US09770342B2
A biologically implantable device including a spacer body and fasteners for fixing the spacer body in place between vertebrae, and a method for use of the device to improve intervertebral spacing and correct foraminal stenosis, and to immobilize facet joints and promote fusion of adjacent vertebrae to each other. A drill guide may be used in providing bores in the facet joints to receive the fasteners.
US09770339B2
An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. The device can have multiple flat sides that remain flat during expansion. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. Devices and methods for adjusting (e.g., removing, repositioning, resizing) deployed orthopedic expandable support devices are also disclosed. The expandable support devices can be engaged by an engagement device. The engagement device can longitudinally expand the expandable support device. The expandable support device can be longitudinally expanded until the expandable support device is substantially in a pre-deployed configuration. The expandable support device can be then be physically translated and/or rotated.
US09770332B2
A catheter member (1) for interacting with a circumferential tissue structure (10) includes an elongate primary catheter (70) which has an inner lumen (80) and which extends along a longitudinal axis (90) and has a distal end portion (100), first (120) and second (130) elongate secondary catheters each comprising a distal end portion (140, 150) and an inner lumen (160, 170), and each to be disposed in the inner lumen (80) of the primary catheter (70) to be moveable relatively thereto and exposable from the distal end portion thereof, and a first flexing mechanism (191) to provide the distal end portion (140, 150) of the first (120) and/or second (130) secondary catheter with a tendency to assume a first secondary bent shape, wherein the distal end portion of one or both of the first and second secondary catheters is provided so as to be able to be flexed by the first flexing mechanism to form an arm portion (126, 136) substantially transverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis (90) of the primary catheter (70) so as to assume the first secondary bent shape, when being exposed from the distal end portion (100) of the primary catheter.
US09770331B2
Systems for mitral valve repair are disclosed where one or more mitral valve interventional devices may be advanced intravascularly into the heart of a patient and deployed upon or along the mitral valve to stabilize the valve leaflets. The interventional device may also facilitate the placement or anchoring of a prosthetic mitral valve implant. The interventional device may generally comprise a distal set of arms pivotably and/or rotating coupled to a proximal set of arms which are also pivotably and/or rotating coupled. The distal set of arms may be advanced past the catheter opening to a subannular position (e.g., below the mitral valve) and reconfigured from a low-profile delivery configuration to a deployed securement configuration. The proximal arm members may then be deployed such that the distal and proximal arm members may grip the leaflets between the two sets of arms to stabilize the leaflets.
US09770325B2
An intraocular lens for reducing aberrant optical effects includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface and a peripheral region/zone disposed about a central optical axis. The peripheral region/zone has an inflection region/transition area that is inclined with respect to the anterior surface at an angle between about 40 degrees and 120 degrees with respect to the optical axis.
US09770320B2
A repair device (10) for affixing a migrating stent graft (30) to the interior surface of a vessel wall (31). The repair device includes tubular graft (11) with a bare or uncovered stent (16) affixed to the proximal end (12). The bare stent includes a plurality of distally pointed barbs (17) for securing the repair device to a vessel wall. A second stent (15) is positioned in the passage (14) of the tubular graft to expand the graft against the interior surface of the migrating stent graft (30). Proximally pointing barbs (20) are affixed to the struts of the second stent and extend through the graft material for securing the repair device to the migrating stent graft. Biological glue (22) and other sealing material (23) can be applied to the tubular graft and/or stents for sealing the repair device against the vessel wall and/or the interior of the migrating stent graft.
US09770318B2
An embolic protection device for use in a patient's blood vessel, such as the aorta, has an approximately cylindrical outer structure made of a filter mesh material and an approximately conical inner structure also made of a filter mesh material. On the downstream end of the embolic protection device, the wider end of the conical inner structure is joined to the cylindrical outer structure. The upstream end of the embolic protection device is open for blood to flow between the conical inner structure and the cylindrical outer structure. The space between the conical inner structure and the cylindrical outer structure defines a collection chamber for captured emboli. The narrow upstream end of the conical inner structure has a catheter port with a resilient seal that is sized for passage of a catheter shaft. The filter mesh material may be self-supporting or it may be supported on a resilient-framework or an inflatable framework.
US09770317B2
A curved surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes a curved member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the curved member has a tissue penetrating end including an insertion tip with a distal point. The curved member has a total curvature of less than 360 degrees between the proximal and distal ends of the curved member. The curved member comprises a compound curve. A proximal section of the curved member has a first radius of curvature and a distal section of the curved member has a second radius of curvature that is different than the first radius of curvature.
US09770296B2
A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, a plurality of actuation controls of the handle, a flexible housing tube having a flexible housing tube distal end and a flexible housing tube proximal end, and an optic fiber disposed within an inner bore of the handle and the flexible housing tube. An actuation of an actuation control of the plurality of actuation controls may gradually curve the flexible housing tube. A gradual curving of the flexible housing tube may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of an actuation control of the plurality of actuation controls may gradually straighten the flexible housing tube. A gradual straightening of the flexible housing tube may gradually straighten the optic fiber.
US09770295B2
A radiation applicator with a dielectric body (2) surrounding the antenna. The dielectric body (2) is comprised of three sections (3, 4 and 5) with different dielectric constants to provide broad-band matching of the applicator to surrounding material. Washers (10) and (11) are mounted on the antenna to act as reflectors.
US09770290B2
An ablation device includes a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and the distal ends, and a first array of electrodes at least partially disposed within the lumen, the first array of electrodes slidable relative to the cannula, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, wherein one of the electrodes has a flared deployed profile.
US09770288B2
The present disclosure relates to an electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument. The electrode assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members and an electrode positioned on each jaw member. One or both of the electrodes includes a tissue contacting surface that has an outer periphery and defines a side surface depending therefrom. The tissue contacting surface and the side surface include a conjoining edge formed at a first predetermined angle that defines a first linear transition zone dimensioned to reduce arcing between the opposing jaw members during activation of the electrosurgical instrument.
US09770284B2
An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical power generating source, an energy applicator operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source, a processor unit, and a data acquisition module configured to receive a reflected signal. The processor unit is disposed in operative communication with the data acquisition module and adapted to determine a tissue desiccation rate around at least a portion of the energy applicator based on one or more signals received from the data acquisition module.
US09770277B2
A bone screw is provided including a tubular body and a head as separate parts. The tubular body has a first end, a second end, a tubular wall defining a cavity and a plurality of openings extending through the tubular wall into the cavity. The tubular body also includes a continuous exterior bone thread on an exterior tubular surface of the tubular wall. The continuous exterior bone thread extends for at least one full revolution about the tubular surface. The head defines an inner bore and includes an engagement structure to engage with a driver to advance the bone screw in the bone when a rotating force from the driver is applied to the engagement structure in a first direction, and a connection structure to connect to the tubular body at the first end. The head is connected to the tubular body by the connection structure in such a way that the head is locked against disconnection from the tubular body when a rotating force from a driver is applied to the engagement structure in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US09770271B2
The present invention provides a spinal implant for placement between adjacent processes of the human spine. In some embodiments the spinal implant includes a spacer and one or more retention members. In some embodiments, the retention members are fixed relative to the spacer and in other embodiments the retention members are deployable from a first or compact or stowed position to a second or expanded or deployed position. In some embodiments the spacer is expandable from a first size to a second size. In some embodiments the spacer has a tapered body.
US09770269B1
A spinal cross-connector comprises an elongated member, a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are configured to receive spinal rods and adaptable to directly attach with pedicle screws. The first connector includes a first collet head, a first clamp and a first locking means. The second connector includes a second collet head, a second clamp and a second locking mans. The first locking means is configured to tighten over a first collet head and engage with the first connector. Similarly, the second locking means is configured to tighten over a second collet head and engage with the second connector. The engagement of the first locking means with the first connector and the second locking means with the second connector locks the spinal cross-connector.
US09770268B2
A clamp housing assembly and method for providing stabilization as a bone anchor during an operation. The assembly includes a housing, a locking element and a band. The housing defines a longitudinal axis, a center recess, and at least one slot. The housing has two opposing arms extending from a base. At least a portion of the inside surface of each arm may be threaded and at least a portion of the outside surface of each arm may be planar. The locking element is positionable within the recess in a co-axial relationship to the housing. The band is sized for travel along a predetermined path defined in part by the at least one slot in the housing.
US09770263B2
Devices and methods for vaginal insertion are disclosed.
US09770260B2
A method for elongating a tendon including by moving a cutting blade along the tendon in a helical path so as to make a helical cut in the tendon which allows elongation of the tendon.
US09770248B2
An adjustable suture passer for use in arthroscopic surgery is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable suture passer comprises a head that describes a semicircular arc, an elongate body, a support element, and driving and control mechanisms. The head is adapted to accommodate a surgical needle and a guide wire. When the adjustable suture passer is activated, the needle is driven with sufficient force to penetrate bone. Use of the adjustable suture passer thus enables surgical attachment of soft tissue to bone without any necessity for a separate anchor.
US09770247B2
The shank (12) of a disposable rotary cutting tool (10) comprises a pipe section (16) cut from a drawn metal pipe. The tool head (14) is formed from a cut-out (18a, 18b) of a drawn metal sheet or a section of a metal tube by non-cutting machining. The pipe section (16) and the tool head (14) are advantageously attached by force fitting.
US09770240B2
Using the simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor of the present invention, a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention allow for the placement of small diameter knotless anchors. For example, the implant placement system may include a cannulated tensioning device having disposed therein an elongate member of a suitably elastic metallic or polymeric material, such as nitinol, that includes at its distal end a loop of material suitable for suture retention. The implant placement system may further include high tensile strength knotless anchors provided with internal drive features that coordinate with torque-transmitting features unique to the driver devices of the present invention.
US09770230B2
Components for an endoscopic vessel harvesting system suitable for harvesting target vessels such as the saphenous vein or radial artery for cardiac artery bypass graft surgery. The main components of such systems include a vessel dissector and a vessel harvester, both of which work in conjunction with a separately provided endoscope. The vessel dissector is an elongated cannula having a blunt tip for separating layers of facial around vessels. The tip may be movable, and is typically transparent to permit viewing forward of the tip using the endoscope. Internal features of the tip may reduce glare back to the endoscope. Several devices improve visibility through the tip by reducing interference from tissue or fluid on the tip. The vessel harvester also has an elongated cannula for receiving the endoscope. Several tools within the harvester permit manipulation, severing, and sealing of vessels forward of the distal end. The tool for manipulating vessels may have a low-profile for increased visibility of operation, and may be coupled to the cannula with a damping mechanism to reduce the possibility of avulsion of the vessels. Various vessel cutting and sealing devices are provided that may accommodate various sizes of vessels and improve cutting and sealing efficacy.
US09770224B2
An adapter system that converts an in-line microphone to a stethoscope is described. The adapter includes a grooved channel, a rear cap, a front diaphragm, a recessed surface and a sound tunnel. The grooved channel may be disposed in a base. The grooved channel receives the in-line microphone. The lid covers the grooved channel and the lid is removably coupled to the base. The front diaphragm contacts a listening surface. Also, the front diaphragm is coupled to the base. The recessed surface is disposed adjacent to the front diaphragm. The sound tunnel includes a sound tunnel entrance proximate to the recessed surface. The sound tunnel extends to the grooved channel. The recessed surface and the sound tunnel capture sound vibrations received at the front diaphragm and transmit the sound vibrations through the sound tunnel to the in-line microphone disposed in the grooved channel.
US09770220B2
An integrated microtomography and optical imaging system includes a rotating table that supports an imaging object, an optical stage, and separate optical and microtomography imaging systems. The table rotates the imaging object about a vertical axis running therethrough to a plurality of different rotational positions during a combined microtomography and optical imaging process. The optical stage can be a trans-illumination, epi-illumination or bioluminescent stage. The optical imaging system includes a camera positioned vertically above the imaging object. The microtomography system includes an x-ray source positioned horizontally with respect to the imaging object. Optical and x-ray images are both obtained while the imaging object remains in place on the rotating table. The stage and table are included within an imaging chamber, and all components are included within a portable cabinet. Multiple imaging objects can be imaged simultaneously, and side mirrors can provide side views of the object to the overhead camera.
US09770218B2
A radiographic guide that can be used as a surgical guide is provided. The radiographic guide uses a provisional dental implant instead of a denture tooth or a custom made diagnostic tooth. The provisional dental implant, which can be integrated or selectively interconnected to the radiographic guide, may have a through-hole or a tapped hole that facilitates location of a dental implant. If the planned implant location is acceptable, the radiographic guide can be used as a surgical guide, wherein the hole guides surgical tools used to modify a patient's maxilla or jaw so it can receive the implant.
US09770215B2
A process for deploying an anti-scattering grid in a mammograph is provided. The mammograph comprises a radiation source configured to emit radiation for taking mammographic images of a patient, a radiation detector comprising a network of sensors arranged periodically with a first pitch, and an anti-scattering grid arranged between the source and the detector, the anti-scattering grid comprising absorption laminates of radiations arranged parallel to each other and distributed periodically with a second pitch. The process comprises: displacing the anti-scattering grid relative to the detector or displacing the detector relative to the anti-scattering grid during emission of radiation; and adapting the second pitch to the first pitch, wherein displacement is perpendicular to the direction of the laminates of the anti-scattering grid, the laminates being arranged parallel to a side of the anti-scattering grid positioned against the patient.
US09770209B2
An assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a patient and a method of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a patient using different MRI scanners is disclosed. In one example, the assembly includes a plurality of RF coils, wherein the RF coils are configured to be positioned adjacent to an anatomy of interest, a patient support structure configured to support of the patient, a base removably coupled to the patient support structure, the base and the patient support being configured for receipt in the bore of an MRI scanner, and an interface coupled to the plurality of RF coils and to the MRI scanner and configured to connect the plurality of RF coils and the MRI scanner and to selectively control a first RF coil and a second RF coil included in the plurality of RF coils.
US09770205B2
Providing an indication of a state of awareness for a patient includes arranging data of an EEG power spectrogram to provide power versus frequency in a log-log arrangement; calculating a first best-fit line for a lower frequency region of the EEG power spectrogram, using a processor; and calculating a second best-fit line for a higher frequency region of the EEG power spectrogram. Also, a display device is used to display a density spectral array of the spectrogram using a display scale that ranges between an upper limit and a lower limit, wherein the lower limit is set based on one of the first best-fit line and the second best-fit line.
US09770203B1
A force measurement system is disclosed herein. The force measurement system includes a force measurement assembly configured to receive a subject thereon, at least one visual display device having an output screen, and one or more data processing devices configured to generate a screen image comprising a plurality of substantially concentric bands on the output screen of the at least one visual display device that is configured to create a visual stimuli for the subject disposed on the force measurement assembly. A method for testing a subject is also disclosed herein. The method for testing a subject utilizes reality-altering glasses that are used to perturb a visual input of a subject. Also, in one or more embodiments, the reality-altering glasses are used in conjunction with a force measurement assembly configured to receive the subject thereon.
US09770197B2
The present invention relates to a device and a method for extracting physiological information from detected electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by a subject. A data stream derived from detected electromagnetic radiation is received. The data stream comprises a continuous or discrete characteristic signal including physiological information indicative of at least one vital parameter, the characteristic signal comprising at least one indicative signal component representative of a detected spectral portion indicative of the at least one vital parameter. The data stream at least sectionally comprises at least one auxiliary signal component detected along with the at least one indicative signal component, the at least one auxiliary signal component being representative of a distinct spectral portion. A characteristic signal discrepancy between at least one of the at least one indicative signal component and the at least one auxiliary signal component is detected, the signal discrepancy being related to a physiological state of the subject. A signal calibration parameter is determined under consideration of the detected signal discrepancy. Consequently, the at least one vital parameter can be detected under consideration of the calibration parameter.
US09770193B2
A detecting apparatus for curved surface of sole and distribution of pressure thereon, that includes a housing, a top plate enclosed at an opening of the housing, a detecting mechanism capable of vertical reciprocating movement and contacting the curved surface of sole, a detecting circuit collecting the vertical movement data of the detecting mechanism and transferring the vertical movement data to a data processing system, and the data processing system receiving and analyzing the data as well as re-constructing the profile of sole. The detection and reconstruction for 3D surface of the sole and pressure distribution thereon can be achieved by emitting and receiving an infrared ray, with high precision, strong anti-jamming ability, low power consumption and low cost.
US09770191B2
There is provided herein a method for producing a representative CO2 waveform, the method comprising obtaining two or more CO2 waveforms, for each of the two or more CO2 waveforms determining one or more scale factors and one or more shape factors, computing, based on the one or more shape and scale factors of each of the two or more CO2 waveforms, a representative set of shape factors and scale factors representing the two or more CO2 waveforms and constructing a representative waveform based on the representative set of shape and scale factors.
