US09444124B2
A battery cell assembly having a cooling fin with a tube, a substantially rectangular-shaped metal plate, first and second cylindrical coupling members, and first and second O-ring gaskets is provided. The tube has an inlet tube portion and an outlet tube portion. The tube is coupled to a peripheral region of the metal plate. The first cylindrical coupling member has a first aperture extending therethrough, and first and second circumferential grooves. The inlet tube portion is disposed in the first aperture and coupled to the first cylindrical coupling member. The first and second O-ring gaskets are disposed in the first and second circumferential grooves, respectively. The outlet tube portion is disposed in the second aperture and is coupled to the second cylindrical coupling member.
US09444121B2
A manufacturing method for a sulfide-based solid electrolyte material includes: preparing a raw material mixture, containing LiHS and LiX (X is one of F, Cl, Br and I), from a single lithium source; and desorbing hydrogen sulfide from the LiHS in the raw material mixture to form Li2S and synthesizing a sulfide-based solid electrolyte material from the LiX and the Li2S.
US09444112B2
In a fuel cell monitoring device, a gas-diffusion resistance calculation section calculates a gas-diffusion resistance Rtotal indicating a difficulty of diffusing reaction gas to a catalyst layer in a fuel cell based on a gas reaction resistance Rct calculated by a resistance calculation section. A second diffusion resistance calculation section calculates a second diffusion resistance Rdry varying depending on a dried-up in the fuel cell based on a proton transfer resistance Rmem calculated by the resistance calculation section. A first diffusion resistance calculation section calculates a first diffusion resistance Rwet varying depending on a flooding in the fuel cell by subtracting the second diffusion resistance Rdry from the gas-diffusion resistance Rtotal. A water content calculation section calculates a water content of the fuel cell based on the first diffusion resistance. A recovery control section adjusts the water content in the fuel cell based on the calculated water content.
US09444109B2
A system and method for supplying hydrogen gas, and a hydrogen fuel cell system are provided to solve inconvenience caused by the requirement for replacing a hydrogen storage container during hydrogen gas supplement. The system for supplying hydrogen gas includes a hydrogen storage unit, a hydrogen conveying unit and a charging device connected to the hydrogen storage unit, where the charging device includes a charging opening matched with a hydrogen gas infusing unit. It may be noted that according to the solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, when hydrogen gas needs to be supplemented, an external infusing device may be used to infuse hydrogen gas to the hydrogen storage container in the hydrogen storage unit through the charging opening, which avoids replacement of the hydrogen storage container during an entire infusing process, and makes an intensive hydrogen gas supplement process more convenient and faster.
US09444106B2
Disclosed are methods for simultaneous application of multiple fuel cell component coatings onto a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate, and simultaneously coating two or more solutions onto the substrate under laminar flow.
US09444105B2
An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an oxidant reduction electrode module containing an oxidant reduction electrode mounted to a housing to form a gaseous oxidant space therein that is immersed into the ionically conductive medium. A fuel electrode is spaced from the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the ionically conductive medium may conduct ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A gaseous oxidant channel extending through the gaseous oxidant space provides a supply of oxidant to the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the fuel electrode and the oxidant reduction electrode are configured to, during discharge, oxidize the metal fuel at the fuel electrode and reduce the oxidant at the oxidant reduction electrode, to generate a discharge potential difference therebetween for application to a load.
US09444094B2
An anode active material for a magnesium battery includes a Metal M which electrochemically alloys with magnesium, magnesium, and carbon that are ball milled forming an active material mixture. The mixture may be of the formula: MgaM1-a (0≦a<1)+Carbon wherein the mixture is ball milled and has a stoichiometric amount of M and Mg and carbon of from 0.1-50 weight percent of the total mixture.
US09444089B2
Disclosed herein is a mandrel configured to be used in a winding process for manufacturing a jelly roll type electrode assembly using a long sheet type stack of a cathode/separator/anode structure, wherein the mandrel is oval in a section perpendicular to a rotational central axis of the mandrel and is divided into a first mandrel part located at one side of a central region of the mandrel, in which an end of the sheet type stack is fixedly fitted, and a second mandrel part located at the other side of the central region of the mandrel, and the first mandrel part and the second mandrel part each include a main body part having a region in which the sheet type stack is fitted in an engaged state and an exchange part, detachably mounted to the main body part, having an end of a major axis of the mandrel.
US09444088B2
An overcurrent shut-off device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a switching unit connected to both ends of a secondary battery, the switching unit being turned on by pressure caused by a swelling phenomenon occurring in the secondary battery, and a fusing unit, as a component installed on a path of an electric current flowing through the secondary battery, being ruptured when the switching unit is turned on, to interrupt the electric current flowing through the secondary battery.According to an aspect of the present disclosure, by a turn-on operation in response to a swelling phenomenon of a secondary battery caused by a short circuit and the like, a connecting component installed on a path of an electric current flowing through a secondary battery is ruptured quickly to interrupt an overcurrent, thereby ensuring safety of the secondary battery in use.
US09444081B1
Battery corrosive electrolyte leak is reduced by using spacers (which can be made of a shock absorbing material) between each pair of batteries held in the series configuration so that a resilient contact provides an electrical contact between the pair of batteries and the thickness of the spacer prevents a second end of a first battery from contacting the first end of the second battery.
US09444078B2
A flexible battery includes at least one electrochemical cell for generating an electrical current, including a cathode collector layer, a cathode layer, an anode layer, and an optional anode collector layer, some or all of which are formed of a dried or cured ink. A first substrate includes a pair of opposed side portions. A first electrode contact is provided that is electrically coupled to the cathode collector layer and is disposed along one of the pair of opposed side portions of the first substrate, and a second electrode contact is provided that is electrically coupled to the anode layer and is disposed along the other of the pair of opposed side portions of the first substrate. The cathode collector layer includes a geometry having a height and a width such that the number of squares is approximately 5 or less.
US09444075B2
Novel emissive display module and an emissive display assembly are disclosed. The emissive display module and the emissive display assembly incorporate a photo-switchable polarizer that is switchable between an active, polarizing, state and an inactive, non-polarizing, state depending on the predetermined level of intensity of UV light in the ambient light and enhance the viewable quality of the emissive display by minimizing or eliminating UV light reflection on the emissive display.
US09444074B2
Various embodiments may relate to a method for producing an optoelectronic component. The method may include increasing a refractive index of a substrate in at least one region at at least one predefined position in the substrate in such a way that the region having an increased refractive index extends as far as a surface of the substrate, and forming an electrode layer on or above the surface of the substrate at least partly above the region having an increased refractive index.
US09444071B2
[Problem]Provided is an organic EL panel in which on a support supporting at least one organic EL element, a connecting wire for supply of power to the organic EL is disposed, and which is capable of preventing damage of the support by heat and impact caused by melting disconnection of a fuse part that is provided in the connecting wire.[Solution Means]A buffer layer is disposed between a face supporting the connecting wire on the support and the fuse part.
US09444069B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology for manufacturing a highly reliable display device at a low cost with high yield. In the present invention, a spacer is formed over a pixel electrode, thereby protecting the pixel electrode layer from a mask in formation of an electroluminescent layer. In addition, since a layer that includes an organic material that has water permeability is sealed in a display device with a sealing material and the sealing material and the layer that includes the organic material are not in contact, deterioration of a light-emitting element due to a contaminant such as water can be prevented. The sealing material is formed in a portion of a driver circuit region in the display device, and thus, the narrower frame margin of the display device can also be accomplished.
US09444067B2
An organic light-emitting diode fluorescent device includes an anode layer, a hole injection layer, an emissive layer, an electron injection layer, and a cathode layer. A confinement layer is disposed on at least one of an upper face and a lower face of the emissive layer. The confinement layer has a triplet energy level higher than a triplet energy level of the emissive layer. A method for producing the organic light-emitting diode fluorescent device includes providing an anode substrate as an anode layer and disposing a hole injection layer, an emissive layer, an electron injection layer, and a cathode layer on the anode layer in sequence. A confinement layer is disposed on at least one of an upper face and a lower face of the emissive layer while producing the emissive layer. The confinement layer has a triplet energy level higher than a triplet energy level of the emissive layer.
US09444064B2
The present invention relates to phosphorescent organic electroluminescent devices which comprise at least one phosphorescent emitter and a mixture of at least two matrix materials in the emitting layer.
US09444046B2
Three dimensional memory array architectures and methods of forming the same are provided. An example memory array can include a stack comprising a plurality of first conductive lines at a number of levels separated from one another by at least an insulation material, and at least one conductive extension arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the plurality of first conductive lines. Storage element material is formed around the at least one conductive extension. Cell select material is formed around the at least one conductive extension. The at least one conductive extension, storage element material, and cell select material are located between co-planar pairs of the plurality of first conductive lines.
US09444036B1
A segregated media based magnetic memory pillar cell and a method for implementing the segregated media based magnetic memory pillar cell for use in Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are provided. The segregated media based magnetic memory pillar cell includes a first conductor M1 and a second conductor M2 with the second conductor M2 surrounded by the first conductor M1. The first conductor M1 is formed of a segregated magnetic media material defining multiple domains.
US09444034B2
[Object] To provide a storage element and a storage apparatus capable of performing writing operation in a short time without generating write errors.[Solving Means] A storage element includes a layer structure including a storage layer having a direction of magnetization which changes according to information, a magnetization fixed layer having a fixed direction of magnetization, and an intermediate layer disposed therebetween, which intermediate layer contains a nonmagnetic material. The magnetization fixed layer has at least two ferromagnetic layers having a direction of magnetization tilted from a direction perpendicular to a film surface, which are laminated and magnetically coupled interposing a coupling layer therebetween. This configuration may effectively prevent divergence of magnetization reversal time due to directions of magnetization of the storage layer and the magnetization fixed layer being substantially parallel or antiparallel, reduce write errors, and enable writing operation in a short time.
US09444032B2
A piezoelectric element includes a substrate having a first surface with a predetermined orientation; a lower electrode layered on the first surface of the substrate; a piezoelectric thin film layered on the lower electrode and having a piezoelectric body; and an upper electrode layered on the piezoelectric thin film. A voltage is to be impressed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode to deform the piezoelectric thin film. The piezoelectric thin film is epitaxially grown on the lower electrode using a physical vapor deposition or a chemical vapor deposition.
US09444029B2
A method of forming a piezoelectronic transistor (PET), the PET, and a semiconductor device including the PET are described. The method includes forming a piezoelectric (PE) element with a trench and forming a pair of electrodes on the PE element in a coplanar arrangement in a first plane, both of the pair of electrodes being on a same side of the PE element. The method also includes forming a piezoresistive (PR) element above the pair of electrodes and forming a clamp above the PR element. Applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes causes displacement of the PE element perpendicular to the first plane.
US09444026B2
Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050 K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as lanthanum boride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.
US09444021B2
The folding along the disposed direction of wiring patterns is prevented. Concave-convex shapes in a plan view for preventing the folding of a device as step portions in a plan view are provided on opposing sides of two conductive regions. A front edge side 3a1 of a convex shape in a plan view of a Cu foil layer 3a, which is one of the two conductive regions, is disposed to enter into a concave portion (on the side of a bottom side 3b2) of a concave shape in a plan view of a Cu foil layer 3b, which is the other conductive region, to prevent the folding along the disposed direction of wiring patterns.
US09444018B2
A light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer, a protective layer, and a cermet layer. The active layer is on the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is on the active layer. the protective layer is located on the semiconductor layer. The cermet layer is located on the protective layer. A first electrode covers entire surface of the first semiconductor layer away from the active layer. A second electrode is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer.
US09444014B2
Various embodiments of light emitting dies and solid state lighting (“SSL”) devices with light emitting dies, assemblies, and methods of manufacturing are described herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting die includes an SSL structure configured to emit light in response to an applied electrical voltage, a first electrode carried by the SSL structure, and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode of the SSL structure. The first and second electrode are configured to receive the applied electrical voltage. Both the first and second electrodes are accessible from the same side of the SSL structure via wirebonding.
US09444010B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing light-emitting diodes comprising the following steps: a) forming light-emitting diodes (5) on a silicon layer (1) of an SOI wafer (1, 2, 3), said layer resting on a carrier (2, 3); b) bonding, on the light-emitting diode side, a silicon wafer forming a cap (7) equipped with a void facing each light-emitting diode; c) thinning the silicon wafer to form an aperture facing each light-emitting diode; d) filling each aperture with a transparent material (21, 23); and e) at least partially removing the carrier of the SOI wafer (3) and producing connecting and heat-sinking metallizations.
US09444007B2
Aspects of the invention provide methods and devices. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the growing of nitride semiconductors, applicable for a multitude of semiconductor devices such as diodes, LEDs and transistors. According to the method of the invention nitride semiconductor nanopyramids are grown utilizing a CVD based selective area growth technique. The nanopyramids are grown directly or as core-shell structures.
US09443999B2
A solar collector is provided with a frame that is coupled to a based and configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A main panel assembly is attached to the frame and pivotal about a horizontal axis relative to the frame. The main panel assembly receives sunlight and converts the sunlight into electrical energy. The main panel assembly includes a central panel, and a pair of pivotal inner side panels, where each inner side panel is attached to the central panel. A pair of outer side panels attached to the inner side panels is also provided. Each outer side panel includes photo-voltaic (PV) panels, and a panel surround frame for retaining the PV panels. Each panel surround frame has a horizontal channel member, a pair of upright channel members, and a channel bracket, defining a perimeter. A peripheral edge of each PV panel is captured within the channel members.
US09443998B2
Disclosed herein are coated beads made of a primary matrix material and containing a population of quantum dot nanoparticles. Each bead has a multi-layer surface coating. The layers can be two or more distinct surface coating materials. The surface coating materials may be inorganic materials and/or polymeric materials. A method of preparing such particles is also described. The coated beads are useful for composite materials for applications such as light-emitting devices.
US09443997B2
A photovoltaic device includes a first contact and a hybrid absorber layer. The hybrid absorber layer includes a chalcogenide layer and a semiconductor layer in contact with the chalcogenide layer. A buffer layer is formed on the absorber layer, and a transparent conductive contact layer is formed on the buffer layer.
US09443990B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device in which the threshold is adjusted is provided. In a semiconductor device including a plurality of transistors arranged in a matrix each including a semiconductor, a source or drain electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor, a gate electrode, and a charge trap layer between the gate electrode and the semiconductor, electrons are trapped in the charge trap layer by performing heat treatment and, simultaneously, keeping a potential of the gate electrode higher than that of the source or drain electrode for 1 second or more. By this process, the threshold increases and Icut decreases. A circuit that supplies a signal to the gate electrode (e.g., word line driver) is provided with a selection circuit formed of an OR gate, an XOR gate, or the like, whereby potentials of word lines can be simultaneously set higher than potentials of bit lines.
US09443986B2
A thin file transistor includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate-insulating layer, and an oxide semiconductor layer. The oxide semiconductor layer includes indium-gallium-zinc oxide with a formula of InxGayZnzOw, in which x, y and z satisfy the following formulas 1.5≦(y/x)≦2 and 1.5≦(y/z)≦2. The gate-insulating layer is positioned between the gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode are respectively connected to two different sides of the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09443983B2
A pixel unit comprising a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode and a common electrode is provided. The common electrode and the pixel electrode form a capacitor. The pixel electrode is integrated with a drain of the thin film transistor. An array substrate comprising the pixel unit, a manufacturing method of the array substrate and a display device comprising the array substrate are also provided. In the pixel unit provided by the present invention, since the pixel electrode is integrated with the drain of the thin film transistor, it is not required to provide connection vias, so the manufacturing cost of an array substrate comprising the pixel unit is reduced.
US09443980B2
A non-planar transistor including partially melted raised semiconductor source/drains disposed on opposite ends of a semiconductor fin with the gate stack disposed there between. The raised semiconductor source/drains comprise a super-activated dopant region above a melt depth and an activated dopant region below the melt depth. The super-activated dopant region has a higher activated dopant concentration than the activated dopant region and/or has an activated dopant concentration that is constant throughout the melt region. A fin is formed on a substrate and a semiconductor material or a semiconductor material stack is deposited on regions of the fin disposed on opposite sides of a channel region to form raised source/drains. A pulsed laser anneal is performed to melt only a portion of the deposited semiconductor material above a melt depth.
US09443979B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate spacer defining a trench. The trench includes a first part and a second part sequentially positioned on a substrate. An inner surface of the first part has a slope of an acute angle and an inner surface of the second part has a slope of a right angle or obtuse angle with respect to the substrate. A gate electrode fills at least a portion of the trench.
US09443972B2
A method of producing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor body having a first surface and a dielectric layer arranged on the first surface and forming at least one first trench in the dielectric layer. The at least one first trench extends to the semiconductor body and defines a dielectric mesa region in the dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a second trench in the dielectric mesa region distant to the at least one first trench, forming a semiconductor layer on uncovered regions of the semiconductor body in the at least one first trench and forming a field electrode in the second trench.
US09443962B2
A method includes forming a gate stack over top surfaces of a semiconductor strip and insulation regions on opposite sides of the semiconductor strip. The insulation regions include first portions overlapped by the gate stack, and second portions misaligned from the gate stack. An end portion of the semiconductor strip is etched to form a recess, wherein the recess is located between the second portions of the insulation regions. An epitaxy is performed to grow a source/drain region from the recess. After the epitaxy, a recessing is performed to recess the second portions of the insulation regions, with the second portions of the insulation regions having first top surfaces after the first recessing. After the recessing, a dielectric mask layer is formed on the first top surfaces of the second portions of the insulation regions, wherein the dielectric mask layer further extends on a sidewall of the gate stack.
US09443956B2
A method includes forming a line feature above a substrate. Carbon-containing spacers are formed on sidewalls of the line feature. A first dielectric layer is formed above the carbon spacers and the line feature. The first dielectric layer is planarized to expose upper ends of the carbon-containing spacers. An ashing process is performed to remove the carbon-containing spacers and define air gaps adjacent the line feature. A cap layer is formed to seal the upper ends of the air gaps.
US09443933B2
The present invention relates to a pair of transistors wherein each transistor of said transistor pair is made of several sub-transistors, and each sub-transistor of a transistor has a sub-transistor channel length and has a sub-transistor channel width, said sub-transistor channel length being substantially equal to the transistor channel length, and said sub-transistor channel width being smaller than the transistor channel width, so that the sum of the sub-transistor channel widths of the sub-transistors of a transistor is substantially equal to the channel width of said transistor, wherein each sub-transistor (43) of a transistor of said transistor pair is spaced apart from at least one adjoining sub-transistor (44) of the other transistor of said transistor pair by a distance D less than half the transistor channel width, said distance d between two sub-transistors (43, 44) being measured between the respective center of the channels of said sub-transistors.
US09443932B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device may include a plurality of unit cells provided on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the unit cells may include a buried insulating pattern buried in the semiconductor substrate, a first active pattern provided on the buried insulating pattern, and a second active pattern provided on the buried insulating pattern and spaced apart from the first active pattern. The buried insulating pattern may define a unit cell region, in which each of the unit cells may be disposed.
US09443927B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate positioned on the substrate, a drain region and a source region formed in the substrate at two respectively sides of the gate, a first well region formed in the substrate, and a plurality of first doped islands formed in the source region. The drain region and the source region include a first conductivity, and the first well region and the first doped islands include a second conductivity. The source region is formed in the first well region, and the first doped islands are spaced apart from the first well region.
US09443923B2
A semiconductor structure having a first semiconductor body having an upper surface with a non <211> crystallographic orientation and a second semiconductor body having a surface with a <211> crystallographic orientation, the surface of the second semiconductor body being bonded to a bottom surface of the first semiconductor body. A layer comprising CdTe is epitaxially disposed on the upper surface of the second semiconductor body. The second semiconductor body is CZ silicon, has a thickness less than 10 microns and has a diameter of at least eight inches. A getter having micro-cavities has a bottom surface formed on an upper surface of the first semiconductor body and has an upper surface bonded to a bottom surface of the second semiconductor body.
US09443909B2
An electronic device including a semiconductor memory includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, which are disposed over a substrate and alternately arrayed in a first direction that is parallel to a plane of the substrate; and a plurality of resistance variable patterns, each of which is interposed between a corresponding one of the first electrodes and a corresponding one of the second electrodes, wherein the first and second electrodes and the resistance variable patterns extend upwards by a predetermined height from the substrate.
US09443903B2
A light emitting diode structure includes a diode region and a metal stack on the diode region. The metal stack includes a barrier layer on the diode region and a bonding layer on the barrier layer. The barrier layer is between the bonding layer and the diode region. The bonding layer includes gold, tin and nickel. A weight percentage of tin in the bonding layer is greater than 20 percent and a weight percentage of gold in the bonding layer is less than about 75 percent. A weight percentage of nickel in the bonding layer may be greater than 10 percent.
US09443902B1
A fabricating method of a back-illuminated image sensor includes the following steps. First, a silicon wafer having a first surface and a second surface is provided, wherein a number of trench isolations are formed in the first surface, and at least one image sensing member is formed between the trench isolations. Then, a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed to the second surface using the trench isolations as a polishing stop layer to thin the silicon wafer. Because the polishing rate of the silicon material in the silicon wafer is different with that of the isolation material of the trench isolations in the first CMP process, at least one dishing depression is formed in the second surface of the silicon wafer. Finally, a microlens is formed above the dishing depression, and a surface of the microlens facing the dishing depression is a curved surface.
US09443892B2
An image sensor includes a substrate having a first surface opposing a second surface and a plurality of pixel regions. A photoelectric converter is included in each of the pixel regions, and a gate electrode is formed on the photoelectric converter. Also, a pixel isolation region isolates adjacent pixel regions. The pixel isolation region includes a first isolation layer coupled to a channel stop region. The channel stop region may include an impurity-doped region.
US09443878B2
A display device includes a lower wiring layer, an interlayer insulating layer, and an upper wiring layer. The lower wiring layer includes first partial electrode portions, first cuttable portions, and first openings; the upper wiring layer includes second partial electrode portions, second cuttable portions, and second openings. The first partial electrode portions and the second partial electrode portions are disposed in overlapping positions in the stacking direction; all the first cuttable portions and the second openings are disposed in overlapping positions in the stacking direction; all the second cuttable portions and the first openings are disposed in overlapping positions in the stacking direction.
US09443876B2
To provide a semiconductor device including a planar transistor having an oxide semiconductor and a capacitor. In a semiconductor device, a transistor includes an oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, a gate electrode over the gate insulating film, a second insulating film over the gate electrode, a third insulating film over the second insulating film, and a source and a drain electrodes over the third insulating film; the source and the drain electrodes are electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film; a capacitor includes a first and a second conductive films and the second insulating film; the first conductive film and the gate electrode are provided over the same surface; the second conductive film and the source and the drain electrodes are provided over the same surface; and the second insulating film is provided between the first and the second conductive films.
US09443874B2
An object is to provide a thin film transistor having favorable electric characteristics and a semiconductor device including the thin film transistor as a switching element. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode formed over an insulating surface, a gate insulating film over the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film which overlaps with the gate electrode over the gate insulating film and which includes a layer where the concentration of one or a plurality of metals contained in the oxide semiconductor is higher than that in other regions, a pair of metal oxide films formed over the oxide semiconductor film and in contact with the layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the metal oxide films. The metal oxide films are formed by oxidation of a metal contained in the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US09443858B2
A semiconductor device includes semiconductor bodies formed substantially perpendicular to a semiconductor substrate, buried bit lines formed in the semiconductor bodies and including a metal silicide; and barrier layers formed under and over the buried bit lines and containing germanium.
US09443851B2
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor devices may include a finFET, a metal routing layer, a first local interconnect layer, and a second local interconnect layer. The finFET may include a channel, a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, and a gate stack. The metal routing layer may be separated from the finFET in a vertical direction. The first local interconnect layer may include a first local interconnect that contacts a first metal route in the metal routing layer and that electrically connects to the first source/drain region. The second local interconnect layer may include a second local interconnect that contacts a second metal route in the metal routing layer and that electrically connects to the gate stack.
US09443838B2
A method of fabricating integrated circuits includes the steps of: a) with reference to a physical design of a hardware unit, preparing an integrated circuit component mask layout set associated with component photomasks suitable for fabricating an array of the hardware units on a wafer; b) preparing the component photomasks with reference to the integrated circuit component mask layout set; c) forming the array of the hardware units and interconnections between adjacent hardware units on the wafer using the component photomasks prepared in step b) ; and d) cutting the wafer along selected ones of the scribe lines so as to form a plurality of integrated circuit dies. Each of the integrated circuit dies is independently selected from a single-type including only one of the hardware units, and a multi-type including a plurality of the hardware units that are interconnected electrically via uncut ones of the conductive paths.
US09443836B2
A device includes a first chip including an image sensor therein, and a second chip bonded to the first chip. The second chip includes a logic device selected from the group consisting essentially of a reset transistor, a selector, a row selector, and combinations thereof therein. The logic device and the image sensor are electrically coupled to each other, and are parts of a same pixel unit.
US09443830B1
Electrical components such as semiconductor die may be mounted in semiconductor packages and embedded within printed circuits. A printed circuit may have a substrate with an opening and may have metal layers. During lamination operations, substrate material such as prepreg may flow and form embedding dielectric material that embeds the semiconductor die within the opening. Double-sided semiconductor dies may be formed by attaching multiple semiconductor dies together using a layer of material such as die attach film. The double-sided semiconductor dies may be embedded within a printed circuit and mounted in semiconductor packages. Wire bond wires may be used to couple one of the semiconductor dies in a double-sided semiconductor die to contacts on a substrate. Wire bond wires may also be used to couple a shield layer to the substrate.
US09443826B2
The stack package includes: a plurality of chips each stacked with a plurality of layers; and a plurality of pads respectively formed on the plurality of chips. Each chip includes: a ground path unit configured to form a current path between a pad and a ground stage; a selection unit configured to selectively control a connection path electrically coupled to the pad according to a chip enable signal; and a controller configured to selectively control a connection between the selection unit and the ground path unit according to a control signal.
US09443821B2
A method of forming an electronic device, comprising providing a semiconductor substrate having a first contact and an undoped electroplated lead-free solder bump formed on the first contact. The method also comprises providing a device package substrate having a second contact and a doped lead-free solder layer on the second contact comprising a fourth row transition metal dopant. The method further comprises melting the solder bump and the solder layer while the solder layer and the solder bump are in contact, thereby forming a doped solder bump consisting essentially of Sn, one or both of Ag and Cu, and the fourth row transition metal dopant.
US09443819B2
A method and clamping apparatus for securing a substrate within a substrate carrier during an ultrasonic mounting process. The clamping apparatus may include a substrate carrier having a top plate and a bottom plate, the top plate and the bottom plate forming a cavity dimensioned to hold a substrate. A clamping plate is positioned on a side of the top plate opposite the bottom plate, the clamping plate having an opening aligned with the cavity and a pair of clamping members, each of the pair of clamping members extending toward a center of the opening and through the cavity such that the clamping member presses portions of the substrate exposed through the opening against the bottom plate. The method may include providing a clamping plate having an opening configured for alignment with a cavity formed in a substrate carrier and mounting a pair of resilient arms to the clamping plate.
US09443813B1
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die, a semiconductor element and a solder layer. The semiconductor die includes a copper pillar. The semiconductor element includes a surface finish layer, wherein the material of the surface finish layer is a combination of at least two of nickel, gold, and palladium. The solder layer is disposed between the copper pillar and the surface finish layer. The solder layer includes a first intermetallic compound (IMC) and a second IMC, wherein the first IMC includes a combination of at least two of copper, nickel and tin. The second IMC is a combination of gold and tin, a combination of palladium and tin, or both.
US09443804B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer supported by the substrate, an interconnect adjacent the dielectric layer, the interconnect including a conduction material and a barrier material disposed along sidewalls of the interconnect between the conduction material and the dielectric layer, and a layer disposed over the interconnect to establish an interface between the conduction material, the barrier material, and the layer. A plate is disposed along a section of the interconnect to interrupt the interface.
US09443800B2
A package substrate includes interlayer insulating layers including outermost and inner-layer layers, conductor layers including an outermost layer, a first layer between the outermost and inner-layer layers, and a second layer on which the inner-layer layer is formed, via conductors including first and second conductors through the outermost insulating layer, and skip via conductors through the outermost and inner-layer insulating layers to connect the outermost and second conductor layers. The outermost conductor layer includes first and second pads to mount first and second electronic components on the outermost insulating layer, the first conductors are positioned to connect the first conductor layer and first pads, the second conductors are positioned to connect the first conductor layer and second pads, and the first conductor layer has area on surface of the inner-layer insulating layer which is in range of 3 to 15% of area of the surface of the inner-layer insulating layer.
US09443799B2
A lattice structure is formed in a non-silicon interposer substrate to create large cells that are multiples of through hole pitches to act as islands for dielectric fields. Each unit cell is then filled with a dielectric material. Thereafter, holes (i.e., through holes or blind holes) are created within the dielectric material in the cells. After hole formation, a conductive metal is formed into each of the holes providing an interposer. This method can enable fine pitch processing in organic-based materials, isolates the thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) stress from metal vias to low TCE carriers and creates a path to high volume, low costs components in panel form.
US09443798B2
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide improved thermal performance of a chip die disposed within a layered printed circuit board (PCB). Passive components may be strategically located on one or more surfaces of the PCB. The passive components may be arranged to conduct heat generated by the chip die away from the chip die.
US09443795B2
According to an exemplary implementation, a power quad flat no-lead (PQFN) package includes a multi-phase inverter situated on a leadframe. The PQFN package further includes drivers situated on the leadframe and configured to drive the multi-phase inverter. The PQFN package also includes bootstrap diodes respectively coupled to the drivers. The bootstrap diodes are in a common integrated circuit (IC) that is situated on the leadframe. The common IC can include the drivers. The drivers can be high side drivers that are coupled to high side power switches of the multi-phase inverter. Also, the bootstrap diodes can be coupled to a supply voltage terminal of the PQFN package. Furthermore, the PQFN package can include wirebonds coupling the common IC to bootstrap supply voltage terminals of the PQFN package.
