural elements, which structure has at least one structural region (14s) protected against electrostatic voltage flashover. The at least one structural region (14s) protected against electrostatic voltage flashover is connected to a protective conductor track (19) and/or surrounded by a protective conductor track (19, 19′), which is realized such that it discharges an electrostatic charge and/or shields the protected structural region (14s).
US09240671B2
A laser light source (100) includes a laser element (102) that emits a fundamental wave, a wavelength converting element (104) that performs wavelength conversion on the fundamental wave emitted from the laser element (102) and outputs the converted wave, and an optical waveguide (103) that guides the light output from the wavelength converting element (104). The optical waveguide (103) has a direction changing portion (113) that changes the travel direction of the guided light. The direction changing portion (113) has a function of transmitting the converted wave alone and of not transmitting the fundamental wave.
US09240666B2
An optical amplification device includes: an optical module that outputs an amplified light; and a controller that makes the optical module emit a light when an emission command is input into the controller, wherein the controller cancels an inputting of the emission command until a predetermined time passes, when a protection for forbidding a light emission of the optical module is canceled.
US09240662B2
A terminal treatment method is for a coaxial cable which includes a core member in which an inner conductor is covered with an insulator, an outer conductor provided around the core member and formed of a plurality of wires, and a sheath covering an outer circumference of the outer conductor. The method includes exposing the outer conductor by removing the sheath on an end portion of the coaxial cable, separating the wires of the outer conductor from an outer circumferential surface of the core member by gripping and moving an end portion of the outer conductor to loosen the exposed portion of the outer conductor, extruding the core member having the inner conductor from gaps formed in the wires of the outer conductor to extract the core member from the outer conductor, and intertwining the outer conductor by gripping and twisting the end portion of the outer conductor.
US09240660B1
A slip ring assembly includes a pair of conductive rings consecutively positioned along a center shaft of the slip ring assembly. The pair of conductive rings are electronically coupled to a high frequency signal source via a first twisted wire pair. The pair of conductive rings are electronically coupled to a data processor via a second twisted wire pair. The first and second twisted wire pairs have constant target impedances that are substantially similar. The first and second conductive rings are axially spaced at an axial distance that is sized so as to maintain the constant target impedance across the first and second conductive rings during transmission of a high frequency signal from the high frequency signal source to the data processor. The slip ring assembly provides a method for impedance matching across the conductive rings of the slip ring assembly.
US09240655B2
A cable connector includes a body member having a first opening to receive a cable and a second opening. An indicator is received in the second opening and is movable between exposed and unexposed positions. A magnet is disposed in the body member and is aligned with the second opening. A support member is movable between first and second positions. When the support member is in the first position, the support member is disposed between the magnet and the indicator such that the indicator is in the exposed position. When the support member is in the second position the support member is withdrawn from between the magnet and the indicator such that the magnet moves the indicator to the unexposed position to indicate full insertion of the cable.
US09240650B2
A terminal block assembly includes a terminal block and lever member and is less structurally complicated and less likely to deform as compared to the existing terminal block products. The terminal block has a main body and a chamber defined by the main body. The chamber is provided with a metal spring piece, which, in response to movements of the lever member, crimps a leading wire to form electrical connection or release the leading wire. The chamber is also provided with a buckle that performs reciprocating movements and is biased by a spring to normally engage with the lever member. When receiving an operating force, the buckle disengages with the lever member so that the lever member is allowed to move. The terminal block assembly advantageously provides easy and effort-saving operation.
US09240647B2
The invention provides a connector including a body, first, second, third, and fourth terminals, and first and second connection objects. The body includes a first recess including a first bottom and a first side wall, and a second recess including a second bottom and a second side wall. The first terminal includes a first connecting portion provided in or on the first bottom, or with clearance from the first bottom. The second terminal includes a second connecting portion provided in or on the first side wall. The third terminal includes a third connecting portion provided in or on the second bottom, or with clearance from the second bottom. The fourth terminal includes a fourth connecting portion provided in or on the second side wall. The first connection object is connected to the first and second connecting portions. The second connection object is connected to the third and fourth connecting portions.
US09240646B2
The press-fit type connector terminal includes a pin section having a U-shaped or quadrangular cross-section, and a contact section situated at a front end of the pin section, the contact section including a contact piece surrounding an imaginary center line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pin section, and a slit formed at a part of the contact piece and extending substantially parallel to the imaginary center line, the connector terminal being comprised of a single bent metal plate having elasticity.
US09240637B2
A module of a terminal block (100) comprises a body (104) having an input configured to be coupled to an input wire and an output configured to be coupled to a plurality of output wires, a conductive element disposed within the input, and a plurality of terminals, each terminal having a first portion and a second portion configured to be coupled to an output wire, wherein the first portions of the plurality of terminals are nested together to achieve a single conductive structure, and wherein the conductive element is configured to engage and compress the input wire against the single conductive structure.
US09240636B2
A male coaxial connector of the present invention comprises a conductive insert and a coupling nut. The conductive insert has a front end with an annular flange. The coupling nut includes an inner surface defining a bore, wherein the bore at least partially surrounds the conductive insert and is configured to receive a provided female coaxial connector. The coupling nut further includes a locking member extending from its inner surface. The male connector further comprises a torque washer formed from fiber-reinforced rubber and disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the locking member. When the coupling nut engages a female coaxial connector, the locking member and the torque washer are compressed against the flange of the insert. The compressed locking member and the compressed torque washer each maintain a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent separation of the male and female connectors. The male coaxial connector can be configured to be coupled to an end of the coaxial cable by, for example, crimping or compression.
US09240618B2
A rechargeable battery is disclosed. In one aspect, the battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a case accommodating the electrode assembly and a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and exposed from the case. The battery further includes a protective circuit module comprising a connecting member electrically connected to the terminal and an insulating member interposed between the terminal and the connecting member, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the insulating member.
US09240606B2
A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with enhanced current density or power density is fabricated using high temperature (HT) proton exchange membrane (PEM). The MEA can be utilized in high temperature PEM fuel cell applications. More specifically, the MEA is modified with the addition of one or more of selected materials to its catalyst layer to enhance the rates of the fuel cell reactions and thus attain dramatic increases of the power output of the MEA in the fuel cell. The MEA has application to other electro-chemical devices, including an electrolyzer, a compressor, or a generator, purifier, and concentrator of hydrogen and oxygen using HT PEM MEAs.
US09240601B2
A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area disposed around the first area where a heat exchanger is provided, an annular third area disposed around the second area where a reformer is provided, and an annular fourth area disposed around the third area where an evaporator is provided, and a condensed water collecting mechanism for collecting condensed water produced by condensation of water vapor in a combustion gas by allowing the condensed water to flow through the fourth area, then, the third area, then, the second area, and then, the first area.
US09240599B2
A fuel cell system includes a controller, a fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit operatively connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel inlet conduit adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply, a recycling conduit operatively connecting the fuel cell stack to the fuel inlet conduit, the recycling conduit adapted to recycle a portion of a fuel exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack to the fuel inlet conduit, and an ammonia or hydrazine storage vessel operatively connected to the fuel inlet conduit via a valve coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the valve to provide ammonia or hydrazine from the ammonia or hydrazine storage vessel into the fuel inlet conduit upon detecting a change in the fuel from the fuel supply.
US09240595B2
Provided is a new 5 V class spinel exhibiting an operating potential of 4.5 V or higher (5 V class) with respect to the Li metal reference potential, having an excellent discharge capacity retention ratio at high temperatures, for example 45° C. Suggested is a spinel type lithium-manganese-nickel-containing composite oxide containing a crystalline phase in which a portion of Mn sites in LiMn2O4-δ are substituted with Li; another metal element M1, wherein M1 represents a metal element including at least one of Ni, Co and Fe and another metal element M2, wherein M2 represents a metal element including at least one of Mg, Ti, Al, Ba, Cr and Nb, and the spinel type lithium-manganese-nickel-containing composite oxide comprising a composite oxide phase containing Ni, Mn and B.
US09240585B2
High capacity energy storage devices and energy storage device components, and more specifically, to a system and method for fabricating such high capacity energy storage devices and storage device components using processes that form three-dimensional porous structures are provided. In one embodiment, an anode structure for use in a high capacity energy storage device, comprising a conductive collector substrate, a three-dimensional copper-tin-iron porous conductive matrix formed on one or more surfaces of the conductive collector substrate, comprising a plurality of meso-porous structures formed over the conductive current collector, and an anodically active material deposited over the three-dimensional copper-tin-iron porous conductive matrix is provided. In certain embodiments, the three-dimensional copper-tin-iron porous conductive matrix further comprises a plurality of columnar projections formed on the conductive current collector with the plurality of meso-porous structure formed on the plurality of columnar projections.
US09240578B2
A secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates; and a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly, the battery case comprising a first portion, a second portion, and an adhesive layer that contacts a surface of the first portion and a surface of the second portion, wherein the adhesive layer is continuous between the first and second portions.
US09240577B2
A cap assembly (100, 200) for a lithium ion secondary battery (1000, 2000). The cap assembly includes a cap plate (30, 97), a leakproof film (20, 98), and a cap cover (10, 99). The cap plate (30, 97) includes a supporting portion (31, 971) and a safety film (32, 972). The safety film is positioned in the supporting portion (31, 971). The safety film (32, 972) defines safety grooves (33, 973). The safety film (32, 972) is capable of break down along the safety grooves (33, 973). The leakproof film (20, 98) is attached on the supporting portion (31, 971). The leakproof film (20, 98) is made of a material with high temperature resistance and elasticity properties. The cap cover (10, 99) is attached on the leakproof film (20, 98).
US09240566B2
The present invention provides a method for curing a UV-curable resin and a method for packaging an OLED. The method for curing a UV-curable resin includes (1) providing a UV light source and activating the UV light source to carry out a first irradiation operation on UV-curable resin; (2) de-activating the UV light source and, after a time interval of 10-300 seconds, activating the UV light source to carry out a second irradiation operation on the UV-curable resin; and (3) repeating step (2), until the UV-curable resin is completely cured. Interval-separated irradiation operations are applied so as to effectively lower down the temperature of a glass substrate and effectively avoid deterioration of an organic function layer caused by an excessively high temperature, thereby improving the lifespan and quality of an OLED device.
US09240564B2
An organic electroluminescence device is capable of enhancing reflectance of an anode, resulting in improved light-emitting efficiency. An anode, a thin film layer for hole injection, an insulating layer, an organic layer including a luminescent layer and a cathode including a semi-transparent electrode are laminated in order on a substrate. The anode comprises silver which is a metal with high reflectance or an alloy including silver, and the thin film layer for hole injection comprises chromium oxide or the like. Light generated in the luminescent layer is multiply reflected between the anode and the semi-transparent electrode to be emitted from the cathode. As the reflectance of the anode is enhanced, the light generated in the luminescent layer can be efficiently emitted. An alloy comprised in the anode preferably includes silver, palladium and copper, and a silver content is preferably 50% by mass or over.
US09240554B2
The present invention provides an organic electroluminescence element having a high luminous efficiency.An organic electroluminescence element includes an anode, a cathode, and at least one organic compound layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one of the at least one the organic compound layer contains an organic compound shown in Claim 1.
US09240550B2
The present invention is notably directed to a resistive memory element comprising a resistively switchable material coupled to two conductive electrodes, wherein the resistively switchable material is an amorphous compound comprising carbon and oxygen. Moreover, the carbon and oxygen stoichiometric ratio can be within a range of 1:0.30 to 1:0.80.
US09240548B2
A method of forming an array of memory cells includes forming lines of covering material that are elevationally over and along lines of spaced sense line contacts. Longitudinal orientation of the lines of covering material is used in forming lines comprising programmable material and outer electrode material that are between and along the lines of covering material. The covering material is removed over the spaced sense line contacts and the spaced sense line contacts are exposed. Access lines are formed. Sense lines are formed that are electrically coupled to the spaced sense line contacts. The sense lines are angled relative to the lines of spaced sense line contacts and relative to the access lines. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
US09240544B2
A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element including a step of preparing a green sheet A including a portion which becomes a fired piezoelectric body later, by use of a piezoelectric material; a step of joining, to at least one surface of the green sheet A, a green sheet B having an opening in a portion facing the portion which becomes the fired piezoelectric body later, followed by firing to obtain the fired piezoelectric body provided with a reinforcing plate to which the reinforcing plate formed owing to the firing of the green sheet B is attached; and a step of forming a film-like electrode in a portion obtained by the firing of the green sheet A in the fired piezoelectric body provided with the reinforcing plate.
US09240538B2
The present invention relates to a new method, system and apparatus for light emitting diode (LED) packages. An object of the present invention is to provide an LED package having reduced components, a superior heat dissipation property and a compact structure, does not largely restrict use of conventional equipment for its manufacture, and is compatible with implementation within present illumination devices packaging.
US09240535B2
A light-emitting-element mount substrate formed by relatively simple manufacturing steps, having a good heat release property, and having a high mechanical strength; and an LED device including the light-emitting-element mount substrate are provided. A substrate body of a light-emitting-element mount substrate is made of a low-resistance semiconductor (e.g., n-type silicon) substrate, and is divided into a first and second individual substrate bodies by an insulating layer. A first front-surface mounting electrode and a first external-connection electrode are formed on respective first and second major surfaces (e.g., front and back surfaces) of the first individual substrate body. A second front-surface mounting electrode and a second external-connection electrode are formed respective first and second major surfaces (e.g., front and back surfaces) of the second individual substrate body. The insulating layer has a shape different from a straight-line shape in plan view.
US09240527B2
In manufacturing a submount, a first electrode layer (12) is formed as a layer on the surface of a submount substrate (11); a side surface (122) of the first electrode layer (12) is formed on substantially the same plane as a side surface (112) of the submount substrate (11); and the side surface (122) of the first electrode layer (12) is a connection surface for creating an electrical connection with the first electrode layer (12). By making the first electrode layer (12) sufficiently thick, the surface area of the side surface (122) can be made sufficiently large to allow, for example, wire bonding using the side surface (122). Further, components such as an optical element (14) can be protected by a sealing material (16).
US09240526B2
Solid state light emitting diode packages can be provided including a ceramic material and a leadframe structure, on the ceramic material, the leadframe structure including a portion thereof that integrates the leadframe structure with the ceramic material.
US09240524B2
Disclosed are a light-emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof. A light-emitting device according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure comprises: a frame portion having a bottom and a sidewall; a light-emitting portion which is disposed on the frame portion and emits light; and a window portion disposed over the frame portion so as to cover the light-emitting portion.
US09240523B2
A method for producing optoelectronic components including A) providing a growth substrate with a semiconductor layer arranged thereon that produces a zone which is active during operation, B) applying separating structures on the semiconductor layer, C) applying a multiplicity of copper layers on the semiconductor layer in regions delimited by the separating structures, D) removing the separating structures, E) applying, a protective layer at least on lateral areas of copper layers, F) applying an auxiliary substrate on the copper layers, G) removing the growth substrate, H) singulating a composite assembly comprising the semiconductor layer, the copper layers and the auxiliary substrate to form components which are separated from one another.
US09240520B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device of the invention includes: a semiconductor layer including a light-emitting layer and having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface; a phosphor layer facing to the first major surface; an interconnect layer provided on the second major surface side and including a conductor and an insulator; and a light-blocking member provided on a side surface of the semiconductor layer and being opaque to light emitted from the light-emitting layer.
US09240519B2
A light-emitting element, comprises: a substrate; a light-emitting semiconductor stack over the substrate and comprising an active layer; and a Distributed Bragg reflective unit under the substrate comprising a first Distributed Bragg reflective structure under the substrate and comprising a first number of pairs of alternately stacked first sub-layers and second sub-layers, and a second Distributed Bragg reflective structure under the first Distributed Bragg reflective structure and comprising a second number of pairs of alternately stacked third sub-layers and fourth sub-layers, wherein the first number is different from the second number.
US09240517B2
Structures for transitioning between two layers of differing lattice parameters are disclosed. In some embodiments, the structures are in the form of a superlattice that serves as a strain relieving transition between two layers of differing lattice parameters. By controlling the properties of the superlattice, the superlattice can exhibit desirable properties such as transparency to light and lattice matching to one of the two layers of differing lattice parameters. Optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes including such superlattices are also disclosed.
US09240516B2
Amongst the candidates for very high efficiency electronics, solid state light sources, photovoltaics, and photoelectrochemical devices, and photobiological devices are those based upon metal-nitride nanowires. Enhanced nanowire performance typically require heterostructures, quantum dots, etc which requirement that these structures are grown with relatively few defects and in a controllable reproducible manner. Additionally flexibility according to the device design requires that the nanowire at the substrate may be either InN or GaN. Methods of growing relatively defect free nanowires and associated structures for group IIIA-nitrides are presented without the requirement for foreign metal catalysts, overcoming the non-uniform growth of prior art techniques and allowing self-organizing quantum dot, quantum well and quantum dot-in-a-dot structures to be formed. Such metal-nitride nanowires and quantum structure embedded nanowires support a variety of devices including but not limited to very high efficiency electronics, solid state light sources, photovoltaics, and photoelectrochemical devices, and photobiological devices.
US09240515B2
A method of manufacturing a solar cell comprising steps of: (a) preparing a substrate comprising a semiconductor layer and a passivation layer formed at least on the back side of the semiconductor layer, wherein the passivation layer on the back side comprises one or more openings; (b) forming an aluminum (Al) conductor pattern at least in the openings of the passivation layer on the back side by applying an Al paste, wherein the Al paste comprises: (i) an Al powder, (ii) a glass frit, (iii) a zirconium carbide (ZrC) powder, and (iv) an organic medium; and (c) firing the Al conductor pattern.
US09240482B2
A stressor structure is formed within a drain region of an access transistor in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate without forming any stressor structure in a source region of the DRAM cell. The stressor structure induces a stress gradient within the body region of the access transistor, which induces a greater leakage current at the body-drain junction than at the body-source junction. The body potential of the access transistor has a stronger coupling to the drain voltage than to the source voltage. An asymmetric etch of a gate dielectric cap, application of a planarization material layer, and a non-selective etch of the planarization material layer and the gate dielectric cap can be employed to form the DRAM cell.
US09240477B2
Some embodiments include transistor-containing constructions having gate material within an opening in a semiconductor material and spaced from the semiconductor material by gate dielectric material. The opening has a wide lower region beneath a narrow upper region. A saddle region of the gate dielectric material extends outwardly from a bottom of the opening and is along the semiconductor material beneath the opening. A saddle region of the gate material extends outwardly from the bottom of the opening and is along the gate dielectric material beneath the opening. Source/drain regions are within the semiconductor material along sides of the gate material. Some embodiments include memory arrays.
US09240472B2
A semiconductor device, that has a transistor region and a surge-protector region, includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer formed on the substrate; a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer in the transistor region; and a surge-protector first electrode, a surge-protector second electrode, and a surge-protector third electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer in the surge-protector region, wherein the source electrode and the surge-protector second electrode are connected to each other, wherein the drain electrode and the surge-protector third electrode are connected to each other, wherein the surge-protector first electrode is formed between the surge-protector second electrode and the surge-protector third electrode, and wherein a distance between the surge-protector first electrode and the surge-protector third electrode is smaller than a distance between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
US09240458B2
Provided is a fabricating method of a nonvolatile memory. The fabricating method includes forming a plurality of gates extending in a first direction on a substrate to be adjacent to each other, forming a gap-fill layer filling at least a portion of a space between the plurality of gates, forming a supporter pattern supporting the plurality of gates on the plurality of gates and the gap-fill layer, and forming an air gap in the space between the plurality of gates by removing the gap-fill layer.
US09240457B2
An IGBT transistor includes a drift region, at least one body region housed in the drift region and having a first type of conductivity, and a conduction region, which crosses the body region in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the drift region and has the first type of conductivity and a lower resistance than the body region. The conduction region includes a plurality of implant regions, arranged at respective depths from the surface of the drift region.
US09240455B2
A MOSFET includes an SiC layer including main surfaces. The SiC layer includes an n type drift region, a p type body region, and an n type source region. The MOSFET further includes a gate insulating film formed to be located on a channel region, a gate electrode formed to be located above the channel region, the gate insulating film being sandwiched between said gate electrode and said channel region, and a connection electrode which includes a contact portion having a width smaller than a width of the gate electrode, has electric resistance lower than electric resistance of the gate electrode, and is formed on the gate electrode.
US09240454B1
An integrated circuit includes a substrate supporting a transistor having a source region and a drain region. A high dopant concentration delta-doped layer is present on the source region and drain region of the transistor. A set of contacts extend through a pre-metal dielectric layer covering the transistor. A silicide region is provided at a bottom of the set of contacts. The silicide region is formed by a salicidation reaction between a metal present at the bottom of the contact and the high dopant concentration delta-doped layer on the source region and drain region of the transistor.
US09240450B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body including a drift zone of a first conductivity type, an emitter region of a second, complementary conductivity type configured to inject charge carriers into the drift zone, and an emitter electrode. The emitter electrode includes a metal silicide layer in direct ohmic contact with the emitter region. A net impurity concentration in a portion of the emitter region directly adjoining the metal silicide layer is at most 1×1017 cm−3.
