US09413264B2
Embodiments of a ground power unit are disclosed for providing power to a grounded vehicle, such as an aircraft. In accordance with certain embodiments, the ground power unit (GPU) accepts a wide range of AC input voltages and is capable of providing a range of DC output voltages. The GPU may include a switched rectifier that converts an AC input signal to a DC link signal. The DC link signal is then converted to a switched DC signal that simulates an AC-like sine wave using a high frequency DC-to-DC switching converter. A single-phase transformer modulates and isolates the switched DC signal, which is subsequently converted to a DC output signal using diode rectifiers coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. The disclosed GPU may be controlled using a software-based control algorithm that controls the AC input parameters independently of the DC voltage parameters.
US09413259B1
Power from an AC source at a source voltage is converted for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range. DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation are provided in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage. First stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage is provided in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module.
US09413243B2
A switching power supply device includes a first control circuit that turns a first switch on when first and second switches are off and a voltage at a junction node therebetween is increased to decrease a voltage across the first switch to a first threshold voltage, turns off when a first ON-period has elapsed from when the first switch is turned on, and lengthens the first ON-period as an output voltage decreases relative to a reference voltage; and a second control circuit that turns the second switch on when both switches are off and a voltage across the second switch is decreased to a second threshold voltage, turns off when a reverse current flows through the inductor, sufficient to increase the voltage at the junction node to decrease the voltage across the first switch to the first threshold voltage after the second switch is turned off.
US09413237B2
The invention provides advances in the arts with useful and novel driver methods. The invention provides circuit driver and control methods for relatively high-current drivers, usable with relatively low-voltage battery power sources. Preferred embodiments include one or more high series resistance capacitors electrically connected with a power source. A low resistance driver circuit regulates power supplied from the capacitors to the load.
US09413235B2
A system, method and apparatus for controlling boost and buck-boost converters using input-output linearization and leading-edge modulation is provided. The controller includes a summing circuit connected to the converter to create a third voltage representing a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage. A gain circuit is connected to the summing circuit to adjust the third voltage by an appropriate gain. A modulating circuit is connected to the gain circuit, the converter, the first voltage, the second voltage and the second current to create a control signal based on the first voltage, the second voltage, the adjusted third voltage, the fourth voltage and the first current. The control signal is used to control the converter. Typically, the first voltage is a converter output voltage, the second voltage is a reference voltage, the fourth voltage is a converter input voltage, and first current is a converter inductor current.
US09413234B2
A regulator controller including terminals for coupling to a voltage source, an inductor and an output capacitor, and including a switching circuit and a switch control circuit. The switching circuit includes switches that toggle coupling of the inductor during switching cycles based on charge and discharge periods. The switch control sets a duration of the charging period based on the input voltage and sets duration of the discharging period based on a difference between the input and output voltages. Multiple output terminals allow coupling to different load types, in which the output terminals may be temporarily coupled together to handle bursted loads. Thus, an output store capacitor may be coupled to handle a bursted load, and then decoupled for charging. Comparator circuits enable/inhibit switching based on input and output conditions. The regulator controller maximizes utilization of weak power sources while sufficiently handling typical load profiles.
US09413226B1
A power factor correction system is comprised of a inductor and a forward transformer. The inductor is connected to the first winding of the forward transformer. In series. The inductor is used to boost the input voltage to the design level and correct input current waveform. The forward transformer is used to prevent the large reversed current through rectifier diode and the switch. The second winding of the forward transformer is used to receive the energy through the first winding of the forward transformer to correct input current waveformer and the third winding is used to reduce the switch voltage stress.
US09413218B2
An adjustment device includes a casing to which a movable member and two positioning members are movably connected. Two links are connected between the movable member and the positioning members. Each positioning member has a magnetic member connected thereto and the flywheel has a magnetic operation face. When the movable member moves from a second position to a first position, the links drive the positioning members and the magnetic members from a close-to-center position to an off-center position, and the flywheel cuts the magnetic field of the magnetic members to generate a first resistance to the driving device and the flywheel. When the movable member moves from the first position to the second position, the positioning members and the magnetic members move from the off-center position to the close-to-center position to generate a second resistance that is different from the first resistance.
US09413217B2
An electromagnetic braking system of a power generation system includes an electrically conductive disc coupled to a rotatable shaft operatively coupled between a prime mover and a generator; a controller for receiving a status signal from the power generation system and for generating a control signal based on the status signal; and an inducting unit for applying an electromagnetic braking force on the electrically conductive disc when commanded by the control signal to regulate a rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.
US09413214B2
A method and apparatus for energy generation and conservation uses magnets to repetitively provide rotational mechanical energy. An actuator arm and coupled magnet is inserted into a rotating plane defined by other magnets which are positioned to do work based on the electro-magnetic relationships among the magnets. In one aspect, the magnets are actually comprised of a plurality of magnets so as to create a specific magnetic field. In another aspect, an actuator magnet moves in relation to a drive magnet and follows a path as perpendicular as possible to the magnetic field of the drive magnets. Consequently, a minimal energy path is taken through the magnetic field and a relatively small amount of input energy is required to operate the device. Using minimal energy to create potential energy also enhances the apparatus by minimizing the extinction of motion therein due to friction while powering other mechanisms.
US09413213B2
A stator of a switched reluctance motor includes a stator core part, stator coiling parts, stator salient parts, and pairs of permanent magnets. The stator coiling parts protrude inwardly from the stator core part and have coils wound on an external side thereof. The stator salient parts protrude inwardly from the stator core part and are disposed between the stator coiling parts. Each pair of the permanent magnets is inserted into each of the stator coiling parts and magnetized in the same direction as a direction of a magnetic field generated by the excitation of the coils. This stator has an electromagnetic structure designed to prevent the reversal of a magnetic field generated by the excited coils. The output of the motor is enhanced by inserting the permanent magnets so as to be magnetized in the same direction as a direction of a magnetic field generated by the excited coils.
US09413211B2
An electric motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a plurality of low speed windings and a plurality of separate high speed windings. A first type of thermal overload protector is coupled with at least one of the low speed windings and a second type of thermal overload protector is coupled with at least one of the high speed windings.
US09413206B2
In a cogeneration apparatus having a power generation unit equipped with a power generator, an internal combustion engine, and a hot water tank connected to the engine through a heat exchanger, there are provided a first pump provided at a flow channel connecting the engine to the heat exchanger and a second pump provided at a second flow channel connecting the heat exchanger to the hot water tank. A temperature of the engine cooling water heated by the engine and a temperature difference between the temperature and a temperature of the engine cooling water cooled by the heat exchanger is determined and based on the determined values, flow rates of the first and second pumps are controlled.
US09413205B2
A drive arrangement (12) for a wind turbine (10) is disclosed, having a rotor shaft (20) and a gearbox assembly (22) for transferring torque to an electrical power generator (18). The gearbox assembly comprises an input shaft (40), an output shaft (42), a primary gear stage (44) and a secondary gear stage (46). The drive arrangement also comprises a drive transfer mechanism (24) for transferring torque from the rotor shaft into the gearbox assembly via the input shaft, and a primary load carrying member (56) for releasably mounting the gearbox assembly to a housing (34) of the turbine. The rotor shaft is at least partly hollow, having an internal cavity (28) in which at least parts of the gearbox assembly and drive transfer mechanism are located. The gearbox assembly is mountable within the rotor shaft as a single unit by the primary load carrying member.
US09413202B2
The invention relates to a stator for an electric motor having a base body composed of stator laminates which are axially in layers with respect to a motor axis and having a number of frame-like coil formers which are fitted with stator windings, with the coil cross-sectional surfaces of said frame-like coil formers essentially being directed at the motor axis. It is proposed that in order to fit them, the coil formers can first of all be placed obliquely with respect to a final position on coil former holders of the base body and can then be aligned in the final position, and in that the arrangement is designed such that the alignment involves axial bracing of the stator laminates.
US09413199B2
A rotor of an electric motor includes a plurality of magnets arranged in a circumferential direction. The rotor includes a holding member mounted concentrically with the rotor and on a radially outside of the magnets so as to hold the magnets. The holding member includes a plurality of tubular members having different diameters and being arranged concentrically with one another. The respective tubular members have expanded diameters, and therefore, compressive holding force acts on the magnets from the holding member, as a result of elastic restorative force. The tubular members include tubular members having different mechanical properties.
US09413187B2
A power supply system includes data circuitry as well as power circuitry to generate DC power for use by a portable electronic device having a rechargeable battery. The DC power, ground and two signaling lines are provided in a power supply connector which detachably mates with an electronic device power input port. In response to a first signal from the electronic device transmitted over one of the signaling lines, the data circuitry provides an analog signal to the electronic device over the other signaling line. The electronic device determines a parameter level, such as a current level, of the analog signal, and based on the determined parameter level controls charging of its battery.
US09413183B2
A control device (200) calculates, on the basis of the transition of the expected amount of power generation of a power generation unit (160), the transition of the expected amount of power supply of a power supply unit (110), and the current amount of stored electrical power of a storage battery (120), a transition of the expected amount of the stored electrical power of the storage battery (120) in a case where electrical power continues to be supplied from a power distribution network (300) to the storage battery (120). In addition, the control device (200) sets a power reduction time zone, which is a time zone in which no electrical power is supplied from the power distribution network (300) to the storage battery (120), when the presence of a first time, which is a time when the expected amount of the stored electrical power starts to exceed the first reference capacity, is shown in the transition of the expected amount of the stored electrical power of the storage battery (120), and sets the end time of the power reduction time zone as the first time.
US09413180B2
An electronic cigarette charger is provided, which comprises a charge body that is configured to electrically connect an electronic cigarette, and a charge plug that is electrically connected to a source; the charge plug is mounted on the charge body in a rotatable way. The following beneficial effects will be achieved when implementing the application. In the electronic cigarette charger, the charge plug is mounted on the charge body in a rotatable way, so that the contour of the electronic cigarette charger can be changed through bending the charge plug with respect to the charge body. Therefore, the electronic cigarette charger can charge the electronic cigarette in narrow space, which may bring much convenience to the user.
US09413167B2
A panel for a display device includes a display unit, an electrostatic protection wire, a wire being connected to the display pixels, an electrostatic protection circuit, and an electrostatic protection circuit control line. The display unit includes a plurality of display pixels. The electrostatic protection wire is connected to a test pad, the test pad being provided to receive a test signal. The electrostatic protection circuit connects the electrostatic protection wire and the wire connected to the display pixels. The electrostatic protection circuit includes a back-gate-type transistor that has a gate electrode, a drain electrode being short-circuited with the gate electrode, and a back-gate electrode. The electrostatic protection circuit control line includes a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the back-gate electrode of the back-gate-type transistor.
US09413166B2
A circuit is described comprising electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry, keep-off circuitry and ESD detection circuitry. When the ESD detection circuitry detects an ESD event, the ESD detection circuitry is configured to both enable the ESD protection circuitry and disable the keep-off circuitry.
US09413164B2
A power distribution system for a dynamically positioned vessel may include: a plurality of busses including a first bus to which a load is connectable; a plurality of switches including a first switch and a second switch, wherein the plurality of busses is connected via the switches in a interjacent manner to form a ring, the first bus is connected between the first switch and the second switch, and the power distribution system is configured to concurrently open the first switch and second switches, if a first current flowing via the first switch towards the first bus is above a predetermined current threshold for longer than a predetermined time and a second current flowing via the second switch towards the first bus is above the predetermined current threshold for longer than the predetermined time, thereby disconnecting the first bus from the ring while all other buses remain connected together.
US09413161B2
A protection apparatus of a terminal is described in an embodiment of the disclosure, which includes that: a detection module, a driving module and a plugboard, wherein the plugboard is disposed between a mainboard side power supply contact and a battery side power supply contact of the terminal; the mainboard side power supply contact and the battery side power supply contact are connected via the plugboard; the detection module is configured to send a driving instruction to the driving module when detecting that a working parameter of the terminal exceeds a preset threshold; the driving module is configured to push the plugboard so as to break a connection between the mainboard side power supply contact and the battery side power supply contact when receiving the driving instruction sent from the detection module. A protection method of a terminal is also described in an embodiment of the disclosure. With the technical solution in the embodiment of the disclosure, it is able to realize a fast power interruption on a mobile terminal, effectively reduce the damage to the mobile terminal in an emergency and reduce the loss of a user.
US09413160B2
A protection circuit and a gate driving circuitry. The protection circuit is for protecting a p-type back-to-back MOS switch. The circuit receives an input driving signal and provides a driving output signal to common gates of the p-type back-to-back MOS switch. The circuit comprises a driving signal insulation switch for disconnecting the common gate of the p-type back-to-back MOS switch from the received input driving signal when the voltage of the common gates is larger than the supply voltage of the circuit. The circuit further comprises a gate source coupling switch for coupling a voltage received at the common source of the p-type back-to-back MOS switch to the common gate if a received voltage at the common sources is larger than a reference voltage Vref.
US09413150B2
A control box cover assembly is provided that includes a plurality of side panels, a front panel selectively coupled to the plurality of side panels, and a latch coupled to a side panel and extending outwards therefrom, with the latch having an opening formed therein having a first direction longer than a second direction. The control box cover assembly also includes a fastener positioned within the opening, with the fastener further including a shaft having a first end and a second end, a head coupled to the first end, and a protrusion extending radially outwards from the shaft proximal the second end. The protrusion is configured to hold the fastener within the opening when the protrusion is aligned with the second direction and release the fastener from the opening when the protrusion is aligned with the first direction.
US09413148B2
A wall feedthrough is provided, which is pluggable on one side, for connecting a voltage-carrying conductor of a solar generator to a combiner box housing. A two-part connector housing having a front housing part and an insert part which can be moved together with an electric terminal element as one unit relative to the front housing part, wherein the terminal element is pluggable on one side and has a spring-force clamp on the other side, and wherein in the closed state, the spring-force clamp is surrounded by a body sleeve of the front housing part, and in the open state the clamping device is pulled out of the body sleeve so as to be openable and closable, and wherein, for this purpose, the insert part has an exposed handle portion for the user.
US09413130B2
Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical system that includes a base unit and one or more cartridges that are removably attachable to the base unit. The one or more cartridges can include optical components configured to output a beam of light (e.g., a laser). The base unit can be configured to combine multiple beams of light (e.g., emitted by multiple cartridges) and output a combined beam of light. The cartridges can be interchanged to modify the light output by the optical system. The optical system can include thermally one or more stable enclosures and/or a temperature controller. The optical system can include one or more alignment adjustment optical components configured to adjust the alignment of one or more light beams.
US09413117B2
A receptacle comprises a tongue, a plurality of top contacts, a grounding piece and a conductive shell. The tongue is integrated into a printed circuit board. The top contacts are spaced apart along a top row on the tongue and include a pair of top grounding contacts respectively located at both sides of the top row. The grounding piece sequentially has a tail mounted onto the printed circuit board, a base attached to a rear portion of the tongue, a top shielding pad located behind the top contacts and two arms respectively constituting both sides of the tongue. The grounding contacts are respectively located on top surfaces of the two arms. The conductive shell is coupled to the base and surrounds the tongue and the grounding piece.
US09413114B2
A 3-level power converter device with power semiconductor components including a first direct voltage positive potential terminal, a first direct voltage negative potential terminal, and first and second neutral voltage potential terminals. The first and second neutral voltage potential terminals are electrically conductively connected. The first direct voltage positive potential terminal and the first neutral voltage potential terminal form a first terminal pair, and the second neutral voltage potential terminal and the first direct voltage negative potential terminal form a second terminal pair. The first and second terminal pairs are arranged one behind another in a second direction. The first direct voltage positive potential terminal and the first neutral voltage potential terminal are arranged one above another in a third direction, and the second neutral voltage potential terminal and the first direct voltage negative potential terminal are arranged one above another in the third direction.
US09413111B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector mating with the first connector in a mating direction. The first connector includes a mating portion defining two long walls opposite to each other and two short walls disposed oppositely, the long and short walls are connected to each other together to form a mating cavity. The second connector includes a mating tongue extending forwardly and a second shielding shell defining a mating frame surrounding the mating tongue. Wherein one of the long walls defines a pair of fool-proof portions extending outwardly from both sides thereof, the mating frame defines a pair of fool-proof slots and engaging with the fool-proof portions so as to prevent the first connector from mismating the second connector.
US09413110B1
An embedded short leaf-spring-equipped crystal head includes a crystal head body insertable into a base slot of a base and a leaf spring disposed above the crystal head body to fasten the crystal head body to the base, characterized in that a length of the leaf spring is less than or equal to a length of the base slot. The length of the leaf spring is less than or equal to the length of the base slot. After the crystal head body has been inserted into the base slot, the leaf spring is disposed inside the base and thus is not exposed. Hence, space utilization rate of the crystal head body increases, and the positioning of the crystal head body is not compromised as a result of damage otherwise caused to the leaf spring, thereby preventing unauthorized persons from taking out the crystal head body and enhancing data security.
US09413102B1
An electrical connector assembly may include a connector body and a resilient spring contact configured to electrically contact a data trace formed on a structural surface. The resilient spring contact being enclosed within the connector body when the connector body is attached to the structural surface. The electrical connector assembly may also include a connector arrangement configured to electrically couple the resilient spring contact to a system.
US09413092B2
An electrical connector for connecting electrical power transmission lines where the electrical connector is capable of conducting 1×106 to 2.5×106 siemens per meter squared (S/m2), and includes a base metal having a surface layer doped with a conductive material dopant. The conductive dopant material improves the reliability and performance of the electrical connector. An electrical power transmission system includes electrical power transmission lines connected by the electrical connector, and a method of joining power transmission lines with the electrical connector.
US09413091B2
An electrical connector assembly includes an insulative housing and a set of contacts retained in the insulative housing, the contacts including a power contact, a negative contact, a positive contact, a first grounding contact, a power provided by device (DPWR) contact, and a second grounding contact, a contacting portion of each of the set of second contacts being spaced a respective contacting distance from a front end surface of the insulative housing. A contacting distance management makes the mating connector sequentially connect with the power contact and the grounding contact, the negative contact and the positive contact, all the first contacts, the DPWR contact, the grounding contacts. Such contact arrangement is to prevent a false recognition of the two power contacts by power system circuits.
US09413086B2
A voltage tap element configured to tap off the voltage of a battery cell of a battery unit by an electronics unit, a cell supervisory unit having such voltage tap elements, and a battery unit having such a cell supervisory unit, and methods for producing the cell supervisory unit and the battery unit. The voltage tap element is designed as a clip composed of a first metal, with a first end of the clip having a first contact region which establishes a operative connection to the electronics unit, and a second end of the clip having a second contact region for establishing a connection to the battery cell. In the first contact region, the clip is permanently connected to an intermediate piece which is composed of a second metal which differs from the first metal. The intermediate piece is configured for operative connection to the electronics unit by a solder connection using SMD technology.
US09413084B2
Disclosed herein is a battery pack constructed in a structure in which a plurality of secondary battery cells are electrically connected to one another via a connection member while the secondary battery cells are mounted in a receiving part of a pack case having no partition, wherein the connection member is located between the battery cells arranged in the longitudinal direction or in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, the connection member is connected, in a mechanical coupling manner, to a lower electrode terminal of the front battery cell in the longitudinal direction and/or to an upper electrode terminal of the rear battery cell in the longitudinal direction, and the connection member is elastically pressed while the connection member is located between the battery cells.
US09413083B1
A connector comprises a supporting member, a movable member and a contact. The movable member is supported by the supporting member so as to be movable in an up-down direction. The movable member is provided with a reference surface and a protection protrusion. The protection protrusion protrudes upward from the reference surface in the up-down direction. The protection protrusion is provided with a protection portion. The contact has a contact portion. The contact portion protrudes upward through the reference surface of the movable member in the up-down direction. The contact portion is positioned inward of the protection portion in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The movable member moves the contact portion of the contact downward in the up-down direction when a force along an intersecting direction is applied to the protection portion. The intersecting direction intersects with the up-down direction. When the force is released, the movable member is moved upward in the up-down direction together with the contact portion of the contact.
US09413063B1
The use of rectennas, or antenna-coupled rectifiers, using metal-insulator-metal tunnel diodes as rectifiers for energy conversion has been explored with more fervor recently, given the advances in nanotechnology fabrication and increased resolution of features. Some have made these devices from symmetric metals (e.g. Ni—NiO—Ni) and asymmetric metals (e.g. Al—AlOx/Pt), and have used deposited oxides as well as native oxides. One key to obtaining a highly asymmetric device with efficient current generation needed for high conversion efficiency is to instead use dissimilar metals and a thin reproducible oxide. The described method allows for a thin, reproducible native oxide of nickel be integrated with any antenna metal to overcome oxide surface roughness problems that typically hamper the practicality of these devices.
US09413059B2
Disclosed is an antenna feeding system and method to optimize the design of the feeding system to feed an antenna made of a resistive sheet. The system and method are operative to design a topology of the antenna feeding system to adapt to a topology of the resistive sheet antenna to mitigate the adverse effects caused by the inherent losses of resistive sheets while operating as antennas. The system is designed to reduce a convergence of radiofrequency currents that may create a localized high density current concentration, such as “hot spots” and “pinch points,” on the resistive sheet, by a sufficient extent so as to prevent power losses that substantially decrease the radiation efficiency of the antenna as compared with feeding systems designed using traditional design techniques.
US09413058B1
Antenna structures and methods of operating the same are described. One apparatus includes a metal cover having a first corner portion, a second corner portion, and an elongated portion. The elongated portion is physically separated from the first corner portion by a first cutout in the metal cover and the elongated portion is physically separated from the second corner portion by a second cutout in the metal cover. A radio frequency (RF) circuit is coupled to a feeding element that is coupled to the elongated portion. A capacitor is coupled between the feeding element and the first corner portion near the distal end of the feeding element. The RF circuit is operable to cause the feeding element, the elongated portion, and the first corner portion to radiate electromagnetic energy as a first radiator in a first frequency range with dual resonance.
US09413052B2
An apparatus comprising a first power combiner/divider network and a second power combiner/divider network. The first power combiner/divider network splits a first electromagnetic signal into split signals that are connectable to signal processor(s). The second power combiner/divider network combines processed signals into a second electromagnetic signal. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional coaxial microstructure.
US09413042B2
A monitoring system for monitoring the state of an energy storage cell for storing electrical energy, in particular, an electrochemical energy storage cell or an energy storage cell having at least one capacitor. Integrated electronics for monitoring the state of the energy storage cell are arranged in the energy storage cell, the integrated electronics having a transmitting/receiving unit for wireless data exchange with a battery control system arranged outside the energy storage cell. Alternatively, the integrated electronics are connected to a transmitting/receiving unit for wireless data exchange with a battery control system arranged outside the energy storage cell.
US09413032B2
A mixture including a room temperature ionic liquid; and a reversible source/sink of lithium ions. The mixture may be used as a lithium-ion battery electrode slurry enabling flexible lithium-ion batteries.
US09413030B2
Provided is a cable-type secondary battery extending longitudinally including a lithium ion supplying core comprising an electrolyte, an inner electrode support of a hollow structure formed to surround an outer surface of the lithium ion supplying core, an inner electrode formed on a surface of the inner electrode support and including an inner current collector and an inner electrode active material, a separation layer formed to surround an outer surface of the inner electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes, and an outer electrode formed to surround an outer surface of the separation layer and including an outer electrode active material layer and an outer current collector.
US09413026B2
An electricity generator includes a membrane electrode assembly; a separator coupled to the membrane electrode assembly and including a first region and a second region; and a thermal conductor on one of the first region and the second region.
US09413023B2
The present invention relates to a powder of molten grains of yttria-stabilized zirconia, said grains having the following chemical analysis, in weight percent on the basis of the oxides: ZrO2+HfO2: remainder up to 100%; 11.8%≦Y2O3≦18.6%; 0.07%≦Al2O3≦1.8%; TiO2≦0.6%, provided that 0.5
US09413017B2
A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged into a stack. A combustor receives a cathode exhaust flow from the fuel cell cathodes and a flow of fuel. The fuel is oxidized in the combustor by the cathode exhaust to produce a mixed exhaust flow. A cathode air flow path extends between a fresh air source and the fuel cell cathodes. An air preheater is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the air preheater being heated therein by a flow of uncombusted anode exhaust from the fuel cell anodes. A cathode recuperator is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the cathode recuperator being heated therein by the mixed exhaust flow. Water passing through a vaporizer is converted to steam by heat from the mixed exhaust flow and directed from the vaporizer to the fuel cell anodes.
US09413016B2
The present disclosure is directed towards the design of bipolar plates for use in conduction-cooled electrochemical cells. Heat generated during the operation of the cell is removed from the active area of the cell to the periphery of the cell via the one or more bipolar plates in the cell. The one or more bipolar plates are configured to function as heat sinks to collect heat from the active area of the cell and to conduct the heat to the periphery of the plate where the heat is removed by traditional heat transfer means. The boundary of the one or more bipolar plates can be provided with heat dissipation structures to facilitate removal of heat from the plates. To function as effective heat sinks, the thickness of the one or more bipolar plates can be determined based on the rate of heat generation in the cell during operation, the thermal conductivity (“k”) of the material selected to form the plate, and the desired temperature gradient in a direction orthogonal to the plate (“ΔT”).
US09413015B2
A method for testing a seal of a part that includes an electrolyte of an electrochemical cell, the method including: forming a closed cavity delimited by a first outer surface of the part including the electrolyte to be tested; contacting a second outer surface of the part, opposite the first surface, with a first fluid; circulating a second fluid, separate from the first fluid, through the closed cavity between an inlet and an outlet of this cavity; and analyzing the fluid extracted via the outlet of the cavity, to detect possible presence of the first fluid.
US09413013B2
Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode including a lithium-containing transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode contains lithium carbonate and lithium hydrogencarbonate in a total amount of 500 ppm or more and 3000 ppm or less, and exhibits a weight loss by temperature increase from 25° C. to 300° C. at 5° C./min of 70% or less of the total amount and of 1500 ppm or less. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a non-aqueous solvent and a lithium salt. The non-aqueous solvent may contain a cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate.
US09413005B2
The invention provides a high-capacity positive electrode active material capable of sufficiently exploiting the excellent characteristics of magnesium metal or the like as a negative electrode active material, such as high energy capacity; a method for producing the same; and an electrochemical device using the positive electrode active material. A positive electrode 11 includes a positive electrode can 1, a positive pole pellet 2 having a positive electrode active material and the like, and a metal mesh support 3. A negative electrode 12 includes a negative electrode cap 4 and a negative electrode active material 5 such as magnesium metal. The positive electrode pellet 2 and the negative electrode active material 5 are disposed so as to sandwich a separator 6, and an electrolyte 7 is injected into the separator 6. The positive electrode active material, which provides the feature of the invention, is synthesized by a step of reacting a permanganate, such as potassium permanganate, with hydrochloric acid preferably having a concentration of 3 to 4 mol/l to produce a precipitate, and a step of filtering the precipitate, thoroughly washing the filtered precipitate with water, and then subjecting the washed precipitate to heat treatment preferably at a temperature of 300 to 400° C. for not less than 2 hours, thereby giving a manganese oxide.
US09413004B2
A MnO2 electrode active material of high capacity is provided. The high capacity MnO2 has a surface area which is greater than 60 m2/g and the MnO2 is obtained by a process comprising a redox reaction of a Mn (II) salt and permanganate at a reaction temperature less than 30° C. and a pH of 2 to 4. Also provided are a magnesium electrochemical cell having a cathode containing the MnO2 and a rechargeable magnesium battery having a cathode containing the MnO2.
US09413003B2
The present invention provides a negative-electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which has a very low resistance, allows the lithium secondary battery to be charged and discharged (high output) at a high current and have a high capacity, and achieve a cycle life to such an extent that the lithium secondary battery can be mounted on a vehicle. The electrode material is composed of (a) at least one active substance (4) selected from among a metal oxide containing metal therein and an alloy material each of which is coated with a carbon material and has a graphene phase or an amorphous phase (8) on at least a surface thereof, (b) a graphite-based carbon material (5) having the graphene phase or the amorphous phase on at least a surface thereof; and (c) carbon material (6) other than the graphite-based carbon material and having the graphene phase or the amorphous phase on at least a surface thereof. The active substance (4), the graphite-based carbon material (5), and the carbon material (6) other than the graphite-based carbon material fuse the graphene phase or the amorphous phase (8a, 8b) thereof together and bond them to each other to form a composite active substance (7) including composed of the active substance including one active substance selected from among the metal oxide containing the metal and the alloy material.
US09412997B2
There is provided a battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator at least including a porous film, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector having a pair of surfaces, and a positive electrode active material layer provided on each of the surfaces of the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode active material layer contains a positive electrode active material. The positive electrode active material layer has an area density S [mg/cm2] more than or equal to 30 mg/cm2. The porous film included in the separator has a porosity ε [%] and an air permeability t [sec/100 cc] which satisfy a predetermined formula.
US09412992B2
A rechargeable battery includes a case, a cap plate coupled with the case, a terminal passing though a terminal hole in the cap plate, the terminal hole, and a sealing member in the terminal hole partially enclosing the terminal. The terminal includes an upper connecting part extending outside the case from a middle connecting part, and a current collector connecting part extending inside the case from the middle connecting part. The sealing member includes an upper sealing part seated on the cap plate and a lower sealing part disposed in and affixed to the terminal hole in a sealing relationship with respect thereto, the upper sealing part being between the cap plate and the upper connecting part to support the upper connecting part in a spaced apart relationship with the cap plate, the lower sealing part being between the current collector connecting part and an entirety of the terminal hole.
