US09882525B2
Provided is a solar battery module having an outer edge maintained by a frame, and comprising a group of strings formed by using a plurality of solar battery cells, connecting adjacent solar battery cells in a longitudinal direction by an inter-cell wiring material to form a plurality of strings, and arranging the plurality of strings in a transverse direction, wherein a spacing distance A between the interior of the frame and the frame-side edge of solar battery cells of the outermost string in the group of strings, a spacing distance B between solar battery cells constituting adjacent strings in the group of strings, and a spacing distance C between the solar battery cells in the transverse direction satisfy the relationship {(995A−20C)/1005}
US09882521B2
An electric drive system for a three-phase PM electric machine. The drive system includes a split stator winding for each phase of the machine including a first winding section and a second winding section, and an inverter circuit including a pair of inverter switches for each phase, where the pair of inverter switches for each phase is electrically coupled to the first and second winding sections for that phase in the stator. The drive system also includes a switching system including a switch circuit, where the switch circuit includes a plurality of switch assemblies for switching between a full winding control mode and a half winding control mode, where each switch assembly includes a first AC switching device and a second AC switching device, and where each switch assembly is electrically coupled to the pair of inverter switches and the first and second winding sections for a particular phase.
US09882516B2
A method for measuring an offset of a resolver is arranged so as to frequently measure and correct the offset of the resolver by actively performing zero current control of a motor. The method includes steps of: determining whether a torque command value of the motor and a magnetic flux value or reverse magnetic flux value of the motor respectively fall within a first range and a second range, which have been set in advance; controlling the motor to perform zero current control for a preset time period when the torque command value of the motor falls within the first range and the magnetic flux value or reverse magnetic flux value of the motor falls within the second range; and measuring the offset of the resolver for the preset time period.
US09882513B2
An electric propulsion system is described that includes an AC drive circuit, a synchronization circuit, and a control unit. The AC drive circuit includes a plurality of propulsor motors, an AC power bus, and an AC generator that delivers AC electrical power to the AC power bus for simultaneously driving the plurality of propulsor motors. The synchronization circuit is configured to synchronize, with the AC generator, single propulsor motor from the plurality of propulsor motors, at a time. The control unit is configured to maintain synchronicity between the single propulsor motor and the AC generator by engaging the synchronization circuit with the single propulsor motor in response to determining that the single propulsor motor is not synchronized with the AC generator.
US09882510B2
The invention relates to a device including: a movable element (1) comprising teeth (11; 11i, i, 11i+1, 11i+2, 11i+3, 11i+4); a driving element (2) for engaging with the teeth (11; 11i, 11i+1, 11i+2, 11i+3, 11i+4) of the movable element (1) so as to set the movable element (1) in motion in a direction of movement; an actuator element (3) capable of generating an alternating movement so as to move the driving element (2) according to at least two phases, i.e. a driving phase, during which the driving element (2) is engaged with a tooth (11; 11i, 11i+1, 11i+2, 11i+3, 11i+4) of the movable element (1), and a return phase without driving, during which the driving element (2) is shifted with respect to the movable element (1); and a first indexing element (4), which includes a first indexing finger (41) to be positioned between two teeth (11; 11i, 11i+1, 11i+2, 11i+3, 11i+4) of the movable element (1), and which is connected to the actuator element (3) in order to move the driving element (2) and the first indexing finger (41) simultaneously.
US09882507B2
A multi-phase power generation system for renewable energy, in which reactive elements (i.e., capacitors and/or inductors) can be selectively switched in and out in order to meet a particular power factor requirement, is provided. Each phase of the multi-phase power system receives generated powers from a set of inverters, and each phase has a set of switch reactive elements for making power factor adjustments to the power generated by the set of inverters. The power outputs of the set of inverters belonging to a particular phase are combined into a one combined ac power output, and the power factor adjustment for that particular phase is performed on the combined power output by the set of the switch reactive elements of that particular phase. In some embodiments, at least some of the inverters are micro-inverters that convert DC power from one or two solar panels to AC power.
US09882499B2
In a switching power supply circuit of the invention, a low-voltage node capacitor is connected between a primary-side low-voltage stable potential node and a secondary-side low-voltage stable potential node, and a high-voltage node capacitor is connected between a primary-side high-voltage stable potential node and an anode of a rectifier element. Thereby, it is possible to provide the switching power supply circuit which achieves, with a simple configuration, both of noise reduction and potential stabilization of stable potential nodes.
US09882498B2
A switching power supply device includes a switching element to which a DC input is supplied, a frequency control circuit which controls a switching frequency of the switching element, a frequency detection circuit which detects the switching frequency of the switching element, and a duty ratio control circuit which controls a switching duty ratio based on the frequency detected by the frequency detection circuit. The duty ratio control circuit controls the switching duty ratio such that the switching frequency becomes an approximately maximum frequency.
US09882488B2
An electronic system, DC-DC voltage converter, method of operating a buck-boost DC-DC converter, and method for power mode transitioning in a DC-DC voltage converter are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving a compensated error signal associated with an output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, determining a power mode of operation of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a first mode, outputting a first control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter. If the power mode of operation is a second mode, outputting a second control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter, and if the power mode of operation is a third mode, outputting a third control signal to regulate the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter.
US09882484B2
A switching power supply device includes: a switching output circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage; an oscillation circuit configured to generate a clock signal; a control circuit configured to control driving of the switching output circuit in synchronization with the clock signal; a pulse-by-pulse type overcurrent protection circuit configured to detect an overcurrent flowing through the switching output circuit to generate an overcurrent protection signal for forcibly stopping a switching operation of the switching output circuit; and a pulse skip circuit configured to perform a pulse skip operation of the clock signal in response to the overcurrent protection signal.
US09882483B2
A method of regulating voltage includes closing first and second switching devices during first and second periods in response to first and second signals, respectively. The first and second switching devices open and close to connect and disconnect first ends of first and second inductors of first and second phases of a voltage regulator to and from an input voltage, respectively. The method includes selectively generating one of the first and second signals when a third signal is in a first state; selectively setting the third signal to the first state based on a ramp voltage; resetting the ramp voltage to a predetermined reset voltage when the third signal transitions from a second state to the first state; maintaining the ramp voltage at the predetermined reset voltage for a predetermined ramp reset period after the resetting; and increasing the ramp voltage after the predetermined ramp reset period.
US09882480B2
A voltage converter includes a power switching unit and an indirect sensing circuit. The power switching unit includes a plurality of power switches and a capacitor. The indirect sensing circuit receives an input voltage, a first voltage at a first node of the capacitor, and a second voltage at a second node of the capacitor, and generates first and second sensing output voltages based on the input voltage and the first and second voltages. A voltage difference between the first and second voltages is equal to a fractional multiple of the input voltage.
US09882479B2
In one embodiment, a switching regulator includes a first switching regulator stage configured between an input voltage and a first reference voltage and a second switching regulator stage configured between the first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. A first terminal of an inductor is coupled to an output of the first switching regulator stage and an output of the second switching regulator stage. The first switching regulator stage operates to produce an output voltage when the output voltage is configured above the first reference voltage, and the second switching regulator stage operates to produce an output voltage when the output voltage is configured below the first reference voltage.
US09882478B2
A first direct-current power converter circuit increases an electrical potential difference between a positive electrical potential of a load and a positive electrical potential of a power source by a step-up operation, and a second direct-current power converter circuit increases an electrical potential difference between a negative electrical potential of the load and a negative electrical potential of the power source by a step-up operation. A control device controls switching operations of first and second switching devices included in the first direct-current power converter circuit based on a first duty. The control device controls switching operations of third and fourth switching devices included in the second direct-current power converter circuit based on a second duty. The control device controls a load voltage to be an arbitrary voltage, which is equal to or more than a source voltage.
US09882471B2
An apparatus for processing electric power includes a power-converter having a path for power flow between first and second power-converter terminals. During operation the first and second power-converter terminals are maintained at respective first and second voltages. Two regulating-circuits and a switching network are disposed on the path. The first regulating-circuit includes a magnetic-storage element and a first-regulating-circuit terminal. The second regulating-circuit includes a second-regulating-circuit terminal. The first-regulating-circuit terminal is connected to the first switching-network-terminal and the second-regulating-circuit terminal is connected to the second switching-network-terminal. The switching network is transitions between a first switch-configuration and a second switch-configuration. In the first switch-configuration, charge accumulates in the first charge-storage-element at a first rate. Conversely, in the second switch-configuration, charge is depleted from the first charge-storage-element at a second rate. These rates are constrained by the magnetic-storage element.
US09882465B2
A commutation cell is configured for limiting switching overvoltage. The commutation cell includes a power electronic switch having a parasitic emitter inductance through which a voltage is generated upon turning off of the power electronic switch. The commutation cell also includes a dynamically controlled compensation circuit connected to the parasitic emitter inductance. The compensation circuit applies a controllable portion of the voltage generated through the parasitic emitter inductance at turn-off of the power electronic switch to control the voltage generated through the parasitic emitter inductance. A power converter includes a pair of commutation cells and a compensation circuit of the commutation cell.
US09882464B1
A system including at least one first converter and a filtering unit coupled to the at least one first converter is presented. The filtering unit includes at least one second converter and a plurality of inductors coupled to the at least one second converter. The system further includes a controlling unit operatively coupled to the at least one first converter and the at least one second converter. The controlling unit switches the at least one first converter to generate a first output voltage and the at least one second converter to generate a second output voltage, where the first output voltage and the second output voltage have a substantially same switching pattern.
US09882454B2
Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective power output to match a scaled power output value equal to a fraction of a difference between the respective power output and a nominal power output value, and measuring an actual emissions value for each GT during the adjusting of the respective power output; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value, a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition.
US09882442B2
An axial gap type rotating electric machine, having a stator with first tooth parts protruding in an axial direction and formed in a concentric arc-like manner, and a rotor with magnetic poles arranged in a distributed manner in the circumferential direction, and the magnetic poles include second tooth parts that protrude in the axial direction and are formed in a concentric arc-like manner, the second tooth parts being opposedly arranged so as to respectively engage with the first tooth parts with the intermediation of the air gap. The rotor is incorporated in the rotating member so as to be movable in the axial direction and so as not to be rotatable with respect to the rotating member. The rotating electric machine further includes an urging device that makes the air gap between the rotor and the stator adjustable.
US09882437B2
A power feeding apparatus is provided. The power feeding apparatus includes a power feeding unit configured to supply electric power to a power receiving apparatus through a magnetic field; a measuring unit configured to measure an electric characteristic value and to generate a measurement value; a power receiving unit configured to provide a set value; and a foreign substance detection unit configured to detect a foreign substance in the magnetic field based on the set value and the measurement value. A power receiving apparatus, a power feeding system, and a method of controlling power feeding are also provided.
US09882431B2
A wireless power transmitter apparatus is provided with: a power transmitter circuit having input terminals to which a DC power is inputted and output terminals from which the power transmitter circuit outputs the AC power and which supply the AC power to a power transmitting coil; a DC monitor circuit that monitors the DC power at the input terminals of the power transmitter circuit, and outputs a DC monitor signal indicating a change in a characteristic associated with the DC power; and a demodulator circuit that detects a load-modulated signal based on the DC monitor signal, demodulates the load-modulated signal, and outputs a first demodulated signal. The load-modulated signal is transmitted from the wireless power receiver apparatus to the wireless power transmitter apparatus by changing power consumption of the wireless power receiver apparatus.
US09882426B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for detecting an efficiency of a wireless power transmission. An output power of a source device may be adjusted based on current that is flowing in a power converter of the source device. The efficiency of wireless power transmission may be calculated based on the adjusted output power, and an amount of power used by a target device.
US09882420B2
Devices, systems, and techniques for monitoring the temperature of a device used to charge a rechargeable power source are disclosed. Implantable medical devices may include a rechargeable power source that can be transcutaneously charged. The temperature of an external charging device and/or an implantable medical device may be monitored to control the temperature exposure to patient tissue. In one example, a temperature sensor may sense a temperature of a portion of a device, wherein the portion is non-thermally coupled to the temperature sensor. A processor may then control charging of the rechargeable power source based on the sensed temperature.
US09882410B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a capacitor, a power supply device, a discharger and a capacitance detector. The capacitor is used as a backup power supply. The power supply device charges the capacitor. The discharger discharges the capacitor. The capacitance detector maintains a terminal voltage of the capacitor at a given level for a predetermined time, by controlling an operating time of the power supply device. The capacitance detector allows the discharger to start the discharge the predetermined time later. The capacitance detector detects a capacitance of the capacitor based on a transient response characteristic of the discharge.
US09882408B2
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery charging system. The battery charging system includes battery charging circuitry configured to provide charging current to a battery. The battery charging system further includes feedback circuitry configured to generate a feedback signal indicative of a battery charging condition, wherein the battery charging system is configured to control the battery charging current based on, at least in part, the feedback signal. The battery charging system further includes feed forward circuitry configured to adjust the feedback signal to decrease battery charging current when a decrease in battery current draw exceeds a threshold, and wherein the feed forward circuitry is configured to decrease the battery charging current faster than the feedback circuitry.
US09882401B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery energy storage system (BESS) that can be used to store energy that is produced by conventional sources (e.g., coal, gas, nuclear) as well as renewable sources (e.g., wind, solar), and provide the stored energy on-demand.
US09882396B2
A non-contact type power transmission apparatus and method thereof, includes a control unit configured to provide assigned location information to a device. The apparatus also includes a display unit configured to display location-based service data provided to the device based on the location information.
US09882394B1
The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.
US09882390B2
A system and method to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with widely distributed energy-generation equipment. In some cases, static inverters are used to feed the energy directly into the power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters are used create a high-voltage DC transmission line to collect power from multiple generation sites into one feed-in site.
US09882389B2
Systems, methods, and devices for use in a DC/DC converter. A circuit uses a full-bridge power semiconductor subcircuit along with a high power transformer subcircuit, a diode bridge subcircuit, and a parallel capacitor to provide galvanic isolation and boost the voltage from a power source such as a photovoltaic panel. To ensure zero voltage switching for the power semiconductors, either a passive auxiliary subcircuit or an inductor coupled in parallel to a transformer in the transformer subcircuit may be used. A controller which derives its timing signals from the transformer primary current is used to control the timing of the power semiconductors in the circuit. The circuit and its controller allows for self-adjusting regardless of load and uses the entire switching cycle to be used for power transfer.
US09882388B2
A photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device includes a photovoltaic cell array absorbing solar voltaic energy to convert the solar voltaic energy to electrical energy, and a sensing unit sensing at least any one of power generation information for representing a state of the photovoltaic device and environmental information for representing environmental information around the photovoltaic device, and measuring a time when the at least one of the power generation information and the environmental information is sensed.
US09882383B2
Examples may include a smart power delivery network using voltage regulators to supply combined power sufficient to meet a peak load demand generated from one load from among multiple possible loads. A system of power gate devices having controllers may assist in dynamically steering current driven by the voltage regulators to the multiple possible loads.
US09882380B2
A hybrid super-capacitor/battery system is disclosed (particularly under high pulsed power and low temperature conditions) which allows an existing battery system to ride through transient loading and provide excellent energy density and power density under practical loading conditions.
US09882379B2
A power source system for supplying DC (direct current) power to a load, including first and second power source apparatuses and a control apparatus. The first power source apparatus is connected to an alternating current (AC) power source, and configured to convert AC power received from the AC power source to first DC power. The second power source apparatus is connected to a battery, and configured to convert power of the battery to second DC power. The control apparatus is connected to the first and second power source apparatuses, and configured to so control the first and second power source apparatuses that the DC power supplied to the load is the first DC power in a normal mode, the second DC power in a back-up mode, and a combination of the first and second DC power in an assist mode.
US09882376B2
Electrostatic discharge protection circuits and methods of fabricating an electrostatic discharge protection circuit, as well as methods of protecting an integrated circuit from a transient electrostatic discharge event. The electrostatic discharge protection circuit includes a power clamp device, a first timing circuit with a first resistor and a first capacitor that is coupled with the first resistor at a first node, and a second timing circuit including a second resistor and a second capacitor that is coupled with the second resistor at a second node. The electrostatic discharge protection circuit further includes a logic gate with a first input coupled with the first node, a second input coupled with the second node, and an output coupled with the power clamp device. The logic gate responds to voltages at the first and second nodes to control the impedance state of the power clamp device.
US09882375B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with a high holding voltage is disclosed including at least an ESD clamp coupled to a holding voltage tuning circuit. The ESD clamp may be coupled to the holding voltage tuning circuit through a connection circuit such as a diode. The ESD clamp may be implemented by a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and the holding voltage tuning circuit may be implemented as a second SCR.
US09882368B2
An electric arc detection system is presented. The electric arc detection system comprises a receiving antenna that receives electromagnetic radiation generated by an electric arc formed in an internal cavity of a non-conductive hollow structure, and a processing subsystem for determining an existence of the electric arc in the internal cavity based upon signals representative of the electromagnetic radiation.
