US09653586B2
A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) amplifier device includes transistor fingers arranged in parallel on a substrate. Each transistor finger includes a base/collector mesa stripe shaving a trapezoidal shaped cross-section with sloping sides, and having a base stacked on a collector; a set of emitter mesa stripes arranged on the base/collector mesa stripe; and emitter metallization formed over the set of emitter mesa stripes and the base/collector mesa. The emitter metallization includes a center portion for providing electrical and thermal connectivity to the emitter mesa stripes and extended portions extending beyond the base and overlapping onto the sloping sides of the base/collector mesa stripe for increasing thermal coupling to the collector. A common conductive pillar is formed over the transistor fingers for providing electrical and thermal conductivity. Also, thermal shunts are disposed on the substrate between adjacent transistor fingers, where the thermal shunts are electrically isolated from the transistor fingers.
US09653582B2
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices and more particularly, to a structure and method of forming a fin using double trench epitaxy. The fin may be composed of a III-V semiconductor material and may be grown on a silicon, silicon germanium, or germanium substrate. A double trench aspect ratio trapping (ART) epitaxy method may trap crystalline defects within a lower trench (i.e. a defective region) and may permit formation of a fin free of patterning defects in an upper trench (i.e. a fin mold). Crystalline defects within the defective region may be trapped via conventional aspect ratio trapping or three-sided aspect ratio trapping. Fin patterning defects may be avoided by utilizing a fin mold to grow an epitaxial fin and selectively removing dielectric material adjacent to a fin region.
US09653567B2
A bipolar junction transistor comprises a semiconductor layer disposed on an insulating material, at least a portion of the semiconductor layer forming a base region. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor emitter laterally disposed on a first side of the base region, where in the transistor emitter is a first doping type and has a first width, and wherein the first width is a lithographic feature size. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor collector laterally disposed on a second side of the base region, wherein the transistor collector is the first doping type and the first width. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a central base contact laterally disposed on the base region between the transistor emitter and the transistor collector, wherein the central base contact is a second doping type and has a second width, and wherein the second width is a sub-lithographic feature size.
US09653566B2
Device structures, fabrication methods, and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. A trench isolation region is formed in a substrate. The trench isolation region is coextensive with a collector in the substrate. A base layer is formed on the collector and on a first portion of the trench isolation region. A dielectric layer is formed on the base layer and on a second portion of the trench isolation region peripheral to the base layer. After the dielectric layer is formed, the trench isolation region is at least partially removed to define an air gap beneath the dielectric layer and the base layer.
US09653564B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method of manufacturing comprises a film formation process of forming a molybdenum layer that is mainly made of molybdenum (Mo), on at least one of a semiconductor layer, an insulating film and an electrode in the semiconductor device; a heat treatment process of heating the molybdenum layer at temperature of not lower than 200° C.; and a dry etching process of processing the semiconductor device that includes the formed molybdenum layer by dry etching, subsequent to the heat treatment process.
US09653561B2
A semiconductor device is provided having a dual dielectric layer structure defined by a thin dielectric layer adjacent to a thick dielectric layer. More particularly, a high voltage metal oxide semiconductor transistor having a dual gate oxide layer structure comprising a thin gate oxide layer adjacent to a thick oxide/thin oxide layer may be provided. Such structures may be used in extended drain metal oxide semiconductor field effect transmitters, laterally diffused metal oxide field effect transistors, or any high voltage metal oxide semiconductor transistor. Methods of fabricating an extended drain metal oxide semiconductor transistor device are also provided.
US09653559B2
A die includes a semiconductive prominence and a surface-doped structure on the prominence. The surface-doped structure makes contact with contact metallization. The prominence may be a source- or drain contact for a transistor. Processes of making the surface-doped structure include wet-vapor- and implantation techniques, and include annealing techniques to drive in the surface doping to only near-surface depths in the semiconductive prominence.
US09653556B1
A high voltage semiconductor structure with a field plate comprising a depletable material that increases the breakdown voltage of the semiconductor structure. A depletion region forms within the depletable field plate which redistributes the electric field and preventing electric charges from concentrating at the corners of the field plate. The thickness, doping concentration, doping uniformity, and geometric shape of the field plates may be adjusted to optimize the effect of the charge redistribution.
US09653544B2
Radiation hardened NMOS devices suitable for application in NMOS, CMOS, or BiCMOS integrated circuits, and methods for fabricating them. A device includes a p-type silicon substrate, a field oxide surrounding a moat region on the substrate tapering through a Bird's Beak region to a gate oxide within the moat region, a heavily-doped p-type guard region underlying at least a portion of the Bird's Beak region and terminating at the inner edge of the Bird's Beak region, a gate included in the moat region, and n-type source and drain regions spaced by a gap from the inner edge of the Bird's Beak and guard regions. A variation of minor alterations to the conventional moat and n-type source/drain masks. The resulting devices have improved radiation tolerance while having a high breakdown voltage and minimal impact on circuit density.
US09653541B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a gate structure on a fin structure and etching the source and drain region portions of the fin structure to provide a recessed surface. A first semiconductor layer is formed on the recessed surface of the fin structure that is doped to a first conductivity type. A leakage barrier layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer. A second semiconductor layer is formed on the leakage barrier layer. The second semiconductor layer is doped to a second conductivity type.
US09653538B2
A substrate of the silicon on insulator type includes a semi-conducting film disposed on a buried insulating layer which is disposed on an unstressed silicon support substrate. The semi-conducting film includes a first film zone of tensile-stressed silicon and a second film zone of tensile-relaxed silicon. Openings through the buried insulating layer permit access to the unstressed silicon support substrate under the first and second film zones. An N channel transistor is formed from the first film zone and a P channel transistor is formed from the second film zone. The second film zone may comprise germanium enriched silicon forming a compressive-stressed region.
US09653536B2
A method for fabricating a structure comprising, in succession, a support substrate, a dielectric layer, an active layer, a separator layer of polycrystalline silicon, comprising the steps of: a) providing a donor substrate, b) forming an embrittlement area in the donor substrate, c) providing the support structure, d) forming the separator layer on the support substrate, e) forming the dielectric layer, f) assembling the donor substrate and the support substrate, g) fracturing the donor substrate along the embrittlement area, h) subjecting the structure to a strengthening annealing of at least 10 minutes, the fabrication method being noteworthy in that step d) is executed in such a way that the polycrystalline silicon of the separator layer exhibits an entirely random grain orientation, and in that the strengthening annealing is executed at a temperature strictly greater than 950° C. and less than 1200° C.
US09653533B2
An upper planar capacitor is spaced above a lower planar capacitor by a dielectric layer. A bridged-post inter-layer connector couples the capacitances in parallel, through first posts and second posts. The first posts and second posts extend through the dielectric layer, adjacent the upper and lower planar capacitors. A first level coupler extends under the dielectric layer and couples the first posts together and to a conductor of the lower planar capacitor, and couples another conductor of the lower planar capacitor to one of the second posts. A second level coupler extends above the dielectric layer, and couples the second posts together and to a conductor of the upper planar capacitor, and couples another conductor of the upper planar capacitor to one of the first posts.
US09653532B2
An on-chip magnetic structure structure includes a magnetic material comprising cobalt in a range from about 80 to about 90 atomic % (at. %) based on the total number of atoms of the magnetic material, tungsten in a range from about 4 to about 9 at. % based on the total number of atoms of the magnetic material, phosphorous in a range from about 7 to about 15 at. % based on the total number of atoms of the magnetic material, and palladium substantially dispersed throughout the magnetic material.
US09653530B2
An OLED module equipped with vertical electric connection structure includes a substrate, a plurality of OLED clusters, an anode wire structure and a cathode wire structure. The substrate is extended toward a first direction. The OLED clusters are located on the substrate in the first direction. The anode wire structure includes a bottom layer wire set, an insulation layer, a middle wire layer set and a top layer wire set. The bottom layer wire set is located on the substrate. The insulation layer is located on the bottom layer wire set. The top layer wire set is located on the insulation layer. The cathode wire structure is located on the substrate and extended axially thereof. The middle layer wire set runs through the insulation layer and forms vertical connection between the bottom layer wire set and the top layer wire set.
US09653517B2
A light-emitting device in which different electrodes in a work function are used in a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element are provided. A light-emitting device includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The first light-emitting element includes a first electrode, an EL layer, and a second electrode in this order. The second light-emitting element includes a third electrode, the EL layer, and the second electrode in this order. The EL layer includes a first light-emitting layer, a layer, and a second light-emitting layer in this order. The structure of the first light-emitting layer is different from the structure of the second light-emitting layer. The first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element are different in a carrier-injection property.
US09653516B2
An integrated structure of power amplifier and acoustic wave device comprises: a compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate, a power amplifier upper structure formed on a first side of said compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate, and a film bulk acoustic resonator formed on a second side of said compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate; wherein forming an epitaxial structure on a compound semiconductor substrate to form said compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate; wherein said first side of said compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate and said power amplifier upper structure form a power amplifier; said second side of said compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate and said film bulk acoustic resonator form an acoustic wave device; the integrated structure of power amplifier and acoustic wave device on the same compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate is capable of reducing the component size, optimizing the impedance matching, and reducing the signal loss between power amplifier and acoustic wave device.
US09653513B1
A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes an implant region of a second type formed in a crystalline layer of a first type. A channel of a transfer gate entirely covers the implant region, which partially joins a photodiode, a doped well and a floating diffusion node.
US09653508B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric pad extending from a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate up into the semiconductor substrate. A low-k dielectric layer is disposed underlying the semiconductor substrate. A first non-low-k dielectric layer is underlying the low-k dielectric layer. A metal pad is underlying the first non-low-k dielectric layer. A second non-low-k dielectric layer is underlying the metal pad. An opening extends from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate down to penetrate through the semiconductor substrate, the dielectric pad, and the low-k dielectric layer, wherein the opening lands on a top surface of the metal pad. A passivation layer includes a portion on a sidewall of the opening, wherein a portion of the passivation layer at a bottom of the opening is removed.
US09653507B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure configured to enhance efficiency and performance of a photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic device comprises a functional layer disposed over an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a pair of pixels formed within the semiconductor substrate, which are separated by the DTI structure. The DTI structure is arranged within a deep trench. Sidewalls of the deep trench are partially covered with a protective sleeve formed along the functional layer prior to etching the deep trench. The protective sleeve prevents etching of the functional layer while etching the deep trench, which prevents contaminants from penetrating the pair of pixels. The protective sleeve also narrows the width of the DTI structure, which increases pixel area and subsequently the efficiency and performance of the photovoltaic device.
US09653500B2
An optical cover plate for image sensor package includes a transparent substrate, at least an annular dam structure, and a barrier layer. The annular dam structure is disposed on the transparent substrate and encompasses a light-receiving area. The barrier layer conformally covers at least a sidewall of the annular dam structure. A method of manufacturing the optical cover plate, an image sensor package and fabrication method thereof are also disclosed.
US09653499B2
A solid-state imaging device including an imaging area where a plurality of unit pixels are disposed to capture a color image, wherein each of the unit pixels includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; a plurality of transfer gates, each of which is disposed in each of the photoelectric conversion portions to transfer signal charges from the photoelectric conversion portion; and a floating diffusion to which the signal charges are transferred from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions by the plurality of the transfer gates, wherein the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions receive light of the same color to generate the signal charges, and wherein the signal charges transferred from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions to the floating diffusion are added to be output as an electrical signal.
US09653496B2
A preparation method of a poly-silicon thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and an array substrate thereof are provided. The preparation method includes: forming a photoresist layer on a poly-silicon layer, and exposing and developing the photoresist layer with a gray tone mask to form patterns of a photoresist completely-reserved region, a photoresist partially-reserved regions and a photoresist completely-removed region; removing part of the poly-silicon layer located in the photoresist completely-removed region, to form patterns of active layers; ashing the photoresist so as to expose part of the active layer located in the photoresist partially-reserved regions and inject P+ ions of high concentration into the part of the active layer, to form doping regions of patterns of source-drain electrodes of a P-type TFT; and stripping off remaining photoresist.
US09653490B2
To provide a novel shift register. Transistors 101 to 104 are provided. A first terminal of the transistor 101 is connected to a wiring 111 and a second terminal of the transistor 101 is connected to a wiring 112. A first terminal of the transistor 102 is connected to a wiring 113 and a second terminal of the transistor 102 is connected to the wiring 112. A first terminal of the transistor 103 is connected to the wiring 113 and a gate of the transistor 103 is connected to the wiring 111 or a wiring 119. A first terminal of the transistor 104 is connected to a second terminal of the transistor 103, a second terminal of the transistor 104 is connected to a gate of the transistor 101, and a gate of the transistor 104 is connected to a gate of the transistor 102.
US09653488B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device comprises the steps of: providing a transparent substrate; forming a gate electrode on the transparent substrate; forming a gate insulation layer covering the gate electrode; forming an oxide semiconductor layer on the gate insulation layer and at least partially over the gate electrode; forming an etching stop layer over the gate electrode and at least covering a part of the oxide semiconductor layer, wherein the etching stop layer includes an opening; forming an electrode layer at the opening and on a part of the etching stop layer; and applying a low-resistance treatment to a part of the oxide semiconductor layer uncovered by the etching stop layer and the electrode layer to form a pixel electrode.
US09653481B2
A flexible display includes a flexible base substrate, a thin film transistors layer formed on the flexible base substrate, and a light emitting elements layer formed on the thin film transistors layer, where the flexible base substrate includes a first support layer formed below the thin film transistors layer, a second support layer disposed below the first support layer, and a heat-energy blocking/reflecting layer provided between the first support layer and the second support layer. The heat-energy blocking/reflecting layer is configured to block or reflect a sufficient portion of radiated heat-energy that is generated when the flexible base substrate is separated from a supporting carrier substrate so as to prevent the damage from the radiated heat-energy to the light emitting elements layer.
US09653475B1
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first film including a conductive material above a semiconductor substrate; forming a second film on the first film; forming a third film including a conductive material on the second film; exposing a part of the second film; and wet etching the second film. In the wet etching, a first and second insulation films are deposited on side surfaces of the first and third films, and part of a space between the first and third films is blocked by the first and second insulation films to form an air gap between the first and third films.
US09653473B2
A semiconductor device, including: interlayer insulating patterns and conductive patterns alternately stacked on a substrate; a channel structure passing through the interlayer insulating patterns and the conductive patterns; and tapered patterns interposed between the channel structure and the interlayer insulating patterns, spaced apart with any one of the conductive patterns interposed therebetween, and having widths decreased toward the substrate.
US09653471B2
A semiconductor structure of a split gate flash memory cell is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. The first and second source/drain regions form a channel region therebetween. The semiconductor structure further includes a select gate and a memory gate spaced between the first and second source/drain regions over the channel region. The select gate extends over the channel region and terminates at a line end having a top surface asymmetric about an axis that extends along a length of the select gate and that bisects a width of the select gate. Even more, the semiconductor structure includes a charge trapping dielectric arranged between neighboring sidewalls of the memory gate and the select gate, and arranged under the memory gate. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also provided.
US09653467B2
Method of maintaining the state of semiconductor memory having electrically floating body transistor
Methods of maintaining a state of a memory cell without interrupting access to the memory cell are provided, including applying a back bias to the cell to offset charge leakage out of a floating body of the cell, wherein a charge level of the floating body indicates a state of the memory cell; and accessing the cell.
US09653463B1
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first fin and a second fin on a substrate, the first fin arranged in parallel with the second fin, the first fin arranged a first distance from the second fin, the first fin and the second fin extending from a first source/drain region through a channel region and into a second source/drain region on the substrate. The method further includes forming a third fin on the substrate, the third fin arranged in parallel with the first fin and between the first fin and the second fin, the third fin arranged a second distance from the first fin, the second distance is less than the first distance, the third fin having two distal ends arranged in the first source/drain region. A gate stack is formed over the first fin and the second fin.
US09653461B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, insulation regions extending into the semiconductor substrate, with the insulation regions including first top surfaces and second top surfaces lower than the first top surfaces, a semiconductor fin over the first top surfaces of the insulation regions, a gate stack on a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin, and a source/drain region on a side of the gate stack. The source/drain region includes a first portion having opposite sidewalls that are substantially parallel to each other, with the first portion being lower than the first top surfaces and higher than the second top surfaces of the insulation regions, and a second portion over the first portion, with the second portion being wider than the first portion.
US09653459B2
A MOS transistor comprises a substrate of a first conductivity, a first region of the first conductivity formed over the substrate, a second region of the first conductivity formed in the first region, a first drain/source region of a second conductivity formed in the second region, a second drain/source region of the second conductivity and a body contact region of the first conductivity, wherein the body contact region and the first drain/source region are formed in an alternating manner from a top view.
US09653452B2
Diffusion regions having the same conductivity type are arranged on a side of a second wiring and a side of a third wiring, respectively under a first wiring connected to a signal terminal. Diffusion regions are separated in a whole part or one part of a range in a Y direction. That is, under first wiring, diffusion regions are only formed in parts opposed to diffusion regions formed under the second wiring and third wiring connected to a power supply terminal or a ground terminal, and a diffusion region is not formed in a central part in an X direction. Therefore, terminal capacity of the signal terminal can be reduced without causing ESD resistance to be reduced, in an ESD protection circuit with the signal terminal.
US09653441B1
After forming an opening extending through a (100) silicon layer and a buried insulator layer and into a (111) silicon layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, a light-emitting element is formed within the opening. A portion of the (111) silicon layer located beneath the light-emitting element is patterned to form a patterned structure for tuning light emission characteristics and enhancing efficiency of the light-emitting element. Next, at least one field effect transistor (FET) is formed on the (100) silicon layer for driving the light-emitting element.
US09653432B2
The present invention provides a stabilized fine textured metal microstructure that constitutes a durable activated surface usable for bonding a 3D stacked chip. A fine-grain layer that resists self anneal enables metal to metal bonding at moderate time and temperature and wider process flexibility.
US09653429B2
A multi-chip package structure includes a first chip, at least one blocking structure, a plurality of first conductive bumps, a second chip, a plurality of second conductive bumps and an underfill. The first chip has a chip connecting zone, a plurality of first inner pads in the chip connecting zone and a plurality of first outer pads outside of the chip connecting zone. The blocking structure is disposed between the first inner pads and the first outer pads and surrounds the first inner pads. The first conductive bumps are disposed on the first outer pads. The second chip is flipped on the chip connecting zone and has a plurality of second pads. The second conductive bumps are disposed between the first inner pads and the second pads. The underfill is disposed between the first chip and the second chip so as to cover the second conductive bumps.
US09653427B2
A package includes a substrate, the substrate having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side, and a stack of dies on a first side of the substrate. The package further includes a probing pad on the first side of the substrate, the probing pad being electrically coupled to the stack of dies, and a contact pad on the second side of the substrate, the contact pad being electrically coupled to the stack of dies.
US09653424B2
This invention discloses a semiconductor package with adhesive material pre-printed on the lead frame and chip, and the manufacturing method. The adhesive material is applied onto the chip carrier and the pin of the lead frame and also on the front electrode of the semiconductor chip via pre-printing. The back of the semiconductor chip is adhered on the chip carrier, and the front electrode of the semiconductor chip and the pin are connected respectively with a metal connector. The size, shape and thickness of the adhesive material are applied according to different application requirements according to size and shapes of the contact zone of the semiconductor chip and the metal connector. Particularly, the adhesive zones are formed by pre-printing the adhesive material thus significantly enhance the quality and performance of semiconductor products, and improves the productivity.
US09653423B2
An embodiment is an integrated circuit structure including a first die having a bump structure, and a second die having a pad structure. The first die is attached to the second die by bonding the bump structure and the pad structure. The bump structure includes a metal pillar, a metal cap layer on the metal pillar, a metal insertion layer on the metal cap layer, and a solder layer on the metal insertion layer. The pad structure includes at least one of a nickel (Ni) layer, a palladium (Pd) layer or a gold (Au) layer.
US09653422B2
A method for forming a chip package is provided. The method includes providing a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate is attached onto the second substrate by an adhesive layer. A first opening is formed to penetrate the first substrate and the adhesive layer and separate the first substrate and the adhesive layer into portions. A chip package formed by the method is also provided.
US09653420B2
Microelectronic devices and methods for filling vias and forming conductive interconnects in microfeature workpieces and dies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a microfeature workpiece having a plurality of dies and at least one passage extending through the microfeature workpiece from a first side of the microfeature workpiece to an opposite second side of the microfeature workpiece. The method can further include forming a conductive plug in the passage adjacent to the first side of the microelectronic workpiece, and depositing conductive material in the passage to at least generally fill the passage from the conductive plug to the second side of the microelectronic workpiece.
US09653419B2
A microelectronic substrate may be formed to have an embedded trace which includes an integral attachment structure that extends beyond a first surface of a dielectric layer of the microelectronic substrate for the attachment of a microelectronic device. In one embodiment, the embedded trace may be fabricated by forming a dummy layer, forming a recess in the dummy layer, conformally depositing surface finish in the recess, forming an embedded trace layer on the dummy layer and abutting the surface finish, and removing the dummy layer.
US09653417B2
A method of packaging an integrated circuit includes forming a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit on a wafer, the first and second integrated circuit separated by a singulation region. The method includes covering the first and second integrated circuits with a molding compound, and sawing through the molding compound and a top portion of the wafer using a beveled saw blade, while leaving a bottom portion of the wafer remaining. The method further includes sawing through the bottom portion of the wafer using a second saw blade, the second saw blade having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the beveled saw blade. The resulting structure is within the scope of the present disclosure.
US09653415B2
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device package. The semiconductor device package includes a substrate, a semiconductor device, a plurality of electronic components, a first package body, a patterned conductive layer and a feeding element. The semiconductor device and the plurality of electronic components are disposed on the substrate. The first package body covers the semiconductor device but exposes the plurality of electronic components. The patterned conductive layer is formed on the first package body. The feeding element electrically connects the patterned conductive layer to the plurality of electronic components.
US09653410B1
A transistor includes a semiconductor substrate having an intrinsic active device, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The transistor also includes an interconnect structure formed of multiple layers of dielectric material and electrically conductive material on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect structure includes a pillar, a tap interconnect, and a shield structure formed from the electrically conductive material. The pillar electrically contacts the first terminal, extends through the dielectric material, and connects to a first runner. The tap interconnect electrically contacts the second terminal, extends through the dielectric material, and connects to a second runner. The shield structure extends from a shield runner through the dielectric material toward the semiconductor substrate. The shield structure is positioned between the pillar and the tap interconnect to limit feedback capacitance between the tap interconnect and the pillar.
US09653406B2
An embodiment device package includes a semiconductor device die comprising a passivation layer at a top surface, a first conductive line over the passivation layer and electrically connected to the device die, and a second conductive line over the passivation layer and electrically connected to the device die. The first conductive line is thicker than the second conductive line, and the first conductive line and the second conductive line are formed in a same device package layer.
US09653397B2
Disclosed herein are a semiconductor package and a method of manufacturing the same, which allows a conductive path to be provided to connect upper and lower portions of the semiconductor package. A semiconductor package according to the present invention includes a semiconductor chip, a substrate including an accommodating portion to accommodate the semiconductor chip, a sealing material configured to mold the semiconductor chip and the substrate to be integrated, a through wiring configured to vertically pass through the substrate, a wiring portion configured to electrically connect the semiconductor chip and one side of the through wiring, and an external connection portion to electrically connected to the other side of the through wiring and configured to be able to be electrically connected to an outside, wherein a wiring layer of the wiring portion is provided to be connected to the through wiring.
US09653393B2
An integrated circuit layout includes a first metal line, a second metal line, at least one first conductive via and a first conductive segment. The first metal line is formed along a first direction. The at least one first conductive via is disposed over the first metal line. The second metal line is disposed over at least one first conductive via and is in parallel with the first metal line. The first conductive segment is formed on one end of the second metal line.
US09653387B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor component includes a support having a first device receiving structure, a second device receiving structure, a first lead, a second lead, and a third lead. A first semiconductor chip is coupled to the first device receiving structure and a second semiconductor chip is coupled to the first semiconductor chip and the second device receiving structure. The first semiconductor chip is configured from a silicon semiconductor material and has a gate bond pad, a source bond pad, and a drain bond pad, and the second semiconductor chip is configured from a gallium nitride semiconductor chip and has a gate bond pad, a source bond pad, and a drain bond pad. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor component includes coupling a first semiconductor chip to a support and coupling a second semiconductor chip to the support.
US09653386B2
One disclosed implementation is a power semiconductor package including a sync transistor having a drain on its top surface and a source and a gate on its bottom surface. The source of the sync transistor is configured for attachment to a first partially etched leadframe segment and the gate of the sync transistor is configured for attachment to a second partially etched leadframe segment. A control transistor has a source and a gate on its top surface and a drain on its bottom surface. The drain of the control transistor is configured for attachment to a third partially etched leadframe segment. A first conductive clip extends to the substrate and is situated over the drain of the sync transistor and the source of the control transistor, the first conductive clip coupling the drain of the sync transistor and the source of the control transistor to the substrate without using a leadframe.
US09653379B2
A cooler for cooling a semiconductor module includes a top plate; a jacket having a side plate and a bottom plate and firmly fixed to the top plate; a refrigerant inflow port through which a refrigerant flows into a space surrounded by the top plate and jacket; a refrigerant outflow port through which the refrigerant flows out from the space; a plurality of fins firmly fixed to the top plate and disposed separately on each of the left and right relative to a main refrigerant path in the jacket to be inclined toward the inflow side of the main refrigerant path; heat transfer pins disposed on the top plate on the refrigerant inflow sides of the fins; and a curved plate-like bimetal valve having one end connected to each respective heat transfer pin and another free end.
US09653361B2
A semiconductor device includes a fin structure disposed on a substrate, a sacrificial layer pattern disposed on the fin structure, an active layer pattern disposed on the sacrificial layer pattern, and a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode layer extending through the sacrificial layer pattern and surrounding a portion of the active layer pattern.
US09653357B2
A plasma etching apparatus includes: a housing defining a plasma processing chamber; a workpiece retaining unit disposed within the plasma processing chamber of the housing and retaining a workpiece on an upper surface of the workpiece retaining unit; a processing gas injecting unit injecting a processing gas for plasma generation onto the workpiece retained by the workpiece retaining unit, the processing gas injecting unit including a processing gas jetting portion; a processing gas supply unit supplying the processing gas to the processing gas injecting unit; and a pressure reducing unit reducing a pressure within the plasma processing chamber. The processing gas jetting portion of the processing gas injecting unit includes a central injecting portion and a peripheral injecting portion surrounding the central injecting portion.
US09653356B2
One illustrative method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a silicon dioxide etch stop layer on and in contact with a source/drain region and adjacent silicon nitride sidewall spacers positioned on two laterally spaced-apart transistors having silicon dioxide gate cap layers, performing a first etching process through an opening in a layer of insulating material to remove the silicon nitride material positioned above the source/drain region, performing a second etching process to remove a portion of the silicon dioxide etch stop layer and thereby expose a portion of the source/drain region, and forming a conductive self-aligned contact that is conductively coupled to the source/drain region.
US09653353B2
Described herein are methods of filling features with tungsten and related systems and apparatus. The methods include inside-out fill techniques as well as conformal deposition in features. Inside-out fill techniques can include selective deposition on etched tungsten layers in features. Conformal and non-conformal etch techniques can be used according to various implementations. The methods described herein can be used to fill vertical features, such as in tungsten vias, and horizontal features, such as vertical NAND (VNAND) word lines. Examples of applications include logic and memory contact fill, DRAM buried word line fill, vertically integrated memory gate/word line fill, and 3-D integration with through-silicon vias (TSVs).
US09653343B1
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device with shallow trench isolation (STI) having edge profile
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. First, a substrate having a first region and a second region is provided, a shallow trench isolation (STI) is formed in the substrate to separate the first region and the second region, and a patterned hard mask is formed on the first region and part of the STI, in which the patterned hard mask exposes includes an opening to expose part of the STI. Next, a gas is driven-in through the exposed STI to alter an edge of the substrate on the first region.
US09653333B2
A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device comprises the steps of: providing a semiconductor light-emitting stack having a first connecting surface and a first alignment pattern; providing a substrate having a second connecting surface and a second alignment pattern; detecting the position of the first alignment pattern and the position of the second alignment pattern; and moving at least one of the substrate and the semiconductor light-emitting stack to make the first alignment pattern be aligned with the second alignment pattern.
US09653323B2
A manufacturing method of a substrate structure is provided. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, a conductive carrier is provided. Then, a first metal layer is formed on the conductive carrier. Then, a second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer. Then, a third metal layer is formed on the second metal layer, wherein each of the second metal layer and the third metal layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface of the third metal layer is connected to the second surface of the second metal layer, the surface area of the first surface of the third metal layer is larger than the surface area of the second surface of the second metal layer, and the first metal layer, the second metal layer and the third metal layer form a conductive structure.
US09653320B2
Methods for etching a hardmask layer for an interconnection structure for semiconductor applications
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for patterning a hardmask layer disposed on a metal layer, such as a copper layer, to form an interconnection structure in semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, a method of patterning a hardmask layer on a metal layer disposed on a substrate includes supplying a first etching gas mixture comprising a carbon-fluorine containing gas and a chlorine containing gas into a processing chamber to etch a portion of a hardmask layer disposed on a metal layer formed on a substrate, supplying a second etching gas mixture comprising a hydrocarbon gas into the processing chamber to clean the substrate, and supplying a third etching gas mixture comprising a carbon-fluorine containing gas to remove a remaining portion of the hardmask layer until a surface of the metal layer is exposed.
US09653318B2
Methods for processing a substrate are described herein. Methods can include positioning a substrate with an exposed surface comprising a silicon oxide layer in a processing chamber, biasing the substrate, treating the substrate to roughen a portion of the silicon oxide layer, heating the substrate to a first temperature, exposing the exposed surface of the substrate to ammonium fluoride to form one or more volatile products while maintaining the first temperature, and heating the substrate to a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, to sublimate the volatile products.
US09653315B2
A method of fabricating a substrate includes forming spaced first features over a substrate. An alterable material is deposited over the spaced first features and the alterable material is altered with material from the spaced first features to form altered material on sidewalls of the spaced first features. A first material is deposited over the altered material, and is of some different composition from that of the altered material. The first material is etched to expose the altered material and spaced second features comprising the first material are formed on sidewalls of the altered material. Then, the altered material is etched from between the spaced second features and the spaced first features. The substrate is processed through a mask pattern comprising the spaced first features and the spaced second features. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09653307B1
A surface modification composition comprising a silylation agent comprising a silyl acetamide, a silylation catalyst comprising a perfluoro acid anhydride, an amine-based complexing agent, and an organic solvent. Methods of modifying a silicon-based material and methods of forming high aspect ratio structures on a substrate are also disclosed.