US09412990B2
A battery system and a method for producing an electrically conductive connection in a battery system. The battery system includes a plurality of cells arranged in at least one stack, a cell connector to connect a pole of a first cell in an electrically conductive manner to a pole of a second cell, an electronic unit to detect the voltage of the cells, a first pin arranged on the cell connector, at least one second pin arranged on the electronic unit; and a conductor to connect the first pin in an electrically conductive manner to the second pin, the conductor having at least one flexible section, a first contact element connected in an electrically conductive manner to a first end of the flexible section and also to the first pin, and a second contact element connected in an electrically conductive manner to a second end of the flexible section and also to the second pin.
US09412980B2
A battery cell assembly having first and second rectangular-shaped end plates, a battery cell, and a metal spring clip are provided. The first rectangular-shaped end plate includes first and second grooves, and the second rectangular-shaped end plate includes first and second grooves. The battery cell is disposed between the first and second rectangular-shaped end plates. The metal spring clip has first and second end portions. The first end portion is disposed in the first groove of the first rectangular-shaped end plate, and the second end portion is disposed in the first groove of the second substantially rectangular-shaped end plate to bias the first rectangular-shaped end plate toward the second rectangular-shaped end plate.
US09412979B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to devices for attachment to a swinging instrument that generally include a cover, a base, a chassis, and positive and negative electrical contacts. The base includes a fastening portion and a support portion. The chassis supports a printed circuit board. The devices include a cap configured and dimensioned to mate relative to the support portion of the base. The support portion can support the chassis, the printed circuit board, the positive and negative electrical contacts, and the cap. The cover can be configured and dimensioned to detachably interlock relative to the base. In the mated configuration, the cap and the base can form a battery opening configured and dimensioned to receive therethrough a battery. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to methods of device assembly.
US09412974B2
A display device including a light emitting transistor, and a photonic crystal on the light emitting transistor.
US09412971B2
An encapsulation structure for an optoelectronic component may include: a barrier thin-film layer for protecting an optoelectronic component against chemical impurities; a cover layer applied above the barrier thin-film layer and serving for protecting the barrier thin-film layer against mechanical damage; and an intermediate layer applied on the barrier thin-film layer between barrier thin-film layer and cover layer and including a curable material designed such that when the non-cured intermediate layer is applied to the barrier thin-film layer, particle impurities at the surface of the barrier thin-film layer are enclosed by the intermediate layer and the applied intermediate layer has a substantially planar surface, and that after the intermediate layer has been cured, mechanical loads on the barrier thin-film layer as a result of particle impurities during the application of the cover layer are reduced by the intermediate layer.
US09412961B2
A vapor deposition apparatus for depositing a thin film on a substrate, by which a deposition process is efficiently performed and deposition film characteristics are easily improved, and a vapor deposition apparatus including: a stage onto which a substrate is disposed; and a supply unit disposed to face the substrate and having a main body member and a nozzle member disposed on one surface of the main body member facing the substrate, to sequentially supply a plurality of gases towards the substrate, and a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus using the same.
US09412949B2
The present invention provides various fluorescent conjugated polymers with a BODIPY-based backbone. The invention also provides methods of using the polymers of the invention, such as for imaging and detection of cells, tumors, bacteria and viruses.
US09412943B2
An organic molecular memory in an embodiment includes a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; and an organic molecular layer provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the organic molecular layer including an organic molecule having an oligophenylene ethynylene backbone, the oligophenylene ethynylene backbone including three or more benzene rings, and the oligophenylene ethynylene backbone including two fluorine atoms added in ortho positions or meta positions of one of the benzene rings other than benzene rings at both ends.
US09412938B2
A semiconductor device includes a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a gate insulating film around the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. A gate electrode is around the gate insulating film and a gate line is connected to the gate electrode. A first diffusion layer resides in an upper portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a second diffusion layer resides in a lower portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. A memory device on the first diffusion layer includes a pillar-shaped phase-change layer and a reset gate insulating film surrounding the pillar-shaped phase-change layer. A reset gate surrounds the reset gate insulating film, where the reset gate functions as a heater, and the pillar-shaped phase-change layer and the reset gate are electrically insulated from each other.
US09412935B1
A method for fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction cell includes steps of providing a substrate having an active surface, forming a tunnel layer, a fixed layer and a first electrode, forming a U-shaped free layer having a vertical portion substantially perpendicular to the active surface, and forming a second electrode embedded in the U-shaped free layer. The fixed layer lines an inner surface of a through hole substantially perpendicular to the active surface and the first electrode fills the through hole. The tunnel layer may line the inner surface of the through hole or be U-shaped lining an inner surface of the U-shaped free layer. The fixed layer, the tunnel layer and the U-shaped free layer constitute a magnetic tunnel junction.
US09412931B2
Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric ceramics having enhanced mechanical quality factor (Qm) and mechanical strength. The piezoelectric ceramics, includes at least a first crystal grain and a second crystal grain. The first crystal grain has an average equivalent circle diameter of 2 μm or more and 30 μm or less. The first crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1) as a main component, and the second crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (2) as a main component: (1) xBaTiO3-yCaTiO3-zCaZrO3; and (2) x′BaTiO3-y′CaTiO3-z′CaZrO3, provided that x, y, z, x′, y′, and z′ satisfy x+y+z=1, x′+y′+z′=1, 0≦x′≦0.15, 0.85≦y′≦1, 0≦z≦0.05, x>x′, 0
US09412925B2
A high-power LED lamp cooling device and its manufacturing method, which includes: manufacturing a semiconductor crystal bar in advance into cone-shaped crystal bar with one end having large diameter and the other having small diameter, making color mark on each wafer as the large-diameter end surface of the tail end when the cone-shaped semiconductor crystal bar is cut into slices; cutting and pelletizing the conical surface to obtain polygonal cylindrical N-type or P-type semiconductor elements, arranging them in a matrix form between two beryllium-oxide ceramic chips provided with conductive circuits, connecting head end of N-type semiconductor elements to tail end of the P-type semiconductor elements in series to manufacture high-power LED lamp cooling device. The high-power LED lamp cooling device can achieve: good cooling effect, high working efficiency, low energy consumption and capable of reducing light failure of LED lamp, and prolonging service life of the high-power LED lamp.
US09412923B2
A lead frame for mounting LED elements includes a frame body region and a large number of package regions arranged in multiple rows and columns in the frame body region. The package regions each include a die pad on which an LED element is to be mounted and a lead section adjacent to the die pad, the package regions being further constructed to be interconnected via a dicing region. The die pad in one package region and the lead section in another package region upward or downward adjacent to the package region of interest are connected to each other by an inclined reinforcement piece positioned in the dicing region.
US09412919B2
Provided are a light source circuit unit that improves light extraction efficiency, as well as an illuminator and a display that include such a light source circuit unit. The light source circuit unit includes: a circuit substrate having a wiring pattern on a surface thereof, the wiring pattern having light reflectivity, a circular pedestal provided on the circuit substrate, a water-repelling region provided at least from a peripheral edge portion of the pedestal to a part of a side face of the pedestal, and one or two or more light-emitting device chips mounted on the pedestal, and driven by a current that flows through the wiring pattern.
US09412916B2
The invention provides a luminescent nano particles based luminescent material comprising a matrix of interconnected coated luminescent nano particles, wherein for instance wherein the luminescent nano particles comprise CdSe, wherein the luminescent nano particles comprise a coating of CdS and wherein the matrix comprises a coating comprising ZnS. The luminescent material according may have a quantum efficiency of at least 80% at 25° C., and having a quench of quantum efficiency of at maximum 20% at 100° C. compared to the quantum efficiency at 25° C.
US09412914B2
Provided is a light emitting device having a high light emitting efficiency and a good brightness distribution, further having a good color mixing and a good light distribution. A light emitting device includes a base member, a plurality of light emitting elements disposed on the base member, and a sealing member sealing the light emitting elements. The base member has a plurality of regions divided by virtual lines extending in a radial manner from one point disposed on the base member to an outer periphery of the base member, and a light transmissive wall member between adjacent two regions of the plurality of regions. A sealing member containing a fluorescent material is disposed on each region of the plurality of regions. A color tone of light emitted from a first region which is one of the two adjacent regions of the plurality of regions differs from a color tone of light emitted from a second region which is the other of the two adjacent regions.
US09412909B2
A manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing a light emitting apparatus including a translucent substrate, and a light emitting section and an optical filer section that are arranged in a first region of the substrate when viewed in a normal direction of a first surface of the substrate. The manufacturing method includes: forming a dielectric multilayer film over the first region of the substrate; forming a first electrode on the dielectric multilayer film included in the light emitting section; forming a functional layer with a light emitting layer over the first electrode and the dielectric multilayer film included in the optical filter section; and forming a second electrode having semi-transmissive reflectivity on the functional layer over the first region of the substrate.
US09412905B2
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device including a light source, a first light-emitting material spaced apart from the light source, and at least one additional light-emitting material. The first light-emitting material includes low reabsorbing semiconductor nanocrystals having an emission-center core, an exterior protective shell, and at least one inner light-absorbing shell. The device is useful for efficiently producing white light having a high color rendering index.
US09412899B2
A method of dicing semiconductor devices includes depositing a continuous first layer over the substrate, such that the first layer imparts a compressive stress to the substrate, and etching grooves in the first layer to increase local stress at the grooves compared to stress at the remainder of the first layer located over the substrate. The method also includes generating a pattern of defects in the substrate with a laser beam, such that a location of the defects in the pattern of defects substantially corresponds to a location of at least some of the grooves in the in the first layer, and applying pressure to the substrate to dice the substrate along the grooves.
US09412896B2
To reduce degradation, by the LID effect, of the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells made of crystalline silicon, one or more steps of controlled introduction of voids into the silicon are carried out by one or more steps chosen from among: siliciding, nitriding, ion implantation, laser irradiation, mechanical bending stress applied on one face of the silicon substrate, in combination with a temperature promoting the formation of voids in the substrate. These voids make it possible to reduce the level of interstitial oxygen by an effect of diffusion of VO complexes and precipitation of oxygen. The introduction of voids has the other effect of reducing the level of autointerstitials, and therefore of limiting the formation of interstitial boron. The phenomena of LID by activation of BiOi2 complexes are thus limited. This applies notably to photovoltaic cells based on monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon having a high concentration of boron and oxygen.
US09412895B2
A method of manufacturing a photoelectric device, the method including: forming a first semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate through a first ion implantation; forming a second semiconductor layer having an inverted conductive type on a part of the first semiconductor layer through a second ion implantation; and performing thermal processing to restore lattice damage of the semiconductor substrate and activate a dopant into which ion implanted.According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a photoelectric device having a reduction in the number of processes for manufacturing the photoelectric device and improved output characteristics is provided.
US09412889B2
Among other things, two networks, one on top of the other, are formed on a substrate based on coating materials containing emulsions or foams. The two networks can be formed of the same material, e.g., a conductive material such as silver, or can be formed of different materials. The coating materials forming the different networks can have different concentration of network materials.
US09412885B2
A solar cell can include a substrate of a first conductive type; an emitter region of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type and which forms a p-n junction along with the substrate; an anti-reflection layer positioned on the emitter region; a front electrode part electrically connected to the emitter region; and a back electrode part electrically connected to the substrate, wherein the substrate including a first area formed of single crystal silicon and a second area formed of polycrystalline silicon, wherein a thickness of the anti-reflection layer positioned on the first area is less than a thickness of the anti-reflection layer positioned on the second area, wherein a roughness of an incident surface of the substrate in the first area is different from a roughness of the incident surface of the substrate in the second area, and wherein the emitter region is entirely formed on the incident surface of the substrate.
US09412884B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a solar module. The solar module includes a front-side cover, a back-side cover, and a plurality of solar cells situated between the front- and back-side covers. A respective solar cell includes a multi-layer semiconductor structure, a front-side electrode situated above the multi-layer semiconductor structure, and a back-side electrode situated below the multi-layer semiconductor structure. Each of the front-side and the back-side electrodes comprises a metal grid. A respective metal grid comprises a plurality of finger lines and a single busbar coupled to the finger lines. The single busbar is configured to collect current from the finger lines.
US09412881B2
A semiconductor structure for facilitating an integration of power devices on a common substrate includes a first insulating layer formed on the substrate and an active region having a first conductivity type formed on at least a portion of the first insulating layer. A first terminal is formed on an upper surface of the structure and electrically connects with at least one other region having the first conductivity type formed in the active region. A buried well having a second conductivity type is formed in the active region and is coupled with a second terminal formed on the upper surface of the structure. The buried well and the active region form a clamping diode which positions a breakdown avalanche region between the buried well and the first terminal. A breakdown voltage of at least one of the power devices is a function of characteristics of the buried well.
US09412879B2
A method to integrate a vertical IMPATT diode in a planar process.
US09412877B2
A transistor or the like having excellent electrical characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode; a gate insulating film in contact with the gate electrode; and a multilayer film which is in contact with the gate insulating film and includes a first oxide semiconductor layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer, and a third oxide semiconductor layer in the order from a side farthest from the gate insulating film. The first oxide semiconductor layer, the second oxide semiconductor layer, and the third oxide semiconductor layer each contain indium, an element M (aluminum, gallium, yttrium, or tin), and zinc. The first oxide semiconductor layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 200 nm. The third oxide semiconductor layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.3 nm and less than 10 nm.
US09412872B2
Tunneling field effect transistors (TFETs) for CMOS architectures and approaches to fabricating N-type and P-type TFETs are described. For example, a tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) includes a homojunction active region disposed above a substrate. The homojunction active region includes a relaxed Ge or GeSn body having an undoped channel region therein. The homojunction active region also includes doped source and drain regions disposed in the relaxed Ge or GeSn body, on either side of the channel region. The TFET also includes a gate stack disposed on the channel region, between the source and drain regions. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric portion and gate electrode portion.
US09412871B2
A FinFET with backside passivation layer comprises a template layer disposed on a substrate, a buffer layer disposed over the template layer, a channel backside passivation layer disposed over the buffer layer and a channel layer disposed over the channel backside passivation layer. A gate insulator layer is disposed over and in contact with the channel layer and the channel backside passivation layer. The buffer layer optionally comprises aluminum and the channel layer may optionally comprise a III-V semiconductor compound. STIs may be disposed on opposite sides of the channel backside passivation layer, and the channel backside passivation layer may have a top surface disposed above the top surface of the STIs and a bottom surface disposed below the top surface of the STIs.
US09412857B2
According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a first insulating film and a second insulating film. The first semiconductor layer includes a nitride semiconductor. The second semiconductor layer is provided on the first layer, includes a nitride semiconductor, and includes a hole. The first electrode is provided in the hole. The second electrode is provided on the second layer. The third electrode is provided on the second layer so that the first electrode is disposed between the third and second electrodes. The first insulating film is provided between the first electrode and an inner wall of the hole and between the first and second electrodes, and is provided spaced from the third electrode. The second insulating film is provided in contact with the second layer between the first and third electrodes.
US09412852B2
Disclosed are new methods of fabricating nanomaterial-derived metal composite thin films via solution processes at low temperatures (<400° C.). The present thin films are useful as thin film semiconductors, thin film dielectrics, or thin film conductors, and can be implemented into semiconductor devices such as thin film transistors and thin film photovoltaic devices.
US09412840B1
A sacrificial layer is formed on exposed surfaces of source/drain structures that are located at the footprint of a gate stack. A stack of, from bottom to top, a middle-of-the-line (MOL) liner, a MOL dielectric material, and an optional dielectric cap material layer is then formed surrounding the gate stack. A contact opening is then formed that exposes a portion of the sacrificial layer. The entirety of the sacrificial layer is then removed and replaced with a metal semiconductor alloy. A conductive metal structure is then provided in the remaining volume of the contact opening.
US09412836B2
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device having a delta doped sheet layer within a transistor's source/drain region to reduce contact resistance, and an associated method. In some embodiments, a dielectric layer is disposed over the transistor. A trench is disposed through the dielectric layer to the source/drain region and a conductive contact is disposed in the trench. The source/drain region comprises a delta doped sheet layer with a doping concentration that is higher than rest of the source/drain region.
US09412832B2
In aspects of the invention, an n-type epitaxial layer that forms an n− type drift layer is formed on the upper surface of an n-type semiconductor substrate formed by being doped with a high concentration of antimony. A p-type anode layer is formed on a surface of the n− type drift layer. An n-type contact layer is formed with an impurity concentration in the same region as the impurity concentration of the n-type cathode layer, or higher than the impurity concentration of the n-type cathode layer, on the lower surface of the n-type cathode layer. A cathode electrode is formed so as to be in contact with the n-type contact layer. The n-type contact layer is doped with phosphorus and, without allowing complete recrystallization using a low temperature heat treatment of 500° C. or less, lattice defects are allowed to remain.
US09412825B2
A semiconductor device includes a GaN-based semiconductor layer, a source electrode on the GaN-based semiconductor layer, a drain electrode on the GaN-based semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode formed on the GaN-based semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. A first layer is in contact with the GaN-based semiconductor layer between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
US09412823B2
A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes, an n-type SiC substrate that has first and second faces, and contains a p-type impurity and an n-type impurity, the p-type impurity being an element A, the n-type impurity being an element D, the element A and the element D being a combination of Al (aluminum), Ga (gallium), or In (indium) and N (nitrogen), and/or a combination of B (boron) and P (phosphorus), the ratio of the concentration of the element A to the concentration of the element D in the combination(s) being higher than 0.40 but lower than 0.95, the concentration of the element D forming the combination(s) being not lower than 1×1018 cm−3 and not higher than 1×1022 cm−3, an SiC layer formed on the first face, a first electrode formed on the first face side, and a second electrode formed on the second face.
US09412812B2
An AlGaN/GaN HEMT includes a compound semiconductor stack structure; an element isolation structure which demarcates an element region on the compound semiconductor stack structure; a first insulating film which is formed on the element region and is not formed on the element isolation structure; a second insulating film which is formed on at least the element isolation structure and is higher in hydrogen content than the first insulating film; and a gate electrode which is formed on the element region of the compound semiconductor stack structure via the second insulating film.
US09412809B2
Provided is a semiconductor device in which movable ions in an insulation layer on a main surface are reduced and dielectric strength is enhanced. A semiconductor device has a plurality of FLRs, an insulation layer, and a semiconductor layer. The plurality of FLRs surrounds, in a plan view of a substrate, an active region in which an element is formed. The insulation layer is provided on the main surface of the semiconductor device and covers the plurality of FLRs. The semiconductor layer is provided in the insulation layer and surrounds the active region in parallel to the FLRs. The semiconductor layer contains impurities at a surface density lower than a surface density that satisfies a RESURF condition. In the plan view, the semiconductor layer overlaps with a part of the region (an inter-ring region) between adjacent FLRs and does not overlap with rest of the inter-ring region.
US09412798B2
In an active matrix display device, electric characteristics of thin film transistors included in a circuit are important, and performance of the display device depends on the electric characteristics. Thus, by using an oxide semiconductor film including In, Ga, and Zn for an inverted staggered thin film transistor, variation in electric characteristics of the thin film transistor can be reduced. Three layers of a gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor layer and a channel protective layer are successively formed by a sputtering method without being exposed to air. Further, in the oxide semiconductor layer, the thickness of a region overlapping with the channel protective film is larger than that of a region in contact with a conductive film.
US09412795B2
An OLED display is provided. The OLED display includes a substrate, a first light-emissive layer, a second light-emissive layer, and two third light-emissive layers. The two third light-emissive layers corresponds a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel adjacent to the first sub-pixel. An axis passes through the first light-emissive layer and the second light-emissive layer. The axis is between the two third light-emissive layers. The configuration of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are symmetrical with respect to the axis.
US09412792B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting device. The organic light emitting device includes a first emission unit configured to include a first red emission layer which emits red light, a first green emission layer which emits green light, and a first blue emission layer which emits blue light, a second emission unit configured to include a second red emission layer which emits red light, a second green emission layer which emits green light, and a second blue emission layer which emits blue light, a charge generation layer disposed between the first emission unit and the second emission unit, a first electrode formed as a reflective electrode, and configured to supply an electric charge having a first polarity to the first emission unit and the second emission unit, and a second electrode configured to supply an electric charge having a second polarity to the first and second emission units.
US09412789B1
A memory device includes a first plurality of memory cells arranged in a first crossbar array, a first thickness of dielectric material overlying the first plurality of memory cells, and a second plurality of memory cells arranged in a second crossbar array overlying the first thickness of dielectric material. The memory device further includes a second thickness of dielectric material overlying the second plurality of memory cells. In a specific embodiment, the memory device further includes a Nth thickness of dielectric material overlying an Nth plurality of memory cells, where N is an integer ranging from 3 to 8.
US09412774B2
An image sensor includes an inorganic color filter, an organic color filter, and a metal pattern. The inorganic color filter is on a support substrate. The organic color filter is on the support substrate. The organic color filter is spaced apart from the inorganic color filter. The metal pattern is between the inorganic color filter and the organic color filter.
US09412765B2
According to one embodiment, a thin film transistor includes: a substrate; a semiconductor layer; first and second insulating films; and gate, source and drain electrodes. The semiconductor layer is provided on the substrate. The semiconductor layer is made of an oxide having indium. The semiconductor layer has first and second regions and other region. The first insulating film covers a top face of the other region. The second insulating film covers at least a pair of side surfaces of the semiconductor layer. The second insulating film is formed under a condition different from that for the first insulating film. The gate electrode is provided on the first and second insulating films or below the semiconductor layer. The source and drain electrodes are provided on the first and second regions, respectively. The drain and source electrodes sandwich the pair of the side surfaces of the semiconductor layer.
US09412762B2
A DC-DC converter with low power consumption and high power conversion efficiency is provided. The DC-DC converter includes a first transistor and a control circuit. The control circuit includes an operational amplifier generating a signal that controls switching of the first transistor, a bias circuit generating a bias potential supplied to the operational amplifier, and a holding circuit holding the bias potential. The holding circuit includes a second transistor and a capacitor to which the bias potential is supplied. The first transistor and the second transistor include a first oxide semiconductor film and a second oxide semiconductor film, respectively. The first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film each contain In, M (M is Ga, Y, Zr, La, Ce, or Nd), and Zn. The atomic ratio of In to M in the first oxide semiconductor film is higher than that in the second oxide semiconductor film.
US09412757B2
A local interconnect is formed in contact with an upper surface of an impurity diffusion region and extends to below a potential supply interconnect. A contact hole electrically couples the local interconnect to the potential supply interconnect. The local interconnect, which is formed in contact with the upper surface of the impurity diffusion region, is used for electrically coupling the impurity diffusion region to the potential supply interconnect.
US09412744B1
After forming a first trench and a second trench extending through a top elemental semiconductor layer present on a substrate including, from bottom to top, a handle substrate, a compound semiconductor template layer and a buried insulator layer to define a top elemental semiconductor layer portion for a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, the second trench is vertically expanded through the buried insulator layer to provide an expanded second trench that exposes a top surface of the compound semiconductor template layer at a bottom of the expanded second trench. A stack of a compound semiconductor buffer layer and a top compound semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown on the compound semiconductor template layer within the expanded second trench for an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
US09412738B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, an impurity layer of a second conductivity type provided within the semiconductor substrate, an impurity region of the second conductivity type that is connected, within the semiconductor substrate, to the impurity layer, and separates a first region of the semiconductor substrate from a second region by surrounding the first region of the semiconductor substrate together with the impurity layer, a first well and second well of the second conductivity type that are provided on the impurity layer via at least a semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, and a plurality of transistors provided to the semiconductor substrate.
US09412737B2
When an IGBT has a barrier layer 10 that separates an upper body region 8a from a lower body region 8b, conductivity modulation is enhanced and on-resistance decreases. When the IGBT also has a Schottky contact region 6 that extends to reach the barrier layer 10, a diode structure can be obtained. In this case, however, a saturation current increases as well as short circuit resistance decreases. The Schottky contact region 6 is separated from the emitter region 4 by the upper body region 8a. By selecting an impurity concentration in the region 8a, an increase in a saturation current can be avoided. Alternatively, a block structure that prevents a depletion layer extending from the region 6 into the region 8a from joining a depletion layer extending from the region 4 into the region 8a may be provided in an area separating the region 6 from the region 4.
US09412734B2
A structure with an inductor and a MIM capacitor is provided. The structure includes a dielectric layer, an inductor and a MIM capacitor. The inductor and the MIM capacitor are disposed within the dielectric layer. The inductor includes a core and a wire surrounding the core. The MIM capacitor includes a top electrode, a bottom electrode and an insulating layer. The top electrode or the bottom electrode includes a material which forms the core.
US09412719B2
An interconnect apparatus and a method of forming the interconnect apparatus is provided. Two integrated circuits are bonded together. A first opening is formed through one of the substrates. A multi-layer dielectric film is formed along sidewalls of the first opening. One or more etch processes form one or more spacer-shaped structures along sidewalls of the first opening. A second opening is formed extending from the first opening to pads in the integrated circuits. A dielectric liner is formed, and the opening is filled with a conductive material to form a conductive plug.
US09412699B2
The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented.
US09412697B2
The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented.
US09412695B1
Methods and interconnect structures for circuit structure transistors are provided. The methods include, for instance: providing one or more fins above a substrate, and an insulating material over the fin(s) and the substrate; providing barrier structures extending into the insulating material, the barrier structures being disposed along opposing sides of the fin(s); exposing a portion of the fin(s) and the barrier structures; and forming an interconnect structure extending over the fin(s), the barrier structures confining the interconnect structure to a defined dimension transverse to the fin(s). Exposing the portion of the fin(s) and barrier structures may include isotropically etching the insulating material with an etchant that selectively etches the insulating material without affecting a barrier material of the barrier structures.
US09412691B2
Disclosed are chip carriers and methods of using them. The chip carriers each comprise a base with a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and wire bond pads on the first and second surfaces. The first surface also has a chip attach area with opening(s) that extends from the first surface to the second surface. A chip can be attached to the chip attach area and, because of the opening(s), wire bond pads on opposite sides (e.g., on the top and bottom) of the chip are accessible for testing. That is, wire bond pads on the first surface can be electrically connected to one side of the chip (e.g., to the top of the chip) and/or wire bond pads on the second surface can be electrically connected through the opening(s) to the opposite side of the chip (e.g., to the bottom of the chip).
US09412675B2
Interconnect structures with improved conductive properties are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an interconnect structure can include a first conductive member coupled to a first semiconductor die and a second conductive member coupled to second semiconductor die. The first conductive member includes a recessed surface defining a depression. The second conductive member extends at least partially into the depression of the first conductive member. A bond material within the depression can at least partially encapsulate the second conductive member and thereby bond the second conductive member to the first conductive member.
US09412674B1
An integrated circuit includes a die having a conductive layer. The conductive layer includes a data wire, a first power supply wire of a first voltage potential, and a second power supply wire of a second voltage potential different from the first voltage potential. A segment of the data wire is located between, and substantially parallel to, a segment of the first power supply wire and a segment of the second power supply wire. Further, the first power supply wire is coupled to a first probe structure; and, the second power supply wire is coupled to a second probe structure.
US09412673B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for characterizing a plurality of structures of interest on a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of models having varying combinations of floating and fixed critical parameters and corresponding simulated spectra is generated. Each model is generated to determine one or more critical parameters for unknown structures based on spectra collected from such unknown structures. It is determined which one of the models best correlates with each critical parameter based on reference data that includes a plurality of known values for each of a plurality of critical parameters and corresponding known spectra. For spectra obtained from an unknown structure using a metrology tool, different ones of the models are selected and used to determine different ones of the critical parameters of the unknown structure based on determining which one of the models best correlates with each critical parameter based on the reference data.
US09412671B1
A method for controlling processing temperature in semiconductor fabrication is provided. The method includes detecting temperature in a first chamber configured to process a semiconductor wafer. The method further includes creating a flow of heat-exchange medium in a second chamber which is connected to the first chamber to cool the first chamber. The method also includes controlling the flow of heat-exchange medium according to the temperature detected in the first chamber by changing a covered area of a first ventilation unit which allows the entry of the heat-exchange medium to the second chamber.
US09412666B2
A method of forming a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, the first semiconductor layer having an uneven upper surface, forming a stop layer over the first semiconductor layer, the first semiconductor layer disposed between the substrate and the stop layer, and treating the stop layer to change its etch selectivity relative to the first semiconductor layer.
US09412661B2
A method comprises attaching a semiconductor die on a first side of a wafer, attaching a first top package on the first side of the wafer and attaching a second top package on the first side of the wafer. The method further comprises depositing an encapsulation layer over the first side of the wafer, wherein the first top package and the second top package are embedded in the encapsulation layer, applying a thinning process to a second side of the wafer, sawing the wafer into a plurality of chip packages and attaching the chip package to a substrate.
US09412659B1
There is set forth herein a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure, the method including forming a conductive metal layer over a source/drain region. The conductive metal layer in one aspect can prevent gouging of a source/drain region during removal of materials above a source/drain region. The conductive metal layer in one aspect can be used to pattern an air spacer for reduced parasitic capacitance. The conductive metal layer in one aspect can reduce a contact resistance between a source/drain region and a contact above a source/drain region.
US09412654B1
After forming a copper seed layer on a diffusion barrier layer present on sidewalls and a bottom surface of at least one opening, a graphene sacrificial layer is deposited over the copper seed layer before the copper seed layer is exposed to an environment that oxidizes the copper seed layer, thus providing process flexibility for longer queue times (Q-times) between copper seed layer deposition and copper plating. Next, the graphene sacrificial layer is subjected to a plasma treatment to introduce disorders and defects into the graphene sacrificial layer for removal just before the copper plating. The entire structure is then immersed in a copper plating solution. The copper plating solution dissolves the plasma treated graphene sacrificial layer and forms a copper-containing layer on the re-exposed copper seed layer.