US09882362B2
An enclosable box for housing components from more than one telecommunication systems including a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a box mounting hinge that connects the first housing portion and the second housing portion, an internal telecommunication component compartment panel, a compartment panel mounting hinge that connects the internal telecommunication component compartment with one of the first and second housing portions. The box mounting hinge may be configured to allow the first housing portion and second housing portion to open and close in a clam like manner. The compartment panel mounting hinge may be configured to allow the compartment panel to open and close an internal compartment or cavity that is large enough to enclose at least a first telecommunications systems component.
US09882355B2
The invention describes a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser and a method of manufacturing such a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser. The Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser comprising a first electrical contact (105, 405, 505, 605, 705), a substrate (110, 410, 610, 710), a first distributed Bragg reflector (115, 415, 615, 715), an active layer (120, 420, 620, 720), a distributed heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (125, 425, 625, 725), a second distributed Bragg reflector (130, 430, 630, 730) and a second electrical contact (135, 435, 535, 635, 735), the distributed heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (125, 425, 625, 725) comprising a collector layer (125a), a light sensitive layer (125c), a base layer (125e) and an emitter layer (125f), wherein the distributed heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (125, 425, 625, 725) is arranged such that there is an optical coupling between the active layer (120, 420, 620, 720) and the distributed heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (125, 425, 625, 725) for providing an active carrier confinement by means of the distributed heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (125, 425, 625, 725) such that an optical mode of the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser is self-positioning in accordance with the active carrier confinement during operation of the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser. It is the intention of the present invention to provide a VCSEL which can be easily and reliably processed by integrating the distributed heterojunction bipolar phototransistor (125, 425, 625, 725).
US09882348B2
Until now, the laser beam light is the main feature to be provided by semiconductor laser diodes. The highly ordered direct current of charge carriers injected into the active region of these electronic components above the lasing threshold can be used in innovative ways. This attribute is associated with a new theoretical concept when all particles which are part of macroscopic objects are widely coupled to each other via quantum entanglements—it can generate a distance force induction and a self-induction of force. Considering this, a force can be inducted in the external objects—thrusting them—and a force can be inducted in the own semiconductor laser diode structure for its self propulsion.
US09882323B2
Connector receptacles that are able to withstand insertion and other forces, are reliable, and are easy to manufacture. One example may provide a connector receptacle having one or more movable portions. These movable portions may move relative to an enclosure for an electronic device housing the connector receptacle. When a connector insert is inserted into the receptacle, the movable portions may move to help absorb insertion forces thereby protecting the connector receptacle from damage.
US09882320B2
A coaxial connector having an axially moveable shell in opposition to a separate and distinct body component wherein the moveable shell contains a gripping member capable of having the front portion displaced radially inwardly by the body so that the gripping member is positioned within the connector body and between the connector body and the coaxial cable and secures the cable to the connector and environmentally seals the junction while at the same time the shell contains a structure to move a rear portion of the gripping member radially outwardly upon compression. In some embodiments disclosed herein the shell contains a structure to prevent a rear portion of the gripping member from moving radially inwardly upon compression. Other connector shell embodiments may be made from a one-piece stamping instead of a machined component and thereby deliver a manufacturing cost savings.
US09882317B1
A hybrid electrical connector is provided that includes a housing having a unitary, one-piece body that extends between a front end and an opposite rear end. The housing defines two adjacent cavities each extending between a respective mating opening at the front end and a respective cable opening at the rear end. The two cavities include a shielded cavity configured to hold a shielded contact subassembly therein and an unshielded cavity configured to hold an unshielded contact subassembly therein. The housing includes a first deflectable latch extending into the shielded cavity and directly engaging the shielded contact subassembly therein to secure the shielded contact subassembly within the housing. The housing further includes a second deflectable latch extending into the unshielded cavity and directly engaging the unshielded contact subassembly therein to secure the unshielded contact subassembly within the housing.
US09882314B2
A connector is provided with a pair of terminals configured to provide a differential signal pair. A ground terminal is positioned on opposing sides of the differential pair. The body of the differential pair is configured so as to bring the differential pair closer together. In an embodiment, the % coupling on the differential pair is increase at least 5% more than a design where the four terminals are positioned at a constant pitch between the tail and the contact.
US09882311B2
A secondary disconnect assembly is for electrically connecting and disconnecting accessories to an electrical switching apparatus, such as a power circuit breaker. The secondary disconnect assembly includes a terminal block assembly comprising a mounting member, at least one terminal block removably mounted on the mounting member, and at least one accessory plug structured to be removably inserted into the terminal block to be electrically connected to the terminal block. The terminal block and the accessory plug each include a plurality of error-proofing features. The error-proofing features prohibit insertion of the accessory plug into the terminal block unless the accessory plug is correctly disposed in a predetermined orientation.
US09882308B1
A receptacle connector is provided for a wearable article. The receptacle connector includes a housing having a receptacle configured to receive a complementary plug connector therein. The housing is configured to be mounted to the wearable article. A printed circuit board is held by the housing. The printed circuit board includes mating contacts for mating with the plug connector. The printed circuit board includes mounting contacts that are configured to terminate conductors of a flat cable of the wearable article or an e-textile of the wearable article.
US09882306B2
A carrier module of a cable connector includes a circuit board and a connecting clip clamping the circuit board. The circuit board has a first surface and a second surface. The connecting clip has a clamping portion and a plurality of positioning arms. The clamping portion has a connecting sheet and two clamping sheets curvedly extended from the connecting sheet. The clamping sheets are respectively abutted against the first and second surfaces. The positioning arms are respectively connected to the clamping sheets and respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the clamping portion. The positioning arms are respectively configured to fix a plurality of cables disposed on the clamping sheets. Thus, the carrier module of the instant disclosure provides a positioning effect for the cables by the connecting clip fixed firmly on the circuit board with good common grounding performance. Besides, the instant disclosure also provides a cable connector.
US09882305B1
This application is directed to a waterproof power adapter, which includes: a waterproof housing enclosing an AC to DC converter having an AC power supply input and a DC power supply output; a fixed, waterproof AC power connection for coupling an external power supply to the AC power supply input; a female connector, a portion of which is coupled within the housing to the DC power supply output, and an exposed portion of which is configured to couple a DC voltage provided at the DC power supply output to a complementary and separate male connector, the exposed portion being exposed when not coupled to the male connector; a sealing structure configured to engage with a cover of the male connector in a sealed position to provide a waterproof environment; and a locking mechanism configured to releasably tighten and lock the cover of the male connector in the sealed position.
US09882290B2
A crimp terminal includes a terminal connecting portion, an electric wire connecting portion, and a coupling portion. The electric wire connecting portion is formed with a first barrel piece and a second barrel piece, the two facing each other, by bending processing on an electric wire side plate-shaped portion after two facing walls are formed by bending processing on a terminal side plate-shaped portion. The coupling portion is formed with two facing side walls by bending processing on a coupling side plate-shaped portion. Certain portions that will be the side walls later are formed with at least one tensile force absorbing portion that absorbs a tensile force between the terminal side plate-shaped portion side and the electric wire side plate-shaped portion side occurring during the bending processing on the terminal side plate-shaped portion.
US09882283B2
An antenna has the following formed on a plane thereof: a vertical element formed in a vertical direction; a left horizontal element formed on a left side of the vertical element; a right horizontal element formed on a right side of the vertical element; a left short stub that connects the left horizontal element and a left upper corner of a ground pattern; and a right short stub that connects the right horizontal element and a right upper corner of the ground pattern. The right and left horizontal elements have a flat plate shape and a capacity hat.
US09882282B2
An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more dual-frequency dual-polarization patch antennas. Each patch antenna may have a patch antenna resonating element that lies in a plane and a ground that lies in a different parallel plane. The patch antenna resonating element may have a first feed located along a first central axis and a second feed located along a second central axis that is perpendicular to the first central axis. The patch antenna resonating element may be rectangular, may be oval, or may have other shapes. A shorting pin may be located at an intersecting point between the first and second axes. The patch antennas may be used in beam steering arrays. The patch antennas may be used for wireless power transfer at microwave frequencies or other frequencies and may be used to support millimeter wave communications.
US09882276B1
A method of articulating a sensor comprising the steps applying a friction force on a curved surface of a sensor support frame with a friction drive actuator for pivoting the sensor support frame about a pivot point for altering an elevation and azimuth angle of the sensor. The sensor may be maintained at a predetermined elevation angle while the sensor support frame is pivoted about the pivot point with the friction drive actuator for altering an azimuth angle of the sensor.
US09882269B2
A handheld electronic device may be provided that contains wireless communications circuitry. The handheld electronic device may have a housing and a display. The display may be attached to the housing using a conductive bezel. The handheld electronic device may have one or more antennas for supporting wireless communications. A ground plane in the handheld electronic device may serve as ground for one or more of the antennas. The ground plane and bezel may define an opening. A rectangular slot antenna or other suitable slot antenna may be formed from or within the opening. One or more antenna resonating elements may be formed above the slot. An electrical switch that bridges the slot may be used to modify the perimeter of the slot so as to tune the communications bands of the handheld electronic device.
US09882267B2
An antenna device includes a first conductor plane and a second conductor plane that face each other. The first conductor plane and the second conductor plane are electrically continuous through a first connection conductor, a second connection conductor, and a chip capacitor. A power feed coil is disposed between the first conductor plane and the second conductor plane. The power feed coil includes a magnetic core and a coil conductor. The coil conductor defines a pattern such that the coil conductor winds around the magnetic core. The power feed coil is disposed at a position closer to the first connection conductor and magnetically couples with the first connection conductor.
US09882262B2
A domestic appliance includes at least one antenna which is integrated in a handle of the domestic appliance or arranged on a non-conductive wall region. The handle may constitute a door handle, or the at least one antenna may also be integrated in an additional handle of the domestic appliance.
US09882261B2
A rotationally-stabilizing tracking antenna system includes a three-axis pedestal, a drive assembly rotating a vertical support assembly relative to a base assembly, a cross-level driver pivoting a cross-level frame assembly relative to the vertical support assembly, and an elevation driver pivoting an elevation frame assembly relative to the cross-level frame assembly, a motion platform assembly affixed to the elevation frame assembly, three orthogonally mounted angular rate sensors disposed on the motion platform assembly sensing motion about X, Y and Z axes, a three-axis gravity accelerometer mounted on the motion platform assembly to determine a true-gravity zero reference, and a control unit determining the actual position of elevation frame assembly based upon sensed motion about X, Y, and Z axes and the true-gravity zero reference, and controlling the azimuth, cross-level and elevation drivers to position the elevation frame assembly in a desired position.
US09882259B2
A cavity filter, including first and second dielectric resonator bodies, each incorporating a piece of dielectric material, each piece of dielectric material shaped to support at least a first resonant mode, at least one excitation device for establishing an electromagnetic field within at least a first dielectric resonator body or extracting energy from an electromagnetic field located within the first dielectric resonator body, a layer of electrically conductive material in contact with and covering a surface of the first and a surface of the second dielectric resonator bodies, an aperture in the layer of electrically conductive material for inputting signals to the second dielectric resonator body and/or outputting signals from the second dielectric resonator body wherein the at least one excitation device is arranged to directly excite the first resonant mode or directly extract energy from the first resonant mode in the second dielectric resonator via the aperture.
US09882257B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that performs operations including receiving first electromagnetic waves on an outer surface of a transmission medium, detecting a degradation of a signal quality of the first electromagnetic waves due to first electric fields of the first electromagnetic waves inducing first currents in an obstruction disposed on the outer surface of the transmission medium, and generating second electromagnetic waves having second electric fields that induce second currents in the obstruction that are lower in magnitude than the first currents, the electromagnetic waves having a cutoff frequency. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09882250B2
The invention is directed towards an indicator circuit. The indicator circuit includes a ground plane; an antenna; a decoupler component; and an integrated circuit. The antenna includes at least one antenna trace; a first antenna terminal; and a second antenna terminal. The decoupler component includes a first decoupler component terminal and a second decoupler component terminal. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the first decoupler component terminal. The second decoupler component terminal is electrically connected to the ground plane.
US09882249B2
An autonomous, modular energy generation, storage and transmission apparatus, system, and method is provided. An apparatus is tube shaped and includes solar and thermionic energy conversion layers, and a battery module. A system of modular apparatuses may be connected together to form an transmission network. Such devices are particularly suited for outdoor application on highway jersey walls, and for indoor application on office cubicle walls. A method of charging battery modules in the apparatus is provided, along with a method of distributing the same in commerce.
US09882241B2
A novel electrode for a battery is provided. The electrode may contain active material nanoparticles embedded in a solid polymer electrolyte. The electrolyte can also act as a binder for the nanoparticles. A plurality of voids is dispersed throughout the solid polymer electrolyte. The electrode may also contain electronically conductive carbon particles. Upon charging or discharging of the cell, the nanoparticles expand as they take up active material ions. The solid polymer electrolyte can deform reversibly in response to the expansion of the nanoparticles and transfer the volume expansion to the voids.
US09882227B2
A fuel cell system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell, wherein at the cathode side a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet is provided, and wherein at the anode side an anode inlet and an anode outlet is provided, and a cathode recirculation channel for passing the cathode product fluid from the cathode outlet to the cathode inlet. In the fuel cell system, the water content of the cathode product fluid in the cathode recirculation channel can be reduced or at least stabilized in a possibly effective way, because the cathode recirculation channel includes a water extraction device for extracting water from the cathode product fluid.
US09882209B2
The present invention relates to a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method of manufacturing the negative active material, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the negative active material. The negative active material includes a first graphite particle including graphite pieces; and at least one second particle selected from the group consisting of an element particle, an element compound particle, a composite particle, and a carbon composite particle, and a combination particle thereof, wherein the element particle, the element compound particle, the composite particle, and the carbon composite particle are selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Al, Ge, Pb, and combinations thereof; wherein each of the graphite pieces has a thickness ranging from 0.01 μm to 0.1 μm and the graphite pieces are linked to one another forming a curved side; and wherein the at least one second particle is dispersed between the graphite pieces.
US09882197B2
A rechargeable battery, module or a pack, having different levels of internal resistance that operate at different temperatures are disclosed. In a subfreezing environment, the battery can exhibit high resistance which once operated or activated, generates heat internally to warm up the battery quickly. Once the batter reaches normal operating temperatures, the battery can switch to a low resistance operating mode, thereby delivering superior power and energy despite operating in a very low ambient temperature.
US09882190B2
Disclosed is a laminated separator including a first polyolefin microporous layer and a second polyolefin microporous layer which is laminated on the first polyolefin microporous layer and which is different from the first polyolefin microporous layer, wherein at least one of the first microporous layer and the second microporous layer includes an inorganic particle having a primary particle size of 1 nm or more and 80 nm or less.
US09882188B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly that performs charging and discharging operations, a case that accommodates the electrode assembly therein, a cap plate coupled to the case, an electrode terminal connected to the electrode assembly and mounted in a terminal hole of the cap plate, and an insulation member that coats the case. The insulation member has a protruding portion that protrudes from an external circumference of the cap plate along a surface of the cap plate. The protruding portion has an exhaust groove on at least one side thereof.
US09882181B2
An outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical cell is coated with a heat insulation material. A heat-resistant material is stacked radially outside the heat insulation material. An electrical insulation material is stacked radially outside the heat-resistant material. The order in which the heat insulation material, the heat-resistant material and the electrical insulation material are stacked one on top of another may be changed. A coating material other than the heat insulation material, the heat-resistant material and the electrical insulation material may be provided.
US09882162B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an encapsulation structure, an encapsulating method and a display device. The encapsulation structure includes a first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite to each other, and a sealing structure provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. Wherein the sealing structure is provided with one or more voids, and a filler is provided within the one or more voids and includes a gas-absorbing material.
US09882144B2
An organic electroluminescence device includes: an anode; a cathode; and an organic layer interposed between the anode and the cathode, in which the organic layer includes an emitting layer and the emitting layer includes a compound represented by a formula (1) below and a compound represented by a formula (2) below. Az1 of the formula (1) below and Az2 of the formula (2) below are each an azine ring. Cz of the formula (1) below and HAr of the formula (2) below are each a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring.
US09882142B2
The present invention relates to certain fluorenes, to the use of the compounds in an electronic device, and to an electronic device comprising at least one of these compounds. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the compounds and to a formulation and composition comprising one or more of the compounds.
US09882140B2
Provided is an organic light-emitting device including a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the organic layer including an emission layer. The emission layer includes a first compound represented by Formula 1-1 or Formula 1-2 below, a second compound represented by Formula 2 below, and a third compound represented by Formula 3 below: where Ar1 to Ar8, R1 to R3, A, L1, L2, a1, a2, b1, b2, c1, c2, l1, and l2 are as defined in the specification.
US09882139B2
A heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1 and an organic light-emitting diode including the same:
US09882138B2
A novel organic compound with which the emission characteristics, emission efficiency, and reliability of a light-emitting element can be improved; a light-emitting element including the organic compound; and a light-emitting device, an electronic device, and a lighting device each including the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element includes a hole-transport layer and a light-emitting layer between a pair of electrodes. At least one of the hole-transport layer and the light-emitting layer includes an organic compound having a skeleton represented by General Formula (G0).