US09240447B1
A first array of semiconductor fins and a second array of semiconductor fins are provided on a bulk semiconductor portion of a bulk semiconductor substrate. Each semiconductor fin of the first and second arrays is spaced apart by a first gap, and the outermost semiconductor fins of the first and second arrays of semiconductor fins are spaced apart by a second gap that is wider than the first gap. A sacrificial material is formed which completely fills the first gap, but not the second gap. An etch is employed to provide trenches into the bulk semiconductor portion which have sidewall surfaces self aligned to sidewall surfaces of sacrificial spacer structures that are formed during this etch. A trench isolation structure is formed into each trench and thereafter a functional gate structure is formed surrounding each semiconductor fin.
US09240441B2
Semiconductor devices are provided. Each of the semiconductor devices may include a plurality of electrodes. Moreover, each of the semiconductor devices may include a supporting pattern connected to sidewalls of the plurality of electrodes. Related methods of forming semiconductor devices are also provided. For example, the methods may include forming the supporting pattern before forming the plurality of electrodes.
US09240440B1
A method of minimizing imprint in a ferroelectric capacitor uses a gradually attenuated AC field to electrically depolarize the ferroelectric capacitor before being packaged. The AC field is linearly attenuated, and generated using a series of voltage pulses, down to a minimum allowed voltage. A final pulse is a positive voltage to minimize hydrogen degradation during packaging. Thermal depoling can also be used.
US09240438B2
A passive-matrix display of the disclosure includes a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode and three-dimensionally intersecting the first electrode, a first auxiliary electrode disposed between the substrate and the first electrode, three-dimensionally intersecting the first electrode and being parallel to the second electrode, and a second auxiliary electrode parallel to the first auxiliary electrode and to the second electrode, the first electrode and the first auxiliary electrode being electrically connected by a first connection portion, and the second electrode and the second auxiliary electrode being connected by a plurality of second connection portions each disposed with at least one of the first electrodes therebetween. The passive-matrix display enables voltage drop and variation in brightness to be reduced by lowering the wiring resistance of the second electrode.
US09240436B2
A pixel array includes a plurality of pixel groups, each of which includes a plurality of brightness sub-pixel regions, a plurality of first sub-pixel regions, and a plurality of second sub-pixel regions. Each brightness sub-pixel regions has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The first sub-pixel regions include a first group and a second group, and the second sub-pixel regions include a third group and a fourth group. The first, the second, the third, and the fourth groups are respectively disposed at the first, the third, the second, and the fourth sides of the first brightness sub-pixel region. Extension lines of long directions of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth groups respectively interlace a vertical baseline at a first angle θ1, a second angle θ2, a third angle θ3, and a fourth angle θ4. 0°<θ1<90°, 0°<θ2<90°, 0°<θ3<90°, and 0°<θ4<90°.
US09240429B2
An image pickup device includes a light-receiving device unit, a processing portion, a first connection body, and a second connection body. The first connection body electrically connects a first electrode of the light-receiving device unit to a corresponding second electrode of the processing portion. The first connection body includes an indium-containing solder portion disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a barrier layer for suppressing alloying of the solder portion with the first electrode and the second electrode. The second connection body includes an alloy portion formed by alloying with a solder containing a material having a melting point equal to or higher than a melting point of the first connection body and a hardness higher than that of the first connection body.
US09240424B2
Disclosed are a thin film transistor array substrate and a producing method thereof in the embodiments of the present invention, the producing method comprising: forming an active layer thin film and a conductive layer thin film on a substrate; depositing a source/drain electrode layer thin film on the conductive layer thin film, treating the conductive layer thin film and the source/drain electrode layer thin film using gray tone or half tone masking process, to form at least two data lines, a pixel electrode and source/drain electrodes of the thin film transistor (TFT); after depositing an insulating layer thin film covered the active layer thin film, the source/drain electrodes, the data lines and the pixel electrode, forming a through hole and a gate insulating layer of the TFT on the insulating layer, to form an active layer of the TFT; forming a gate electrode of the TFT and at least two gate scanning lines cross with the data wires.
US09240414B1
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a field area that defines active areas, gate trenches in the substrate and extending in a first direction, a buried gate in a respective gate trench, gate capping fences in a respective gate trench over a respective buried gate, the gate capping fences protruding from top surfaces of the active areas and extending in the first direction, bit line trenches in the gate capping fences, a respective bit line trench crossing the gate capping fences and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an insulator structure on inner walls of a respective bit line trench, bit lines and bit line capping patterns stacked on the insulator structures in a respective bit line trench, contact pads self-aligned with the gate capping fences and on the substrate between the adjacent bit lines, and a lower electrode of a capacitor on a respective contact pad.
US09240413B2
An integrated circuit includes a gate electrode level region that includes a plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures. Each of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures is defined to extend lengthwise in a first direction. Some of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures form one or more gate electrodes of corresponding transistor devices. A local interconnect conductive structure is formed between two of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures so as to extend in the first direction along the two of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures.
US09240411B1
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first active region, a second active region and a field region between the first and second active regions, and a gate structure formed on the substrate to cross the first active region, the second active region and the field region. The gate structure includes a p type metal gate electrode and an n-type metal gate electrode directly contacting each other, the p-type metal gate electrode extends from the first active region less than half way toward the second active region.
US09240409B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed on a substrate, a source/drain extension formed at one side of the gate structure while not being formed at the other side of the gate structure, and doped with a first type impurity, a halo region formed at one side of the gate structure while not being formed at the other side of the gate structure, and doped with a second type impurity different from the first type impurity, a first source/drain region formed at one side of the gate structure and doped with the first type impurity, and a second source/drain region formed at the other side of the gate structure and doped with the first type impurity.
US09240399B2
An active device array substrate includes a substrate, a first gate driving circuit, a second gate driving circuit, active devices, scan line structures and data lines. The substrate has an active region, a first peripheral region and a second peripheral region. The first and the second gate driving circuits are respectively located at the first and the second peripheral regions. Active device are arranged in an array at the active region. Each scan line structure includes a first scan line, a second scan line and an auxiliary pattern. The first scan line having a first terminal end and the second scan line having a second end are connected to a same row of the active devices respectively. A gap is between the first terminal end and the second terminal end. The auxiliary pattern is disposed on the gap and overlaps the first terminal end and the second terminal end.
US09240387B2
A package includes a printed circuit board (PCB), and a die bonded to the PCB through solder balls. A re-workable underfill is dispensed in a region between the PCB and the die.
US09240384B2
A semiconductor device has a first conductive layer formed over a substrate. A first insulating layer is formed over the substrate and first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the first conductive layer and first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer and second conductive layer. The second insulating layer has a sidewall between a surface of the second insulating material and surface of the second conductive layer. A protective layer is formed over the second insulating layer and surface of the second conductive layer. The protective layer follows a contour of the surface and sidewall of the second insulating layer and second conductive layer. A bump is formed over the surface of the second conductive layer and a portion of the protective layer adjacent to the second insulating layer. The protective layer protects the second insulating layer.
US09240373B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor structure, comprising a substrate of a semiconductor material having a first side (FS) and an opposite second side (BS). There is at least one conductive wafer-through via (V) comprising metal, and at least one recess (RDL) provided in the first side of the substrate and in the semiconductor material of the substrate. The recess is filled with metal and seamlessly connected with the wafer-through via. The exposed surfaces of the metal filled via and the metal filled recess are essentially flush with the substrate surface on the first side of the substrate. There is also provide an interposer comprising the above structure, further comprising contacts for attaching circuit boards and integrated circuits on opposite sides of the interposer. A method of making the structure is also provided.
US09240367B2
A semiconductor package includes a metallic leadframe having a plurality of cantilever leads, a mounting area for mounting a die, and one or more non-conductive supports adjacent to a recessed surface of the cantilever leads to support the leads during die mount, wire bond, and encapsulation processes. Encapsulant encapsulates and supports at least a portion of the die, the leadframe.
US09240363B2
Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) interconnection structure and a method of manufacturing the same. The 3D interconnection structure includes a wafer that has one side of an inverted V-shape whose middle portion is convex and a lower surface having a U-shaped groove for mounting a circuit, and a first electrode formed to cover a part of the inverted V-shaped one side of the wafer and a part of the U-shaped groove.
US09240360B2
A method for run-to-run control and sampling optimization in a semiconductor manufacturing process includes the steps of: determining a process output and corresponding metrology error associated with an actual metrology for a current processing run in the semiconductor manufacturing process; determining a predicted process output and corresponding prediction error associated with a virtual metrology for the current processing run; and controlling at least one parameter corresponding to a subsequent processing run as a function of the metrology error and the prediction error.
US09240359B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for forming stair-like structures with accurate profiles control in manufacturing three dimensional (3D) stacking of semiconductor chips using precise photoresist trimming process endpoint control. In one example, a method of determining a photoresist trimming endpoint for forming stair-like structures on a substrate includes performing a trimming process on a substrate to trim a patterned photoresist layer disposed on a film stack from a first width to a second width in a processing chamber, wherein the patterned photoresist layer exposes a portion of the film stack uncovered by the patterned photoresist layer during the trimming process, directing an optical signal to a surface of the patterned photoresist layer while trimming the patterned photoresist layer, collecting a return reflected optical signal reflected from the photoresist layer, and determining a trimming endpoint by analyzing the return optical signal reflected from the photoresist layer.
US09240357B2
According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a preliminary stack structure, the preliminary stack structure defining a through hole; forming a protection layer and a dielectric layer in the through hole; forming a channel pattern, a gapfill pattern, and a contact pattern in the through hole; forming an offset oxide on the preliminary stack structure; measuring thickness data of the offset oxide; and scanning the offset oxide using a reactive gas cluster ion beam. The scanning the offset oxide includes setting a scan speed based on the measured thickness data of the offset oxide, and forming a gas cluster.
US09240352B2
Bulk finFET well contacts with fin pattern uniformity and methods of manufacture. The method includes providing a substrate with a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a well with a first conductivity. The method further includes forming contiguous fins over the first region and the second region. The method further includes forming an epitaxial layer on at least one portion of the fins in the first region and at least one portion of the fins in the second region. The method further includes doping the epitaxial layer in the first region with a first type dopant to provide the first conductivity. The method further includes doping the epitaxial layer in the second region with a second type dopant to provide a second conductivity.
US09240348B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device package includes bonding a front surface of a first substrate to a second substrate, and thinning a back surface of the first substrate. The method includes depositing and patterning a dielectric layer on the thinned back surface of the first substrate, and etching the first substrate after the depositing and the patterning of the dielectric layer are performed to form a through silicon via to enable electrical connection with a first level metal of the first substrate. The method includes depositing an isolation layer to line the through silicon via is formed, and etching the isolation layer at the bottom of the through silicon via. The method includes depositing a conductive layer to line the through silicon via after the isolation layer at the bottom of the through silicon via is etched, and deposited a copper film over the conductive layer.
US09240345B2
Disclosed is a shallow trench isolation structure having an air gap for suppressing the dark currents and cross-talk which occur in CMOS image sensors. The shallow trench isolation structure suppresses photons injected from neighboring pixels and dark current, so that high-quality images are obtained. Since impurities are removed from a p type ion implantation region for a photodiode when an inner wall oxide layer is etched to form the air gap, the p type ion implantation region has a uniform doping profile, thereby suppressing the diffusion of electrons towards the surface and achieving an image having a high quality.
US09240332B2
A fiber-containing resin substrate for collectively sealing a semiconductor devices mounting surface of a substrate having the semiconductor devices mounted thereon or a semiconductor devices forming surface of a wafer having semiconductor devices formed thereon, includes: a resin-impregnated fiber base material obtained by impregnating a fiber base material with a thermosetting resin and semi-curing or curing the thermosetting resin; and an uncured resin layer containing an uncured thermosetting resin and formed on one side of the resin-impregnated fiber base material. There can be a fiber-containing resin substrate that enables suppressing warp of a wafer and delamination of semiconductor devices even though a large-diameter wafer or a large-diameter substrate made of a metal and the like is sealed, enables collectively sealing a semiconductor devices mounting surface of the substrate or a semiconductor devices forming surface of the wafer, and has excellent heat resistance or moisture resistance after sealing.
US09240328B2
An array of nanowires and method thereof. The array of nanowires includes a plurality of nanowires. The plurality of nanowires includes a plurality of first ends and a plurality of second ends respectively. For each of the plurality of nanowires, a corresponding first end selected from the plurality of first ends and a corresponding second end selected from the plurality of second ends are separated by a distance of at least 200 μm. All nanowires of the plurality of nanowires are substantially parallel to each other.
US09240324B2
A method to prevent a gate contact from electrically connecting to a source contact for a plurality of memory cells on a substrate. The method includes depositing and etching gate material to partially fill a space between the pillars and to form a word line for the memory cells, etching a gate contact region for the word line between the pair of pillars, forming a spacer of electrically insulating material in the gate contact region, and depositing a gate contact between the pair of pillars to be in electrical contact with the gate material such that the spacer surrounds the gate contact.
US09240321B2
According to one embodiment, a mask includes a line-and-space mask pattern. The mask has a separation portion separating a line pattern in a predetermined region within the line-and-space mask pattern. The mask also includes a connection pattern arranged in a crossing direction crossing the extending direction of the line pattern connecting the separated line patterns. The connection pattern is arranged on a position where the end of the line pattern, which is separated by the separation portion, projects from the connection pattern.
US09240314B2
[Problem] To provide a substrate treatment device which can more efficiently heat and more efficiently use a treatment solution to treat the surface of a plate-shaped substrate.[Solution] A substrate treatment device which is provided with a treatment solution feed mechanism 50 and feeds a treatment solution S to the surface of a plate-shaped substrate that is held on the substrate holding part 10 and which uses the treatment solution S to treat the surface of the plate-shaped substrate 100, which substrate treatment device has a treatment solution holding plate 15 which is arranged facing the surface of the plate-shaped substrate 100 that is held at the substrate holding part 10, across a predetermined distance, and which holds the treatment solution with the surface of the plate-shaped substrate 100 and a heating part 30 which contacts a predetermined region of the treatment solution holding plate 15, including a position corresponding to the axis of rotation of the substrate holding part 10, to heat the predetermined region and which treatment solution feed mechanism feeds the treatment solution S to the clearance between the surface of the plate-shaped substrate 100 which rotates together with the substrate holding part 10 and the treatment solution holding plate 15 which is heated by the heating part 20.
US09240307B2
Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including a mounting table within a processing container. The mounting table includes a lower electrode. A shower head constituting an upper electrode is provided above the mounting table. A gas inlet tube is provided above the shower head. The shower head includes a plurality of downwardly opened gas ejection holes, and first and second separate gas diffusion chambers on the gas ejection holes. The first gas diffusion chamber extends along a central axis that passes through a center of the mounting table. The second gas diffusion chamber extends circumferentially around the first gas diffusion chamber. The gas inlet tube includes a cylindrical first tube wall and a cylindrical second tube wall provided outside the first tube wall, and defines a first gas inlet path inside the first tube wall, and a second gas inlet path between the first and second tube walls.
US09240300B2
The present invention discloses a device comprising a thermal fuse and a resistor, the solid ceramic base of the wirewound resistor is changed to be hollow, forming a ceramic tube; the thermal fuse is placed in the solid ceramic base, the ceramic tube provides housing for the thermal fuse; a lead wire of the thermal fuse passes through an end cap of an end of the wirewound resistor, the other end of the thermal fuse extends out of the end cap of the other end of the wirewound resistor, the end cap of the wirewound resistor extends outwardly with a lead wire, then an epoxy resin is used to encapsulate the device. The present invention can be used as a basic unit and directly installed in an existing high-frequency charger; it is capable of replacing the existing simple wirewound resistor or the wirewound resistor with an external contact type thermal fuse, and realizing triple functions of general impedance, over-current fuse protection, and over-temperature protection in case of overload.
US09240299B2
A pivotable key structure includes a housing body, a pivotable unit, a switch module, and a carrier. The pivotable unit has a touchpad module and a pivotable member. The pivotable member is engaged to the touchpad module thereunder. The pivotable member is disposed on the carrier through two pivot axle as a pivot point to relatively pivot on the carrier. The carrier has a switch module corresponding to two pivot axles. The pivotable member has two operating portions which are protrusions, each respectively correspond to the switch module. The housing body has an opening so that the pivotable member can pivot horizontally and be exposed through the opening. Thereby, through the pivoting movements of the pivotable unit toward the switch module, the operating protrusions can contact the switch module and generate a corresponding control signal.
US09240298B2
The concave streak portion 26, in which the welding inclination surface 27 is formed, is provided on the side wall 12; the projecting portion 40, which is fitted into the concave streak portion 26 when the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 overlap to form the switch case 3, is provided on the lid body 36; when the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 are overlapped, the switch case 3 is sealed by contacting the seal ring 31 with the flange portion 38 and the welding shoulder portion 41 interferes with the welding inclination surface 27; the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 are jointed by melting the interference portion by high-frequency welding; the release region K, which keep the communicating state of the inside of the switch case 3 with the outside is designed by notching the projecting portion 40 from the root thereof.
US09240294B2
A touch pad module includes a circuit board and a trigger element. The circuit board includes a recessed area. The trigger element is disposed on the circuit board and covers the recessed area. When the trigger element deforms by an external force, at least a part of the trigger element is located in the recessed area.
US09240288B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a contact switching device that has small hitting sound during operation and is excellent in impact resistance. For this, there is a contact switching device in which a movable iron core (142) provided at one end portion of a movable shaft is attracted to a fixed iron core, based on excitation and degauss of an electromagnet portion, by which the movable shaft reciprocates in a shaft center direction, and a movable contact of a movable contact piece arranged at another end portion of the movable shaft contacts and departs from a fixed contact. Particularly, the movable iron core (142) has a cylindrical outer circumferential portion (142a) and an annular attracting and sticking portion (142b), and a ratio between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the cylindrical outer circumferential portion (142a) is 77% or less.
US09240276B2
Vehicles and systems are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, for example, the vehicle may include, but is not limited to, a moveable panel comprising an electronic device, a power source, and a connector configured to selectively couple the movable panel to the vehicle, the connector configured to be electrically coupled to the power source and further configured to inductively couple the electronic device of the moveable panel to the power source.
US09240266B2
A grain oriented electrical steel sheet has sufficiently low iron loss and having less conventionally-concerned warpage of the steel sheet even after the steel sheet is subjected to artificial magnetic domain refining treatment, where strain-introducing treatment is conducted with high energy so that an iron loss-reducing effect can be maximized. The grain oriented electrical steel sheet is obtained by adjusting tension to be applied to a tension-applying insulating coating, or to both surfaces of the steel sheet by the tension-applying insulating coating, before strain-introducing treatment in the range of Formula (1): 1.0≦(tension applied to non-strain-introduced surface)/(tension applied to strain-introduced surface)≦2.0 (1), and by controlling the amount of warpage of the steel sheet toward the strain-introduced surface side after strain-introducing treatment in the range of 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.
US09240262B1
A pressure sensing cable in one embodiment includes an optical fiber having a first core and a second core. The first core extends along a length of the cable, and is sized and configured to provide propagation of light along the first core along the length of the cable. The first core has a first mode index corresponding to the speed of light propagation along the first core. The second core extends along the length, is spaced a distance from the first core, and is sized and configured to provide propagation of light along the second core along the length of the cable. The second core has a second mode index corresponding to the speed of light propagation along the second core. The second mode index is different from the first mode index, wherein light propagates along the second core at a different speed than along the first core.
US09240260B2
The present invention provides a flame-retardant resin composition having excellent flame retardancy, in which generation of a corrosive gas during combustion is suppressed.The flame-retardant resin composition of the present invention, comprising the below-described component (A) or both of components (A) and (B) as a flame retardant component(s) in a halogen-free thermoplastic resin, wherein the ratio of the components (A) and (B) is 100:0 to 60:40 in terms of mass ratio; the electric conductivity of a gas generated during combustion, which is measured in accordance with IEC 60754-2, is not higher than 10.0 μS/mm; and the flame retardancy rating measured in accordance with the UL94VTM standard is VTM-2 or higher.Component (A): a (poly)phosphate compound represented by the following Formula (1): Component (B): a (poly)phosphate compound represented by the following Formula (2): (wherein, X1 represents ammonia or a triazine derivative represented by the following Formula (3))
US09240258B2
A dispersion includes metallic, metal oxide, or metal precursor nanoparticles; a thermally cleavable polymeric dispersant; an optional dispersion medium; and a thermally cleavable agent. Pastes, coated layers, and patterns may contain the dispersion. A method for producing the specific thermally cleavable dispersant and for producing the metallic nanoparticle dispersions. The dispersions allow the reduction or avoidance of organic residue in coated layers and patterns on substrates, the use substrates of low thermal resistance, and faster processing times.
US09240256B2
A method of forming a bonded product using metal nanoparticles is provided. More specifically, provided is a paste containing a flux component that can form a metal phase even in an inert atmosphere. The use of this paste allows a bonding material that can give a practically acceptable bonding strength to be provided in an inert atmosphere such as a nitrogen atmosphere at low temperatures without performing conventionally used pressurization. The paste is a bonding material configured to include: silver nanoparticles having an average primary particle diameter of 1 to 200 nm and coated with an organic material having 8 or less carbon atoms; a flux component having at least two carboxyl groups; and a dispersion medium. The use of this bonding material allows materials to be bonded even at a temperature of 300° C. or lower.
US09240255B2
Electron beam phase gratings have phase profiles that produce a diffracted beam having a Gaussian or other selected intensity profile. Phase profiles can also be selected to correct or compensate electron lens aberrations. Typically, a low diffraction order produces a suitable phase profile, and other orders are discarded.