US09770188B2
An animal handling system (AMS), for positioning an immobilized animal in a predefined configuration therein, comprising an automated tuning unit, including: a proximal portion, held outside a medical device including: at least one inner shaft and at least one outer shaft, the at least one inner is telescopically maneuverable within the at least one outer shaft providing a variable telescopic mechanism; and a distal portion including: a configurable encapsuable life support system (ELSS), the ELSS is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the at least outer shaft and the at least inner shaft and translationally moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis by means of the maneuverable telescopic mechanism.
US09770181B2
An arrangement may include a first system provided by a mobile device for processing physiological data representative of a beating heart. The mobile device may be adapted to execute a process for using at least one pattern to detect a notable finding in the physiological data and for sending the notable finding to a second system. The second system may be adapted to execute a process for analyzing the notable finding, for determining at least one new pattern to send to the mobile device, and for sending the at least one new pattern to the mobile device. The at least one new pattern may also include a rule that includes a set of conditions and an action to perform if the set of conditions is met.
US09770171B2
A system for managing transfer of data in a medical body area network (MBAN) is presented. The system includes one or more sensor units disposed on a patient and configured to acquire data from the patient. Moreover, the system includes one or more detachable wireless communication and battery units, where the one or more detachable wireless communication and battery units are detachably coupled to a corresponding sensor unit. In addition, the system includes a patient monitoring device in bi-directional wireless communication with the one or more detachable wireless communication and battery units and configured to receive sensor data and maintain network connectivity between the one or more wireless communication and battery units and the patient monitoring device based on an operating condition of at least one wireless communication and battery unit of the one or more wireless communication and battery units.
US09770155B2
The component (10) comprises a hollow body (12) having: an inlet (14, 14a, 14b), which is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized liquid, for example the water supply network (WS); an outlet (16), adapted to deliver said liquid to a washing chamber (WC) defined by said washing tub (WT); a path (18) for the liquid, which is defined in the hollow body (12) between the inlet (14, 14a, 14b) and the outlet (16) and includes anti-return means (26, 26a) for said liquid under pressure; a passage (28), adapted to receive, at its inlet, vapor coming from the washing chamber (WC) and to discharge the vapor into the environment outside of the washing tub (WT); and a valve device (30) comprising a plug element (32), adapted to at least partially free and obstruct said passage (28).
US09770145B2
The present embodiments relate to a hinge for use in a mobile toilet having a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a toilet lid, wherein the toilet seat and the toilet lid each are swivel-mounted to the toilet bowl by the hinge and have a common pivot axis. Furthermore, the present embodiments relate to a damping device for retrofitting a hinge. The present embodiments also relate to a mobile toilet. In particular, the present embodiments relate to the problem to allow an easy retrofitting of a hinge and mobile toilets, respectively. This problem is in particular solved with the initially described hinge that in accordance with the present embodiments has at least one receiving area that is formed to receive at least one damping device for damping the swivel motion of the toilet seat or the toilet lid about the pivot axis.
US09770142B2
A paper roll end support plug includes a first plug member non-rotatably mounted on a dispenser and a second plug member inserted in the paper roll end and rotatable relative to the first plug member, the plug members being in frictional engagement to prevent overspin of the paper roll during dispensing of paper from the roll.
US09770140B2
Methods and apparatus for creating a shower or bath enclosure, in which, given a predetermined area in which to create the shower or bath, a given prefabricated water proof bath or shower floor module is too small to occupy the entire available enclosure space. The apparatus includes the use of one or more additional enclosure components, such as one or more shower benches, to occupy a space between an edge or edges of the floor module and the exterior boundary(ies) of the enclosure space.
US09770138B2
Shower caddies with vertically and horizontally movable baskets are disclosed. Each basket is independently adjustable by a mechanism including a front plate, a rear plate and a draw fastener, which allows the user to adjust both the vertical and horizontal position of the basket from a single control point for simple and easy operation. The shower caddies may also include a tilt-resisting locking mechanism that resists rotation of the caddies when supporting an uneven load.
US09770122B2
A shelving system includes a plurality of horizontal support members, each horizontal support member having a length; a plurality of wall supports, each wall support including a first surface on which at least a portion of a horizontal support member rests; a plurality of brackets, each bracket attachable to the horizontal support members at different positions along the length of the horizontal support member; a plurality of vertical support members, each vertical support member coupled to at least one bracket; and a shelf attached to at least two of the plurality of vertical support members.
US09770115B1
A cushion for supporting a wrist of a user on a flat surface comprises an elongated flexible enclosure that has an outside surface and that defines an internal volume within. The internal volume contains a filling that includes a resilient padding material and at least one silver wire. Preferably the padding material includes horse hair. The enclosure preferably includes a cotton fabric material made with a warp-faced twill weave, or other tight weave, such that the padding material is unable to penetrate the fabric material. In use, upon absorption of sweat form the user's wrist through the enclosure and into the filling, or by washing of the cushion in water, the at least one silver wire produces silver ions as an anti-bacterial agent on the enclosure and within the internal volume.
US09770114B2
An air bed system including a plurality of peripheral devices and a pump unit configured to adjust a firmness of an air mattress, the pump unit including a pump. The system further includes a controller configured to execute instructions that cause the pump unit to wirelessly pair with at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices. The pump unit is configured to receive at least one control signal addressed to the at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices, and transmit the at least one control signal to the addressed device.
US09770108B2
A knock-down furniture frame includes a plurality of panels having interlocking sides and at least one tensioning device having a band that draws the plurality of panels together under tension into an interlocking relationship. In one embodiment, the band may apply tension to each of the plurality of panels and extend exclusively within the interior space defined by the plurality of panels. In another embodiment, the band may be woven through the plurality of panels such that at least a first portion of the band extends along an outside surface of at least one of the plurality of panels and at least a second portion of the band extends within the interior space defined by the plurality of panels.
US09770107B2
The invention relates to an active dynamic seating (1) comprising a foot part (2) and a pendulum joint (10) which is rotatably mounted relative to the foot part (2), a seat (3) which is rotatably mounted relative to the foot part (2), and a pendulum column (4) supporting the seat (3), said pendulum column (4) being connected for conjoint rotation with the pendulum joint (10). The pendulum column (4) is designed to be resilient in a height direction H and the pendulum column (4) is provided with anti-rotation means (51, 52, 53) which rotationally immobilize the pendulum column (4) relative to the seat (3) such that the pendulum column (4) and the seat (3) can be rotated relative to the foot part (2) only together with the rotatable pendulum joint (10).
US09770099B2
Disclosed is a readily releasable locking device for guarding a movement of an angularly movable flat board relative to an elongated shell. The readily releasable locking device includes a latch member operable to retain or release a guided rod that can be retained at various positions to permit the flat board to be tilted at different angles. Also disclosed is a readily releasable locking device for guarding against a movement of the elongated shell that is linearly movable relative to a non-movable tubular core member.
US09770094B1
This invention relates to a hand held multi-purpose floor cleaning device having a sharp edged flat scraper for debris removal with an extended handle attachable to brooms, wet mops, sponge mops, dust mops, cleaning pads and similar devices to provide a method for removal of dried on or stuck on materials found on multiple type floors during cleaning.
US09770087B2
A support stand for barbeque grills and camping gear, incorporating a telescoping, height-adjustable tube, with two ends, wherein the first end has been designed to accept, for positioning on the ground, an auger bit or a land stand, and the second end has been designed to accept an interchangeable mounting hub utilizing either screws or collapsible magnetic arms to hold barbeque grills and other camping gear.
US09770085B2
A backpack and an umbrella, in combination, the backpack having a large main compartment that provides a large, padded pocket with a hook-and-loop closure, wherein a mobile electronic device may be securely stored with a snug fit. One or more apertures for earphones are provided, which enable(s) audio files to be accessed and played from a mobile electronic device while it is stored in the pocket and the backpack is being worn. The backpack further provides a long, slender umbrella compartment, and a deep socket which supports the user's umbrella when the umbrella is opened.
US09770084B1
A smart luggage system includes a smart luggage assembly having a case assembly with a first stowage compartment and a second stowage compartment. First and second lock assemblies retain first and second stowage compartments in a closed and locked orientation, respectively. A transport assembly is mounted to the case assembly to facilitate movement thereof. A smart handle assembly is also mounted to a case assembly. The smart handle assembly includes a controller having a wireless communication interface, and further includes a power supply. A smart luggage system also includes a smart luggage mobile interface which is operative on a mobile device, and is communicative with a controller of a smart handle assembly via a wireless communication interface.
US09770079B1
A lightweight, stable walking cane that contains an integrated grasper tool to extend a user's reach to pick up objects. The cane contains two configurations, a locked walking cane configuration for stability and balance, and an unlocked configuration with an open grasper tool for grasping objects.
US09770078B1
The present invention is a jeweler's bench pin with an adjustable height and extension function, and capable of serving as a mount for various jewelers' tools, such as a soldiering iron and lighting.
US09770075B2
There is provided an opener of a slide fastener. A separable pin accommodation part of a retainer has upper and lower walls facing each other, a pair of wall parts protruding from the upper and lower walls in a direction of narrowing an interval therebetween, and a bottom wall configured to join the upper and lower walls at the rear of the pair of wall parts. The pair of wall parts extend toward the bottom wall from a rear side relative to front ends of the upper and lower walls. A pair of restriction parts are configured to collide with each other so as to restrict a position of a rearmost end of a separable pin to be inserted into a separable pin hole to a position between the bottom wall and front ends of the pair of wall parts are separately provided for the retainer and the separable pin.
US09770073B2
A buckle for tightening or loosening a band, including: a buckle body having a pair of hinge holes; a plate spring arranged in the buckle body with a leading part positioned in a sliding path of the band, the leading part being shaped to slope with a leading end contacting a back side of the band so as to be caught by a catch projection of the band; and a buckle switch having a pivot pressure piece with hinge projections, and an operation lever connected to a pivot pressure piece so as to be exposed to one side of the buckle body. The leading end of the plate spring is separated from the band so as to make the band slide in a loosening direction when the plate spring is pressed by the pivot pressure piece.
US09770071B2
A first sidewall includes a pair of threaded bosses nesting within corresponding cavities in a second sidewall. Bolts extend through the cavities into threaded engagement with the bosses to secure the sidewalls with one another. One of the bosses supports a knurled or toothed wheel for engagement with a parachute cord. A pivotable pawl having a knurled or toothed surface is pivotably supported on a shaft anchored in the sidewalls and spring biased toward the wheel into engagement with the parachute cord to prevent translation of the parachute cord in one direction. The other boss supports a hook or cord for anchoring the tie down to an anchor.
US09770065B2
An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.
US09770059B2
A medical gown includes a self-adjusting strap(s) that expands an upper torso section beyond a nominal girth thereof, for an adjustable fit. An upper and lower self-adjusting strap may be provided across the back. The straps may be formed from perforations in the upper torso section. A portion of the gown breaks away along the perforations to form the straps in response to stress or pulling when donned or during use. The self-adjusting straps allow expansion of the upper torso section to conform to users who require larger than the nominal girth, while continuing to secure the medical gown on the wearer during use. Extendable tie straps may be included, which are unfolded and elongated for adjustably sizing the closure around the wearer's waist. The tie straps may be sufficiently long to extend to the back, and back around the waist again for tying in the front of the gown.
US09770055B2
An electronic vapor device is disclosed comprising a first container for storing a vaporizable material, a vaporizer component coupled to the first container, configured for vaporizing the vaporizable material, a processor coupled to the vaporizer component, configured to control the vaporizer component in response to a disposition signal, and a network access device, coupled to the processor, configured for receiving the disposition signal from a remote server.
US09770053B2
A filter material adapted for use as a filter element of a smoking article is provided, the filter material including at least one segment of fibrous tow having a plurality of degradable particles dispersed therein, the degradable particles comprising a starch material. Exemplary starch materials include naturally-occurring starch, hydroxyalkylated starch, starch esters, ionically modified starch, oxidized starch, hydrolyzed starch, plasticized starch, gelatinized starch, grafted starch, crosslinked starch, transglycosylated starch, starch ethers, and mixtures thereof, as well as blends of starch with other polymers. Filter elements and smoking articles, such as cigarettes, that contain the filter material are also provided. A method of preparing polymer fibers for use in filter elements is also provided, the method including adding the starch material to a fiber precursor solution prior to fiber extrusion or dry-blending the starch material with the polymer material to be formed into fibers.
US09770049B2
One variation of a method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module comprising a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module comprising a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.
US09770045B2
In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to a method of hydrolyzing a polysaccharide to obtain the corresponding saccharides using an amino acid solution. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of using an amino acid salt such as hydrogen glycine in a solution to obtain a monosaccharide such as glucose, xylose, or fructose.
US09770036B2
Described is a composition, which is a natural and organic pesticide, specifically for mitigating, controlling and treating fungicidal, virucidal and bactericidal pathogenic microorganisms in agricultural products such as root crops, fruits and vegetables. Examples of such disease-causing microorganisms are Mycosphaerella fijensis causing black Sigatoka disease in Cavendish (banana), Ralstonia solanacearum causing Moko disease in Cavendish (banana), Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing soft rot or fruit rot in crops and fruits, Fusarium oxysporum causing Panama wilt in fruits and crops, and many others. The composition is a fermented product of tropical plants, carbon source, protein (nitrogen) source, and a carrier agent. The fermented product may help strengthen the plant's immune system to fight pathogenic diseases. Since all the major constituents of the composition are generally regarded as safe, this natural pesticide is found to be non-toxic and safe to humans and animals, and environmentally benign.
US09770032B2
The invention provides methods for providing Bacillus spores for application to agricultural soil or plant material. The methods comprise suspending the Bacillus spores in a liquid consisting essentially of water and an organic acid, including acetic acid, wherein the acid lowers the pH so that the spores are inhibited from germination and growth; and so that growth of unwanted microorganisms in the suspension is prevented. Compositions formed according to the methods of the invention are also provided.
US09770028B1
The present invention relates to a method of controlling abiotic stress on turfgrass using an effective non-phytotoxic amount of acibenzolar-s-methyl.
US09770027B2
Heteroarylpiperidine and -piperazine derivatives of the formula (I) in which the symbols A, X, Y, L1, L2, G, Q, p, R1, R2 and R10 are each as defined in the description, and salts, metal complexes and N-oxides of the compounds of the formula (I), and the use thereof for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi and processes for preparing compounds of the formula (I).
US09770023B2
The present invention relates to novel fungicidal active compound combinations or compositions comprising a phenylamidine compound of formula (I) and further active compounds (II) and (III) selected from the groups (A), (B) and/or (C), to a process for preparing these active compound combinations or compositions and to the use thereof as biologically active compound combinations or compositions, especially for the control of phytopathogenic fungi in plants and/or in the protection of materials and/or as plant growth regulators.
US09770019B2
A kit for the production of an antimicrobial foam includes: a) a liquid composition which includes a1)one or more bispyridinium alkane and a2)one or more surfactants selected from non-ionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and cation-active surfactants, wherein the composition is formulated so that a foam can be produced therefrom, and b) a device for producing the foam from the composition. By using the bispyridinium alkanes the foam stability of liquid and surfactant-containing compositions is increased.
US09770018B2
An equine boot attachment and/or solid structure shoe that is designed to be attached on the underside of an equine boot or an equine hoof that allows the boot or hoof to roll forward, or to the side, without unnecessary bending, thus allowing an equine user to find a comfortable natural position to relieve stress on a sore, injured or diseased hoof. The rocking action allows the equine to adjust its stance to find the most comfortable position, not unlike standing in a bed of sand. This ability to find a naturally comfortable standing position is especially important for equine with lameness such as laminitis.
US09770017B2
A reciprocating mechanism for a fishing reel includes a first rotating body, a second rotating body, a rotation transmission body, and a movable body. The first rotating body is configured to rotate in conjunction with a winding operation of a handle of the fishing reel. The second rotating body is arranged spaced apart from the first rotating body along a spool shaft direction in which a spool shaft of the fishing reel extends. The rotation transmission body is bridged between the first rotating body and the second rotating body, and is configured to transmit the rotation of the first rotating body to the second rotating body. The movable body is configured to engage the rotation transmission body, and is configured to reciprocate in the spool shaft direction accompanying an actuation of the rotation transmission body.
US09770012B2
Provided is an animal leash with leash strap retractable through an ergonomic hand grip which is releasably fixed to said leash at any length position along the leash strap, and is quickly adjusted by simple push button release and manual repositioning. Leash is fixed against being pulled through handle in either direction until user presses release button, at which time leash may be pulled back to quickly restrain the animal, or pulled forward to allow more length freedom. Handle is equipped with wrist strap to better secure it to handler.