US09412650B2
An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are disclosed. The interconnect structure includes a lower etch stop layer (ESL); a middle low-k (LK) dielectric layer over the lower ESL; a supporting layer over the middle LK dielectric layer; an upper LK dielectric layer over the supporting layer; an upper conductive feature in the upper LK dielectric layer, wherein the upper conductive feature is through the supporting layer; a gap along an interface of the upper conductive feature and the upper LK dielectric layer; and an upper ESL over the upper LK dielectric layer, the upper conductive feature, and the gap.
US09412647B2
A method includes defining a metal pattern layer over a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed over an etch stop layer and the etch stop layer is disposed over a second dielectric layer. A spacer layer is grown over the metal pattern layer and the first dielectric layer. A metal trench is formed with a metal width in the first dielectric layer. A via hole is formed with a via width in the second dielectric layer.
US09412642B2
A barrier for preventing a bridge between adjacent storage node contacts is formed below a bit line located between the bit line contacts, so that a contact region between each storage node contact and an active region is increased in size. The semiconductor device includes a device isolation film defining an active region, a bit line contact coupling the active region to a bit line, and a barrier formed below the bit line located between the bit line contacts.
US09412640B2
A method of forming a contact on a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes: forming a mask on the semiconductor device, the mask exposing at least one contact node disposed within a trench in a substrate of the semiconductor device; performing a first substrate contact etch on the semiconductor device, the first substrate contact etch recessing the exposed contact node within the trench;removing a set of node films disposed above the exposed contact node and on the sides of the trench; and forming a contact region within the trench above the exposed contact node, the contact region contacting the substrate.
US09412639B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed towards improving on-wafer process performance and processing at increased processing fluid/wafer temperature while maintaining good process performance. A method for processing a wafer in a process chamber is described where the process chamber includes a wafer holder having first and second sets of edge grippers for independently securing the wafer at the wafer edge during processing, treating the wafer with a first processing fluid while securing the wafer with the first set of edge grippers, but not with the second set of edge grippers, treating the wafer with a second processing fluid while securing the wafer with the first set of edge grippers, but not with the second set of edge grippers, and treating the wafer with a third processing fluid while securing the wafer with the second set of edge grippers, but not with the first set of edge grippers.
US09412637B2
A device wafer includes a device area where a plurality of devices are formed on the front side of the device wafer and a peripheral marginal area surrounding the device area. Each device has an adhesion disliking region disliking adhesion to an adhesive tape. An ultraviolet curable protective tape is attached as the adhesive tape to the front side of the device wafer. Ultraviolet radiation is applied to a first area of the protective tape corresponding to the adhesion disliking region of the device wafer to thereby reduce the adhesive force in the first area. The ultraviolet radiation is not applied to a second area of the protective tape corresponding to the peripheral marginal area of the device wafer to thereby maintain the adhesive force in the second area. The device wafer is held through the protective tape while the back side of the device wafer is ground.
US09412636B2
A method for processing substrates includes providing a bonding layer between a substrate and a carrier to bond the substrate to the carrier, processing the substrate while the substrate is supported by the carrier, and removing the bonding layer to separate the substrate from the carrier. The bonding layer may include a thermosetting release layer and thermosetting glue layers, wherein at least one of the thermosetting glue layers is provided on each side of the thermosetting release layer.
US09412631B2
The invention provides an apparatus for stocking and purging a wafer at a ceiling. The apparatus includes: a rail that is formed so as to be installed on a ceiling to guide a vehicle; a stock system that is formed so as to be installed on the ceiling and is formed so as to receive a container, which contains wafers, from the vehicle and stock the container; and a purge assembly that is installed so as to communicate with the container through the stock system and is formed so as to purge the wafers, which are contained in the container, with gas.
US09412618B2
A pattern forming method of forming a pattern on an underlying layer of a target object includes forming a block copolymer layer, which includes a first polymer and a second polymer and is configured to be self-assembled, on the underlying layer; processing the target object to form a first region containing the first polymer and a second region containing the second polymer in the block copolymer layer; etching the second region partway in a thickness direction thereof in a capacitively coupled plasma processing apparatus after the processing of the target object; generating secondary electrons from an upper electrode of the plasma processing apparatus by applying a negative DC voltage to the upper electrode and irradiating the secondary electrons onto the target object, after the etching of the second region; and additionally etching the second region in the plasma processing apparatus after the irradiating of the secondary electrons.
US09412616B1
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a multi-layer patterned masking layer comprised of first and second layers of material and first and second openings that extend through both of the first and second layers of material, wherein the first opening is positioned above a first area of the substrate where the DDB isolation structure will be formed and the second opening is positioned above a second area of the substrate where the SDB isolation structure will be formed. The method also includes performing a first process operation through the first opening to form the DDB isolation structure, performing a second process operation to remove the second layer of material and to expose the first opening in the first layer of material, and performing a third process operation through the second opening to form the SDB isolation structure.
US09412613B2
Development of high etch selective hardmask material by ion implantation into amorphous carbon films
Embodiments described herein provide for a method of forming an etch selective hardmask. An amorphous carbon hardmask is implanted with various dopants to increase the hardness and density of the hardmask. The ion implantation of the amorphous carbon hardmask also maintains or reduces the internal stress of the hardmask. The etch selective hardmask generally provides for improved patterning in advanced NAND and DRAM devices.
US09412594B2
A method for defining patterns in an integrated circuit comprises defining a plurality of features in a first photoresist layer using photolithography over a first region of a substrate. The method further comprises using pitch multiplication to produce at least two features in a lower masking layer for each feature in the photoresist layer. The features in the lower masking layer include looped ends. The method further comprises covering with a second photoresist layer a second region of the substrate including the looped ends in the lower masking layer. The method further comprises etching a pattern of trenches in the substrate through the features in the lower masking layer without etching in the second region. The trenches have a trench width.
US09412579B2
A dynamically tunable process kit, a processing chamber having a dynamically tunable process kit, and a method for processing a substrate using a dynamically tunable process kit are provided. The dynamically tunable process kit allows one or both of the electrical and thermal state of the process kit to be changed without changing the physical construction of the process kit, thereby allowing plasma properties, and hence processing results, to be easily changed without replacing the process kit. The processing chamber having a dynamically tunable process kit includes a chamber body that includes a portion of a conductive side wall configured to be electrically controlled, and a process kit. The processing chamber includes a first control system operable to control one or both of an electrical and thermal state of the process kit and a second control system operable to control an electrical state of the portion of the side wall.
US09412575B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF ion guide wherein in a mode of operation a continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is orthogonally sampled from the ion guide and wherein the continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is not axially trapped or otherwise axially confined within the RF ion guide. The ion guide is maintained, in use, at a pressure selected from the group consisting of: (i) 0.0001-0.001 mbar; (ii) 0.001-0.01 mbar; (iii) 0.01-0.1 mbar; (iv) 0.1-1 mbar; (v) 1-10 mbar; (vi) 10-100 mbar; and (vii) >100 mbar.
US09412572B2
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to sample holders that can be used to retain a sample support effective for use in direct sample analysis. In some embodiments, the sample support can include a first and a second plate with apertures to permit a sample to be analyzed using direct sample analysis.
US09412565B2
A temperature measuring method for measuring a temperature of a member corresponding to a measuring object arranged within a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus is provided. The temperature measuring method involves obtaining a function (f) for correcting a correction target temperature (Tmeas) according to a measurement window temperature (Tw), the function (f) being computed based on the correction target temperature (Tmeas) corresponding to a temperature of the measuring object measured via a measurement window arranged at the chamber, a reference temperature (Tobj) corresponding to a temperature of the measuring object measured without using the measurement window, and the measurement window temperature (Tw) corresponding to a temperature of the measurement window. The temperature measuring method further involves measuring the correction target temperature (Tmeas), measuring the measurement window temperature (Tw), and correcting the correction target temperature (Tmeas) according to the measurement window temperature (Tw) based on the obtained function (f).
US09412562B2
A capacitive coupling plasma processing apparatus includes a process chamber configured to have a vacuum atmosphere, and a process gas supply section configured to supply a process gas into the chamber. In the chamber, a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed opposite each other. The second electrode includes a plurality of conductive segments separated from each other and facing the first electrode. An RF power supply is configured to apply an RF power to the first electrode to form an RF electric field within a plasma generation region between the first and second electrodes, so as to turn the process gas into plasma by the RF electric field. A DC power supply is configured to apply a DC voltage to at least one of the segments of the second electrode.
US09412546B2
Disclosed are a control unit for a circuit breaker capable of controlling and monitoring various types of switches such as a circuit breaker and a switchgear included in power system equipment, by being attached to the switches or by being implemented in the form of an independent module, and a controlling method thereof. The control unit for a circuit breaker, which interworks with a relay and a circuit breaker, includes: an Ethernet drive configured to receive a GOOSE message type control signal from the relay connected thereto through Ethernet communication; a control module configured to operate the circuit breaker based on the GOOSE message type control signal; and a main control unit (MCU) module configured to transmit the GOOSE message type control signal to the control module, if the received GOOSE message type control signal is related to the control unit.
US09412543B2
A device for cooling exhaust gases caused by an electrical arc in high or medium voltage switch gear, which device comprises a housing with an inlet and an outlet for passage of the gases, wherein a hydrous mineral is arranged in the housing for cooling the gases with the water contained in the hydrous mineral.
US09412531B2
In a four-direction switch device, an outer peripheral surface of a disc-shaped switch knob is provided with first to fourth pivot projections arranged in phase with first to fourth switch operation parts and first to fourth movable stoppers arranged with a phase shift by 45° from the projections, respectively, and a switch case is provided with first to fourth fixed stoppers facing lower surfaces of the movable stoppers, respectively. If the knob is pushed at a switch dead part, the knob swings about a straight line connecting a pair of the pivot projections located on an opposite side of the switch dead part, but the movable stopper and the fixed stopper both located below the pushed switch dead part come into contact with each other, thereby avoiding actuation of any switch.
US09412525B2
Anode foils suitable for use in electrolytic capacitors, including those having multiple anode configurations, have improved strength, reduced brittleness, and increased capacitance compared to conventional anode foils for electrolytic capacitors. Exemplary methods of manufacturing an anode foil suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor include disposing a resist material in a predetermined pattern on an exposed surface of an anode foil substrate such that a first portion of the exposed surface of the anode foil substrate is covered by the resist material, and a second portion of the exposed surface remains uncovered; polymerizing the resist material; exposing at least the second portion of the exposed surface to one or more etchants so as to form a plurality of tunnels; stripping the polymerized resist material; and widening at least a portion of the plurality of tunnels. The resist material may be deposited, for example, by ink-jet printing, stamping or screen printing.
US09412517B2
An electronic part that includes an electronic part main body and an external electrode on the surface of the electronic part main body. The external electrode includes at least one alloy layer selected from among a Cu—Ni alloy layer and a Cu—Mn alloy layer, and a Sn-containing layer on the outer side of the alloy layer. The Sn-containing layer is the outermost layer of the external electrode. The Sn-containing layer is in contact with the alloy layer.
US09412515B2
A method substantially as shown and described in the detailed description and/or drawings and/or elsewhere herein. A device substantially as shown and described in the detailed description and/or drawings and/or elsewhere herein.
US09412494B2
A electrical wire cover has a corrugated tube fixing portion (29) and engagement projection strips (49) which are integral parts of a cover body (27) which surrounds electrical wires, a electrical wire tie which fixes, that is, tightly fastens, one of first to third corrugated tubes, and tying member restricting portions (53) provided in the corrugated tube fixing portion (29). Each tying member restricting portion (53) has plural, that is, first to third, positioning portions (55, 57, and 59) having different electrical wire tie bridging positions.
US09412479B2
The present invention intends to provide a method for removing radioactive cesium, or radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium that is simple and low-cost, further does not require an energy source such as electricity, moreover can take in and stably immobilize the removed radioactive substances within a solid, and can reduce the volume of radioactive waste as necessary, and to provide a hydrophilic resin composition using for the method for removing radioactive cesium, or radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium, and the object of the present invention is achieved by using a hydrophilic resin composition containing: at least one hydrophilic resin selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic polyurethane resin, a hydrophilic polyurea resin, and a hydrophilic polyurethane-polyurea resin each having at least a hydrophilic segment; and a clay mineral dispersed therein in a ratio of at least 1 to 180 mass parts relative to 100 mass parts of the hydrophilic resin.
US09412478B2
The present invention refers to a method and related plants for removing, by means of redox reactions, the 137Cs from polluted EAF dusts, with an initial average value of radioactivity concentration either higher or lower than 10,000 Bq/kg, the decontamination from the 137Cs initially present in the EAF dusts having a yield of 98%-100%; the present invention also refers to the use of chemical-physical destabilization agents, by means of redox reactions, for obtaining EAF dusts decontaminated from 137Cs.
US09412477B1
Methods for filling a container with hazardous waste are disclosed. One method includes moving the container to a position where a filling head adds solid hazardous waste to the container, coupling a lid to the container to close the container while the container is at the position, and moving the closed container away from the position. Another method includes aerating dry cementitious material in the container with a mixer, adding hazardous waste to the container, mixing the cementitious material and the hazardous waste with the mixer, and controlling the speed of the mixer.
US09412456B2
Disclosed are a program method and a nonvolatile memory device. The method includes receiving program data to be programmed in memory cells; reading the memory cells to judge an erase state and at least one program state; performing a state read operation in which the at least one program state is read using a plurality of state read voltages; and programming the program data in the memory cells using a plurality of verification voltages having different levels according to a result of the state read operation. Also disclosed are methods using a plurality of verification voltages selected based on factors which may affect a threshold voltage shift or other characteristic representing the data of a memory cell after programming.
US09412448B2
The invention concerns a circuit comprising: a C-element having first and second input nodes and first and second inverters (110, 112) cross-coupled between first and second complementary storage nodes (Q, Z), the second storage node (Z) forming an output node of the C-element; and a non-volatile memory comprising: a first resistive element (202) having a first terminal coupled to the first storage node (Q); a second resistive element (204) having a first terminal coupled to the second storage node (Z), at least one of the first and second resistive elements being programmable to have one of at least two resistive states (Rmin, Rmax), wherein a second terminal of the first resistive element (202) is coupled to a second terminal of the second resistive element (204) via a first transistor (210); and a control circuit (232).
US09412446B1
The present invention relates to resistive random-access memory (RRAM or ReRAM) systems, as well as methods of employing multiple state variables to form degenerate states in such memory systems. The methods herein allow for precise write and read steps to form multiple state variables, and these steps can be performed electrically. Such an approach allows for multilevel, high density memory systems with enhanced information storage capacity and simplified information retrieval.
US09412443B2
According to one embodiment, a processor system includes a variable capacity memory. The memory includes a memory cell array including basic units, each of the basic units including one cell transistor and one variable resistance element, a mode selector switching between first and second modes, a read/write of one bit executed in 2n basic units (n is an integer) among the basic units in the first mode, the read/write of the one bit executed in 2m basic units (m is an integer, m≠n) among the basic units in the second mode, and a control circuit which controls the switching between the first and second modes.
US09412439B1
A circuit includes a hybrid switch, which includes a Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor (TFET) having a first source, a first drain, and a first gate. The hybrid switch further includes a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) connected to the TFET in parallel, with the MOSFET including a second source connected to the first source, a second drain connected to the first drain, and a second gate connected to the first gate.
US09412429B2
A semiconductor memory device includes multiple voltage generators. The memory device includes a first voltage generator for generating a first internal voltage based on a first power supply voltage, and a second voltage generator for generating a second internal voltage based on a second power supply voltage that is lower than the first power supply voltage. The first internal voltage is used as a driving voltage of a bit line sense amplifier in a core block including a memory cell array. The second internal voltage that is lower than the first internal voltage is used as a driving voltage of a peripheral circuit block other than the core block.
US09412426B2
An electronic apparatus having plural memories of different performances such as bus widths facilitates achievement of its potential as a system. The electronic apparatus has a first memory and a memory controller configured to control the first memory. Upon a second memory being detected, the memory controller compares bus widths of the first memory and the second memory with each other. Upon the bus width of the second memory being broader than the bus width of the first memory, the memory controller makes a setting such that access to the second memory precedes access to the first memory.
US09412424B2
A device and a method for a sense circuit have been disclosed. In an implementation, the sense circuit includes a sense amplifier and at least one decoupling device. The decoupling device is coupled to the sense amplifier through at least one reference line. The sense amplifier reads a data value and the decoupling device decouples the sense amplifier from a power supply during a read operation.
US09412415B2
When long polling is employed under HTTP, a content-synchronization control device can control each content playback device so that content control is synchronized in multiple content playback devices. When receiving an inquiry from a content playback device 90, the response control means 84 waits transmission of an inquiry response in reply to the inquiry for a certain period of time since reception of the inquiry, and when the waiting state of the transmission of an inquiry response is cancelled, the waiting state of transmission of all the inquiry responses are cancelled. After the reception of the request information, the response control means 84 cancels the waiting state of the transmission of each inquiry response when a condition that the transmission of each inquiry response to each content playback device is kept waiting is satisfied.
US09412408B2
In a case where (i) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P1max) or a longest space (S1max) in a first pit row is defined as a first reflectance and (ii) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P2max) or a longest space (S2max) in the second pit row is defined as a second reflectance, the first pit row is formed such that the first reflectance becomes substantially identical with the second reflectance.
US09412401B2
A data storage device may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that contacts a magnetic shield. The magnetic stack can be disposed between first and second side shields and having at least one layer constructed of a CoFeNiB material. The magnetic shield may have a synthetic antiferromagnet with a non-magnetic layer disposed between first and second ferromagnetic layers.
US09412400B2
A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.
US09412394B1
An interactive audio communication system includes a server for operating the interactive audio communications, a first computing device for operating a first application program, and a second computing device for operating a second application program, wherein the second application program includes the steps of receiving audio inputs from a user via the second microphone, transforming the audio inputs to text strings and transmitting the data of the audio inputs and/or the text strings to the first computing device, wherein the first application program running on the first computing device includes the steps of, receiving the data of the audio inputs and/or the text strings, displaying the text strings together with an audio mark if the text strings are received together with the data of the audio inputs on the first display.
US09412390B1
Latency on different devices (e.g., devices of differing brand, model, vintage, etc.) can vary significantly and tens of milliseconds can affect human perception of lagging and leading components of a performance. As a result, use of a uniform latency estimate across a wide variety of devices is unlikely to provide good results, and hand-estimating round-trip latency across a wide variety of devices is costly and would constantly need to be updated for new devices. Instead, a system has been developed for automatically estimating latency through audio subsystems using feedback recording and analysis of recorded audio.
US09412386B2
Orchestrated encoding schemes facilitate encoding and decoding of data in content signals at several points in the distribution path of content items. Orchestrated encoding adheres to a set of encoding rules that enables multiple watermarks and corresponding applications to co-exist, avoids collisions among watermarks, and simplifies metadata and routing database infrastructure.
US09412384B2
A broadcast transmitting apparatus and method, and a broadcast playback apparatus and method for providing an object-based audio by encoding and decoding a multichannel audio signal are provided. The broadcast transmitting apparatus may generate audio identification information used to determine whether the multichannel audio signal is an object-based audio signal. When the multichannel audio signal is determined to be the object-based audio signal, based on the audio identification information, the broadcast playback apparatus may control and output the multichannel audio signal for each channel.
US09412372B2
A method of dictation is described which, after transcription, integrates video into text at locations designated by the user. A user collects audio and visual information using an application that has been installed on the user's mobile device. The user designates, using the application, the desired location of the video files within the audio file. Both the audio and video information are uploaded to a transcription provider. The transcription provider uses transcription software to transcribe the audio files into text, the transcription software being able to identify the transcriptionist as to the location within the audio file each video is to be inserted. The transcribed document with integrated audio and video is then delivered back to the user.
US09412368B2
A display apparatus includes a voice collecting device which collects a user voice, a communication device which performs communication with an interactive server, and a control device which, when response information corresponding to the user voice sent to the interactive server is received from the interactive server, controls to perform a feature corresponding to the response information, and the control device controls the communication device to receive replacement response information, related to the user voice, through a web search and a social network service (SNS).
US09412363B2
A model-based approach for on-screen item selection and disambiguation is provided. An utterance may be received by a computing device in response to a display of a list of items for selection on a display screen. A disambiguation model may then be applied to the utterance. The disambiguation model may be utilized to determine whether the utterance is directed to at least one of the list of displayed items, extract referential features from the utterance and identify an item from the list corresponding to the utterance, based on the extracted referential features. The computing device may then perform an action which includes selecting the identified item associated with utterance.
US09412360B2
Predicting and learning users' intended actions on an electronic device based on free-form speech input. Users' actions can be monitored to develop a list of carrier phrases having one or more actions that correspond to the carrier phrases. A user can speak a command into a device to initiate an action. The spoken command can be parsed and compared to a list of carrier phrases. If the spoken command matches one of the known carrier phrases, the corresponding action(s) can be presented to the user for selection. If the spoken command does not match one of the known carrier phrases, search results (e.g., Internet search results) corresponding to the spoken command can be presented to the user. The actions of the user in response to the presented action(s) and/or the search results can be monitored to update the list of carrier phrases.
US09412350B1
A method, apparatus and system that enables a user to find and act-upon a sound-containing composition, in a group of compositions. One or more sound-segments, which are intended to prompt a user's memory, may be associated with each composition in a group of compositions. A recognition sound-segment may include a portion of its associated composition, which is more recognizable to users than the beginning part of its associated composition. A recognition-segment may contain one or more highly recognizable portion(s) of a composition. When the user is trying to locate or select a particular composition, the recognition-segments are navigated and played-back to the user, based upon a user-device context/mode. When a user recognizes the desired composition from its recognition-segment, the user may initiate a control action to playback; arrange; and/or act-upon, the composition that is associated with the currently playing recognition-segment.
US09412343B2
A musical instrument includes a resonating pipe having a first slot defined along a length of a longitudinal axis of the resonating pipe and a sliding rod that slides along a length of the first slot and closes the first slot such that the sliding rod selectively covers and provides an air seal to the first slot, such that a pitch of sound produced varies according to a length of closure of the first slot. A mouthpiece is coupled to the resonating pipe to enable the player to create a resonating column of air in the resonating pipe and control the pitch of the instrument by controlling the coverage of the sliding rod over the first slot. A composite musical instrument may include the wind instrument combined with a stringed instrument.
US09412338B2
A light irradiation device to display an image by light irradiation prevents easy perception of distortion occurring in the displayed image due to vibration of the device or movement of viewpoint. A random number is generated, and the refresh rate of the displayed image is distributed at random in correspondence with the random number. The light emission intensity is changed in correspondence with the refresh rate. When the number of lines is changed, the input video signal is subjected to scaling and a display is produced. The refresh rate is changed in correspondence with the frequency of the vibration detected with the vibration monitor.
US09412336B2
Embodiments of the disclosure describe a tileable display panel including a screen layer to display a unified image, an illumination layer including a two-dimensional array of lamps, and a display layer disposed between the screen layer and illumination layer. The display layer includes a plurality of pixelets each positioned to be illuminated by a corresponding lamp from the illumination layer to project a magnified image sub-portion corresponding to a received subset. The magnified image sub-portions collectively blend together to form the unified image displayed on the screen layer. Embodiments of the disclosure further include illumination layer control logic to determine a brightness value of each of the received subsets of pixel data, and adjust an illumination setting to reduce or increase an illumination output of a lamp in the illumination layer based, at least on part, on the brightness values of the corresponding subset of pixel data.
US09412328B2
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of controls for heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a control for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning system includes an alphanumeric display and one or more input device. A processor of the control is configured to receive a user input through the input device(s), and in response to the user input, reorient a display of a message relative to the alphanumeric display.
US09412316B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method, device and/or system for displaying a more than three primary color (RGB) image. The device (100,200) may include, for example, a driver control module (218) to controllably activate one or more drivers (206,210) of an array of sub-pixel elements of at least four primary colors based on image data representing pixels of the color image in terms of at least three primary colors (RGB). Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09412315B2
A gate driving circuit is provided which includes a plurality of stages cascade-connected with each other and outputting a plurality of gate signals. An n-th (n is a natural number) stage includes a gate output part, a first node control part and a carry part. The gate output part includes a first transistor. The first transistor outputs a high voltage of a clock signal to a high voltage of an n-th gate signal in response to a high voltage of a control node. The first node control part is connected to the control node to control a signal of the control node and includes at least one transistor having a channel longer than the channel length of the first transistor. The carry part outputs the high voltage of the clock signal to an n-th carry signal in response to the signal of the control node.
US09412307B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a display unit including a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of initializing control lines, and a plurality of light emission control lines, a scan driver to output scan signals to the scan lines and initializing signals to the initializing control lines, and a data driver to output data signals to respective ones of the data lines. A first pixel and a second pixel may be commonly connected to a scan line and a data line. The scan driver may output at least one first initializing signal and at least one second initializing signal to the first pixel and second pixel, respectively. The scan signals and the first and the second initializing signals may be activated at different points in time.
US09412304B2
A special mode processor drives a display panel to display an image. When the display panel is configured to operate in a special operation mode, the special operation mode processor determines a pixel block size for blocking the plurality of pixels into a plurality of pixel blocks and determines a first set of on-pixels and a first set of off-pixels. The first set of on-pixels is initially turned on and the first set of off-pixels is initially turned off. A drive history representative value is generated for the first group of pixels that represents a drive time and drive characteristic for the first group of pixels. The drive history representative value is compared with a threshold value. Responsive to the drive history representative value exceeding the threshold value, a second set of on-pixels and a second set of off-pixels are turned on and off respectively.
US09412292B2
A display device Includes a control board including a timing controller (TCON) for controlling driving of the display device, and further including a driving memory for storing driving data for driving the display device, and a source board coupled to the control board by a connection cable, the source board including a driving integrated circuit (IC) for outputting a data signal, and further including a panel memory for storing panel characteristic data for compensating for the data signal.
US09412286B2
A fastening arrangement for an electronic price label includes a holder, into which the electronic price label is placed. The holder can in turn be fastened onto an installation point, such as onto the edge of a shelf. In the fastening arrangement the electronic price label is locked in relation to the holder with a fastening member, which extends through the wall of the holder from the first side of the wall to the second side of the wall and onwards into the electronic price label.
US09412281B2
A method/system for learning system self-optimization is disclosed. The learning system can include a plurality of learning objects that are connected to each other by a plurality of learning vectors. The learning vectors can identify a prerequisite relationship between the connected learning objects and include data indicating a likelihood of success of a student in traversing the learning vector and/or an expected speed for traversing the learning vector. Data generated from a student's traversal of one of the learning vectors can be used to strengthen or weaken the traversed learning vector based on the student experience.
US09412280B1
A system for delivery of payload at a precise location by autonomous delivery vehicle. A machine-readable unique identifier is laid at a place where a user wants delivery of an item. User opens a precise delivery app on smartphone, activates the scanner and standing near the unique identifier scans it. Precise delivery app reads the unique identity of the unique identifier and collects the geophysical location of the smartphone. Third party system feeds this information of the target unique identifier to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous delivery vehicle includes a first prior art navigator and a second scanner navigator. The autonomous vehicle determines its route to the approximate location of the target unique identifier with the help of the first prior art navigator and the second scanner navigator scans every unique identifier that may be present around that location and guides the autonomous vehicle to the target unique identifier.
US09412279B2
A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location, and determines capability information for the UAV based on component information of the UAV. The device calculates the flight path based on the capability information, identifies multiple recharging stations located on or near the flight path, and selects a recharging station from the multiple recharging stations based on one or more factors. The device generates flight path instructions, for the flight path, that instruct the UAV to stop and recharge at the recharging station. The device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to a location of the recharging station, stop and recharge at the recharging station, and travel from the location of the recharging station to the second location via the flight path.
US09412277B2
A vehicle system includes a first sensor configured to output a first signal and a second sensor configured to output a second signal. The first and second signals represent movement of a potential cut-in vehicle. The vehicle system further includes a processing device programmed to compare the movement of the potential cut-in vehicle to at least one threshold. The processing device selects the potential cut-in vehicle as an in-path vehicle if the movement exceeds the at least one threshold.
US09412252B2
A universal fall detect system and its unique designed sensor as well as methodology to detect the fall event are disclosed. The fall event is detected by measuring relative position, and/or orientation between host body and direction of gravity at the spot where falling event happens. The system can present either as a standalone system or a built-in component with supporting software installed on other devices. The system linked to wide network and wide audience can trigger several emergency response and assistances if needed in time when a falling event happens.
US09412244B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for monitoring a status of a plurality of a merchandise display devices for displaying items of merchandise at respective display positions. For example, the method includes monitoring for a change in a preselected characteristic of a circuit defined by an electrical connection between the security devices and a plurality of nodes and between the nodes and an alarm unit. The method also includes determining whether an item of merchandise has been added to or removed from a respective display position based on a change in the preselected characteristic.
US09412239B2
A gaming machine has a standard game play mode, and a bonus feature game play mode. The bonus feature mode includes a win chain counter having an integer value. During standard game play mode, the user interface randomly displays a matrix of symbols and the computer calculates the wins based on the matrix of symbols. On appearance of a predetermined number of scatter symbols, bonus feature play commences and a the win chain counter is initialized. During bonus feature play, a winning spin initializes a first win chain, and a first non-winning spin decrements the win chain counter value, after a first win chain is initialized, and prior to a non-winning spin, winning spins are added to the first win chain. Subsequent win chains are generated and terminated by a non-winning spin until the win chain counter is decremented to zero. Then bonus feature game play terminates.
US09412237B2
An electronic game wherein the user accumulates score which is based upon the appropriateness of the user's moves, regardless of whether the move resulted in a win or lose situation for the user. This approach provides the user with enjoyment of playing the game, but also focuses the user to learn how to make proper moves that would ultimately result in better skills in playing the game. One specific example relates to poker, wherein the user collects chips based upon winning or losing a hand, but at each decision round of playing the hand the user is awarded ProCoins based upon the appropriateness of the user's actions. The user is provided with feedback based upon the user's decisions, rather than based upon winning or losing a hand.