US09240250B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods to reduce power delivery noise for partial writes are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor and a memory control logic to insert one or more dummy unit intervals into data in a write operation when a number of state transitions between adjacent unit intervals exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09240249B1
A number of techniques for determining bit line related defects in non-volatile memory arrays are presented, which are particularly applicable to 3D NAND memory, such as that of the BiCS type. Defects related to bit line to NAND string contacts are determined by application of an AC stress mode along bit lines, followed by a defect detection operation. If the AC stress is applied to be out of phase on adjacent bit lines, this can also be used to accelerate bit line to bit line defects. The subsequent defect determination phase can include an erase operation followed a read to determine whether the NAND strings of the erased block read as erased, a process that can also be followed by a program and subsequent read to further check for defects.
US09240247B2
A ring oscillator includes a plurality of ring-connected delay circuits. At least one of the plurality of delay circuits has an SRAM cell and a path circuit connected in parallel to the SRAM cell. The SRAM cell outputs an output signal from a second node to the delay circuit in the next stage within the plurality of delay circuits in response to one of rise transition and fall transition of a signal to be input to a first node from the delay circuit in the previous stage within the plurality of delay circuits. The path circuit outputs an output signal to the delay circuit in the next stage in response to the other transition of the one of transitions.
US09240245B1
An indication is received that a word line has been read. The word line is part of a plurality of word lines (in solid state storage) which is divided into a plurality of groups. It is determined which group is associated with the read. A count of consecutive, at least potentially uninformative reads is updated based at least in part on the group associated with the read and a group associated with a prior read. It is determining if the count is greater than a threshold and in the event it is determined the count is greater than the threshold, a read disturb check is triggered.
US09240243B2
A method for managing a flash memory device including pages of memory cells is described. The memory device may be erasable at the page level, and the pages may include operative pages for storing operative values and service pages for storing information relating to the erasing of the operative pages. In response to a request to erase selected operative pages, the method may include determining a service page in use among the service pages according to service information stored in the service pages, verifying the presence a service page to be erased, and applying an erasing pulse to each service page to be erased. The method may also include writing an address of the operative pages into the service page in use, erasing the selected operative pages, and writing a completion indication of the erasing of the selected operative pages into the service page in use.
US09240236B1
Provided are method for determining switching conditions for production memory cells based on dopant flux during set and reset operations. One group of test memory cells, which are representative of the production memory cells, is subjected to a prolonged application of a set voltage, while another group is subjected to a prolonged application of a reset voltage. Different durations may be used for different cells in each group. A dopant concentration profile of a test component in each cell is determined for both groups. One cell from each group may be identified such that the changes in the dopant concentration profiles in these two identified cells are complementary. The profile complementarity indicates that these two identified cells had a similar dopant flux during voltage applications. Durations of set and reset voltage applications for these two cells may be used to determine switching conditions for production memory cells.
US09240232B2
A subsystem configured to write data to a static random access memory cell employs a single N-channel MOS device connected to ground in each leg of the bi-stable memory cell to overdrive the stored data. The subsystem implements the dual control required to effect matrix operation of the SRAM cell in the gate circuit of the single N-channel MOS device in the drive path. Specifically, the column select signal controls a semiconductor junction that interrupts the data connection to the gate. In this manner, the column select control is removed from the drive path, thus increasing drive strength. Further, a second semiconductor junction connects the gate of the single NMOS device in the drive path when the gate signal is interrupted.
US09240231B2
In a recording apparatus, a generating unit generates a timing signal by delaying a clock signal. A control unit controls so that a predetermined command is output multiple times to a storage device and each piece of data sent by the storage device in response to the multiple predetermined commands is received in accordance with the timing signal having a different delay amount for each of the multiple predetermined commands. A detection unit detects, in order of the delay amounts, a range of the delay amounts of the timing signals for which predetermined data has been successfully received. A setting unit sets, in a case where a plurality of the ranges have been detected by the detection unit, a single delay amount in a single predetermined range among the plurality of ranges, as the delay amount of the timing signal.
US09240222B2
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device according to each of the embodiments includes a cell array that includes a plurality of first wires extending in a first direction, a plurality of second wires extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a plurality of memory cells each provided at an intersection between each of the first wires and each of the second wires. Each memory cell includes a variable resistance film of which resistance varies depending on a state of a filament in a medium. Each cell array has a first portion at which a distance between the first wire and the second wire is minimized and a second portion at which a distance between the first wire and the second wire is larger than the first portion at the intersection between each of the first wires and each of the second wires.
US09240221B2
A circuit on an end column of a divided memory array is formed by a block selection transistor having the same shape as that of a memory cell transistor. As the pattern of the connecting section between the main bit line and the sub-bit line is made in the same shape as that of the memory cell, it is possible to realize a pattern uniformity and to eliminate the need for using memory array dummy patterns.
US09240216B2
Disclosed herein are a video apparatus including a screen-division searching function and a method of controlling the same, which are capable of solving problems caused in a process of reproducing and checking a recorded broadcasting program at a high speed. The method of controlling the video apparatus includes selecting specific video data stored in a memory, and dividing a full screen into a plurality of partial screens, dividing the selected specific video data into a plurality of portions, and respectively displaying the portions of the selected specific video data on the plurality of partial screens. Accordingly, it is possible to—accurately check the whole contents of a specific broadcasting program or a material recorded by a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera at a high speed.
US09240210B2
Physical subsector error marking allows for selectively marking subsectors of a physical sector of a storage medium as unreadable. The error marking may include a bad sector mask to indicate that the subsector is unreadable combined with an error signature to confirm that the bad sector mask was set intentionally. The remaining readable subsectors of the physical sector may be returned to the host.
US09240208B2
There is provided a recording apparatus which can effectively execute compression processing regardless of the mixdown level, and which can thereby carry out the mastering process easily. A DSP mixes down audio signals assigned to a plurality of tracks into a stereo audio signal. When performing the mastering process, the DSP uses a peak value detected during the mixdown to adjust a threshold value for the compression processing, and carries out the compression processing using the adjusted threshold value. Subsequently, the DSP performs normalization processing so as to produce a master data, and records the master data in a recorder.
US09240204B2
A perpendicular magnetic disk is provided. The disk includes, on a base and in the order from bottom, a first granular magnetic layer group including a plurality of magnetic layers each having a granular structure, a non-magnetic layer having Ru or a Ru alloy as a main component, a second granular magnetic layer group including a plurality of magnetic layers each having the granular structure, and an auxiliary recording layer having a CoCrPtRu alloy as a main component. Layers closer to a front surface among the plurality of magnetic layers included in the first granular magnetic layer group having an equal or smaller content of Pt. Layers closer to the front surface among the plurality of magnetic layers included in the second granular magnetic layer group having an equal or smaller content of Pt and having an equal or larger content of an oxide.
US09240190B2
Implementations of systems, method and devices described herein enable enhancing the intelligibility of a target voice signal included in a noisy audible signal received by a hearing aid device or the like. In particular, in some implementations, systems, methods and devices are operable to generate a machine readable formant based codebook. In some implementations, the method includes determining whether or not a candidate codebook tuple includes a sufficient amount of new information to warrant either adding the candidate codebook tuple to the codebook or using at least a portion of the candidate codebook tuple to update an existing codebook tuple. Additionally and/or alternatively, in some implementations systems, methods and devices are operable to reconstruct a target voice signal by detecting formants in an audible signal, using the detected formants to select codebook tuples, and using the formant information in the selected codebook tuples to reconstruct the target voice signal.
US09240189B2
A method and apparatus for processing encoded audio data that operates on batches of data having a predetermined time block size. An input/output memory buffer provides a delay from input to corresponding output of 2+x time blocks where x is a predetermined constant and 0
US09240185B2
A distributed dictation/transcription system is provided. The system provides a client station, dictation manager, and dictation server connected such that the dictation manager can select a dictation server to transcribe audio from the client station. The dictation manager has a data port to at least receive and transmit audio, and receive and transmit data or text. A job queue at the dictation manager holds the audio to be provided to the dictation servers. When the dictation manager identifies an available dictation server, the dictation manager reviews all jobs in the queue. If a job in the queue has a user profile that has been previously uploaded to the available dictation server, the dictation manager transmits the audio to the dictation server.
US09240184B1
A method and system for frame-level merging of HMM state predictions determined by different techniques is disclosed. An audio input signal may be transformed into a first and second sequence of feature vector, the sequences corresponding to each other and to a temporal sequence of frames of the audio input signal on a frame-by-frame basis. The first sequence may be processed by a neural network (NN) to determine NN-based state predictions, and the second sequence may be processed by a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to determine GMM-based state predictions. The NN-based and GMM-based state predictions may be merged as weighted sums for each of a plurality of HMM state on a frame-by-frame basis to determine merged state predictions. The merged state predictions may then be applied to the HMMs to speech content of the audio input signal.
US09240183B2
The technology described herein can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a first signal representing an output of a speaker device, and a second signal comprising the output of the speaker device, and an audio signal corresponding to an utterance of a speaker. The method includes aligning one or more segments of the first signal with one or more segments of the second signal. Acoustic features of the one or more segments of the first and second signals are classified to obtain a first set of vectors and a second set of vectors, respectively, the vectors being associated with speech units. The second set is modified using the first set, such that the modified second set represents a suppression of the output of the speaker device in the second signal. A transcription of the utterance of the speaker can be generated from the modified second set of vectors.
US09240176B2
Methods and systems are provided for active noise control in a vehicle. The system includes a position sensor for sensing an occupant position. A microphone receives audible noise and generates an error signal corresponding to the audible noise. A first controller is configured to receive the error signal from the microphone and generate a modified error signal by modifying the error signal based on the occupant position with respect to the microphone. A second controller is in communication with the first controller and configured to generate an anti-noise signal based at least in part on the modified error signal. The system also includes a loudspeaker in communication with the second controller for receiving the anti-noise signal from the second controller and producing sound corresponding to the anti-noise signal to negate at least some of the audible noise.
US09240173B2
A sound source control information generating apparatus, an electronic percussion instrument, and a sound source control information generating method, adapted for preventing generation of an unintended sound caused by a rebound of an object placed on one struck head, are provided. According to the present invention, if a first output value with respect to one struck head is obtained, the one struck head serves as a target struck head, and information is generated for controlling a sound source means such that a sound generation process performed by the sound source means differs according to whether the first output value obtained with respect to the target struck head or a value corresponding to the first output value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
US09240167B2
A guitar aid enables a user to selectively position and control tension and angle of a guitar pick for a richer sound with decreased strain on the user's hand and fingers. The guitar aid includes a band that can be adjustably sized to fit a user's finger. A guitar pick can be coupled directly to the band. The guitar pick can define a raised portion or ridge on the upper surface of the pick that serves as a first engagement feature for a first user finger, such as the user's thumb. The lower surface of the pick can include at least one outwardly projecting rib that serves as a second engagement feature for a second user finger, such as the user's index finger. The positioning of the pick with respect to the ring and the pair of engagement features cause a user to hold the pick at the proper angle and with appropriate tension when playing a guitar or other stringed instrument.
US09240166B1
Devices and methods for mounting a tuning machine with locator pins to a stringed instrument having a mounting configuration with receiving holes that are misaligned with the tuning machines locator pins. A mounting element is provided having top and bottom surfaces and a post aperture to receive the tuning machine's post. Tuning machine alignment apertures in the top surface are in alignment with and adapted to receive the locator pins when the post is located within the post aperture, and instrument alignment elements in the bottom surface are in alignment with the receiving holes on the instrument when the post is located within the post aperture on the mounting element and the first post aperture on the instrument. The top surface complementarily receives the base of the tuning machine, and the bottom surface complementarily fits with the mounting configuration of the instrument such that the tuning machine can be secured to the mismatched instrument.
US09240164B2
A method includes displaying regions in a graphical display. At least two regions correspond to different portions of a representation of an industrial process system. A thumbnail region corresponds to an entirety of the representation of the process system. A viewport region corresponds to a portion of the representation of the process system less than the entirety of the representation of the process system. The viewport region is disposed and movable within the thumbnail region. A current view region corresponds to a current view of the representation of the process system. The current view is associated with the viewport region. The method also includes, responsive to user activation, moving the viewport region within the thumbnail region and updating the current view region. The thumbnail region is configured to identify at least one fault condition indicator outside the viewport region.
US09240158B2
A method comprising determining that an apparatus is in a partial display physical configuration, receiving an indication of an input that identifies a program to operate in a greater display physical configuration, determining that the apparatus has become configured in the greater display physical configuration, and causing the program to utilize at least part of a display area and at least part of another display area is disclosed.
US09240154B2
A liquid crystal display comprises: a first data drive circuit that supplies a data voltage to data lines present in a first portion and a third portion on the screen of a liquid crystal display panel in response to a first source output enable signal; and a second data drive circuit that supplies the data voltage to data lines present in a second portion and a fourth portion on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel in response to a second source output enable signal. The first source output enable signal controls the data voltage output timing and charge sharing timing of the first data drive circuit. The second source output signal controls the data output timing and charge sharing timing of the second data drive circuit in a different way from the first data drive circuit.
US09240144B2
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit including a plurality of light sources, the backlight unit providing light to a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, a backlight driving circuit that individually drives a plurality of previously determined blocks each including the light sources based on a dimming value of each of the blocks, and a local dimming control circuit that calculates a pixel gain value compensating for a luminance reduction resulting from the dimming value of each block and corrects the pixel gain value based on a grayscale saturation level of each block.
US09240143B2
A display driving system for an electrowetting display device having at least one display element, the display driving system comprising a driver stage for the display element, the driver stage providing a display voltage to be applied to the display element in response to a data signal representing an image to be displayed, the driver stage including a variable source providing a variable voltage in dependence on the data signal, the display driving system including an offset source providing an offset voltage, the display voltage being the sum of the offset voltage and the variable voltage.
US09240137B2
Methods and devices for displaying content in a power efficient manner are disclosed. In accordance with many embodiments, content is received that includes a plurality of subcomponents, and a subcomponent with a larger surface is darkened so as to generate at least one darkened subcomponent. In addition, a contrast of selected ones of the subcomponents is adjusted so as to enable the selected ones of the subcomponents to be viewed against the darkened subcomponent while others of the plurality of subcomponents are left in their source format. The at least one darkened subcomponent, selected ones of the subcomponents, and the subcomponents that are in their source format are composited into a composite view; and displayed.
US09240135B2
A system and method for color matching/chromaticity adjustment for a video screen, display panel, module or other component that comprises different batches of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). The system and method do not alter the panel/module's RGB gain when adjusting saturation, luminance and hue. This way, the panels and modules can achieve a desired/targeted white balance. As such, different batches of LEDs can be set to the same RGB ratios to achieve proper color matching. Thus, the system and method can mix different batches of LEDs in the same video screen or wall, yet achieve uniformity across the screen/wall.
US09240130B2
Devices, systems, and methods appropriate for use in combat medical training are provided. In some instances, the combat medical simulators facilitate training of common field medical techniques including tracheostomy, wound care, tourniquet use, pneumothorax, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and/or other medical treatments. Further, the combat medical simulators have joints that provide realistic ranges of motions to enhance the realism of the training experience.
US09240121B2
Alert conditions datasets are created from historic data taken from actual incidents for which the alert condition datasets are to indicate during future operations. A networked computers system including various devices is monitored for alert conditions associated with one, or more, of the devices. The severity of an alert is based on the number of alert conditions met for a given alert conditions dataset.
US09240114B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for reliably detecting gunfire in enclosed spaces having significant acoustic reverberation. Implementations are configured to quickly and reliably report the room or portion of a room where gunfire is located. Innovations herein may ensure low false alarm rate by thresholding, pattern recognition and/or detecting the muzzle optical flash. In some embodiments, a review center with trained personnel may evaluate the incident before reporting to local authorities. The indoor system can be incorporated into an outdoor gunshot location system to better protect a local area such as a campus or a transportation hub. Systems and methods herein may involve features and functionality associated with additional resources, such as intercoms, cellphones, and access control, to provide mitigation of harm in case of a shooting.
US09240112B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed that can monitor the solar power inverters in real-time both day and night, and generate surveillance alarms and actions when a solar power inverter is removed or disconnected from the AC powerline for unknown reasons. It offers a low cost and reliable surveillance means to help guard a residential-scale, commercial-scale, or utility-scale solar power system in real-time at all times.
US09240109B2
A led indicator has a bargraph and a lighting device arranged behind the bargraph and provided with a row of LEDs controlled to produce a light bar with a length which is variable as a function of the number of LEDs that are switched on along a lighting sense; the LEDs are arranged between screens, which are spaced apart from the lower surface of the bargraph and extend at least to reach an axis which starts from the immediately preceding led orthogonally to such a lower surface.
US09240103B2
Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines, gaming systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting a multi-tiered promotional game having a promotional base game component, promotional bonus game component, and a cash giveaway component. According to one embodiment, the gaming system includes a player tracking system having a database of player gaming data that includes a record of multi-tiered promotional game entry points and multi-tiered promotional bonus game entry points. The gaming system also includes a plurality of gaming devices in communication with the player tracking system, wherein each gaming device presents a primary game. The gaming devices also include a secondary display associated with each gaming device, wherein the secondary display is capable of presenting a promotional base game or a promotional bonus game. The gaming system further includes a multi-tiered promotional game server in communication with the secondary display, wherein the multi-tiered promotional game server manages the promotional base game and the promotional bonus game.
US09240098B2
A kiosk for gaming by patrons. An identification scanner may scan an identification document into digital form. A biological sensor such as a camera may obtain biological data describing a human patron. Input-output device(s) mounted in the kiosk may present information and accept registration/login information and gaming commands from a human patron. A currency acceptor and dispenser may accept money. The kiosk may ask a patron to insert an identification document into the identification scanner, and scan the document. The kiosk may obtain biological data describing the patron. The kiosk may verify the identity of the patron and acceptability of the patron for gaming based at least in part on the digital form of the patron's identification and the biological data. The kiosk may accept currency for deposit into a wagering account. Once the patron is verified and the account is funded, the kiosk may offer gaming activities to the verified patron out of the wagering account, and pay out gaming winnings at the currency dispenser.
US09240081B2
A system and a method is provided for providing vehicular telematics service. The system for providing a vehicular telematics service includes a vehicle terminal, in which an embedded application and a downloaded application are installed for receiving a telematics service. The vehicle terminal also includes a telematics unit for transceiving data for the telematics service through a wireless communication network. The system further includes a telematics center which applies sending information and reception information about a service target application to header information of a service request message when receiving a service request from a user terminal. The telematics center further transmits the service request message to the vehicle terminal, in which when the vehicle terminal receives the service request message, the vehicle terminal drives the embedded application or the downloaded application by referring to the reception information applied to the header information.
US09240077B1
Visual effects for element of interest can be displayed within a live camera view in real time or substantially using a processing pipeline that does not immediately display an acquired image until it has been updated with the effects. In various embodiments, software-based approaches, such as fast convolution algorithms, and/or hardware-based approaches, such as using a graphics processing unit (GPU), can be used reduce the time between acquiring an image and displaying the image with various visual effects. These visual effects can include automatically highlighting elements, augmenting the color, style, and/or size of elements, casting a shadow on elements, erasing elements, substituting elements, or shaking and jumbling elements, among other effects.
US09240071B2
A 3D result image of an object is reconstructed from a set of X-ray two-dimensional projections of the object. A 3D reference image of the object is reconstructed by employing a compressed sensing technique based on at least some of the 2D projections at a reference motion state of the object. By employing an algebraic and/or analytic reconstruction technique, 3D intermediate images are reconstructed for various motion states of the object. The 3D intermediate images are registered with the 3D reference image to obtain spatial transformations for the various motion states of the object. Based on the spatial transformations, the 3D intermediate images are transformed to a joint phase and combined to obtain the 3D result image.
US09240070B2
An example method may involve a computing device receiving low-resolution images of an object and high-resolution images of the object. The method may also involve causing a 3D image viewer to display a first high-resolution image of the object. The method may further involve receiving an input associated with adjusting a view of the object in the 3D image viewer. The method may still further involve, based on the input, causing the 3D image viewer to sequentially display at least a portion of the low-resolution images so as to adjust the view of the object in the 3D image viewer. The method may yet still further involve, in response to a completion of the sequential display, causing the 3D image viewer to display a second high-resolution image of the object that corresponds to a respective low-resolution image of the object displayed at the completion of the sequential display.
US09240069B1
A low-latency virtual reality display system that provides rapid updates to virtual reality displays in response to a user's movements. Display images generated by rendering a 3D virtual world are modified using an image warping approximation, which allows updates to be calculated and displayed quickly. Image warping is performed using various rerendering approximations that use simplified 3D models and simplified 3D to 2D projections. An example of such a rerendering approximation is a shifting of all pixels in the display by a pixel translation vector that is calculated based on the user's movements; pixel translation may be done very quickly, possibly using hardware acceleration, and may be sufficiently realistic particularly for small changes in a user's position and orientation. Additional features include techniques to fill holes in displays generated by image warping, synchronizing full rendering with approximate rerendering, and using prediction of a user's future movements to reduce apparent latency.
US09240064B2
Provided is an image processing device capable of obtaining a trimming image including a characteristic part of a target image without having a person to select the characteristic part of the target image. A setting unit sets a plurality of trimming candidate areas in a target image. A calculation unit calculates, with respect to each of a plurality of trimming candidate areas, a total value of edge amounts of pixels in the trimming candidate area. A determination unit determines a trimming area from among the plurality of trimming candidate areas, based on the total value of each of the plurality of trimming candidate areas. An obtaining unit obtains an image in the trimming area.