US09653305B2
A semiconductor component includes semiconductor fins formed between a base plane and a main surface of a semiconductor body. Each semiconductor fin includes a source region formed between the main surface and a channel/body region, and a drift zone formed between the channel/body region and the base plane. The semiconductor component further includes gate electrode structures on two mutually opposite sides of each channel/body region, and a field electrode structure between mutually adjacent ones of the semiconductor fins. Each field electrode structure is separated from the drift zone by a field dielectric and extends from the main surface as far as the base plane. The gate electrode structures assigned to the mutually adjacent semiconductor fins enclose an upper portion of the corresponding field electrode structure from two sides.
US09653303B2
In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a structure in which first to N-th insulating layers and first to N-th metal layers are alternately provided on a substrate where N is an integer of two or more. The method further includes processing the first insulating layer. The method further includes forming a first film on a side face of the first insulating layer, the first film containing a first reaction product generated by processing the first insulating layer. The method further includes processing the first metal layer under the first insulating layer, and the second insulating layer under the first metal layer by using the first film as a mask.
US09653298B2
Thermal processing is performed by transmission of mid infra-red laser light through a substrate such as a semiconductor substrate with a limited mid infra-red transmission range. The laser light is generated by a rare-earth-doped fiber laser and is directed through the substrate such that the transmitted power is capable of altering a target material at a back side region of the substrate, for example, on or spaced from the substrate. The substrate may be sufficiently transparent to allow the transmitted mid infra-red laser light to alter the target material without altering the material of the substrate. In one example, the rare-earth-doped fiber laser is a high average power thulium fiber laser operating in a continuous wave (CW) mode and in a 2 μm spectral region.
US09653289B1
A method of forming two or more nano-sheet devices with varying electrical gate lengths, including, forming at least two cut-stacks including a plurality of sacrificial release layers and at least one alternating nano-sheet channel layer on a substrate, removing a portion of the plurality of sacrificial release layers to form indentations having an indentation depth in the plurality of sacrificial release layers, and removing a portion of the at least one alternating nano-sheet channel layer to form a recess having a recess depth in the at least one alternating nano-sheet channel layers, where the recess depth is greater than the indentation depth.
US09653288B1
Provided is a method of forming a nanowire-based device. The method includes forming a first mask layer over a substrate; forming a first opening in the first mask layer; growing a first nanowire that protrudes through the first opening in the first mask layer, wherein the first nanowire has a first diameter; removing the first mask layer; oxidizing a sidewall of the first nanowire; etching the oxidized sidewall of the first nanowire; forming a second mask layer overlaying the substrate; removing the first nanowire thereby forming a second opening in the second mask layer; and growing a second nanowire that protrudes through the second opening in the second mask layer, wherein the second nanowire has a second diameter and the second diameter is different than the first diameter.
US09653279B2
A collision or reaction device for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first device arranged and adapted to cause first ions to collide or react with charged particles and/or neutral particles or otherwise dissociate so as to form second ions. A second device is arranged and adapted to apply a broadband excitation with one or more frequency notches to the first device so as to cause the second ions and/or ions derived from the second ions to be substantially ejected from the collision or reaction region. The collision or reaction device further comprises a device arranged and adapted to determine the time when the second ions and/or ions derived from the second ions are substantially ejected from the first device.
US09653274B2
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices that can be used to align the components of a source assembly in a source housing. In some examples, a terminal lens configured to couple to the housing through respective alignment features can be used to retain the source components in a source housing to provide a source assembly.
US09653271B2
The present disclosure relates, in part, to MS apparatus, methods, and/or software, having improved selectivity, sensitivity, specificity, resolution, mass accuracy and dynamic range over conventional MS technologies. In particular, the technology relates to apparatus, methods, and/or software wherein a combination of in-source fragmentation, ion mobility separation, and/or time-aligned parallel (TAP) sample ion fragmentations are utilized in mass spectrometry for the analysis of samples.
US09653265B2
This application is directed to an apparatus for creating microwave radiation patterns for an object detection system. The apparatus includes a waveguide conduit having first slots at one side of the conduit and corresponding second slots at an opposite side of the conduit. The waveguide conduit is coupled to a microwave source for transmitting microwaves from the microwave source through the plurality of first slots. A plunger is moveably positioned in the waveguide conduit from one end thereof. The plunger allows the waveguide conduit to be tuned to generally optimize the power of the microwaves exiting the first slots. Secondary plungers are each fitted in one of the second slots to independently tune or detune microwave emittance through a corresponding first slot.
US09653262B2
A method of measuring beam positions of multi charged particle beams includes acquiring a number of multi charged particle beams needed for the measurement reproducibility of a current amount to be within the range of an allowable value. The method further includes setting measurement points depending on a desired dimensional accuracy value in an irradiation region irradiated by the whole of the multi charged particle beams, and setting, for each of a plurality of measurement points, a beam region, including a measurement point of measurement points irradiated by a plurality of beams whose number is the number of beams needed for the measurement reproducibility in the multi charged particle beams. Further, the method includes measuring, for each of a plurality of measurement points, the position of a measurement point concerned in a plurality of measurement points by using a plurality of beams of a corresponding beam region.
US09653254B2
The present invention concerns a charged-particle multi-beamlet system that comprises a source of charged particles (301); a first multi-aperture plate (320) having plural apertures disposed in a charged particle beam path of the system downstream of the source; a first multi-aperture selector plate (313) having plural apertures; a carrier (340), wherein the first multi-aperture selector plate is mounted on the carrier; and an actuator (350) configured to move the carrier such that the first multi-aperture selector plate is disposed in the charged particle beam path of the system downstream of the source in a first mode of operation of the system, and such that the first multi-aperture selector plate is disposed outside of the charged particle beam path in a second mode of operation of the system. The source, the first multi-aperture plate and the carrier of the system are arranged such that a first number of charged particle beamlets is generated at a position downstream of both the first multi-aperture plate and the first multi-aperture selector plate in the first mode of operation, and that a second number of charged particle beamlets is generated at the position in the second mode of operation, wherein the first number of beamlets differs from the second number of beamlets.
US09653252B2
Provided is an X-ray generating tube with improved withstand voltage property by a simple structure, the X-ray generating tube including a cathode connected to one opening of an insulating tube and an anode connected to the other opening, in which a resistive film having a lower sheet resistance value than that of the insulating tube is disposed on an outer periphery of the insulating tube, and the cathode and the anode are electrically connected to each other via the resistive film.
US09653248B2
According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube includes an anode target, a cathode including a filament and a convergence electrode which includes a groove portion, and an envelope. The groove portion includes a pair of first bottom surfaces which are located in the same plane as the filament and between which the filament is interposed in a width direction of the groove portion, and a pair of second bottom surfaces between which the filament and the pair of first bottom surfaces are interposed in a length direction of the groove portion and which are located closer to an opening of the groove portion than the pair of first bottom surfaces.
US09653247B2
A two dimensional array distributed x-ray apparatus of this disclosure includes: a vacuum box which is sealed at its periphery, where the interior thereof is high vacuum; a plurality of electron transmitting units arranged in one plane in a two dimensional array on the wall of the vacuum box; an anode having targets corresponding to the plurality electron transmitting unit arranged in parallel with the plane of the plurality of electron transmitting units in the vacuum box; a power supply and control system having a high voltage power supply connected to the anode, a filament power supply connected to each of the plurality of the electron transmitting units, and a grid-controlled apparatus connected to each of the plurality of electron transmitting units; and a control system for controlling each power supply.
US09653243B2
A mechanical circuit breaker unit for interrupting a line includes a contact arrangement and an electromagnetic drive. The contact arrangement has first and second fixed contacts and a guided moving contact. The electromagnetic drive moves the moving contact. The separating unit can assume a first state and a second state. No electric connection exists between the first and second fixed contacts in the first state. The moving contact electrically connects the two fixed contacts to each other in the second state. The separating unit can be transferred from the second state into the first state by moving the moving contact. The second fixed contact has a recess for receiving the moving contact, and the moving contact engages at least partly into the recess when the separating unit is in the first state.
US09653218B2
An electric double-layer capacitor is provided which is larger in electrostatic capacitance, and can be much higher in rated voltage, than that in the prior art using a liquid electrolyte solely composed of an ionic liquid. Having an electrolyte and electrodes, the capacitor incorporates an atom encapsulated fullerene or an atom encapsulated fullerene salt in the electrolyte. The electrolyte can either be a liquid solution or a solid. With the electrolyte being a solid, cations of the atom encapsulated fullerene or atom encapsulated fullerene salt may either be made movable or static in the electrolyte.
US09653212B2
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include three external electrodes disposed on a mounting surface of a ceramic body so as to be spaced apart from each other. When a height of at least one portion of the external electrode formed on one side surface of the ceramic body in a width direction is defined as d, and a thickness of the ceramic body is defined as T, a ratio of d/T satisfies 0.10≦d/T.
US09653198B2
In one embodiment, a permanent magnet includes a composition represented by RpFeqMrCusCo100-p-q-r-s (R: rare earth element, M: at least one element selected from Zr, Ti and Hf, 10≦p≦13.5 atomic %, 28≦q≦40 atomic %, 0.88≦r≦7.2 atomic %, 4≦s≦13.5 atomic %), and a metallic structure in which a composition region having an Fe concentration of 28 mol % or more is a main phase. A Cu concentration in the main phase is 5 mol % or more.
US09653185B2
In at least one embodiment, a read operation in a data storage system having lossy storage media includes fetching target data of the read operation from a lossy storage device into a buffer, transferring the target data from the buffer to an external controller external to the lossy storage device via a communication bus, performing error location processing on the target data during the transferring of the target data, communicating error location information regarding at least one error location to error repair logic via the communication bus, the error repair logic repairing the at least one error in the target data using the error location information, and the external controller causing the target data as repaired to be transmitted toward a destination. By deserializing the suboperations comprising the read operation, read latency can be reduced.
US09653173B1
A memory cell includes a coupling device, a read transistor, a first read selection transistor, a second read selection transistor, an erase device, a program transistor, and a program selection transistor. The coupling device is formed on a first doped region. The erase device is formed on a second doped region. The read transistor, the first read selection transistor, the second read selection transistor, the program transistor, and the program selection transistor are formed on a third doped region. A gate terminal of the coupling device is coupled to a common floating gate. A gate terminal of the erase device is coupled to the floating gate. During a program operation, electrical charges are moved from the common floating gate. During an erase operation, electrical charges are ejected from the common floating gate to the erase device.
US09653168B2
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device includes: applying a first voltage to a first wordline of the nonvolatile memory device; and applying a second voltage to a second wordline of the nonvolatile memory device, wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage; decreasing the first voltage; decreasing the second voltage, wherein a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is maintained for a predetermined time; and discharging the second voltage.
US09653165B2
In one example, a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) includes an input port coupled to receive a W-bit key as input, and an output port coupled to provide a match vector as output, the match vector including at least one bit. The TCAM further includes a memory having memory cells operable to store N*W pairs of bits for N W-bit TCAM words. The memory includes a plurality of memory outputs. The TCAM further includes at least one compare circuit. The at least one compare circuit includes at least one multiplexer each coupled to receive as input a true version and a complement version of a bit of the W-bit key. Each of the at least one multiplexer is controlled by a respective pair of memory outputs of the plurality of memory outputs. The at least one compare circuit further includes combinatorial logic coupled to perform at least one logical AND operation based on output of the at least one multiplexer.
US09653164B2
A method of making a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises depositing a first polysilicon layer in a non-volatile memory (NVM) region and a logic region of a substrate. A first coating layer is deposited over the first polysilicon layer. The first coating layer and the first polysilicon layer are patterned to form a first gate in the NVM region. A memory cell is formed including the first gate. The first coating layer and the first layer of polysilicon in the logic region are removed and a logic gate polysilicon layer is deposited. The logic gate polysilicon layer is patterned to form a second gate in the logic region while the logic gate polysilicon layer is removed from the NVM region. Source/drain regions of the memory cell and the second gate are implanted concurrently.
US09653161B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array including memory cells, each having a resistance value reversibly transitioning among resistance value ranges, a read circuit that, in operation, obtains pieces of resistance value information each relating to the resistance value of one of the memory cells, an arithmetic circuit that, in operation, calculates a binary reference value based on at least a part of the pieces of resistance value information, and a write circuit. In operation, the read circuit selectively assigns, based on the binary reference value, one of two values to each of the pieces of resistance value information. In operation, the write circuit performs a first write operation on a memory cell corresponding to one of the two values among the memory cells.
US09653158B2
Disclosed herein is a method of changing characteristics of an electronic device, including the steps of: applying light to an electronic device through a plurality of media having different refractive indexes from each other, the electrical characteristics of the electronic device being changed depending on the amount of incident light; and changing an incident angle of light applied the electronic device to adjust the amount of incident light. There is provided a method of providing light incident angle dependency by a simple procedure of accumulating additional media in various electronic devices. In the method, the light incident angle selectivity of the electronic device can be maintained even when the inclination angle of the device is changed depending on the axis parallel to the incident direction of light even though the incident direction thereof is fixed. This means that the performance of the device can be controlled only by changing the inclination angle of the device without greatly changing the dynamic state of the device. Further, since the movement speed of photons is higher than that of electrons and the signal interference of photons is lower than that of electrons, an additional effect of increasing the operating speed of the device or decreasing the size of the device can be expected.
US09653157B1
A memory system includes a memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, each memory block including a plurality of word lines, each word line being coupled to a plurality of memory cells, and a controller suitable for grouping the word lines into a plurality of word line groups, wherein when receiving a read command for data stored in a first memory block, the controller performs a read operation for word lines of the first memory block, checks for read fail word lines in the word lines of the first memory block, checks for word line groups including the read fail word lines, and transmits a set command corresponding to the read fail word lines to the word line groups which contain read fail word lines.
US09653146B2
The embodiments described herein describe technologies for using the memory modules in different modes of operation, such as in a standard multi-drop mode or as in a dynamic point-to-point (DPP) mode (also referred to herein as an enhanced mode). The memory modules can also be inserted in the sockets of the memory system in different configurations.
US09653143B2
Apparatuses, memory section control circuits, and methods of refreshing memory are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a plurality of memory sections and a plurality of memory section control circuits. Each memory section control circuit is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of memory sections and includes a plurality of access line drivers, each of which includes a plurality of transistors having common coupled gates. During an operation of the apparatus a first voltage is provided to the commonly coupled gates of the transistors of at least some of the access line drivers of the memory section control circuit coupled to an active memory section and a second voltage is provided to the commonly coupled gates of the transistors of the access line drivers of the memory section control circuit coupled to an inactive memory section control circuit, wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.
US09653142B1
A refresh control circuit of a volatile semiconductor memory device is provided, where the volatile semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells respectively having a select transistor and a memory element, and the refresh control circuit of the volatile semiconductor memory device includes: a first comparison part, which compares a memory voltage of the memory cell of the volatile semiconductor memory device that is different to a general-memorizing memory cell with a specified threshold voltage, and outputs a comparison result signal, and stops self refresh of the memory cell until the memory voltage is decreased to be smaller than the specified threshold voltage. The memory cell is formed in a region adjacent to an array of the general-memorizing memory cell.
US09653141B2
A method of operating a volatile memory device includes storing address information of weak cell rows. According to some examples, after writing to a weak cell row, a refresh operation is performed on the weak cell row within a predetermined time. According to some examples, the writing operation to a weak cell row may be performed with a longer write recovery time than a write recovery time to normal cell rows.
US09653137B2
A spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) device and a method to perform operations of an embedded eFlash device are disclosed. The STT-MRAM device is configured to include an array of STT-MRAM bitcells. The array includes a plurality of bitlines (BLs) and a plurality of word lines (WLs), where the bitlines form columns and the wordlines form rows of STT-MRAM bitcells. Each STT-MRAM bitcell includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element coupled in series to an access transistor having a gate terminal and source and drain terminals. The array includes a plurality of source lines (SLs) coupled to the source terminals of the access transistors. A SL of the plurality of SLs is coupled to source terminals of access transistors of two or more adjacent columns of the STT-MRAM cells. The shared SL is parallel to the plurality of BLs. The operations of such a STT-MRAM bitcell are configured to include: an initialization operation, a program operation, and a sector erase operation.
US09653135B2
A multi-port memory cell including: first and second magnetoresistive elements, each of which is programmable so as to adopt at least two resistive states, in which: the first magnetoresistive element is coupled with a first output line and is programmable by the direction of a current which is passed through same; and the second magnetoresistive element is coupled with a second output line and is arranged so as to be magnetically coupled with the first magnetoresistive element, the second magnetoresistive element being programmable by a magnetic field generated by the first magnetoresistive element.
US09653132B2
A semiconductor package includes an external electrode, an interface chip, and a semiconductor chip. The interface chip includes an external interface pad bonded to the external electrode, a plurality of internal interface pads, and an interface circuit coupled between the external interface pad and the plurality of internal interface pads. The semiconductor chip includes a signal pad that is selectively bonded to one of the plurality of internal interface pads. The interface circuit activates a connection between a selected pad, which corresponds to a pad that is bonded to the signal pad among the plurality of internal interface pads, and the external interface pad, and deactivates connections between unselected pads, which correspond to pads that are not bonded to the signal pad among the plurality of internal interface pads, and the external interface pad.
US09653130B1
A latency control device and a semiconductor device including the same may be provided. The latency control device may include a first delay controller configured to delay a command signal based on a first internal clock having a first phase and a control signal. The latency control device may include a second delay controller configured to delay the command signal based on a second internal clock having a second phase different from the first phase and a test control signal. The latency control device may include a selection circuit configured to select any one of an output signal of the first delay controller and an output signal of the second delay controller based on a selection signal, and output a latency signal. The latency control device may include a test controller configured to generate the test control signal based on the control signal and a test signal.
US09653114B1
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes at least one write transducer, and a plurality of detector structures positioned in an array. Each of the detector structures includes a pair of conductive layers separated by an insulating material. None of the detector structures include an operable reader for reading data from a magnetic medium. A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes monitoring a resistance value of each of a plurality of detector structures positioned in an array, and detecting a change in a resistance value of at least one of the detector structures for identifying a defect on a magnetic medium. Each of the detector structures include a pair of conductive layers separated by an insulating material. None of the detector structures include an operable reader for reading data from a magnetic medium.
US09653106B2
An information recording medium (10) including a first region (11) in which medium identification information has been recorded, a data region (13), and a second region (12) which is positioned between the first region (11) and the data region (13) and in which control information has been recorded, in which an area of the first region (11) is greater than an area of the second region (12) in size.
US09653105B2
A method of forming a uniform thickness layer of a selected material on a surface of a substrate comprises steps of: (a) providing a multi-stage cathode sputtering apparatus comprising a group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies and a means for transporting at least one substrate/workpiece past each cathode/target assembly, each cathode/target assembly comprising a sputtering surface oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate during transport past the group of cathode/target assemblies, the group of cathode/target assemblies adapted for providing different angular sputtered film thickness profiles; and (b) transporting the substrate past each cathode/target assembly while providing different sputtered film thickness profiles from at least some of the cathode/target assemblies, such that a plurality of sub-layers is deposited on the surface of the substrate/workpiece which collectively form a uniform thickness layer of the selected material.
US09653104B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for selective removal of atoms from a substrate. Such a method comprises forming a patterned mask over at least a portion of the surface of the substrate to form a masked portion and an unmasked portion of the surface. In an embodiment, the method comprises exposing the surface to low energy light ions. In a related embodiment the low energy light ions selectively remove atoms from the unmasked portion of the substrate. In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing the mask.In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of creating a plurality of magnetic domains on a magnetically susceptible substrate. In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of forming a magnetic medium.
US09653070B2
A disclosed speech processor includes a front end to receive a speech input and generate a feature vector indicative of a portion of the speech input and a Gaussian mixture (GMM) circuit to receive the feature vector, model any one of a plurality of GMM speech recognition algorithms, and generate a GMM score for the feature vector based on the GMM speech recognition algorithm modeled. In at least one embodiment, the GMM circuit includes a common compute block to generate feature a vector sum indicative of a weighted sum of differences squares between the feature vector and a mixture component of the GMM speech recognition algorithm. In at least one embodiment, the GMM speech recognition algorithm being modeled includes a plurality of Gaussian mixture components and the common compute block is operable to generate feature vector scores corresponding to each of the plurality of mixture components.
US09653058B2
A passive feedback mechanism by which sound produced by a musical instrument is enhanced by utilizing the reverberations from the sound to dynamically and passively alter the magnetic field in the vicinity of an electronic pickup is disclosed. This is accomplished by utilizing a component or material adhered to the instrument with the property to alter the magnetic field as the material vibrates in response to sound reverberation, one embodiment being a ferromagnetic surface coating. An electromagnetic pickup, sensitive to these variations in the magnetic field, is installed on or within the instrument. The changes in the magnetic field, in response to the music, are captured by the pickup and transformed into an electric signal with thus produce a unique and enhanced sound.
US09653054B1
A musical drum having a hollow shell with at least one opening defined by a circumferential bearing edge, a drumhead, which includes an upper surface consisting of the batter head and a bottom surface, a snare assembly with a plurality of individual wires having opposite end portions, a mounting member affixed to at least one end portion, and means for releasably attaching the snare assembly to the circumferential bearing edge comprising a flexible U-shaped clip in engagement with the circumferential bearing edge in pressure-contact relation. The individual snare wires are disposed in abutment against the bottom surface of the drumhead to cause the wires to vibrate upon the striking of the batter head.
US09653051B2
A wind instrument bell includes a bell body and a ring. The bell body has a cylindrical shape, is configured to be connected to a wind instrument body, and has an outer circumferential surface having a recessed groove extending in a circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface. The ring has a C shape, has a first end and a second end being separated from each other, and is accommodated in the recessed groove in a state of being deformed so that the first and second ends separate from each other.
US09653041B2
An image display device comprises an image display unit including first pixels and second pixels arranged in a staggered manner, the first pixels including sub-pixels arranged in a matrix in a first color gamut and second pixels including sub-pixels arranged in a matrix in a second color gamut different from the first color gamut; and a processing unit that determines an output of the sub-pixels corresponding to an input image signal. When sub-pixels including same color component are continuously lit in a straight line and there is a difference between outputs from adjacent sub-pixels including the same color component, the processing unit determines the output of the sub-pixels in the first pixel based on the first component after an adjustment component is eliminated, and determines the output of the sub-pixels included in the second pixel based on the second component and the adjustment component.
US09653038B2
A source driver for a display, including: a current source that provides an approximately constant current; and multiple channels coupled to multiple source electrodes and including multiple digital to analog converters (DAC), each DAC including: a voltage source that applies a voltage to a source electrode based on the approximately constant current provided by the current source; and a control unit having circuitry that: inputs a digital value; and terminates, based on the digital value, charging of the voltage source by the approximately constant current.
US09653032B2
A liquid crystal (LC) pixel circuit of a LC display panel includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth switches, a LC capacitor and a storage capacitor. A first and a control terminals of the first switch respectively receive a common voltage and a first gate signal. A first and a control terminals of the second switch respectively receive a data voltage and a second gate signal. The storage capacitor and the LC capacitor electrically connect between second terminals of the first and second switches. A first and a control terminals of the third switch respectively receive the common voltage and a third gate signal. A first and a control terminals of the fourth switch respectively receive a set voltage and a fourth gate signal. Second terminals of the third and the fourth switches respectively connect to the second terminals of the second and the first switches.
US09653025B2
A display panel including pixels disposed on a substrate, where each of the pixels includes a light emitting element, and a capacitor. The capacitor of a first one of the pixels is partially overlapped, in a vertical direction, by respective pixel areas of two of the pixels. The anode of the capacitor of the first one of the pixels may be disposed closer to the substrate than a cathode of the capacitor, thereby reducing a parasitic capacitance between the capacitor and an anode of the light emitting element of one of the two pixels overlapping the capacitor.
US09653023B2
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels divided into a plurality of block regions. The block regions are arranged in a scan direction. The display device also includes a display panel driver configured to sequentially drive the block regions and apply a plurality of first emission signals to the pixels. Each of the first emission signals has an activation voltage. The display device further includes a timing controller configured to control the display panel driver. The display panel driver is further configured to incrementally change the activation voltages of the first emission signals applied to the pixels in each of the block regions in the scan direction.
US09653021B2
Disclosed here in is a display apparatus, including, a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels arrayed in rows and columns and each including an electro-optical device, a pixel circuit provided commonly to each plural ones of the pixels in the same pixel row in the pixel array section and including a writing transistor for writing an image signal, a holding capacitor for holding the image signal written by the writing transistor and a driving transistor for driving the electro-optical devices of the plural pixels, and a plurality of scanning circuits configured to time-divisionally and selectively place the electro-optical devices included in the pixels into a forwardly biased state.
US09653008B2
A portable collapsible sign assembly including a fabric covering and support frame which is adjustable between a collapsed and expanded position. When the sign assembly is expanded, or in its deployed state, the fabric covering and support frame possess a connective tension relationship with respect to one another which creates and supports both the sign assembly display sign and base in a stable manner. The fabric covering engagement with the support frame enables the entire sign assembly, including both the display sign and assembly base, to be simultaneously deployed in one user-initiated motion.
US09653004B2
A method for downloading information into a secure non-volatile memory of a secure embedded device (SED) during a manufacturing or personalization process. The method involves communicating the information and a software program from a device to a temporary storage memory of the SED. The method also involves starting the software program provided to facilitate an initialization of a first key and to facilitate a transfer of at least a portion of the information from the temporary storage memory to the secure non-volatile memory. In response to starting, the software program, the first key is initialized and the portion of information is transformed into transformed information locally at the SED using at least one of a scramble algorithm and a cipher algorithm. Thereafter, the transformed information is written to a memory element of the secure non-volatile memory.
US09653003B2
Methods and apparatus ascertain a geographic position based on topographic contours of ocean surfaces. Observed ocean topographic contours are matched to predicted ocean topography and/or ocean topographic information stored in a database. Such systems and methods do not necessarily require INS, GPS, RF beacons, optical beacons or celestial sightings. These systems and methods may be used as references to correct INS. These systems and methods may be used to ascertain a geographic location of an aircraft, spacecraft, watercraft, landcraft (vehicle), person or the like. Similarly, these systems and methods may be used as part of a guidance system for guiding a craft to a destination. These systems and methods may be used in tandem with, or as backups for, other types of navigation or guidance systems or as one input to a navigation filter.
US09652999B2
Systems and methods are provided for scoring non-native, spontaneous speech. A spontaneous speech sample is received, where the sample is of spontaneous speech spoken by a non-native speaker. Automatic speech recognition is performed on the sample using an automatic speech recognition system to generate a transcript of the sample, where a speech recognizer metric is determined by the automatic speech recognition system. A word accuracy rate estimate is determined for the transcript of the sample generated by the automatic speech recognition system based on the speech recognizer metric. The spontaneous speech sample is scored using a preferred scoring model when the word accuracy rate estimate satisfies a threshold, and the spontaneous speech sample is scored using an alternate scoring model when the word accuracy rate estimate fails to satisfy the threshold.
US09652997B2
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for building information on an emotion lexicon. The method according to the disclosure may include: retrieving specific documents on the basis of a specific emotion expression lexeme to derive emotion basis lexemes of the emotion expression lexeme from sentences including the emotion expression lexeme; and deriving a new emotion basis lexeme determined among the derived emotion basis lexemes according to at least one predefined new lexeme criterion and then storing the new emotion basis lexeme in an emotion lexicon. The method may include writing emotion expression lexemes associated to the emotion basis lexemes and assigning an emotion strength to them by multiplying an emotion strength value associated with an emotion expression lexeme and a sum of weights associated with a plurality of modifiers of emotion expression lexemes.
US09652992B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate providing guidance to a user during performance of a program or routine using a personalized avatar. In an aspect, a system includes a reception component configured to receive biochemical information about a physiological state or condition of a user, including information identifying a presence or a status of one or more biomarkers. The system further includes an analysis component configured to determine or infer one or more characteristics of the physiological state or condition of the user based on the information identifying the presence or the status of the one or more biomarkers, and a visualization component configured to adapt an appearance of an avatar presented to the user based on the one or more characteristics to reflect the one or more characteristics.
US09652986B2
A method is provided for providing parking information regarding free parking spaces within at least one city block. The method provides for detecting information regarding available, free parking spaces, wherein a knowledge database with historical data is generated from the detected information. The historical data for specified city blocks and/or specified times or periods of time respectively comprise statistical data regarding free parking spaces. From the historical data and current information that are detected by vehicles in traffic for a first given point in time for a single or a plurality of selected city blocks, a probability distribution of free parking spaces to be expected for the single or the plurality of city blocks is determined. A visualization of the probability distribution is generated that represents the parking information regarding free parking spaces within the single or the plurality of city blocks.
US09652979B2
A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the wireless control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). The antenna of the wireless control device may comprise a driven element and a conductive component. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke.
US09652978B2
A system for controlling a remote device includes a mobile communications device and a trainable transceiver. The mobile communications device includes a display, a camera flash, a speaker, and a processing circuit coupled to the display, the camera flash, and the speaker. The trainable transceiver includes a transceiver circuit, a communications device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit and the communications device. The trainable transceiver is configured to be in communication with the mobile communications device using the communications device, and the control circuit is configured to receive training information from the mobile communications device and train the trainable transceiver to communicate with the remote device based on the training information.
US09652973B2
A management system using Global Positioning System receivers for tracking remote units from a central office and quickly and conveniently determining if those remote units have varied from a set of predetermined parameters of operation. The system also includes provisions that allows information to be sent from the remote units to the central office and vice versa. The system also has safety features that promote the rapid dispatch of law enforcement personnel when requests for emergency assistance have been made from the remote units.
US09652972B1
A method for prioritized action of telecommunication network alarms in a telecommunication network management system. The method comprises setting, by an alarm severity scoring application executing on a computer, an initial alarm severity score for each of the plurality of alarms based on network classification and a geographical location of an alarm, wherein the network classification of the alarms is performed by a network classify application. The method further comprises evaluating, by the alarm severity scoring application executing on the computer, each of the alarms based on a plurality of weighting factors, determining an alarm severity score based on the evaluation and the initial alarm severity score for each of the alarms, and prioritizing actions for the alarms based on the alarm severity scores.
US09652971B1
Techniques are described for distributing, to a distributed network of central stations, alarm events detected in monitoring system data collected by sensors included in monitoring systems located at monitored properties. A system receives monitoring system data collected by sensors included in monitoring systems located at monitored properties, tracks alarm events detected within the monitoring system data, and generates, for central station servers in a distributed network of central stations, load profiles that reflect a volume of alarm events being handled at each of the central station servers at a particular period of time. The system determines capacities to handle additional alarm events for the central station servers, determines relative priorities for the central station remote servers based on the determined capacities, and directs subsequent alarm events to the central station servers based on the relative priorities.
US09652964B2
An operation method and a device related to emergency situations are provided. A method for controlling an electronic device includes determining a designated situation, based on at least one piece of information obtained from outside the electronic device and information obtained from at least one sensor of the electronic device, determining features corresponding to the designated situation, and controlling the electronic device, based on at least one of the features and user status information.