US09882130B2
An apparatus for patterning an article that comprises a first layer of a first material. The apparatus includes a thread, at least one thread guide for guiding the thread such that at least a portion of the thread engages with the article, a unit for moving the thread relative to the at least one thread guide means, and a unit for applying a solvent to the thread before the thread contacts the article, wherein the first material is soluble in the solvent.
US09882122B2
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a stacked structure and a controller. The stacked structure includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer stacked with the first magnetic layer, and a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The second magnetic layer includes a first portion and a second portion stacked with the first portion. A magnetic resonance frequency of the first portion is different from a magnetic resonance frequency of the second portion. The controller is electrically connected to the stacked structure and causes a pulse current to flow in the stacked body in a first period. A length of the first period is not less than 0.9 times and not more than 1.1 times the absolute value of an odd number times of the reciprocal of a magnetic resonance frequency of the second magnetic layer.
US09882121B2
Techniques are disclosed for fabricating a self-aligned spin-transfer torque memory (STTM) device with a dot-contacted free magnetic layer. In some embodiments, the disclosed STTM device includes a first dielectric spacer covering sidewalls of an electrically conductive hardmask layer that is patterned to provide an electronic contact for the STTM's free magnetic layer. The hardmask contact can be narrower than the free magnetic layer. The first dielectric spacer can be utilized in patterning the STTM's fixed magnetic layer. In some embodiments, the STTM further includes an optional second dielectric spacer covering sidewalls of its free magnetic layer. The second dielectric spacer can be utilized in patterning the STTM's fixed magnetic layer and may serve, at least in part, to protect the sidewalls of the free magnetic layer from redepositing of etch byproducts during such patterning, thereby preventing electrical shorting between the fixed magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer.
US09882113B1
The present invention relates to the use of gallium beam lithography to form superconductive structures. Generally, the method includes exposing a surface to gallium to form an implanted region and then removing material adjacent to and/or below that implanted region. In particular embodiments, the methods herein provide microstructures and nanostructures in any useful substrate, such as those including niobium, tantalum, tungsten, or titanium.
US09882109B2
Disclosed are bi-polar semiconductor composites that include at least one organic p-type semiconductor; and at least one organic n-type semiconductor, and methods of making and using them. In particular, collagen based semiconductors may be used. The composite may be used to generate electricity from heat loss via industrial processes, such as heat lost via pipes, heat sinks, and so on.
US09882101B2
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes injecting liquid or pasty transparent resin into a sheet forming mold, adding a phosphor to the resin in the mold, centrifugally rotating the mold so as to settle the phosphor included in the resin toward one surface side of the resin, thermally curing the resin so as to form a phosphor sheet, the phosphor sheet including a phosphor layer formed on the one surface side of the resin and a transparent layer formed on an other surface side of the resin, overlaying the phosphor sheet on a light emitting element such that the phosphor layer of the phosphor sheet contacts with a light emitting surface of the light emitting element, mounting the light emitting element with the phosphor sheet overlaid on a board, and flattening a surface of the transparent layer of the phosphor sheet on the light emitting element.
US09882097B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor body that emits primary light, and a luminescence conversion element that emits secondary light by wavelength conversion of at least part of the primary light, wherein the luminescence conversion element has a first lamina fixed to a first partial region of an outer surface of the semiconductor body, the outer surface emitting primary light, and leaving free a second partial region of the outer surface, the luminescence conversion element has a second lamina fixed to a surface of the first lamina facing away from the semiconductor body and spaced apart from the semiconductor body, the first lamina is at least partly transmissive to the primary radiation, a section of the second lamina covers at least the second partial region, and at least the section of the second lamina is absorbent and/or reflective and/or scattering for the primary radiation.
US09882089B2
A light emitting diode includes an active region configured to emit light, a composite electrical contact layer, and a transparent electron blocking hole transport layer (TEBHTL). The composite electrical contact layer includes tow materials. At least one of the two materials is a metal configured to reflect a portion of the emitted light. The TEBHTL is arranged between the composite electrical contact layer and the active region. The TEBHTL has a thickness that extends at least a majority of a distance between the active region and the composite electrical contact layer. The TEBHTL has a band-gap greater than a band-gap of light emitting portions of the active region. The band-gap of the TEBHTL decreases as a function of distance from the active region to the composite electrical contact layer over a majority of the thickness of the TEBHTL.
US09882086B2
A core-shell nanowire device includes an eave region having a structural discontinuity from the p-plane in the upper tip portion of the shell to the m-plane in the lower portion of the shell. The eave region has at least 5 atomic percent higher indium content than the p-plane and m-plane portions of the shell.
US09882083B2
A semiconductor nanocrystal capable of emitting light with an improved photoluminescence quantum efficiency. The present invention further relates to compositions and devices including semiconductor nanocrystals capable of emitting light with an improved photoluminescence quantum efficiency. A semiconductor nanocrystal wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 50% upon excitation and including a maximum peak emission with a FWHM less than 20 nm is disclosed. Also disclosed are a device, a population of semiconductor nanocrystals, and a composition including a semiconductor nanocrystal wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 50% upon excitation and including a maximum peak emission with a FWHM less than 20 nm. A semiconductor nanocrystal that is capable of emitting light upon excitation with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 90%. Also disclosed are a device, a population, and a composition including a semiconductor nanocrystal.
US09882071B2
Methods of fabricating a solar cell including metallization techniques and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a semiconductor region can be formed in or above a substrate. A first metal layer can be formed over the semiconductor region. A laser can be applied over a first region of the metal layer to form a first metal weld between the metal layer and the semiconductor region, where applying a laser over the first region comprises applying the laser at a first scanning speed. Subsequent to applying the laser over the first region, the laser can be applied over a second region of the metal layer where applying the laser over the second region includes applying a laser at a second scanning speed. Subsequent to applying the laser over the second region, the laser can be applied over a third region of the metal layer to form a second metal weld, where applying the laser over the third region comprises applying the laser at a third scanning speed.
US09882069B2
A biasing voltage generating circuit for generating a required reverse biasing voltage of an avalanche photodiode (APD) includes: a boost power converter configured to operably convert an input voltage into a higher output voltage according to a feedback signal and a reference signal, and to apply the output voltage to be a reverse biasing voltage of the APD; a reference signal generating circuit configured to operably generate the reference signal; and a control circuit. The control circuit includes: a signal sensing circuit configured to operably generate a sensed signal corresponding to an output current of the APD; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to operably convert the sensed signal into a digital signal; and a processing circuit configured to operably adjust the feedback signal or the reference signal according to the digital signal to thereby control the boost power converter to adjust the output voltage.
US09882062B2
A first oxide insulating film is formed over a substrate. After a first oxide semiconductor film is formed over the first oxide insulating film, heat treatment is performed, so that hydrogen contained in the first oxide semiconductor film is released and part of oxygen contained in the first oxide insulating film is diffused into the first oxide semiconductor film. Thus, a second oxide semiconductor film with reduced hydrogen concentration and reduced oxygen defect is formed. Then, the second oxide semiconductor film is selectively etched to form a third oxide semiconductor film, and a second oxide insulating film is formed. The second oxide insulating film is selectively etched and a protective film covering an end portion of the third oxide semiconductor film is formed. Then, a pair of electrodes, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode are formed over the third oxide semiconductor film and the protective film.
US09882053B2
An embodiment concerns selective etching of a structure (e.g., a fin) to form a void with the shape of the original structure. This void then functions as a mold. Flowable dielectric material fills the void to form the same shape as the original structure/mold. Post-processing then occurs (e.g., oxidation build up and annealing) to harden the dielectric in the void. The resulting product is a molded dielectric nanostructure that has the same shape as the original structure but consists of a different material (e.g., dielectric instead of silicon). Other embodiments are described herein.
US09882047B2
A method of making a vertical field effect transistor includes forming a semiconductor nanowire that extends from a substrate surface. A first sacrificial layer is deposited over the substrate surface, and a second sacrificial layer is deposited over the first sacrificial layer such that each of the first and second sacrificial layers are formed peripheral to the nanowire. The second sacrificial layer is then patterned to form a dummy gate structure. Thereafter, the first sacrificial layer is removed and source and drain regions are deposited via epitaxy directly over respective portions of the nanowire.
US09882042B2
Provided are a group 13 nitride composite substrate allowing for the production of a semiconductor device suitable for high-frequency applications while including a conductive GaN substrate, and a semiconductor device produced using this substrate. The group 13 nitride composite substrate includes a base material of an n-conductivity type formed of GaN, a base layer located on the base material, being a group 13 nitride layer having a resistivity of 1×106 Ω·cm or more, a channel layer located on the base layer, being a GaN layer having a total impurity density of 1×1017/cm3 or less, and a barrier layer that is located on the channel layer and is formed of a group 13 nitride having a composition AlxInyGa1−x−yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1).
US09882027B2
Confined epitaxial regions for semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices having confined epitaxial regions are described. For example, a semiconductor structure includes a plurality of parallel semiconductor fins disposed above and continuous with a semiconductor substrate. An isolation structure is disposed above the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to lower portions of each of the plurality of parallel semiconductor fins. An upper portion of each of the plurality of parallel semiconductor fins protrudes above an uppermost surface of the isolation structure. Epitaxial source and drain regions are disposed in each of the plurality of parallel semiconductor fins adjacent to a channel region in the upper portion of the semiconductor fin. The epitaxial source and drain regions do not extend laterally over the isolation structure. The semiconductor structure also includes one or more gate electrodes, each gate electrode disposed over the channel region of one or more of the plurality of parallel semiconductor fins.
US09882025B1
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a gate structure around a vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure above a bottom source/drain (S/D) region and below a top source/drain (S/D) region, the gate structure comprising a gate electrode and a gate insulation layer, a first portion of the gate insulation layer being positioned between the gate electrode and the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure, removing second portion and third portions of the gate insulation layer while leaving at least some of the first portion in position to define a top spacer recess and a lower spacer recess and performing a common deposition process to simultaneously form a top spacer in the top spacer recess and a lower spacer in the lower spacer recess.
US09882004B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an active fin protruding from the substrate, and an asymmetric diamond-shaped source/drain disposed on an upper surface of the active fin. The source/drain includes a first crystal growth portion and a second crystal growth portion sharing a plane with the first crystal growth portion and having a lower surface disposed at a lower level than a lower surface of the first crystal growth portion.
US09882003B1
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices and/or systems of a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR). For example, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) may include a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), the MOSFET may include a gate; an N-type source region; a non-Lightly Doped Drain (LDD) N-type drain region; and a P-Well region extending between the N-type source region and the non-LDD N-type drain region, and extending between the non-LDD N-type drain region and a drain region of the gate.
US09882000B2
A field effect transistor (FET) including a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor epitaxial layers deposited on the substrate, and a heavily doped gate layer deposited on the semiconductor layers. The FET also includes a plurality of castellation structures formed on the heavily doped gate layer and being spaced apart from each other, where each castellation structure includes at least one channel layer. A gate metal is deposited on the castellation structures and between the castellation structures to be in direct electrical contact with the heavily doped gate layer. A voltage potential applied to the gate metal structure modulates the at least one channel layer in each castellation structure from an upper, lower and side direction.
US09881999B2
One-dimensional nanostructures having uniform diameters of less than approximately 200 nm. These inventive nanostructures, which we refer to as “nanowires”, include single-crystalline homostructures as well as heterostructures of at least two single-crystalline materials having different chemical compositions. Because single-crystalline materials are used to form the heterostructure, the resultant heterostructure will be single-crystalline as well. The nanowire heterostructures are generally based on a semiconducting wire wherein the doping and composition are controlled in either the longitudinal or radial directions, or in both directions, to yield a wire that comprises different materials. Examples of resulting nanowire heterostructures include a longitudinal heterostructure nanowire (LOHN) and a coaxial heterostructure nanowire (COHN).
US09881993B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device having a horizontal gate all around structure on a bulk substrate is provided. The method comprises forming a plurality of fins on a bulk substrate wherein each fin comprises a vertical slice of substrate material and a plurality of channel layers above the vertical slice of substrate material. The plurality of channel layers includes a top channel layer above a bottom channel layer. Each channel layer comprises a first sublayer of removable semiconductor material overlaid by a second sublayer of semiconductor material. The method further comprises providing shallow trench isolation (STI) material between the vertical slices of the bulk substrate in the plurality of fins, depositing poly material around a central portion of the plurality of fins, forming source and drain regions, and forming an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD0). The method also comprises removing the poly material, forming a plurality of channels from the channel layers, and forming a gate around the channels.
US09881991B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method comprises forming a trench in a substrate, partially filling the trench with a first semiconductive material, forming an interface along a surface of the first semiconductive material, and filling the trench with a second semiconductive material. The semiconductor device includes a first electrode arranged along sidewalls of a trench and a dielectric arranged over the first electrode. The semiconductor device further includes a second electrode at least partially filling the trench, wherein the second electrode comprises an interface within the second electrode.
US09881989B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible display panel and a display device comprising the flexible display panel. The flexible display panel comprises a plurality of effective display regions, each effective display region comprising a pixel array; and at least one power supply lead region, which comprises at least one power supply lead in electrical connection with a power supply line of the flexible display panel; and the effective display regions and the power supply lead region are arranged alternately. For display devices using the flexible display panel according to the embodiments of the present invention, especially those having a larger size or higher resolution, the luminance uniformity can be improved and enhanced, and the advantages of the flexible display device can be further strengthened.
US09881970B2
A programmable resistive memory having a plurality of programmable resistive cells. At least one of the programmable resistive cell includes a programmable resistive element and at least one selector. The selector can be built in at least one fin structure and at least one active region divided by at least one MOS gate into a first active region and a second active region. The first active region can have a first type of dopant to provide a first terminal of the selector. The second active region can have a first or a second type of dopant to provide a second terminal of the selector. The MOS gate can provide a third terminal of the selector. The first terminal of the selector can be coupled to the first terminal of the programmable resistive element. The programmable resistive element can be programmed by conducting current flowing through the selector to thereby change the resistance state.
US09881969B2
In a display panel, a first substrate has an active area and a peripheral area around the active area. A first trace is located at the peripheral area and extends along a first direction. A second trace intersects the first trace to define a crossing area. The first trace and the second trace are electrically isolated at the crossing area. An insulation layer is disposed on the first trace and the second trace and has an opening region corresponding to the crossing area. The opening region exposes the crossing area. The switch element is adjacent to the opening region, and has an active layer. The active layer has a first width in parallel with the first direction, and the shortest distance between the opening region and the active layer in parallel with the first direction is larger than zero and smaller than the first width.
US09881962B2
The present technology relates to a semiconductor apparatus, a solid state imaging device, an imaging apparatus and electronic equipment which realize a smaller and thinner size and which enable improvement of optical characteristics, and a manufacturing method thereof. A side electrode 16c is formed on a side face of a substrate on which an imaging device 16 is formed. By this side electrode 16c being connected to an electrode pad 15b on the substrate 15 through a chip wiring 17 formed with solder, the imaging device 16 is electrically connected to the substrate 15. By this means, because it is possible to electrically connect the imaging device 16 to the substrate 15 without using wire bonding, space required for wire bonding is not required, so that it is possible to realize a smaller and thinner apparatus. The present technology can be applied to an imaging apparatus.
US09881958B2
An apparatus according to the present invention in which a first substrate including a photoelectric conversion element and a gate electrode of a transistor, and a second substrate including a peripheral circuit portion are placed upon each other. The first substrate does not include a high-melting-metal compound layer, and the second substrate includes a high-melting-metal compound layer.
US09881956B2
A method is provided for three-dimensional wafer scale integration of heterogeneous wafers with unequal die sizes that include a first wafer and a second wafer. The method includes selecting a periodicity for the second wafer to be manufactured that matches the periodicity of the first wafer. The method further includes manufacturing the second wafer in accordance with the selected periodicity. The method also includes placing, by a laser-based patterning device, a pattern in spaces between dies of the second wafer. The method additionally includes stacking the first wafer onto the second wafer using a bonding material.
US09881954B2
An imaging device with high imaging quality capable of being manufactured at low cost is provided. The imaging device includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a photodiode, and a capacitor. Each of the first to the fourth transistors includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode, and the second gate electrode of each of the first to the fourth transistors and one electrode of the capacitor are electrically connected to an anode electrode of the photodiode.
US09881935B2
Provided is an electronic device including a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory may include: a substrate; and a stepped structure including first interlayer dielectric layers and conductive layers which are alternately stacked over the substrate, wherein ends of the conductive layers are exposed along the profile of the stepped structure, and the stepped structure further includes a barrier layer formed on a sidewall of the conductive layer.
US09881921B2
A dual gate CMOS structure including a semiconductor substrate; a first channel structure including a first semiconductor material and a second channel structure including a second semiconductor material on the substrate. The first semiconductor material including SixGe1-x where x=0 to 1 and the second semiconductor material including a group III-V compound material. A first gate stack on the first channel structure includes: a first native oxide layer as an interface control layer, the first native oxide layer comprising an oxide of the first semiconductor material; a first high-k dielectric layer; a first metal gate layer. A second gate stack on the second channel structure includes a second high-k dielectric layer; a second metal gate layer. The interface between the second channel structure and the second high-k dielectric layer is free of any native oxides of the second semiconductor material.