US09240063B1
The present invention relates to digital art software, and more particularly to methods of simulating fluids, brushes and associated media in digital art software applications. According to certain aspects, the invention relates to modeling techniques used to simulate fluids (and gases), which modeling techniques can employ dynamically sized simulation areas. In embodiments, these techniques incorporate modifications made to conventional techniques such as Lattice Bolzmann Modeling (LBM). According to certain other aspects, the invention relates to simulations of media using these techniques for modeling fluids such as Watercolor and “Wet Oil”. According to still further aspects, the invention relates to a “tool” adjuster paradigm for digital art software, among other things.
US09240062B2
A node arranging apparatus includes: a node arranging unit that arranges, in a virtual three-dimensional space, nodes indicated by inter-node information stored in an inter-node information storage unit; a node moving unit that moves each node using a movement amount and a movement direction of that node determined by arrangement relationship of that node with a first plane, arrangement relationship with another node arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space, and arrangement relationship with at least one other node associated therewith by the inter-node information and arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space; a display information generating unit that generates display information of a node connection image where nodes are projected and connected; and an output unit that outputs the display information. The node moving unit repeatedly performs at least once the node moving process until a predesignated condition is satisfied.
US09240049B2
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates.
US09240039B2
Techniques for fast and accurate measuring test strip intensities are disclosed herein. A method for measuring a test strip intensity comprising steps of obtaining an image of a sample line in a test strip and a plurality of reference lines, wherein the reference lines have known intensities; determining grayscale values of the sample line and the reference lines from the image; constructing a standard curve based on the grayscale values versus the known intensities of the reference lines; and determining the intensity of the sample line by fitting the grayscale value of the sample line on the standard curve.
US09240038B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for acquiring a weight coefficient of a digital filter so as to enhance a processing effect of images or videos and reduce the complexity of operations. The method includes: extracting global block features and local block features of image blocks, where the image blocks include a first image block and a second image block; acquiring an image block distance fs between the first image block and the second image block according to a global block feature and local block features of the first image block as well as a global block feature and local block features of the second image block; and evaluating a value of e fs/θ2.
US09240034B2
Methods and apparatus for biomedical data analysis to produce enhanced images of tubular structures are disclosed. A Gaussian convolution of an input image is used to calculate a Hessian matrix. An Eigen decomposition of the Hessian matrix produces eigenvectors and eigenvalues, which are sorted to determine bright tubular structure detection according to high and low values that represent brightness, and structure shape. A tubularity computation calculates the probability of a voxel of interest being part of a tubular network. Embodiments may be implemented to share computer resources such as between a computer processing unit (CPU) and a graphic processing unit (GPU).
US09240020B2
A method for recommending content via social signals is provided. Two different content sets having content objects that have content-identifying information are received from separate content providers. Social graph information is received from a service provider. A portion of the first content set and a portion of the second content set are aggregated based at least in part on the social graph information, thereby generating a third content set.
US09240019B2
Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete vehicle ecosystem.
US09240017B2
Systems are described for a guide of audio, video, multimedia transmission, receiving and playback with advertising and bi-directional fulfillment of goods and services over the Internet. A method of streaming content distribution includes creating data on streaming content; creating data on network locations of streaming content; creating data on access characteristics; locating a source of streaming content with a with a streaming content guide; and starting playback of streaming content from the source of streaming content. A streaming content distribution system includes a streaming content guide through which a user locates a source of streaming content and starts playback of streaming content; data on streaming content; data on network locations of streaming content; and data on access characteristics.
US09240011B2
A transaction terminal is configured with an application that is configured to present a user interface for out-of-band communication with a transaction handler during the processing of a payment transaction. The transaction handler is configured invoke the application in the transaction terminal via transmitting a predetermined code in an authorization response message.
US09240006B2
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for facilitating a wireless transaction by coupling or associating an identifier to a location. The identifier is read, retrieved, or received by a customer's wireless communication device to connect to a POS terminal. Once connected, the wireless communication device sends a location identifier to the POS terminal, so that the POS terminal can associate the wireless communication device with the location. Once an association is established, the POS terminal then presents options. The POS terminal receives selections, and alerts a staff member of selections and the location. In many instances, the POS terminal also adds the selection to a bill or an invoice.
US09240004B2
Pre-paid negotiable instruments are issued in response to a request at a host system from the holder of a stored-value account. The request is made through an IVR system or a web interface, and the host allocates funds from the account and provides a balance remaining after the negotiable instrument is issued. The instrument is printed with a transaction number or other identifier at an issuing system, and is then sent to the account holder. The account holder activates the instrument after receipt. The payee receives the instrument and authorizes the instrument by providing the transaction number or identifier to the host. When authorized, payment is guaranteed to the payee from the issuer.
US09239983B1
Quantification of a condition of a selected item using a neural network is disclosed. A device defines a good hypertube in a neural state space based on good item state points obtained from one or more items that exhibit desired operating characteristics, and a bad hypertube in the neural state space based on bad item state points obtained from one or more items that exhibit undesirable operating characteristics. A current item state hyperpoint is determined in the neural state space based on a current item state point of the selected item. A condition of the selected item is quantified as a function of a location of the current item state hyperpoint with respect to at least a portion of the good hypertube and with respect to at least a portion of the bad hypertube.
US09239981B2
A sensor-front-end processor (SFEP) predrives external sensors during a predominant part of time. In a low-consumption state it waits to receive a command (sc; st) to acquire and condition sensor signals. After receiving the command it drives the sensors, sets its own measuring range, acquires a coarse code (ccc, vcc) of a current and voltage sensor signal, conditions said signal and acquires a signal fine code (ccf, vcf). The command (sc) is generated in adjustable time intervals. The sensor-front-end processor acquires and conditions the signals from the sensors consecutively one after another. The command (st) is generated whenever a request (irq) to interrupt predriving one of the sensors was generated, i.e. whenever a level of the sensor signal or its relative change with respect to the previous measurement drops out from an interval for this sensor. The detected codes are stored in the memory.
US09239975B2
Image forming apparatus includes: image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and controller for controlling the image forming unit. The controller includes process modules to carry out: counting process for performing counting in accordance with the number of sheets printed by the image forming unit; first bias applying process for setting a developing bias to be applied to the developer carrier to a first bias if a count value in the counting process has not reached a predetermined threshold value; bias changing process for changing the developing bias to a second bias whose absolute value is smaller than that of the first bias if the count value has reached the threshold value; and delaying process for causing an execution timing of the bias changing process to be delayed if the number of sheets printed in a unit of time is not smaller than a reference number.
US09239966B2
A method for watermarking a sequence of images is provided. The method implements the following steps, for at least one current image: comparing the current image with a preceding image of the sequence, delivering a difference image representing a motion between the preceding image and the current image; if the difference between the current image and the preceding image is above a predetermined threshold, watermarking the current image by inserting a message comprising a field carrying an identifier of the current image and a field carrying a soft hash obtained from at least one portion of the difference image; and if not, watermarking the current image by inserting a message comprising a field carrying an identifier of the current image.
US09239956B2
An apparatus and method of encoding eye movements and eye tracking data (DAT), represented as time and space parameters (t, x, y) obtained by an eye tracking device and assigned each to a viewpoint (A, B, C, D, E . . . ). Pairs of numbers (Z0,Z1; Z0,Z2; Z0,Z3 . . . ) are taken from the groups of numbers and are combined with each other to obtain for each combination a value (W) that indicates at least a spatial distance (S) between two viewpoints (E, C), wherein the obtained values (W) represent an encoding of the eye movement and eye tracking data (DAT). Preferably the values (W) are determined and stored in form of a first matrix (M) or array. The matrix is subjected to one or more operations (smooth filtering, anisotropic filtering, threshold filtering, anisotropic diffusion) such that the resulting matrix represents an encoding of fixations, saccades and smooth pursuit of a raw data scanpath.
US09239946B2
In an image within which a face pattern is detected, when a ratio of a skin color pixel is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value in a first region and a ratio of a skin color pixel is equal to or greater than a second threshold value in a second r region, the vicinity of the first region is determined to be a face candidate position at which the face pattern can exist. Face detection is carried out on the face candidate position. The second region is arranged in a predetermined position relative to the first region.
US09239929B1
A computer-implemented method and system of quarantining user location information receives from a user device user location information that includes personally identifiable user data and user position data associated with one or more geographic positions of the user. The user location information is temporarily stored in a quarantine data storage database for a predetermined quarantine time, during such time it can be used for various analysis. After the quarantine time, personally identifiable user data of the user location information is filtered out before the user position data is sent for long-term storage to a filtered data storage system.
US09239928B2
Methods and devices for clock roll-back detection in non-secure mobile platforms are disclosed. A first time is received from a secure time source. The first time is recorded as a last known good time (“LKGT”) in secure storage on the mobile device. The LKGT is advanced and stored whenever a triggering event occurs. The mobile device receives a second time from the secure time source and records the second time as a subsequent stored LKGT in secure storage.
US09239927B2
Discovering timing attack vulnerabilities in a computer software application by statically analyzing instructions of a computer software application to identify multiple possible execution paths traversing any of the instructions, calculating, for each of the possible execution paths, a cost associated with the execution of the instructions traversed by the possible execution path, comparing the costs of at least two of the possible execution paths having inputs of the same size, and identifying as a timing attack vulnerability any of the compared possible execution paths whose cost differs, by at least a predetermined amount, from the cost of any other of the compared possible execution paths.
US09239905B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating a patient with vascular disease. One method includes receiving patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's vasculature; creating an anatomic model representing at least a portion of a location of disease in the patient's vasculature based on the received patient-specific data; identifying one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model based on a modeled progression or regression of disease at the location; calculating one or more values of a blood flow characteristic within the patient's vasculature using a computational model based on the identified one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model; and generating an electronic graphical display of a relationship between the one or more values of the calculated blood flow characteristic and the identified one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model.
US09239902B2
A method of preparing a layout for manufacturing an integrated circuit chip according to a circuit design, the method includes generating a pattern for the layout based on the circuit design, determining, by a processor, if at least one layout rule is violated by including the generated pattern in the layout and modifying the layout if the at least one layout rule is violated. The at least one layout rule includes a constraint on a relationship between a power line pattern and a device pattern in the layout. The at least one layout rule is specified by comparing a predetermined threshold value with one of an estimated voltage drop along a signal path in a second layout different than the layout or an estimated current density on the signal path in the second layout. The constraint includes a minimum number of contacts per device or power vias per device.
US09239895B2
A computer-implemented method for use in analyzing a model of a repetitive structure includes generating a plurality of blocks based on the model such that the blocks are arranged end to end. The method also includes defining at least one boundary condition on an inlet of the model and on an outlet of the model, generating a plurality of constraints to be applied to the blocks to define connectivity between adjacent blocks, defining an inlet state based on the boundary condition and at least a portion of the constraints. The method further includes detecting when a first block passes a trigger plane at the inlet of the model, erasing a state of a second block at the outlet of the model, shuffling the second block to an inlet zone, and resetting the state of the second block to the inlet state.
US09239893B2
A method for computation of the state variables of a hybrid differential-algebraic process model in succeeding time steps on a process computer with a process interface, the process computer being set up such that, via the process interface, at least one process variable of a physical process can be detected by the process computer and/or one output for influencing the physical process can be output by the process computer. In a computation process, a current mode of the hybrid DAP is determined by evaluating the state variables for a deviation of the current mode of the hybrid DAP from the mode of the hybrid DAP applying beforehand, a mode-specific process model which corresponds to the current mode being chosen from the group of executable mode-specific process models and further computation is based on it. At least one probable future mode of the hybrid DAP is determined in a prediction process.
US09239891B2
A method for determining a mated portion of an object can include receiving design data defining a three-dimensional object having a first member mated with a second member. Each member can be represented by a plurality of triangles. The method can include determining an outer layer of the three-dimensional object and a mated surface of the three-dimensional object. The mated surface may be determined by utilizing a recursive process to analyze each specific triangle of the plurality of triangles. The recursive process can classify a triangle as: (i) on the outer layer when all of its vertices are on the outer layer, and (ii) in the mated surface when none of its vertices are on the outer layer. When a triangle has at least one but not all of its vertices on the outer layer, the triangle can be subdivided into sub-triangles, which are then analyzed individually.
US09239889B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for semantically aware adaptive searching and navigation of application data. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for semantically aware adaptive searching and navigation of application data is provided. The method includes associating different tags with different data of a database of unstructured data, each of the different tags corresponding to selected semantics of different objects encapsulating data for a data driven application executing in memory of a host computing system. The method also includes applying in the memory of the host computing system a filter operation to both the tags of the unstructured data and also the different objects, using filter criteria corresponding to one or more semantics of the different objects. Finally, the method includes displaying in a user interface to the data driven application a result set from the filter operation.
US09239883B2
Searching system having a server which automatically generates search data sets for shared searching
A system has a primary server storing search data sets (“staks”) and a linked social network server.
US09239880B2
A method and an apparatus for identifying synonym and utilizing such synonym to conduct search is disclosed. The disclosed method includes: obtaining arbitrary two words to be identified; determining whether a shortest edit distance between the two words less than or equal to an edit distance threshold; determining whether the two words to be identified exist in a preset knowledge database, and if an answer is yes then searching a smallest granularity type with highest weight value for each word in the knowledge database; and if the two word have the same smallest granularity type with highest weight value, then determining such two words are synonyms, or non-synonym otherwise. The disclosed techniques greatly improve accuracy of synonym identification and guarantee effect of synonym identification.
US09239876B2
Techniques are disclosed for efficiently and automatically classifying textual documents or files. In some embodiments, the classification process is integrated into or otherwise made part of the storage function, such that when the user initiates a save process for a given file, the file is processed through a classifier prior to (or contemporaneously with) completing the save function. In some such embodiments, textual content of the file is analyzed using natural language processing to identify a main or substantial concept discussed in the file, and one or more corresponding tags are then assigned to that file. Subsequently, the user can access that file based on the one or more tags, for instance, through a user interface that allows the user to select one or more content categories associated with the assigned tags. The files can be text-based, but may include other content as well, such as images, video, and audio.
US09239871B2
A system and method determines sequential access efficiency for a database table. A number of data block changes that occur during a sequential access of a plurality of rows in a database table are determined. The sequential access efficiency is calculated based on the determined number of data block changes.
US09239865B1
Provided are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing recommended entities responsive to a search query based on a query-specific subset of contacts from a user's social graph. A search query is received from a user that includes an identifier identifying a subset of the user's social graph. The entities responsive to the search query are identified, and those entities having evaluations by or other associations with contacts from the identified subset are also identified. In response to the search query, those entities having associations with the contacts in the identified subset of the user's social graph are provided as recommended entities in the search results.
US09239862B2
In an embodiment, a UE determines to load a web page via a mobile browsing application on the UE. The UE obtains, from a web server, web page resource information for loading the web page on the UE. The UE loads the web page using the web page resource information and identifies one or more hints for assisting one or more mobile browsing applications on at least one other UE to perform an initial load of the web page, which the UE then reports to a hints server. The hints server collects hints from the UE as well as other UEs, evaluates their relevance and generates and/or updates a crowd-sourced hints list based on their perceived relevance. The hints server provides the crowd-sourced hints list to a target UE, and the target UE uses the crowd-sourced hints list to load the web page.
US09239857B2
A modeling system has a database that stores information of resources of a computer network service. A server f has a graphical user interface application for creating and editing service models. The application receives user-entered search criteria and searches information in the database based on the criteria. The search criteria can include a name, type, attribute, and other information of the resources. In addition, the search criteria can be a user-entered search query entered that has one or more logical or Boolean conditions relating resource attributes to attribute values. Using information obtained through searching, the application is used to create at least a portion of a service model of the computer network service. Once created, the application is used to initiate publishing of at least a portion of the service model to one or more impact managers of the computer network service.
US09239853B2
A method, computer program product, and system for analyzing data within one or more databases, comprising selecting one or more databases for analysis, each database comprising one or more database objects comprising one or more data values, applying a function to each data value in each database object within the one or more databases, where the function produces function values limited to a predetermined range, identifying for analysis the data values producing a certain function value within the predetermined range to form a sampled data set, and analyzing the sampled data set to determine relationships between the database objects within and across the one or more databases.
US09239852B1
A distributed database management system comprising a plurality of computing nodes may distribute data evenly across all nodes. A definition of a primary key that divides the primary key into at least a first key portion and a second key portion may be utilized to locate items related by a first key portion to a specific computing node. Application-consistent queries, local transactions and pivoting operations may be performed on items related by a first key portion.
US09239851B1
Large-scale advanced database models, systems, and methods provide a responsive, scalable data storage solution which is ripe for use in data warehousing and analytics environments. These advanced database models, systems, and methods provide for dramatically increased performance in accessing data as well as increased storage capabilities in the data set.
US09239846B2
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to architectures, methods and systems and structures that facilitate the sharing and synchronization of electronically stored files among and between cloud entities and a number of computers, systems, devices and/or users. One particular exemplary architectural aspect includes the concurrent determination of file system changes within a cloud file system and a client file system, the serial ordering of necessary file system operations in response to the determined file system changes, and the concurrent execution of file system operations such that the cloud file system and the client computer file system are synchronized.
US09239838B1
A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.
US09239834B2
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for linking virtual content to various types of object, such a static physical objects, through the use of triggers of varying formats. The virtual content can be updated by a content curator over time.
US09239833B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for presenting additional information for text depicted by an image. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an image. Text depicted in the image is identified. A presentation context is selected for the image based on an arrangement of the text depicted by the image. Each presentation context corresponds to a particular arrangement of text within images. Each presentation context has a corresponding user interface for presenting additional information related to the text. The user interface for each presentation context is different from the user interface for other presentation contexts. The user interface that corresponds to the selected presentation context is identified. Additional information is presented for at least a portion of the text depicted in the image using the identified user interface. The user interface can present the additional information in an overlay over the image.
US09239832B2
A mechanism for modifying a language of a user interface in a computing device. A method includes receiving, by a computing device, a request to modify a first language of a user interface of the computing device to a second language. The user interface comprises text displayed in the first language. The method also includes converting, by the computing device, the first language of the user interface to the second language during runtime of the computing device without losing a session of a user of the computing device.
US09239826B2
A method and computer system for analyzing a text corpus in a natural language is provided. An initial morphological description having word inflection rules for various groups of words in the natural language is created by a linguist. A plurality of text corpuses are analyzed to obtain information on the occurrence of a plurality of word forms for each word token in each text corpus. A morphological dictionary which contains information about each base form and word inflection rules for each word token with verified hypothesis is generated.
US09239814B2
A system and method to convert a software application, such as a Java application into a virtual server image that is suitable for cloud deployment. In accordance with an embodiment, the system and method allows for building a hypervisor appliance containing a virtual machine running an application. In particular, the hypervisor appliance can be compatible with any hypervisor for server virtualization and the application virtual machine can be a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
US09239807B2
In a hybrid memory system that includes a host memory controller and a non-volatile memory DIMM, where the DIMM is coupled to the host memory controller by a memory bus, the DIMM includes non-volatile memory, a DIMM bus adapter, and a local memory controller, the local memory controller is configured to control memory accesses within the DIMM, the DIMM bus adapter is configured to adapt the local memory controller to the bus for memory communications with the host memory controller in accordance with a bus protocol, bus resiliency may be provided by: discovering, by the DIMM bus adapter, a memory error in the DIMM; providing, by the DIMM bus adapter to the host memory controller, an indication of an error by emulating a hardware error native to the bus protocol; and performing, by the host memory controller, one or more resiliency measures responsive to the indication of the error.
US09239803B2
A software transactional memory system is provided that creates an array of transactional locks for each array object that is accessed by transactions. The system divides the array object into non-overlapping portions and associates each portion with a different transactional lock. The system acquires transactional locks for transactions that access corresponding portions of the array object. By doing so, different portions of the array object can be accessed by different transactions concurrently. The system may use a shared shadow or undo copy for accesses to the array object.
US09239802B1
Various systems, computer program products, and methods for securing a plug server and its data are described. According to the invention, the plug server will be protected via encryption when disconnected from the internet via a block level encryption device. The invention is particularly useful in environments where no internet connectivity exists, and teams must collaborate and collect data in remote regions of the world in a secure responsible manner.
US09239799B2
A memory management unit (MMU) for servicing transaction requests from one or more processor threads is described. The MMU can include a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). The TLB can include a storage module and a logic circuit. The storage module can store a bit indicating one of a plurality of interfaces. The bit can be associated with a physical address range. The logic circuit can route a physical address within the physical address range to the one of the plurality of interfaces.
US09239795B2
A surface cache stores pixel data on behalf of a pixel processing pipeline that is configured to generate screen tiles. The surface cache assigns hint levels to cache lines storing pixel data according to whether that pixel data is likely to be needed again. When the pixel data is needed to process a subsequent tile, the corresponding cache line is assigned a higher hint value. When the pixel data is not needed again, the corresponding cache line is assigned a lower hint value. The surface cache is configured to preferentially evict cache lines having a lower hint value, thereby preserving cache lines that store pixel data needed for future processing. In addition, a fetch controller is configured to throttle the rate at which fetch requests are issued to the surface cache to prevent situations where pixel data needed for future operations becomes prematurely evicted.