US09770007B2
Automatic teat treatment method and apparatus for treatment operations on teats of an animal using a robot apparatus. The method includes initiating automatic detection of spatial teat positions and registering the spatial positions of the detected teats; and deriving a dedicated treating action effective to move the treating device through a dedicated path defined by the registered spatial teat positions and carrying out treatment by moving the treating device through the dedicated path. When not all of the spatial positions are detected, then the method registers the spatial position of each detected teat and derives an adapted treating action effective to move the treating device through an adapted path defined by the registered spatial teat positions and by approximated spatial locations. When no teat spatial positions have been detected, the method derives a default treating action effective to move the treating device through a default treating path.
US09770006B2
A milker unit liner dome having an inner surface and flow diverters joined to the inner surface to redirect teat dip from an inlet to provide more uniform coverage of dip on a teat. The liner dome can also include more than one flow diverter for redirecting teat dip flow.
US09770005B2
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-40 RZ, which may exhibit a combination of traits including resistance against downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races Bl:1 to Bl:31 and Ca-I to Ca-VIII, currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), as well as very deeply incised leaves. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-40 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-40 RZ.
US09770002B1
A novel maize variety designated X08H755 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X08H755 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08H755 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08H755, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08H755. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08H755.
US09769988B2
A landscaping border segment includes about two dozen rigid unit pieces arranged in a series and held together with top end base elastic joining members. Male and female connection features are mounted at opposite ends of the landscaping border segment. A plurality of ground penetrating stakes extend away from a ground contact surface. The landscaping border segment may assume a straight configuration in which the rigid unit pieces are held apart from one another by the elastic joining members, but may also assume a continuum of curved configurations. A landscaping border may be created by joining a plurality of landscaping border segments end to end in a series.
US09769972B2
A self propelled aerator and fertilizer apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 includes an elongated frame 12, having front wheels 20 and rear wheels 22 coupled to the frame. A steering wheel 30 which controls the front wheels 20 is provided so that the apparatus 10 can be moved in a predetermined direction. An aerator 34 is coupled underneath a lower intermediate portion of the frame 12 for aerating the soil upon rotation thereof when the aerator is moved up and down to selectively engage the soil. A fertilizer 90 is coupled to an upper end portion of the elongated frame 12 so that fertilizer can be dispensed into the soil after aeration is accomplished.
US09775259B2
A glass cover board structure comprises a top cover and a bottom plate, wherein, the top cover comprises a top plate and a plurality of side wall plates used in surrounding the top plate, the side wall plates at least comprise end surfaces, the bottom plate comprises a contacting area, and the end surfaces are adhesive to the contacting area. In the present invention, design a traditional planar glass cover board into a concave-shape glass cover board, remove assembling gaps to a rear cover of an electronic product when assembling the rear cover, and assemble the gaps at an invisible area after processing printing art to the glass cover board to achieve objects of raising appearing of electronic product.
US09775254B2
A control mechanism comprises a housing defining an interior and an exterior, an aperture formed in the housing and extending from the interior to the exterior thereof, an actuator on the interior of the housing, proximate the control aperture, and a control member positionable within the aperture to operate the actuator. The control member comprises a first surface exposed to the exterior of the housing, a second surface proximate the actuator within the housing, and a body portion extending therebetween, the body portion being formed of a substantially single crystal aluminum oxide material. A bias member is configured to bias the body portion of the control member toward an inner surface of the housing, such that the control member is retained within the aperture in operation of the actuator.
US09775253B2
There are provided an insulating film, a printed circuit board including the insulating film, and a method of manufacturing the printed circuit board. The insulating film includes a first insulating material; a second insulating material; and a metal thin film disposed between the first insulating material and the second insulating material.
US09775247B2
[Object] To provide a chip resistor with which laser irradiation requires no extremely high positional accuracy, and a plating layer provided on a base and adjacent to a resistor element can be connected to an external conductive layer. [Solution] A chip resistor includes a base 1, a first principal surface electrode 21, a second principal surface electrode spaced apart from the first principal surface electrode 21 in a first direction X1, a resistor element 4 in contact with the first principal surface electrode 21 and the second principal surface electrode 31, an overcoat 6 covering the resistor element 4, the first principal surface electrode 21 and the second principal surface electrode, a first auxiliary electrode 25 covering the first principal surface electrode 21 and the overcoat 6, and a first plating electrode 27 covering the first auxiliary electrode 25. The first auxiliary electrode 25 includes a portion 259 offset from the first principal surface electrode 21 in the first direction X1.
US09775238B2
The present invention provides a resin composition with which a laminate, a printed wiring board, and the like that not only have high thermal conductivity but have good moldability with the occurrence of cracks and voids suppressed can be implemented simply and with good reproducibility, and a prepreg, a laminate, a metal foil-clad laminate, and the like using the same. The resin composition of the present invention is a resin composition comprising at least a cyanate ester compound (A), an epoxy resin (B), a first inorganic filler (C), and a second filler (D), wherein an average particle diameter ratio of the first inorganic filler (C) to the second inorganic filler (D) is in the range of 1:0.02 to 1:0.2.
US09775234B2
A flexible electronic device including a flexible panel and an auxiliary layer is provided. The flexible panel has a plurality of operation portions, wherein a predetermined bending portion disposed between each adjacent two of the operation portions. The auxiliary layer is disposed on a surface of the flexible panel and at least located above the predetermined bending portion. The predetermined bending portion of the flexible panel may be bent in a first bending state for the auxiliary layer to be in contact with the predetermined bending portion, and a radius of curvature of the auxiliary layer is greater than a radius of curvature of the predetermined bending portion. The flexible electronic device has a first compressive stress region and a first tensile stress region, and a range of the first compressive stress region is greater than a range of the first tensile stress region.
US09775233B2
The present disclosure provides an article having (a) a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces; and (b) a conductor micropattern disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The conductor micropattern has a plurality of traces defining a plurality of open area cells. The conductor micropattern has an open area fraction greater than 80% and a uniform distribution of trace orientation. Each of the traces is non-linear and has a trace width from 0.5 to 10 micrometer. The articles are useful in devices such as displays, in particular, touch screen displays useful for mobile hand held devices, tablets and computers. They also find use in antennas and for EMI shields.
US09775230B2
A printed circuit board is provided. The printed circuit board comprises a base substrate comprising a chip mounting region on an upper surface thereof, a plurality of connection pad structures in the chip mounting region, and an extension pattern on the base substrate, spaced from each of two adjacent connection pad structures from among the plurality of connection pad structures, and extending along the two adjacent connection pad structures. Upper surfaces of the plurality of connection pad structures are positioned at a higher level than an upper surface of the extension pattern.
US09775229B1
This disclosure describes an electronics device that effectively removes heat from the SoC, which increases its efficiency and extends its useful life by spreading heat in the thermally conductive plate before transferring it across the interface. Surface area is a significant factor in TIM thermal performance, so this increases the performance substantially when using the same type of TIM pad. This device allows the use of lower performance TIM pads that resolve the issues of high die pressure and non-resilient behavior of high thermal conductivity TIMs. Additionally, the device mechanically isolates the SoC from the heatsink, which reduces stress and provides improved thermal performance.
US09775226B1
A system for forming a light-sustained plasma capable of emitting vacuum ultraviolet light includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a plasma cell including a transmission element having one or more openings, one or more flanges disposed at the openings of the transmission element and configured to enclose the internal volume of the transmission element in order to contain a volume of gas within the plasma cell. The system further includes a collector element arranged to focus the illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the plasma cell. Further, the plasma emits broadband radiation including at least vacuum ultraviolet radiation. In addition, the transmission element of the plasma cell is transparent to the illumination generated by the illumination source and at least the vacuum ultraviolet radiation emitted by the plasma.
US09775223B2
Composite structure with exposed conductive fiber for static dissipation, and method for making same
Provided is a storage tank or structure with conductive fiber material (e.g. carbon fiber) for dissipating electrostatic charge. The tank comprises a tank wall made of composite material, such as polyester-fiberglass composite. On an inner tank surface, open areas are provided in which the conductive fiber is exposed. The conductive fiber material has broken fiber tips and stray fibers for collecting electrostatic charge. Outside the open areas, the conductive fiber material is covered with a layer of cured resin. The conductive fiber is exposed only in the open areas. An impermeable film may be present under the conductive fiber in the open areas. The present invention also includes a method for making the tank, in which a liquid, gel, or impermeable film mask is applied to the conductive fiber material. The mask functions to prevent infiltration of liquid resin into the conductive fiber material.
US09775220B2
In various embodiments an apparatus configured to be connected to a lighting network and to control a first and a second lighting unit in response to at least one signal received via the lighting network is disclosed. In one example, the apparatus comprises a processor configured to receive an identification command, and in response thereto to execute an algorithm for communicating a network address associated with the apparatus, the algorithm comprising sequentially, for each bit of the network address: controlling the first lighting unit, to indicate a value of the bit by the lighting unit entering a state corresponding to the value of the bit, and causing the second lighting unit, to signal that the first lighting unit validly indicates the value of the bit and causing the second lighting unit to enter a state which indicates an end of the network address.
US09775219B2
A mobile terminal includes: an image capturer which captures a video of one or more lighting devices each transmitting identification information of the lighting device through visible light communication; an input device which obtains an indication from an operator; a wireless communicator which wirelessly communicates with lighting devices; and a controller which controls the image capturer, the input device, and the wireless communicator, wherein the controller detects, by analyzing a video obtained by the image capturer, identification information of a lighting device included in the video, and if the input device obtains an operation indication directed to the lighting device, transmits a control signal corresponding to the operation indication via the wireless communicator to the lighting device (at least one of the lighting devices) having the detected identification information.
US09775217B2
A hand-held lighting device includes a light source (18) and a switching device (26) for switching the light source on and off, and the switching device (26) includes a speech processor (34) for analyzing and/or synthesis of the spoken speech.
US09775215B2
An LED tube lamp having an LED unit is disclosed. The LED tube lamp includes a control circuit that selectively determines whether to perform a first mode or a second mode of lighting operation according to a state of a property of an external driving signal and a switching circuit coupled to the control circuit and the LED unit. When the control circuit determines to perform the first mode of lighting operation, the control circuit controls the second circuit in a manner such that the switching circuit maintains its on state to allow continual current to flow through the LED unit, until the external driving signal is disconnected from the LED tube lamp, and when the control circuit determines to perform the second mode of lighting operation, the control circuit controls the switching circuit in a manner to regulate the continuity of current to flow through the LED unit by alternately turning on and off the switching circuit.
US09775209B2
A circuit having a series interconnection of a light-emitting diode (LED) group, a first transistor, a second transistor and a first resistor. The series interconnection has a cathode coupled to a drain terminal of the first transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor wherein voltage across the first resistor to provide a biasing voltage for the first transistor. A source terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor wherein voltage across the second resistor provides a biasing voltage for the second transistor and ancillary circuitry bypasses the series interconnection. The ancillary circuitry has a capacitor to provide current to the series interconnection to increase the amount of light emitted during an electrical excitation cycle.
US09775207B2
The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for configuring and powering light fixture loads for a LED low voltage distribution system. The method and apparatus include converting power being supplied for powering the set of light fixture loads and then limiting this converted power to a set of multiple current outputs supplied to the light fixture loads. The multiple current outputs are then split or regrouped prior to being delivered to the light fixture loads.
US09775197B2
The invention is based on a protective device for a heating unit, in particular for a cooking apparatus (10), for protecting a heating unit against a hot air flow (44).To achieve an effective cooling effect, it is proposed that the protective device for a heating unit comprises a shielding element (68), which is provided for this purpose to shield a space (46) provided for a cold cooling air flow (42) for cooling the heating unit (14) against the hot air flow (44).
US09775192B2
A method of sharing a wireless data service, including receiving, by a first terminal, a wireless data service share request from a second terminal, checking, by the first terminal, available wireless data service remaining amount information, and transmitting, by the first terminal, a response to the wireless data service share request to the second terminal based on the checked wireless data service remaining amount information. Another such sharing method includes requesting, by a second terminal, wireless data service remaining amount information available by a first terminal from the first terminal, transmitting, by the second terminal, a wireless data service share request to the first terminal based on the wireless data service remaining amount information received from the first terminal, and receiving, by the second terminal, a response to the wireless data service share request from the first terminal.
US09775188B2
Provided are methods of managing a terminal in a heterogeneous network (HetNet) environment. Between the methods, a method of managing a terminal performed in a base station includes determining whether or not a measurement change request event has occurred, and when a measurement change request event has occurred, transmitting a control message for instructing a change of a measurement operation to the terminal. Accordingly, it is possible to improve a measurement operation and discontinuous reception (DRX) operation control procedure necessary for connection control between one or more base stations and a terminal in a HetNet environment, and thereby performance of a system can be improved.
US09775185B2
Measures are provided for management of RRC for D2D communication. Such measures include setting a connected state of RRC for device(s) of a pair of devices. For the devices(s), both a D2D communication service between the pair of devices and a core network communication service between the device(s) and a core network entity are active. The setting enables radio resource management for the device(s) for the D2D communication service and the core network communication service. Termination of the core network communication service is detected for the device(s). A connection towards the core network entity is reconfigured for disabling the core network communication service of the device(s). The connected state of RRC is maintained for the devices(s) of the pair of devices, for which the device(s) only the device-to-device communication service is active. The maintaining enables radio resource management for the device(s) for the D2D communication service.
US09775177B2
A mobile communication technology, and, more particularly, a method for efficiently transmitting data stored in a message 3 (Msg3) buffer and a user equipment for the same is disclosed. The method of transmitting data by a user equipment in uplink includes receiving an uplink (UP) Grant signal from a base station on a specific message, determining whether there is data stored in a message 3 (Msg3) buffer when receiving the UL Grant signal on the specific message, determining whether the specific message is a random access response message, and transmitting the data stored in the Msg3 buffer to the base station using the UL Grant signal received on the specific message, if there is data stored in the Msg3 buffer when receiving the UL Grant signal on the specific message and the specific message is the random access response message.
US09775173B2
A method, apparatus and system to manage distributed channel access with time reservation are generally presented. In this regard, a reservation agent is introduced to reserve access to a wireless network channel for an amount of time greater than necessary to transmit to another station(s) and to transmit to the other station(s).
US09775172B2
A next generation device is provided. The next generation device is configured for communicating within a wireless network including an access point (AP) supporting the next generation device. The next generation device includes a shorter Slot Time for medium access than legacy devices.
US09775171B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first time, by a first user equipment (UE) from a first device, a request to send (RTS) frame including a first duration and receiving, at a second time, by the first UE from a second device, a clear to send (CTS) frame including a second duration. The method also includes determining a duration of a speed frame exchange (SF) exchange in accordance with the first duration and the second duration.
US09775170B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of dynamically scheduling a transmit opportunity. For example, a first wireless station may be configured to generate a grant frame including a duration field and a dynamic allocation information field, the dynamic allocation information field including an allocation duration subfield, the allocation duration subfield being set to a value within a predefined range of values, when the grant frame is to grant to a second wireless station a period after a Transmit Opportunity (TxOP), the allocation duration subfield being set to a predefined value which is not within the predefined range of values, when the grant frame is to grant to the second wireless station a period within the TxOP; and transmit the grant frame during the TxOP.
US09775159B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for bearer arrangement in a beamforming-based radio communication system. Channel qualities of cells available for communication with an electronic device and cell loads stored are checked in a scheduling table, when a service flow configuration request message is received for providing a service flow to the electronic device is received. Radio access bearer configuration request messages, which include individual data rates to be supported by each of at least two cells, are transmitted to the at least two cells, when the service flow requires configuring bearers of the at least two cells. The service flow is provided through the bearers, when radio access bearer complete messages are received from the at least two cells.
US09775157B2
A method, of operating an end node to wirelessly communicate with a central node, includes: receiving wirelessly a current instance of a beacon signal periodically-transmitted from the central node; measuring a received power, PB-RX, of the beacon signal; reading locally-stored values of PB-TX and G representing a presumed transmitted power of the beacon signal and a performance goal of the end node, respectively; determining, for a given channel, a path loss, PL, based on the PB-RX and the PB-TX; and adaptively setting an energy level, EN-TX, of a forthcoming message to be transmitted from the end node by adaptively determining, based on PL and G, at least two of: a level of power, PN-TX; a forward error correction coding rate, c; and a spreading factor, SF; and a modulation format, M.
US09775150B2
A stepwise slot allocation method and apparatus applicable to a node in a wireless network and includes: by the node, determining an initial boundary value of a slot for slot allocation at a current slot allocation stage; calculating a slot length needed by the node at the current slot allocation stage; and selecting a slot index needed by the current slot allocation stage starting from the initial boundary value. By using the method, the slot allocation is combined with an amount of traffic in the network, and slot index of each node is more proper. And it is ensured that one packet corresponds to a slot, and a case will not occur where a slot is reserved but not used.