US09443794B2
In a QFN that includes a die pad, a semiconductor chip mounted on the die pad, a plurality of leads arranged around the semiconductor chip, a plurality of wires that electrically connect the plurality of electrode pads of the semiconductor chip with the plurality of leads, respectively, and a sealing member sealing the semiconductor chip and the plurality of wires, first and second step portions are formed at shifted positions on the left and right sides of each of the leads to make the positions of the first and second step portions shifted between the adjacent leads. As a result, the gap between the leads is narrowed, thereby achieving the miniaturization or the increase in the number of pins of the QFN.
US09443793B2
A first chip including electrodes is mounted above an expanded semiconductor chip formed by providing an expanded portion at an outer edge of a second chip including chips. The electrodes of the first chip are electrically connected to the electrodes of the second chip by conductive members. A re-distribution structure is formed from a top of the first chip outside a region for disposing the conductive members along a top of the expanded portion. Connection terminals are provided above the expanded portion, and electrically connected to ones of the electrodes of the first chip via the re-distribution structure.
US09443790B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, a through silicon via (TSV) that is formed so that at least a part thereof penetrates through the semiconductor substrate, and an insulation ring. The insulation ring is formed so as to penetrate through the semiconductor substrate and so as to surround the TSV. The insulation ring includes a tapered portion and a vertical portion. The tapered portion has a sectional area which is gradually decreased from the first surface toward a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate. The vertical portion has a constant sectional area smaller than the tapered portion.
US09443789B2
An electronic package includes a semiconductor die, conductive pillars extending outwardly from the semiconductor die, and a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) body surrounding the semiconductor die and having openings therein receiving respective ones of the conductive pillars. A first interconnect layer is on the LCP body and contacts the openings. Conductive bodies are in the openings to connect the conductive pillars to the first interconnect layer.
US09443772B2
A contact can be formed by forming a layer of dielectric material on a silicon-containing region of a semiconductor substrate. An opening is created through the layer of dielectric material that exposes the silicon-containing region. A metal stack is formed within the opening. The metal stack includes at least a first metal film having a first and second type of metal and a second metal film. The metal stack and the silicon-containing region of the semiconductor substrate are annealed to form a silicide that includes the first and second types of metal and that is in contact with the semiconductor substrate. A first liner is formed within the opening and a fill metal is deposited in the opening.
US09443769B2
Fin structures are formed on a substrate. An isolation region is between the fin structures. The fin structures comprise epitaxial regions extending above the isolation region. Each of the epitaxial regions has a widest mid-region between an upper-surface and an under-surface. A dual-layer etch stop is formed over the fin structures and comprises a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer. The first sub-layer is along the upper- and under-surfaces and the isolation region. The second sub-layer is over the first sub-layer and along the upper-surfaces, and the second sub-layer merges together proximate the widest mid-regions of the epitaxial regions. Portions of the dual-layer etch stop are removed from the upper- and under-surfaces. A dielectric layer is formed on the upper- and under-surfaces. A metal layer is formed on the dielectric layer on the upper-surfaces. A barrier layer is formed on the metal layer and along the under-surfaces.
US09443767B2
A design structure for a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, a set of semiconductor fins positioned on the substrate and positioned approximately parallel lengthwise to one another, a first gate layer and a second gate layer deposited on the substrate and on the set of semiconductor fins approximately perpendicular lengthwise to the set of semiconductor fins. The semiconductor structure can include an interconnect layer deposited on the substrate and on the set of semiconductor fins approximately perpendicular lengthwise to the set of semiconductor fins. The interconnect layer can be positioned between the first gate layer and the second gate layer at a first interconnect distance from the first gate layer and a second interconnect distance from the second gate layer.
US09443755B2
A method of fabricating a miniaturized semiconductor or other such device takes advantage of a self-reorganization characteristic of an in-situ dissociable diblock copolymer to form a circular via hole that is centrally disposed relative to other device features. In one embodiment, the method is used to form a dual damascene structure. During formation of the dual damascene structure, due to the self-reorganization characteristics of the monomer constituents of the diblock copolymer, the position of the via hole can be ensured to be self aligned with the position of the trench, thus improving the performance and yield of the so formed semiconductor devices, and lowering fabrication costs.
US09443754B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a high-voltage N-well (HVNW) disposed in the substrate, a bulk P-well disposed in the substrate and adjacent to an edge of the HVNW, a high-voltage (HV) diode disposed in the HVNW, the HV diode including a HV diode P-well disposed in the HVNW and spaced apart from the edge of the HVNW, and an N-well disposed in the HVNW and between the HV diode P-well and the bulk P-well. A doping concentration of the N-well is higher than a doping concentration of the HVNW.
US09443753B2
Apparatus for controlling the flow of a gas in a process chamber is provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for controlling the flow of a gas in a process chamber having a processing volume within the process chamber disposed above a substrate support and a pumping volume within the process chamber disposed below the substrate support may include an annular plate surrounding the substrate support proximate a level of a substrate support surface of the substrate support, wherein the annular plate extends radially outward toward an inner peripheral surface of the process chamber to define a uniform gap between an outer edge of the annular plate and the inner peripheral surface, wherein the uniform gap provides a uniform flow path from the processing volume to the pumping volume.
US09443746B2
Tooling for molding a packaged semiconductor device includes a clamping plate, a cavity bar, and an attachment mechanism. The cavity bar has a mold half that has a mold cavity for molding the packaged semiconductor device. The mold half has teeth and a space between pairs of adjacent teeth. The teeth and the spaces support bending of leads of a lead frame of the packaged semiconductor device. The attachment mechanism affixes the cavity bar to the clamping plate and permits the cavity bar to slide relative to the clamping plate. This sliding of the cavity bar enables proper alignment with a mating cavity bar to reduce the likelihood of resin bleed.
US09443738B2
Semiconductor devices and methods for forming the devices with middle of line capacitance reduction in self-aligned contact process flow are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining a wafer with at least one source, at least one drain, and at least one sacrificial gate; forming a first contact region over the at least one source and a second contact region over the at least one drain; removing the at least one sacrificial gate; forming at least one gate; and forming at least one small contact over the first contact region and the second contact region. An intermediate semiconductor device is also disclosed.
US09443731B1
Provided is a method for increasing pattern density on a substrate comprising a structure with a patterned layer with a first composition and a sidewall and a cap layer of a second composition formed atop said structure. The sidewall is exposed to a chemical environment and creates a chemically modified sidewall layer of a third composition. The cap layer and an interior, non-modified portion of said structure is removed using an etching process to leave behind said chemically modified sidewall layer. A pattern transfer etch of said sidewall chemically modified layer onto the underlying layer of said substrate is performed. One or more integration operating variables are controlled to achieve target critical dimensions comprising width, height, sidewall angle, line width roughness, and/or line edge roughness of said structure.
US09443730B2
In some embodiments, silicon-filled openings are formed having no or a low occurrence of voids in the silicon fill, while maintaining a smooth exposed silicon surface. In some embodiments, an opening in a substrate may be filled with silicon, such as amorphous silicon. The deposited silicon may have interior voids. This deposited silicon is then exposed to a silicon mobility inhibitor, such as an oxygen-containing species and/or a semiconductor dopant. The deposited silicon fill is subsequently annealed. After the anneal, the voids may be reduced in size and, in some embodiments, this reduction in size may occur to such an extent that the voids are eliminated.
US09443729B1
A method comprises providing a substrate formed of a first semiconductor material, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of isolation regions, etching away upper portions of the substrate to form a plurality of trenches, wherein each trench is between two adjacent isolation regions, over-growing a plurality of semiconductor fins in the trenches over the substrate through an epitaxial growth process, wherein upper portions of the semiconductor fins are above top surfaces of the isolation regions, applying a planarization process to the semiconductor fins, wherein top surfaces of the semiconductor fins are level with top surfaces of the isolation regions as a result of performing the step of applying the planarization process and removing a defect semiconductor fin to form a vacant trench.
US09443720B2
Provided is a technique of forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: forming a first layer by supplying a gas containing a first element to the substrate, wherein the first layer is a discontinuous layer, a continuous layer, or a layer in which at least one of the discontinuous layer or the continuous layer is overlapped; forming a second layer including the first layer and a discontinuous layer including a second element stacked on the first layer; and forming a third layer by supplying a gas containing a third element to the substrate to modify the second layer under a condition where a modifying reaction of the second layer by the gas containing the third element is not saturated.
US09443711B2
A room-temperature bonding apparatus of the present invention includes: a plurality of first beam sources configured to emit a plurality of first activation beams which are irradiated to a first activation surface of a first substrate; a plurality of second beam sources configured to emit a plurality of second activation beams which are irradiated to a second activation surface of a second substrate; and a pressure welding mechanism configured to bond the first substrate and the second substrate by bring the first activation surface and the second activation surface contact, after the first activation surface and the second activation surface are irradiated. The room-temperature bonding apparatus can more uniformly irradiate to the first activation surface and the second activation surface, so that the first substrate and the second substrate can be more appropriately bonded with each other, compared with another room-temperature bonding apparatus which irradiates the first activation surface and the second activation surface by using one beam source.
US09443708B2
A system and process are disclosed for ultrasensitive determination of target isotopes of analytical interest in a sample. Target isotopes may be implanted in an implant area on a high-purity substrate to pre-concentrate the target isotopes free of contaminants. A known quantity of a tracer isotope may also be implanted. Target isotopes and tracer isotopes may be determined in a mass spectrometer. The present invention provides ultrasensitive determination of target isotopes in the sample.
US09443706B2
A method of generating spectral data comprising the steps of deriving a temporally separated sample from a temporal separation device and subjecting the temporally separated sample to an analysis involving scanning at least one spectrally significant parameter, wherein the analysis is performed so that at least two scans in succession are in opposite directions.
US09443698B2
A hybrid scanner is disclosed that is capable of performing at least one of an electric and magnetic scanning of an ion beam. The hybrid scanner comprises a plurality of magnetic elements configured to generate a magnetic field across the ion beam for magnetic scanning, and a plurality of electric elements configured to generate an electric field proximate to the ion beam for electric scanning. A power delivery controller is coupled to at least one of the magnetic elements and at least one of the electric elements, and is configured to selectively provide power to the magnetic and electric elements.
US09443695B2
This charged-particle beam device changes conditions for combining an intensity ratio between upper and lower deflectors and rotation angles of the deflectors in multiple ways when obtaining images having different pixel sizes in the vertical and horizontal directions. Then, the charged-particle beam device determines an optimal intensity ratio between the upper and lower deflectors and rotation angles of the deflectors on the basis of variations in size value measured in the larger pixel size direction (Y-direction) of the image. As a result, it is possible to extend the field of view in the Y-direction while reducing deflection aberrations when measuring at high precision in the X-direction.
US09443687B2
A method for evaluating mechanical performance of a switchgear device having at least one pole which includes a pair of contacts movable between open and closed positions, a support arm of a first contact, a support arm drive including a rotary pole shaft and a rod pivotably coupling the drive to the support, an energy storage system for moving the arm to close the contacts, and a toggle device with a trip latch, the method including measuring the angle of rotation of the pole shaft during contact closing, deriving specific values by measuring the angle of rotation, comparing the values with an initial reference value, identifying wear performances of the drive by comparing the specific values with the reference value, determining on a variation curve of the angle of rotation versus time, a first specific time to reach a first inflection point when the pole shaft reaches a maximum speed of rotation, and a second time to reach a point on the curve at a theoretical final angle of rotation when the contacts are closed, calculating the elapsed time between the first and second times, and deriving an excess energy level of the energy storage system as a function of the difference between the calculated elapsed time and a theoretical value.
US09443670B2
A switch suitable for use in contaminated environments provides for internal support of the operator allowing an oversized opening in the housing of the switch through which the operator extends. In this way contamination on the outer surface of the operator may be accommodated without a jamming of the operator in the retracted position.
US09443667B2
A touch-sensitive push-button includes a button, a capacitor arranged on a top side of the button, a circuit board arranged on a bottom side of the button, and a switch arranged between the button and circuit board. The switch and the capacitor are electrically coupled to each other in parallel. The switch changes from an electrical OFF state to an electrical ON state when the button is pressed, thereby causing the capacitor to be short-circuited.
US09443656B2
A multilayer ceramic capacitor is configured such that “a” is a distance in a height direction between an effective portion and a first principal surface; “b” is a distance in a length direction between a first end surface and the effective portion in the length direction; “c” is a thickness of the thickest portion of a first base layer provided over the first principal surface; “d” is a distance in the length direction between the thickest portion of the first base layer provided over the first end surface and a portion of the first base layer located over the first principal surface and closest to a second end surface; and “e” is a maximum thickness of a portion of the first base layer provided over the first end surface; and f: the height of the ceramic body, and 2≦(c·d+e·f/2)/(a·b)≦6 is satisfied.
US09443648B2
A magnetic sheet of an embodiment includes a laminate of a plurality of magnetic thin plates. The laminate constituting the magnetic sheet includes a first magnetic thin plate and a second magnetic thin plate different in kind from the first magnetic thin plate. The first magnetic thin plate has a magnetostriction constant exceeding 5 ppm in an absolute value, and the second magnetic thin plate has a magnetostriction constant of 5 ppm or less in an absolute value. Alternatively, the first magnetic thin plate has a thickness of from 50 to 300 μm, and the second magnetic thin plate has a thickness of from 10 to 30 μm.
US09443645B2
An insulated wire for vehicle use includes a conductor and an insulating layer disposed on an outer circumference of the conductor. The insulating layer comprises a halogen-free flame retardant cross-linkable resin composition containing a base polymer, and a silane coupling agent and a metal hydroxide which are added to the base polymer. The base polymer includes, as major components, (a) an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and (b) an acid-modified olefin resin having a Tg of −55° C. or lower at a ratio (a):(b) of 70:30 to 100:0 and has an acetic acid content (VA) of 50% to 70% by mass. The silane-coupling agent is added in an amount of 1 to 5 parts by mass and the metal hydroxide is added in an amount of 100 to 250 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the base polymer.
US09443637B2
A semiconductive roller (1) according to the present invention has a nonporous single-layer structure formed from a rubber composition which includes: a rubber component including a styrene butadiene rubber and an epichlorohydrin rubber; and a salt of an anion having a fluoro group and a sulfonyl group in its molecule; the salt being present in the rubber composition in a proportion of 0.05 to 5 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the overall rubber component.
US09443632B2
The present disclosure relates generally to plasmonic substrates and specifically to high-throughput trapping of particles on a plasmonic substrate.
US09443627B1
A method for sequestering technetium is disclosed. The method includes contacting technetium with apatite under reducing conditions whereby the technetium is absorbed by the apatite.
US09443626B2
A concrete storage module (26) is adapted to slideably receive a cylindrical canister assembly (12) therein. Heat dissipation fins (62) and a tubular heat shield (96) are disposed within the module to help dissipate heat emitted from the nuclear fuel assemblies stored in the canister to air flowing through the module. The canister assembly (12) is composed of a basket assembly (70) constructed from multi-layer structural plates disposed in cross-cross or egg carton configuration. A single port tool (106) is provided for draining water from the canister (12) and replacing the drain water with make-up gas. The single port tool is mounted in the cover (100) of the canister and is in fluid flow communication with the interior of the canister.
US09443624B2
The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to molecules, including substituted propenoic amides (e.g., aryl substituted propenoic amides), that may receive excited state energy from light-absorbing molecules. According to some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to molecules, including substituted propenoic amides (e.g., aryl substituted propenoic amides), that may quench, dissipate, and/or otherwise resolve excited state energy (e.g., as heat).
US09443618B2
Provided is a semiconductor memory device that may efficiently map an internal address used inside the semiconductor memory device in response to an external address that is applied from the outside of the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array configured to include a first main cell array, a first spare cell array, a second main cell array, and a second spare cell array each of which has internal cells that are selected in response to an internal address, and an address mapping unit configured to map external address as the internal address when the external address designates the first main and spare cell arrays, and to operate calculation with a given value and the external address and to map the calculation result value as the internal address when the external address designates the second main and spare cell arrays.
US09443603B2
A storage device comprises at least one nonvolatile memory device and a memory controller configured to control the at least one nonvolatile memory device. The storage device searches for a read voltage for at least one memory cell in at least one page when power is turned on following a power-off state, calculates an off-time corresponding to the searched read voltage using a voltage-to-time lookup table, and sets a timer of the storage device using a time stamp corresponding to a page programmed before the power-off, and the off-time.
US09443599B2
A non-volatile memory and a method of controlling an erase operation of the non-volatile memory using a controller are provided. The method of controlling the erase operation includes beginning performance of the erase operation, monitoring a next command to be performed in the non-volatile memory while performing the erase operation, determining an erase status, and continuing, suspending or canceling the erase operation based on the determination result of the erase status.
US09443591B2
Described embodiments detect an impending out-of-space (OOS) condition of a media. On startup, a media controller determines whether an impending OOS indicator is set from a previous startup. If the impending OOS indicator is not set, it is determined whether a free pool size has reached a threshold. The free pool is blocks of the solid-state media available to be written with data. If the free pool size has not reached the first threshold, while the startup time is less than a maximum startup time, garbage collection is performed on the solid-state media to accumulate blocks to the free pool. If the startup time reaches the maximum startup time and the free pool size has not reached the threshold, the impending OOS indicator is set and the media is operated in impending OOS mode. Otherwise, if the free pool size reaches the threshold, the media is operated in normal mode.
US09443590B2
A content addressable memory cell is provided that includes plurality of transistors having a minimum feature size F, and a plurality of memory elements coupled to the plurality of transistors. The content addressable memory cell occupies an area of between 18F2 and 36F2.
US09443585B2
According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a first memory cell, a word line, a first bit line, first and second inverters, first to sixth MOS transistors, and a control circuit. The first transistor is connected to the first output terminal of the first inverter. The second transistor is connected to the second output terminal of the second inverter. The fifth transistor has a first current path whose one end is connected to the first voltage terminal of the first inverter. The sixth transistor has a second current path whose one end is connected to the third voltage terminal of the second inverter. The control circuit makes the first and second transistors a cutoff state by a first signal and makes the fifth and sixth transistors the cutoff state by a second signal in a standby state.
US09443576B1
A memory system includes a word-line coupled to memory cells in a row, and a bit-line coupled to memory cells in a column. Each of the memory cells includes a memory storage element including a Josephson junction configured to be in either a first state or a second state in response to an application of a word-line current to the Josephson junction. A read operation is performed on the at least one memory storage element by an application of a bit-line current to the bit-line. At least one inductive-shunt, coupled in parallel to the at least one memory storage element, is configured to, after the read operation, remove at least a substantial portion of the bit-line current provided to the at least one memory storage element without requiring removal of an entirety of the bit-line current applied to the bit-line during the read operation.
US09443572B2
Systems and methods for delay control are described herein. In one embodiment, a delay system comprises a first delay circuit configured to provide a voltage bias to a second delay circuit, wherein the voltage bias controls a delay of the second delay circuit, and to update the voltage bias at an update rate. The delay system also comprises an update controller configured to adjust the update rate of the first delay circuit. For example, the update controller may adjust the update rate based on timing requirements of a memory interface incorporating the delay system. The update rate may be reduced when the timing requirements are more relaxed to reduce power, and may be increased when the timing requirements are tighter.
US09443571B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory includes a memory area; an error detection circuit which detect an error of first data output from the memory area; and a control circuit which control the memory area and the error detection circuit. When the error is detected in the first data, the control circuit starts precharge of a bit line at a timing when a first period has elapsed from a start of a first operation of the memory area for output of the first data. When the error is not detected in the first data, the control circuit starts the precharge at a timing when a second period has elapsed from the start of the first operation, the second period is shorter than the first period.
US09443567B1
Described is an apparatus which comprises: an input sensing stage for sensing an input signal relative to another signal; a decision making circuit, coupled to the input sensing stage, for determining whether the input signal is a logic low or a logic high; and a power management circuit, coupled to the input sensing stage and the decision making circuit, which is operable to monitor a state of the decision making circuit and to disable the input sensing stage according to the monitored state. Described is an apparatus which comprises: a decision making circuit integrated with an input sensing stage, wherein the decision making circuit is operable to pre-charge its internal nodes during a phase of the clock signal; and a latching circuit to latch an output of the decision making circuit.
US09443565B2
An operation control method of a semiconductor memory device includes executing a Delay Locked Loop (DLL) locking in response to a DLL reset signal and measuring a loop delay of a DLL. The operation control method further includes storing measured loop delay information and DLL locking information; and performing a delay control of a command path using the stored loop delay information and DLL locking information independent of the DLL, during a latency control operation.
US09443550B2
A data storage system that includes a data migration assembly implemented using tape drive technology. The migration assembly includes tape drive modules or cards stacked within a tape drive chassis, which is adapted for insertion into a tape drive slot of a library or rack enclosure. The data storage system includes a server running a host application to manage data migration processes by transmitting control commands and/or parameters to the tape drive module. The tape drive module, in response, performs the data migration including data extraction from the source device and data loading onto the destination device. The data path passes between the source and destination devices through the tape drive cards but does not include the server running the host application so that data security is provided by the tape drive module along the entire data path rather than data being at risk in a server.
US09443543B1
According to one embodiment, a head flying height control method includes detecting a contact of a head with a disk while floating the head from the disk and moving the head in a radial direction of the disk, increasing a flying height of the head after detecting the contact of the head with the disk, and decreasing the flying height of the head after a state where the contact of the head with the disk is not detected continues.
US09443539B2
A write head for writing a servo pattern to a magnetic tape medium includes a first coil configured to generate a first magnetic flux when applying an electric current to the first coil, a second coil configured to generate a second magnetic flux when applying an electric current to the second coil, and a pole piece structure configured to guide the generated magnetic flux. The pole piece includes a first ring structure for guiding the first magnetic flux, a second ring structure for guiding the second magnetic flux, and a common section of the first and the second ring structure which common section is arranged between the first coil and the second coil. The write head further includes a section containing a gap in each of the first ring structure and the second ring structure. The magnetic flux is oriented in opposite directions across the two gaps.
US09443538B2
There is provided a waveform processing device for changing power of each pitch waveform of a segment in order to acquire a natural synthesis speech. A power calculation means 71 selects pitch waveforms one by one from a group of pitch waveforms corresponding to a segment, and calculates a scalar indicating power of a selected pitch waveform. A normalization degree calculation means 72 calculates a degree of normalization which is an index indicating a degree of normalization of a pitch waveform selected by the power calculation means 71, as a function value of an increasing function using the scalar as a variable. A change coefficient calculation means 73 calculates a change coefficient for changing an amplitude value of a pitch waveform selected by the power calculation means 71 based on the scalar and the degree of normalization. An amplitude change means 74 multiplies an amplitude value at each sampling point of a pitch waveform selected by the power calculation means 71 by the change coefficient.
US09443525B2
An audio encoder implements multi-channel coding decision, band truncation, multi-channel rematrixing, and header reduction techniques to improve quality and coding efficiency. In the multi-channel coding decision technique, the audio encoder dynamically selects between joint and independent coding of a multi-channel audio signal via an open-loop decision based upon (a) energy separation between the coding channels, and (b) the disparity between excitation patterns of the separate input channels. In the band truncation technique, the audio encoder performs open-loop band truncation at a cut-off frequency based on a target perceptual quality measure. In multi-channel rematrixing technique, the audio encoder suppresses certain coefficients of a difference channel by scaling according to a scale factor, which is based on current average levels of perceptual quality, current rate control buffer fullness, coding mode, and the amount of channel separation in the source. In the header reduction technique, the audio encoder selectively modifies the quantization step size of zeroed quantization bands so as to encode in fewer frame header bits.
US09443524B2
A stereo decoding method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes: restoring a monophonic signal from a received code stream through decoding; restoring an interchannel level difference, a group delay, and a group phase from the received code stream through decoding; and processing the monophonic signal according to the interchannel level difference, group delay, and group phase to obtain a first channel signal and a second channel signal. According to the stereo decoding method and apparatus provided in embodiments of the present invention, the first and second channel signals are obtained according to the monophonic signal, ILD, group delay, and group phase by referring to not only the ILD but also the group delay and group phase, thereby yielding favorable stereo sound field effect for the obtained first and second channel signals.
US09443523B2
A system and method of verifying the identity of an authorized user in an authorized user group for enabling secure access to one or more services via a device includes receiving first voice information from a speaker through the device, calculating a confidence score based on a comparison of the first voice information with a stored voice model associated with the authorized user and specific to the authorized user, interpreting the first voice information as a specific service request, identifying a minimum confidence score for initiating the specific service request, determining whether or not the confidence score exceeds the minimum confidence score, and initiating the specific service request if the confidence score exceeds the minimum confidence score.
US09443518B1
Techniques, systems, and devices for managing streaming media among end user devices in a video conferencing system are described. For example, a transcript may be automatically generated for a video conference. In one example, a method may include receiving a combined media stream comprising a plurality of media sub-streams each associated with one of a plurality of end user devices, wherein each of the plurality of media sub-streams comprises a respective video component and a respective audio component. The method may also include, for each of the media-sub-streams, separating the audio component from the respective video component, for each audio component of the respective media sub-streams, transcribing speech from the audio component to text for the respective media sub-stream, and combining the text for each of the respective media sub-streams into a combined transcription. In some examples, the combined transcription may also be translated into a user selected language.
US09443515B1
A personality designer system for making a remote object produce phrases consistent with a designed personality is described. The personality designer program allows a person to select a particular character, particular personality traits, specific phrases, create their own phrases, provide input levels for specific personality traits or any suitable combination of input or selection options described. As an example, a plurality of personalities may be described and a person may select a desired personality for their remote audio object. The plurality of personalities may include characters from history, celebrities, politicians, or fictional characters from books, television or movies, for example. The remote audio object is a detachably attachable object and comprises a speaker for emitting the selection of phrases or personality, and may be configured on, or placed near or in any suitable object including a pet collar, toy, car, plant and the like. In one embodiment, the remote audio object is a dog collar.
US09443512B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, receiving audio data; determining that an initial portion of the audio data corresponds to an initial portion of a hotword; in response to determining that the initial portion of the audio data corresponds to the initial portion of the hotword, selecting, from among a set of one or more actions that are performed when the entire hotword is detected, a subset of the one or more actions; and causing one or more actions of the subset to be performed.
US09443507B2
A method and system can control a speech recognition system in a vehicle. The method includes monitoring adaptive feature data about interactions between a user and the speech recognition system. The method includes determining a first group of samples of the adaptive feature data and creating a control chart based on the first group of samples. The control chart includes a control limit. The method further includes determining a second group of samples of the adaptive feature data after creating the control chart. Furthermore, the method includes calculating an arithmetic mean of each sample of the second group of samples to determine a sample mean, comparing the sample mean to the control limit in order identify unexpected performance of the speech recognition system. The method includes adjusting the speech recognition system based on the identified unexpected performance if the unexpected performance is identified.
US09443495B2
A device for processing video information has an input unit (112) for receiving the video information having low dynamic range [LDR] video data and/or high dynamic range [HDR] video data, and a video processor (113) for generating a display signal for display in a LDR display mode or HDR display mode. Graphics data is processed for generating an overlay for overlaying the video data. The input unit receives graphics processing control data comprised in the video information, the graphics processing control data including at least one HDR processing instruction for overlaying the graphics data in the HDR display mode. The video processor is constituted for adapting the processing when overlaying the graphics data in dependence on the specific display mode and the HDR processing instruction. Advantageously the source of the video information is enabled to control the processing of graphics in HDR display mode via the HDR processing instruction.
US09443493B2
A graph display control apparatus includes a figure display control unit, a graph figure change unit, a coordinate value calculation unit and a figure prominent display control unit. The figure display control unit sets a coordinate system to a display unit and displays (i) a first graph figure and (ii) a coordinate axis or a second graph figure in the system. The graph figure change unit moves or transforms the first graph figure in the system in response to a user operation to change the first graph figure. The coordinate value calculation unit detects an intersection point of (i) the changed first graph figure and (ii) the coordinate axis or the second graph figure and calculates a coordinate value of the intersection point. The figure prominent display control unit prominently displays the changed first graph figure when the coordinate value is an integer.
US09443492B2
A display having a substrate is provided. The substrate is at least partially made of a partially transparent material having a non-homogenous spectral transmission curve. The substrate has a display face and a rear face with at least one luminous element disposed in the region of the rear face. The luminous element includes at least two base color lamps, where the base color brightness of at least one of the base color lamps is different, in order to compensate for the spectrally non-homogenous transmission curve of the substrate.
US09443486B2
The present invention relates to a driving circuit for a display panel and the driving module thereof and a display device and the method for manufacturing the same. The present invention comprises a power generating module, a plurality of signal generating units, a power generating circuit, and a scan control circuit. The power generating module generates a supply power source according to an input power source. The plurality of signal generating units are coupled to the power generating module and generate a plurality of control signals according to the supply power source and a plurality of input signals. The power generating circuit generates a driving power source. The scan control circuit is coupled to the power generating circuit and the plurality of signal generating unit, and generates a plurality of scan signals according to the driving power source and at least one of the plurality of control signals.
US09443479B2
Method and apparatus for preparing and displaying images uses image characteristics of an area of interest of images to optimize or otherwise determine image characteristics of the entire image to be displayed. The area of interest information may be used in computing a System Synchronized Backlight Control (“SSBC”) profile tor the area of interest, and the SSBC profile may be used to adjust the image signal to provide an image in which the image characteristics, e.g., are optimized for the image at the area of interest. The image characteristics and/or SSBC profile information may be provided as metadata included in a video signal data stream. The area of interest may be selected where the image is obtained, where the image is shown or elsewhere, e.g., in an image storage device, image player, etc.
US09443476B2
An image pickup device includes: a camera; a display; a touch panel that overlaps the display, and a vertical sensor that detects a vertical direction. When a flick operation from down to up along the vertical direction is performed, a brightness of the display is changed from a first brightness to a second brightness that is brighter than the first brightness.
