US09456586B1
An animal training apparatus is comprised of a leash connector attached to a chest portion of a harness. The harness is arranged to prevent the leash connector from shifting to the back of the animal. The harness is preferably comprised of a chest strap for positioning across the chest of the animal between the tops of the front legs, a withers strap for positioning across the withers of the animal behind the neck and between the shoulders, and a girth strap for positioning across the girth of the animal behind the front legs on the underside. The leash connector is attached to an intermediate position on the chest strap for pulling on the chest portion of the harness. The animal is prevented by the rotational force from pulling further.
US09456576B1
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH106414. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH106414, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH106414 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH106414.
US09456570B1
A novel maize variety designated X13F381 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X13F381 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13F381 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13F381, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13F381. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13F381.
US09456562B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH432018. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH432018, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH432018 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH432018.
US09456561B2
The invention relates to alfalfa plants and lines having aluminum tolerance. The invention also relates to parts of alfalfa plants from lines having aluminum tolerance, including seeds capable of growing aluminum tolerant alfalfa plants. Methods for the use and breeding of aluminum tolerant alfalfa plants are also provided.
US09456559B2
An airborne vegetation trimming apparatus includes an apparatus housing, an elongated saw boom extending from the apparatus housing, a plurality of rotatable saw blades carried by the saw boom, a saw blade operating system drivingly engaging the saw blades, a rotatable tubing coupling carried by the apparatus housing and a tubing coupling rotation motor drivingly engaging the tubing coupling.
US09456553B1
A bale shredder apparatus may comprise a bale hopper defining a bale chamber configured to receive a bale to be shredded and including a perimeter formed of walls with a bale feed opening formed in the perimeter and a floor positioned toward a bottom of the bale chamber. A bale shredding assembly may include a shredding rotor having a plurality of flails positioned with respect to the bale chamber to contact a bale in the bale chamber through the bale feed opening. The apparatus may include a bale flipping assembly configured to engage a bale positioned in the bale chamber of the bale hopper and flip an orientation of the bale with respect to the hopper. Optionally, the apparatus may include a primary bale movement assembly positioned toward the chamber bottom to move a bale in the bale chamber toward the shredding rotor of the bale shredding assembly.
US09456540B2
A power take off coupling for connecting an engine (20, 21) to a site accessory (16, 14, 17), comprises a resilient power transmission component (3) within the coupling; a latching device (8, 46, 9) to mechanically latch the accessory to the engine (20, 21), with a manually operable release handle (13) to effect unlatching. A power output shaft of the engine (20, 21) carries one half (5) of a dog clutch with the other half (7) carried by the accessory (16, 14, 17). An alignment arrangement comprises a first annulus ring (18) attached coaxially to an output shaft assembly of the engine (20, 21), and a second annulus ring (19) attached coaxially to an input shaft assembly of the accessory, with the two rings (18, 19) being of different diameters, such that one ring is adapted to be engaged coaxially within the other ring with close tolerances, such that the external periphery of the smaller ring (18) engages at least parts of the internal periphery of the larger ring (19) to provide for accurate coaxial alignment of the power output shaft of the engine (20, 21) and the power input shaft of the accessory.
US09462736B2
Provided are a composition for an anisotropic conductive adhesive, a method of forming a solder bump and a method of forming a flip chip using the same. The composition for an anisotropic conductive adhesive includes a low melting point solder particle and a thermo-curable polymer resin. The anisotropic conductive adhesive includes forming a mixture by mixing a polymer resin and a curing agent, and mixing a deforming agent, a catalyst or a reductant with the mixture.
US09462735B2
An LC module for installation in a housing of a motor vehicle control device, a method for producing an LC module and a corresponding motor vehicle control device having an LC module. The LC module has a support plate, at least one electrolytic capacitor and a coil. The electrolytic capacitor and the coil are disposed in chambers of the LC module and are at least partially surrounded by casting compound. Furthermore, the support plate has a connecting part between the two chambers, the support plate being form-fittingly or frictionally connectable to the housing of the control device at least in the region of the connecting part.
US09462731B2
A cover structure for an electronic circuit module includes a circuit board and a box-shaped cover integrated to each other. An electronic component is mounted on the circuit board. The cover has at least one open side. The cover includes a top plate and a mounting leg. The top plate is disposed so as to oppose the circuit board. The mounting leg is joined to the circuit board. The mounting leg is bent and extends from an outer periphery of the top plate. The top plate includes a bend portion and a cutaway portion. The bend portion is connected to the mounting leg. The cutaway portion is provided near the bend portion.
US09462729B1
Tile assemblies are provided having first and second tile sections and an airflow control mechanism. The first tile section allows, in a cold air cooling mode, cold air from a cold air plenum of a data center to flow into a cold air containment aisle for supply to an electronics rack(s). The second tile section is associated with the first tile section to allow, in a failover cooling mode, ambient air external the cold air plenum to flow, via an air pathway through the second and first tile sections into the containment aisle. The airflow control mechanism is disposed within the air pathway to block cold air from the cold air plenum from passing through the second tile section in the cold air cooling mode, and to allow, in the failover cooling mode, ambient air to pass through the air pathway into the cold air containment aisle.
US09462728B2
An electronic board includes a support on which first electronic components are installed, the first electronic components having a height of less than a first threshold height h1; a cold plate that extends parallel to the support, the distance between the cold plate and the support being equal to the first threshold height h1, the cold plate including a base plate in which at least one channel is formed through which a coolant can circulate, the base plate being fixed to a complementary plate closing the channel, the cold plate covers all first electronic components, the first electronic components being connected to the cold plate through deformable pads made of a heat conducting material.
US09462724B2
Various embodiments include a combined power and IT modular system including a housing, an IT load, and a DC power generator which is electrically connected to the IT load, wherein the IT load and the DC power generator are both located in the housing. Further embodiments include a method of operating a combined power and IT module including step of providing a combined power and IT module including a housing, an IT load, and a DC power generator which is electrically connected to the IT load, wherein the IT load and the DC power generator are both located in the housing, and operating the DC power generator to supply power to the IT load.
US09462720B1
An aligning apparatus for mounting cards into a housing space is provided. The aligning apparatus includes a first line card having a mating portion and a card guide assembly coupled to the first line card. The mating portion is configured to mate with a backplane of the housing space. The card guide assembly varies from a first height at a first portion to a second height at a second portion. The varying heights correspond to an arrangement of components on a neighboring card. The first and second portions are configured to guide directional movement of the first line card in relation to one or more components on the neighboring card during insertion of the first line card into the housing space. In this regard, the first line card is guided past the one or more components on the neighboring card as the mating portion of the first line card is moved toward the backplane.
US09462718B2
A circuit board mounting apparatus includes a circuit board, a first mounting member, a second mounting member, and a third mounting member. The first and second mounting members are mounted to a front side of the circuit board. The third mounting member is mounted to a rear side of the circuit board. The circuit board is capable of being mounted to a first side plate of a first chassis in a perpendicular manner by the first and second mounting members, or is capable of being mounted to a second side plate of a second chassis in a parallel manner by the first, second, and third mounting members.
US09462713B2
A transmission device applied to a pivot shaft mechanism provides a security system and is easy to assemble. The transmission device includes at least one rotary shaft, a drive section movable with the rotation of the rotary shaft, a driver (transversely) reciprocally movable and a turning unit having a first end connected with the driver and a second end assembled with a carrier body. The driver includes an arm section provided with an elastic body and a hand section connected with the arm section. When the driver is transversely moved, the turning unit is swung, whereby the second end of the turning unit drives the carrier body for lifting or lowering a substrate body or a frame in accordance with the operation mode of an electronic apparatus.
US09462711B2
A recessed portion is formed in a side face of a display device. An elastic body is provided in a recessed portion. The elastic body is elastically deformed to fix the display device to a housing when the display device is mounted in a predetermined-shaped space of the housing.
US09462710B2
A compartment of an arc resistant enclosure for an electrical component includes a plurality of wall structures defining an interior space for housing an electrical component. One of the wall structures has aperture structure for permitting pressure and gases to flow there-from and vent from the compartment. A stop structure is associated with the aperture structure. Flap structure is associated with the aperture structure and is movable from a closed position covering the aperture structure to an opened position extending outwardly of the compartment permitting pressure and gas to exit the compartment through the aperture structure. In the closed position, a portion of the flap structure engages the stop structure to prevent the flap structure from collapsing into the interior space of the compartment.
US09462708B2
A power semiconductor device comprising: a body, a substrate and power semiconductor components arranged on and connected to the substrate. The device has electrically conductive load connection elements and an integrally formed housing which runs laterally around the components. The body has a main outer surface which runs laterally around the components and which is at least partially covered by an elastic, electrically nonconductive, integrally formed, structured sealing element which runs laterally around the components. A section of the sealing element is arranged between the housing and the main outer surface of the body. The housing and the main outer surface of the body are pressed against the sealing element, which seals off the housing from the main outer surface of the body. The invention provides a compact device whose load connection elements are reliably electrically insulated from the body and whose housing is reliably sealed off from the body.
US09462707B2
A modular form factor power module system with monitoring and control functions is disclosed. The power module system is configured to power, monitor and/or control telecommunications equipment at the circuit level.
US09462701B2
In a method for mounting an element or component having at least one metal surface in or on a circuit board containing at least one conducting layer made of metal material, a connection between the at least one metal surface of the element and the at least one conducting layer of the circuit board is formed using ultrasonic welding or high-frequency friction welding in order to create a mechanically stable and resistant connection or attachment having good conductivity. Furthermore, a circuit board is disclosed in which at least one element or component having a metal surface is or can be connected to a conducting or conductive layer of the circuit board using ultrasonic welding or high-frequency friction welding.
US09462688B2
The present invention relates to a flexible metal laminate with low dielectric constant, which may be applied for a substrate for a flexible printed circuit. A flexible metal laminate according to one aspect of the invention includes a first metal layer; a first polyimide layer; a polyimide layer including fluoropolymer dispersed therein, formed on the first polyimide layer; and a second polyimide layer formed on the polyimide layer including fluoropolymer dispersed therein; wherein in the polyimider layer including dispersed fluoropolymer, the content of the fluoropolymer per unit volume is higher at 40 to 60% depth than at 5 to 10% depth of the total thickness from the surface of the polyimide layer.
US09462683B2
The present invention provides a cooktop appliance with features for correcting the color of light passing through the cooking surface such that the light appears a desired to a user of the cooktop appliance. More specifically, a colored translucent ink may be applied to a light transmissive layer of a user interface assembly such that light passing through the ink and the cooking surface appears a desired color to the user.
US09462681B2
A conductive film includes a base film, a primer layer formed on the base film, the primer layer having voids, and a conductive layer formed on the primer layer. The conductive layer includes a conductor that contains a nano-material forming a network structure.
US09462676B2
A multi-layer circuit member includes first and second electrically connected reference regions. At least a portion of a signal conductor is in proximity to the first region and a circuit component is in proximity to the second region. An area of increased impedance exists between the first and second electrically connected regions.
US09462669B2
A device and method for the magnetic confinement of plasma is formed by a cylindrically stacked column of current-carrying magnetic field coils with electrodes interior to each magnetic field coil so as to induce plasma fluid rotation about an annular confinement region formed of cusped-geometry magnetic fields. Electrodes are formed such that the electric fields produced are tangential to the magnetic fields, and so as to maintain consistent azimuthal direction of plasma rotation, electric field electrodes alternate accordingly in polarity along the axial length of the device.
US09462665B2
A circuit in a configurable light timer for receiving data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is described. The circuit comprises an input portion coupled to receive first data from a portable memory device by way of a connector on the configurable light timer; and a data transceiver coupled to receive wireless communication signals according to a wireless communication protocol, the wireless communication signals comprising second data for implementing the configurable light timer; wherein the second data coupled to the configurable light timer by way of the wireless communication link comprises timing characterization data. A method of receiving data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is also disclosed.
US09462662B1
Photocontrol apparatus that controls a luminaire or other load such that the luminaire is switched on during nighttime hours and off during the daytime. The photocontrol generates a micro-amp power supply using the voltage generated across a high value resistor in series with an alternating current (AC) power line. The photocontrol consumes only microwatts of power in either the ON or the OFF state, unlike traditional relay- or triac-based photocontrols. The photocontrol does not require a voltage generating photo sensor to generate power for the photocontrol. A solar cell, semiconductor photo diode or photo diode string, cadmium sulfide cell, semiconductor ambient light sensor, etc., may be used as the sensor element.
US09462660B2
An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.
US09462654B2
A user-actuated lighting effect device includes a housing, a light-generating lamp coupled to the housing, a power source, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a user-actuated switch operably coupling the lamp and the power source. The lamp creates a lighting effect on or near the user when the first switch is on. The housing can be mounted in a use orientation on a pedal board. The lamp can create an upwardly directed lighting effect. An operational mode can be selected using a lighting mode switch.
US09462645B1
An LED driver circuit with stepwise adjustable power and an LED lighting tube. The LED driver circuit comprises a constant current IC chip U1, a power supply unit connecting to the constant current IC chip U1, a switch control unit and a driving unit. The driving unit connects to the switch control unit. The LED driver circuit also comprises a power regulation unit. The power regulation unit connects to the constant current IC chip U1, the switch control unit and the driving unit. The present invention uses 12 W, 15 W, 18 W (or) more stepwise adjustable power. It is applicable to LED lighting tubes, ceiling lights, panel lights and all types of LED stepwise adjustable power.
US09462638B2
An induction heating cooker having an oil temperature control function by of the amount of change of an operating frequency, and a control method thereof, the induction heating cooker including a heating coil, an inverter unit, a driving unit, a detection unit to detect a value of a current that flows at the heating coil, and a control unit to calculate an operating frequency of the driving unit according to the value of the current, to vary the operating frequency so that the heating coil maintains a constant output that corresponds to an output level, and to determine whether oil accommodated in a container placed on the heating coil is overheated, by use of an amount of change of the operating frequency, and the maintenance or the control of the temperature of oil may be achieved.
US09462637B2
Disclosed is a heater device. The heater device includes: a cylindrical insulating member; a heater element which is spirally wound plural times and disposed on an inner circumference side of the insulating member; and a supporting member having one or more first members disposed on inner circumference side of the heater element and extending in an axial direction of the insulating member, and a plurality of second members which extend from the first members to an outside of the insulating member in a radial direction and pass through gaps between turns of the heater element which are adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the insulating member such that end portions of the second members are formed to be embedded in the insulating member, in which the first members have expansion allowance portions which allow thermal expansion in the axial direction.
US09462617B2
Disclosed herein are connection management techniques for wireless docking. According to various such techniques, a wireless docking station may be arranged to implement an auto-connect mode setting that defines whether mobile clients are permitted to automatically connect to the wireless docking station, and may be arranged to implement a persistent pairing setting that defines whether authentication certificates may be reused. In some embodiments, the wireless docking station may be configured to advertise the auto-connect mode setting and the persistent pairing setting in auto-connect capability information elements (IEs) that it includes in probe requests and/or probe responses. The embodiments are not limited in this context.
US09462610B2
A device, method or system implements operations to receive compressed samples of wireless transmissions from a plurality of user equipment (UEs) traveling through different communication regions in a wireless network, and detect information in the wireless transmissions of the UEs based on the compressed samples.
US09462587B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for aggregating carriers in wireless communication systems. In the method, a first carrier is set up, and a second carrier is added in addition to the first carrier. In addition, the first carrier is a time division duplex (TDD) carrier for which an uplink subframe and a downlink subframe are positioned at different times in a frame, and the second carrier is a carrier only for a downlink that consists of downlink subframes.
US09462580B2
Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to transmit uplink information. The WTRU may have information such as data or control information to transmit to a network. The (WTRU) may request a common enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) resource from the network. The WTRU may receive an indication from the network to fallback using a random access channel, e.g. a Release 99 Random Access Channel (R99 RACH), a Release 99 Physical Random Access Channel (R99 PRACH), etc. The indication may be received via an acquisition indicator (E-AI). The indication may be a value of the E-AI. The WTRU may determine whether a condition is met. The WTRU may transmit the uplink information over the R99 PRACH if the condition is met.
US09462579B2
A system and method that facilitates mobile device selection among available qualities of service is described herein. A telecommunications network sends a notification to a mobile device when a change in quality of service is available to the mobile device. The mobile device then enables selection of an upgrade or downgrade to the current quality of service. In response to a selection, the mobile device transmits to the telecommunications network the change in quality of service. The telecommunications network then adjusts the quality of service in accordance with the request.
US09462576B2
A method for transmitting radio resources in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a plurality of UEs and transmitting response information associated with the received preambles over a common channel wherein the plurality UEs can access the common channel and receive corresponding information. If a HARQ scheme is used when a UE transmits data to the eNode-B using uplink radio resources allocated over the RACH, the eNode-B does not pre-allocate uplink radio resources required for re-transmission and performs allocation of radio resources for a first transmission of HARQ. If the re-transmission is required, the eNode-B allocates the radio resources required for the re-transmission with the NACK signal. If re-transmission is not required, the present invention can reduce an amount of wasted radio resources.
US09462574B2
A dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) system may include a dynamic spectrum policy controller (DPC) and a dynamic spectrum controller (DSC) that together dynamically manage the allocation and use of resources (e.g., spectrum resources) across different networks. A dynamic spectrum arbitrage application part (DSAAP) protocol/component/module may allow, facilitate, support, or augment communications between the DSC and DPC so as to improve the efficiency and speed of the DSA system. The DSAAP may allow the DPC and/or DSC components to better pool resources across the different networks, better monitor traffic and resource usage in the various networks, to more efficiently communicate bids and bidding information, to quickly and efficiently register and deregister components, and better perform backoff operations. The DSAAP may improve the DSA resource auctioning operations by improving the performance and efficiency of the procedures for bidding, generating invoices, advertizing resources, requesting resources, purchasing resources, validating bid credentials, etc.
US09462572B2
A multimedia broadcast multicast service counting method is provided in the present invention, comprising: after receiving Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) Counting Initiation information sent by a network side, a base station sending MBMS counting indication information to a User Equipment (UE) via an air interface; and the base station reporting the counting information about the MBMS to the network side according to a received MBMS counting result reported by the UE. A multimedia broadcast multicast service counting system for implementing the method is further provided in the present invention. The present invention can timely and accurately count the MBMS correspondingly, which can enable the network side to timely and accurately learn the application situation of the current MBMS and make it convenient for the network side to make relevant deployment regarding the MBMS.
US09462566B1
A method of managing a pre-configuration mode for a mobile communication device supporting services. The method comprises responsive to the mobile communication device is not being provisioned for wireless communications service, not being assigned to any user account, and not being flagged as in a pre-configuration mode, assigning a temporary identifier corresponding to a service profile to the mobile communication device selected from a plurality of temporary identifiers, wherein a limited set of services is assigned to the service profile, wherein each service profile from a plurality of service profiles defines a specific limited set of services from a plurality of sets of limited services, wherein limited services are less services than services to fully provisioned mobile communication devices. The method further comprises monitoring time elapsed from the assignment of the temporary identifier, and transmitting an advertisement to the mobile communication device in response to the device invoking a service.
US09462563B2
Methods (100) and apparatuses (12, 24, 38) taught herein advantageously facilitate use of timing measurements in wireless communication networks (10) where radio signal timing measurements involve signals at different carrier frequencies. The methods and apparatuses in particular compensate such timing measurements for expected discrepancies in the measurements that arise from frequency-dependent differences in the propagation behavior of the radio signals being measured. In a non-limiting example, measurements at two or more frequencies may be compensated for the frequency distance between those frequencies, or with respect to a reference frequency. In such cases, timing measurements determined for one or more other radio signals are compensated as a function of the frequency distance between the reference frequency and the frequencies of such other radio signals.
US09462557B2
Method and an apparatus in a user equipment for controlling transmission power of the user equipment
Disclosed are methods and apparatuses in user equipments (1400) and network nodes (1410, 420) for controlling transmission power of the user equipments when the user equipments are connected to a wireless network. The disclosed methods and apparatuses deals with independently controlling transmission power of SRS signals and signals comprising traffic data from the user equipment (1400). Thereby, it is possible to use different power levels for SRS signals intended to e.g. a macro node and for traffic data intended to e.g. a pico node.
US09462548B1
In any cellular communication the network transmits broadcast information with some periodicity which is defined by the network parameters. The client terminal must acquire this system information in order to access the services from the network. The time required by the client terminal to acquire all the necessary system information to initiate network access may depend on the scheduling of the system information broadcast by the network. In some cases the scheduling information about the system information may be described in another system information message whose schedule may be fixed or known a priori. Conventional method of decoding the complete system information may involve decoding attempt for all the possible instances of transmission of the system information. A method and apparatus are disclosed that enables acquisition of the system information based on stored known instances of system information transmission. This results in reduced power consumption at the client terminal.
US09462546B2
A mobile station that performs wireless communication by using a plurality of wireless carriers, the mobile station includes a transmission managing unit that detects a transmission timing of communication data of a predetermined wireless carrier, and a state managing unit that makes the predetermined wireless carrier an activated state when the transmission managing unit detects the transmission timing of the communication data, and makes the predetermined wireless carrier a deactivated state after the communication data is transmitted and received.
US09462544B2
The invention relates to a method for activating at least one inactive cell in a wireless telecommunications infrastructure. The telecommunications infrastructure comprises an active cell containing a plurality of terminals. A presence signal is transmitted in the at least one inactive cell. The plurality of terminals in the active cell detect the presence signal(s) of the one or more inactive cells to gather information from the inactive cell. The information is reported to and received at the telecommunications infrastructure. The information received from the plurality of terminals is processed in a processing system of the telecommunications infrastructure to provide a processing result. The inactive cell is activated when the processing result fulfills at least one activation condition such that at least one of the plurality of terminals is within a coverage area of the activated cell.
US09462543B2
The various embodiments herein provide a method and system for operating a multi-subscriber identity module (SIM) mobile device. The method includes identifying a common suitable public land mobile network (PLMN) cell between a first radio frequency (RF) unit and a second RF unit of the mobile device. The first RF unit and the second RF unit of the mobile device are currently camped on different PLMN cells. Further, the method includes enforcing at least one of the first RF unit and the second RF unit to camp on said common suitable PLMN cell and disabling one of the first RF unit and the second RF unit when at least one of the first RF unit and the second RF unit camps on the common suitable PLMN cell.
US09462542B2
A method and a base station for a cell selection are provided. The method comprises obtaining an uplink traffic status of a user equipment. The method also comprises determining, based upon the plink traffic status, a bias value for a measured quality indicator of a down link received signal with respect to the user equipment. In addition, the method comprises performing the cell selection based upon the bias value and the measured quality indicator. With the present invention, a proper cell could be selected and thus both peak DL and UL throughput can be improved in the heterogeneous network.
US09462538B2
The addition of high throughput capability elements to beacon frames and peer link action frames in wireless mesh networks enable the utilization of desirable features without further modifications to the network. Rules can be established for high throughput mesh point protection in a mesh network, Space-time Block Code (STBC) operations and 20/40 MHz operation selections. However, features such as PSMP (power save multi-poll) and PCO (phased coexistence operations) are barred from implementation to prevent collisions.
US09462537B2
The present invention provides a network access point, a network controller, a network device, and a load control method thereof. The load control method includes: setting, by a network device, an access condition for accessing a first network by a terminal; receiving, by the network device, a first signal from the terminal, and obtaining a measurement parameter of the terminal according to the first signal; and if the measurement parameter of the terminal satisfies the access condition, sending, by the network device, a second signal to the terminal, so as to allow the terminal to access the first network, wherein the measurement parameter is a signal strength of the terminal and/or a terminal distance of the terminal. By using the foregoing manner, the present invention can improve spectral efficiency of a network access point.
US09462529B2
A method in a network node for performing network tasks based on a user equipment trajectory includes the network node receiving cell change information from a user equipment wherein the cell change information further includes user equipment trajectory data based on cell parameters of visited cells in a user equipment trajectory. The method in a user equipment for collecting cell change information associated with a cell change includes the user equipment storing the cell change information within the user equipment. The cell change information is sent to the network node for performing network tasks.
US09462521B2
Data center network provisioning method includes partitioning a plurality of virtual machines in the data center network into a plurality of groups according to topology information of data center network. A plurality of virtual machines in each group is assigned to a plurality of servers in the data center network. A pair-wised transmission path of the plurality of servers is assigned according to a traffic load of each switch in the data center network.
US09462517B2
Channel quality indicators (CQIs) for each cell of a plurality of cells may be sent at a multiple of a transmission time interval (TTI). CQIs for the different cells may be in different TTIs. A timer or L2 message may be utilized to determine when to send CQIs for different cells. CQIs for different cells may be sent over an uplink data channel in a single TTI.
US09462515B2
In a Long Term Evolution (LTE) environment, the LTE network can coordinate with a subscribing user equipment to manage offloading to a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point or other base station. In doing so, the serving base station on the LTE network can acquire device capabilities of the user equipment and provide configuration details to the user equipment based on those capabilities. These configuration details may cause the user equipment to monitor one or more triggers, and may configure a scan to be later performed by the user equipment. Based on the monitored trigger, the user equipment can then scan the environment according to the scan configuration defined by the base station, and relay scan results to the base station to make a handover determination.
US09462503B2
A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.
US09462487B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a transceiver configured to receive a transmission signal from a radio node; a processor configured to, based on the received transmission signal, determine membership of the apparatus and the radio node in a common synchronization group and based at least in part on the determination, adjusting at least one transmission parameter.
US09462485B2
A system and method for improving signal reception in an access point. The system and method may comprise the steps of: transmitting a non-zero 802.11 NULL-data packet to a client, wherein the traffic test is initiated at intervals; receiving an 802.11 ACKnowledgement packet from the client wherein the 802.11 ACKnowledgement packet indicates that the non-zero 802.11 NULL-data packet was received by the client; and discarding the non-zero 802.11 NULL-data packet after receipt.
US09462484B2
In a multi-carrier wireless system, potential problems from reconfiguring mobile station resources to accommodate changes in component-carrier configuration are mitigated by inserting a guard period each time the configuration of component carriers changes, so that transceiver reconfiguration can be carried out without interfering with ongoing transmission. A base station is configured to transmit data to a mobile station according to a first configuration of two or more component carriers, to determine that a change of configuration to a second component-carrier configuration is required, and to signal the change of configuration to the mobile station, using the first configuration of component carriers. The base station then refrains from transmitting data to the mobile station during a pre-determined guard interval of at least one transmission-time interval subsequent to the signaling of the change of configuration. After the guard interval, data is transmitted to the mobile station according to the second component-carrier configuration.
US09462477B2
Flexible sharing of common radio access network (RAN) resources may pool unallocated resources. For example, sharing of the network resources may be static, e.g., the sharing contract may define a fixed percentage allocation of network resources that may not be modified without change in contract. The sharing of the network resource may also be dynamic and may accommodate the capacity needs of hosted operators on a real-time basis.
US09462475B2
The invention proposes several improvements related to the management of secure elements, like UICCs embedding Sim applications, these secure elements being installed, fixedly or not, in terminals, like for example mobile phones. In some cases, the terminals are constituted by machines that communicate with other machines for M2M (Machine to Machine) applications.
US09462471B2
In an example, an audio stream such as a voice call or live-streaming service may have mixed therein a user identification, which may identify the user as an authorized participant in the audio stream. For example, a user may identify himself to a smart phone, and then initiate a call with his bank. The smart phone may mix a user identification into the voice stream. A receiving device at the bank may demix the identification, and determine that the user is authorized to call about this account. In another example, identification may be used for DRM purposes, to identify a user as a legitimate participant in an audio stream. When a user is not authorized, an appropriate action may be taken, such as dropping the user, degrading the quality of the audio stream, or providing a notification that the user is not authorized.
US09462467B2
A machine-readable medium encoded with instructions to execute steps comprising: authorizing access to a system using a location of a portable communications device.
US09462466B2
Gateway router supporting session hand-off and content sharing among clients of a local area network
A gateway router is positioned at a boundary of a local area network and a wide area network. The gateway router supports hand-off among client device and/or user accounts for network communications sessions with a network device of the wide area network. The gateway router further supports content sharing among client devices and/or user accounts via the gateway router over the local area network. Data resources in the form of account information, files, applications, session state information, etc. may be stored at the gateway router to facilitate hand-off and/or content sharing among the clients of the local area network.
US09462465B2
Systems, methods, and devices for communicating MPDUs having a plurality of types are described herein. One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of processing a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) in a wireless system. The method includes receiving the MAC protocol data unit, the MAC protocol data unit comprising an indication of a communication in accordance with a protocol version. The method further includes selecting a replay counter from one of a first and second sets of replay counters based at least in part on the indication. The method further includes processing the received MAC protocol data unit in accordance with the selected replay counter.
US09462464B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for communications via a mesh network. To join an existing mesh network, a wireless communication device may identify a member device from a plurality of member devices of an existing mesh network. The wireless communication device may communicate with the identified member device to participate in a single authentication procedure. Upon successfully completing the single authentication procedure, the wireless communication device may join the existing mesh network without needing any additional authentication procedures with another member device of the plurality of member devices to join the existing mesh network. This approach may be used for any mesh network, such as a social Wi-Fi mesh network.
US09462456B2
The disclosure relates to creating a time-sensitive grammar. A device receives a plurality of data points, identifies a plurality of time gaps associated with the plurality of data points, each of the plurality of time gaps representing a dwell time or a frequency of occurrence of a data point of the plurality of data points, generates a generic time factor representing a multiple of the plurality of time gaps, and combines the generic time factor with the plurality of data points to create a time-sensitive sequence of data points. The generic time factor may be inserted into the time-sensitive sequence a number of times representing the dwell time or the frequency of occurrence of a corresponding data point of the plurality of data points.