US09775144B2
The present invention relates to a method for receiving a downlink signal in a wireless communication system and an apparatus for same. More specifically, a method for a terminal receiving the downlink signal in the wireless communication system supporting a coordinated multi-point (CoMP) action comprises the steps of: receiving from a serving cell which operates according to a first uplink-downlink setting monitoring information with respect to an adjacent cell which operates according to a second uplink-downlink setting; and detecting control information of the adjacent cell based on the monitoring information, wherein the first uplink-downlink setting and/or the second uplink-downlink setting is a setting established by changing a portion of a wireless resource according to a specific predetermined uplink-downlink setting.
US09775128B2
The present disclosure relates to a connectivity system with: (a) a vehicle including an accelerator, brakes, steering, a cellular network antenna, a processor, and memory; (b) a connectivity program operatively coupled with the vehicle antenna and configured to: receive a connectivity map, sample connectivity, transmit the samples, anticipate connectivity based on the connectivity map, and generate an instruction for another program based on the anticipated connectivity.
US09775120B2
Provided are a beacon service method, apparatus, and system for providing a plurality of services using one beacon device by allowing the beacon device to broadcast a plurality of beacon signals for providing the plurality of services to a certain user terminal. The beacon device includes a first communication module configured to broadcast a beacon signal, a storage module configured to store transmission information for a plurality of beacon signals, and a control module configured to use the transmission information for the plurality of beacon signals stored in the storage module to control the first communication module to alternately broadcast the plurality of beacon signals.
US09775108B2
The present invention discloses a method and equipment for saving energy. The method comprises the following steps: the first network node acquires load information of the second network node next to the first and modifies energy saving state according to its own load information and that of said second network node; said first and second network nodes send information on indication for saving energy state to the adjacent third network node and inform the information of modifying energy saving state to said third network node based on said information on indication for saving energy state. Embodiments of the present invention optimize resource utilization rate of the whole network.
US09775099B2
A method may include receiving access network selection information from a user equipment and providing network selection information in dependence on said requested access network selection function information.
US09775095B2
An aircraft proximity sensor system includes a control module in communication with a transceiver module and an aircraft proximity sensor module, the control module operable to disable transmission by the transceiver module in response to the aircraft proximity sensor module.
US09775091B2
A handover control method and apparatus for limiting handover of a User Equipment (UE) from a macrocell to an underlying small cell when the UE is operating in a High Speed Mobility (HSM) mode in a radio access network. The UE receives an HSM pilot strength threshold offset parameter from the network and initiates handover from a macrocell to an underlying small cell using a first pilot strength threshold value when the UE is operating in a standard mode. The UE initiates the handover using a second pilot strength threshold value when the UE is operating in HSM mode. The second pilot strength threshold value is equal to the first pilot strength threshold value modified by the HSM pilot strength threshold offset parameter.
US09775083B2
A method for efficient wireless communications includes determining whether a first predetermined threshold value related to cell reselection is greater than a second predetermined threshold value related to cell measurement; and when the first predetermined threshold value is not greater than the second predetermined threshold value, determining not to perform cell measurement on a predetermined neighbor cell and determining to perform at least one radio activity instead in a predetermined period of time reserved for performing the cell measurement.
US09775081B2
A technology for a user equipment (UE) that is operable to connect to a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) cell in a cellular network. Logged minimization of drive test (MDT) measurements can be recorded at the UE at a selected rate when the UE is in a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode in a first LTE cell in a cellular network. A change in a UE state of the RRC idle mode can be identified. The Logged MDT measurements can stop being recorded at the UE when the UE state changes from a camped normally UE state to another UE state of the RRC idle mode. The Logged MDT measurements can resume being recorded when the UE state changes to the camped normally UE state of the RRC idle mode.
US09775075B2
In an evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), paging may be performed using an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or S-temporary mobile subscriber identity (S-TMSI). With the paging, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may send an extended service request message to the E-UTRAN and perform circuit switched (CS) fallback.
US09775074B2
Mobility management mechanism wherein a source base station is configured to send to a target base station the transmission rate history of a user equipment to be handed off from the source base station to the target base station.
US09775071B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus configures a radio frame with a subframe configuration based on a restriction, the radio frame being part of a sequence of a plurality of radio frames. The restriction excludes the radio frame from conforming to a set of subframe configurations based on at least one of a position of the radio frame within the sequence of radio frames or a type of information to be transmitted or received in the radio frame. The apparatus then communicates with a user equipment (UE) during the radio frame based on the subframe configuration.
US09775069B1
Described are techniques for configuring a group of audio devices in communication with one another to provide an audio output. Test data may be communicated between a selected audio device and each audio device in the group to determine data throughput values for each communication. A value indicative of the airtime that would be used to communicate data to each audio device, using the selected audio device, may be determined. This process may be repeated for each audio device within the group. The selected audio device associated with the lowest airtime value may be designated as a master audio device. A maximum airtime value associated with distribution of audio data from the master audio device to the other devices may be determined based on the data throughput values for each device. If the maximum airtime value is less than a threshold airtime value, the audio data may be distributed.
US09775068B2
The present invention relates to a method for optimizing a real cellular, wireless communication network that combines mobility load balancing (MLB) with coverage and capacity optimization (CCO) in a joint and coordinated optimization. An optimal set of physical base station parameters is determined by performing an iterative direct search. The iterative direct search comprises a partitioning strategy to jointly determine an optimal partition of the served area and an associated optimal load of each of the plurality of base stations for a current set of physical base station parameters for each direct search iteration; said partitioning strategy using an updated value of the received power of the pilot or reference signal for each the plurality of user locations associated with the current set of physical base station parameters for each direct search iteration. (FIG. 1)
US09775067B2
A system includes a first device (110) to classify data as one of a control message or a non-control message, and provide the classification of the data to a second device (122). The second device (122) receives the classification of the data, receives information associated with a resource (460), calculates an expected interference associated with the resource (460) based on the information associated with the resource (460), and allocates, to the resource (460), data classified as a control message when the expected interference corresponds to a low expected interference.
US09775064B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the technical field of wireless communications, and more particularly to a buffer state reporting method, system, and device, so as to perform buffer state reporting regarding an inter-eNB aggregation scenario. A buffer state reporting method provided by an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a user equipment, that aggregates resources of multiple network side devices, determining buffer state information; the user equipment reporting the buffer state information to at least one network side device participating in the aggregation, so as to realize buffer state reporting regarding the inter-eNB aggregation scenario, and enable multiple eNBs to obtain the buffer state information in the case of inter-eNB aggregation, thereby realizing resource scheduling.
US09775063B2
Processing implemented by a method and apparatus herein advantageously improves the quality of measurements performed by a wireless device (36), by ensuring that the device (36) measures its serving cell over at least as large of a bandwidth as the bandwidth over which it measures neighbor cells. Such processing specifically includes identifying, for each of a plurality of neighbor cells, a measurement bandwidth over which the wireless device (36) is to perform measurements of that cell. Processing then entails selectively initiating handover of the wireless device (36) from a serving cell to one of the neighbor cells, depending on how many of those neighbor cells have a measurement bandwidth larger than that of the serving cell. Thus, contrasted with traditional performance-based handovers that are conducted based on the strength of already made reference signal measurements, handover herein is performed based on the bandwidth(s) over which such measurements will be performed in the future.
US09775062B2
Provided is a mobile terminal testing apparatus capable of easily performing testing using a MFBI. The mobile terminal testing apparatus includes a display unit 12, and a control unit 14 that displays on the display unit 12 an image indicating a position on a frequency axis, of a selection frequency band that is selected as a frequency band which is used by a pseudo-base station unit, and an image indicating a position on the frequency axis, of an available frequency band that is able to be set as the MFBI with which the selection frequency band is overlapping, in such a manner that a positional relationship between both of the images is identifiable.
US09775059B2
The present application discloses a method of and apparatus for interference measurement in coordinated multipoint transmission so as to enable a user equipment to report corresponding channel state information accurately with respect to different interference sources. In the method according to an embodiment of the invention, the network side configures a user equipment with a plurality of sets of REs for interference measurement with respect to different interference sources and instructs the user equipment to select a set of REs for interference measurement adapted to an actual application environment to perform interference measurement, and as such in CoMP transmission, the user equipment can report channel state information with respect to the different interference sources accurately according to a network environment, so that the network side can gain timely knowledge of a change in network environment, thus accommodating a demand of CoMP transmission and further improving the performance of the system.
US09775057B2
A service switching method, device and system for a local communication network are described. The method includes that: a current terminal receiving a service switching starting instruction sends running service information to a selected target terminal, and sends a service switching request message to a server; the server receiving the service switching request message sends service information to the target terminal; the target terminal extracts service progress time from the service information sent by the current terminal and the service information sent by the server respectively, calculates a time difference according to the extracted service progress time, and sends the time difference to the server; and the server regulates a progress of the service information sent to the target terminal according to the time difference to make the progress consistent with a progress of the service information sent to the selected target terminal by the current terminal. By the disclosure, a service can be smoothly switched, and service discontinuity can be avoided.
US09775053B2
A method for localizing the position of a wireless device (7) in an environment (2) includes a wireless network (1) having at least one access point (3), wherein the method includes the step of receiving, by the wireless device (7), a radio frequency signal (10) which is transmitted by the at least one access point (3) and which comprises basic information for connecting to the at least one access point (3), wherein the radio frequency signal (10) includes geographic information (20) about the geographic position of at least one electronic radio frequency device (5) located in the environment (2) and not connected to the wireless network (1).
US09775051B2
Radio frequency (RF) signal boosters are provided. A radio frequency signal booster can include a housing integrated with a base station antenna. The booster includes a mobile station antenna port, and downlink and uplink amplifiers within the housing. The base station antenna can receive wireless communications signals on one or more downlink channels and transmit wireless communications signals on one or more uplink channels. Also, the mobile station antenna port can be connected to an integrated or separate mobile station antenna, which can provide communications signals on one or more downlink channels and receive wireless communications on one or more uplink channels. An isolator in the form of a reflector integrated with the housing can isolate the mobile station antenna from the base station antenna.
US09775048B2
The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for improving performance of a user equipment (UE) operating in unlicensed spectrum. For example, the disclosure presents a method for receiving, at the UE, a secondary component carrier (SCC) update from a small cell. The example method further includes tuning the UE to a second SCC in response to receiving the update. The update is received at the UE when the small cell operating on a first radio access technology (RAT) determines that a channel associated with a first SCC of the small cell is also in use by another entity operating on a second RAT. As such, improved performance of a user equipment (UE) operating in an unlicensed spectrum may be achieved.
US09775044B2
Systems, devices and methods are directed toward authenticating users to provide access to the users. A portable communication device, suitable for use in authenticating a user, includes a memory including a reference biometric for a user, a biometric reader, and a processor coupled to the memory and biometric reader. The processor is configured to, among other operations, compare a biometric of the user, as captured at the biometric reader, to the reference biometric stored in the memory. When the captured biometric matches the reference biometric, the processor is configured to authenticate the user and transmit an authentication signal to thereby provide access to the user. In various aspects, the authentication signal includes an identifier associated with the user, whereby other devices are able to recognize the user and authenticate the user based on the authentication signal, generally, without the user being separately authenticated at the other devices.
US09775040B2
A method (30) is provided for a first network node (22) of ensuring validity of a service request. The method (30) comprises receiving (31), from a second network node (13), a first piece of information relating to a destination identifier of the service request; receiving (32), from a communication device (12), a request for the service, the request comprising a second piece of information relating to the destination identifier; and determining (33) the service request to be valid if establishing a correspondence of the first piece of information with the second piece of information, else determining the service request to be invalid. Methods in a second network node (13) and in a communications device (12) are also provided and corresponding devices.
US09775036B2
Access to femto cell service can be managed through access control list(s) (e.g., white list(s), or black list(s)). White list(s) includes a set of subscriber station(s) identifier numbers, codes, or tokens, and also can include additional fields for femto cell access management based on desired complexity. White list(s) can have associated white list profile(s) therewith to establish logic of femto coverage access based on the white list(s). Values of attribute fields that determine white list(s), black list(s), or white list profile(s) can be generated through various sources. An access list management component facilitates generation and maintenance of white list(s), black list(s), or white list profile(s). Values for identifier attribute field(s) available for inclusion in a white list are validated prior to inclusion therein. Various example aspects such as white list(s) management, maintenance and dissemination; automatic population or pre-configuration; and inclusion of wireless device(s) or subscriber(s) are also provided.
US09775035B2
A secure messaging communication system. A communication bus communicates messages between transmitting nodes. A secure hardware engine of a controller authenticates messages from requesting entities. A processor of the controller initially receives messages from the requesting entities. The processor includes a message request queue prioritizing received messages. The processor communicates a prioritized message from the request queue and associated authentication information to the secure hardware engine. The secure hardware engine authenticates the messages in response to receiving the prioritized messages and associated authentication information from the processor. The secure hardware engine communicates the authenticated messages to the processor for storage in a results queue.
US09775034B2
Distance-based authentication is provided for mitigating undesirable interaction and/or attacks upon ranging systems, such as those involving vehicle entry or secure payment. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, a leading edge of one or more pulses in a waveform of a signal is obscured as part of distance-based authentication. For instance, noise may be generated via a noise modulation circuit and combined with some or all of a leading edge of a pulse. Distance-based authentication is provided by transmitting a signal with a waveform having the obscured portion of the leading edge, which operates to mitigate detection of the polarity of the leading edge or otherwise of the leading edge itself.
US09775033B2
A method and an apparatus for operating a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in order to perform effective wireless local area network (LAN) connection by a multi SIM terminal is provided. The method includes searching for a wireless LAN; identifying whether there is a SIM card corresponding to the wireless LAN; and when it is identified that there is the SIM card corresponding to the wireless LAN, and the SIM card corresponding to the wireless LAN is unselected, connecting a communication channel with the wireless LAN using information on the unselected SIM card.
US09775028B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a related device for generating a group key. The method includes: obtaining a group ID of a group where a machine type communication MTC device is located; obtaining a group communication root key corresponding to the group ID; generating a group key corresponding to the group ID according to the group communication root key; and sending the group key encrypted by using an access stratum key of the MTC device to the MTC device, so that the MTC device obtains the group key through decryption according to the access stratum key of the MTC device. According to the foregoing technical solutions, a base station may allocate, to an MTC device, a group key corresponding to a group where the MTC device is located.
US09775021B2
One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for allowing a serving node to support a trigger request of a machine type communication-interworking function (MTC-IWF) in a wireless communication system, and the method for supporting the trigger request comprises the steps of: receiving, from a terminal, capability information which contains information on trigger transmission; and determining whether to transmit the information on the trigger transmission to a home subscriber server (HSS)/home location register (HLR), based on the information related to the terminal, which contains the capability information, and information related to the serving node, wherein the information on the trigger transmission contains information indicating whether the terminal supports a trigger request through the MTC-IWF and the serving node.
US09775019B2
A Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, node, and a method therein, for handling of an integrated wireless communications network, wherein the WLAN node and a wireless device are operating in the integrated wireless communications network. The integrated wireless communications network comprises a WLAN and a cellular communications network. The method comprises transmitting, to the wireless device, a first indication configured to indicate, to the wireless device, the aggregation capability of the WLAN node.
US09775016B2
A method for safeguarding the health of a user using an electronic device includes the electronic device calling at least one emergency contact number with pre-stored medical information of the user and at least one emergency contact number stored in a storage device of the electronic device. When a command inputted by the user is received, medical information relevant to the user is broadcast and is also displayed on a display of the electronic device. A message including current location of the user and the medical information is sent to the at least one emergency contact number, and a phone call is dialed to the at least one emergency contact number.
US09775012B2
A system and method are provided for tracking messages communicated using mobile devices. A message received at a server is originated at a first mobile device and is sent by the first mobile device to a virtual number associated with a software module configured to nm as an application on a second mobile device having a phone number. At the server, it is determined that the virtual number is associated with the software module on the second mobile device. With the server, the message is sent to the software module on the second mobile device, and at the server, the message is logged. The virtual number can comprise a long code. The message can be a short messaging service (SMS) message, a voice communication or an email.
US09775006B2
Provided is a remote broadcast system including an audio amplifier activation device configured to turn on when a level of input sound via a smartphone mobile unit exceeds a threshold, a power source for an audio amplifier configured to amplify a signal of the input sound into a broadcast audio signal, and output the broadcast audio signal to a broadcast loudspeaker, the audio amplifier activation device being configured also to turnoff the power source for the audio amplifier when the level of the input sound remains lower than the threshold for a predetermined time period. A broadcaster carrying a smartphone base unit can select a smartphone mobile station via the smartphone base unit, and establish a communication link between the smartphone base unit and the smartphone mobile station. With this, the broadcaster is allowed to broadcast evacuation guidance information even while evacuating.