US09443475B2
Back cabinet (7) has space (7a) which can accommodate backlight unit (4) and a circuit board therein, a backlight supporter which supports backlight unit (4) is provided on an inner wall surface forming space (7a), liquid crystal display panel (3) is disposed in an opening of space (7a) of back cabinet (7), and panel driving circuit board (22) for electrically connecting liquid crystal display panel (3) to a signal processing circuit board is exposed to outside from a side wall of back cabinet (7).
US09443473B2
A pixel array and an organic light emitting display device including the same, can display an image with uniform luminance by compensating for a variation in threshold voltage/mobility of a driving transistor for each pixel and compensating for a change in efficiency due to degradation of an organic light emitting diode. A first pixel among the pixel array includes an organic light emitting diode; a pixel circuit positioned among an anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode, a first scan line and a first data line through which a data signal is supplied to the first pixel, and controlling current flowing in the organic light emitting diode; and a switching element controlling the coupling between a second data line through which a data signal is supplied to a second pixel of the plurality of pixels and the anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode.
US09443469B2
A circuit is provided to drive a controlled current from a drive transistor into one electroluminescent element of a pixel array. The circuit is operable to compensate for threshold voltage variation of the drive transistor, thereby providing improved image quality. The circuit is suitable for implementation with p-channel MOSFETs and a conventional geometry having in order: substrate, TFT layer(s), anode, electroluminescent layer(s), cathode. A driving method for this circuit is provided. A display incorporating this circuit is provided. The circuit is operable to provide an inspection function prior to fabrication of the electroluminescent layer(s). An inspection method is provided.
US09443468B2
A display device includes a voltage supply unit to output a first voltage, a switch unit to selectively output the first voltage or a second voltage, a coupling member to transfer a third voltage to a display panel, and a feedback unit to selectively feed back the first voltage or the third voltage. The voltage supply unit receives a voltage based on the first voltage or the third voltage selected by the feedback unit, and the third voltage is based on the first voltage output from the switch unit. The voltage supply unit may compensate for drops in a control voltage of the display panel based on the fed back voltage.
US09443455B2
To extend the range of distance (between a display screen and the eye of a viewer) with which the viewer can see 3D images with the naked eye and to reduce power consumption. A parallax barrier in a shutter panel is controlled to be arranged optimally in accordance with the distance between the viewer and a display panel. Specifically, an optimal parallax barrier is formed as appropriate by selectively switching a light-transmitting state and a light-shielding state of a plurality of optical shutter regions and a display element unit of pixels depending on a retention state. The retention state is realized in such a manner that at least one of electrodes between which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched is connected to a transistor including a semiconductor layer containing an oxide semiconductor and the transistor is turned off.
US09443437B2
A procedure and system are provided for automatically landing an aircraft, particularly an unmanned aircraft on a moving, particularly floating landing platform, for example, on an aircraft carrier, the aircraft being equipped with an automatic navigation device and an automatic landing control device. The procedure includes detecting the position of an intended landing spot, detecting motion data of the landing platform, determining at least one imminent point in time at which the landing spot takes up a reference position, transmitting the point in time and the reference position of the landing spot to the landing control device of the aircraft, and controlling the aircraft such that it reaches the landing spot at the point in time.
US09443436B2
A monitoring apparatus for deployment on an AUV may include navigation equipment operable independent of guidance and control equipment of the AUV and usable for determining AUV navigation information during deployment of the AUV, radio equipment operable independent of a radio module of the AUV and for providing a communication link to a ground station for communication with testing staff, and a watchdog module comprising processing circuitry configured to monitor at least the AUV navigation information relative to operational guidance to determine whether a constraint defined in the operational guidance is violated.
US09443433B1
Method, system, and computer program product for monitoring vehicle compliance with a vehicle operating instruction provided by a traffic controller. A spoken vehicle operating instruction is translated into a computer-readable instruction that can be used for data entry and/or retrieval. The computer-readable instruction is transformed into an expected vehicle operating trajectory by mapping to a published vehicle procedure or by calculating a trajectory based on provided instructions. The vehicle is monitored as it operates. In the event the monitored operation differs or is forecast to differ from conformance limits associated with the expected trajectory, an alert can be provided.
US09443432B2
An improved method for asset management is described. The method includes receiving information from a remote reporting device in close proximity to an asset, the information including a first unique identifier associated with the asset and a second unique identifier associated with a user of the asset. The method further includes associating the asset with the user based on the information. Additionally, the method includes monitoring use of the asset and maintaining a record of the use by the user based on the information.
US09443430B2
An approach is provided for causing, at least in part, an initiation of at least one communication session between at least one parking vehicle and one or more proximate parked vehicles. The approach also involves determining at least one measure of space associated with the one or more proximate parked vehicles based, at least in part, on the at least one communication session. The approach further involves processing and/or facilitating the processing of the at least one measure of space to determine, at least in part, at least one adjustment of a parking position of the at least one parking vehicle relative to the one or more proximate parked vehicles.
US09443427B1
Negotiating a multi-vehicle environment using vehicle-to-vehicle network tokens for intra-vehicle communication. Preliminary routing assignment are efficiently improved by available intra-vehicle communication.
US09443421B2
A method used in a remote control system for remotely controlling an appliance by execution of a remote control command contained in a control program stored in an operation terminal device, by which: a first identifier is acquired at a first time point (S801), the first identifier being unique to a portable medium located close to an operation terminal device serving as a remote controller for the appliance; the first identifier is embedded into the control program (S802); a second identifier is acquired at a second time point later than the first time point (S803), the second identifier being unique to a portable medium located close to the operation terminal device serving as the remote controller for the appliance; whether the first identifier matches the second identifier is determined (S804); and remote control of the appliance is prohibited when the first identifier does not match the second identifier (S805).
US09443415B2
A method for disseminating information regarding a problem and administering medical interventions comprises providing a mobile device wirelessly connectable to a network, receiving and storing contact information corresponding to a designated list of information recipients, receiving, via the mobile device and via the wireless trigger transmitting to the mobile device, a signal from a user indicating the problem, receiving, via the mobile device, information regarding the problem, transmitting an indication of the problem to a rescue clearinghouse via the network, prompting a participant of the rescue clearinghouse, different from the user, to make a decision about a course of action regarding the problem, and at least one of transmitting the information regarding the problem to the information recipients from the designated list and transmitting the information regarding the problem to a government rescue organization, based at least in part on the decision.
US09443411B2
Systems and methods for monitoring child seats and children in child seats through sensors paired with a central processing hub which in turn relays notifications of conditions to caregivers or other users based on a notification hierarchy and the urgency of the conditions detected.
US09443409B1
A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a proximity sensor configured to generate one or more sense signals associated with a proximity of an environmental object relative to the body portion; circuitry operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals and to determine whether the proximity of the environmental object relative to the body portion changes over a time period; and a reporting device operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to generate one or more communication signals associated with one or more of the environmental object or a change in proximity of the environmental object relative to the body portion responsive to instruction by the circuitry.
US09443401B2
A system is provided that automatically converts an input into one or more haptic effects in near real-time. The system senses the input in near real-time. The system automatically converts the sensed input into one or more haptic signals in near real-time. The system generates the one or more haptic effects based on the one or more haptic signals.
US09443397B1
A system and method for selling pre-printed instant-winner lottery tickets by use of a central computer communicating with widely-distributed enclosed vending machines and other terminals, with each ticket providing a traditional instant-winner game with a chance for an added instant-winner progressive jackpot prize. The identification code printed on each ticket is read by a code reader, after the ticket has been issued from a vending machine or selected from an accessible display of inactive tickets, and the computer determines whether the ticket is a progressive jackpot winner, and notifies the terminal at which the ticket is a processed of the win or loss. If the ticket has not been activated, the computer activates it. If necessary, the computer also supplies play data to be printed on the ticket or separate paper, or displayed to complete the traditional game and indicate the winning or loss of that game as well.
US09443394B2
A convertible in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming system is disclosed that includes a server connected to automatically convert operating modes and control in-revenue and out-of-revenue operation of one or more banks of gaming machines. Additionally disclosed are gaming machines with video cameras connected to provide live video feed to one or more displays, such as during tournament play when live video feed of the players and the player tournament positions may be driven in real-time to an overhead display by the server operating in a tournament controller mode.
US09443380B2
Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, sensor data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide real time information to the athlete via media playback devices that use input provided from one or more types of monitors to, at least in part, determine the content of printed, audio, and/or video output provided to the user during an athletic performance. In some embodiments, sensor outputs and/or user actions may be relied upon to control or modify audio and/or video output.
US09443379B2
A gaming system is operated by comparing a mobile device elevation at which a mobile device is located to one or more authorized elevations that correspond to areas where mobile gaming is permitted, wherein the one or more authorized elevations is adjusted according to a height of a user of the mobile device, responsive to the comparing, permitting gaming using the mobile device when the mobile device elevation is within the one or more adjusted authorized elevations, and not permitting gaming using the mobile device when the mobile device elevation is outside the one or more adjusted authorized elevations, and permitting non-gaming operations using the mobile device regardless of whether the mobile device elevation is within or outside the one or more authorized elevations.
US09443368B2
A digital document display device capable of displaying a document, retrieving updates, sharing locally with other devices, managing document displays in other digital document display devices in proximity, etc. A e-paper based display unit of the digital document display device is configured to read and display the display image. A motion detector unit helps detect human motion, so that the digital document display device may be set to a low power mode, or powered off, etc. if no humans are detected in the vicinity. A renewable energy power unit is also provided.
US09443367B2
Systems and associated methods for coin discrimination are disclosed herein. Disclosed methods for discriminating coins include recognizing strings of alphanumerical characters of the coin using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The methods can include recognizing colors and/or reflectivity of the coin using, for example, pixel thresholding algorithms. The methods can further include adding a line to an image of the coin, and measuring angles between the line and the edges on the coin. The methods can also include generating a rectangular image of the coin using, for example, a log-polar transform, generating a series of, for example, Fourier transforms from the rectangular image, and identifying spectral peak locations and intensities in the Fourier transform results. The results of the OCR, color/reflectivity recognition, angle measurement, spectral peak location, spectral peak intensity of the coin and/or other features or aspects of coins can then be compared to known values for different coins to discriminate the coins.
US09443366B2
One or more location and status monitoring tags, locks, or luggage may be used in conjunction with a monitoring or controlling device or system to indicate the whereabouts and condition of a personal effect.
US09443363B2
A system and method for real-time location detection consists of a scalable real time location system (RTLS). It provides revised real time object location determinations. It includes a tag within a location environment, a processor to calculate a location of the tag, and at least one exclusion zone in the environment. Processing includes an original location determination of the tag and a revised location determination of the tag. The revised location determination is calculated by applying attributes of at least one exclusion zone to the original location determination of the tag. Some exclusion zones are defined by no-fly exclusion zones. The revised location determination improves the operation of the RTLS by correcting for impossible and improbable original location determinations. For embodiments, system deployment consists of three phases: collection of training and testing data, network training and testing, and network adaptive maintenance.
US09443353B2
Methods and systems for capturing and moving 3D models and true-scale metadata of real world objects
In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for assisting a user in visualizing how a modified real-world setting would appear. An imaging device may capture a plurality of images of one or more objects or settings. A three-dimensional model of each object or setting may be created based on the images. These models may then be used to create a realistic image of a modified setting. For example, an image may display a setting (e.g., a living room) with an additional object (e.g., a couch) in the setting. The image may be realistic, in that it may accurately represent dimensions of the object relative to dimensions in the setting. Because three-dimensional models were created for both the setting and object, a user may be able to manipulate the image to, e.g., re-position and/or re-orient the object within the setting and view the setting from different perspectives.
US09443351B2
An apparatus and method for reconstructing a skeletal image for osteoporotic diagnosis is disclosed. A skeletal image reconstruction method may include separating a region of interest (ROI) corresponding to a skeletal system from an image captured from an inspection target, and reconstructing a high-resolution skeletal image by performing a finite element method (FEM) and topology optimization on the ROI.
US09443347B2
We present a technique that utilizes a motion blur (three dimensional) rasterizer to augment the PCS culling technique so that it can be used for continuous collision detection, which to the best of our knowledge has not been done before for motion blur using a graphics processor.
US09443345B2
Provided is a method and apparatus that may generate a three-dimensional (3D) object from a two-dimensional (2D) image, and render the generated 3D object.Light source information may be extracted from the 2D image using a characteristic of the 2D image, and property information associated with the 2D image may be extracted based on the light source information. In particular, specular information, scattering information, and the like may be stored in a database using a plurality of samples. Since pecular information or scattering information similar to an input image may be retrieved from the data base, property information may be quickly extracted.
US09443340B2
For each layer, a scaling rate of an object image or a background image belonging to each of the layers is calculated based on a distance from a predetermined reference point in a virtual three-dimensional space to each of the layers. In addition, for each of the layers, a movement velocity of each of the layers when conducting a parallax scrolling is calculated based on a distance from the predetermined reference point in the virtual three-dimensional space to each of the layers. Furthermore, an image in each of the layers is scaled up or down based on the calculated scaling rate, and each of the layers are moved in a predetermined direction at the calculated movement velocity.
US09443339B2
A method and systems for creating a three-dimensional wireframe mesh that represents characteristics of a model of an object moving along a curve in a three-dimensional coordinate system. A processor determines a direction of the object's motion from a starting location to an ending location. The processor performs vector operations to draw pairs of vectors from a common, initial base point. The tips of each pair of vectors identify two corresponding points of the mesh, and the vector operations are functions of the starting location, of the second location, and of the object's direction of motion. The processor adjusts characteristics of the mesh and determines, as a function of the adjusted mesh, a characteristic of the animated object at the ending location, such as its orientation, color, texture, reflectance, size, font, or animation speed.
US09443337B2
Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for providing animated multimedia, e.g. animated shows, to an audience over a network. Particularly, some embodiments provide systems and methods for generating and providing audio, animation, and other experience-related information so that user's may readily experience the content in a seamless manner (e.g., as an audience member watching a show, playing a video game, etc.). Various embodiments animate “to the audience” based, e.g., on what content the audience is consuming. The animations may be generated in real-time from constituent components and assets in response to user behavior.
US09443334B2
A graph processing module is described for producing a processed graph in three phases. In a bundling phase, the graph processing module selects edges that are used to constitute paths to produce a bundled graph. In an ordering phase, the graph processing module orders paths within the bundled graph to produce an ordered bundled graph. In a separating phase, the graph processing module separates paths in the ordered bundled graph. Among other features, the graph processing module performs the selecting operation by minimizing a cost function; this has the effect of promoting bundling in the bundled graph while discouraging the presence of overly long edges in the bundled graph. The graph processing module can perform the ordering operation by selecting the ordering of paths passing through each edge based on a consideration of ordering constraints within a common subpath associated with the edge.
US09443333B2
There is provided a method and system to communicate information. The system receives a first query that contains a first constraint and retrieves a first plurality of data items from a database based on the first query. Next, the system generates a first distribution based on the first plurality of data items, the first distribution utilizing a first plurality of domains that are used to identify data items. Next the system generates a second distribution based on a plurality of requests to view a second plurality of data items. Next the system generates a third distribution based on the first distribution and the second distribution. Finally, the system generates distribution data to be included within an interface, the interface to include at least one interface element that is positioned on the interface based on the third distribution, the at least one interface element to respectively represent at least one domain.
US09443329B2
A method for graphic visualization of ventricle wall motion includes acquiring medical imaging data frames depicting at least one cardiac cycle, identifying a ventricle wall outline in at least a portion of the plurality of image frames, determining end systolic and end diastolic frames belonging to a same cardiac cycle, copying the ventricle wall outline image from the ES and the ED frames, creating a composite image frame that includes the copied ventricle wall outline images, assigning a first color to the ES and a second color to the ED outline images of the composite frame, and providing the composite frame for displaying, printing, and/or storing in memory. A system for implementing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also disclosed.
US09443325B2
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a model information acquisition section which acquires model information in which a plurality of shape information pieces acquired in advance are resolved into basis spaces, a deviation region detection section which detects a deviation region in a shape of a target object in an inputted image, the deviation region having a difference from the model information, and a projection section which projects the shape of the target object in the inputted image onto the basis spaces after masking the deviation region.
US09443317B2
Systems and methods for determining a centerline of a tubular structure from volumetric data of vessels where a contrast agent was injected into the blood stream to enhance the imagery for centerlining. Given a 3D array of scalar values and a first and second point, the system and methods iteratively find a path from the start position to the end position that lies in the center of a tubular structure. A user interface may be provided to visually present and manipulate a centerline of the tubular structure and the tubular structure itself.
US09443316B1
Semi-automatic (instant) color image segmentation is performed on an input image for an object located near the point given by the user (e.g., touch screen contact). The size, shape, and the number of colors of the target object which is about (lying around or surrounding) the user-selected point is determined, and determinations made for which region the pixels belong to, either foreground or background. A binary object mask is generated which can be utilized for removing the material surrounding that object, or inverting the mask to remove the material of the object.
US09443307B2
A computing system receives a plurality of candidate images of a subject individual and generates pose data for each of the candidate images. The pose data of a candidate image is representative of a pose of the subject individual in that image. The computing system selects an image from the candidate images by generating a similarity value for each of the candidate images by comparing the pose data to target pose data.
US09443299B2
This disclosure provides techniques for assessing quality of a deposited film layer of an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) device. An image is captured and filtered to identify a deposited layer that is to be analyzed. Image data representing this layer can be optionally converted to brightness (grayscale) data. A gradient function is then applied to emphasize discontinuities in the deposited layer. Discontinuities are then compared to one or more thresholds and used to ascertain quality of the deposited layer, with optional remedial measures then being applied. The disclosed techniques can be applied in situ, to quickly identify potential defects such as delamination before ensuing manufacturing steps are applied. In optional embodiments, remedial measures can be taken dependent on whether defects are determined to exist.
US09443286B2
The embodiments provide an image processing method and apparatus, which combine a wavelet transform method with a non-local means method, comprising: performing N-level decomposition of an original gray image by using a wavelet transform method; and performing non-local means processing and wavelet reconstruction of each level of components one by one starting from an N-th level, so as to obtain a processed gray image. The image processing method and apparatus can effectively remove various image noises, and well reserve the image details.
US09443273B2
A social networking system provides access to personas comprising information, for example, web pages describing users or entities. The information may be suggested by the social networking system or requested by the user, for example, via search. The social networking system authenticates the personas so that only authentic personas are suggested to users or returned when a user is searching for information. The authenticity of a persona is determined based on the connections and/or likes coming from other personas, user accounts, or other entities represented within the social networking system that have been previously authenticated. The authenticity of the persona is also determined based on external links to the persona, for example, external websites referring to the persona or the rate at which external systems such as search engines direct web traffic to the persona.
US09443272B2
A data processing system includes components for providing a pleasant user experience. Those components may include a family interaction engine that provides a family channel. The family interaction engine may provide for creation of a user group. The family channel may present content of interest to multiple users in the user group. When a user is detected near the data processing system, the family interaction engine may automatically present content of interest to that user. When used for presenting media content, the data processing system may also cause supplemental data to automatically be presented, wherein the supplemental data is relevant to the media content and to a predetermined interest of the user. The data processing system may also provide a ranked list of applications for potential activation by the user. The applications may be ordered based on the current context. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09443260B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to catalog modeling for e-commerce systems and provide a method, system and computer program product for an adaptive unified retail catalog. In an embodiment of the invention, an e-commerce data processing system can be configured for catalog adaptation. The system can include an adaptive retail catalog, a logical catalog implementation of a logical catalog model coupled to the adaptive retail catalog, and a physical catalog coupled to the adaptive retail catalog through a database mediator. The system further includes a mapping of search requests against the logical catalog implementation to the physical catalog. In this way, changes to the underlying physical catalog model can be accommodated without requiring a companion change in the logical catalog model.
US09443255B2
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing resource and/or location-based matching services between a wireless terminal (e.g., mobile phone) user and one or more resources. A novel infrastructure supports resource and/or location based matching services over a wireless network. A back-end system includes a database, server, and match engine that are configured match a user with one or more resources based on the user's characteristics, preferences, and/or location. Such resources include (1) other users, (2) targeted advertising, (3) businesses/networking opportunities, and/or (4) locate a nearby service or store. A flexible database architecture supports application-specific resources which facilitate the deployment of various matching services. Application developers are thus able to implement different resource-matching applications for wireless devices through a common back-end infrastructure. Additionally, the match engine may include a feedback mechanism that permits the match engine to learn a user's preferences.
US09443252B2
Customer journey prediction and resolution is accomplished via a predictive model in which each user is mapped onto all available user journey information corresponding to a specific business. The predictive model is analyzed to understand the characteristics, preferences, and lowest effort resolution for the user related to the services that are subscribed to by the user. The predictive model is analyzed to predict the service or collection of services for each user. Embodiments interact with, provide and receive information from, and react to and/or deliver action to the customer across channels and across services. All customer and system behavior, data, and action is tracked and coordinated and leveraged for continuous feedback and performance improvement.
US09443249B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting users that are connected to a particular user; accessing, for each of the selected users, an interest score of the selected user that reflects the selected user's predicted interest in the particular topic, or interest data that that is used to determine the interest score of the selected user; accessing a model that is used for generating the interest score of the particular user that reflects the particular user's predicted interest in the particular topic, wherein the interest score of the particular user is generated based at least on the interest scores or interest data of the selected users for the particular topic; and applying the interest scores or interest data of the selected users for the particular topic to the model to generate the interest score of the particular user for the particular topic.
US09443248B2
Coupons and other promotions can be enabled using mobile computing devices with Near Field Communication (NFC) or other wireless communication capabilities. For example, a mobile device user can collect a coupon displayed during a cable TV show by tapping his NFC mobile device to a peripheral device in wireless communication with a cable TV receiver. Collected coupons can be stored in a coupon database at the mobile device. Coupons can be redeemed by tapping an NFC mobile device to an NFC point of sale terminal. Coupons can also be collected from advertisements in audio media and web pages, and can be collected at a mobile device from media displayed at the mobile device. Coupons can have time-based, location-based or other usage restrictions. Collecting information stored in NFC tags affixed to items in a scavenger hunt list can unlock downloadable content.
US09443247B2
A dashboard application can enable a user to quickly view data (and, in a particular aspect, data from one or more business applications) in an efficient manner. The dashboard application can be used to view data about one or more metrics that reflect the performance of a business, as derived from data maintained (perhaps in an associated data store) by the business application(s). In an aspect, a user can select two or more metrics to be displayed on a summary page and/or can invoke a detail page to view detailed information about one of the two or more metrics.
US09443246B2
A statistical methodology is employed for assisting people with the setting of parameters of software applications or services. With the method, information about demographics and/or about the complete or partial preferences of other people, are analyzed to infer recommendations for settings and functionality of a computer application or service. A system is reviewed with the ability to receive data regarding a plurality of users, and stores respective profiles for these users in a community store. The system can leverage off of these completed and/or partially completed profiles of parameters representing preferences about software operation in connection with building new profiles for users (new and/or existing). Data regarding a user that desires to build a new profile is employed in connection with the community profiles to facilitate the user building a personalized profile. Various statistical and/probabilistic schemes can be employed, for example, collaborative filtering techniques to identify to the user the top n settings by particular parameter(s), top m settings by popularity, top x most similar profiles to facilitate the user selecting most appropriate sub-profiles as part of a personalized profile building and selection effort.
US09443242B2
The present invention relates to a content update method, comprising the steps of: receiving, by a terminal, a specific-formatted data from a server, the specific-formatted data including a container and a variable information box, wherein the container includes a header, the variable information box includes a new advertisement content, the header includes a field which contains information on first advertisement content, and the field indicates that the new advertisement content is used for updating the first advertisement content; checking whether the terminal includes information matched with the information on the first advertisement content, wherein the first advertisement content is included in the specific-formatted data together with a non-advertisement content; and if a matching information is found as a result of the check, replacing the first advertisement content within the specific formatted data with the new advertisement content.
US09443240B2
A display enabled RFID tag (DERT) receives transaction details from the reader. DERT verifies that the details match their counterparts in the reader public key certificate. The process is aborted in case of a mismatch. DERT extracts and displays user-verifiable data. It then enters a countdown stage that lasts for a predetermined duration. A user observes the transaction information and, if the transaction amount and other details are deemed correct, presses an accept button provided on the DERT before the timer runs out. DERT signs the time-stamped transaction statement and sends it to the reader. This signed statement is then sent to the payment gateway and eventually to the financial institution that issued the payment DERT.
US09443239B2
An apparatus for effecting commercial transactions with a server using a transaction card via a communication device is provided. The apparatus includes a transaction device coupled with the communication device for capturing information from the transaction card and a controller for converting the captured card information into an encrypted audio signal and for transmitting the audio signal to the communication device. The communication device delivers the audio signal to the server for processing the commercial transaction.
US09443236B2
A parking meter mechanism is described that may include a front housing, having a display opening for viewing a display through, connected to an internal structure. Additionally or alternatively the parking meter mechanism may include a contactless payment reader located behind the display. The parking meter mechanism may be secured to a lower housing. A back housing may be secured to the lower housing as well. The front or back housing may include a solar panel compartment and solar panel mounted therein.
US09443231B2
A communication is received from a first user and stored as a predefined communication. The predefined communication is associated with an account associated with the first user, and subsequent to the receiving and the associating, the account is activated for provision of the predefined communication to a second user predefined by the first user. The predefined communication is automatically provided to the second user based on a determination that a triggering event for providing the predefined communication has been satisfied.
US09443229B2
A method of adapting a message translation system includes receiving a message from a sender; selecting a configuration set from a stored plurality of configuration sets based on at least two of: information regarding the sender of the message, information regarding a recipient of the message, and information regarding the message type; processing the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; identifying an issue with the processing of the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; determining a resolution for the identified issue with the processing of the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; updating the selected configuration set based upon the determined resolution; reprocessing the message in accordance with information derived from the updated configuration set; and transmitting the message reprocessed in accordance with information derived from the updated configuration set to a recipient.
US09443226B2
The present invention relates to an electronic assistant. In one embodiment, a system for processing data on a computing device includes at least one extractor for extracting data from an email to produce extracted data, a user model for generating a high-level model of an email environment on the computing device, based on the extracted data, and at least one predictor for generating a prediction related to the email, based on the extracted data and on the high-level model. In another embodiment, a system for scheduling an event includes an extractor for extracting constraints from a request for the event, a user model for receiving and storing scheduling preferences from a user, and a predictor coupled to the extractor and to the user model, for generating a candidate schedule for the event in accordance with the constraints and the scheduling preferences.
US09443224B2
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, and computer readable media for selecting updates to associated records to publish on an information feed in an on-demand database service environment. In one implementation, a selection input is received. The selection input may indicate a first one of a plurality of user account contexts associated with a user account in a feed system. The first one of the plurality of user account contexts may be associated with a set of feed items stored in the feed system. Based on the selection input indicating the first one of a plurality of user account contexts, one or more candidate feed items for presentation in an information feed may be determined. The information feed may be capable of being displayed on a display device.
US09443219B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for courier management. For example, in one embodiment, a courier application is executed on a mobile computing device to retrieve a list of stops associated with a courier from a computing device over a network. The list of stops includes a plurality of orders to be delivered, wherein a customer location is associated with each order. The courier application generates user interfaces to facilitate a confirmation that items associated with orders have been delivered, to facilitate an input of a review of the performance of the courier, and to perform other functions.
US09443218B2
Item movement is determined via wireless tracking using RFID data from at least one RFID reader. The RFID data associates RFID tag information with each antenna of the RFID reader that receives the tag information. At least one processor is configured to identify a first appearance of unique tag information in the RFID data. Items may be grouped when their first appearance in RFID data and their antenna association indicates that they first appear in a location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by RFID data, and/or when they have all moved from a previous location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by different RFID data. A group designation comprises the relevant unique tag information, which may be stored in memory along with a time stamp.
US09443217B2
A quality inspection and analytics system may include a quality inspection module to receive the information for inspection lots and display the information for the inspection lots simultaneously in a scrollable screen via a user interface. The information for the inspection lots may include inspection metrics, expected values for the inspection metrics and measured values for the inspection metrics. The quality inspection module may receive a usage decision and store the usage decision. Also, the system may include a quality analytics module to execute causal analysis of rejected inspection lots based on the inspection lot information.
US09443215B2
Systems and methods to provide sequence management are provided. In example embodiments, a production sequence having a plurality of sequencing objects linked together by relationships is generated. Each sequencing object of the plurality of sequencing objects has a relationship to at least one adjacent sequencing object in the production sequence. A trigger to perform a resequence of the production sequence is received. In response, a new production sequence is determined. The new production sequence may be generated by reusing the sequencing objects and updating at least one of the relationships in the production sequence in order to change the production sequence into the new production sequence. The new production sequence may then be posted. Related capacity planning objects are decoupled from the sequencing objects and the sequencing objects are not affected automatically.
US09443214B2
A system may include a record generator to receive a plurality of documents associated with a plurality of suppliers and provide supplier-specific data records based thereon. The record generator may include an event classifier configured to execute a supplier-independent, event-based classification of each document, to thereby obtain event-classified documents. The record generator may include a supplier query generator configured to query the plurality of documents to obtain potential supplier matches from the plurality of suppliers, and a supplier match analyzer configured to analyze each potential supplier match of the potential supplier matches, to thereby obtain supplier matches. The record generator may include a supplier relevance analyzer configured to relate, for each event-classified document, any supplier identified therein to at least one event of the event-classified document, to thereby obtain supplier-event relationships. Thus, the record generator may provide supplier-specific data records, based on the supplier event relationship.
US09443212B2
A method of acclimatizing a user to a scheduling pattern change includes, in a calendar system implemented by at least one processor, determining an anticipated scheduling pattern change from a current scheduling pattern to a new scheduling pattern for the user; and establishing with the calendar system an acclimatization period to transition the user to the scheduling pattern change.
US09443208B2
A system and method for searching for hotel rooms is provided. A pre-compute database comprising real-time availability attributes associated with hotel rooms on a plurality of length of stays may be generated, and a query for at least one hotel for a date range may be received. The availability of each day within the date range on a plurality of length of stays may be calculated by applying business requirements according to the query. Final availability may be created for each day within the date range on the plurality of length of stays by combining the availability from the pre-compute database and the query attributes. A final availability of hotel rooms may be formatted for the at least one hotel for each day within the date range on the plurality of length of stays.