US09462453B2
Disclosed is method comprising: storing in a home location register (HLR) at least one subscription record of a mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, the mobile device having a subscriber identity module (SIM) identified by a currently activated first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the currently activated first IMSI belonging to a set of IMSIs allocated to the system, wherein the provisioning server is operative to: receive a notification that the mobile devices has moved into a first one of the wireless networks; confirm that an allocation rule is satisfied; add and activate a second one of the IMSIs in the set of IMSIs to the HLR and remove the currently activated first IMSI from the HLR; and send the second IMSI to the mobile device to enable the mobile device to communicate wirelessly in the first wireless network as a local device.
US09462446B2
External accessory data is collected at a mobile data collection platform (MDCP) provided by an external accessory of the MDCP. An image that includes a point of interest is captured using an image capturing device integral to the MDCP. Raw observables are obtained from a GNSS chipset internal to the MDCP. An position fix of the MDCP defines the location of an antenna and is determined based on the raw observables. An entrance pupil location is calculated as an offset off the antenna location. Orientation information comprising a tilt angle and an azimuth angle is determined. The position fix and orientation information are associated with a three dimensional location that the MDCP is at when the image was captured. External accessory data is received from an accessory external to the MDCP. The image, position fix, orientation information and external accessory data are stored in hardware memory of the MDCP.
US09462444B1
An apparatus wearable by a user for automatically contacting a public safety access point (PSAP) is disclosed. The wearable apparatus includes several sensors for obtaining datasets. One of datasets is a location of a user. The wearable apparatus also includes a cellular transceiver. The cellular transceiver transmits the datasets to a cloud computing system, receives a classification of the datasets as a user state from the cloud computing system, and contacts a safety access point (PSAP) (e.g., 9-1-1 emergency services, an automated emergency call center, etc.) based on the location of the user.
US09462442B2
An apparatus is capable of sharing information through a presence service in a communication network and capable of providing presence information of a Mobile Station (MS). The apparatus extracts at least one of application information and contents indication information from an application in execution. Presence information is generated that includes at least one of the application information and the contents indication information, and transmitting the presence information to a presence server.
US09462429B2
Users can be alerted of important missed calls while away from their mobile device by sending missed call notifications to contacts of the user, which may include friends, family, colleagues, or other people/entities associated with the called party. The missed call notifications may include text or automated voicemail messages, email messages, and/or messages sent via a social networking site or service to name a few, and can specify information pertaining to the missed call and/or the calling party. Missed call notifications can be triggered when one or more predefined conditions are met, such as when the mobile device is deemed not to be in the possession of the user and/or the missed call is deemed to be important. Missed call notifications can originate from the mobile device or a network device.
US09462426B1
According to one aspect, a method includes obtaining, at a client included in a push-to-talk (PTT) system, a plurality of talk bursts including at least a first talk burst and a second talk burst, the first talk burst being associated with a first source included in the PTT system, the second talk burst being associated with a second source included in the PTT system, wherein the plurality of talk bursts are obtained at approximately a first time. The method also includes identifying the first source as a source of interest and determining, after identifying the first source as the source of interest, an identity of the first source. Finally, the method includes processing the first talk burst as having a priority over the second talk burst.
US09462422B1
A method for estimating the elevation of an wireless terminal inside of a tall structure is described that compensates for differences in temperature and atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside of the structure.
US09462407B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive a request for reverberation in an environment having a plurality of media devices, and adjust a time delay for audio signals presented by one of the plurality of media devices operably coupled to the set top box based at least in part on the request. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09462402B2
Some embodiments relate to a manufacturing process that combines a MEMS capacitor of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone and an integrated circuit (IC) onto a single substrate. A dielectric is formed over a device substrate. A conductive diaphragm and a conductive backplate are formed within the dielectric, with a sacrificial portion of the dielectric between them. A first recess is formed, which extends through the dielectric to an upper surface of the conductive diaphragm. A second recess is formed, which extends through the substrate and dielectric to a lower surface of the conductive backplate. The sacrificial layer is removed to create an air gap between the conductive diaphragm and the conductive backplate. The air gap joins the first and second recesses to form a cavity that extends continuously through the dielectric and the substrate. The present disclosure is also directed to the semiconductor structure of the MEMS microphone resulting from the manufacturing process.
US09462401B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a public address system with a control center to which loudspeakers are connected via a two-wire loop system that is routed via isolator modules. A fault can be located on the loop system if the control center measures the impedance of the loop system successively from isolator module to isolator module and the impedance of the entire loop system, inputs the measured values as target values into an impedance table, periodically measures the impedance of the entire loop system during operation, compares said impedance with the corresponding target value from the impedance table, generates a fault message upon determining a deviation, ascertains the fault location by comparing the measured value with the individual target values in the impedance table, and displays said fault location.
US09462368B2
An apparatus is disclosed for inputting digital data on the output channel(s) of an audio subsystem in an audio device, without interfering with normal operation of the audio subsystem. The described circuit includes a resistive element in parallel with the expected load device, such as a headphone or speaker. The resistive element receives a modulated digital signal from a data source or a switch, and the instantaneous current through the resistive element due to the modulated digital signal is reflected in a current feedback mechanism of the audio subsystem. Demodulation logic retrieves the digital signal from the current measured by the current feedback mechanism. A capacitor is provided to prevent the current in the resistive element from the digital signal from impacting the average DC current that the feedback mechanism uses to evaluate the load device.
US09462365B1
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for the transmission of audio information from a bone-conduction headset to a user. The bone-conduction headset may be mounted on a glasses-style support structure. The bone-conduction transducer may be mounted near where the glasses-style support structure approach a wearer's ears. In one embodiment, an apparatus has a bone-conduction transducer with a diaphragm configured to vibrate based on a magnetic field. The magnetic field being based off an applied electric field. The apparatus may also have an anvil coupled to the diaphragm. The anvil may be configured to conduct the vibration from the bone-conduction transducer. Additionally, the anvil may be anvil may include at least one passage configured to enable the anvil to be physically coupled to the diaphragm. Thus, the anvil may be coupled to the diaphragm after the anvil is positioned on the diaphragm.
US09462355B2
A system and method is provided to automatically generate content for ITV products and services by processing primary media sources. In one embodiment of the invention, keywords are automatically extracted from the primary media sources using one or more of a variety of techniques directed to video, audio and/or textual content of the multimodal source. In some embodiments, keywords are then processed according to one or more disclosed algorithms to narrow the quantity of downstream processing that is necessary to associate secondary sources (reference items) with the primary video source. Embodiments of the invention also provide automatic searching methods for the identification of reference items based on the processed keywords in order to maximize the value added by the association of reference items to the video source.
US09462353B2
An enhanced television service provides a shared folder over a television network, such as a fiber optic network. Users, the service provider, or trusted sources, share use of a program folder via television. A user recommends content, such as a program listing, to other geographically dispersed subscribers, by sending the content to the subscribers' shared folder. Users may create a personal content guide for use instead of a standard program guide that contains identical listings for all subscribers. The shared folder may consist of programs from a variety of channels as well as other content and may be populated by trusted sources in remote locations. Users may search for content that matches search criteria and may delete or edit listings from the shared folder. The contents of the folder may not only include program listings, but also other content such as movies, television shows, web sites, photos, home videos, etc.
US09462351B2
An interactive television program guide is provided. The interactive television program guide provides a user with the opportunity to select a language for playing television programming and displaying program guide text. Television program audio in the desired language may be obtained from a SAP or digital audio track and played in the selected language. Television related information in the desired language may be obtained from a digital track. If television program audio or related information is not provided in the selected language, the program guide may use a default language. The program guide may coordinate program guide display screen text with languages available for television programs when the programs are broadcast to users.
US09462349B2
The present invention relates to a method for a control point of initiating actions on a device in a communication network comprising at least two control points both adapted to control said device. Further, the present invention relates to a method for a device of initiating actions on said device in a communication network comprising at least two control points both adapted to control said device. Further, the present invention relates to a control point of initiating actions on a device in a communication network comprising at least two control point both adapted to control said device. Further, the present invention relates to a device in a communication network comprising at least two control points both adapted to control said device based on action requests received from a control point along with control point identification.
US09462337B2
Techniques for delivering video-on-demand content via peer-to-peer connections are provided. A video-on-demand distribution service maintains associations of viewer devices that have specific video-on-demand content. As new viewer devices, which lack the specific video-on-demand content, make requests for the specific video-on-demand content from the video-on-demand distribution system, the video-on-demand distribution system identifies a peer-to-peer viewer device from which the specific video-on-demand content may be acquired via a peer-to-peer transaction. Video-on-demand content sources are identified by comparing distances between the geographical location of the requestor device and geographical locations of devices of the plurality of viewer devices to a distance threshold. A first portion of a first item of video on demand content is obtained from source viewer device and a second portion of the first item of video on demand content is obtained from the video distribution system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09462328B2
A method and apparatus for streaming content is disclosed. A streamer (155) detects a cue for a break in a segment of the program content, wherein the cue includes an identification of an advertising provider associated with the break. The streamer sends, to an advertisement server (115), a request for content associated with the advertising provider, and receives, from the advertisement server, an advertisement associated with the advertising provider. Further, the streamer transcodes the advertisement based on configuration information of an additional device (165) to generate formatted content viewable on the additional device. Moreover, the streamer streams the formatted content to the additional device via the local connection.
US09462323B1
Aspects of the invention may involve systems and methods. A method for providing video and mixed media content to a user device may include receiving content data from a content source and broadcasting the state of the content source. The content data may be split into audio data and visual data. Snapshots of the visual data over a length of time may be extracted. The plurality of snapshots and the audio data may be transformed into text strings and packaged into a data object. In response to a request from a user device, the data object and browser executable instructions may be sent to the user device. The instructions may transform the text into sound and into image snapshots to be consecutively displayed in a browser, where the displayed snapshots is synchronized with the sound, and other media content is displayed in the browser.
US09462316B2
A method begins by a processing module obtaining a unique retrieval matrix based on an identity of the playback device and sending a request for retrieval of a set of encoded broadcast data slices to a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory, wherein the request includes the unique retrieval matrix and identity of the set of encoded broadcast data slices. The method continues with the processing module receiving a subset of the set of encoded broadcast data slices from the DSN memory, wherein the subset of the set of encoded broadcast data slices is based on the unique retrieval matrix. The method continues with the processing module storing the subset of the sets of encoded broadcast data slices.
US09462312B2
Systems and methods for facilitating purchases of broadband content and services are provided. A request to purchase broadband content or a broadband service may be received by a server from a customer device. A transaction associated with the received purchase request may be completed in real-time. Based upon the completion of the transaction, one of (i) access rights associated with the broadband content or (ii) a feature set associated with the broadband service may be altered. The requested broadband content or broadband service is then made available to the customer.
US09462309B2
In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining metadata that relates to a video program and that defines, for one or more specified time points in the video program, one or more web services to be invoked at those time points; generating and displaying, on a computer, a video window that is configured to play the video program; during playing the video program on a computer, detecting that the video program is playing at one of the time points and determining an identifier of a particular web service associated with that one of the time points; in response to the detecting, causing the computer to invoke the particular web service.
US09462308B2
An audiovisual (AV) distribution network communicates via Internet Protocol and is implemented as a framework of local area networks (LANs). Transmitters and receivers in the AV distribution network leverage multicast transmission technology and pre-authentication to switch quickly and seamlessly between sources transmitting audiovisual data protected by a security protocol scheme.
US09462306B2
Stream-switching techniques are applied in a content delivery system. A merge frame is generated as a function of bit-rates, distortion, and a piecewise constant operator. Parameters of the piecewise constant operator are selected to optimize the merge frame. Data streams are switched based on bandwidth requirements, switch requests, and throughput of a network. Images are reconstructed based on the merge frames and prediction frames. Reconstructed images are identically reconstructed for any prediction frame based on the merge frame.
US09462303B2
The present invention is directed to content searching of various databases in an interactive television network; caching programming for rebroadcasting to interactive television network subscribers; and interactively offering goods and services referred to in broadcast programming to interactive television network subscribers.
US09462293B1
A method of receiving video data receives an original image at a processing device, estimates an image of higher resolution than the original image from the original image, generate a simulated image of the original image from the higher resolution image, derives difference data between the original image and the simulated image, upscale the difference data, wherein upscaling includes weighting the difference data with an adjusted confidence value, wherein the confidence value is adjusted based upon local information, and uses the upscaled difference data to estimate a new higher resolution image.
US09462287B2
A system for decoding a video bitstream includes receiving a frame of the video that includes at least one slice and at least one tile and where each of the at least one slice and the at least one tile are not all aligned with one another.
US09462284B2
A method for produces a video data stream for an expansion signal, wherein a base signal represents a first video quality degree and the expansion and base signals jointly represent a second video quality. Only second syntax elements of the expansion signal which are not describable by the first syntax element of the base signal are taken into account during encoding, the coding mode of a video encoding method which is encodable by all syntax elements is selected by means of statistical method, said second syntax elements are not representable by one or several first syntax elements and the method brings about to the production of the shortest video data stream for said second syntax elements. A decoding method for restoring the expansion signal from the video data stream, encoding and coding devices are also disclosed.
US09462270B1
Systems, apparatus and methods can operate to generate frame aligned digital video streams encoded at different bitrates from a common digital video stream. To provide uninterrupted playback of video content when a device switches from one stream encoded at one bit rate to the same digital video stream encoded at another bitrate, the video frames of the digital video streams can be aligned. To provide for proper frame alignment between fragments representing the same frame of a digital video stream encoded at different bitrates, video encoding device(s) can mark decoded digital pictures for subsequent encoding at different bit rates when the division of a program reference clock value by the fragment period approaches an integer value.
US09462265B2
A method of measuring light emission of a display panel and a method of compensating light emission of a display panel are disclosed. In one aspect the method of measuring light emission includes setting a location of a camera such that a imaging range area of the camera includes a first divided region among a plurality of divided regions, wherein the display panel is larger than the imaging range area of the camera and includes the divided regions, and wherein each of the divided regions is smaller than the imaging range area; first displaying a recognition pattern image on the first divided region. The method also includes shooting the first divided region by the camera so as to generate a recognition pattern shot; second displaying a single-color image on the first divided region.
US09462261B2
A two dimensional/three dimensional (2D/3D) switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus and method to selectively display a 2D image and a 3D image using two displays and a convertible lens. When outputting the 2D image, the 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus may control a first display to output a white image/white light, control a second display to output an image, and control an electrical diffuser lens of the convertible lens to be switched off and the white image to be diffused so as to operate as a backlight. When outputting the 3D image, the 2D/3D switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus may control the first display to output an image, control the second display to be switched off to be in a transparent state, control the electrical diffuser lens of the convertible lens to be switched on to be in the transparent state, and control the lenticular lens to output the 3D image.
US09462257B2
A method and apparatus provide two-dimensional to three-dimensional image conversion. The apparatus can include an input configured to receive a first image. The apparatus can include a controller configured to segment the first image into a plurality of regions, configured to perform a Fast Fourier Transform on at least one of the regions, and configured to determine a relative horizontal displacement distance between a first frame and a second frame of at least one region based on performing the Fast Fourier Transform.
US09462247B2
An image processing apparatus comprises an estimation unit which estimates, from color distribution information of an image obtained by capturing an object, a depth of water at which the captured object is positioned, and a white balance control unit which performs white balance control along an axis different from a black body radiation axis in accordance with the depth of water estimated by the estimation unit.
US09462243B2
A method for controlling a display is provided. An RGB video signal is transformed into an RGBW video signal based on a human factor. The display has a plurality of pixels configured to display images according to the RGBW video signal, where each of the pixels has a red subpixel, a green subpixel, a blue subpixel and a white subpixel. According to the method, when brightness of a backlight module of the display is reduced to decrease energy consumption of the display, quality of the images of the display observed by users is still maintained within an acceptable range.
US09462238B1
Methods and systems for monitoring a remote agent. An agent's workstation may be provided with an application that receives a trigger condition at an agent workstation during a communication between the remote agent and a caller. During the communication, it may be determined if video imagery of the remote agent is required. If so, video imagery capture may be triggered. The video imagery may be associated with activities of the remote agent during the capture, and the video imagery stored at a recorder for later playback.
US09462231B1
A system and method for producing a video-based group conversation for viewing over a network. A template is configured to generate a display at a first user computer which includes a plurality of sections in a single screen display, including at least a preview section configured for displaying an indicator for each of one or more viewers who are viewing the video-based conversation, and a media player section configured for displaying a video signal including at least some of the video feeds. The creator of the video-based group conversation controls which users can participate in the video-based group conversation by enabling video streams provided by those users to be displayed on the screen and viewable to other users who access the group conversation.
US09462226B1
A management system for managing remote communication between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal includes a transmitter that transmits first screen data to the first communication terminal to display a first screen image based on the first screen data on a first display, a receiver that receives image data including an eye image of a first user from the first communication terminal, circuitry that specifies a sightline position indicating the first user's sightline of with respect to the first screen image based on the received image data, and generates second screen data that includes sightline information indicating the first user's sightline at the specified sightline position. The transmitter transmits the second screen data to the second communication terminal operated by a second user to display a second screen image having the sightline information on the specified sightline position on a second display.
US09462223B2
A telepresence system enhances the perception of presence of a remote person involved in a video conference. The system preferably has a two-way mirror, which is between the observer and the display device, positioned at an angle to reflect a backdrop surface. The backdrop surface may or may not appear superimposed in a position behind the image of a person from the remote location. The system preferably minimizes image distortion via an optical path for the camera line of sight that is substantially longer than the physical distance between the user and the camera. The system may be asymmetrical, in that one camera is on axis with the user's line of sight while the other camera is off axis with the user's line of sight.
US09462221B2
Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
US09462219B2
A method for reverse video playback and a computer-readable medium are provided for playing a video stream backward. The video stream includes a plurality of groups of pictures which includes a plurality of frames. The frames include one I-frame and at least one frame which is a non-I-frame. The said method includes decoding from the I-frame to a last one frame in a group of pictures according to the time sequence, outputting the last one frame, saving at least one frame which is not outputted in the group of pictures to a storage module, pre-decoding the frames which is not outputted and saved in the group of picture, outputting the frame which is in the storage module.
US09462212B2
A display apparatus and a method for updating time information thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes a display, a power supply configured to supply power to a controller in response to alternating current (AC) power being supplied to the display apparatus, a tuner configured to receive a broadcast signal from an external source, and a controller configured to control the power supply to supply power to the tuner, to extract time information from the broadcast signal received from the tuner, and to update time information of the display apparatus based on the extracted time information, in response to AC power supply to the display apparatus being detected.
US09462211B2
Electronic equipment and methods for permitting quick control of the operating state of a source equipment side from sink equipment. A television receiver (sink equipment) 100 and an amplifier (repeater equipment) 200 are interconnected over an HDMI cable 610, and the amplifier 200 and a DVD recorder (source equipment) 300 are interconnected over an HDMI cable 620. Each of the pieces of equipment includes, in addition to an HDMI receiving unit and an HDMI transmitting unit, a high-speed data line I/F included in a bidirectional communication unit that uses predetermined lines of the HDMI cable. The bidirectional communication unit is used to transmit channel selection information, a remote control code instructing recording, “theater mode” designating information, a remote control code, or the like from the television receiver 100 to the audio amplifier 200 or DVD recorder 300.
US09462194B2
An apparatus and a method for calculating a flicker-evaluation value through a wide dynamic range (WDR) system. The apparatus includes: a first calculator configured to calculate a first difference between a pixel value of a long exposure image of a current frame and a pixel value of a long exposure image of a previous frame; an average calculator configured to calculate an average of the pixel value of the long exposure image of the current frame and the pixel value of the long exposure image of the previous frame; a second calculator configured to calculate a second difference between a pixel value of a short exposure image of the current frame and the average calculated by the average calculator; and a flicker-evaluation value calculator configured to calculate a flicker-evaluation value which indicates a flicker strength using the first difference and the second difference.
US09462190B2
An object is to improve accuracy of photon counting in an imaging apparatus.The imaging apparatus includes a light uniformizing unit. The light uniformizing unit included in the imaging apparatus substantially uniformizes distribution of photons in an orthogonal direction toward an optical axis of incident light, which is incident to an imaging element in the imaging apparatus and the number of photons of which is to be detected, a plurality of pixels being arranged to the imaging element. The light uniformizing unit supplies the uniformized light to the imaging element to which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the imaging apparatus.
US09462186B2
A camera detects devices, such as other cameras, smart devices, and access points, with which the camera may communicate. The camera may alternate between operating as a wireless station and a wireless access point. The camera may connect to and receive credentials from a device for another device to which it is not connected. In one embodiment, the camera is configured to operate as a wireless access point, and is configured to receive credentials from a smart device operating as a wireless station. The camera may then transfer the credentials to additional cameras, each configured to operate as wireless stations. The camera and additional cameras may connect to a smart device directly or indirectly (for instance, through an access point), and the smart device may change the camera mode of the cameras. The initial modes of the cameras may be preserved and restored by the smart device upon disconnection.
US09462183B2
A rotating rotor in a turbine has blades attached. At least one blade is a reference blade of which a reference position is determined by a Once-Per-Rotation sensor. A camera positioned at a viewing port takes a sequence of images of all the blades during a rotation at a trigger moment determined by a controller. The controller receives a signal indicating that the reference blade passes its reference point. The controller is provided with data about the number of blades, the position of the camera and a desired dwell of an image related to the blade. The controller calculates the trigger moments and generates trigger signals to the camera. The trigger moment is adjusted for changing rotor speed by extracting a blade feature from blade images. The camera records images that are labeled and stored as image data on a storage device.
US09462174B2
In a device, first and second transforming units acquire first and second audio spectrums from audio data obtained by first and second microphones, a first subtracting unit subtracts a first noise spectrum from the first audio spectrum if an instruction to drive a drive unit is input, a second subtracting unit subtracts a second noise spectrum from the second audio spectrum if the instruction is input, a control unit selects one of a third audio spectrum and a fourth audio spectrum in accordance with a result of comparison between the third and fourth audio spectrums, a third transforming unit acquires first audio data from the audio spectrum selected among the third audio spectrum and the fourth audio spectrum, and a fourth transforming unit acquires second audio data from the audio spectrum selected among the third audio spectrum and the fourth audio spectrum.
US09462167B2
An image capture device includes a base, a zoom module, a wide-angle module, and a telemeter module. The wide-angle module captures a background image. The telemeter module detects a distance between a target to be captured and the image capture device. The zoom module is rotatably disposed on the base, and the wide-angle module and the telemeter module are rotatably disposed on the zoom module. The zoom module adjusts focus to capture the target according to the distance and captures a main image. The image capture device combines the main images captured by the zoom module and the background images captured by the wide-angle module to form a series of combination images.
US09462164B2
Systems and methods for the generating compressed light field representation data using captured light fields in accordance embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, an array camera includes a processor and a memory connected configured to store an image processing application, wherein the image processing application configures the processor to obtain image data, wherein the image data includes a set of images including a reference image and at least one alternate view image, generate a depth map based on the image data, determine at least one prediction image based on the reference image and the depth map, compute prediction error data based on the at least one prediction image and the at least one alternate view image, and generate compressed light field representation data based on the reference image, the prediction error data, and the depth map.
US09462163B2
A system and method for a low complexity and robust spatiotemporal combining for video enhancement is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes computing a standard deviation estimate between a video frame and a temporally neighboring frame of the video frame in a video sequence, computing an error value, for each sub-block of pixels within a block of pixels in a current video frame, between pixel values within the sub-block in the current video frame and corresponding motion compensated pixel values in a temporally neighboring video frame of the current video frame, computing a temporal weighting factor for each sub-block of pixels as a function of the error value and the standard deviation estimate, and combining the block of pixels in the current video frame and their corresponding motion compensated pixel values in the temporally neighboring video frame using the computed temporal weighting factor.
US09462162B2
In a method to control a color printer or color copier, a color separation of a first color and a color separation of a second color are applied to a printing substrate to generate a print image. Also, with aid of a printing unit, at least a first control field is printed on the printing substrate. The first control field has a predetermined pattern that includes at least the first color and the second color and is designed such that a color value of the first control field changes depending on a registration error between the first and the second color separations. A reference field is also printed on the printing substrate, a pattern of the reference field being predetermined such that it has a same color value independent of the registration error. The color value of the first control field is measured with a color value sensor. The color value of the reference field is also measured with the color value sensor and a desired color value is determined depending on the color value of the reference field. A deviation between the measured color value of the first control field and the desired color value is determined, the deviation corresponding to a spatial shift of the color separations. At least one control signal is generated to reduce the spatial shift depending on the determined deviation.
US09462154B2
An image processing device reduces an image in a sub-scanning direction at a reduction factor of ½N (N>1) and includes one or more ASICs each of which performs image reduction at a reduction factor of 50%. When the one or more ASICs perform the image reduction processing in N stages each at the reduction factor of 50%, one of the ASICs performs an i-th stage of the image reduction processing at 50% (N−1≧i≧1) and stores resulting image data into a buffer memory that is equal in size to ½i of one band. Then, one of the ASICs performs an (i+1)-th stage of the image reduction processing at 50% on the image data acquired through the i-th stage of the image reduction processing and stores resulting image data into a buffer memory that is equal in size to ½i+1 of one band.
US09462146B2
A sheet conveying device includes: a conveying unit; a nonvolatile memory; and a controller. The conveying unit is configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path. The controller is configured to control the conveying unit to convey the sheet, store position data in the nonvolatile memory during conveyance of the sheet, determine whether or not the sheet conveying device is started, and drive the conveying unit for an amount determined by the position data if the sheet conveying device is started. The conveying path is divided into a plurality of segments. The position data identifies a segment in which the sheet stays. The more downstream the segment identified by the position data is in the conveying path, the smaller the amount determined by the position data is.
US09462144B2
A display processing device includes a display section, a touch location acquiring section, a magnification determining section, and an enlarging and displaying section. The display section has a display surface and displays a preview image based on image data. The touch location acquiring section acquires a touch location where a user touches the display surface. The magnification determining section determines a magnification based on the touch location. The enlarging and displaying section enlarges the preview image at the magnification to obtain an enlarged preview image and causes the display section to display a portion of the enlarged preview image.
US09462143B2
A medium stores computer-executable programs. The programs cause an information processing apparatus including a communication unit communicable with a scanner to perform: displaying a first window including a first icon which causes the scanner to execute a scanning process; judging whether a selection operation to the first icon is performed; transmitting a scan command to the scanner in a case that the information processing apparatus judges that the selection operation to the first icon is performed; receiving scan data from the scanner via the communication unit as a response to the scan instruction; and displaying a second window, on a display unit, which displays an image based on the scan data received from the scanner.
US09462136B2
A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. A group identifier, which could be a telephone number, is assigned to each user group. As a result, a single telephony device belonging to a member of a user group can be associated with its own unique telephone number, and the telephone number used as the group identifier. The system allows the user to select which of multiple telephone numbers associated with his telephony device are to be used as the originating telephone number when an outgoing telephone call or an outgoing message is sent.
US09462132B2
Methods and systems for creating mobile conference rooms for conference calls between client devices and one or more contacts are described herein. A server receives, from the client device, a request to create a mobile conference room. The server creates the mobile conference room by assigning a phone number to the mobile conference room. After notifying the client device, the server receives data regarding one or more contacts to add to the mobile conference room. The server receives, from the client device, a request to initiate a conference call with a subset of contacts. A call is received, from the server, concurrently by each of the subset of contacts. The server bridges the client device and the contacts that have answered the call on the conference call.
US09462124B2
A communications device sends an invite to a communication session to multiple target devices and receives first and second media streams from first and second target devices prior to receiving a signaling indication that any of the multiple target devices accepts the invite. The communications device selects between the first and second media streams based upon (i) information contained in a first packet of the first or second media streams and/or (ii) signaling information that indicates a forking context for the communication session. The communication device plays the selected media stream prior to receipt of the signaling indication. In another embodiment, after sending the invite, the communications device detects a network address and port information from (i) a media stream from a target device, and (ii) from a signaling message. The communication device sends media to the target device based on the detected information.
US09462113B2
Methods and systems for alarm management for use in an electronic device are provided. First, it is determined whether the electronic device has been flipped over in response to detecting an occurrence of an alarm event. In response to a determination that the electronic device has been flipped over, current alarm is stopped.
US09462110B1
Methods and systems are provided for disabling text messaging while driving. In one embodiment, a mobile station makes a first determination that it is moving at greater than a threshold rate. The mobile station makes a second determination that, while it is moving at greater than the threshold rate, an outgoing text message reflects more than a threshold degradation in typing proficiency. In response to making the first and second determinations, the mobile station disables one or more text-messaging features.
US09462109B1
A wireless communication device can include one or more control circuits, a wireless communication circuit, and an audio output device. The one or more control circuits can receive audio source information identifying an audio source from a paired wireless communication device, and can detect whether the paired wireless communication device is within a communication radius. Where it is, the wireless communication device can receive single-channel audio information from the paired wireless communication device for delivery to the audio output device. However, where it is not, the wireless communication device can connect to the audio source using the audio source information, receive multi-channel audio information from the audio source, and deliver the multi-channel audio information to the audio output device.
US09462104B2
Provided is a method of using a light sensor earphone to control an electronic device. The method includes: a light sensor earphone detecting light intensity of an ear close side and light intensity of an ear outer side according to a received light signal; comparing the light intensity of the close ear side with the light intensity of the ear outer side, and generating an electric signal corresponding to a current mode of an electronic device according to a comparison result; and sending the electric signal to the electronic device, for the electronic device to control a corresponding function in the current mode according to the electric signal. A light sensor earphone is also provided. By means of the technical solutions, the light sensor earphone is utilized to intelligently control corresponding functions of the electronic device so as to simplify operation.