US09774996B1
One aspect of this disclosure provides an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus comprises a plurality of antennas and a processing system. The processing system is configured to transmit a first signal to and receive a second signal from an wireless node via each of the antennas. The processing system is further configured to determine a plurality of distances between each of the plurality of antennas and the wireless node based on the signals. The processing system is also configured to identify a position of each of the antennas in relation to the wireless node based on a known distance between two antennas of the plurality of antennas in a pair and the determined distances. The processing system is further also configured to command a movement of the apparatus based, at least in part, on the identified positions.
US09774994B2
The present invention relates generally to providing a system and method for monitoring devices relative to a user defined geographic area using an enablement platform for building web sites and web applications using data storage, management and publication capabilities of hosted web services. The system and method for monitoring M2M devices relative to a user defined geographic area (geofence) are built on existing AerCloud concepts by allowing user to define location attributes and by using the user defined location attributes to configure and evaluate geofence parameters and issue alerts if the devices are performing outside the geofence parameters.
US09774989B2
A method for determining the location of a portable device relative to a display is provided. An image stream is captured by the portable device when the portable device is positioned proximate to the display. The image stream is captured from a region of the display when the display is actively rendering a content stream, the content stream including embedded content for position determination. The embedded content is detected within the captured image stream, and the location of the portable device relative to the display is determined based on the detected embedded content.
US09774984B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for real-time analytics driven decisioning of edge devices in a WSN. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for real-time analytics driven decisioning of edge devices in a WSN is provided. The method includes establishing a communicative connection by a controller with sensors in a geographically proximate WSN and aggregating data received from the sensors. The method also includes triggering an action in the controller based upon the aggregated data. Finally, the method includes propagating the aggregated data to a different controller communicatively coupled to other sensors of a different WSN geographically proximate to the different controller.
US09774966B1
An improved and cost effective speaker/controller system that is configured to allow a single master controller to have connectivity, communicability and control over multiple speaker/controllers in a cluster of speaker/controllers, through a communications connection with a single master speaker/controller in the cluster.
US09774964B2
In a process for producing a hearing aid, comprising a housing made out, at least partially, of a metallic or ceramic part using powder injection molding technique (PIM) within the housing (1) at least one additional element (3) made out of a polymeric material is arranged for placing functional parts (5, 7, 13) within or at the housing (1) to reduce complexity of P parts and/or to compensate any tolerances due to the PIM process.
US09774959B2
A MEMS speaker that may include a membrane positioned in a first plane, wherein the membrane may be configured to oscillate at a first frequency thereby generating an ultrasonic acoustic signal; and an acoustic modulator that may include a blind and a shutter; wherein the blind may be positioned in a second plane; wherein the shutter may be positioned in a third plane; wherein the first plane, the second plane and the third plane may be substantially separated from each other; and wherein the acoustic modulator may be configured to (a) receive or generate a shutter control signal and a blind control signal, and (b) modulate, in response to the shutter control signal and the blind control signal, the ultrasonic acoustic signal such that an audio signal may be generated.
US09774954B2
This document discusses, among other things, an impedance detection circuit, method, and integrated circuit, comprising a ramp-up current generation circuit and an impedance determining circuit, wherein the ramp-up current generation circuit is configured to input a ramp-up current including n breaks to a port of a device where the ramp-up current generation circuit is disposed, to which port an external device is connected, and wherein the impedance determining circuit is configured to detect an impedance of the external device in each break time period of the ramp-up current input by the ramp-up current generation circuit until the impedance of the external device is acquired by detection in the last break time period of the n breaks.
US09774950B2
To be easy for a user to judge difference of sound quality of an audio signal that is output in a balanced mode and sound quality of the audio signal that is output in an active control ground mode.A DAP 1 has a balanced mode and an ACG mode. In the balanced mode, an analog audio data is amplified by an amplifier 8, a negative-phase data of the analog audio data is amplified by an amplifier 9, and the amplified analog audio data and the amplified negative-phase data are mixed so as to be output. In the ACG mode, the analog audio data is amplified by the amplifier 8 and ground is maintained by the amplifier 9. The CPU 2 decreases volume of the analog audio data that is output in the balanced mode compared with volume of the analog audio data that is output in the ACG mode.
US09774948B2
Systems and methods augment a target media with a plurality of source media. The target media and source media are processed to form time frequency distributions (TFDs). Target features are extracted from the associated TFD and source features are extracted from each of the associated source TFDs. The target features are segmented into temporal portions that are compared with each of the plurality of source features to determine one or more matched source features having nearest matches to the target feature segments. Portions of the source media associated with the matched source features are mixed with the target media to form an augmented target media, wherein the mixing is based upon a probabilistic mixing algorithm that uses a distance between the matched target feature and source features to define an amplitude of each portion of the source media.
US09774947B2
A subwoofer structure for a vehicle includes: an enclosure mounted to a speaker; a floor panel to which the enclosure is mounted, a first soundbox space being formed in the floor panel; a seat cross reinforcing member having a second soundbox space that communicates with the first soundbox space; and a side sill having a third soundbox space that communicates with the second soundbox space.
US09774946B2
An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.
US09774939B2
A slim electronic device is provided. The slim electronic device includes a substrate having an opening formed therein, and an audio component accommodated in the opening of the substrate without overlapping the substrate and disposed such that the top and bottom thereof are substantially parallel to the top and bottom of the substrate.
US09774938B2
An audio output device including a casing, a first speaker component, a second speaker component and a sound-guiding board, and a video/audio output device using the same are disclosed. The first speaker component is a circular speaker, and is disposed at the casing. The first speaker component faces towards a first direction. The second speaker component is disposed at the casing, and faces towards a second direction which is different from the first direction. The sound-guiding board is a square plate body, located above the first speaker component, and is separated at a predetermined distance from the first speaker component.
US09774937B2
Disclosed is a speaker unit which includes a speaker surface provided in a bottom surface of a cabinet section and a provisionally fastening mechanism provided on a side surface of the cabinet section. The provisionally fastening mechanism includes: an engagement section for provisionally fastening the speaker unit to the mounting part; an operating section exposed on a face side of a mounting part with the speaker unit provisionally fastened via the engagement section; and a non-shielded portion formed adjacent to the outer periphery of the speaker surface for allowing the operating section to be visible from a face side of the speaker surface. The non-shielded portion is an opening or a recess formed in a flange section projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the cabinet section.
US09774934B1
Low-profile electronic component apparatus and methods of manufacturing and utilizing the same, for use with low-profile mobile devices and other applications. In one embodiment, the mobile device comprises a wireless-enabled smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer, and the component comprises an audio speaker which is recessed into a metallic support element, the latter recessed into the mobile device outer housing. The support element is coated with an insulating material, and conductive traces formed thereon for electrical interface with the contacts of the speaker. When assembled, the installation results in a substantially reduced overall vertical profile, thereby both potentially reducing the overall required thickness of the host device, and creating additional volume within the device housing (such as for other components, and/or enhanced audio response of the speaker) resulting in an additional spacing between the speaker component and any extant antenna assemblies.
US09774929B2
Infrared proximity sensor control of devices is described herein. One disclosed example apparatus includes an infrared proximity detection sensor disposed within a substantially environmentally-isolated zone of an electronic device, where the infrared proximity detection sensor is to detect an input sequence, and a processor to receive the input sequence, where the processor is programmed to interpret a command by comparing a defined sequence to the input sequence.
US09774927B2
Multi-layer dependencies are signaled in an efficient way for a multi-view video stream. Coding or decoding relationship information defining coding or decoding dependencies is represented in bit-efficient syntax code, preferably through usage of hierarchical layer dependencies using layer indices for representing layer dependencies.
US09774911B1
Methods and systems for automatically evaluating an audio description track of a media asset include initializing a rating of an audio description track of a media asset to a default value; receiving a first video frame and a second video frame of the media asset; detecting an object in the first video frame and the second video frame; determining that a difference in a characteristic of the object between the first video frame and the second video frame exceeds a threshold difference; determining that an audio characteristic in a portion of the audio description track that corresponds to the first video frame and the second video frame exceeds a threshold audio characteristic; and increasing the rating of the audio description track by a unit.
US09774902B2
A media guidance application is provided by which users can view program listings associated with programming that the user may access using other user equipment devices. The media guidance application, implemented on, for example, a remote system, may determine through communications with television equipment whether or not the television equipment is authorized to provide a particular package of television programming to be viewed by the user. For example, an online program guide application may determine whether or not television equipment allows a user to view particular channels and, based on that determination, proceed to determine what packages of programming the user subscribes to. A customized program guide may then be displayed based on what programming the user subscribes to on various systems.
US09774899B2
A method for receiving media according to one embodiment comprises the following steps: selecting a receiving channel; receiving a media transport stream transmitted through the receiving channel; generating a media storage stream based on the received media transport stream; and recording the media storage stream. The media transport stream comprises at least one sync bite which represents data removed from the media transport stream.
US09774897B2
Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data, which may include blackout information, is received. The screen data identifies the video assets in the video mosaic page. A determination is made, based at least in part on the screen data, whether any video assets in the video mosaic page should be blacked out. Blacked out assets may be masked and their associated audio blocked. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, or retrieve more information about the blackout.
US09774890B2
In one form, the present teachings provide a method and apparatus for broadcasting an event. The method includes receiving data related to an event via an uplink. Another aspect of the method includes determining whether the data is broadcast on a recurring basis. The method also includes determining whether a transponder channel associated with multiplexed program channels has any unused data or bandwidth to broadcast a portion of the data along with the multiplexed program channels. Additionally, the method includes broadcasting the portion of the data in a data stream.
US09774885B2
Methods of encoding and decoding for video data are describe in which significance maps are encoded and decoded using non-spatially-uniform partitioning of the map into parts, wherein the bit positions within each part are associated with a given context. Example partition sets and processes for selecting from amongst predetermined partition sets and communicating the selection to the decoder are described.
US09774878B2
In an example, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to receive an image, a graphical element, and embedding information. The processor further encodes a binary value representing the embedding information into the graphical element. The zeros and ones from the binary value are distinguished in the graphical element by a difference in luminance values applied to segments of the graphical element. The processor further combines the encoded graphical element with the image without altering the image.
US09774873B2
A frame processor for preparing a stream of video frames for encoding, the frame processor being arranged to receive a video frame having first pixel dimensions representing the number of pixels along each dimension of the video frame, and comprising: a rescaling filter configured to rescale the received video frame such that one or both of the first pixel dimensions are no greater than respective predetermined pixel dimension(s) and the aspect ratio of the received video frame is maintained; and a frame generator configured to: embed the rescaled video frame within an output video frame having the predetermined pixel dimensions; and mark pixels of the output video frame outside the bounds of the rescaled video frame as inactive; the frame processor being arranged to provide the output video frame to a video encoder.
US09774859B2
An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data.
US09774857B2
An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data.
US09774856B1
A method and apparatus for performing adaptive stochastic entropy encoding and decoding are provided. Adaptive stochastic entropy encoding may include identifying a current portion of an input video stream, and identifying a current probability distribution, which may be an adapted probability distribution associated with a previously encoded portion of the video stream. Adaptive stochastic entropy encoding may include identifying a forward update probability distribution based on the current portion, generating a modified probability distribution for the current portion based on the forward update probability distribution and the current probability distribution, generating an encoded portion based on the current portion and the modified probability distribution, and generating an adapted probability distribution based on the current probability distribution and the forward update probability distribution.
US09774853B2
In one embodiment, a method for decoding a video bitstream comprises the steps of: (a) receiving a video bitstream; (b) deriving processed video data from the bitstream; (c) partitioning the processed video data into blocks, wherein each of the blocks is equal to or smaller than a picture; (d) deriving an SAO type from the video bitstream for each of the blocks, wherein the SAO type is associated with a specific nonbiased coding scheme; (e) determining an SAO sub-class associated with the SAO type for each of the pixels in each of the blocks; (f) deriving intensity offset from the video bitstream for the sub-class associated with the SAO type; and (g) applying SAO compensation to each of the pixels in a processed video block, wherein the SAO compensation is based on the intensity offset of step (f).
US09774846B2
A display device includes: a plurality of gate lines; and a gate driver including a plurality of stages which transmits a gate voltage to the gate lines, where first to fourth clock signals and first to fourth inverted clock signals having phases opposite to phases of the first to fourth clock signals, respectively, are sequentially input to each repetition unit of the stages, where each repetition unit is defined by eight consecutive stages, a carry signal output by a j-th stage is transmitted to a (j+4)th stage, and a carry signal output by the (j+4)th stage is transmitted to the j-th stage, where j is a natural number.
US09774844B2
An unpacking method, an unpacking device and an unpacking system of a packed frame are disclosed. The packed frame is to be displayed on a screen and includes a color frame and a resized depth frame, and the color frame is corresponding to the resized depth frame. The center of the color frame is displayed in the central area of the screen. The unpacking method includes the steps of: extracting the color frame and the resized depth frame from the packed frame; and restoring the resized depth frame to obtain an original depth frame.
US09774843B2
A method and an apparatus for generating a composite image in an electronic device are provided. The method includes identifying a first image element of a first event from first images successively captured by a first image sensor of the electronic device, and identifying a second image element of a second event from second images successively captured by a second image sensor of the electronic device, the first images and the second images being simultaneously captured. The method further includes combining the first image element with the second image element based on a synchronization parameter to generate the composite image.
US09774840B2
According to one embodiment, a basic format for a 3D signal having a first area to arrange main video data, a second area to arrange graphic data, a third area to arrange depth information of pixels of the main video data, and a fourth area to arrange depth information of pixels of the graphic data are defined. When depth information of pixels of the main video data is generated, a 3D processing module can select whether to use a first pattern obtained by inserting the graphic data into the main video data and a second pattern obtained by not inserting the graphic data into the main video data. A 3D related controller decides on the first or second pattern to be used by the 3D processing module.
US09774830B2
An imaging apparatus appropriately determines a zoom angle of view in the case where the imaging apparatus is worn on the head of a user, and the imaging apparatus is worn on the head of the user, including a sight line direction detection unit which detects sight line direction of the user, a zoom angle determination unit which determines a zoom angle of view such that the zoom angle of view becomes smaller as variations in the sight line direction decrease, and an imaging unit which captures an image of a subject according to the determined zoom angle of view.
US09774822B2
Content distribution systems, methods and user interfaces are described wherein a modulator dynamically duplicates output of multiple channels, a plurality of receivers are individually tuned to one of the multiple channels, wherein a single transport stream can be sent on the multiple channels to each of the desired receivers and wherein the distribution can occur in multiple modes, and user interfaces which allow a manager of the content distribution system to dynamically change the channels on each receiver so that each of the receivers can be tuned to one of the multiple channels through the user interface.
US09774820B2
A display system includes a display device and an HDMI dongle electrically connected to the display device. The display device includes a first transmission interface, a first control module, and a power supply module. The HDMI dongle includes a second transmission interface and a second control module. The first and the second transmission interfaces include transmission pins corresponding to each other. The first control module detects voltage of one pin to obtain matching state between the display device and the HDMI dongle and outputs an enabling signal. When the HDMI dongle matches the display device, the enabling signal controls the power supply module to transmit the power supply signal to the second control module through the first and the second transmission interfaces for charging the second control module. When the HDMI dongle does not match the display device, the power supply module is not transmitted to the second control module.
US09774815B2
A locking mount for set top box having a base, a plurality of mounting holes, two springy retainers, two flanges, two lips and a front stop edge for securely mounting a set top box such as a digital to analog converter box or similar electronic device to a mounting surface and locking the device into position so as to prevent theft by using springy retainers to engage pre-existing holes or slots on the device to a mounting surface is provided.
US09774809B2
An image sensing device includes: a clock signal control block suitable for generating first and second clock control signals to have variable logic combinations for each unit row time; a frequency division block suitable for generating first and second clock signals having different phases based on a reference clock signal and controlling a first delay time reflected in the first clock signal and a second delay time reflected in the second clock signal for each unit row time based on the first and a second clock control signals; and a pixel signal processing block suitable for converting a pixel signal inputted for each unit row time into a digital signal based on the first and second clock signals.