US09443202B2
There is disclosed a method including receiving sensor data extracted from one or more physical sensors, using the extracted sensor data and a context model to perform a first level context determination, and examining the at least one condition. If the examining indicated that the at least one condition was fulfilled, the context model is adapted on the basis of the sensor data, otherwise adaptation data formed on the basis of the sensor data is provided to a second level context determination. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.
US09443200B2
A method for interaction-free entanglement of quantum bits in quantum computers, in which the quantum bits to be entangled are available in the state Ψ44 with arbitrarily real phases φ and θ as an elementary quantum system. The two quantum bits (1) and (2) are localized in spatial regions (6) and (6′) and surrounded by switchable sheaths (7) and (7′) preferably a superconductor with the jump temperature TSU. The switchable sheaths, in the activated state, completely displace a global, homogeneous magnetic field Bz from the spatial regions (6) and (6′). In the inactivated state, the switchable sheaths do not shield the spatial regions (6) and (6′). If the switchable sheaths are switched from the activated state into the inactivated state while observing the boundary condition (R3), as a result of this, the two quantum bits (1) and (2) are transferred into the entangled state Ψ−.
US09443194B2
Provided are techniques for imputing a missing value for each of one or more predictor variables. Data is received from one or more data sources. For each of the one or more predictor variables, an imputation model is built based on information of a target variable; a type of imputation model to construct is determined based on the one or more data sources, a measurement level of the predictor variable, and a measurement level of the target variable; and the determined type of imputation model is constructed using basic statistics of the predictor variable and the target variable. The missing value is imputed for each of the one or more predictor variables using the data from the one or more data sources and one or more built imputation models to generate a completed data set.
US09443193B2
Systems and methods are described for generating a scoring model for responses. A computer-implemented method of calibrating a scoring model using a processing system for scoring examinee responses includes accessing a plurality of training responses for training the scoring model. The plurality of training responses are analyzed to derive values of multiple features (variables) of the training responses. The scoring model is trained based on the values of the multiple features of the training responses and one or more external measures of proficiency for each individual associated with a training response utilized in the training. The one or more external measures are not derived from the training responses. Based on the training, a weight for each of the multiple features is determined. The scoring model is calibrated to include the weights for at least some of the features for scoring examinee responses.
US09443191B1
The dynamics of a nonlinear sensor are configured to mimic threshold crossing dynamics of an integrate-fire neuron with negatively correlated inter-spike intervals. The configuration of the sensor results in a biomimetic sensor that provides results with an accuracy that mimic neuron sensing.
US09443190B2
Aspects of the present disclosure support techniques for neural pattern sequence completion and neural pattern hierarchical replay. At least a portion of a pattern can be invoked for replay upon referencing the pattern and learning relational aspects between elements of the pattern and the referencing of the pattern using hierarchical levels of neurons.
US09443183B2
Induction vehicle detection and identification system, induction license plate, and induction reader
An induction vehicle detection and identification system comprising electronic identification devices with electronic memory, mounted on vehicles, and a reader capable of reading and/or writing data obtained from devices in HF-band. Devices have a non-volatile memory and are integrated into the vehicle's license plate. The reader combined with a magnetic frame is in a dielectric casing, which is mounted under the roadway. It generates an alternating magnetic field, which determines the detection and identification range. Minimum time the reader requires to read discrete responses generated by electronic identification devices and to identify the vehicle is less than 25 ms. The identification devices and the reader exchange data at the rate of 1 Kbit/sec or higher, and provide data encoding and decoding, as well as data access restriction.
US09443170B2
An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a messenger unit through which an image forming apparatus having an account address is selected as a dialog partner, a user interface through which a file to be printed in the selected image forming apparatus is selected; and a controller which controls the messenger unit to transmit a dialog message including the selected file and account information of the image forming apparatus to the message server.
US09443167B2
A computer-implemented (including method implemented using laptop, desktop, mobile, and wearable devices) method for image filtering. The method includes analyzing each image to generate a content vector for the image; applying an interest operator to the content vector, the interest operator being based on a plurality of pictures with desirable characteristics, thereby obtaining an interest index for the image; comparing the interest index for the image to an interest threshold; and taking one or more actions or abstaining from one or more actions based on a result of the step of comparing. Also, related systems and articles of manufacture.
US09443161B2
A medical imaging system includes an imaging device configured to scan a region of interest to acquire at least one of a first image including a first plurality of pixels and a second image including a second plurality of pixels, a processing unit configured to receive the first and second images, calculate respective first neutrosophic similarity scores for each of the first plurality of pixels of the first image, calculate respective second neutrosophic similarity scores for each of the second plurality of pixels of the second image, perform a template matching algorithm based on differences between the respective first and second neutrosophic similarity scores for each of the first and second plurality, respectively, to determine one or more registration parameters, and register the first and second images using the one or more registration parameters, and a display output configured to allow the registered first and second images to be displayed.
US09443154B2
A computerized system mountable on a vehicle operable to detect an object by processing first image frames from a first camera and second image frames from a second camera. A first range is determined to said detected object using the first image frames. An image location is projected of the detected object in the first image frames onto an image location in the second image frames. A second range is determined to the detected object based on both the first and second image frames. The detected object is tracked in both the first and second image frames When the detected object leaves a field of view of the first camera, a third range is determined responsive to the second range and the second image frames.
US09443145B2
There are provided a person recognition apparatus, method, and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium which can perform accurate person recognition according to a time dependent face change. A sorting section sorts a plurality of images by shooting date and time. A group division section divides the plurality of images into a plurality of groups according to a predetermined shooting date and time range. A face recognition section extracts feature amounts by face recognition for each group. An in-group person determination section determines a person having a similarity of a predetermined reference threshold value or higher as the same person and integrates the feature amounts relevant to the person for each group. An inter-group person recognition section recognizes persons having a similarity of a predetermined recognition threshold value or higher as the same person between two groups based on the feature amounts integrated in adjacent groups.
US09443144B2
Methods and systems for measuring group behavior are provided. Group behavior of different groups may be measured objectively and automatically in different environments including a dark environment. A uniform visible signal comprising images of members of a group may be obtained. Facial motion and body motions of each member may be detected and analyzed from the signal. Group behavior may be measured by aggregating facial motions and body motions of all members of the group. A facial motion such as a smile may be detected by using the Fourier Lucas-Kanade (FLK) algorithm to register and track faces of each member of a group. A flow-profile for each member of the group is generated. Group behavior may be further analyzed to determine a correlation of the group behavior and the content of the stimulus. A prediction of the general public's response to the stimulus based on the analysis of the group behavior is also provided.
US09443143B2
Methods, devices and systems for performing video content analysis to detect humans or other objects of interest a video image is disclosed. The detection of humans may be used to count a number of humans, to determine a location of each human and/or perform crowd analyzes of monitored areas.
US09443142B2
A method of detecting a dynamic weather event includes the steps of: (a) receiving video images of a scene from a camera; (b) dividing each of the video images into multiple regions, in which a region is defined by a range of distances from the camera to objects in the scene; (c) selecting a region; and (d) segmenting the selected region into a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) image patches, in which each 3D image patch includes a time-sequence of T patches, with each patch comprised of N×M pixels, wherein N, M and T are integer numbers. The method also includes the following steps: measuring an image intensity level in each of the 3D image patches; masking 3D image patches containing image intensity levels that are above a first threshold level, or below a second threshold level; and extracting features in each 3D image patch that is not discarded by the masking step. Based on the extracted features, the method makes a binary decision on detecting a dynamic weather event.
US09443141B2
An exemplary methodology, procedure, system, method and computer-accessible medium can be provided for receiving physiological data for the subject, extracting one or more patterns of features from the physiological data, and classifying the at least one state of the subject using a spatial structure and a temporal structure of the one or more patterns of features, wherein at least one of the at least one state is an ictal state.
US09443138B2
An apparatus and a method for recognizing a hand shape by using a finger pattern are disclosed. The throughput of data used to recognize a hand shape is reduced and the hand shape can be quickly recognized by setting in advance a finger pattern in accordance with one or more hand shapes, calculating edges for each pixel line of an input image, detecting finger feature data by using a preset feature reference value, detecting a finger candidate pattern by using the detected finger feature data, and recognizing a hand shape corresponding to a finger pattern that matches the detected finger candidate pattern.
US09443134B2
Propagating object selection across multiple images is described. In one or more embodiments, an object is selected from a first image according to selection inputs. Features that are representative of the selected object are then ascertained. To propagate selection of the object to the second image, a determination is made as to whether the second image includes features that resemble those ascertained from the first image. Once a determination is made as to the features of the second image that resemble the features of the first image, the second image is divided into regions. Each of the regions includes pixels that are similar within the region, one pixel to another. The regions of the second image that include the features resembling those ascertained from the first image are then combined. The combined regions are used to select the object from the second image without receiving selection inputs to do so.
US09443133B2
A method for completing message-playback on an electronic device involves: detection of an unplayed message storage, determining the facial images of the message recipients associated with the unplayed message, capturing facial images of members in front of the electronic device, comparing the facial images associated with the unplayed message with the captured facial image, determining whether there is at least one member who has not received this message who is in front of the electronic device according to the comparison, and if so playing the message.
US09443131B2
A wrinkle detection apparatus is an apparatus for detecting a wrinkle area of skin included in an image. The wrinkle detection apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit that obtains the image including the skin; an area estimation unit that estimates a plurality of image areas, each of the plurality of image areas having a different gloss level of the skin; a parameter determination unit that determines one or more parameter values for each of the plurality of estimated image areas, the one or more parameter values being used to detect the wrinkle area; and a wrinkle detection processing unit that detects the wrinkle area in the image by using the determined one or more parameter values for each of the plurality of image areas.
US09443129B2
A new family of morphological features, referred to herein as threshold compactness features, is provided, useful for automated classification of objects, such as cells, in images. In one embodiment, one or more thresholds and/or binary masks are applied to an image, and one or more provisional objects within a cell in the image are automatically identified. The threshold compactness of the cell is computed as a function of area S of the one or more provisional objects and border length P of the one or more provisional objects. Computation of threshold compactness allows cells in an image to be distinguished and characterized. Compared to previous techniques, the methods and apparatus described herein are more robust and computationally efficient.
US09443122B2
An upload apparatus includes: an outputter configured to output a code image including information of an ID and a password necessary for uploading content onto a network; and an uploader configured to upload the content onto said network by use of said code image outputted by the outputter.
US09443120B2
A method for improving energy efficiency performance of a reader is disclosed in the present document. The method includes: initializing and adjusting operation parameters, and acquiring the current number of frame timeslots; updating a frame timeslot status, and determining that a power level is not required to be increased according to the updated frame timeslot status; and estimating the number of labels according to the current number of frame timeslots, and acquiring an optimum Q value according to the number of labels. A device for improving energy efficiency performance of a reader is also disclosed in the present document. With the method and device of the present document, throughput of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system is maximized, thereby reducing energy consumption of the system and extending usage time of the system; and while the energy consumption is reduced, a rate at which the reader reads the labels is guaranteed.
US09443114B1
A system and method for verifying an identifier of a command. The method includes receiving an incoming command and sending a first alert to auto-logging hardware, wherein the auto-logging hardware sends a fetch instruction in response to receiving the first alert; retrieving an identifier of the incoming command in response to the fetch instruction and sending a second alert to the auto-logging hardware, wherein the auto-logging hardware sends a search instruction in response to receiving the second alert; and searching for the identifier of the incoming command in a table in response to the search instruction, the table storing identifiers previously assigned to other commands, wherein the incoming command is logged into the search table and marked as a searched command after the search for the first identifier in the table has completed successfully.
US09443113B2
In response to a tamper-attempt indication, a memory device selectively disables one or more memory operations. Disabling can be accomplished by different techniques, including altering bias voltages associated with performing the memory operation, gating off a current needed for performing the memory operation, and limiting the needed current to a magnitude below the threshold magnitude required for the operation. After disabling the memory operation, a mock current can be generated. The mock current is intended to mimic the current normally expended during the memory operation when not disabled, thereby leading a user to believe that the device is continuing to operate normally even though the memory operation that is being attempted is not actually being performed.
US09443111B2
Apparatus and method for data security through the use of an encrypted keystore data structure. In accordance with some embodiments, first and second sets of input data are respectively encrypted using first and second encryption keys to form corresponding first and second encrypted data sets. The first and second encryption keys are combined to form a string. A hidden key stored within a system on chip (SOC) is used to encrypt the string to form an encrypted keystore data structure, and the first and second encrypted data sets and the encrypted keystore data structure are stored in a memory.
US09443107B2
One feature pertains to an efficient algorithm to protect the integrity of a plurality of data structures by computing an aggregate message authentication code (MAC) over the plurality of data structures. An aggregate MAC may be constructed from a plurality of MAC values associated with a plurality of data structures. The aggregate MAC binds the plurality of data structures and attests to their combined integrity simultaneously. Rather than checking the integrity of a data structure when it is accessed, the aggregate MAC is periodically checked or verified, to ascertain the integrity of all data structures. If the aggregate MAC computed is different from the previously stored aggregate MAC, then all data structures that are part of the aggregate MAC are discarded.
US09443102B2
A system for protecting content includes a mobile device screen including a plurality of pixels, whereby each of the plurality of pixels have first sub-pixel units that include a first viewing angle and second sub-pixel units that include a second viewing angle. Within each of the plurality of pixels, the first sub-pixel units are adjacent to the second sub-pixel units. A processing unit is coupled to the mobile device screen and determines a portion of the mobile device screen that displays sensitive content. The processing unit obscures the sensitive content displayed on the portion of the mobile device screen by deactivating the first sub-pixel units at the portion of the mobile device screen that displays the sensitive content and activates the second sub-pixel units at the portion of the mobile device screen that displays the sensitive content.
US09443096B2
Methods and systems to allow for selective access to supplemental content that is associated with more generally distributed original content. In an embodiment, supplemental content may be encrypted, then integrated with original content using a steganographic technique. The resulting aggregated content may then be made available to users. Users may then extract the encrypted supplemental content from the original content. Those users having the proper privilege level may be given a cryptographic key to allow decryption of the supplemental content. Those without the necessary privilege will not be given this decryption key, and will therefore be unable to access the supplemental content.
US09443093B2
Policies are used to control access to resources. Requests to change a set of policies may be fulfillable, at least in some circumstances, only if the requests are submitted such that the requested changes would become effective at a time in the future that is in compliance with a requirement for delayed enforcement. The requirement for delayed enforcement may be encoded in a policy in the set of policies.
US09443087B2
Synchronization of transactional data and analytical data between data centers. Metadata is received by a transactional system from a user interface included in a customer data center. The metadata is then forwarded from the customer data center to an analytical system in a master data center. Data is forwarded from the customer data center to the master data center, the data being encrypted with a key uniquely associated with a customer. Role creation calls to create roles for one or more users associated with the customer data center are subsequently detected. The role creation calls crossing a data center boundary are further masqueraded.
US09443082B2
Improving the integrity of a computer system including a plurality of user accounts by, for each user account, monitoring events on the computer system that are related to the user account, assigning an importance score to the monitored user account that is indicative of the importance of the monitored user account to the integrity of the computer system, the importance score being calculated from the monitored events, and providing the importance score to a system administrator upon the administrator attempting to alter the monitored user account.
US09443072B2
Methods and electronic devices configured to grant access to a file, and of enabling passcode protection for a file. The methods may include displaying file icons corresponding to the files. Upon receiving a selection of one of the displayed files, a request for the passcode is presented to the user if the selected application is protected. If the application is not protected, the file is accessed without receiving the passcode. The file icons may be displayed in a manner indicating that certain ones of the files require a passcode for access.
US09443068B2
An authentication system protects a hardware cryptographic chip from being commanded to decrypt or sign data by someone other than the legitimate owner(s) of the certificate residing on the chip. Openness of present cryptographic hardware systems are limited by imposing a condition that the cryptographic chip will only perform critical cryptographic tasks if the task is accompanied by a signature which only the legitimate owner can provide.
US09443053B2
Clock stations in a hybrid tree-mesh clock distribution network are placed and routed using placement information embedded in instance names of the macrocells that form the clock-distribution network. The instance name includes (X,Y) coordinate information corresponding to placement of the macrocell in the physical layout of the network design. Base cells in each macrocell are placed in a known deterministic arrangement, such as one on top of another in a layout of the clock distribution network, all at the same (X,Y) offset. Preferably, the base cells are all from a standard-cell library, thereby reducing design cost and debug.
US09443051B2
Aspects of the invention relate to yield analysis techniques for generating root cause candidates for yield analysis. With various implementations of the invention, points of interest are first identified in a layout design. Next, regions of interest are determined for the identified points of interest. Next, one or more properties are extracted from the regions of interest. Based at least on the one or more properties, diagnosis reports of failing devices fabricated according to the layout design are analyzed to identify probable root causes.
US09443046B2
Examples of the invention include methods and apparatus for determining an electromagnetic field, such as a magnetic field, at a selected location within computer-aided design (CAD) data. An example approach may include selecting a location by clicking on, or otherwise selecting the location within a visual representation of the CAD data, selecting one or more electrical components within the CAD data, retrieving electrical current data and distance data for each of the selected electrical components, and determining the electromagnetic field at the selected location using electromagnetic theory. Examples of the invention allow rapid determination of potential electromagnetic noise problems in the CAD design stage, before prototyping and without the complexity of a full 3D electromagnetic simulation.
US09443035B2
A set of ordered predicted completion strings including strings of ideographs are presented to a user as the user enters text in a text entry box (e.g., a browser or a toolbar). The user entered text may include zero or more ideographs followed by one or more phonetic characters, or the entered text may be one or more. The predicted completion strings can be in the form of URLs or query strings. The ordering may be based on any number of factors (e.g., a query's frequency of submission from a community of users). URLs can be ranked based on an importance value of the URL. The sets of ordered predicted completion strings are obtained by matching a fingerprint value of the user's entry string to a fingerprint to table map which contains the set of ordered predicted completion strings. The generation of the ordered prediction strings takes into account multiple phonetic representations of certain strings of ideographs.
US09443032B2
A method for providing content where one device from among a plurality of devices is determined as a device to transmit the content to, based on the attribute of the requested content. Accordingly, device utilization is optimized by providing the content to the device with the highest priority to play back the content based on the attribute of the content.
US09443027B2
Various embodiments provide a unified discovery control that can be incorporated as part of a web browser. The unified discovery control provides a central location that describes various services that a website has to offer. In addition, the unified discovery control can allow the user to interact with the individual services that the website has to offer as by providing the user with the ability to add, update, uninstall and/or otherwise manage the various services that are described in the unified discovery control. Thus, the unified discovery control provides a centralized management system that provides the user with a common, predictable and repeatable user experience for interacting with various services that a website can offer.
US09443026B2
Contextual or cumulative interpretation is applied to individual user queries to improve the accuracy of sponsored and/or non-sponsored search results. Queries are interpreted based on present features derived from a user query in the context of past features derived from qualified past queries such as those previously received during a user query session. Based on contextual interpretation, present features may be augmented using past features. A search is performed using augmented features instead of present features. Contextual interpretation of queries improves search system understanding of the context in which queries are submitted, which is particularly helpful when interpolating query intent to develop features not expressed in a query. Contextual interpretation permits queries to be interpreted and treated more uniformly and more intelligently. As a result, users and advertisers benefit from more precise sponsored and/or non-sponsored search results. As one example, contextual interpretation can improve the geo-precision of sponsored search results.
US09443019B2
Techniques for optimized web domains classification based on progressive crawling with clustering are disclosed. In some embodiments, optimized web domains classification based on progressive crawling with clustering includes crawling a domain (e.g., a web site domain) to collect data for a subset of pages (e.g., web pages) of a corpus of content associated with the domain; classifying each of the crawled pages into one or more category clusters, in which the category clusters represent a content categorization of the corpus of content associated with the domain (e.g., a URL content categorization for the domain, host of that domain, and/or directory of that domain); and determining which of the one or more category clusters to publish for the domain.
US09443016B2
A system and method for a collection of digital items that includes generating a collection of result items, wherein each result item corresponds to result data of at least one query input, and wherein at least one result item includes a context property; storing the collection of result items as a first instance; and augmenting the collection in a second instance through at least the context property.
US09443014B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for applying custom web page themes. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for search results, where the request includes a search query submitted in an input field by a user; obtaining a search results page in response to the search query; identifying one or more features of the search query; selecting a first visual theme from among a plurality of visual themes, where each visual theme has respective trigger data, based on the one or more features of the search query matching the trigger data of the first visual theme, the first visual theme having theme data, the theme data specifying visual features; and applying the visual features to the search results page for display in a user interface.
US09442995B2
A system and method for transferring data between different types of systems, and in particular uses log-based replication to transfer data between different types of systems. In accordance with an embodiment, the system can be used to perform a one-time or initial copy of the MySQL data from a source database system to a target database system, and/or to replicate the on-going transactions captured from a MySQL database's binary log into one or additional non-MySQL database(s) on a continuous basis, such that the two systems are synchronized for transactions of interest. In accordance with an embodiment, full or partial data changes can be extracted from the MySQL binary log, optionally transformed, skipped or augmented, output or written to a file, and then applied at any of one or more target systems (e.g. another MySQL database, or a non-MySQL database), thereby synchronizing the source and target systems.
US09442991B2
There is provided a method that includes (a) receiving an inquiry to initiate a search for data for a specific individual, (b) determining, based on the inquiry, a strategy and flexible predictiveness equations to search a reference database, (c) searching the reference database, in accordance with the strategy, for a match to the inquiry; and (d) outputting the match. The method may also output flexible feedback related to the match that reflects inferred quality of the match experience which can be used by an end-user to determine the degree to which the matched entity meets that end-user's quality-based criteria. There is also provided a system that performs the method, and a storage medium that contains instructions that control a processor to perform the method.
US09442984B2
A system and method is disclosed for measuring contributor weight or influence in social media. Content posted by a user on one or more social media platforms is identified. The identifying the content posted by the user includes searching the one or more social media platforms for content posted by the user with identifying information. Downstream content associated with the content posted by the user is identified. Metrics measuring a contributor weight of the user based on the downstream content are calculated.
US09442978B2
A structured file includes information to bind a web data source to a web data query system. Code is embedded within the structured file and is in a code language understood by the web data query system. The code is unrestricted in function. Code language objects are exposed within the web data query system for use by the code to interface with the web data query system and the web data source. A URL is associated with the structured file to enable access of the structured file through the Internet. A unit-based quota method is implemented to manage execution of code in the structured file. The unit-based quota method collapses multiple dimensions of computing resource control into a single unit value, tracks a number of units expended by the code, and stops execution of the code when the number of units expended by the code reaches a set limit.
US09442977B2
Embodiments extend the relational model and language of standard SQL, to recognize features of higher level entity-relationship models (ERMs). SQL extensions implemented in the data design language (DDL) incorporate Entities (and Views) having custom-defined/semantic structure, rather than being limited to primitive types (e.g. flat tables as in standard SQL). Entities are defined similar to structured types with an underlying persistency, but with a uniquely identifying leading key. In DDL, these entities are combined with associations in the data model. The associations of the extended SQL reflect relationships between entities in the ERM. Associations are specified by adding an element to a source entity, with an association type pointing to a target entity. This may be complemented by providing optional information (e.g., cardinality, keys, filter conditions), up to a complete JOIN condition. In the query language (QL), JOINs may be replaced by the use of simple path expressions.
US09442976B2
A search query including a search word entered by the user is obtained (S4), the obtained search query is stored in association with user identification information and acquisition time of the search query into a search query log DB 12a (S5). In the case where a predetermined user operation is detected, search queries corresponding to the user identification information of the user are extracted (S6). A first search query is specified from the extracted search queries (S7), a second search query whose acquisition time is earlier than acquisition time of the first search query is specified from the extracted search queries (S8 and S9). A search word in the first search query and a search word in the second search query are registered as related words into a related-word DB 12b (S10).
US09442970B1
A method for maintaining a document database and search index includes the steps of: (i) receiving a plurality of document action requests including one or more of a create document action request, a refresh document action request, a refreshfull document action request, an update document action request, or a delete document action request; (ii) creating a timestamp for each of the plurality of received document action requests; (iii) querying the document action requests to determine which are associated with a first document action request type; (iv) processing any of the document action requests of the first document action request type, where the document action requests are processed in the order of their associated timestamp, with earlier document action requests of the first document action request type being processed first; and (v) updating the search index using the updated document database.
US09442968B2
A system, method, and computer program product for evaluating variant configuration using in-memory technology. Embodiments receive configuration data and a selection condition to be solved, bring Boolean selection condition expressions into disjunctive normal form (DNF) in memory, join concrete configuration values with the selection condition, and compare values. Embodiments aggregate the comparison results per AND-group with a minimum function, and aggregate those results per OR-group with a maximum function and output results of the selection condition for a concrete configuration. Embodiments may employ SQL Script statements. Embodiments may use conjunctive normal form (CNF) instead of DNF with corresponding aggregation ordering. Embodiments may extend the pure normal forms to enable calculations, string operations, evaluation of non-fixed-value literals, multi-valued literals, in-lists, and variant tables by translating and integrating them into the pattern of conjunctive and disjunctive aggregations. Parallelization and complexity-ordered branch evaluations are also provided.
US09442964B2
In a method for managing versions of a schema, a processor receives a first version of a schema. A processor generates an annotated version of the first version of the schema, wherein one or more fields of the annotated version of the first version of the schema each correspond to a distinct identifier. A processor receives a first instance conforming to the first version of the schema. A processor identifies one or more values of the first instance, wherein each value of the one or more values corresponds to a field of the one or more fields. A processor assigns an identifier to at least one value of the one or more values based on the distinct identifier corresponding to the field of the at least one value. A processor stores the at least one value, such that the at least one value is associated with the assigned identifier.
US09442962B1
A global user record that can be found in a search for posixAccount-type records is created in a database, then a zone user record of a type that cannot be found in a search for posixAccount-type records is associated with it. Finally, the zone user record is augmented so that it, too, will be found in a search for posixAccount-type records. Global and zone-specific group records are created similarly.
US09442961B2
A system orders acquisition of frequency domain components representing MR image data for storage in a storage array (e.g., k-space). A storage array of individual data elements stores corresponding individual frequency components comprising an MR dataset. The array of individual data elements has a designated center and individual data elements individually have a radius to the designated center. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field for use in acquiring multiple individual frequency components corresponding to individual data elements in the storage array. The individual frequency components are successively acquired in an order in which radius of respective corresponding individual data elements increases and decreases as the multiple individual frequency components are sequentially acquired during acquisition of an MR dataset representing an MR image. A storage processor stores individual frequency components acquired using the magnetic field in corresponding individual data elements in the array.
US09442955B1
A method is used in managing delete operations in files of file systems. An indirect data block of a file of a file system is deleted. A parent indirect data block pointing to the indirect data block is removed from a list. The parent indirect data block has been added to the list for flushing contents of the parent indirect data block to a storage device.
US09442954B2
A method for achieving optimal use of compute, storage and network resources in a distributed computing system is provided. In one embodiment, a job request associated with a file is submitted. A Job Scheduler in conjunction with a workflow manager determines the best fit for dynamically chunking size of the file. The distributed storage subsystem provides a dynamic view to the compute resources where the job will be run. This knowledge is also used to pre-staging the data by the distributed storage subsystem. Furthermore, keeping a history of the job and their data allows for further improvements in resources and job execution times by being able to skip processing on data that has been done previously. Given the ability to chunk the file dynamically, it is possible to re-balance resources for running the job dynamically to meet its service level agreement.
US09442947B2
A method and device to search for and execute content are provided. The method of searching for and executing content includes displaying at least one content icon, and identifying, if an approach to one of the at least one content icon is detected, a content icon of a position at which the approach is detected. The method further comprises determining a classification category of a content corresponding to the identified content icon, searching for at least one related content classified in the same classification category as the content corresponding to the identified content icon, displaying the identified content icon and at least one related content icon corresponding to the at least one related content using a preset display method, and executing, if one of the at least one content icon is touched, a content corresponding to the touched content icon.
US09442945B2
A data processing system includes a file system manager that organizes content into albums using a tagging technique. The file system manager comprises a filename utility that sets a unique filename for each file of uploaded files across a plurality of albums and an album manager utility that manages an album according to a list of tags. The tags include unique content file references and content metadata, whereby a file instance in a cross-section of the tags is included in multiple albums.
US09442943B2
An endoscope inspection report creating apparatus has a file name reading section that reads file names of a plurality of endoscopic images, a file name of each of the endoscopic images including inspection result information separated with use of a predetermined symbol or character, and a report creating section that creates a predetermined report by writing the inspection result information which is included in each of the file names read by the file name reading section in each predetermined position in the predetermined report by associating the inspection result information with the endoscopic image of each of the read file names.
US09442942B2
Provided herein are a method, apparatus and computer program product for dynamically and visually interfacing with a device to locate information and objects using a dynamic graphical interface to select and adjust the weight afforded to individual search criterion and a search. Example methods may provide for display of a search target, provide for display of a first search criterion disposed at a first distance from the search target where the first distance corresponds to a first search criterion weight, and provide for display of a second search criterion disposed at a second distance from the search target, where the second distance corresponds to a second search criterion weight. Methods may further include providing for searching the search target using the first search criterion afforded the first search criterion weight and the second search criterion afforded the second search criterion weight.
US09442932B1
A system and method for managing electronic social networking includes defining content from a first user for communication to other users on an electronic social networking system. Natural language processing (NLP) and analytic analysis are applied to the content to identify a workflow for accessing and responding to the content. The access and the response to the content are based on the workflow.
US09442930B2
A system, method, and/or computer program product for automatic topic identification using a hypertext corpus may include a) receiving a content document(s); b) identifying or lexically scoring candidate topic(s) in the received content document based on label(s) used in a corpus to link to or relate to the candidate topics; c) evaluating or semantically scoring the candidate topic(s) of the received document based on a relationship between two or more candidate topics in the corpus; and d) weighting candidate topics for relevance based on algorithmic or statistical analysis of links or relationships in the corpus.