US09462095B2
A touch input electronic device according to the present invention comprises a main body which has a waterproofed internal space and an air hole located on the surface thereof, an operation surface which is disposed on the surface of the main body and receives touch input, an atmospheric pressure sensor which is disposed in the internal space, an air flow passage which is formed inside the main body and leads from the air hole to the atmospheric pressure sensor, and a breathable waterproof sheet which blocks the air hole.
US09462087B2
A pseudo-random generator may be used to generate identification values for formatted data packets. A method for transmitting data less susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks may include receiving data for transmission over a network according to a protocol; formatting the data into one or more internet protocol (IP) packets by fragmenting the received data; and transmitting the one or more internet protocol (IP) packets. The step of formatting the data into one or more internet protocol (IP) packets may include generating a unique pseudo-random number while avoiding collisions with previously-used numbers; and inserting the pseudo-random number as an identifier in the one or more internet protocol (IP) packets corresponding to the received data.
US09462065B2
A system for analyzing the use of location-based service applications including: a mobile device. A carrier-positioning infrastructure interacts with the mobile device for enabling the use of location-based applications by the mobile device. A mobile location-based application provider communicates with the carrier-positioning infrastructure to provide a location-based application to the mobile device. A location transaction platform monitors the use of the location-based application by the mobile device. An analytics server communicates with the location transaction platform and location stamps an occurrence of use of the location-based application by the mobile device and performs a task in accordance with predetermined rules as a function of the location-based stamp.
US09462061B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method, device, server, and system for managing a system. The method including: a first cloud-connectable device obtaining a connection status of a target cloud-connectable device using a same account, the first cloud-connectable device sending to the server a managing message regarding the target cloud-connectable device, the server managing the connection status of the target cloud-connectable device based on the managing message transmitted from the first cloud-connectable device. The present disclosure can facilitate effective management of multiple cloud-connectable devices capable of receiving cloud server.
US09462057B2
A location-based content-centric networking method for location-based content is provided. The location-based content-centric networking method may include: naming location-based content in such a manner that the name given to the location-based content includes a hierarchical prefix corresponding to information contained in the location-based content; and forwarding the location-based content based on prefix information of the location-based content.
US09462047B2
A network interface device includes a host interface for connection to a host processor having a memory. A network interface is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a data network, which supports multiple tenant networks overlaid on the data network. Processing circuitry is configured to receive, via the host interface, a work item submitted by a virtual machine running on the host processor, and to identify, responsively to the work item, a tenant network over which the virtual machine is authorized to communicate, wherein the work item specifies a message to be sent to a tenant destination address. The processing circuitry generates, in response to the work item, a data packet containing an encapsulation header that is associated with the tenant network, and to transmit the data packet over the data network to at least one data network address corresponding to the specified tenant destination address.
US09462046B2
A sender's degrees of separation from a recipient may be used to aid in spam filtering or to otherwise handle a communication. The “degrees of separation” represent a metric used to quantify whether/how the recipient is linked to the sender through intermediary people or other entities. For example, a recipient may know a first user (first degree of separation) and the first user may know a second user (second degree of separation) who knows the sender of an e-mail. In this case, the sender is separated from the recipient by two degrees of separation (by two other contacts). A level of “trust” or “legitimacy” about a sender's communication can be inferred by looking at whether the sender is linked to an intended recipient. Typically, user contact lists (e.g., address book, buddy list, and/or white list) are evaluated to determine the number of degrees (or hops) are required to link or relate two users.
US09462044B1
A secure protocol for registering a user, device and application with a computing device, such as a server, is provided. The protocol uses a single sign-on or registration request that enables multiple applications executing on single mobile computing device to access server resources' without each application separately registering with the server. After registration, a server is able to determine which user is using which application on which computing device whenever a request is sent from a device to the server. This type of registration enables fine grained access control to protected resources, such as information and/or services, of the server.
US09462038B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and device that includes requesting a client system to perform one or more operations in response to a request for content. Determining when the client system has completed performing the requested operations. Determining a current content transfer rate of the client system is calculated based on an amount of time taken by the client system to perform the requested operations. One of two or more bands of content transfer rate is assigned based on the determined content transfer rate. One or more of a type or version of browser, content implementation application, or operating system on the client system is determined. The requested content is provided in a format based on two or more of the assigned band of content transfer rate and/or the determined one or more of the type or version of the browser, the content execution application, and the operating system.
US09462035B2
System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device
Data indicative of topography of an object of interest is received at a recognition system having an associated database in which is stored topography data for a plurality of reference objects each of which is cross-referenced to configuration information for a universal controlling device. The reference system uses the received data and the topography data for the plurality of reference objects to discern one or more reference objects as being a match for the object of interest. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the one or more reference objects discerned by the recognition system as being a match for the object of interest is then used to configure the universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances.
US09462033B2
A user can proof (e.g., view, review) an electronic publication on a portable device. When the user finds errors in the electronic publication on the portable device, the user can edit the electronic publication on the editing device. The changes can be automatically synchronized with the portable device and displayed so that the user can review the changes and continue proofing the electronic publication on the portable device. In some implementations, an editing device can monitor files associated with an electronic publication for changes to the files and, when changes are detected, the files can be automatically synchronized to a portable device coupled to the editing device.
US09462031B2
A method and system for audio communication modulation mode self-adaptation, an apparatus for audio communication modulation mode self-adaptation in a mobile terminal and an electronic signature token are provided. The method includes modulating first audio data to generate first audio data frame streams; modulating second audio data to generate second audio data frame streams; demodulating the second audio data stream to obtain modulation modes correctly received by the first device and supported by the second device and modulation modes correctly received by the second device and supported by the first device; selecting an optimal modulation mode used in the second device from the modulation modes correctly received by the second device and supported by the first device, and selecting an optimal modulation mode used in the first device from the modulation modes correctly received by the first device and supported by the second device, according to a predetermined rule.
US09462026B2
A method of communicating multimedia data includes establishing a first connection between a transmitter unit and an administration server, establishing a second connection between a receiver unit and the administration server, assigning a same unique communication channel to the transmitter unit and the receiver unit by the administration server, establishing a third connection between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit using the same unique communication channel upon the first and second connections being established, and transmitting the multimedia data from the transmitter unit to the receiver unit via the third connection. The transmitter and receiver units respectively have unique identification codes that uniquely identify the units from other units connected to the administration server. The communication channel is assigned using the unique identification codes. The transmitter and receiver units respectively automatically initiate establishing the first and second connections upon being connected to the Internet.
US09462023B2
A preference related to the broadcast of a work, for example a song, advertisement, or enhanced content associated with the work can be obtained from an end user. The work is associated with one of a plurality of unique identifiers, such as a unified numbering system (UNS) identifier, and the UNS identifier can be used to associate enhanced content associated with the work. The UNS identifier and the user's preference for enhanced content can be used to select and deliver appropriate enhanced content to end users or other subscribers. The enhanced content can be delivered to an end user's device to coincide with the broadcast of the work.
US09462020B2
A digital broadcast network is disclosed that can divide an application into multiple channels to be distributed to receiving devices. A receiving device can selectively accept one or more of the multiple channels depending on various criteria including selection parameters and device capability. The selective choice of at least a subset of the application can provide an acceptable depth and delivery of data to improve the user experience. Text and standard data experiences can be combined with an audio counterpart, with pre-loaded client-side media files, and/or with pre-loaded client-side media files and a live audio stream, which can enrich a user experience.
US09462018B2
Multiway peer-to-peer media streaming is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises defining a first portion of a peer-to-peer network. The method then recites defining a second portion of the peer-to-peer network. The present method then utilizes the first portion of the peer-to-peer network to generate an aggregated media stream, wherein the aggregated media stream is comprised of a plurality of media streams. The present method then delivers the aggregated media stream from the first portion of the peer-to-peer network to the second portion of the peer-to-peer network.
US09462009B1
There is disclosed a technique for detecting risky domains. The technique comprises collecting information in connection with a domain. The technique also comprises generating a profile comprising at least one metric associated with the domain based on the collected information. The technique further comprises determining the riskiness in connection with the domain based on the generated profile.
US09462007B2
Systems and methods for performing a human user test when a high-risk network access is captured by an intermediary security device are provided. According to one embodiment, network security application includes a network traffic control module, a human user test engine and a risk management module. The network traffic control module identifies a high-risk network access initiated by a device associated with a private network protected by the network security appliance. The human user test engine (i) sends a human user test message to the human user of the device to verify that the high-risk network access was initiated by or is otherwise authorized by the human user of the device; receives a response to the human user test message; and (iii) determines whether the response is a correct response to the human user test message. The risk management module allows the high-risk network access when the response is correct.
US09462003B2
Disclosed is a bidirectional authorization system, including a first service provision subsystem configured to acquire a first temporary credential of the first service provision subsystem and a second temporary credential of a second service provision subsystem, respectively, send the second and the first temporary credential to the user terminal and the second service provision subsystem, respectively, send the second authorization credential returned by the user terminal to the second service provision subsystem to exchange for a second access token and acquire the second service resources; a second service provision subsystem configured to modify the first temporary credential and send it to the user terminal, send the first authorization credential returned by the user terminal to the first service provision subsystem to exchange for a first access token, and acquire the first service resources; and a user terminal configured to authorize the received second and first temporary credentials, respectively, and return the second and first authorization credentials to the first and second service provision subsystems, respectively. A bidirectional authorization client and a method are also disclosed. The present disclosure can be used to enable clients on both sides to simultaneously access resources of the opposite side.
US09462001B2
Receive, at an access control node (ACN) of a first network enclave, a plurality of data packets inbound to the enclave. The characteristics of each received packet can be communicated from the ACN to a secure access server (SAS) of the enclave. The admissibility, to the first enclave, of each received packet for which characteristics are communicated, can be determined by the first secure access server. For each packet determined to be inadmissible, the technology can communicate, from the SAS to a plurality of ACNs of the first enclave, an instruction to deny admission to packets having the characteristics of the inadmissible packet. At each access control node receiving the instruction, the technology can deny admission to packets having the characteristics of the inadmissible packet based on the instruction to deny admission to packets having the characteristics of the inadmissible packet.
US09461994B2
In an embodiment, at least one computer readable medium has instructions stored thereon for causing a system to cryptographically sign, at a secure platform services enclave (PSE) of a computing system and using a secure attestation key (SGX AK), a public portion of a trusted platform module attestation key (TPM AK) associated with a trusted computing base of a physical platform, to form a certified TPM AK public portion. Also included are instructions to store the certified TPM AK public portion in the PSE, and instructions to, responsive to an attestation request received from a requester at a virtual trusted platform module (vTPM) associated with a virtual machine (VM) that has migrated onto the physical platform, provide to the requester the certified TPM AK public portion stored in the PSE. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09461982B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods that allow for secure access to websites and web-based applications and other resources available through the browser. Also described are systems and methods for secure use and retention of user credentials, as well as methods for dynamic authentication of users and integrity checking of service providers in online environments. Thus, described in the present specification are systems and methods for constructing and destroying private, secure, browsing environments (a secure disposable browser), insulating the user from the threats associated with being online for the purposes of providing secure, policy-based interaction with online services.
US09461980B1
In one example, a method includes predicting, by a network access control (NAC) device based on a device identifier in a request from a client device and a device usage history of the client device, a user associated with the client device, prior to completing a user authentication process, requesting, by the NAC device and from a directory server, session attributes for the predicted user, receiving, by the NAC device and from an authentication server, an indication of whether a user associated with the client device was successfully authenticated. The method includes determining, based on an identifier of the user, whether the predicted user is the user associated with the client device, and responsive to determining that the predicted user is the user associated with the client device, establishing, by the NAC and using the session attributes for the predicted user, a session between the client device and the network.
US09461966B2
A method of providing rating information in respect of Uniform Resource Identifiers to a client terminal. The method includes identifying a Uniform Resource Identifier at the client terminal, sending a first query to a rating server over an IP network, the query including as a query string a first component of the identified Uniform Resource Identifier or a derivative of that first component, and receiving the first query at the rating server and determining whether or not a rating exists for the query string. A response is sent by the server to the client terminal, the response including a determined rating, or an indication that no rating exists. The response is received at the client terminal and, if a rating included in the response so indicates or if the response otherwise so indicates, then a further query is sent to the rating server, the further query including as a query string said first component and a second component of the identified Uniform Resource Identifier, or a derivative of the first and second components. The steps of receiving the first query at the rating server, sending a response, and receiving the response at the client terminal, are repeated one or more times as required, adding for each iteration a further component to the query string.
US09461962B2
A network address management unit (210) allocates, to the first edge node, a first network address (500) on which a physical configuration of a first edge node (100a) is reflected. The network address management unit, when a second edge node (100b) is coupled to the first edge node, allocates, to the first edge node, a second network address (510) on which the physical configuration of the first edge node is reflected with respect to the second edge node. When the first edge node receives a packet that designates the first or second network address as a destination network address, the first edge node, based on the destination network address designated by the received packet, determines whether the received packet is transferred to the second edge node and discriminates a transfer destination path in the first edge node.
US09461961B2
A domain to be published to an enterprise ECDN is associated with a set of one or more enterprise zones configurable in a hierarchy. When a DNS query arrives for a hostname known to be associated with given content within the control of the ECDN, a DNS server responds by handing back an IP address, by executing a zone referral to a next (lower) level name server in a zone hierarchy, or by CNAMing to another hostname, thereby restarting the lookup procedure. At any level in the zone hierarchy, there is an associated zone server that executes logic that applies the requested hostname against a map. A name query to ECDN-managed content may be serviced in coordination with various sources of distributed network intelligence.
US09461945B2
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for an automated messaging response. A message parsing module may parse a textual message to determine whether the message includes a question. A question determination module may determine a question type for the question. A response presentation module may present a response interface that includes a plurality of selectable responses to the question.
US09461942B2
A system and method are provided for performing Local Center Authorization Service (LCAS) in a network system, the system having a data aligner configured to align bytes of input data according to groups of members. The system also including an LCAS control manager configured to generate desequencing control commands in response to data input from the data aligner. The system further including a de-sequencer configured to de-sequence the input data input from the data aligner according to desequencing control commands received from the LCAS control manager.
US09461936B2
Systems and methods for providing an actionable object within a third-party content slot of an information resource of a content publisher. A processor receives an indication of interest in providing, for display, a creative within at least one third-party content slot of an information resource of a content publisher. The information resource includes third-party content slots available to be reserved to serve creatives. The processor identifies, on the information resource, at least one third-party content slot available to be reserved to serve one or more creatives. The processor inserts an actionable object within the identified third-party content slot, the actionable object configured to generate a request to provide an interface for reserving the identified third-party content slot to display the creative responsive to an action being taken on the actionable object. The processor renders the information resource including the inserted actionable object within the identified third-party content slot.
US09461934B2
A cloud service provider hypervisor server, which supports a cloud service provider hypervisor, receives a cloud consumer's management information base (MIB) from a cloud consumer. The cloud consumer's MIB is a portable MIB that is capable of being loaded into multiple cloud service provider hypervisors. A trap receiver in the cloud service provider hypervisor server receives a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) trap from a resource described by the cloud consumer's MIB. The SNMP trap is an SNMP message, from the resource, that describes an event in the resource. The SNMP trap bypasses the cloud service provider hypervisor, such that the cloud service provider hypervisor server transfers the SNMP trap to the cloud consumer without any interpretation of the SNMP trap by the cloud service provider hypervisor.
US09461930B2
Described embodiments classify packets received by a network processor. A processing module of the network processor generates tasks corresponding to each received packet. A scheduler generates contexts corresponding to tasks received by the packet classification processor from corresponding processing modules, each context corresponding to a given flow, and stores each context in a corresponding per-flow first-in, first-out buffer of the scheduler. A packet modifier generates a modified packet based on threads of instructions, each thread of instructions corresponding to a context received from the scheduler. The modified packet is generated before queuing the packet for transmission as an output packet of the network processor, and the packet modifier processes instructions for generating the modified packet in the order in which the contexts were generated for each flow, without head-of-line blocking between flows. The modified packets are queued for transmission as an output packet of the network processor.
US09461926B2
A wireless communication device providing a node in the network includes a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, a transmission buffer, and a packet prioritizing unit configured to obtain data relating to packets to be transmitted in the network, obtain indications of the remaining lifetime of the packets, where the indications are based on the time needed for reaching a destination node, prioritize the packets according to the remaining life time indications, where the prioritization is made in ascending order from an indication of a low remaining life time to a high remaining lifetime, and place the packets in the transmission buffer for transmission according to the prioritization.
US09461925B1
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a rate module implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device that can be operatively coupled to a set of rate counters. Each rate counter is associated with a different network device associated with a level within the hierarchy of a network. The rate module can receive from a schedule module a signal to begin execution of a first page of a first rate program and can send during a first time period transmission credits to a first subset of rate counters. The rate module can send during a second time period transmission credits to a second subset of rate counters based on the execution of a page of a second rate program where the priority of the second rate program is no lower than a priority of the first rate program.
US09461924B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate transportation of a communication while providing consistent quality of service treatment of the communication throughout the transport of the communication from a client device to an upstream wide-area network, as well as for communications transported from a wide-area network to a client device. In embodiments, quality of service information associated with a communication can be translated at one or more various customer premise equipment devices and/or network components into a format that is compatible with an interface that is to be used to output the communication.
US09461922B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for distributing network traffic received from a plurality of client devices and bound toward a plurality of servers sharing a common network address. One method includes receiving network traffic from the plurality of client devices, addressed to an network address associated the servers; separating the received network traffic into assigned buckets based on a respective source network address associated with each unit of traffic; and forwarding the received traffic to one of a plurality of servers associated with the predetermined network address, based on the bucket assigned. The network traffic may be separated into assigned buckets by determining which subset of bits of an network address of a client device to evaluate for bucket separations. A netmask may be created based on the determined subset of bits, and each source network address may be mapped to one of the buckets using the netmask.
US09461916B2
Methods and arrangements are provided for maintaining a wanted Quality of Service transmission level of Lawful Interception (LI) payload data to a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) via an HI3 interface in a LI system. The data is acquired from an intercepted IP packet flow and belongs to one or more target identities using a specific Internet communications service. The method, which is performed by the arrangement, includes monitoring the state of congestion of IP packets in the HI3 interface in relation to a first threshold level T1 and a second threshold level T2. The first threshold level T1 corresponds to a lower level of congestion than the second threshold level T2. The transmission of LI payload data is controlled based on the monitoring and a priority classification assigned to the LI payload data to be transmitted.
US09461913B2
Embodiments relate to a method for transmitting a message in a data path of a network, the method includes transmitting a message onto an input bus of an input interface module, the message being received in flits of a size corresponding to the width of the input bus and generating a validity indicator for each elementary flit constituting each flit received. The message is transmitted onto an output bus of the input interface module towards a receiving interface module in flits of a size corresponding to the width of the output bus along with each validity indicator generated in association with the corresponding elementary flit. The receiving interface module receives flits constituting the message and the associated validity indicators and rejects a received flit if an elementary flit of the received flit is associated with a validity indicator in the invalid state.
US09461910B2
A method and apparatus for using entropy labels in segment routed networks is disclosed. A single ELI and a single EL are provided for a label stack. The ELI and EL are inserted directly below a top-most label in the label stack.A method and apparatus for using entropy labels in segment routed networks. A top-most label of a label stack of a packet is examined. A NHLFE for the packet is determined. A determination is made as to whether or not an ELI is below the top-most label. An EL is re-used when the ELI is determined to be present . The ELI and the re-used EL are inserted directly below a label associated with the NHLFE in a new label stack.
US09461908B2
A method of route convergence, a routing device, and a main control board in the routing device are provided herein. The method includes receiving route information from multiple neighbor routing devices; selecting a route among the received route information, and applying the selected route to update an FIB of the main control board; and delivering the selected route to an interface board after confirming that the route information from the multiple neighbor routing devices is received and the route selection is completed.
US09461906B2
An exemplary method and apparatus are provided for exchanging information for establishing a path between a first node and a second node of a communication network. The first node and the second node are adapted to send continuity check messages to monitor the established path. The technique includes generating, at the first node and at the second node, at least one link state message according to a routing protocol; inserting continuity check link state information into the at least one link state message; and exchanging between the first node and the second node, the link state messages for computing the path. The continuity check link state information are indicative of at least one rate of transmission of the continuity check messages supported by the first node and the second node.
US09461901B2
A system and method for detection of elephant flows includes a switching device. The switching device includes one or more ports, a memory, and a control unit coupled to the ports and the memory. The control unit is configured to detect storage locations information included in one or more first messages. The storage locations information identifies a storage node and is forwarded to a computing device. The control unit is further configured to detect opening of a connection between the computing device and the storage node based one or more second messages received for forwarding on one or more of the ports and determine identifying characteristics of an elephant flow based on information associated with the connection. In some embodiments, the control unit is further configured to forward network packets using an altered forwarding strategy when the network packets are associated with the elephant flow.
US09461893B2
For use in a communication system where communication is carried out by setting a packet handling operation (flow entry) in the nodes by a control device, the present invention provides a configuration in which statistical information may be collected at a desired information granularity level without increasing the control load of the control device. A node of the communication system includes a packet processing unit that processes a received packet according to a packet handling operation defining a matching rule and processing of a packet that matches the matching rule; and a statistical information recording unit that records statistical information on a packet according to a division different from the matching rule, and a statistical information collection device is provided that issues an instruction on a division, according to which the statistical information is to be recorded, to the node and collects the statistical information.
US09461892B2
A third party service provider can provide data, management, and configuration services to a plurality of unrelated entities. The services are separated from the management and configuration aspect, and a system of trust is arranged to avoid the unrelated parties affecting one another.
US09461889B2
Associations are maintained among a plurality of subnets, policies, and client types. Each subnet has an associated client type and policy. For a particular client device, (i) a client type of the particular client device, and (ii) a client type associated with the subnet on which the particular client device is hosted is determined. For the particular client device, (i) the determined client type of the particular client device with (ii) the determined client type associated with the subnet on which the particular client device is hosted is compared. Responsive to a determination that the client type of the particular client device matches the client type associated with the subnet that hosts the particular client device, a policy is applied to the particular client device.
US09461888B2
A policy processing method and network device. The method includes: performing a mixed orchestration on all service rules corresponding to multiple services, so as to construct multiple condition sets; performing, according to the constructed multiple condition sets, unified condition matching on packet feature information of a received network packet, and outputting a condition matching result set; and calling, a service application to execute a policy action corresponding to each condition identifier in the condition matching result set. In solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, by performing a mixed orchestration on multiple service rules, all service rules are organized in a unified manner, information required by all services is extracted in one packet scanning process, and only one matching and rule verification process is required. Thereby, redundant operations between multiple services are reduced, and device integration and performance are improved.
US09461886B2
A set of reporting features are specified for implementation by lower-level Self-Optimizing Network (SON) functions to support the observation of network SON algorithms by high-level SON functions (e.g., OAM functions). The lower-level SON functions may be operative to adjust local parameters related to the network element serving area and/or capacity. The reported SON algorithm events and measurements can be defined such that they can be used by the higher-level SON function to resolve conflicts and control the lower-level SON functions. Some embodiments specify SON function reporting features and their configuration in the framework of the 3GPP defined Itf-N interface specification.
US09461885B2
A distributed network switch includes multiple switch modules connected by one or more physical cables. One switch module may determine which connector port of a remote switch module is connected by physical cable based on information received from the remote switch module, including link identifiers, and further based on a physical topology predetermined about the type of remote switch module.
US09461882B1
Embodiments of a gesture-based network configuration system are disclosed, wherein the system is configured to update a configuration setting on a networking device. The system pairs a computing device to the networking device which is operating a local area network (LAN). A first touch gesture indicating a target uniform resource locator (URL) is received on a touch screen of the computing device. In response to the first touch gesture, a configuration message including a command associated with the first touch gesture and the target URL is transmitted to the networking device. In one embodiment, receiving the configuration message causes the networking device to modify the configuration setting based at least partly on the command and the target URL. In one embodiment, modifying the configuration setting modifies the packet processing behavior of the networking device for data packets associated with the LAN.
US09461876B2
The invention provides a system and method for providing ttx-based categorization services and a categorized commonplace of shared information. Currency of the contents is improved by a process called conjuring/concretizing wherein users' thoughts are rapidly infused into the Map. As a new idea is sought, a goal is created for a search. After the goal idea is found, a ttx is concretized and categorized. The needs met by such a Map are prior art searching, competitive environmental scanning, competitive analysis study repository management and reuse, innovation gap analysis indication, novelty checking, technology value prediction, investment area indication and planning, and product technology comparison and feature planning.
US09461873B1
Systems and methods for handling resources in a computer system differently in certain situations, such as catastrophic events, based upon an assigned layer of the resource to the system. The layer can be based, for example, on criticality of the resource to the system. Services or computing device resources can be physically segregated in accordance with layers, and can be managed in accordance with the segregation. As an example, critical layers can be fenced off or otherwise made not available except to users with secure clearance or authorization. In addition, a light or other indicator can be provided for indicating that a datacenter component is in a particular layer. The indicators can be at a device level, rack level, and/or room or area level.
US09461865B2
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system for supporting higher data rates than 4th-Generation (4G) communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution. An apparatus and method for demodulating a hybrid modulation symbol is provided for use in a wireless communication using the hybrid modulation scheme. The apparatus includes a control channel receiver configured to acquire a hybrid modulation scheme change information from a control information received through a control channel, a constellation re-configurer configured to reconfigure a constellation diagram for use in demodulation with the hybrid modulation scheme change information provided by the control channel receiver, and a demodulator configured to demodulate a hybrid modulation symbol and a modified hybrid modulation symbol input when a reconfigured constellation diagram is received from the constellation re-configurer based on the reconfigured constellation diagram.
US09461864B2
A method and apparatus are provided for adaptive channel code selection according to a non-Gaussianity of a channel in a wireless communication system. A method includes receiving channel feedback information from a receiving node; selecting, based on the channel feedback information, a channel code among a plurality of channels code having different degree distributions of repetition codes; and encoding transmission data based on the selected channel code.
US09461860B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a pilot signal transmitting method, and a channel estimation method, an apparatus, and a system. The method includes: within a transmission time interval (TTI), transmitting a first pilot signal (CPICH1) on a first antenna, and transmitting a second pilot signal (CPICH2) on a second antenna; when no first-type terminal is scheduled within coverage of a MIMO system within the TTI, transmitting a third pilot signal (CPICH3) on a third antenna, and transmitting a fourth pilot signal (CPICH4) on a fourth antenna; and when a first-type terminal is scheduled within the coverage of the MIMO system within the TTI, transmitting the CPICH3 and a fifth pilot signal (CPICH5) on the third antenna, and transmitting the CPICH4 and a sixth pilot signal (CPICH6) on the fourth antenna. By using the method, interference of a pilot signal to a legacy terminal can be greatly reduced.
US09461856B2
A Downlink Control Information (DCI) processing device and method for a wireless communication system that encodes/decodes downlink control information based on a payload size of DCI format. The method includes determining a payload size of a first DCI format; and determining a payload size of a second DCI format by appending padding bits to the second DCI format until the payload size of the second DCI format is not an ambiguous size and is not equal to the payload size of the first DCI format.
US09461843B1
Managing requests for acquiring resources in a computing environment. A first request to acquire resources is received. Whether the resources have been pre-acquired is determined. If the resources have not been pre-acquired, a token registering interest of a first thread in the first request is subscribed to. If the acquisition of the resources is not successful, whether a prior synchronous request has been initiated by a thread for the first request is determined. If a prior synchronous request has not been initiated, a synchronous request is initiated to acquire the resources. If the resources have not been pre-acquired for a second received request, an interest is registered of a second thread in the first request using the token. If the acquisition of the one or more resources is successful, a thread is notified of the successful acquisition, and the interest of the second thread is unregistered in the first request.
US09461836B2
A system and method for provisioning multicast groups based on broadcast domain participation includes a server. The server includes one or more multicast traffic producers collectively participating in a plurality of first broadcast domains and a multicast group including identifiers of other servers that participate in any of the first broadcast domains. Each of the multicast traffic producers participates in one or more of the plurality of first broadcast domains. The server is configured to direct multicast traffic associated with any of the first broadcast domains to each of the other servers identified in the multicast group.
US09461834B2
A system and method are presented for providing electronic documents to online meeting participants. The method schedules a first online meeting between network-connected computer devices. A meeting server establishes a repository for the first online meeting. The meeting server receives an electronically formatted document sent to a first communication address assigned to the first online meeting repository, and stores the document in the first online meeting repository. A first computer device is able to log into the meeting server and access the document from the first online meeting repository at a time prior to, during, or after the first online meeting. Likewise, the meeting server is able to store a document received prior to, during, or after the meeting.
US09461832B2
The present technology comprises a method and apparatus for a routing protocol for a router including an apparatus and method for distance vector multicast routing. The method and apparatus as disclosed and claimed offers a new interpretation of the routing information stored in a DVMRP routing table. This interpretation relates to the knowledge of the locations of a multicast source router and the routers connected to hosts with group members in a DVMRP domain. The methodology exploits this knowledge to create two conditional packet forwarding checks, based on pseudo-diameter and super-pseudo-diameter respectively, and used these conditions to extend the two phases of the existing DVMRP to improve its performance from the viewpoint of much better utilization of bandwidth.
US09461827B2
In a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication system utilizing certificates to verify trustworthiness of received communications, a method for distributing a list of certificate revocations to vehicles in the communication system. At least one main station transmits a list of certificate revocations to at least one vehicle and the vehicle thereafter transmits the list of certificate revocations to other vehicles in the communication network. Each of the other vehicles in the communication network updates its list of certificate revocations in response to the receipt of the list of certificate revocations from another vehicle in the system. The other vehicles thereafter transmit their updated list of certificate revocations to other vehicles in the system.