US09881920B2
A semiconductor device including, in cross section, a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film on the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode on the gate insulating film, the gate electrode including a metal, a side wall insulating film at opposite sides of the gate electrode, the side wall insulating film contacting the substrate; a stress applying film at the opposite sides of the gate electrode and over at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate, at least portion of the side wall insulating film being between the gate insulating film and the stress applying film and in contact with both of them; source/drain regions in the semiconductor substrate at the opposite sides of the gate electrode, and silicide regions at surfaces of the source/drain regions at the opposite sides of the gate electrode, the silicide regions being between the source/drain regions and the stress applying layer and in contact with the stress applying layer.
US09881905B2
An electronic package includes an adhesion layer between a first substrate and a second substrate. The adhesion layer is patterned to define openings aligned with through-substrate interconnects and corresponding bond pads. A conductive plane is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, adjacent to the adhesion layer.
US09881892B2
An integrated circuit device including a semiconductor substrate, a first bonding pad structure, a second bonding pad structure, a third bonding pad structure, a first internal bonding wire, and a second internal bonding wire is provided. The first bonding pad structure is disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate and exposed outside of the semiconductor substrate. The second bonding pad structure is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate and exposed outside of the semiconductor substrate. The third bonding pad structure is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate and exposed outside of the semiconductor substrate. The first bonding pad structure is electrically coupled to the third bonding pad structure via the first internal bonding wire. The third bonding pad structure is electrically coupled to the second bonding pad structure via the second internal bonding wire.
US09881890B2
A semiconductor module includes an image pickup device on which a bump is disposed, and a flexible wiring board having a flexible resin as a base and including a wire having a bonding electrode at a distal end portion solder-bonded to the bump, in which the bonding electrode is pressed against the bump by bending/deformation of the wiring board caused by application of heat to a solder bonding temperature.
US09881885B2
A device includes a substrate, a metal pad over the substrate, and a metal trace electrically disconnected from the metal pad. The metal pad and the metal trace are level with each other. A passivation layer includes a portion overlapping an edge portion of the metal pad. A metal pillar is overlying the metal pad, and is electrically connected to the metal pad. The metal trace has a portion overlapped by the metal pillar.
US09881871B2
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate; forming a low-k dielectric layer over the substrate; embedding a conductive wiring into the low-k dielectric layer; and thermal soaking the conductive wiring in a carbon-containing silane-based chemical to form a barrier layer on the conductive wiring. A lining barrier layer is formed in the opening for embedding the conductive wiring. The lining barrier layer may comprise same materials as the barrier layer, and the lining barrier layer may be recessed before forming the barrier layer and may contain a metal that can be silicided.
US09881869B2
A fuse includes a semiconductor layer having a dielectric material formed thereon. An epitaxially grown material is formed in a trench within the dielectric material. The epitaxially grown material includes a peak region. A fuse metal is formed over the peak region and extends along sidewalls of the trench and over the dielectric material outside the trench. Contacts are formed outside the trench connecting to fuse metal over the dielectric material.
US09881868B2
A plurality of first wiring layers are arranged on a main surface of a substrate, a first insulating film is arranged on upper faces of the plurality of first wiring layers, a second insulating film is arranged on an upper face of the first insulating film, and a plurality of second wiring layers are arranged on the second insulating film. A metal resistive element layer is arranged just below at least one second wiring layer among the plurality of second wiring layers. A plurality of conductive layers extend from the plurality of second wiring layers respectively to the metal resistive element layer in a Z direction perpendicular to the main surface. The metal resistive element layer includes a metal wiring layer. At least one part of a side face of at least one conductive layer among the plurality of conductive layers is connected to the metal wiring layer.
US09881867B1
A conductive connection structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pillar, and a stress buffer layer. The conductive pillar is in the semiconductor substrate. The stress buffer layer is between the semiconductor substrate and the conductive pillar. The conductive pillar has a protruding portion penetrating through the stress buffer layer.
US09881861B2
A Wiring substrate includes a substrate body that is formed from ceramics, and that includes a front surface, a back surface, and side surfaces positioned between peripheral sides of the front surface and the back surface; a frame-shaped metalized layer (surface conductor portion) that is formed on the front surface of the substrate body, a surface of the frame-shaped metalized layer being covered with a metal plating film; and an electroplating conductor layer that is formed in the substrate body, an end of the electroplating conductor layer being electrically connected to the frame-shaped metalized layer, the other end of the electroplating conductor layer being formed at the front surface of the substrate body, the other end of the electroplating conductor layer being electrically independent of different conductor portions that differ from frame-shaped metalized layer, the electroplating conductor layer being separated from the side surfaces of the substrate body. An opening portion for exposing at least a portion of the electroplating conductor layer at a bottom surface is formed in the front surface of the substrate body.
US09881859B2
A substrate block is provided that has an increased width. The substrate block comprises two substrate bars, and the substrate bars each comprise a substrate and a plurality of filled vias through the substrate. The substrate block may be used to manufacture package substrates, and these package substrate may be incorporated into a PoP structure. The package substrate includes a carrier having a plurality of vertical interconnections and a bar coupled to the vertical interconnections.
US09881857B2
A package includes a corner, a device die having a front side and a backside, and a molding material molding the device die therein. A plurality of redistribution lines is on the backside of the device die. The plurality of redistribution lines includes a plurality of metal pads. A polymer layer contacts the plurality of metal pads. A plurality of openings is formed in the polymer layer, with the plurality of metal pads aligned to and exposed to the plurality of openings. The plurality of openings includes a corner opening that is elongated and an additional opening farther away from the corner than the corner opening. The additional opening is non-elongated.
US09881855B2
A semiconductor device includes: an oscillator; a semiconductor chip that includes an oscillation circuit connected to the oscillator, a timer circuit that generates a timing signal of a frequency according to a oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit, and a frequency correction section that corrects a frequency of the timing signal based on temperature data; and a discrete device that includes at least one of a temperature sensing device that detects a peripheral temperature, that supplies the detected temperature as temperature data to the frequency correction section, and that is provided as a separate body to the semiconductor chip, or a capacitor that is electrically connected to both the oscillator and the oscillation circuit and that is provided as a separate body to the semiconductor chip, wherein the oscillator, the semiconductor chip and the discrete device are contained within a single package.
US09881847B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a recess disposed beneath a semiconductor device. The semiconductor structure also includes a thermally conductive core disposed in the recess, and a package substrate including a heat sink. The heat sink is in thermal contact with the thermally conductive core.
US09881846B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element; a laminated substrate including an insulating plate and a circuit board which is arranged on the front surface of the insulating plate and on which the semiconductor element is arranged; a lead terminal provided via solder in a major electrode of the front surface of the semiconductor element; and a sealing resin for sealing the semiconductor element, the laminated substrate, and the lead terminal, wherein a value of “Young's modulus of the sealing resin×(linear expansion coefficient of the lead terminal−linear expansion coefficient of the sealing resin)” is equal to or greater than −26×103 (Pa/° C.) and equal to or less than 50×103 (Pa/° C.).
US09881833B1
A method for forming interconnect structures includes forming a barrier material over a dielectric layer having a trench, the barrier layer being disposed on sidewalls and horizontal surfaces of the trench, depositing an interconnect layer over the barrier layer to form an interconnect structure, recessing the interconnect layer down to a surface of the barrier layer using a chemical mechanical planarization process, and planarizing the barrier layer and the interconnect layer using a wet etch process to form a coplanar surface to prevent dishing or divots in the interconnect structure.
US09881818B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: a preparation step, a flow step, and a processing step. The preparation step prepares an etching solution by dissolving titanium in an ammonia-hydrogen peroxide solution in advance before use of the ammonia-hydrogen peroxide solution for etching. The flow step flows the etching solution after the preparation step so that a concentration of the etching solution in a processing bath is constant. The processing step etches a metal film on a semiconductor wafer with the etching solution by putting in the processing bath the semiconductor wafer having a resist film and the metal film after the flow step is started. The metal film is preferably formed of titanium, and a temperature of the etching solution is preferably adjusted by flowing the etching solution so that the etching solution flows via a temperature controller.
US09881812B2
The power module includes: a first metallic circuit pattern, a semiconductor device disposed on the first metallic circuit pattern; a leadframe electrically connected to the semiconductor device; and a stress buffering layer disposed on an upper surface of the semiconductor device, and capable of buffering a CTE difference between the semiconductor device and the leadframe. The leadframe is connected to the semiconductor device via the stress buffering layer, a CTE of the stress buffering layer is equal to or less than a CTE of the leadframe, and a cross-sectional shape of the stress buffering layer is L-shape. There is provided: the power module capable of realizing miniaturization and large current capacity, and reducing cost thereof by using leadframe structure, and capable of reducing a variation in welding and improving a yield without damaging a semiconductor device; and a fabrication method for such a power module.
US09881807B2
A method of etching a layer on a substrate includes disposing a substrate in a plasma processing system configured to facilitate an etching process, performing an atomic layer etching process cycle to etch a monolayer of an exposed surface of the substrate, and repeating the atomic layer etching process cycle until a target depth is reached. Each process cycle etches the monolayer from the exposed surface. The atomic layer etching process cycle sequentially includes forming an adsorption monolayer comprising an etchant on an exposed surface of the substrate by introducing the etchant while concurrently coupling electromagnetic power to the plasma processing system at a power level targeted to achieve an etchant radical flux at the substrate greater than a total ion flux at the substrate, which power level is less than or equal to 50 W, purging the plasma processing system to remove any excess etchant, desorbing the adsorption monolayer by exposing the adsorption monolayer to gas ions to activate a reaction of the etchant, and purging the plasma processing system again.
US09881806B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a wafer using a plasma etching device which includes a chamber, a chuck provided in the chamber to dispose a wafer to be processed thereon, a focus ring disposed at a peripheral edge portion of the chuck, and a gas supplying mechanism configured to supply various types of gases depending a radial position of the wafer. The method includes: placing a wafer formed with an organic film on the chuck; introducing an etching gas which etches the organic film on the wafer from the process gas supplying mechanism to a central portion of the wafer; introducing an etching inhibiting factor gas having a property of reacting with the etching gas to the peripheral edge portion of the wafer from the gas supplying mechanism; and performing plasma etching on the wafer using the etching gas.
US09881796B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a molybdenum oxide-containing thin film, involving vaporizing a starting material for forming a thin film containing a compound represented by the following general formula (I) to give vapor containing a molybdenum amide compound, introducing the obtained vapor onto a substrate, and further introducing an oxidizing gas to cause decomposition and/or a chemical reaction to form a thin film on the substrate. In the formula, R1 and R2 each represents a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents a t-butyl group or a t-amyl group, y represents 0 or 2, x is 4 when y is 0, or x is 2 when y is 2, wherein R1 and R2 that are plurally present may be the same or different.
US09881795B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor includes applying a planarization material to a substrate and forming an opening in the planarization material. The opening is filled with polysilicon. A plurality of etching modulation sequences are applied to the substrate, each of the etching modulation sequences including: applying a first etching process to the substrate, wherein the first etching process is more selective to polysilicon than the planarization material; and applying a second etching process to the substrate, wherein the second etching process is more selective to the planarization material than the polysilicon.
US09881793B2
A material stack is formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate. The top layer of the material stack comprises at least an organic planarization layer. A neutral hard mask layer is formed on the top of the organic planarization layer. The neutral hard mask layer is neutral to the block copolymers used for direct self-assembly. A plurality of template etch stacks are then formed on top of the neutral hard mask layer. After formation of the template etch stacks, neutrality recovery is performed on the neutral hard mask layer and the top portions of the template etch stacks, the vertical sidewalls of the template etch stacks being substantially unaffected by the neutrality recovery. A template for DSA is thus obtained.
US09881789B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate having an oxide film; performing, a predetermined number of times, a cycle of non-simultaneously performing supplying a precursor gas to the substrate, supplying a carbon-containing gas to the substrate, and supplying a nitrogen-containing gas to the substrate, or performing, a predetermined number of times, a cycle of non-simultaneously performing supplying a precursor gas to the substrate and supplying a gas containing carbon and nitrogen to the substrate, or performing, a predetermined number of times, a cycle of non-simultaneously performing supplying a precursor gas containing carbon to the substrate and supplying a nitrogen-containing gas to the substrate, the oxide film being used as an oxygen source to form a nitride layer containing oxygen and carbon as a seed layer; and forming a nitride film containing no oxygen and carbon as a first film on the seed layer.
US09881778B2
A method is disclosed wherein parent or precursor ions are fragmented or reacted according to a first fragmentation or reaction mode, and when an ion of interest is detected the method then temporarily switches to a second mode of fragmentation or reaction. This enables a full un-biased MS/MS data set to be provided over a wide mass to charge ratio range with high-duty cycle, together with complementary detailed fragment data of interest, in a single experimental run or acquisition.
US09881777B2
The present disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for determining components and associated conditions in a dermatological sample, and preparing personalized cosmetics or treatments. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the use of surface desorption ionization-mass spectrometry methods and apparatus to assay dermatological samples. The method and apparatus can allow real time analysis of sample molecules, such as in skin and hair, for molecular diagnostics in dermatology, dermatopathology and the preparation of personalized cosmetics.
US09881774B2
A method and apparatus for forming a thin film of a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-type material are disclosed. The method includes providing first and second targets in a common sputtering chamber. The first target includes a source of CIGS material, such as an approximately stoichiometric polycrystalline CIGS material, and the second target includes a chalcogen, such as selenium, sulfur, tellurium, or a combination of these elements. The second target provides an excess of chalcogen in the chamber. This can compensate, at least in part, for the loss of chalcogen from the CIGS-source in the first target, resulting in a thin film with a controlled stoichiometry which provides effective light absorption when used in a solar cell.
US09881767B2
A path of a spin-polarized electron beam is split into two by a splitter. A spin direction of the spin-polarized electron beam is rotated by a spin direction rotator disposed on a first path, and delayed by a first delay device. On a second path, the electron beam passes through a sample stage. The spin-polarized electron beams split into the first path and the second path are superposed by a biprism, and its intensity distribution is measured. Coherence is measured from a relation between a spin direction rotation angle, a delay time, and a visibility of an interference fringe.
US09881757B2
An electric home appliance includes a sensing unit for sensing whether a user's body is within a predetermined range from the electric home appliance, an input unit configured to receive user input, and a controller configured to cause the input unit to be in a protruded state or a retreated state based on a sensing result of the sensing unit. The input unit is configured to move between the protruded state in which the input unit at least partially protrudes from the electric home appliance and the retreated state in which the input unit at least partially retreats into the electric home appliance.
US09881756B1
An exemplary contactor control system and method to reduce the amount of sound during the translation of an automotive contactor from a closed state to an open state is provided. The contactor has an electrical coil and first and second electrical contacts. The control system includes a microcontroller and a high side driver circuit. The microcontroller generates a pulse width modulated signal that is applied to the high side driver circuit and decreases a duty cycle thereof to decrease a first control voltage applied to the electrical coil over a time interval. The microcontroller maintains a duty cycle for another time interval to maintain the contactor in the closed operational state. Next, the microcontroller decreases the duty cycle to reduce a speed of a contactor armature prior to contacting a stop member to reduce an amount of sound while transitioning the contactor to the open state.
US09881751B2
A key structure includes a key, a key sheet and a supporting portion. The key displaces in a direction. The key sheet is disposed at a side of the key toward which the key displaces and comprises a sheet base portion and a contacting portion that displaces in the displacing direction of the key in accordance with a displacement of the key. The supporting portion is disposed between the key and the sheet base portion and supports one end portion of the key by contacting a member disposed opposite to the supporting portion while the other end portion of the key displaces in the displacing direction of the key.
US09881747B2
An ink of the formula: 60-80% by weight BaTiO3 particles coated with SiO2; 5-50% by weight high dielectric constant glass; 0.1-5% by weight surfactant; 5-25% by weight solvent; and 5-25% weight organic vehicle. Also a method of manufacturing a capacitor comprising the steps of: heating particles of BaTiO3 for a special heating cycle, under a mixture of 70-96% by volume N2 and 4-30% by volume H2 gas; depositing a film of SiO2 over the particles; mechanically separating the particles; incorporating them into the above described ink formulation; depositing the ink on a substrate; and heating at 850-900° C. for less than 5 minutes and allowing the ink and substrate to cool to ambient in N2 atmosphere. Also a dielectric made by: heating particles of BaTiO3 for a special heating cycle, under a mixture of 70-96% by volume N2 and 4-30% by volume H2 gas; depositing a film of SiO2 over the particles; mechanically separating the particles; forming them into a layer; and heating at 850-900° C. for less than 5 minutes and allowing the layer to cool to ambient in N2 atmosphere.
US09881731B2
An integrated inductor can be tunable via a control current which alters the magnetic flux density in a permeable magnetic material. The resulting inductor can be adjusted in-circuit, and may be suitable for applications such as dc-dc converters, RF circuits, or filters requiring operation at high frequencies and across wide bandwidths.