US09442928B2
A system, method, and/or computer program product for automatic topic identification using a hypertext corpus may include a) receiving a content document(s); b) identifying or lexically scoring candidate topic(s) in the received content document based on label(s) used in a corpus to link to or relate to the candidate topics; c) evaluating or semantically scoring the candidate topic(s) of the received document based on a relationship between two or more candidate topics in the corpus; and d) weighting candidate topics for relevance based on algorithmic or statistical analysis of links or relationships in the corpus.
US09442927B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for compressing a radix tree. An example method includes traversing a radix tree including a plurality of containers. The method also includes identifying, based on the traversing, a parent container having a plurality of child containers, each child container including a sequence of elements. The method further includes for one or more child containers of the plurality of child containers, identifying a unique prefix of the sequence of elements included in the respective child container, identifying a remainder sequence after the unique prefix in the sequence of elements, and removing the remainder sequence from the respective child container.
US09442919B2
One or more words are received. A set of frequency of occurrence values of the received word(s) within a set of domain tables is determined. A domain table in the set of domain tables is associated to the received word(s), based on the set of frequency of occurrence values meeting a threshold value. A word-sense of the received word(s) is determined based on a corresponding word-sense in the associated domain table and/or corresponding domain dictionary.
US09442916B2
Provided are techniques for providing annotations for revising a message. A message to be sent from a sender to a recipient is received. A meaning map associated with the sender and a meaning map associated with the recipient are obtained. The message is parsed into sub-constructs. The sub-constructs are compared in the meaning map associated with the sender and the meaning map associated with the recipient. Alternative language for the sub-constructs is identified. Annotations are provided based on the alternative language.
US09442913B2
Provided are techniques for using parallel inserts to insert into a column store. A list of sub-ranges for a columnar table is created. A change statement for one or more rows to be inserted into the columnar table is received. For each of the received change statements, a sub-range from the list of sub-ranges is identified and data is serially inserted into the identified sub-range of the columnar table, while allowing parallel processing of each change statement for different sub-ranges of the columnar table.
US09442910B2
A method and system for adding punctuation to a voice file is disclosed. The method includes: utilizing silence or pause duration detection to divide a voice file into a plurality of speech segments for processing, the voice file includes a plurality of features units; identifying all features units that appear in the voice file according to every term or expression and semantics features of the every term or expression that form each of the plurality of speech segments; using a linguistic model to determine a sum of weight of various punctuation modes in the voice file according to all the feature units, the linguistic model is built upon semantics features of various parsed out terms or expressions from a body text of a spoken sentence according to a language library; and adding punctuations to the voice file based on the determined sum of weight of the various punctuation modes.
US09442886B2
This invention relates to scheduling threads in a multicore processor. Executable transactions may be scheduled using at least one distribution queue, which lists executable transactions in order of eligibility for execution, and multilevel scheduler which comprises a plurality of linked individual executable transaction schedulers. Each of these includes a scheduling algorithm for determining the most eligible executable transaction for execution. The most eligible executable transaction is outputted from the multilevel scheduler to the at least one distribution queue.
US09442884B2
Three-dimensional (3-D) processor devices are provided, which are constructed by connecting processors in a stacked configuration. For instance, a processor system includes a first processor chip comprising a first processor and a second processor chip comprising a second processor. The first and second processor chips are connected in a stacked configuration with the first and second processors connected through vertical connections between the first and second processor chips. The processor system further includes a mode control circuit to selectively operate the processor system in one of a plurality of operating modes. For example, in a one mode of operation, the first and second processors are configured to implement a run-ahead function, wherein the first processor operates a primary thread of execution and the second processor operates a run-ahead thread of execution.
US09442880B2
A computer-implemented method for determining the topology of a serial asynchronous data bus, to which at least a first bus subscriber and a second bus subscriber are connected, which subscribers communicate via a prescribed bus access protocol.
US09442878B2
A system-on-chip integrated circuitry includes interconnect circuitry for connecting transaction sources with transaction destinations. A buffer circuit buffers a plurality of access transactions received from the transaction sources before they are passed on to respective transaction destinations. Hazard checking circuitry, such as identifier reuse circuitry, performs hazard checks for access transactions in parallel with snoop operations performed by snoop circuitry for managing coherence between data values stored within the plurality of cache memories. The snoop circuitry includes snoop reordering circuitry for permitting reordering of snoop responses. The snoop circuitry may issue a snoop request for a given access transaction in parallel with the hazard checking circuitry performing one or more hazard checks for that transaction.
US09442871B2
A register not connected to a data bus is read by transferring data across an address bus to a device connected to the data bus, from which the data is read by a device connected to the data bus. The register resides in a register device connected via the address bus to a memory device that is connected to both the address bus and the data bus. A host processor triggers the register device to transfer information over the address bus to a register on the memory device. The host processor then reads the information from the register of the memory device.
US09442870B2
A method and circuit for a data processing system (20) provide a processor-based partitioned priority blocking mechanism by storing priority levels and associated partition information in special purpose registers (27-29) located at the processor core (26) to enable quick and efficient interrupt priority blocking on a partition basis.
US09442869B2
A multiprocessor device is provided that includes a plurality of processors in which each processor of the plurality of processors includes an interrupt controller, and a symmetric interrupt crossbar having a plurality of interrupt inputs in which each interrupt input that is not reserved is coupled to a respective interrupt output of an interrupt source of a plurality of interrupt sources, and a plurality of interrupt outputs in which each interrupt output is coupled to a respective interrupt input of an interrupt controller of one of the plurality of processors, in which the symmetric interrupt crossbar is programmable to map an interrupt signal from any interrupt source of the plurality of interrupt sources coupled to the symmetric interrupt crossbar to any interrupt input of any interrupt controller coupled to the symmetric interrupt crossbar.
US09442854B2
A computer system includes but is not limited to a primary processing circuitry, a bus coupled to the primary processing circuitry, and memory circuitry coupled to the bus. The memory circuitry is physically separated from the primary processing circuitry. The memory circuitry includes at least one integrated memory circuit and computational circuitry. The at least one integrated memory circuit configured to store and retrieve data and to provide to the bus, during accessing intervals, requested data for the primary processing circuitry. The computational circuitry co-located with the at least one integrated memory circuit, the computational circuitry co-located with integrated memory circuit can be configured for performing supplemental functions at least partially during time periods that are not accessing intervals.
US09442853B2
A transactional memory system salvages a hardware lock elision (HLE) transaction. A processor of the transactional memory system executes a lock-acquire instruction in an HLE environment and records information about a lock elided to begin HLE transactional execution of a code region. The processor detects a pending point of failure in the code region during the HLE transactional execution. The processor stops HLE transactional execution at the point of failure in the code region. The processor acquires the lock using the information, and based on acquiring the lock, commits the speculative state of the stopped HLE transactional execution. The processor starts non-transactional execution at the point of failure in the code region.
US09442841B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory in which writing is carried out at a page unit and erasing is carried out at a block unit larger than the page unit, and a controller for transferring data between a host device and the nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The controller includes a log-management section that is configured to: (i) record a page unit of log data in a buffer area each time a monitored event (e.g., error) occurs, the buffer area being partitioned into a plurality of pages and the page unit of log data is recorded in a designated page of the buffer area, and (ii) prior to recording the page unit of log data in the designated page, copy part of the designated page to another page of the buffer area.
US09442836B2
An arithmetic processing device having an allocation unit configured to reserve a memory allocation area in a memory and register address range information indicating an address range of the memory allocation area in an address range table, in response to an execution of a memory area allocation function requesting memory area allocation, and a determination unit configured to refer to the address range table and perform determination processing as to whether or not an access destination address of a memory access instruction is within an address range indicated by the address range information registered in the address range table, in response to an execution of the memory access instruction relating to the memory allocation area.
US09442828B2
This claimed subject matter relates to techniques for generating a test script from a pre-existing script for testing a graphical user interlace (GUI) comprising: parsing a pre-existing test script; parsing the model associated with the GUI; identifying GUI actions that that are identified by keywords and associated parameters that exist in the pre-existing test script; and generating a new test script by adding the identified actions.
US09442827B2
A dataflow of a distributed application is visualized in a locally simulated execution environment. A scheduler receives a job graph which includes a graph of computational vertices that are designed to be executed on multiple distributed computer systems. The scheduler queries a graph manager to determine which computational vertices of the job graph are ready for execution in a local execution environment. The scheduler queries a cluster manager to determine the organizational topology of the distributed computer systems to simulate the determined topology in the local execution environment. The scheduler queries a data manager to determine data storage locations for each of the computational vertices indicated as being ready for execution in the local execution environment. The scheduler also indicates an instance of each computational vertex to be spawned and executed in the local execution environment based on the organizational topology and indicated data storage locations.
US09442818B1
In one embodiment, a method is performed on a computer system comprising computer hardware. The method includes inserting, at an instrumentation point of a target program, an event generator comprising an instrumentation identifier. The method further includes registering the instrumentation identifier in instrumentation records. The instrumentation records link the instrumentation identifier to a dynamically variable event handler. In addition, the method includes, responsive to an event generated by the event generator, receiving a callback comprising the instrumentation identifier. Further, the method includes, using the instrumentation identifier, identifying in the instrumentation records the dynamically variable event handler. Additionally, the method includes invoking the dynamically variable event handler. Also, the method includes collecting data related to execution of the target program using the invoked dynamically variable event handler.
US09442812B2
Mechanisms, in a data processing system comprising a first adapter and second adapter, for performing a failover operation from the first adapter to the second adapter are provided. The mechanisms detect that an imminent failure of the first adapter is likely to occur and initiate a failover priming operation in the first adapter and second adapter in response to detecting the imminent failure. The failover priming operation configures ingress and egress buffers of the second adapter to have a similar configuration to ingress and egress buffers of the first adapter. The mechanisms migrate processing of ingress data traffic to the second adapter prior to failure of the first adapter such that the first adapter processes egress data traffic from the data processing system and the second adapter processes ingress data traffic to the data processing system.
US09442807B1
In some embodiments, a method of maintaining a reference list for data deduplication is provided. The method includes discarding a newly arriving data segment in response to finding a fingerprint of the newly arriving data segment matches an existing fingerprint in a plurality of fingerprints on a fingerprint-to-file reference list. The method includes adding, in the fingerprint-to-file reference list, to a list for the existing fingerprint, a source for the newly arriving data segment, in response to the fingerprint-to-file reference list indicating the existing fingerprint does not correspond to a hot data segment and setting an indication in the fingerprint-to-file reference list that the existing fingerprint corresponds to the hot data segment in response to the list for the existing fingerprint meeting or exceeding a predetermined number of entries. Other embodiments are included.
US09442806B1
Various systems and methods can perform block-level deduplication. For example, one method involves sending a chunk of data to a deduplication server for storage in a deduplicated data store. The chunk of data includes multiple blocks. Subsequent to sending the chunk of data to the deduplication server, the method detects that at least one of the blocks has been modified. In response, the method sends associated information as well as the modified blocks, which include at least one but fewer than all of the blocks in the chunk, to the deduplication server. The associated information identifies a location of the included blocks within the chunk of data. The method can be performed by a computing device implementing a deduplication client.
US09442804B2
A mechanism is provided for message reconciliation during disaster recovery in an asynchronous replication system. A message is intercepted at a gateway remote from a primary data center to which the message is being sent. A copy of the message request is stored in a request message history remotely from the primary data center. The message is forwarded to the primary data center. A transaction history of the message request is stored at the primary data center which is mirrored to a disaster recovery site with other data from the primary data center. In response to determining that the primary data center has failed, messages in the request message history are compared with messages in the transaction history as retrieved from the disaster recovery site.
US09442801B2
An example device includes a first error corrector to perform platform error correction based on a stride length. A memory includes a second error corrector that is to perform on-memory error correction that is to be disabled for platform error correction.
US09442794B1
In aspects of accessing device memory via a host bus interface, a computing system includes a device that is integrated in the computing system, and the device has device firmware that controls operation of the device. The computing system also includes a device driver that is executable by a processor of the computing system. The device driver is implemented to monitor whether an exchange of control messages between the device driver and the device firmware via a data bus has stalled. In response to determining that the exchange of the control messages has stalled, a debug function of the device firmware is initiated. The debug function is implemented to transfer firmware data from firmware memory to a data bus register of the device, and the device driver can then access the data bus register to obtain the firmware data that is transferred from the firmware memory.
US09442792B2
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems include determining that at least a portion of a protected site has become unavailable. A first logical storage device within underlying storage of a recovery site is determined to be a stretched storage device stretched across the protected and recovery sites. A failover workflow is initiated in response to the unavailability of the protected site, wherein the failover workflow includes transmitting an instruction to the underlying storage to isolate the first logical storage device from a corresponding logical storage device within the protected site.
US09442791B2
A computer program product and a computer system for building a scalable system dump facility is provided. The method includes loading a component into system memory. The component includes a plurality of program modules. A component text range table entry is created for each component, whereby the component text range table entry includes: an address range, a component identifier, a data collection function, and a link to one or more related components. Upon invoking a system dump facility, a failing function instruction is determined, based on an address of the failing instruction. The component text range table is searched for an address of a failing function that is in the address range. Memory regions that are associated with the address range are transferred to a storage device first. Memory regions that are associated with related components are transferred next. Remaining memory regions are then transferred.
US09442783B2
Techniques for analyzing a page to be presented by a browser running on a computing platform. The page is disabled. The page is tested to determine if the page is framed by a second page. The page is enabled if the testing indicates that the page is not framed by a second page. Each level of a hierarchy of framed pages is inspected to determine whether each level is authorized. The page is enabled if the inspecting indicates that each level of the hierarchy of framed pages is authorized.
US09442782B2
An interface description language (IDL) compiler generates a descriptor for invoking a method implemented by a software component or a target unit by source units, where the descriptor customizes the invocation by one or more source units based on, at least in part, whether a respective source unit and the target unit are mapped to the same core or to different cores, as specified by a unit-core map. Additionally or in the alternative, the invocation may depend on whether the method is synchronous, asynchronous, or unspecified. Using the unit-core map, a channel associated with a method may be monitored efficiently by avoiding monitoring of the source units that are mapped to the same core as the target unit is.
US09442777B2
A system and method for providing non-blocking communication with a communications server are disclosed herein. A computer system includes one or more processors and a software system executable by the processor. When executed, the software system provides an application thread and additionally provides a server communication thread configured to provide non-blocking communication between the application thread and a communication server. The server communication thread is configured to process commands based on requests for communication server services generated by the application thread. The server communication thread is further configured to communicate with the communication server based on the commands and to block pending a server response. The application thread is configured to execute unimpeded by the communication.
US09442758B1
Dynamic processor core switching is described. In embodiments, a multi-core processor system can include a first processor core that executes computer instructions at a first processing rate, and can include at least a second processor core that executes the computer instructions at a second processing rate, where the second processing rate is different than the first processing rate. A core profiler can generate system profile data that is evaluated to determine when a core-switch manager initiates switching execution of the computer instructions from the first processor core to the second processor core while the computer instructions are being executed.
US09442748B2
A system for disaster recovery including a controller (i) for controlling bandwidth usage of a disaster recovery system in accordance with a plurality of recovery point objectives (RPOs), each RPO designating a maximal time loss constraint for data recovery for an enterprise production system, and a corresponding bandwidth allocation for the disaster recovery system to use in replicating data for the enterprise production system, wherein the RPOs are applied in accordance with a calendar-based schedule of dates and times, and (ii) for issuing an RPO alert when the RPO maximal time loss constraint for a current date and time is not satisfied.
US09442746B2
A method for managing settings of applications. A request from an application to store runtime settings currently being used by the application is identified. In response to identifying the request, the runtime settings are then stored on in a repository of runtime settings. In one or more examples, the application is running on an operating system on a computer system, and the request is communicated through a common system service of the operating system.
US09442745B2
Techniques are presented herein to enable the storing of a base application. A plurality of program modules are stored with the base application, where the plurality of program modules comprise a first module and second module. User instructions are received to form a configuration file containing interaction rules, wherein the interaction rules define, for the base application, how the first module interacts with the second module to form a configured first module. The base application is then executed along with the configured first module on behalf of a user.
US09442742B2
A method for maintaining a switch. The method includes identifying a first phase to enter in a boot-up process for the switch, where the boot-up process includes a number of phases and the first phase is one of the phases. The method further includes determining a phase exit condition from a first snapshot of the switch, where the first snapshot includes state information for each of the of phases. The method further includes transitioning to the first phase and after transitioning to the first phase: starting a first countdown timer for the first phase, and executing, on the switch, a first networking protocol for the first phase. The method further includes determining, in response to the executing, that a first current state of the switch satisfies the phase exit condition, and exiting the first phase, where the first countdown timer is not expired when exiting the first phase.
US09442731B2
A processor includes a decoder to receive an instruction that indicates first and second source packed data operands and at least one shift count. An execution unit is operable, in response to the instruction, to store a result packed data operand. Each result data element includes a first least significant bit (LSB) portion of a first data element of a corresponding pair of data elements in a most significant bit (MSB) portion, and a second MSB portion of a second data element of the corresponding pair in a LSB portion. One of the first LSB portion of the first data element and the second MSB portion of the second data element has a corresponding shift count number of bits. The other has a number of bits equal to a size of a data element of the first source packed data minus the corresponding shift count.
US09442727B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that selectively filters out redundant software prefetch instructions during execution of a program on a processor. During execution of the program, the system collects information associated with hit rates for individual software prefetch instructions as the individual software prefetch instructions are executed, wherein a software prefetch instruction is redundant if the software prefetch instruction accesses a cache line that has already been fetched from memory. As software prefetch instructions are encountered during execution of the program, the system selectively filters out individual software prefetch instructions that are likely to be redundant based on the collected information, so that likely redundant software prefetch instructions are not executed by the processor.
US09442715B2
A cyclical patching process associated with a cloud application may be defined to ensure high availability (HA) of the cloud application in order to prevent impacting an availability to end users. A list of server identities corresponding to one or more servers of a datacenter hosting the cloud application may be accepted. HA metric values for each of the server identities may be determined in order to compute an overall HA metric value for the cloud application. A subset of the servers may be removed from a rotation framework of the cloud application based on the determined HA metric values, where the removal does not affect the overall HA metric value of the cloud application. One or more patches may be applied to each server within the subset of servers in parallel, and the subset of servers may be reinstated in the rotation framework of the cloud application.
US09442713B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for deploying updates between environments of a multi-tenant on-demand database system. These mechanisms and methods for deploying updates between environments of a multi-tenant on-demand database system can enable embodiments to provide user-friendly, granular, and/or targeted updates between such environments.
US09442709B1
A processor-implemented method is provided. The method comprises transmitting a core portion of an interface and applications pack (IAP) to a mobile device via a wireless network, wherein the (IAP) comprises at least one of a media file, an application, a web widget, and a network service, wherein the IAP is used to customize the communication experience of using the mobile device, and wherein the core portion of the IAP comprises a self-installation routine that provides a user interface and enables core communication functionality of the mobile device. The method also comprises transmitting at least one features portion of the IAP to the mobile device via the wireless network after transmitting the core portion of the IAP, wherein the at least one features portion of the IAP comprises instructions executable by a processor for providing additional functionality to the mobile device.
US09442698B2
Migration between model elements of different model element types in a model provided within a modeling environment is described herein. A model element of a first model element type is identified to be migrated to a model element of a second model element type. The model element of the first model element type is then migrated to the model element of the second model element type. The migrating migrates one or more relationships that exist between the model element of the first model element type and a related model element to one or more relationships between the model element of the second model element type and the related model element. The migrating also preserves properties of diagrammatic representations of the model element being migrated in diagrams of the model.
US09442683B2
A printing device includes a print data management unit that is capable of storing and managing print data so as to be associated with corresponding identification information used in user identification; an identification information storing unit that stores the identification information; a receiving unit that receives the print data; an identification information obtaining unit that obtains the identification information included in the print data; a registration determining unit that determines whether the obtained identification information is already registered in the identification information stored in the identification information storing unit; an identification information registering unit that registers in the identification information storing unit the obtained identification information when the registration determining unit determines that the obtained identification information is unregistered; and a print data storing unit that stores the received print data in the print data management unit so as to be associated with the obtained identification information.
US09442680B2
An image forming apparatus having a toner saving function is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a printer configured to perform a printing job, a communicator configured to communicate with a host device, a storage configured to store information of a toner saving option which is differently set to respective data characteristics, and a controller configured to, in response to a print data being received from the host device through the communicator, control the printer to detect characteristics of the print data, and print the print data according to the toner saving option which is set to correspond to the detected characteristics.
US09442678B2
An information processing apparatus includes a print data generation part that receives, via an operating system, a print execution instruction including a file and a first print setting from the application, and generates print data; an application management part that sends a printing instruction to the application; an extended interface part other than an interface part defined by the operating system; and a print setting storing part that stores a second print setting that is input from the application management part via the extended interface part. The print data generation part changes a print setting to be used to generate the print data from the first print setting to the second print setting.
US09442662B2
The embodiments described herein methods and devices that enhance the endurance of a non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory). The method includes obtaining, for each of the plurality of die, an endurance metric. The method also includes sorting the plurality of die into a plurality of die groups based on their corresponding endurance metrics, where each die group includes one or more die and each die group is associated with a range of endurance metrics. In response to a write command specifying a set of write data, the method further includes writing the write data to the non-volatile memory by writing in parallel subsets of the write data to the one or more die assigned to a single die group of the plurality of die groups.
US09442656B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for holding metadata written by a file system is provided. It is determined whether first metadata written to a storage medium belongs to a first group of metadata written intentionally by a user, or to a second group of metadata automatically written by a file system. Responsive to determining that the first metadata belongs to the first group, the first metadata is held in memory using a back pointer holder to differentiate the first metadata from metadata belonging to the second group.
US09442651B2
A method includes, displaying a content selection icon on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting touch input at a touch location on the display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon, and, modifying the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion.
US09442649B2
An object is zoomed upon selection. A scaling factor is calculated for zooming the object based on current viewing properties of a document and properties of the object as well as the current size of the application window and device. The scaling factor to zoom the object is calculated such that after the object is zoomed, viewing the object is similar to a viewing experience for the rest of the document. Text of the document may be displayed to increase the readability of the document. For example, the text may be displayed such that each line of displayed text averages out to a predetermined number of characters (e.g. 50-75 characters) per line. A display size and width of an average character are determined and used to calculate how many columns of text to display within the display. When the zoom level of the text changes, the text is redisplayed.
US09442643B2
The invention relates to an electronic device (10) and a method for data communication with such an electronic device. The electronic device combines, on the one hand, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, including an antenna and a circuit for generating a modulated electromagnetic wave, and on the other hand a user interface including a touch-sensitive display configured to present an object relating to a communication action executable by means of the NFC interface. A control unit connected to the NFC interface and the user interface, is configured to trigger the NFC interface to execute the communication action responsive to simultaneous detection of the presented object being touched and the NFC interface being in communicative connection with a second NFC interface of a second device.
US09442637B1
A unique method and system is disclosed for organizing and visualizing hierarchical information. It comprises an editor and a visualization engine. The editor visually organizes information elements into hierarchy by iterating elementary (binarization) steps. The binarization step splits the information elements and a quadrangular space into two parts and associates them with each other. A user may refine each partition to unlimited depth by drilling down to new level. This way, a hierarchical structure is created which is visually grouped into levels by so-called covering sets. The visualization engine, which might work independently from the editor, renders the covering sets into quadrangular-shaped visualization spaces, visualizing compact space-partitions. Several techniques aid rendering and enhanced visualization, such as windowing, visualization rules, grids, equal and alternate splitting. Users navigate in the hierarchy by zooming or moving directions. There are countless usage areas including news, education, presentations, realtime visualization.
US09442635B2
A computer-implemented method for testing a user interface includes: receiving, in a computer system, a first manual check result from a first manual check of a user interface of an application; generating a first markup-language record from the user interface and associating the first markup-language record with the first manual check result; after one or more changes are made in the application, generating a second markup-language record from the user interface; performing, in the computer system, at least one test on the user interface that involves a comparison of the first markup-language record with the second markup-language record; and performing, in the computer system, an action based on a result from the performed at least one test.
US09442626B2
Consumption and sharing of content, including music, is facilitated by an apparatus and a network configured to collect location information related to users of the network and the content. Users are provided with the capability to create playlists of content portions which may be graphically displayed atop a map. Location, playing and sharing information is used to evaluate the content portions, users and playlists. Content may be selected for playing by a user based on the evaluation.
US09442617B2
A multi-channel sensing system and operating method thereof are disclosed. The multi-channel sensing system includes a transceiver, emitting electrodes, and a receiving electrode. The transceiver includes a spreading code generator and a modulator. The spreading code generator generates a non-orthogonal spreading code through an invertible matrix and then the modulator modulates a data signal to spreading signals according to the non-orthogonal spreading code. The emitting electrodes, corresponding to sensing channels respectively, emit the spreading signals at the same time to pass through corresponding sensing channels respectively, and the spreading signals are converted into coupled signals by capacitive coupling. The receiving electrode receives the coupled signals and generates a received signal according to the coupled signals.
US09442613B2
A touch window includes a substrate, and an electrode part provided on the substrate. The electrode part includes a first sub-pattern, an electrode layer provided in the first sub-pattern, a second sub-pattern adjacent to the first sub-pattern, and a third sub-pattern provided on a top surface of the first sub-pattern.
US09442599B2
In an embodiment, a system includes a controller coupled to a first set of electrodes. The first set of electrodes are substantially arranged along a first axis. The controller is configured to send a first set of signals through a transmission medium to a first set of electrodes and receive a second set of signals. The impedance of the transmission medium is different than the impedance of the first set of electrodes. The second set of signals include characteristics resulting from effects on the first set of signals from the first set of electrodes and the transmission medium. The controller is configured to change, in response to analyzing the second set of signals, one or more of the following: an impedance of the controller and a voltage associated with the controller.
US09442595B2
A touch detector capable of achieving high position resolution while improving detection sensitivity to a touch is provided. The touch detector includes: a plurality of drive electrodes arranged side by side to extend in one direction; a detection electrode extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction where the drive electrodes extend, and arranged to form a capacitance at each of intersections with the drive electrodes; and a scanning drive section sequentially selecting a predetermined plural number of target electrodes from the plurality of drive electrodes in a time-divisional manner, and applying a touch detection drive signal with a plurality of pulse waveforms for detecting an external adjacent object to the selected target electrodes to perform a scanning drive. A scanning pitch in the scanning drive is smaller than the total width of the plural number of selected target electrodes.
US09442586B2
A sampling unit acquires a sample data series of a signal indicating a touch state quantity detected in a touch panel. A discrete Fourier transformation unit transforms the sample data series into the frequency domain. The frequency spectral analysis unit determines a frequency spectral distribution in accordance with the sample data transformed into the frequency domain. A peak detection unit detects a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in the frequency spectral distribution and finds the frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse.
US09442582B2
A portable electronic device with an SMT touch pad comprises a main printed circuit board and an SMT touch pad. The main printed circuit board has a top surface arranged thereon an SMT area, and a bottom surface, wherein the SMT area has a plurality of conductive pads arranged in a first pattern. The SMT touch pad has a touch surface and a mounting surface formed thereon a plurality of conductive pads with solder arranged in a second pattern that is a mirror of the first pattern on the main printed circuit board. The mounting surface of the SMT touch pad is placed onto the top surface of the main printed circuit board and the SMT touch pad is soldered onto the SMT area of the main printed circuit board.
US09442580B2
An electronic apparatus and a touch operating method thereof are provided. The touch operating method is adapted to an electronic apparatus having a touch display and includes the following steps. A touch performed on the touch display by a touch input device is detected. According to this touch, a dielectric parameter of the touch input device is determined. An operating function corresponding to the dielectric parameter is executed.
US09442572B2
A data entry system is disclosed. Some embodiments of the data entry system utilize an input device and a user interface. In some embodiments, a user can actuate keys on an input device to activate and/or select from the user interface cells associated with symbols, such as letters. A user can input different symbols quickly and efficiently. In some embodiments, users can input the most common letters of a given alphabet using only a single actuation of one of four keys.
US09442568B2
Provided is an input apparatus having a touch sensor to detect a contact operation to a slide bar displayed and to provide a tactile sensation of shift of the slide bar.An input apparatus 1 has a touch sensor 11 configured to detect a contact, a load detection unit 12 configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor 11, a display unit 14 configured to display the slide bar, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 configured to vibrate the touch face, and a control unit 15 configured to control the tactile sensation providing unit 13 such that a tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face based on a position of a knob of the slide bar shifted in response to the contact detected by the touch sensor 11 while the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies a predetermined standard.
US09442556B2
An application processor includes a main central processing device that operates based on an external main clock signal received from at least one external clock source when the application processor is in an active mode, at least one internal clock source that generates an internal clock signal, and a sensor sub-system that processes sensing-data received from at least one sensor module on a predetermined cycle when the application processor is in the active mode or a sleep mode, and that operates based on the internal clock signal or an external sub clock signal received from the external clock source depending on an operating speed required for processing the sensing-data.
US09442555B2
A method of controlling a domestic gateway, intended to connect at least one domestic terminal of a domestic computer network to a telecommunication network. The domestic gateway includes an access point configured so as to establish a connection between the domestic terminal and the domestic gateway. Method includes: a step of verifying the state of the connection between the domestic gateway and the domestic terminal via the access point, and a step of cyclically placing the access point on standby if the connection is inactive, in which the access point is alternately enabled for a duration of activity and disabled for a duration of sleep.
US09442548B1
A computing device monitors the energy level of a rechargeable battery, from which the device draws operating power. Historic usage data is used to estimate the time remaining in a present operating period, such as a workday, as well as to estimate the battery level required to provide power during that period of time. A user is then presented with information regarding the status of the battery, as well as charging time and required battery level estimates. Information regarding charging stations within publically or otherwise user-accessible venues near to the present location of the computing device is accessed and presented to the user. Reservations may be made for a charging port within a selected venue, an order may be placed for goods or services available at that venue, or other actions may be performed.