US09652963B2
A autonomous sensor includes a sensor configured to measure one or more events, a network interface, and a processor. The autonomous sensor is configured to communicate with a plurality of other autonomous sensors using the network interface. The processor is configured to detect, while in a discovery state, if an event has occurred and enter an active state if the event occurred, when an event has occurred, enter an active state, transmit event data to a parent while in the active state, detect the presence of a neighboring sensor; and when the neighboring sensor is detected, while in a nomadic state, monitor the activity of the neighboring sensor.
US09652962B1
A system includes a first electronic device configured to attach to an industrial machine or one or more areas of an industrial facility. The first electronic device is configured to transmit a signal indicative of a potentially hazardous condition with respect to personnel of the industrial facility. The system also includes a second electronic device communicatively coupled to the first electronic device and configured to attach to a hardhat of the personnel of the industrial facility. The second electronic device is configured to receive the signal from the first electronic device, determine whether a parameter of the signal is above a threshold, and generate an alarm when the parameter of the signal is above the threshold. The alarm is configured to indicate the potentially hazardous condition to the personnel.
US09652960B2
A method for routing a medical alert to a selected staff member 151-153, the method comprising receiving an alert signal generated by an alert generation device 121-126, obtaining the current location and identity of multiple staff members from a location tracking system 141-146 configured to track the locations of the multiple staff members, upon receiving the alert signal, selecting from the multiple staff members a selected staff member by at least determining that the distance between a location of the alert generation device and the location of the selected staff member is shorter than the distance between the location of the alert generation device and the location of at least one of the multiple staff members other than the selected staff member, and sending an alert signal to an individually addressable mobile device associated with the selected staff member.
US09652959B2
Methods and systems for security and/or automation systems are described. In some embodiments, the methods may include identifying an area of a premises associated with an occupant, identifying a wake up time associated with the occupant, identifying a location associated with the occupant, and initiating one or more automated actions based at least in part on the wake up time and the area.
US09652956B2
A tag-based electronic theft-preventing system further comprises a first and second multi-axis magnetometer arranged at the two sides of an entrance to a shopping area and configured to output a first and second vector signal representing movement of a first and second magnetic field vector, respectively. A signal processor estimates a first rotation of the first magnetic field vector and a second rotation of the second magnetic field vector, and generates an indicator signal comprising indication of a counter-direction rotation or a same-direction rotation. The system computes therefrom if an unlock magnet for an anti-shoplifting tag is entering the shopping area and determines whether to warn about a possible theft-related event. Other indicators contemplated in the processing are for instance vector magnitude, continuity of detection, duration of detection, change in electric field. All indicators can be weighed and combined to better estimate the risk that a theft might be about to take place, while reducing false alarms and erroneous detections, since the system discriminates between an unlock magnet and other magnetic or metallic objects present in the entrance area.
US09652952B2
A device for detecting the theft of an object, intended to be integrated to said object, includes an antenna for receiving a remote-supply signal and means for detecting an interruption of the remote-supply signal. Means for delivering an alarm signal when the interruption of the remote-supply signal is detected are also provided.
US09652946B2
A wearable haptic device includes (a) substrate having provided thereon a fastener (e.g., adhesive) for attachment to a user; (b) one or more EMP transducers attached to the substrate, such that a mechanical response in each EMP transducer may provide a haptic response of sufficient magnitude to be felt by the user; and (c) control circuit controlling the vibration frequency, the time of operation and the duration for each activation of the EMP transducer. The wearable haptic device may include a wireless communication circuit (e.g., Bluetooth transceiver) for receiving message from an external device (e.g., smartphone). The control circuit interprets message received and according to the interpreted message provides an electrical stimulus to cause the mechanical response of the EMP transducer. The EMP transducer may also serve as a sensor, such that a mechanical stimulus on the EMP transducer provides an electrical response that is detected by the control circuit.
US09652944B2
Disclosed is a locally vibrating haptic apparatus capable of vibrating a desired position of the haptic apparatus or adjusting a vibrating position by improving arrangement of vibrators and a frequency control method, the haptic apparatus including a panel and a vibrator transmitting vibration to the panel, wherein a vibration frequency outputted from the vibrator is adjusted in a domain less than a primary resonant frequency of the panel, thus controlling a vibrating position from a portion having the vibrator to a central portion of the panel, the haptic apparatus being advantageous in that the vibrating position of the panel may be precisely controlled by adjusting the frequency of the vibrator disposed on the edge of the haptic panel.
US09652933B2
Systems, methods, and program products are taught which provide a slot machine game that increases the size of the symbol array as a mystery feature. As the player spins the reels, the number of positions available on each reel grows randomly to allow more paylines. Other embodiments may include free spin bonuses, as well as bonus features that further increase the number of positions on each reel, and adjust the probability of reel expansions based on the current array size.
US09652931B2
Various embodiments that may generally relate to collusion are described. Collusion detection may be used to prevent players in a wagering environment from violating the integrity of a game. Player actions may be tracked to develop a wagering profile that is specific to various game situations. A player acting in a manner that would be against their interest and against their defined profile may be considered a colluding action. Information about collusion actions may be presented for evaluation and/or anti-collusion actions may be automatically taken in response to such collusion actions being determined.
US09652926B2
In various embodiments, a device may test the health of race participants in order to ensure the fairness of a bet on an order of finish.
US09652925B1
Hygiene control stations and methods are shown and described. In one embodiment, the control station includes picking compartments with corresponding automated inventory control. Further, the control stations may include user instructions and best hygiene practices. In particular examples, the control stations include sensors and alarms to ensure proper usage. The result is control systems and methods to improve hygiene care, infection control, inventory management, and the like.
US09652921B2
A coin chute for a vending machine may include one or more anti-fishing assemblies located in the vicinity of the coin chute's opening for receiving coins. The anti-fishing assemblies may include one or more rotatable anti-fishing fingers that project into a coin channel. The anti-fling fingers may rotate out of the coin channel to allow inserted coins to pass. In addition, the anti-fishing fingers prevent withdrawal of inserted coins out of the coin channel. The anti-fishing assemblies may be in addition to anti-pull back assemblies that prevent inserted coins from being withdrawn back past a coin discriminator.
US09652909B1
An identification device includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) card, a base member, and a front panel. The RFID card is configured to transmit an identification number. The front panel includes a laser-markable layer. The base member has a back panel and a perimeter wall extending transverse from the back panel. The base member forms a recess accommodating the front panel. The base member and the front panel are joined to form an assembly in which the RFID card is enclosed.
US09652907B2
A system for controlling a remote device from a vehicle includes a control device in the vehicle. The control device includes an operator input device configured to receive a user, input, a control circuit coupled to the operator input device, and a first communications device coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to transmit a control signal in response to the user input. The system further includes a trainable transceiver remote from the vehicle including a second communications device configured to receive the control signal, a processing circuit coupled to the second communications device, and a transceiver circuit coupled to the processing circuit. The processing circuit configured to format an activation signal in response to the control signal, and the processing circuit is further configured to transmit the activation signal via the transceiver circuit, wherein the activation signal is configured to control the remote device.
US09652905B2
A sensor integrated circuit comprising a controller and a diagnostic module in communication with the controller. The controller is configured for providing a diagnostic reporting signal being a periodic superposition signal on a sensing output of the sensor integrated circuit and/or on a supply current of the sensor integrated circuit. The periodic superposition signal has periodic pulses with a predetermined fixed pulse duration and a predetermined periodicity. The controller furthermore is configured for altering the predetermined periodicity or predetermined fixed pulse duration of the periodic superposition signal upon a fault detection in the diagnostic module communicated to the controller.
US09652892B2
Various embodiments relating to creating a virtual shadow of an object in an image displayed with a see-through display are provided. In one embodiment, an image of a virtual object may be displayed with the see-through display. The virtual object may appear in front of a real-world background when viewed through the see-through display. A relative brightness of the real-world background around a virtual shadow of the virtual object may be increased when viewed through the see-through display. The virtual shadow may appear to result from a spotlight that is fixed relative to a vantage point of the see-through display.
US09652888B1
A system and method for providing visual depictions of a predictive weather forecast for in-route vehicle trajectory planning. The method includes displaying weather information on a graphical display, displaying vehicle position information on the graphical display, selecting a predictive interval, displaying predictive weather information for the predictive interval on the graphical display, and displaying predictive vehicle position information for the predictive interval on the graphical display, such that the predictive vehicle position information is displayed relative to the predictive weather information, for in-route trajectory planning.
US09652887B2
A computer implemented method and an image processing system (IPS) for constructing and rendering an object oriented image (OOI) of a target object in an original spatial position and orientation of the target object are provided. While recording an image of a target object, the IPS records extended image data (EID), for example, spatial coordinates of an image recording device (IMR), multi-dimensional position and orientation of a line of vision of the IMR and the target object, etc. The IPS determines the original spatial position and orientation of the target object from the EID, constructs the OOI of the target object by repositioning and reorienting the recorded image based on the original spatial position and orientation of the target object, and renders the constructed OOI on an image display device. For constructing a three-dimensional OOI, the IPS records multiple images and the EID of the target object at multiple orientations.
US09652880B2
Two-dimensional (2D) animation may be generated from a three-dimensional (3D) mesh by a machine or device that flattens, textures, and modifies the 3D mesh, which results in distorting the texture of the 3D mesh. The machine or device is configured to access and flatten a 3D mesh of 3D vertices. At least some of the 3D vertices of the flattened 3D mesh are texture mapped with a 2D image. The machine or device generates a first 2D frame of animation by rendering the 3D mesh (e.g., with graphics acceleration hardware), modifies the 3D mesh by repositioning one or more of the 3D vertices, and generates a second 2D frame of animation by rendering the modified 3D mesh (e.g., with graphics acceleration hardware). Accordingly, 2D animation may be generated by distorting the 2D image that is mapped onto at least part of the 3D mesh.
US09652878B2
A method for adjusting a page includes determining a selected page on a display device of the electronic device. An image of a user of the electronic device is acquired at a predetermined time interval using a camera module of the electronic device. A facial contour is recognized from the acquired image and a circumcircle of the recognized facial contour is computed. A reference circumcircle corresponding to a reference facial contour of the user is acquired from a storage device of the electronic device. According to the computed circumcircle and the reference circumcircle, an adjustment ratio of the selected page and an adjustment direction of the selected page are computed. According to the adjustment ratio and the adjustment direction of the selected page, the selected page is adjusted.
US09652868B2
Systems and methods are provided for determining whether certain color image metadata is accurate. A color image and associated color image metadata provided by a source for inclusion in an electronic catalog are accessed. A color palette corresponding to the color image is generated. A color name associated with the color palette is determined. A determination is made as to whether the image metadata comprises a color name. If the image metadata comprises a color name, a determination is made as to whether the color name included in the image metadata corresponds to the color name associated with the color palette. If the color name included in the image metadata does not correspond to the color name associated with the color palette or if the image metadata does not comprise a color name, the color name associated with the color palette is added to the color image metadata.
US09652866B2
An image processing method is provided. A first image is obtained at a first time point, the first image includes a first object image and a first background image, the first object image corresponds to the position of an object at the first time point. A second image is obtained at a second time point, the second image includes a second object image and a second background image, the second object image corresponds to the position of the object at the second time point, and the first and the second images are shot within substantially the same shooting range. A sum motion vector of the object is obtained according to the first and the second object images. The second object image is kept, and a process is applied to each pixel of the second background image in the second image to generate a third image.
US09652842B2
A method, an apparatus and an equipment of inspecting the quality of an LCD are provided, the method includes: obtaining optical parameters of the LCD; capturing images of the LCD; and determining that the LCD is defective after determining that the optical parameters are not in the range of the preset optical parameters and/or the captured images of the LCD are not consistent with the pre-stored images. Through the technical solution of the present invention, it can effectively differentiate the defect types of a product and record the defect position of the product, thereby it can effectively reduce misjudgment or miss test caused by the visual differences between operators to improve the quality and yield of manufactured LCD.
US09652837B2
The present invention includes the steps of: storing data such as the symmetry, the variation degree in the area, the displacement of a tip portion, the depth of a slit, the shoulder widths, and the like of eight heart marks and the symmetry, the variation degree in the area, the displacement or sharpness of an arrow tip, and the like of eight cupid marks into a computer database; and performing arithmetic processing of the data and ranking determination of the quality of the heart marks and the cupid marks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device capable of objectively determining the quality on the basis of the same determination criterion using determination software in both of a case where the diamond is directly imaged by a CCD camera.
US09652831B2
An example of the invention relates to a method for the multidimensional reconstruction of image data in a reconstruction area based on projection measurement data which has been acquired using an imaging system, preferably a computed tomography system, wherein the reconstruction is carried out in three different spatial directions with predefined resolution widths; a resolution width in at least one spatial direction being automatically adapted to a resolution width in another spatial direction, such that the adapted resolution widths are substantially identical.
US09652825B2
The present application discloses an image enlargement method and apparatus. The method includes: inputting a low-resolution image, where the low-resolution image includes at least one matching areas; searching one of the matching areas for an optimal contour template, where the optimal contour template is a contour template with a minimum total variation value in the matching area and the contour template set; finding a second pixel point according to a zoom ratio and a first pixel point in the matching area; performing local interpolation for the second pixel point according to the optimal contour template, so as to obtain an intermediate pixel value; repeating the foregoing steps until processing for all the matching areas is complete, and obtaining an initial high-resolution image according to all of the intermediate pixel values; and performing global interpolation for the initial high-resolution image to obtain a high-resolution image.
US09652822B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an imaging apparatus includes an image acquiring unit, a correction region setting unit, and an image correcting unit. The image acquiring unit acquires an image. The correction region setting unit sets a region of correction of a face of a person in the image acquired by the image acquiring unit based on a position of the face of the person in the image. The image correcting unit corrects an image in the region of correction set by the correction region setting unit. Thus, according to the imaging apparatus of the embodiment, it is possible to obtain a face image of a desired shape more simply and easily.
US09652815B2
A graphics processing subsystem and a method of shading are provided. In one embodiment, the subsystem includes: (1) a memory configured to contain a texel data structure according to which multiple primitive texels corresponding to a particular composite texel are contained in a single page of the memory and (2) a graphics processing unit configured to communicate with the memory via a data bus and execute a shader to fetch the multiple primitive texels contained in the single page to create the particular composite texel.
US09652788B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that logs the use of privileges in a distributed computing environment. The distributed computing environment includes a database system, one or more client applications, and a unified security management layer between the database system and the one or more client applications. During operation, the system receives a request from a client application to execute a business function in the distributed computing environment. The system determines a privilege associated with the requested business function, and logs that the request is associated with the privilege. The system then checks, in the unified security management layer, whether a user associated with the request is associated with a role that has the privilege. If the user is associated with a role that has the privilege, the system performs the requested business function. By checking and logging privilege access in the unified security management layer, the system facilitates tracking privilege use for the database system and the client applications in a single entity, thereby enabling security managers to more easily audit privileged operations in the distributed computing environment.
US09652773B1
A two-sided touch screen unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the two-sided touch screen unit includes a housing. A first touch screen positioned in the housing faces a first direction, while a second touch screen is positioned in the housing facing in a second direction that is substantially the opposite of the first direction. At least one attenuation layer is positioned between the first touch screen and the second touch screen.
US09652767B2
A method for maintaining consumer privacy in behavioral scoring includes a first computing system and a second computing system. The first computing system disguises consumer characteristics and maps disguised consumer characteristics to unencrypted account identifiers, and then transmits the data to the second computing system. The second computing system encrypts the account identifiers upon receipt, and maps the encrypted account identifiers to anonymous transaction data. The second computing system uses the transaction data to calculate consumer behavioral scores, and then generates a scoring algorithm that uses disguised consumer characteristics to calculate consumer behavior scores based on the calculated consumer behavioral scores and corresponding disguised consumer characteristics. The generated algorithm is then returned to the first computing system, with the second computing system not receiving any unencrypted account identifiers, any undisguised consumer characteristics, or any personally identifiable information.
US09652765B2
A system and method to provide food stamp benefits to recipients. The state agency responsible for distributing food stamp benefits to eligible recipients employs an issuer to produce consumer access devices for distribution to the recipients. The consumer access device is encoded with information enabling the food stamp recipients to purchase specified items from merchants. By imprinting the consumer access device with indicia identifying a commercial payment processing network and employing the commercial payment processing network to process the transactions, transaction funded by the food stamp program will appear to be credit or debit transactions personally funded by the food stamp recipient.
US09652763B2
An electronic, hand-held, and portable donation device and method are disclosed for collecting financial donations. The donation device may include a plurality of electronic payment processors, each payment processor corresponding to a different monetary amount.
US09652751B2
Disclosed is a technology for collecting item-level transaction information for interactive payment experience. According to one embodiment, a merchant server can maintain a database including the information of financial accounts having a particular classification. The classification indicates that these financial accounts are associated with a payment service system. When the merchant server determines a requested financial transaction involves a financial account classified in the database, the merchant server transmits the item-level transaction information to the payment service system. The payment service system receives the item-level transaction information in real-time or near real-time and generates an interactive digital transaction receipt for a consumer.
US09652750B2
A system and method for providing one or more client systems for communicating with a host system over a network. The client systems use a scanner to convert a paper form of a check, coupon, or other paper document to a digital representation and then the client systems send the digital representation over a network to the host system for storage. The host system archives the digital representation and determines the appropriate processing stream for a transaction related to the paper document (e.g. coupon, check), via a decisioning engine, based on a set of predefined stream selection rules. The host system then communicates the transaction to a back end transaction destination, according to the selected processing stream. Examples of the transaction destination can include ACH, Reproduce Paper, and Remittance.
US09652745B2
A method for detecting bias in an evaluation process is provided. The method includes operations of receiving evaluation data from a candidate evaluation system. The evaluation data is provided by a set of evaluators based on digital interview data collected from evaluation candidates. The operations of the method further include extracting indicators of characteristics of the evaluation candidates from the digital interview data, classifying the evaluation candidates based on the indicators extracted from the digital interview data, and determining whether the evaluation data indicates a bias of one or more evaluators with respect to a classification of the evaluation candidates.
US09652732B1
In one embodiment, a point of return device can be configured to gather information related to a return request and a returning customer. Upon providing the information to an authorization server, the server can identify historical transaction data of the returning customer from data stored in a repository. Based on the historical transaction data and on the return request, the authorization server determines a return authorization decision based on an item-level return policy, another decision based on customer-specific return privileges, and optionally, another authorization decision based on registry-related return privileges. Upon processing the return request based on a selected return authorization decision, data representative of the processed return request is optionally stored in the repository to update the previously identified customer transaction data.
US09652731B2
A user requests a package delivery from a package delivery system. The package delivery system provides the user with a machine-readable code for display at the delivery location. An aerial delivery device receives, from the package delivery system computing device, information associated with the delivery location of the package. The information comprises information matching the information in the machine-readable code associated with the delivery location and a delivery address. The delivery device secures the package for transporting to the delivery location and transports the package to the delivery address. The delivery device locates the machine-readable code on a display at the delivery address and verifies that the information from the machine-readable code is associated with the package. The delivery device deposits the package on the display.
US09652729B2
A method for managing a metrology system includes receiving a part, identifying, with a processing device, a part type associated with the part, retrieving, with the processing device, test rule logic associated with the part type from a database, retrieving, with the processing device, measurement data associated with the identified part type, processing, with the processing device, the measurement data, applying, with the processing device, the test rule logic to the processed measurement data to determine whether the part should be measured, outputting the part responsive to determining that the part should not be measured, and incrementing, with the processing device, a counter and saving a value of the counter in the database responsive to outputting the part responsive to determining that the part should not be measured.
US09652726B2
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system for obtaining a simulation modeling file. One or more values is associated with one or more variables included within the simulation modeling file. The simulation modeling file is executed to generate at least one result set. The at least one result set is iteratively rendered while the at least one result set is generated.
US09652721B2
A system that allows secure identification tokens (e.g., smart cards or RFID tags), often used for enabling such systems, to be securely added to a secure, local database of identification tokens authorized to operate the device, system or service. Such authorizations may be open-ended or have an expiration date. The addition of the identification token is achieved without requiring communication with a central controller by wired or wireless means, but is instead triggered by a message authorizing the addition of an identification token to the local database. The same invention can be used, in some embodiments, to allow magnetic stripe cards or biometric measurements to become authorized to operate or allow access to the system or device or service.
US09652715B2
A computer processor determines a first span of a communication, wherein a span includes content associated with one or more dialog statements. If the content of the first span contains one or more topic change indicators which are identified by at least one detector of a learning model, the computer processor, in response, generates scores for each of the one or more indicators. The computer processor aggregates scores of the one or more indicators of the first span, which may be weighted, to produce an aggregate score. The computer processor compares the aggregate score to a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is determined during training of the learning model, and the computer processor, in response to the aggregate score crossing the threshold value, determines a topic change has occurred within the first span.
US09652713B2
Apparatus and methods for developing parallel networks. Parallel network design may comprise a general purpose language (GPC) code portion and a network description (ND) portion. GPL tools may be utilized in designing the network. The GPL tools may be configured to produce network specification language (NSL) engine adapted to generate hardware optimized machine executable code corresponding to the network description. The developer may be enabled to describe a parameter of the network. The GPC portion may be automatically updated consistent with the network parameter value. The GPC byte code may be introspected by the NSL engine to provide the underlying source code that may be automatically reinterpreted to produce the hardware optimized machine code. The optimized machine code may be executed in parallel.
US09652706B2
A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip arranged to process a radio signal, a power-supply circuit board that is connected to the wireless IC chip and that includes a power supply circuit including at least one coil pattern, and a radiation plate arranged to radiate a transmission signal supplied from the power-supply circuit board and/or receiving a reception signal to supply the reception signal to the power-supply circuit board. The radiation plate includes an opening provided in a portion thereof and a slit connected to the opening. When viewed in plan from the direction of the winding axis of the coil pattern, the opening in the radiation plate overlaps with an inner area of the coil pattern and the area of the inner area is approximately the same as that of opening.
US09652705B1
RFID tag structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, the RFID tag includes a flexible substrate, a strap attached to the substrate, an RFID IC mounted on the strap, and an antenna. The strap has a first surface, a second surface, and first and second terminals exposed on the first surface. The second surface of the strap is attached to the substrate. The RFID IC is electrically coupled to the first and second terminals. The antenna is attached to the first surface of the flexible substrate and connected to the first and second terminals on the first surface of the strap.
US09652698B2
Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have a memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes storing a portion that stores a value indicative of an amount of a consumable that has been used. Discloses is a method and system for updating a memory that is integral to a component within a printing system. The value stored in the memory can be read to determine an amount of a consumable used. Alternatively, when a specific value is stored in the memory the printing system can deactivate the component.
US09652693B2
Intuitive photo grouping is accomplished utilizing photo metadata information, including photos' timestamps, GPS information, name and storage folder identity, to automatically generate logical and meaningful event photo groupings for users.
US09652685B2
Embodiments presented herein describe techniques for generating a story graph using a collection of digital media, such as images and video. The story graph presents a structure for activities, events, and locales commonly occurring in sets of photographs taken by different individuals across a given location (e.g., a theme park, tourist attraction, convention, etc.). To build a story graph, streams from sets of digital media are generated. Each stream corresponds to media (e.g., images or video) taken in sequence at the location by an individual (or related group of individuals) over a period of time. For each stream, features from each media are extracted relative to the stream. Clusters of media are generated and are connected by directed edges. The connections indicate a path observed to have occurred in the streams from one cluster to another cluster.
US09652680B2
Methods are systems are provided that include obtaining a digital image from a digital photograph, such as may be taken by a digital camera or a camera phone. The digital image includes, for example, a URI or URL, which may be contained within a visible frame. A character recognition technique, such as an optical character recognition technique, may be used to recognize the URI or URL from the digital image. The URI or URL may be used to access a corresponding Web page. The character recognition technique may be applied on the digital camera or cell phone itself, or remotely.
US09652679B2
Provided is a device including: a display unit configured to display handwritten content based on an analog handwritten input of a user; a user input unit that receives a user input of selecting a portion of the handwritten content displayed on the display unit; and a control unit reproduces a segment of multimedia content, which corresponds to the portion of the handwritten content, from the multimedia content synchronized with the handwritten content.
US09652660B2
A control system includes a projection section that projects predetermined patterned light on a target object, a first imaging section that captures an image of the target object on which the predetermined patterned light is projected by the projection section, a second imaging section that is disposed in a position different from a position where the first imaging section is disposed and captures an image of the target object on which the predetermined patterned light is projected by the projection section, and a calculation section that calculates a three-dimensional shape of the target object based on a first point in a first captured image captured by the first imaging section and a second point in a second captured image captured by the second imaging section.
US09652649B2
A chip structure for mounting on a clearance area of a printed circuit board includes a packaged chip and a monopole coupling antenna. The packaged chip has an insulating body, an electronic component embedded in the insulating body, and a plurality of grounding pads electrically connected to the electronic component. The monopole coupling antenna has a grounding radiating metal and a monopole radiating metal. The packaged chip is electrically connected to the grounding radiating metal by the grounding pads. The monopole radiating metal is disposed on the insulating body and spaced apart from the electronic component and the grounding radiating metal. The monopole radiating metal is configured to couple the grounding radiating metal and the electronic component by using a feeding circuit to connect the packaged chip and the monopole radiating metal and using a grounding circuit to connect the grounding radiating metal and the printed circuit board.
US09652646B1
A system for radio frequency identification (RFID) includes an enclosure defining an interior region interior to the enclosure, and a feed for generating an electromagnetic field in the interior region in response to a signal received from an RFID reader via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line and, in response to the electromagnetic field, receiving a signal from an RFID sensor attached to an item in the interior region. The structure of the enclosure may be conductive and may include a metamaterial portion, an electromagnetically absorbing portion, or a wall extending in the interior region. Related apparatuses and methods for performing RFID are provided.
US09652645B2
Systems and methods to selectively attach and control antennas via diodes. In one embodiment, a system includes: a reader having a plurality of reader antennas of different polarizations to transmit radio frequency signals; and at least one radio frequency device. The radio frequency device includes: a plurality of tag antennas of different polarizations; a plurality of diodes coupled to the plurality of tag antennas respectively; a receiver coupled to the plurality of diodes to receive the radio frequency signals from the tag antennas when the diodes are forward biased; and a set of one or more current controllers coupled to the plurality of diodes. In a receiving mode the controllers selectively forward bias the diodes to receive the signals from the reader. In a transmitting mode the controllers selectively change the state of the tag antennas to transmit data via backscattering the radio frequency signals.
US09652644B2
A system includes a printed, writeable memory, an initiating computer, the initiating computer having a processor configured to execute instructions that cause the computer to generate an original value, and a memory interface to allow the computer to write the original value to the memory. The system also includes an object to which the printed, writeable memory is attached, the object having a characteristic usable to derive a seed, a reader device having at least one reader to read the original value from the memory, the reader device having at least one reader, the reader to retrieve the original value, and a recipient computer having a processor configured to execute code that causes the processor to generate an authentication value and compare the authentication value to the original value.
US09652641B2
A card reader for a point-of-sale system that is configured to accept both magnetic strip-type and integrated circuit (IC) chip-type payment cards. The card reader is a component of a point-of-sale system including a portable computing device in communication with the card reader that is configured to present a first graphical user interface (GUI) when a magnetic stripe-type card is detected and a second GUI when an IC chip-type card is detected in the card reader. The card reader comprises a slot configured to receive the payment card, a magnetic reading device and an IC chip reading device. The card reader also includes a discriminator contact disposed within the slot that is configured to conduct across a surface of a metal pad of the IC chip-type card prior to the CI chip reading device making contact with the IC chip.
US09652639B2
A card holding member is provided for holding a card with terminal members and insertion into a card connector. The holding member comprises a frame portion containing a front frame portion in front of the holding member in the insertion direction and side frame portions connected on both ends to the front frame. The frame portion includes a metal portion composed of a metal panel and a resin portion covering at least some of the periphery of the metal portion. The front end surface of a front metal frame of the metal portion is exposed on the front end surface of the front frame. The front metal frame includes a subsiding portion. The front surface of the subsiding portion is flush with the front end surface of the front metal frame and includes a section displaced from the front end surface in the thickness direction of the front frame.
US09652638B2
An electronic device has a lower power state in which power to a storage device is disabled. Predetermined information stored in a memory is useable to unlock the storage device during a procedure to transition the electronic device from the lower power state to a higher power state. The predetermined information is different from a credential for use in unlocking the storage device.
US09652635B2
The instruction code including an instruction code stored in the area where the encrypted instruction code is stored in a non-rewritable format is authenticated using a specific key which is specific to the core where the instruction code is executed or an authenticated key by a specific key to perform an encryption processing for the input and output data between the core and the outside.
US09652632B2
Provided are a method and system for repairing a file at user terminal. The method comprises: scanning a file at user terminal, determining whether the file is abnormal, and acquiring file characteristics information; if the file is abnormal, then according to the file characteristics information, acquiring from a cloud server a secure file corresponding to the abnormal file and uploaded before abnormity occurring, wherein the secure file in the cloud server is acquired by directly uploading file of user terminal; and replacing the corresponding abnormal file of the user terminal with the secure file. The method and system save the secure files of each user terminal in a cloud server, and when an abnormal file occurs in the user terminal, download the secure version of a corresponding file from the cloud server to replace the local abnormal file, thus ensuring recovery of the correct version of the file into the system, and solving the problems that the abnormal file cannot be restored to normal status during the conventional file repair process or cannot be repaired due to complexities caused by virus infection.
US09652627B2
Probabilistic surfacing of potentially sensitive identifiers is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of and computer program product for surfacing of potentially sensitive identifiers are provided. An input string is read. The input string has a length. The input string is divided into a plurality of tokens. Each of the tokens has a predetermined length. A score is determined for each of the plurality of tokens. A composite score is determined based on the scores of each of the plurality of tokens. Whether the input string comprises an identifier is determined by comparing the composite score to a predetermined threshold.
US09652623B2
An electronic address book storing apparatus keeps a login user's information confidential. A destination information storing section is configured to store items of registered destination information. Each item of registered destination information including a right-of-use associated with a registered user. An information extracting section is configured to extract an item of registered destination information from the destination information storing section in response to a login user's command. The extracted item of registered destination information is associated with the login user's right-of-use. A display controller is configured to display the extracted item of registered destination information to the login user.
US09652620B2
According to an embodiment, a quantum communication device includes a sift processor, an estimator, a determination unit, and a corrector. The sift processor is configured to acquire sift processing data by referring to a cryptographic key bit string in a predetermined bit string with a reference basis randomly selected from a plurality of bases via a quantum communication channel. The estimator is configured to acquire an estimated error rate of the sift processing data. The determination unit is configured to determine order of the sift processing data in which an error is to be corrected based on the estimated error rate and difference data between a processing speed of error correcting processing and a processing speed of privacy amplification processing. The corrector is configured to acquire one piece of the sift processing data in the order determined by the determination unit, and generate error correcting processing data.