US09461825B2
Methods and systems for preventing revocation denial of service attacks are disclosed and may include receiving and decrypting a command for revoking a secure key utilizing a hidden key, and revoking the secure key upon successful verification of a signature. The command may comprise a key ID that is unique to a specific set-top box. A key corresponding to the command for revoking the secure key may be stored in a one-time programmable memory, compared to a reference, and the security key may be revoked based on the comparison. The command for revoking the secure key may be parsed from a transport stream utilizing a hardware parser. The method and system may also comprise generating a command for revoking a secure key. The command may be encrypted and signed utilizing a hidden key and may comprise a key ID that is unique to a specific set-top box.
US09461822B2
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a plurality of encryption keys, wherein the plurality of encryption keys includes at least a default key, a setting unit configured to set an encryption key to be used for encryption communication according to a specific protocol, wherein the encryption key is selected from the plurality of encryption keys, an obtaining unit configured to obtain security setting information for limiting use of an encryption key, and a control unit configured to, in the case where the security setting information is obtained, determine whether or not the encryption key set by the setting unit has a predetermined encryption strength, wherein the control unit is configured to change the set encryption key to the default key in response to determining that the set encryption key has not the predetermined encryption strength.
US09461816B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to reduce processor demands during encryption. A disclosed example method includes detecting a request for the processor to execute an encryption cipher determining whether the encryption cipher is associated with a byte reflection operation, preventing the byte reflection operation when a buffer associated with the encryption cipher will not cause a carryover condition, and incrementing the buffer via a shift operation before executing the encryption cipher.
US09461815B2
A computational engine may include an input configured to receive a first data packet and a second data packet, a context memory configured to store one or more contexts, and a set of computational elements coupled with the input and coupled with the context memory. The set of computational elements may be configured to generate a first output data packet by executing a first sequence of cryptographic operations on the first data packet, and generate a second output data packet by executing a second sequence of cryptographic operations on the second data packet and on a selected context of the one of the one or more contexts. The selected context may be associated with the second packet of data, and the context may be stored in the context memory prior to the execution of the first sequence of cryptographic operations.
US09461812B2
Embodiments of various methods, devices and systems are described herein that correspond to an encoding scheme that can be used with various communication protocols for increased bandwidth over a single wire bus or a wireless single transmission channel. For example, a method of encoding a series of data bits to increase bandwidth may comprise selecting a data bit in the series of data bits, generating an inverted version of the selected data bit, positioning the inverted version of the selected data bit in a consecutive fashion with respect to the selected data bit to signify an edge of a clock signal, and transmitting the inverted version of the selected data bit and the series of data bits with each bit being transmitted in a single unique time slot.
US09461808B2
A method and device are provided for transmitting data packets to an access network with sharing of a multiband channel among stations. A first band is referred to as a “transmission” band, and a second band is referred to as a “signaling” band. A station accesses the channel for transmitting data of a stream after using a counter to decrement a backoff value. The method includes: receiving backoff counts sent successively over the signaling channel by the various stations relating to their various streams; comparing the backoff counts with one another in order to detect identical values; and in the event of there being identical values between a plurality of stations, determining at least one new backoff count value that is different from all the others.
US09461807B2
For use of a second mapping pattern in which a part of a resource on which a DMRS (Demodulation Reference Signal) is to be mapped is replaced with a data resource in a first mapping pattern of the DMRS, control section (23) adds an offset to a transmission power or a transmission power density of first data mapped in a remaining resource other than a data resource to control a transmission power or a transmission power density of second data mapped to the part of a resource. Transmitting section (25) transmits a signal including the first data, the second data, and the DMRS.
US09461797B2
A method is described for uplink transmission in a wireless communication system. A user equipment determines whether to transmit or drop a sounding reference signal (SRS) on a last symbol in an ith subframe. The determination is performed if multiple timing advance groups (TAGs) are configured and if a portion of the last symbol of the ith subframe for the SRS transmission toward the a serving cell in a first TAG is overlapped with an (i+1)th subframe for transmitting an uplink channel toward a second serving cell in a second TAG.
US09461796B2
Methods and apparatus for interference coordination to improve transmission and reception performance within wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a wireless transmitter transmits multiple transmissions over a determined time. The receiver receives the multiple transmissions and attempts to recover the transmitted signal. Because, the fading channel varies over time for each transmitter-receiver, by combining the received signals over multiple iterations, the signal of interest will be magnified, whereas interference effects will be suppressed.
US09461784B2
A Radio Resource Control (RRC) message transmission method and apparatus for a wireless communication system operating in TTI and acknowledge mode is configured to reduce interruption time by minimizing retransmission times of RRC message. The message transmission method for a wireless communication system includes generating, at a transmitter, a message; transmitting the message two or more times consecutively from the transmitter to a receiver; analyzing, at a receiver, the message transmitted by the transmitter; transmitting an acknowledge message or a negative-acknowledge from the receiver to the transmitter depending on the analysis result; and terminating, at the transmitter, a retransmission process of the message upon receipt of the acknowledgement message.
US09461774B2
A reception circuit for receiving serial data including first pixel data constituting image data from a transmission circuit, wherein the serial data has a format allowing the reception circuit to detect a transmission error, the reception circuit including a serial-to-parallel converter configured to receive the serial data and convert the received serial data into first parallel data, an error detector configured to determine whether the first parallel data is correct or erroneous based on the first parallel data, a correcting buffer configured to maintain the first pixel data included in the first parallel data if the first parallel data is determined to be correct by the error detector, and a correcting unit configured to substitute the first pixel data included in the first parallel data determined to be erroneous by the error detector with a value corresponding to second pixel data stored in the correcting buffer.
US09461773B2
A method for phase noise detection in a MIMO communication system comprises the step of computing an initial estimate of phase using received pilot symbols. A phase follows for interpolating between successive pilot symbol phase estimates to obtain a coarse resolution reference phase estimate. Then, it follows a phase for computing a fine resolution estimate of phase using said coarse resolution phase estimate together with data expressing characteristics of known phase noise processes, applying an expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. The application of the EM algorithm can be further refined using improved symbol decisions from a FEC decoding.
US09461762B2
A method and system for compensating for a time discrepancy. A first and a second vehicle-to-X communication system resort to an external time base. The first vehicle-to-X communication system determines a first internal time base from the external time base and the second vehicle-to-X communication system determines a second internal time base from the external time base. The first vehicle-to-X communication system sends vehicle-to-X data and the second vehicle-to-X communication system receives vehicle-to-X data. The vehicle-to-X data to be sent include a time stamp generated from the first internal time base and captured ambient sensor data include a first time stamp generated from the second internal time base. Alignment of the captured ambient sensor data with the received vehicle-to-X data is used to determine the time discrepancy between the first internal time base and the second internal time base and to compensate for it using a correction value.
US09461760B2
A method for remediating broadcast digital television signals is disclosed. A television signal is buffered by a multimedia client, and analyzed for errors. If errors are detected, replacement data for the corrupted data are requested from a service provider using a network back-channel. The replacement data are obtained from the broadcasting entity and sent back to the multimedia client. The replacement data are used to generate and display a faultless version of the digital television signal.
US09461758B2
A method and system for monitoring a broadcast signal includes a transfer switch and a first receiver decoder circuit for a first channel coupled to the first transfer switch. The first receiver decoder circuit generates a first receiver decoder circuit signal. A second receiver decoder circuit for the first channel is coupled to the first transfer switch. The second receiver decoder circuit generates a second receiver decoder circuit signal. A monitoring display is formed in response to the first receiver decoder circuit signal and the second receiver decoder circuit signal for monitoring the broadcast signal.
US09461753B2
An optical receiver circuit includes a polarization beam splitter configured to split input signal light into two different polarized wave components; two variable optical attenuators configured to respectively adjust attenuation of and output the signal light split by the polarization beam splitter according to polarization state; and a single planar optical waveguide on which the polarization beam splitter and the two variable optical attenuators are disposed.
US09461751B2
A method of transmitting a data signal in an optical communications system. The method includes processing the data signal to generate an analog drive signal, wherein the processing comprises applying a first non-linear operation such that frequency components of the drive signal lay in at least two separated spectral bands. An optical carrier light is modulated using the analog drive signal.
US09461750B2
The optical transmitter includes a FP-LD, generating multiple-longitudinal mode light wave. The FP-LD is also driven by an electrical signal, modulates the electrical signal to the multiple-longitudinal mode light wave, and outputts the modulated multiple-longitudinal mode light wave. An optical coupler, coupled with the FP-LD, is used for feeding the modulated multiple-longitudinal mode light wave from the FP-LD to a fiber Bragg grating. The fiber Bragg grating is for filtering the received multiple-longitudinal mode light wave according to a parameter, and feeding back the optical signal generated after being filtered to the optical coupler. The optical coupler divides the optical signal, thus making the optical signal oscillate between the FP-LD and the fiber Bragg grating to form a oscillation cavity, and outputs a single mode optical wave with constant wavelength and power.
US09461748B2
An LED light fixture includes one or more optical transceivers that have a light support having a plurality of light emitting diodes and one or more photodetectors attached thereto, and a processor in communication with the light emitting diodes and the one or more photodetectors. The processor is constructed and arranged to generate a communication or data transfer signal.
US09461744B2
Improved systems and methods for delivering CATV content over a fiber optic network from a transmitter.
US09461738B2
An apparatus comprising a receiver configured to couple to an Ethernet Passive Optical network over Coaxial (EPoC) network, and receive an upstream Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal comprising a plurality of OFDM Resource Elements (REs), and a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to determine a presence of a burst marker sequence in the received signal, wherein the burst marker sequence comprises interlaced pilot symbols and null symbols, and wherein determining the presence of the burst marker sequence comprises computing a power ratio between a first set of the OFDM REs and a second set of the OFDM REs, and determining that the burst marker sequence is found when the computed power ratio exceeds a pre-determined threshold.
US09461729B2
An embodiment method includes selecting, by a network infrastructure manager, a first user equipment (UE) as a destination UE and selecting a second UE as a relay UE for the destination UE. The method further includes negotiating installation of a virtual range extender (vREX) UE on the destination UE, and negotiating installation of a vREX forwarding agent (FA) on the relay UE. The vREX FA is configured to act as a FA for the vREX UE.
US09461716B2
Described herein are architectures, platforms and methods for calibrating a near field communication (NFC) reader/writer device using a modulation feedback apparatus for tuned antenna configurations.
US09461705B2
Powerline communication (PLC) networks allow devices within a home, automobile, or other systems to communicate over existing wired powerline infrastructure. Active PLC networks can affect devices sharing the powerline infrastructure as well as wireless devices through radiated noise emissions. Provided in the present disclosure are exemplary techniques for reducing noise emissions and promoting coexistence of multiple PLC systems and/or non-PLC (e.g., wireless) systems.
US09461700B2
A transmitter transmits an outbound message signal via the power distribution system. The transmitter includes a spreader for spreading the spectrum of the communications signal before transmitting the outbound message signal. A receiver despreads the spectrum of the received digitized signal and digitally demodulates the received despread signal to generate the message. The transmitted signal is orthogonal to a source of interference on the power distribution system.
US09461690B2
A mobile terminal and a control method of a mobile terminal are disclosed. The mobile terminal and a control method thereof provide a user interface allowing for a user to easily and effectively control the mobile terminal through an interaction between a certain case and the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is accommodated in the case in a lock mode.
US09461686B2
A mobile communication device including an antenna element, a low-frequency blocking element, a first isolation circuit, a second isolation circuit and a high-frequency blocking element is provided. The antenna element converts a radio-frequency signal into an electromagnetic wave and generates a sensing signal in response to a proximity of an object. The antenna element includes a radiation portion and a parasitic portion which are spaced by a coupling gap. The low-frequency blocking element transmits the radio-frequency signal to the radiation portion. The first isolation circuit and a connection element are connected in series between the radiation portion and the parasitic portion, and the first isolation circuit blocks the radio-frequency signal. The second isolation circuit is electrically connected between the parasitic portion and a ground plane, and blocks the sensing signal. The high-frequency blocking element transmits the sensing signal from the antenna element to a sensing controller through a metal line.
US09461683B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed to determine communications receiver parameters from multiple channels of a received communications signal and to configure and/or adjust communications receiver parameters to acquire one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal. A communications receiver observes a multi-channel communication signal as it passes through a communication channel. The communications receiver determines one or more communications receiver parameters from the multiple channels of the received communications signal. The communications receiver configures and/or adjusts communications receiver parameters to acquire the one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal.
US09461681B1
A receiver includes a first and a second amplification unit for amplifying a first and second received signals received by antenna units; a level variation detection unit for performing gain control of the first amplification unit; a maximum received signal level extraction unit for performing gain control of the second amplification unit; and a first and a second frequency conversion unit. The receiver further includes an interference frequency detection unit for detecting a frequency of interference in the second received signal; an interference frequency cut-off unit for cutting off the frequency of the interference; demodulation units for demodulating the respective received signals; noise amplitude calculation unit for calculating noise amplitudes from the respective received signals; equalizing units for correcting amplitudes and phases of the respective received signals; and a combining unit for combining demodulation results from the respective received signals on the basis of noise amplitude detection results.
US09461677B1
The present invention is directed to integrated circuits and methods thereof. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a local correction for bending communication line pairs. In an IC package, a pair of communication lines is used to provide a physical link for data communication between two or more components. At regions where the pair of communication lines is bent, the inner bend line is extended in length and shaped to match the length of the outer bend line while preserving integrity of its signal propagation characteristics, thereby providing local phase correction. There are other embodiments as well.
US09461673B2
A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies.
US09461672B2
Provided is a signal quality evaluation apparatus, including an error pattern detection unit to which binarized data obtained by performing a PRML decoding process on a reproduced signal of bit information by partial response equalization and maximum likelihood decoding is input, the error pattern detection unit configured to detect at least one specific error pattern that is a bit pattern that is longer than a constraint length of the PRML decoding process, a metric difference calculation unit configured to calculate a metric difference of the at least one specific error pattern that has been detected by the error pattern detection unit, and an index value generation unit configured to generate an index value of a reproduced signal quality by using a distribution of the metric difference obtained by the metric difference calculation unit.
US09461664B2
Imagers may include analog-to-digital converter circuitry that produces a digital output code from an analog input voltage. The analog-to-digital converter circuitry may include a series of capacitors including a first set of binary-mapped capacitors. The analog-to-digital converter circuitry may include a second set of one or more capacitors that have capacitances that are less than binary-mapped capacitance values. The digital output code may include bits having respective bit positions within the digital output code. During successive-approximation operations performed by the analog-to-digital converter circuitry, each bit of the digital output code may be produced using a corresponding capacitor. Digital processing circuitry such as an image processor may produce a digital value from the digital output code by multiplying the bits of the digital output code with respective weights determined based on the capacitance of the corresponding capacitors.
US09461663B2
To suppress detection accuracy of a measurement resistance from decreasing by an on-resistance of a selector switch. The selector switch is provided between a first node coupled to a first voltage through a reference resistance and multiple second nodes coupled to the second voltage through measurement resistances, and selects the second node to be coupled to the first node with the selector switch. A correction circuit generates a voltage obtained by adding the second voltage to a voltage between the second node and the first node as a correction voltage. A double integral ADC finds a first integral time elapsed when a difference voltage of the correction voltage to a voltage of the first node is integrated to the first voltage and a second integral time elapsed when the difference voltage of the first voltage to the voltage of the first node is integrated to the correction voltage.
US09461661B1
A linear reference analog to digital converter (ADC) network may include a first ADC operatively connected to a first sample and hold circuit. The linear reference ADC network may be configured to receive an input signal from the first sample and hold circuit and sample the input signal with a harmonic distortion. The linear reference ADC network may further include a reference ADC operatively connected to a second sample and hold circuit and configured to receive the input signal and sample the input signal with a second harmonic distortion. The linear reference ADC network may further include a combining module operatively connected to the first ADC and the reference ADC, the combining module configured to equalize a linearity of an output of the first ADC to a linearity of an output of the reference ADC, and output a combined output signal, and a circuit configured to output a calibrated output signal having calibrated harmonic distortion content.
US09461657B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure support a method and apparatus for foreground and background bandwidth calibration in a frequency-do-digital converter based phase-locked loop (FDC-PLL) device.
US09461654B1
A receiver having analog to digital converters with phase adjustable sampling clocks. A first analog to digital converter converts an analog signal into first digital samples under control of a first sampling clock. A first clock generator adjusts a phase of the first sampling clock based on at least one first phase control signal. A second analog to digital converter converts the analog signal into second digital samples under control of a second sampling clock. A second clock generator adjusts the phase of the second sampling clock based on at least one second phase control signal. A data decision circuit recovers data based on the first and second samples. Feedback circuitry receives the recovered data and generates at least one first phase control signal for the first clock generator and generates at least one second phase control signal for the second clock generator based on the first phase control signal.
US09461643B2
A high frequency semiconductor switch has a first terminal, second terminals, a first through FET group, second through FET groups and a shunt FET group. The first through FET group has first field effect transistors connected serially with each other. One end of the first through FET group is connected to the first terminal. Each of the second through FET groups has second field effect transistors connected serially with each other. One end of each of the second through FET groups is connected to each of the second terminals. The other end of each of the second through FET groups is commonly connected to the other end of the first through FET group. The shunt FET group has third field effect transistors connected serially with each other between the second terminal and a ground terminal.
US09461641B2
A chain of switches is connected between a first power supply line coupled to a first voltage and a second power supply line coupled to the sector. These switches are controllable by a control signal. The control signal is propagated from a first end of the first chain towards a second end of the first chain without control of the switches during this first propagation. The control signal is then propagated in the reverse direction from the second end towards the first end with a control of the switches during this second propagation starting from a group of at least one switch situated at the second end. There is a detection of the arrival of the control signal at the first end of the chain at the end of its propagation in the reverse direction.
US09461638B2
A drive unit includes a charging unit which charges an opening/closing control terminal of a switching element to switch a drive state. The switching element includes a sensing terminal which outputs a minute current having a correlation with current flowing between input and output terminals of the switching element. The sensing terminal and either of the output terminal or a member having a potential equal to that of the output terminal are connected via a sensing resistor. The drive unit further includes an active gate control unit which changes a charge rate based on comparison of sensing voltage, which is a potential difference across the sensing resistor, or a rate of change of the sensing voltage with a specified value. The specified value is set based on individual-difference information of the switching element which indicates a characteristic, which affects the sensing voltage, when the drive state is switched.
US09461633B1
A latch circuit that has a dynamic mode and a static mode is provided. Clock signals are generated specifically for a feedback path of a storage circuit in the latch circuit. The generated clock signals include transitions that cause clocked NMOS and PMOS devices in the feedback path to function, and for other input clock frequencies, the generated clock signals do not include transitions that cause the clocked PMOS and NMOS devices to be active, and have states that cause clocked PMOS and NMOS devices to be inactive.
US09461629B2
A circuit for generating a voltage waveform at an output node. The circuit includes a voltage rail connected to the output node via a voltage rail switch; an anchor node connected to the output node via an inductor and a bidirectional switch, wherein the bidirectional switch includes two or more transistors connected in series; and a control unit configured to change the voltage at the output node by controlling the voltage rail switch and the bidirectional switch so that, if a load capacitance is connected to the output node, a resonant circuit is established between the inductor and the load capacitance. The circuit may be included in an apparatus for use in processing charged particles, e.g. for use in performing mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry.
US09461623B2
A method and a circuit for generating a clock signal from a clock integrated circuit are introduced herein. A compensation voltage is generated according to a temperature coefficient of a resistor and a clock period of a clock circuit, where the compensation voltage is resistor-corner independent. The clock period of the clock circuit is determined by the resistor and at least one capacitor of the clock circuit. The temperature dependence of the clock period of the clock circuit is reduced according to the compensation voltage.
US09461617B2
A vibrator element includes: a base portion; and a vibrating arm extending from the base portion, the vibrating arm including a piezoelectric film that contains Cu at a crystal grain boundary.
US09461612B2
A reconfigurable rat race coupler and methods of designing and reconfiguring the rat race coupler are disclosed. The reconfigurable rat race coupler, includes a plurality of transmission lines. The plurality of transmission lines include: a first transmission line and a second transmission line each of which comprise a phase shifter; and a third transmission line and a fourth transmission line each of which comprise phase shifters. A signal input on port 1 is provided between the phase shifters on the third transmission line, which is split between ports 2 and 3, with port 4 being isolated and port 2 being between the phase shifters on the fourth transmission line.
US09461606B2
The systems, devices, and methods provided herein can be used with an audio source to automatically attenuate a signal from the audio source in response to information about a local environment. In an example, an attenuation network circuit can be used to provide automatic or “hands-free” adjustment of a headphone or headset volume level to compensate for changing background sound or noise levels. In relatively noisy environments, the attenuation network can provide little or no attenuation of an audio source signal, and in less noisy environments, the attenuation network can provide greater attenuation of the audio source signal.
US09461605B2
An electronic device with a speaker, an amplifier for driving the speaker and a speaker grill provided on the front surface of the speaker includes a pickup detection unit for detecting that the electronic device has been picked up from water and a water discharge sound generation unit for generating a water discharge sound signal for discharging water having entered inside the speaker grill according to the detection of the pickup from the water and inputting the generated water discharge sound signal to the amplifier.
US09461596B1
The present invention implements a series of analog gain and phase correction circuits in each leg of the N-way Doherty to significantly reduce amplitude modulation to amplitude modulation (AM-AM) and amplitude modulation to phase modulation (AM-PM), distortion. The correction blocks comprise gain and phase corrections and optionally an additional gain block. The phase corrections include at least a phase offset and may include an optional non-linear element such as a diode pre-distorter. The pre-distortion circuitry is intended to reduce the necessary complexity of the DPD and reduce the DPD cost and power consumption. The gain and phase corrections can be calculated from computational optimization to minimize the AM-AM and AM-PM distortion. The gain and phase corrections can also be calculated from the AM-AM and AM-PM data which can be output from common DPD systems and laboratory characterization equipment.
US09461588B1
Embodiments are directed to doubly balanced superconducting mixers and to methods for modulating a radio frequency signal using multiple tunable inductive elements in a doubly balanced superconducting mixer. In one scenario, a doubly balanced superconducting mixer is provided which includes an input port that receives an signal. The doubly balanced superconducting mixer further includes an IF control signal, a DC control signal and a filter that includes a first inner filter stage and a second inner filter stage. The first and second inner stages are coupled via a ring of tunable inductive elements, and are further inductively coupled to outer filter stages. The doubly balanced superconducting mixer further includes a controller that modulates the RF signal using the IF control signal and the DC control signal to tune the ring of tunable inductive elements to control transmission of the RF signal through the first and second inner filter stages.
US09461583B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) includes a VCO core having a plurality of transistors and a varactor circuit that has a first end coupled to emitter terminals of the VCO core and a second end coupled to a tuning terminal. The varactor circuit includes a capacitance that increases with increasing voltage applied to the tuning terminal with respect to the emitter terminals of the VCO core.
US09461579B2
A photovoltaic (PV) module framing and coupling system enables the attachment of PV modules to a roof or other mounting surface without requiring the use of separate structural support members which attach directly to and span between multiple PV modules in a formed PV array. The apparatus provides a parallel coupling for securely interlocking the outside surfaces of parallel frame members together in a side to side arrangement to form an array with improved structural load distribution. The coupling may attach to a slot in the frame at substantially any position along the length of the frame thereby enabling the interconnection of adjacent PV modules along both an x and y axis. The apparatus may further provide a rotating portion and locking portion, mounting brackets for direct connection to a mounting surface, grounding teeth, and a twist-lock engagement means for interlocking and aligning PV modules in the array.
US09461578B2
A motor control device of a vehicle includes a motor and a lock mechanism for locking the rotation of vehicle wheels. The motor control device includes a detection device for detecting release of the lock mechanism, a damping control device for suppressing torsional vibration of a drive shaft, and a current control device for controlling current flowing to the motor on the basis of a motor torque command value set by the damping control device. The current control device channels an excitation current for generating a magnetic flux in the motor on the basis of the detection result of the detection device.
US09461573B2
Fault Ride Through (FRT) transient management system configured to enhance the FRT capability doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbines. A grid side converter (GSC) introduces shunt and series compensation for normal operation and voltage dips, respectively. A braking resistor may be added to smooth switching transients from shunt to series interfaces and dissipate excessive power from the GSC. To attain a flexible control solution for balanced and unbalanced fault conditions, the transient management scheme may employ positive and negative sequence controllers. The system dynamics for the series compensation topology may be analyzed using small-signal linear model. Based on the mathematical model, the controller may be tuned to balance voltage regulation performance and transient stability margins with consideration of various operating conditions. The system benefits from a low component count, simple protection structure, and improved FRT performance with effective compensation to the electric grid.
US09461571B2
A method of detecting stall of a multi-phase motor operated in a micro-stepped mode, the method comprising: a) applying at least two phase-shifted micro-stepped waveforms to the phase windings of the motor; b) determining a sum of currents flowing through the phase windings, and taking samples of the sum of currents synchronously with the application of the micro-stepped waveforms; c) calculating a moving average or moving sum of the samples over one or more “full steps” of the phase-shifted waveforms; d) calculating an adaptive threshold based on the samples; e) detecting stall of the motor when the moving average is larger than the adaptive threshold. An electrical circuit and a computer program are arranged to perform the method.
US09461570B1
A stepper motor may be controlled by a controller to provide extended revolution of a motor shaft while operating in a first mode and to allow a user to manually intervene with an intended position or rotation of the motor shaft while operating in a second mode. In some embodiments, the controller may adjust a torque applied to the stepper mode during operation of the stepper motor. The controller may reduce a torque applied by the stepper motor to a lower torque while the user intervenes with the intended position or rotation of the motor and increase the torque to a holding torque after the user intervention has ended. Thus, the controller may dynamically adjust a torque of the stepper motor in response to detection of the user intervention.
US09461568B2
In a state in which the energization in the first direction is possible between the motor and the drive circuit and the motor is not rotating at high speed, when the phase induced voltage value of the specific phase that is the target of determination is continuously equal to or smaller than the abnormality determination threshold, the abnormality detecting unit determines that an open malfunction has occurred in the relay FET of the specific phase.
US09461563B2
An ultrasonic motor having an ultrasound actuator in the form of a piezoelectric hollow cylinder with friction elements on at least one of its end surfaces, and having a rotor in effective contact with the friction elements and an electric excitation device. The actuator is subdivided in the circumferential direction in an even number of sectors Sa and Sb with the sectors Sa and Sb alternating and being adjacent in circumferential direction, and the friction elements being arranged in the range of adjacency of neighboring sectors. Each of the sectors Sa and Sb is formed by exciter electrodes and general electrodes alternatingly arranged in the axial direction of the hollow cylinder, wherein a layer of piezoelectric material is arranged between neighboring excitation electrodes and general electrodes.
US09461561B2
A method and apparatus for power conversion. In one embodiment, the method comprises operating an inverter in bursts by (i) enabling power production by the inverter during a first plurality of periods, and (ii) disabling power production by the inverter during a second plurality of periods.
US09461557B2
A multilevel converter cell includes a first section with a first group of series connected switching units in parallel with a first energy storage element, where a junction between a first and second switching units of the first group of series connected switching units forms one cell connection terminal, a second section with a second group of series connected switching units in parallel with a second energy storage element, where a junction between a third and fourth switching units of the second group of series connected switching units forms another cell connection terminal, and an interconnecting section with a third group of series-connected switching units comprising a fifth, sixth and seventh switching unit, with the fifth and sixth switching units connected in parallel with the first energy storage element and the sixth and seventh switching units connected in parallel with the second energy storage element.
US09461556B2
A high efficiency, multi-mode, regenerative AC-DC-AC inverter power system contains an inverter bridge, a bi-phase matrix (BP-Mtx) containing reverse current oriented, series-connected sets of controllable switches, wherein inputs to a first and second set of controllable switches are coupled to the inputs of the first inverter bridge, and outputs of the first and second set of controllable switches are coupled to inputs to a third set of controllable switches. A chargeable DC power supply is coupled to an output of the third set of controllable switches. The load-side DC-bus is coupled to outputs of the first inverter bridge and a second inverter bridge. The switches of the first inverter bridge, second inverter bridge, and BP-Mtx are modulated to charge the DC power supply from either excess voltage from line inputs or the DC-bus, and to provide compensating energy from the DC power supply for load or line input perturbations.
US09461535B2
A system and a method provide a photovoltaic system which regenerates the output characteristics of the photovoltaic at different ambient condition with high precision under all environmental conditions. The photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic array, a buck/boost converter, a DC link capacitor to connect the buck/booster converter to a load/inverter, an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference maximum power point tracking controller, a voltage control loop, a proportional integral controller to maintain the output voltage of the photovoltaic array to the reference voltage by adjusting the duty ratio of buck/boost converter.
US09461519B2
An improvement for a turbine generator or pump having main bearings separated by a span of shaft and a thrust equalizing mechanism adjacent one of said main bearings, the improvement comprising a stationary length compensator interposed between the thrust equalizing mechanism and its adjacent main bearing to reduce the span between said main bearings. Preferably the length compensator is composed of material that shrinks less than the shaft of the generator, and the height of the length compensator, i.e., the compensating dimension, is selected according to desired thrust equalizing mechanism operating parameters over a temperature range.
US09461515B2
In an inner-rotor motor, an armature includes a stator core including an annular core back and magnetic pole teeth projecting from the core back; an insulator covering an upper and lower surface of each magnetic pole tooth of the stator core; and coils defined by a conducting wire wound around a separate one of the magnetic pole teeth with the insulator intervening therebetween. The insulator includes at least one protruding portion. An upper end of each protruding portion is arranged at an axial level higher than an axial level of a lower surface of a circuit board. The circuit board includes at least one penetration portion each of which is defined by a cut or a hole, and in each of which a corresponding one of the at least one protruding portion is arranged.