US09442537B2
A server with a detachable panel module includes a case with an accommodating space, a circuit board module and a panel module. The circuit board module includes a circuit board, a first assembling frame and a button. The first assembling frame includes a first plate. The first plate is installed in the accommodating space. The circuit board is installed on the first plate. The button is movable relative to the first plate. The panel module includes a panel and a second assembling frame. The second assembling frame includes a second plate, a plurality of elastic arms. The plurality of elastic arms is connected to the second plate. The panel is installed on the second plate. When the button is separated from the second plate, the elastic force of the plurality of elastic arms making the panel module leaves the accommodating space.
US09442522B2
An accessory for a wearable computer includes a strap having a cover that covers a plurality of batteries; a first connector that joins a first end of the strap to a first end of the wearable computer; a second connector that joins a second end of the strap to a second end of the wearable computer, the second connector having a housing, and an electrical coupling; and an electronic control unit disposed within the housing, the electronic control unit being electrically connected to the plurality of batteries and being electrically connected to the electrical coupling. The electrical coupling is configured to be electrically connected to the wearable computer, and the batteries supply power to the wearable computer via the electronic control unit and the electrical coupling.
US09442510B2
A clock gating circuit includes a first transistor, a first inverter and a second transistor. A first terminal of the first transistor receives a clock input signal. A second terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first node. The first transistor adjusts a voltage of the first node to a first voltage based on the clock input signal. The first inverter is coupled to the first node and receives the voltage of the first node, and outputs a clock output signal. A first terminal of the second transistor receives the clock input signal. A second terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the first node and a second node. The second transistor adjusts the voltage of the first node or the second node to the second voltage, based on the clock input signal.
US09442506B2
A voltage reference circuit with temperature compensation includes a power supply, a first reference voltage supply, a first PMOS transistor, a second PMOS transistor, a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, a resistor connected to the second NMOS source and ground. The voltage reference circuit also includes a second reference voltage supply, a third PMOS transistor, a fourth PMOS transistor, a third NMOS transistor, a fourth NMOS transistor, and a fifth NMOS transistor with a drain connected to the source of the fourth NMOS transistor, a source connected to the ground, and a gate connected to the first reference voltage output.
US09442495B2
A method supplies a gas, stored in multiple vessels, to a drive assembly of a motor vehicle. Each vessel is assigned a valve for opening and closing the vessel and a gas sensor, in the form of a temperature sensor, for determining a temperature as a state variable of the gas in the vessel. The vessels are connected to the drive assembly via a common line. Along the common line, there is arranged at least one gas sensor, which is common to all of the vessels, for determining at least one state variable of the gas. For the supply to the drive assembly, in each case only one of the valves is opened and all of the other valves are closed. The open valve is closed when at least one determined state variable deviates from a setpoint value by a tolerance value.
US09442494B2
A colorimeter, webcam, camera, spectrophotometer, scanner or other instrument measures the color composition and conditions and texture of a person's body part or presented beauty product and an individual custom formulation is produced. A presented beauty product may include foundation, concealer, tinted moisturizer, primer, skin care products, blush, nail polish, hair dye, lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, eye liner and eye shadow. The produced custom formulation may comprise foundation, concealer, tinted moisturizer, primer, skin care products, blush, nail polish, hair dye, lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, eye liner, eye shadow or other consumer products. A computer system 301 includes a processor 501 and a non-transitory, computer readable medium 500 containing machine readable instructions that accept data from a colorimeter 300 or like instrument and uses a main executable program 502 and a subroutine 504 for color analysis.
US09442493B2
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a system for regulating a pressure differential includes a plurality of valving elements and a valve activation system. Each of the plurality of valving elements are configured to selectively allow and restrict at least a portion of a flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet of a conduit through a respective opening and closing of each respective valving element. The valve activation system is configured to supply a common driving pressure to the plurality of valving elements. The common driving pressure is configured to initiate at least one of the opening or closing of the plurality of valving elements or to initiate the other of the opening or closing of the plurality of valving elements.
US09442487B1
The present disclosure is directed to an autonomous vehicle having a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system includes an image processing system. The image processing system receives an image that includes a light indicator. The light indicator includes an illuminated component. The image processing system determines a color of the illuminated component of the light indicator and an associated confidence level of the determination of the color of the illuminated component. The image processing system also determines a shape of the illuminated component of the light indicator and an associated confidence level of the determination of the shape of the illuminated component. The determined confidence levels represent an estimated accuracy of the determinations of the shape and color. Additionally, the image processing system provides instructions executable by a computing device to control the autonomous vehicle based on at least one of the determined confidence levels exceeding a threshold value.
US09442482B2
Systems, machines, and methods for monitoring wafer handling are disclosed herein. A system for monitoring wafer handling includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is capable of being secured to an assembled wafer handling machine. The controller is in electronic communication with the sensor and includes control logic. The control logic is configured to store a reference output of the sensor when the wafer handling machine is aligned and is configured to generate an indication signal when a difference between the reference output and a current output of the sensor exceeds a threshold.
US09442478B2
A system can generate a configurable feedback. The system includes a number of circuitries that are coupled to a number of drivers and connected to each other in a chain via a single-wire connection. Control circuitry is connected to the plurality of circuitries and adapted to output configuration data to at least one circuitry of the plurality of circuitries to configure a feedback signal to be delivered by the plurality of circuitries to the control circuitry via the single-wire connection.
US09442475B2
A computer-based method and system brings together data from two business domains: real-time actual plant status operation data and predictive process simulation data based upon a design specification. This method and system correlates the plant data and the simulation data, and displays the results side-by-side for the user. The results assist the user, to determine whether the plant is operating properly, and to make further improvements to both the plant assets and to the simulation models. The invention assists with monitoring, maintaining, trouble shooting, and problem solving of plant operation. The invention facilitates a progressive visual collaborative environment between plant operation and process engineering teams, where engineers from respective domains may socialize and trouble shoot problems. The Progressive Visual Collaboration helps professionals with searching, sharing, mapping, analyzing, framing problems, removing ambiguity and uncertainty by considering facts and figures, and providing a progressive workflow that solves plant problems.
US09442470B2
Methods of providing enhanced energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gases for an eco-industrial park with retrofit in mind and eco-industrial park retrofit with retrofit in mind, are provided. An exemplary method includes identifying hybrid inter-time zones inter-area matching solutions through selecting best energy efficient routes, generating technically viable energy efficient eco-industrial parks alternatives, identifying best generation and allocation of energy utilities, and synthesizing a combined heat and power utility system that satisfies the eco-park demands during each time zone as well as rendering its best operating scenario at each specific time-zone. This inter-time-zones inter-area integration can include identifying the best and the second best matching solutions among processes in the eco-industrial park for spatial energy integration and the best and second best matching solutions among all time-zones for temporal energy integration and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for the optimal synthesis or retrofit of eco-industrial parks.
US09442467B1
An event triggered data lockbox is capable of anonymous revelation. The personal information for a person is saved in a secure memory. A lockbox condition for access to the secure memory is determined. Upon satisfaction of the lockbox condition, anonymous revelation of a masked profile for the personal information in the secure memory is permitted. As an example, a masked profile may be sent to a bank for loan qualifications and includes a credit score or summary characteristics. The lockbox condition comprises a time or an event associated with the person. In an alternative embodiment, the personal information can be fully revealed upon satisfaction of certain lockbox conditions such as an event such qualification for a loan or as a particular birthday age or death.
US09442466B2
A method for commissioning a collection of electronic locks by inserting the same electronic key into each of the locks and recording in the electronic key an internal code unique to that lock which identifies the lock and is needed to open the lock and a method for biometrically permitting controlled secure access to a container having one of the commissioned electronic locks.
US09442463B2
Described is an apparatus which comprises: a switching device to receive first and second inputs, and to generate first and second outputs; and a time-to-digital converter (TDC) core to receive the first and second outputs, and to generate a third output, wherein the switching device is operable to couple the first input to the first output or to couple the first input to the second output according to a control input.
US09442451B2
Provided is an electroconductive member for electrophotography which is suppressed in adhesion of a contaminant to a surface thereof. The electroconductive member for electrophotography includes, in this order, an electroconductive support, an electroconductive elastic layer, and a surface layer. The surface layer contains a binder resin and electroconductive fine particles having a number average particle diameter of 5.0 nm or more and 50.0 nm or less. At least part of the electroconductive fine particles are exposed from the surface layer. The surface layer has, on a surface thereof, protruded portions derived from exposed portions of the electroconductive fine particles. The surface layer has a volume resistivity of 1.0×1010 Ωcm or more and 1.0×1016 Ωcm or less and a universal hardness at a depth of 1 μm from the surface thereof of 1.0 N/mm2 or more and 7.0 N/mm2 or less.
US09442448B2
A medium transport unit includes an upstream route in which a print sheet is transported, a first switchback route, a second switchback route, a first guide route, a second guide route, a guide flap configured to switch the route so that the print sheet in the upstream route is transported either toward the first guide route or toward the second guide route, a first discharge route from which the print sheet in the first switchback route is discharged, a second discharge route from which the print sheet in the second switchback route is discharged, and a downstream route passing between the first switchback route and the second switchback route and having an upstream end connected to a junction of downstream ends of the first discharge route and the second discharge route.
US09442441B2
A fixing device includes a guide member including a guide portion, which is disposed downstream from a nip in a rotational direction of an endless belt and is in contact with the endless belt, and a gap forming portion, which is disposed between the nip and the guide portion in the rotational direction of the endless belt and which forms a gap from the endless belt. The gap forming portion includes an inclined surface that extends from the guide portion upstream in the rotational direction and has a predetermined area, on which a lubricant is provided. A maximum inclination angle between the predetermined area and a plane that is defined to contact a downstream end, in the rotational direction, of the contact portion of the nip member and the guide portion is less than 90 degrees.
US09442439B2
A windbreak plate is assembled to a thermistor mounting member for mounting a thermistor to a housing, and the thermistor is covered by the windbreak plate from a paper entry path side. The thermistor mounting member has exposure parts which are exposed to the paper entry path from the windbreak plate. The exposure parts (a second plate part and a third plate part) are level with the windbreak plate and constitutes a part of the windbreak plate.
US09442433B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer section, a transfer bias applying section, a conveyance section, an element, a current measurement section, and a control section. The transfer section forms, in conjunction with the image bearing member, a pressing part where a recording medium is pressed. The transfer bias applying section supplies transfer current to the transfer section to apply a transfer bias to the transfer section. The element conducts when a voltage equal to or greater than a prescribed value is applied thereto. The current measurement section measures a value of leak current. The leak current is a current flowing through the element. The control section controls a value of the transfer current. The control section changes the absolute value of the transfer current based on the absolute value of the leak current.
US09442429B2
Image forming apparatus and method of switching collected developer route in image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a developing device; a transfer device; a waste-developer container; a developer collecting device including a collected-developer conveyor, a waste channel, a reuse channel, and a channel switching member to switch a route between the waste channel and the reuse channel; a switching determiner to determine whether to dispose or reuse collected developer; an operating condition data collector to collect and store operating condition data used as a degradation speed index of developer in the developing device; a determination type selector to select, according to the degradation speed index, one of a first determination type based on an operating amount and a second determination type based on developer replacement data indicating an amount of developer replaced with supplied developer in the developing device; and a switching controller to control the channel switching member according to determination made by the switching determiner.
US09442427B2
A developing device includes a developer carrying member and first and second chambers. A feeding member provided in the second chamber includes a normal feeding portion, a reverse feeding portion, and a discharging portion. An opposing portion in the second chamber opposes a peripheral surface of the reverse feeding portion and is formed so that a first region of an upper half of the reverse feeding portion is broader in clearance with the second chamber than a second region, and includes a projected portion for forming a predetermined clearance with the reverse feeding portion by being projected from a side surface of the second chamber in a horizontal direction. The projected portion is disposed higher than a rotation center of the reverse feeding portion and lower than a top of the reverse feeding portion and is more remote from the first chamber than a rotation center of the feeding member.
US09442426B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus that develops a toner image on a photoreceptor drum. In the developing apparatus, a first transporting member that transports a developer stored in a developer vessel while churning and a second transporting member are provided in parallel with each other, and the developer that is transported by the first transporting member is supplied to a developing roller from the second transporting member. The first transporting member churns a new toner and carrier that are resupplied with the developer. In the second transporting member, the developer that a waste toner passing a developing process is churned and the developer that the new toner being resupplied is churned are face and collide with each other. Accordingly, the new toner gets into the developer.
US09442416B2
Provided is a developing apparatus, including toner for developing an electrostatic latent image, a toner carrier for carrying the toner, and a regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the toner carried by the toner carrier. The toner carrier is placed to be brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image bearing member. The toner carrier includes a substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer containing a urethane resin. The urethane resin has a partial structure derived from a reaction between a compound represented by the structural formula (1) and a polyisocyanate. The toner contains toner particles each containing a binder resin and a magnetic material, and inorganic fine particles. The toner has a weight average particle diameter (D4) of from 9.5 μm to 14.0 μm. The toner has a porosity of 50 or more and 56 or less.
US09442408B2
A member for electrophotography for use in forming a high quality electrophotographic image for a long period is provided. The member for electrophotography includes a support, an elastic layer on the support, and a surface layer on the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes a quaternary ammonium salt and an epichlorohydrin rubber. The surface layer includes a material having a specific structure. A universal hardness a surface of the surface layer is 1.0 N/mm2 or more and 5.0 N/mm2 or less.
US09442407B2
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer condition setting device to set a patch image transfer condition under which multiple patch images of respective component colors are transferred from an image bearer onto a recording medium conveyor. The transfer condition setting device sets a prescribed transfer condition that decreases a difference in transfer efficiency of toner between the respective component colors when the multiple patch images of respective component colors are transferred onto the recording medium conveyor below a difference in transfer efficiency of toner between the multiple component colors caused when transferred under the same transfer condition as a multicolor toner image is transferred onto a recording medium. A correcting device corrects an image forming condition to reduce an amount of misalignment caused in the multiple component colors of the multicolor toner image based on times of outputs from a patch image position sensor.
US09442405B2
The present disclosure provides for compositions, methods, and systems directed towards a liquid electrophotographic ink comprising a carrier fluid, a pigment, a first resin, and a stable cross-linkable resin that is solvated or swellable with the carrier fluid, where the stable cross-linkable resin does not undergo cross-linking until a temperature of at least 110° C. and, once cross-linked, does not melt until a temperature of at least 300° C.
US09442400B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer which includes, as a resin binder, a copolymeric polyarylate resin having structural units of a Chemical Structural Formula 1, a method of producing the photoreceptor, an electrophotographic device including the electrophotographic photoreceptor, and a method of preparing the copolymeric polyarylate resin are provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor reduces the amount of abrasion at the surface of a photoreceptor drum and lowers frictional resistance from the beginning until the end of printing, and moreover provides good images.
US09442399B2
The photosensitive layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a phthalocyanine crystal in which a compound represented by the following formula (1) is contained:
US09442395B2
A substrate holder for a lithographic apparatus has a main body having a thin-film stack provided on a surface thereof. The thin-film stack forms an electronic or electric component such as an electrode, a sensor, a heater, a transistor or a logic device, and has a top isolation layer. A plurality of burls to support a substrate are formed on the thin-film stack or in apertures of the thin-film stack.
US09442393B2
A projection exposure tool for microlithography for imaging mask structures of an image-providing substrate onto a substrate to be structured includes a measuring apparatus configured to determine a relative position of measurement structures disposed on a surface of one of the substrates in relation to one another in at least one lateral direction with respect to the substrate surface and to thereby simultaneously measure a number of measurement structures disposed laterally offset in relation to one another.
US09442385B2
The invention relates to an optical system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, and to a microlithographic exposure method. An optical system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a polarization-influencing optical arrangement, wherein the polarization-influencing optical arrangement comprises at least one first array of first polarization-influencing elements and a second array of second polarization-influencing elements, wherein the first and second arrays are arranged successively in the light propogation direction, wherein the first and second polarization-influencing elements in each case have a birefringence that is dependent on the presence of an electric field, and wherein the first polarization-influencing elements and the second polarization-influencing elements are transverse Pockels cells.
US09442375B2
Disclosed herein is a substrate having a surface modified to impart multi-scale roughness, thereby providing superhydrophobic and/or superoleophobic properties. The surface comprises a pattern of microscale pillars topped by a plurality of nanoparticles having a re-entrant convex shape. The area fraction of the surface is also selected to provide the desired superoleophobic properties. Also disclosed herein is a process for creating the modified surface comprising photolithography, optionally followed by vapor deposition. The substrates may be formed into useful articles or applied to pre-formed articles.
US09442372B2
There is provided a pigment dispersion composition having high pigment dispersibility and dispersion stability and favorable color characteristics even when containing a high concentration of pigment; a photocurable composition superior in developability and pixel surface smoothness, allowing high contrast; and a color filter having high contrast. A pigment dispersion composition containing a polymeric compound having a specific group or the like dissociated by an alkali is used.
US09442359B2
A passenger vehicle includes a dynamic display unit. The dynamic display unit creates a temporary graphic display inside the passenger vehicle for presenting informational and control elements to passengers inside the passenger vehicle.
US09442351B2
An optical engine module includes a first casing with a first enclosed space, a light source at the first casing, a phosphor wheel in the first casing, a cooling fan and a heat-dissipating module. The light source emits a light beam passing through the phosphor wheel. The cooling fan is in the first enclosed space and has an airflow outlet. The heat-dissipating module includes two heat-dissipating parts and a heat-guiding part, wherein the first and second heat-dissipating parts are respectively in and outside the first enclosed space, the heat-guiding part is connected between the first and second heat-dissipating parts and the phosphor wheel is between the airflow outlet and the first heat-dissipating part. The airflow outlet and the phosphor wheel, and the phosphor wheel and the first heat-dissipating part, are at least partially overlapped with each other along the airflow exiting direction of the cooling fan.
US09442346B2
Electronic device cases and lighting and power devices and modules are described. A case for a portable electronic device may include a rim portion defining an opening for a display of the portable electronic device and one or more light sources adjacent to the rim portion. A lighting device may include one or more light sources for illuminating a user's face during use of a camera of a portable electronic device, and a power member for providing power to the one or more light sources. A lighting module may include a plurality of lighting devices. A power module having a battery may be configured to provide power to a portable electronic device.
US09442344B2
A nonlinear nanocomposite optical-element comprising a first nanocomposite. The first nanocomposite comprising one or more optically nonlinear (NLO) nanofillers. The NLO nanofillers exhibiting dispersed in a cured organic matrix, the NLO nanofillers exhibiting a high level of one or more high order nonlinear susceptibilities. A second nanocomposite, the second nanocomposite different with respect to the nanofiller type, nanofiller concentration, organic-host, or combinations thereof. Wherein the distribution of the first nanocomposite-ink and second nanocomposite-ink result in a nanofiller gradient within the optical-element.
US09442343B2
An electronic paper display device according to the disclosure may include an upper substrate provided with a first electrode layer, a lower substrate provided with a second electrode layer, and an electronic ink layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. Microcapsules are distributed in the electronic ink layer, and at least one kind of quantum dots which are used to display one color are encapsulated within the microcapsules.
US09442341B2
Onboard EC window controllers are described. The controllers are configured in close proximity to the EC window, for example, within the IGU. The controller may be part of a window assembly, which includes an IGU having one or more EC panes, and thus does not have to be matched with the EC window, and installed, in the field. The window controllers described herein have a number of advantages because they are matched to the IGU containing one or more EC devices and their proximity to the EC panes of the window overcomes a number of problems associated with conventional controller configurations.
US09442338B2
A transparent display device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The transparent display device includes: a display panel unit including: a first side configured to display an image, and a second side opposed to the first side, and a variable blocking film at the second side of the display panel unit, the variable blocking film including electrochromic core-shell nanoparticles.
US09442332B2
A phase modulator for the modulation of the phase of circular polarised light which interacts with the phase modulator. The phase modulator has a first and a second substrate, an electrode arrangement and a liquid crystal layer with liquid crystal molecules. The first substrate is disposed adjacent to the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the two substrates. The first substrate has a first surface, and the second substrate has a second surface. The liquid crystal molecules situated next to the first surface are oriented substantially parallel to the first surface. The liquid crystal molecules situated next to the second surface are oriented substantially perpendicular to the second surface. An in-plane component of the liquid crystal molecule orientation can be set within an angular range of about 180°, e.g. between −90° and +90° related to a specifiable central orientation.
US09442331B2
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes a first polarizing plate having a first compensating layer, a first polarizing layer and a first protecting layer on an outer surface of a first substrate, and a second polarizing plate having a second compensating layer, a second polarizing layer and a second protecting layer on an outer surface of a second substrate. The first compensating layer includes a positive B-plate where nz>nx>ny, and the second compensating layer includes a positive B-plate where nz>nx>ny, such that nx, ny, and nz represents refractive indexes of the first and second compensating layers along the x, y, and z axes, respectively, wherein the x and y axes represents a plane direction of the first and second compensating layers, and the z-axis represents a thickness direction of the first and second compensating layers.
US09442329B2
An LCD comprises a first scan line, a second scan line, a first data line, a second data line, a pixel area, a first sub-pixel electrode and a first active element. The first scan line has a first sidewall; the second scan line has a second sidewall adjacent to the first sidewall; and the first data line has a third sidewall intersecting with the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The second data line has a fourth sidewall adjacent to the third sidewall. The pixel area is an area defined by the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall. The first sub-pixel is partially disposed in the pixel area. The first active element has a first electrode electrically connected to the first sub-pixel electrode through a first via hole, wherein a portion of the first via hole is disposed out of the pixel area.
US09442328B2
A display device may include a substrate, a first roof layer formed of a material, a second roof layer formed of the material and spaced from the substrate, and a subpixel electrode disposed between the substrate and the first roof layer. The display device may further include a common electrode member disposed between the subpixel electrode and the first roof layer. The common electrode member may overlap the first roof layer in a first direction without extending beyond the first roof layer in a second direction. The first direction may be perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. The second direction may be parallel to the surface of the substrate. The display device may further include a liquid crystal set disposed between the subpixel electrode and the common electrode member.
US09442316B2
This display device (100) includes: a display panel (10); a light-transmitting cover (20) which is arranged closer to a viewer than the display panel is so as to cover the display panel and which includes a lens portion at a position corresponding to an end portion of the display panel; and a bezel (30) including a side frame portion which covers the side surface of the display panel at least partially. The bezel (30) further includes a fixing portion (34) which is arranged at the tip of the side frame portion and in the vicinity of the side surface of the light-transmitting cover. The light-transmitting cover (20) and the fixing portion (34) of the bezel (30) are directly fixed to each other.
US09442306B1
The present disclosure features lens protection systems that comprise multi-layer film laminates that include an optically clear protective film, which remains on the lens during use and carrier layers that are used to assist the user with applying the protective film to the lens. These systems are suitable for use with a wide variety of eyewear, including but not limited to ski goggles, tactical goggles, diving goggles, protective eyewear such as safety glasses, sun glasses, helmet visors (e.g., for football, hockey, or motorcycle helmets), and paintball masks.
US09442296B2
An integrated image sensor capable of determining the distance to objects contained in a scene, including a pixel array, each pixel in the array being associated with a microlens and being formed of an assembly of sub-pixels, each including a photosensitive area.
US09442293B2
An optical stack includes a first variable element and a second variable element. The first variable element is configured to vary light transmission through the first variable element as a function of a first control signal. The second variable element is in series with the first variable element and is configured to vary light transmission through the second variable element as a function of a second control signal. A controller dynamically supplies the first control signal to the first variable element and supplies the second control signal to the second variable element.
US09442292B1
Embodiments describe an eye sensing module to detect eye movements and gestures. The eye sensing module is included in a head wearable display, and may be placed anywhere within the head wearable display so that the image sensor device has a line-of-sight to the user's eye. The eye sensing module comprises an image sensor, an array of focusing lenses disposed over the image sensor placed side-by-side (i.e., not on top of one another), and a corresponding array of directional prisms disposed over the focusing lenses. The directional prisms and the focusing lenses increase the field of view of the image sensor to enable the image sensor to capture eye gestures and eye movements for different user eye sizes, eye locations, and other varying eye characteristics. These eye sensing modules increase the field of view of the image sensor without increasing the size of image sensor or focusing lenses.
US09442291B1
An optical combiner for a head-wearable display includes an eyepiece body and a plurality of diffractive optical element (“DOE”) segments. The eyepiece body has an eye-ward side and an external scene side. The DOE segments are disposed within the eyepiece body and are at least partially reflective to image light incident through the eye-ward side of the eyepiece body and at least partially transmissive to external scene light incident through the external scene side of the eyepiece body. The DOE segments are disjoint from each other and each is disposed along a different disjoint surface within the eyepiece body that is oriented at a different angle relative to the other DOE segments. The plurality of DOE segments operate to magnify and reflect the image light incident from an off-axis position to an eyebox sized area.
US09442289B2
An display apparatus, for a vehicle, according to one embodiment includes a substrate housing portion, an optical unit, a turning member, and a plate-like attachment plate. The substrate housing portion contains a circuit substrate for outputting an image signal of an image to be displaced. The optical unit generates an image based on the image signal outputted from the circuit substrate and projects the generated image. The combiner is provided at one end of the optical unit, and the image is projected onto the combiner. The turning member connects the optical unit to the substrate housing portion in a freely rotatable manner. The plate-like attachment plate is used to mount the substrate housing portion to a rear-view mirror such that the optical unit is freely rotatable without coming into contact with the rear-view mirror inside a vehicle.
US09442278B2
A zoom lens consists of a negative first lens group, a stop, a positive second lens group, a negative third lens group, a positive fourth lens group, and a positive fifth lens group in this order from the object side. The first lens group through the fourth lens group move along the optical axis while changing magnification such that the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is reduced and the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group is increased. The fifth lens group is fixed with respect to an image surface while changing magnification. The first lens group consists of a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens in this order from the object side.
US09442270B2
A lens barrel includes a barrel body, an optical system disposed inside the barrel body, a zoom motor, a focus motor, a zoom lever switch disposed on the outer circumference of the barrel body and configured to transmit a user's operation instruction to the zoom motor, and a focus lever switch disposed on the outer circumference of the barrel body and configured to transmit a user's operation instruction to the focus motor. The zoom lever switch and the focus lever switch are arranged in a region formed of first and fourth quadrants of the lens barrel.
US09442262B2
Durable optical fiber ribbons are formed by promoting a strong bond between fiber ink layers and ribbon matrix material. During curing of the ink layer desired oxygen levels are maintained in the curing environment of the manufacturing process.
US09442260B2
Disclosed are interposers and interposer structures having an optical interface for optical fiber connection with a related fiber optic ferrule that can form a portion of an optical assembly. The interposer is useful for transmitting optical signals to/from the interposer for high-speed communication. Specifically, the interposer provides a passively aligned structure with an optical alignment structure of the interposer formed by a resist layer of the interposer.
US09442254B2
A high density, low power, high performance information system, method and apparatus are described in which perpendicularly oriented processor and memory die stacks (130, 140, 150, 160, 170) include integrated deflectable MEMS optical beam waveguides (e.g., 190) at each die edge (e.g., 151) to provide optical communications (184) in and between die stacks by using a beam control method and circuit to maintain and adjust alignment over time by calibrating and updating X and Y counter values stored in deflection registers (541-542) to control DAC circuitry (546, 548) which generates and supplies deflection voltages to charging capacitors (551, 552) connected to deflection electrodes (195-197) positioned on and around each MEMS optical beam waveguide (193-194) to provide two-dimensional alignment and controlled feedback to adjust beam alignment and establish optical communication links between die stacks.
US09442250B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to nanophotonics. In one aspect, an arrangement of waveguides includes a substrate and three waveguides. Each of the three waveguides may be a linear waveguide. A second waveguide is positioned between a first waveguide and a third waveguide. The dimensions and positions of the first, the second, and the third waveguides are specified to substantially eliminate coupling between the first waveguide and the third waveguide over a distance of about 1 millimeter to 2 millimeters along lengths of the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide.
US09442234B2
A method of producing a roll of an optical film laminate strip including a polarizing film includes the steps of: forming a continuous web of optical film laminate including a polarizing film which consists of a polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer and has a thickness of 10 μm or less, wherein the polarizing film is formed by performing an stretching sub-step of subjecting a laminate comprising a continuous web of thermoplastic resin substrate and a polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer formed on the substrate, to a uniaxial stretching in a lengthwise direction of the laminate based on 2-stage stretching consisting of preliminary in-air stretching and in-boric-acid-solution stretching; cutting the continuous web of optical film laminate along a direction parallel to the length direction to form at least one continuous web of laminate strip having a given width; and winding the continuous web of laminate strip having the given width into a roll.
US09442230B2
A method of manufacturing a sub-wavelength extreme ultraviolet metal transmission grating is disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a silicon nitride self-supporting film window on a back surface of a silicon-based substrate having both surfaces polished, then spin-coating a silicon nitride film on a front surface of the substrate with an electron beam resist HSQ. Then, performing electron beam direct writing exposure on the HSQ, developing and fixing to form a plurality of grating line patterns and a ring pattern surrounding the grating line patterns. Then depositing a chrome material on the front surface of the substrate through magnetron sputtering. Then, removing the chrome material inside the ring pattern. Then, growing a gold material on the front surface of the substrate through atomic layer deposition. Lastly, removing the gold material on the chrome material outside the ring pattern as well as on and between the grating line patterns, thereby only retaining the gold material on sidewalls of the grating line patterns.
US09442228B2
A sensing device with an odd-symmetry grating projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced photodetector array. Due to physical properties of the grating, the spatial modulations are in focus for a range of wavelengths and spacings. The spatial modulations are captured by the array, and photographs and other image information can be extracted from the resultant data. Used in conjunction with a converging optical element, versions of these gratings provide depth information about objects in an imaged scene. This depth information can be computationally extracted to obtain a depth map of the scene.