US09652618B1
Example embodiments are disclosed herein for asset architecture evaluation and security enforcement within an enterprise computing platform. One example method includes receiving a proposed architecture for evaluation, wherein the proposed architecture for evaluation relates to integration of an asset into the enterprise computing platform. This example method further includes dynamically evaluating, by risk evaluation circuitry, the proposed architecture against embedded security policies, standards, baselines, or patterns established for the enterprise computing platform. In addition, the example method includes, in an instance in which dynamic evaluation of the proposed architecture identifies security gaps, determining, by the risk evaluation circuitry, changes to the proposed architecture that would remediate the identified security gaps. The example method further includes generating a report regarding the proposed architecture, wherein the report identifies any changes to the proposed architecture that would remediate the identified security gaps. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US09652617B1
In various embodiments, static, dynamic, and behavioral analyses may be performed on an application. A set of code fragments employed by the application may be determined. A set of device resources employed by the application may be determined. An application fingerprint is generated for the application and potentially malicious component and/or behaviors are identified. The application fingerprint encodes identifiers for the set of code fragments and identifiers for the set of device resources.
US09652614B2
Technologies for an application reputation service to assist users with minimizing their computerized machines' exposure to and infection from malware, including an application reputation service that contains the reputations for elements (e.g., applications) that are known to be non-malicious as well as those known to be malicious. In one example, when a user attempts to install or execute a new application, the service is queried by the user's machine with a set of identities for the element. The service determines the reputation of the application by referencing a knowledge base of known reputations and returns an indication (e.g., an overall rating, or a flag) of how safe that application would be to install and run on the user's computer.
US09652599B2
A method and system is provided for signing data such as code images. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, from a requestor, a request to sign the data according to a requested configuration selected from a first configuration, in which the data is for use with any of the set of devices, and a second configuration in which the data is for use only with a subset of a set of devices; modifying the data according to the requested configuration; generating a data signature using the modified data; and transmitting the generated data signature to the requestor. Another embodiment is evidenced by a processor having a memory storing instructions for performing the foregoing operations.
US09652591B2
Systems and methods for arranging objects in an operating room in preparation for a surgical procedure. The objects are arranged based on surgical procedure information provided to a guidance station. The surgical procedure information dictates the desired placement of the objects. Placement of the objects is then guided according to their desired placement using one or more tracking elements.
US09652590B2
A system and method to virtually simulate maintenance of a medical device located in a defined space by a user is provided. The system can include a main interactive touchscreen; and a central controller connected in communication with the touchscreen monitor. The central controller can execute a series of computer-readable program instructions to perform comparing a detection of contact by the user at the touchscreen relative to a graphic representation of a virtual view of the component of the medical device relative to one of a series of predefined tasks associated with a maintenance procedure of the medical device stored in a database, and generating a display illustrative of a completion of the maintenance procedure upon calculating a completion of each of the plurality of predefined tasks.
US09652584B2
A system comprises a configurator for providing a configuration definition that specifies existing engineering designs and manufacturing capability of aircraft structures that have already been designed and manufactured; and a processor for accessing the configuration definition from the configurator and filtering the configuration definition according to customer specifications for a new aircraft. The filtering selects existing designs and identifies existing manufacturing capability to fabricate structures for the new aircraft.
US09652580B2
A method of generating a photo mask for use during fabrication of a semiconductor device includes; generating an initial layout design including critical circuit paths and non-critical circuit paths by shielding all gate line patterns used to implement transistors in the critical circuits and non-critical circuits, and thereafter generating a layout design from the initial layout design by selectively un-shielding a non-critical gate line pattern among the gate line patterns used to implement a gate of a non-critical transistor in a non-critical circuit, while retaining the shielding of all critical gate line patterns among the gate line patterns.
US09652565B2
A computerized system creates and communicates to a user a wellbore property-height profile of a selected property, such as permeability, at each cell location defining the wellbore. The property-height value is determined based on a “summation from base” algorithm. The system may also be used to create a property-height profile in horizontal and slant wells, by creating a plurality of vertical pseudo-wells which intersect the trajectory of the horizontal or slant well.
US09652558B2
A computer image search system for rapid retrieval of media files images corresponding to a sequence of input display commands, the system comprising: a programmable data processor operating under the control of a program to convert the display commands into data entries in an array of multi-bit data characters and words, each entry of the array corresponding to a set of descriptions of the image to be displayed; and a scanned-raster display device for generating illuminated points on a display surface in response to applied data signals causing the programmable data processor to perform the following operations: starting an indexer and loading an autocomplete data file; and performing operations until each media type M in an array of available media type is processed.
US09652548B2
A technique is disclosed for presenting possible cheek-in venues to a mobile device user, such as for the purpose of checking in with social networking services such as Foursquare. The disclosed technique operates by training a model during an initial training sequence. The trained model, representing a teamed hypothesis, describes venues that are ranked according to their relevance to users who are also described by the model. During a subsequent run-time sequence, the system receives real-time geolocation data that represents users, wherein the data includes user geolocation and the level of accuracy of the geolocation. The system generates a set of candidate venues, ranks the generated candidate venues by applying the learned hypothesis, which can be dependent on the level of accuracy, and presents the user with the ranked venues as possible cheek-in venues. The user can then select the venue actually being checked into from the presented check-in venues.
US09652546B2
A computer-implemented method and system are provided for monitoring developments in a field of prior art. The method comprises using one or more processors receive a search query including a first patent concept related to the field of prior art; search the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a first set of search results; store the first set of search results in a database; conduct a subsequent search on the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a second set of search results; compare the first and second sets of search results to identify differences in the results; and communicate the differences to a user. An ontology of patent concepts may be stored in a system database. The searches may be conducted automatically on a regular basis thereby notifying the user of any intervening changes in the field of prior art.
US09652543B2
Auxiliary content provided in addition to search results is selected and presented to aid the user in completing tasks and increasing user interaction performance. Auxiliary content is processed utilizing existing search engine categorization and identification mechanisms, thereby facilitating the determination of similarities between the auxiliary content and indexed content that is identified as being responsive to a search query. At least some of the search results identified as being responsive to the search query are compared to auxiliary content to identify similarities, including visual similarities. Similar auxiliary content are selected to aid the user in completing tasks, and such selected auxiliary content is provided with the search results, including in a visually distinct or separated manner.
US09652527B2
In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer readable media for for generating an optimal classifying query set for categorizing and/or labeling textual data based on a query subsumption calculus to determine, given two queries, whether one of the queries subsumes another. In one aspect, a method includes generating a group of determining queries based on analyzing text within a document; receiving a group of classifying queries; and, for each determining query within the group of determining queries, determining whether at least one of the classifying queries is subsumed by the determining query; and updating the group of classifying queries in an instance in which the classifying query is subsumed by the determining query.
US09652517B2
In connection with processing asynchronous streams of aircraft telemetry data, data processing logic is developed to run on multiple aircraft, even if different avionics equipment are installed on the aircraft. An electronic inventory system tracks all data available on affected aircraft. A set of “global” data elements applicable to all aircraft in a fleet is defined and is tracked in the electronic inventory system, with relationship to the underlying native data elements and specific aircraft. The global units are derived as appropriate, for each specific aircraft avionics environment. An interface enables definition of data processing logic that is integrated with the electronic inventory system and ensures the general validity of the defined logic. The data processing logic is deployed to one or more aircraft in a function integrated with the electronic inventory system, to ensure the validity of the data processing logic for each aircraft specified as a deployment target.
US09652512B2
Provided are techniques for secure matching supporting fuzzy data. A first bloom filter for a first data element is retrieved, wherein each of the characters in the data element has been encrypted with a beginning offset position of the character and encrypted with an end offset position of the character to produce two encrypted values that are added to the first bloom filter. A second bloom filter for a second data element is retrieved. The first bloom filter and the second bloom filter are compared to determine whether there is a match between the first data element and the second data element.
US09652511B2
Provided are techniques for secure matching supporting fuzzy data. A first bloom filter for a first data element is retrieved, wherein each of the characters in the data element has been encrypted with a beginning offset position of the character and encrypted with an end offset position of the character to produce two encrypted values that are added to the first bloom filter. A second bloom filter for a second data element is retrieved. The first bloom filter and the second bloom filter are compared to determine whether there is a match between the first data element and the second data element.
US09652508B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting search results based on device specific utilities. In one aspect, a method includes determining whether a set of search results are ineligible for an adjustment operation based on an absence of a first proper subset of the resources that are determined to have a positive utility for a first device type from which a query was received. The determination is independent of the presence of a second proper subset of the resources that are determined to have a negative utility for the first device type. For each query for which the search results are determined to be adjusted, the search results are adjusted so that the search results referencing resources in the first proper subset are boosted relative to the search results referencing resources in the second proper subset.
US09652502B2
The invention relates to a method and system that provide a continuous querying mechanism that analyses real-time data streams to generate relevant results. It leverages data grid and event processing technology to provide a high performance and extremely scalable continuous querying solution. An embodiment of the invention provides a flexible querying language and data storage to allow users to register their interest in specific types of data, e.g. processes. The users are notified of matching results using an event-based mechanism. In order to efficiently analyze a large amount of data, the embodiment uses a grid infrastructure that allows storage of the data across many grid nodes and distributes the query execution workload, avoiding the bottleneck represented by constantly querying a database. Continuous queries are stored in a Continuous Query Registry and that Registry is invoked every time an insert or update event occurs on the triple store.
US09652496B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for dynamic partition selection. One of the methods includes receiving a representation of a query plan generated for a query, wherein the query plan includes a dynamic scan operator that represents a first computing node obtaining tuples of one or more partitions of a table from storage and transferring the tuples to a second computing node that executes a parent operator of the dynamic scan operator. A partition selector operator is generated corresponding to the dynamic scan operator. A location in the query plan is determined for the partition selector operator. A modified query plan is generated having the partition selector operator at the determined location.
US09652494B2
Techniques for extending the functionality of a search field within a web browser to include a user-selectable accelerator option to invoke a find in page feature of the web browser are provided. A search query option for the find in page functionality of the browser may be displayed in association with the search field of the web browser. The search query option may include a user-selectable graphical component enabling the user to invoke find in page based on a search term entered into the search field of the browser. The user may select the graphical component to initiate a search for the term within a web page that is either displayed or will be displayed to the user via the web browser. The displayed web page may include a visual indication of each occurrence of the search term within the web page.
US09652487B1
Techniques for performing data-related operations using data storage devices are described herein. Data storage devices are configured and/or enabled to perform data operations against one or more logical data addresses thereon. The data storage device receives a request including at least executable instructions defining the data operations to be performed and a range of logical data addresses upon which to execute the data operations. Upon request, either the same request as the one defining the data operations or in a separate request, the defined data operations are executed against the specified logical data addresses.
US09652485B1
Methods and systems for digital asset management are described. Some embodiments provide methods and systems for: (1) a high-performance database system for storing assets and the associated metadata, (2) computing an inverse delta between two files without generating any intermediate files or deltas, (3) uniquely identifying a digital asset and storing the digital asset's namespace change history in a version control system, (4) inferring dependencies amongst namespace changes, (5) a workflow management tool that is tightly integrated with a version control system, (6) publishing milestones in a project which can consistently maintain the namespace uniqueness invariant, and/or (7) implicitly versioning data and/or files that are associated with certain types of digital assets in a version control system.
US09652481B2
Playlists having media items from more than one source are described. Media items in a first library are mapped to media items from an online media item store. Media items within the playlist that can be found in the first library will be played from the first library, while media items not within the first library will be played from the online media store. By identifying media items present in both libraries and playing them only from the first library, the described method can reduce the royalties needing to be paid by the online media store. Further methods are disclosed for setting limits on the number of media items that can be shared by a second library.
US09652480B2
Backup management of software environments in a distributed network environment includes: Creating a platform specific software environment according to a predefined software environment definition by a user in the network environment; automatically creating a generalized backup of the software environment by extracting platform independent data contents and platform specific transformation rules; automatically calculating enhanced meta data describing the generalized backup; assigning the enhanced metadata with the predefined software environment definition; registering the generalized backup with the enhanced metadata in a backup storage accessible by a plurality of distributed users connected via said network environment, creating a software environment according to a predefined software environment definition by automatically checking the backup storage for an available generalized backup by means of the predefined software environment definition.
US09652474B2
A method and a system provide regional content to users by associating data files with geographical properties and matching the geographical property of a data file with the geographical property of the user. The system extracts geographical information from a data file, and associates the data file with a source geographical property corresponding to the extracted geographical information according to a geographical information database. Upon obtaining a user geographical property of a user, the system provides the data file to the user if the source geographical property matches the user geographical property. The method and the system may be implemented using a geographical name lexicon or a geographical name suffix lexicon.
US09652464B2
Systems and methods are provided for active continuous data security. An active receiver module, an active marker module, an active transmitter module and an active profiler module work together to monitor data requests, detect suspicious activity and characteristics, and responds to hinder the suspicious activity. A method includes: obtaining a request for data; obtaining a characteristic associated with the request for data; comparing the characteristic with a database of known patterns and characteristics to determine if the request is suspicious; storing the request and the characteristic in the database for future comparison; and initiating a response to hinder the request for the data when the request is determined to be suspicious. Markers embedded in data are used to track the data, including data that is exposed to a security risk. Pattern detection is used to uncover suspicious activity and the systems are able self-learn as more data is provided.
US09652458B1
A system and method for deriving associations between assets is disclosed. The system comprises a signature module, a matching module and an association module. These components of the system are communicatively coupled to each other. The signature module generates a first fingerprint for a first asset. The matching module determines a matching fingerprint that matches the first fingerprint from a candidate set. The matching module determines a first asset type for the first asset associated with the first fingerprint and a second asset type for a second asset associated with the matching fingerprint. The matching module determines an association test. The association module associates the first asset with the matching asset based on whether the association test is passed.
US09652453B2
A system and method for estimating parameters for features of a translation scoring function for scoring candidate translations in a target domain are provided. Given a source language corpus for a target domain, a similarity measure is computed between the source corpus and a target domain multi-model, which may be a phrase table derived from phrase tables of comparative domains, weighted as a function of similarity with the source corpus. The parameters of the log-linear function for these comparative domains are known. A mapping function is learned between similarity measure and parameters of the scoring function for the comparative domains. Given the mapping function and the target corpus similarity measure, the parameters of the translation scoring function for the target domain are estimated. For parameters where a mapping function with a threshold correlation is not found, another method for obtaining the target domain parameter can be used.
US09652449B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for detecting a sentiment for a short message are disclosed. For example, the method receives the short message, and obtains an abstraction of the short message. The method then determines the sentiment of the short message based upon the abstraction.
US09652439B2
Systems and methods are provided through which data parseable against a document type definition by generating a list of a possible paths of an input element that is not encoded against the document type definition, determining the path that is the best fit with the document type definition, and then generating the element in the syntax of the document type definition. Determining the path that is the best fit includes parsing the path against the document type definition. The best fit is expressed in a scoring scale, in which the best score indicates the best fit. Thereafter, the path with the best fit is translated in accordance to the document type definition or markup language.
US09652424B2
An information processing apparatus includes a control unit configured to activate the information processing apparatus in a first activation mode or a second activation mode, a receiving unit configured to receive an operation for activating the information processing apparatus in the first activation mode from a user, a notification unit configured to notify the control unit of information corresponding to the operation of the user received by the receiving unit, and a connection unit configured to connect the control unit and the receiving unit without connecting the notification unit and to notify the control unit that a user has operated on the receiving unit, wherein the control unit activates, in the case where it is not notified via the connection unit that a user has operated on the receiving unit, the information processing apparatus in the second activation mode without waiting for activation of the notification unit.
US09652419B1
A system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for filtering flow table entries is described. A trusted device may send a table read request to a network interface controller (NIC) that includes predicate logic. The NIC will use the received predicate logic to filter flow table entries. The entries that satisfy the criteria specified by the trusted software are moved to a Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer on the NIC to create a subset of entries. Once some or all of the flow table has been scanned, the subset of entries may be transferred from the DMA buffer on the NIC to a memory of the trusted host via a DMA transfer to be further processed by the trusted host.
US09652413B2
A signal processing system comprising at least one master device at least one memory element and prefetch module arranged to perform prefetching from at least one memory element upon a memory access request to the at least one memory element from the at least one master device. Upon receiving a memory access request from the at least one master device, the prefetch module is arranged to configure the enabling of prefetching of at least one of instruction information and data information in relation to that memory access request based at least partly on an address to which the memory access request relates.
US09652412B2
In a memory system, multiple memory modules communicate over a bus. Each memory module may include a hub and at least one memory storage unit. The hub receives local data from the memory storage units, and downstream data from one or more other memory modules. The hub assembles data to be sent over the bus within a data block structure, which is divided into multiple lanes. An indication is made of where, within the data block structure, a breakpoint will occur in the data being placed on the bus by a first source (e.g., the local or downstream data). Based on the indication, data from a second source (e.g., the downstream or local data) is placed in the remainder of the data block, thus reducing gaps on the bus. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09652404B2
This invention optimizes non-shared accesses and avoids dependencies across coherent endpoints to ensure bandwidth across the system even when sharing. The coherence controller is distributed across all coherent endpoints. The coherence controller for each memory endpoint keeps a state around for each coherent access to ensure the proper ordering of events. The coherence controller of this invention uses First-In-First-Out allocation to ensure full utilization of the resources before stalling and simplicity of implementation. The coherence controller provides Snoop Command/Response ID Allocation per memory endpoint.
US09652402B2
This invention hides the page miss translation latency for program fetches. In this invention whenever an access is requested by CPU that crosses a memory page boundary, the L1I cache controller request a next page translation along with the current page. This pipelines requests to the μTLB without waiting for L1I cache controller to begin processing the next page requests. This becomes a deterministic prefetch of the second page translation request. The translation information for the second page is stored locally in L1I cache controller and used when the access crosses the next page boundary.
US09652398B2
An associative cache memory, comprising: an array of storage elements arranged as M sets by N ways; an allocation unit allocates the storage elements in response to memory accesses that miss in the cache memory. Each memory access selects a set. Each memory access has an associated memory access type (MAT) of a plurality of predetermined MATs. Each valid storage element has an associated MAT; a mapping that includes, for each MAT, a MAT priority. In response to a memory access that misses in the array, the allocation unit: determines a most eligible way and a second most eligible way of the selected set for replacement based on a replacement policy; and replaces the second most eligible way rather than the most eligible way when the MAT priority of the most eligible way is greater than the MAT priority of the second most eligible way.
US09652397B2
With the increasing demand for improved processor performance, memory systems have been growing increasingly larger to keep up with this performance demand. Caches, which dictate the performance of memory systems are often the focus of improved performance in memory systems, and the most common techniques used to increase cache performance are increased size and associativity. Unfortunately, these methods yield increased static and dynamic power consumption. In this invention, a technique is shown that reduces the power consumption in associative caches with some improvement in cache performance. The architecture shown achieves these power savings by reducing the number of ways queried on each cache access, using a simple hash function and no additional storage, while skipping some pipe stages for improved performance. Up to 90% reduction in power consumption with a 4.6% performance improvement was observed.
US09652391B2
Compression of address bits within a cache coherent subsystem of a chip is performed, enabling a cache coherent subsystem to avoid transmitting, storing, and operating upon unnecessary address information. Compression is performed according to any appropriate lossless algorithm, such as discarding of bits or code book lookup. The algorithm may be chosen according to constraints on logic delay and silicon area. An algorithm for minimum area would use a number of bits equal to the rounded up binary logarithm of the sum of all addresses of all memory regions. A configuration tool generates a logic description of the compression algorithm. The algorithm may be chosen automatically by the configuration tool. Decompression may be performed on addresses exiting the coherent subsystem.
US09652387B2
A cache system stores a number of different datasets. The cache system includes a number of cache units, each in a state associated with one of the datasets. In response to determining that a hit ratio of a cache unit drops below a threshold, the state of the cache unit is changed and the dataset is replaced with that associated with the new state.
US09652385B1
An apparatus and method are provided for handling atomic update operations. The apparatus has a cache storage to store data for access by processing circuitry, the cache storage having a plurality of cache lines. Atomic update handling circuitry is used to handle performance of an atomic update operation in respect of data at a specified address. When data at the specified address is determined to be stored within a cache line of the cache storage, the atomic update handling circuitry performs the atomic update operation on the data from that cache line. Hazard detection circuitry is used to trigger deferral of performance of the atomic update operation upon detecting that a linefill operation for the cache storage is pending that will cause a chosen cache line to be populated with data that includes data at the specified address. The linefill operation causes the apparatus to receive a sequence of data portions that collectively form the data for storing in the chosen cache line. Partial linefill notification circuitry is used to provide partial linefill information to the atomic update handling circuitry during the linefill operation, and the atomic update handling circuitry is arranged to initiate the atomic update operation responsive to detecting from the partial linefill information that the data at the specified address is available for the chosen cache line. This can provide a performance benefit, by avoiding the need for the atomic update handling circuitry to await completion of the linefill operation before beginning the atomic update operation.
US09652383B2
A measurement sampling facility takes snapshots of the central processing unit (CPU) on which it is executing at specified sampling intervals to collect data relating to tasks executing on the CPU. The collected data is stored in a buffer, and at selected times, an interrupt is provided to remove data from the buffer to enable reuse thereof. The interrupt is not taken after each sample, but in sufficient time to remove the data and minimize data loss.
US09652381B2
Systems, methods and/or devices are used to enable garbage collection of a sub-block of an individually erasable block of a storage medium in a storage device. In one aspect, the method includes determining a first trigger parameter in accordance with one or more operating conditions of a first sub-block of an erase block in the storage medium, and determining a second trigger parameter in accordance with one or more operating conditions of a second sub-block of the erase block in the storage medium. In accordance with a determination that the first trigger parameter meets a first vulnerability criterion, garbage collection of the first sub-block is enabled. Furthermore, in accordance with a determination that the second trigger parameter meets a second vulnerability criterion, garbage collection of the second sub-block is enabled.
US09652380B2
A data processing system includes a host device configured to transmit a read/write command which includes data information of data corresponding to a data request received from a host, and a memory system including memory blocks and a cache in which the data are stored, and configured to receive the read/write command from the host device, check the data information, and process the data in the memory blocks or the cache based on the data information.
US09652374B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to sparsity-driven matrix representation. In one embodiment, a sparsity of a matrix is determined and the sparsity is compared to a threshold. Computer memory is allocated to store the matrix in a first data structure format based on the sparsity being greater than the threshold. Computer memory is allocated to store the matrix in a second data structure format based on the sparsity not being greater than the threshold.
US09652372B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for improving non-uniform memory access are disclosed. For example, the method divides a plurality of stream processing jobs into a plurality of groups of stream processing jobs to match a topology of a non-uniform memory access platform. The method sets a parameter in an operating system kernel of the non-uniform memory access platform to favor an allocation of a local memory, and defines a plurality of processor sets. The method binds one of the plurality of groups to one of the plurality of processor sets, and runs the one group of stream processing jobs on the one processor set.
US09652371B2
A circular queue implementing a scheme for prioritized reads is disclosed. In one embodiment, a circular queue (or buffer) includes a number of storage locations each configured to store a data value. A multiplexer tree is coupled between the storage locations and a read port. A priority circuit is configured to generate and provide selection signals to each multiplexer of the multiplexer tree, based on a priority scheme. Based on the states of the selection signals, one of the storage locations is coupled to the read port via the multiplexers of the multiplexer tree.
US09652370B2
Smart bridge and use. The smart bridge includes a functional unit, memory, and a switch for routing data between a host and multiple devices using a routing table. The bridge stores a forwarding address range (FAR) as a bridge representation of hardware memory resources required by the devices. The FAR is an integer multiple of a first specified minimum size and is aligned with the first specified minimum size. The bridge representation is converted to an endpoint representation that includes multiple virtual memory resources based on a starting address of the FAR. Each virtual memory resource has a respective sub-address range with a size that is a power of 2 multiple of a second specified minimum size, which is less than the first specified minimum size, and is aligned accordingly. The endpoint representation is usable by the switch or the host to allocate the virtual memory resources to the devices.
US09652366B2
The present disclosure relates to system(s) and method(s) for detecting change in software code of elements in a current version associated with a software application as compared to a reference version of the software application. The system and method further determines whether the change in the software code of the elements is a functional change or a non-functional change. The system and method also provides an optimized test suite for testing the current version of the software application, in order to test the elements with functional change, in the current version.
US09652356B2
A processor system tracks, in at least one counter, a number of cycles in which at least one execution unit of at least one processor core is idle and at least one thread of the at least one processor core is waiting on at least one off-core memory access during run-time of the at least one processor core during an interval comprising multiple cycles. The processor system evaluates an expected performance impact of a frequency change within the at least one processor core based on the current run-time conditions for executing at least one operation tracked in the at least one counter during the interval.
US09652348B2
A data processing apparatus has a debug state in which processing circuitry 105 executes instructions received from the debug interface 115. Control changing circuitry 135 prohibits the execution of instructions in a predefined privilege mode when in the debug state if a control parameter has a predefined value. In response to a first exception being signalled while in the debug state, where the first exception is intended to be handled at the predefined privilege mode, and further in response to the control parameter having the predefined value, signalling circuitry 115 signals a second exception to be handled at a different privilege mode from the predefined privilege mode and sets information identifying a type of the first exception. Consequently, without having to enter the prohibited (predefined) privilege mode, the debugger 110 can be made aware of the first exception that would ordinarily be handled at the predefined, i.e. prohibited privilege mode.
US09652334B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for increasing coordination service reliability. A coordination service maintains state (e.g., using replication) for one or more software components (e.g., applications). Tokens can be used to identify incarnations of a member set within the coordination service. When a member starts and has no token, the member attempts to learn the token from a majority other members. If no such token exists, the member requests a new token. Aspects of the invention can be used to detect and compensate for lost state within the coordination service, including state lost due to storage device failures (which may be referred to as “silent data loss”). Detecting and compensating for silent data loss makes the coordination service more reliable and can essentially guarantee that the coordination service notifies clients when data is lost and ceases processing when incorrect state may exist.
US09652333B1
Stored data consistency is maintained at source and destination sites upon a failure when migrating a plurality of related virtual machines from the source site to the destination site. Consistency is maintained across a first site and a second site upon a failure during independent migrations of a plurality of virtual machines in a consistency group from the first site to the second site wherein at least a first virtual machine is executing at the first site and wherein at least a second virtual machine is executing at the second site, by performing a consistent snapshot at the first site of one or more storage volumes employed by the virtual machines in the consistency group; and performing a consistent snapshot at the second site of one or more storage volumes employed by the virtual machines in the consistency group. When data for the virtual machines in the consistency group is stored on at least two storage volumes at a single site, an improved site-distributed consistency feature performs a consistent snapshot of the storage volumes in the consistency group on a plurality of replication engines at both the first and second sites.
US09652330B2
A method for data management and a memory storage device and a memory control circuit unit thereof. The method includes: configuring a NVRAM and a VRAM; storing first data which includes writing data from a host system in the NVRAM; storing second data read from a rewritable non-volatile memory module in the VRAM; when the memory storage device is re-powered on after power failure, reading the first data from the NVRAM, so as to write the writing data into the rewritable non-volatile memory module.
US09652320B2
A wireless communications device may be configured to perform integrity checking and interrogation with a network entity to isolate a portion of a failed component on the wireless network device for remediation. Once an integrity failure is determined on a component of the device, the device may identify a functionality associated with the component and indicate the failed functionality to the network entity. Both the wireless network device and the network entity may identify the failed functionality and/or failed component using a component-to-functionality map. After receiving an indication of an integrity failure at the device, the network entity may determine that one or more additional iterations of integrity checking may be performed at the device to narrow the scope of the integrity failure on the failed component. Once the integrity failure is isolated, the network entity may remediate a portion of the failed component on the wireless communications device.
US09652317B2
A data processing system comprising: a constantly updating database of a plurality of processes having a plurality of operation times, relating to a plurality of applications, relating to at least one user activity, and using a plurality of computing resources; a monitor arranged to identify a plurality of clashes between the processes, a plurality of frustration events and to correlate between the frustration events and the clashes between the processes; a cause identifier arranged to identify, for each frustration event, a cause for the correlated clash of processes; a remedy generator arranged to generate, for each cause, a remedy arranged to solve the frustration event; a communication module arranged to provide the remedies to users in relation to respective user activities in view of their frustration events; and an analyzer arranged to monitor an efficacy of the remedies in respect to their corresponding frustration events.
US09652289B2
Systems and techniques of the management of the allocation of a plurality of memory elements stored within a plurality of lockless list structures are presented. These lockless list structures (such as Slists) may be made accessible within an operating system environment of a multicore processor—and may be partitioned within the system. Memory elements may also be partitioned among these lockless list structures. When a core processor (or other processing element) makes a request for allocating a memory element to itself, the system and/or method may search among the lockless list structures for an available memory element. When a suitable and/or available memory element is found, the system may allocate the available memory element to requesting core processor. Dynamically balancing of memory elements may occur according to a suitable balancing metric, such as maintain substantial numerical equality of memory elements or avoid over-allocation of resources.
US09652288B2
A method for adaptively allocating resources to a plurality of jobs. The method comprises selecting a first policy from a plurality of policies for a first job in the plurality of jobs by using a policy selection mechanism, allocating at least one resource to the first job in accordance with the first policy, and in response to completion of the first job, updating the policy selection mechanism to obtain an updated policy selection mechanism by using at least one processor. Updating the policy selection mechanism comprises evaluating the performance of the first policy with respect to the first job by calculating a value of a metric of utility for the first policy based on conditions associated with execution of the first job and updating the policy selection mechanism based on the calculated value and a delay of execution of the first job.
US09652287B2
Among other things, requests are received for tasks to be performed in a database. The tasks include tasks that will cause changes in data of the database and other tasks that must be executed on data in the database that is consistent time-wise. At least some of the data that will be changed by the change-causing tasks comprises data that must remain time-wise consistent for the other tasks. The other tasks are executed in the database while the change-causing tasks are also being executed in the database, without requiring a replication or reconfiguration of the database.
US09652284B2
A device includes a memory, and at least one programmable processor configured to determine, for each warp of a plurality of warps, whether a Boolean expression is true for a corresponding thread of each warp, pause execution of each warp having a corresponding thread for which the expression is true, determine a number of active threads for each of the plurality of warps for which the expression is true, sort the plurality of warps for which the expression is true based on the number of active threads in each of the plurality of warps, swap thread data of an active thread of a first warp of the plurality of warps with thread data of an inactive thread of a second warp of the plurality of warps, and resume execution of the at least one of the plurality of warps for which the expression is true.
US09652282B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for instruction level execution preemption. Preempting at the instruction level does not require any draining of the processing pipeline. No new instructions are issued and the context state is unloaded from the processing pipeline. Any in-flight instructions that follow the preemption command in the processing pipeline are captured and stored in a processing task buffer to be reissued when the preempted program is resumed. The processing task buffer is designated as a high priority task to ensure the preempted instructions are reissued before any new instructions for the preempted context when execution of the preempted context is restored.
US09652280B2
A host computer has one or more physical central processing units (CPUs) that support the execution of a plurality of containers, where the containers each include one or more processes. Each process of a container is assigned to execute exclusively on a corresponding physical CPU when the corresponding container is determined to be latency sensitive. The assignment of a process to execute exclusively on a corresponding physical CPU includes the migration of tasks from the corresponding physical CPU to one or more other physical CPUs of the host system, and the directing of task and interrupt processing to the one or more other physical CPUs. Tasks of the process corresponding to the container are then executed on the corresponding physical CPU.