US09774805B2
An image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a smooth video image and of reducing deterioration in the vertical resolution and an image stabilization performance. An image pickup device has a valid pixel area for obtaining an image signal, an optical black area for an optical black correction, and an amplifier unit that amplifies an output from the pixel area and outputs an image signal. A gain adjustment unit adjusts gain of the image signal. A reading control unit changes a gain value in the amplifier unit, changes the numbers of lines in the areas, and performs reading control of the image pickup device, when a control gain value in the gain adjustment unit exceeds a reference value. A change unit changes a time constant of a correction filter used for the optical black correction when the control gain value exceeds the specified reference value.
US09774799B2
An apparatus and method are described in which image information is received from an image sensor relating to one image frame, one or more sub-images are produced from the received image information according to given cropping data; and the produced one or more sub-images are forwarded through an output.
US09774788B2
The invention relates to a method for adjusting a digital camera. The invention also relates to a corresponding device and a corresponding computer program. An original image recorded by the camera is received. The original image has an original aspect ratio. A first user input defining a center point of an area of interest within the original image is received. A second user input defining a perimeter for the area of interest of the original image is received. The perimeter for the area of interest has the same aspect ratio as the original aspect ratio. The camera view is adjusted based on the first user input and the second user input to provide a zoomed image of the defined area of interest. The zoomed image is centered on the center point defined by the first user input. Finally, the zoomed image is displayed to the user on a display screen.
US09774787B2
A first camera unit includes a first actuator for moving a first optical package configured for a first focal length. In some embodiments, a camera system of a multifunction device includes a second camera unit of the multifunction device for simultaneously capturing a second image of a second visual field. In some embodiments, the second camera unit includes a second actuator for moving a second optical package configured for a second focal length. In some embodiments, the second actuator includes a second actuator lateral magnet. In some embodiments, the first optical package and the second optical package are situated between the first actuator later magnet and the second actuator lateral magnet along an axis between the first actuator lateral magnet and the second actuator lateral magnet. In some embodiments, no actuator lateral magnets are situated between the first optical package and the second optical package along the axis.
US09774786B2
An image display device that displays image information includes an image retrieving unit that retrieves image information; a device status identifying unit that identifies a status of the present device; an image condition specifying unit that specifies an image condition that indicates a condition which the image information needs to satisfy to be displayed, based on the status identified by the device status identifying unit; and a display unit that displays the image information retrieved by the image retrieving unit if the image information satisfies the image condition specified by the image condition specifying unit.
US09774779B2
Disclosed are techniques that provide a “best” picture taken within a few seconds of the moment when a capture command is received (e.g., when the “shutter” button is pressed). In some situations, several still images are automatically (that is, without the user's input) captured. These images are compared to find a “best” image that is presented to the photographer for consideration. Video is also captured automatically and analyzed to see if there is an action scene or other motion content around the time of the capture command. If the analysis reveals anything interesting, then the video clip is presented to the photographer. The video clip may be cropped to match the still-capture scene and to remove transitory parts. Higher-precision horizon detection may be provided based on motion analysis and on pixel-data analysis.
US09774776B2
A video recording device (100) includes: a first imaging unit (123) (in camera) arranged on a same face as that of a display unit (121) of a casing of the device; a second imaging unit (124) (out camera) arranged on a face different from that of the display unit of the casing of the device; and an audio input unit (133) that inputs a command voice giving an instruction for recording a video signal. A control unit (104) sets a delay time until start of a recording process performed by the recording unit after input of the command voice to be different in accordance with the enabled imaging unit and sets a delay time of a case where the first imaging unit (123) is enabled to be longer than a delay time of a case where the second imaging unit (124) is enabled.
US09774772B2
A camera module is provided including: a housing; a lens assembly provided in the housing to move up and down in a direction of an optical axis of an image sensor, and including at least one lens; and a driving unit that produces driving force for moving the lens assembly, arranged at a position adjacent to the lens assembly, and fixed to the housing by at least one detachable insertion member.
US09774765B2
An image acquisition system is operated to provide an image that is relatively free of the effect of longitudinal chromatic aberration. The system includes a variable focal length lens (e.g., a tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens) that is operated to periodically modulate a focus position. First, second, third, etc., wavelength image exposure contributions are provided by operating an illumination system to provide instances of strobed illumination of first, second, third, etc., wavelengths (e.g., green, blue, red, etc.) timed to correspond with respective phase timings of the periodically modulated focus position which focus the respective wavelength image exposure contributions at the same focus plane. The respective phase timings of the periodically modulated focus position compensate for longitudinal chromatic aberration of at least the variable focal length lens. An image is produced that is relatively free of the effect of longitudinal chromatic aberration by combining the image exposure contributions.
US09774762B2
An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit, a generating unit, and a determining unit. The receiving unit receives first image data. The first image data includes a first part corresponding to a manuscript and a second part corresponding to a non-manuscript. The generating unit generates second image data by processing the second part. The determining unit determines whether the manuscript is processed as a monochromatic image or a color image, based on the second image data. The determining unit outputs a result of the determination.
US09774754B2
A scanner comprising a platen, a first laser assembly movable along a first axis, a second laser assembly movable along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis, and laser movement controllers configured to control the movement of the laser assemblies along their axes. The laser assemblies comprise laser emitters configured to project laser lines on the platen that illustrate edges the current scan area, such that the dimensions and/or position of the scan area can be adjusted by moving the laser lines on the platen.
US09774752B2
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention validates beam forming for a terminal device being a transmission destination when transmitting a second type operation screen capable of receiving an operation instruction with regard to a gesture operation by a user to a terminal device wirelessly connected on a remote panel mode.
US09774741B1
Methods and systems for routing multimedia traffic are described. A method may include receiving a communication originating from a user, transposing an alias transport network over one or more existing networks to route the communication, and routing the communication based on mapping rules.
US09774736B1
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for determining whether a call has reached a live party or a machine. Specifically, a call handler that is handling the call analyzes a cadence of the audio of the call while a speech analytics system analyzes the audio of the call to detect one or more keywords over a call leg established between the call handler and speech analytics system. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the call handler may make a first determination that the call has reached a live party or a machine based on the cadence of the audio and may make a second determination that the call has reached a live party or a machine based on an event received from the speech analytics system as a result of the speech analytics system detecting a particular keyword in the audio of the call.
US09774734B2
A vehicle emergency system includes an accident detection unit for detecting a collision strength to generate an accident signal, a telematics unit for generating a flag signal in response to the accident signal and for storing the flag signal, and a call center server for recognizing an emergency situation when the flag signal is delivered, and for executing an emergency procedure after emergency call, in which the telematics unit, even when reset by the accident signal, checks the flag signal stored before reset, and automatically transmits at least one of the flag signal and an accident message generated based on the flag signal into the call center server.
US09774733B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to communication systems and methods that allow a resident of a controlled environment facility to report a past, on-going or threatened crime, such as a rape. The resident is able to make the report using a facility communications system without alerting other residents of the controlled environment facility that the crime has been reported.
US09774730B2
A method for telephone interaction includes establishing a voice channel for voice calls with a telephone agent system, establishing a data channel with the telephone agent system if the telephone agent system is in a busy state, and acquiring information provided by the telephone agent system via the data channel. The information is associated with an entertainment service. The method further includes providing the entertainment service to a user based on the information.
US09774726B1
A system and method for detecting and preventing PSTN fraud and abuse in real time includes a detection engine and a call management engine. The system includes at least one user record, at least one call data record, at least one fraud score record, and at least one remediation record. A call management engine enables users to establish VoIP calls connections to destination phone numbers. A fraud detection engine screens VoIP call connections to detect potential fraud and generates fraud records and remediation records when potential fraud is detected. The fraud detection engine may additionally direct the call management to terminate a VoIP call connection.
US09774717B2
A system for detecting a personal communication device (PCD) in a vehicle having driver and passenger zones is provided. The system includes a camera and a controller. The camera is configured to transmit a first signal indicative of a captured image of an object in the driver zone. The controller is configured to receive the first signal and to receive a status signal indicative of the PCD being in a sleep mode or an active mode. The controller is further configured to receive a motion signal indicative of the PCD being in a stationary mode or a motion mode and to detect that the PCD is in the driver zone if the captured image of the object corresponds to the PCD and if the status signal indicates that the PCD is in the wake up mode or the motion signal indicates that the PCD is in the motion mode.
US09774711B2
A storage battery device is provided with a transmitter which, in cases when a power supply of the storage battery device is turned on, repeatedly transmits, for a prescribed time period, a classification message including the classification of the storage battery device.
US09774710B2
An embodiment method of network protocol offloading for a packet traveling along a path having a plurality of hops in a virtual network includes checking, for each of the plurality of hops, that a virtual receiver node is safe for network protocol offloading and, when safe, deferring a network protocol processing task, forwarding the packet to a next hop among the plurality of hops, executing the network protocol processing task at a first earliest hop along the path where the virtual receiver node is unsafe for network protocol offloading, and executing the network protocol processing task at a second earliest hop along the path where the virtual receiver node includes a physical network interface that is safe for network protocol offloading.
US09774700B2
A network device stores one or more mobile applications. The network device receives a message from another network device, where the message specifies multiple mobile devices to which the one or more mobile applications should be uploaded. The mobile devices include cellular telephones. The network device sends a notification to the multiple mobile devices that the one or more mobile applications are available for download from the network device. The notification includes a short message service (SMS) text message. The network device sends the one or more mobile applications to the multiple mobile devices based on receiving replies to the notification from the multiple mobile devices.
US09774692B2
Methods and systems of automatically recording and porting of lifestyle data are described. A method may involve receiving recorded data from each of a first plurality of networked devices associated with a first location. The recorded data may pertain to usage of one or more of the first plurality of networked devices during a first period of time. The method may also involve storing the recorded data. The method may further involve applying the recorded data to one or more of a second plurality of networked devices associated with a second location different than the first location.
US09774691B2
A system for automatically embedding behavior collection components into a mobile device application; the system includes a user interface module, a recording module, a marking module, and an embedding module. The user interface module provides an operation interface which includes tracking items. The tracking items correspond to behavior collection components. The behavior collection components transmit operation information of the mobile device to a server. The recording module records relational information respectively corresponds to each of the behavior collection components, and each relational information is a relational function selected from of a plurality of relational functions of a library. The marking module determines and marks embedding positions of the behavior collection components in the mobile device application based on the behavior collection components of the selected tracking items and relational information thereof. The embedding module embeds the behavior collection components of the selected tracking items into the marked embedding positions.
US09774685B2
A power control program (mobile terminal connection program) 300 is configured to include a mobile terminal connection unit 302 which connects a plurality of mobile terminals 20 and enables charging of power supplied from a battery, a usage state monitoring unit 304 which monitors usage states of the connected mobile terminals 20, a cranking detection unit 306 which detects cranking based on the voltage supplied from the battery, and a control unit 308 which controls power supply of the mobile terminal connection unit 302 based on monitoring information of the usage state monitoring unit 304 when the cranking is detected.
US09774684B2
A method begins by a computing device generating a set of write requests regarding a set of encoded data slices and sending the set of write requests to a set of storage units, where each write request includes an encoded data slice, a corresponding slice name, and a transaction number. The method continues with each of at least some of the storage units generating a write response that includes the transaction number and a list of revision levels corresponding to the slice name. The method continues with the computing device receiving the write responses from the at least some of the storage units, determining a most current revision level based on the lists of revision levels and generating a set of write commit messages, where a write commit message includes the transaction number and a new revision level for the set of encoded data slices.
US09774680B2
A technique of rebuilding data slices in a dispersed storage network when detecting a plurality of data slices that require rebuilding. A plurality of rebuilding resources capable for use to rebuild the plurality of data slices are determined and based on an attribute associated with the determination, a rebuilding task is apportioned and the apportioned tasks are assigned to the plurality of rebuilding resources to rebuild the data slices. The apportionment of the tasks permit more than one rebuilding resource and associated distributed storage unit to perform the rebuild of the data slices.
US09774676B2
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for identifying a storage group in a distributed storage system into which data is to be stored is presented. A data structure including information relating to storage groups in a distributed storage system is maintained, where a respective entry in the data structure for a respective storage group includes placement metrics for the respective storage group. A request to identify a storage group into which data is to be stored is received from a computer system. The data structure is used to determine an identifier for a storage group whose placement metrics satisfy a selection criterion. The identifier for the storage group whose placement metrics satisfy the selection criterion is returned to the computer system.
US09774672B2
A “snapshot-control media agent” (“snap-MA”) is configured on a secondary storage computing device that operates apart from client computing devices. A “forwarder” media agent operates on each client computing device that uses a storage array, yet lacks command channels to the storage array. The forwarder media agent forwards commands directed at the storage array to the snap-MA, which receives and processes commands directed at the storage array that were forwarded by the forwarder media agents. Responses from the storage array are transmitted to the respective forwarder media agent. The snap-MA pools storage-array-command devices to avoid capacity limitations in regard to communications channels at the storage array. The snap-MA operating in conjunction with the forwarder media agents enable the illustrative system to consolidate the communication of storage-array commands away from client computing devices and/or proxy media agent hosts and into the secondary storage computing device that hosts the snap-MA.
US09774658B2
Systems and methods for interconnecting devices using an orchestration framework are provided herein. An orchestration framework may be provided, and the orchestration framework may interconnect multiple of devices such that the devices are available to share content and computing activities with one another. The orchestration framework may coordinate interactions between the devices that are interconnected with each other through the orchestration framework. A request to share content may be received from one of the devices. The distribution of the content to one or more of the devices may be managed using the orchestration framework. The content may be a file uploaded to a remote data store, content stored at a clipboard that is accessible to the interconnected devices, or a link.
US09774653B2
The subject disclosure is directed towards co-located collaboration/data sharing that is based upon detecting the proxemics of people and/or the proxemics of devices. A federation of devices is established based upon proxemics, such as when the users have entered into a formation based upon distance between them and orientation. User devices may share content with other devices in the federation based upon micro-mobility actions performed on the devices, e.g., tilting and/or otherwise interacting with a sending device.
US09774645B2
A method of managing BSS network loading is proposed. An access point (AP) transmits BSS session time and data limit element in beacon or probe response frame or a response frame to a service request frame. The AP determines the session time and data limit according to the network load and AP resourced. The AP adjusts the session time and data limit dynamically. An STA decides whether to join a specific BSS based on the BSS session time and the BSS session data limit. AP encourages or discourages the STA to join the BSS by increasing or reducing the session time and data limit. The per-AP loading will be distributed according to AP's capabilities.
US09774631B2
A network-based appliance includes a mechanism to enable the appliance to extract itself from man-in-the-middle (MITM) processing during a client-server handshake and without interrupting that connection. The mechanism enables the appliance to decide (e.g., based on a rule match against a received server certificate) to stop performing MITM during the handshake and thus to de-insert itself transparently, i.e., without interfering or signaling to either end of the session that this operation is occurring. Once the connection is abandoned in the manner, the appliance ignores additional traffic flow and thus can free up processing resources (CPU, memory, and the like) that would otherwise be required to decrypt the connection (even if no further inspection or rewrite processing would be expected to occur).
US09774628B2
An aircraft includes an aircraft network having nodes and links and a sandbox network in communication with the aircraft network. The sandbox network simulates the aircraft network and includes sandbox nodes corresponding to the nodes of the aircraft network, a first set of sandbox links corresponding to the links of the aircraft network, and a second set of sandbox links providing communication between sandbox nodes not in communication via the first set of sandbox links. Computer executable instructions, when executed, perform the steps of: generating network traffic over the sandbox network such that the sandbox network models a behavior of the aircraft network; identifying a suspicious activity on the aircraft network; routing the suspicious activity from the aircraft network to the sandbox network; and analyzing the suspicious activity as the suspicious activity traverses through the sandbox network.
US09774614B2
A computing device may use machine learning techniques to determine whether a side channel attack is underway and perform obfuscation operations (e.g., operations to raise the noise floor) or other similar operations to stop or prevent a detected side channel attack. The computing device may determine that a side channel attack is underway in response to determining that the computing device is in airplane mode, that the battery of the computing device the battery has been replaced with a stable DC power supply, that the touch-screen display of the computing device has been disconnected, that there are continuous calls to a cipher application programming interface (API) using the same cipher key, that there has been tampering with a behavioral analysis engine of the computing device, or any combination thereof.
US09774613B2
Threat detection is improved by monitoring variations in observable events and correlating these variations to malicious activity. The disclosed techniques can be usefully employed with any attribute or other metric that can be instrumented on an endpoint and tracked over time including observable events such as changes to files, data, software configurations, operating systems, and so forth. Correlations may be based on historical data for a particular machine, or a group of machines such as similarly configured endpoints. Similar inferences of malicious activity can be based on the nature of a variation, including specific patterns of variation known to be associated with malware and any other unexpected patterns that deviate from normal behavior. Embodiments described herein use variations in, e.g., server software updates or URL cache hits on an endpoint, but the techniques are more generally applicable to any endpoint attribute that varies in a manner correlated with malicious activity.