US09881721B2
The present invention relates to a soft magnetic metal powder having iron as the main component and containing boron, wherein, the content of iron inside the soft magnetic metal powder is 98 mass % or more, the content of boron in the particle of the soft magnetic metal powder is 10 to 150 ppm, and the metal particle has a film of boron nitride on the surface. The present invention also relates to a soft magnetic metal powder core prepared by using the soft magnetic metal powder.
US09881704B2
A system for draining a containment vessel may include a drain inlet located in a lower portion of the containment vessel. The containment vessel may be at least partially filled with a liquid, and the drain inlet may be located below a surface of the liquid. The system may further comprise an inlet located in an upper portion of the containment vessel. The inlet may be configured to insert pressurized gas into the containment vessel to form a pressurized region above the surface of the liquid, and the pressurized region may operate to apply a surface pressure that forces the liquid into the drain inlet. Additionally, a fluid separation device may be operatively connected to the drain inlet. The fluid separation device may be configured to separate the liquid from the pressurized gas that enters the drain inlet after the surface of the liquid falls below the drain inlet.
US09881700B2
A Single Fluid Reactor with an inner zone that includes a solid neutron moderator, which can have through holes defined therein. This solid neutron moderator can have a relatively small diameter, which can range, in some embodiments, from less than one meter to about 1.5 meter. The solid neutron moderator effectively creates an inner zone with a neutron profile that is far more thermalized than if the solid neutron moderator were absent. The surrounding layer of salt surrounding this inner zone has a much harder neutron spectrum.
US09881696B2
An operating method of a storage device includes simultaneously buffering first data in a first nonvolatile memory device and a second nonvolatile memory device, simultaneously buffering second data in the second nonvolatile memory device and a third nonvolatile memory device, performing a parity operation on the first data and the second data in the second nonvolatile memory device to generate a parity, and programming the first data, the second data, and the parity into the first nonvolatile memory device, the third nonvolatile memory device, and the second nonvolatile memory device, respectively.
US09881695B2
In some examples, a memory device may be configured to store data in either an original or an inverted state based at least in part on a state associated with one or more shorted bit cells. For instance, the memory device may be configured to identify a shorted bit cell within a memory array and to store the data in the memory array, such that a state of the data bit stored in the shorted bit cell matches the state associated with the shorted bit cell.
US09881684B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a block including a plurality of string units, each including a plurality of memory cells electrically connected in series, a bad string register in which information indicating which of the string units is a bad string is stored, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls an erase operation on the memory cells, the erase operation including a first erase operation followed by a first verify operation and as needed a subsequent erase operation followed by a subsequent verify operation. During the erase operation, the control circuit skips a verify operation for a string unit if the information in the bad string register indicates the string unit is a bad string.
US09881679B2
A strobe signal shaping method for a data storage system includes receiving a strobe signal; boosting a first clock edge portion of the strobe signal when the strobe signal is received after having been idle or paused over a predetermined time period; and returning to an operating mode in which boosting is turned off with respect to a second clock edge portion of the strobe signal.
US09881675B2
Technology for performing addressing in a NAND memory is described. A defined number of address cycles supported at either a memory controller or a NAND memory to address individual memory units in the NAND memory can be identified. The defined number of address cycles in which to operate can be selected in order to address the individual memory units in the NAND memory. Either the memory controller or the NAND memory can be configured to operate at the selected number of address cycles where the individual memory units in the NAND memory are uniquely addressable using a multi die select (MDS).
US09881668B2
An SRAM cell with dynamic split ground (GND) and split wordline (WL) for extreme scaling is disclosed. The memory cell includes a first access transistor enabled by a first wordline to control access to cross coupled inverters by a first bitline. The memory cell further includes a second access transistor enabled by a second wordline to control access to the cross coupled inverters by a second bitline. The memory cell further includes a split ground line comprising a first ground line (GNDL) separated from a second ground line (GNDR). The GNDL is connected to a transistor of a first inverter of the cross coupled inverters and the GNDR is connected to a first transistor of a second inverter of the cross coupled inverters.
US09881661B2
Methods, systems, and devices for a sensing scheme that extracts the full or nearly full remnant polarization charge difference between two logic states of a ferroelectric memory cell or cells is described. The scheme employs a charge mirror to extract the full charge difference between the two states of a selected memory cell. The charge mirror may transfer the memory cell polarization charge to an amplification capacitor. The signal on the amplification capacitor may then be compared with a reference voltage to detect the logic state of the memory cell.
US09881655B2
A memory circuit includes a memory cell, a first bit line, a first bit line bar, a sense amplifier, a first switch and a second switch. The memory cell is coupled with a first bit line having a first bit line portion and a second bit line portion. The first bit line bar has a first bit line bar portion and a second bit line bar portion. The sense amplifier includes a read/write circuit configured to couple the second bit line portion to a global bit line. The first switch is coupled between the first bit line bar portion and the second bit line bar portion. The second switch is coupled between the first bit line portion and the second bit line portion.
US09881651B2
Apparatuses and methods for interconnections for 3D memory are provided. One example apparatus can include a stack of materials including a plurality of pairs of materials, each pair of materials including a conductive line formed over an insulation material. The stack of materials has a stair step structure formed at one edge extending in a first direction. Each stair step includes one of the pairs of materials. A first interconnection is coupled to the conductive line of a stair step, the first interconnection extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to a first surface of the stair step.
US09881650B1
The present disclosure generally relates to a connector structure that prevents crosstalk in devices such as electronic and data storage devices. The connector structure is disposed in a different plane than the signal lines, but is connected to ground lines that are disposed in the same plane as the signal lines. The connector structure has a beam portion for each ground line. Additionally, there is a backbone portion that connects all of the beam portions. The beam portions are coupled to the ground lines by a ground bar. The ground bar can have a width that is equal to the width of the ground line. Additionally, the connection point between the ground line and the ground bar can be sloped, and the ground line and ground bar can be parallel to each other at the connection point. The connector structure prevents crosstalk between the signal lines.
US09881631B2
A method transforms a noisy audio signal to an enhanced audio signal, by first acquiring the noisy audio signal from an environment. The noisy audio signal is processed by an enhancement network having network parameters to jointly produce a magnitude mask and a phase estimate. Then, the magnitude mask and the phase estimate are used to obtain the enhanced audio signal.
US09881618B2
A method of controlling a terminal is provided. The method includes analyzing a sensed voice when a voice is sensed, recognizing a context based a result of the analysis, and performing a predetermined control operation based on the recognized context.
US09881610B2
Non-acoustic data from a vicinity of speech input is obtained. A subject speaker is identified as the source of the speech input from the obtained non-acoustic data by detecting mouth motion on one or more faces segmented from the non-acoustic data by comparing a first pixel intensity associated at a first time with a second pixel intensity at a second time, and selecting a face corresponding to the subject speaker from the one or more faces in response to a determination that a number of significantly changed pixels between the first pixel intensity and the second pixel intensity exceeds a threshold. A demographic is assigned to the subject speaker based on an analysis of one or more non-acoustic attributes of the subject speaker extracted from the non-acoustic data. The speech input is processed using a speech recognition system adjusted using a model selected based on the demographic.
US09881605B2
According to an in-vehicle control apparatus, it is configured to receive information of a plurality of operation keys displayed on a display, to identify from a result of voice recognition of a user's speech, the operation key corresponding thereto on the basis of the information of the operation keys, and to execute a function assigned to the operation key upon receiving an instruction for execution by the user using a decision key, so that it is possible to perform an operation without making contact directly with the plurality of operation keys displayed on the display and without the need of a complex key operation. Further, solely by mounting just one decision key on a steering wheel, it becomes possible to safely perform the operation about the operation key displayed on the display without the user releasing his/her hand from the steering wheel during driving.
US09881604B2
A system and method for identifying special information is provided. Endpoints are defined within a voice recording. One or more of the endpoints are identified within the voice recording and the voice recording is partitioned into segments based on the identified endpoints. Elements of text are identified by applying speech recognition to each of the segments and a list of prompt list candidates are applied to the text elements. The segments with text elements that match one or more prompt list candidates are identified. Portions of the voice recording following the prompt list candidates that include special information are identified and the special information is rendered unintelligible within the voice recording.
US09881602B2
A sound system for a motor vehicle exhaust gas system for emitting emulated engine sounds, including at least one loudspeaker and at least one housing accommodating at least one loudspeaker. The housing is mounted separately from a motor vehicle exhaust gas system in terms of the routing of an exhaust gas flow, at least one sound guidance tube having an outlet zone being mounted on the housing.
US09881600B1
A headphone includes an electroacoustic transducer and a support structure for suspending the transducer adjacent to a user's ear when worn by the user such that the headphone is acoustically open. A first microphone is coupled to one or more of the transducer and the support structure such that the first microphone is located in a substantially broadband acoustic null of the transducer. A processor is coupled to the headphone. The microphone receives sound pressure waves and outputs a related electronic signal to the processor. The processor uses the electronic signal to operate the transducer to reduce targeted sound pressure waves at the user's ear.
US09881594B1
A drum beater shaft with a flexible coupling means disposed between the base portion of the shaft and the head portion of the shaft is disclosed. The base portion of the shaft is fixed and hingedly attached, typically, to a pedal operated actuator. The head portion of the shaft contains a striking device used to contact the drum when actuated by the pedal. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means disposed between the base portion and head portion of the drum beater shaft takes the form of a spring surrounded by an elastic sheath. In another preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means takes the form of a universal joint surrounded by an elastic sheath, In yet another preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means takes the form of a ball an socket joint surrounded by and elastic sheath.
US09881587B2
Circuits for programming a circuit with decreased programming time are provided. Such circuits include a storage device such as a capacitor for storing display information and for ensuring a driving device such as a driving transistor drives a light emitting device according to the display information. The present disclosure provides driving schemes for decreasing flickering perceived while displaying video content by introducing idle phases in between in emission phases to increase the effective refresh rate of a display. Driving schemes are also disclosed for reducing the effects of cross-talk by ensuring that programming information is refreshed in a display array that utilizes a driver connected to multiple data lines via a multiplexer.
US09881575B2
A method of driving a display panel includes outputting a dummy gate voltage to a gate line disposed on a boundary of a first area of the display panel and a second area of the display panel adjacent to the first area during a blank period between a plurality of scanning periods and outputting a dummy data voltage to a data line during the blank period.
US09881574B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide a display device, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for controlling the same, relating to the field of display, realizing a switch between dual-view display and normal display. The display device comprises a display panel and a transparent substrate located on a light output side of the display panel; the display panel comprises a plurality of pixel units arranged in array; a first electrode and a second electrode insulated with each other are arranged between the display panel and the transparent substrate; the first electrode comprises a plurality of criss-cross strip electrodes; opening areas of the pixel units for displaying are enclosed by the plurality of strip electrodes; the second electrode is a transparent strip electrode, the second electrode corresponds to the interior of the opening area enclosed by the first electrode; wherein black conductive ink is filled in the opening areas defined by the first electrode; in a state that the first electrode is powered up, the black conductive ink gathers near the first electrode; in a state that the second electrode is powered up, the black conductive ink covers the surface of the second electrode.
US09881572B2
The present disclosure provides a shift register circuit and a method for driving the same, a gate driving circuit, and a display apparatus. The shift register circuit comprises an input module, configured to pull up a potential at a first node; an output module, configured to pull up a potential at an output when the potential at the first node is at a high level; a pull-up module, configured to periodically pull up a potential at the second node by using current from a high-level bias voltage line; a reset module, configured to pull down the potential at the first node under the control of a signal; and a pull-down module, configured to continuously pull down the potential at the second node before the potential at the first node is pulled down, and pull down potentials at the first node and the output when the potential at the second node is at a high level.
US09881568B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel that comprises a plurality of pixels, a first image data corrector configured to calculate a Mura correction value of input data based on gamma correction data of the input data, to add the Mura correction value to the input data to generate added input data, and to generate gamma correction data of the added input data, and a data driver configured to drive the plurality of pixels based on the gamma correction data provided from the first image data corrector.
US09881567B2
A method is provided for reducing flicker arising in pixels along an axis of a liquid-crystal based array such as a LCoS array. The pixels along the axis exhibit a common gray scale level. In accordance with the method, a plurality of digital data command sequences are selected that each drive a pixel at the common gray scale level. A first of the plurality of digital data command sequences is applied to a first pixel along the axis. A second of the plurality of digital data command sequences is applied to a second pixel along the axis. The second pixel is adjacent to the first pixel. The first and second digital command sequences give rise to voltages being applied to the two pixels which have frequency components that are opposite in phase and equal in magnitude.
US09881566B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a display device which suppresses power consumption as well as displaying an image with excellent quality. A display device (1) in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes a polarity determining section (35) for determining whether or not a first polarity in a drive vertical period immediately preceding a first term in which an image is not rewritten is the same as a second polarity in a pause vertical period which is a last pause vertical period before the second vertical period, and a refresh control section (34) for providing an additional vertical period in the first term in a case where the first polarity is the same as the second polarity.
US09881565B2
A large area display having multiple sub-units arranged in rows and columns and a method of driving the multiple sub-units as a single display are provided. Each sub-unit has an associated pixel row driver and pixel column driver. The large area display may also include a chip select means that provides a separate chip select signal to the pixel row driver of each row of sub-units, so that in the row of sub-units for which the associated row driver has received the chip select signal, only the rows of pixels within a single row of sub-units are supplied data at any one time. Column data and delayed Gate Start Pulse signals are fed to the pixel column drivers in each column of sub-units such that the appropriate column data values are supplied to the associated pixel column drivers.
US09881562B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel including a first polarizing plate having a first polarizing axis substantially parallel to a first direction, a backlight unit which generates a light, a diffusion plate interposed between the first polarizing plate and the backlight unit, the diffusion plate includes an anisotropic area having a transmission axis substantially parallel to the first direction and a diffusion axis substantially perpendicular to a second direction, where the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a photographic unit interposed between the anisotropic area and the backlight unit, where the photographic unit captures an image of an object transmitted to the photographic unit through the display panel.
US09881552B2
Provided is a driving method whereby it is possible to simultaneously compensate for both degradation of a drive transistor and degradation of a light-emitting element without causing special light emission at the time of detecting characteristics in a display device. In a display device which includes a pixel circuit including an electro-optic element and a drive transistor, a driving method includes: a detecting a characteristic of the drive transistor; detecting a characteristic of the electro-optic element; storing characteristic data obtained based on detection results in the first and second detection of characteristics of the drive transistor and electro-optic element, as correction data; and correcting the video signal based on the correction data.
US09881536B2
A multi-display device comprising: a plurality of display panels wherein each display panel is arranged in a housing; and a single video processor arranged within one of the housings and configured to output a different video signal to each of the plurality of display panels.
US09881535B2
In an image display device having a frame rate converting (FRC) portion, it is possible to prevent image degradation of a combined image display portion such as an OSD and PinP attributed to the FRC process. The image display device includes: an FRC portion 10 for converting the number of frames of an input image signal by interpolating an image signal subjected to a motion compensation process between the frames of the input image signal; an OSD processing portion 14 for superposing an OSD signal on the input image signal, and a controlling portion 15. The FRC portion 10 has a motion vector detecting portion 11e for detecting a motion vector between the frames of the input image signal, an interpolation vector evaluating portion 11f for allocating interpolation vector between frames based on the motion vector information, and an interpolation frame generating portion 12d for generating an interpolation frame from the interpolation vector. When the OSD signal is superposed on the input image signal, the controlling portion 15 disables the motion compensation process of the FRC portion 10 by making the motion vector detected by the motion vector detecting portion 11e 0 vector.
US09881531B2
A lighting device for operation in at least two operating modes: a mode for free viewing and a mode for restricted viewing. The device includes a backlighting system, which in the restricted-viewing mode radiates light in a restricted angular range, a plate-shaped optical element situated along a viewing direction in front of the backlighting system, and illuminants laterally arranged at the optical element. The optical element is configured as a light guide consisting of a matrix plastic and, homogeneously distributed therein, scattering particles of a polymer. The light guide is transparent to at least 80% of the light emitted by the backlighting system. The light laterally incident on the optical element from the illuminants is radiated in a free viewing range; in the restricted-viewing mode, the backlighting system is switched on and the illuminants switched off; in the free-viewing mode, the illuminants are on and the backlighting system is off.
US09881515B2
A cognitive training system provides cognitive skills development using a suite of music and sound based exercises. Visual, auditory, and tactile sensory stimuli are paired in various combinations to build and strengthen cross-modality associations. The system includes a cognitive skills development platform in which training video-games and cartoons are user presented. The platform uses computer implemented systems and methods for training a user with the aim of enhancing processes, skills, and/or development of user intelligence, attention, language skills and brain functioning. The cognitive training system may be utilized by users of varying, or no, musical skills and is presented at a difficulty level corresponding to user characteristics, age, interests and attention span. User characteristics may be assessed in several manners, including retrieval of past performance data on one or more of the exercises.