US09652277B2
A scalable virtualized network core is provided to allow for incrementally adjusting network resources in response to changing demand, and for improved flexibility in network management and control. The scalable virtualized network core provides a cloud evolved packet core that has virtual machines performing the functions of the individual server elements. As demand for network resources changes, additional virtual machines can be brought online or virtual machines can be terminated to efficiently address the demand. An abstraction agent can be provided to facilitate the physical to logical connections so that to the perspective of elements in a radio access network, no changes have been made. The abstraction agent also facilitates network control and management of the virtual machines.
US09652276B2
A method, according to one embodiment, includes receiving a request for a hypervisor to run a virtual machine, determining using a processor whether the virtual machine is authorized to run using a data structure having metadata about properties of the virtual machine, determining using a processor whether the hypervisor is authorized to run the virtual machine using a digital signature of the data structure, receiving a decryption key from a key authority when it is determined that the virtual machine is authorized to be run and it is determined that the hypervisor is authorized to run the virtual machine, unlocking and/or decrypting the virtual machine using the decryption key, and running the virtual machine on a computer system. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
US09652272B2
Technologies related to continuous world switch security are generally described. In some examples, a world switch indicator may indicate whether continuous world switch security is on or off for a cloud customer. A hypervisor world switch security setting may be activated and deactivated, according to the world switch indicator, to optionally allow world switches and not context switches between virtual machines executed by a cloud server. Continuous world switch security may optionally be controlled by a cloud customer. Load balancing, cloud customer billing and other techniques are also disclosed to accommodate the activation/deactivation of continuous world switch security.
US09652266B2
An automated system and method for knowledge transfer, end user support and performance tracking during a life cycle of an enterprise application are disclosed. In one embodiment, knowledge information associated with the enterprise application is captured. Further, a simulated enterprise application is created based on the captured knowledge information. In addition, the end users are allowed to use the simulated enterprise application and actual performance of the simulated enterprise application is tracked.
US09652261B2
A data card and a communication method are provided. The method includes: when being connected to a terminal, a data card being enumerated as an MBIM device to an operating system of the terminal; and the data card communicate with the terminal via a CID message. The present invention achieves the installation of the data card in a driver-free mode, and thus the communication efficiency of the data card is improved.
US09652252B1
Circuits and methods for power dependent selection of boot images are disclosed. In an example implementation, an apparatus includes a memory circuit and a processor disposed on an integrated circuit die. The processor is configured to retrieve and execute instructions from the memory circuit. The apparatus also includes a power management circuit configured to determine a value indicative of an amount of power available to power the IC die. A boot loader circuit is coupled to the power management circuit and is configured to select one of a plurality of boot images based on the determined value indicative of the amount of power available. The boot loader circuit loads a set of instructions included in the selected one of the boot images into the memory circuit and enables the processor to execute the set of instructions.
US09652249B1
This disclosure describes techniques and/or apparatuses for reducing the total time used to boot up a computer and load applications onto the computer.
US09652246B1
In a method of executing instructions in a processing system, respective global age tags are assigned to each of the one or more instructions fetched for processing by the processing system. Each global age tag indicates an age of the corresponding instruction in the processing system. Respective physical registers in a physical register file are allocated to each destination logical register referenced by each instruction. The respective global age tags are written to the in respective physical registers allocated to the destination logical registers of the instructions. The instructions are executed by the processing system. At least some of the instructions are executed in an order different from a program order of the instructions.
US09652244B2
A processing bypass directory system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bypass directory tracking process includes setting bits in a bypass directory when a corresponding architectural register is written. The bits are selectively cleared in the bypass directory each cycle. The configuration of the bits is utilized to determine which stage of a bypass path processing information is at.
US09652243B2
Systems and methods for predicting out-of-order instruction-level parallelism (ILP) of threads being executed in a multi-threaded processor and prioritizing scheduling thereof are described herein. One aspect provides for tracking completion of instructions using a global completion table having a head segment and a tail segment; storing prediction values for each instruction in a prediction table indexed via instruction identifiers associated with each instruction, a prediction value being configured to indicate an instruction is predicted to issue from one of: the head segment and the tail segment; and predicting threads with more instructions issuing from the tail segment have a higher degree of out-of-order instruction-level parallelism. Other embodiments and aspects are also described herein.
US09652242B2
An apparatus and method for calculating flag bits is disclosed. The flag bits may be used in a processor utilizing branch predication. More particularly, the apparatus and method may be used to calculate a predicate that can be used by a branch unit to evaluate whether a branch is to be taken. In one embodiment, the apparatus is coupled to receive a condition code associated with an instruction, and flag bits generated responsive to execution of the instruction. The condition code is indicative of a condition to be checked resulting from execution of the instruction. The apparatus may then provide an indication of whether the condition is true.
US09652231B2
Mechanisms are provided for dynamic data driven alignment and data formatting in a floating point SIMD architecture. At least two operand inputs are input to a permute unit of a processor. Each operand input contains at least one floating point value upon which a permute operation is to be performed by the permute unit. A control vector input, having a plurality of floating point values that together constitute the control vector input, is input to the permute unit of the processor for controlling the permute operation of the permute unit. The permute unit performs a permute operation on the at least two operand inputs according to a permutation pattern specified by the plurality of floating point values that constitute the control vector input. Moreover, a result output of the permute operation is output from the permute unit to a result vector register of the processor.
US09652229B2
A semiconductor device is provided, which can supply efficiently plural pieces of data required for operation to an arithmetic unit processing plural pieces of data concurrently. The microcomputer includes a data transfer controller and a filter arithmetic unit. The data transfer controller transfers plural pieces of data from a source address area to a destination address area continuously, based on data transfer information, when a start request is received. The filter arithmetic unit performs operation using concurrently plural pieces of data received from the data transfer controller.
US09652222B1
A prototyping apparatus includes a housing, a connector on the housing for accepting a component, a microcontroller within the housing interacting with the component where the microcontroller has program memory, a user interface on an exterior surface of the housing for interaction between a user and the apparatus, a connection to a source of upgrade software, and programming circuitry within the housing for causing the microcontroller to enter an upgrade mode. The prototyping apparatus may further include a processor in communication with the microcontroller and the user interface, a device driver running on the processor for actuating the programming circuitry responsive to the command received through the user interface. The prototyping apparatus may include circuitry for generating a voltage that is higher than an operating voltage of the prototyping apparatus, and may further include level-shifting circuitry for shifting signals that are at the operating voltage to the higher voltage.
US09652210B2
A provisioning system to automatically determine the appropriate components to install or make available for installation on a target computer system. The provisioning system ensures the provisioning of software components that are appropriate to each target computer system without requiring user input. The provisioning system can identify support for 64-bit software components. The provisioning system checks a field in the processor to determine longword, that is 64-bit support, or checks an entry in a file maintained by an operating system to determine 64 bit support. If 64-bit support is not detected then a 32-bit component is installed to ensure that the target computer system is capable of executing the software component.
US09652193B2
A method for providing a service related to a plurality of mirroring images displayed on a screen of a sink device is provided. The method includes determining a first object in a first mirroring image that is displayed on the screen of the sink device, based on a user input, as the first object is moved to a location in a second mirroring image that is displayed on the screen of the sink device, determining a second object that corresponds to the location to which the first object has been moved, determining a service related to the first object and the second object, from among services provided via the second mirroring image, and outputting a result of the determined service.
US09652189B2
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a printer driver, when being executed by a processor of the computing device, causes a computing device to perform prohibition processing including: obtaining setup items associated with print features of the printer device and corresponding option values from PrintTicket, to create check data; checking the check data for a setup item causing a conflict between option values; and in response to finding a setup item causing a conflict between option values, replacing an option value in the PrintTicket, which is set for the setup item causing the conflict, with another option value.
US09652182B2
Disclosed are a system, a method and/or an apparatus of a shareable virtual non-volatile storage device for a server. In one embodiment, the system includes a server, a storage array, a management processor, and a switching fabric. The storage array includes a storage device coupled with a controller associated with a shared driver to receive a data request from the server at a remote location from the storage array through the switch fabric via a communication link to direct the data request to the storage device coupled with it and transmit data to the server through the switch fabric. A virtual storage device is generated in the server to enable the server to share the shared driver in the storage array with other servers through the switch fabric between the server and the storage array. The server distributes the data across the storage devices through the shared driver.
US09652180B2
Provided are a memory device, a memory system, and a control method performed by the memory system. The control method includes operations of generating, by a first function block of the memory system, a main request comprising a first sub-request for a first operation that is requested by an external source and a second sub-request for a second operation that is dependent upon a processing result of the first operation; processing, by a second function block of the memory system, the first sub-request or the second sub-request; and when a processing result of the first sub-request performed by the second function block is a fail, transmitting, by a third function block of the memory system, abortion information to the first function block in response to the main request, regardless of processing the second sub-request.
US09652179B2
A memory system is provided. The memory system includes a memory controller and a first memory block. The first memory block is configured to store a first data from a top of the first memory block in a top-down fashion. The first memory block is configured to store a first metadata corresponding to the first data from a bottom of the first memory block in a bottom-up fashion. The first data forms a first data area. The first metadata forms a first metadata area. And a first continuous space is formed between a bottom of the first data area and a top of the first metadata area.
US09652170B2
A memory device responding to device commands for operational controls. An embodiment of memory device includes one or more memory elements, a system element including a memory controller, and a physical interface including command input pins to receive commands for the memory device. The commands include commands for operational controls for the memory device, including one or both of a first command for a reset control to reset the memory device and a second command for a clock enable (CKE) control to halt internal clock distribution for the memory device.
US09652165B2
Regardless of which of the multiple storage subsystems provided with the same identification information is accessed from a plurality of host computers, multiple volumes provided with the same identification information among the storage subsystems are subjected to extent exclusion sharing. Therefore, a multiplex volume provided with the same identification information among the plurality of storage subsystems and a first storage subsystem for processing input/output requests by the channel command to the multiplex volume are provided, wherein if the channel command received from the host computer or via a control unit of a second storage subsystem is an input/output request of the multiplex volume, a control unit of the first storage subsystem determines the access authority regarding an extent range of the multiplex volume designated by the channel command, based on information on whether an input/output processing regarding the extent range is already executed based on another request.
US09652163B2
A method for releasing storage space in a space-efficient volume is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, for a space-efficient volume, a bitmap comprising a bit for each track in the space-efficient volume. A host system indicates whether a track is one of used and unused by marking the corresponding bit in the bitmap. A storage controller reads the bitmap and frees tracks from the space-efficient volume that the bitmap indicates are unused. In certain embodiments, the bitmap is stored on the space-efficient volume. For example, the bitmap may be appended to a volume table of contents (VTOC) stored on the space-efficient volume. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09652157B2
A method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a recirculation command, performing a coarse page lookup to determine valid ones of logical pages to be recirculated, issuing write commands for the valid logical pages, requesting performance of a fine page lookup on source physical addresses containing the valid logical pages to verify the valid logical pages, receiving verified valid logical pages resulting from the fine page lookup, and sending the write commands corresponding to the verified valid logical pages. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
US09652153B2
Systems, methods and/or devices are used to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device in a storage system. In one aspect, the method includes, detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device of the storage system, and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the performing including reducing a count of logical addresses of a logical address space available to a host. In some embodiments, the storage device includes one or more flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both are performed by the storage device, or by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the storage device, or by the host.
US09652151B2
A storage controller receives hints provided by one or more applications over a period of time, wherein the hints are used by the storage controller for organizing data in storage managed by the storage controller. Data on conflicts caused by the provided hints are collected over the period of time. Based on the collected data on the conflicts, one or more conflict avoidance rules are executed to reduce possibility of future conflicts.
US09652147B2
A method and an apparatus for altering a key function of a software input panel (SIP) of an electronic device and a recording medium thereof are provided, wherein the SIP includes a plurality of keys, and the number and layout of the keys are fixed. In the present method, first, an operating interface of an electronic device is switched, wherein the operating interface includes the SIP. Then, each key of the SIP is switched to an input word corresponding to the operating interface. As a result, the input word corresponding to each key of the SIP is automatically altered according to the current operating interface, and accordingly inputting through the SIP is made very convenient.
US09652146B2
Sliding and non-sliding touch input to an electronic device may be selected so that the motions associated with a character to input are intuitive and thus easy to remember. The motions for the contacts of the touch input may be selected ergonomically in a way enabling touch-typing, thus increasing user comfort for longer periods of use. Multiple repositionable finger contact regions are maintained on a contact surface in an arrangement that is easily accessible for the user's fingertips. Each available input character is associated with a unique finger contact or set of simultaneously-entered contacts, each contact being either sliding or non-sliding contact, and the sliding contacts having a direction associated with the character. One example touch surface is a touch screen. Another example touch surface is the table upon which the electronic device sets and thus separate from the electronic device and freeing space on the device for other use.
US09652141B2
A method includes displaying a plurality of display elements on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device; in response to detecting a touch lasting at least a first duration and associated with a first portion of the plurality of display elements, selecting the first portion; and in response to the touch lasting at least a second duration longer than the first duration, selecting a second portion of the plurality of display elements.
US09652136B2
A method comprising determining to provide for adjustment of a first setting, causing display of a first curvilinear slider interface element that relates to a value of the first setting, receiving an indication of a drag input associated with the first curvilinear slider interface element, causing adjustment movement of the selection point relative to the curvilinear slider interface element in proportion to the drag input, and determining a value of the first setting is based, at least in part, on a position of the first selection point relative to curvilinear slider interface element is disclosed.
US09652130B1
Systems and methods for presenting information associated with an application are disclosed. An application is executed at a computing device, wherein the application presents a visual output at a display unit of the computing device. A guest process is run within the application. The guest process stores and processes untrusted content. An embedder process is run within the application and in parallel with the guest process. The embedder process stores and processes trusted content. The application receives, via the guest process, a request to present an image associated with the untrusted content. The embedder process specifies size constraints for the image. The guest process adjusts the image to fit within the size constraints specified via the embedder process.
US09652129B1
Techniques are described for optimizing the use of computing resources in connection with providing online services. A user interface (UI) executes in the cloud and is streamed as video to a client device. When the user navigates away from the UI, the connection between the client and the computing resource is terminated and the resource is placed back in the pool. The most recent state of the UI is retained so that when the user navigates back to the UI, a new resource is allocated and the UI begins executing at or near the point where the user last interacted with the UI.
US09652117B2
A method for displaying information in a computer system having a visual display device with available display space for displaying representations of a plurality of data items, includes receiving the plurality of data items to provide received data items, and representing the received data items with abstract visual elements on the visual display device to provide displayed abstract visual elements. An interaction with a displayed abstract visual element is received to provide a selected abstract visual element in accordance with the received interaction. A data item represented by the selected abstract visual element is displayed on the visual display device in accordance with the received interaction.
US09652109B2
A predictive contextual toolbar is presented that provides an identifiable region on which predicted commands can be surfaced. This user interface can be presented in cases where an indication of a request for a command (such as a formatting tool) is received, for example, while a user is interacting with a canvas of a productivity application. When conditions for surfacing a predictive command are met, the system can display an identifiable region on which predicted commands are surfaced according to context associated with the conditions for surfacing the predictive command. The identifiable region may be an extension of a mini toolbar. One or more dynamic predicted commands can be surfaced on the identifiable region to provide easily accessible, user specific, context related commands.
US09652102B2
A touch panel includes a plurality of touch sensing groups. Each of the touch sensing groups includes a central electrode, a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. The central electrode includes a main body, and has a wavy contour. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are disposed at two sides of the main body along a direction, respectively. Each of the first electrodes includes a first inner edge adaptively spaced from a first edge of the central electrode. Each of the second electrodes includes a second inner edge adaptively spaced from a second edge of the central electrode. One first electrode of the first electrodes overlaps two adjacent second electrodes of the second electrodes in another direction.
US09652100B2
Provided is an electroconductive film including a base material film provided with a light transmissive base material (20), and one or more functional layers laminated on a single or both sides of the light transmissive base material; a transparent electroconductive layer, which is provided on the functional layer, and patterned; and a lead-out electrode electrically connected with the transparent electroconductive layer; wherein when the base material film is irradiated with light from a surface side of the functional layer while an incidence angle is varied every five degrees in a range of 5° or more and 75° or less to determine a* and b* values of the base material film in a L*a*b* color system from reflected light toward each regular reflection direction, a variation of the a* values is 1.0 or less, and a variation of the b* values is 3.0 or less.
US09652099B2
An array substrate and its manufacturing method, and a touch display device are disclosed. A display area of the array substrate includes a plurality of thin film transistor (11), first transparent electrodes (12), second transparent electrodes (13) and a transparent insulation layer (16) that contacts the second transparent electrodes (13); the transparent insulation layer (16) is a conductor when a voltage applied thereon is larger than a predetermined voltage, and is an insulator when the voltage applied therein is less than the predetermined voltage. The second transparent electrodes (13) include first sub-electrodes (131) arranged into a plurality of rows in a first direction and insulated from each other, and second sub-electrodes (132) arranged into a plurality of rows in a second direction and insulated from each other, the first direction is intersected with the second direction. The problems such as noise, visual artifacts, insensitive to touch, or the like caused by unbalance of charges can be avoided.
US09652097B2
A touch input device performing a feedback according to a touch level may be provided that includes; a touch screen which displays a passcode input window; a controller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not a touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode, and determines a touch level among a plurality of touch levels by using at least one of a pressure magnitude, area and time period of the touch; and a memory which stores the predetermined passcode. The touch level is set to the predetermined passcode.
US09652094B2
The present disclosure provides an in cell touch panel and a display device. An entire common electrode layer on an array substrate is divided so as to form a plurality of touch driving electrodes and a plurality of common electrodes which are insulated from each other and arranged in a crisscross manner. Each touch driving electrode includes a plurality of touch driving sub-electrodes, and each touch driving sub-electrode is arranged between the adjacent common electrodes. Each common electrode includes a plurality of common sub-electrodes. Touch sensing electrodes are arranged on an opposite substrate, and a projection of each touch sensing electrode onto the array substrate is located at a region where the common electrode is located. The touch driving electrodes are driven in a time-division manner, so as to achieve a touch function and a display function.
US09652089B2
A touch panel stackup comprises a substrate having a substantially transparent first region and a substantially opaque second region, a sensing electrode detecting a tactile signal, a conductive circuit electrically coupled with the sensing electrode, and a masking element configured on the second region of the substrate, wherein the sensing electrode, the conductive circuit, and the masking element are integrally formed on the substrate.
US09652078B2
A display device is configured to (a) detect presence or absence of noise or water droplet adhesion based on current flowing through a plurality of detection electrodes upon supply of a touch panel scanning voltage to m divided blocks of the counter electrode, and (b) distinguish between noise and water droplet based on the current flowing through the detection electrodes on the assumption that a (m+1)th counter electrodes exists in addition to the m divided blocks of the counter electrode, and the touch panel scanning voltage is supplied to the (m+1)th counter electrode, which is in synchronization with the touch panel scanning voltage supplied to the m divided blocks of the counter electrode.
US09652070B2
For integrating multiple different touch based inputs, a method is disclosed that includes detecting a pressure at a screen pressure module, enabling a first touch module based on the pressure exceeding a pressure threshold value, and integrating input from a second touch module and the first touch module, the input from the first touch module and the second touch module being concurrently received.
US09652065B2
A touch panel includes a first substrate, a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second substrate, and a second electrode formed on the second substrate. The first electrode includes a number of first conductive patterns extending in a first direction. The second electrode includes a number of second conductive patterns extending in a second direction. Both the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns include a number of parallel first metal wires and a number of parallel second metal wires perpendicularly crossing with the first metal wires. A first angle is defined between the first metal wires of the first conductive pattern and the first direction. A second angle is defined between the first metal wires of the second conductive pattern and the second direction. The first angle is different from the second angle.
US09652064B2
A touch display module, a driving method thereof and a source driver are provided. The touch display module includes a touch display panel and at least one source driver. The source driver is coupled to a plurality of data lines of the touch display panel. In a display mode, the source driver respectively outputs a plurality of pixel driving signals to the data lines for driving the touch display panel to display a corresponding image. In a touch mode, the source driver clusters the data lines into multiple groups, and respectively outputs a plurality of touch driving signals to the groups. The data lines belonging to a same group are provided with a same touch driving signal in the touch mode.
US09652059B2
Disclosed is a transparent electroconductive laminate which achieves the required transparency or haze characteristic while having a desirable slipperiness in terms of handleability. Further disclosed is a transparent touch panel having said transparent electroconductive laminate. The transparent laminate (10) has a transparent organic polymer substrate (1), a transparent electroconductive layer (2) on one face of the transparent organic polymer substrate, and a cured resin layer (3) with a concavo-convex surface on the other face of the transparent organic polymer substrate, and the transparent touch panel has said transparent electroconductive laminate. The cured resin layer (3) has a concavo-convex surface by being formed from a coating composition which contains two types of polymerizable components which mutually phase-separate on the basis of the physical difference therebetween.
US09652058B2
A method may be executed by one or more active capacitive styluses and a sensor controller connected to sensor electrodes. The method includes: a discovery step, executed by the sensor controller, of repeatedly sending out a discovery packet for detecting any of the active capacitive styluses; a discovery response step, executed by a first active capacitive stylus among the one or more active capacitive styluses, by which the discovery packet is detected, of returning a response packet to the discovery packet; a configuration step, executed by the sensor controller, of transmitting a configuration packet including time slot designation information that designates a first time slot to the first active capacitive stylus; and a data transmission step, executed by the first active capacitive stylus, of transmitting operation state data indicative of an operation state of the first active capacitive stylus using the designated first time slot.
US09652053B2
A method for displaying pointing information that enables a user to intuitively determine a pointing position and a moving direction of the point position via a display and a device for performing the method are disclosed. The method includes displaying a plurality of items and selection information which is overlapped with at least a part of a selected item from among the plurality of items on a display, receiving movement information which relates to a remote control apparatus from the remote control apparatus, and if a position on the display which corresponds to the movement information is disposed outside a predetermined region which includes the selected item, modifying the selection information.
US09652050B2
An input system includes at least one base portion. A plurality of multi-function keys, a function lock key, and a function activation key are located on the at least one base portion and coupled to a key function engine. The key function engine is configured to provide the plurality of multi-function keys in a first function mode. The key function engine may then change the function mode of the plurality of multi-function keys from the first function mode to a second function mode in response to receiving a first input through the function activation key that is followed by a second input that is received through the function lock key. The key function engine may then change the function mode of the plurality of multi-function keys between the second function mode and the first function mode in response to each subsequent input that is received through the function activation key.
US09652033B2
A system and method of securing data displayed to two or more individuals on two or more displays, wherein the two or more displays include a first display and a second display. One or more fixations of a first individual on the first display are determined. One or more fixations of a second individual on the second display are determined. A first frame buffer is associated with the first display. A second frame buffer is associated with the second display. Segments of the content in the first and second frame buffers are displayed while other segments are obfuscated.
US09652014B2
A system and method are provided for managing electrical power consumption by individual electrical circuits in a building. The system includes a power control device in electrical communication with a multi-circuit power infeed and a multi-circuit power output, each of which includes at least two electrical conductors on separate circuits. The power control device includes respective electrical switches associated with the conductors of the power infeed and power output, an electronic communications module, and a computer processor in communication with the switches and the communications module. The processor is operable to open and close the electrical switches independently, in response to an occupancy signal and/or a trigger or scheduled event stored by the power control device. When a period of non-use is detected or anticipated, the power control device de-energizes one or more circuits, to limit unnecessary energy consumption within the system. A receptacle-level power control is also disclosed.
US09652012B2
An electronic device and a power supplying method thereof are provided. An electronic device includes a host and a power supply. The host receives a power via a power supply path. The power is transmitted to the host via the power supply path. The power supply detects state changes of a plurality of supply current values at the power supply path obtained by the host from the power supply at a plurality of time intervals, so as to generate a determining result. A voltage value of the power is changed according to the determining result.
US09651995B2
The present disclosure provides a foldable electronic device. The foldable electronic device includes a first cover unit, a second cover unit, at least one pivotal connection structure configured to pivotally connect the first cover unit and the second cover unit and, when the foldable electronic device is unlocked, to automatically open the foldable electronic device to an open position, an unlock switch configured to unlock the latch assembly to open the foldable electronic device to the open position from a closed position where the first cover unit and the second cover unit are folded with each other, a closure detector configured to detect a closure status of the foldable electronic device, and a processor having a signal connection with the closure detector and configured to transition between a standby state and an operation state based on the signal received from the closure detector.
US09651994B1
The present invention is to provide a docking station applicable to a portable electronic device and having an anti-theft mechanism, which includes a positioning base having a top side concavely provided with a positioning space and a first abutting surface provided adjacent to one end of the positioning base and facing the positioning space; a sliding base movably connected to an opposite end of the positioning base and provided with a second abutting surface facing the positioning space, wherein the first and second abutting surfaces are respectively and protrudingly provided with a first plug and a second plug configured to be inserted into and thereby connected with corresponding sockets of the portable electronic device; a first fastener and a second fastener respectively provided at the sliding base and the positioning base and capable of being fastened together to prevent the sliding base from moving with respect to the positioning base.
US09651991B2
A mobile terminal and a control method are provided. The mobile terminal includes: a body formed to wrap around at least one region of a wrist; a projection unit disposed to the side of the body and projecting image information; a display unit disposed on a front surface of the body and configured to output first screen information; and a controller configured to control the projection unit to project screen information corresponding to first screen information currently displayed on the display unit, on the basis of a pre-set type touch applied to the display unit.
US09651988B2
PDAs can be used to provide their users with various functions. One such function is the ability to contact other users who are stored in the PDA as contacts, for example by telephone of text message. The decision as to whether or not a particular user should be contacted may be influenced by the location of that user. For example, if a contact is nearby, then it may be more likely that the user of the PDA would want to contact them. The present embodiments provide a PDA on which the location of one or more contacts can be displayed. Furthermore, the location of a particular contact can be shown on a map on the screen of the PDA simply by tilting the PDA through a predetermined angle about a horizontal axis. Thus, the map can be displayed in an intuitive and straightforward manner.
US09651984B2
A feed-forward, time transfer mechanism is provided for time synchronization in a computer network. A device in a network receives a timestamp from a time synchronization master of the device that is associated with a clock message from the master. The device generates a new clock message for one or more slaves of the device and sends a new timestamp associated with the new clock message to the one or more slaves that is based on the timestamp received from the master, a determined amount of transmission delay between the device and the master, and an elapsed time between when the device received the clock message from the master and when the device generated the new clock message for the one or more slaves.
US09651982B2
The invention relates to a resetting device (6) for a steering-column switch unit (1) of a motor vehicle, having a triggering element (10) by means of which an actuating lever (2) of the steering-column switch unit (1) can be moved from an actuated position into an initial position, having an intermediate piece (22) on which the triggering element (10) is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (35) between a rest position and a triggering position in which the actuating lever (2) can be moved into the initial position, wherein the triggering element (10) is furthermore mounted on the intermediate piece (22) so as to be displaceable in a sliding direction (28) perpendicular to the pivot axis (35), having a spring element (27) for generating a spring force which acts parallel to the sliding direction (28) and with which the triggering element (10) is arranged under preload on the intermediate piece (22), and having a switch override protection unit (32) with at least one switch override spring (33, 34) which, in a switch override situation, permits a movement of the intermediate piece (22) relative to the actuating lever (2), wherein the at least one switch override spring (33, 34) and the spring element (27) are arranged adjacent to one another in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (28).
US09651971B2
An HEMS 700 provided in a consumer having independently operable power supply means (PV 100, storage battery 200, PCS 400 and the like) and at least one load 300, for controlling the power supply means and the load 300, determines an during-independent-operation schedule that is an operation schedule of the load during the independent operation on the basis of a period when the independent operation is performed, a power supply status of the power supply means, and a status of the load 300.
US09651968B2
The present invention pertains to a linear power regulator device that includes an internal pass device, a driver device having a driver output arranged to drive the internal pass device via the driver output. The linear power regulator device also includes an external connection connectable or connected to an external pass device; and the driver device is arranged to drive the external pass device via the driver output and the external connection.
US09651961B2
Methods and systems to regulate a voltage with multiple selectable voltage regulator (VR) modes, using multiple corresponding circuits and/or a configurable circuit. The circuit may be configurable for one or more of a power-gate VR mode, a switched-capacitor VR (SCVR) mode, and a linear mode, such as a low drop-out (LDO) VR mode. A feedback controller, such as a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, may configure and/or control a multi-mode VR for a selected VR mode. The feedback controller may select a VR mode based on a reference voltage and voltage ranges associated with the VR modes. The circuit may be configurable as banks of VRs, and the controller may be implemented to transition between VR modes by switching sub-banks between modes until the transition is complete.
US09651960B2
Multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators, provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients. The multi-stage amplifier includes a first amplification stage which activates or deactivates a first output stage in response to an input voltage at an input node. The first output stage sources a current at an output node of the multi-stage amplifier from a high potential, when activated. Furthermore, the multi-stage amplifier has a second amplification stage to activate or to deactivate a second output stage in response to the input voltage at the input node. The second output stage sinks a current at the output node of the multi-stage amplifier to a low potential, when activated. The first amplification stage and the second amplification stage activate the first output stage and the second output stage in a mutually exclusive manner.
US09651945B1
A method, system, and recording medium including a mission receiving device configured to receive a mission for the drone-swarm based on a user input, a drone and pattern recruiting device configured to recruit a plurality of drones based on the mission, and a flocking goal device configured to arrange the plurality of drones in the drone-swarm in a pattern to satisfy the mission.
US09651943B2
Various methods and systems for creating or performing a dynamic sampling scheme for a process during which measurements are performed on wafers are provided. One method for creating a dynamic sampling scheme for a process during which measurements are performed on wafers includes performing the measurements on all of the wafers in at least one tot at all measurement spots on the wafers. The method also includes determining an optimal sampling scheme, an enhanced sampling scheme, a reduced sampling scheme, and thresholds for the dynamic sampling scheme for the process based on results of the measurements. The thresholds correspond to values of the measurements at which the optimal sampling scheme, the enhanced sampling scheme, and the reduced sampling scheme are to be used for the process.
US09651939B2
A numerical controller having a display function for comparing data at a predetermined position regardless of a change in a processing condition. The numerical controller comprises a numerical controlling part which controls each drive axis based on a predetermined position command; a position data obtaining part which obtains position data of each axis and a tool representative point of the machine tool; a movement distance calculating part which calculates movement distance of the axis and the tool representative point based on the obtained position data and dimensional information of each component of the machine tool; a physical data obtaining part which obtains physical data of each axis and the tool; a data converting part which converts the obtained time axis-based physical data into movement distance-based data; a distance-based data storing part which stores the movement distance-based data; and a displaying part which displays the movement distance-based data.