US09461514B2
A bobbin is adapted to be mounted to a projection of a stator core of a rotary electric machine and wound with a coil wire. The bobbin includes a back stress generating portion configured to generate a stress acting in a direction opposite to a stress generated when the coil wire is wound around the bobbin.
US09461512B2
The present invention relates to an electric machine, in particular a brushless permanent magnet motor, provided with a rotor and a stator which has a plurality of teeth with winding phases provided thereon, wherein each winding phase has at least four windings, wherein, of the at least four windings of a winding phase, in each case two windings are connected in series with one another, and wherein these windings which are connected in series are connected in parallel. The present invention also relates to a steering device.
US09461509B2
Disclosed is a motor including: a rotor housing; a stator assembly located inside the rotor housing; a first core located inside the stator assembly; a second core located at the center of the rotor housing; and a coil housing located inside the rotor housing and having a space portion formed at the inside thereof.
US09461508B2
An electromagnetic generating transformer comprises one or more flux assembly having one or more magnetic field source having a positive pole and a negative pole and a magnetic field passing in a path between the positive pole and the negative pole and a conductor magnetically coupled with the one or more magnetic field source, the magnetic field source and the conductor being fixed relative to one another; a shunt is coupled with a motive source and configured to move the shunt into a primary position and a secondary position, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field passing between the positive pole and the negative pole varies when the shunt is moved between the primary position and the secondary position.
US09461507B2
A power transmitting apparatus includes an active electrode, a passive electrode, a voltage generating circuit that applies a voltage between the active electrode and the passive electrode, and a reference potential electrode connected to a reference potential. A power receiving apparatus includes an active electrode, a passive electrode, a secondary battery connected between the active electrode and the passive electrode, and a reference potential electrode connected to a reference potential. Power is transmitted from the power transmitting apparatus to the power receiving apparatus as a result of the respective electrodes facing each other and being capacitively coupled to each other when the power receiving apparatus is mounted to the power transmitting apparatus.
US09461505B2
A system exchanges energy wirelessly and includes a structure configured to exchange the energy wirelessly via a coupling of evanescent waves. The structure is non-radiative, and generates an electromagnetic (EM) near-field in response to receiving the energy. A negative index material (NIM) is arranged within the EM near-field such that the coupling is enhanced.
US09461504B2
An energy-scavenging interface includes first and second switches connected in series between an input and reference, and third and fourth switches connected in series between the input and an output. A control circuit closes the first and second switches and opens the third switch for a first time interval to store charge in a storage element. A scaled copy of a peak value of the charging current is obtained. The control circuit then opens the first switch and closes the third and fourth switches to generate an output signal as long as the value in current of the output signal is higher than the value of said scaled copy of the peak value.
US09461500B2
A wireless charging receiving device includes a body, a metal housing, a receiving coil, and a power storage device. The metal housing is coupled to the body to form an accommodating space. The metal housing includes an aperture and at least one slit. The slit interconnects the aperture and the edge of the metal housing. The receiving coil is disposed between the metal housing and the body. The receiving coil defines a through hole by a looped configuration, and the through hole overlaps at least part of the aperture of the metal housing. The power storage device is disposed within the accommodating space and electrically connected to the receiving coil. Electromagnetic waves are able to pass through the aperture of the metal housing and are magnetically coupled to the receiving coil, such that the receiving coil transfers the energy of the electromagnetic waves to the power storage device.
US09461497B2
A charge device coupled to an external device is provided. A connection port is configured to couple to the external device and includes a first pin and a second pin. A battery unit has a battery voltage. A conversion unit converts the battery voltage to provide power to the external device. When the battery voltage is higher than a threshold value, a detection control unit directs the first and second pins to couple to a first charge unit and the connection port outputs a first charge current to the external device. When the battery voltage is not higher than the threshold value, the detection control unit directs the first and second pins to couple to a second charge unit and the connection port outputs a second charge current to the external device. The first charge current is greater than the second charge current.
US09461491B2
A battery charger, which can be configured as a charger or docking station (300), includes one or more control circuits (105). A charging circuit (302) can charge one or more rechargeable batteries (118). A thermal management device (305) can alter a thermal condition of the one or more rechargeable batteries. The one or more control circuits can receive, with a communication circuit (309) an indication of a thermal state of an electronic device (100). The one or more control circuits can cause the thermal management device to alter the thermal condition of the one or more rechargeable batteries such that when the one or more rechargeable batteries are coupled to the electronic device, a thermal mass defined by the electronic device and the one or more rechargeable batteries transitions from the thermal state toward a predefined thermal mass temperature.
US09461489B2
A mobile communication terminal, comprises: a thermoelectric conversion unit comprising a conversion device for converting heat energy into electric energy; and an energy storage unit electrically connected to the conversion device and configured to store the electric energy generated by the conversion device. The mobile communication terminal can solve the problem that existing mobile communication terminals have large power consumption and short continuous service time, take full advantage of energies, and extend the continuous service time of the mobile communication terminal.
US09461483B1
An electrical energy storage device with damping function is a capacitor-cell battery formed of a plurality of capacitor cells connected in either series or parallel. Each of the capacitor cells includes a supercapacitor and a pseudocapacitor. The supercapacitor is a non-polarized capacitor internally having a separator, and the pseudocapacitor is a polarized electrochemical capacitor. The supercapacitor and the pseudocapacitor are electrically connected in parallel. The supercapacitor has a capacity close to or equal to that of the pseudocapacitor. When charging the capacitor-cell battery, the supercapacitor in every capacitor cell produces a polarization effect, so that electrical energy is charged thereinto as a result of voltage. And, due to a potential balance between the supercapacitor and the pseudocapacitor, the electrical energy charged into the supercapacitor is rapidly transformed into electric current that flows into and is stored in the pseudocapacitor.
US09461481B2
Systems and methods for feedback control of output power in a wireless power transmitter are disclosed. According to one aspect, one of a voltage level at an input of a wireless power transmit coil and a level of current passing through the wireless power transmit coil are sensed. The wireless power transmitter includes a controller configured to adjust an electrical characteristic of the wireless power transmitter to maintain at least one of the level of current and the voltage level at a constant level.
US09461480B2
A method is provided for controlling the output voltage of a pickup in an inductive power transfer (IPT) system without any additional form of communications for feedback from the pickup to the power supply. The method comprising the steps of deriving an estimate of the output voltage of the pickup from the voltage across the primary conductive path, and adjusting the current in the primary conductive path so that the estimated pickup output voltage matches a required pickup output voltage. In particular, an estimate of the pickup output voltage is derived from the magnitude and phase angle of the voltage in the primary conductive path.
US09461476B2
Not a structure in which a resonance frequency of a power transmission device is set after a resonance frequency of a power receiving device is directly measured but a structure in which the resonance frequencies of the power receiving device and the power transmission device are estimated after reflection of an electromagnetic field for transmitting electric power to the power receiving device is monitored by the power transmission device is employed. After a capacitance value of a variable capacitor in a resonance coil of the power receiving device is once set to 0, an S11 parameter is detected while a frequency of an electromagnetic wave is changed, and the resonance frequency of the power transmission device is estimated on the basis of the S11 parameter.
US09461470B2
A load control receiver (LCS) for controlling an electrical load. The LCS includes a power sensing arrangement that monitors power usage of the load; a processor that predicts future power usage based on prior power usage; a transceiver that receives load shedding commands; and a controllable switch that can interrupt power supplied to the attached loads, based on load shedding commands.
US09461452B2
A diaphragm seal (101) for a cable gland (FIG. 1) has concentric inner (103) and outer (105) cylindrical seal walls connected at one end by a diaphragm (107) to define a cavity (121). The cavity (121) contains a plurality of support webs (125) that extend between the inner (103) and outer (105) seal walls. The webs (125) are provided on an exit side of the seal (101) and deform to assist insertion of the cable through the seal (101) from an entry side of the seal (101). The webs (12) resist inversion of the seal (101) when the pressure on the exit side is higher than the pressure on the entry side to create a pressure differential across the diaphragm (107).
US09461451B2
A power converter is equipped with a semiconductor module stack, a positive bus bar stack, and a negative bus bar stack. The positive bus bar stack has a first positive bus bar and a second positive bus bar stacked. The negative bus bar stack also has a first negative bus bar and a second negative bus bar stacked in a stacking direction Z of the positive bus bar stack. The first semiconductor modules of the semiconductor module stack are connected to the first positive bus bar and the first negative bus bar, while the second semiconductor modules of the semiconductor module stack are connected to the second positive bus bar and the second negative bus bar. This results in a decreased variation in mutual inductance among the semiconductor modules, which leads to a decrease in overall inductance of the power converter.
US09461447B2
A maintenance tool for an insulator of a direct current transmission line comprises clamping devices and a tensioning device. The clamping devices are mounted at the two sides of the insulator through clamping, and the tensioning device is connected between the clamping devices. The clamping devices comprise a closed clamp (1), a single serial clamping device (2) and a wire end clamping device (30). The clamping device has advantages such as strong overall strength and bearing capacity, small size, light weight, and reliable working, and can be applied to replacement of various insulators on the direct current transmission line, reliably ensuring safe commissioning and regular maintenance of transmission lines.
US09461446B1
An electrical enclosure includes at least one circuit breaker compartment and a cover mounted thereon. The cover includes an opening receptive of at least one circuit breaker. A gasket extends about at least a portion of the opening. The gasket includes an inner seal assembly and an outer seal assembly. The outer seal assembly is positioned to engage the at least one circuit breaker when the cover is in a closed position. The inner seal assembly is movable between a non-deployed configuration spaced from the at least one circuit breaker and a deployed configuration engaged with the at least one circuit breaker. The inner seal assembly is responsive to a pressure wave in the at least one circuit breaker compartment to move from the non-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration and substantially prevent out gassing through the opening in the cover.
US09461443B2
An apparatus having a variable angle light source characterized by a pivot point, a variable response optical receiver, and a first optical system is disclosed. The variable response optical receiver receives light generated by the light source on a receiving surface, the receiver generating a signal indicative of an intensity of light that impinges on a receiving surface. The first optical system images the pivot point to a fixed point relative to the receiver surface. In one aspect of the invention the first optical system is chosen such that light from the variable angle light source covers more& than half the receiving surface. The variable angle light source can include a gain chip in a semiconductor laser having a pivot point located substantially on a facet of the gain chip.
US09461442B2
An optical comb generator for generating multiple optical wavelengths from a single source simultaneously for many optical channels on a semiconductor substrate. The comb generator provides narrow channel spacing using chirped Bragg grating with uniformly spaced grating pitches but with tapered waveguide to facilitate the fabrication process and generate laser comb channels with uniform line widths across all channels. The laser comb generator facilitates monolithic integration of many photonic integrated circuit elements.
US09461436B2
The present invention relates to a pulse laser device, and more particularly, to a pulse laser device which can be operated in a burst mode, in which the output of a low-output laser generator is adjusted so as to enable the uniform control of the profile of the peak output of a final output optical pulse train, and in a variable burst mode, in which the profile of the final output optical pulse train can be controlled into an arbitrary waveform.
US09461433B2
A light-emitting device can have high heat dissipation performance from a light-transmitting member and be capable of easily making alignment of the light-transmitting member and an incidence hole for light into the light-transmitting member. The light-emitting device can include: a base; a light-emitting element held by the base; a lens held by the base and disposed above the light-emitting element, configured to condense light emitted from the light-emitting element; a first tubular member disposed on the base; a second tubular member fitted into the first tubular member; a holder allowed to be inserted into the second tubular member and thereby fitted into the second tubular member and having a through hole through which light condensed by the lens passes; and a light-transmitting member formed on the holder so as to block the through hole.
US09461428B2
Embodiments of the present invention may be directed to an electronic connector. More specifically, the electronic connector may include a single connector body and a mounting end operable to couple the single connector body with an electronic board of an electronics unit. The electronic connector may also include a lower jack portion disposed in the single connector body and include multiple lower pin receptacles, where the lower jack portion is disposed adjacent to the mounting end and is operable to receive a first connector end of a first cable. The electronic connector may further include an upper jack portion disposed in the single connector body and include multiple upper pin receptacles, where the upper jack portion is disposed above the lower jack portion and is operable to receive a second connector end of a second cable.
US09461418B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is a communication connector, comprising a compensation circuit for providing a compensating signal to approximately cancel an offending signal over a range of frequency, the compensation circuit including a capacitive coupling with a first magnitude growing at a first rate over the range of frequency and a mutual inductive coupling with a second magnitude growing at a second rate over the range of frequency, the second rate being greater than the first rate (e.g., the second rate approximately double the first rate).
US09461414B2
A shielding unit is formed by attaching a shell internal cylinder and shell external cylinder of a shielding shell onto each other such that a cylindrical portion of a shielding member is sandwiched by an external cylindrical portion and an internal cylindrical portion press-fit therein while a flange portion of the shielding member is sandwiched by an internal cylinder flange portion and an external cylinder flange portion. By turning the shell internal cylinder in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the shell external cylinder, a positioning pin of the shell internal cylinder is moved to a counterclockwise direction end portion of a positioning guide hole of the shell external cylinder. This slides the cylindrical portion against at least one among the internal cylindrical portion and the external cylindrical portion, and slides the flange portion against at least one among the internal cylinder flange portion and the external cylinder flange portion.
US09461408B1
An adaptor connects a dual orientation plug connector and a first circuit board. The dual orientation plug connector includes a second circuit board having first to fifth upper contacts sequentially arranged on a surface and having first to fourth lower contacts sequentially arranged on another surface. The first circuit board has first to sixth endpoints. The adaptor includes first to sixth pins. The first to sixth pins respectively include first to sixth contacting portions respectively configured to connect the first upper contact, the first to fourth lower contact, and the fifth upper contact. The first to sixth pins respectively include first to sixth extending portions respectively connecting the first to sixth endpoints. Widths of the third and fourth pins are smaller than widths of the first, second, fifth, and sixth pins.
US09461405B2
An electric connector includes a male connector and a female connector, the male connector including a cylindrical main portion, and a male contact terminal formed at the main portion. The female connector includes a hole into which the main portion is fit, and a female contact terminal formed at the hole for making electrical contact with the male contact terminal when the main portion is fit into the hole. One of the male connector and the female connector includes a guide shaft axially extending in a direction in which the male connector is fit into the female connector, and the other of the male connector and the female connector includes a guide hole for allowing the guide shaft to be inserted thereinto to guide the guide shaft in the direction.
US09461392B2
A connector includes at least a pair of mating portions and each mating portion includes a at least one mating blade. The connector body has a height that is greater than twice a height of the mating portion. Flanges can be provided on both sides of the mating blade.
US09461391B2
A connector includes a contact including a contact point to be electrically connected to an external apparatus when a connecting terminal of the external apparatus is pressed against the contact point, a protection member for protecting the contact point, and a base body storing the contact and the protection member. The protection member includes an opening for projecting the contact point on the external apparatus side from a surface on which the external apparatus is pressed. The protection member is movable between a first position and a second position with movement of the external apparatus. At the first position, the contact point is arranged so as to project on the external apparatus side from the opening. At the second position, the contact point is arranged on the same plane as the surface of the protection member on which the external apparatus is pressed.
US09461385B2
A card edge connector includes supporting walls (31) provided along a plurality of juxtaposed terminal fittings (50) and configured to receive reaction forces from the side of a circuit board (62) due to a resilient pressing action of resilient contact pieces (54) and a front wall (33) connected to front end edges of the supporting walls (31). The front wall (33) is formed with a board insertion port (41) in the form of a slit-like opening substantially parallel to a juxtaposition direction of the terminal fittings (50) and communicating with a board accommodation space (40) and a coupling portion (44) configured to couple two long-side opening edges (43) substantially parallel to the supporting walls (31). The circuit board (62) is formed with a cut (65) configured to avoid interference with the coupling portion (44) in a state inserted in the board accommodation space (40).
US09461370B2
An antenna, including a ground plane, a dielectric substrate formed on the ground plane, a broadband dual-polarized dipole radiating element located on the dielectric substrate, a horizontally polarized dipole radiating element located on the dielectric substrate adjacent to the broadband dual-polarized dipole radiating element and having a projection parallel to a first axis, which first axis intersects the broadband dual-polarized dipole radiating element, a vertically polarized dipole radiating element located on the dielectric substrate adjacent to the broadband dual-polarized dipole radiating element and having a projection parallel to a second axis, which second axis intersects the broadband dual-polarized dipole radiating element and is orthogonal to the first axis and a feed network for feeding the broadband dual-polarized, vertically and horizontally polarized dipole radiating elements.
US09461368B2
An antenna, including a broadband vertically polarized monopole radiating element, a reflector having a projection in a first plane generally perpendicular to a vertical axis of the monopole radiating element, a plurality of horizontally polarized radiating elements arranged generally concentrically with respect to the monopole radiating element, each one of the horizontally polarized radiating elements having a projection in a second plane generally perpendicular to the vertical axis, the second plane being offset from the first plane in a direction along the vertical axis and a feed arrangement for feeding the monopole and horizontally polarized radiating elements.
US09461366B2
Provided is a ultra-wideband dual linear polarized wave waveguide antenna for communication having a wideband matching structure in which the inner peripheral surface of the first polarized wave filtering unit or the second polarized wave filtering unit, which filters a first polarized wave or a second polarized wave entering the dual linear polarized wave waveguide antenna and orthogonal to each other, are tapered such that a diameter of the inner peripheral surface becomes smaller, and having an extended path so as to adjust the first polarized wave and the second polarized wave so that they are in-phase. By doing so, the ultra-wideband dual linear polarized wave waveguide antenna is capable of both receiving and transmitting and thus can be used for communication, and can adjust skew angles without being mechanically rotated.
US09461360B2
A method for adjusting a beam pattern in a beam pattern adjusting apparatus in a communication system supporting a Beam Division Multiple Access (BDMA) scheme is provided. The method includes determining whether a Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) value for each antenna included in an antenna array included in the beam pattern adjusting apparatus is greater than or equal to a threshold VSWR value, if it is determined that an antenna of the antenna array has a VSWR value that is greater than or equal to the threshold VSWR, detecting whether each of the antenna elements is operable, and if it is determined that at least one of the antennas is inoperable, adjusting a beam pattern of at least one of the antennas that is operable.
US09461352B2
A multi-step silicon etching process has been developed to fabricate silicon-based terahertz (THz) waveguide components. This technique provides precise dimensional control across multiple etch depths with batch processing capabilities. Nonlinear and passive components such as mixers and multipliers waveguides, hybrids, OMTs and twists have been fabricated and integrated into a small silicon package. This fabrication technique enables a wafer-stacking architecture to provide ultra-compact multi-pixel receiver front-ends in the THz range.
US09461350B2
A conductor arrangement includes a conductor that extends along a conductor axis. The conductor arrangement also includes a standing wave trap to which the conductor is coupled in order to damp standing waves that are excited by an RF field from outside the conductor arrangement. The standing wave trap is in the form of a dielectric resonator device.
US09461337B2
A separator for a rechargeable electrochemical cell has a conductive first layer and a non-conductive second layer. The non-conductive second layer and the conductive first layer are adhered to one another, wherein the non-conductive second layer has a melting point below a critical temperature for the rechargeable electrochemical cell and discharges the cell when subject to overheating.
US09461335B2
There is provided a secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating a lithium ion; a negative electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating a lithium ion; and an electrolytic solution, wherein the electrolytic solution comprises: a fluorine-containing cyclic ether compound represented by the following formula (1); and at least one selected from a fluorine-containing chain ether compound or a fluorine-containing phosphate ester compound; wherein R1 to R6 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, or a fluorine-substituted, chlorine-substituted, or unsubstituted alkyl group, and at least one of R1 to R6 is selected from a fluorine atom or a fluorine-substituted alkyl group.
US09461325B2
The invention relates to a permanent connection of a polymer electrolyte membrane to at least one gas diffusion electrode, wherein it is possible to create a particularly long-lasting connection therebetween by pressing the membrane and gas diffusion electrode and exerting external pressure, also enabling a particularly high degree of proton conductivity to be obtained between the membrane and the at least one electrode. In order to create the pressing movement, the pressure of a fluid is increased. The fluid enters into contact with the membrane and/or gas diffusion electrode(s) in a direct manner or via an elastic intermediate element.
US09461319B2
Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a hardware and software architecture enabling electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) to be performed on multiple electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells, at the same time without human interaction with the electrochemical devices. In an embodiment, a matrix switch may connect each cell of a fuel cell stack individually to an EIS analyzer enabling EIS to be performed on any fuel cell in the fuel cell stack. In a further embodiment, the EIS analyzer may be a multi-channel EIS analyzer, and the combination of the matrix switch and multi-channel EIS analyzer may enable EIS to be performed on multiple fuel cells simultaneously.
US09461317B2
A fuel cell system and a control method enables a smooth shift from a heat-up operation to a normal operation in a simple operating process. The fuel cell system includes a cell stack, an aqueous solution holding device having aqueous solution tanks which store aqueous methanol solution, and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion which connect the aqueous solution tanks with each other, and a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the aqueous methanol solution. Based on a result of a temperature detection, a setting is made for one of a first mode where the aqueous methanol solution in the aqueous solution tank is circulated to the cell stack and a second mode where the aqueous methanol solution in the aqueous solution tanks is circulated to the cell stack.
US09461308B2
An electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery includes an electrode active material and a water-soluble polymer. The water-soluble polymer is a copolymer containing 1% by weight to 30% by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit, 20% by weight to 60% by weight of an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer unit, and 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight of a crosslinkable monomer unit.
US09461300B2
Provided are an electrode for a power storage device having much better charge/discharge characteristics and a power storage device using the electrode. A plurality of cavities is provided in a surface of an active material layer over a current collector. A graphene covering the active material layer facilitates rapid charge/discharge and prevents breakdown of the current collector caused by charge/discharge. With improved charge/discharge characteristics, an electrode for a power storage device which does not easily deteriorate and a power storage device using the electrode can be provided.
US09461297B2
A battery unit and a battery module including a plurality of battery units. A battery unit includes: a case accommodating an electrode assembly and having an opening; a cap plate covering the opening and having a terminal insertion portion penetrating the cap plate; a terminal member extending into the case through the terminal insertion portion to electrically expose the electrode assembly outside of the case; and a fixing member in the terminal insertion portion and fixing the terminal member to the cap plate, the fixing member being formed by an insert injection molding method in which a plastic resin is injected in the terminal insertion portion in a state in which the terminal member is inserted in the terminal insertion portion, the fixing member including a recessed portion that is recessed from an upper surface of the fixing member.
US09461286B2
An exemplary attachment device includes a twist-lock rotatable from a first position to a second position. The twist-lock in the first position permits movement of a battery array to and from an installed position within a battery pack. The twist-lock in the second position secures the battery array in the installed position.
US09461285B2
A motor vehicle battery having at least one battery module (11, 12) with battery cells (13, 14) positioned one behind the other and bounded by first walls (15) at opposite ends of the battery module (11, 12) and by second walls (16) at opposite longitudinal sides of the battery module (11, 12). Bottom ends of the battery cells (13, 14) bearing against a cooling plate (18). The battery cells (13, 14) of the battery module (11, 12) are pressed together between the first walls (15). A dummy cell (22) is positioned between two adjacent battery cells (13, 14) of the battery module (11, 12). A clamping bolt (23) extends through the dummy cell and presses the battery cells (13, 14) of the battery module (11, 12) against the cooling plate (18) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US09461283B2
A battery module capable of easily discharging, to an outside thereof, condensate water produced on a surface of a heat exchange member contacting the battery module when the battery module is heated. A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to one another; and a heat exchange member at bottom surfaces of the battery cells, and the heat exchange member includes an upper surface facing the bottom surfaces of the battery cells and having at least one groove formed therein.
US09461282B2
A battery pack configured to supply power to a cleaning system and be received by a battery receptacle of the cleaning system. The battery pack includes a housing including an aperture, a user contact moveable between a first position and a second position, a moveable member that moves from a retracted position to a protruded position when the user contact moves from the first position to the second position, and an engagement member that moves from a latched position to an unlatched position when the moveable member moves from the retracted position toward the protruded position. A portion of the moveable member extends through the aperture of the housing when the moveable member is in the protruded position to eject the battery back from the battery receptacle.
US09461279B2
A battery sealing member: has a power generating element, a case body member, a case lid member, and an electrode terminal member having an insert-through part inserted in a through-hole provided in the case lid member. The electrode terminal member is electrically connected to the power generating element. The battery sealing member is made of a synthetic resin and has a sealing part held between the electrode terminal member and the inner surface of the case lid member. The crystallinity of the sealing part of the sealing member is higher than the crystallinity of a portion other than the seal section.
US09461277B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes: a substrate; an insulation layer on the substrate and including first regions that are arranged along a first direction and second regions that are adjacent to the first regions and are arranged along the first direction; first lines on the insulation layer to cover the first regions and including first organic light-emitting layers; and second lines on the insulation layer to cover the second regions and including second organic light-emitting layers different from the first organic light-emitting layers. A portion of the first regions and a portion of the second regions facing each other are not parallel to the first direction.
US09461273B2
A light-emitting element having high external quantum efficiency is provided. A light-emitting element having a long lifetime is provided. A light-emitting element includes a light-emitting layer between a pair of electrodes. The light-emitting layer contains at least a phosphorescent compound, a first organic compound (host material) having an electron-transport property, and a second organic compound (assist material) having a hole-transport property. The light-emitting layer has a stacked-layer structure including a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer, and the first light-emitting layer contains a higher proportion of the second organic compound than the second light-emitting layer. In the light-emitting layer (the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer), a combination of the first organic compound and the second organic compound forms an exciplex.
US09461269B2
The present disclosure provides an organic light emitting display that may comprise: an organic light emitting device (OLED) including a first electrode, an organic layer including a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode, which are sequentially formed on a substrate having a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) formed on the substrate; and an upper encapsulation layer, which is formed of an aluminum oxide-based material, is formed in a single layer, and is disposed on the substrate on which the organic light emitting device (OLED) is formed, wherein a Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of the upper encapsulation layer is smaller than or equal to 10−2 g/m2/day.
US09461267B2
A cracks propagation preventing, polarization film attaches to outer edges of a lower inorganic layer of an organic light emitting diodes display where the display is formed on a flexible substrate having the lower inorganic layer blanket formed thereon. The organic light emitting diodes display further includes a display unit positioned on the inorganic layer and including a plurality of organic light emitting diodes configured to display an image, and a thin film encapsulating layer covering the display unit and joining with edges of the inorganic layer extending beyond the display unit.
US09461251B2
Provided are a novel anthracene derivative of a specific structure in which benzofuran or benzothiophene is bonded to anthracene through an arylene group, a material for an organic electroluminescence device and a light emitting material for an organic electroluminescence device each containing the anthracene derivative, and an organic electroluminescence device including an organic thin film layer formed of one or plural layers including at least a light emitting layer, the organic thin film layer being interposed between a cathode and an anode, in which at least one layer of the organic thin film layer contains the anthracene derivative alone or as a component of a mixture. The organic electroluminescence device has high luminous efficiency and is capable of emitting light with a long lifetime, and the device can be realized by the anthracene derivative.
US09461244B2
A method for producing a semiconductor device includes forming a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate and a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a contact line, the contact line extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the fin-shaped semiconductor layer extends. A pillar-shaped phase-change layer and a lower electrode are formed overlying the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. A reset gate insulating film is formed so as to surround the pillar-shaped phase-change layer and the lower electrode and a reset gate is formed.
US09461243B2
A planar STT-MRAM comprises apparatus, a method of operating a spin-torque magnetoresistive memory and a plurality of magnetoresistive memory element having spin-transfer torques acting on a recording layer from a MTJ stack and a novel magnetoresistance with a spin-valve layer. The spin-valve layer is field-reversible between two stable magnetization states either parallel or anti-parallel to the fixed reference layer magnetization through a set/reset current pulse along a conductive line provided by a control circuitry, accordingly, the magnetoresistive element is pre-configured into a reading mode having canceled spin-transfer torques or a recording mode having additive spin-transfer torques.
US09461242B2
A magnetic cell includes a free region between an intermediate oxide region (e.g., a tunnel barrier) and a secondary oxide region. Both oxide regions may be configured to induce magnetic anisotropy (“MA”) with the free region, enhancing the MA strength of the free region. A getter material proximate to the secondary oxide region is formulated and configured to remove oxygen from the secondary oxide region, reducing an oxygen concentration and an electrical resistance of the secondary oxide region. Thus, the secondary oxide region contributes only minimally to the electrical resistance of the cell core. Embodiments of the present disclosure therefore enable a high effective magnetoresistance, low resistance area product, and low programming voltage along with the enhanced MA strength. Methods of fabrication, memory arrays, memory systems, and electronic systems are also disclosed.
US09461240B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive memory device includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and a third magnetic layer provided on a side of the first or second magnetic layer opposite to the nonmagnetic layer. The third magnetic layer has a multilayer film having an artificial lattice structure, and the third magnetic layer is partly microcrystalline or amorphous.
US09461228B2
The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material excellent in thermoelectric performance and flexibility and capable of being produced in a simplified manner and at a low cost, and a method for producing the material. The thermoelectric conversion material has, on a support, a thin film of a thermoelectric semiconductor composition containing thermoelectric semiconductor fine particles and a conductive polymer, and the method for producing a thermoelectric conversion material includes a step of applying the thermoelectric semiconductor composition containing thermoelectric semiconductor fine particles and a conductive polymer onto the support and drying it to forma thin film thereon.
US09461216B2
A light emitting device includes a semiconductor chip including a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, the semiconductor chip being adapted to emit light between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-side pad electrode disposed on an upper surface side of the semiconductor chip and over the p-type semiconductor layer; an n-side pad electrode disposed on an upper surface side of the semiconductor chip and over the n-type semiconductor layer; a resin layer disposed to cover the upper surface of the semiconductor chip; a p-side connection electrode and an n-side connection electrode disposed at an outer surface of the resin layer and positioned on the upper surface side of the semiconductor chip; and a metal wire disposed in the resin. The metal wire is adapted to make connection at least one of between the p-side pad electrode and the p-side connection electrode, and between the n-side pad electrode and the n-side connection electrode.