US09239780B2
Memory blocks of a nonvolatile memory device are managed by identifying a full memory block, determining whether a block life of the full memory block exceeds a threshold value, and upon determining that the block life of the full memory block exceeds the threshold value, selecting the full memory block as a target block for garbage collection. The threshold of the block life is determined using an average write distance of logical pages programmed in the nonvolatile memory device.
US09239772B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product embodiments are disclosed for detection of the availability of a battery (160) by a host terminal (100) during a data exchange session with the battery (160). In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, sampling, data communication with the battery pack (150), and detection of battery (160) removal, may occur substantially simultaneously. The battery (160) removal may be detected during data transmission from the terminal (100) to the battery pack (150). Moreover, a response may be received by the terminal (100) from the battery circuits (155) in response to data communicated to the battery (160) on the battery communication line (140), during sampling in a timed manner.
US09239769B2
A method for the remote maintenance of devices that include a computer by way of a remote maintenance computer. At least one protocol is used to exchange data between the local computer and the remote maintenance computer. The protocol adaptation level is provided which, prior to a data transfer process, evaluates the protocol for exchanging data between the computer and the remote maintenance computer in terms of the compatibility of the protocol with the upcoming data transfer process. If necessary, the protocol is adapted.
US09239762B1
The virtualization of file system placeholders is described. In one embodiment, a method for virtualizing placeholders includes monitoring placeholder creation initiated by at least one archival operation, generating placeholder data in a separate data store from a file system, wherein the placeholder data comprises a plurality of placeholders that correspond with a plurality of archived files, and servicing access requests for at least one archived file of the plurality of archived files using the placeholder data.
US09239760B2
In one aspect, a computer system for managing occurrences of data anomalies in a data stream is provided. The computer system includes a processor in communication with the data stream. The processor is programmed to receive a first data stream from a phasor measurement unit. The processor is also programmed to calculate at least one singular value associated with the first data stream. The processor is further programmed to detect a first data anomaly within the first data stream using the at least one singular value. The first data anomaly occurs during a first time segment. The processor is also programmed to indicate the first time segment as containing the first data anomaly.
US09239757B2
Apparatus and methods implemented therein are disclosed for relocating data stored in pages of a non-volatile memory. The number of memory chunks with invalid data in an SLC type first page is determined and if the number is above a first threshold and above a second threshold, a bit error rate (BER) for the valid data in the set of memory chunks of the first page is compared with a first BER threshold. If the BER is below the first BER threshold, an error correcting code (ECC) for valid data in a set of memory chunks of a second page is computed and the invalid data of the first page with valid data is replaced with valid data from the second page and the computed ECC. The valid data of the first and second page is relocated to a third page.
US09239753B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a memory, and a memory controller coupled to the memory via an address bus, a data bus, and an error code bus. The memory stores data at an address and stores an error code at the address. The error code is generated based on a function of the corresponding data and address.
US09239746B2
A method of monitoring the performance of a device is presented, each storage device being operable to receive storage requests and includes a queue for incoming storage requests and a physical storage medium, the method includes: a) obtaining data relating to the device parameters of: throughput of storage requests to the storage device; queue time for one or more requests on the storage device; and the time required to complete one or more storage requests on the storage device; b) generating a model relating to the expected distribution of the device parameters on the storage device during normal operation; c) monitoring the parameters during operation of the storage device; d) comparing the distribution of the monitored parameters during operation of the storage device with the expected distribution of the parameters; and e) identifying a fault on the storage device based on the comparison.
US09239744B2
Embodiments illustrated and described herein provide systems, methods, and software of a system platform that enables apps, applications, processes and the like with functionality and data present in an enterprise-class computing system, such as an Enterprise Resource Planning system. Some such embodiments include a hybrid object that exists in part within a web infrastructure and in part within the enterprise-class computing system. The portion of the hybrid object in the web infrastructure exposes resources of the enterprise-class computing system outside of the enterprise-class computing system to be accessible by apps and other data processing assets. These and other embodiments are illustrated and described herein.
US09239738B2
A method includes receiving, into a target machine communicatively coupled to a first subnetwork, data for migration of a virtual partition from a source machine communicatively coupled to a second subnetwork. The virtual partition has a source network address defined by network addressing of the second subnetwork. The method includes initiating restart of the virtual partition on the target machine, wherein the initiating comprises determining a socket connection providing network communication between the virtual partition and a host and transmitting, through a network tunnel communication from the target machine to the host, a communication providing a target network address that is assigned to the virtual partition after the virtual partition is migrated to the target machine. The method includes routing a packet, from a process executing in the virtual partition of the target machine, to the host based on the virtual partition having the target network address.
US09239735B2
A statically scheduled processor compiler schedules a speculative load in the program before the data is needed. The compiler inserts a conditional instruction confirming or disaffirming the speculative load before the program behavior changes due to the speculative load. The condition is not based solely upon whether the speculative load address is correct but preferably includes dependence according to the original source code. The compiler may statically schedule two or more branches in parallel with orthogonal conditions.
US09239730B2
A host machine executing a connection agent receives a configuration identifying a set of connections to a plurality of storage servers. The host machine later receives a command to run a virtual machine. The host machine determines, based on the configuration, a particular connection of the set of connections to a particular storage server of the plurality of storage servers, the particular connection enabling access to data associated with the virtual machine that is stored by the particular storage server. The host machine then establishes the particular connection to the particular storage server without first receiving a command to establish the particular connection.
US09239726B2
A misoperation-preventing method for use in a mobile terminal having a touch screen, includes: monitoring a distance between the mobile terminal and an object in a surrounding environment, after the mobile terminal transitions from a standby state to an active state; determining if the distance satisfies a preset distance condition; and disabling the touch screen if it is determined that the distance satisfies the preset distance condition.
US09239714B2
A system for a rapid deployment of software system includes a rapid deployment preparation module and a rapid deployment module. The rapid deployment preparation module archives a machine-independent portion of a software system preinstalled and preconfigured on a source machine. The rapid deployment module unpacks and installs the machine-independent portion of the software system on a target machine. The rapid deployment module then reconstructs a machine-dependent portion of the software system on the target machine using the target machine specific data.
US09239713B1
A method for rendering native mobile applications is disclosed. The method includes maintaining, by a computing device with one or more processors and a memory, a mobile application specification, a plurality of plug-in specifications, each of the plug-in specifications being associated with at least one first enterprise backend resource or enterprise service, and a plurality of widget specifications, each of the widget specifications being associated with at least one second enterprise backend resource or enterprise service. The method selectively integrates at least one of the plug-in specifications or at least one of the widget specifications into the mobile application specification. The method further compiles one or more native mobile applications based at least in part on the mobile application specification, and sends the one or more native mobile applications to one or more client devices.
US09239700B2
In an embodiment, a system and method for automatically converting a plurality of events in a plurality of channels in a structured representation sequence into haptic events. The method comprises calculating an event score for each event of the sequence in one or more channels. The method also comprises calculating a cumulative score based on the event scores in the one or more channels. The method includes selectively designating haptic events to the events based on the event scores in one or more selected channels, wherein the haptic events are output by a haptic actuator.
US09239685B2
A method for accessing a memory includes: utilizing a Flash memory to perform a plurality of sensing operations with a plurality of different sensing voltages respectively corresponding to the plurality of sensing operations; according to the plurality of sensing operations, generating a first digital value of a Flash cell of the Flash memory; according to the plurality of sensing operations and the first digital value, generating at least a second digital value of the Flash cell; and obtaining soft information of the Flash cell according to the second digital value. The first digital value and the second digital value are used for determining information of a same bit stored in the Flash cell, a number of possible bit(s) of the Flash cell directly corresponds to a number of possible states of the Flash cell, and the obtained soft information is used for performing soft decoding.
US09239677B2
A touch screen computer executes an application. A method of operating the touch screen computer in response to a user is provided. A virtual input device is provided on the touch screen. The virtual input device comprises a plurality of virtual keys. It is detected that a user has touched the touch screen to nominally activate at least one virtual key, and a behavior of the user with respect to touch is determined. The determined behavior is processed and a predetermined characteristic is associated with the nominally-activated at least one virtual key. A reaction to the nominal activation is determined based at least in part on a result of processing the determined behavior.
US09239675B2
An input display apparatus includes the following elements. A display unit has a display area. A receiver receives plural types of gestures which are performed on the display area. A setting unit sets plural settings for an apparatus in accordance with the types of gestures received by the receiver. A display controller controls the display unit to display at least one of the plural settings and gesture guidance information for guiding an input of a gesture which is associated with the setting to be displayed.
US09239674B2
A method for providing a mechanism by which different user interface effects may be performed for different classifications of gestures may include receiving an indication of a touch event at a touch screen display, determining a gesture classification and an implementation characteristic classification for the touch event, and enabling provision of substantively different user interface effects for respective different implementation characteristic classifications of the gesture classification. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.
US09239669B2
A system and method for a common user interface view grouping and sharing framework is described. A user interface layer generates a custom view of a user interface of an application. The custom view comprises a plurality of common views. The custom view provides common view functions shared from the plurality of common views. Common view functions are performed using custom view information provided by the custom view to the plurality of common views in response to a call from the custom view.
US09239662B2
In one embodiment, a method performed by one or more computing devices including defining a hierarchical structure for a user interface (UI) that includes defining one or more layers of the hierarchical structure, adding one or more objects at each layer, and specifying one or more relationships among particular objects. The method further including associating metadata with each object at each layer, the metadata describing how the corresponding object is presented in the user interface.
US09239651B2
A touch substrate includes a base substrate, a common electrode and a wire electrode. The base substrate has a plurality of common electrode areas. A common electrode is disposed in each of the common electrode areas. The common electrode has a plurality of first electrode lines extended in a first direction and arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction and a plurality of second electrode lines arranged in the first direction. The wire electrode is connected to an end of the common electrode to apply a voltage to the common electrode. The common electrode and the wire electrode are simultaneously formed through a same process using a printing substrate.
US09239647B2
An electronic device and a method for changing an object according to a bending state. The method includes analyzing coordinates of touch areas to set an arbitrary area; checking that at least one object is included in the set area; and controlling a layout of the at least one object included in the set area according to a bending state.
US09239637B2
Systems are described for transmitting and receiving signals in an active stylus for a capacitive touch sensor, for which the systems have at least one circuit for receiving a current from an electrode and for transmitting a voltage onto the electrode. The systems include components for receiving the current in a receiving mode, a switch, and a switchmode power supply circuit having at least a transformer and a diode, for which the diode is coupled to the transformer. In a transmission mode, there is means for electrically isolating at least some of the components configured for receiving the current in the receiving mode from the voltage formed across the stray capacitance. In the receiving mode, there is a means for electrically isolating at least some of the components configured for receiving the current in the receiving mode from an inductance of the transformer in the switchmode power supply circuit.
US09239633B1
An integrated port for connecting a device with an accessory having a plug is provided. An opening in the device may provide access to a recess of the port for receiving one or more connectors of the plug. The recess may include one or more terminals for electrically coupling with one or more connectors of the plug in a first mode of operation. The recess may also include a switch, which may be activated to change the operational state of the device from the first mode of operation into a second mode of operation that is not intended for general use. The switch may be provided such that insertion of the plug into the recess via the opening electrically couples the one or more terminals of the port with the one or more connectors of the plug without activating the switch.
US09239631B2
A method for processing input from a keyboard of a hand-held computing device includes receiving a plurality of key input events and, from the plurality of key input events, determining whether there is a double selection event corresponding to a specified key from the keyboard. Further, the method includes, when it is determined that there is the double selection event corresponding to the specified key, determining a key selection offset between a first and second key selection action of the double selection. The method also includes deciding whether the key selection offset is substantially equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold and, when it is decided that the key selection offset is substantially equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, using at least a first key as key input of the double selection event. The first key and the specified key are different.
US09239626B1
Examples of methods and systems for using eye gesture duration to provide calibration for eye gesture detection are described. In some examples, calibration can be executed using a head-mountable device. The head-mountable device may be configured to determine a duration range indicative of an eye gesture and receive a plurality of reference signals indicative of the eye gesture. The plurality of reference signals may comprise duration information indicative of a plurality of reference durations of the eye gesture. The head-mountable device may determine, based on the plurality of reference durations, a reference duration range associated with the eye gesture that is within the duration range, and adjust the duration range for the eye gesture based on the reference duration range.
US09239625B2
A mobile terminal and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a display and a controller configured to change display of at least one object on the basis of at least one of the attribute of the at least one object and the attribute of a second touch when the second touch applied to at least one point of the display is input while a first touch applied to the at least one object displayed on the display is maintained. Accordingly, display of a selected object can be changed on the basis of at least one of the attribute of the object and the attribute of touch.
US09239619B2
Various embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods of using light transmission thought compressed living tissue to detect force. Transmission of light through living tissue such as a finger is affected by how much the tissue is compressed, for example by the finger being pressing on a surface. Light is introduced into the tissue, passes through the tissue, and a sensor receives the light exiting the tissue. The compression of the tissue can be determined using various characteristics of the received light, such as the light intensity, as determined based at least partly on sensor readings.
US09239618B2
A method for controlling a head mounted display (HMD) includes detecting an external device, displaying an augmented reality image as a first mode, changing the first mode to a second mode when the gaze of the user to the augmented reality image is detected in the first mode, and executing a function corresponding to the augmented reality image when the augmented reality image and the external device are aligned in the second mode. The first mode is a mode in which a display position of the augmented reality image depends on a position of the external device the second mode is a mode in which the display position of the augmented reality image remains fixed even when the position of the external device is changed.
US09239606B2
In one embodiment described herein, a device having an account permitting access to network-based storage, receives a push notification indicating that one or more assets has been shared by another person. In response to the push notification, the device begins downloading the new asset to the device, while starting two timers. When the first timer finishes, the user is notified about the new asset that is available. When the second timer finishes, the download, if still in progress, is interrupted to save power.
US09239593B2
An information processing equipment is described. The equipment includes: a first shell being configured to contain an arithmetic unit, a second shell being configured to contain a display unit, a third shell being configured to contain an input unit, a first connect unit being configured to separately connect the second shell and the third shell; and a second connect unit being configured to separately connect the first shell with the third shell. When the first shell, the second shell and the third shell are separated from each other, the display unit wirelessly exchanges data with the arithmetic unit and the input unit wirelessly exchanges data with the arithmetic unit.
US09239592B1
A docking station including fixing base and at least one latching module is provided. The latching module includes a latching element, a first restoring element, a stopping element, a second restoring element and a pushing element. The first restoring element is connected to the latching element and the fixing base and drives the latching element to latch a tablet device. The stopping element is coupled to the latching element and has a recess. The second restoring element is connected to the stopping element and the fixing base and drives the stopping element to stop the latching element. The pushing element is adapted to be pushed and inserted into the recess to drive the stopping element to move away from the latching element, and the tablet device is adapted to be released from the latching element by pushing the latching element after the stopping element moves away from the latching element.
US09239591B2
A housing assembly for a mobile device includes a cover formed from optically transmissive material, and opaque material formed over a portion of the cover. The opaque material is arranged to define a display portion which is optically transmissive. The housing assembly further includes a frame sized to receive the cover, and a first housing structured to couple with the frame, such that the cover, the frame, and the first housing are structured to define an enclosure sized to contain electrical components for the mobile device.
US09239584B2
A self-adjustable current source control circuit utilizes a replica output stage, a sink current source that generates a reference current, and a negative feedback circuit to generate a sink current between a linear regulator output terminal and ground only when a load circuit connected to the linear regulator is in a low power consuming state. The replica output stage includes an 1:N scaled replica of the linear regulator's NMOS (or NPN) output stage transistor, and the negative feedback circuit utilizes two PMOS (or PNP) negative feedback transistors having the same N:1 size ratio and connected as a common gate amplifier, whereby one of the two negative feedback transistors turns on to draw the desired sink current from the regulator output terminal only when the load current falls below N times the reference current (i.e., only the load current is drawn through the output stage transistor during high load current conditions).
US09239582B2
A timing control circuit for an electronic device is disclosed. The timing control circuit includes a first power supply voltage input, a second power supply voltage input, a third power supply voltage input, a first output, a second output, a switch circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected with the switch circuit and configured to turn the switch circuit on/off. The switch circuit is connected between the first power supply voltage input and the first output and responds to the control circuit to delay, by means of adjustable (different capacitance values) capacitors, the power connections when the electronic device is turned on but to immediately disconnect the power connections when the electronic device is shut down, thereby controlling the sequence of power applications and avoiding the need for expensive chips or circuits.
US09239580B2
To improve the accuracy of the self position estimation of a mobile robot. A robot measures a distance to an object in the mobile environment by using a range sensor. An environmental map storage unit stores an environmental map containing a plurality of map data each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of measurement directions from which a point in the mobile environment is to be observed. A self position estimation unit selects a map data corresponding to a measurement direction in which a distance to the object is measured by the range sensor from the plurality of map data. Then, the self position estimation unit estimates a self position of the mobile robot based on the selected map data and range data obtained by the range sensor.
US09239578B2
A wireless engine monitoring system (WEMS) includes an engine monitoring module that is mounted directly on an aircraft engine and records, stores, encrypts and transmits full flight engine data. The system preferably interfaces to the Full Authority Digital Engine Controller/Engine Control Unit (FADEC/ECU) and can record hundreds of engine parameters with a preferred sampling frequency of about one second. The engine monitoring module is preferably formed as a miniaturized module directly mounted on the aircraft engine within its cowling and has a conformal antenna. The engine monitoring module can also upload data for onboard processing.
US09239569B2
Balance spring including, tangent to each other: a first inner coil at a first angle at the center and of decreasing section in a first ratio; a second coil at a second angle at the center and of constant section; a third coil at a third angle at the center and of increasing section in a third ratio; a fourth coil at a fourth angle at the center and of constant section; a fifth coil at a fifth angle at the center and of increasing section in a fifth ratio; a sixth outer coil at a sixth angle at the center and of increasing section in a sixth ratio. In a variant, a seventh more rigid segment deviates from this sixth coil.Movement including this balance spring.Watch including this movement.
US09239568B2
Spring (10) for clock mechanism, the spring comprising a body (11) extending between a first end (12) of the spring and a second end (13) of the spring, the spring being intended to be connected mechanically to a housing at each of the first and second ends, the spring comprising, between the first and the second end, at least one member (17) intended to act by contact on an element (42) of the clock mechanism, characterized in that the body comprises a deformable zone (14) extending in a curve (18) and in that the curve comprises a first part (18a) that is concave when viewed from the first end.
US09239552B2
A position of a contact region formed between a transfer belt and a transfer member in the form of a brush is displaced toward a downstream side in a movement direction of the transfer belt with respect to the position in an initial state, whereby it is difficult to acquire excellent transferability. An image forming apparatus, in which a plurality of conductive fibers contacts an inner circumferential surface of the transfer belt, includes a support device configured to support the transfer member in such a manner that the plurality of conductive fibers is pressed between the support device and the transfer belt. A tilt amount of the conductive fiber, which is generated due to a movement of the transfer belt, is smaller than a length of a region where an image bearing member and the transfer belt contact each other in the movement direction of the transfer belt.
US09239548B2
An image forming apparatus, which executes, after an image forming operation is stopped, a cleaning operation in which toner that remains on an intermediate transfer belt is transferred to a photosensitive drum and is removed by a cleaning blade while the image forming apparatus causes the intermediate transfer belt to move for circulation, causes a charging roller or a laser scanner to change the surface potential of the photosensitive drum such that the toner to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the photosensitive drum is part of the toner that is to remain on the intermediate transfer belt, when the cleaning operation is executed.
US09239546B2
The present invention relates to a developing unit including a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer, the axis of the developer bearing member being inclined with respect to the axis of an image bearing member. The developing unit includes a developer accommodating chamber that accommodates the developer; and a conveying member provided in the developer accommodating chamber and supplying the developer from the developer accommodating chamber to the developer bearing member by rotation. The axis of the conveying member is inclined with respect to the axis of the developer bearing member. The developer conveying force of the conveying member differs depending on the position in the axial direction thereof and increases as the distance from the axis of the conveying member to the surface of the developer bearing member increases.
US09239526B2
According to one embodiment, an exposure apparatus includes a light blocking unit that blocks an exposure light reflected on a reflective mask at a part other than an aperture; a detection unit that measures a light intensity of the exposure light passed through the light blocking unit; and a calculation unit that calculates, based on the light intensity, a transfer characteristic when a pattern on the reflective mask is transferred to a substrate. In the light blocking unit, a position on an aperture plane and a position in an optical axis direction of the exposure light are adjusted. The calculation unit calculates the transfer characteristic based on the position in the optical axis direction in which the light intensity is maximized.
US09239524B2
The situation of a liquid immersion region (LR) formed on the surface of a substrate (P) is detected while changing at least one of the movement condition of the substrate (P) and the liquid immersion condition when forming the liquid immersion region (LR), and an exposure condition is determined based on the detection results.
US09239521B2
A projection optics for microlithography, which images an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane, where the projection optics include at least one curved mirror and including at least one refractive subunit, as well as related systems, components, methods and products prepared by such methods, are disclosed.
US09239514B2
An imaging apparatus includes: a first lens group disposed on a subject side of a diaphragm in the vicinity of which two polarizers that polarize light from a subject are disposed, the polarizers being first and second polarizers whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other; a second lens group disposed on the side of the diaphragm where an imaging device is present, over a photodetection surface of which third and fourth polarizers are disposed, the third and fourth polarizers having polarization directions parallel to the polarization direction of the first and second polarizers, respectively; and an image processor that produces stereoscopic images based on image data produced by converting light incident on the imaging device through the first lens group and the second lens group. The second lens group has positive refracting power, and characteristics of the first lens group and the second lens group satisfy certain conditions.