US09651932B2
A numerical control device for controlling a five-axis processing machine includes a tool-direction instruction correction unit, and corrects a tool-direction vector so that a tool direction of a processing program smoothly changes. The tool-direction instruction correction unit refers to a tool-direction correction tolerance set in advance by a tool-direction correction tolerance setting unit.
US09651928B2
The present disclosure is a method for controlling an information apparatus having a third display and being used in an information management system, the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to: display a display screen representing at least one floor plan of a building on the third display; display device icons representing target devices including a first target device and a second target device on the display screen, the device icons being movable by dragging the device icons; and when it is sensed that a device icon representing the second target device is dropped on a device icon representing the first target device, output to the information management system a first control command for displaying a confirmation screen on a first display of the first target device, the confirmation screen being for confirmation of a state of the second target device.
US09651927B2
A power supply control system includes a remaining level detector 22 of a power-storing device 20; and an estimate computing unit 42 which estimates a prospective power generation of power-generating equipment 10 and a prospective load power consumption of connected loads, and thus, based thereupon and remaining level, a dischargeable time until remaining level reaches the minimum level, and computes an average power generation output of a power-generating equipment 10 and an average load power consumption connected loads 101-105, and thus power generation reaching time until the average power generation output reaches the average load power consumption; and a controller 43 which controls, if the dischargeable time is shorter than the power generation reaching time, to reduce power consumption of the connected loads 101-105.
US09651923B2
In automatic process-control systems, the integral action term in Proportional plus Integral action (P+I) control is used primarily to prevent any continued deviations from a set-point, and concomitantly to secure a bump-less transfer from manual control to automatic control. However, there are serious set-backs when using the integral action term for level controls, due to the liability of the integral action term to cause overflows from vessels, which can result in disastrous oil-spills, when a process is on automatic control. Hence, to secure a bump-less transfer without the integral action term, an alternate method is necessary. The method advocated calls for an additional term, which has been termed as a Bump-less Transfer ‘BT(t)’ term, to be included into the control algorithm. This term accepts deviations from the set-point, and even brings about sufficient deviation from the set-point to secure a bump-less transfer, since deviations within the proportional band are normally acceptable for level controls.
US09651922B2
Wristwatch (1) comprising: a digital matrix display (4); a two-dimensional sheet of touch-sensitive glass (3) provided with a plurality of electrodes (10, 11, 12) for detecting the movements of at least one finger along two different directions; a processing circuit laid out so as to interpret the signals from said electrodes and to scroll cards (23, 220-225, 210-213) on said display (4) in order to lastingly replace the initially displayed card (23) with another card; wherein the scrolling direction depends on the direction of said movement.
US09651915B2
A modification for an imaging cartridge is provided for use with certain aftermarket or non-OEM cartridge drive mechanisms. At least one wall of a cartridge guiding member is removed to increase a clearance between the guiding member and the cartridge drive mechanism.
US09651905B2
A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a heater disposed inside the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator with radiant heat. A pressure rotator presses against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. A reflector is disposed opposite the heater to reflect the radiant heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a first parallel plane, a second parallel plane, and a third tilt plane. The second parallel plane is parallel to the first parallel plane and stepped with respect to the first parallel plane. The second parallel plane is disposed closer to the fixing nip and the heater than the first parallel plane. The third tilt plane bridges the first parallel plane and the second parallel plane and is disposed opposite the heater.
US09651903B2
When changing the turn-on/off patterns, a controller of a fixing device sets a control interval of the turn-on/off pattern so as to be longer than a first period of time that does not exert any influence to a flicker value and to be shorter than a second period of time that does not exert any influence to a response to temperature control. The controller of the fixing device selects a third turn-on/off pattern in which power difference between power of a first turn-on/off pattern before the change in the turn-on/off pattern and power of a second turn-on/off pattern after the change in the turn-on/off pattern is smaller than a set reference power difference.
US09651899B2
A steering roller autonomously steers an intermediate transfer belt. A pre-secondary-transfer roller is disposed at a position upstream of and adjacent to a driving roller also functioning as a transfer inner roller, and includes a rubber material on at least a surface thereof. This suppresses movement of the intermediate transfer belt even when a lateral-deviation converging position is changed by the change of position of the driving roller having large frictional force due to the pressing force of a secondary transfer roller. Hence, the belt deviation amount is reduced, and the time until lateral deviation converges is shortened.
US09651895B2
A developing cartridge may include multiple rotary members, at least one of the rotary members configured to be detected by an image forming apparatus. In one example, the rotary members may include engagement portions configured to engage with one another to rotate the rotary members. Additionally or alternatively, in a case where one rotary member is in a driven position, the other rotary member may be rotatable a predefined amount from a non-driving state in which the other rotary member is rotatably disengaged from the one rotary member, to a driving state in which the other rotary member rotatably engages the one rotary member with the engagement portions in contact with one another.
US09651886B2
This invention is directed to a method for manufacturing carrier core particles for electrophotographic developer containing iron, manganese, and calcium as a core composition. The method includes (A) a mixing step of mixing an iron-containing raw material, a manganese-containing raw material, and a calcium-containing raw material to prepare a mixture thereof, (C) a granulation step of granulating the mixture after the mixing step, and (D) a firing step of firing a powdery material, which is obtained by granulating the mixture in the granulation step, at a predetermined temperature to form a magnetic phase. The calcium-containing raw material is provided in a granular form, and primary particles of the calcium-containing raw material have a volume mean diameter of 1 μm or less.
US09651855B2
A method of optical proximity correction (OPC) in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) lithography includes providing a patterned layout design including first and second design polygons that correspond with the pre-pattern opening, wherein the first and second design polygons are separated by a separation distance, and correcting the patterned layout design using OPC by generating (1) a third polygon that has dimensions corresponding to a combination of the first and second design polygons and the separation distance and (2) and filled polygon within the third polygon, thereby generating an OPC-corrected patterned layout design. EUV photomasks may be manufactured from the OPC-corrected patterned layout design, and integrated circuits may be fabricated using such EUV photomasks.
US09651843B2
A thin film transistor array substrate comprises a bottom gate disposed on a substrate and a bottom gate insulating layer covering the bottom gate, a semiconductor oxide layer disposed on the bottom gate insulating layer and an etch blocking layer covering the semiconductor oxide layer and including a first via, a drain disposed on the etch blocking layer contacting with the semiconductor oxide layer through the first via and an insulating protection layer covering the drain, a second via arranged in the insulating protection layer, the etch blocking layer and the bottom gate insulating layer, a top gate disposed on insulating protection layer contacting with the bottom gate through the second via. The disclosure further discloses a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor array substrate. The thin film transistor of the disclosure prevents the threshold voltage thereof from being drifted in a case of negative bias illumination stress (NBIS).
US09651840B1
Disclosed are an array substrate and a method for repairing broken lines thereof. By forming a via in an organic layer to correspond to each of the intersections between gate scan lines and source-drain data lines and depositing a second passivation layer in the via to form an aperture, a U-shaped long line can be directly laser welded to two of the apertures at two opposite sides of a broken site of one of the gate scan lines and source-drain data lines to recover connection between the two apertures of the broken line. This method saves an operation of removing an organic layer with laser and effectively reduces the machine laser loss in removing the organic layer so as to improve the repair efficiency and the repair success rate.
US09651835B2
A display panel (100A) includes a display region (DA) including a plurality of pixel regions and a frame region provided around the display region. The display region includes an organic insulating layer (22) provided on a display medium layer side of a pixel TFT. The frame region includes a seal portion (32), a driving circuit (30), and an extended portion of the organic insulating layer. The extended portion of the organic insulating layer is provided on a display medium layer side of driver TFTs (30A, 30B) and has at least one opening (22a) which is positioned outer than the driver TFTs and which reaches an underlayer. The seal portion (32) overlaps at least part of the driver TFTs and covers at least part of the at least one opening (22a) provided in the extended portion of the organic insulating layer.
US09651829B2
The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display device and a fabricating method thereof. The device includes a thin film transistor formed on a lower substrate, a pixel electrode formed on the lower substrate, a planarization layer formed on an entire surface of the lower substrate, a black matrix formed on the upper substrate, a color filter layer formed on a upper substrate, partition walls formed on the upper substrate and forming a space corresponding to a seal pattern insertion groove, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, and a seal pattern inserted between the seal pattern insertion groove located on the non-display region of the lower substrate and the upper substrate and the partition walls.
US09651827B2
A display device including a display panel, a first polarizer, a second polarizer, a first phase compensation film, and a second phase compensation film is provided. The first polarizer and the second polarizer are disposed on two sides of the display panel. The first polarizer has a first light-absorption axis, and the second polarizer has a second light-absorption axis. The first phase compensation film and the second phase compensation film are disposed between the first polarizer and the second polarizer. The second phase compensation film obeys a first formula: R λ1 λ1 > R λ2 λ2 > R λ3 λ3 , wherein Rλ1, Rλ2 and Rλ3 are horizontal phase retardation values of the second phase compensation film when wavelengths of lights passing through the second phase compensation film are respectively λ1, λ2 and λ3, and λ1<λ2<λ3.
US09651826B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a wavelength conversion member, which comprises a wavelength conversion layer, wherein the wavelength conversion layer comprises at least one quantum dot which has a property of being excited with exciting light to emit fluorescence, and at least one oxygen permeability coefficient-reducing agent, an oxygen permeability coefficient per 1 mm thickness of the wavelength conversion layer is less than 150.0 cm3/m2/day/atm, and the oxygen permeability coefficient-reducing agent is a compound which exhibits an oxygen permeability coefficient-reducing capability of reducing the oxygen permeability coefficient per 1 mm thickness of the wavelength conversion layer by equal to or more than 30% per 10 parts by weight of the oxygen permeability coefficient-reducing agent relative to 100 parts by weight of the wavelength conversion layer except for the oxygen permeability coefficient-reducing agent.
US09651820B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a polaroid for polarizing light positioned on a light incident side of the liquid crystal panel, and a polarization analyzer positioned on a light emission side of the liquid crystal panel. The polarization analyzer includes a transparent plate. The transparent plate being arranged at a set angle with a light emission surface of the liquid crystal panel, such that the transparent plate analyzes polarization of light emitted from the light emission surface of the liquid crystal panel. Because the polaroid is used only on the light incident side of the liquid crystal panel, while the transparent plate is used instead of a polaroid on the light emission side of the liquid crystal panel, a reduction in the material cost of the liquid crystal display device can be achieved.
US09651814B2
An embedded touch display device includes a first substrate (100) and a second substrate (200) which are opposite to each other, a liquid crystal display unit and a capacitive touch unit disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal display structure includes a pixel electrode layer (120), a common electrode layer and a liquid crystal layer (30), the pixel electrode layer (120) and the common electrode layer are located on two sides of the liquid crystal layer (30), and liquid crystal (30) in the liquid crystal layer (30) is ferroelectric liquid crystal.
US09651812B1
An apparatus including a first layer formed from a first conductive material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer, coupled to the first layer, the second layer formed from a second conductive material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, where the second layer is partially filled.
US09651808B2
A display device includes a display frame and a display module. The display frame includes multiple side frame pieces, multiple corner frame pieces and a back cover. Each side frame piece has a predetermined length. The multiple corner frame pieces are connected to the multiple side frame pieces, for forming an accommodating space surrounded by the multiple side frame pieces and the multiple corner frame pieces. The back cover is assembled with a side of the multiple side frame pieces and a side of the multiple corner frame pieces, and covers the accommodating space. The display module is disposed inside the accommodating space of the display frame.
US09651802B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an eyeglass lens, comprising determining a manufacturing condition by a method of determining a manufacturing condition of an eyeglass lens comprising a vapor-deposited film formed by vapor deposition using a vapor deposition source the main component of which is ZrO2, and forming a vapor-deposited film by vapor deposition using a vapor deposition source the main component of which is ZrO2 under the manufacturing condition that has been determined.
US09651794B2
A color filter, a display device using the color filter, and a method for preparing the color filter are provided. The color filter is provided with a plurality of pixel regions in one-to-one correspondence to light within a plurality of different wavebands, respectively. The color filer comprises a plurality of stacked dielectric films. Each of the dielectric films reflects light within one waveband and transmits light within other wavebands. In each of the pixel regions, the dielectric film for reflecting light within a waveband corresponding to this pixel region is replaced with a polarization-separation film for reflecting light in a first polarization direction and transmitting light in a second polarization direction. The color filter provided by embodiments of the present invention improves the transmittance of incident light and the utilization ratio of the incident light and can further provide powerful technical support for the enhancement of image display quality.
US09651789B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to providing see-through computer display optics.
US09651788B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to providing see-through computer display optics.
US09651785B2
A display system includes a portable display device; a distance detection section that detects a distance between a work object and the portable display device; and a display control section that displays object-related information, which indicates content relevant to the work object, on the portable display device. The display control section changes an object-related information display mode in the portable display device according to a result which is acquired in such a way that the distance detection section detects the distance.
US09651778B2
A light flux diameter expanding element (a pupil expanding element) used in a retina scanning display device includes first to fourth diffraction gratings which are provided with grating patterns extending in a first direction, and fifth to eighth diffraction gratings which are provided with grating patterns extending in a second direction, and includes a half-wave plate between the first diffraction grating and the fifth diffraction grating. A first light flux of polarized light in which an electric field vector oscillates in the first direction enters the first diffraction grating. A second light flux of polarized light in which the electric field vector oscillates in the second direction enters the fifth diffraction grating due to the half-wave plate. Therefore, it is possible to expand a diameter of the incident first light flux in the first direction and the second direction and emit the result as the third light flux.
US09651774B2
Provided is an optical scanning observation apparatus including: a light source unit (30) for outputting laser light; a scanning part (23) for scanning, on an object of observation (70), a condensing position of the laser light output from the light source; and a detection unit (40) for sampling signal light obtained through scanning of the laser light, and converting the signal light into an electric signal, in which a sampling time for detecting signal light per one sampling is varied in accordance with changes in scanning rate of the scanning part (24) scanning on the object of observation (70). In this manner, variation in resolution of an image resulting from changes in scanning rate per each sampling can be reduced.
US09651768B2
An eyepiece lens consists of, in order from the observed object M side, a first spherical lens having a positive refractive power, a second spherical lens having a negative refractive power, and a third lens having a positive refractive power with at least the observed object-side surface thereof having an aspheric shape. The eyepiece lens satisfies the condition expression below: 0.0095
US09651764B2
Reflective assemblies are provided that may be attached to the end of a chromatic confocal point sensor optical pen. Each reflective assembly includes a reflective surface (e.g., a turning mirror) oriented for directing a measurement beam along a measurement axis at a selected angle relative to the central Z-axis of the optical pen. Reflective assemblies with different orientations for the measurement beams (e.g., 60 degrees, 120 degrees, etc.) allow for measurements of workpiece features that cannot be achieved with a measurement beam directed in a normal incident manner or at a standard 90 degree orientation. In one implementation, the reflective assemblies may be kinematically located and retained using magnetic coupling, and may be rotated and reseated in different rotational orientations about the central Z-axis of the optical pen. A set of such reflective assemblies greatly increases the measurement capability of a single optical pen, in an economical manner.
US09651753B2
A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a stack of fiber optic ribbons, strength members surrounding the stack, and a jacket defining an exterior of the cable. The jacket forms a cavity through which the stack and the strength members extend. The stack has a bend preference, but the strength members are positioned around the stack or are flexible in bending such that the strength members do not have a bend preference. Furthermore, the jacket is structured such that the jacket does not have a bend preference. The cavity is sized relative to the stack in order to allow the stack to bend and twist within the cavity with respect to the jacket as the cable bends, facilitating movement of the optical fibers of the fiber optic ribbons to low-stress positions within the cavity and decoupling the bend preference of the stack from transfer to the jacket.
US09651735B2
Some implementations described herein involve defining a viewing angle range, also referred to herein as a viewing cone. The viewing cone may be produced by an array of optical fibers on a display. The optical fiber array may include tapered optical fibers that are capable of increasing the amount of light transmitted through the optical fiber array. The optical fiber array may be a graded index optical fiber array, wherein the refractive index of the optical fiber cores varies along the axis of the optical fibers.
US09651715B2
Nanostructured material exhibiting a random anisotropic nanostructured surface, and exhibiting an average reflection at 60 degrees off angle less than 1 percent. The nanostructured materials are useful, for example, for optical and optoelectronic devices, displays, solar, light sensors, eye wear, camera lens, and glazing.
US09651705B2
A first broadband magnetic field is induced at a first transmitter position in a well bore drilled through a formation. A first formation magnetic field induced by the first broadband magnetic field is detected at a first receiver position. A second formation magnetic field induced by the first broadband magnetic field is detected at a second receiver position. A second broadband magnetic field is induced at a second transmitter position in the well bore. A third formation magnetic field induced by the second broadband magnetic field is detected at the first receiver position. A fourth formation magnetic field induced by the second broadband magnetic field is detected at the second receiver position. A formation property is computed using a function of the first, second, third, and fourth formation magnetic fields, wherein the function reduces the effect of a casing on the computation of the formation property.
US09651699B2
A method for characterizing subsurface formations penetrated by a wellbore includes accepting as input to a computer measurements of a physical parameter of the formations made over a selected axial interval of the wellbore. At least one attribute of the measurements is determined from a change in the measurements over the selected axial interval. At least one characteristic of the formations in the selected axial interval using the at least one attribute.
US09651694B2
According to one embodiment, subsurface ray directions in beam migration or subsurface wave propagation directions in reverse time migrations are used to obtain additional Specular Filter (SF) and Dip Oriented Partial Imaging (DOPI) images. SF migration applies a specular imaging condition during migration with a pre-specified subsurface dip field. It boosts the S/N ratio in both images and gathers, by effectively removing migration noise. DOPI images are produced by decomposing a standard migration image according to subsurface dip inclination or/and dip azimuth groups, providing various views of the subsurface image. Both SF and DOPI migration images can supply valuable additional information compared to a standard migration image, and they can be efficiently generated during migration.
US09651692B2
A vibrator truck includes a vehicle and a vibration assembly mobile relative to each other by a lift system having at least one footbase and configured to lift up/down the vibration assembly. The lift system includes at least one flexible strap and a coupling device configured to couple the at least one flexible strap to the vibratory part and the at least one footbase.
US09651688B2
A method for detecting a neutron includes providing a first voltage to an input electrode of a microchannel plate, providing a second voltage to an output electrode of the microchannel plate, the second voltage being more positive than the first voltage, measuring a signal on the output electrode, and detecting a neutron based on a comparison of the signal at the output electrode with a baseline value.
US09651687B2
Positron attenuation is estimated. Positrons attenuate differently than x-rays, so measuring positron attenuation may assist in diagnosis or material study. To measure positron attenuation, a positron beam is formed using a magnetic field. The annihilations along the beam within an object are measured using positron emission tomography. The rate of annihilation and integration of the rate of annihilation along the positron beam may be used to determine positron attenuation.
US09651681B2
A radiation monitor includes an AC control section and a DC control section. The AC control section outputs an AC power source instantaneous power failure detection signal to the DC control section when a decrease in AC voltage is detected. The DC control section measures a duration time of an AC power source instantaneous power failure detection signal when the AC power source instantaneous power failure detection signal is received from the AC control section and outputs an instantaneous power failure restart signal to the AC control section if the AC voltage is restored within a time shorter than a set value. The AC control section performs switching control from close to open of the sampling solenoid valve, the purge solenoid valve, and the exhaust solenoid valve, and restarts the pump after a constant time when the instantaneous power failure restart signal is received from the DC control section.
US09651679B1
The present invention is a method for dynamically determining attitude of a mobile platform via a system implemented on-board the platform. The method includes providing initialization data for the platform from a memory of the system to a processor of the system, the initialization data including platform position platform velocity data, and platform heading for a first point in time. The method includes receiving RF signals via an antenna array of the system at a second point in time subsequent to the first point in time. The method includes providing RF inputs including the received signals from the antenna array to a receiving unit of the system, and then from the receiving unit to a processor of the system. The processor then processes the signals and, based on the processed signals and initialization data, determines an attitude of the platform, the attitude corresponding to the second point in time.
US09651677B2
Methods and apparatus provide for positioning of a rover antenna from GNSS data derived from multi-frequency signals and correction data derived from a network of reference stations. Rover antenna position and multi-frequency ambiguities are estimated at each epoch. An ionospheric filter models variation in ionospheric bias per satellite. A set of ionospheric carrier-phase ambiguities is estimated at least when the multi-frequency ambiguities have attained a predetermined precision. The estimated ionospheric carrier-phase ambiguities are cached. After detecting interruption of signal at the rover antenna and determining reacquisition of signals at the rover antenna, an ionospheric bias per satellite over an interruption interval is predicted. For each satellite, a cached ionospheric carrier-phase ambiguity is combined with a predicted ionospheric bias to obtain a post-interruption ionospheric ambiguity estimate. The post-interruption ionospheric ambiguity estimates are used to aid estimation of rover antenna position after signal reacquisition.
US09651673B2
Methods, systems and devices are provided for operating a GPS engine in an active geofence monitoring state for no more than a first QoS period to obtain a first GPS fix. The GPS engine may also be set to operate in the active geofence monitoring state for no more than a second lower QoS period to obtain a second GPS fix in response to determining the first GPS fix was not obtained. The method may determine whether a geofence breach is detected in response to determining the GPS engine obtained the first GPS fix. The GPS engine may be set to operate in the active geofence monitoring state for no more than the second QoS period to obtain the second GPS fix in response to determining the geofence breach is not detected. The GPS engine may thus operate in the active geofence monitoring state to obtain the second GPS fix.
US09651662B2
A method for interventional navigation using 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging includes acquiring a reference 3D CEUS volume and tracking information during a useful lifetime of a contrast enhancement agent administered to the anatomy. Real-time tracked tissue images are acquired during the interventional procedure. In addition, a corresponding CEUS multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) for at least one of the acquired real-time tracked tissue images is generated. At least one of the acquired real-time tracked tissue images is displayed along with the corresponding CEUS MPR. The displayed real-time tracked tissue image includes at least an image of the instrument within the desired portion of the anatomy and the CEUS MPR corresponds to the displayed real-time tracked tissue image. Thus, the contrast enhanced image information and tissue image information are concurrently display for the interventional navigation at least subsequent to the expiration of the contrast enhancement useful lifetime.
US09651642B2
In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) system to acquire MR data within a volume segment, the MR data are repeatedly acquired with a sequence that which includes the following steps. A first resonant RF pulse is radiated and a second resonant RF pulse is radiated. A dephasing first gradient is applied after the first resonant RF pulse and before the second resonant RF pulse. A third resonant RF pulse is radiated after the second resonant RF pulse. A second gradient is applied after the third RF pulse in order to refocus a stimulated echo of a magnetization component prepared by the first gradient. MR data are read out, and a fourth resonant RF pulse is radiated after the readout of the MR data, to reduce the longitudinal magnetization.
US09651628B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that accurately and reliably updates a full charge capacity of a battery. During operation, the system charges the battery from an initial state to a rest point prior to reaching a fully charged state. The system then interrupts the charging process to allow the battery to relax to a resting voltage. Next, the system measures the resting voltage. The system then resumes the charging process toward the fully charged state. The system subsequently estimates the capacity of the battery based on the measured resting voltage and one or more other parameters.
US09651618B2
An electronic device may include a set of two or more scan chains and a buffer chain. Each of the scan chains includes a sequence of stateful elements connected in series, and each of the scan chains is arranged to hold a string having a length identical to the length of the respective scan chain. The strings of the scan chains are shifted in parallel from the scan chains into the memory unit and back from the memory unit into the respective scan chains. The store operation and the restore operation each include at least N0 elementary downstream shift operations. The set of scan chains includes a short chain and a detour chain, and the short chain has a length N1 which is shorter than N0. The set of scan chains further includes a buffer chain. The output end of the short chain is coupled to an input end of the buffer chain. The buffer chain is provided at least partly by the detour chain.
US09651616B2
A number of switching transitions of flip-flops during testing is kept below a threshold. Scan-in test data is applied to the flip-flops. Testing result data scanned-out from the flip-flops is captured, and a prediction is made of a number of switching transitions of the flip-flops between a current capture clock cycle and a next capture clock cycle—in particular, for the next capture clock cycle—thereby using the scan-in test data for the next capture clock cycle and the testing result data scanned-out of the current capture clock cycle. Furthermore, the testing setup values are modified before the next testing cycle is executed based on the prediction in order to enter a new configuration of a testing circuit such that the predicted number of switching transitions of the flip-flops stays below the threshold. The testing setup values comprise parameters for modifying the capture clock cycle and a seed value for generating test patterns.
US09651612B2
A method and an apparatus for diagnosing a discharge circuit, wherein provision is made for the discharge circuit for discharging an electrical system, in particular for discharging an electrical system of a vehicle capable of being electrically driven. In order to achieve this end, means are provided which partially discharge the electrical system by means of said discharge circuit in a procedural step for diagnosing said discharge circuit.
US09651608B2
A diagnostic circuit for inspecting a light-emitting device having light-emitting elements. The diagnostic circuit includes a power source module, a buffer module, and an abnormality detection module. The buffer module includes a plurality of buffers. Each buffer has a buffer input terminal and a buffer output terminal. The buffer input terminal receives a first power source signal from the power source module, and the buffer output terminal outputs a second power source signal to one of the light-emitting elements. The abnormality detection module includes a plurality of comparators. Each comparator has a pair of detection input terminals and a detection output terminal. The detection input terminals is configured to receive the first and second power source signals. The detection output terminal outputs a comparison signal to generate a diagnostic result.
US09651599B2
The present invention relates to a measurement system for characterizing a device under test (DUT) wherein impedance is controlled or varied over a set of measurement conditions and a parameter or a set of parameters measured for each measurement condition. The measurement system comprises at least one impedance control device, signal separation hardware connected with the impedance control device, receiving means for measuring electrical quantities related to characteristics of the DUT and for converting the measured electrical quantities, a data processing unit connected to the receiving means and adapted to provide characteristics of the device under test based on the converted electrical quantities, whereby the at least one impedance control device is integrated into the signal separation hardware.
US09651598B2
A method and a device for detecting an edge glow phenomenon in a composite panel, including at least one cable for introducing current into the said composite panel, at least one current return cable, at least one insulating panel bracketed to the composite panel, and means for detecting an edge glow on an outer surface of the said composite panel.
US09651591B2
The method determines an input phase differential (Δφ) between two input signals. A phase detector is provided that has pairs of transistors and a first impedance (R1) connected to a first branch carrying a first signal (Iout_left) and a second impedance (R2) connected to a second branch carrying a second signal (Iout_right). The first signal (Iout_left) in the first branch is set as a first sum of a common mode output signal (Icm) and a differential mode output signal (Idm). The second signal (Iout_right) in the second branch is set as a second sum of the common mode output signal (Icm) minus the differential mode output signal (Idm). A relationship between the first impedance (R1) and the second impedance (R2) is adjusted until a differential mode output voltage (Vdm) of the phase detector is zero. The input phase differential (Δφ) is determined when the differential mode output voltage (Vdm) is zero.
US09651581B2
Embodiments relate to high current sensors having generally flat conductors. In an embodiment, the conductor is formed of a non-magnetic material such as copper or aluminum and has a coarse slot, one that reduces the cross-sectional area for current flow by a factor of about two. The slot also functions as an aperture in which the sensor package can mounted, thereby protected from environmental influences.
US09651580B2
An electronic device (1) for measuring a differential current (ID) in an electric line (100) having a plurality of conductors, said electronic device comprising: a sensing circuit (2) comprising: a current transformer (21) having a magnetic core (211) through which the conductors of said electric line pass, a secondary winding (212) and an excitation winding (213) along which an excitation current (IE) circulates to polarize said magnetic core (211); an output circuit section (22) electrically connected to said secondary winding (212) and configured to provide a first signal (V1). The electronic device (1) further comprises: a first signal processing block (3) configured to process said first signal (V1) and provide a second signal (VD) indicative of said differential current (ID); a second signal processing block (4) configured to process said second signal (VD) and provide a first measurement signal (IDCM) indicative of the absolute value of a time-invariant component of said differential current (ID); a third signal processing block (5) configured to process said first signal (V1) and provide third and fourth signals (S1, S2) indicating whether said magnetic core (211) operates in a positive and/or in a negative saturation region of the hysteresis loop of said magnetic core; a fourth signal processing block (6) configured to process said third and fourth signals (S1, S2) and provide a second measurement signal (SDC) indicative of the direction of the time-invariant component of said differential current (ID).
US09651577B2
A pogo pin may include a housing, a resilient connecting member and a switching unit. The housing may be arranged between a printed circuit board (PCB) and a probing head. The resilient connecting member may be arranged in the housing to electrically connect the PCB with the probing head. The switching unit may be provided in the housing to selectively cut off an electrical connection between the PCB and the probing head. Thus, because the PCB may not require additional switching substrates, the PCB may have a small size so that the probe card may also have a small size. A semiconductor device may be manufactured using the probe card.
US09651573B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a positioning system (10) of a train, the system (10) including: a toothed tone wheel (12), three sensors (18, 20, 22) for detecting the presence of a tooth, arranged spatially so that six possible and different positions of the wheel (12) may be represented by six possible logic states of the three sensors (18, 20, 22), the six states being different, the method including a step for: detecting states corresponding to the signals delivered by the three sensors (18, 20, 22), comparing the detected states with the values of the six logic states, determining the operating state of the system (10) according to the comparison.
US09651563B2
Methods and systems for diagnosing or prognosing liver fibrosis in a subject are provided. In some examples, such methods and systems can include detecting liver fibrosis-related molecules in a sample obtained from the subject, comparing expression of the molecules in the sample to controls representing expression values expected in a subject who does not have liver fibrosis or who has non-progressing fibrosis, and diagnosing or prognosing liver fibrosis in the subject when differential expression of the molecules between the sample and the controls is detected. Kits for the diagnosis or prognosis of liver fibrosis in a subject are also provided which include reagents for detecting liver fibrosis related molecules.
US09651554B2
Disclosed are molecular diagnostic compositions and methods for predicting brain metastasis of breast cancer, as well as methods for drug repositioning to identify existing and new therapeutics for use in developing individualized, patient-specific treatment regimens for improving diagnoses and patient outcomes in individuals at risk for brain metastasis of breast cancer.
US09651551B2
Described are methods and systems useful in the processing of food samples to detect pathogenic cells in the samples. Embodiments include homogenizing a food sample, digesting solids of the homogenized food sample, and removing lipids from the homogenized food sample. Cells in the sample can then be concentrated using hollow fiber membrane filtration. Regeneration cycles can enable multiple reuses of the hollow fiber membrane filter. Systems and processes herein can be automated, under the control of a computer.
US09651549B2
The present invention relates to novel lateral flow devices using DNA dendrimers, and the methods for detecting an analyte using the lateral flow devices.