US09412228B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game and a controller. The controller is configured to base eligibility of the handheld gaming machine for a game-related feature at least upon a location of the handheld gaming machine and/or a proximity of the handheld gaming machine to an external device.
US09412227B2
A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a Player surpasses predetermined game play parameters on a game of an EGM, a bonus game or related game material may be “unlocked” and offered to the Player for download onto the Player's Portable Electronic Device (PED). Upon installation, the game or content may be viewed or played on their PED at a later time and at their leisure.
US09412226B2
A gaming system configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of symbols. For a play of the game, the gaming system displays a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of the symbols and being associated with a plurality of symbol display areas. For an activation of the reels, the gaming system randomly generates and causes each of the reels to display one of the symbols on that reel at each of the symbol display areas associated with that reel. Upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the gaming system: adds one or more wild symbols to one or more of the reels and provides a plurality of additional activations of the reels. If a removal condition is satisfied prior to a final one of the additional activations of the reels, the gaming system removes a remaining wild symbol from one of the reels.
US09412225B2
A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: at least one display panel configured to display images of a game, the display panel including a screen facing downward; at least one beam splitter disposed under the display panel and inclined with respect to the screen to partially reflect the images from the display panel into a forward direction; and a controller configured to execute the game and to control the display panel, wherein an image from each of the at least one display panel is reflected by at least one of the at least one beam splitter.
US09412222B2
Systems and methods for initiating attract sequences on gaming machines based on a determined presence of a player through a camera are described. The gaming machine includes a cabinet. The gaming machine further includes a display coupled to the cabinet. The gaming machine includes a user input coupled to the cabinet. The gaming machine includes a video camera coupled to the cabinet, the video camera configured to output video data, wherein the video camera is positioned to capture video data of players walking by the gaming machine. The gaming machine includes a master gaming controller. The master gaming controller is configured to receive the video data from the video camera, determine the presence of a player in the vicinity of the gaming machine, and initiate an attract feature based on the determined presence of the player.
US09412219B2
A method of gaming comprising providing a plurality of display positions and selecting a plurality of symbols for display at respective display positions. A base pay table is defined and is usable to determine a prize for a winning outcome when a winning outcome associated with a particular prize comprising a defined win combination of x symbols occurs. It is determined whether a winning outcome exists and, during normal game mode, the base pay table is used to determine a particular prize applicable for a winning outcome when the winning outcome occurs. It is also determined whether a trigger condition exists and if the trigger condition is determined, special game mode is implemented during which the special pay table is used to determine a particular prize applicable for a winning outcome when the winning outcome occurs.
US09412215B2
This invention relates to the re-design of the original Ideal Dispensing apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 2,174,712, (1939) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,612, (1953). Stated patent design was a single serving, slideable type container dispensing apparatus, manually operated horizontally through slideable guideways that were permanently welded fixed, one size, guideways that included a simple pan/tray for containers, cans and cartons. The new design gives the all-around versatility with the new all metal individual interchangeable and adjustable guideway blades and a saw tooth trough tray that accommodates majority of sizes, and shapes cans, cartons and beverage containers to include neck-less, and tapered designs in todays marketplace. This said new apparatus with new trough tray magnifies a novel and unobvious design combining and optimizing the utilization of space and versatility, with ease of installation and adjustment. This is optimal for changing, adding to the guideway storage and dispensing of said containers regardless of container design.
US09412214B2
An illumination apparatus includes: a light source that emits light at a plurality of wavelengths; and a rod-like light guide that shapes light emitted by the light source into a line, wherein the light guide is made of a material including a region in which transmittance of wavelengths is not constant, the light source is arranged at one end of the light guide in a longitudinal direction, the light source includes a wavelength of a region in which transmittance of the light guide is not constant, and a reflection surface including reflection member having reflectance differences for the light at a plurality of wavelengths is formed at the other end of the light guide in the longitudinal direction.
US09412213B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of RFID (radio frequency identification). Some particularly preferred embodiments relate to a high-Q, so-called “full duplex” (FDX) RFID Reader. An RFID tag reader, the reader comprising: an electromagnetic (EM) field generator for generating an electromagnetic (EM) field for modulation by said tag, said modulation comprising modulated load of said EM field by said tag; a detector system responsive to fluctuations in strength of said EM field at said reader; a negative feedback system responsive to said detector system to provide a control signal for said EM field generator for controlling said EM field generator to reduce said detected fluctuations; and a demodulator responsive to said control of said EM field to demodulate said EM field modulation by said tag.
US09412206B2
Systems and methods for the manipulation of captured light fields and captured light field image data in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system for manipulating captured light field image data includes a processor, a display, a user input device, and a memory, wherein a depth map includes depth information for one or more pixels in the image data, and wherein an image manipulation application configures the processor to display a first synthesized image, receive user input data identifying a region within the first synthesized image, determine boundary data for the identified region using the depth map, receive user input data identifying at least one action, and perform the received action using the boundary data and the captured light field image data.
US09412205B2
A system and method for extracting data for augmented reality content are described. A device identifies a sensing device using an image captured with at least one camera of the device. Visual data are extracted from the sensing device. The device generates an AR content based on the extracted visual data and maps and displays the AR content in the display to form a layer on the sensing device.
US09412199B2
A web server receives a request from a client specifying a location and a bounding area. A mapping engine creates a tile grid centered at the specified location. A seed tile is created, including or adjacent to the center location. The web server creates a resource identifier for each tile in the tile grid, and returns the tile grid including the resource identifiers to the client. The resource identifier for each tile includes the location of the seed tile and a position offset for the tile relative to the seed tile, in one embodiment specified in units of northward and eastward movement. The client requests tiles from the system using the resource identifiers previously provided by the system. Upon receiving the request, the mapping engine dynamically renders each requested tile using map data from the map database, and the web server returns the dynamically-generated tiles to the requesting client.
US09412194B2
A method for sub-pixel texture mapping and filtering is provided. The method includes the steps of: dividing an area on a source image into a red (R) sub-area, a green (G) sub-area, and a blue (B) sub-area, where the area on the source image is corresponding to a pixel of a destination image presented by a display device; sampling the R sub-area to obtain a R color value, sampling the G sub-area to obtain a G color value, and sampling the B sub-area to obtain a B color value; and rendering R, G, B color components of the pixel of the destination image according to the R color value, the G color value, and the B color value.
US09412190B2
An image display system includes a display unit, a shooting unit configured to shoot an image of a subject, a specifying unit configured to specify a position of the subject in the image shot by the shooting unit, and a display control unit configured to have the display unit display the shot image and a predetermined comparison image. The display control unit is configured to have the comparison image displayed at a position where the comparison image is superimposed on the subject in the shot image, based on the specified position of the subject.
US09412188B2
A method and image processing system for removing a visual object from an image, e.g., a moving image, is described. An image is provided in which a visual object to be removed is selected, for which a mask is determined. Pixels outside the mask that are intended to be used for replacing pixels inside the mask are selected, based on a similarity measure, comprising an appearance similarity measure representing the visual similarity between a previously selected pixel for replacing the pixel to be replaced and the pixel to be selected, and a geometry similarity measure, representing the closeness of the pixel to be selected to the pixel among the pixels outside the mask that was previously used for replacing the pixel adjacent to the pixel to be replaced. The pixels inside the mask are replaced by copying the properties of the selected pixels to the respective pixels to be replaced.
US09412186B2
A computer system that assists the user of computer drawing programs to accurately place new objects on a drawing is described. The system establishes and displays dynamic gridlines according to objects already placed on the drawing. As a new object is dragged for placement on the drawing, the system analyzes the areas around the new object for already-placed objects. The system then determines the spacing between the already-placed objects and indicates to the user where the dragged object should be placed to maintain the same spacing as the objects already placed on the drawing.
US09412179B2
There is provided an analyzing system including a feature value calculation unit. The feature value calculation unit is configured to calculate, for each time range, a feature value indicating a feature of an amount of movement in a target video image in which a target of analysis is imaged over time.
US09412176B2
Techniques are provided in which a plurality of edges are detected within a digital image. An anchor point located along an edge of the plurality of edges is selected. An analysis grid associated with the anchor point is generated, the analysis grid including a plurality of cells. An anchor point normal vector comprising a normal vector of the edge at the anchor point is calculated. Edge pixel normal vectors comprising normal vectors of the edge at locations along the edge within the cells of the analysis grid are calculated. A histogram of similarity is generated for each of one or more cells of the analysis grid, each histogram of similarity being based on a similarity measure between each of the edge pixel normal vectors within a cell and the anchor point normal vector, and a descriptor is generated for the analysis grid based on the histograms of similarity.
US09412163B2
A method for detecting a cerebral infarct includes receiving an image of a brain of a subject from a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, wherein the image has a plurality of voxels, and each of the voxels has a voxel intensity. Then, the voxel intensities are normalized, wherein the normalized voxel intensities have a distribution peak, and the normalized voxel intensity of the distribution peak is Ipeak. A threshold is determined, which is the Ipeak+ a value. Voxel having the normalized voxel intensity larger than the threshold is selected, wherein the selected voxel is the cerebral infarct. A method for quantifying the cerebral infarct is also provided.
US09412160B2
Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of processing meat or food products. Information is compiled and analyzed regarding the condition of a carcass, meat product, styling of the meat product and associated tray or package. Information is used in various processes, including determining which further processing steps are required. The information is also stored for future reference and analysis.
US09412155B2
A method and system for real time luminance correction and detail enhancement of a video image including the steps of extracting a luminance component from a video image, separating the luminance component into an illumination layer and a scene reflectivity layer, the illumination layer having a dynamic range, compressing the dynamic range of the illumination layer to generate a corrected illumination layer, filtering the reflectivity layer to generate an enhanced reflectivity layer; and combining the corrected illumination layer with the enhanced scene reflectivity layer to generate an enhanced luminance image, is provided. A system for real time luminance correction and detail enhancement of a video image is also provided.
US09412154B2
Provided are a depth information based optical distortion correction (ODC) circuit and method. The ODC circuit includes a depth acquisition unit acquiring a depth of an image, a grid generation unit dynamically generating a correction grid corresponding to the depth of the image using depth information of the image and a projection matrix, and a distortion correction unit correcting optical distortion in the image using the correction grid. The corrected image can then be stored, transmitted, or otherwise output. The image can be a single static image or photograph or a frame in a video recording.
US09412150B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to cause a visual representation of a plurality of objects representative of respective physical structures to be provided with the height of at least one of the objects being modified, thereby visually accentuating the object(s). In regards to a method, one or more objects representative of respective physical structures are identified from among a plurality of objects. The plurality of objects therefore include first object(s) that were identified and second object(s) that were not identified. Each object has an associated height. The method may also modify the height associated with at least one of the objects such that a height differential between the first objects and the second objects is altered. The method may also cause a visual representation of the plurality of objects to be provided with at least one of the objects having a modified height.
US09412147B2
An apparatus for processing graphics data may include a plurality of processing pipelines, each pipeline configured to receive and process pixel data. A functional unit may combine the outputs of each processing pipeline. A buffer included in a given processing pipeline may be configured to store data from the functional unit in response to a determination that the given processing pipeline is inactive. The buffer may then send the stored data to a memory.
US09412146B2
Embodiments are provided to enable graphic processing unit (GPU) virtualization for high bandwidth or rate demanding applications, such as 3D gaming, where a client communicates with a host via a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The distributed GPU virtualization allows one or more VMs or comparable hosts or components without GPU access to communicate with a GPU at a different component or physical machine in a data center or a network using remote direct memory access (RDMA). A first physical machine that excludes a GPU starts a remote display driver function to handle a request to render graphics from a client via gateway. A second physical machine that comprises a GPU is instructed to start a render function for the client using the GPU. The render function communicates with the remote display driver function at the first physical machine. The rendered graphics is then sent to the client via the gateway.
US09412125B2
A method of content distribution for one or more user devices, comprising: associating the one or more user devices with a user domain; acquiring content with one or more user accounts linked to the user domain; accessing the acquired content with the one or more user devices according to predetermined privileges, wherein access for an individual user device of the one or more user devices is valid while the individual user device is associated with the user domain and has an active status with the user domain.
US09412123B2
A system, method and device for detecting keystroke entries in a field entered by keyboard in connection with an online transaction that may be fraudulent or erroneous. A score can be assigned to a keystroke based upon its distance from another keystroke. The scores of keystrokes in a string can be summed to obtain a string score. The string score can be normalized by dividing the string score by the number of keystrokes summed to obtain the normalized string score. A risk of fraud or error can be determined based upon the value of the normalized string score in comparison to a predetermined value.
US09412109B2
A computing system determines incremental values associated with a plurality of clustering solutions. Each of the clustering solutions groups stores of a retailer into clusters in a different way. For each clustering solution in the plurality of clustering solutions, the incremental value associated with the clustering solution indicates a difference between an estimated revenue associated with the clustering solution and revenue associated with a baseline clustering solution. The computing system then determines, based on the incremental values associated with the plurality of clustering solutions, the appropriate number of clusters. The clustering solutions that group the stores into more or fewer clusters than the appropriate number of clusters tend to be associated with incremental values that are the same or lower than the clustering solutions that group the stores into the appropriate number of clusters.
US09412097B2
A system for facilitating organized and structured meetings of one or more users through a server. The system includes a processor and a memory unit. The memory unit stores data related to the assignment of meetings and the processor is operable to process a registration module for users, an event setup module for setting up an event, a meeting request module for sending meeting requests, and a meeting assignment module. The event setup module allows the user to set up an event and further allows creation of one or more sessions and list of categories for each session, furthermore to create rules based on the categories and then assign locations and schedule for each session. The meeting request module to allow submission of request for meetings during the session. The meeting assignment module to assign meetings between two registered users on the basis of the rules submitted under meeting request module.
US09412095B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment can be provided. The method can include receiving a request from an IM user to queue an unattended status and time-based message, retrieving a recovery trigger for the unattended status and time-based message, and assigning the unattended status and time-based message to a message queue.
US09412086B2
The invention is an electronic identification system that integrates with consumer purchased products for management of data in digital form by way of an interconnected computing system, network, and/or mobile device. The system utilizes a scanning system and coded labels that facilitate a uniform identification of goods within a sales setting or within a household. Such a system would enable the use of SMART technology systems in household appliances, warehouses and retail such that the system implements mobile applications and interfacing through a high-speed network.
US09412084B2
According to one general aspect, a method may include displaying a user interface associated with the application. The user interface may provide a selection of a business service that is implemented within an Information Technology (IT) environment by at least one server and at least one business application executing on the at least one server. The method may include requesting a service status for the business service based on the selection, and receiving a database result regarding the business service from a database server. The database result may include performance information associated with the business service. The method may include displaying the service status as a user interface element viewable within the user interface of the application. The service status may provide the performance information that has been received within the database result.
US09412081B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for recording and reporting agricultural information using a combination of a universal product code and a lot code. In an example embodiment, apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation. The product identification indicia comprise a combination of a universal product code and a lot code for the food product. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia; send the identification code to at least one remote server; receive, from the at least one remote server, agricultural certification information that is associated with the product; and display the certification information on the display in human readable form.
US09412071B2
Methods, mediums, and systems are described for providing a platform coupled to one or more rules engines. The platform may provide runtime rule services to one or more applications. Different rules engines may be used for different types of rules, such as calculations, decisions, process control, transformation, and validation. Rules engines can be added, removed, and reassigned to the platform. When the platform receives a request for services from an application, the platform selects one of the rules engines to handle the request and instructs the selected rules engine to execute the rule. The rules engine may be selected automatically. The platform may be implemented through a service-oriented architecture.
US09412069B1
Methods and systems provide the infrastructure supporting an omniphysical mind or descriptive self supportable by a computing device. The infrastructure includes descriptive information capabilities and special symbols that support the capabilities. For example, a system may include at least one processor and memory storing a database that includes symbols, definitions of symbols, and processing rules. Symbol in the database may represent awareness capabilities, a categorization capability, a decision capability, a safety capability, a report capability, and a self-initiate capability. One special symbol may represent the ability of the system to organize and call the other special symbols that support the infrastructure.
US09412068B2
In a data processing system, a method for implementing a factor graph having variable nodes and function nodes connected to each other by edges includes implementing a first function node and a on a first computer system, the first computer system being in network communication with a second computer system; establishing a network connection to each of a plurality of processing systems; receiving, at the first function node, soft data from a variable node implemented on one of the processing systems, the soft data including an estimate of a value and information representative of an extent to which the estimate is believed to correspond to a correct value; and transmitting, from the first function node to the one of the processing systems, soft data representing an updated estimate of the value.
US09412053B1
Embodiments of an apparatus, system and method for creating light projection solutions for user guidance are described herein. A user may request that projected light be used to assist in a plurality of operations involving objects in the physical space around the user. A user can use voice commands and hand gestures to request that a projector project light or images on or near objects involved in one or more operations. Embodiments of the disclosure perform an image recognition process to scan the physical space around the user and to identify any user gesture performed (e.g., a user pointing at a plurality of objects, a user holding an object); a steerable projector may be actuated to project light or image data based on the user's request and a plurality of operations associated with the objects.
US09412029B2
An apparatus for recognizing iris in an eye is provided. An image collecting unit collects an image of the eye. A control unit detects whether a user wears a contact lens, based on an edge component on the image of the eye.
US09412023B1
A method is disclosed for determining wettability in a subsurface reservoir. Embodiments of the method utilize image analysis techniques for determining wettability indicator values. Wettability indicator values may be determined based on a hydrocarbon wet fraction and a water wet fraction of pore linings, which may both be determined by image analysis of pore walls lined with hydrocarbons using images of sections obtained from core samples. Further details and advantages of various embodiments of the method are described in more detail herein.
US09412011B2
A tactile feedback output device receives one or more warning signals for controlling one or more types of tactile output by the one or more tactile feedback output devices, the one or more warning signals representing that a predicted behavior of a monitored user represents a particular behavior that is potentially adverse and a percentage probability that the predicted behavior is adverse, the monitored user detected within a particular environment monitored by a supervising user, the one or more tactile feedback output devices worn by the supervising user.
US09412003B2
A discriminant function specifying device includes a setting part for calculating a discriminant function by machine learning using a learning input parameter, the discriminant function being for separating a distribution of a genuine similarity from a distribution of impostor similarity, the learning input parameter being set before executing the machine learning, and for setting a plurality of discriminant functions, each of the plurality of discriminant functions being obtained by changing values of the learning input parameter and a learning output parameter, the learning output parameter being a parameter of the calculated discriminant function; a calculation part for calculating an error rate for each of the plurality of discriminant functions set by the setting part; and an extraction part for extracting one discriminant function among the plurality of discriminant functions, the one discriminant function having the error rate calculated by the calculation part which meets a predetermined error condition.
US09412000B1
In an approach to determining a relative position for each computer of a group of computers within a wireless network to a computer within the wireless network, a computer receives a set of digital image files from each computer and aggregates the set of digital image files into a panoramic digital image file. The computer generates a network map depicting a position of each of the computers based on the panoramic digital image file. The computer determines a relative position map for at least one computer based on the network map and the panoramic digital image file, wherein the relative position map provides a location of each computer of the group of computers with respect to the at least one computer. The computer receives input from the at least one computer, the input using the relative position map to send data to one or more of the group of computers.
US09411989B2
A system that provides notice of a lost signal. A wireless device and a control device employ radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which uses radio frequency signals to communicate with one another via communication link having a reception range. The control device transmits a signal to the wireless device via the communication link. The wireless device responds by transmitting a return signal via the communication link. The control device processes the return signal to determine if the wireless device is within the reception range, if not, the control device provides an audible, written or visual alarm.
US09411983B2
In an embodiment of the present invention, a processor includes content storage logic to parse digital content into portions and to cause each portion to be stored into a corresponding page of a memory. The processor also includes protection logic to receive a write instruction having a destination address within the memory, and if the destination address is associated with a memory location stores a portion of the digital content, erase the page associated with the memory location. If the destination address is associated with another memory location that does not store any of the digital content, the protection logic is to permit execution of the write instruction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09411976B2
There is provided a system, including a network that is defined by its novel approach to privacy, security and freedom for its users, namely privacy by allowing access anonymously, security by encrypting and obfuscating resources and freedom by allowing users to anonymously and irrefutably be seen as genuine individuals on the network and to communicate with other users with total security and to securely access resources that are both their own and those that are shared by others with them. Functional mechanisms that the system are able to restore open communications and worry-free access in a manner that is very difficult to infect with viruses or cripple through denial of service attacks and spam messaging; moreover, it will provide a foundation where vendor lock-in need not be an issue.
US09411969B2
There are provided a method, system and service for computerized managing a plurality of data protection (DP) resources. The method comprises: accommodating data related to at least part of the DP resources among said plurality of DP resources in a memory thus giving rise to accommodated data, wherein at least part of the accommodated data is obtained by automated collecting; processing by a processor operatively coupled to the memory the accommodated data, said processing resulting in identifying at least one data protection (DP) scheme characterized, at least, by a data protection technique implemented with regard to at least one DP resource related to said DP scheme; identifying by the processor one or more data protection (DP) gaps affected the at least one DP resource; and using the identified one or more DP gaps for assessing, by the processor, DP risk score to the at least one DP resource.
US09411967B2
A computer-implemented method includes providing a user interface on an internet-protocol (IP) connected mobile device, the user interface configured to receive a user input corresponding to one or more data privacy parameters for geo-location data, and controlling a transferring of geo-location data to and from each of a plurality of mobile applications on the mobile device based on the user input. A change in one or more of the data privacy parameters can change how geo-location data is provided to each of the plurality of applications and can affect location data accuracy, location data reporting frequency, geo-functions, and more. The user interface can be configured to allow a user to view, manage, and delete a personal location history. Furthermore, one or more profiles can be associated with one or more of the plurality of mobile applications, where each of the one or more profiles is assigned individual data privacy parameters.
US09411962B2
Policy-based client-server systems and methods for attestation in managing and securing mobile computing devices. Attestation provides the means to make efficient, secure, and reproducible use of knowledge possessed by trusted expert parties and authorities within the expression and enforcement of policies for controlling use of, and access to, onboard software and hardware, network capabilities, and remote assets and services. Aspects of secure attestation of applications that use shared and dynamically loaded libraries are presented, as well as potential business models for attestation used in such a policy-based system.
US09411957B2
A method and a device for optimizing and configuring a detection rule, where the method includes: a network entity receives network traffic; extracts a packet from the network traffic, and identifies, according to a feature of the packet, protocol related information used in the network; saves the protocol related information and correspondence between pieces of information in the protocol related information to a first learning association table; and matches a corresponding rule from a vulnerability rule base according to the protocol related information to generate a first compact rule set. Through the generated compact rule set in the present invention, subsequent protocol detection is performed only for a protocol threat that may occur in a live network; therefore, content that needs to be detected subsequently is reduced, the detection efficiency is improved, and unnecessary performance consumption is avoided at the same time.
US09411951B2
Various methods and systems are provided for allowing a user to select a non-numeric PIN or password and use that to access content instead of a conventional numerical PIN. A series of visual, textual, and/or audio “digits” form the PIN, where each succeeding digit may be related to and/or further limit one or more of the preceding digits.
US09411950B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for computer-based user authentication to prove user identity or to approve access to a resource such as a computer system, in which a user performs a set of actions on at least one verification image on a display screen. Users are authenticated by a computer comparing the set of actions against a key definition for the verification image. The set of actions may include selecting at least one target location on the image, selecting target locations in a selected order, selecting the target locations with a selected pattern, selecting at least one overlay with which to cover a one target location, superimposing a target location with a selected overlay, covering the target locations with overlays in a selected superimposing order; and covering the target locations with overlays in a selected superimposing pattern.
US09411946B2
Various systems and methods for authenticating a user are described herein. A system to includes a biometric scanner to scan an input sequence of biometric identifiers; a storage device to store a biometric identifier database; an input module to receive the input sequence of biometric identifiers; an access module to access the biometric identifier database and retrieve a secret sequence of biometric identifiers; a comparator module to compare the input sequence of biometric identifiers to the secret sequence of biometric identifiers to obtain a result; and an authorization module to, based on the result, allow access to a resource provided by the system.
US09411944B2
The present application provides methods and corresponding systems for accessing services on a gaming device which, in certain embodiments, include the step or steps of receiving at least one item of identity verification data from a user of a gaming device; enabling at least one service, such as a wager-type game, on the gaming device based on a match between the at least one item of identity verification data received and at least one item of identity verification data obtained previously; displaying an interface screen comprising graphic objects associated with the wager-type game and at least one selectable element for the user to submit a gaming command and a wagering command during game play; obtaining at least one item of user change data from a user during game play; and prompting the user for identity verification data when a user change is suspected based on the at least one item of user change data.
US09411942B2
A device, method, and system for managing authorization for rendering of digital media recordings by a networked rendering device are disclosed. The device includes a processor and a memory. The device receives metadata identifying a recording of a specific audio performance, and searches for a source providing the recording. The device obtains a token authorizing the source to deliver the recording to the rendering device. The device provides the token to the source, receives the recording from the source, and renders the recording. An agent may serve as an intermediary between the rendering device and the source.
US09411941B2
The current invention concerns a method for identifying the elemental composition of and/or quantifying the presence of mono-isotopic elements in a molecule in a sample by computing a solution of a system of linear equations ΣαEiαnα=Fi, whereby the set of numbers Fi comprises said set of relative peak heights from the aggregated isotopic distribution and the coefficients Eiα of said linear system comprise powers and/or power sums of roots rα,iα. The present invention also provides a method for analyzing at least part of an isotopic distribution of a sample, comprising obtaining data comprising at least one probability qj with which a j'th aggregated isotopic variant of said molecule with mass number Aj occurs within said aggregated isotopic distribution; and computing a probability qi with which an i'th aggregated isotopic variant occurs within said aggregated isotopic distribution, by taking a linear combination of said at least one probability qj.
US09411939B2
A method of making a patient specific surgical orthopedic implant includes obtaining a virtual model of the orthopedic implant that is configured to fit over a particular tissue body, and virtually designing holes of the orthopedic implant.
US09411930B2
The disclosure provides methods to assemble genomes of eukaryotic or prokaryotic organisms. The disclosure further provides methods for haplotype phasing and meta-genomics assemblies.
US09411919B2
A methodology for the simulation of semiconductor memory devices that exhibits improved accuracy and speed, and the apparatus performing the methodology are disclosed. Embodiments may include determining a state of a bitcell of an integrated circuit (IC) design, determining a first threshold voltage for the bitcell based on the state of the bitcell, and simulating electrical characteristics of the bitcell according to the first threshold voltage to verify the IC design.
US09411915B2
A method of selecting the positions of wells to be drilled for the development of a petroleum reservoir from a set of reservoir images. Well configurations are optimized by calculating a first quality criterion using a flow simulator applied to a limited number of reservoir images. Previously obtained configuration simulation results previously obtained are used for configurations physically close to the configuration to be assessed. A second reservoir development quality criterion is calculated for the optimized configurations using a flow simulator applied to each image of the reservoir. Finally, the well location corresponding to the optimized configuration having the best second quality criterion is selected.
US09411908B2
Aspects of the disclosure provide a packet processing system. The packet processing system includes a plurality of processing units, a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) engine, and an interface. The plurality of processing units is configured to process packets received from a computer network, and to perform an action on a received packet. The action is determined responsively to a lookup in a table of rules to determine a rule to be applied to the received packet. The TCAM engine has a plurality of TCAM banks defining respective subsets of a TCAM memory space to store the rules. The interface is configured to selectably associate the TCAM banks to the processing units. The association is configurable to allocate the subsets of the TCAM memory space to groups of the processing units to share the TCAM memory space by the processing units.
US09411907B2
Techniques for searching in a multitenant database environment. A graphical user interface is provided that includes a search functionality for searching a database within a multitenant database environment. The multitenant environment includes data for multiple client entities, each identified by a tenant identifier (ID) having one of one or more associated users. Users of the client identities can only access data identified by their tenant ID. The multitenant environment is at least a hosted database provided by an entity separate from the client entities, and provides on-demand database service to the client entities. Suggested search results are provided in response to user-generated search query input. The suggested search results are based on monitored usage patterns corresponding to a user and are refined in response to subsequent user-generated search query input. Search results are provided based on the user-generated search query input and/or a user selection from the suggested search results.
US09411901B2
A method in a computing device for generating a composite document includes receiving drawing data from a user interface, where the drawing data includes a plurality of two-dimensional shapes, and generating a first data structure that includes the received drawing data. The method further includes receiving a reference to a geographic location from the user interface and, in response to receiving the reference to the geographic location, retrieving photograph data corresponding to the received reference, where the photograph data includes at least one of satellite image data and aerial image data for the geographic location.
US09411897B2
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a log associated with a user. The log includes a number of entries that each indicate a geo-location of the user at a point in time. The log spans a period of time and some of the entries are based on a geo-location determined and reported by a mobile computing device of the user without manual user input. The method also includes determining a pattern among the geo-locations of the user at the points in time; and determining for some of the geo-locations of the user at the points in time, a place corresponding to the geo-location; and inferring by the computing device a routine of the user based at least in part the pattern and the places.
US09411892B2
An electronic document analysis method receiving N electronic documents pertaining to a case encompassing a set of issues including at least one issue and establishing relevance of at least the N documents to at least one individual issue in the set of issues, the method comprising, for at least one individual issue from among the set of issues, receiving an output of a categorization process applied to each document in training and control subsets of the at least N documents, the output including, for each document in the subsets, one of a relevant-to-the-individual issue indication and a non-relevant-to-the-individual issue indication; building a text classifier simulating the categorization process using the output for all documents in the training subset of documents; and running the text classifier on the at least N documents thereby to obtain a ranking of the extent of relevance of each of the at least N documents to the individual issue. The method may also comprise evaluating the text classifier's quality using the output for all documents in the control subset.