US09239504B2
A switchable Fresnel lens and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The switchable Fresnel lens comprises: an upper plate having a first electrode; a lower plate having a second electrode; and a lens cell comprising a liquid crystal layer sealed between the upper plate and the lower plate. The lens cell comprises a Fresnel lens formed by an electric field applied through the first and second electrodes, and having a discontinuous boundary. The lens cell comprises barrier ribs that are vertically formed between the upper plate and the lower plate at the discontinuous boundary of the Fresnel lens.
US09239500B2
A TFT array substrate includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, in which the pixel includes a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode conductively connected to a drain electrode, and a common electrode that is formed opposite the pixel electrode with an insulation film interposed therebetween. In the TFT array substrate, when one of the pixels is focused, the pixel electrode is divided into a plurality of divided pixel electrodes and includes a plurality of branch conductive parts that conductively connect each of the drain electrode and the plurality of divided pixel electrodes, and in plane view, the common electrode is not formed in at least a part of a formation region of the plurality of branch conductive parts.
US09239491B2
An optical element is provided. The optical element is a light-dividing element, for example an element that can divide incident light into at least two kinds of light having different polarized states. The optical element can be used to realize a stereoscopic image.
US09239485B2
Embodiments of the invention disclose a touch display panel and a fabrication method thereof, and a display device. The touch display panel comprises a color filter substrate. A first conductive layer (1021) is formed on a base substrate (103) of the color filter substrate, and a first insulation layer (1101) is formed on the first conductive layer (1021). A pattern of the first conductive layer (1021) is same as a pattern of a black matrix (104) that is formed on the base substrate (103). A pattern of the first insulation layer (1101) in a display region of the touch display panel is same as a pattern of the first conductive layer (1021) in the display region.
US09239482B2
A backlight module and a liquid crystal display are disclosed. The backlight module includes a back frame and a support. The back frame is arranged on the support and is fixedly connected with the support. A receiving cavity is formed between the back frame and the support for receiving flexible circuit boards and printed circuit boards connecting to the flexible circuit boards. By adding the support at the outer side of the back frame, the receiving cavity is formed between the back frame and the support to receive the doubled flexible circuit boards and printed circuit boards. Not only the resolution of the liquid crystal display is achieved, but also the reliability of the mechanical components of the liquid crystal display is enhanced.
US09239481B2
A liquid crystal display module includes a bottom chassis comprising a lower surface including at least one fastening hole disposed along a first direction; a printed circuit board comprising a first surface supported by the lower surface of the bottom chassis, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and at least one opening hole corresponding to the at least one fastening hole of the bottom chassis; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the second surface of the printed circuit board; and at least one fastening member comprising a head part inserted into the at least one opening hole of the printed circuit board so as not to be protruded outwardly from the second surface of the printed circuit board, and a fastening part disposed in and affixed to the at least one fastening hole.
US09239480B2
A display device includes a display panel having a display area and a bezel area formed around edges of the display area; a backlight unit disposed on a rear side of the display panel to provide light to the display panel; a supporting member to support the display panel and the backlight unit; and a top case having at least one joint and incorporated with a surface of the supporting member, wherein the top case has a main frame combined with the supporting member and a sub frame disposed on the bezel area and combined with the main frame.
US09239479B2
A tunable liquid crystal optical device is described. The optical device has an electrode arrangement associated with a liquid crystal cell and includes a hole patterned electrode, wherein control of the liquid crystal cell depends on electrical characteristics of liquid crystal optical device layers. The optical device further has a circuit for measuring said electrical characteristics of the liquid crystal optical device layers, and a drive signal circuit having at least one parameter adjusted as a function of the measured electrical characteristics. The drive signal circuit generates a control signal for the electrode arrangement.
US09239468B2
An imaging device is described having an electro-mechanical image stabilization system capable of removing the effect on a generated image of vibration and angular movement of the device. The system includes a mechanical coupling interposed between the optics and the drive electronics of the device. The coupling ensures that movement generated by vibration is translated into linear movement of the optics and the drive electronics relative to each other.
US09239446B2
An imaging lens substantially consists of, in order from an object side, five lenses of a first lens that has a positive refractive power and has a meniscus shape which is convex toward the object side, a second lens that has a negative refractive power, a third lens that has a negative refractive power, a fourth lens that has a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens that has a negative refractive power and has an object side surface and an image side surface which have aspheric shapes. Further, the imaging lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.
US09239441B2
A preconnectorized outdoor cable streamlines the deployment of optical waveguides into the last mile of an optical network. The preconnectorized outdoor cable includes a cable and at least one plug connector. The plug connector is attached to a first end of the cable, thereby connectorizing at least one optical waveguide. The cable has at least one optical waveguide, at least one tensile element, and a cable jacket. Various cable designs such as figure-eight or flat cables may be used with the plug connector. In preferred embodiments, the plug connector includes a crimp assembly having a crimp housing and a crimp band. The crimp housing has two half-shells being held together by the crimp band for securing the at least one tensile element. When fully assembled, the crimp housing fits into a shroud of the preconnectorized cable. The shroud aides in mating the preconnectorized cable with a complimentary receptacle.
US09239440B2
Receptacle ferrules with at least one monolithic lens system and fiber optic connectors using same are disclosed. Ferrule assemblies formed by mating plug and receptacle ferrules are also disclosed, as are connector assemblies formed by mating plug and receptacle connectors. The fiber optic connectors and connector assemblies are suitable for use with commercial electronic devices and provide either an optical connection, or both electrical and optical connections. The monolithic optical system defines a receptacle optical pathway having a focus at the receptacle ferrule front end. When a plug ferrule having a plug optical pathway is mated with the receptacle ferrule, the plug and receptacle optical pathways are optically coupled at a solid-solid optical pathway interface where light passing therethrough is either divergent or convergent, and where unwanted liquid is substantially expelled.
US09239437B2
A removal clip is provided for disconnecting a fiber optic connector from an array of installed fiber optic connectors. The removal clip includes an engagement portion for engaging the connector and a force transmitting structure that allows digital removal force from a user to be applied at a distance from the connector. The engagement portion may be generally U-shaped and includes opposing latch arms configured to accommodate the body of a fiber optic connector. The latch arms permit the engagement portion to snap attach to the connector. The force transmitting structure may include a beam and a handle extending axially or radially from the gripping section. Also included is an assembly of a removal clip attached to a fiber optic connector.
US09239436B2
Fiber optic plug connectors having an articulated force structure to inhibit angular ferrule biasing are disclosed. An articulated force structure is provided in the fiber optic plugs to apply a forward force to a ferrule of the fiber optic plug, to dispose the fiber optic plug ferrule in close proximity to an optical interface of the optical receptacle to provide an optical connection therebetween. By the articulating force structure providing an articulating forward force to the fiber optic plug ferrule, the ferrule is able to angularly rotate to inhibit angular biasing applied to the fiber optic plug ferrule as a result of inserting the fiber optic plug into an optical receptacle. The articulating force structure providing an articulating forward force to the fiber optic plug ferrule facilitates alignment of the ferrule with the optical receptacle to preserve optical performance.
US09239435B2
An optical fiber cable having an optical connector, includes: an optical connector assembled on a tip portion of an optical fiber cable, including a ferrule in which an optical fiber protruding from a terminal of the optical fiber cable is inserted and fixed; and a reinforced portion formed by heating and shrinking a heat-shrinkable tube and by solidifying a hot-melt adhesive of an inner portion of the heat-shrinkable tube after melting the hot-melt adhesive so as to integrate a rear end portion of the ferrule, the tip portion of the optical fiber cable which is disposed so as to be separated in a rear side of the ferrule, and the heat-shrinkable tube which accommodates the rear end portion of the ferrule and the tip portion of the optical fiber cable and in which the hot-melt adhesive is disposed in the inner portion of the heat-shrinkable tube.
US09239431B1
A passively athermal photonic system including a photonic circuit having a substrate and an optical cavity defined on the substrate, and passive temperature-responsive provisions for inducing strain in the optical cavity of the photonic circuit to compensate for a thermo-optic effect resulting from a temperature change in the optical cavity of the photonic circuit. Also disclosed is a method of passively compensating for a temperature dependent thermo-optic effect resulting on an optical cavity of a photonic circuit including the step of passively inducing strain in the optical cavity as a function of a temperature change of the optical cavity thereby producing an elasto-optic effect in the optical cavity to compensate for the thermo-optic effect resulting on an optical cavity due to the temperature change.
US09239423B2
An exemplary embodiment according to the present invention is an imaging device including a substrate in which a plurality of light receiving portions is arranged, an insulator configured to be arranged on the substrate, a plurality of first members configured to be arranged on the substrate so that each of projections of the plurality of first members on the substrate overlaps at least in part with any of the plurality of light receiving portions, and each of the plurality of first members sides is surrounded by the insulator, a second member configured to be arranged on the insulator and the plurality of first members, and a light shielding portion configured to be arranged in the second member.
US09239421B2
The present invention allows light leaked to outside of a light guide plate (50) from a surface area L to pass through a diffusion sheet (70) by covering both the bottom of an optical sheet (75) and the surface area L of the light guide plate (50) located between an LED FPC (25) and the optical sheet (75) with the diffusion sheet (70). This irradiates a liquid crystal display panel (30) with light after the light leaked to outside from the surface area L is diffused by the diffusion sheet (70), so unevenness in the brightness of backlight emitted from a backlight device (240) can be reduced. Thus, the brightness of images displayed on a screen can be made uniform regardless of distance to an LED (60).
US09239419B2
A narrow border backlight module includes a frame, a reflective isolation layer, and a light guide element. The frame includes a plural of sidewalls connected to each other, and the bottom of the frame is hollow. The sidewalls define a cavity. The reflective isolation layer is disposed on an inner surface facing the cavity of the sidewalls. The light guide element is formed inside the frame, and the light guide element and the frame are integrally formed.
US09239413B2
A method for making a metal grating is provided. The method includes providing a substrate, applying a metal layer on a surface of the substrate, forming a number of protrusions spaced from each other on a surface of the metal layer, wherein each of the number of protrusions is made of two resist layer, one of the two resist layers being made of silicone oligomer, etching the surface of the metal layer exposed out of the number of protrusions using a physical etching gas and a reactive etching gas, and dissolving the number of protrusions on the surface of the metal layer.
US09239409B2
The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.
US09239407B2
An injection treatment on a subterranean zone is simulated by modeling physically separate rock blocks of the subterranean zone by separate block models. The block model for each physically separate rock block represents intra-block mechanics of the rock block by finite element method. Condensation is performed in the finite element method to reduce nodal degrees of freedom operation on by the finite element method. Interactions between adjacent pairs of the rock blocks are modeled by separate joint models. The joint model for each adjacent pair of rock blocks represents inter-block mechanics between the adjacent rock blocks. The injection treatment of the subterranean zone is simulated with the block models and the joint models.
US09239406B2
A disclosed system includes a plurality of ion selective fiber sensors configured to measure treatment concentration variance, and a computer in communication with the plurality of ion selective fiber sensors. The computer determines treatment coverage for different downhole zones using information received from the plurality of ion selective fiber sensors. A disclosed method includes collecting data from a plurality of ion selective fiber sensors configured to measure treatment concentration variance. The method also includes determining treatment coverage for different downhole zones using information received from the plurality of ion selective fiber sensors. A disclosed downhole treatment management system includes a data analysis unit that collects data from a plurality of downhole ion selective fiber sensors configured to measure treatment concentration variance, and that determines treatment coverage for different downhole zones using the collected data. The downhole treatment management system also includes a treatment control interface in communication with the data analysis unit. The treatment control interface updates treatment operations using treatment coverage information determined by the data analysis unit.
US09239405B2
A particle detection system is provided, including a sensing chamber having an inlet nozzle, an outlet nozzle, and an interrogation zone defined therebetween. Particles in a sampled environmental gas are prevented from escaping the interrogation zone by pressurizing the sensing chamber such that the pressure therein is higher than that in the outlet nozzle. This is accomplished by providing a source of extra gas to the sensing chamber, for example, by diverting gas from an inlet flow path directly to the sensing chamber.
US09239398B2
There is provided a system and method for creating model of a subsurface region based on multiple depth values. The method includes selecting seeds that represent a starting location within a desired horizon surfaces and generating a plurality of candidate horizons from the selected seeds. A number of depth values from the candidate horizons may be combined into a representative depth value and an uncertainty may be computed based on discrepancies among the depth values. A model of the subsurface region may be created using the depth values and the uncertainty.
US09239393B2
A positron emission computed tomography apparatus according to an embodiment includes a detector, a coincidence counting information generating unit, and a body movement detecting unit. The detector detects annihilation radiation released from a subject. The coincidence counting information generating unit searches for sets of counting information, which counted a pair of annihilation radiations at substantially the same time, from a counting information list that is generated from output signals of the detector; generates a set of coincidence counting information for each retrieved set of counting information; and generates a time series list of coincidence counting information. Based on the time series list of coincidence counting information, the body movement detecting unit detects temporal changes in the body movement of the subject.
US09239390B2
A radiation imaging apparatus including: a detector that includes a detection section in which pixels having a conversion element that converts radiation to an electric charge are arranged in a matrix shape, a drive circuit configured to drive the detection section, and a read circuit configured to output an electric signal that corresponds to the electric charge as image data; a radiation detection unit configured to detect a radiation irradiation state using two detection units that are adjacently arranged in the detection section; and a control unit configured to control operations of the drive circuit and the read circuit in accordance with a detection result obtained by the radiation detection unit, wherein a detection capability by one of the detection units is set to a lower capability than a detection capability at by the other of the detection units.
US09239387B2
A scene is reconstructed by receiving pulses transmitted by a virtual array of transducers. The pulses are reflected by the scene. The virtual array has a set of configurations subject to positioning errors. Each received pulse is sampled and decomposed to produce frequency coefficients stacked in a set of linear systems modeling a reflectivity of the scene. There is one linear system for each configuration. A reconstruction method is applied to the set of linear systems. The reconstruction method solves each linear system separately to obtain a corresponding solution. The corresponding solutions share information during the solving. Then, the solutions are combined to reconstruct the scene.
US09239386B2
Embodiments relate to integrated sonic sensors having a transmitter, a receiver and driver electronics integrated in a single, functional package. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric signal transmitter, a silicon microphone receiver and a controller/amplifier chip are concomitantly integrated in a semiconductor housing. The semiconductor housing, in embodiments, is functional in that at least a portion of the housing can comprise the piezoelectric element of the transmitter, with an inlet aperture opposite the silicon microphone receiver.
US09239385B2
In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.
US09239380B2
A driver assistance system for avoiding collisions of a vehicle with pedestrians, the system including a camera sensor and/or a beam sensor. When an object moving at a given speed on a pedestrian crossing is detected, the object is detected as being a pedestrian with a probability that is sufficiently high to output a warning to the driver, reducing the likelihood of a potential collision.
US09239379B2
A method for processing signals received by a plurality of receiving antennas in a radar system, for example for road safety, which emits sequences of chirp-modulated signals, wherein the received signals are mixed with local replicas of the transmitted signals so as to generate, for each receiving antenna, a sequence of detection signals. The detection signals are subjected to Fourier-transform processing and beam-forming processing for generating values of range, azimuth, and speed for at least one obstacle or “target” detected by the radar system. The method includes an acquisition process for yielding approximate values of range and azimuth of the obstacle, and a tracking process for yielding accurate range, azimuth and speed values of the obstacle itself.
US09239375B2
Exemplary ultrasound probes with sub-aperture processing capable of dynamic focus are provided that generally include an array of transducer elements that form a sub-aperture in the ultrasound probe. The transducer elements can be assigned to dynamic delay update groups and an initial delay can be applied to ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture. A sub-aperture processor can be configured to dynamically apply delay updates to the ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture according to the dynamic delay update groups to which the transducer elements are assigned. Exemplary ultrasound systems with a dynamic focus and methods of transmitting ultrasound signals with a dynamic focus are also provided.
US09239372B2
A spectral feature extracting engine, chirp detecting engine, and target classifying engine with corresponding method, system, and computer product are provided. Given a “noisy” signal having multiplicative and additive noise, the spectral feature extracting engine extracts spectral features from the noisy signal in the form of a spectral detection density. The extraction includes identifying an initial detection by comparing the spectral content of a subject time-frequency slice with an initial detection threshold calculated from a set of time-frequency slices, and determining the spectral detection density as a function of a number of identified initial detections and number of compared time-frequency slices. Based on the spectral detection density of the noisy signal, the chirp detecting engine detects multiple channel-induced and target-induced chirps present in the noisy signal and the target classifying engine classifies a target from the noisy signal.
US09239364B2
A method of operating an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system can be provided by activating an idle state for a UPS module included in the UPS system and providing a UPS module test input to the UPS module in the idle state. A UPS module test response can be provided from the UPS module in the idle state, to the UPS module test input. The UPS module test response can be compared to a predetermined UPS module test response and the UPS module can be identified as a potentially faulty UPS module responsive to determining that the UPS module test response varies from the predetermined UPS module test response by more than a threshold value.
US09239363B2
An apparatus is disclosed that includes a resistance measuring unit operable to determine a solution resistance Rsol and a charge transfer resistance Rct of a battery; and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising code, that, when executed by at least one processor, is operable to provide an estimate of the present value of the battery by: comparing Rsol and Rct to historical deterioration transition information; estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison; and estimating the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached by the battery using the comparison. The estimate of the present value of the battery includes the smaller of the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge capacity lower limit is reached or the number of remaining charge cycles before a discharge time lower limit is reached.
US09239362B2
A battery-type determination apparatus includes a battery installation unit equipped with battery connection terminals in which a battery is installed, a voltage detector that detects a voltage generated by Seebeck effect between a battery connection terminal and an electrode of the battery, a temperature rise controller that raises a temperature at a contact point between the electrode of the battery and the battery connection terminal, and a type determination unit that determines a type of the battery installed in the battery installation unit, based on the voltage detected by the voltage detector with the temperature risen at the contact point.
US09239360B2
A circuit that facilitates faster diagnosis of plurality of logic circuits connected in a scan chain is provided. The circuit includes a first multiplexer that receives a scan data input. A flip-flop is coupled to an output of the first multiplexer and generates a scan pattern. An inverter generates an inverted feedback signal in response to the scan pattern. The inverted feedback signal is provided to the first multiplexer. A plurality of logic circuits is connected in a scan chain and generates a logic output in response to the scan pattern. A bypass multiplexer is coupled to the plurality of logic circuits. The bypass multiplexer generates a scan output in response to the logic output, the scan data input and a segment bypass input.
US09239357B2
An apparatus for providing modulation mapping is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser source, a motion mechanism providing relative motion between the laser beam and the DUT, signal collection mechanism, which include a photodetector and appropriate electronics for collecting modulated laser light reflected from the DUT, and a display mechanism for displaying a spatial modulation map which consists of the collected modulated laser light over a selected time period and a selected area of the IC.
US09239351B2
An injection protocol for a cable includes selecting a cable for testing, selecting a pre-injection electrical discharge test for determining if electrical discharge activity occurs at or about operating voltage of the cable, configuring the cable for the pre-injection electrical discharge test; running the pre-injection electrical discharge test on the cable, and determining whether to inject the cable with a restorative fluid based upon electrical discharge activity detected at or about operating voltage of the cable.
US09239347B2
A non-resistive contact sensor assembly includes an electric field sensor device, including a dry electrode component for receiving an electrical signal from an object of interest and a signal processing component for processing the electrical signal, and a casing in which the signal processing component is surrounded or embedded. The processing component may include communications capabilities.
US09239343B2
A digital down-conversion acquisition function, includes a key spectral analysis function, in time-interleaved acquisition systems to enable acquisitions at very high sample rates and bandwidths. Digital down-conversion allows data compression into acquisition memory for down-converted complex baseband I/Q data within a given frequency range of interest. With a fixed-size acquisition memory, this enables acquisitions over a longer time span, thus enabling a lower spectral resolution bandwidth. These approaches allow down-converted complex baseband I/Q data from a narrow frequency band of interest to be acquired efficiently. Reconstruction of the acquired down-converted waveform from the time-interleaved components stored in each acquisition memory of each distributed acquisition components to result in a coherent waveform is also disclosed.
US09239341B2
A wiring fault detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention is capable of determining that, in a case where a temperature rise value of a faulty portion exceeds a temperature rise threshold within a preset threshold of the number of frames, a corresponding pixel has a fault. A wiring fault detection apparatus according to the present invention includes a temperature measurement imaging unit that measure a temperature of a semiconductor substrate and forms an image thereof.
US09239336B2
Apparatus and method for providing the apparatus, the apparatus including: a duct; and a non-return valve; wherein the duct has a first portion and a second portion; the first portion has a first end and a second end; the first end is open to a fluid (e.g. air); the second end is connected to the second portion such that fluid is permitted to flow between the first portion and the second portion; the non-return valve is positioned at or proximate to the second end; and the non-return valve is arranged such that, upon application of a suction force to the first portion at the first end, fluid flows into the first portion via the non-return valve from outside the duct, and through the first portion from the second end to the first end.