US09881509B2
The present invention provides an educational toy simulator which comprises a base member and a set of peg pieces. The base member is formed of multiple layers, and one or more cut outs are formed in the base member for receiving the corresponding peg piece. The cut outs and the peg pieces are formed with a contoured, stepped or tapered structure to prevent the peg pieces from coming in contact with the image display member. A slot is formed in the base member to slidably receive an image display member for displaying a picture through the cut outs. A depth of the peg pieces is smaller than a depth of the corresponding cut outs. Since the image display member is slidably received in the slot, the displayed pictures may be changed from time to time thus providing capabilities for introducing more vocabulary to a learner in a playful way.
US09881504B2
In one embodiment, an aerospace system is provided. The aerospace system comprises at least one display unit configured to display flight data and a memory configured to store one or more flight plan associations. Each flight plan association is an association between a data link message and a respective waypoint in a flight plan. The aerospace system also comprises a processing unit configured to determine when each respective waypoint in the flight plan is reached based on a comparison of current location data to the flight plan. When each respective waypoint is reached, the processing unit is configured to identify any data link messages associated with the respective waypoint based on the flight plan associations and to direct the at least one display unit to display a respective notification for each identified data link message associated with the respective waypoint.
US09881499B1
Traffic light devices and methods of use are provided herein. A traffic light may include a first lighting element segment that can be activated with a first color, a second lighting element segment that can be activated with a second color or a third color, and a third lighting element segment surrounds the second lighting element segment.
US09881493B2
Disclosed are a communication module and a lighting apparatus having the same. The communication module includes a housing provided therein with a space, and a module substrate provided in the space of the housing and provided therein with a wireless communication chip, a reset device to reset the wireless communication chip, and a display part to display the state of the wireless communication chip through the opening. The communication module is detachably coupled with an object to transmit a control signal, which is received through a wireless network, to the object. The communication module is stored when the lighting part of the lighting apparatus is replaced with new one, so that the cost is reduced. The light is discharged through the opening to display the erroneous operation of the inner part, such that the communication module is forcibly reset.
US09881490B2
A system and method for providing temporary power to an intermittent unit of a fire alarm system device. The intermittent unit is intermittently activated. The fire alarm system device includes a power storage unit for providing temporary power to the intermittent unit and a voltage converter for providing power at a voltage required by the intermittent unit. The fire alarm system device also includes a power control circuit for discharging the power storage unit through the intermittent unit when the intermittent unit first is activated and then switching to enable the voltage converter to power the intermittent unit.
US09881485B2
A system for providing device-based hygiene reminders, alarms, and reporting is disclosed. In particular, the system may utilize a mobile device capable of wirelessly communicating with a peripheral wearable reader. Prior to a user entering an area, the system may include prompting the user to scan a first tag using the wearable reader. A signal may be sent to the mobile device that alerts the user to perform a hygiene-related action prior to entering the area. At the time of performing the hygiene-related action, the system may require the reader to scan a second tag in proximity to a device associated with the hygiene-related action to disable the alert. After the scanning the second tag, the user may be allowed to enter the area. Information related to the performance of the hygiene-related action may be tracked and utilized to generate reports for assessing compliance with hygiene protocols.
US09881471B2
The present invention relates to an electronic article surveillance tag that comprises at least one receptacle for receiving a pin. Each of the at least one receptacle comprises a plurality of balls supported by a ball cage for releasably locking the pin in the receptacle, a cone shaped cup arranged in contact with the plurality of balls, a first spring for supporting the ball cage into the cone shaped cup, and a conductive element, the first end of which is arranged in contact with the cone shaped cup and the second end of which is arranged in contact with a contact element inside the electronic article surveillance tag for conducting electrical current from the pin to the contact element.
US09881469B2
A method for monitoring a predetermined space, comprising the following steps:a) preparing at least one first volumetric sensor for detecting a first movement signal representative of movement in an authorized zone of said space;b) preparing at least one second volumetric sensor for detecting a second movement signal representative of movement in an unauthorized zone of said space;c) processing said first signal and second signal for identifying a movement in said space.
US09881462B2
Systems and methods for creating a plurality of seeds for a multiplayer tournament of an electronic game are disclosed. The system includes a server including a seed generator module, a seed sorter module, and a seed selection module. The seed generator module randomly generates the plurality of seeds. Each of the plurality of corresponds to a unique shuffle of cards of a game of the multiplayer tournament. The seed sorter module rates each of the plurality of seeds, and then sorts the plurality of rated seeds in accordance with one or more business goals. A seed selection module is configured to receive a player identifier and a tournament play count associated with a first player of the multiplayer tournament. The seed selection module is further configured to identify a rated seed for the first player in accordance with the player identifier and the tournament play count.
US09881461B2
An enhanced interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate application telemetry; display a wager outcome; communicate an indication to enter a tournament; communicate tournament application telemetry associated with the tournament; display a tournament award; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request; determine and communicate the wager outcome; the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller, the application controller also operatively connected to a tournament controller and constructed to: receive the application telemetry; determine whether to trigger a wager; communicate the wager request; receive the wager outcome; receive the tournament entry indication; receive tournament award; communicate the tournament award.
US09881449B1
A system for interactive gaming among a plurality of players includes a host computer system and a plurality of player terminals communicably coupled to the host computer system via a network. The plurality of player terminals are located at a plurality of licensed gaming locations. The plurality of player terminals are configured to engage the plurality of players in a common interactive game operated by the host computer system. The plurality of player terminals include means for dispensing player winnings from the player terminal.
US09881446B2
Systems and methods for providing a gambling hybrid game having an omniscience mode are disclosed. The systems and method involve receiving an input from a player accepting an omniscience gambling proposition. The results of a gambling event associated with the omniscience gambling proposition are then determined and wagers are resolved. The results of the gambling event are then used to determine target information to provide a player to satisfy the omniscience gambling proposition.
US09881445B2
A gaming machine arranged to implement a base game and associated method are described. The gaming machine includes a game implementer arranged to implement a game and to generate game state information indicative of the current state of the game as the game is played by a player; and a data storage device arranged to store the game state information as the game is played by the player; the game implementer being arranged to retrieve game state information and to recommence play of the game by the player when the game state information is retrieved.
US09881443B2
A gaming system includes a housing having gaming components therein. The housing has a door opening and a door capable of rotating about a hinge axis defined by a set of hinge pins rigidly affixed to the housing. Attached to the door are a set of hinge arms having a set of specially shaped hinge slots positioned around the hinge pins. The hinge arms are additionally coupled to the housing by a set of spring components. When the housing door is not in a closed position, the spring components bias the door to an open position. When the housing door is in the closed position, the spring components bias the door in a direction defined by the hinge slots such that the door remains in a neutral position minimizing a spacing gap along one edge of the door. A set of roller guides align the door with a set of corresponding roller pins when the door approaches the closed position, and a locking mechanism is configured to latch the door to the housing in the closed position.
US09881442B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method for redeeming a winning ticket and/or a plurality of non-winning tickets having corresponding symbols for an award. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system of the present disclosure enables a player to: (a) redeem a winning ticket for a first award, and (b) redeem a set of two or more non-winning tickets having corresponding symbols for a second award. Thus, while an individual ticket may be a non-winning ticket when standing alone, the gaming system of the present disclosure enables that non-winning ticket to provide value to the player (in the form of an award) when combined with at least one additional non-winning ticket.
US09881433B2
Systems and methods for monitoring permission to be in a location comprising: a secured area having at least one entry point with a mechanical gate having an open and closed position; at least two wireless proximity sensors attached to a portion of (or the area adjacent to) the mechanical gate; a token device in communication with the wireless proximity sensors that determine a location of the token device relative to one of the wireless proximity sensors to provide a detection data point and a set of detection data points for the group of detection data points; and a system computing device that calculates the shared proximity of the token device. If the token device contains a valid ticket and the shared proximity of the token device is within a predetermined area the system computing device will cause the mechanical gate to go to the open position.
US09881430B1
A system includes plural, different sensors configured to be operably connected to a first vehicle. The sensors obtain status data indicative of a state of a cooling system of the first vehicle. The system includes a digital twin system having processors configured to modify the status data having sampling rates or resolutions that differ such that the status data that is modified has a common sampling rate resolution as that of other data. The processors create a digital twin matrix of the status data. The digital twin matrix is indicative of the state of the cooling system. The processors also determine a health score of the cooling system or simulate operation of the cooling system based on the digital twin matrix. The digital twin system is configured to change or control actual operation of the cooling system based on the health score or the operation that is simulated.
US09881427B2
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and system for vehicle maintenance are provided. The computer-implemented method may include predicting a future vehicle location based on a vehicle location history; predicting future vehicle usage from user information, wherein the user information includes information collected from a user's social media account; identifying maintenance needs of a vehicle; and determining available times for vehicle maintenance based on the future vehicle location and the user information.
US09881416B2
Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site include flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.
US09881414B2
Disclosed is a method for displaying an object by an electronic device. The method for displaying an object includes overlapping a plurality of second objects obtained by changing an attribute of a first object in a direction corresponding to the location of a light source, displaying the plurality of overlapping second objects and displaying the first object on the plurality of overlapping second objects.
US09881409B2
Blood flow beneath a user's skin, for example, in a user's face may be visually rendered. In some aspects, a plurality of differences is determined in the intensity of pixels of a first image and the corresponding pixels of a subsequent second image. In some aspects, this plurality of differences is enhanced to accentuate a characteristic associated with the first image and the second image. The enhanced plurality of differences is visually rendered for each subsequent comparison of pixel intensity values.
US09881403B2
A photography system includes a remote server to store themed photograph overlays, and at least one themed photograph overlay image located at a designated area and corresponding to one of the themed photograph overlays on the remote server. A portable electronic device (PED) includes a processor to execute a creative artworks picture application, a transceiver to communicate with the remote server based on execution of the creative artworks picture application, and a camera to scan the themed photograph overlay image located at the designated area. The transceiver receives the themed photograph overlay from the remote server based on the camera scanning the themed photograph overlay image. The camera takes a photograph at the designated area, and the photograph with the at least one themed photograph overlay is displayed.
US09881402B2
There is provided an image processor including a recognition part configured to recognize a captured target on the basis of a captured image, and an image generation part configured to generate an additive image for decorating the target depending on a user circumstance of a user seeing the target and a recognition result by the recognition part.
US09881394B2
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and software for extended phase correction in phase sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A magnetic resonance image or images may be loaded into a memory. Two vector images A and B associated with the loaded image or images may be calculated either explicitly or implicitly so that a vector orientation by one of the two vector images at a pixel is substantially determined by a background or error phase at the pixel, and the vector orientation at the pixel by the other vector image is substantially different from that determined by the background or error phase at the pixel. A sequenced region growing phase correction algorithm may be applied to the vector images A and B to construct a new vector image V so that a vector orientation of V at each pixel is substantially determined by the background or error phase at the pixel. A phase corrected magnetic resonance image or images may be generated using the vector image V, and the phase corrected magnetic resonance image or images may be displayed or archived.
US09881372B2
A method and apparatus for vascular disease detection and characterization using a recurrent neural network (RNN) is disclosed. A plurality of 2D cross-section image patches are extracted from a 3D computed tomography angiography (CTA) image, each extracted at a respective sampling point along a vessel centerline of a vessel of interest in the 3D CTA image. Vascular abnormalities in the vessel of interest are detected and characterized by classifying each of the sampling points along the vessel centerline based on the plurality of 2D cross-section image patches using a trained RNN.
US09881363B2
An image processing device includes a selection section adapted to select a first correction point among a plurality of correction points included in a correcting image, an identification section adapted to identify a second correction point and a third correction point adjacent to the first correction point, and a display control section adapted to emphasize a first line segment connecting the first correction point and the second correction point to each other, and a second line segment connecting the first correction point and the third correction point to each other, and display the correcting image on a display section.
US09881360B2
System and method for active contour segmentation where an image for a structure and an initial position on the image are received, a multi-scale image representation including successive image levels each having associated therewith a representation of the image is computed, a representation of the image at a given image level having a different image resolution that that of a representation of the image at a subsequent level, a given one of the levels at which noise in the image is removed is identified, the initial position is set as a current contour and the given level as a current level, the current contour is deformed at the current level to expand into an expanded contour matching a shape of the structure, the expanded contour is set as the current contour and the subsequent level as the current level, and the steps are repeated until the last level is reached.
US09881358B2
A system and method of image processing is provided, including implementing adaptive pixel replacement techniques or reducing noise. The method includes obtaining a data map of an image frame, wherein the data map comprises good pixels and bad pixels at locations associated with the data map. The method also includes assigning different techniques to the bad pixels, wherein a first technique is assigned to a first bad pixel and a second technique is assigned to a second bad pixel. The method further includes adjusting information associated with the bad pixels for a chosen technique for each of the bad pixels.
US09881347B2
Automated entry to properties is provided. A user selects a property for automated entry. It is confirmed whether the property is available for automated entry by the user. Automated entry to the user is enabled when automated entry is available for the user and when the user is within a predetermined distance from the property.
US09881345B2
A method, system and computer program product for evaluating an impact of a user's content utilized in a social network. Content in a document (e.g., a presentation) that has been posted on a social network environment is detected as being reused by another user in another document. The author of the reused content is then identified. A counter keeping track of the number of times this content has been adopted in derivative works is then incremented. A score (“impact score”), representing the author's ability to influence other users to adopt the author's content in other users' derivative works, is then generated based on the number of times this content has been adopted in derivative works. Social credit is then provided to the author using the impact score. In this manner, recognition is provided to the author thereby providing motivation for users to post created content in the social network.
US09881340B2
The invention relates to a system for handling insurance requests, such as new coverage applications, renewal applications, and insurance quote requests. The system includes at least two computerized predictive models whose outputs each serve as inputs to the other. A business logic module is included in the system to process insurance requests with the predictive models to determine one or more sets of recommended policy parameters for the user and to output the determination to the user via a user interface. In various embodiments, the predictive models also output workflow components (such as underwriting workflow components) and price components (such as premium prices) corresponding to output suggested sets of coverage parameters.
US09881335B2
A method and system for progressing an auction is provided. Examples include an auction analysis component configured to analyze an auction forum for auctions that are likely to complete without a reserve price being met (i.e., triggered auctions), and a personality selection component configured to select a personality capable of facilitating the progression of a triggered auction.
US09881334B2
Methods for generating and sharing a virtual body model of a person, created with a small number of measurements and a single photograph, combined with one or more images of garments. The virtual body model represents a realistic representation of the users body and is used for visualizing photo-realistic fit visualizations of garments, hairstyles, make-up, and/or other accessories. The virtual garments are created from layers based on photographs of real garment from multiple angles. Furthermore the virtual body model is used in multiple embodiments of manual and automatic garment, make-up, and, hairstyle recommendations, such as, from channels, friends, and fashion entities. The virtual body model is sharable for, as example, visualization and comments on looks. Furthermore it is also used for enabling users to buy garments that fit other users, suitable for gifts or similar. The implementation can also be used in peer-to-peer online sales where garments can be bought with the knowledge that the seller has a similar body shape and size as the user.
US09881333B2
An enhanced shopping system for facilitating grocery shopping and in-store advertising is disclosed. The system utilizes uniquely changes (1) the way grocery retail industry captures and retains customers, (2) how customers organize their shopping efforts in grocery stores, (3) the approach to advertising and reaching customers, and (4) the information available to retailers and merchandisers related to customer (a) shopping patterns, (b) responses to merchandising and advertising, and (c) specific impact of discounting/coupons.
US09881327B2
A merchandising system having a power distribution device associated with a package support system, and a package having a sensory output such as an image display capable of using power, data and/or signals provided from the power distribution device to produce a desired output when the package is associated with the package support system. Packaging materials of the package form the coupling medium for contactless coupling such as capacitive coupling of a controlled signal provided to the package support system to a display on the package.
US09881319B2
An application executing on a mobile device, such as an application associated with a social networking system provides a link to install a third-party application. The link may be presented in an advertisement, and the link is used to retrieve data comprising a client application for execution by the mobile device. To track installations, the client application stores an indication that the client application was installed in a shared memory location on the mobile device, as native applications do not have access to cookies. A social networking application executing on the mobile device retrieves the indication the client application was installed from the shared memory location and communicates it to a social networking system for storing in a user profile.
US09881310B2
An eliciting system is provided. The eliciting system may embody a method for collecting market research data by eliciting customer input through an interactive, competitive game format. The eliciting system may provide the game format by including a controllable object, a control unit and a display platform, wherein the display platform provides a plurality of scan codes presented in an eye-catching manner. The control unit provides a user interface and is adapted to remotely control the controllable object as it hovers over the display platform. The controllable object may provide a scanner for reading the plurality of scan codes. Each scan code may provide a market association with a good and/or service. Each market association scanned by the scanner is represented on the user interface, whereby the user of the control unit can view and approve of or disapprove of it, while the user controls the controllable object hovering over the display platform.
US09881308B2
A method and system to facilitate an online promotion in a network-based marketplace. A user-provided election to participate in the online promotion is recorded on a client machine associated with a user. Responsive to a trigger event, a determination of the user-provided election as recorded on the client machine associated with the user is made. The determination causes a presentation of the online promotion if so elected.