US09651536B1
A method and system for measuring multiple soil properties on-the-go is provided on an implement for traversing a field. An optical module is carried by the implement for collecting soil reflectance data. A pair of soil contact blades protrude from or are embedded in the optical module for collecting soil EC data and soil moisture data. A switching circuit or phase lock loop allows the same soil contact blades to feed signals to both a soil EC signal conditioning circuit and a soil moisture signal conditioning circuit. The soil moisture data can be used to calibrate the soil EC data and the soil reflectance data to compensate for effects of changing soil moisture conditions across a field. The system can also be used on a planter to control planting depth and/or seeding rate in real time based on multiple soil properties collected during planting.
US09651521B2
A microsecond time-resolved mass spectrometry device and method of using desorption electrospray ionization (10) was described for the kinetic study of fast reactions. The device includes a liquid jet generator (64) that is configured to emit a continuous liquid jet (50) having a length. An ambient ionization source (10) is directed toward a selected variable location along the continuous liquid jet (50) to desorb at least a portion of the continuous liquid jet (50). A mass analyzer (30) analyzes a mass-to-charge ratio of an ionized sample that is within the desorbed portion of the continuous liquid jet (50). The acquired mass spectra reflect the reaction progress in different reaction times and, therefore, may be used to derive the reaction rate.
US09651518B2
The present invention provides a nano-fluidic field effective device. The device includes a channel having a first side and a second side, a first set of electrodes adjacent to the first side, a second set of electrodes adjacent to the second side, a control unit for applying electric potentials to the electrodes and a fluid within the channel containing a charge molecule. The first set of electrodes is disposed such that application of electric potentials produces a spatially varying electric field that confines a charged molecule within a predetermined area of said channel. The second set of electrodes is disposed such that application of electric potentials relative to the electric potentials applied to the first set of electrodes creates an electric field that confines the charged molecule to an area away from the second side of the channel.
US09651500B2
A light emission part projects a laser light toward an edge portion of a formation. The laser light extends in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of a forming belt. A light receiving part is opposed to the light emission part and located on the opposite side of the formation. The laser light passes through an area above an upper surface of the formation at least partially and is partially blocked by rising of the edge portion of the formation. A control device determines occurrence of the glue-joint failure on the basis of whether the quantity of light received by the light receiving part is reduced by at least a predetermined value or a predetermined rate, and provides or gives a visual display or a warning of the occurrence of glue-joint failure.
US09651498B2
A method and system are presented for use in inspection of via containing structures. According to this technique, measured data indicative of a spectral response of a via-containing region of a structure under measurements is processed, and, upon identifying a change in at least one parameter of the spectral response with respect to a spectral signature of the via-containing region, output data is generated indicative of a possible defect at an inner surface of the via.
US09651489B2
An assay device includes: a liquid sample receiving zone; a capture zone in fluid communication with the sample receiving zone having capture elements bound thereto, the capture zone having a substrate and projections which extend substantially vertically from the substrate, the projections having a rhombus-shaped cross-section and the projections arranged on the substrate with the corners of the projections facing upstream in a direction toward the sample receiving zone. The projections have a height, cross-section and a distance between one another that defines a capillary space between the projections capable of generating capillary flow parallel to the substrate surface; and a sink in fluid communication with the capture zone having a capacity to receive liquid sample flowing from the capture zone. The sample receiving zone, the capture zone and the sink define a fluid flow path. Preferably, the rhombus-shaped cross-section is a square or a diamond.
US09651483B1
Disclosed herein are material compositions that include a metal doped, alumina rich yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:M). Also provided according to embodiments of the invention are scintillator compositions that include Y3-xMxAl5+yO12+z, as a primary phosphor and wherein 0≦x<0.03, 0.001
US09651474B2
The invention relates to installations for fiber optic monitoring of articles, and apparatus and methods for forming such installations, including a modular system and components for forming a fiber optic monitoring installation. Applications of the invention include the monitoring of vessels, chambers, and fluid conduits in industrial processing plants, and the invention has particular application to monitoring large vessels, for example temperature monitoring of vessels used in catalytic reforming processes. Convenient installation on or removal from the article being monitored is achieved by providing a support structure for the fiber optic length, which presents the fiber optic length in a preconfigured orientation suitable for monitoring the article. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the fiber optic length is disposed on a panel in a plurality of dense spiral patterns.
US09651466B2
An edge sharpness measurement apparatus includes a clamp for securing a test medium against a frictional member, and an engagement mechanism for a normal force, such that the normal force directs the test medium against the frictional member with a force based on operational conditions of the test medium. A further engagement mechanism is for a tangential force, in which the engagement mechanism is adapted to increase the tangential force to identify a tangential force sufficient to dispose the frictional member across the test medium. A pivot defines an angle of application of the tangential force relative to the normal force, such that disposing the frictional member across the test medium defines a point of overcoming frictional forces between the test medium and the frictional member. A measurement device, such as a gauge or range on a spring, measures the tangential force sufficient to dispose the frictional member.
US09651459B2
A gasoline blend spot sampling system and method including an adjustable volume mechanism for retaining an adjustable volume of gasoline for sampling, a coolant system integrated with the adjustable volume mechanism, and a sample collection assembly using a blunt-end tube for use with an open-mouthed bottle. Various three-way valves are actuated to route gasoline through various stages of a sampling process, from a gasoline fast loop to a purge loop to a gasoline capture stage to a sample bottling stage.
US09651457B2
A method for detecting degradation of a turbine engine by monitoring performance of the turbine engine, the turbine engine including plural functional modules, the method including: measuring plural physical parameters of the turbine engine to form a current performance index for the turbine engine; calculating plural degraded performance indices for the turbine engine, assuming that, for each degraded performance index, only one functional module of the turbine engine has degraded; calculating plural cost indices corresponding to the difference between the current performance index and a degraded performance index; determining an optimum cost index corresponding to the one with a lowest value for all the degraded performance indices; and detecting degradation of the module of the turbine engine, the degraded performance index of which is associated with optimum cost index.
US09651455B2
A mass-airflow measurement conversion apparatus for internal combustion engine carburetors includes a plurality of pressure sensors disposed at different location along an air intake path of an internal combustion engine, each sensor adapted to sense a pressure of air flowing into the internal combustion engine and output an electrical signal as a pressure signal corresponding to the sensed air pressure; and a calculation section that receives the pressure signals and generates a mass air flow signal as an output signal based on the received pressure signals.
US09651453B2
A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are retrieved and used in combination.
US09651445B2
Sensors locate troublesome leaks in pipes or conduits that carry a flowing medium. These sensors, through tailored physical and geometric properties, preferentially seek conduit leaks or breaches due to flow streaming. The sensors can be queried via transceivers outside the conduit or located and interrogated inside by submersible unmanned vehicle to identify and characterize the nature of a leak. The sensors can be functionalized with other capabilities for additional leak and pipeline characterization if needed. Sensors can be recovered from a conduit flow stream and reused for future leak detection activities.
US09651439B2
An axial force testing device includes a spindle and a frame. Multiple mediate members are mounted to the spindle which is rotatable relative to the frame by the mediate members. A first fixing member is connected to a first end of a scale which shows the axial force. A first contact member contacts the first fixing member and is mounted to the spindle. A second fixing member is connected to a second end of the scale. A second contact member contacts the second fixing member and is mounted to the spindle. The second contact member has a first contact portion which contacts the mediate members. A locking member is locked to the spindle and presses the first contact member, the first fixing member, the scale, the second fixing member, the second contact member and the mediate members. The axial force applied to the mediate members is displayed on the scale.
US09651432B2
According to one embodiment, a strain sensing element to be provided on a deformable substrate, the element includes: a reference layer; a magnetization free layer; and a spacer layer. Magnetization of the magnetization free layer changes in accordance with deformation of the substrate. The spacer layer is provided between the reference layer and the magnetization free layer. The magnetization free layer has: a first magnetic layer; a second magnetic layer; and a magnetic coupling layer. The first magnetic layer is provided in contact with the spacer layer. The second magnetic layer is provided to be separated from the first magnetic layer. The magnetic coupling layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. Magnetization of the first magnetic layer is anti-parallel to magnetization of the second magnetic layer.
US09651427B2
A pyroelectric sensing device includes two pyroelectric sensors and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism is used for driving the two pyroelectric sensors to shift. When a human body stays motionless in an environment, the two pyroelectric sensors driven by the driving mechanism will shift with respect to the human body, such that the two pyroelectric sensors generate different sensing voltages due to the infrared radiation emitted by the human body. Accordingly, the motionless human body will be detected.
US09651424B2
A LIBS analyzer and method includes a laser configured to produce a plasma on a sample at a focal point on the sample and a spectrometer responsive to radiation emitted from the plasma and configured to produce an output spectrum. A detector is positioned to detect low intensity pre-firing radiation produced by the laser and reflected off the sample from the focal point. The intensity of the low intensity pre-firing radiation is compared to a predetermined minimum and the laser pump sequence is halted if the intensity of the low intensity pre-firing radiation is less than the predetermined minimum.
US09651421B2
A device includes a substrate is substantially transparent and includes a contact surface and an interface surface. The interface surface includes a plurality of electrical contacts. The device further includes a semiconductor die, which includes a plurality of connections, a first photo detector and a second photo detector. Each of the plurality of connections includes a connection bump formed thereon to couple to the plurality of electrical contacts of the interface surface of the substrate. The plurality of connections positioned relative to the first and second photo detectors to alter a directional response of at least one photo detector of the plurality of photo detectors.
US09651420B2
A light sensor assembly includes a base configured to be fixedly mounted to a housing of a light fixture. The base holds contacts configured to be electrically connected to terminals of the light fixture. A photocell module is provided on the base and includes a photocell electrically connected to the contacts. A sensor lid is coupled to the base. The sensor lid has a lightpipe directing light from an exterior of the sensor lid to the photocell. The sensor lid is variably positionable at different angular positions relative to the base to change an orientation of the lightpipe relative to the photocell.
US09651412B2
The invention relates to a dosing device for dispensing and/or receiving a dosed amount of a liquid, comprising a piston device being disposed in a housing and a device for determining the stroke of the piston and/or the position of the piston, wherein the device for determining the stroke of the piston and/or the position of the piston features at least one scalar element and at least one measuring device, wherein the scalar element is fixedly disposed at the housing of the piston device and the measuring device is directly or indirectly connected to the piston and can be moved together with the piston, or wherein the scalar element is disposed at the piston so as to be movable with the piston and the measuring device is fixedly disposed at the housing, and wherein the scalar element is designed as an absolutely coded scale.
US09651392B2
Computer implemented methods are disclosed for providing to a user geographical mapping information relating to a trip from a start location to a destination location. One method includes receiving user input data including at least the destination location; receiving a location of a point movable by the user along the route from the start location to the destination location on an electronic map; displaying one or more points of interest within a range of the location of the point; receiving a selection by the user of at least one of the one or more points of interest; generating a modified route from the start location to the destination location which includes the selected at least one of the one or more points interest; and displaying the modified route with the selected at least one of the one or more points interest.
US09651391B1
Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a system that may facilitate communications between drivers who share a route. The system may allow communications to be sent from one driver to another driver and allow drivers to post queries to other drivers sharing a route. Computing devices in the vehicle may collect route data for the system to evaluate and to use in identifying drivers sharing a route.
US09651390B1
A method and apparatus for mapping road illumination. A server receives high beam data. The server receives roadway conditions. The server calculates a high beam frequency for a road segment based on the high beam data and the roadway conditions. The server calculates road illumination from the high beam frequency. The server augments a geographic database with road illumination information.
US09651383B2
A user terminal finds an outdoor path up to an outdoor access point of a building in which a destination is located, using an outdoor map. The user terminal receives an indoor map of the building to find an indoor path up to the destination from an indoor access point of the building using the indoor map. The user terminal reflects the indoor path to the outdoor path to create an outdoor and indoor linked path.
US09651382B1
Methods and systems for determining altitudes for a vehicle to travel are provided. In one example, a method comprises receiving information indicating a desired location for a balloon and a time period for traveling to the desired location. A region may include the desired location, and the region can be divided into a plurality of cells. The method may include determining estimated cell locations that can be reached by the balloon over a time interval by following a wind at a given altitude. The method may also include assigning a cost value to each cell based on a proximity of the estimated cell locations to a cell including the desired location. The method may further include determining for each cell an altitude for the balloon to travel based on the assigned cost value, and storing information indicating the cost value and the altitude for the balloon to travel.
US09651381B2
A terrain mapping system is disclosed for a machine having at least one traction device. The system may have a sensor associated with the machine and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the machine. The system may also have at least one controller in communication with the sensor. The at least one controller may be configured to receive the signal from the sensor, and divide an area between the at least one traction device and a work surface into a plurality of virtual tracking features based on the signal and known geometry of the machine. The at least one controller may also be configured to track movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features, and update an electronic terrain map of a worksite based on the movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features.
US09651358B2
A grazing-incidence interferometer includes first and second spaced-apart diffractive optical elements with a generally planar object disposed therebetween. The first diffractive optical element forms sheared first-diffracted-order light beams that reflect from opposite first and second surfaces of the object at grazing-incidence angles, while a zero-diffracted-order light beam goes unreflected. The second diffractive optical element combines the unreflected zero-diffracted-order light beam and the sheared reflected beams to form a collimated, combined beam. A 1× double-telecentric relay system relays the combined beam to a folding optical system that forms first and second interference images on a diffusing screen located at an image plane. Digital images of the first and second interference images are obtained and processed to characterize the thickness variation of the object.
US09651357B1
In one embodiment, systems and methods for determining the positions of strands in a post-tensioned tendon involve positioning a magnet in close proximity to the outer surface of a tendon, moving the magnet around the periphery of the tendon, and measuring the force of attraction between the magnet and strands within the tendon at multiple angular positions of the tendon.
US09651355B2
In certain embodiments, a proximity sensor includes a sensing element, an oscillator connected to the sensing element, and control circuitry connected to the oscillator. The sensing element has a capacitance to ground that is variable as a function of the proximity of an object to the sensing element. The oscillator includes a capacitor. The control circuitry is configured to supply an excitation to the oscillator and a charge to the sensing element, and to measure the resonant frequency of the oscillator. The control circuitry provides a signal indicative of the proximity of the object to the sensing element.
US09651338B2
A riflescope is provided with a detachable digital ocular lens group that enables vision enhancement functions, e.g. night vision, zoom, etc while being replaceable with a regular ocular group in the event of power failure or faulty components. To ensure accuracy of the digital ocular lens group, a non-visible marker, e.g. IR marker, may be placed on a reticle that can be detected by a photo-sensor of the digital ocular. A processor can use the detected position of the marker to calibrate the digital display of the digital ocular.
US09651326B2
The invention relates to a firearm comprising a housing (1), a magazine (2) for cartridges (3) which are preloaded in the direction of a transfer opening by means of a magazine feeder (7), a lock (8) which can be moved relative to the housing (1) in order to convey the cartridges (3), and a lock catch lever (4) which holds the lock (8) in a rear position when the magazine (2) is empty. A trigger element (9) is provided for automatically releasing the lock (8) into the front position when a loaded magazine (2) is inserted. An engagement surface (10) of the trigger element (9) protrudes into the movement path of a control surface (11) of the magazine (2) in a front starting position. The trigger element (9) is coupled to the lock (8) in a kinematic manner via an effective surface (12) at least during a part of the movement when moving from the front starting position into a rear end position. At the end of the coupled part of the movement, the lock (8) is offset towards the rear relative to the lock rear position by another portion along the lock movement path. The effective surface (12) of the trigger element (9) is disengaged again from the lock (8) in the rear end position of the trigger element (9).
US09651325B1
Systems for universally locking a trigger of a firearm are provided that require authentication to transition the firearm to an unlocked state. In general, examples of the systems for universally locking a trigger of a firearm described herein are located in an interchangeable grip portion of the firearm or mounted to an accessory rail of the firearm. Embodiments of the system generally include trigger interference or blocking members to prevent actuation of the trigger until the authentication system has authorized the user to fire the firearm. Once the system is authenticated, embodiments of the system remain in an unlocked state while the user is grasping the firearm. When the user removes their hand from the firearm, embodiments of the trigger locking system automatically returns to a locked state, reducing or eliminating unauthorized use of the firearm.
US09651319B2
Laminated rolls of sealed graphite pouches and methods for making the same are provided. The laminated roll can include a first substrate having a length and a plurality of sealed pouches disposed on the substrate at predetermined intervals along its length. Each sealed pouch can include a graphite sheet having first and second sides, the first side affixed to the substrate, and a second substrate affixed to at least the second side of the graphite sheet and to a portion of the substrate to fully seal the graphite sheet within an enclosed space. In one embodiment, the roll of sealed graphite sheet pouches can be fixed to a roll of another substrate in a roll-to-roll fashion and the combined rolls can be cut into discrete portions for use in a particular application. For example, the roll of the other substrate can be a roll of enhanced spectral reflector (ESR).
US09651314B2
To increase a heat exchange capacity of an indoor heat exchanger without increasing a pressure loss inside tubes of an outdoor heat exchanger. A heat exchanger is constituted by an indoor machine equipped with an indoor heat exchanger 10 constituted by a plurality of heat transfer tubes 12A, which have a spiral grooves 13A formed with a predetermined lead angle Ra on inner faces of the tubes and are made to pierce a plurality of fins 11, and an outdoor machine equipped with an outdoor heat exchanger 20 constituted by a plurality of heat transfer tubes 22A which have a lead angle Rb of spiral grooves 23A smaller than that of a heat transfer tubes 10A used for the indoor heat exchanger 10 and are made to pierce a plurality of fins 11.
US09651308B1
A dehumidification dryer configured and operated so at to achieve higher drying temperatures than traditionally obtainable with dehumidification driers. The invention takes advantage of refrigerants not previously used in the field of dehumidification drying to achieve temperatures in the range of 240 degrees Fahrenheit-260 degrees Fahrenheit that previously were found only in open hot air kilns. In order to make optimum use of high temperature refrigerants, the invention uses variable control rates for drying the air that is used as the drying medium, and restructures the deployment of the components of the refrigeration circuit that participates in the heat and humidity exchange central to the operation of the drier.
US09651301B2
A fluid is liquefied from a gaseous state to a liquid state, and the liquefied fluid is stored. In one embodiment, the fluid is oxygen. Mechanisms are employed that enhance the durability, longevity, reliability, efficiency, of a system used to liquefy the fluid.
US09651300B2
A semi-closed loop system for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) that combines certain advantages of closed-loop systems with certain advantages of open-loop systems to provide a more efficient and effective hybrid system. In the semi-closed loop system, the final methane refrigeration cycle provides significant cooling of the natural gas stream via indirect heat transfer, as opposed to expansion-type cooling. A minor portion of the LNG product from the methane refrigeration cycle is used as make-up refrigerant in the methane refrigeration cycle. A pressurized portion of the refrigerant from the methane refrigeration cycle is employed as fuel gas. Excess refrigerant from the methane refrigeration cycle can be recombined with the processed natural gas stream, rather than flared.
US09651291B2
Disclosed are an ice maker and a refrigerator including the ice maker. An exemplary ice making tray of the ice maker or refrigerator includes an ice separating protrusion that extends outwardly from one surface. The refrigerator includes ice separating levers connected by hinges to the tray housing, with the ice making tray therebetween, and at least one of which has a groove that rotates an ice separating protrusion of the ice making tray together while rotating around the hinges, and includes a handle that is longer than the ice making tray, in front of the ice making tray.
US09651287B2
A computing device calculates a quality of a refrigerant flowing out of an expansion device on the basis of an inlet liquid enthalpy calculated on the basis of a temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the expansion device, and a saturated gas enthalpy and a saturated liquid enthalpy calculated on the basis of a temperature or pressure of the refrigerant flowing out of the expansion device; calculates a liquid-phase concentration and a gas-phase concentration of the refrigerant flowing out of the expansion device on the basis of the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant flowing out of the expansion device; and calculates a composition of the refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle on the basis of the calculated quality, liquid-phase concentration, and gas-phase concentration.
US09651283B2
A refrigerant channel switching unit is disposed between a heat source unit and a utilization unit to switch flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant channel switching unit includes a first refrigerant pipe connected to a suction gas communicating pipe extending from the heat source unit, a second refrigerant pipe connected to a high-low pressure gas communicating pipe extending from the heat source unit, a third refrigerant pipe connected to a gas pipe extending to the utilization unit, a coupling portion, a first switch valve mounted to the first refrigerant pipe, and a second switch valve mounted to the second refrigerant pipe. The coupling portion is connected to the first, second and third refrigerant pipes. The First second and third are coupled through the coupling portion.
US09651282B2
An air-conditioning system includes a pump that sends, to an evaporator, a cooling fluid that exchanges heat with a refrigerant at the evaporator, and a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between ambient air and the cooling fluid that has undergone the heat exchange at the evaporator. A sensible heat exchange cycle is formed by annularly connecting the evaporator, the heat exchanger, and the pump by using a pipe. This system is also includes an air-sending unit that sends air to a second heat exchanger, moisture absorbing-and-desorbing devices that are provided at a passage of the air sent by the air-sending unit and that are disposed in front of and behind the first heat exchanger, and an air-path switching device that reverses a passing direction of air passing through the moisture absorbing-and-desorbing device, the first heat exchanger, and the moisture absorbing-and-desorbing device.
US09651273B2
A programmable room thermostat adjusts heating and cooling distribution based on one or more pre-selected temperatures, also controls appliances such as entertainment systems and lights, and may be powered by replaceable batteries or household current. The room thermostat monitors the air temperature in the room, which is defined as a zone, and determines whether heating or cooling is needed. Programmable settings for the room thermostat accommodate 24-hour and seven-day cycles, and are capable of applying the user's preferences based on the time of day and the day of the week. When the room reaches the desired temperature, the room thermostat signals a central thermostat to close the damper. The settings of each room thermostat in the home or office may be controlled and adjusted via the user's smartphone or other mobile electronic device.
US09651270B2
The invention relates to a hydraulic device (15; 55) for an evaporative system (11), comprising at least one pump (22; 62) and a housing (16; 56) with a water inlet (17; 57) and one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump (22; 62) is mounted on the housing (16; 56) and a water tank (20; 60) is provided by the housing (16; 56), the water tank (20; 60) being arranged between the water inlet (17; 57) and the one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump is provided for pumping water through the one or more water outlets. The invention furthermore relates to an evaporative system (11) with such a hydraulic device (15; 55).
US09651267B2
A combined air-conditioning and hot water supply system simultaneously executes the cooling operation of a use unit and the hot water supply operation of a hot water supply unit, wherein the combined air-conditioning and hot water supply system operates in a cooling priority mode when the temperature differential ΔTwm between a set hot water supply temperature Twset and the inlet water temperature Twi of a plate water-heat exchanger is smaller than a priority operation determination threshold M that is set in advance, and operates in a hot water supply priority mode when the temperature differential ΔTwm becomes equal to or higher than the priority operation determination threshold M. This simultaneous execution of cooling and hot water supply operations prevents hot water from running out.
US09651258B2
A combustor for use in a gas turbine engine includes a liner with a plurality of tiles coupled to a shell via a plurality of fasteners. Each of the plurality of fasteners extends through at least one of the tiles.
US09651249B2
The invention refers to the method for the utilization of low-concentration mixtures of a combustible gas and air with the stable recovery of heat and the flow-reversal device for the embodiment of the method. The method consists in the combustion, with heat recovery, of the mixtures in the flow-reversal device having at least a single pair of combustion sections, each of which has the structural packing of monolith blocks with small channels characterized by low pressure drop, provided with an internal heating device, temperature and composition sensors and the elements of the automatic control system, supplied with the low-concentration mixture with the combustible component and connected with the heat recovery apparatus through the pipeline, wherein the quantity of energy transferred in the heat recovery apparatus (22) is stabilized by supplying additional fuel to the flow-reversal device, selecting the flow reversal moment, and selecting the flow rate for hot gas supplied by the pipeline to the heat recovery apparatus (22). Additional fuel in the form of highly concentrated fuel mixture is introduced as an admixture to the stream of low concentrated mixture containing the combustible component, supplied to the flow-reversal device or to the internal heating device (7). The device according to the invention, in its combustion sections (I, II) is provided with symmetrical temperature sensors (TI, TII) and an additional supply of highly concentrated combustible mixture (17) connected to the supply system for low-concentration mixture (15) with the combustible component or to the internal heating device (7). The combustion sections (I, II) are packed with heat-accumulating material (1,2) of small porosity of the specific surface area below 30 m2/g, and advantageously below 1 m2/g.
US09651243B1
A lighting device for use with one or more other networked devices is disclosed. In embodiments, the lighting device may comprise an outer globe, a diffuser, a plurality of light pipes, an outer cowling, a power input connector, a power control printed circuit board, a communication and control printed circuit board, an indicator printed circuit board, one or more microprocessors, an auxiliary device, and an LED lighting printed circuit board. In embodiments, the lighting device may communicate with one or more other networked devices, such as second lighting devices, mobile phones, servers, remote controls, and/or home or office automation equipment. The lighting device may be powered through a light socket.
US09651238B2
A lighting system or luminaire can comprise two environmentally sealed housings. One of the housings can house one or more light emitting diodes. The other housing can house a driver for supplying electricity to the light emitting diode or diodes. The housings can be nested together. For example, one of the housings can extend partially into a cavity of the other housing. A portion of the cavity can remain unfilled when the housings are nested, to provide an air gap between the two housings. The air gap can be environmentally exposed, for example exposed to moisture when the lighting system is mounted outdoors.
US09651237B2
Provided are an illumination device and a light fixture including the illumination device. The illumination device includes a body formed of a thermally-conductive material that includes a planar heat transfer surface and a fastener that is compatible with a base that couples the body to the light fixture. A substrate formed, at least in part from a dielectric material supports an array of light emitting diodes and a plurality of contacts electrically connected to the light emitting diodes. A thermally-conductive planar surface is provided to the dielectric material of the substrate to be placed in thermal communication with the heat transfer surface and conduct heat generated by the light emitting diodes to the body.
US09651229B1
A suction anchoring device for use in a light fixture includes a base unit and a movable unit. The base unit includes a casing defining a vent opening, and a surface-contacting member. The movable unit includes a mounting seat slidably disposed in the casing, and a seal member disposed under the mounting seat. The movable unit is movable relative to the base unit between an anchored position, where the seal member sealingly covers the vent opening so as to form a suction-forming space in which a part of air is vented out to create a suction force, and a lifted position, where the seal member is spaced apart from the vent opening to dismiss the suction force. A light fixture including the suction anchoring device is also disclosed.
US09651227B2
Lighting system including first and second enclosures, and pivotable joint assembly. First enclosure is elongated along first longitudinal axis and configured for mounting array of plurality of lighting modules; and includes: two opposing end panels spaced apart along first axis; first and second spaced-apart pairs of opposing elongated side panels; and four elongated enclosure edges joining together first and second pairs of side panels. Second enclosure is elongated along second longitudinal axis and configured for containing lighting module power supply; and includes: two opposing end panels spaced apart along second axis; third and fourth spaced-apart pairs of opposing elongated side panels; and four elongated enclosure edges joining together third and fourth pairs of side panels. Pivotable joint assembly has pivotable joint axis parallel with first and second axes; is interposed between edges; and configured for constraining movement of first and second axes as around and parallel with pivotable joint axis.
US09651208B2
A portable light or device may comprise: a housing for receiving a battery; a light source or other operating element in the housing; an electrical switch actuatable from outside the housing; a control circuit in the housing connecting the operating element in circuit with a battery for selectively energizing the operating element responsive to the electrical switch; a first electrical charging port on the housing coupled to the battery by the control circuit for charging the battery; and a second electrical charging port on the housing coupled to the battery by the control circuit for charging the battery. The second electrical charging port may include a USB connection for receiving battery charging current.
US09651206B2
Optic for a LED chip, in particular of COB type, including a second element realized with an optical transparent material and having a first proximal end and a second distal end, a second external exit surface, a first total internal reflection external lateral surface which redirects and re-distributes a luminous flux realized by LED chip towards the second external exit surface, the second element including an internal blind cavity for housing LED chip. The optic includes a disc shaped first element extending externally with respect to said second element in an orthogonal direction to a longitudinal direction, and the first element and the second element are mutually integral through injection molding, and realized in one single piece through injection molding using optic grade transparent silicone elastomer for making a LED lighting device waterproof and anti-shock, avoiding the need of a gasket and external glass, and with reduced components.
US09651205B2
A lighting device has a reflection sheet; an LED having an optical element arranged at a predetermined distant position away from the reflection sheet and being used for emitting light in a direction in parallel with a light emitting surface of the lighting device in a space between the reflection sheet and the optical element; and an optical sheet provided on the light emitting surface side of the optical element. A light shielding pattern is provided at a position corresponding to the LED on the light emitting surface side of the optical element, and the light shielding pattern is configured by stacking a plurality of light shielding layers in which the light shielding layer positioned closest to the optical element side is made of a white ink, and in which at least one of the other light shielding layers is made of a mixed color ink.
US09651198B2
The present invention discloses a section of tubing including a fluoropolmer tubular body which has an interior surface defining a fluid passage through the tubular body. At least a first portion of the interior surface has a first hydrophobicity which is less than that of the remainder of the tubular body. At least a first portion of the interior surface can have a molar ratio of fluorine to oxygen of no greater than 30 to 1. Products can include the tubular bodies of the present invention attachable to fluid processing instruments such as immunodiagnostic instruments. The present invention also discloses methods for manufacturing the disclosed tubular bodies.
US09651194B1
A support bracket has a support portion, a first mounting portion, and a second mounting portion. The first mounting portion extends from a first end of the support portion. The second mounting portion extends from a second end of the support portion. The second mounting portion defines a coupling hole that is disposed proximate an end surface of the second mounting portion. A first support rib engages a first surface of the support portion and a third surface of the first mounting portion.
US09651193B1
A security mounting arrangement can include a first fastening member, a second fastening member, a sleeve, and a third fastening member. The first fastening member can be a bolt. The second fastening member can be a nut threadingly engageable with the first fastening member. The sleeve can have an aperture configured to receive the second fastening member and a portion of the first fastening member. The third fastening member can be a bolt extendable through an aperture of the first fastening member and threadingly engageable with the inwardly-facing threads defined by the third fastening member. The third fastening member can have a security head.
US09651189B2
The invention relates to a process comprising: (a) preparing a curable epoxy-anhydride thermoset composition; and (b) applying said curable epoxy-anhydride thermoset composition in a cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation process is disclosed. The cured-in-place pipe application utilized can generally be the ‘Inversion Installation Method,’ or the ‘Pull-in Installation Method’. The invention also relates to a cured-in-place pipe that is prepared by this process.
US09651185B2
A line connector having a connector piece with at least one junction portion for junction connection to a media line or to an assembly, a transitional portion contiguous to the junction portion, and a flow duct. In at least the region of the transitional portion, an electrical heating element for the media line is provided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct. The connector piece, together with the heating element, is surrounded by an outer cladding. At least one of the junction portions is designed as a hollow, cylindrical receptacle for directly plugging in the end of the media line, the media line being capable of being fastened in a materially integral manner. The junction portion including, at least in regions, a material transparent to laser beams in such a way that the media line can be fastened by way of laser welding.