US09442222B2
In order to improve the scratch resistance of an antireflective article having a moth-eye structure, an antireflective article is provided that has fine protrusions densely arranged therein, has the interval between adjacent fine protrusions being no more than the shortest wavelength for an electromagnetic wavelength band for antireflection, and wherein: the fine protrusions are arranged in a non-lattice shape in the planar view; and mesh division lines formed upon the valley sections between each adjacent fine protrusions and surrounding each fine protrusion match Voronoi tessellation having the center of gravity of the fine protrusions, in the planar view as the generating point therefor, in at least one area of the antireflective article.
US09442214B2
A technique facilitates the collection of improved gravitational acceleration measurements and enables use of those measurements in analyzing environmental characteristics of a subterranean region. In one embodiment, a downhole tool is constructed with a gravimeter having a quantum source and an associated detector. The quantum source and detector use a velocity of the quantum source for determining gravitational acceleration measurements that can be employed in evaluating subterranean characteristics.
US09442212B2
Methods and devices for inspecting liquid are disclosed. According to the method, it is firstly determined whether the package of the liquid is transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque; in a case that the package of the liquid is transparent or semi-transparent, Raman spectrum analysis is implemented by a Raman spectrum module on the inspected liquid to judge whether the inspected liquid is dangerous or is suspected; and in a case that the package of the inspected liquid is opaque, the inspected liquid are inspected by using an X-ray dual-energy scanning technology to judge whether the inspected liquid is dangerous or is suspected. The above solution has advantages that the inspection speed is high, the material can be recognized, it is suitable for various packing materials with various shapes, the accuracy of the inspection result is high or the like. Therefore, the solution is suitable for security inspection in public places with high security inspection requirements, complicated inspected liquids, high personnel flow rate or the like.
US09442194B2
A dump truck includes radars attached, facing backward, to a position projected sideward a front fender extended from a lower deck to an upper deck of a front side of the vehicle, in which an irradiation beam has an angle of dip to cross at least a front wheel; and radars attached, facing sideward, to the side of the lower deck, and the radars and the radars are arranged such that a horizontal forward detection limit line of each of the radar and a horizontal backward detection limit line of each of the radar overlap and the horizontal backward detection limit lines of the radar are directed to a side of a center plane of the vehicle to detect the obstacle in the side of the vehicle.
US09442191B2
An FMCW radar system includes received signal processing arranged to apply multiple window functions in parallel to a received beat signal including at least one window function having a narrower main-lobe in its frequency response than at least one other window function and said at least one other window function having relatively higher side-lobe attenuation in its frequency response, transform the output of the multiple window functions from the time domain to the frequency domain, and combine the outputs of the transforms for further processing. Both narrow frequency resolution and thus good range discrimination, and also good side-lobe attenuation to avoid close interference are achieved.
US09442171B2
A magnetic sensor assembly includes first and second shields each comprised of a magnetic material. The first and second shields define a physical shield-to-shield spacing. A sensor stack is disposed between the first and second shields and includes a seed layer adjacent the first shield, a cap layer adjacent the second shield, and a magnetic sensor between the seed layer and the cap layer. At least a portion of the seed layer and/or the cap layer comprises a magnetic material to provide an effective shield-to-shield spacing of the magnetic sensor assembly that is less than the physical shield-to-shield spacing.
US09442170B2
In an embodiment, a circuit is configured to produce a magnetic field signal having a frequency spectrum. The circuit may also produce a temperature signal. A modulation circuit may modulate the temperature signal with a frequency outside the frequency spectrum of the magnetic field signal. The modulated signal and the magnetic field signal may be combined to produce a combined signal. A separation circuit may be configured to separate component signals from the combined signal. The separation circuit may include a first filter, which, when applied to the combined signal, produces a filtered signal; a modulation circuit configured to shift the data representing the temperature signal to a baseband frequency; and a second filter configured to separate the data representing the temperature signal from the combined signal.
US09442166B2
A vehicle battery monitoring assembly includes a terminal connectable to a battery post, a shunt formed of a first metallic material, and a cable formed of a different second metallic material. The shunt is connected at one end to the terminal. The assembly further includes a sheet formed of the second metallic material. The sheet is attached on a portion of another end of the shunt. The cable is connected at one end to the sheet.
US09442165B2
A management framework is disclosed that achieves maximum energy storage device lifetime based on energy storage device life estimation and the price of energy. The management framework includes a battery life estimation from a supercycle model, for a time window between two consecutive full charges of a battery, which allows assessing a worst case scenario impact of all partial cycles within a supercycle on the battery life. The battery life estimation then considers each supercycle as a single discharge unit instead of treating each individual discharge period separately.
US09442159B2
A method of testing integrated circuits, including establishing at least a first physical communication channel between a test equipment and an integrated circuit under test by having at least a first probe of the test equipment contacting a corresponding physical contact terminal of the integrated circuit under test; having the test equipment and the integrated circuit under test exchange, over said first physical communication channel, at least two signals selected from the group including at least two test stimuli and at least two test response signals, wherein said at least two signals are exchanged by means of at least one modulated carrier wave modulated by the at least two signals.
US09442158B2
Method and a system for determining between devices a reference time for execution of a task thereon
A method is disclosed for determining, between an initiating device and at least one responding device, a reference time for the execution of at least one task on one of the devices. The method includes the initiating device prompting at least one responding device to provide a respective desired reference time. The method further includes at least one responding device providing a respective desired reference time, in response to the prompting. An actual reference time is determined based on any desired reference times provided. In one embodiment, the actual reference time is the latest of all desired reference times. A system including the initiating device and a responding device is also disclosed.
US09442151B2
A method for detecting electrical disconnections of a chip during testing under environmental conditions includes providing n monitor connections on a chip from which a voltage or current can be sensed during testing of the chip under environmental conditions, where n is an integer of at least one. M sensing connections are provided on the chip, where m>n. An electrical circuit for electrically connects the n monitor connections with the m sensing connections. The electrical circuit has a characteristic that changes when one or more of the m sensing connections is disconnected from its corresponding contact on the printed circuit board or chip socket. The electrical circuit is monitored via the n monitor connections during the testing. It is determined based on changes in the characteristic, whether one or more of the m sensing connections is disconnected from the printed circuit board or chip socket.
US09442145B2
A capacitive sensor for a vehicle includes an evaluation unit as well as a first transmission electrode and a second transmission electrode for transmitting a respectively associated first measurement signal and second measurement signal. The two transmission electrodes are connected to a respective first and second transmitter output of the evaluation unit through an assigned first and second transmission line respectively. The evaluation unit alternately outputs the first measurement signal via the first transmitter output and the second measurement signal via the second transmitter output. The evaluation unit also connects the respective non-transmitting second or first transmitter output to reference potential. Alternatively, a common transmission electrode may output the measurement signal which is then picked up by first and second receiver electrodes.
US09442143B2
A capacitive proximity sensor has a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode, a signal generator for providing a first and a second electric alternating signal, a first load element which comprises a first and a second electric load, in which the first alternating signal by the first load can be fed to the first sensor electrode and the second alternating signal by the second load to the second sensor electrode, and wherein the electric loads each together with the capacitive load to be measured at the respective sensor electrode form a lowpass filter, and a signal processing device, which is coupled with the first sensor electrode and with the second sensor electrode, and which is adapted to form a first measurement value from the push-pull portion of a first electric parameter tapped at the first sensor electrode and a second electric parameter tapped at the second sensor electrode.
US09442138B2
A high voltage sensor is located within a dielectric canister inside a high voltage power line support insulator. A space through the voltage sensor accommodates a mechanical connecting rod associated with a circuit interrupter switch located in another section of the support insulator. An electrically floating dumbbell-shaped sensor extending between and capacitively coupled to high voltage and low voltage shields assumes a midpoint voltage value between the shields. A sensor plate or other suitable pickup capacitively coupled to the dumbbell sensor provides a voltage measurement, which is calibrated to provide a measurement of the power line voltage. This solution allows a voltage sensor to be added to or integrated in conventionally sized power line support insulators with no additional size, negligible additional weight, and minimal additional cost.
US09442136B2
Disclosed is an improved real-time oscilloscope (“IRTO”) for generating a fast worst-case real-time eye diagram from an input signal. The IRTO may include signal conditioning circuitry, a digitizer, an acquisition memory, a clock and data recovery (“CDR”) module, a worst-case real-time eye diagram rendering (“WRTER”) module, and a display.
US09442135B2
A method of manufacturing a space transformer for a probe card includes the steps of mounting and electrically connecting second substrates on a first substrate, forming an insulated layer with through holes on each of the second substrates, and forming electrically conductive blocks in the through holes, respectively. Because the electrically conductive blocks are formed after the second substrates are mounted to the first substrate, any unexpected relative displacement of the first and second substrates during mounting is uninfluential to positions of the electrically conductive blocks. Besides, a step of planarizing the electrically conductive blocks can be further carried out. Therefore, the positions and flatness of probe needles may not need to be adjusted after the probe needles are connected with the electrically conductive blocks of the space transformer thus obtained.
US09442134B2
A probe card, which is between a tester and a device under test (DUT), includes two first electrical lines, two second electrical lines, two inductive elements, and a capacitor. The first electrical lines are electrically connected to the probes respectively. The second electrical lines are electrically connected to the first electrical lines respectively. The inductive elements are electrically connected to the first electrical lines and the tester respectively; and the capacitor has opposite ends connected to the second electrical lines respectively.
US09442130B2
A shock detection device for a detector array includes an accelerometer mounted on the detector array to detect vibrations. The shock detection device also includes an electronic memory to store data from the accelerometer. The data corresponds to detected vibrations that exceed an active threshold of the accelerometer. The shock detection device also includes a power supply that is separate from the power supply of the detector array.
US09442127B2
This invention concerns a sample processing device capable of efficiently recovering biological molecules, such as nucleic acids or proteins. The sample processing device is capable of placing a reaction container having a plurality of reaction sites, and it comprises a nozzle mechanism with a nozzle capable of attaching and removing a dispenser tip for dispensing a solution into the reaction sites of the reaction container and a magnetic tip for generating a magnetic field that allows magnetic beads to migrate to a space among the plurality of reaction sites in the reaction container, and a drive control unit controlling the nozzle mechanism.
US09442122B2
A method for assaying bilirubin in which a dry reagent is used, which is capable of accelerating the reaction of bilirubin oxidase, and an assay instrument to be used in the method for assaying bilirubin, are provided. The method for assaying bilirubin is characterized in that a biological sample and a bilirubin oxidase-containing dry reagent are mixed first, and then the mixture obtained and a surfactant-containing dry reagent are mixed. An assay instrument (1) to be used in bilirubin assay is characterized in that a bilirubin oxidase and a surfactant are arranged in any of a sample supply part (11), passages (12, 13, 14), and a detection part (15) in a manner such that the bilirubin oxidase is positioned closer to the sample supply part (11) than the surfactant is.
US09442113B1
This disclosure is directed to methods for retrieving and using at least one lymphocyte. Additionally, cell receptor sequences identified with this strategy could be used for antibody development, TCR discovery, or appropriate therapeutics development or evaluation.
US09442109B2
Centrifugal force based microfluidic systems for the automated analysis of fluids involving the use of magnetically responsive particles and methods thereof are disclosed. A magnet is fixed to a supporting device of the system in correspondence to a retention zone of the system so as to rotate therewith and to generate a magnetic field which magnetically manipulates the magnetically responsive particles contained in a reaction chamber of the system.
US09442102B2
A motor vehicle oil quality testing apparatus and system to assess the quality and viability of motor oil in a vehicle to determine if a change of oil is needed. An absorbent strip of chemically treated material is mounted on a self-contained single use display and test card on which a used oil sample is deposited and will change color based on the oil's determined alkalinity in a sealable color comparison chamber indicated to the user if the oil should be changed.
US09442101B2
A measurement device or system configured to measure the content of biofuels within a fuel blend. By measuring a state of a responsive material within a fuel blend, a biofuel content of the fuel blend may be measured. For example, the solubility of a responsive material to biofuel content within a fuel blend, may affect a property of the responsive material, such as shape, dimensional size, or electrical impedance, which may be measured and used as a basis for determining biofuel content.
US09442098B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for chromatographic analysis and system quality control. Compositions can include a reference material that comprises a standardized formulation of two or more compounds that can be used for benchmarking and troubleshooting the chromatographic system (e.g., which is not simply a standard solution for a particular analyte of interest). Methods can include obtaining a chromatogram from a reference material using a chromatographic system, wherein the reference material comprises a standardized formulation of two or more compounds that can be used for benchmarking and troubleshooting the chromatographic system; evaluating a difference between the chromatogram and a benchmark for the reference material on the chromatography system; and (i) analyzing a sample potentially comprising an analyte of interest, wherein the analyte of interest does not comprise any of the two or more compounds of the standardized formulation, or compounds substantially similar thereto, if the difference between the chromatogram and the benchmark is within a predetermined tolerance, or (ii) troubleshooting the chromatography system using the chromatogram if the difference between the chromatogram and the benchmark is not within the predetermined tolerance.
US09442096B2
An ultrasonic testing apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe disposed under an end portion of a pipe laid in the horizontal direction to face the pipe end portion. The probe transmits ultrasonic waves to the end portion of the pipe and receives the ultrasonic waves therefrom. A probe holder housing the probe includes a coupling medium reserver part which surrounds a space between the probe and the end portion of the pipe to contain a coupling medium W. The coupling medium reserver part includes a part body 21 into which the coupling medium is supplied; an annular bellows part, which is attached to the upper side of the part body to internally communicate with the part body, and an annular spacer 23 attached to the upper side of the bellows part, the upper surface of the annular spacer being a flat horizontal surface.
US09442094B2
An apparatus and method for noninvasively monitoring steam quality and flow and in pipes or conduits bearing flowing steam, are described. By measuring the acoustic vibrations generated in steam-carrying conduits by the flowing steam either by direct contact with the pipe or remotely thereto, converting the measured acoustic vibrations into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe, and monitoring the amplitude and/or the frequency of one or more chosen resonance frequencies, changes in the steam quality in the pipe are determined. The steam flow rate and the steam quality are inversely related, and changes in the steam flow rate are calculated from changes in the steam quality once suitable calibration curves are obtained.
US09442088B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for magnetic induction tomography imaging of specimens, such as human tissue specimens, using a single coil are provided. A plurality of coil property measurements can be obtained using the single coil at a plurality of discrete locations relative to the specimen. The single coil can be designed to be relatively easy to be placed in many different positions/orientations relative to the specimen. A three-dimensional electromagnetic property map, such as a three-dimensional conductivity map or a three-dimensional permittivity map, can be generated from the plurality of coil property measurements obtained using the single coil by accessing a model correlating coil property measurements obtained by the single coil with an electromagnetic property distribution of the specimen.
US09442087B2
A sensor includes an organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) that operates under low voltage conditions in an aqueous environment. According to an example embodiment, an OTFT includes an organic channel that electrically connects source and drain electrodes, with a gate electrode separated from the channel by a dielectric layer. The channel, gate and dielectric layer are arranged to facilitate switching of the channel region to pass current between the source and drain electrodes, in response to a low voltage applied to the gate electrode, when the channel is exposed to an aqueous solution. The current that is passed is indicative of characteristics of the aqueous solution, and is used to characterize the same. For various implementations, the low voltage operation of the sensor facilitates such characterization with substantially no ionic conduction through an analyte in the aqueous solution.
US09442082B2
The present specification discloses an X-ray system for processing X-ray data to determine an identity of an object under inspection. The X-ray system includes an X-ray source for transmitting X-rays, where the X-rays have a range of energies, through the object, a detector array for detecting the transmitted X-rays, where each detector outputs a signal proportional to an amount of energy deposited at the detector by a detected X-ray, and at least one processor that reconstructs an image from the signal, where each pixel within the image represents an associated mass attenuation coefficient of the object under inspection at a specific point in space and for a specific energy level, fits each of pixel to a function to determine the mass attenuation coefficient of the object under inspection at the point in space; and uses the function to determine the identity of the object under inspection.
US09442081B2
A method for measuring ash content in a biological material in an automated or semi-automated procedure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material at the energy levels and estimating the moisture content in the biological material based on a relationship between the determined amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material. Thereafter, the ash content in the biological material is estimated, based on the estimated moisture content in the biological material, and average attenuation coefficients for the biological material without moisture, attenuation coefficients for a combustible part of the biological material and attenuation coefficients for ash of the biological material at the energy levels. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.
US09442080B2
A method of generating a three-dimensional representation of a region of interest on a target object in an x-ray imaging system. The method uses a fiducial marker of known geometry. The region of interest and the fiducial marker are imaged in a plurality of predetermined positions. Expected images of the fiducial marker for each predetermined position are calculated and compared to captured images of the fiducial marker at each predetermined position. The difference between expected and captured imaged is used to generate corrected images of the region of interest for each predetermined position and these corrected images are used to generate a three-dimensional model of the region of interest. The method allows for the generation of useful three-dimensional models of a region of interest in an x-ray imaging system without requiring an expensive mechanical positioning system.
US09442078B2
A microwave frequency comb (MFC) is produced when a mode-locked ultrafast laser is focused on the tunneling junction of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The MFC consists of hundreds of measureable harmonics at integer multiples of the pulse repetition frequency of the laser, which are superimposed on the DC tunneling current. In Scanning Frequency Comb Microscopy (SFCM) the tip and/or sample electrode of the STM is moved vertically and laterally so that the power in the MFC may be measured at one or more locations on the surface of the sample and, from the power, carrier density, and other characteristics, of the sample may be calculated. SFCM is non-destructive of the sample. While many systems are possible to practice SFCM, a preferred apparatus is disclosed.
US09442077B2
Methods and systems for filtering scratches from wafer inspection results are provided. One method includes generating a defect candidate map that includes image data for potential defect candidates as a function of position on the wafer and removing noise from the defect candidate map to generate a filtered defect candidate map. The method also includes determining one or more characteristics of the potential defect candidates based on portions of the filtered defect candidate map corresponding to the potential defect candidates. In addition, the method includes determining if each of the potential defect candidates are scratches based on the one or more characteristics determined for each of the potential defect candidates and separating the potential defect candidates determined to be the scratches from other defects in inspection results for the wafer.
US09442073B2
Sensors (40) are described which comprise a reflective layer (52), a detection layer over the reflective layer (52), a semi-reflective layer (50) over the detection layer (48), and a masking layer (57) affixed to the reflective layer with a high Tg adhesive.
US09442068B2
A detect device and a detect method for transmittivity spectrum of the light guiding plate are provided. The detect device comprises a mixing cavity unit for providing a linear light source with continuous spectrum to a light guiding plate to be detected; a light guiding plate placing unit located at a side of the mixing cavity unit, on which the light guiding plate to be detected is disposed to receive light from the mixing cavity unit; and a detecting lens disposed above the light guiding plate placing unit for detect the spectrum.
US09442060B2
A sensor device includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a functional element. The first electrode includes a first metallic material in which either a first passivation film is formed on a surface thereof or the first passivation film present on the surface thereof is lost, in association with changes in an environment of a measurement site. The second electrode includes a second metallic material different from the first metallic material, the second electrode being spaced apart from the first electrode. The functional element is configured to measure a difference in electric potential between the first electrode and the second electrode that changes depending on presence or absence of the first passivation film.
US09442058B2
A method validating a particulate monitoring device includes generating a final gas stream having a particulate material concentration that corresponds to a target particulate material concentration, using the particulate monitoring device to measure the particulate material concentration in the final gas stream, and evaluating an accuracy of the particulate monitoring device based on a comparison of the particulate concentration in the final gas stream that was measured by the particulate monitoring device with the target particulate material concentration.
US09442051B2
A method is provided for enhancing the binding of reagents to ligands. In the method a ligand is immobilized on a porous support and incubated with a reagent solution. The binding of the reagent to the ligand is increased by a cycling process of passing the reagent solution through the support multiple times. A device that facilitates the cycling process is disclosed. Provided is a method to detect multiple ligands using the cycling process.
US09442044B2
In a vehicle test system, a displacement degree computing unit computes degrees of six-degree-of-freedom displacements of each of second motion bases, which correspond to external forces of respective six degrees of freedom detected by a corresponding one of six-axis force sensors, on an assumption that each of the second motion bases has a virtual mechanical impedance. A MB second target value generator generates final position and posture target values for each of the second motion bases based on the position and posture target values for each of the second motion bases and the degrees of six-degree-freedom displacements of each of the second motion bases.
US09442037B2
A system for storing radioactive materials includes a canister having a first hermetically sealed vessel having a first cavity, a second hermetically sealed vessel having a second cavity, the first vessel positioned in the second cavity, an interstitial space between the first and second vessels, and a test port through the second vessel in fluidic communication with the interstitial space. A conduit has a first end fluidically coupled to the test port, and a removable seal is operably coupled to a second end of the conduit.
US09442029B2
At least one example embodiment discloses a method including measuring phase currents associated with one or more stator windings of the machine, estimating terminal voltage values based on the measured phase currents representations of the machine and based on at least one of a duty cycle and a dead time ratio of the machine, transforming the terminal voltage values to derive direct and quadrature voltage representations consistent with the measured phase currents, determining a terminal power of one or more terminals of the machine, the terminal power directly based on one of the estimated terminal voltage values and direct and quadrature voltage representations of the machine and current command values and determining an estimated shaft torque of the machine based on the terminal power in accordance with at least one efficiency value based on machine parameters from a characterization of the machine.
US09442027B1
An elastic body load cell including a first beam and a second beam opposite the first beam, a base end and a load receiving end positioned opposite the base end. The first and second beams are connected to the base end and to the load receiving end via flexure points providing elastic deformation sections. A cavity comprising a flexible wall and sensor means is defined in the first and/or second beams with the flexible wall and sensor means placed between the flexure points. The sensor means measures elastic deformation of the elastic body in response to a load. The load cell further includes a lever having a first end connected to the flexible wall, and a second end connected to the opposite beam, the base end or the load receiving end, to transform movement of the second end into deformations of the flexible wall in response to the load.
US09442015B2
Polarization based channeled images are optically demodulated to produce directly viewable images. A channeled image flux is converted to an unpolarized flux by a phosphor or other sensor, and the resulting converted flux is demodulated by modulating at a spatial frequency corresponding to a modulating frequency of the channeled image flux. After modulation, the converted flux is spatially filtered to remove or attenuate portions associated with the modulation frequency and harmonics thereof. The resulting baseband flux is then imaged by direct viewing, projection, or using an image sensor and a display.
US09442011B2
Methods for calibrating multiple electromagnetic radiation detectors within a detection system and methods of using such calibrated systems which include generating a calibration electromagnetic radiation beam at a first temperature. At least a portion of the calibration electromagnetic radiation beam is detected with a first electromagnetic radiation detector. An average intensity value of a plurality of pixels from the first electromagnetic radiation detector is obtained. One or more pixels of the first electromagnetic radiation detector are adjusted to decrease the difference between the intensity of an individual pixel and the average intensity value of the first electromagnetic radiation detector. Detecting at least a portion of the calibration electromagnetic radiation beam with a second electromagnetic radiation detector. One or more pixels of the second electromagnetic radiation detector are adjusted to decrease the difference between the intensity of an individual pixel and the average intensity value of the first electromagnetic radiation detector.
US09442002B2
A method and device for remotely detecting structural integrity using reflections or scattering from windows or other portions of a structure. The long geometrical lever arm of a reflection on a building window, when viewed with suitable instruments, produces detectable modulation in the reflected light from minute vibrational changes upon the glass surface, revealing fundamental resonances and structural changes and failure in the building housing the window. By sensing very small changes in intensity and polarization, information may be obtained on fundamental resonances and structural changes, including failure or imminent failure of the structure.
US09441996B2
The present disclosure relates to phase detection in multi-phase fluids where two fluid phases can be present in the fluid. Phase detection apparatus and methods are disclosed for determining the phase(s) (e.g., supercritical, liquid, and/or gas) of a fluid in a multi-phase fluid system, such as carbon dioxide based separation and chromatography system.
US09441976B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for collaborative navigation and operation on two mobile devices. The method may include establishing a wireless connection between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, and generating navigation data by the first mobile device for collaborative navigation based on a location of the first mobile device. The method may also include selecting a first subset of the navigation data for display by the first mobile device, and selecting a second subset of the navigation data for display by the second mobile device. The method may also include transferring the second subset of navigation data to the second mobile device and coordinating the display of the first subset of navigation data on the first mobile device with display of the second subset of navigation data on the second mobile device.
US09441953B2
An optical measuring apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of a stereoscopic display device includes a test image supplier for generating a 3D test signal, a 3D display for displaying left-eye image and/or right-eye image based on the 3D test signal supplied from the test image supplier, a image selection member for selectively transmitting the left-eye image and right-eye image to be displayed on the 3D display, and a light measuring device for measuring intensity or color information of the image transmitted via the image selection member.
US09441946B2
A technique for optical coherence tomography is provided. As to a device aspect of the technique, an imaging device comprises a base defining a rotation axis, a scanning and focusing assembly mounted to the base for rotation about the rotation axis, and a drive unit for rotationally driving the scanning and focusing assembly about the rotation axis. The scanning and focusing assembly includes a focusing device for focusing a beam of imaging radiation to produce a focused beam of imaging radiation having a focus, a scanning member for scanning the beam of imaging radiation, and a controller coupled to the drive unit and the scanning member and configured to control the scanning member to cause movement of the focus along a predetermined trajectory with respect to the scanning and focusing assembly.
US09441944B2
An optical coherence analysis system uses a laser swept source that is constrained to operate in a mode locked condition using regenerative mode-locking. This is accomplished by synchronously changing the laser cavity's net gain and/or phase based on time varying intensity of the swept optical signal generated by the laser. This produces a stable pulsation behavior, which is associated with smooth tuning (low optical frequency reference clock jitter) and low relative intensity noise (RIN).
US09441936B2
A method for automated part probing using a physical machine defining a physical working volume, the method including: generating a virtual model based on a virtual part design received from a user account, the virtual model comprising a virtual part model, based on the virtual part design, virtually fixed to a virtual fixture plate arranged within a virtual working volume representative of the physical working volume; generating a probing routine based on the virtual model; sending the probing routine to the machine; receiving probe outputs from the machine; and validating the virtual model based on the probe outputs.
US09441935B2
A three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine includes a base, a moving mechanism provided on the base, and a probe moved by the moving mechanism, the three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine measures coordinates of a surface position of an object to be measured by using the probe, the moving mechanism includes: a linear guide using a mechanical bearing; and an air bearing mechanism provided in parallel to the linear guide, one of ends of the moving part is attached to a linear moving unit that moves by the linear guide and the other is attached to the air moving part so that the other end can swing with respect to the air moving part, and the air bearing mechanism absorbs a difference in the height change between the linear guide and the air bearing mechanism by the air bearing.
US09441932B2
A tape measure is described that has a finger recess in a housing, with at least a portion of the underside of a tape blade exposed in the finger recess. Pressing a finger against the underside of the tape allows the user to create a drag brake that acts against the retraction spring to slow and/or stop the retraction of the tape blade. The lateral edges of the tape blade, for that portion of the tape blade disposed in the finger recess, are protected by the housing. This arrangement results in a compact yet versatile and safe overall tape measure with good tactile feedback during finger-braking.
US09441931B1
An apparatus used in a fuze device, which includes a MEMS micro-rotor. The micro-rotor of the apparatus may move an explosive material, for example, a fuze material, from an out-of-line position to an in-line position. The micro-rotor includes an integral cavity in which the material may be safely loaded and held in the out-of-line position. At an appropriate time, the fuze device of a fully assembled ordnance may be armed. When the apparatus is activated, the micro-rotor carefully moves the explosive material to the in-line position, where the ordnance is armed.
US09441926B1
An aerodynamic safety arrow for a modified golf game to be played with a bow upon a conventional golf course includes a shaft, wherein a spine associated with the shaft is appropriate for a pull weight associated with the bow, and a safety arrowhead disposed upon the shaft, wherein the safety arrowhead comprises a blunt front-end region and a concave rear-end region, wherein the blunt front-end region comprises a radius of curvature less than about 20 mm, and wherein the concave rear-end region is coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft and safety arrow head weigh less than about 45 g.
US09441922B2
Enhanced stability for infrared countermeasure systems is provided by using a pair of single axis rate sensors having orthogonal active axes, preferably aligned with the elevation axis and the azimuth axis of the gimbal. The outputs of the orthogonal single axis rate sensors are used to detect instantaneous aircraft angular movement and to use the detected movement to drive the elevation and azimuth motors of the gimbal to move the output mirror for the gimbal to cancel the detected movement.
US09441921B2
A protected firing platform protection system protects personnel from contact with the protected firing platform. In an embodiment, the protected firing platform protection system is adapted for use with a protected firing platform of a military vehicle. The protected firing platform protection system includes a protective padding attached to the protected firing platform. The protective padding includes an energy mitigation padding.
US09441907B1
A pulley assembly for a compound bow comprises a draw cable pulley, a power cable pulley attached to the draw cable pulley, and a cable deflector attached to the draw cable pulley and adjustable among multiple deflector arrangements. Movement of the cable deflector alters deflection of the power cable during the bow's draw to alter effective length of the power cable and relative synchronization of the pulley assembly with a second pulley assembly. The adjustment can be performed without using a bow press and without derigging the bow.
US09441906B2
A device for launching and storing a spear. The device includes a barrel having a muzzle end and an action end. The barrel is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the spear through the muzzle end and the action end, such that a tip of the spear is positioned within the barrel and an end of the spear extends out of the barrel through the action end. The device also includes a handle coupled with the barrel and extending at a non-zero angle to the barrel. The handle includes a grip that is configured to be gripped by a user when launching the spear, and a protective guard coupled with the grip and extending therefrom at least partially in a direction toward the muzzle end of the barrel.
US09441905B2
Covers for key lock mounting systems on small arms such as the AR or M4 family of rifles and carbines can provide protection for the firearm and comfort for the operator. The cover has keyhole grips that are pressed into the key lock mounting points in mounting system. The cover is held seated against the surface of the mounting system by the shape and resilience of keyhole grips. V-notch keyhole grips can attach to keyhole shaped mounting points and slot shaped mounting points.