US09239324B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for preparing protein drug conjugate and its application to stem cell therapy and treating cancer cells. The composition is an antibody-binding-therapeutic drug conjugate that binds antibodies targeted to cancer or stem cells. The method of using the composition includes the steps of combining an antibody that targets the cancer cells or stem cells with a sample for a time sufficient to allow said antibody to bind the targeted cells present in said sample and adding the antibody-binding-drug conjugate for a time sufficient to allow binding to the antibody bound to the targeted cells. The presence of the drug reduces the number of or eliminates the targeted cancer cells or stem cells. A similar method is disclosed for selecting antibodies that may be effective antibody drug conjugates.
US09239319B2
A multi-dimensional liquid analysis system includes a flow splitter for separating mobile phase outflow from a first dimension liquid analysis system into first and second liquid split outlet flows. Volumetric flow rate control of the split outlet flows is provided by a flow control pump which withdraws one of the split outlet flows from the flow splitter at a controlled withdrawal flow rate to define the other split outlet flow rate as the difference between the outflow rate from the first dimension system and the withdrawal flow rate. In this manner, accurate and consistent flow division can be accomplished, which is particularly useful for multi-dimensional liquid analysis.
US09239318B2
A method and a system for generating an extraction sample from a dried sample spot. The method includes acquiring a spectroscopic image of an analyte in the spot. The spectroscopic image includes information on a spatial distribution of the analyte. A region of the spot to be extracted is determined from the spectroscopic image and an extraction sample is generated from the determined region. In other embodiments, the method and system are based on acquiring a spectroscopic measurement of an analyte in the dried sample spot, determining a quantity of the analyte in the spot based on the spectroscopic measurement and determining a volume of an extraction solvent for creating an extraction sample from the spot. The determined volume is based on the determined quantity of the analyte and a detection characteristic of an analytical measurement system. In other embodiments, the method is applied to solid samples.
US09239315B1
A patch and associated methods for monitoring and inspecting a structure are provided in order to facilitate such inspections. The patch includes a sheet of material configured to be attached to the structure and a frequency steerable array carried by the sheet of material. The frequency steerable array includes a plurality of sources for emitting structural waves in response to an input having a variable frequency such that variations in the frequency of the input cause the structural waves emitted by the plurality of sources to be controllably steered relative to the sheet of material. Methods utilizing one or more frequency steerable arrays for monitoring and inspecting a patch-repaired structure are also provided.
US09239312B2
The present invention relates to methods of determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample or improving the performance of a concentration determination. The electrochemical sensor strips may include at most 8 μg/mm2 of a mediator. The strips, the strip reagent layer, or the methods may provide for the determination of a concentration value having at least one of a stability bias of less than ±10% after storage at 50° C. for 4 weeks when compared to a comparison strip stored at −20° C. for 4 weeks, a hematocrit bias of less than ±10% for whole blood samples including from 20 to 60% hematocrit, and an intercept to slope ratio of at most 20 mg/dL.
US09239305B2
A two or three part sample holder for X-ray apparatus has a sample ring 2 and a counter ring 20. The sample ring 2 has two opposed surfaces and foils 8, 10 one on each surface holding a powder sample 6 within the central hole 4. The sample ring 2 is relatively thin, of thickness 0.2 to 4 mm. A counter ring 20 is provided to engage with the sample ring 2 to provide increased strength and/or stiffness.
US09239301B2
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a processing unit configured to processes projection data in which X-ray detection data representing a detection result of parallel beam X-rays output from an X-ray source has been converted by projection, and form an X-ray image based on the X-ray detection data.
US09239298B2
There are provided an optical measurement probe capable of obtaining a more stable measurement result, and an optical measurement device provided with the same. An incidence surface of an optical window to be used in a high temperature environment is covered by a deposited film. The optical window is formed of sapphire, and the deposited film is formed from SiO2. Adhesion of dirt to the incidence surface, and an influence, on a measurement result, of the adhesion of dirt on the incidence surface can thereby be prevented, and a more stable measurement result can be obtained.
US09239297B2
A pipe inspecting robot having a body, first and second independently articulating legs, and first and second leg motors for controlling the first and second articulating legs. The robot also has first and second pairs of wheels attached to the first and second legs at an opposite end of the legs from the body. The leg motors are configured so that when the first pair of wheels encounters an obstacle, the second leg motor rotates the second leg upward away from the surface of the pipeline and radially around the body until the second pair of wheels contacts the surface of the pipeline on an opposite side of the obstacle. Then the first leg motor rotates the first leg upward away from the surface of the pipeline and radially around the body until the first pair of wheels contacts the surface of the pipeline.
US09239294B2
A system and an apparatus for capturing a digital image of a particular gemstone from which specific and unique data can be extracted using digital image processing analysis, which data is used to positively identify a single gemstone from a database of gemstone images.
US09239293B2
An illumination device includes at least four semiconductor radiation sources (18) for emitting optical radiation in respectively different emission wavelength ranges. At least one color splitter (22.1, 22.2, 22.3), which is reflective for optical radiation of the respective semiconductor radiation source (18), is assigned to each of at least three of the semiconductor radiation sources (18). The semiconductor radiation sources (18) and the color splitters (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) are arranged such that the optical radiation, which is emitted in each case from each of the semiconductor radiation sources (18), is coupled into a common illumination beam path section (24). In each case, one collimating unit (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4), which collimates the optical radiation emitted by the respective semiconductor radiation source (18), is arranged in the beam path sections from the semiconductor radiation sources (18) to the color splitters (22.1, 22.2, 22.3).
US09239292B2
An apparatus and method for measuring the mobility of molecules in a sample are disclosed. Molecules in a sample are tagged with a dye having active and inactive states that are generated by exposing dye to light of an activation wavelength and an inactivation wavelength, respectively, the activation wavelength being different from the inactivation wavelength. The sample is illuminated in a microscope with a light pattern that includes a first region in which the dye is activated and a second adjacent region in which the first dye is inactivated. After the sample is so illuminated, an image of the activated first molecules is recorded when the first molecules are illuminated with light of an excitation wavelength. Molecules having the first dye in the inactive state are distinguishable from molecules having the first dye in the active state in the microscope when illuminated with light of the excitation wavelength.
US09239277B2
A specimen for measuring a material under multiple strains and strain rates. The specimen including a body having first and second ends and a gage region disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the body has a central, longitudinal axis passing through the first and second ends. The gage region includes a first gage section and a second gage section, wherein the first gage section defines a first cross-sectional area that is defined by a first plane that extends through the first gage section and is perpendicular to the central, longitudinal axis. The second gage section defines a second cross-sectional area that is defined by a second plane that extends through the second gage section and is perpendicular to the central, longitudinal axis and wherein the first cross-sectional area is different in size than the second cross-sectional area.
US09239271B2
There is provided a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure of a gas. The pressure gauge comprises a housing connectable to the gas source and comprising an interior which is, in use, in communication with said gas. The pressure gauge further comprising a sensor assembly located within said housing and including a piezoelectric oscillator which, in use, is located in contact with said gas, said sensor assembly being arranged to measure the oscillation frequency of said piezoelectric oscillator in said gas and configured to determine, from the frequency measurement and the known temperature and known molecular weight of the gas, the pressure of the gas. By providing such an arrangement, an overpressure proof yet accurate pressure gauge can be provided. This is in contrast to conventional gauges which are damaged permanently by overpressure situations.
US09239268B1
In a laser-produced plasma (LPP) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) system, laser pulses are used to produce EUV light. To determine the energy of individual laser pulses, a photoelectromagnetic (PEM) detector is calibrated to a power meter using a calibration coefficient. When measuring a unitary laser beam comprising pulses of a single wavelength, the calibration coefficient is calculated based on a burst of the pulses. A combined laser beam has main pulses of a first wavelength alternating with pre-pulses pulses of a second wavelength. To calculate the energy of the main pulses in the combined laser beam, the calibration coefficient calculated for a unitary laser beam of the main pulses is used. To calculate the energy of the pre-pulses in the combined laser beam, a new calibration coefficient is calculated. When the calculated energy values drift beyond a pre-defined threshold, the calibration coefficients are recalculated.
US09239266B2
A terahertz wave detecting device includes: a substrate; and a plurality of detection elements that is arranged above the substrate, wherein the detection element includes an absorbing section that absorbs a terahertz wave to generate heat, and a converting section that converts the heat generated in the absorbing section into an electric signal, wherein the absorbing section includes a dielectric layer, a first metal layer that is provided on a surface of the dielectric layer, and a second metal layer that is provided on the other surface of the dielectric layer, and wherein the plurality of detection elements is arranged so that the terahertz wave that is diffracted between the adjacent absorbing sections is incident onto the dielectric layer.
US09239264B1
Highly advantageous transceiver systems with common mode phase drift rejection and associated methods are disclosed which utilize certain phase modulators in configurations that reduce or eliminate inconsistent interference patterns caused by phase modulator phase drift.
US09239262B2
Methods and apparatus for article authentication include an exciting radiation generator that exposes an area of the article to exciting radiation, and at least two radiation detectors that detect emitted radiation from the area in a first band and in a second band that does not overlap the first band. The first band corresponds with a first emission sub-band of an emitting ion, and the second band corresponds with a second emission sub-band of the same emitting ion. A processing system calculates a comparison value that represents a mathematical relationship (e.g., a ratio) between a first intensity of the emitted radiation in the first band with a second intensity of the emitted radiation in the second band, and determines whether the comparison value compares favorably with an authentication parameter. When the comparison value compares favorably with the authentication parameter, the article is identified as being authentic.
US09239254B1
A temperature measuring device includes a heat plate exposed to the ambient, one or more sensor chips, and one or more device electronics that include a power transmitter, a wireless communication receiving block, and a processor. Each sensor chip includes a wireless communication transmitting block, a temperature sensor, a signal processing block, and an energy harvesting circuit. The heat plate and the sensor chips are positioned within an indent formed in an exposed surface of a device cover, such as a glass cover. The energy harvesting circuit harvests energy from an electromagnetic signal transmitted by the power transmitter. Temperature data sensed by each temperature sensor is wirelessly transmitted by the wireless communication transmitting block to the wireless communication receiving block. The processor determines an ambient temperature corrected for heat influences on the temperature sensors by internal device electronics. The temperature measuring device is implemented within a mobile electronics device.
US09239247B1
A system and method for allowing access to an aircraft network data processing system on an aircraft. A data processing device receives an expected measurement of software on the data processing device. The expected measurement is generated by a device other than the data processing device. The data processing device identifies an actual measurement of the software on the data processing device. The data processing device is connected to the aircraft network data processing system on an aircraft. The expected measurement and the actual measurement are sent from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system to determine whether the data processing device is allowed to access the aircraft network data processing system. The data processing device accesses the aircraft network data processing system in response to a determination that the data processing device is allowed to access the aircraft network data processing system.
US09239245B2
A lane guidance display system causes a display section to display a forward image on which a first guide line is superimposed in the case where a travel lane is not branched, the first guide line having, as an end point of the first guide line on the front side, a first front-side end point indicating the center position of the travel lane in the width direction, and causes the display section to display the forward image on which a second guide line is superimposed in the case where the travel lane is branched into a plurality of branched lanes, the second guide line having, as an end point of the second guide line on the front side, a second front-side end point indicating a position in the travel lane on the target lane side with respect to the center position of the travel lane in the width direction.
US09239240B2
A storage medium on which geographic data of a geographic region are stored together as map units, a corresponding method for generating a map from the geographic data, and a corresponding navigation device. In order to reduce the amount of data to be processed, the map units are structured hierarchically, map units of an nth order respectively corresponding to one geographic partial region, n being a natural number, and map units of an (n+1)th order respectively corresponding to one geographic subregion of one of the partial regions.
US09239237B2
A system for quickly aligning a test optic with various components of an optical metrology tool. A collimated target is presented to a beamsplitting reference surface located on a positioning system for holding and manipulating the test optic. Video images of the target and its reflection from the reference surface are displayed for analysis and visualization so that any tilt between the reference surface and the optical axis of the collimated beam can be removed to align the test optic. After alignment, the video based system is used to quickly measure and display in real-time a variety of performance characteristics of optical components such as lenses. The metrology system is under the control of a computer which uses a windowing software program to provide the user with a graphical user interface by which the various components of the system and test lenses may be aligned and characterized.
US09239232B2
A method for determining position and orientation of a first measuring instrument is disclosed. A second MI and at least one reflective target including a retroreflector unit are arranged in the vicinity of the first MI. At least one imaging module is arranged in the first MI for determining orientation thereof. The at least one imaging module in the first MI can be used in a similar manner as a tracker unit of an optical total station, by way of detecting optical radiation emitted from the second MI and reflected by the at least one TGT.
US09239225B2
A Fourier-transform interferometer with self-apodization compensation comprises at least one pair of mobile prisms forming a plate with thickness which varies at the same time as an optical path length difference is itself varied. The prisms are displaced using a mobile system with a single degree of freedom, comprising two support elements and at least two rotatably hinged levers. The interferometer is adapted to be installed on board a satellite, for spectral analysis of a radiation originating from the Earth's surface.
US09239221B2
The present disclosure relates to a proximity sensor having a coil (15) for generating a magnetic field and a sensor circuit (62) for detecting variations of the magnetic field caused by an external object, the sensor circuit (62) comprising at least one semiconductor component (36, 37, 67, 69, 70, 71) mounted on a circuit board (17), wherein the coil (15) and the circuit board (17) are arranged in a housing (2) through which the magnetic field is transmittable. In order to improve the resistance of the proximity sensor against harmful external influences, such as high temperatures, and to prolong its life cycle, the invention suggests that the semiconductor component (36, 37, 67, 69, 70, 71) is included in an enclosure (20) that is hermetically sealed and fixed on a surface (18, 19) of the circuit board (17).
US09239220B2
The invention is an improved technique for measuring near surface attributes of the ground while conducting a seismic survey. The improved technique is enabled by an electric vibe using a number of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion. By applying constant force on the rods of the linear electric motors against the ground, the penetration into the ground may be measured for both rate and overall deformation. This information provides an accurate indication of viscosity and stiffness. In addition shear velocity and compression velocity may be measured and in some conditions, even the type of prominent shear wave may be identified for the area.
US09239219B2
There is provided a form measuring apparatus which is configured to perform measurement of a surface form of a surface of an object to be inspected having a three-dimensional shape, the form measuring apparatus including: a detecting section which performs detection of the surface form of the surface of the object having the three-dimensional form; and an area-setting section which sets, as a measurement area, an adjacent area adjacent to a designated area, based on form information of a form of the designated area.
US09239217B2
The present disclosure relates to a retractable tape rule assembly locking system. The system comprises an elongated tape rule blade, a reel, a biasing spring, a stop assembly, a stop surface, a stop assembly locking device, a housing assembly, and/or other components. The stop assembly is configured to selectively engage the elongated tape rule blade to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position. The stop assembly is configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user. While in the default position, the stop assembly engages the elongated tape rule blade to prevent retraction of the elongated tape rule blade. The stop surface is associated with the reel and configured to engage the stop assembly to prevent rotation of the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade.
US09239211B2
A body-mountable firearm support assembly that is mountable to the body of a user to support a firearm in a stable configuration in use includes a first elongate support that is supportable, in use, at a first support zone on the body of the user in an operatively forwardly projecting configuration and a second elongate support that is supportable, in use, at a second support zone on the body of the user. The second support zone is lower on the user's body than the first support zone. The second elongate support is connected to the first elongate support at a third support zone spaced, in use, from the first and second support zones along the first and second supports. The assembly also includes an anchoring formation that is wearable, in use, by the user such that it provides the second support zone.
US09239203B2
A modular firearm is disclosed. The firearm that can be configured to operate using ammunition of different calibers via interchangeability of only a few parts. The firearm includes a foldable butt stock assembly for quickly and easily converting the firearm from an extended operating configuration to a compact transport configuration, and vice-versa. Additionally, the firearm includes a modular hand guard assembly having multiple mounting platforms for accommodating a variety of different accessories.
US09239194B2
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger system for incorporation in a deodorizer. The heat exchanger system comprises longitudinal heat transfer means, inlet distribution headers, outlet collector headers, spacers having holes to support the longitudinal heat transfer means, a compensator, and two or more support devices. The longitudinal heat transfer means are guided through the holes of the spacers and arranged in bundles, and each of the bundles is attached to an inlet distribution header as well as to an outlet collector header, and at least some of the spacers are mounted on at least one support device. The present invention relates also to a semi-continuous deodorizer having one or more of such heat exchanger systems, and to a use of the deodorizer.
US09239190B2
A furnace system includes at least one lower radiant section having a first firebox disposed therein and at least one upper radiant section disposed above the at least one lower radiant section. The at least one upper radiant section has a second firebox disposed therein. The furnace system further includes at least one convection section disposed above the at least one upper radiant section and an exhaust corridor defined by the first firebox, the second firebox, and the at least one convection section. Arrangement of the at least one upper radiant section above the at least one lower radiant section reduces an area required for construction of the furnace system.
US09239189B2
A kiln comprising a cylindrical drum (11) arranged to rotate about a generally horizontal central axis, the drum configured such that rotation will cause particulate material to flow from one end (13) of the drum to the other end (15). The one end being closed by an end assembly (23) fixed relative to a support structure. An inner face of the drum provides a plurality of ports (29) spaced about, and opening into, an interior of the drum,. The ports (29) being connected to the end assembly (23) via a set of passageways (27). The end assembly (23) having an opening (25) connected to a source of air (31) and positioned such that, on rotation of the drum, one or more passageways come into fluid communication with the opening for limiting air flow to the ports.
US09239184B2
A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a shelf assembly provided within the cooling chamber such that a height thereof is adjustable; and a basket provided in any one of the refrigerator main body and the cooling chamber door such that a height thereof is adjustable. A space of the refrigerator main body or the cooling chamber door can be utilized to facilitate receiving and keeping food items.
US09239183B2
A method for reducing perceived defrost noise in a heat pump is provided. The method may include energizing a fan configured to urge a heat transfer medium across a heat exchanger, and initiating a defrost cycle to warm the heat exchanger. Initiating the defrost cycle may include de-energizing a compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger, and delaying for a first delay period with the fan energized and the compressor de-energized. Initiating the defrost cycle may also include energizing a reversing valve after the first delay period, to reverse a flow of a refrigerant flow between the compressor and the heat exchanger, and delaying for a second delay period with the fan energized, the compressor de-energized, and the reversing valve energized. Initiating the defrost cycle may also include de-energizing the fan. The method may also include defrosting the heat pump during the defrost cycle, and terminating the defrost cycle.
US09239181B2
A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a refrigerating compartment door opening or closing the refrigerating compartment, a dispenser disposed in the refrigerating compartment door to dispense water or ice pieces, and an ice bank disposed in the refrigerating compartment door to define an insulation space for storing the ice pieces dispensed by the dispenser. The refrigerator also includes an ice maker disposed in the freezing compartment to make the ice pieces, a transfer device disposed in the freezing compartment to transfer the ice pieces supplied from the ice maker into the ice bank, and an ice chute connecting the transfer device to the ice bank.
US09239177B2
The present invention envisages a hybrid absorption-compression chiller comprising: a vapor-compression system providing refrigeration effect in a primary evaporator (102a) by extracting heat from a medium to be cooled in a condensed primary refrigerant, and a vapor-absorption system in operative communication with the vapor-compression system for receiving primary refrigerant vapors via a compressor (104a), these vapors are cooled by a condensed secondary refrigerant in a secondary evaporator (106a) to provide cold condensed primary refrigerant which is recycled to the vapor-compression system. The hybrid absorption-compression chiller of the present invention is energy-efficient and provides a higher COP in comparison with the conventional chillers.
US09239175B2
An air conditioner is provided with a plurality of outdoor heat source units, an indoor unit, a liquid refrigerant communication pipe and gas refrigerant communication pipe, and a controller. Each heat source unit has a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an accumulator. The indoor unit has an indoor expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger. The controller starts an other of the heat source units in a stopped state when it is determined that the amount of refrigerant is excessive in a first heat source unit in an operating state.
US09239169B2
A low profile exhaust hood has a high inlet and a high aspect ratio of horizontal to vertical. A sloping wall of the recess guides hot plumes upwardly to the inlet. The inlet is sized to provide an exhaust face velocity that is at least as high as a highest possible plume velocity for a 400 F oven. The inlet is located high and forwardly to cause a suction zone to be generated near the forward edge of the hood to aid in capturing plumes tending to escape which are remote from the sloping wall.
US09239166B2
A diffuser for use in a gas turbine engine, the diffuser having a first wall, a second wall, and a flow separator. The first and second wall define an annular cavity, with the annular cavity having an inlet. The first and second wall also forming a prediffuser that is proximate the inlet, and a dump region distal the inlet. The flow separator extends from the first wall into the annular cavity.
US09239164B2
A slag monitoring device 100 for a coal gasifier includes a slag hole camera 11 that observes a slag hole 3 from which molten slag flows out, a water surface camera 12 that observes a situation in which the slag flowing out from the slag hole 3 falls onto a water surface 5H of cooling water 5, a falling sound sensor 13 that observes a sound of the slag falling onto the water surface 5H, and a processing device 20 that determines a solidification and adhesion position of the slag based on an opening area of the slag hole 3 observed by the slag hole camera 11 and falling lines and falling positions of the slag observed by the water surface camera.
US09239159B2
There is provided a lighting device including: a light emitting module having at least one light emitting device outputting light and a light emitting device board on which the at least one light emitting device is disposed; a housing installed on one side of a ring in a central axis direction relatively to the light emitting device board; and a resin globe installed to cover the light emitting module, wherein the globe has a plurality of protrusions formed by retaining at least a portion of a gate unit used in molding the globe, and the light emitting device board may have notch portions combined with the protrusions.