US09881307B2
A modular learning system for certifying learning applications is provided. When the system receives a request to certify a learning application from a learning application authoring user, the system provides a certifying user an interface to view the learning application and determine whether the learning application meets standards for certification. The certifying user provides a certification for the learning application and the system determines a fee for the certification service. The learning application author pays the fee and a certification is associated with the learning application. A certification badge may also be generated for display with the learning application to indicate compliance of the learning application with the certification standards.
US09881302B1
Techniques and arrangements for capturing payments in cases involving a failed authorization. In some instances, a point-of-sale (POS) device may process a transaction while operating in an offline mode, and then send information regarding the transaction to a remote service after transitioning to an online mode. The remote service may attempt to authorize a payment instrument tendered to satisfy a cost of the transaction. In instances in which the payment instrument is declined, one or multiple payment-capture techniques may be utilized to capture a payment that satisfies at least a portion of the cost of the transaction.
US09881297B2
Systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for conducting a payment transaction are provided which include activating a payment application of a mobile device, generating, using the payment application, an optical image representing payment account information associated with the payment application, said payment account information including at least one of a payment account number, an expiry date of the payment account number, and a dynamic verification code generated by the payment application; and presenting the optical image to a merchant transaction terminal for scanning to conduct the payment transaction.
US09881284B2
A mini-kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The mini-kiosk is designed to be placed on a counter-top. The mini-kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The mini-kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.
US09881282B1
Meeting and conferencing systems and methods are implemented in a variety of manners. Consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a meeting system is implemented that includes a computer server arrangement with at least one processor. The computer server arrangement is configured to provide a web-based meeting-group subscription option to potential meeting participants. A meeting scheduling data is received over a web-accessible virtual meeting interface. The meeting scheduling data includes group identification information and meeting time information. In response to the group identification information, participant identification information is retrieved for participants that subscribe to a meeting group identified by the group identification information. In response to the meeting time information and the participant identifying information, audio connections are established for participants of the meeting. Merged audio from the established audio connections is provided to the participants over the established audio connections.
US09881281B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for collaboratively planning an event via a collaborative event planning application. The collaborative event planning application may be accessed via user terminals connected to a network such as the Internet. Individual aspects such as theme, date, location, attire, travel, and lodging pertinent to the event and group discussion may be edited by a host, designated co-hosts, and invitees. Hosts and invitees may also make decisions regarding the event by voting. The collaborative event planning application may also periodically suggest vendors and provide notifications and recommendations based on the event details and preferences of the users.
US09881276B2
Ultrasonic tracking of a worker's hands may be used to monitor performance of assigned tasks. An inventory system includes inventory bins configured to store inventory items, an ultrasonic unit, ultrasonic transducers, and a management module. The ultrasonic unit is configured to be worn by a user in proximity to the user's hand and to periodically emit ultrasonic sound pulses. The ultrasonic transducers are arranged relative to the inventory bins and configured to receive the emitted pulses. The management module is operatively coupled with the ultrasonic transducers and configured to process signals generated by the ultrasonic transducers to identify an inventory bin based on proximity of the ultrasonic unit relative to the identified inventory bin. The management module monitors performance of an assigned task based on the identified inventory bin.
US09881267B2
A tool, network and method of asset data updating is provided. The tool comprises: a portable computing device capable of wirelessly receiving a GPS location and updating of asset data including, among other things, asset condition and/or GPS location. The tool may also comprise knowledge based software capable of time tracking, work order management and billing. The knowledge based software may be provided alone or in combination with the asset updating. A network capable of wirelessly communicating with the tool is discloses as is a method of using the tool.
US09881255B1
A network resource (“NR”) delivery acceleration system predicts web browsing behavior of users based on their frequent navigation habits, the navigation habits of the majority and/or content based prediction. Based on these predictions, the system accelerates the delivery of selected network resources, such as resources on web pages, to user devices in one or more ways, such as by selectively prefetching, caching, preemptively delivering, and/or pre-rendering content items. To determine access probabilities for candidate pages (such as those frequently visited by the user), the NR delivery acceleration system adapts or trains one or more models, such as logistic regression and/or frequency-based models, using individual/personalized browsing histories of users, their content (topic) preferences, and/or aggregated patterns of navigation.
US09881254B2
A transformation process determines whether a predicate of a rule matches a given node of tree structured data containing a set of nodes and, when the predicate of a rule matches the given node, applies a function of an identified rule to the node to generate a compound result and an interim mutated output document, and when the compound result contains a next node, determines whether the next node is compared with the predicate of a next rule. The transform process includes determining that the next node is processed by a next rule, using the interim mutated output document as input, and determining whether a predicate of a rule matches the next node in a set of nodes. When the predicate of a rule matches the next node, a function of an identified rule is applied to the next node to generate a compound result and interim mutated output document. When the compound result does not contain a next node, a final mutated output document is generated.
US09881253B2
A sensor system comprises: an energy storage device; an intermittent energy release device electrically coupled to the energy storage device, wherein the intermittent energy release device causes the energy storage device to release stored energy intermittently; a sensor electrically coupled to the energy storage device; a register electrically coupled to the sensor, wherein the register stores readings from the sensor; a synaptic neural network core electrically coupled to the sensor, wherein the synaptic neural network core converts the readings from the sensor into a synthetic context-based object that is derived from the readings and a context object; a transponder electrically coupled to the synaptic neural network core; and a storage buffer within the transponder, wherein the storage buffer stores the synthetic context-based object for transmission by the transponder to a monitoring system.
US09881252B2
One embodiment of the invention provides a system comprising at least one data-to-spike converter unit for converting input numeric data received by the system to spike event data. Each data-to-spike converter unit is configured to support one or more spike codes.
US09881251B2
A neural system comprises multiple neurons interconnected via synapse devices. Each neuron integrates input signals arriving on its dendrite, generates a spike in response to the integrated input signals exceeding a threshold, and sends the spike to the interconnected neurons via its axon. The system further includes multiple noruens, each noruen is interconnected via the interconnect network with those neurons that the noruen's corresponding neuron sends its axon to. Each noruen integrates input spikes from connected spiking neurons and generates a spike in response to the integrated input spikes exceeding a threshold. There can be one noruen for every corresponding neuron. For a first neuron connected via its axon via a synapse to dendrite of a second neuron, a noruen corresponding to the second neuron is connected via its axon through the same synapse to dendrite of the noruen corresponding to the first neuron.
US09881250B2
Methods and apparatus for RFID communications in a process control system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a radio-frequency identification tag operatively coupled to a field device of a process control system. The radio-frequency identification tag has a processor, an onboard memory, and an antenna. The onboard memory stores data received from the field device to be communicated to a radio frequency identification reader. Power for the processor and the onboard memory is to be drawn from control system power provided to the field device.
US09881246B2
In a semiconductor device that generates a power supply voltage from an RF carrier signal received by an antenna through the use of a rectification circuit, rectification circuits, each including a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of diodes, are connected in multistage. The rectification circuits includes limiter circuits that are turned on at a voltage larger than an on-voltage of the diodes, clamp cathodes of the diodes at a first voltage. The limiter circuits and the diodes are connected in parallel between the capacitors connected to the antenna connection terminal and a node supplied reference potential VSS of the power supply voltage.
US09881233B2
An image recognition apparatus includes a storage unit which stores a plurality of pieces of identical recognition reference data which are used as references for recognizing a specific object from an image, an image recognition unit which recognizes the specific object by alternately making a switch between the plurality of pieces of recognition reference data, on a frame basis, stored in the storage unit, for consecutive frames of the image acquired by an image acquisition unit, and a recognition determining unit which, on condition that recognition results obtained by the image recognition unit by using the plurality of pieces of recognition reference data meet a predetermined matching condition, outputs the recognition results as effective recognition results.
US09881228B2
A method for removing a mark in a document image includes: extracting connected components from a binary image corresponding to the document image; clustering the connected components based on grayscale features of the connected components to obtain one clustering center; searching, within numerical ranges of a clustering radius R and a grayscale threshold T, for a combination (R, T) which causes an evaluation value based on the grayscale features of the connected components to be higher than a first evaluation threshold; and removing the mark in the document image based on the grayscale threshold in the combination. The method and an apparatus according to the invention can remove a mark in a document image effectively and accurately.
US09881225B2
A system and method for document management, such as receipts, includes a device having a processor and associated memory, a wireless data interface and a digital imager. The device is configured to selectively generate image data corresponding to captured images of associated receipts acting in connection with a touchscreen display. Price data is extracted from multiple areas of the image data and an image of the receipts on the touchscreen display is generated. The processor determines a position of the price data on the image and highlights at least one user-selectable portion of the image on the touchscreen display. Aggregate costs are calculated and displayed in accordance with user selection.
US09881187B2
Embodiments provide an RFID reader. The RFID reader includes a collision detector, a decoder and a frame length adjuster. The collision detector is configured to detect for each slot of a plurality of slots of a current frame, in which a collision of signals transmitted by at least two RFID tags occurred, a signal property of a signal of the signals transmitted by at least two RFID tags. The decoder is configured to decode for the slot in which the collision is detected the signal of the signals transmitted by the at least two RFID tags using the detected signal property, wherein a collision recover probability describing a probability that the decoder can accurately decode the one signal depends on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the current frame. The frame length adjuster is configured to adjust a frame length of a subsequent frame in dependence on the collision recover probability.
US09881184B2
Data is captured by a data capture apparatus in a manner to ensure authenticity of the data to the data capture apparatus. Transducer signaling is generated in response to physical excitation of one or more transducers, and is digitized to produce digital signaling. A cryptographic key is stored in association with the data capture apparatus. At least portions of the digital signaling are digitally signed based on the cryptographic key to produce an authenticatable set of captured data. A security boundary is provided within which the digitizing, storing, and digitally signing are performed. Production of the authenticatable set of captured data is prevented in response to a breach of the security boundary.
US09881177B2
The systems and methods disclosed herein transparently provide data security using a cryptographic file system layer that selectively intercepts and modifies (e.g., by encrypting) data to be stored in a designated directory. The cryptographic file system layer can be used in combination with one or more cryptographic approaches to provide a server-based secure data solution that makes data more secure and accessible, while eliminating the need for multiple perimeter hardware and software technologies.
US09881173B2
A method, a data processing system, and a computer program product for managing cryptographic information. A determination is made as to whether a first time stamp of when cryptographic information was created is more recent than a second time stamp of a backup of the cryptographic information in response to receiving a request for the cryptographic information from a requester. The cryptographic information is used to encrypt data. The cryptographic information is prevented from being provided to the requester in response to a determination that the first time stamp of cryptographic information creation is more recent than the second time stamp of the backup of the cryptographic information.
US09881171B2
Information regarding one or more sensing devices in an environment is broadcasted. The broadcasted information is received by a user application running on a user device in the environment. The broadcasted information comprises information regarding presence of the one or more sensing devices in the environment and at least one of a capacity profile and an activity profile of the one or more sensing devices.
US09881170B2
A method for authenticating file operations on files and folders stored in a database file system where the database file system can authenticate a client-user request based upon the client-user's database credentials. The database file system has the capability of storing file permissions based on database credentials. Once a client requests a certain file operation, the client's operating system first determines whether the client has sufficient privileges to perform the requested file operation. If the client has privileges, the client operating system forwards the file operation request to the database file system. The database file system then authenticates the client, based on his database credentials, to determine whether or not to perform the requested file operation.
US09881169B2
A data processing system may have a strict separation of processor tasks and data categories, wherein processor tasks are separated into software loading and initialization (loading processor) and data processing (main processor) and data categories are separated into address data, instructions, internal function data, target data of the main processor and target data of the loading processor. In this way, protection is provided against malware, irrespective of the transmission medium and of the type of malware, and also against future malware and without performance losses in the computer system.
US09881166B2
An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that includes security annotation tokens and term tokens. Each of the security annotation tokens are stored in a parallel field and align to at least one of the term tokens. The knowledge manager matches security policies corresponding to a search request to one or more of the security annotation tokens and, in turn, generates search results based upon obfuscation of one or more of the term tokens aligned to the matched security annotation tokens.
US09881157B1
Described systems and methods allow conducting computer security operations, such as detecting malware and spyware, in a bare-metal computer system. In some embodiments, a first processor of a computer system executes the code samples under assessment, whereas a second, distinct processor is used to carry out the assessment and to control various hardware components involved in the assessment. Such hardware components include, among others, a memory shadower configured to detect changes to a memory connected to the first processor, and a storage shadower configured to detect an attempt to write to a non-volatile storage device of the computer system. The memory shadower and storage shadower may be used to inject a security agent into the computer system.
US09881153B2
Methods, systems and media are shown for detecting a heap spray event involving examining user allocated portions of heap memory for a process image, determining a level of entropy for the user allocated portions, and, if the level of entropy is below a threshold, performing secondary heuristics, and detecting a heap spray event based on results of the secondary heuristics. In some examples, performing the secondary heuristics may include analyzing a pattern of memory allocation for the user allocated portions, analyzing data content of the user allocated portions of heap memory, or analyzing a heap allocation size for the user allocated portions of heap memory.
US09881143B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with providing private expression protection in a wireless communications network. In one example, a UE is equipped to internally receive a request (e.g., from an application running on the UE) to announce a private expression and/or at least a reference to an expression-code associated with the private expression, and determine whether the reference to the expression-code and/or the expression-code matches a stored instance of the expression-code. In an aspect, the UE may be equipped to announce the at least one of the private expression or the expression-code when stored instance of the expression-code corresponds to the expression-code received with the request. In another aspect, the UE may be equipped to prohibit announcement of any information associated with the private expression when stored expression-code does not correspond to the expression-code received with the request.
US09881130B2
An example embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at a tag affixed to a moveable object, a signal to wake the tag affixed to a moveable object; receiving, at the tag affixed to a moveable object, a request from at least one receiver for presence information associated with the moveable object; providing, from the tag affixed to a moveable object, identification information associated with the moveable object; transmitting, from the tag affixed to a moveable object, location data to the at least one receiver; transmitting, from the tag affixed to a moveable object, use state information associated with the moveable object; and returning the tag affixed to a moveable object to a sleep state. Related systems are also provided herein.
US09881126B2
In a method and system for populating multi-segment layouts with related multimodal medical images, a relationship is determined between subsets of the multimodal medical images. The relationship is used to determine selected subsets initially selected for display in respective segments of a segmented display. Appropriate images relating to selected subsets are used to populate the remaining display segments.
US09881111B2
Electronic design automation modules for simulate the behavior of structures and materials at multiple simulation scales with different simulation modules.
US09881100B2
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for scoping searches within a website. In an implementation, a method may receiving a search request. The method may also include identifying a location of a search scoping feature within a website hierarchy. The method may further include setting a search scope relative to the search request based on, at least in part, the location of the search scoping feature.
US09881085B2
Methods, systems, and media for aggregating and presenting multiple videos of an event are provided. In some implementations, a method for identifying related video content is provided, the method comprising: receiving a first video and first video metadata that describes the first video from a first camera device; receiving a second video and second video metadata that describes the second video from a second camera device; comparing the first video metadata and the second video metadata; determining whether the first video and the second video are associated with an event based on the comparison; in response to determining that the first video and the second video are associated with the event, grouping the first video and second video into a plurality of videos associated with the event; and causing the plurality of videos to be displayed to a viewer based on the viewer requesting at least one of the plurality of videos.
US09881082B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for generating a context-sensitive summarization of a corpus of content. Natural Language Processing (NLP) operations are performed on text within an input corpus to extract phrases, which are then used to generate a grammatical analysis. In turn, the grammatical analysis is used to determine the thematic relevance of individual sentences in the input corpus. Sentences within the input corpus are then ranked according to their respective thematic relevance. This ranking is used to construct a contextualized content graph, which in turn is used to generate a content summarization for the input corpus.
US09881079B2
Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include selecting a dataset that includes instances, each of the instances having respective features, and determining an expected distribution of the instances among multiple categories. A first classification is generated that includes, for each of the instances based on their respective features, one or more first categories and a corresponding confidence score for each of the one or more categories. One or more of the instances classified into the given category are allocated to each given category, based on their respective confidence scores, using the allocated one or more instances, a second classification is generated.
US09881078B2
A computer receives one or more keywords input by a user to describe a metric or a test and identifies a first document that includes at least one of the keywords. The computer identifies, in the first document, a known distribution pattern and an associated metric or measure that relate to the one or more keywords. The computer makes an electronic record of the identified known distribution pattern and associated metric or measure.
US09881072B2
In an example, a network is described with a plurality of data sources. Each data source may provide a feature, such as a data type that the data source collects or generates. A data aggregator may be connected to the network, and configured to collect, classify, and merge features as appropriate. The data aggregator includes a discriminator for classifying features, a merger, unmerger, converter, and evaluator. Features are provided to one or more expert systems configured to control one or more systems based on the features. Feedback to the data aggregator is used to evaluate the success of a merge. When a merge is found to be unhelpful, features may be unmerged.
US09881071B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for replicating data. An example method includes receiving at a server a current data index and current data. The server is coupled to a first node and a second node, and the current data is responsive to a request from a client. The method also includes replicating the current data and the current data index to the second node. The method further includes receiving at the server a heartbeat message including the current data index and a client identifier. The heartbeat message is from the second node, and the client identifier identifies the client. The method also includes in response to receiving the heartbeat message, sending a notification indicating that the current data has been replicated to the second node to a load balancer.