US09411891B2
Techniques for team searches within a social graph are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a search request initiated by a searching member profile is received. The search request includes search criteria. A team membership connection between the searching member profile and a team profile is then detected. Based on the detected team membership connection, profile connections between member profiles and teammates of the searching member profile are identified. The teammates are member profiles with team membership connections to the team profile. Then, matching member profiles are identified by matching the member profiles with the identified profile connection with the search criteria. The matching member profiles are then communicated to the searching member profile.
US09411883B2
The invention discloses an audio signal processing apparatus and method and a monitoring system. The audio signal processing apparatus includes: a window dividing unit for sequentially reading an inputted audio signal using a sliding window; an energy calculating unit for calculating energy of each frame of the audio signal in each window; a segmenting unit for segmenting, according to distribution of the energy of each frame of the audio signal in each window, the audio signal in the window into multiple segments, such that each segment includes successive frames with approximate energies; a classifying unit for classifying the audio signal in each segment using at least one sound model; and a recognizing unit for recognizing a sound class of the audio signal in each segment according to a result of the classifying by the classifying unit.
US09411881B2
A transcoding tool for transcoding an audio stream to be played at a playback device is provided. The transcoding tool comprises a receiving section adapted to receive at least one bit stream comprising an audio stream and metadata associated with the audio stream. The transcoding tool further comprises a processing section connected to the receiving section and adapted to create a processed audio stream based on the audio stream and metadata, and a transmitting section connected to the processing section and adapted to transmit the created processed audio stream to the playback device.
US09411880B2
A computer system configures data elements based on textual sources by identifying subunits of a textual source, indexing the subunits into a sequence comprised of terms, identifies based on a target a base subsequence of the sequence, and stores the terms in such a way that they can be expanded or contracted and a user can rapidly and efficiently derive relevant information and context even from a vast amount of information including by navigable display to the user. Other methods and systems of configuring and displaying data elements from textual sources are provided.
US09411869B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for replicating data stored in an in-memory data cache to a remote site. An example system includes an in-memory data cache and an in-memory keys cache. The system also includes a key insert module that detects a modification to the in-memory data cache, identifies one or more keys of the plurality of keys based on the modification, and inserts the identified one or more keys into the in-memory keys cache. The system further includes an update module that retrieves from the in-memory keys cache a set of keys, retrieves from the in-memory data cache modified data associated with the set of keys, and transmits to a remote site a modification list including the set of keys and the modified data associated with the set of keys.
US09411868B2
A system and method for passive real-time order state replication and recovery. Upstream data is received from an upstream system via a reliable transport, the upstream data also received by a supported system. Downstream data is received from the supported system via the reliable transport. Data acknowledgements are received from the supported system acknowledging receipt of the upstream and downstream data. A replicated current order state of the supported system is continuously updated in real-time based on the received upstream data, downstream data and the data acknowledgements. A recovery request is received after the supported system has experienced an outage. The current order state is restored to the supported system by transmitting a recovery message to the supported system containing the replicated current order state.
US09411856B1
A system and method for generating an overlay to share information on a website among users who are associated with a social network. A sharing application includes a social network engine, a code generator, a rating engine, a filter module, a dialog engine, a website annotator, a recommendation engine and a user interface module. The social network engine registers users with the social network to share information on websites. The social network engine generates user profiles for users including topics that the users are interested in. The rating engine rates the users based at least in part on the user's activities relating to the websites. The filter module filters users that are included in the overlay according to conditions. The dialog engine generates dialog boxes for users to communicate with each other. The user interface module generates the overlay.
US09411847B2
An application monitoring infrastructure that enables application configuration changes on multiple machines across multiple OS types to be tracked by identifying data containers that are to be monitored for changes, detecting a change to a monitored data container, and storing data representative of a changed version of the monitored data container responsive to detecting that the monitored container was changed. The data containers that are to be monitored for changes are identified from templates, and a unique template is provisioned for each of the applications.
US09411843B2
The present invention relates to a method of managing an index in a shared memory in a multi-process environment. An apparatus for managing an index in a shared memory is implemented to log an address of an index node where an operation is to be performed, information on a number of slots stored in a slot count unit, and information on moved slots stored in a slot movement count unit.
US09411842B2
Techniques for performing database operations using vectorized instructions are provided. In one technique, it is determined whether to perform a database operation using one or more vectorized instructions or without using any vectorized instructions. This determination may comprise estimating a first cost of performing the database operation using one or more vectorized instructions and estimating a second cost of performing the database operation without using any vectorized instructions. Multiple factors that may be used to determine which approach to follow, such as the number of data elements that may fit into a SIMD register, a number of vectorized instructions in the vectorized approach, a number of data movement instructions that involve moving data from a SIMD register to a non-SIMD register and/or vice versa, a size of a cache, and a projected size of a hash table.
US09411834B2
Methods and systems for identifying a victim storage volume from among a plurality of storage volumes based on a comparison of current Quality of Service (QOS) data with a dynamic threshold value that is based on historical QOS collected data for the plurality of storage volumes are provided. A performance manager collects the current and historical QOS data from a storage operating system of the storage system, which includes a response time in which each of the plurality of storage volumes respond to an input/output (I/O) request. The current and historical QOS data for the resources used by the victim storage volume are retrieved and compared with the current QOS data of each resource to an expected range based on the historical QOS data. Another storage volume is identified as a bully when its usage of a resource in contention contributes to creating the victim storage volume.
US09411832B1
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing data. In some embodiments, this includes an initial instruction for a file stored in a first storage system, determining that the initial instruction is not supported by the first storage system, identifying a combination of instructions to the first storage system after determining that the initial instruction is not supported by the first storage system, wherein the combination of instructions is based on the initial instruction, performing the identified combination of instructions on the file stored in the first storage system, and storing results of the performed identified combination of instructions.
US09411827B1
Systems, computer program products, apparatus, and methods are described that perform operations including receiving a search query that includes a name, receiving multiple resources that have been identified by a search engine as best satisfying the search query, wherein the identified multiple resources include a resource including a plurality of images. The operations include identifying an image of the plurality of images displaying a face of the person. The image is identified based on a description associated with the image. The description is based at least in part on one or more resources included in the search results. The operations further include providing the identified image with the search results. The search results are provided as a plurality of links. Each link identifies a corresponding resource of the identified plurality of resources.
US09411826B2
A method of controlling an image processing apparatus communicating with an image server storing first images, second images wherein one of the first images and one of the second images are managed as one image data in the image server. The method includes downloading a plurality of first images from the image server and displaying the plurality of first images; selecting at least one of the first images from the displayed plurality of first images; requesting the image server for second images associated with the selected at least one first images; and downloading the requested second images from the image server. When at least one of the second images is downloaded, a determination is made as to whether the downloaded second images correspond to the selected images, and if it is determined not, a notice indicating that the selected images can not be downloaded is displayed.
US09411823B1
A method of acquiring medical image data for a subject having a subject medical record and subject identifying information includes capturing medical image data related to the subject with a mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device. The mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device includes an optical imaging component, an input component, and a wireless two-way communication component. The method also includes providing a program that includes a program includes a request for subject identifying information, providing the subject identifying information in said program, and wirelessly transmitting data derived from the medical image data and the subject identifying information from the mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device to a second device. The second device is separate from the mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device.
US09411809B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for generating, storing, and managing play queues remotely from a user device on which content associated with the play queues may be played. A client application executing on a user device may transmit a request to generate a remote play queue to a remote server. The request may include an indication one or more sources for the content and may optionally include an indication of the content to associate with the play queue. The remote server may access metadata associated with a subset of the content of the play queue and transmit the metadata to the client application, thereby allowing retrieval and playback of the content on the user device.
US09411808B2
A music service remote from a local device user identifies matching video and music content. An identification of a piece of media content that is part of a collection or playlist, is received by the service, the selected piece of media content being included in a unified catalog of video and music content that is accessible by the music service. If the selected piece of media content has a matching member in the unified catalog, the matching member replaces the selected piece of media content during playback of the collection on the local device. The service analyzes a collection of media content associated with the user, the content collection being either i) stored locally on the local device, or ii) stored remotely from the local device in a store that is accessible by the music service, or iii) stored using a combination of local and remote storage.
US09411806B2
Responding to relational database queries (for example, SQL queries) in a new way. More specifically, qualifying queries are written (for example, written by a human individual) in a way so that a join operation precedes a row limiting operation. Notwithstanding the fact that the join operation precedes the row limiting operation, when responding to the query, machine logic (for example, software) performs the row limiting operation before the join operation. This can improve time and processing efficiency.
US09411805B2
An approach is provided for presenting a translation of a message and a gesture to a sender of the message. A selection of the translation from multiple translations of the message in a language of a recipient of the message is received from the sender. The gesture, which is part of a culture of the recipient, is found in a data repository. The selected translation and an indicator of the gesture are presented to the sender. A selection of the indicator of the gesture is received from the sender. The gesture and notes indicating how the gesture provides an interpretation of the translation are presented to the sender. The interpretation is specific to the culture of the recipient. Presenting the gesture and the notes increases the knowledge of the sender about the culture of the recipient. The selected translation and the gesture are presented to the recipient.
US09411804B1
Techniques for use in connection with a system for automatically generating text. Techniques include accessing information specifying at least one referential expression for at least a first referent and at least one anaphoric expression for at least the first referent; accessing a template that includes human-language text and a first tag that serves as a placeholder for a first text portion including a reference to at least the first referent; automatically identifying, using at least one system rule and at least one processor, text to use for the first text portion at least in part by determining whether to use as the text for the first text portion the at least one referential expression or the at least one anaphoric expression; and automatically generating output text including the human-language text and the identified text for the first text portion.
US09411801B2
Disclosed are implementations of methods and systems for displaying definitions and translations of words by searching for a translation simultaneously in various languages according to a query in a general language dictionary. The invention removes the need to specify a source language for the word or word combination when translated into a target language. The target language may be preset. Translation is possible for word combinations in multiple sources languages. Source words may be entered manually or captured by an imaging component of an electronic device. When captured, a word combination is selected, and subjected to optical character recognition (OCR) and translation. Source language and OCR language may be suggested via geolocation of the electronic device.
US09411793B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable medium for providing translated web content with translated URLs. A request is received content in a second language translated from content in a first language. The content in the first language is obtained from the first Internet source. One or more links are identified from the content in the first language. Each original URL is divided into one or more translatable URL components in the first language. Whether the one or more translatable URL components in each original URL have been previously translated into the second language and stored as translated URL components is determined. If there is at least one translatable URL component previously translated and stored as a corresponding translated URL component, a translated URL in the second language for each original URL is generated. The content in the second language with translated URLs is created.
US09411792B2
An illustrative embodiment includes processing parse tree data. A parse tree data structure that is representative of a document object model (DOM) tree data structure is received. The parse tree data structure is projected onto a data structure that includes a binary tree. The projecting includes storing a projection that includes an association between each DOM node and a respective associated binary tree node, thereby creating a map between the parse tree data structure and the binary tree data structure. Requests to manipulate the parse tree and binary tree data structures that include node inserts and document order comparisons are also performed.
US09411788B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for improved navigation among controlled terms in one or more user documents. A user can navigate among a plurality of occurrences of a controlled term in one or more documents. A disclosed navigation and editing tool provides a link for each of the occurrences of the controlled term, wherein each of the links include a plurality of destination links, wherein each of the destination links allow a user to navigate to a corresponding one of the other of the plurality of occurrences in the one or more documents; receives a user selection of at least one of the destination links; and jumps, in response to the user selection, to a destination in the one or more documents associated with the selected destination link.
US09411781B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, that use record-based styles. In one aspect, a system receives an input selecting a portion of some formatted content, and generates from the selected content one or more style definitions defining a corresponding style in terms of contiguous fields, each defined in terms of units of formatted content. In another aspect, a system applies a record-based style to formatted text content, identifies one or more logical records within the formatted text content matching the style, and displays one of the logical records with a demarcation of boundaries between occurrences of fields in the record. In another aspect, a system also receives a second record-based style, and applies the second style to a result set of logical records that match the first style. In another aspect, a system also uses a record-based style as a search term to search a set of documents.
US09411780B1
Techniques are described for determining height, weight, or other characteristics of a user based on processed sensor data. The sensor data may include data collected by sensors on the user's computing device or other computing devices, or data collected by stationary, external sensors. Different types of sensor data may be processed to estimate at least one physical characteristic of the user, such as the user's height, weight, apparel size, age, and so forth. The estimated characteristics may be employed to perform actions based on the user's identity or category, to customize content delivery for the user, or for other purposes.
US09411778B2
The invention discloses a multiprocessor System and synchronous engine device thereof. the synchronous engine includes: a plurality of storage queues, wherein one of the queues stores all synchronization primitives from one of the processors; a plurality of scheduling modules, selecting the synchronization primitives for execution from the plurality of storage queues and then according to the type of the synchronization primitive transmitting the selected synchronization primitives to corresponding processing modules for processing, scheduling modules corresponding in a one-to-one relationship with the storage queues; a plurality of processing modules, receiving the transmitted synchronization primitives to execute different functions; a virtual synchronous memory structure module, using small memory space and mapping main memory spaces of all processors into a synchronization memory structure to realize the function of all synchronization primitives through a control logic; a main memory port, communicating with virtual synchronous memory structure module to read and write the main memory of all processors, and initiate an interrupt request to processors; a configuration register, storing various configuration information required by processing modules.
US09411777B2
In a parallel computer, performing a rooted-v collective operation by an operational group of compute nodes includes: identifying, in source code by a collective algorithm selection optimizing module, a gather operation followed by a rooted-v collective operation; replacing, by the collective algorithm selection optimizing module, the gather operation with an allgather operation; executing, by the compute nodes, the allgather operation; selecting, by each compute node in dependence upon results of the allgather operation, an algorithm for effecting the rooted-v collective operation; and executing, by each compute node, the rooted-v collective operation with the selected algorithm.
US09411774B2
Memory access circuitry controls access to multiple memory units with two access units. Arbitration circuitry forwards memory access requests for one memory unit to a first access unit, for a further memory unit to a second access unit, and for yet further memory unit to one of the first or second access units. The access units store requests in a queue prior to transmitting them to the respective memory unit. Tracking circuitry tracks requests and determines when to transmit subsequent requests from the queue. Control circuitry sets a state of each access unit to one of active, prepare and dormant, switches states of the two access units periodically, and does not set more than one access unit to the active state at the same time.
US09411768B2
A method allocates physical addresses HDMI-CEC devices within an HDMI-CEC device network. The HDMI-CEC device network includes a plurality of HDMI-CEC devices consisting of at least two root devices, a plurality of parent devices, and a plurality of slave devices. Each of the root devices has a root ID. When a slave device is plug into an HDMI interface of a parent device, the parent device allocates a root ID and a physical address for the slave device. The slave device creates a route table according to the allocated root ID and physical address, to establish a serial communication with the parent device.
US09411766B2
Single Optical Fiber KVM (Keyboard Video Mouse) systems are provided that comprises of two subsystems: an electro-optical transmitter subsystem and an electro-optical receiver subsystem. The single optical fiber KVM is configured to support all required bi-directional communications.
US09411762B2
A method is disclosed to manage platform management messages through multiple peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) segments implemented on a root complex of a computing system.
US09411759B2
A metering system configured to couple to multiple specialty systems, such as a control system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are processing units comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a communication port configured to coupled to a backbone communication network of a control system. The memory stores a program that causes the processor to selectively participate (over the communication port) as a processing unit of a control system of a first manufacturer (the control system implements a first proprietary communication protocol between processing units), and to participate (over the communication port) as a processing unit of a control system of a second manufacturer different than the first manufacturer (the control system of the second manufacturer implements a second proprietary communication protocol between the processing units).
US09411748B2
Embodiments of the invention create an underlying infrastructure in a flash memory device (e.g., a serial peripheral interface (SPI) flash memory device) such that it may be protected against user attacks—e.g., replacing the SPI flash memory device or a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack to modify the SPI flash memory contents on the fly. In the prior art, monotonic counters cannot be stored in SPI flash memory devices because said devices do not provide replay protection for the counters. A user may also remove the flash memory device and reprogram it. Host platforms alone cannot protect against such hardware attacks.Embodiments of the invention enable secure standard storage flash memory devices such as SPI flash memory devices to achieve replay protection for securely stored data. Embodiments of the invention utilize flash memory controllers, flash memory devices, unique device keys and HMAC key logic to create secure execution environments for various components.
US09411736B2
The storage processor of a data storage system such as a storage array automatically configures one or more accelerator caches (“AC”) upon detecting the presence of one or more solid-state storage devices (e.g., SSD drives) installed in the data storage system, such as when a storage device is plugged into a designated slot of the data storage system, without requiring any user configuration of the AC or specification by the user of the type(s) of data to be cached in the AC. The AC therefore provides a zero configuration cache that can be used to cache any of various types of data in the data storage system. The AC cache can be used in any of a wide variety of data storage systems including, without limitation, file servers, storage arrays, computers, etc. Multiple ACs may be created to cache different types of data.
US09411732B2
In one embodiments, one or more first computing devices receive updated values for user data associated with a plurality of users; and for each of the user data for which an updated value has been received, determine one or more second systems that each have subscribed to be notified when the value of the user datum is updated and each have a pre-established relationship with the user associated with the user datum; and push notifications to the second systems indicating that the value of the user datum has been updated without providing the updated value for the user datum to the second systems.
US09411729B2
A transactional memory system salvages hardware lock elision (HLE) transactions. A computer system of the transactional memory system records information about locks elided to begin HLE transactional execution of first and second transactional code regions. The computer system detects a pending cache line conflict of a cache line, and based on the detecting stops execution of the first code region of the first transaction and the second code region of the second transaction. The computer system determines that the first lock and the second lock are different locks and uses the recorded information about locks elided to acquire the first lock of the first transaction and the second lock of the second transaction. The computer system commits speculative state of the first transaction and the second transaction and the computer system continues execution of the first code region and the second code region non-transactionally.
US09411722B2
An asynchronous FIFO buffer that provides data in response to requests to read a memory array is disclosed. The asynchronous FIFO buffer provides the data output within a latency tolerance. The asynchronous FIFO has a read clock input and a write clock input. The read clock input receives a read enable signal that defines how data should be clocked out. The write clock input receives a write clock that is asynchronous from the read enable signal. The asynchronous FIFO inputs data from the memory array in accordance with the write clock signal. The asynchronous FIFO outputs data in accordance with the read enable signal. Control logic may pre-fetch data from the memory array into the asynchronous FIFO prior to the read enable signal first being received.
US09411719B2
A memory system having multiple memory layers includes a first memory layer comprising a volatile memory, a second memory layer comprising a first sub-memory and a second sub-memory. In response to a reference failure that occurred in the first memory layer, to which a read reference failed data and a write reference failed data are respectively loaded from a lower level memory layer.
US09411697B2
Near clones for a set of targeted computing systems are provided by determining a highest common denominator set of components among the computing systems, producing a pseudo-clone configuration definition, and realizing one or more pseudo-clone computing systems as partially configured backups for the targeted computing systems. Upon a planned failover, actual failure, or quarantine action on a targeted computing system, a difference configuration is determined to complete the provisioning of the pseudo-clone system to serve as a replacement system for the failed or quarantined system. Failure predictions can be used to implement the pseudo-clone just prior to an expected first failure of any of the targeted systems. The system can also interface to an on-demand provisioning management system to effect automated workflows to realize pseudo-clones and replacement systems automatically, as needed.
US09411686B2
An embodiment of a method for accessing a storage unit of a flash memory, performed by a processing unit, includes at least the following steps. After all messages within a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disk) group are programmed, it is determined whether a vertical ECC (Error Correction Code) within the RAID group has been generated. The processing unit directs a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller to obtain the vertical ECC from a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and store the vertical ECC to a buffer when the vertical ECC within the RAID group has been generated, thereby enabling the vertical ECC to be programmed to the storage unit.
US09411680B2
A composite semiconductor memory device, comprising: a plurality of nonvolatile memory devices; and an interface device connected to the plurality of nonvolatile memory devices and for connection to a memory controller, the interface device comprising an error correction coding (ECC) engine. Also, a memory system, comprising: a memory controller; and at least one composite semiconductor memory device configured for being written to and read from by the memory controller and comprising a built-in error correction coding (ECC) engine. Also, a memory system, comprising: a composite semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of nonvolatile memory devices; and a memory controller connected to the at least one composite semiconductor memory device, for issuing read and write commands to the composite semiconductor memory device to cause data to be written to or read from individual ones of the nonvolatile memory devices; the composite semiconductor memory device providing error-free writing and reading of the data.
US09411678B1
A method of operation in a memory device, comprising storing data in a first group of storage locations in the memory device, storing error information associated with the stored data in a second group of storage locations in the memory device, and selectively evaluating the error information based on a state of an error enable bit, the state based on whether a most recent access to the first group of storage locations involved a partial access.
US09411677B2
A method for detecting errors in a transfer of data from a transmitter to at least one receiver includes coding the data together with address information identifying the receiver in a series of data packets and transferring the data and the address information using the data packets. The method also includes generating, at the transmitter, a check value for each data packet and transferring the check value with/in the data packet to the receiver. The method further includes comparing, at the receiver, the check value with an expectation value, wherein an error is detected in the event of a deviation. For each data packet to be transmitted, the method includes calculating a number sequence value from the address information using a first calculation rule, generating the check value from the sequence value using a second calculation rule and transmitting the data packet with the check value to the receiver.
US09411676B2
Disclosed is a method for data transmission, comprising: generating the parity check matrix on the basis of the generating sequence corresponded to the preserved row generator; encoding the input data by the generated matrix obtained by said parity check matrix, and obtaining the output data comprising the parity check information. Also provided in the present invention is an apparatus for data transmission. The method and apparatus of the present invention could make the parity check matrix take the minimum storage space.
US09411671B1
In one embodiment, a storage and privacy system stores and manages information associated with users and ensures and enforces access-control rules specified for the stored information.
US09411668B2
A subsystem is configured to apply an offset voltage to a test, or canary, SRAM write driver circuit to create a condition that induces failure of the write operation. The offset voltage is incrementally increased until failure of the test write operation occurs in the canary SRAM circuit. The subsystem then calculates a probability of failure for the actual, non-test SRAM write operation, which is performed by an equivalent driver circuit with zero offset. The subsystem then compares the result to a benchmark acceptable probability figure. If the calculated probability of failure is greater than the benchmark acceptable probability figure, corrective action is initiated. In this manner, actual failures of SRAM write operations are anticipated, and corrective action reduces their occurrence and their impact on system performance.
US09411665B2
Techniques for integrating a messaging infrastructure with an existing application computing system include integrating an enterprise service bus (ESB) with an existing application computing system, the application computing system including one or more processing modules providing one or more functionalities; receiving, by the integrated ESB, one or more messages from one or more client computing devices communicatively coupled with the application computing system; managing, by the integrated ESB, the application computing system such that the application computing system communicates with the one or more client computing devices; and transferring, by the integrated ESB, the one or more received messages between the application computing system to one or more of the one or more client computing devices by utilizing the one or more processing modules and the one or more functionalities of the application computing system.
US09411663B2
The described embodiments comprise a first hardware context. The first hardware context receives, from a second hardware context, an indication of a memory location and a condition to be met by the memory location. The first hardware context then sends a signal to the second hardware context when the memory location meets the condition.
US09411659B2
Provided is a data processing method which can increase data processing speed without adding a new node to a distributed system. The data processing method may include: calculating a conversion number of cores corresponding to a number of processing blocks included in a graphics processing unit (GPU) of a node of a distributed system; calculating a adding up number of cores by adding up a number of cores included in a central processing unit (CPU) of the node of the distributed system and the conversion number of cores; splitting job data allocated to the node of the distributed system into a number of job units data equal to the adding up number of cores; and allocating a number of job units data equal to the number of cores included in the CPU to the CPU of the node of the distributed system and a number of job units data equal to the conversion number of cores to the GPU of the node of the distributed system.
US09411651B2
In an embodiment, a method is provided. In an embodiment, the method provides determining that a message has been placed in a send buffer; and transferring the message to an application on a second virtual machine by bypassing use of an operating system to process the message by directly placing the message in an application memory space from which the application can retrieve the message.
US09411644B2
According to at least one example embodiment, a multi-chip system includes multiple chip devices configured to communicate to each other and share hardware resources. According to at least one example embodiment, a method of processing work item in the multi-chip system comprises designating, by a work source component associated with a chip device, referred to as the source chip device, of the multiple chip devices, a work item to a scheduler for scheduling. The scheduler then assigns the work item to a another chip device, referred to as the destination chip device, of the multiple chip devices for processing, the scheduler is one of one or more schedulers each associated with a corresponding chip device of the multiple chip devices.
US09411642B2
When a computing system is running at a lower clock rate, in response to an event that triggers the computing system to increase the clock rate, a list of threads pending execution by the computing system is accessed. The list includes a thread that, when executed, causes the clock rate to increase. That thread is selected and executed before any other thread in the list is executed.
US09411641B2
A task scheduling method is disclosed, where each processor core is programmed with a short list of priorities, each associated with a minimum response time. The minimum response times for adjacent priorities are different by at least one order of magnitude. Each process is assigned a priority based on how its expected response time compares with the minimum response times of the priorities. Lower priorities may be assigned a timeslice period that is a fraction of the minimum response time. Also disclosed is a task division method of dividing a complex task into multiple tasks is; one of the tasks is an input gathering authority task having a higher priority, and it provides inputs to the other tasks which have a lower priority. A method that permits orderly shutdown or scaling back of task activities in case of resource emergencies is also described.
US09411628B2
Embodiments are directed to backing up a virtual machine cluster and to determining virtual machine node ownership prior to backing up a virtual machine cluster. In one scenario, a computer system determines which virtual machines nodes are part of the virtual machine cluster, determines which shared storage resources are part of the virtual machine cluster and determines which virtual machine nodes own the shared storage resources. The computer system then indicates to the virtual machine node owners that at least one specified application is to be quiesced over the nodes of the virtual machine cluster, such that a consistent, cluster-wide checkpoint can be created. The computer system further creates a cluster-wide checkpoint which includes a checkpoint for each virtual machine in the virtual machine cluster.
US09411627B2
A method, system and computer program product for allocating storage for virtual machine instances. The input/output (I/O) usage of disk extents utilized by a virtual machine is saved in an I/O profile of the virtual machine. In response to deallocating the virtual machine, the I/O usage of the disk extents is extracted from its I/O profile and saved in a data structure. Upon starting a new instance of the virtual machine, new disk extents are allocated to the new virtual machine instance. The I/O usage of the disk extents for the previous incarnation of the virtual machine is applied to the disk extents allocated to the new virtual machine instance. The newly allocated disk extents can now be placed in either a solid-state drive device or a hard disk drive device based on this I/O history without requiring a twenty-four hour long cycle.
US09411618B2
An example method of loading classes from a content repository includes storing a set of files in a content repository. The set of files includes a representation of a set of classes. The method also includes extracting first metadata that describes the set of classes and storing the first metadata in a content repository. The method further includes receiving a request including second metadata corresponding to one or more classes of the set of classes. The request is from a repository-class loader executable in a node. The method also includes selecting, based on the second metadata, a class of the set of classes. The method further includes sending the selected class to the repository-class loader for loading into the node.
US09411617B2
A system and method for transforming name synthesized classes in response to dynamic class updates to existing classes, featuring the ability to provide replacement synthetic names for reloaded name synthesized classes. According to a preferred embodiment, the name synthesized classes are anonymous classes. The method stores and tracks the synthetic names for each name synthesized class as they are loaded or reloaded, intercepting the loading of the classes before being defined in a virtual machine. Then, the method maps the synthetic name of the name synthesized classes for each dynamic class update to replacement synthetic names of previously loaded name synthesized classes. In addition, the concepts of the invention are applicable to other types of name synthesized classes, such as local classes, bridge methods and lambda expressions.
US09411613B1
Specialized processors use configurable interconnection fabrics to manage execution of subtasks, that together define a task, using one or more specialized processors.
US09411609B2
An electronic control apparatus as one of nodes connected to a communication line includes a microcomputer, a power integrated circuit for controlling power supply to the microcomputer, and a timer adjuster. The power integrated circuit has a timer for measuring a time period during which no data flows through a communication line. The timer is reset, when no data flows through the communication line and then data flows through the communication line. The power integrated circuit starts power supply to the microcomputer, when data flows through the communication line. The power integrated circuit stops the power supply when the timer reaches a threshold value. The timer adjuster prevents the timer from reaching the threshold value until the microcomputer completes a shutdown process.
US09411603B2
A starting method including, after being powered on, obtaining, by a central processing unit (CPU), a boot image file, where the boot image file includes universal boot code and differentiating boot code, the universal boot code is obtained by compiling a universal part in boot code of different chips, the universal boot code includes a first boot code segment and a second boot code segment; reading the first boot code segment from the boot image file, running the first boot code segment, and reading indication information of the differentiating boot code; reading, from the boot image file, the differentiating boot code according to the indication information of the differentiating boot code, and running the differentiating boot code; and running the second boot code segment, to complete booting of the chip to which the CPU belongs.
US09411599B2
Data operand fetching control includes a computer processor that includes a control unit for determining memory access operations. The control unit is configured to perform a method. The method includes calculating a summation weight value for each instruction in a pipeline, the summation weight value calculated as a function of branch uncertainty and a pendency in which the instruction resides in the pipeline relative to other instructions in the pipeline. The method also includes mapping the summation weight value of a selected instruction that is attempting to access system memory to a memory access control, each memory access control specifying a manner of handling data fetching operations. The method further includes performing a memory access operation for the selected instruction based upon the mapping.