US09461202B2
This invention provides a high-efficiency light-emitting device and the manufacturing method thereof The high-efficiency light-emitting device includes a substrate; a reflective layer; a bonding layer; a first semiconductor layer; an active layer; and a second semiconductor layer formed on the active layer. The second semiconductor layer includes a first surface having a first lower region and a first higher region.
US09461200B2
A display apparatus includes: a display region provided with a plurality of pixel portions; wires installed to the respective pixel portions within the display region from an outside of the display region and transmitting a signal to drive the respective pixel portions; connection pads provided on the outside of the display region and serving as input portions that provide the wires with a signal while electrically conducting with the wires; switch elements provided on the outside of the display region in a middle of the wires; and a light shielding covering portion shielding the switch elements from light and formed to cover the connection pads while electrically conducting with the connection pads.
US09461196B2
Non-crystalline inorganic light emitting diode. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, an article of manufacture includes a light emitting diode. The light emitting diode includes a non-crystalline inorganic light emission layer and first and second semiconducting non-crystalline inorganic charge transport layers surrounding the light emission layer. The light emission layer may be amorphous. The charge transport layers may be configured to inject one type of charge carrier and block the other type of charge carrier.
US09461195B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a solar cell having a substrate made of silicon, which substrate has a silicon oxide layer present on the surface of the substrate and an antireflection layer applied to the silicon oxide layer, which antireflection layer is deposited onto the dielectric passivation layer in a process chamber. According to the invention, in order to achieve a stability of corresponding solar cells or solar cell modules produced therefrom against a potential induced degradation (PID), the dielectric passivation layer is formed from the surface of the substrate in the process chamber by means of a plasma containing an oxidizing gas.
US09461186B2
The present invention relates to photovoltaic modules and methods of manufacturing photovoltaic modules.
US09461181B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics in which an oxide semiconductor is used. An oxide semiconductor layer is subjected to heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation treatment in a nitrogen gas or an inert gas atmosphere such as a rare gas (e.g., argon or helium) or under reduced pressure and to a cooling step for treatment for supplying oxygen in an atmosphere of oxygen, an atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen, or the air (having a dew point of preferably lower than or equal to −40° C., still preferably lower than or equal to −50° C.) atmosphere. The oxide semiconductor layer is thus highly purified, whereby an i-type oxide semiconductor layer is formed. A semiconductor device including a thin film transistor having the oxide semiconductor layer is manufactured.
US09461179B2
A semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics is provided. The transistor includes first to third oxide semiconductor layers, a gate electrode, and a gate insulating layer. The second oxide semiconductor layer has a portion positioned between the first and third oxide semiconductor layers. The gate insulating layer has a region in contact with a top surface of the third oxide semiconductor layer. The gate electrode overlaps with a top surface of the portion with the gate insulating layer positioned therebetween. The gate electrode faces a side surface of the portion in a channel width direction with the gate insulating layer positioned therebetween. The second oxide semiconductor layer includes a region having a thickness greater than or equal to 2 nm and less than 8 nm. The length in the channel width direction of the second oxide semiconductor layer is less than 60 nm.
US09461167B2
An electrical device in which an interface layer is disposed in between and in contact with a conductor and a semiconductor.
US09461166B2
A lateral-diffused metal oxide semiconductor device including a substrate, a second deep well, a gate, a source, a drain and a first dopant region is provided. The substrate includes a first deep well having a first conductive type. The second deep well having a second conductive type is disposed in the first deep well. The gate is disposed on the substrate and the boundary of the first and the second deep well. The source and the drain having a second conductive type are disposed beside the gate and in the first deep well and the second deep well respectively. The first dopant region having a first conductive type is disposed in the second deep well, wherein the first dopant region is separated from the drain. Moreover, a method for fabricating said lateral-diffused metal oxide semiconductor device is also provided.
US09461165B2
A semiconductor device includes a P+ region and an N+ region functioning as sources of SGTs and disposed in top portions of Si pillars formed on an i-layer substrate. Connections between a power supply wiring metal layer and the P+ region and between a ground wiring metal layer and the N+ region are established on the entire surfaces of low-resistance Ni silicide layers that are respectively in contact with the P+ region and the N+ region and formed on outer peripheries of the Si pillars. Lower ends of the power supply wiring metal layer and the ground wiring metal layer are located at a height of surfaces of HfO layers near the boundaries between the P+ region and a channel and between the N+ region and a channel, respectively.
US09461163B2
In a non-insulated DC-DC converter having a circuit in which a power MOS•FET high-side switch and a power MOS•FET low-side switch are connected in series, the power MOS•FET low-side switch and a Schottky barrier diode to be connected in parallel with the power MOS•FET low-side switch are formed within one semiconductor chip. The formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode is disposed in the center in the shorter direction of the semiconductor chip, and on both sides thereof, the formation regions of the power MOS•FET low-side switch are disposed. From the gate finger in the vicinity of both long sides on the main surface of the semiconductor chip toward the formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode, a plurality of gate fingers are disposed so as to interpose the formation region SDR between them.
US09461158B2
A heterojunction field effect transistor includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. A length of the first contact portion in a longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of source electrodes in the longitudinal direction, and a length of the second contact portion in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of drain electrodes in the longitudinal direction. For each drain electrode, a distance from ends of the second contact portion to ends of the drain electrode, the ends being outside of the second contact portion, is greater than a distance from ends of the first contact portion to ends of the source electrode, the ends being outside of the first contact portion.
US09461156B2
This invention provides a memory structure and an operation method thereof. The memory structure includes a triode for alternating current (TRIAC) and a memory cell. The memory cell is electrically connected to the TRIAC.
US09461153B2
Disclosed are structures and methods related to a barrier layer for metallization of a selected semiconductor such as indium gallium phosphide (InGaP). In some embodiments, the barrier layer can include tantalum nitride (TaN). Such a barrier layer can provide desirable features such as barrier functionality, improved adhesion of a metal layer, reduced diffusion, reduced reactivity between the metal and InGaP, and stability during the fabrication process. In some embodiments, structures formed in such a manner can be configured as an emitter of a gallium arsenide (GaAs) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) or an on-die high-value capacitance element.
US09461151B2
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a memory cell. The memory cell includes a first charge storage element and a second charge storage element, wherein the first and second charge storage elements include nitrides. The memory cell further includes an insulating layer formed between the first and second charge storage elements. The insulating layer provides insulation between the first and second charge storage elements.
US09461149B2
Methods to fabricate a stacked nanowire field effect transistor (FET) with reduced gate resistance are provided. The nanowire stack in the stacked nanowire FET can be provided by first forming a material stack of alternating sacrificial material layers and nanowire material layer. The sacrificial material layers and selected nanowire material layers in the material stack are subsequently removed to increase a vertical distance between two active nanowire material layers.
US09461144B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes exposing a dummy oxide layer of a gate structure to a vapor mixture comprising NH3 and a fluorine-containing compound at a first temperature, wherein the dummy oxide layer is formed over a substrate and surrounded by a gate spacer that includes a material different from that of the dummy oxide layer. The method further includes rinsing the substrate with a solution containing de-ionized water (DIW) at a second temperature. The method may further include baking the substrate in a chamber heated to a third temperature higher than the first and second temperatures. The exposing, rinsing, and baking steps remove the dummy oxide layer thereby forming an opening in the gate spacer. The method may further include forming a gate stack having a high-k gate dielectric layer and a metal gate electrode in the opening.
US09461141B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide contact techniques and configurations for reducing parasitic resistance in nanowire transistors. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a channel layer including nanowire material formed on the isolation layer to provide a channel for a transistor, and a contact coupled with the channel layer, the contact being configured to surround, in at least one planar dimension, nanowire material of the channel layer and to provide a source terminal or drain terminal for the transistor.
US09461135B2
A semiconductor device includes first, a second, and third semiconductor layers respectively made of a nitride semiconductor and stacked on a substrate, a drain electrode formed on the third semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the third semiconductor layer, and a source electrode formed within an opening penetrating the third and second semiconductor layers and exposing the first semiconductor layer. The source electrode includes a first conductor layer in contact with the first semiconductor layer, and a second conductor layer stacked on the first conductor layer and in contact with the second semiconductor layer. A work function of a material forming the first conductor layer is smaller than that of a material forming the second conductor layer.
US09461128B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods of contact formation. A self aligned contact scheme with reduced lithography requirements is disclosed. This reduces the risk of shorts between source/drains and gates, while providing improved circuit density. Cavities are formed adjacent to the gates, and a fill metal is deposited in the cavities to form contact strips. A patterning mask is then used to form smaller contacts by performing a partial metal recess of the contact strips.
US09461127B2
A power MOSFET cell includes an N+ silicon substrate having a drain electrode. A low dopant concentration N-type drift layer is grown over the substrate. An N-type layer, having a higher dopant concentration than the drift region, is then formed and etched to have sidewalls. A P-well is formed in the N-type layer, and an N+ source region is formed in the P-well. A gate is formed over the P-well's lateral channel and has a vertical extension next to the top portion of the sidewalls. A positive gate voltage inverts the lateral channel and increases the conduction along the sidewalls to reduce on-resistance. A vertical shield field plate is also located next to the sidewalls and extends virtually the entire length of the sidewalls. The field plate laterally depletes the N-type layer when the device is off to increase the breakdown voltage.
US09461113B2
Semiconductor arrangements and methods for manufacturing the same. The arrangement may include: a substrate; a back gate formed on the substrate; at least one pair of nanowires disposed on opposite sides of the back gate; and back gate dielectric layers interposed between the back gate and the respective nanowires.
US09461112B1
A method of epitaxially growing nitrogen-based compound semiconductor thin films on a semiconductor substrate, which is periodically patterned with grooves. The method can provide an epitaxial growth of a first crystalline phase epitaxial film on the substrate, and block the growth of an initial crystalline phase with barrier materials prepared at the sides of the grooves. Semiconductor devices employing the epitaxial films are also disclosed.
US09461110B1
An embodiment is a method including forming a fin on a substrate. The fin includes a first crystalline semiconductor material on a substrate and a second crystalline semiconductor material above the first crystalline semiconductor material. The method further includes converting at least a portion of the first crystalline semiconductor material and second crystalline semiconductor material in the fin to a dielectric material and removing at least a portion of the dielectric material. The method further includes forming a gate structure over the fin and forming source/drain regions on opposing sides of the gate structure.
US09461100B2
A display device, in which self-luminous elements are arranged, prevents a leakage current through a common layer, included in the self-luminous elements and disposed throughout its image display area, from causing adjacent pixels to emit unintended light. An organic EL display device has a bank and a light-emitting element layer. The bank is formed on a substrate and is positioned in the border between first and second pixels adjacent to each other. The light-emitting element layer is deposed to spread over the first pixel, the second pixel, and the bank. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed on both sides of the light-emitting element layer and inject electric charges to the light-emitting element layer. A third electrode is formed in contact with the light-emitting element layer in an area overlapping with the bank 106 and absorbs the leakage current.
US09461096B2
A method for manufacturing a display device includes forming a metal layer on a carrier substrate, laminating a display substrate on the metal layer, supplying a current to the metal layer to heat the metal layer, and separating the display substrate from the metal layer and the carrier substrate.
US09461093B2
Self-reference-based MRAM element including: first and second magnetic tunnel junctions, each having a magnetoresistance that can be varied; and a field line for passing a field current to vary the magnetoresistance of the first and second magnetic tunnel junctions. The field line includes a first branch and a second branch each branch including cladding. The first branch is arranged for passing a first portion of the field current to selectively vary the magnetoresistance of the first magnetic tunnel junction, and the second branch is electrically connected in parallel with the first branch and arranged for passing a second portion of the field current to selectively vary the magnetoresistance of the second magnetic tunnel junction. The self-referenced MRAM element and an MRAM device including corresponding MRAM elements can use a reduced field current.
US09461089B2
Disclosed is a method of fabricating a semiconductor image sensor device. The method includes providing a substrate having a pixel region, a periphery region, and a bonding pad region. The substrate further has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The pixel region contains radiation-sensing regions. The method further includes forming a bonding pad in the bonding pad region; and forming light-blocking structures over the second side of the substrate, at least in the pixel region, after the bonding pad has been formed.
US09461085B2
The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and a manufacturing method of the same, and an electronic apparatus, capable of more reliably suppressing occurrence of color mixing.A trench is formed between PDs so as to be opened to a light receiving surface side of a semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of the PDs, each of which receives light to generate charges, are formed, an insulating film is embedded in the trench and the insulating film is laminated on a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. Then, a light shielding portion is formed so as to be laminated on the insulating film and to have a convex shape protruding to the semiconductor substrate at a location corresponding to the trench. The present technology can be applied to a back surface irradiation type CMOS solid-state imaging device.
US09461083B2
A plurality of pixels PD1, PD2 for detecting the phase difference are treated as a pixel group, and a slit 46, which makes incident light entering into each of the pixels of the pixel group PD1, PD2 asymmetrical, is formed in between optical elements (microlenses) 43 formed at an upper layer at the light-entering side of the pixel group PD1, PD2, and in between intermediate refractive-index layers 45. The side faces of the slit 46 are made to be light reflecting faces.
US09461077B2
A thin film transistor includes: a semiconductor channel film; a gate insulating film on the semiconductor channel film; a gate electrode formed of a laminated film including a first conductive film and a second conductive film on the gate insulating film; an interlayer insulating film covering the semiconductor channel film, the gate insulating film, and the gate electrode; a source electrode formed of a laminated film including a third conductive film and a fourth conductive film formed on the interlayer insulating film; and a drain electrode formed of the third conductive film. A gate wiring is formed of the laminated film including the first conductive film and the second conductive film. A source wiring is formed of the laminated film including the third conductive film and the fourth conductive film. A pixel electrode is formed of the first conductive film. A counter electrode is formed of the third conductive film.
US09461074B2
An array substrate and a fabrication method thereof, a display device including the array substrate and a motherboard including the array substrate are provided. The array substrate includes a pixel region and a peripheral wiring region. The peripheral wiring region includes a transparent conductive contact electrode disposed on a base substrate. The transparent conductive contact electrode is electrically connected with a metal electrode line disposed below the transparent conductive contact electrode through via holes disposed in different insulating layers, and the via holes disposed in different insulating layers do not overlap with each other in a projection direction.
US09461069B2
An aspect of the instant disclosure provides a multilayer device structure that comprises: a substrate defining a first device region and a second device region laterally offsetting each other; a first channel material layer disposed over the substrate in the first device region; a second channel material layer over the substrate in the second device region, wherein the second channel material layer is arranged at an elevation higher than the first channel material layer; and a first device and a second device respectively fabricated from the first and the second channel material layers, wherein the first device and the second device vertically offsetting each other and defining an offset region above the first device, thereby reducing parasitic interference there-between.
US09461062B1
A semiconductor device including a substrate, a bottom insulating layer disposed on the substrate, two stacked structure disposed on the bottom insulating layer, a charge trapping structure, and a channel layer disposed on the charge trapping structure is provided. Each of the stacked structures includes a plurality of semiconductor layers and insulating layers, a top insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layers and the insulating layers, and a high-doped semiconductor layer disposed on the top insulating layer. The semiconductor layers and the insulating layers are alternately stacked on the bottom insulating layer. The charge trapping layer is disposed on a lateral surface of each of the stacked structures and a top surface of the bottom insulating layer. The channel layer is directly contacted the high-doped semiconductor layer.
US09461055B2
An advanced metal-nitride-oxide-silicon (MNOS) multiple time programmable (MTP) memory is provided. In an example, an apparatus includes a two field effect transistor (2T field FET) metal-nitride-oxide-silicon (MNOS) MTP memory. The 2T field FET MNOS MTP memory can include an interlayer dielectric (ILD) oxide region that is formed on a well and separates respective gates of first and second transistors from the well. A control gate is located between the respective gates of the first and second transistors, and a silicon-nitride-oxide (SiN) region is located between a metal portion of the control gate and a portion of the ILD oxide region.
US09461050B2
A self-aligned strap structure can be formed by forming trench capacitors and overlying trench top conductive material portions. End portions of fin mask structures overlie portions of the trench top conductive material portions. A dielectric spacer is formed around each end portions of the fin mask structure to cover additional areas of the trench top conductive material portions. An anisotropic etch is performed to recess portions of the trench top conductive material portions that are not covered by the fin mask structures or dielectric spacers. Conductive strap structures that are self-aligned to end portions of semiconductor fins are formed simultaneously with formation of the semiconductor fins. Access fin field effect transistors can be subsequently formed.
US09461045B1
Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having two gate electrodes which are of about a same gate width as one another, and having a first diffusion region between the two gate electrodes. The semiconductor device also has second and third diffusion regions on opposing sides of the two gate electrodes from one another and which sandwich the two gate electrodes and the first source/drain region therebetween. Each of the second and third diffusion regions is longer than the first diffusion region in a direction of the gate width. Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a PMOS construction and an NMOS construction, with both constructions having a shorter middle diffusion region sandwiched between a pair of longer outer diffusion regions.
US09461044B1
A substrate is patterned to form trenches and a semiconductor fin between the trenches. Insulators are formed in the trenches and a dielectric layer is formed to cover the semiconductor fin and the insulators. A dummy gate strip is formed on the dielectric layer. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the dummy gate strip. The dummy gate strip and the dielectric layer underneath are removed until sidewalls of the spacers, a portion of the semiconductor fin and portions of the insulators are exposed. A second dielectric layer is selectively formed to cover the exposed portion of the semiconductor fin, wherein a thickness of the dielectric layer is smaller than a thickness of the second dielectric layer. A gate is formed between the spacers to cover the second dielectric layer, the sidewalls of the spacers and the exposed portions of the insulators.
US09461022B2
According to an exemplary embodiment, a stacked half-bridge package includes a control transistor having a control drain for connection to a high voltage input, a control source coupled to a common conductive clip, and a control gate for being driven by a driver IC. The stacked half-bridge package also includes a sync transistor having a sync drain for connection to the common conductive clip, a sync source coupled to a low voltage input, and a sync gate for being driven by the driver IC. The control and sync transistors are stacked on opposite sides of the common conductive clip with the common conductive clip electrically and mechanically coupling the control source with the sync drain, where the common conductive clip has a conductive leg for providing electrical and mechanical connection to an output terminal leadframe.
US09461013B2
Disclosed is a wire spool system for a wire bonding apparatus, comprising: a wire reel arranged to receive a wire; a wire guide for feeding a free end of the wire to a bond head of the wire bonding apparatus; and a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the wire to define a wire path between the wire reel and the wire guide. The wire spool system comprises an imaging module comprising a camera having an image sensor. The imaging module also comprises an image processing unit. The camera is positioned to image, by said image sensor, at least a portion of the wire path to generate image data. The image processing unit is configured to process the image data to determine a geometry and/or a change in geometry of the at least a portion of the wire path.
US09461011B2
An embodiment of a method and an apparatus for manufacturing lead frames are described. For example, a coating layer is formed on one or more predefined portions of the surface of the substrate of the lead frame by delimiting the predefined portions by means of screen printing. The employment of screen printing may allow obtaining large amounts of lead frames with excellent electronic and structural properties in a quick and cost-effective way.
US09461004B2
A semiconductor workpiece includes a semiconductor substrate, at least two chip areas, components of semiconductor devices being formed in the semiconductor substrate in the at least two chip areas, and a separation trench disposed between adjacent chip areas. The separation trench is formed in a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate and extends from the first main surface to a second main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second main surface is disposed opposite to the first main surface. The separation trench is filled with at least one sacrificial material.
US09460983B2
A thermal interface material includes a metal foil, which has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and a plurality of rod conductors each having a side surface extending in a thickness direction of the metal foil. The rod conductors are arranged on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the metal foil in a planar direction that is perpendicular to the thickness direction. A resin layer covers at least the first surface and the second surface of the metal foil and the side surfaces of the rod conductors.
US09460982B2
An integrated heat spreader comprising a heat spreader frame that has a plurality of openings formed therethrough and a plurality of thermally conductive structures secured within the heat spreader frame openings. The thermally conductive structures can be formed to have various thicknesses which compensate for varying heights between at least two microelectronic devices in a multi-chip package. The thermally conductive structures can be secured in the heat spreader frame by sizing the openings and the thermally conductive structures such that the thermally conductive structures can be secured within the openings without requiring welding or adhesives.
US09460975B2
Methods of testing TSVs using eFuse cells prior to and post bonding wafers in a 3D IC stack are provided. Embodiments include providing a wafer of a 3D IC stack, the wafer having thin and thick metal layers; forming first and second TSVs on the wafer, the first and second TSVs laterally separated; forming an eFuse cell between and separated from the first and second TSVs; forming a FF adjacent to the second TSV and on an opposite side of the second TSV from the eFuse cell; connecting the first TSV, the eFuse cell, the second TSV, and the FF in series in an electric circuit; and testing the first and second TSVs prior to bonding the wafer to a subsequent wafer in the 3D IC stack.
US09460974B1
A method of making a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a tunneling layer overlying a first channel connecting a source and a drain. A charge storage layer is formed overlying the tunneling layer, the charge storage layer comprises forming a substantially trap free first layer over the tunneling layer, and forming a trap dense second layer over the first layer. Finally, a blocking structure is formed on the charge storage layer by plasma oxidation. A thickness of the charge storage layer is reduced through oxidation of a portion of the charge storage layer during the formation of the blocking structure. Other embodiments are also described.
US09460972B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die. An interconnect structure is formed over an active surface of the semiconductor die. An encapsulant is formed over the semiconductor die and interconnect structure including a first surface opposite the interconnect structure. A peripheral portion of the first surface includes a first roughness disposed outside a footprint of the semiconductor die. A semiconductor die portion of the first surface includes a second roughness less than the first roughness disposed over the footprint of the semiconductor die. The first surface of the encapsulant is disposed within a mold and around the semiconductor die to contact a surface of the mold that includes a third roughness equal to the first roughness and a fourth roughness equal to the second roughness. The first roughness includes a roughness of less than 1.0 micrometers. The second roughness includes a roughness in a range of 1.2-1.8 micrometers.
US09460966B2
Methods of and apparatuses for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a front surface having a plurality of integrated circuits thereon involves forming a mask layer above the front surface of the semiconductor wafer. The method also involves laser scribing the mask layer and the front surface of the semiconductor wafer to provide scribe lines in the mask layer and partially into the semiconductor wafer. The laser scribing involves use of a dual focus lens to provide a dual focus spot beam. The method also involves etching the semiconductor wafer through the scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09460965B2
A semiconductor substrate includes a vertical conductor and an insulating layer. The vertical conductor includes a metal/alloy component of a nanocomposite crystal structure and is filled in a vertical hole formed in the semiconductor substrate along its thickness direction. The insulating layer is formed around the vertical conductor in a ring shape and includes nm-sized silica particles and a nanocrystal or nanoamorphous silica filling up a space between the silica particles to provide a nanocomposite structure along with the silica particles.
US09460958B2
Air gap isolation in non-volatile memory arrays and related fabrication processes are provided. Electrical isolation between adjacent active areas of a substrate can be provided, at least in part, by bit line air gaps that are elongated in a column direction between the active areas. At least one cap is formed over each isolation region, at least partially overlying air to provide an upper endpoint for the corresponding air gap. The caps may be formed at least partially along the sidewalls of adjacent charge storage regions. In various embodiments, selective growth processes are used to form capping strips over the isolation regions to define the air gaps. Word line air gaps that are elongated in a row direction between adjacent rows of storage elements are also provided.
US09460957B2
An isolation feature with a nitrogen-doped fill dielectric and a method of forming the isolation feature are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method of forming the isolation feature comprises receiving a substrate having a top surface. A recess is etched in the substrate, the recess extending from the top surface into the substrate. A dielectric is deposited within the recess such that the depositing of the dielectric includes introducing nitrogen during a chemical vapor deposition process. Accordingly, the deposited dielectric includes a nitrogen-doped dielectric. The deposited dielectric may include a nitrogen-doped silicon oxide. In some embodiments, the depositing of the dielectric disposes the nitrogen-doped dielectric in contact with a surface of the recess. In further embodiments, a liner material is deposited within the recess prior to the depositing of the dielectric within the recess.
US09460950B2
Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for securing and transferring substrates. A substrate carrier, having one or more electrostatic chucking electrodes disposed therein, electrostatically couples a substrate to the carrier such. Optionally, a mask may also be electrostatically coupled to the carrier and may be disposed over a region of the carrier not occupied by the substrate. In one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies are provided such that a first electrode assembly chucks the substrate to the carrier and a second electrode assembly chucks the mask to the carrier. In another embodiment, a pocket is formed in the carrier and an electrode assembly provides chucking capability within the pocket.
US09460949B2
One or more apparatuses for adjusting at least one of an oxygen content or a water content in a pod and methods of their use are provided, where one or more semiconductor wafer are selectively stored within a storage chamber of the pod. The apparatus comprises the pod and a pipeline. The pod comprises the storage chamber and a port. The port comprises a receptacle having a first opening and a constraining ring proximate the first opening. The pipeline comprises a pipe, a diffuser attached to a first end of the pipe and a controller attached to a second end of the pipe.
US09460948B2
A package is provided for use with a track-and-trace data management system. The package comprises a base defining a plurality of compartments, each compartment containing an item, and a cover enclosing the compartments to retain each item inside a respective compartment. Each item carries a unique item code, and the package includes at least one unique security code. The relationship between the unique item code and the at least one unique security code is maintained by the data management system.
US09460946B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes a heating part including a cylindrical-shaped heat insulator and a heating wire arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulator, a heat-insulating part configured to define a cylindrical space between the heating part and the heat insulating part, a cooling gas introduction portion coupled to the cylindrical space and provided above the heat-insulating part to surround the heating part, and a cooling gas discharge portion provided at an approximately same height as that of the cooling gas introduction portion in the diameter direction extending from approximately the center of the cooling gas introduction portion.
US09460942B2
An interface station of a coating and developing treatment system has: a cleaning unit cleaning at least a rear surface of a wafer before the wafer is transferred into an exposure apparatus; an inspection unit inspecting the rear surface of the cleaned wafer whether the wafer is exposable, before it is transferred into the exposure apparatus; wafer transfer mechanisms including arms transferring the wafer between the units and a wafer transfer control part controlling operations of the wafer transfer mechanisms. When it is determined that a state of the wafer becomes an exposable state by re-cleaning in the cleaning unit as a result of the inspection, the wafer transfer control part controls the wafer transfer mechanisms to transfer the wafer again to the cleaning unit.
US09460937B2
Provided are a hybrid substrate, a semiconductor package including the same, and a method for fabricating the semiconductor package. The hybrid substrate may include an insulation layer, and an organic layer. The insulation layer may include a top, a bottom opposite to the top, and a conductive pattern having different pitches. The organic layer may be connected to the bottom of the insulation layer, and may include a circuit pattern connected to the conductive pattern. The conductive pattern may include a first metal pattern, and a second conductive pattern. The first metal pattern may have a first pitch, and may be disposed in the top of the insulation layer. The second conductive pattern may have a second pitch greater than the first pitch, and may be extended from the first metal pattern to be connected to the circuit pattern through the insulation layer.
US09460935B2
The invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming a first etching layer and a second etching layer stacked on a substrate, and forming a recess region by etching the first and second etching layers under plasma generated from an etching gas including a compound. The compound comprises at least one of 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane, 2,2,2-trifluoroethane-1-thiol, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-iodoethane, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,1-difluoroethene.
US09460932B2
Methods of selectively depositing a feature onto a substrate surface while maintaining substantially straight sidewalls on the feature. A portion of the feature is grown and then covered with a protective film. The protective film is removed from the top of the feature, leaving some of the film on the sides of the feature and the process is repeated to grow a feature of desired thickness.
US09460931B2
A memory device and a method of fabricating a memory device that includes forming a protrusion over a substrate, an etch stop layer over the protrusion, and a stack of alternating material layers over the etch stop layer. The method further includes etching the stack to the etch stop layer to form a memory opening having a first width dimension proximate to the etch stop layer, etching the etch stop layer to provide a void area between the protrusion and a bottom of the memory opening, where the void area has a second width dimension that is larger than the first width dimension, forming a memory film over a sidewall of the memory opening and within the void area over the top surface of the protrusion, etching the memory film to expose the protrusion, and forming a semiconductor channel in the memory opening that is electrically coupled to the protrusion.
US09460930B2
A method for performing a laser crystallization is provided. The method includes generating a laser beam, refracting the laser beam to uniformize an intensity of the laser beam at a focal plane of the laser beam. The laser beam whose intensity is uniformized is applied into an object substrate mounted with a stage.
US09460929B2
Provided is a semiconductor device having improved performance. Over a semiconductor substrate, a dummy control gate electrode is formed via a first insulating film. Over the semiconductor substrate, a memory gate electrode for a memory cell is formed via a second insulating film having an internal charge storage portion so as to be adjacent to the dummy control gate electrode. At this time, the height of the memory gate electrode is adjusted to be lower than the height of the dummy control gate electrode. Then, a third insulating film is formed so as to cover the dummy control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. Then, the third insulating film is polished to expose the dummy control gate electrode. At this time, the memory gate electrode is not exposed. Then, the dummy control gate electrode is removed and replaced with a metal gate electrode.
US09460925B2
A substrate processing system that includes a substrate processing chamber having one or more sidewalls that at least partially define a substrate processing region and extend away from a bottom wall of the substrate processing chamber at an obtuse angle; a source material holder configured to hold a source material within the substrate processing region; a plasma gun operatively coupled to introduce a plasma beam into the substrate processing region; one or more magnets operatively arranged to generate a magnetic field that guides the plasma beam to the source material holder; and a substrate carrier configured to hold one or more substrates within the substrate processing region.