US09774609B2
A method of communicating in a secure communication system, comprises the steps of assembling as message at a sender, then determining a security level, and including an indication of the security level in a header of the message. The message is then sent to a recipient.
US09774607B2
Methods and systems for detecting undesirable computer files based on scanning and analysis of information contained within an associated digital certificate chain are provided. According to one embodiment, a file having associated therewith a certificate chain is received. A type and structure of the file are identified. A location of the certificate chain is determined based on the identified type and structure. A signature of the file is formed by extracting a targeted subset of information from the certificate chain. The file is evaluated by comparing the signature with a set signatures having a known desirable or undesirable status. The file is classified based on a result of the evaluating into a category of multiple categories, including one indicative of an associated file being an undesired file or a file suspected of being undesired. The file is handled in accordance with a policy associated with the category.
US09774602B2
Methods and systems may provide for selecting a hypervisor protocol from a plurality of hypervisor protocols based on a communication associated with a remote agent. The selected hypervisor protocol may be used to conduct a trust analysis of one or more digitally signed values in the communication, wherein a cloud attestation request may be processed based on the trust analysis. Processing the cloud attestation request may involve generating a trustworthiness verification output, a geo-location verification output, etc., for a cloud computing node corresponding to the remote agent.
US09774599B2
An authentication method and apparatus for an electronic device. A first electronic device transmits a mutual authentication request for the first electronic device and a second electronic device communication-connected with the first electronic device to an authentication server. The first electronic device receives mutual authentication information for each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device from the authentication server, and stores the mutual authentication information in the first electronic device and the second electronic device. The first electronic device determines whether reliability of an authentication state between the first electronic device and the second electronic device is maintained. The first electronic device acquires an authentication result for a service using the second electronic device from the authentication server by using the mutual authentication information for each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device, when the reliability is maintained.
US09774592B2
An object is to maintain an input load of authentication information properly while assuring safety. An information processing apparatus obtains authentication information conforming to a predetermined requirement of complexity. The information processing apparatus obtains cost of an input operation of each of a plurality of codes included in the authentication information. On the basis of the obtained costs, the information processing apparatus calculates an input cost of the authentication information. The information processing apparatus determines propriety of the authentication information on the basis of the calculated input cost.
US09774590B1
A client application performs certificate pinning as a means of authenticating the identity of a server. A proxy is interposed in the communications path of the client and the hosting server and provides a proxy security certificate to the client. In response to the client extracting a proxy authentication component from the proxy security certificate, operation of the client is paused and a hosting server authentication component is extracted from a hosting server security certificate. The client operation is resumed, providing the extracted hosting server authentication component to the client, in substitution for the proxy authentication component. Based on receiving the extracted hosting server authentication component, the client authenticates the proxy to receive communications directed to the hosting server.
US09774582B2
A system for secure cloud-based management of private cloud connected devices is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more on-site cloud connected devices located within an untrusted customer site, a multi-tenant cloud-based management service configured to manage the one or more on-site cloud connected devices, and a user interface to facilitate access to the one or more on-site cloud connected devices located within the untrusted customer site by a user associated with the untrusted customer site.
US09774570B2
Methods and systems are provided for increasing application performance and accelerating data communications in a WAN environment. According to one embodiment, packets are received at a flow classification module operating at the Internet Protocol (IP) layer of a first wide area network (WAN) acceleration device via a private tunnel, which is operable to convey application layer data for connection-oriented applications between WAN acceleration devices. The packets are passed to a WAN socket operating at the transport layer. Based on the application protocol, the packets are passed to an application handler of multiple application handlers operating at the application layer each of which implements one or more application acceleration techniques for a particular application layer protocol known to behave poorly within a WAN environment. The existing connection-oriented flow is securely accelerated by performing one or more application acceleration techniques and applying one or more security functions.
US09774565B2
Configuration of firewall functionality for routers operating within a multi-router network is contemplated. The firewall functionality configured for one or more of the routers may be based router positioning within the multi-router network. The firewall functionality may be automatically selected according to the router positioning in order to facilitate dynamic and/or adaptive router configuring.
US09774558B2
Methods and systems for social media cooperation, via allowing inter-social network communications between users of different networks is provided. The inter-social network communications may be facilitated by sending inter-social network communications in a format determined by a protocol that is used by the social networks agreeing to allow inter-social network communications.
US09774546B2
Method to perform an operation comprising, receiving a login request from an endpoint connected to first physical port of a first switch module of a distributed network switch, wherein the distributed network switch comprises a plurality of switch modules, wherein each switch module comprises a plurality of ASICs, responsive to the login request, storing, in a FCDF database, an entry comprising an identifier of the first physical port and a unique identifier of the endpoint, and responsive to receiving, from a cFCF, a zoning update comprising the unique identifier of the endpoint and an FCID for the endpoint, storing the FCID in the FCDF database entry for the endpoint, identifying a first ASIC, of the plurality of ASICs of the first switch module, connected to the first physical port, and updating a zoning table of the first ASIC to include the zoning update.
US09774545B2
A method for operating a network having a plurality of terminals and a plurality of switches connected to one another via data lines has the first step of transmitting a multicast MMRP data packet from a data source via at least one of the switches and one of the data lines to a predetermined terminal intended to receive the multicast data packet. Then one port of a switch to which is connected another terminal that is not MMRP-capable is fed the multicast address as a static entry of the terminal connected to the one port. The multicast address is then transmitted to the at least one switch connected thereto.
US09774542B2
The method comprises mapping software-based network functions to hardware resources included in a hardware resource pool, wherein the mapping is performed dynamically on unallocated resources of the hardware resource pool and based on at least the next information: specific hardware constraints for the supporting of each of said software-based network functions; network requirements of at least one defined networking service design for a service making use of said hardware resource pool and of at least part of said software-based network functions; and a hardware description of the hardware resources included in the hardware resource pool. The system is configured for implementing the method of the invention.The computer program product is adapted to perform the method of the invention.
US09774536B2
Generally, this disclosure describes techniques for buffer management based on link status. A host platform may include a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) and a network controller that includes a buffer used by the BMC. When a network controller is in a lower power link state, the BMC may attempt to send data to the link partner which causes the network controller to transition out of the low power state. However, this transition may take longer than the buffer's ability to buffer the incoming flow from the BMC. Accordingly, to avoid the need for larger buffer space, a buffer manager is used to provide flow control management of the buffer based on link status.
US09774533B2
A novel scheme is defined for supporting service graphs to allow specific service functions to be applied to selected subsets of packet flows. According to one or more embodiments, a service graph is modeled as chains or sequences of “flow steering entities” and “service instances.” According to an embodiment, a flow steering entity (FSE) is configured to identify the flow, and select the next hop service instance in the chain. After a service instance returns the flow packet, the FSE steers the packet to the next FSE in the graph. An initial FSE is used to select matching traffic to enter the service graph. Wherever path forking and merging is required in the service graph, additional classifiers are positioned with the FSE to steer a subset of traffic along different paths of service function instances.
US09774527B2
Example embodiments relate to a method of, and device for facilitating, resilient peer-to-peer application message routing. The method comprises storing a network routing table comprising destination addresses of applications hosted on peer nodes of a network, and providing the peer nodes with a copy of the routing table via which routing table an application message from any one of the peer nodes is routed to a destination address designating a destination application hosted by a destination peer node. Further, the method comprises providing, when the destination application hosted by the destination peer node is inactivated, all peer nodes with a copy of an updated routing table taking into account the inactivation of said application, wherein a further application message addressed from any one of the peer nodes to the destination address associated with the inactivated application is routed via the updated routing table, to an alternative destination application having the same destination address as the inactivated application.
US09774526B2
An instruction from a controller is received at an application executing using a processor, the controller being a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller operating in an SDN. A determination is made, using the processor, that the instruction applies to an identifier located in a data packet, the data packet passing through a shared port, the shared port being shared by the controller and a concurrently operating second controller in the SDN. A period of effectiveness of the instruction is initialized. A command is sent to a switch to apply a network setting configured by the controller to handle the data packet, where the shared port is located at the switch in the SDN.
US09774520B1
An intermediate network device performs service aware path selection. For example, the intermediate network device comprises a network interface that receives network traffic and a control unit that couples to the network interface. The control unit comprises a storage medium that stores a first set of cost factors for a first path from the intermediate network device to another intermediate network device. The first set of cost factors includes at least one optimization cost factor corresponding to intermediate optimization capabilities available to the intermediate network device that offset other cost factors of the first set. The storage medium also stores a second set of cost factors for a second path between the devices. The control unit selects either the first path or the second path over which to forward the network traffic based on the first and second sets of cost factors.
US09774519B2
An automation system without any of the devices in the system being required to have knowledge of each other or of the topology of the network. The automation system comprises sensor nodes and actor nodes. The sensor nodes transmit information via a wireless network based on changes that are sensed by the sensors, such as a button being pushed or motion being detected. The actor nodes detect the information that is transmitted over the wireless network and control appliance functions based on the information detected. After the sensor and actor nodes are initialized, the sensor nodes transmit packets into the network based on changes that are detected in their environment. Meanwhile, the actor nodes monitor the network for packets that contain information of scenes that are relevant to each node. Based on the information contained in each such packet, the node acts on the information by controlling its appliance function.
US09774511B2
A load balancer allocates requests to a pool of web servers configured to have low queue capacities. If the queue capacity of a web server is reached, the web server responds to an additional request with a rejection notification to the load balancer, which enables the load balancer to quickly send the rejected request to another web server. Each web server self-monitors its rejection rate. If the rejection rate exceeds a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is increased. If the rejection rate falls below a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is decreased.
US09774510B2
A method for facilitating collection and display of information related to data usage by a plurality of mobile devices is disclosed. The method involves receiving first quantity information and sending a first identifier associated with the plurality of mobile devices and first activity-related information including the first quantity information to a server. The method also involves receiving group activity-related information associated with the plurality of mobile devices, the group activity-related information derived at least in part from second activity-related information including second quantity information, and producing signals for causing a display to display information derived from the group activity-related information. A method of associating a plurality of mobile devices in a group is also disclosed. Systems and computer-readable media for facilitating collection and display of information related to data usage by a plurality of mobile devices and for associating a plurality of mobile devices in a group are also disclosed.
US09774507B2
A platform, apparatus and method for collecting and utilizing user behavior data within an IoT system. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service, the IoT hub further comprising a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of IoT devices over local communication channels; the IoT hub comprising logic to collect data from each of the IoT devices and to control the IoT devices responsive to user input from a plurality of different users; user behavior data collection logic to collect user behavior data within the IoT system, the user behavior data collection logic to monitor and record the data accessed by each user from each of the IoT devices and the IoT devices controlled by each user; and user profile generation logic to analyze the user behavior data to determine a profile for each user; and targeted content generation logic to generate targeted content to be transmitted to each user in accordance with each determined profile.
US09774497B2
A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations for controlling electronic equipment. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a wide area network (WAN), and at least one IoT device communicatively coupled to the IoT hub over a wireless communication channel, the IoT device comprising an infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) blaster to control specified electronics equipment via IR or RF communication with the electronics equipment, the IoT device further comprising at least one sensor to detect current conditions associated with the operation of the electronics equipment, the IoT device to transmit an indication of the current conditions to the IoT hub over the wireless communication channel; and the IoT hub comprising a remote control code database to store remote control codes usable to control the electronics equipment, the IoT hub further comprising control logic to generate remote control commands using the remote control codes, the remote control commands selected by the control logic in response to the current conditions and input from an end user provided via a user device, the IoT hub to transmit the commands to the IoT device over the wireless communication channel; and the IoT device to responsively transmit the commands to the electronics equipment to control the electronics equipment.
US09774493B2
A network element, in a control plane enabled network, configured to retain a connection's home path while the connection is on an alternate path includes interfaces communicatively coupled to the network to form one or more links; circuitry communicatively coupled to the interfaces, wherein the circuitry is configured to route one or more connections which originate on the network element to the one or more links via the interfaces, wherein each of the one or more connections has an associated home path, and for a connection of the one of more connections which is not on its associated home path, reserve bandwidth for the connection through the control plane on the associated home path.
US09774490B2
A system and method for propagating fault information in an Ethernet OAM network having multiple levels of OAM domains. An Alarm Indication and Suppression (AIS) frame is generated by a Maintenance Intermediate Point (MIP) node upon detecting a fault condition in a first OAM domain, which is transmitted to one or more Maintenance End Points (MEPs) of the first OAM domain. Upon receiving the AIS frames, the MEP nodes are operable generate another AIS frame for propagating to an adjacent higher level second OAM domain. Responsive to the AIS frame from the lower level first OAM domain, any alarms caused in the second OAM domain due to the fault condition in the first OAM domain are suppressed.
US09774489B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for allocating computing resources according to reserved capacity. In one or more computing devices, a reserved machine instance is designated for a user in one of several zones of multiple networked computing devices. The networked computing devices include multiple machine instances in each of the zones. A request is obtained from the user to allocate a machine instance within the networked computing devices. A zone is selected for allocating the machine instance from the zones based at least in part on the zone that is associated with the reserved machine instance.
US09774481B2
Systems and methods for using travelling pilots for channel estimation are described herein. In one aspect, wireless communications apparatus is described that comprises a processor configured to divide a plurality of tones on which pilot signals are to be transmitted among a plurality of symbols, wherein each symbol includes less than all of the plurality of tones and the plurality of symbols includes at least a subset of the plurality of tones. The wireless communication apparatus further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit, during a given symbol, pilot signals on the tones included in the given symbol, wherein the tones over which the pilot signals are transmitted are changed from symbol to symbol.
US09774476B2
According to some embodiments, a method of transmitting a radio signal in a first wireless network element comprises receiving, at an input of a radio transmitter, a signal for wireless transmission; selectively performing a signal linearization technique on the signal; amplifying the signal with a non-linear amplifier; and transmitting the amplified signal to a second wireless network element. According to particular embodiments, selectively performing the signal linearization technique comprises determining a modulation order of the received signal and determining the modulation order exceeds a modulation order threshold.
US09774468B2
Household communications network (1) comprising a plurality of network segments (2) which are coupled to one another via switches (3), subscribers (4) of the household communications network (1) each being connected to a port of a switch (3) via a connection line and being interconnected in pairs for communication by way of the switches (3).
US09774444B2
A decryption engine includes an update circuit, a key generator, a decryption circuit and a detection circuit. The update circuit generates a first updating information based on a premise of that a currently received frame is encrypted, and generates a second updating information based on a premise of that the currently received frame is non-encrypted. The key generator produces a first key according to the first updating information, and produces a second key according to the second updating information. The decryption circuit generates a first decrypted frame according to the first key and the currently received frame, and generates a second decrypted frame according to the second key and the currently received frame. The detection circuit detects whether the currently received frame is decrypted according to the first decrypted frame and the second decrypted frame, to generate an encryption detection result.
US09774436B2
A user equipment (UE) can reserve shared spectrum between two wireless protocols upon the request from a tower. For example, an enhanced node B (eNB or eNodeB) transmits a message to associated UEs including a set of candidate UEs, a length of time to reserve, and a frequency band to use. UEs perform medium sensing on the specified spectrum if a UE finds its identifier in the set of candidate UEs. Candidate UEs transmit a clear to send (CTS) message with channel reservation information if the medium is idle. A result of the success or failure of the CTS transmission attempt is sent back to the eNB. Upon receiving the feedback information from the UEs, the eNB starts sending data to those UEs that sent the positive feedback on the channel reservation.
US09774435B2
A method apparatus and system for efficiently transmitting and receiving channels are provided in a wireless communication system based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). A multiplexing scheme differs according to a channel when a transmitter transmits a packet data channel, a common control channel and a control channel designated for a particular user. Uncoded 1-bit information is broadly dispersed in frequency and time domains using multiplexing technology for maximizing diversity in a channel for transmitting information of at least one bit to a particular user like an acknowledgement (ACK) channel. The transmitter converts a sequence obtained by multiplexing multiple bits to be transmitted to a plurality of users to parallel signals, and broadly disperses the parallel signals in the time and frequency domains. When the uncoded 1-bit information is transmitted, reception reliability is improved because channel coding and transmission are efficiently performed using a small amount of resources.
US09774433B2
The present invention relates to the field of communications, and disclosed are a method and device for determining a PDSCH transmission resource. The method is: in the embodiments of the present invention, a network side determines a mapping relationship between a PDSCH transmission point and a zero-power CSI-RS for UE, and the UE does not receive a PDSCH over a zero-power CSI-RS resource which corresponds to a cell currently transmitting the PDSCH and measures an interference and still receives the PDSCH over a zero-power CSI-RS resource which corresponds to a cell not currently transmitting the PDSCH and measures an interference, thereby ensuring that the UE can accurately measure the interference and further improving the accuracy of CQI estimation; furthermore, the signalling overhead required for realizing the technical solution of the present invention is very small, only some RRC signalings are required, and a dynamic signaling can reuse a current signaling to the greatest extent, in this way, the compatibility of the system is effectively improved and the complexity of implementation is reduced.