US09411591B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to implementing run-time instrumentation sampling in transactional-execution mode. An aspect of the invention includes determining, by a processor, that the processor is configured to execute instructions of an instruction stream in a transactional-execution mode, the instructions defining a transaction. Completion of storage operations of the instructions is interlocked to prevent instruction-directed storage until completion of the transaction. A sample point is recognized during execution of the instructions while in the transactional-execution mode. Run-time-instrumentation-directed storing is performed, upon successful completion of the transaction, run-time instrumentation information obtained at the sample point.
US09411584B2
Instructions and logic provide SIMD address conflict detection functionality. Some embodiments include processors with a register with a variable plurality of data fields, each of the data fields to store an offset for a data element in a memory. A destination register has corresponding data fields, each of these data fields to store a variable second plurality of bits to store a conflict mask having a mask bit for each offset. Responsive to decoding a vector conflict instruction, execution units compare the offset in each data field with every less significant data field to determine if they hold a matching offset, and in corresponding conflict masks in the destination register, set any mask bits corresponding to a less significant data field with a matching offset. Vector address conflict detection can be used with variable sized elements and to generate conflict masks to resolve dependencies in gather-modify-scatter SIMD operations.
US09411582B2
An apparatus for processing an invalid operation in a prologue and/or an epilogue of a loop includes a register file including a first region for storing a data validity value indicating whether data is valid or invalid, and a second region for storing the data; and a functional unit configured to determine whether an operation is valid or invalid based on a value of a first region of each of one or more input sources received from the register file, and output a destination including a value based on the value of the first region of each of the input sources.
US09411578B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for matching and attributing code violations. One of the methods includes receiving a snapshot S of a code base of source code and a different snapshot T of the code base. Data representing first violations in the snapshot S and second violations in the snapshot T is received. Pairs of matching violations are determined using performing two or more matching processes, including performing a first matching process, the first matching process determining first pairs of matching violations according to a first matching algorithm and performing a second matching process, the second matching process determining second pairs of matching violations according to a second matching algorithm from violations not matched by the first matching process. The first pairs of matching violations and the second pairs of matching violations are included in the determined pairs of matching violations.
US09411559B2
A device may receive a chart generated via a technical computing environment, where the chart includes a textual portion and a graphical portion, and the graphical portion includes state information. The device may parse the chart into the textual portion and the graphical portion, and may process the textual portion with a textual engine of the technical computing environment to generate textual results. The device may process the graphical portion with a graphical engine of the technical computing environment to generate graphical results, and may combine the textual results with the graphical results to generate chart results. The device may output or store the chart results.
US09411546B2
Provided is a technique for preventing registration regarding event notifications to a communication apparatus from remaining in an information processing apparatus after a communication session using a direct connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus is disconnected. The information processing apparatus (image forming apparatus) performs, upon receiving from the communication apparatus (mobile terminal) a registration request regarding an event to be notified to the mobile terminal in the case where the event occurs in the image forming apparatus, registration regarding the event in accordance with the received registration request. When a WiFi-Direct connection to a specific mobile terminal is disconnected, the image forming apparatus identifies, among registered events, an event in which that specific mobile terminal is registered as a communication destination, and cancels the registration regarding the identified event.
US09411544B2
There is provided a printing apparatus for conveying a print medium and performing printing on the conveyed print medium, the printing apparatus including a print data acquisition unit configured to acquire print data in which digital watermark information is added to image data, the digital watermark information being used to identify a position of an image of the image data on a print medium, a printing unit configured to print an image on a print medium based on the print data, a conveyance information acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to conveyance of a print medium, based on information on the position of the image that is obtained by detection of digital watermark information in an image read by a reading unit, and a print control unit configured to control printing by the printing unit, based on the acquired information relating to conveyance.
US09411534B2
An administrator provisions a virtual disk in a remote storage platform and defines policies for that virtual disk. A virtual machine writes to and reads from the storage platform using any storage protocol. Virtual disk data within a failed storage pool is migrated to different storage pools while still respecting the policies of each virtual disk. Snapshot and revert commands are given for a virtual disk at a particular point in time and overhead is minimal. A virtual disk is cloned utilizing snapshot information and no data need be copied. Any number of Zookeeper clusters are executing in a coordinated fashion within the storage platform, thus increasing overall throughput. A timestamp is generated that guarantees a monotonically increasing counter, even upon a crash of a virtual machine. Any virtual disk has a “hybrid cloud aware” policy in which one replica of the virtual disk is stored in a public cloud.
US09411533B2
A system and method enables efficient implementation of snapshots of data organized as arbitrary data structures on a byte-addressable persistent memory of a host computer. A user-level library of the host computer may configure the persistent memory as a software transactional memory (STM) system defined by operations, such as a STM commit operation, that ensure safe and consistent storage of the data (i.e., the data structures) within a region of the persistent memory. The library may then cooperate with an application executing on the host computer to control access to a data structure, e.g., to change a datum, stored in the region of the persistent memory as a transaction using the STM commit operation. Within a context of the transaction, the library may precisely determine which byte or bytes of the datum have changed within the region, as well as how and when the bytes have changed. Armed with precise knowledge of the context of the transaction, the library may efficiently implement a snapshot (i.e., point-in-time copy) of the changed datum and its associated data structure at the granularity at which it was modified, e.g., at the byte-addressable granularity.
US09411519B2
A method and apparatus for implementing performance in a flash memory system in a computer system. A flash memory chip includes a function engine performing garbage collection and scrub operations using an internal bus for data movement. The system includes an on-flash chip memory buffer buffering garbage collection and scrub requests. Garbage collection and scrub operations are interleaved with mainline reads and writes.
US09411516B2
Provided is an apparatus including a first storage device having a first write speed and a second storage device having a second write speed. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to manage a transfer of data to the first storage device or the second storage device. The amount of data stored on each of the first and second storage devices is based on the first write speed and the second write speed.
US09411512B2
A method for controlling an electronic device is provided, including displaying at least one portion of a screen displayed on a first display unit of a first electronic device on a second display unit of a second electronic device, receiving an input related to a first position in the second display unit; identifying a type of an object corresponding to the first position, and executing at least one function based on the type of the object.
US09411507B2
The disclosed systems and methods are directed to interfaces, and more particularly, to an audio feedback system for touch interface. This touch interface allows a user to interact with a touchscreen without a priori knowledge of where items are located on the touchscreen or even the relative orientation of that touchscreen. For instance, this interface may operate responsive to relative offset between touches.
US09411490B2
Improved systems and methods for navigating and interacting in virtual communication environments are described. At least some of these systems and methods provide a framework that includes one or more virtual areas and supports realtime communications between the communicants. At least some of these systems and methods provide an interface that includes navigation controls that enable a user to navigate virtual areas and interaction controls that enable the user to interact with other communicants in the one or more virtual areas.
US09411488B2
A display apparatus and a method for controlling a display apparatus thereof are provided. The method for controlling the display apparatus includes: receiving a mode start command from one of a plurality of input units to control a pointer; determining a type of an input unit through which the mode start command is input; and displaying the pointer on a display screen based on a result of the determining. Accordingly, a user may perform the functions of the display apparatus more conveniently according to each input apparatus.
US09411482B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for visualizing user interfaces. In one aspect, a method includes presenting a user interface visualization for an application. The application is configured to perform functions and present a graphical user interface including user interface elements to access the functions. Presenting the user interface visualization for the application includes selecting a group of related functions and presenting a graphical representation for each related function. The graphical representations for the related functions are presented in proximity to each other, and the graphical representations are presented differently than the user interface elements for the related functions are presented by the graphical user interface of the application.
US09411480B2
The touch panel includes a panel capacitor, a first circuit, a first capacitor, a second circuit and a controlling circuit. The first capacitor is coupled to the panel capacitor. The first circuit transmits a scan signal to the panel capacitor. The second circuit transmits an inverting signal to the first capacitor. The inverting signal is synchronized with the scan signal, a frequency of the inverting signal is identical to a frequency of the scan signal, and the inverting signal is phase-inverted from the scan signal. The controlling circuit outputs a touch signal in response to a voltage at a terminal of the panel capacitor, in which the touch signal is configured to estimate a capacitance of the panel capacitor.
US09411477B2
A method for configuring a touchscreen controller may include identifying a model of a touchscreen by measuring a capacitance or resistance of at least one element integrated in the touchscreen, identifying the model of the touchscreen based on the measured capacitance or resistance, and configuring the touchscreen controller based on the identified model of the touchscreen.
US09411469B2
A driving circuit outputs driving waveforms to operation signal lines. The waveforms are formed by combining a first-mode waveform for charging a node capacitor with a positive voltage and a second-mode waveform for charging the node capacitor with a negative voltage in a predetermined binary sequence. A sensing circuit is electrically connected with a plurality of sense signal lines and measures sense voltages delivered to one integration capacitor from a plurality of node capacitors which are electrically connected with the sense signal lines. A sense detector adds or subtracts the sense voltages which are measured by the sensing circuit at driving time points to measure capacitances of the node capacitors. Accordingly, an autocorrelation technique which is generally used in communication systems is applied to driving a touch screen device.
US09411466B2
In a liquid crystal display device, a second substrate includes a detection electrode of a touch panel, pixels include pixel electrodes and counter electrodes, the counter electrodes are divided into a plurality of blocks, the counter electrodes of the divided blocks are provided in common to the pixels on a plurality of display lines being side by side, the counter electrodes of the divided blocks are used as scanning electrodes of the touch panel as well, the liquid crystal display device includes a semiconductor chip configured to supply a counter voltage and a touch panel scanning voltage to the counter electrodes of the divided blocks, the semiconductor chip includes a first terminal group formed on a side of a display area side configured by the plurality of pixels.
US09411464B2
A multi-touch system includes a panel for conducting signals, e.g. by FTIR, from incoupling points to outcoupling points, to define detection lines across the panel. A signal processor operates in a repeating sequence of iterations to obtain an output signal from a detector coupled to the outcoupling points and generate a formatted signal value for each detection line, and operate a reconstruction algorithm on the formatted signal values to determine an interaction pattern on the panel. The signal processor also, at least intermittently in the sequence of iterations, operates compensation data on the formatted signal values to compensate for contaminations on the panel, and calculates updated compensation data based on an interference pattern determined as a function of the interaction pattern, the interference pattern being a 2D representation of contamination-induced signal interferences. The influence of contaminations in the interaction pattern is thereby suppressed.
US09411455B2
In order to provide a display device which includes a touch panel and enable to (i) maintain flatness of a display surface, (ii) increase productivity, and (iii) reduce variations caused during the manufacturing process, provided is a display device (1) including: a display panel (2); a touch panel (4) provided on an observer side of the display panel (2); and a single holding frame (6) surrounding a side surface of each of the display panel (2) and the touch panel (4), each of the display panel (2) and the touch panel (6) being held by the single holding frame.
US09411445B2
A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry coupled to transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes. The sensor module is configured to transmit transmitter signals with the transmitter electrode and receive resulting signals with the receiver electrodes. The determination module is configured to obtain a set of measurements for an input object detected in a sensing region of the input device from a capacitive image, and perform, based on the set of measurements, a multistage classification to obtain a classification result identifying a type of the input object. wherein the capacitive image is generated based on the resulting signals.
US09411444B2
A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel for conducting signals from incoupling points to outcoupling points. Detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points. A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals. A data processor processes the output signal to generate a set of data samples, which are non-uniformly arranged in a two-dimensional sample space. Each data sample is indicative of detected energy on a detection line and is defined by a signal value and first and second dimension values defining the location of the detection line on the surface portion. Adjustment factors are obtained for the data samples, each adjustment factor being representative of the local density of data samples in the sample space. The data samples are processed by tomographic reconstruction, while applying the adjustment factors, to generate a reconstructed distribution of an energy-related parameter within the surface portion.
US09411429B2
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for a rotary controller arrangement. A method may include receiving an indication that a rotary control element is moved to a first end position. A first action may be performed based on a selection of the first action at the first end position. An indication that the rotary control element is moved to a second end position may be received. A second action may be performed based on a selection of the second action at the second end position. The disclosed rotary controller arrangement includes assigning an action to the end point of rotation of a rotary control element. By assigning an action to an end point of rotation, a user may rotate the rotary control element to a particular end point to easily find and select the desired action.
US09411423B2
An electronic interactive device having a user interface with a flexible surface, a sensor configured to sense a flex gesture applied to the flexible surface, a haptic device configured to generate a haptic effect in response to the flex gesture, and a controller in signal communication with the sensor and the haptic device. The controller is configured to trigger the haptic device to provide haptic confirmation of the flex gesture and to trigger an application action associated with the flex gesture.
US09411421B2
To provide a display device including a touch sensor, in which input feeling can be obtained and deterioration of image quality is suppressed. The display device includes a touch sensor portion, a display panel, an elastic member, and a support. The touch sensor portion is provided over the display panel. The support is provided below the display panel. The elastic member is provided between the display panel and the support. The elastic member is provided in part of the periphery of a pixel region included in the display panel or in the entire periphery.
US09411415B2
According to various embodiments, an apparatus is provided, including: a first display and a second display and a control circuit operatively coupled to the first display and the second display. The control unit is configured to perform operations including determining a relative position between the first display and the second display, and displaying information for presenting to a user via at least one of the first display or the second display, based on the relative position. Other embodiments are possible.
US09411412B1
A computing device can be controlled based on changes in the angle of a user's head with respect to the device, such as due to the user tilting the device and/or the user tilting his head with respect to the device. Such control based on the angle of the user's head can be achieved even when the user is operating the device “off-axis” or when the device is not orthogonal and/or not centered with respect to the user. This can be accomplished by using an elastic reference point that dynamically adjusts to a detected angle of the user's head with respect to the device. Such an approach can account for differences between when the user is changing his natural resting position and/or the resting position of the device and when the user is intending to perform a gesture based on the angle of the user's head relative to the device.
US09411408B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for load optimization using cable-associated voltage drop is provided. The method may include receiving a plurality of tasks for processing by a plurality of electronic devices. The method may also include determining a power loss value for one or more power cables powering each of the plurality of electronic devices. The method may further include assigning the plurality of tasks to one or more of the plurality of electronic devices based on the power loss value for the one or more power cables powering each of the plurality of electronic devices.
US09411405B2
Apparatus and methods of reducing power consumption in solid-state storage devices such as solid-state disks (SSDs) that can reduce idle power levels in an SSD, while maintaining low resume latency upon exiting a reduced power state. By arranging a storage controller and at least one NAND flash package of the SSD in separate power islands, storing context information for the SSD in at least one page buffer of NAND flash memory within the NAND flash package on one power island upon entering the reduced power state, and, once the context information is stored in the page buffer, allowing the NAND flash memory to enter a standby mode, placing the storage controller on the other power island in a predefined low power mode, and removing power from any unneeded components on the same power island as the storage controller, a scalable approach to reducing idle power levels in the SSD can be achieved.
US09411404B2
An apparatus is disclosed for managing operational modes of a processor. The apparatus may include the processor which may include a coprocessor, an instruction queue, and a monitoring circuit for detecting instructions for the coprocessor in the instruction queue. The monitoring circuit may detect when the instruction queue holds no instructions for the coprocessor. If the instruction queue holds no instructions for the coprocessor, the coprocessor may be placed into a mode in which the coprocessor consumes less power. The monitoring circuit may detect an instruction for the coprocessor in the instruction queue. In response to the instruction for the coprocessor, the coprocessor may be placed into a mode in which the coprocessor may execute the instruction.
US09411395B2
In an embodiment, a processor includes at least one core. The at least one core includes an execution unit and a current protection (IccP) controller. The IccP controller may receive instruction width information associated with one or more instructions of an instruction queue prior to execution of the instructions by the execution unit. The IccP controller may determine an anticipated highest current level (Icc) for the at least one core based on the instruction width information. The IccP controller may generate a request for a first license for the at least one core that is associated with the Icc. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09411388B2
A power system is coupled to a powered system and a system capacitance. The power system includes a power system output sensor, a power conversion device, and a power system output controller. The power system output controller includes a powered system threshold that is related to a power excursion capability of the powered system. The power system output controller is operable, in response to receiving a power system output signal from the power system output sensor that exceeds the powered system threshold, to control the power conversion device to increase the power system output from the power conversion device in order to increase the energy stored in the system capacitance for use by the powered system during a power excursion. The powered system may include processors that draw power from the system capacitance during power excursions so as to not exceed the limits of the power system.
US09411387B2
A circuit for a switching charger includes multiple input supply nodes, and a number of charging paths. Each input supply node is connectable to a power source. Each charging path may include a middle node connected to a coupling switch and a pass transistor. The coupling switch may be configured to activate a corresponding charging path of the charging paths. A pre-charging switch may be coupled to a corresponding middle node of each charging path. The pass transistor of an activated one of the charging paths may be configured to provide a switching voltage at an input of a charging sub-circuit. The pre-charging switch may be configurable to pre-charge a middle node of a non-activated path to a high voltage to prevent an unwanted high current passing through a body diode of a corresponding pass transistor of the non-activated path.
US09411386B2
Systems and methods for operating mobile devices having one or more environmental sensing systems for disrupting battery power.
US09411385B2
An assembly (1000) includes a substrate (1002) and a heat emissive electrical component (1001) disposed on the substrate. A shield (1003) is disposed on the substrate, thereby enclosing the heat emissive electrical component. A display assembly (101) is disposed above the shield. A compressible pad (1004) is disposed between the shield and the display assembly. The compressible pad defines an aperture (1005) above the heat emissive electrical component. The aperture can have dimensions that are a function of a shield area and a heat emissive electrical component area.
US09411379B2
Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for inhibiting, preventing and/or hindering eavesdropping or accidental use of cameras and microphones of a portable electronic device (PED), in order to assist the user with maintaining their personal privacy.
US09411378B1
An information handling system includes a flexible display screen, first and second display platforms, and a plurality of micro-beads. The flexible display screen is movably mounted to the first and second display platforms. The plurality of micro-beads is coated on the flexible display screen, and the plurality of micro-beads comprises a protective layer of increase hardness relative to the flexible display screen.
US09411374B2
This disclosure describes electronic devices that include displays for rendering content, touch sensors disposed beneath the displays for detecting touch inputs, and antiglare components for reducing glare caused by ambient light. In some embodiments, the displays include a single transparent substrate, a thin film transistor array connected to a bottom surface of the transparent substrate, a conductive substrate, and a front plane laminate connected to the conductive substrate. In such embodiments, the front plane laminate is connected to the thin film transistor array, and the array comprises a plurality of transparent electrodes. This disclosure also describes techniques for manufacturing displays utilized with electronic devices.
US09411368B2
An external module, an electronic device and a method for driving an electronic module are provided. The electronic device includes a host and multiple external modules. The external module adapted to be removably connected to the electronic device includes a body, a first connector, a moving assembly and a second connector. The body has multiple connecting ports. The first connector is fixed on one of the connecting ports. The electronic device is adapted to be electrically connected to the first connector for providing power to the external module to drive the moving assembly. The second connector is assembled to the moving assembly disposed in the body and electrically connected to the first connector. The moving assembly drives the second connector to switch between the connecting ports, and the connecting port where the second connector is located is different from the connecting port where the first connector is located.
US09411357B2
An electronic circuit that changes a charge signal into a voltage signal within a sensor suitable for direct installation in a roadway can be connected to two single-core cables that need not be highly insulating yet can realize the required power supply of the electronics. The circuit includes an integrated impedance converter (IEPE) at the output to a two-core cable and a charge amplifier with an IC1 that has two inputs. A capacitor Cc is connected in series to the signal output of the sensor at one input of the IC1. A Zener diode D is arranged between the ground output of the sensor and the second input of the IC1 and can be supplied with power by a resistor R1 in conjunction with a power supply arranged on the output side in order to adapt the potential at the second input of the IC1.
US09411353B2
In response to a first reference voltage, a regulator regulates an output voltage of a line, so that the output voltage is approximately equal to a target voltage. In response to the output voltage rising above a second reference voltage, pull down circuitry draws current from the line. In response to the output voltage falling below the second reference voltage by at least a predetermined amount, the pull down circuitry ceases to draw current from the line. The first and second reference voltages are based upon a same band gap reference as one another.
US09411351B2
According to an embodiment, a direct current to direct current (DC-to-DC) converter includes a power stage, a generating circuit, a voltage dividing circuit, a subtractor and a controller. The power stage converts an input voltage to a first output voltage. The generating circuit generates a reference voltage by selecting one of candidate voltages in accordance with a level of the first output voltage. The voltage dividing circuit divides the first output voltage to obtain a second output voltage. The subtractor calculates a differential voltage between the reference voltage and the second output voltage. The control circuit generates a control signal to control the level of the first output voltage based on the differential voltage.
US09411349B2
An improved current limiting circuit including a switch having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first and second terminal configured to connect a power supply to a load. A first resistor connected in series between the first terminal and a first constant current source. A second resistor connected in series between the second terminal and a second constant current source. A control circuit configured to measure a voltage drop across the first resistor and compare the voltage drop to a voltage drop across the switch.
US09411348B2
A low-dropout (LDO) regulator includes a voltage reference circuit to provide a reference voltage, a pass device including an input terminal coupled to a voltage input, an output terminal to provide an output voltage and a control terminal, and an error amplifier including a first amplifier input for receiving the reference voltage, a second amplifier input, an amplifier output coupled to the control terminal of the pass device. Additionally, the LDO regulator includes a feedback circuit including a feedback input coupled to the output terminal of the pass device and a feedback output coupled to the second amplifier input to provide a feedback signal. The LDO regulator further includes a control circuit including a non-volatile memory to store configuration data to control operation of the voltage reference circuit, the pass device, the error amplifier, and the feedback circuit to produce the output voltage.
US09411337B1
A device and method are provided, the method including providing a device capable of at least semi-autonomous operation and enabling the device to autonomously gather at least one item and secure that item against unauthorized access while providing selective authorized access to the item while the item is in possession of the device.
US09411330B2
A numerical control device for a working machine capable of controlling a tool posture relative to a workpiece using rotational driving of a rotary drive axis about a machine control point includes: an interpolation unit that performs an interpolation process on moving data generated from a machining program and outputs a position of the machine control point for each interpolation point; a coordinate transformation unit that transforms a position of the machine control point to a tool tip-point position; a stroke-limit determination unit that determines whether the position of the machine control point and the tool tip-point position fall within a range of a movable region, and selects and outputs a stroke limit signal indicating a stroke limit and a tool-posture changing command for instructing change of the tool posture; and a tool-posture changing unit that changes the tool posture in response to the tool-posture changing command.
US09411328B2
A remote control device includes operation buttons, detectors, a power generator, a controller, and an output unit. The operation buttons are movable between an ordinary position and a lowermost position and are configured to move from the ordinary position to the lowermost position in response to a push operation. The detectors are configured to detect the respective push operation of the operation buttons. The power generator is configured to generate a power in response to the push operation. The controller is driven by the power. The controller is configured to determine the pushed operation button based on a detection result of the detectors. The controller remotely controls a toilet device by transmitting a wireless signal toward the toilet device. The wireless signal corresponds to the determined operation button. The output unit is configured to produce an output when the power generator has generated the power.
US09411326B2
Systems and methods provided herein output an operational advisory based upon a plurality of models derived from a plurality of data, in which the plurality of models comprise at least one of a plant transfer function, a degradation contributor model, or a plant level cost model, and in which the plurality of data is derived from at least one of current plant data, historical plant data, business data, environmental data, component data, degradation contribution data, an optimization goal, or a combination thereof.
US09411324B2
The present invention provides a method of controlling the height of a looper in an inter-stand section of a hot strip mill that overcomes the problem of looper instability due to looper inertia without the need for the controller of upstream rollers to have a reduced gain. The inter-stand section of the hot strip mill comprises a pair of upstream rollers driven by a main motor and a looper driven by a looper motor. The method comprises the steps of: calculating a desired speed trim to be applied by the main motor; estimating the inertia of the looper; calculating a torque necessary to overcome the inertia of the looper from the speed trim, the estimated inertia of the looper and a sensitivity calculated from the geometry of the looper; and controlling the main motor to apply the speed trim to the upstream rollers and controlling the looper motor to apply the calculated torque to the looper.
US09411317B2
A timepiece includes an exterior case having a protruding section, a case back, a dial receiving ring, a dial, a dial ring, and a casing ring disposed around the outer circumference of the dial receiving ring. The casing ring includes a casing-ring-side contact section that comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the exterior case, a front-surface-side contact section that comes into contact with the protruding section, a casing ring spring section that is formed to be elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the timepiece and comes into contact with the case back, and a support section that protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the casing ring.
US09411313B2
The present invention concerns an assembly for holding or supporting a timepiece balance spring including a balance spring stud and a stud-holder, wherein said stud-holder includes: a base (30, 300) comprising a first stop member (32, 320) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) of said base; means (7) of attaching said stud-holder to a balance-cock (5), characterized in that said stud-holder further includes elastic means (34, 340) provided with a second stop member (36, 360).
US09411312B2
A method of producing unitary formed silicon balance spring having an overcoil portion for regulation of a mechanical timepiece, said method including the steps of providing a silicon balance spring having a main body portion, and an outer portion for formation as an overcoil portion, wherein the outer portion extends radially outward from an outermost turn of the main body portion, and wherein said main body portion and said outer portion are integrally formed from a silicon based material and are formed in a co-planar configuration; moving said outer portion in a direction relative to and out of the plane of said main body portion, and in a direction towards over said main body portion and towards the plane of the main body portion; and providing a stress relaxation process to the balance spring so as to relieve internal stresses induced within the balance spring from step (ii); wherein upon movement of said outer portion into the plane of said main body portion, the outer portion is located in an overcoil configuration relative to said main body portion.
US09411311B2
The timepiece movement is fitted with an analogue indicator (6), particularly a date ring including a toothing (18) mechanically coupled to a drive device, which includes a motor and a drive wheel and pinion (8) and a support for the drive wheel and pinion. This support is pivotally mounted on a main plate about a first axis and it defines a second axis, remote from the first axis, about which the drive wheel and pinion is rotatably mounted. The drive device further includes a strip spring (40) exerting a force on the support such that the meshing means of the drive wheel and pinion press against the toothing of the analogue indicator. The meshing means and the toothing have respective profiles selected such that, at least in a plurality of distinct display positions of the analogue indicator, the drive wheel and pinion and the analogue indicator mesh with each other with substantially no play under the action of the strip spring.
US09411310B1
A cooling device cools a continuous resin film, which is transported and onto which a toner image is transferred, after the toner image is heated so that the toner image is fixed to the resin film. The resin film to which the toner image is fixed is cooled in such a manner that an image surface side of the resin film is convexly curved.
US09411305B2
The present disclosure illustrates an image forming apparatus with structural connection function. The image forming apparatus can be applied to a business machine, to solve the problem of bad quality of image caused by shaking of a developing module. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the groove with the inclined angle is equal to the pressure angle of the gear to constrain the operation direction of the developing module, so as to prevent the developing module from shaking. The present disclosure just modifies the design of the guiding channel to constrain the developing module, so the cost of components can be reduced efficiently.
US09411293B2
An image forming apparatus performs control to parallelly achieve document image reading by a reading unit and image formation by an image forming unit for forming on a recording material a document image read by the reading unit.
US09411284B2
A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.
US09411278B2
An image forming apparatus includes paper trays to contain and feed a recording sheet on which a toner image is transferred; status sensors to detect a storage status of the recording sheet contained in the paper trays; a sheet sensor to detect a smoothness of the recording sheet; a memory to store detection values of the smoothness detected by the sheet sensor; a fixing device to heat and press the toner image transferred onto the recording sheet and fix it onto the recording sheet; and a control circuit to determine a target fixing temperature of the fixing device based on the detection values stored in the memory. The control circuit determines the target fixing temperature for successive recording sheets depending on the detected smoothness, and resets the detection values stored in the memory to zero when the status sensors detect a change in the storage status of the paper trays.
US09411255B1
The present teachings described a bias charging member and a method of manufacture. According to an embodiment, there is provided a bias charging member. The bias charging member includes an outer surface layer disposed on the conductive core. The outer surface layer includes ceramic microspheres having an average size of from 1 micron to 40 microns present in an amount of from about 5 to about 40 weight percent of the outer layer.
US09411242B2
A wafer alignment system is provided for performing a unidirectional scan-exposure. The wafer alignment system includes a plurality of wafer stages successively moving from a first position to a second position of a base cyclically. The wafer alignment method also includes an encoder plate having a first opening and a second opening. Further, the wafer alignment system includes a plurality of encoder plate readers and a plurality of wafer stage fiducials on the wafer stages. Further, the wafer alignment system also includes an alignment detection unit above the first opening of the encoder plate.
US09411232B2
The present invention provides a composition enabling to form a fine negative photoresist pattern less suffering from surface roughness, and also provides a pattern formation method employing that composition. The composition is used for miniaturizing a resist pattern by fattening in a process of forming a positive resist pattern from a chemically amplified positive-working type resist composition, and it contains a polymer comprising a repeating unit having an amino group, a solvent, and an acid. In the pattern formation method, the composition is cast on a positive photoresist pattern beforehand obtained by development and is then heated to form a fine pattern.
US09411223B2
A focus monitor structure on a reticle includes a lithographic feature region, a horizontal grating region including a horizontal grating located on one side of the lithographic feature region, and a vertical grating region including a vertical grating located on the opposite side of the lithographic feature region. A polarized illumination beam causes a printed image of the lithographic feature region to shift either toward the direction of the horizontal grating region or toward the direction of the vertical grating region in a manner that depends on the sign of the focus offset of the photoresist layer relative to the lens of an exposure tool. The magnitude and sign of the focus offset can be monitored to provide a real-time feedback on the focus offset of the exposure tool by measuring the shift of the printed image of the lithographic feature region.
US09411216B2
In a projector that includes a light source, an image forming unit, a projection optical unit, and a case to contain the light source, the image forming unit, the projection optical unit, and the power supply, takes outside air in through a first intake duct provided on the case, cools the power supply by circulating the taken outside air to the power supply circumventing the projection optical unit, and exhausts the air after cooling through an exhaust vent provided on the case. A second intake duct is provided nearby the power supply compared to the first intake duct, and the amount of outside air drawn into the case through the second intake duct is larger than the amount of outside air drawn into the case through the first intake duct.