US09460913B2
A film-forming method includes forming a tungsten film or a tungsten oxide film on an object to be processed, heating the object on which the tungsten film or the tungsten oxide film is formed, forming a seed layer on the tungsten film or the tungsten oxide film by supplying an aminosilane-based gas to a surface of the tungsten film or the tungsten oxide film, and forming a silicon oxide film on the seed layer by simultaneously supplying a silicon material gas including silicon and a gas including an oxidizing agent for oxidizing silicon.
US09460912B2
Composition(s) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) process(es) for the formation of a silicon oxide containing film at one or more deposition temperature of about 500° C. is disclosed. In one aspect, the composition and process use one or more silicon precursors selected from compounds having the following formulae I, II, described and combinations thereof R1R2mSi(NR3R4)nXp; and I. R1R2mSi(OR3)n(OR4)qXp. II
US09460910B2
To provide a lamination method and a lamination system capable of excellently laminating a film-type laminate without damage even though the semiconductor is a brittle lamination target such as a foil-type semiconductor or a semiconductor made of highly brittle material. In a lamination method for laminating a film-type laminate to a brittle lamination target by overlapping the brittle lamination target and the film-type laminate and heating and pressing the brittle lamination target and the film-type laminate, with respect to the brittle lamination target mounted on a mount member and carried into a lamination device, an elastic film member is expanded into a vacuum chamber of the lamination device from the above to press and laminate the brittle lamination target and the film-type laminate.
US09460907B2
An induction RF fluorescent lamp comprising a dimming device load control facility enabling the induction RF fluorescent lamp to provide for electrical loads required for the proper operation of an external control dimming device, the dimming device load control facility controlling a switched electrical load switched in and out of connectivity within the electronic ballast to provide a load for the external dimming device.
US09460906B2
An ion guide or ion trap is disclosed comprising a segmented linear ion guide or ion trap. Ions are confined radially within the ion guide or ion trap by the application of an AC or RF voltage to the electrodes. A static potential well is maintained along at least a portion of the axial length of the ion guide or ion trap. A time varying homogeneous electric field is applied along at least a portion of the axial length of the ion guide or ion trap. The combination of the static axial potential well and the time varying axial homogeneous electric field causes ions to be ejected from the ion guide or ion trap in a substantially non-resonant manner.
US09460905B2
A method is proposed for assessing the vacuum conditions in a mass spectrometer (10) such as an ion cyclotron resonance or orbital trapping mass spectrometer. Such mass spectrometers generate a transient detection signal resulting from ions of one or species in an ion trap (80). The parameters of the trap and/or introduced ions are adjusted so as to cause the decay rate of the transient in respect of the ion species to be dominated by collisional effects. Typically this can be achieved by introducing ions into the trap (80) in quantities such that ion clouds of a particular ion species self bunch. The rate of decay of the transient signal in that case is determined and compared with one or more threshold decay rates. This in turn can provide an indication of vacuum conditions within the trap (80).
US09460902B2
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising mass selectively transmitting precursor ions from a mass analyzer into a fragmentation or reaction device, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the ions transmitted varies with time; fragmenting the precursor ions in the fragmentation or reaction device so as to produce fragment or product ions; mass analyzing the fragment or product ions; determining the start and end times at which a first fragment or product ion is detected; using said start and end times to determine the start and end times at which a precursor ion of said first fragment or product ion is transmitted by said mass analyzer; and using the start and end times at which the precursor ion is transmitted by said mass analyzer to determine a mass to charge ratio of said precursor ion. The present invention enables precursor ion peaks to be resolved from the fragment data even when a low resolution mass analyzer is used to analyze the precursor ions.
US09460898B2
A faceplate or a selectivity modulation device (SMD) for a plasma generation chamber has a plasma resistant ceramic coating on a surface of the faceplate or SMD, wherein the plasma resistant ceramic coating comprises a thickness of less than approximately 30 microns, a porosity of less than 1% and a thickness non-uniformity of less than 4%.
US09460895B2
A gas supply method includes controlling communication between first and second gas pipes and a diffusion chamber using first and second valves; controlling discharge of gas within the first and second gas pipes using third and fourth valves connected upstream from the first and second valves; and controlling communication between an exhaust pipe and the diffusion chamber using a fifth valve. The gas supply method further includes a first pressurization step of closing the first valve and the third valve before starting a first step and pressurizing a first gas within the first gas pipe; a second pressurization step of closing the second valve and the fourth valve before starting a second step and pressurizing a second gas within the second gas pipe; and an exhaust step of opening the fifth valve upon starting the first step and the second step, and discharging gas within the diffusion chamber.
US09460890B2
The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a phase plate (1) for a transmission electron microscope wherein said phase plate is etched before being irradiated for the first time in the TEM, and is then held in an ultra-pure holding atmosphere until the irradiation in the TEM.
US09460886B2
An electron-bombarded detector for detecting low light signals includes a vacuum tube structure defining a cylindrical vacuum tube chamber, a photocathode disposed at a first end of the vacuum tube chamber, a sensor disposed at a second end of the vacuum tube chamber, ring electrodes disposed in the vacuum tube chamber for generating an electric field that accelerates emitted photoelectrons toward the sensor, and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a symmetric magnetic field that applies a focusing lens effect on the photoelectrons. The ring electrodes and magnetic field generator are operating using one of a reduced distance focusing approach and an acceleration/deceleration approach such that the photoelectrons have a landing energy below 2 keV. The use of reflective mode photocathodes is enabled using either multi-pole deflector coils, or ring electrodes formed by segmented circular electrode structures. Large angle deflections are achieved using magnetic or electrostatic deflectors.
US09460874B2
To control the arc that forms during cut-off in a vacuum bulb, a contact device makes it possible to inflict a rotational motion on the arc, while keeping the arc diffuse. The rotating diffuse arc is obtained with each of two electrodes of the contact device including a solid wafer associated with a base of petal type, the two electrodes mirroring one another.
US09460869B2
The invention relates to an electrically powered hand tool which comprises a device for providing tactile feedback to an operator of the tool. The tool further comprises a user-operated trigger for activating the working member of the tool. The tactile feedback provided by the tool alerts the operator about the activation status of the tool. More specifically, the operator is provided with an indication that the power to the tool is ON. The tactile feedback is provided at least from the time when the power to the tool is turned ON to the point in time when the trigger is pulled to activate the working member of the tool.
US09460867B2
A pole shaft assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The pole shaft assembly includes a shaft structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism and to be pivotably coupled to the housing. A number of throw assemblies are disposed on the shaft, and are secured with respect to the shaft with fasteners. The shaft includes first and second opposing ends and an elongated body portion extending therebetween. The elongated body portion of the shaft has a cross-sectional shape comprising a number of orienting features.
US09460863B2
An asymmetric supercapacitor is described. The supercapacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a thin film separator, and an electrolyte. The first electrode comprises functionalized cellulose fiber and the second electrode comprises functionalized cellulose fiber and metal oxide.
US09460862B2
An electric storage cell includes a hard casing configured to house an electric storage element and electrolyte, and an electrode terminal connected to a charge collector of the electric storage element and exposed to an outside of the hard casing, the electric storage cell being chargeable/dischargeable using the electrode terminal, wherein the electrode terminal has a charge collector connecting portion connected to the charge collector through an opening formed in the hard casing, and a main body bonded to an outer circumferential surface of the hard casing to make a surface contact.
US09460860B2
There is provided a conductive polymer having high conductivity with excellent heat resistance. Using the conductive polymer, there can be provided solid electrolytic capacitors having low ESR, high reliability, and less leakage current. There can be also provided conductive films having high conductivity and superior heat resistance. There is provided a conductive polymer dispersion liquid obtained by a method in which in the presence of a copolymer from styrenesulfonic acid, and at least one kind of a non-sulfonic acid monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylate, acrylate, and an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing alkoxysilane compound or its hydrolysate, thiophene or its derivative is polymerized by oxidation polymerization in water, or in an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of water and a water miscible solvent to produce the conductive polymer dispersion liquid. Using the conductive polymer as solid electrolyte, a solid electrolyte capacitor can be provided. Also, using the conductive polymer, a conductive film can be provided.
US09460857B2
A method of manufacturing a ceramic capacitor component that includes preparing a laminate body including first to third green sheets by stacking the first green sheets before applying conductive paste, stacking the second green sheets with conductive paste applied thereon on the first green sheets, and stacking the third green sheets before applying conductive paste on the second green sheets; preparing fourth green sheets from a raw material that does not contain V2O5; providing the fourth green sheets onto four surfaces of the laminate body other than end surfaces of the laminate body to form a main body; firing the main body; and applying and baking a Cu paste onto the four surfaces of the main body and the end surfaces of the main body.
US09460852B2
A laminated ceramic capacitor having a laminated body composed of a plurality of ceramic layers for inner layers; a plurality of internal electrodes at the interfaces between the plurality of ceramic layers for inner layers; and a plurality of ceramic layers for outer layers, provided on the top and bottom so as to sandwich the plurality of ceramic layers for inner layers. The ceramic layers for inner layers are composed of a material containing a multiple oxide including an alkaline-earth metal. The ceramic layers for outer layers respectively have TiO2 ceramic layers containing TiO2 as their main constituent for certain layers including the outermost layers, and multiple oxide ceramic layers containing a multiple oxide including an alkaline-earth metal for the other layers.
US09460847B2
A soft magnetic layer for a receiving antenna of a wireless power receiving apparatus includes a first soft magnetic member containing a Mn—Zn ferrite material, and a second soft magnetic member containing a Ni—Zn ferrite material. Accordingly, electromagnetic energy collecting performance of the receiving antenna of the wireless power receiving apparatus is improved, and thereby power transmission efficiency is maximized.
US09460841B2
An embodiment of integrated inductor device, comprising a plurality of modules overlaid to each other, each module including at least one coil of conducting material. The directly overlaid pairs of coils are coiled in opposite directions. The directly overlaid modules are mechanically coupled through first adhesive conductive regions and the coils of the directly overlaid modules are electrically coupled to each other through second adhesive conductive regions. The first and the second adhesive conductive regions coupling directly overlaid modules are formed in the same step of the process, are of the same material and are arranged at a same level.
US09460838B2
An electronic device may have a source of magnetic field such as a magnet that produces a static magnetic field. A flexible printed circuit may have a flexible tail that surrounds a central portion. The central portion may overlap the magnet. Electrical components may be mounted to the central portion. To prevent undesired vibrations and noise due to interactions between magnetic fields induced by signals flowing in signal lines in the flexible printed circuit and the static magnetic field, the signal lines may be vertically stacked or may be routed along a curved path that does not overlap the magnet. The tail may serve as a service loop that allows a portion of a housing for the device and electrical components mounted to the central portion in alignment with windows in the housing to be detached for servicing.
US09460833B2
A conductive line shield structure includes a first conductive line, a second conductive line and a shielding member. The first conductive line includes a conductive part and an insulative part. At least a surface of the second conductive line is made of copper. The shielding member, is a sheet including an insulative base material and an aluminum foil, and is wrapped so as to enclose the first conductive line and the second conductive line therein. A plated layer is provided on a surface of the aluminum foil and is in contact with the second conductive line.
US09460831B2
A cord reel assembly described herein comprises a cord reel including a flat flexible cable that comprises a ribbon of generally parallel power transmission and data transmission wires embedded in a non-conductive polymeric matrix. Each data transmission wire is spaced and insulated from any adjacent wire by the polymeric matrix. The power transmission wires are flattened relative to the data transmission wires, and have a larger gauge than the data transmission wires. The FFC comprises non-shielded end regions flanking a shielded middle region that includes a shielding layer on at least one side of the cable, and a non-conductive coating covers the shielding layer.
US09460830B2
A composite material includes a plurality of fibers embedded in a metal matrix. The composite material further includes a plurality of particles disposed in the metal matrix. At least 25% of the fibers contact or are spaced less than 0.2 micrometers from an adjacent fiber within the metal matrix.
US09460822B2
The present invention relates to a method and an X-ray apparatus comprising an X-ray source, an x-ray detector, and at least a first collimator having a first active position and a second collimator having a second active position for forming a bundle of X-ray beams, wherein both of said active positions are located in a substantially straight path between said X-ray source and said detector, but at different distances from said X-ray source. The X-ray apparatus further comprises a selector arrangement for switching one of said first or second collimators in said first or second active position, whereby when one of said first or second collimators is in an active position the other collimator is in an inactive position.
US09460817B2
Apparatus for replacing a support pin for a control rod cluster guide tube. The support pin can fix the guide tube to a core plate. The apparatus can be used submerged in water. A movement device can hold and move the guide tube along a frame. A retrieval manipulator can remove an old support pin from the guide tube. A supply manipulator can provide a new support pin to the guide tube. A rotating means imparts rotation for loosening a nut from an old support pin, and for tightening a nut to a new support pin. A control device calculates variation in distance between the nut and the support pin on the basis of the rotation. The control device controls movement of the guide tube along the frame.
US09460809B2
A number of techniques for determining defects in non-volatile memory arrays are presented, which are particularly applicable to 3D NAND memory, such as that of the BiCS type. Word line to word shorts within a memory block are determined by application of an AC stress mode, followed by a defect detection operation. An inter-block stress and detection operation can be used determine word line to word line leaks between different blocks. Select gate leak line leakage, both the word lines and other select lines, is consider, as are shorts from word lines and select lines to local source lines. In addition to word line and select line defects, techniques for determining shorts between bit lines and low voltage circuitry, as in the sense amplifiers, are presented.
US09460808B2
A method is provided for controlling a sample and hold circuit that includes a switching module coupled to a storage capacitor. A circuit external to the sample and hold circuit of generates at least one main current representative of at least one leakage current of the switching module in its off state. The at least one main current is delivered to at least one auxiliary capacitor. An initial pulse signal is generated from the charging and discharging of the at least one auxiliary capacitor. The sampling phase of the sample and hold circuit is triggered at the rate of the pulses of a pulse signal derived from the initial pulse signal.
US09460805B1
Techniques are provided for programming a memory device. A pre-charge phase is used to boost the channel of an unselected NAND string by allowing a bit line voltage to reach the channel. To maximize the channel pre-charge while also minimizing program disturb, a drain-side dummy word line voltage is controlled based on the position of the selected word line. The drain-side dummy word line voltage can be relatively high or low when the selected word line is relatively far from or close to the drain-side dummy word line, respectively. When the drain-side dummy word line voltage is relatively high, the bit line voltage can easily pass through and boost the channel. When the drain-side dummy word line voltage is relatively low, program disturb of drain-side data word lines is reduced due to a smaller channel gradient and a corresponding reduced amount of hot carriers.
US09460796B2
Disclosed is a memory system and a method of programming a multi-bit flash memory device which includes memory cells configured to store multi-bit data, where the method includes and the system is configured for determining whether data to be stored in a selected memory cell is an LSB data; and if data to be stored in a selected memory cell is not an LSB data, backing up lower data stored in the selected memory cell to a backup memory block of the multi-bit flash memory device.
US09460795B2
An operating method of a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of strings each string including at least two pillars penetrating wordlines disposed at different layers. The operating method includes applying unselected wordline voltages to unselected wordlines, and applying a selected wordline voltage to a selected wordline, and the unselected wordline voltage applied to the same layer as a layer of the selected wordline is different from the unselected wordline voltage applied to a different layer than the layer of the selected wordline.
US09460788B2
A non-volatile memory device is provided that uses one or more volatile elements. In some embodiments, the non-volatile memory device can include a resistive two-terminal selector that can be in a low resistive state or a high resistive state depending on the voltage being applied. A MOS (“metal-oxide-semiconductor”) transistor in addition to a capacitor or transistor acting as a capacitor can also be included. A first terminal of the capacitor can be connected to a voltage source, and the second terminal of the capacitor can be connected to the selector device. A floating gate of an NMOS transistor can be connected to the other side of the selector device, and a second NMOS transistor can be connected in series with the first NMOS transistor.
US09460786B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device configured for sensing a pure leakage current of a cell array and improving a read error is disclosed. The semiconductor integrated circuit device may include a leakage current sensing unit configured for sensing a pure leakage current of a cell array, and a determination circuit unit configured for comparing a voltage level of the input node with a reference voltage and for determining a state of read data while in a read mode. Whereby an output current may be compared with a read current of the cell array at the input node, and the output current may include the summation of the pure leakage current and a reference current.
US09460785B2
A semiconductor storage device according to the present embodiment includes a constant current source. A reference current path is connected to the constant current source to flow a reference current and to generate a reference voltage. A supply current path or a plurality of supply current paths are connected to bit lines to selectively flow supply a current or currents different from each other and generate a detection voltage. A sense amplifier is connected to the reference current path and the supply current paths to amplify a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the detection voltage.
US09460784B1
A method and apparatuses for generating a reference voltage are disclosed. One example apparatus includes a current source coupled to a first power supply. The current source supplies a first current. A reference memory cell is coupled to the current source at a reference node. The reference memory cell has a select device comprising a chalcogenic semiconductor material. A clamp circuit is coupled between the reference memory cell and a second power supply. The clamp circuit is configured to control a second current such that when the first current and second current are substantially equal, the reference voltage generated at the reference node tracks a threshold voltage of the select device.
US09460782B2
A method of operating a memory controller includes receiving a first data sequence and generating a coset representative sequence that can be divided into m-bit strings, where “m” is a natural number of at least 2; performing a first XOR operation on each of the m-bit strings in the coset representative sequence and binary bits; calculating all possible branch metrics according to a result of the first XOR operation; determining a survivor path sequence based on the all possible branch metrics; and performing a second XOR operation on the coset representative sequence and the survivor path sequence and generating an output sequence.
US09460780B2
Methods are provided for programming multi-level non-volatile memory cells, the multi-level non-volatile memory cells accessible by a plurality of word lines. The methods include using a four-pass programming technique to program a block of the multi-level non-volatile memory cells, detecting a power cycle before completing programming of the block of the multi-level non-volatile memory cells, and upon power-up initialization, resuming programming on the block of the multi-level non-volatile memory cells.
US09460777B2
A device includes a static random access memory (SRAM) cell and a read buffer coupled to an output of the SRAM cell. The read buffer includes an inverter and a switch. An input of the inverter is responsive to the output of the SRAM cell. A control terminal of the switch is responsive to an output of the inverter.
US09460775B1
A sense amplifier driving device may include a sense amplifier driving block configured to supply a post overdriving voltage to a pull-up power line coupled to a sense amplifier, the post overdriving voltage supplied to the sense amplifier during a post overdriving operation period in correspondence to a pull-up driving signal. The sense amplifier driving device may include a driving signal generation block configured to compare a reference voltage, set by a voltage trimming signal, with a level of a power supply voltage, and generate the pull-up driving signal for controlling whether to perform a post overdriving operation.
US09460772B2
Provided is a memory device in which memory capacity per unit area is increased without making the manufacturing process complicated. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines. Each of the plurality of memory cells includes a switching element and a capacitor including a first electrode and a second electrode. In at least one of the plurality of memory cells, in accordance with a potential applied to one of the plurality of word lines, the switching element controls a connection between one of the plurality of bit lines and the first electrode, and the second electrode is connected to another one of the plurality of word lines.
US09460763B2
The present invention includes a plurality of CPUs using memory as main memory, another function block using memory as a buffer, a CPU interface which controls access transfer from the plurality of CPUs to memory, and a DRAM controller for performing arbitration of the access transfer to the memory. Therein, the CPU interface causes access requests from the plurality of CPUs to wait, and receives and stores the address, data transfer mode and data size of each access, notifies the DRAM controller of the access requests, and then, upon receiving grant signals for the access requests, sends information to the DRAM controller according to the grant signals, whereupon the DRAM controller receives the grant signals, and on the basis of the access arbitration, specifies CPUs for which transfers have been granted so as to send the grant signals to the CPU interface.
US09460761B2
A sense amplifier includes: two detection inputs, a latch circuit including two sections coupled to each other and each supplying a data signal. Each section is respectively powered by a P-channel control transistor, having a gate terminal receiving a control signal linked to a respective detection input of the two detection inputs. The sense amplifier includes a control circuit configured to reduce each of the control signals to a sufficiently low voltage to put the corresponding control transistor to the on state, when the control signal reaches a reference voltage. The latch circuit is activated to supply one of the data signals when a corresponding one of the control transistors is in the on state.
US09460758B2
A microelectronic package can include a support element having first and second surfaces and substrate contacts at the first or second surface, zeroth and first stacked microelectronic elements electrically coupled with the substrate contacts, and terminals at the second surface electrically coupled with the microelectronic elements. The second surface can have a southwest region encompassing entire lengths of south and west edges of the second surface and extending in orthogonal directions from the south and west edges one-third of each distance toward north and east edges of the second surface, respectively. The terminals can include first terminals at a southwest region of the second surface, the first terminals configured to carry address information usable by circuitry within the microelectronic package to determine an addressable memory location from among all the available addressable memory locations of the memory storage arrays of at least one of the zeroth or first microelectronic elements.
US09460746B2
An air-bearing surface of a slider is coated with a photoresist having a high optical absorbance at or near an operational wavelength of the slider. Light is directed at a target wavelength through an entry of a waveguide integrated into the slider. The light exiting the waveguide forms a feature through the photoresist, the feature proximate a near-field transducer of the slider. A sub-micron pattern is formed using the feature.
US09460745B1
Managing the flying height of a read-write head slider, such as in the context of a short or head switch seek, involves pre-heating the switched-to head while the active head is still performing a data read or write operation. Thus, both the active head and the switched-to head may be heated simultaneously, and once the switched-to head is switched to an active state upon the active head completing its corresponding operation, the switched-to head can immediately begin its operation with minimal or no further delay.
US09460737B2
The use of supermalloy-like materials for the side and top shields of a magnetic bit sensor is shown to provide better shielding protection from stray fields because of their extremely high permeability.
US09460732B2
In one aspect, a microphone with closely spaced elements is used to acquire multiple signals from which a signal from a desired source is separated. The signal separation approach uses a combination of direction-of-arrival information or other information determined from variation such as phase, delay, and amplitude among the acquired signals, as well as structural information for the signal from the source of interest and/or for the interfering signals. Through this combination of information, the elements may be spaced more closely than may be effective for conventional beamforming approaches. In some examples, all the microphone elements are integrated into a single a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS).
US09460727B1
An audio system encodes and decodes audio captured by a microphone array system in the presence of wind noise. The encoder encodes the audio signal in a way that includes beamformed audio signal and a “hidden” representation of a non-beamformed audio signal. The hidden signal is produced by modulating the low frequency signal to a high frequency above the audible range. A decoder can then either output the beamformed audio signal or can use the hidden signal to generate a reduced wind noise audio signal that includes the non-beamformed audio in the low frequency range.
US09460726B2
Soundfield signals such as e.g. Ambisonics carry a representation of a desired sound field. The Ambisonics format is based on spherical harmonic decomposition of the soundfield, and Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) uses spherical harmonics of at least 2nd order. However, commonly used loudspeaker setups are irregular and lead to problems in decoder design. A method for improved decoding an audio soundfield representation for audio playback comprises calculating (110) a function (W) using a geometrical method based on the positions of a plurality of loudspeakers and a plurality of source directions, calculating (120) a mode matrix (Ξ) from the loudspeaker positions, calculating (130) a pseudo-inverse mode matrix (Ξ+) and decoding (140) the audio soundfield representation. The decoding is based on a decode matrix (D) that is obtained from the function (W) and the pseudo-inverse mode matrix (Ξ+).
US09460725B2
A method, medium, and apparatus encoding and/or decoding an audio signal to surround data. While encoding spatial information, which can up-mix an audio signal to a surround signal, to extension data, a length of a payload corresponding to the spatial information is encoded and a payload of the spatial information is decoded using the length of the payload. Accordingly, compatibility of the spatial information can be provided, and the spatial information can be transmitted by effectively embedding the spatial information.
US09460717B2
A mobile terminal including a microphone configured to receive a voice input; a touchscreen configured to display information; and a controller configured to activate a voice recognition mode on the mobile terminal for receiving the voice input from the microphone, receive the voice input indicating a particular function on the mobile terminal is to be executed, execute the particular function indicated by the received voice input, if the voice recognition mode is interrupted while the particular function is being executed, determine whether the particular function is in a complete state or an incomplete state, if the particular function is in the incomplete state, display a display object corresponding to the particular function in the incomplete state, and resume the particular function and activate the microphone for receiving additional voice input to complete the particular function.
US09460714B2
In a speech processing apparatus, an acquisition unit is configured to acquire a speech. A separation unit is configured to separate the speech into a plurality of sections in accordance with a prescribed rule. A calculation unit is configured to calculate a degree of similarity in each combination of the sections. An estimation unit is configured to estimate, with respect to the each section, a direction of arrival of the speech. A correction unit is configured to group the sections whose directions of arrival are mutually similar into a same group and correct the degree of similarity with respect to the combination of the sections in the same group. A clustering unit is configured to cluster the sections by using the corrected degree of similarity.
US09460713B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for modulating language model biasing. In some implementations, context data is received. A likely context associated with a user is determined based on at least a portion of the context data. One or more language model biasing parameters based at least on the likely context associated with the user is selected. A context confidence score associated with the likely context based on at least a portion of the context data is determined. One or more language model biasing parameters based at least on the context confidence score is adjusted. A baseline language model based at least on the one or more of the adjusted language model biasing parameters is biased. The baseline language model is provided for use by an automated speech recognizer (ASR).
US09460711B1
Methods and systems for processing multilingual DNN acoustic models are described. An example method may include receiving training data that includes a respective training data set for each of two or more or languages. A multilingual deep neural network (DNN) acoustic model may be processed based on the training data. The multilingual DNN acoustic model may include a feedforward neural network having multiple layers of one or more nodes. Each node of a given layer may connect with a respective weight to each node of a subsequent layer, and the multiple layers of one or more nodes may include one or more shared hidden layers of nodes and a language-specific output layer of nodes corresponding to each of the two or more languages. Additionally, weights associated with the multiple layers of one or more nodes of the processed multilingual DNN acoustic model may be stored in a database.
US09460702B2
A polymer interlayer having improved sound insulation is disclosed. The polymer interlayer comprises at least one soft layer wherein the soft layer comprises a blend of a first poly(vinyl butyral) resin, a second poly(vinyl butyral) resin and a plasticizer; at least one stiffer layer comprising a third poly(vinyl butyral resin) and a plasticizer, wherein the polymer interlayer has a damping loss factor (η) (as measured by Mechanical Impedance Measurement according to ISO 16940) of at least about 0.16 measured at two or more different temperatures selected from 10° C., 20° C. and 30° C.
US09460697B1
A system and method are provided for mixing song data based on measure groupings. A player or program may recognize measure groupings in a song through identifying cuepoints. The player or program may use the cuepoints and/or other identifiers of measure groupings to generate a transition between the song and other songs. Parts of one or both songs may be time-stretched, or frames may be added or deleted, such that the beats in both songs are substantially aligned during the transition. The system and method may also involve altering the sequence of frames in one or both of the songs, so that the transition may have various sonic qualities as desired by a user. A choice of transition modes may be provided via a user interface that allow the user some control over when and how transitions between songs are executed.
US09460688B2
A locket includes a chamber and a door, with the chamber housing an electronic display, a microprocessor with associated memory coupled thereto, a wireless transceiver coupled to the microprocessor, and a power source. Messages/pictures can be displayed on the display through use of a system incorporating the locket, a mobile unit having a locket application and a wireless transceiver, and an application server device with a database. The system may also include a separately networked computer-type device. A locket user can log into the application server, register the locket, and create a user profile including one or more of interests, personal information, social connections, etc., that would establish how the locket can receive content. The system allows permitted friends to send messages/pictures through the application server to the locket for display.
US09460676B2
A GOA circuit applied to a liquid crystal display is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of cascaded shift register units, an (N)th level shift register unit is controlled to charge an (N)th level scanning line accordingly. The (N)th level shift register unit includes a pull-up circuit, a pull-down circuit, a pull-down sustain circuit, a pull-up control circuit, a down transfer circuit, and an bootstrap capacitor, and a display device is also disclosed herein. By replacing scanning lines with a constant voltage VDD or two voltages to accomplish the function of down transfer, the loading of scanning lines and the risk which comes with wiring step-by-step are decreased, forward-scanning operation and backward-scanning operation are accomplished accordingly.
US09460675B2
According to an aspect, a display device includes: an image display panel; and a plurality of signal processing circuits that are responsible for respective regions in the image display panel, that convert an input value of an input HSV color space of an input signal to each of their own responsible regions into an extension value of an extended HSV color space to generate an output signal of the extension value for the image display panel. The signal processing circuits decide an extension coefficient αA for the image display panel in its entirety in a cooperative manner. The signal processing circuit, regarding its own responsible region, calculates an output signal of each of a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, third sub-pixel, and a fourth sub-pixel.
US09460674B2
A display panel, a driving method for the same, and a display apparatus, wherein the display panel includes: a display substrate with a plurality of TFTs arranged in an array, a source driving integrated circuit and a gate driving integrated circuit, the gate driving IC is connected with a plurality of gate lines, each gate line is connected with the gates of the TFTs in adjacent N rows, and different gate lines are connected with the gates of the TFTs in different rows, N is an integer being greater than 1; the source driving IC is connected with a plurality of source lines, sources of different TFTs connected to a same gate line are connected with different source lines, and sources of the TFTs, which are connected to different gate lines and located in a same column and spaced g*N−1 TFTs apart, are connected with a same source line.