US09881067B2
A system and method of metadata refinement using behavioral patterns is disclosed. In some embodiments, user behavioral data for results of a search query is received. The results can include an untagged item and a plurality of tagged items. A determination can then be made that the tagged items have been assigned a first type of metadata not assigned to the untagged item. The untagged item can then be identified as a candidate to be tagged with the first type of metadata assigned to the tagged items based on the user behavioral data. In some embodiments, the user behavioral data comprises clickstream data indicating that a user selected the untagged item and the tagged items during a single search event.
US09881063B2
Described are systems and methods for changing query result data graphically displayed on an electronic device. A query of a data repository is performed. A graphical representation of a set of query results identified from the query is displayed. The set of query results includes a plurality of query result records. The graphical representation includes a first node corresponding to a first record field value and a second node corresponding to a second record field value. A region proximal to the first node displays at least one query result record having the first record field value. A query result record of the at least one query result record having the first record field value is selected. A field value of a selected query result record is changed from the first record field value to the second record field value by transitioning the selected query result record to a region proximal to the second node of the graphical representation.
US09881062B2
A system for developing and implementing empirically derived algorithms to generate decision rules to predict invalidity of subject reported data and fraud with research protocols in surveys allows for the identification of complex patterns of variables that detect or predict subject invalidity of subject reported data and fraud with the research protocol in the survey. The present invention may also be used to monitor invalidity of subject reported data within a research protocol to determine preferred actions to be performed. Optionally, the invention may provide a spectrum of invalidity, from minor invalidity needing only corrective feedback, to significant invalidity requiring subject removal from the survey. The algorithms and decision rules can also be domain-specific, such as detecting invalidity or fraud among subjects in a workplace satisfaction survey, or demographically specific, such as taking into account gender or age. The algorithms and decision rules may be optimized for the specific sample of subjects being studied.
US09881053B2
Embodiments are directed towards managing data using modeling platform. A principal data set and match data set may be provided. The principal data set may include principal objects and the match data set may include other model objects. Blocking may associate each of the plurality of principal objects with potential match objects. Principal objects from the plurality of principal objects may be selected based on heuristics, their associated potential match objects, or the like. Potential match objects may be labeled as a true match or a non-match with respect to their associated principal object. A ranker may be trained to identify top-ranked matches based on the labeled potential match objects. The trained ranker may be employed to indicate matches where each matching other model object is a potential match object that is ranked higher than other potential match objects that are associated with its matched principal object.
US09881049B2
A first request may be received to update a first set of values. The first set of values may be stored at a first location within a first data page of a database. The first location may be read-only. In response to the receiving of the first request, a first set of records may be inserted into a second data page. The first set of records may include the update of the first set of values. In response to the inserting, a forward pointer may be stored in the first data page that points to the first set of records on the second data page. One or more committed values may be identified on the second data page. In response to the identifying, the one or more committed values may be merged from the second data page to a third data page.
US09881047B2
A time-aware union operator is disclosed for consistent integration of time-aware data, wherein the time-aware union produces a time-aware consistent integrated view of underlying sources according to specified key constraints and policies. The implementation of time-aware union is idempotent, commutative, and associative, thus making it suitable for data integration, and it produces the same integrated outcome, modulo representation of time, regardless of the order in which sources are integrated.
US09881046B2
A process managing apparatus includes detecting an occurrence of an abnormality in a management target system that sequentially executes a plurality of process procedures; identifying a process procedure in which the abnormality has occurred from among the plurality of process procedures according to the detecting of the occurrence of the abnormality; identifying from among the plurality of process procedures a subsequent process procedure that is affected by the abnormality that occurred in the identified process procedure by referring to process procedure information that defines a plurality of operating processes included in the plurality of process procedures and an order of execution of the plurality of operating processes; and identifying output information that relates to the identified process procedure or the subsequent process procedure, among output information from the plurality of process procedures.
US09881043B2
A method begins by determining slice names of encoded data slices stored within a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method continues by determining dispersed storage (DS) units within the DSN storing a set of the encoded data slices associated with the slice names. The method continues by determining one or more revision numbers associated with the slice names. The method continues by determining if same slice names have different associated revision numbers and, when the same slice names have different associated revision numbers, adding the slice names to a revision mailbox for subsequent correction.
US09881041B2
A delta store giving row-level versioning semantics to a non-row-level versioning underlying store is described. An example method includes establishing a column-based in-memory database including a main store and a delta store, where the main store allows only non-concurrent transactions on a same table and the delta store has a plurality of row-visibility bitmaps implementing a row-level versioning mechanism that allows concurrent transactions on the same table. A local RID space is established for a table fragment, that for each table in the database, the data of the table is stored in one or more main table fragment in the main store and in one or more delta table fragments in the delta store. Each table fragment has a local RID space, and the local RID space is a collection of one-based contiguous integer local RIDs (Row IDs) describing local positions of the rows of the table fragment.
US09881035B2
A system and method for database migration is provided. In an example embodiment, the database migration technique may include a first connection to a relational database, a second connection to an in-memory database, and a migration framework to analyze the data structures of the relational database so as to identify first and second subsets of data structures. The first subset of data structures is migrated to the in-memory database during an uptime period of the relational database, and the second subset of data structures is migrated to the in-memory database during a downtime period of the relational database.
US09881033B2
Aspects of a multi-level electrical distribution control system associated with an electrical distribution grid are disclosed. Data access and processing across the multi-level control system and the electrical distribution grid can provide improved utilization of energy within the electrical distribution grid. Further, dynamic reconfiguration of the electric distribution grid can be based distributed processing and access to information relating to the electrical distribution control system or electrical distribution grid. An encapsulated DNNC data element is disclosed as an efficient and secure means of accessing data across the multi-level electrical distribution control system or the associated electrical distribution grid.
US09881031B1
Embodiments of the invention involve receiving a first set of data describing one or more first observations and a second set of data describing one or more second observations. The first set of data comprises at least two types of data and the second set of data comprises at least two types of data. At least one of the two types of data in the first data set are common with at least one of the two types of data in the second data set. The common types of data comprise common data to the first and second sets of data. The types of data that are not common comprise exclusive data for each of the first and second sets of data. A first multiple regression model is developed for the first data set. The common data for the first data set are set as independent variables and the exclusive data for the first data set are set as dependent variables. A second multiple regression model is developed for the second data set. The common data for the second data set are set as independent variables and the exclusive data for the second data set are set as dependent variables. Prediction results of the first and second multiple regression models are received. Based on the prediction results, at least some of the one or more first observations and the one or more second observations are classified as reasonable observations, which are well-predicted observations. At least some of the one or more first observations and the one or more second observations are classified as outlier observations, which are not classified as well-predicted observations. The outlier observations are removed. The reasonable observations are assigned into intervals for each of the types of data. Based on the assignment, the observations are merged to create a third data set.
US09881026B2
Disclosed are method and apparatus to recognize actors during normal system operation. The method includes defining actor input such as hand gestures, executing and detecting input, and identifying salient features of the actor therein. A model is defined from salient features, and a data set of salient features and/or model are retained, and may be used to identify actors for other inputs. A command such as “unlock” may be executed in response to actor input. Parameters may be applied to further define where, when, how, etc. actor input is executed, such as defining a region for a gesture. The apparatus includes a processor and sensor, the processor defining actor input, identifying salient features, defining a model therefrom, and retaining a data set. A display may also be used to show actor input, a defined region, relevant information, and/or an environment. A stylus or other non-human actor may be used.
US09881019B2
A rotating electric machine system includes: a rotating electric machine including a stator and a rotor arranged with a gap to the stator; a casing configured to hold the stator; an electric power conversion apparatus held by the casing, and configured to drive the rotating electric machine; and a first cooling flow path arranged in a portion of the casing between the stator and the electric power conversion apparatus, via which cooling medium is caused to flow so as to cool the stator and the electric power conversion apparatus. And; the electric power conversion apparatus comprises a power module configured to include a power semiconductor element therein; the power module comprises a heat radiation fin; and the heat radiation fin is arranged to protrude toward a cooling medium side via an opening formed between the power module and the first cooling flow path.
US09881011B2
A system and method for generating user profiles for human resources are described. The system includes an enterprise service bus configured to receive a request to transmit media to a device and route the media to a device and network appliance as a service (NAaaS) application services configured to receive the request from the enterprise services bus, generate a user profile for a user, log a device usage entry that includes a unique identifier for the user, a unique identifier for the device and an action associated with the request, determine one or more keywords relating to content in the media, generate an index that includes the one or more keywords and update the user profile for the user based on the one or more keywords.
US09881009B1
Techniques are described for identifying book title sets. The techniques may include a first-pass comparison with other books to identify other candidate title sets. A second-pass comparison may then be performed with respect to the candidate title sets. The first-pass comparison may be based on book metadata such as titles and authorship. The second-pass comparison may include a more comprehensive content comparison, such as comparing the body text of the books.
US09881007B2
Various embodiments described herein facilitate multi-lingual communications. The systems and methods of some embodiments enable multi-lingual communications through different modes of communication including, for example, Internet-based chat, e-mail, text-based mobile phone communications, postings to online forums, postings to online social media services, and the like. Certain embodiments implement communication systems and methods that translate text between two or more languages. Users of the systems and methods may be incentivized to submit corrections for inaccurate or erroneous translations, and may receive a reward for these submissions. Systems and methods for assessing the accuracy of translations are described.
US09881003B2
Digital graphic novel content is received and features of the graphic novel content are identified. At least one of the identified features includes text. Contextual information corresponding to the feature or features that include text is generated based on the identified features. The contextual information is used to aid translation of the text included in the feature or features that include text.
US09881001B2
An image processing device, comprises: an input part for inputting image data; a word extracting part for extracting a word from texts contained in the image data; a synonym obtaining part for obtaining a synonym corresponds to the word, and for associating the obtained synonym with the word; a position identifying part for identifying a display position on the image data of the word with which the synonym is associated; a layer creating part for creating an accompanying layer to add to an original layer, which is the image data containing the word, and for embedding the synonym associated with the word within a position on the accompanying layer the same as the display position identified by the position identifying part; and an output image generating part for generating output image data including the original layer containing the word and the accompanying layer within which the synonym is embedded.
US09880999B2
Mined semantic analysis techniques (MSA) include generating a first subset of concepts, from a NL corpus, that are latently associated with an NL candidate term based on (i) a second subset of concepts from the corpus that are explicitly or implicitly associated with the candidate term and (ii) a set of concept association rules. The concept association rules are mined from a transaction dictionary constructed from the corpus and defining discovered latent associations between corpus concepts. A concept space of the candidate term includes at least portions of both the first and second subset of concepts, and includes indications of relationships between latently-associated concepts and the explicitly/implicitly-associated concepts from which the latently-associated concepts were derived. Measures of relatedness between candidate terms are deterministically determined based on their respective concept spaces. Example corpora include digital corpora such as encyclopedias, journals, intellectual property datasets, health-care related datasets/records, financial-sector related datasets/records, etc.
US09880993B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for providing access to a data object from within a spreadsheet included in a spreadsheet application. The method includes associating the data object with a first cell of the spreadsheet, wherein the data object is related to a parameter, and the first cell is identified by a cell reference, receiving an input that is related to a second cell of the spreadsheet and includes an expression that specifies the parameter and the first cell reference, and replacing the first cell reference specified by the expression with the data object, wherein a value for the second cell may be determined by applying the parameter to the data object specified in the expression.
US09880989B1
Organizations maintain and generate large amounts of documentation and entities of these organizations often need to collaborate on generating and reviewing this information. There is a need to maintain and store this documentation remotely in such a way that the entities of these organizations may collaborate with each other. To ensure that entities of the organization can collaborate on documents, a document annotation service is described that converts a text-based document, such as a word processing document, to a fixed-layout document, such as a coordinate-based document. Annotations can be received on the fixed-layout document. The annotations can then be mapped to the text-based document and downloaded to a user for viewing.
US09880988B2
A mixed-initiative annotation framework is described herein. A document that includes several sentences is presented to a user, and an extractor module analyzes at least one sentence and automatically extracts a subject, predicate, object triple therefrom. The subject, predicate, object triple is displayed in graphical relation with the sentence as a proposed annotation to the sentence. Graphical options are presented to the user that allow the user to accept the proposed annotation, reject the proposed annotation, or modify the proposed annotation.
US09880974B2
A folded butterfly module performs a radix-22 butterfly operation, and includes: a buffer operable to store first and second to-be-stored data and output first and second stored data; a first multiplexer operable to output one of the second stored data and input data as first selection data; a butterfly operator performing a radix-2 butterfly operation on the first stored data and the first selection data to generate operation data and the second to-be-stored data; a second multiplexer operable to output one of the input data and the operation data as the first to-be-stored data; a third multiplexer operable to output one of the operation data and the second stored data as second selection data; and a multiplier generating output data that equal a product of the second selection data and twiddle data.
US09880970B2
The present invention describes a new method for implementing highly available data-parallel-operations on a computational grid. This new method provides high availability after a server fails or the grid experiences a partial network failure. The present invention invokes the data parallel operation's method on selected objects stored in partitions within a highly available distributed cache. It thereby takes advantage of the use of highly available data partitions implemented by the distributed cache as a means for reliably tracking the progress of method invocations within a data parallel operation even after a server or network failure occurs. Using the cache's partitions as the basis for tracking enables the present invention's method to restart method invocations and thereby ensure completion of the data-parallel operation. It also uses a completion object within the cache to ensure that completion of the data parallel operation is detected and reported in a highly available manner.
US09880964B2
A data processing system comprising a host computer system and a network interface device for connection to a network, the host computer system and network interface device being coupled together by means of a data bus, and: the network interface device comprising: a controller unit having a first data port for connection to a network, a second data port, and a data bus interface connected to said data bus, the controller unit being operable to perform, in dependence on the network endpoints to which data packets received at the network interface device are directed, switching of data packets between the first and second data ports and the data bus interface; and an accelerator module having a first medium access controller coupled to said second data port of the controller unit and a processor operable to perform one or more functions in hardware on data packets received at the accelerator module, the said first medium access controller being operable to support one or more first network endpoints; the host computer system supporting: a plurality of guest software domains including a first guest software domain having an application; and a privileged software domain configured to present a virtual operating platform to said plurality of guest domains, the privileged software entity including a first software driver for the controller unit but not including a second software driver for the accelerator module; wherein the application is configured to access the accelerator module by means of one or more first data packets formed in accordance with a predetermined network protocol and directed to one or more of the first network endpoints.
US09880960B1
A configurable sponge function engine. The configurable engine includes a state register having bitrate and capacity sections, each having a variable size, where a sum of the bitrate and capacity sizes is fixed. A controller generates a bitrate size indication. A configurable message processor receives an input message from an input bus, receives the size indication, fragments the input message into fragmented blocks of a size specified by the size indication, and converts the blocks to a bus width of the bitrate and capacity sizes. An iterative calculator receives the blocks, performs iterative processing operations on the blocks, and stores a result of each operation in the state register overwriting a previous register value. An output adaptor receives a value stored in the state register after the block corresponding to the end of the input message is processed and outputs the register value converted to have an output bus width.
US09880954B2
A method of providing access to first data stored at a first device to a second device, the first device storing the first data in a memory accessible to said second device. The method comprises, at a control element distinct from each of said first and second devices accessing the stored first data in said memory accessible to said second device before said first data is accessed in said memory accessible to said second device by said second device.
US09880950B2
A master-slave system includes a master unit having a digital output for providing a signal or a serial signal sequence of signals, and at least two slave units. Each of the slave units includes at least one digital serial memory having a size of one bit, and each slave unit includes an input and an output. The slave units are serially connected to one another via the inputs and the outputs via a signal line (5). The output of a first slave unit is connected via the signal line to the digital output of the master unit. The master slave system is configured so that a signal supplied by the digital output is detected at the input of the slave unit, in order to raise the address of the corresponding slave unit in each case by the value “1”, to store the signal change in the memory and to output a signal corresponding to the content of the memory at the output of the memory.
US09880946B1
Described are data replication techniques. Y cycles of writes directed to a first storage device of a first data storage system are collected, Y>2. Each of the Y cycles denotes writes directed to the first storage device at an occurrence of a fixed time interval. Writes of cycle N−1 directed to the first storage device are transmitted from the first data storage system to a second data storage system. Writes of cycle N−2 are applied to a second storage device. An acknowledgement regarding cycle N−1 is sent from the second data storage system to the first data storage system responsive to determining that the writes of cycle N−1 directed to the first storage device have been received by the second data storage system and that the writes of cycle N−2 directed to the first storage device have been applied to the second storage device.
US09880940B2
A system on chip (SoC) includes a central processing unit (CPU), an intellectual property (IP) block, and a memory management unit (MMU). The CPU is configured to set a prefetch direction corresponding to a working set of data. The IP block is configured to process the working set of data. The MMU is configured to prefetch a next page table entry from a page table based on the prefetch direction during address translation between a virtual address of the working set of data and a physical address.