US09411208B2
One object is to provide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film which is used for the pixel portion of a display device and has high reliability. A display device has a first gate electrode; a first gate insulating film over the first gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film over the first gate insulating film; a source electrode and a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate insulating film over the source electrode, the drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate electrode over the second gate insulating film; an organic resin film having flatness over the second gate insulating film; a pixel electrode over the organic resin film having flatness, wherein the concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the oxide semiconductor film and measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry is less than 1×1016 cm−3.
US09411202B2
A liquid crystal display device less influenced by static electricity comprises a liquid crystal display element which forms a display part having inner surfaces of a pair of insulating substrates provided with transparent electrodes; a circuit substrate conductively connected to the liquid crystal display element via a lead terminals; and a conductive part formed to surround the transparent electrode. The conductive part is provided on the insulating substrate so as to avoid the positions where the lead terminals are arranged. Further included are a display panel through which the display part is visible; a first earth terminal conductively connected a first conductive pattern of the conductive part and in contact with the display panel; and a second earth terminal of which is conductively connected to a seventh conductive pattern of the conductive part to a grounding part.
US09411200B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including: an insulating substrate; and a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix shape over the insulating substrate. The pixels include a display pixel disposed in a display region and a dummy pixel disposed in a dummy region, the dummy region is disposed outside the display region, and the display pixel includes a liquid crystal layer injected into a microcavity.
US09411192B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a LCD panel having a first polarizer, a first substrate, a second substrate and a second polarizer are sequentially provided from a front surface side, a frame which surrounds the LCD panel and has a first opening having first to fourth sides, a planar light source disposed on the rear surface side of the LCD panel in the first opening, a plurality of optical sheet groups which are disposed between the planar light source and the LCD panel, and an adhesive layer which has a second opening formed along the first to fourth sides of the frame. A front surface side of the adhesive layer is adhered to the LCD panel along at least the first side, and a rear surface side of the adhesive layer is adhered to the plurality of optical sheet groups and the frame along at least the first side.
US09411189B2
A liquid crystal cell, a precursor of the liquid crystal layer, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal cell, and use of the liquid crystal cell are provided. The liquid crystal cell may be manufactured simply in a consecutive manner using a roll-to-roll process. Also, the liquid crystal cell may be realized as a flexible device, and have an excellent contrast ratio. Such a liquid crystal cell can be applied in various applications including smart windows, window-protecting films, flexible display devices, active retarders for displaying 3D images, or viewing angle-adjusting films.
US09411185B2
The invention provides a splicing backplane for a backlight module, which is arranged on the backside of the backlight module. The splicing backplane comprises a mounting portion and a supporting portion, wherein the horizontal height of the mounting portion is level with or lower than that of the supporting portion; and a plurality of the splicing backplanes are assembled together by the mutual superposition of various mounting portions. A plurality of the splicing backplanes are superposed with each other and combined into one, and the height differences between the mounting portions and the supporting portions of two adjacent backplanes are unequal, so that one backplane can be accommodated into the other backplane. In addition, after the superposition, the overall thickness of the backplanes is invariable.
US09411184B2
The present disclosure provides a back plate splicing structure for large-size backlight modules. The back plate includes a bottom flat plate and a splicing member joined to an end of the bottom flat plate, wherein the splicing member includes a side plate, and an upper supporting plate and a lower supporting plate configured on a same side of the side plate; the upper supporting plate, the lower supporting plate, and the side plate cooperatively define a clamping opening clamping the bottom flat plate therein; the upper supporting plate fixes the bottom flat plate in the clamping opening, and at least one fixing screw is configured between the bottom flat plate and the splicing member.
US09411173B1
A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US09411166B2
Provided is a display device. An illustrative display device of the present application may display three-dimensional images or two-dimensional images, which may be enjoyed without glasses.
US09411158B2
The present invention provides a moth-eye film that is not likely to cause condensation on the surface. A moth-eye film including: a resin composition that, when formed into a flat film, has a contact angle with water of larger than 5° but smaller than 31.3°, the contact angle measured between a surface of the flat film and a droplet of water dropped onto the surface of the flat film, after 100 msec from contact of the droplet and the surface.
US09411152B2
An electrowetting display device includes a base substrate, an electrowetting layer having first and second fluids immiscible with each other, a wall to define a pixel area, a hydrophobic layer in the pixel area, and an electronic device to control the electrowetting layer. A method of manufacturing the electrowetting display device is also provided.
US09411150B2
In an endoscope image pickup unit including an image pickup device having connecting terminal portions on a back surface, and a flexible printed wiring board having a first region on which the image pickup device is mounted, a second region in which an external connection portion for connecting an electric cable is formed, a bent portion provided between the first region and the second region, and two conductive layers, input and output pads for performing input of a voltage to and input and output of signals to and from the image pickup device are disposed at a position closer to the bent portion than ground pads for connecting the image pickup device to a ground, and input and output wirings to be connected to the input and output pads are formed from a same conductive layer as the input and output pads.
US09411147B2
A telescope made up of mutually connectable modules, which telescope comprises at least a lens module and an eyepiece module, and the lens module and eyepiece module each have a connection interface for connecting the modules, wherein an optical system for changing the image magnification is integrated in the lens module.
US09411135B2
An imaging optical system includes sequentially from an object side a front group configured to include a positive lens disposed at a position nearest a diaphragm; the diaphragm; and a rear group configured to include a negative lens disposed at a position nearest the diaphragm. The imaging optical system satisfies a conditional expression (1) 0.27≦|θ3/θ2|≦1.80, where θ3 represents temperature-dependent variation of relative refractive index for d-line of the negative lens and θ2 represents temperature-dependent variation of relative refractive index for d-line of the positive lens.
US09411129B2
An imaging lens includes an aperture stop and first to fourth lens elements arranged from an object side to an image side of the imaging lens. Through designs of surfaces of the lens elements and relevant optical parameters, a short system length of the imaging lens may be achieved while maintaining good optical performance.
US09411125B2
A lens barrel includes a first lens, a second lens, a first frame body, a second frame body, and a retracting lens frame. The retracting lens frame is configured to move so that a position of the second optical axis of the second lens changes from a position on the first optical axis of the first lens to a position that is outside the first optical axis, during the transition period between the imaging enabled state and the housed state. A contact portion is formed on the inner peripheral part of the first frame body. A protrusion of the retracting lens frame is configured to engage with and guided by the contact portion during movement of the retracting lens frame. The thickness of a region constituting the side wall of the contact portion is increased over the thickness of the other region toward the inside of the cylindrical part.
US09411122B2
A dual-mode light field camera or plenoptic camera is enabled to perform both 3D light field imaging and conventional high-resolution 2D imaging, depending on the selected mode. In particular, an active system is provided that enables the microlenses to be optically or effectively turned on or turned off, allowing the camera to selectively operate as a 2D imaging camera or a 3D light field camera.
US09411119B1
An enclosure for an optical launch fiber assembly is disclosed which includes a base portion defining an inner cavity and having an interior surface, an outer peripheral wall and an exterior surface, a stationary storage spool fixedly secured to the inner surface of the base portion within the inner cavity, the storage spool having an annular wall forming an inner peripheral channel for supporting a central length of unjacketed optical launch fiber and an outer peripheral channel for supporting two end lengths of jacketed optical launch fiber, and a cover portion having an outer peripheral wall hingedly connected to the outer peripheral wall of the base portion.
US09411117B1
A cable management device and assembly includes an electrical structure having plurality of connectors for receiving connectors of a plurality of cables. A fixed support bar is spaced from and aligned with the connectors. A plurality of cable retainer members are coupled to the support bar for managing and aligning the bundle of cables coupled to the connectors. The cable retainers have a first open recess at a first end with a central axis extending in first direction, and a second open recess at a second end with a central axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first central axis. The first open recess mates with the support bar to slide along the length of the bar and rotate or pivot around the bar to orient the cables in a selected position and pattern. The second open recess has a dimension for coupling with the respective cable.
US09411112B2
A photoelectric hybrid board includes: a first board on which a circuit is formed; an optical waveguide layer stacked with the first board; a first optical waveguide section formed in a direction of stacking in the first board and the optical waveguide layer; and a concave part formed, from the optical waveguide layer side, in the optical waveguide layer in an intersection part of the optical waveguide layer and the first optical waveguide section.
US09411110B2
A fiber optic assembly includes a connector and a cover received over an end face of the connector. The connector includes a ferrule through which an optical fiber extends to the end face of the connector. An end of the optical fiber is polished proximate to the end face. The cover the cover includes a rigid end cap and a form-fitting material within the end cap overlaying the polished end of the optical fiber. The cover is configured to limit access of particulates to the end face of the connector and draw loose particulates of dust and debris from the end face of the connector upon removal from the connector.
US09411101B2
An optical fiber connector of the present invention includes: a ferrule; an inserted optical fiber of which one end portion is fixed to the ferrule and of which the other end portion protrudes from the ferrule; an external optical fiber of which a front end portion is fusion-spliced to the other end portion of the inserted optical fiber; and one or more reinforcing members configured to reinforce the fusion-spliced portion of the other end portion of the inserted optical fiber and the front end portion of the external optical fiber, wherein the ferrule comprises a lens located on an extension line of the inserted optical fiber.
US09411091B2
The invention provides a light collimator (1) comprising (a) an elongated light waveguide (100) having a waveguide longitudinal axis (101), a waveguide length (wl), a waveguide width (ww) and a waveguide height (wh); the waveguide height (wh) defined by the height between a first waveguide surface (151) and a second waveguide surface (152), the waveguide (100) having an aspect ratio of the waveguide length (wl) and the waveguide width (ww) wl/ww>1; the waveguide comprising a plurality of elongated cavities (110); each cavity (110) comprises a cavity longitudinal axis (111), a cavity length (cl), a cavity width (cw) and a cavity height (ch); each cavity having an aspect ratio of the cavity length (cl) and the cavity width (cw) cl/cw>1, wherein the cavity longitudinal axes (111) of the plurality of cavities (110) are perpendicular to the waveguide longitudinal axis (101); and (b) a diffuse reflective layer (200) adjacent to the second waveguide surface. The invention further provides a lighting unit (2) using such collimator (1).
US09411089B2
A light source module includes a circuit board, board pads disposed on the circuit board, and a light emitting diode chip disposed on the board pads. The light emitting diode chip includes a substrate and a semiconductor stacking part disposed between the substrate and the circuit board, and the substrate includes an inclined part disposed at an upper portion thereof and a discharging part disposed at one side surface thereof.
US09411084B2
A method of illuminating poured surfaces is provided. The method embeds fiber optic strands into poured surfaces during the formation thereof. Each fiber optic strand may be supported by a positioning apparatus prior to and during the pouring and setting of the poured surface, wherein no part of the positioning apparatus is visible above a top surface of the operable poured surface, yet the fiber optic strands are exposed near the top surface so as to form desired patterns of points of light.
US09411083B2
Lighting modules and lighting systems containing one or more lighting modules, and associated methods, are provided that receive light from one or more light sources for projecting it to a target surface, e.g., in a uniform, patterned, or other controlled manner. In various embodiments, the lighting modules and lighting systems can be used to mix the light generated by one or more sources.
US09411080B2
A method for manufacturing of a conductive member include forming one of a conductive layer including metal nanowires or a light-scattering layer including insulating light-scattering fine particles on a substrate in a pattern shape; and forming the other of the conductive layer including metal nanowires or the light-scattering layer including insulating light-scattering fine particles on a space of the substrate wherein the one of the conductive layer or the light-scattering layer is not formed.
US09411071B2
A method of estimating at least one mechanical property value of a rock formation in the geologic past. In one embodiment, a correlation model is generated which correlates at least one mechanical property with a porosity value and a composition value relative to a first rock type. An estimation of a past porosity value and a past composition value is then generated for the rock formation at a point of time in the past. A mechanical property value at the point of time in the past is identified in the correlation model based on the estimated past porosity and past composition values.
US09411069B1
Disclosed is a sensor for detecting radiation. The sensor includes a ferromagnetic metal and a radiation sensitive material coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The radiation sensitive material is operable to change a tensile stress of the ferromagnetic metal upon exposure to radiation. The radiation is detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the changes in the tensile stress.
US09411065B2
A drilling system, method and drilling apparatus for determining a parameter of a formation at a downhole location is disclosed. A member having a longitudinal axis is disposed in a borehole at the downhole location. A first magnetometer and a second magnetometer are disposed at an axial location of the member as separate azimuthal locations around the member and oriented tangential to a circumference of circle in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the member. Magnetic fields resulting from a current flowing longitudinally through the member due to a spontaneous potential in the formation are measured to determine the spontaneous potential. The parameter of the formation is determined from the determined spontaneous potential.
US09411059B2
A solid state seismic trigger switch has a tube, a first wire with a first end that extends into the tube, a soldered mass attached to the first end of the first wire, and a second wire in communication with the tube. The first wire and the soldered mass are suspended within the tube. The tube, the first wire, the second wire, and the soldered mass are conductive. The first wire and the second wire are electrically connected to a seismic recorder. Contact between the soldered mass and an interior wall of the tube closes an electrical circuit between the seismic recorder and the tube.
US09411050B1
A global positioning system (GPS) device for providing position location information (PLI) to a smart device includes a GPS receiver; a signal interpreting device; and, a GPS device interface. The GPS receiver receives satellite signals and derives PLI. The signal interpreting device utilizes the derived PLI to provide an analog audio signal. The GPS device interface is configured to receive the analog audio signal. The GPS device interface is adapted for use with an audio interface of a smart device to transmit the analog audio signal to the smart device.
US09411038B2
Determining a location estimate of a wireless communications device can depend on the dynamic and/or static state of the device. Compensation processing is applied to a location estimate (or to information from which such an estimate is derived, in use) if required, given the dynamic and/or static state of the device.
US09411036B2
A light source position detection apparatus (10) has a condensing lens (32) that condenses light emitted from the sun, an image pickup device (33) that receives the light condensed by the condensing lens (32), and a CPU (21) that detects the position of the sun based on per-pixel light reception information received by the image pickup device (33), and the CPU (21) changes the shutter speed of the image pickup device (33) and adjusts the quantity of the light received by the image pickup device in response to the quantity of light emitted from the sun. The light source position detection apparatus (10) can detect the position of a light source with high accuracy, and can detect the position of the light source with high accuracy even when the light source is hidden behind clouds, for example.
US09411031B2
Technologies related to identification of a substance in an optimized manner are provided. A reference group of known materials is identified. Each known material has known values for several classification parameters. The classification parameters comprise at least one of T1, T2, T1ρ, a relative nuclear susceptibility (RNS) of the substance, and an x-ray linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of the substance. A measurement sequence is optimized based on at least one of a measurement cost of each of the classification parameters and an initial probability of each of the known materials in the reference group.
US09411028B2
A multiple resonance sample coil for a magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance probe is comprised of a solenoid coil that resonates at low frequencies and a resonator that resonates at high frequencies. The ends of the low frequency solenoid coil are electrically connected to the high frequency resonator to eliminate arcing and allow the solenoid coil to extend the full width of the resonator. In some embodiments, the high frequency resonator is constructed from the outermost turns of the solenoid coil in the form of a birdcage resonator. In another embodiment, the solenoid coil is electrically connected to one turn of the resonator and the other turn is used as part of a trap to shunt the resonator at low frequencies.
US09411019B2
A method and a system for estimating the State of Health (SOH) of a battery set are disclosed. The method utilizes a discrete quantization algorithm to estimate the SOH of the battery set, wherein the voltage standard deviations are calculated according to the loop voltages of the battery cells, and comparing the rated discharge capacity with the voltage standard deviations for estimating the SOH of the battery set.
US09411018B2
Device to monitor the voltage of battery cells. The device includes a control device, voltage taps configured to tap the voltages of the battery cells, a holding plate having a first holding plate part and a second holding plate part, and a stamped-out circuit having measuring lines configured to electrically connect the control device to the voltage taps, the stamped-out circuit being arranged in cut-outs of the first holding plate part and the cut-outs being covered by the second holding plate such that the measuring lines are fixedly positioned in the cut-outs.
US09411017B2
A method for inspecting a wye ring in a generator includes the steps of dismantling the generator to gain access to the wye ring and at least a portion of a rotor, applying a test signal to the rotor and measuring an inductive voltage at two or more locations near the wye ring. A comparing step compares results from the measuring step to determine if a fault exists in the wye ring. A predetermined difference in inductive voltage measurements indicates presence of the fault.
US09411014B2
A method for reordering a test pattern set for testing an integrated circuit is disclosed. A productivity index is computed for each test pattern in a test pattern set. The productivity index of a first test pattern and the productivity index of a second test pattern are compared. If the productivity index of the second test pattern is larger than the productivity index of the first test pattern, the location of the first test pattern and the second test pattern are swapped.
US09411012B2
A handler includes a base having an opening portion, a first hand which transports a transport target, a first transport section which transports the first hand to above the opening portion and moves the first hand down, a second hand which transports the transport target, a second transport section which transports the second hand to above the opening portion and moves the second hand down, and a control section which controls an operation of the first transport section and an operation of the second transport section. The handler has a state where the first hand and the second hand are disposed in parallel to the opening portion while being close to each other toward above the opening portion.
US09411001B2
Broadband antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of amplifiers; wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is configured for operating in a predetermined frequency range and is associated with an amplifier of said plurality of amplifiers which is configured for said predetermined frequency range; said plurality of antenna elements covering a broadband range.
US09410999B2
Electrically conductive structures produced on or in a substrate, or produced such that the structures are floating in a substrate undergo simple and reliable capacitive contactless and non-destructive inspection using a capacitive sensor having at least two sensor electrode surfaces which are arranged at different constant distances from one another parallel to a surface of the substrate and are arranged beside one another relative to the surface of the substrate.
US09410993B2
Aspects of the present invention provide a module including an electronic circuit that flags the presence of AC or DC input signals. An AC filter receives an input signal and couples it to a first leg. The AC filter permits an AC signal to pass to produce a first output and prevents a DC signal from passing. A DC filter also receives the input signal and couples it to a second leg. The DC filter permits a DC signal to pass to produce a second output and prevents at least part of an AC signal from passing. A lock out circuit in the first leg prevents the second leg from producing the second output when the first leg produces the first output. The output of each leg may be digitized and coupled to a logic controller to flag the presence of AC or DC input signals.
US09410992B2
Apparatuses and methods to distinguish proprietary, non-floating and floating chargers for regulating charging current are disclosed. In one aspect, a charger detection circuit is provided in a portable electronic device. The charger detection circuit is configured to detect whether a connected Universal Serial Bus (USB) charger is compliant with a USB battery charging specification. If the connected USB charger is non-compliant with the USB battery charging specification, the charger detection circuit is configured to further detect if the non-complaint USB charger is a non-compliant floating USB charger or a non-compliant proprietary USB charger. If the connected USB charger is determined to be a non-compliant proprietary USB charger, the portable electronic device can be configured to draw up to a maximum charging current according to the USB battery charging specification.
US09410987B2
A probe card includes a board or silicon substrate; a plurality of probes (terminals) at a first surface of the board, the respective probes having a first extending portion extending along the first surface of the board; a plurality of through-holes formed in correspondence to the respective probes and penetrating between the first and second surfaces of the board; through electrodes embedded in the respective through-holes and conductively connected to the probes in the respective through-holes; and a wiring at the second surface of the board conductively connected to the through electrodes, the wiring having a second extending portion extending along the second surface of the board, wherein the first extending portion and the second extending portion extend in different directions from each other, and a space is formed across the entire width of the first extending portion between the first extending portion and the first surface of the board.
US09410986B2
A testing jig includes a substrate, a carrier provided on the substrate, two conductive members made of a conductive material, and a compensation member made of a conductive material. The substrate has a signal circuit and a grounding circuit thereon. The carrier has a base board made of an insulating material and a conductive circuit made of a conductive material provided thereon. The base board has a signal perforation aligning with the signal circuit, a grounding perforation aligning with the grounding circuit, and multiple compensation holes. The conductive members both have an end exposed out of the carrier, and are respectively fitted in the signal perforation and the grounding perforation to make another end thereof contact the signal circuit or the grounding circuit. The compensation member is fitted in one of the compensation holes to be electrically connected to the conductive member in the grounding perforation through the conductive circuit.
US09410981B2
An MEMS device has a dynamically variable reference capacitor that provides a reference to a sense capacitance. In some embodiments, a 3-axis accelerometer includes a proof mass suspended above a substrate from an anchor, and a cantilevered Z-axis reference capacitor arm suspended above the substrate from the same anchor. In some embodiments, the proof mass is suspended from a plurality of anchors, and each anchor also supports one or more cantilevered arms, the cantilevered arms forming a dynamically variable reference capacitance.
US09410980B2
A system and methods for monitoring work processes. Once example computer-implemented method includes recording a three-dimensional work trajectory. The work trajectory comprises a representation of the actual motion of one or more markers. The method further includes comparing the work trajectory to a work template. The work template comprises a representation of the desired motion of the one or more markers. The method further includes sending a success indication to a display when the work trajectory is similar to the work template and sending a failure indication to the display when the work trajectory is dissimilar to the work template.
US09410979B2
A hybrid angular rate system is provided. In one aspect, the hybrid angular rate system at least includes two different types of angular rate sensors. The hybrid angular rate system may determine when to use the first angular rate sensor and when to use the second angular rate sensor to obtain angular rate measurements indicative of angular motion of the portable sensor device. Further, the hybrid angular rate system may determine one or more angular motion parameters describing angular motion of the portable sensor device using data from the first angular rate sensor, the second angular rate sensor, or the first angular rate sensor and the second angular rate sensor based on the determination.
US09410977B2
A fluidic system that includes a reagent manifold comprising a plurality of channels configured for fluid communication between a reagent cartridge and an inlet of a flow cell; a plurality of reagent sippers extending downward from ports in the manifold, each of the reagent sippers configured to be placed into a reagent reservoir in a reagent cartridge so that liquid reagent can be drawn from the reagent reservoir into the sipper; at least one valve configured to mediate fluid communication between the reservoirs and the inlet of the flow cell. The reagent manifold can also include cache reservoirs for reagent re-use.
US09410972B2
Disclosed is an antibody which binds to quetiapine, which can be used to detect quetiapine in a sample such as in a competitive immunoassay method. The antibody can be used in a lateral flow assay device for point-of-care detection of quetiapine, including multiplex detection of aripiprazole, quetiapine, olanzapine, and risperidone in a single lateral flow assay device.
US09410956B1
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a novel class of genes that function as negative regulators of gene expression and have recently been implicated in several cancers. However, aberrant miRNA expression and its clinicopathological significance in human ovarian cancer have not been well documented. Numerous miRNAs are shown altered in human ovarian cancer, significantly miR-214, -199a*, -200a, -100, -125b, -30d, -221, -222, -126, and -24. Four miRNAs (miR-221, miR-222, miR-126, and miR-24) were found to be deregulated in all four histological types of ovarian carcinoma (serous, mucinous, endometrioid, and clear cell). Frequent deregulation of miR-214, -199a*, -200a and -100 was demonstrated in ovarian cancers. Significantly, miR-214 induces cell survival and cisplatin resistance through targeting down-regulation of proteins activating the Akt pathway. Inhibition of Akt using Akt inhibitor, API-2/triciribine, or PTEN cDNA lacking 3′UTR largely abrogates miR-214 induced cell survival. These findings indicate that deregulation of miRNAs is a recurrent event in human ovarian cancer and that miR-214 induces cell survival and cisplatin resistance primarily through targeting the PTEN/Akt pathway.
US09410955B2
The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining whether a patient having hyperplastic polyps is at risk of developing a colonic neoplasia after resection of said hyperplastic polyps, said method comprising the step of determining the level of progastrin expression in a tissue sample of a hyperplastic polyp obtained from said patient.
US09410948B2
A microfluidic device, used with a processing device having a magnetic supplier, including a chamber arranged to receive a biological sample and at least one magnetic particle, and a storage for storing information comprising a magnetic protocol in a form readable by the processing device. The magnetic supplier is configured to generate magnetic forces on the magnetic particle(s) according to this magnetic protocol read from the storage.
US09410947B2
Fluorescent dyes with affinity for nucleic acids and related methods are provided. Dielectric or semiconducting films including fluorescent dyes with affinity for nucleic acids and related methods are also provided. Coumarin-based surfactants conjugated to the fluorescent dyes with affinity for nucleic acids and related methods are provided. Fluorescent compounds capable of interacting with DNA can be used for a variety of applications.
US09410942B2
A test apparatus in which detectors and objects to be detected are rotated at the same speed, and a control method thereof are provided. The test apparatus includes a rotation driving unit that includes a rotary shaft; a microfluidic device that is loaded on the rotary shaft and includes at least one object to be detected; a rotating member that is mounted on the rotary shaft and includes at least one detector to detect the objects of the microfluidic device; and a controller configured to operate the rotation driving unit such that the microfluidic device and the rotating member are rotated at the same speed on the rotary shaft.
US09410937B2
The safety and proper performance of jet aircraft engines requires that any contamination of jet fuel, for example by water or by improper contaminants, be filtered (removed) before delivery of the fuel, through hoses, to the fuel tanks of the aircraft. Coalescing devices and filters in the fuel delivery system are used to attain this result. A typical problem is that filter materials chemically react with surfactants, and this causes the filter subsequently to “disarm” or fail to perform its function of removing water, which can lead to delivery of fuel containing excessive water. A solution to this problem is to pre-test the fuel for such surfactants by feeding a small fuel sample that has been mixed with “challenge water” through a smaller ‘representative’ test filter and monitor the performance. Using a fluorescent dye in the “challenge water,” the amount of water that passes the test filter is detected, compared with a baseline data and fuel quality determination is made. From the result of the small-scale test, the fuel condition can be inferred and, based thereon; action can be taken to treat the fuel, prior to further distribution, such that it will not disarm field filter-coalescers in a typical fuel distribution system. The use of a fluorescent dye enhances the ability to make this determination of very small representative fuel filters. The fuel evaluation process is fully automated, thereby avoiding human-factor variables and assuring repeatable results.
US09410927B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.
US09410925B2
The present invention relates to a plastic capillary tube for capillary electrophoresis, in which the plastic capillary tube has an inlet opening and an outlet opening and, furthermore, has at least one hole in the capillary tube wall and the diameter of the hole on the inside of the capillary tube wall dL(innen) lies in the range from 0.5 μm to 30 μm.
US09410922B2
In a method for adjusting a gas sensor having a hollow chamber connected to a measuring gas chamber and having an electrochemical pump cell electrochemically pumping the gas component into or out of the hollow chamber, at least two pumping-in phases are provided in which the gas component is pumped into the hollow chamber by the electrochemical pump cell, and at least two pumping-out phases are provided in which the gas component is pumped out of the hollow chamber by the electrochemical pump cell. On the basis of at least one feature of the pump current during the pumping-out phases (Mout), at least one piece of information for adjusting the gas sensor is generated. A parameter regarding the pumping-in is predefined differently in the at least two pumping-in phases.
US09410905B2
A method of non-destructively inspecting an article includes scanning an article to produce a computerized three-dimensional representation of an internal feature of the article. A measurement characteristic of the internal feature is then generated from a plurality of cross-sections through the computerized three-dimensional representation of the internal feature. The measurement characteristic is then used to determine whether the internal feature meets a design criterion.
US09410903B2
A method for estimating a parameter includes: transmitting a control signal to a coherent optical source, the control signal configured to chaotically vary an output of the optical source and generate a chaotically excited optical signal; transmitting the optical signal from the optical source into an optical fiber, the optical fiber including at least one sensing location; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from the at least one sensing location; and estimating a value of the parameter using the reflected signal.
US09410899B2
An illumination apparatus according to embodiments includes: a light source generating laser light; a rotational phase plate having a plurality of randomly arranged stepped regions, the rotational phase plate transmitting the laser light to give a phase change to the laser light; and an integrator including a plurality of lenses arranged in an array, the laser light transmitted through the rotational phase plate being incident on the integrator, an allowable angle of incidence for the laser light of the lenses being set at a maximum value of or larger than an angle of diffraction of a first order of the laser light at the rotational phase plate.
US09410888B2
We describe a method for detection of the presence of an invertebrate or an invertebrate component in a sample of substantially non invertebrate material, comprising impinging said sample with a source of electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of at least 600 nm and detecting Raman scattering/fluorescence of said invertebrate or a component of said invertebrate at a wavenumber where the non-invertebrate components of said sample either do not fluoresce or fluoresce with sufficiently low intensity wherein the non invertebrate material is edible and/or living.
US09410876B2
An apparatus and method for determining the average molecular weight of a complex mixture from a plurality of test samples of the complex mixture are disclosed. The method includes a) providing a chamber having two fixed conditions and one variable condition selected from three state variables of temperature, pressure and volume; b) introducing a test sample of known mass into the chamber; c) setting operating conditions of the state variables such that the test sample will be fully vaporized into a gaseous state without decomposition or chemical reaction; and d) measuring the change of the variable condition after full vaporization of the test sample is achieved. Steps b-d are repeated for several test samples having different masses. The average molecular weight of the complex mixture is determined as a linear gradient (slope) of the relationship for the change of variable condition as a function of test sample mass.
US09410873B2
A fluidics apparatus for manipulation of at least one fluid sample is disclosed. A manipulation surface locates the fluid sample. A surface acoustic wave (SAW) generation material layer is provided. This is a polycrystalline material, textured polycrystalline material, biaxially textured polycrystalline material, microcrystalline material, nanocrystalline material, amorphous material or composite material. A transducer electrode structure arranged at the SAW generation material layer provides SAWs at the manipulation surface for interaction with the fluid sample. The manipulation surface has a phononic structure, for affecting the transmission, distribution and/or behavior of SAWs at the manipulation surface. The apparatus is typically manufactured by reel-to-reel processes, to reduce the unit cost to a level at which the apparatus can be considered to be disposable after a single use.