US09651180B2
A fuel line connector assembly that includes first and second connectors. The first connector includes a ramp having an inner core and an outer skin surrounding at least a part of the inner core. The inner core extends through the ramp at a location adjacent a radially extending retaining surface for at least a portion of the radial extent of the retaining surface. The second connector has a hook wherein, when the first and second connectors are brought together and secured to each other, the hook inhibits separation of the first and second connectors by bearing again the retaining surface. The first connector is made by coinjection molding a connector body having the outer skin and inner core with the inner core extending through the ramp to a sacrificial portion, and then severing the sacrificial portion from the ramp leaving the inner core exposed at an apex of the ramp.
US09651172B2
A low profile rotatable adjustable segmented clamp device having a substantially flat rotatable surface composed of individual segments having adjustable fasteners sequentially connecting the individual elements to form the rotatable adjustable segmented clamp. The low profile and rotatability of the clamp is achieved for by having each adjustable fastener disposed within the outer perimeter of the rotatable adjustable clamp. As a consequence of its low horizontal and vertical profile the rotatable adjustable clamp prevents failure of municipal water main valves.
US09651171B2
A fitting for channel framing includes a coupling component and a washer secured to the coupling component. At least a portion of the coupling component has a generally dovetail cross-sectional shape configured for reception in an external fitting groove of the channel framing. The washer engages outside surfaces of a second side of the channel framing at opposite sides of the external fitting groove when the coupling component is received in the external fitting groove.
US09651166B2
A microfluidic valve system includes a substrate, a valve seat a compliant membrane and a mechanically actuable displacement element. The substrate includes first and second channels embedded within it and includes a first layer of material and a second layer of material. The valve seat is in fluid communication with the first and second channels. Portions of the second layer of material form sidewalls of the second channel and the valve seat. The mechanically actuable displacement element applies a mechanical force to the compliant membrane to bring the compliant membrane into sealable contact with the valve seat, thereby closing the valve system.
US09651163B2
A single-piece component for a magnetic actuator, in particular for fuel injection, including an internal pole, a magnetic sleeve, and a non-magnetic separating sleeve, the internal pole, the magnetic sleeve and the separating sleeve being integrated into the single-piece component. A method for manufacturing a single-piece component for an magnetic actuator with the aid of a two-component powder injection molding method.
US09651157B2
A split mechanical end face seal assembly has a split gland plate assembly, a split mating seal ring assembly, a split primary seal ring assembly and a split biasing assembly. The segmented mating seal ring is axially and radially supported on the segmented mating ring adapter by resilient connector strips as pre-assembled sub-assemblies and the resilient connector strips axially non-rigidly support the mating seal ring within said mating ring adapter assembly. An axially movable primary sealing ring assembly includes a segmented primary seal ring. The biasing assembly is pre-assembled into the gland plate assembly and urges the primary seal ring into sealing relation with the mating seal seal ring. A method of installation includes resilient axial and radial support of the mating seal ring segments in mating ring adapter segments by the resilient connector strip for installation as a pre-assembled sub-assembly. It further includes pre-assembly of semi-circular shaped biasing ring segments into segments of the gland plate assembly.
US09651153B1
A seal for an axle assembly can include a support, sealant layer, lip, and flange. The support can include an outer member and a wall. The outer member can extend axially. The wall can extend radially inward from a first end of the outer member. The sealant layer can coat an outer surface of the outer member to form a fluid-tight seal between the outer surface of the outer member and a bore of the housing. The lip can extend radially inward of the wall. The lip can form a fluid-tight seal between the wall and an outer surface of the shaft. The flange can extend radially outward of a first end of the outer member while not forming a fluid-tight seal with the interior bore. The flange and the outer member can define a channel axially between the first end of the outer member and the sealant layer.
US09651149B2
An open center flushing valve for a hydraulic system including a hydraulic circuit and a fluid flushing system, where the flushing valve has multiple positions that each include a fluid exhaust path through the flushing valve. Any of the flushing valve positions couples the hydraulic circuit to the fluid flushing system through a fluid exhaust path for that position. The flushing valve can include unpowered and powered positions. The hydraulic circuit can have two sides separately coupled to the flushing valve where in a powered position, only one side of the hydraulic circuit is coupled to the fluid flushing system through the flushing valve, and in an unpowered position both sides of the hydraulic circuit are coupled to the fluid flushing system through the flushing valve. In a powered position, the lower pressure side of the hydraulic circuit can be coupled to the fluid flushing system through the flushing valve.
US09651144B2
The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a vehicle. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of the vehicle being in a stop condition or in the process of stopping. The method also includes activating an auxiliary hydraulic pressurization system in response to the signal and regulating a hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic control system of a transmission. A drive unit is disabled such that a main pump of the hydraulic control system discontinues providing hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic control system. The hydraulic pressure is maintained at a hold pressure in the hydraulic control system by the auxiliary hydraulic pressurization system.
US09651141B2
A method for controlling a motor vehicle transmission having a transmission actuator to actuate the vehicle transmission, having a vehicle clutch with a clutch actuator to actuate the vehicle clutch, having a first control unit which has a memory area that is unambiguously assigned to it, having a second control unit which has a memory area that is unambiguously assigned to it.
US09651120B2
A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine coupled to the first gear set, a second electrical machine coupled to the second gear set, a connecting shaft coupling an engine to the first gear set, a driveshaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, and the engine to a tractive element of the vehicle, and a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft when engaged.
US09651118B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least three planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members and six torque transmitting mechanisms. The torque transmitting mechanisms include clutches and brakes that are actuatable in combinations of three to establish at least ten forward gear ratios and at least one reverse gear ratio.
US09651117B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving power from an engine, an output shaft configured to output power changed in speed, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotating elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotating elements, a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotating element, and six control elements which are disposed at positions where the rotating elements are selectively connected to each other.
US09651115B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for vehicles may include an input shaft receiving power of an engine, an output shaft outputting shifted power of the engine, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotational elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotational elements, a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotational elements, a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotational elements, and seven control elements disposed between the rotational elements and at positions at which the rotational elements and a transmission housing are selectively connected.
US09651100B2
A clutch assembly comprises a cylindrical driving member, a cylindrical driven member, coaxial with the cylindrical driving member, and a clutch cylinder between the driving member and the driven member and coaxial with the driving member and the driven member. The clutch assembly further includes a spring biasing the clutch cylinder towards the clutch cylinder. The clutch assembly also includes a plurality of friction pads, each one being attached to a different one of movable portions, and acting in response to movement of its movable portion, to cause frictional engagement between the driving member and the driven member, so that the driving member rotates the driven member. The clutch assembly also includes a U-shaped spring located in a slot in the driving member and compressible between the driving member and the clutch cylinder for rotationally biasing the clutch cylinder relative to the driving member in a clutch engagement direction.
US09651098B2
The invention relates to a hydrodynamic machine, in particular a hydrodynamic coupling, having a bladed primary wheel and a stationary or revolving bladed secondary wheel, forming a working chamber in order to transmit torque hydrodynamically. The primary wheel and/or the secondary wheel is rotatably mounted by means of at least one plain bearing, which is lubricated by a lubricant source connected by way of at least one lubricant supply line, and a lubricant outlet which is connected by way of a lubricant discharge line, such that in the lubricant supply line and/or the lubricant discharge line a lubricant reservoir, connected to the at least one plain bearing by means of at least one lubricant feed conduit and at least one lubricant return conduit and therefor forming a lubricant circuit, is provided in the event of a failure of the lubricant supply from the lubricant source.
US09651086B2
A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft, with brush rings on both sides of the bearing mechanism for damping bearing motion. In a foil gas bearing embodiment, the bearing itself comprises a hollow sleeve, a compliant layer, and a top foil layer. These bearing elements are arranged in a conventional manner except that the top foil layer extends beyond the sleeve. A sleeve extension extends over the extended portion of the top foil layer. Two opposing brush rings, an inner brush ring and an outer brush ring, are attached to the top foil layer extension and the sleeve extension, respectively. The bristles of an inner brush ring and the bristles of an outer brush ring are interposed and provide damping during operation of the bearing.
US09651082B2
A metallic locking washer is configured to be mounted in a screw/nut system to engage between a nut and a bearing element. The metallic locking washer has a contact face suitable for coming into contact with one or the other of the nut and the bearing element. The contact face has a surface that is suitable for being brought along in friction against one or the other of the nut and the bearing element when the nut loosens. The contact face is coated, by thermal projection of an additive material, with a rough coating forming a rough surface, which increases the friction forces between the contact face of the metallic washer and one or the other of the nut and the bearing element.
US09651080B2
A method for joining a plastic part to a second part with an insert adapted to thread into the plastic part. The insert includes a longitudinal body with outer threads, a hole in the longitudinal body with female threads, and an annular flange. Protrusions and recesses on the bottom of the annular flange alternate in a radial pattern. The insert is threaded into an opening in the plastic part. The protrusions and recesses of the insert interact with the plastic part to resist over rotation of the insert. The opening in the plastic part may include a hole and a counter bore portion. The counter bore includes protrusions and recesses. The protrusions and recesses alternate in a radial pattern. When the insert is threaded into the opening, the protrusions and recesses of the insert interact with the protrusions and recesses of the plastic part and resist over rotation.
US09651073B2
A locking mechanism for inner and outer telescoping members includes a housing fixedly attached to the axial outer end of the outer telescoping member. A cam member is mounted on the housing for pivotal movement between a locking position applying pressure urging a pressure pad in a radial through opening in the housing against the outer surface of the inner telescoping member to lock the inner telescoping member against axial movement relative to the outer telescoping member, and an unlocking position releasing the applied pressure.
US09651062B2
A construction machine having an actuator that is driven by a working fluid includes a state value detection unit that detects a state value indicating an operating condition of the actuator, a mode determination unit that determines an operating mode by comparing the state value with a determination condition value, and a condition value setting unit that modifies the determination condition value on the basis of a comparison result of the mode determination unit. The condition value setting unit sets the determination condition value such that the determination condition value is increased when the state value falls below the determination condition value and decreased when the state value rises above the determination condition value.
US09651058B1
A T-shaped fan blade arm attachment is disclosed for securing ceiling fan blades to a rotor of a ceiling fan motor. The fan blade arms have T-shaped ends with an elastomeric ring disposed adjacent the T-shapes ends. A mounting bracket has mounting holes with opposed slots for receiving the T-shaped ends of the fan blade arms. The opposed slots are preferably aligned at an angle to the horizontal when mounted to a ceiling fan motor. The mounting bracket has a flat surface exteriorly disposed on the mounting bracket adjacent to respective ones of the mounting holes. The mounting bracket has two cams with lock grooves disposed on interior surfaces of the mounting bracket, adjacent to respective ones of the mounting holes. The T-shaped ends insert into the mounting holes and are rotated to guide the T-shaped ends of the fan blade arms into the lock grooves.
US09651055B2
A slurry pump impeller which includes a front shroud and a back shroud each having an inner main face with an outer peripheral edge and a central axis, a plurality of pumping vanes extending between the inner main faces of the shrouds, the pumping vanes being disposed in spaced apart relation. Each pumping vane includes a leading edge in the region of the central axis and a trailing edge in the region of the outer peripheral edges of the shrouds with a passageway between adjacent pumping vanes. Each passageway has associated therewith a discharge guide vane, each discharge guide vane being disposed within a respective passageway and located closer to one or the other of the pumping vanes and projecting from the inner main face of at least one of the or each shrouds.
US09651053B2
A bleed valve having a piston with a sealing member, the piston being displaceable between a first position to seal an aperture of a fluid conduit and an opposed second position spaced apart from the aperture to allow the working fluid therethrough. The bleed valve also has a guiding assembly with at least one guide wheel mounted to the piston and being displaceable therewith along a guide rail. The guide wheel has a guide groove extending inwardly from an outer rolling surface. The guide rail has a rail surface with a guide protrusion. The guide groove and the guide protrusion are complementary and in rolling contact with one another. The bleed valve also has a displacement mechanism for displacing the piston between the first and second positions. A compressor with a bleed valve and method for controlling bleeding of a working fluid are also discussed.
US09651050B2
A propeller pump includes a pump housing and a pump core that is arranged in the pump housing and has a propeller, which together delimit a channel, and which are connected by a guide vane. The channel (27) haws a cross-sectional area (A2) at the rear edge (30) of the guide vane (13) that is greater than a cross-sectional area (A1) at the rear edge (29) of the blades (21) of the propeller. The specific rotational speed of the propeller pump is greater than 200 and less than 300.
US09651049B2
A compressor includes a member with a recess in which a reed discharge valve is disposed. The recess has a discharge hole, a fixation hole, and an annular projection formed around the discharge hole. The discharge valve includes a fixed portion, a flexible portion, and a head portion to open/close the annular projection. A protruding portion is formed at a rear end portion of the fixed portion. A first side surface of the protruding portion is designed to be substantially flush with a side surface of the fixed portion, which surface is closer to a center of the member. When the discharge valve rotates in a predetermined direction about the fixation hole after the discharge valve is disposed in the recess but before being fixed to the member, the first side surface of the protruding portion comes into contact with a side wall of the recess.
US09651035B2
A variable displacement swash plate type compressor includes a rotary shaft, a swash plate, and an actuator capable of changing the inclination angle of the swash plate. The actuator includes a movable body. The movable body includes a sliding portion that slides on the rotary shaft or the lug member and a movable body-side transmission portion that engages with the swash plate at a position radially outward of the rotational axis of the swash plate. The movable body-side transmission portion is configured such that a perpendicular line or a normal to the movable body-side transmission portion and the rotational axis of the rotary shaft intersect with each other in a zone surrounded by the sliding portion when viewed in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the rotational axis of the rotary shaft extends and perpendicular to the first direction.
US09651034B2
A variable displacement swash-plate compressor includes an actuator that is configured to change the inclination angle of a swash plate. The actuator includes a movable body that moves along a drive shaft axis. The movable body includes an acting portion that is configured to push the swash plate with the pressure in a control pressure chamber. The swash plate includes a receiving portion that contacts and is pushed by the acting portion. The acting portion and the receiving portion contact each other at an acting position. A drive-shaft-parallel line segment is defined that contains the acting position and connects a proximal end of the acting portion and a proximal end of the receiving portion to each other, while extending in parallel with the drive shaft axis. The drive-shaft-parallel line segment is shorter when the inclination angle of the swash plate is maximized than when the inclination angle is minimized.
US09651032B2
A submersible liquid-vapor generator (LVG) includes an evaporator portion in heat transfer communication with a heat energy source. The LVG also includes a magnetic field apparatus coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion. The LVG further includes a condenser portion coupled in flow communication with the magnetic field apparatus. The LVG also includes a hybrid working fluid including nanoparticles. The evaporator portion, the magnetic field portion, and the condenser portion at least partially define a hybrid working vapor flow path. The LVG further includes an electrically non-conductive wick structure coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion and the condenser portion. The wick structure at least partially defines a hybrid working liquid flow path extending between the condenser portion and the evaporator portion.
US09651028B2
A system and method of mounting a wind turbine blade is described, designed to aid in the guiding and alignment of wind turbine blade roots with hub-side components, e.g. a blade pitch system. Furthermore, the system is operable to reduce the effect of blade root ovalization. At least one circular collar is provided which can bear against at least a section of the mounting elements, e.g. blade root bushings, projecting from the root end of a wind turbine blade. The collar acts to absorb the forces pushing the blade root towards an oval shape, thereby providing for improved handling of blade root ovalization and ensuring accurate radial alignment of mounting elements, e.g. stay bolt bores and blade root bushings. Such an improved alignment system reduces the likelihood of bolt failure as a result of component misalignments.
US09651019B2
An arrangement and a method to align a part of a wind turbine to a counterpart is provided. The arrangement includes an alignment tool. The alignment tool includes a first area to be connected to a part of the wind turbine, and a second area that protrudes over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine. The second area is arranged and prepared in a way that it abuts on the counterpart during the alignment of the part of the wind turbine and its counterpart. The arrangement includes a second alignment tool. The second alignment tool protrudes less far over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine then the first alignment tool. Thus the first alignment tool abuts to the counterpart before the second alignment tool when the part of the wind turbine approaches the counterpart.
US09651018B2
A power generating assembly for generating electricity from a flowing medium includes an enclosure. The enclosure includes an elongated duct along which the medium flows. The duct defines a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. The duct includes a converging inlet nozzle having a span in the lateral direction. At least one pair of turbines is arranged within and on either side of the duct in the lateral direction. The turbines are rotated in opposite directions by the flowing medium. The turbines have a span in the lateral direction. The span of the converging inlet nozzle is at least the span of the at least one pair of turbines. A generator is interconnected with each turbine of the at least one pair of turbines via a drive means such that the generator rotates with rotation of the turbines.
US09651008B2
A sub out-orifice and an in-orifice are respectively formed in a low pressure passage and a high pressure passage of a fixed plate. A control valve is provided at an outlet port of the low pressure passage. In a normal control, the control valve starts its control-valve opening operation when a movable plate is in contact with the fixed plate. In an interval-shortening control, the control valve starts the control-valve opening operation at an earlier timing than that in the normal control, namely during a course in which a valve body is still in its valve-body closing operation.
US09651006B2
Systems are disclosed to restrain movement of engine components in the event of a collision. A system may comprise an upper intake manifold; a cam cover; a shear catch located between the upper intake manifold and the cam cover; an upper component of the shear catch is arranged on the upper intake manifold; a lower component of the shear catch is arranged on the cam cover; and the upper component and the lower component are arranged opposite each other such that they engage when the upper intake manifold is subjected to shear forces. Variations to the size, arrangement, and shape of a shear catch are disclosed herein.
US09651004B2
Various systems and methods are described for generating vacuum within an engine intake. A system may comprise an intake throttle including a throttle plate, where the throttle plate may comprise a hollow interior passage, which in turn may be coupled to a vacuum consumption device. When vacuum is demanded by the vacuum consumption device, the throttle plate may be adjusted to increase airflow through the interior passage and vacuum may be generated at a constricted portion of the interior passage by flowing intake air through the interior passage of the throttle plate.
US09651002B2
A method for a fuel system, comprising: during a first condition, including an engine-off condition and a sealed fuel tank, directing fresh air into a fuel vapor canister responsive to detecting hydrocarbons in a canister vent line. By directing fresh air into the fuel vapor canister, fuel vapor stored within the canister may be redistributed away from the canister vent line. In this way bleed emissions from the fuel system may be reduced without the need for a dedicated bleed canister.
US09650995B2
Systems and methods are described herein for a hybrid liquid propellant rocket engine. In an embodiment, the engine includes a first pump powered by a first turbine, a second pump powered by a second turbine, and a gas generator. An output of the gas generator is connected to the first turbine and the second turbine. The engine further includes a third pump powered by a third turbine, a fourth pump powered by a fourth turbine, and a nozzle having an expander cycle in a wall and a combustion chamber. An output of the third pump is connected to the expander cycle and an output of the wall is connected to the third turbine and the fourth turbine. An output of the fourth pump, an output of the third turbine, and an output of the fourth turbine are connected to the combustion chamber.
US09650983B2
A method of controlling fuel injection in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder with an associated fuel injector for performing injection events is proposed, wherein for each injection event a pulse width is determined with which the injector is kept open to spray a desired quantity of fuel. When the quantity of fuel of a given fuel injection event is greater than a learning threshold, a split fuel injection is performed, whereby a first, low injection pulse and a second, complementary injection pulse are executed. Data representative of a closing time and/or an opening time of the fuel injector is determined in respect of the first, low injection pulse and a learned correction value is elaborated based on the closing time and/or opening time, the learned correction value being subsequently used for injection control.
US09650982B2
A fuel control system of a vehicle includes a first storing module that, in response to receipt of a vehicle shutdown command, stores a first temperature of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) within an LPG fuel rail of an engine and a first pressure of LPG within the LPG fuel rail. A second storing module, in response to receipt of a vehicle startup command, stores a second temperature of LPG within the LPG fuel rail and a second pressure of LPG within the LPG fuel rail. A butane module determines an amount of butane in the LPG based on the first temperature, the first pressure, the second temperature, and the second pressure. A fuel control module controls LPG fueling of the engine based on the amount of butane in the LPG.
US09650977B2
Methods and systems are provided for detecting air-fuel ratio imbalances across all engine cylinders. In one example, a method (or system) may include indicating cylinder imbalance based on each of the exhaust air-fuel ratio, exhaust manifold pressure, and cylinder torque weighted by a confidence factor, where in the confidence factor is determined based on operating conditions.
US09650971B2
The described embodiments relate generally to skip fire control of internal combustion engines and particularly to mechanisms for determining a desired operational firing fraction. In some embodiments, a firing fraction determining unit is arranged to determine a firing fraction suitable for delivering a requested engine output. The firing fraction determining unit may utilize data structures such as lookup tables in the determination of the desired firing fraction. In one aspect the desired engine output and one or more operational power train parameters such as current engine speed, are used as indices to a lookup table used to select a desired firing fraction. In other embodiments, additional indices to the data structure may include any one of: transmission gear; manifold absolute pressure (MAP); manifold air temperature; a parameter indicative of mass air charge (MAC); cam position; cylinder torque output; maximum permissible manifold pressure; vehicle speed; and barometric pressure.
US09650954B2
A gas generator has at least one compressor rotor, at least one gas generator turbine rotor and a combustion section. A fan drive turbine is positioned downstream of a path of the products of combustion having passed over the at least one gas generator turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine drives a shaft and the shaft engages gears to drive at least three fan rotors.
US09650949B2
A method of using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine. At least two of the cylinders are “dual exhaust-ported cylinders” having two exhaust ports. For each of these cylinders, one of the exhaust ports is connected to the EGR loop and the other of the exhaust ports is connected to the main exhaust line. These cylinders are controlled such that one exhaust port is open and the other exhaust port is closed during each engine cycle, and are operated, on a cycle-by-cycle basis so that all of the exhaust produced by a cylinder may be delivered to the EGR loop at any cycle. The number of cylinders operating as EGR cylinders per engine cycle is in response to a desired EGR rate.
US09650946B2
Methods and systems are provided for estimating water storage in a charge air cooler (CAC). In one example, engine operation may be adjusted responsive to water storage parameters at the CAC, the water storage parameters based on an output of a first oxygen sensor positioned downstream of the CAC and a second oxygen sensor positioned upstream of the CAC. Further, operation of the first oxygen sensor and the second oxygen sensor may be diagnosed during certain engine operation conditions wherein no condensate is forming in the CAC.
US09650940B2
A vehicle thermal management system includes a heat medium-heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a first heat medium drawn into and discharged from a first pump and a second pump, and a second heat medium circulating through an engine cooling circuit. A first switching valve switches between a state in which the first heat medium discharged from the first pump flows, and another state in which the first heat medium discharged from the second pump flows, with respect to the plurality of devices and the heat medium-heat medium heat exchanger. The second switching valve switches between a state in which the first heat medium flows into the first pump, and another state in which the first heat medium flows into the second pump, with respect to the plurality of devices and the heat medium-heat medium heat exchanger.
US09650939B2
An isolator mounting apparatus is disclosed for supporting an exhaust component from a body portion of a vehicle. The apparatus has an elastomeric isolator element having at least one hole for receiving a first external hanger. An isolator bracket has a portion which is used for receiving and supporting the isolator element, and a neck portion extending therefrom. A mounting element is configured to engage with at least a portion of the neck portion of the isolator bracket. The mounting element is adapted to be secured to the isolator bracket. The mounting element is further adapted to be fixedly secured to the exhaust component.
US09650938B2
Arranged are a selective reduction catalyst for reacting NOx in exhaust gas 2 with ammonia, an exhaust passage 5 for guiding the exhaust gas 2 to the selective reduction catalyst, and a urea water addition unit 4 incorporated in the exhaust passage 5 for adding urea water 3 into the exhaust gas 2. A portion of the exhaust passage 5 adjacent to an added position of the urea water 3 is constituted by a divisional piece 5a made of material having higher corrosive resistance to a substance produced by addition of the urea water 3 than that of a material constituting the remaining portion of the exhaust passage 5 other than the adjacent portion.
US09650937B1
A system for cooling an engine of a marine propulsion system having an engine and having a cylinder block. An exhaust manifold that conveys hot exhaust gases from the engine and a pump that pumps water from a body of water are also present in the system. A water jacket surrounding the exhaust manifold conveys water from the pump along at least one stream of water having a cross sectional area for cooling the hot exhaust gases in the exhaust manifold. At least one portion of the water jacket includes at least one converging passageway including a wall of the water jacket that tapers inwardly to reduce the cross-sectional area of the stream of water as the water circulates in the water jacket. The pumped water typically has entrained air in the form of air pockets. The converging passageway reduces the air pockets present in the water to provide even cooling of the manifold.
US09650931B2
A method for manufacturing an exhaust gas treatment device (1), which has at least one ceramic substrate body (3, 4) for exhaust gas treatment in a tubular housing (2), includes inserting the substrate body (3) axially into the housing (2). An axial support (13), which has a supporting ring (14) and a ring-shaped support element (15) held by the supporting ring (14), is inserted axially into the housing (2) and is positioned therein such that the axial support (13) transmits a predetermined axial force (28) to the substrate body (3) via the support element (15). The axial support (13) is fixed to the housing (2) with the axially prestressed (predetermined axial force) positioning, in which the supporting ring (14) is welded to the housing (2).
US09650926B2
A working fluid case includes a housing and a breather device. The breather device includes a vent passage located in a recess formed in the housing.
US09650924B2
A control system for an engine includes a variable valve timing device configured to selectively adjust opening and closing of an exhaust valve of the engine, a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a condition associated with pre-ignition of air and fuel in a cylinder of the engine, and a controller in communication with the variable valve timing device and the sensor. The controller is configured to control the variable valve timing device to selectively initiate a conventional valve timing or a quick-open valve timing based on the signal. In the quick-open valve timing the exhaust valve is moved from a closed position to a maximum lift position in a shorter amount of time than in the conventional valve timing.
US09650923B2
A variety of methods and devices for controlling the operation of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine during skip fire operation are described. In various embodiments, an exhaust valve monitor or other suitable mechanism is used to detect exhaust valve actuation faults. When an exhaust valve actuation fault is detected for a particular cylinder, the corresponding intake valve is deactivated (or not activated) in circumstances when it would otherwise be activated in order to prevent the intake valve from opening into a cylinder that contains high pressure combustion gases. The described approach is particularly beneficial when skip fire operation is combined with cylinder deactivation so that air is not pumped through the cylinders during the skipped working cycles.
US09650912B2
A system and device to prevent damage during over-speed condition in a turbo-machine. In one embodiment, the system includes a fluid circuit with a header, which couples to the turbo-machine, and a hydraulic circuit through which fluid evacuates the header to a drain during the over-speed condition. The hydraulic circuit includes a trip header manifold with a pilot element in flow connection with a drain valve element having an actuator to regulate flow of fluid from the header. For example, the pilot element uses a pair of solenoid valves to change pressure of a fluid in the drain valve element and maintains the actuator in a first position to prevent fluid evacuation during normal operating conditions. When over-speed condition is detected, the solenoid valves change state, reducing the pressure of the fluid, permitting the actuator to move to a second position placing the header in flow connection with the drain.
US09650909B2
In certain embodiments, a system includes a controller configured to obtain an inter-stage pressure measurement between stages of a multi-stage compressor. The controller is also configured to identify actual damage in the multi-stage compressor based at least in part on the inter-stage pressure measurement.
US09650906B2
A seal for use in a machine, such as a machine with rotating members, includes a labyrinth seal with multiple fins. The seal is slotted and is designed to limit fluid flow to the desired amount from the high pressure side of the seal to the low pressure side of the seal inside partially or exclusively radially extending cavities between two rotating members. The rotating members may operate at different speeds with a common axis of rotation. The seal remains effective when the rotating members move axially in relation to one another despite the fins having a component parallel to the axis of rotation.
US09650902B2
A fan section for a gas turbine engine includes a fan hub having a slot. A platform is supported by the fan hub. A fan blade has a root that is received in the slot. A wear pad is provided between the fan hub and the root and includes a flap integral with the wear pad to provide a seal relative to the platform. A fan blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil extending from a root. A wear pad is secured to the root and has a free end providing a flap canted toward the root.
US09650898B2
An airfoil includes an airfoil body having a first section and a second section that differ by coefficient of thermal expansion. The second section is arranged in thermomechanical juxtaposition with the first section such that the first section and the second section cooperatively thermomechanically control a profile of the airfoil body responsive to varying thermal conditions.
US09650890B2
An apparatus for analyzing the output of a plurality of oil wells. The apparatus comprises: i) a plurality of test headers coupled to the plurality of wells via a field testing infrastructure; and ii) a test separator configured to select a first well for testing and to receive a multiphase fluid flow from a first one of the plurality of test headers, the first test header associated with the first well. The test separator is further configured to: iii) separate the multiphase fluid flow into a gas phase stream and a liquid phase stream; iv) measure a plurality of parameters of the gas phase stream and the liquid phase stream over a current period; v) for each of the plurality of parameters, determine a mean value, a standard deviation, a maximum value, and a minimum value in the current period; and vi) determine if a standard deviation associated with a first parameter exceeds a first threshold of a mean value associated with the first parameter. If the standard deviation exceeds the first threshold, the test separator flags the first oil well as having a problem.
US09650888B2
An example downhole tool may include a tool body and a first conformable sensor coupled to the tool body. The first conformation sensor may include a flexible material, a transmitter coupled to the flexible material, and a plurality of receivers coupled to the flexible material. The downhole tool may further include a control unit with a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device containing a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to output control signals to a first combination of the plurality of receivers corresponding to a first operating mode; and output control signals to a second combination of the plurality of receivers corresponding to a second operating mode.
US09650887B2
A subsea leak detection system for an off-shore operation facility includes a leak detector operatively connected to a controller located on a subsea assembly. The system is provided with a floating member on which the leak detector is suitably attached. The floating member is adapted to be installed and stably positioned, above the assembly.
US09650884B2
A method of drilling a wellbore includes deploying a drill string into the wellbore through a casing string disposed in the wellbore. The casing string has a pressure responsive element and a hydraulic line in communication with the element and extending along the casing string. While drilling the formation, the method includes monitoring a pressure of the hydraulic line to ensure control of the formation.
US09650882B2
A system for detecting leakage in a pump includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, multiple third pressure sensors, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure value associated with a suction manifold of the pump. The second pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure value associated with a discharge manifold of the pump. The third pressure sensors are configured to output a pressure value associated with the cylinders of the pump. The controller is disposed in communication with the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the third pressure sensors. The controller is configured to determine amplitude of a leak, and a location of the leak in the pump on the basis of pressure values received from the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the third pressure sensors.
US09650881B2
A method, system and computer-readable medium for estimating a life expectancy of a tool used in a pumping operation is disclosed. A property of the tool is obtained and a pumping parameter of the downhole operation is selected. The pumping parameter is related to erosion of the tool. A value of the pumping parameter is measured during the pumping operation. The life expectancy of the tool is estimated during the pumping operation using the obtained property of the downhole tool and the measured value of the pumping parameter. The value of the pumping parameter may then be changed to a new value in order to affect the life expectancy.