US09441895B2
A shotgun ammunition conversion system has a detachable magazine well having a sleeve defining a rectangular passage adapted to removably receive an ammunition magazine, a boss extending forward of the sleeve and at a level above at least a portion of the sleeve, the boss being adapted to be received in the rear aperture of the magazine tube, and a tang extending rearward of the sleeve and defining a tang aperture operable to receive a fastener associated with a shotgun frame to secure the magazine well to the shotgun with the sleeve proximate and aligned with the loading port when the boss is received in the rear aperture of the magazine tube. The boss may have a lower cylindrical surface portion operable to contact a lower portion of the magazine tube adjacent to the rear aperture. The boss may be a cylindrical body.
US09441893B2
Described herein are devices and methods for thawing frozen biological products efficiently without harming the products.
US09441892B2
A heat exchanger system for use with heavy equipment including a heat exchanger rotatable about a horizontal axis out of a frame.
US09441881B2
An oxidation furnace for the oxidative treatment of fibers, especially for producing carbon fibers, which comprises a process chamber arranged inside a housing, a blowing device for hot air, at least one suction device arranged in an end region of the process chamber, at least one ventilator that circulates the hot air through the blowing device, the process chamber and the suction device, and at least one heating device arranged in the flow path of the hot circulated air. The suction device is formed from a plurality of vertically interspaced suction boxes. Said boxes have at least one outlet for the hot air, and at least one inlet for hot air, communicating with the process chamber and arranged in the outward-facing side of the suction boxes, that is the side that is at a distance from the center of the process chamber.
US09441875B1
A storage assembly supports and stores storage units at a storage facility such as a refrigerated compartment interior. The storage assembly can include (1) support bars that extend between each support bar's first end and second end and are mounted within the storage facility and (2) storage unit carriers that are supported at the support bars, with the storage unit carriers including a holding structure configured to selectively hold and release a storage unit. Either the support bars can be mounted within the storage facility for selective positioning within the storage facility at a plurality of locations laterally of the direction in which the support bars extend, or the storage unit carriers can be supported at the support bars for selective positioning at a plurality of locations along the support bars between each support bar's first end and second end. Alternatively, both arrangements can be implemented.
US09441871B2
The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and devices for producing a shaved ice or snow cone product. The system may comprise an ice shaving or snow cone machine, a shaping device, and a blade for producing a shaved ice or snow cone product.
US09441870B2
A snow making apparatus is provided that includes a manifold, a nucleator annular chamber, and a plurality of nucleator nozzles. The manifold is configured to receive water from a water source and air from an air source. The nucleator annular chamber is configured to receive an air-water mixture from first passages, which first passages are oriented to direct the air-water mixture tangentially into the nucleator annular chamber for subsequent circumferential and axial travel within the annular chamber. The plurality of nucleator nozzles is positioned to receive the air-water mixture from the nucleator annular chamber.
US09441868B1
A method of operating a cooling system that has at least one evaporator containing a refrigerant and at least one adsorbent chamber containing adsorbent configured to provide adsorption of vaporized refrigerant from the at least one evaporator in a cooling mode and provide desorption of the refrigerant to the at least one evaporator in a recharging mode, the method including; controlling the adsorption and desorption of the refrigerant of the at least one adsorbent chamber between the cooling modes and recharging modes during a cooling cycle; ceasing desorption of the refrigerant from the at least one adsorbent chamber; allowing adsorption of the vaporized refrigerant from the at least one evaporator; and maintaining the at least one adsorbent chamber in an adsorbed state at the end of the cooling cycle in a storage mode.
US09441865B2
A heat pump cycle is capable of switching an operation mode to a cooling operation mode, a heating operation mode and a dehumidifying-heating operation mode, and is applicable to an air conditioning device. The heat pump cycle is configured to set both of a high-pressure side pressure reducing device and a low-pressure side pressure reducing device—in a throttled state and a fully open state. In this way, the heat pump cycle realizes cooling, heating, and dehumidifying-heating by a simple structure without providing separate refrigerant flow passages extended from a compressor to an outside heat exchanger based on the operation modes of the air conditioning device.
US09441861B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement air conditioning systems that are operable to establish/maintain a desired temperature for a target space and simultaneously establish/maintain a temperature lower than the desired temperature for the target space for an included cold thermal energy storage unit. In one embodiment, an air conditioning system includes: a condensing unit; a liquid pressurizer and distributor ensemble; a cold thermal energy storage unit; a target space; and a suction gas/equalizer; where the listed components are operatively connected by piping such that vapor compression cycles can be simultaneously implemented that result in the cooling of the cold thermal energy storage unit and the target space; and the air conditioning system is configured such that the simultaneous implementation of vapor compression cycles results in cooling the cold thermal energy storage unit to a greater extent relative to the target space.
US09441859B2
A portable, open-loop, water source geothermal heat pump unit adapted to be connected with non-permanent, non-plumbed connections to convenient water supply/discharge points such as multi-use faucets and drains in a home supplied with well water. The unit is further adapted to be supplied with power from an electrical outlet using a simple plug-in cord. The heat pump unit may be installed independently of any existing furnace system, for direct or “space” heating of a room from which it draws intake air and directly vents heated air. The heat pump unit may also be ducted to heat another room from the one in which it is installed, and may further be ducted in parallel to an existing furnace ductwork for a duct-connected heating combination with the furnace.
US09441858B2
Solar heating systems and methods are described. In one aspect, a system is described that includes multiple mirror row holders, with each row holder configured to hold a row of mirrors at angles to track sunrays and reflect the rays onto a focal point. Each row holder has a single pinion device of multiple pinion devices associated with the multiple row holders. The system also has a sun tracking latitudinal slider (STLS) rack configured to interface with each pinion device on a respective mirror row holder. This interface tilts the mirrors in each row holder an amount to adjust mirror angles to reflect latitudinal sun motion to concentrate rays of the sun onto the focal point. The system also includes an azimuth adjustment mechanism to control mirror angles with respect to the sun to reflect sun motion during daylight.
US09441854B2
An exhaust which comprises a mounting plate mountable onto the external wall of the building and having an opening therein. The exhaust vent also comprises a main body attachable to the mounting plate and having a rear face, a front face, and an aperture extending from the rear face to the front face in fluid communication with the opening of the mounting plate and the conduit. The exhaust vent also comprises a flap pivotally attached to the main body and movable between a closed position, where the aperture is blocked by the flap, and an opened position where the flap extends away from the aperture. Finally the exhaust vent comprises a first seal which surrounds the aperture when the flap is in the closed position, the seal being located on either one of the flap or the main body. This invention aims at improving air-tightness of the exhaust vent when in the flap is in the closed position.
US09441853B2
A frame assembly that includes a frame side, a channel disposed in the frame side and a Teflon guide disposed in the channel, the Teflon guide having a seal feature and a guide feature.
US09441850B2
An air-conditioning management apparatus is capable of selecting an air-conditioning device that affects an air-conditioning environment at a specific position in an air-conditioned space from a plurality of air-conditioning devices.An area that is within an air-conditioned space to which a specific position P belongs in an arrangement plan and that is within a predetermined range from the specific position is obtained as a control target range. An air-conditioning device whose installation position in the arrangement plan is included in the control target range is selected as a control target air-conditioning device.
US09441847B2
A system for automatic setup and control of Lighting, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems comprising a set of occupancy detectors and at least one controller where the controller determines various aspects of the building control based on the input of the occupancy detectors.
US09441843B2
A transition module for an energy recovery ventilator unit. The module comprises a frame having two opposing major surfaces with two separate through-hole openings therein. The module also comprises a self-sealing surface on one of the major surfaces and surrounding the two through-hole openings. One of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with return air openings or supply air openings located in a first target side of one an energy recovery ventilator unit or an air handling unit and in a second target side of the other one of the energy recovery ventilator unit or the air handling unit. The other of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with the other of the return air openings or the supply air openings located in the first and second sides.
US09441841B2
A door is pivotably coupled to a lower portion or an upper portion on the front side of a box so as to be opened vertically to an opening. A gap having a predetermined space is present at the lower portion or at the upper portion between the box and the door with the door closed. The box has an aperture section on the side for introducing outside air blown by an air blower mechanism into a heating chamber. The aperture section is positioned adjacent to the gap on a side surface of the heating chamber. The outside air introduced into the heating chamber through the aperture section moves so as to traverse the opening to block vapor produced from an object being cooked by heating with a heating device from leaking through the gap to the outside of the heating chamber.
US09441834B2
A combustion system includes an electrodynamic combustion control system that provided for electrical control of a combustion reaction. Energy is received wirelessly, and electrical energy is generated from the wirelessly received energy. The electrical energy is applied to the combustion reaction in order to control or regulate operation of first and/or second electrodes configured to apply the energy to the combustion reaction.
US09441828B2
A display device includes a display element, an image compensation element, and a backlight module. The display element includes a main display region and a periphery display region located at one side of the main display region, each of the main display region and the periphery display region includes a plurality of pixels. The image compensation element includes a compensation portion corresponding to the periphery display region, and the image compensation element extends an image of the periphery display region to one side of the periphery display region away from the main display region. The backlight module provides first light beams to the main display region and second light beams to the periphery display region, and an intensity of the first light beams is smaller than an intensity of the second light beams.
US09441821B2
An LED unit which serves as an illumination light source includes: a light-emitting element; a circuit board provided in a drive circuit which drives the light-emitting element; a lead wire electrically connecting the light-emitting element and the drive circuit; and a case including a first opening which is an elongated opening into which the lead wire is inserted. The circuit board includes a second opening which is an elongated opening into which the lead wire is inserted, and the first opening and the second opening are disposed so that a straight line extending in a lengthwise direction of the first opening and a straight line extending in a lengthwise direction of the second opening three-dimensionally cross each other.
US09441820B1
Example systems and methods may provide for coordination between one or more light sources and one or more robotic devices. One example system includes a first device actor including an end effector coupled to a robotic device, where the robotic device has two or more degrees of freedom. The system may further include a second device actor including a movable light source, where the movable light source has at least one degree of freedom. The system may additionally include a control system that is configured to control movements of at least one of the first and second device actors to coordinate movement of a light beam from the movable light source with movement of the end effector.
US09441807B2
The disclosure involves resin-based sculptures, such as resin-based lighting fixtures, that include resin pieces secured together by resin-based fasteners. One or more resin-based fasteners secure the resin pieces. Furthermore, the resin-based fasteners are configured to blend in with the resin pieces in a manner that reduces the visibility of the resin-based fasteners. For instance, the resin-based fasteners can have a color and/or shade that match the color and/or shade of the resin strips.
US09441806B2
A rotary shade is disposed behind a projection lens to block a portion of light emitted from a light source. The rotary shade has a twisted end surface to form an edge projected as a peripheral edge of a light distribution pattern which changes position in relation to the rotation of the shade. The twisted end surface is arranged so that the closer the twisted end surface is to the projection lens the more the twisted end surface approaches the optical axis. The twisted end surface moves from the front to the back of a rear focal point in relation to the rotation of the rotary shade in the direction in which the illumination area of the light distribution pattern increases.
US09441799B2
A low-current battery operated apparatus with a first voltage boosting circuit for operation with depleted batteries and a second circuit for operating with non-depleted batteries, and a circuit selector switch for selectively connecting a low-current component such as an LED with the first circuit or the second circuit.
US09441798B2
A light source unit of a light engine is disclosed, wherein the light source unit includes a plurality of LED sub light source units each comprising at least one LED and an optical device corresponding to the at least one LED, the optical device is configured to modify a beam from each LED to be an approximately collimated beam.
US09441797B2
A lens device and a light source module using the same are provided. The lens device comprises a lens and a patterned light shielding layer. The lens has a middle light emitting surface and a periphery light emitting surface surrounding the middle light emitting surface. The patterned light shielding layer is formed on the periphery light emitting surface of the lens.
US09441794B2
A lamp tube is provided, including a cover, a heat sink, and a light bar. The cover includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion opposite to each other. The heat sink includes a base, a first supporting portion, and a second supporting portion extended upwardly from the base. The first and second supporting portions respectively include a first recess and a second recess formed on the outer sides thereof. The cover is joined with the heat sink to form a tube structure by respectively engaging the first and second connection portions with the first and second recesses. The light bar is disposed on a surface formed by a first end and a second end of the first and second supporting portions which are distant from the base.
US09441793B2
There is provided a lighting device that comprises at least one 600-630 nm solid state light emitter and at least one light source emitting light within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by a first set of points having x, y coordinates of (0.32, 0.40), (0.36, 0.48), (0.43, 0.45), (0.42, 0.42), (0.36, 0.38), or a second set of points having x, y coordinates of (0.29, 0.36), (0.32, 0.35), (0.41, 0.43), (0.44, 0.49), (0.38, 0.53). Some embodiments further comprise at least a first power line. Also provided are methods that comprise illuminating at least one light source to emit light within one of the areas defined above, and illuminating at least one 600-630 nm emitter.
US09441788B2
A tank for storing liquid configured to withstand overpressures caused by a projectile impact and positioned in a structure. The tank includes an overpressure management device having a layer of polyethylene-based hyperelastic foam. An expansion in a simple, durable and passive manner is sought both for existing tanks and for new tanks.
US09441780B2
The invention relates to an unbonded flexible pipe comprising a first pipe end, and a second pipe end. The pipe comprises a plurality of whole length layers extending from the first pipe end to the second pipe end and comprising at least a tubular inner sealing sheath, at least one armor layer, an outer protective layer and at least one thermally insulating layer arranged between the internal sealing sheath and the outer protective layer in an insulated length section. The at least one thermally insulating layer is terminated at a distal termination point in a distance from at least one of the first and the second pipe end of the unbonded flexible pipe.
US09441767B2
An elongate tape and method of producing an elongate tape are disclosed. The tape is suitable for forming a helically wound layer of interlocked windings in a flexible pipe body, and is configured for interlocking with adjacent windings, wherein the tape has a cross-sectional profile including: a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer; a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding; and a transition surface joining the first surface and further surface, wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface, and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.
US09441751B2
An air pipe head having a housing bounding a venting channel and a chamber. The venting channel has an end port opening downwards into the chamber. A float member is arranged in the chamber and guided for guided movement between an uppermost position closing off the end port and a lowermost position spaced below the end port. The chamber communicates with surroundings of the air pipe head via at least one side port. A downwardly facing surface portion of the float member in its lowermost position is shielded in substantially all lateral directions and an upper surface portion of the float member in its lowermost position is left exposed through said side port.
US09441749B1
The invention described herein is a vacuum relief valve for rail way tanks, truck tanks, or any other analogous closed containers in which a valve prevents implosions from an interior vacuum pressure. The valve contains a novel biasing assembly and spring housing with constant force springs and this assembly is operatively attached to the tank. The pressure from these springs is such that only when the interior tank vacuum becomes greater than the springs' preset value will air enter the valve and the operatively attached tank. No increasing pressure from the biasing assembly is necessary to maintain the air flow into the valve at the air flow's initial rate.
US09441748B2
A nipple assembly is removably attachable to a baby bottle via a retainer ring and comprises a nipple having a flow aperture through one end, and a nipple flange structured to support the nipple. A flow control valve assembly is mounted to the nipple flange and extends inwardly from an inner surface of the nipple flange, the flow control valve assembly is structured to allow pressures to equilibrate between the inside and outside of the baby bottle, without allowing fluid to leak therethrough. A training cup spout assembly is removably attachable to a cup and comprises a spout having a spout channel extending therethrough. The spout channel has a dual valve assembly mounted therein to permit flow for drinking, as well as to prevent leakage of fluid from the cup. A flow control valve assembly is mounted to the training cup spout assembly to permit pressure equilibration.
US09441732B2
A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.
US09441720B2
A torque converter and torque divider assembly may receive torque from a power source and input the torque to a torque converter including an impeller, a turbine, and a stator, and a torque divider including a planetary gear system. The torque divider may also receive torque output from the turbine of the torque converter, and may output torque to a device such as a transmission. The torque converter and torque divider assembly may further include a stator clutch that is controlled to selectively lock the stator in place, and a lock-up clutch controlled to selectively lock rotating components of the torque converter and torque divider assembly, such as the impeller and the turbine of the torque converter.
US09441715B2
A traction nut has twist rollers pivotally supported so as to be rotatable in a state of defining an inclination angle with respect to an axis of a drive shaft, the inclination angle being equivalent to a lead angle; an open/close lever provided to switch between a friction-contact state and a disengaged state of the traction nut relative to the drive shaft; and a spring generating a biasing force such that the traction nut is brought into friction-contact with the drive shaft. In response to user operation, the open/close lever puts the traction nut in the disengaged state against the biasing force of the spring. When the user releases the open/close lever, the traction nut returns to the friction-contact state due to the biasing force of the spring.
US09441713B2
A vehicle braking system bias adjuster which includes a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually and quickly determine the relative front to rear (or right front to left front) brake bias or brake bias setting of the vehicle before and while driving the vehicle. The brake bias adjustment knob assembly visually indicates the exact amount of brake bias, or if there is no bias at all. The ratio is expressed in numbers to enable the driver to reset the brake bias to a known value of ratio as needed for track conditions and vehicle weight changes. The value in numbers is reproducible. The present disclosure also provides a method and apparatus for retrofitting an existing vehicle with a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually determine the relative brake bias or brake bias setting (i.e., the ratio of front to rear brake biasing or the ratio of side to side brake biasing) of the vehicle before and while driving the vehicle.
US09441705B2
In the case of a holder for fastening a unit (2), in particular a pump, to a motor vehicle, with an annular damping element (1), the inner region of which is provided for accommodating the unit (2) and which has, on the outside, a block-shaped fastening part (4), under the upper side (14) of which a plate-like insert (8) which is designed for local reinforcement of the damping element (1) is arranged, it is proposed according to the invention that two opposite edges of the insert (8) each have a wing (11) running into the damping element (1). This produces an increased, but limited local minimum rigidity of the holder.
US09441704B2
A mount having a bolt through configuration couples two components of a vehicle. The mount includes a first elastomeric member that defines a first portion of a first chamber and a second elastomeric member that defines a second portion of the first chamber and defines a second chamber. An inner tube assembly defines an opening for receiving the bolt. The first and the second elastomeric members are bonded to the inner tube assembly. An annular member is disposed between the first and the second chambers. The annular member defines a fluid-track which fluidly couples the first and the second chambers. The mount dampens vibrations at varying amplitudes by pushing fluid between the first and the second chambers via the fluid-track. The mount may also include a decoupler by way of a decoupler ring and decoupler cap to isolate the mount at a predetermined amplitude at varying frequencies.
US09441699B2
A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber. A piston disposed within the fluid chamber divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston defines a compression passage and a rebound passage which extend through the piston between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. A valve disc assembly engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. The valve disc assembly includes a bleed disc that defines an orifice with a substantially non-linear contour. The orifice extends to an outer diameter of the bleed disc, and forms a bleed channel between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber.
US09441693B2
A non-asbestos frictional material composition containing a binder, an organic filler, an inorganic filler, and a fiber base material includes: copper in a content of 0.5 mass % or less as a copper element; a metal fiber other than a copper fiber and a copper alloy fiber in a content of 0.5 mass % or less; cashew dust in a content of 3.5-10.0, wollastonite, and mica. The non-asbestos frictional material composition can provide a frictional material with excellent friction coefficient, anti-crack properties, and abrasion resistance even with the reduced content of copper and a copper fiber possibly causing environmental pollution. The frictional material and the friction member are formed by using the above-mentioned non-asbestos frictional material composition.
US09441683B2
A hydraulic auxiliary brake device of a motor used for oil production is provided. A turning shaft and an oil extraction pump of the motor are provided with a brake disc. The motor is provided with a hydraulic brake. The hydraulic brake is connected with an oil pressure pipe, a one-way clutch gear, and an oil pump. The one-way clutch gear meshes with the brake disc. When the turning shaft and the oil extraction pump of the motor are turned normally for oil production, the one-way clutch idles so that the oil pump doesn't output oil pressure, and the hydraulic brake doesn't activate to brake the brake disc. In case of a power failure, the oil pump is opened to output oil pressure and the hydraulic brake is activated to brake the brake disc, such that the turning shaft and the oil extraction pump are stopped from turning.
US09441681B2
A decoupler that includes a hub, a drive member and a one-way clutch and torsionally resilient coupling. The drive member is configured to engage an endless power transmitting element. The one-way clutch and torsionally resilient coupling is disposed in series in a torque path and has a carrier and a wrap spring. The carrier defines a groove. The wrap spring is formed of wire and has an engagement end and a plurality of helical coils. The engagement end is being shorter in overall length than a length of one of the helical coils. The engagement end is received in the groove. The carrier is received in a pocket formed in a rotary member that can be the hub, the drive member, or a component in a torque path between the hub and the drive member. An axial end face of the wire that forms the wrap spring is abutted against an edge of the pocket.
US09441678B2
A shearable drive coupling assembly includes an adapter having a top end with a drive shaft well extending downwardly therein. A plurality of spindle splines extends outwardly from an outer surface of the adapter and a plurality of shaft splines extends inwardly from an inside surface of the adaptor. The plurality of spindle splines engage a receiver of an article of powered equipment. A drive shaft of a drive motor engages the shaft splines so that the adapter is coupled to the drive shaft and transfers a rotational torque between the drive shaft and the receiver. The plurality of spindle splines or the plurality of shaft splines shears away from the adapter to decouple the drive shaft from the receiver when the receiver is exposed to a trigger counter-rotational force to protect the receiver and the drive shaft from damage.
US09441677B2
A decoupler having an input member, an output member and a combination one-way clutch and torsional isolator that couples the input and output members. The combination one-way clutch and torsional isolator includes a single helical coil spring. The decoupler being designed to provide torsional damping through a range of torque transmitted through the decoupler, the range including a maximum rated torque for the decoupler.
US09441676B2
A bearing assembly includes an IC tag with information to be reliably exchanged between the IC tag and an external reader/writer, and a rolling bearing including outer and inner races and rolling elements disposed between the outer and inner races. The IC tag communicates with the external reader/writer device without contacting the reader/writer device, is attached to a metal member of the rolling bearing, includes a tag antenna, and is configured so information can be exchanged between the tag antenna and a reader/writer antenna of the reader/writer device by forming a closed magnetic circuit between the tag antenna and the reader/writer antenna. The IC tag is received in a hole in a metal member surface. The tag antenna includes at least two protrusions facing the opening of the hole and arranged so magnetic fluxes leaving/entering the protrusions pass inside the edge defining the hole opening and extend outside the hole.
US09441672B2
A method for producing a holder in which sagging is suppressed in a bent part to be formed into a flange portion, without using bulge forming and a split mold that restrains the inside of a working target article; and a holder. An upper punch presses and bends one end portion of a working target article inward, whereby a flange portion is formed in the one end portion. A smaller-diameter portion of the working target article is restrained from the inside and outside by a lower punch and split mold portions. Then, a peripheral surface portion of a convex portion of the upper punch receives the end portion of the working target article and applies an outward pressure to the end portion. A bent part is pushed toward a larger-diameter portion restraining part of a split die, so that sagging is prevented from occurring in the bent part.
US09441669B2
The ring or the component have workings to supply grease to the friction area at given time intervals, with the bore of the ring having workings able to act as a grease reserve. The ring's bore has facilities suitable for putting the grease supply workings in communication with all the workings suitable to act as a grease reserve.
US09441643B2
A hydraulic oil storage device and an injection molding device are provided with a connection box that partitions a storage region of a sub-tank into a first region that includes a flow channel opening portion for a coupling tube and a second region other than the first region, in which the connection box is provided with an internal region communication portion that brings the first region and the second region into communication, and causes a pressure loss equal to the pressure loss of the coupling tube, or a pressure loss greater than that pressure loss, and a return tube is connected to the sub-tank so that the flow channel outlet faces the first region.
US09441636B2
A rotor, for a compressor of a gas turbine, comprising a rotatable support for rotation about an axis of rotation and a plurality of blades. Each blade comprising a hub, a leading edge and a trailing edge and a chord is defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge. Each of the blades extends from its hub away from the rotatable support and at least one of the blades has a hub-thickness to chord ratio greater than 10 percent. The leading edge of the at least one of the blades at its hub is positioned at a leading-edge-hub-radius from a position of the axis of rotation and the trailing edge of the at least one of the blades is positioned at its hub at a trailing-edge-hub-radius from the position of the axis of rotation. The trailing-edge-hub-radius is greater than the leading-edge-hub-radius.
US09441633B2
A submersible well pump assembly include a rotary pump driven by an electrical motor. A seal section operably connects between the motor and the pump for reducing a pressure differential between motor oil in the motor and well fluid surrounding the pump assembly. The pump assembly contains a sealed fluid. A sensor mounted to the well pump assembly detects contamination of the sealed fluid by well fluid encroaching into contact with the sealed fluid. The sensor may be mounted in the motor or the seal section to detect well fluid contamination of motor oil. The sensor may be mounted in a secondary pump that has that has temporary barriers to block the entry of well fluid into a buffer fluid contained in the secondary pump while the secondary pump is in a storage condition within a well.
US09441629B2
A rotary compressor having a housing and a rotor positioned within an internal cavity of the housing. The rotor being configured to rotate about a rotor axis of rotation eccentric to a housing longitudinal axis. A gate is also provided that is slidably mounted therewith the rotor and movable axially about and between a first position, in which a distal end of the gate is positioned at a first distance from the peripheral surface of the rotor, and a second position, in which the distal end of the gate is positioned at a second distance from the peripheral surface of the rotor. The distal end of the gate being constrained to be spaced proximate from the inner wall surface of the housing as the rotor rotates about the rotor axis of rotation.
US09441624B2
A sensor system for sensing liquid level in a bilge, for use in automatic bilge pump actuation. First and second field effect sensors are potted or sealed within a container or the bilge wall and are aligned in a vertical array and each comprise a substantially planar pattern of “electrodes” or conductive traces disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) along with integrated circuits used to create a loop or arc-shaped electric field. As bilge liquid rises to the proximity or level of the field effect sensors, a change in the arc-shaped electric field is sensed and, in response, a bilge pump is automatically actuated to pump liquid out of the bilge. Optionally, the pump control can be programmed by use of a microprocessor to permit control of on-off timing and prevent undesirable effects of “sloshing.”
US09441623B2
An electromagnetic vibrating diaphragm pump enabling improvement of working efficiency in fitting center plates to a diaphragm, reduction of production cost and stabilization of performance between products. The disk-like second plate includes the cruciform rising portion having the concave portions, and the second ring rib. The first ring rib is formed at the center of the surface of the disk-like first plate coming into contact with the diaphragm, and a fitting groove provided with convex portions to be press-fitted to the concave portions is formed by this first ring rib. The diaphragm has the protrusions for preventing the diaphragm from being pressed out on the periphery of the through-hole at its center, and the protrusions are engaged with the ring ribs from the circumference of the protrusion.
US09441620B2
A swash plate of a swash plate-type compressor is covered with a resin-based coating layer containing 5 to 60 mass % of spherical graphite particles having an average particle diameter of 5 to 50 μm, the balance being one or more species selected from polyimide resin and polyamide-imide resin. The spherical graphite particles excepting minute particles having a particle diameter 0.5 times or smaller the average particle diameter, have an average shape coefficient (YAVE) falling within a range of 1 to 4, and 70% or more in number of the spherical graphite particles have a shape coefficient (Y) within a range of 1 to 1.5, YAVE=total[{PMi2/4πAi}]/i Y=PM2/4πA wherein “total” indicates that a value in [ ] is totalized for number “i”, “PM” indicates the circumferential length of one particle, “A” indicates a cross sectional area of one particle, and “i” indicates the measurement number.
US09441612B2
An energy unit capable of being configured in a transportation configuration and in an operational configuration. The unit comprises a container having first and second ends opposing a longitudinally-extending central section. In the transportation configuration, the container's central section is positioned generally parallel with a supporting ground surface. In the operational configuration the container is configured to be positioned with the first end on the supporting ground surface such that the second end is set apart in an upward direction from the supporting ground surface. The energy unit additionally comprises a wind turbine for generating electrical energy. In the operational configuration, the wind turbine is configured to be received within the interior space of the container, while in the transportation configuration the wind turbine is configured to extend from the exterior surface of the container.
US09441606B2
A synergic method for hydrodynamic energy generation includes providing a system and method utilization for producing electrical power or mechanical rotational pumping energy for pumping water to high level reservoir or to feeding a decorative water fall, providing a multi compartment housing, pumping water via the housing, providing a first vertically aligned compartment within or beside the housing, mechanically coupling a first water wheel, situated at the bottom of first compartment, to pump shaft, generating by the first wheel mechanical rotational power, providing a second vertically aligned compartment mechanically coupling a second water wheel to a generator, generating electrical or mechanical rotational power, by the generator, providing a third vertically aligned compartment providing a fourth compartment, a pump or external jet for removing water from the fourth compartment, utilizing energy and conductively coupling the hydrodynamic energy generation system with the external power source via a coupling.
US09441605B2
A corona ignition system that can be operated with relatively low expenditure in the vicinity of its resonant frequency. For each ignition, impedance and frequency values are stored in a data structure and are allocated to a respective voltage value. The data structure is complemented by an adjustment variable whose value specifies whether the present frequency value of the present engine cycle has been classified as too high or too low. The value of the adjustment variable is determined anew in each engine cycle. To that end, a comparison is made between a present frequency value with an earlier frequency value and a present impedance value with an earlier impedance value. Based upon the comparison, a value can be assigned to the adjustment value to cause a lower or higher frequency value of the corona discharge in the next cycle.
US09441601B2
A vehicle starter motor arrangement comprises a battery, a first vehicle starter motor including a first pinion and a second vehicle starter motor including a second pinion. The first vehicle starter motor is connected in series to the battery and the second vehicle starter motor is connected in series to the first vehicle starter motor. Accordingly, the battery, the first vehicle starter motor, and the second vehicle starter motor are all connected in series. The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are configured to engage an engine ring gear when electrical current flows through the first vehicle starter motor and the second vehicle starter motor.