US09460673B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes a plurality of pixels, scan lines, data lines crisscrossing with the scan lines, a data driving unit that drives the data lines, an overvoltage driving unit coupled to the data driving unit, a data analysis unit coupled to the overvoltage driving unit and reading gray level of each of sub-pixels, an original overvoltage driving table, and a first overvoltage driving table. Each of the pixels belonging to a same column receives data of a same data line, and each of the pixels includes three sub-pixels controlled by three adjacent scan lines one by one. The original overvoltage driving table and the first overvoltage driving table are coupled to the data analysis unit. When an input signal driving the first overvoltage driving table is same as an input signal driving the original overvoltage driving table, partial voltages driving the data lines and corresponding to the first overvoltage driving table is greater than voltage driving the data lines and corresponding to the original overvoltage driving table. In a same frame image, when gray level of a current sub-pixel is greater than gray level of a previous sub-pixel of a same data line with the current sub-pixel, and gray level difference between the two sub-pixels is greater than a first threshold value, the overvoltage driving unit drives the current sub-pixel according to the first overvoltage driving table.
US09460666B2
This application is directed to driving methods for electrophoretic displays. The driving methods and waveforms have the advantage that they provide a clean and smooth transition from one image to another image, without flashing or other undesired visual interruptions. The methods also provide faster image transitions. In an embodiment, a method drives a display device from a first image to a second image wherein images of a first color are displayed with a background of a second color, which method comprises driving pixels of the first color directly to the second color before driving pixels of the second color directly to the first color.
US09460633B2
Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.
US09460632B2
A system incentivizes people to engage in physical activity. A person's physical activity may be monitored over a period of time. Such monitoring may occur by using a sensing device carried or worn by the user. In the system, one or more thresholds for physical activity are established. Information tracked using the sensing device can be compared to the thresholds. A percentage of physical activity relative to the threshold can be translated to a reward established for the physical activity, and the percentage may be used to determine a reward value for an electronic device relative to a full available value. Rewards may include times or amounts. Time values may indicate durations during which particular activities or devices may be used. Amount values may indicate an amount of a battery charge, a number of communications, a currency value, or other values relative to use of an electronic device.
US09460622B1
A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the operation of an autonomous vehicle. According to one aspect, the autonomous vehicle may track the trajectories of other vehicles on a road. Based on the other vehicle's trajectories, the autonomous vehicle may generate a representative trajectory. Afterwards, the autonomous vehicle may change at least one of its speed or direction based on the representative trajectory.
US09460610B2
A system and method for controlling an appliance are provided. The system includes a plurality of sensing devices and a plurality of appliance control devices. The sensing devices are locatable in a selected area with each device wirelessly transmitting a first status message and a second status message. Each of the plurality of appliance control devices has a wireless receiver that continuously monitors a transmission spectrum for wireless status messages, has a decryption device that decrypts any received encrypted messages, provides an ON and OFF output, and provides one of the ON and OFF outputs upon receiving a first status message and the other of the ON and OFF outputs upon receiving a second status message.
US09460608B2
An event analysis engine on a user device may be configured to receive information representative of a user event and to determine a type of the event according to the received information. One or more tasks associated with the determined type of event may be identified. Each of the identified tasks may be associated with a reminder having a trigger condition that is a function of information specific to the task. The task-specific information may be retrieved and the reminders associated with the tasks may be displayed when a device condition matches a calculated trigger condition for the reminder. Each task may be identified as completed when a completion condition associated with the task is satisfied.
US09460607B2
The present technology provides a system for detecting the tensile force of a guy rope in a pneumatic fender capable of preventing the breakage of the guy rope, and a pneumatic fender. Tensile force data detected by a tensile force sensor detecting the tensile force of a guy rope is transmitted by a wireless transmitter, and is inputted to a computation device through a receiver. An alerting device issues an alert when the tensile data is at least equivalent to reference data previously inputted to the computation device.
US09460604B1
Multifunctional modular system for sensing and utilizing corporal dynamics and impact related forces
A sensor module that includes an outer casing configured to be removably inserted into a receptacle in an article of wear or sports equipment, a processor positioned within the outer casing, an accelerometer connected to the processor, a communications module connected to the processor, a proximity sensor connected to the processor, an identifier sensor connected to the processor, wherein the identifier sensor is configured to read an identifier connected to or embedded in an article of wear or sports equipment, and an alert module connected to the processor.
US09460597B1
Systems (100) and methods (200) for security tag detachment or deactivation authorization. The methods involve: communicating at least one first product code for each article of a plurality of purchased articles from a Point-Of-Sale (“POS”) to a remote authorization system; generating by the remote authorization system an authorization code to facilitate authorization of detachment or deactivation of security tags attached only to said plurality of purchased articles, in response to the first product code; using the authorization code to obtain a list of articles identifying first articles of the plurality of purchased articles which have security tags attached thereto; and authorizing the detachment or deactivation of only the security tags that are attached to the articles identified in the list of articles.
US09460594B1
An apparatus, a system and a method positions a cable extending from an alarm system through a housing to face the cable toward the rear of an electronic device to which the cable is attached. The housing has a sensor assembly that holds a light visible through the sensor assembly to denote an alarm condition. A sensor associated with the sensor assembly connects to a corresponding sensor port in the electronic device. A joint attached to the sensor assembly rotates to position the cable. Detachment of the sensor from the port in the electronic device disrupts a circuit formed between the alarm system, the cable and the electronic device to activate the alarm condition.
US09460592B2
Audible signals are created and emitted that provide a human user with improved sound localization cues to quickly and efficiently find the emitting device. The different audible signals have been observed to efficiently help a human locate emitting devices that are either in close proximity to the user or that are a large distance from the user. Additionally some examples emit audible signals that have been observed to efficiently help a human locate emitting devices that are located inside a sealed enclosure, such as a box. Some audible signals include audible noise processed by band-pass filters with spectral peaks at about 500 Hz, 4 kHz, and 8 Khz. Such audible signals are alternately emitted in time with audible signals having simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies that each have harmonic components.
US09460591B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for event notification. One of the methods includes receiving an event from a security system; determining at least one contact to notify of the alert from a collection of contacts, the determining including applying one or more event notification rules, wherein the one or more event notification rules include one or more event notification rules specified by a user of the security system and wherein a number and identity of the at least one contact varies depending on the applicable rules of the one or more event notification rules; transmitting an event notification to the one or more determined contacts; and performing a security action based on feedback from one or more of the determined contacts.
US09460583B2
A method for operating a gaming apparatus includes displaying a set of stopped reels in place of one or more spinning reels, each stopped reel having at least one symbol thereon and the total number of stopped reels being less than the total number of reels originally spinning. The method also includes determining an in-game outcome associated with a configuration of the symbols on the set of stopped reels, and providing an in-game stimulation selected from the group consisting of a 3-dimensional aural stimulation, a visual stimulation, a value stimulation and a physical stimulation according to the in-game outcome. The method further includes displaying stopped reels in place of all of the spinning reels, determining a game outcome associated with the configuration of the symbols on all of the stopped reels, and determining a value payout based on the game outcome. The apparatus is also included.
US09460581B2
The present invention relates to a medication dispenser that comprises a first container for holding medication packages to be dispensed, and conveying means for conveying medication packages from the first container to an outlet of the medication dispenser, the conveying means comprising a first conveyor that is arranged in connection with the outlet and is capable of conveying a medication package in a first and a second conveying direction, so that a medication package can be conveyed to the outlet and retracted inside the medication dispenser. The first conveyor comprises two opposing belt conveyors between which a medication package is arranged to be conveyed, both of the belt conveyors comprising an endless belt and a plurality of rollers around which the endless belt is arranged. The invention also relates to a method for dispensing medications.
US09460579B2
The invention relates to a sensor for checking value documents with a detection device having at least two photodetectors through which the detection light of the value document is detectable in at least two different spectral regions. The detection device contains a collecting optic common to the photodetectors, through which the detection light emitted by the value document in a detection region can be collimated to a light beam. Each of the photodetectors has associated therewith a detector lens which receives a partial light beam of the light beam collimated by the collecting optic and directs it onto the respective photodetector, so that the detection region substantially coincides for the different photodetectors. By the sensor there can be detected different spectral portions of the detection light of the same detection region separately from each other at the same point in time.
US09460578B2
A mobile station, system, and method for collecting information. The mobile station including a controller which can determine a current location of the mobile station, output the name of one or more selected persons corresponding to a predetermined geographic area (such as a current location of the mobile station), and receive an identifier corresponding to the selected person via an input device. The mobile station may also communicate, via wired and/or wireless communication means, with a system for uploading/downloading and/or processing information such as petition signatures.
US09460571B2
A backup key for a vehicle includes a blade extending along an axis within a first plane and a head, attached to the blade, extending along the axis and defining a slot along the axis for insertion of a torque assisting device. The slot may be configured to receive a coin. The slot may be configured such that the torque assisting device, when inserted into the slot, lies in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to the first plane. A case for a portable electronic device includes a housing configured to receive the portable electronic device and defining a plurality of receptacles for one or more backup keys. The case also includes a key fob circuit for wirelessly interfacing with a keyless entry system and a communication circuit that connects to the key fob circuit for coupling the portable electronic device and the keyless entry system.
US09460564B2
Method and a system for detecting the passing between a transmitter module and a detecting module is described. The method may comprise: detecting a plurality of signals transmitted by said transmitter module; determining phase information associated with at least a part of said plurality of detected signals; and, determining said passing on the basis of said phase information.
US09460560B2
A user with a cell phone interacts, in a personalized session, with an electronic sign system. In some embodiments, the user's location relative to the sign is discerned from camera imagery—either imagery captured by the cell phone (i.e., of the sign), or captured by the sign system (i.e., of the user). Demographic information about the user can be estimated from imagery captured acquired by the sign system, or can be accessed from stored profile data associated with the user. The sign system can transmit payoffs (e.g., digital coupons or other response data) to viewers—customized per user demographics. In some arrangements, the payoff data is represented by digital watermark data encoded in the signage content. The encoding can take into account the user's location relative to the sign—allowing geometrical targeting of different payoffs to differently-located viewers. Other embodiments allow a user to engage an electronic sign system for interactive game play, using the cell phone as a controller.
US09460554B2
A method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: receiving an aerially-captured video and metadata associated with the video; receiving deviation data indicative of an amount of inaccuracy in the metadata; and overlaying, on the video, a geographic annotation descriptive of an object of interest having known geographic coordinates, wherein the geographic annotation is of a size and a shape representative of the amount of inaccuracy.
US09460548B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for displaying a medical image, the apparatus including: a data acquisition unit for acquiring volume data of an object; an image generation unit for generating a medical image, which includes at least one three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic image and at least one 2D stereoscopic image generated based on at least one of a direction, a gradient, and a depth of an object shown in the 3D stereoscopic image, from volume data of the object; and a displaying unit for displaying the generated medical image.
US09460547B2
Aspects include API interfaces for interfacing shaders with other components and/or code modules that provide ray tracing functionality. For example, API calls may allow direct contribution of light energy to a buffer for an identified pixel, and allow emission of new rays for intersection testing alone or in bundles. The API also can provide a mechanism for associating arbitrary data with ray definition data defining a ray to be tested through a shader using the emit ray call. The arbitrary data is provided to a shader associated with an object that is identified subsequently as having been intersected by the ray. The data can include code, or a pointer to code, that can be used by or run after the shader. The data also can be propagated through a series of shaders, and associated with rays instantiated in each shader. Recursive shaders can be recompiled as non-recursive shaders interfacing with API semantics according to the description.
US09460536B2
An endoscope system includes an insertion portion, an objective optical window, an image pickup device, a position/direction detection section that acquires position information of the objective optical window, and a memory that records the subject internal image acquired by the image pickup device in association with the position information of the objective optical window. The endoscope system aligns the position information of the objective optical window with a reference position of a predetermined organ in the subject in a coordinate system of a three-dimensional model image based on an amount of change or the like of the subject internal image information in the subject and generates an image with the subject internal image pasted onto the two-dimensional model image of the predetermined organ which is the three-dimensional model image two-dimensionally developed in which the position of the objective optical window is associated with the position in the coordinate system.
US09460529B2
A method of emulating a flat tip brush, said method comprising (a) at a given time, identifying first and second points of contact on a touch sensitive surface; (b) interpolating a line between the first and second points, the line having line data comprising at least a length and an angle relative to the screen; (c) recording the first and second points and the line data; (d) reiterating steps (a)-(c) for at least one subsequent time to determine a plurality of the first points and a plurality of the second points and a plurality of the lines; and (e) displaying on a display screen an image defined by the first points, by the second points and/or by the lines between the first and second points.
US09460528B2
A method for collocating a clothing accessory on a human body for an electronic apparatus, is provided. A human body picture is shown on a display unit, and a human body description file corresponding to a human body model included in the human body picture is obtained from a database. A clothing accessory picture is obtained from another database based on a user choice, and a clothing accessory description file corresponding to a clothing accessory model included in the clothing accessory picture. The object picture is superposed on the human body picture automatically according to the human body and the object description files.
US09460526B1
Systems and methods for ensuring that images are compressed in a format that may be decompressed at a speed that is acceptable to a particular user and/or viewing environment are disclosed herein.
US09460520B2
The invention relates to a method for identifying a difference between a first 3D model of an environment and a second 3D model of the environment. The first and second 3D model each comprise a plurality of points or parts, wherein each point or part of the first and second model comprises geometrical information and texture information. Corresponding points or parts of the first and second 3D model are matched based on the geometrical information and/or the texture information. The matched points or parts of the first and second model are compared to determine at least one difference value based on the geometrical information and the texture information of the first and second model. A difference between the first and second model is identified if the at least one difference value exceeds a predetermined value. The invention also relates to an arrangement, a computer program, and a computer program product.
US09460516B2
In a method for generating a depth map for an image, an image processing apparatus is configured to: determine a depth level for each of at least two objects in the image according to an angle of incidence in which light incident upon the object is projected onto an image sensor of a light-field camera; calculate a depth value of the depth level associated with one of the objects; estimate a depth value for the depth level associated with another one of the objects; and generate a depth map according to the depth values. The depth value is estimated based on a distance between first and second locations on the image sensor, on which light incident upon the reference and relative objects are projected.
US09460505B2
Discerning small, weak features (“specks”) from imagery can be critical in early-stage cancer detection and other applications. In one aspect, the presence of a speck is judged from a large set of “votes” about whether a point in the imagery has a value above or below its neighbors. Hundreds or thousands or more votes can be gathered from one or more images, to thereby—in the aggregate—tend to confirm or refute the presence of a speck at a particular location. Votes can be based on simple pixel differences, e.g., between a pixel at the center of a 7×7 pixel image excerpt, and each of 48 other pixels in the excerpt. More sophisticated methods can employ analyses of triads, quads, and rings, and kernel-based Markov Random Field frameworks, to roll-up to a final conclusion. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. The technology is particularly illustrated in the context of detecting exoplanets from astronomical imagery of remote star systems.
US09460503B2
A test system is provided for analyzing a video frame received from a device under test such as a video rendering device includes a video capture device, a matrix code reader and a video quality analyzer. The video capture device receives a video stream from a video rendering device that includes a plurality of video frames. At least one of the video frames includes a matrix code overlaid thereon. The matrix code encodes one or more test parameters specifying one or more quality tests that are to be performed on the video frame on which the matrix code is overlaid. The matrix code reader scans and decodes the matrix code. The video quality analyzer analyzes the quality of the video frame based on the one or more quality tests embodied in the matrix code and decoded by the matrix code decoding device.
US09460498B2
An image processing method includes: (a) generating coefficients for a reduced image, using a predetermined relation; and (b) expanding the coefficients for the reduced image to coefficients for an original image, and correcting pixel values of the original image, wherein in step (b), expansion processing of expanding coefficients from coefficients corresponding to a first image to coefficients corresponding to a second image is performed on the coefficients corresponding to the reduced image, and step (b) further includes limiting, to a limit range according to the predetermined relation, at least one of a coefficient corresponding to the second image in the expansion processing or a corrected pixel value of the original image.
US09460496B2
There is provided a fluorescence observation apparatus, including: a lighting section including a light source emitting illumination light and excitation light; a fluorescence imaging section picking up fluorescence generated on a subject and acquiring a fluorescence image; a returned light imaging section picking up returned light returned from the subject and acquiring a returned light image; a preprocessing section multiplying at least either the fluorescence image or the returned light image by a coefficient in which a distance property of fluorescence intensity and a distance property of returned light intensity, which are acquired in advance with respect to a standard sample, come to be in a relation directly proportional to each other and generating a fluorescence image for correction and a returned light image for correction; and a fluorescence image correction section dividing the fluorescence image for correction by the returned light image for correction.
US09460495B2
In one embodiment, a video processing system 300 may filter a video data set to correct skew and wobble using a central processing unit 220 and a graphical processing unit 230. The video processing system 300 may apply a rolling shutter effect correction filter to an initial version of a video data set. The video processing system 300 may simultaneously apply a video stabilization filter to the initial version to produce a final version video data set.
US09460488B2
The present invention relates to a method of performing interpolation for prediction between screens by using a pixel sample of a current picture and a pixel sample of a reference picture, and a prediction method using same. The interpolation method according to the present invention includes: calculating movement information for generating a prediction block; and generating a partial pixel sample on the basis of an integer sample set including integer pixel samples to which an interpolation filter is applied. Here, the integer sample set includes at least one current integer sample used to generate a partial pixel sample among restored integer pixel samples of a current picture, and the partial pixel sample corresponds to the offset positions of a partial pixel unit from a predetermined reference pixel sample among integer pixel samples.
US09460487B2
A display device includes a display unit having N adjustable screen resolutions; a storage unit storing a setting list, the setting list recording the N adjustable screen resolutions and N display ratio parameters; a processing unit retrieving a current screen resolution from the display unit and comparing the current screen resolution with the N adjustable screen resolutions, the processing unit selecting an i-th display ratio parameter corresponding to an i-th adjustable screen resolution from the N display ratio parameters when the current screen resolution is identical to the i-th adjustable screen resolution; and an image generating unit generating an image according to the i-th display ratio parameter and displaying the image in the display unit.
US09460467B2
A system, methods, and apparatus for performing used automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing and consumer interest information received from consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. A consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may provide a request for a response regarding a specific used automobile with a specific a vehicle identification number. Automobile market data may be provided to a used automobile buyer based on the request. Bids to purchase the specific used automobile may be requested from used automobile buyers based on the request. Buyer bids may be provided to the consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller with prices and a delivery options. The consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may select a bid to sell the specific used automobile based on the bid.
US09460442B2
A sensor data gathering environment that associates a sensor with a smart tag attached to a product. The sensor receives product identification data from the smart tag. An application, web service or a computing device associated with the sensor collects customer behavior data, such as a length of time the sensor is associated with the smart tag, the proximity of the sensor to the smart tag, the location of the sensor while in a threshold distance from the smart tag, and the like. The application, web service or the computing device associated with the sensor transmits the product identification data and the customer behavior data to a remote computing system for analysis. Based on the analysis, a message or communication is initiated to provide the customer with personalized customer service.
US09460435B2
Transaction systems and methods for advancing a committed time in the future are described herein. In the present transaction systems and methods, the first end can be permitted to pre-hatch a time capsule signature before the committed time. The time capsule signature scheme here is conducted based on an identity-based trapdoor relation (IDTR). Moreover, an extended time capsule signature scheme is conducted based on an extended identity-based trapdoor relation (IDTR). By using an extended IDTR primitive, the present transaction systems and methods can distinguish the time capsule signature is validated before or after the committed time t.
US09460434B1
The present disclosure relates generally to systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program product of enabling the transfer of mobile currency between mobile device(s) exchanged for cash with dealers who rent out phones, or bartered for goods and services. The contemplated invention, inter alia, enables transfer of mobile currency either directly between mobile devices or use of a data transfer facility or center for the transfer using a communications network.
US09460432B2
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, and software for on-premises device transaction collaboration. Some embodiments include a method. The method of such embodiments includes identifying a mobile device present within a facility and associating the mobile device with an account holder. Such embodiments further include transmitting, to the mobile device, data representative of transaction options identified in stored data based on an identity of the facility and the account holder.
US09460431B2
A device, system or method may optionally include a processor, remote to a device, configured to generate information to control, at least in part, a function of the device based, at least in part, on a condition of conveyance of the device, and a transmitter, remote to the device, configured to transmit the information related to the condition of conveyance to the device.
US09460428B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for receiving a customization that will be displayed on the screen of an ATM based on a customer initiating a session with the ATM. The customization is associated with a function to perform a financial transaction. The function is performed as a result of the customer interacting with the customization on the screen of the ATM. The customization may be altered based on a handicap impairment of the customer. The displaying of the customization may be restricted for security purposes or as a request of the customer.
US09460410B2
Exemplary embodiments provide transportation management systems, devices and methods that allow display and management of transportation resources and operations in an integrated manner. Exemplary embodiments may provide, for example, a single dynamic and interactive interface for executing inbound transportation operations (procurement or pickup), outbound transportation operations (delivery or shipment), and operations in which multiple transportation resources are matched to one another.
US09460408B2
A method for automatically generating test scenarios for a plurality of business rules created to form a ruleset for a business domain. A plurality of decision variables is extracted from a business object model associated with the business domain using a computer system. The plurality of business rules is parsed using a syntactic parser operating on the computer system to extract at least one condition expression and an assignment action. A collection of mutually exclusive constraint satisfaction problems is built from the decision variables, condition expressions, and assignment actions using a constraint problem generator operating on the computer system. A plurality of test scenarios is generated automatically from each identified constraint satisfaction problem in the collection using a constraint solver engine operating on the computer system.
US09460407B2
Techniques for generating a data-based graphical representation include providing, to a user, a graphical user interface that comprises selectable attribute names; receiving a user selection of a first attribute name; in response to receiving the user selection, invoking a call to a back-end server that comprises a database, the database storing sets of attribute values, each set of attribute values associated with one of the selectable attribute names; receiving, from the back-end server, a response to the invoked call, the response comprising a particular set of attribute values that is associated with the user-selected first attribute name; generating the graphical representation of a relationship between the received attribute values associated with the user-selected first attribute name and a key figure of the attribute values; and preparing the graphical representation for display on the graphical user interface.
US09460405B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium is provided to provide an integrated storage system. For example, an embodiment may detect, by an enterprise computer system, an activity notification from a cloud service that stores data on behalf of an enterprise. The activity notification may specify a file name involved in an activity performed by the cloud service (e.g., creating or modifying a file). The enterprise computer system may then download a file (or contents thereof) from the cloud service using the file name specified by the activity notification. After downloading the file, the enterprise computer system may analyze the file against a data loss prevention rule. Based on an outcome from the data loss prevention rule, the enterprise computer system may communicate an action response to the cloud service. The action response may direct the cloud service to perform an action on the file stored by the cloud service.
US09460404B2
A method for controlling one or more scent delivery units includes maintaining one or more scheduled events, maintaining one or more scheduled anti-events, and generating, based on the one or more scheduled events and the one or more scheduled anti-events, command data to be communicated to the one or more scent delivery units to control their activation and deactivation. Generating the command data includes identifying a conflicting period of time during which control specified by the one or more scheduled events differs from control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events and also includes generating command data that gives priority to control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events. Control for the one or more scent delivery units during the conflicting period of time is in accordance with control logic of the one or more scheduled anti-events and not the one or more scheduled events.
US09460399B1
An improved technique involves proactively adjusting data storage system configuration in response to detecting external events. The improved technique predicts load changes based on historical correlations between events and load changes and directs an administrator to modify system configurations to prepare for the predicted changes in load. Advantageously, the improved technique enables administrators to better prepare for changes in load brought about by external events and thus to better maintain required service levels. Further, the improved technique reduces need for stressful and urgent responses by system administrators.
US09460398B2
A user activity real-time recognition apparatus and method are provided and include a collector configured to collect a frequency-domain signal for each user activity and to generate learning data based on the frequency-domain signal. The apparatus and method also include an extractor configured to extract a user activity feature from the frequency-domain signal based on an activity feature extracting model. The activity feature extracting model is learned based on the learning data from the collector. The apparatus and method further include a classifier configured to analyze the user activity feature to classify a user activity pattern based on an activity pattern classifying model and configured to transmit the classified user activity pattern to an application device.
US09460396B1
A system correlates intellectual property analyses, for example, patent claim charts, with respect to analyzed intellectual property and a target product or other intellectual property. Analyses are stored to enable searching and/or creating reports over multiple analyses. Units of the analysis are associated with a context, inherited, e.g., from the intellectual property document's assignment to a relative role within organizational hierarchy; and associated with a context derived from the analysis itself. The analysis and respective documents and/or targets of the analysis can be searched/retrieved/analyzed from the hierarchical analysis, the context analysis, and/or the content of the analysis. This obviates the need to store each analysis as a separate document. The target or annotations may be visually represented by an item such as a thumbnail or hyperlink, and the system automatically associates the item with the appropriate application program.
US09460395B2
A system and method for deploying predictive models is presented which personalizes application program functionality and user interface presentation to the consumer user. That personalization takes place within a decision engine that decouples decision models from application processes so that rapid deployment may take place. When a consumer user specific decision is required, the application program interacts with the decision model to trigger a consumer-user appropriate decision tailored to characteristics of the consumer user. New models are introduced into a decision process without requiring any application program change.
US09460394B2
A method includes receiving inputs indicative of a user state of a user. The received inputs include: 1) sensor inputs from one or more sensors; 2) application inputs received from one or more software applications; and/or 3) user inputs received from a graphical user interface. The method includes determining a collective user state of the user based on the received inputs and obtaining user data of other users that includes a collective user state of each corresponding other user. The method includes displaying, on a screen, other user glyphs representing the other users. Each other user glyph: 1) at least partially indicates the collective user state of the corresponding other user; and/or 2) is associated with a link to a displayable view indicating the collective user state of the corresponding other user and/or the inputs used to determine the collective user state of the corresponding other user.
US09460388B2
Implementations are disclosed for obtaining a range state of a device operating in an indoor environment with radio frequency (RF) signal sources. In some implementations, windowed signal measurements obtained from RF signals transmitted by an RF signal source are classified into range classes that are defined by threshold values obtained from a RF signal propagation model. A range class observation is obtained by selecting a range class among a plurality of range classes based on a percentage of a total number of windowed signal measurements that are associated with the range class. The range class observation is provided as input to a state estimator that estimates a range class that accounts for process and/or measurement noise. The output of the state estimator is provided as input to a state machine.
US09460383B2
A reconfigurable neural network circuit is provided. The reconfigurable neural network circuit comprises an electronic synapse array including multiple synapses interconnecting a plurality of digital electronic neurons. Each neuron comprises an integrator that integrates input spikes and generates a signal when the integrated inputs exceed a threshold. The circuit further comprises a control module for reconfiguring the synapse array. The control module comprises a global final state machine that controls timing for operation of the circuit, and a priority encoder that allows spiking neurons to sequentially access the synapse array.
US09460377B2
A semiconductor device with improved reliability, in which increase in power consumption can be reduced. The semiconductor device includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal to/from a communication device and at least first and second functional circuits electrically connected to the antenna. The first functional circuit includes a power supply control circuit for controlling power supply voltage output from a power supply circuit in the second functional circuit. A power supply control circuit in the second functional circuit includes a transistor of which first terminal is electrically connected to an output terminal of the power supply circuit and second terminal is electrically connected to a ground line. A gate terminal of the transistor is electrically connected to the power supply control circuit included in one functional circuit.
US09460372B2
Provided is an image forming apparatus that performs printout processing smoothly, even if printout from apparatus having no spooler, such as a tablet or a smart phone. The image forming apparatus includes the port for printing and an application executing part. The port for printing acquires a print job transmitted from an external apparatus without using spooler function. The application executing part works on a specified platform. The application executing part receives the print job from the external apparatus via a network. Then, the application executing part confirms whether or not the print buffer has space to the port for printing. When the print buffer cannot be used, an application executing part notifies the external apparatus for stopping the transmission of the print job until it becomes available.
US09460368B2
A method of learning a parameter to estimate a posture of an articulated object, and a method of estimating the posture of the articulated object are provided. A parameter used to estimate a posture of an articulated object may be iteratively learned based on a depth feature corresponding to an iteration count, and the posture of the articulated object may be estimated based on the learned parameter.
US09460366B2
A sensor data processing system and method is described. Contemplated systems and methods derive a first recognition trait of an object from a first data set that represents the object in a first environmental state. A second recognition trait of the object is then derived from a second data set that represents the object in a second environmental state. The sensor data processing systems and methods then identifies a mapping of elements of the first and second recognition traits in a new representation space. The mapping of elements satisfies a variance criterion for corresponding elements, which allows the mapping to be used for object recognition. The sensor data processing systems and methods described herein provide new object recognition techniques that are computationally efficient and can be performed in real-time by the mobile phone technology that is currently available.
US09460364B2
A method of extracting ridge data includes selecting a point in the contour of an object from an image of the object, calculating a chamfer distance of the point in the contour, and determining whether the point in the contour is a ridge point based on relationships between the chamfer distance and chamfer distances of points in the contour adjacent to the point in the contour. A method of tracking a joint motion of an object includes acquiring initial information of the object including information on at least one ridge region representing a distribution of ridge points of the object, and tracking the joint motion of the object from temporally consecutive images of the object based on the initial information.
US09460355B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for predicting the placement of road signs. A device receives data depicting road signs from multiple vehicles. The device analyzes a detected placement of the road signs and at least one characteristic of a collection of the data. The characteristic describes the road upon which the data was collected, an operation of the vehicle from which the data was collected, or an environment in which the data was collected. The device generates a model that associates values for the detected placement of the road signs with values for the at least one characteristic. The model may be later accessed to interpret subsequent sets of data describing one or more road signs.
US09460351B2
An image processing apparatus using a smart glass is provided, the image processing apparatus including an extractor to extract a first target to be observed by a user from a first image received from the smart glass and generate a second image using the extracted first target, an information collector to collect information related to the first target, and an image generator to reconstruct a third image using at least one of the second image and the information related to the first target, based on user settings.