US09239150B2
A linear lighting device includes a body, a light source holder, and a light source. The body has a top portion, a bottom portion, and a rear portion. The light source holder has a holding member and an attachment member. The attachment member of the light source holder is secured to the rear portion of the body. Further, the light source is disposed on the holding member of the light source holder. A lighting device also includes a cover. The cover has a first end and a second end, and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first end of the cover is pivotably secured to the bottom portion of the body and the second end of the cover is adapted to be fixedly secured to the top portion of the body.
US09239149B2
A recessed luminaire is described. The luminaire may include an aiming system allowing a rotation angle and/or a tilt angle of a light source to be adjusted while the light source is in operation. Additionally, the luminaire includes a light shield that is coupled to the aiming system such that the light shield may move in relation to the tilt angle and the orientation of the light source. The aiming system may be further coupled to a support panel such that rotation of the aiming system is provided by a rotatable coupling between one or more leaf Springs of the aiming system, and an upper surface of the support panel.
US09239140B2
A light-emitting arrangement (100) comprising a reflective member (101) having a reflective surface (102) on which at least one LED is arranged is disclosed. A wavelength converting member (104) comprising a first wavelength converting material, adapted to convert light of a first wavelength into light of a second wavelength, is arranged on the reflective member. The converting member has a top face (105) oriented parallel to the reflective surface, and has a first side face (106) and a second side face (107) that are each arranged between the top face and the reflective member on a respective side of the LED(s). The top face is arranged at a vertical distance (V1) from a light-emitting surface (108) of the LED(s). By adapting the properties, dimensions and/or orientation of the faces of the wavelength converting member according to the invention, a desirable light distribution from the light-emitting arrangement is achieved.
US09239139B2
A method for decorating an exterior light fixture includes the step of providing a decorative body with an ornamental design corresponding to a single event, where the decorative body has a rear side with an elastically deformable couple and a front side with the ornamental design. The method also includes the step of elastically deforming at least a part of the rear side to removably attach the decorative body to an exterior light fixture that is attached to an exterior surface of a building structure such that the ornamental design is positioned on a side of the light fixture opposite the structure. The ornamental design and at least a portion of the body surrounding the ornamental design have differing translucences such that light emitted from the light fixture enhances visibility of the ornamental design from a distance away from the body.
US09239138B2
A pear-shaped light-emitting diode (LED) light bulb housing is provided with a plurality of light-dispersing thickness variations in the bulb envelope. Dimples, bumps, or v-shaped grooves are provided in a middle portion of the bulb envelope in order to uniformly disperse light from LEDs as the light passes through the bulb envelope.
US09239132B1
A lubrication package for lubrication of paper shredders wherein a lubricant is sandwiched between two coversheets which are sealed together near their peripheral edges to contain the lubricant. When the package is inserted into an operating paper shredder, the coversheets are shredded and release the lubricant to lubricate the shredding mechanism. The lubricant is prevented from all migrating towards one of the peripheral edges by a plurality of interior seals that divide the package into several sub-regions.
US09239129B2
A holding force adjusting apparatus to be attached to a posture holding apparatus having a base, a supporting member which is attached onto the base so that the supporting member freely swings between a standby state where the supporting member does not support a substance on the base and an active state where the supporting member supports the substance in an inclination state, and a swinging support member having a biasing force for returning the supporting member to the standby state when the supporting member is inclined, the holding force adjusting apparatus being designed to adjust a biasing force of the swinging support member, the holding force adjusting apparatus including a weighting detection member for detecting weight of the substance to be placed, and a returning force adjusting member for adjusting the bias force according to a detected weight by the weight detecting means.
US09239121B1
A valley shaping means for bidirectionally reinforced convoluted hoses comprising high strength fibers and/or cords which is designed for bonding and/or integration into the valley portion of the bidirectionally reinforced convoluted hose. The high-strength fibers and/or cords can be pre-coated prior to integration with the bidirectionally reinforced convoluted hose, or be coated and bonded after placed in position at the bottom of the valley portion of the bidirectionally reinforced convoluted hose.
US09239116B2
The invention relates to a radial shaft seal for sealing a shaft (2), which is guided through a housing wall opening (3). The seal comprises at least one first membrane-like, annular sealing element (15) with a sealing lip (22) which can be positioned against the shaft (2) in a sealing manner; a metallic, annular supporting element (16), onto which the sealing element (15) is pulled; and a centring surface (19) formed at the outer circumference of the edge area (18). In order to increase the lifespan of the seal, said seal can be surrounded by an adapter part (6) made from undulating curved sheet metal, which can be inserted flush into the housing wall opening (3). The adapter part (6) has a central, cylindrical opening (8) which is provided with a shoulder (11) at the rear end thereof in the compression direction. The centring surface (19) of the supporting body (16) has an allowance for the cylindrical opening (8) of the adapter part (6), and is pushed into said opening in a press-fitting manner. A second membrane-like sealing element (17), which can be firmly pressed between the shoulder (11) and the supporting body (16), is arranged between the supporting body (16) and the shoulder (11) provided in the opening (8) of the adapter part (6).
US09239109B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for shifting at least one freewheel (1, 2, 3) on an associated shaft of a gear mechanism, comprising at least one shifting device which comprises an actuation device and a non-positive and/or positive shifting device. Said shifting device can be axially displaced by the actuation device that is arranged at least partially in the shaft and the shifting device is arranged coaxially to the shaft. According to the invention, an axial extension can be disposed between the actuation device and the shifting device.
US09239108B2
In general, a shift-by-wire transmission range selector system consistent with the present disclosure may include an actuator one or more electric motors to allow the actuator to operate for shifting the gear position of a transmission. In the event of a power or system failure, a fail safe release motor may be actuated by energy stored in a capacitor. The fail safe release motor drives a slide cam to release a trigger arm. Upon release of the trigger arm, a spring-driven mechanism safely returns the transmission to the PARK position by rotating an output shaft. A redundant control link may be provided, configured to actuate the fail safe release motor in the event of a power or system failure.
US09239098B2
In a planet roller speed changer, a plurality of shaft portions of a carrier is disposed such that, when the carrier is displaced in a direction that intersects with the axial direction of an output shaft, the outer periphery of at least one of the shaft portions that are displaced with a displacement of the carrier contacts the stationary ring-side portion of the inner periphery of a corresponding planet roller without contacting the input shaft-side portion of the inner periphery of the corresponding planet roller.
US09239079B2
The invention relates to a flanged bearing ring produced from a high carbon steel profile bar comprising at least one flash butt welded joint, where the bearing ring is provided with an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface and where one peripheral surface comprises a raceway for rolling elements, where the bearing ring further comprises a flange adapted for fixing the bearing ring to a mechanical member, where the flange protrudes from the bearing ring in a substantially radial direction. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a homogenous flanged bearing ring from a straight profile bar. The advantage of the invention is that a homogenous flanged bearing ring is obtained in a simple and cost-effective way.
US09239070B2
A mount apparatus for a frame member is provided. The mount apparatus includes a bolt and a retainer. The bolt includes a head, a shank extending from the head, and a tang extending radially from the head. The retainer includes a reactive plate fixing the retainer against rotation relative to the frame member and an engagement slot defined by the retainer having a first wall disposed to prevent positive rotation of the tang.
US09239068B2
The invention is directed at a method for welding a composite material and to welded structures thus prepared. The method includes a step of contacting a substrate material with a composite material, wherein the composite material includes a pair of spaced apart steel sheets and a core layer between the sheets; the volume of the core layer is about 25 volume % or more, based on the total volume of the composite material; the core layer includes a plurality of steel fibers arranged in one or more masses of fibers that extend the thickness of the core layer so that the core layer is in electrical communication with the steel sheets; and the steel fibers have a cross sectional area perpendicular to the length of the fibers from about 1×10−5 mm2 to about 2.5×10−2 mm2.
US09239061B2
A sealing system is equipped with a dry gas seal having a rotating ring positioned between a casing and a rotor shaft and around the circumference of the rotor shaft, and stationary rings provided on the casing with elastic members interposed therebetween and so as to be capable of contacting the orthogonal edge surfaces of the rotating ring that are substantially orthogonal to the rotor shaft; a sealing gas channel having one end connected to a discharge channel, the other end connected so as to connect to a space between the casing and the outer perimeter surface of the rotating ring in the dry gas seal, and having a sealing gas regulating valve provided therein; and a drain gas channel having one end connected so as to connect to the space via a through hole formed in the casing below the rotating ring, and the other end connected to an intake channel.
US09239060B2
In one embodiment a blower comprises a case comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side wall extending between portions of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the side wall comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, an impeller disposed in the case and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending between the first surface and the second surface. Portions of the side wall are disposed at least a first distance from the axis of rotation and the impeller is to define a circumferential airflow path within the case, and the impeller is to create an airflow in the circumferential airflow path between the air inlet and the air outlet.
US09239049B2
Peristaltic pump assemblies in which the closing and opening of a pivoting or sliding door is coordinated with movement of the occlusion bed toward and away from the rotor assembly to engage and disengage tubing within the occlusion pathway are disclosed. Linkage mechanisms provided by the interaction of cam surfaces with rollers, as well as bar linkage mechanisms, are disclosed. The linkage mechanism, in addition to providing precise displacement of the occlusion bed, may also provide an over-center feature that enhances safety and pump operation when the door is in a closed position. Latching mechanisms and sensors may be incorporated. Adaptive components such as tubing cassettes routing aspiration and/or infusion tubing in a predetermined configuration to mate with occlusion pathways in aspiration and/or infusion pump assemblies provided in various types of medical devices and control consoles are also provided.
US09239045B2
An oil pump assembly for use with an internal combustion engine having an engine block, a crankshaft that is rotatable with respect to the engine block on a crankshaft axis, and a sump that is connected to the engine block for receiving and storing oil therein. The oil pump assembly includes a housing and a drive assembly that is arranged on the housing. The drive assembly is connected to the crankshaft for rotation in unison therewith. An oil pump is connected to the housing for pumping oil between an inlet and an outlet of the oil pump in response to rotation of a drive shaft. The drive shaft is connected to the drive assembly for rotation in unison therewith.
US09239043B1
The present invention is directed to a method of generating electricity from the unharnessed existing kinetic movement of various self-propelled sources: vehicles, wheeled vehicles, pedestrians, objects and/or wheeled objects with the aid of natural phenomena (i.e., gravity, buoyancy, magnetism, etc.) in combination with supporting undersurfaces, over surfaces and side surfaces upon which or about which they translate. In a first embodiment, floating platforms over which moving objects pass are implanted into a road surface. In a second embodiment, rollers rather than platforms are utilized. In a third embodiment, the moving vehicles, pedestrians and/or objects are provided with magnetic material generating electricity by passing over, under or by magnetized kinetic capturing panels containing coiled metallic wire (“kinetic panels”).
US09239041B2
An airborne wind energy conversion system with a ground generator and unorthodox power capture or transfer means, including such embodiments as: a system with an ultra-long flexible wing, which serves both for power harvesting and power transfer; a system with a tethered wing, the tether having an airfoil cross section in at least a substantial part of its length and participating in power harvesting; a system with a very long semi-circular wing, harvesting and transferring wind power by its helical motion; a system in which a conventional wing both harvests wind power and excites waves in the tether, the waves transferring the power.
US09239039B2
Active Circulation Control (ACC) of aerodynamic structures, such as a turbine blade, uses unsteady or oscillatory flow from either synthetic jets or pulsed jets to modify a velocity profile of the blade. The blade includes an opening disposed in a surface of the blade at a location proximate to a trailing edge, a leading edge, or both the trailing edge and the leading edge of the blade. An active flow control device in fluid communication with the opening produces a wall-jet of pulsed fluid that flows over the trailing edge, the leading edge, or both the trailing and leading edges of the blade and modify the velocity profile of the blade.
US09239038B2
A marine power generation apparatus is provided for generating power from an ocean current. The apparatus includes a turbine operable to generate power when within an ocean current. The turbine includes a pair of turbine blade assemblies each having a hub, a set of turbine spokes, stays or blades extending radially from the hub; and a circumferential ring extending around and connected to an outer periphery of the set of turbine spokes, stays or blades. The pair of turbine blade assemblies is mounted for same-direction rotation when placed in an ocean current and each being coupled with a common turbine shaft or a turbine shaft assembly. In addition, the turbine shaft is coupled along a shared axis with a rotor or an electrical generator. Means is also provided for anchoring the power generation means relative to a floor of the ocean and in alignment with the ocean current.
US09239030B2
A nacelle structure for a gas turbine engine includes an outer nacelle surrounding a fan section and defining an outer boundary of a bypass flow passage and an inner nacelle surrounding a core engine section and defining an inner boundary of the bypass flow passage. A panel of the inner nacelle is moveable between an open position providing access to the core engine section and a closed position. A lock is supported within the inner nacelle proximate the panel. The lock includes an electric actuator for moving a locking pin between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lock prevents opening and limits deflection of the panel when in the locked position.
US09239025B2
A condensation monitoring system for a vehicle comprises a humidity estimation module and a condensation detection module. The humidity estimation module estimates a humidity in one of an air intake system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system associated with an engine of the vehicle. The condensation detection module generates a condensation signal indicating that condensation is present in the one of the air intake system and the EGR system when the humidity is greater than a predetermined humidity.
US09239016B2
Embodiments for controlling an exhaust back-pressure valve are provided. In one example, a method for operating an engine comprises closing an exhaust back-pressure valve in response to a component temperature, adjusting intake and/or exhaust valve operation in response to closing the exhaust back-pressure valve to reduce cylinder internal exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and while the exhaust back-pressure valve is closing, indicating degradation of an exhaust back-pressure system if a designated engine operating parameter remains constant. In this way, degradation of the exhaust back-pressure system may be diagnosed while maintaining combustion stability.
US09239009B2
A gas turbine system (1A) includes a gas turbine unit (2) and a cooling fluid generator (5). The gas turbine unit (2) includes a first compressor (21) and a first expansion turbine (23) coupled to each other by a first shaft (22), a combustor (26), and a fuel tank (30). A fuel held in the fuel tank (30) circulates through a fuel circulation passage (31). A working fluid that has a pressure increased by the first compressor (1) is extracted from the gas turbine unit (2). The cooling fluid generator (5) includes a cooler (55) for cooling, with the fuel flowing through the fuel circulation passage (31), the working fluid that has been extracted from the gas turbine unit (2), and a second expansion turbine (53) for expanding the working fluid that has flowed out of the cooler (55).
US09239005B2
The combined cooling system uses a single heat exchanger to cool both engine air for use in an engine system and aircraft air for use in an aircraft system. More particularly, a bleed air path leads from the compressor stage to the heat exchanger where it is placed in thermal exchange contact with a flow of cooling air coming from a cooling path. From an outlet end of the heat exchanger, the bleed air splits into two paths: an aircraft air path leading to at least one aircraft system such as an Environmental control system (ECS), a wind de-icing system or the like, and an engine air path leading to at least one engine system such as a buffer air system for pressurizing the bearing cavities.
US09238999B2
A protective device for a spark-ignition gas engine is provided, which engine has a throttle valve for controlling a gas/air mixture and has an exhaust-gas turbocharger with a turbine that is associated with a throttle member for exhaust gas. A detection unit is configured to detect an actual differential pressure across the throttle valve, and a control unit is configured to change the position of the throttle member based on the actual differential pressure. The throttle member for the exhaust gas is provided only downstream of the turbine in relation to the flow direction of the exhaust gas. A method for regulating an exhaust-gas throttle member, connected downstream of a turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger, is also disclosed.
US09238996B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a piston body having an outer cylindrical surface defining a longitudinal piston axis, a combustion face defining a compound combustion bowl, and a compound rim extending radially outward from the compound combustion bowl to the outer cylindrical surface. The compound combustion bowl includes a convex inner bowl surface defining a conical projection and a concave outer bowl surface. The compound rim includes a flat outer rim surface adjoining the outer cylindrical surface, and a convex inner rim surface adjoining the compound combustion bowl. The convex inner bowl surface transitions smoothly to the concave outer bowl surface, and the convex inner rim surface transitions abruptly to the concave outer bowl surface at an edge of the compound combustion bowl.
US09238993B2
An exhaust manifold and related method have a hybrid clamshell construction including an outer manifold half stamped from a first metal and having a first wall thickness, as well as an inner manifold half stamped from a second metal that is different from the first metal and has a second wall thickness which is different from the first wall thickness. Opposite side edges of the outer and inner manifold halves are rigidly interconnected to define a hollow manifold bottom. Port and outlet flanges are rigidly attached to inlet and outlet sides of the manifold body.
US09238992B2
An exhaust system in an engine includes an exhaust passage including an outlet, in fluidic communication with at least one combustion chamber in the engine, and integrated into a cylinder head in the engine and a flow rotation element including at least one vane, the flow rotation element positioned in the outlet of the exhaust passage swirling exhaust airflow exiting the exhaust passage.
US09238977B2
A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a centerline axis includes: a shroud segment having: an arcuate body extending axially between forward and aft ends and laterally between opposed end faces, wherein each of the end faces includes seal slots formed therein; and an arcuate stationary seal member mounted to the body; a turbine vane disposed axially aft of the shroud segment; and a casing surrounding the shroud segment and the turbine vane; wherein the turbine vane is mounted to the case so as to bear against the stationary seal member, compressing it and forcing the shroud segment radially outward against the casing.
US09238976B2
A turbine guide vane system, in particular for a gas turbine is provided. The turbine guide vane system includes a number of guide vane rows and a guide vane carrier, to enable particularly simple replacement of guide vanes, while maintaining a particularly high degree of efficiency, and thus designed for particularly short repair durations. For this purpose, the guide vane carrier has a number of segments, wherein a segment extends over the entire radial extension of the guide vane carrier and the connection of the remaining segments may be detached, and wherein the turbine guide vane carrier includes at least two sections along the axial extension thereof that are connected to one another and have a different number of segments.
US09238967B2
A combustion powered linear actuator features an actuator body having a first chamber therein and a power piston mounted in the first chamber movable between retracted and extended positions. The power piston has a combustion chamber therein. A first seal about the piston seals the piston with respect to the actuator body. A vent region in the body of increased diameter allows exhaust gases to bypass the first seal and flow into a space between the piston and the actuator body and to then vent out of the actuator body. A second seal proximate the distal end of the actuator body cooperates with another piston seal to seal the annular region when the piston is retracted. The vent region may include a vent gland in the first chamber about the piston defining a vent chamber between the actuator body and the vent gland.
US09238965B2
A rotary pulser for transmitting information to the surface from down hole in a well by generating pressure pulses encoded to contain information. The pulser includes a rotor having blades that are capable of imparting a varying obstruction to the flow of drilling fluid through stator passages, depending on the circumferential orientation of the rotor, so that rotation of the rotor by a motor generates the encoded pressure pulses. A spring biases the rotor toward the stator so as to reduce the axial gap between the rotor and stator. When the pressure drop across the rotor becomes excessive, such as when increasing drilling fluid flow rate or switching from a high data rate to a low data rate transmission mode, the spring bias is overcome so as to increase the axial gap and reduce the pressure drop across the rotor, thereby automatically reducing the thrust load on the bearings.
US09238961B2
Collecting temperature data at a plurality of locations along a wellbore, performing thermo-mechanical simulations of a drill string in response to mud circulation wherein the drill string comprises a tool string suspended in the wellbore from a pipe string, determining changes in length of the pipe string due to temperature changes, positionally fixing the tool string at one of the locations, and adjusting the length of the pipe string based on the determined change in length of the pipe string. Positionally fixing the tool string may comprise lowering the drill string a side entry sub of the drill string is proximate a top end of the wellbore wherein the side entry sub is configured to allow a wireline cable to enter a bore of the drill string, positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer, and closing the blow-out-preventer around the drill string below the side entry sub.
US09238953B2
A technique provides for stimulating or otherwise treating multiple intervals/zones of a well by controlling flow of treatment fluid via a plurality of flow control devices. The flow control devices are provided with internal profiles and flow through passages. Hydraulic darts are designed for selective engagement with the internal profiles of specific flow control devices, and each hydraulic dart may be moved downhole for engagement with and activation of a specific flow control device.
US09238950B2
A packer assembly for a blowout preventer for sealing a wellbore is provided. The blowout preventer has ram blocks with a front face engageable with another ram block. The packer assembly is carried by each ram block and includes a support, a face packer having a sealing surface engageable with the face packer of an adjacent ram block, and a pair of plates positionable about the face packer. The plates include an extended plate and a support plate with the face packer therebetween. The extended plate protrudes from the ram block a distance beyond the support plate such that, when the ram blocks are moved together, the extended plate makes contact with the extended plate of an adjacent ram block before the support plates make contact with the adjacent ram block whereby a sealing pressure between the face packers of the adjacent ram blocks is maintained.
US09238946B2
Described herein is a “cross-over” connector that can be used with core barrel outer tubes to prevent damage and destruction when they are connected to one another by automated equipment on a rig floor, for example, automated rig-floor torque wrenches. Standard core barrel outer tubes having a pin connector and a box connector are modified by adding “cross-over” sub elements to the pin and box connectors to increase their effective strength. The sub elements include portions which engage respective ones of the pin and box connections. The sub elements are designed to be the contact points for the automated equipment, so that it they are damaged, they can readily be replaced at a lower cost when compared to the scrapping and replacement of the core barrel outer tubes themselves.