US09410869B2
A process for testing a combustor or a compressor of a gas turbine engine, where a large volume of compressed air is stored in a large reservoir of at least 10,000 m3 such as an underground storage cavern, compressed air from the storage reservoir is passed through an air turbine to drive a compressor to produce high pressure and temperature compressed air, and where the compressed air can be discharged into a combustor and burned with a fuel for testing of the combustor under simulated conditions of a real gas turbine engine.
US09410868B2
Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface, and ablating at least a portion of the ceramic material to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points.
US09410867B2
A system is disclosed for measuring internal cylinder pressure of a combustion chamber at least partially formed by a cylinder head. The system may include an emitter configured to generate and emit a wavelength of energy along a surface of the cylinder head, and a target inline with the emitter and configured to receive the wavelength of energy. The system may also include a controller in communication with the emitter and/or target. The controller may be configured to correlate a distortion of the wavelength of energy to the internal pressure.
US09410866B2
The present invention relates to a device for monitoring an optical fiber comprising a photo-sensitive device arranged to produce an electric pulse from an optical pulse injected at a first node of the optical fiber, a delay element and a first optical circulator arranged to delay the optical pulse injected at the first node of the optical fiber. Further, the device comprises an optical amplifier arrangement arranged to receive the optical pulse at its input and the produced electric pulse as an operating signal, for producing an amplified optical pulse. Moreover, the device comprises a second optical circulator arranged to receive the amplified optical pulse at a first port and output the amplified optical pulse at a second port connected to a second node of the optical fiber, and to receive an optical signal reflected back from the optical fiber at the second port and outputting the reflected optical signal at a third port.
US09410863B2
A torque tool calibration fixture includes a support and a mounting plate movably secured thereto. The plate is configured to have a torque tool mounted thereto for calibration. A transducer is secured to the mounting plate for movement therewith. The transducer has one end portion configured to be coupled to a drive end of a head portion of the associated torque tool and an opposite end portion. A joint assembly is fixed to the support and coupled to the opposite end portion of the transducer. The joint assembly defines a rotational axis and the mounting plate is movable along the rotational axis. A torque analyzer is in communication with the transducer. Rotation of the joint assembly results in the joint assembly forming a hard joint where further rotation of the joint assembly is prevented. The analyzer indicates actual exerted torque on the hard joint as measured by the transducer.
US09410859B2
A biaxial torque measuring device includes a base and two torque sensing shafts. The torque sensing shafts are disposed on the base, wherein one of the torque sensing shafts is axially parallel to a surface of the base, the other torque sensing shaft has an angle relative to the surface of the base, the angle is greater than 0 degree and smaller than 180 degrees, and each of the torque sensing shafts has a sensing portion for sensing a torque value.
US09410857B2
Various sensor systems are described herein, including inserts having sensors thereon, which are configured to be received in an article of footwear. The inserts may be connected to a sole member of the footwear, or may function as a sole member. The sensors may be piezoelectric sensors in some configurations. The system may also include an electronic module that is overmolded into the sole structure and includes a connector for external access.
US09410843B2
Described herein is a nanowire array, comprising a substrate, a plurality of fluorescent nanowires extending essentially perpendicularly from the substrate and a reflective layer disposed on the substrate in areas between the fluorescent nanowires; wherein the fluorescent nanowires are operable to fluoresce at a wavelength of a collective mode of the nanowire array.
US09410842B2
A photoacoustic wave measurement device according to the present invention includes: an optical fiber that outputs pulsed light; an external spacer that is disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the optical fiber and a measurement object, and which is adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; a piezoelectric element that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the pulsed light from the measurement object and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal; and a spacer that is disposed between the external spacer and the piezoelectric element, and which is adapted to allow the photoacoustic wave to pass therethrough. The piezoelectric element is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. A part of the optical fiber is disposed within the spacer.
US09410827B2
An image is captured. The image includes a calibration pattern. The calibration pattern includes displayed information about the calibration pattern. The displayed information and the calibration pattern are used to make a calibrated measurement.
US09410822B2
A system and method for providing an additional option function to existing functionality of a meter device configured for measuring parameters of energy is provided. The meter device is coupled with an option device for exchanging data between the meter and the option devices along at least one data path, including exchanging initialization data provided by the option device between the meter device and the option device, wherein the initialization data is useable by the meter device for configuring the meter device to be in condition to operate with the option device. The data exchanged between the meter device and the option devices are processed by at least one processor. Upon the coupling of the devices and the exchanging of the initialization data, the meter device is operated with the option device for adding the option function to existing functionality of the meter device.
US09410819B2
A method and apparatus for displaying navigation objects for managing operations of a vehicle. A number of navigation objects for managing the operations of the vehicle is displayed in a graphical user interface to form a display of the number of navigation objects. Responsive to a user input to the number of navigation objects, the display of the number of navigation objects in the graphical user interface is changed to include one or more navigation objects identified based on the user input. The navigation objects in the number of navigation objects have a number of associations with each other. The display of the number of navigation objects includes a number of graphical indicators providing a visualization of the number of associations for the number of navigation objects.
US09410813B2
Course-based place searching systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a system for performing a course-based place search may include a navigation device, a processing device, and a display. The navigation device may be configured to track a location and a course of the vehicle. The processing device may be communicatively coupled to the navigation device and may be configured to request places from a resource based at least in part on the location of the vehicle and the search criterion and to return a first one or more places received from the resource to an occupant of the vehicle. The first one or more places may be based at least in part on the course of the vehicle. The display may be communicatively coupled to the processing device. The first one or more places may be displayed on the display.
US09410808B2
A method and apparatus for detecting location information using a navigation algorithm are provided. The method includes searching for neighboring Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, receiving, if at least one GPS satellite is detected, pseudo-range information from at least one of the detected GPS satellites and storing the received pseudo-range information, calculating a displacement of a pedestrian terminal based on step detection of a pedestrian, correcting the calculated displacement of the pedestrian terminal using the received pseudo-range information, and measuring the location of the pedestrian terminal is measured using the corrected displacement.
US09410804B2
A system for determining a location of a vehicle in an environment provided with at least two landmarks whose location is known. The system includes at least one scanning distance sensor installed in the vehicle and configured to measure distance and direction from the vehicle to the at least two landmarks, as well as a data processing device configured to store in its memory the location of the at least two landmarks; and determine the location of the vehicle on the basis of at least the location of the at least two landmarks as well as the distance and direction from the vehicle to the at least two landmarks.
US09410794B2
Examination of a microscopic specimen is described. Height information for a respective plurality of lateral regions of the specimen is obtained from each of multiple specimen recordings, in which the height information of each specimen recording is limited to a respective height measurement range and the height measurement ranges of different specimen recordings are different. An overall image is calculated from the specimen recordings, in which overall image height information of the different specimen recordings is combined. Specimen recordings are recorded at such heights that: the height measurement ranges of different specimen recordings overlap each other, common lateral regions are identified in two respective specimen recordings for which lateral regions height information could be obtained in both specimen recordings, and a link of the height information of different specimen recordings is determined on the basis of the height information of different specimen recordings for at least one common lateral region.
US09410791B2
Position sensors to inductively sense a position of a target relative to a number of sensor coils are described. In one embodiment, the target comprises first, second, and third portions positioned on either side of an axis of rotation, such that lateral misalignment between the target and the sensors is compensated between the interaction of the different portions and the sensor coils. In another embodiment, the target comprises first and second portions that are separated along the measurement path such that in a first range of relative positions, the first portion is adjacent to the sensor coils and in a second range of relative positions, the second portion is adjacent to the sensor coils. The first and second portions are asymmetrically arranged relative to the sensor coils such that when each portion is adjacent the same portion of the sensor coils, different signals are induced in the sensor coils.
US09410785B1
A tape measure attachment device having a securing portion shaped to receive a portion of a tape member of a tape measure, an extension member coupled to the securing portion to form a joint and disposed at a substantially perpendicular orientation to the securing portion, the extension member having an outer face, and having a tab coupled to the extension member and having an upper face defining at least one aperture, a first position along a tab translation path with the tab disposed at a substantially perpendicular orientation to the extension member and extending in a direction away from the outer face of the extension member, and a second position along a tab translation path with the tab disposed at a substantially parallel orientation to the extension member.
US09410773B2
The Adjustable Archery Arrow Insert is a three-piece arrow tip attached to an arrow shaft and includes an arrow tip insert, an arrow tip collar, and an arrow tip. The arrow tip insert is threadably received by the arrow tip collar and is attached to the arrow shaft, where the arrow tip is inserted within, and the arrow tip collar overlaps, the arrow shaft. The arrow tip is inserted through the arrow tip collar and attached directly to the arrow tip insert without protruding into the arrow shaft. Sections of the arrow tip insert may be removed to adjust the overall weight of the arrow. The Adjustable Archery Arrow Insert transfers the impact forces of the arrow tip to the arrow tip insert and arrow tip collar, where the forces are transferred over a larger area thereby minimizing the forces on front edge of the arrow shaft.
US09410752B2
Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure.
US09410731B1
An expandable secondary condensate drain pan comprises a drainage basin formed by sidewalls that extend upwardly around a perimeter of the drain pan from a base. An expansion section allows portions of the base and sidewalls to be expanded or compressed. When located along a side of the drain pan, the base of the expansion section may be stepped such that the base at the side of the pan is higher than the base toward the center of the pan, allowing drainage to cascade away from the side of the pan. The expansion section may be strengthened against cracking by a relatively thin coating or film. A method for installing a pre-manufactured expandable secondary condensate drain pan under an air conditioning unit comprises adjusting the size of the drain pan, placing the drain pan on a support, and setting an air conditioning unit on the drain pan.
US09410728B2
A chiller system and a control method thereof includes a plurality of chiller modules in which a refrigeration cycle is performed to supply cold water, a main control device generating an operation signal to simultaneously or successively operate the plurality of chiller modules, a module control device provided in each of the plurality of chiller modules to control an operation of each of the plurality of chiller modules on the basis of the operation signal of the main control device, and a starting device communicably connected to the module control device to selectively apply power into the plurality of chiller modules.
US09410724B2
A beverage cooler (10, 100, 200) includes a heat pump (12) having a cooling element thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator (14). The accumulator (14) includes a heat-energy dispersion arrangement (16) formed from thermally conductive material which is in thermal contact with a quantity of phase-change material (18) having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius. A conduit (20) for the beverage defines a circuitous path thermally coupled to accumulator (14). The heat pump (12) draws heat energy predominantly from the phase-change material (18) so as to ensure that a temperature of the phase-change material is reduced by at least as much as the temperature of the beverage within conduit (20), even under zero-flow conditions. This ensures that the accumulator (14) can be fully charged during periods of low beverage dispensing demand without risk of freezing the beverage within conduit (20).
US09410720B2
A fluid heating system may be installed for residential and commercial use, and may deliver fluid at consistent high temperatures for cooking, sterilizing tools or utensils, hot beverages and the like, without a limit on the number of consecutive discharges of fluid. The fluid heating system is installed with a tankless fluid heating that includes an inlet port, an outlet port, a drain port, at least one heat source connected with the inlet port, and a valve manifold connected to the at least one heat source, the drain port, and the outlet port. A temperature sensor is downstream of the at least one heat source and connected to the valve manifold. The valve manifold is operated so that an entire volume of a fluid discharge from the fluid heating system is delivered at a user-specified temperature (including near boiling fluid) on demand, for every demand occurring over a short period of time.
US09410710B2
A purified air discharge device includes a push hood (2) having an air flow discharge surface (23) discharging a uniform purified air flow. The push hood (2) is provided with a lateral air discharger (28) for creating a purified air flow that collides against a surrounding wall that is formed as the push hood (2) is installed and that is situated close along the circumferential direction of the air flow discharge surface (23) of the push hood (2).
US09410708B2
A system for descaling a water heating unit, said system comprising (so that the abstract is directed to the presently allowed apparatus, rather than a method): a pump; a descaling solution source; a plurality of valves; a programmable control module operatively coupled to said pump, said descaling solution source, and said valves, said programmable control module adapted to selectively receive a user-defined descaling operation start date and time, monitor for the advent of a descaling operation start date and time, and upon the advent of the descaling operation start date and time, automatically shut off via at least one valve, a supply of heated water, and automatically activate said pump; said pump adapted to automatically pump stored descaling solution, and further adapted to automatically rinse a water heating unit; and said programmable control module further adapted to cause said valves to discharge solution from said water heating unit, restore a supply of heated water, and return said water heating unit to normal operation mode.
US09410704B2
A turbomachine combustor is provided. The turbomachine includes a combustion chamber and multiple micro-mixer nozzles arranged concentrically within a radial combustion liner and configured to receive fuel from one or more fuel supply pipes affixed to each of the plurality of micro-mixer nozzles at an upstream face. The multiple micro-mixer nozzle are also configured to receive air from a flow sleeve surrounding the radial combustion liner. Each of the micro-mixer nozzles include an annular strip having a multiple tubes or passages extending axially from the upstream face to a downstream face of each of the micro-mixer nozzles.
US09410703B2
A device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a turbine engine combustion chamber, the device including a mechanism for centering a fuel injector, which mechanism is movable radially in a support mechanism fastened to a wall of the chamber, the support mechanism carrying a retaining mechanism for axially retaining the centering mechanism on a side opposite from the chamber wall, the retaining mechanism being fastened in releasable manner to the support mechanism.
US09410702B2
Disclosed in various exemplary embodiments are turbine engine combustors with effusion and impingement cooling and methods for manufacturing the same. In one exemplary embodiment, disclosed is a combustor for a turbine engine that includes an annular liner portion including a first metering hole positioned on a cold side annular surface of the annular liner portion and an impingement chamber positioned in the annular liner. The impingement chamber connects to an entry hole on the cold side annular surface and includes a cooling air outlet passageway that is angled with respect to a hot side annular surface of the annular liner portion and that connects to an exit hole positioned on the hot side annular surface of the annular liner portion. The first metering hole is connected to the impingement chamber. The cooling air outlet passageway directs the air onto the hot side annular surface and spreads the airflow axially and laterally parallel to the hot side annular surface. Furthermore, a ratio of a radial thickness of the annular liner portion to a diameter of the entry hole is from about 2 to about 6.
US09410698B2
A tubular burner includes a mixing tube and a flame hole member having a plurality of flame holes. The flame hole member is made of a sheet metal plate and has: a circular disk part having the plurality of flame holes formed therein; and a fitting tubular member which is elongated backward from a periphery of the circular disk part and is adapted to be fitted into an inner circumference at the front end region of the mixing tube. A clearance-generating section is formed at a front of the fitting tubular member so as to generate an annular clearance between the clearance-generating section and the inner circumference at the front end region of the mixing tube. A plurality of flame retention holes are formed in the clearance-generating section at a circumferential distance from one another.
US09410687B2
A lamp has an optically transmissive enclosure and a base. A tower extends from the base into the enclosure and supports an LED assembly in the enclosure. The LED assembly comprises a plurality of LEDs operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. The tower and the LED assembly are arranged such that the plurality of LEDs are disposed about the periphery of the tower in a band and face outwardly toward the enclosure to create a source of the light that appears as a glowing filament. The tower forms part of a heat sink that transmits heat from the LED assembly to the ambient environment. The LED assembly has a three-dimensional shape. An electrical interconnect connects a conductor to the heat sink where the conductor is in the electrical path between the LED assembly and the base.
US09410682B1
An assembled lighting structure for a panel of a shelf is provided. The structure comprises a connection unit, a receiving unit, a LED assembly, a first clip unit, and a second clip unit. The connection unit is connected with an outside of a front-edge groove. The receiving unit is connected with one side of the panel distant from the connection unit and inclined upwardly and outwardly. The LED assembly is arranged at an upper surface of the receiving unit. Lights of the LED assembly are emitted toward inside the panel. The first clip unit is connected with one end of the receiving unit distant from the connection unit for providing a first display strip to be removably clipped and fastened. The second clip unit is extended from a bottom end of the receiving unit downwardly for providing a second display strip to be removably clipped and fastened.
US09410677B2
Light sources are disclosed. A disclosed light source includes an optically reflective cavity that includes an input port for receiving light and an output port for transmitting light, a lamp that is disposed at the input port, and an optical stack that is disposed at the output port. The optical stack includes a forward scattering optical diffuser that is disposed at the output port and has an optical haze that is not less than about 20%, and an optical film that is disposed on the optical diffuser. The optical film enhance total internal reflection at the interface between the optical film and the optical diffuser. The optical film has an index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.3 and an optical haze that is not greater than about 5%. The optical stack also includes a reflective polarizer layer that is disposed on the optical film. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical stack are in physical contact with each other.
US09410675B1
A lighting device includes one or more lighting assemblies, each having a light emitting diode (LED) emitting a light and a lens. Each lens has an impinging light surface refracting a first segment of the light to emerge from an exterior surface of the lens and a second segment of the light intersecting a side mirror whereat it is reflected to emerge from the lens. The lens collecting a large portion of the light emitted by the LED projects an evenly illuminating elongated light beam and appears evenly illuminating when viewed from an exterior location.
US09410669B2
A solar simulator including an array of lamp modules, wherein each lamp module of the array includes a lamp configured to generate light, a homogenizer having an input end and an output end, a beam divergence lens positioned to focus the light onto the input end of the homogenizer, and an imaging lens positioned to receive the light from the output end of the homogenizer and image the light onto a target plane.
US09410662B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting an optical element, in particular in an EUV projection exposure apparatus, comprising at least one actuator which exerts a controllable force on the optical element; wherein between the actuator and the optical element a mechanical coupling in the form of a pin is embodied in such a way that, relative to the drive axis of the actuator, the ratio of the stiffness of the mechanical coupling in an axial direction to the stiffness in a lateral direction is at least 100; and at least one damping element which brings about a damping of a natural vibration form of the pin in a lateral direction.
US09410655B2
An apparatus for sealing an open end of a pipe includes an external clamp for frictionally being secured to the exterior surface of the pipe and an internal clamp for frictionally being secured to the interior surface of the pipe. A sealing plate, connected to one or both of the clamps seals the open end of the pipe. The apparatus further includes a means for pressurizing the interior of the pipe. A method of sealing and pressurizing the pipe is also provided.
US09410648B2
This invention relates to a means of remotely coupling and decoupling various devices connected to: 1) Municipal drinking (potable), reuse (non-potable), industry process water, and wastewater treatment systems; and, 2) Industrial fluid distribution systems by means of a remotely actuated cam-lock coupling actuator and discharge containment device capable of remotely locking and unlocking the locking handles found on conventional female cam-lock couplings while simultaneously containing the forceful spray discharge ordinarily encountered when decoupling occurs.
US09410643B2
A cable hang-off arrangement for an elevated support including a cable assembly with a flexible reinforced protective tube for accommodating a transmission cable arrangement, a mounting assembly arranged on the elevated support, and a lifting assembly for lifting the cable assembly from a lower level to the elevated support, which lifting assembly is realized to engage with the mounting assembly such that the cable assembly is suspended between the elevated support and the lower level. An offshore facility mounted on an elevated support above a variable lower level including a transmission cable arrangement and a flexible protective tube for guiding the transmission cable arrangement through an essentially vertical direction from the elevated support to the lower level into an essentially horizontal direction at the lower level is also provided. A method of mounting such a cable hang-off arrangement is also provided.
US09410642B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a duct bank comprising the steps of loading a frame with a series of templates, positioning the frame adjacent a pipe extruder, aligning a set of a plurality of holes with a die of the pipe extruder, extruding a pipe of a first length into the set of holes, repeating the steps of aligning and extruding for each set of holes, thereby forming the duct bank, banding the duct bank, and removing the duct bank from the frame.
US09410639B2
A spool valve is equipped with a valve body, a spool arranged in a valve chamber such that the spool can be displaced between a first position, which allows communication between an inlet port and an outlet port, and a second position, which blocks communication between the inlet port and the outlet port, a pilot valve mechanism disposed in the valve body and which causes displacement of the spool along an axial direction under the pressure of a pilot fluid that acts on one end surface of the spool, and a spring that biases the spool toward one side in the axial direction.
US09410620B2
An automatic transmission shifting control including: a shifting target value calculating portion setting shifting target values, torque of a rotary-member on the output shaft side, and rate of change of rotating speed of a rotary-member on the input shaft side; a manipulated calculating portion setting manipulated amounts, a torque of the rotary-member on the input shaft side, a torque capacity of one coupling device engaging for a transmission shifting-action, and torque capacity of other coupling devices releasing the shifting-action; a torque assignment ratio calculating portion setting torque assignment ratios to transfer through the respective coupling devices to engage and release the shifting-action; when a second-shifting-action is required during a preceding first-shifting-action according to a first-shifting-model, the manipulated calculating portion switching the first-shifting-model corresponding to the first-shifting-action to a second-shifting-model corresponding to the second-shifting-action, implementing a transmission shifting control for the second-shifting-action according to the second-shifting-model.
US09410619B2
A gear shift system for a motor vehicle with a steering wheel. The gear shift system includes gear shift devices rotationally integral with the steering wheel and an electronic control device. Each of the gear shift devices is operable by a driver of the motor vehicle to carry out at least one respective gear shift function associated with the respective gear shift device. The electronic control unit is configured to receive a magnitude indicative of a current steering wheel angle, determine, on the basis of the received magnitude, whether the current steering wheel angle satisfies predefined conditions, and, if it determines that the current steering wheel angle satisfies the predefined conditions, reconfigure the gear shift functions associated with the gear shift devices.
US09410616B2
A shift lever position determination device is for a vehicle and includes an electronic control device. The electronic control device is configured to perform a majority determination in a case where more than half of the signals from the plurality of position sensors correspond to the same operating position, and configured to determine whether the operating position of the shift lever is on a M operating position side or a N operating position side in a select direction based on the magnitude relationship of the signals in a case where the majority determination is not satisfied. The electronic control device is configured to determine, in the majority determination, that the operating position corresponding to more than half of the signals is the operating position of the shift lever.
US09410607B2
A pulley unit having a sleeve, a pulley and a cap member, wherein the cap member has an annular portion extending from a cover portion in an axial direction and fitted into a hexagon socket portion (polygonal inner peripheral portion), claw portions are formed to extend from the annular portion in the axial direction, and a peripheral surface of the annular portion is provided with first plane portions facing surfaces of the hexagon socket portion.
US09410599B2
A roll control device for a vehicle curtain has a unidirectional transmission device and a damping assembly. The unidirectional transmission device has a gear base, multiple planet gears and a transmission wheel. The gear base has a connecting segment, a driving segment formed on a side of the connecting segment and an axle. The driving segment has multiple receiving recesses and multiple limiting segments. The planet gears are mounted rotatably and slidably in the receiving recesses respectively and are selectively limited by the limiting segments respectively to rotate with the gear base. The transmission wheel is rotatably combined with the gear base, encloses the planet gears and has a transmission gear. The damping assembly is connected with the unidirectional transmission device and has a driven gear and a damper. The driven gear engages the transmission gear on the transmission wheel. The damper is connected with the driven gear.
US09410593B2
A nodal-mounted spring arrangement for an electronic toothbrush includes a V-shaped spring member secured at both ends so that it can operate in out-of-phase torsion mode along the axial dimension thereof. In one embodiment, the V-shaped spring member includes two extended end regions, which extend below a longitudinal edge of the middle portion of the V-spring. The free ends of the extended portions are joined by a flat cross-piece. This “closed end” region is present at both ends of the V-spring.
US09410592B2
Apparatus for absorbing shock, particularly repetitive shocks, comprises a frame and a shock-absorbing component comprising a shape memory alloy (SMA). In one type of apparatus, one or more SMA rings (65) are mounted on brackets (64) on a frame (62, 63) so that shock received by the frame from one direction changes the shape of the rings into ellipses with major chords in a first direction, and shock received by the frame from the opposite direction changes the shape of the rings into ellipses with major chords in a second direction which is at right angles to the first direction. In other types of apparatus, SMA shock-absorbing components (16, 27, 37, 46, 89) are mounted in a frame (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17; 21, 22, 24, 25, 26; 31, 32, 34, 35; 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47) so that the way in which the shock-absorbing component is deformed is independent of the direction of the shock received by the frame. The shock-absorbing components preferably include a superelastic SMA, optionally in combination with a martensitic SMA. The apparatus is useful for a wide variety of purposes, including the protection from shock of medical devices, electronic assemblies, vehicles, bridges and buildings.
US09410589B2
A waterproof device for a drum brake can prevent noise and malfunction of a brake by stopping water from flowing into the drum brake. The waterproof device for a drum brake can minimize not only foreign substances, but also water flowing into a drum, by improving the mounting structure of a dust cover that is mounted at the drum inlet of a drum brake in a new structure that is mounted hermetically and watertightly along the inner edge of a drum by buoyancy or pressure due to water when passing a puddle or a wheel washer.
US09410588B2
A braking device capable of generating a larger braking force is provided. The present invention provides a braking device including a housing (10) having a peripheral wall (11), a coil holding unit (20) provided inside the housing (10), a coil (30) held by the coil holding unit (20), a first activation chamber (40) formed between an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall (11) of the housing (10) and an outer peripheral surface of the coil holding unit (20)arranged in parallel with the inner peripheral surface, a rotor (60) provided inside of the first activation chamber (40), and a magnetorheological fluid (80) filling an inside of the first activation chamber (40), wherein the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall (11) of the housing (10) is at a position farthest from the center of rotation of the rotor (60) in a radial direction in the inside of the housing (10), wherein the rotor (60) is in a cylindrical shape including an outer peripheral surface having a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (60) and the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall (11) of the housing (10) and an inner peripheral surface having a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the rotor (60) and the outer peripheral surface of the coil holding unit (20), and wherein a shearing stress of the magnetorheological fluid (80) acts on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (60).
US09410586B2
A machine tool braking apparatus, in particular a hand-held machine tool braking apparatus, of a portable machine tool, includes at least one mechanical braking unit that has at least one movably mounted braking element and includes at least one output unit that has at least one output element. The braking unit includes at least one actuating element that is intended to move the braking element, at least in one operating state, at least substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the output element.
US09410579B2
A cage for a rolling bearing including a plurality of cage segments is provided. Each segment has a first set of pockets for a first set of rollers, and a second set of pockets for a second set of rollers. The axes of the pockets of the first set of pockets are parallel with each other and the axes of the pockets of the second set of pockets are parallel with each other.
US09410572B2
A five-axial groove cylindrical journal bearing assembly with pressure dams designed for bi-directional rotation for rotatably supporting a rotating body provided with a babbitted inner surface. The journal bearing assembly has two pressure dams that are substantially mirror images of each other along a centerline between the pressure dams and has two pressure dams each located substantially opposite the direction of two vector loads of the journal bearing assembly.
US09410570B2
A clamp holds two members together. The first member includes a recess into which a fastener is located. A bore is provided to the recess to allow a tool to be used to operate the fastener. The second member is arranged to accept the fastener and so join the members. The recess and bore are sized to prevent release of the fastener through the bore. In this way, the fastener cannot easily be removed or lost when the clamp is in use and is tamperproof. The clamp is used to hold portions of a sleeve around a body of the tool, and to hold scraper blades and/or brushes to the body.
US09410569B2
There is disclosed a panel fastener and method of attaching multiple panels. A panel fastener may include a pin and a receptacle, the pin having a head and a shank extending from the head and the receptacle having an aperture to receive the shank and a retainer configured to engage the shank to prevent the shank from being withdrawn from the aperture. The head and the receptacle may have respective openings to receive a key to disengage the retainer from the shank.
US09410566B2
A fixing device for a panel which can absorb a dimensional change due to expansion of the siding board is provided. A comb-shaped slit is formed at an area from the intermediate line C defined between opposed two sides of a rectangular metal plate to form leaf spring-shaped strip plates 41, 42 and 43. The strip plates are bent at the intermediate line C and a bend line F to form fixing pieces 41a, 42a and 43a and lock pieces 41b, 42b, and 43b so as to lock fixing ends 51a and 52b of the siding board 50. Moreover, an inclined angle θ1 of the fixing piece 41a disposed at the strip plate 41 is formed to have a different angle from an inclined angle θ2 of the fixing pieces 42a, 43a disposed at the remaining strip plates 42 and 43. Thereby the strip plates can be elastically deformed.
US09410563B2
A pneumatic motor includes a housing, a rotor, an air flowing unit and an air-supply unit. The housing has an inside space formed along an axis and divided sequentially into a rotor chamber, a valve chamber and an inlet chamber. The rotor is rotatably mounted in the rotor chamber. The pneumatic valve is mounted in the rotor chamber and the valve chamber and includes an air flowing unit and an adjusting gate. The air-supply unit is mounted in the inlet chamber and is connected to a source of compressed air, so the compressed air can flow from the inlet chamber into the valve chamber and then flow through the pneumatic valve to drive the rotor.
US09410562B2
A hydraulic actuation system includes a differential unit having a hydraulically-actuated differential, a power steering unit, a hydraulic pump, a reservoir, a controller, an electronically-controlled flow control manifold, and a proportional pressure control solenoid valve. A flow control manifold may control fluid flow to the power steering unit and the differential. The manifold may include a manifold inlet connected to a pump; first manifold outlet connected to a differential; second manifold outlet connected to a reservoir; third manifold outlet connected to a power steering unit; two-way solenoid valve connected to a manifold inlet and controlled by a controller; flow control valve connected to a two-way solenoid valve and a first manifold outlet; and a pressure differential sensing valve connected to a two-way solenoid valve, the manifold inlet, and the third manifold outlet. A proportional pressure control solenoid valve may connect the first manifold outlet and the differential.