US09774426B2
Disclosed is a method for transceiving channel state information in a wireless access system and an apparatus for the method. More particularly, the method comprises: a step of receiving, from user equipment, channel state information measurement capability indicating the total number of pieces of channel state information which can be measured by the user equipment; a step of transmitting, to the user equipment, information regarding the object for channel state information measurement set in the user equipment; and a step of receiving, from the user equipment, channel state information measured in the object for channel state information measurement. The object for channel state information measurement is restrictively set such that the total number of the objects for channel state information measurement is the same as or less than the channel state information measurement capability.
US09774422B2
Examples of the present invention provide a method for allocating Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) channel resources supporting transmit diversity and channel selection. The method includes: receiving, by a UE, Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) information and Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) data from a base station through two Carrier Components (CCs); obtaining, by the UE according to specific indication information, Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) channel resources required for transmitting HARQ-ACK feedback information using a transmit diversity technique; and transmitting, by the UE, the HARQ-ACK feedback information on the obtained PUCCH channel resources adopting the transmit diversity technique. According to the method provided by the examples of the present invention, it is possible to allocate HARQ-ACK channel resources to the UE reasonably and avoid waste of channel resources in the premise that channel selection and SORTD technique are supported.
US09774407B2
A test apparatus is configured to perform non-determinative testing of equipment. The test apparatus comprises a test computer arranged to automatically execute a non determinative test regime under the control of a test application. A network simulator connected to the test computer is provided with communication circuitry operable to communicate with the equipment under test. The network simulator is configurable into different network states according to the non-determinative test regime, and the test application is operable to control the network simulator to transition between a plurality of different network states. Data about unscripted communications between the network simulator and the equipment under test is monitored and can be analyzed to reach a test verdict.
US09774404B2
Provided is an apparatus of recognizing optical connector connection including an IC tag connection unit configured to provide bus power and detect whether the optical connector is connected to an optical adapter, an IC tag configured to store an IC tag ID uniquely given to the optical connector, which is connected to a corresponding optical cable, and to receive the bus power to be driven for bus communication, and an IC tag ID obtaining unit configured to obtain the IC tag ID stored in the IC tag through the IC tag connection unit, when the optical connector is connected to the optical adapter.
US09774402B2
Each channel of a high speed multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip layout is partitioned into at least first and second channel portions that are electrically interconnected with one another. Each first channel portion has an end that is located on an optical interface side of the multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip. Each second channel portion has an end that is located on an electrical interface side of the multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip. The pitch between the first channel portions is very fine and matches the pitch between optoelectronic elements of an optoelectronic array chip that interfaces with the optical interface side of the multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip. The pitch between the second channel portions is significantly greater than the pitch between the first channel portions to prevent cross talk.
US09774399B2
A nonlinear compensation method and apparatus and a system in a multicarrier optical communication system where the method includes: determining a coefficient of a linear filter in nonlinear compensation according to an end-to-end channel linear response of the system; determining taps of a nonlinear compensation filter needing to be opened and coefficients of the taps according to a hardware compensation ability of the system and the coefficient of the linear filter; and compensating for a nonlinear damage of the system by using the selected coefficients of the nonlinear compensation filter. With the method, apparatus or the system provided by this application, very good compensation performance may be achieved in a range of power consumption of the multicarrier optical communication system by only opening and using few taps of the compensation filter.
US09774396B2
An example of a power and modulation circuit utilizes a very high frequency switching power converter to supply drive current power to cause a solid state light source to emit light. The power converter is configured to convert power from a power source to direct current to supply via the output to the light source, at least in part by a switching function of the power converter at a very high frequency rate. The circuit, in such an example, also includes a control circuit coupled to be responsive to input data and control operation of the power converter so that the current output to drive the light source modulates the light emitted from the light source to also carry the input data.
US09774391B2
In an example, the present invention includes an integrated system-on-chip device. The device is configured on a single silicon substrate member. The device has a data input/output interface provided on the substrate member. The device has an input/output block provided on the substrate member and coupled to the data input/output interface. The device has a signal processing block provided on the substrate member and coupled to the input/output block. The device has a driver module provided on the substrate member and coupled to the signal processing block. In an example, the device has a driver interface provided on the substrate member and coupled to the driver module and configured to be coupled to a silicon photonics device. In an example, a control block is configured to receive and send instruction(s) in a digital format to the communication block and is configured to receive and send signals in an analog format to communicate with the silicon photonics device.
US09774383B1
A wireless relay anti-interference system includes a detecting module, a determining module, and a processing module. The detecting module detects a first received signal strength indication (RSSI), and a first carrier to interference noise ratio (CINR) of a first user. The determining module receives the first RSSI, the first CINR, and a first ratio between the first RSSI and the first CINR of first user, and determines whether the first user is entering a region of signal overlap. The method and system of the disclosure can avoid signal interference and improve the efficiency of the system.
US09774382B2
Methods and systems are provided for relocatable repeaters for wireless communication links to locations that may present accessibility problems using, for example, small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). An sUAS implemented as an easy-to-operate, small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with hovering capability for holding station position may provide an extended range, highly secure, high data rate, repeater system for extending the range of point-to-point wireless communication links (also referred to as “crosslinks”) in which repeater locations are easily relocatable with very fast set-up and relocating times. A repeater system using beam forming and power combining techniques enables a very high gain antenna array with very narrow beam width and superb pointing accuracy. The aircraft includes a control system enabling three-dimensional pointing and sustaining directivity of the beam independently of flight path of the aircraft.
US09774379B2
The present disclosure relates to radio communication and, more particularly, to beam-forming in a combined radio cell deployment. In one example embodiment, the disclosure presents a method performed by a network node operating in a combined radio cell, wherein the method comprises creating a probing pilot (e.g., a F-CPICH) which is multiplied with a beam-forming vector weight; and transmitting a first radio signal to a UE, the first radio signal comprising the created probing pilot multiplied with the beam-forming vector weight.
US09774377B2
One of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a method for rank adaptation at a base station. The method comprises performing, during a rank sounding time interval, data transmission for a user equipment by using a sounding rank. The sounding rank is different from a transmission rank that is used in a transmission time interval immediately prior to the rank sounding time interval. The method further comprises determining whether spectrum efficiency for the user equipment under the condition of using the sounding rank is better than spectrum efficiency under the condition of using the transmission rank; and adjusting, in response to a positive result obtained from the determining step, the transmission rank to the sounding rank so as to be used during a transmission time interval immediately next to the rank sounding time interval. The present invention also relates to corresponding base station device.
US09774367B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus to automatically remove crosstalk, which can automatically determine and set the start frequency in the G.fast system without unnecessary manual operation to automatically remove crosstalk interference between VDSL and G.fast. The present invention allows the time required to complete the setting of the start frequency in the G.fast system corresponding to each port of a unit of DPU/DSLAM equipment and the related work therefor to be reduced to less than 2 minutes. Therefore, the installation time is greatly reduced, human errors are also reduced, and the installation can be done correctly by ordinary technicians, which is advantageous to the promotion of G.fast systems.
US09774344B2
A converter may include multiple converter stages connected in series. Each converter stage may receive a clock signal and an analog input signal, and may generate an analog output signal and a digital output signal. Each converter stages may include an encoder generating the digital output signal, a decoder generating a reconstructed signal, a delaying converter generating a delayed signal, and an amplifier generating a residue signal, wherein the delayed signal may be a continuous current signal.
US09774332B2
A Double Data Rate (DDR) counter includes an input clock control portion suitable for generating a first clock corresponding to a state of a input clock based on a counter enable signal, and an LSB control portion suitable for holding a least significant bit based on the counter enable signal and successively performing a counting operation on the first clock in multiple sections.
US09774331B2
A novel programmable logic device is provided. Programmable switches each include a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor in a first programmable switch controls conduction between a first wiring and a gate of the second transistor in the first programmable switch. The second transistor in the first programmable switch controls conduction between the first wiring and a second wiring. The first transistor in the second programmable switch controls conduction between another first wiring and a gate of the second transistor in the second programmable switch.
US09774327B1
The present invention discloses a bridge imbalance PUF unit circuit and multi PUF circuits; the bridge imbalance PUF unit circuit comprises a four-arm bridge unit circuit and a contrast output unit circuit; the multi PUF circuits comprise a timing controller, a row decoder, a column decoder, a memory array, a row output circuit and a column output circuit; each memory unit in the memory array comprises a bridge imbalance PUF unit circuit and 4 NMOS tubes; the present invention features in higher randomness that is up to 51.8% at the supply voltage of 1.2V under the temperature of 25° C.
US09774326B2
The present disclosure provides circuits and methods for generating clock-signals. An exemplary clock-signal generation circuit includes a delay buffer unit; an inverter unit coupled to the delay buffer unit; a first delay unit having a first NAND Boolean calculation sub unit, a first sub delay unit and a first level shift unit sequentially connected in serial, coupled to the inverter unit and configured for generating a first delayed clock-signal; and a second delay unit having a second NAND Boolean calculation sub unit, a second sub delay unit and a second level shift unit sequentially connected in serial, coupled to the inverter unit and configured for generating a second delayed clock signal.
US09774325B2
A gate driver and a display device including the gate driver are provided which can prevent an abnormal output of a gate-high voltage from a stage by stably maintaining a discharge potential of a pull-up node. The gate driver includes a plurality of stages, and each stage includes a pull-up transistor that outputs a clock signal input to a first clock terminal to an output terminal depending on a voltage of a pull-up node; a pull-down transistor that outputs a first source voltage input to a first source voltage terminal to the output terminal depending on a voltage of a pull-down node; and a first noise removing unit that supplies a gate-off voltage to the pull-up node to remove noise of the pull-up node in response to the clock signal input to the first clock terminal.
US09774314B2
A surface acoustic wave filter device includes surface acoustic wave filters, one of which includes a longitudinally coupled resonator-type first filter section and a longitudinally coupled resonator-type second filter section. The second filter section is electrically connected in parallel or series with the first filter section on at least one of an input signal side and an output signal side. The first filter section includes a first IDT group including three IDTs. The second filter section includes a second IDT group including three IDTs. Another surface acoustic wave filter includes a third IDT group that is cascade connected to the first filter section and the second filter section and includes IDTs arranged in order in a line in a surface acoustic wave propagation direction.
US09774310B2
An all-pass filtering module of a common mode noise suppressing device includes first and second differential transmission circuits coupled to a reference node. Each of the first and second differential transmission circuits has an input terminal and an output terminal, and includes: first and second capacitive elements coupled in series between the input terminal and the output terminal; a first inductor coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal; and a third capacitive element and a second inductor coupled in series between the reference node and a common node between the first and second capacitive elements.
US09774309B2
In some embodiments, a method for processing an audio signal in an audio processing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving an audio signal and a parameter, the parameter indicating a location of an auditory event boundary. An audio portion between consecutive auditory event boundaries constitutes an auditory event. The method further includes applying a modification to the audio signal based in part on an occurrence of the auditory event. The parameter may be generated by monitoring a characteristic of the audio signal and identifying a change in the characteristic.
US09774305B1
A transimpedance amplifier (TIA) structure includes an input node with a variable inductance component serving to reduce variation in peak amplitude over different gain conditions. According to certain embodiments, an inductor at the TIA input has a first node in communication with a Field Effect Transistor (FET) drain, and a second node in communication with the FET source. A control voltage applied to the FET gate effectively controls the input inductance by adding a variable impedance across the inductor. Under low gain conditions, lowering of inductance afforded by the control voltage applied to the FET reduces voltage peaking TIAs in accordance with embodiments may be particularly suited to operate over a wide dynamic range to amplify incoming electrical signals received from a photodiode.
US09774295B2
A photoelectric conversion element includes a ferroelectric layer; a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a surface or a surface layer portion of the ferroelectric layer; a common electrode provided on a surface or a surface layer portion of an opposite side to a side of the ferroelectric layer on which the first electrode and the second electrode are provided; and a pair of lead-out electrodes extracting electric power from the ferroelectric layer, in which the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged alternately in a predetermined direction.
US09774290B2
A multi-phase multi-pole electric machine attached to a vehicle. The multi-phase multi-pole electric machine includes rotor, stator with five phase windings, machine controller, and torque sensors. The machine controller controls the flow of current. The torque sensors sense the torque exerted by the vehicle and transmits the information to the machine controller. The machine controller provides four degree of control through injection of five phase currents and thus providing higher torque.
US09774288B1
An electric machine assembly includes an electric machine, an inverter configured to provide pulse-width modulation characterized by a switching frequency and a controller. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method of controlling the switching frequency to minimize a beat frequency phenomenon. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to obtain a first function (G1) and a second function (G2) based at least partially on the original pulse ratio (PR0). The original pulse ratio (PR0) is a ratio of the switching frequency and a predefined fundamental frequency. If each of a plurality of conditions are met, a new pulse ratio (PRN) is determined based at least partially on the original pulse ratio (PR0), the first function (G1) and the second function (G2).
US09774277B2
As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and/or method involves a plurality of transducer elements that convert energy waves conveyed via a multi-directional radiation pattern into electrical charge. A power-accumulation circuit accumulates electrical charges from each of the plurality of transducer elements, with each of the transducer elements being arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to an axis at which the energy is being conveyed. The power-accumulation circuit accumulates energy from each of the individual energy-transduction areas, such that energy received at different respective off-axis angles contributes to the accumulation of electrical charge.
US09774268B2
A method for controlling an output of a power converter includes switching a switching element with drive signals that are generated for switching a switching element during normal operation when an energy requirement of one or more loads at the output are above a low-load threshold. A non-regulated dormant mode of operation is entered when the flow of energy to the output is detected to be less than the low-load threshold value for more than a first period of time. The control circuit is powered down when in the non-regulated dormant mode of operation the control circuit is unresponsive to stop regulating the flow of energy to the output of the power converter. The control circuit remains in the non-regulated dormant mode of operation for a second period of time before powering up again to resume generating the drive signal and regulating the flow of energy.
US09774262B2
The present invention includes: a series circuit formed of a reactor Lr, a primary winding P of a transformer T, and a capacitor C2; a full-wave rectifier/smoothing circuit D1, D2, C3 configured to perform full-wave rectification and smoothing on a voltage generated in a secondary winding S of the transformer thereby to extract a DC voltage; a control circuit FF1 configured to set a first ON time of the first switch element Q1 and a second ON time of the second switch element Q2 to the same predetermined time thereby to alternately turn on and off the first switch element and the second switch element; and a first ON time controller I1, I6, C7 configured to set one of the first ON time and the second ON time, shorter than the predetermined time, under light-load conditions, based on the DC voltage detected by a detector 11.
US09774258B2
Systems and methods for zero-current crossing detection circuits. In some embodiments, a circuit may include a buck converter comprising a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and an inductor; a zero-current crossing detection circuit comprising a reference switch coupled to a current source, where the reference switch is controllable conjointly with the low-side switch; an amplifier coupled to: (a) a first node between the current source and reference switch, where in operation the first node has a positive voltage value during an interval of interest, and a (b) second node between the low-side switch and the inductor, where in operation the second node has a negative voltage value during the interval of interest; and a comparator coupled to the amplifier, the comparator configured to output a flag in response to a detection that a decreasing current through the inductor has reached a predetermined value.
US09774252B2
Mode control device, voltage converter, and mode control method. In some embodiments, a voltage converter can include a voltage conversion circuit having an inductor configured to be charged and discharged to facilitate conversion of an input voltage to an output voltage, and a switch configured to allow the inductor to be charged and discharged. The voltage converter can further include a logic drive unit configured to provide a drive signal to the switch to control the charging and discharging of the inductor. The voltage converter can further include a mode control unit configured to provide a mode-switching signal to the logic drive unit to control switching from a continuous control mode to a discontinuous control mode based on a first switching threshold, and from the discontinuous control mode to the continuous control mode based on a second switching threshold that is different from the first switching threshold.
US09774251B2
Systems and methods for providing a boost converter with an improved stability are disclosed. A sample and hold circuit is connected to the output of the boost converter. That sample and hold circuit holds the output voltage before the main switch of the boost converter turns ON and holds the voltage while the main switch is ON. Thus a high frequency oscillation can be eliminated, an increased control bandwidth without stability problems can be achieved, and no complicated additional circuit is required.
US09774248B2
A controller for use in a power converter includes a switch controller coupled to a power switch coupled to an energy transfer element. The switch controller is coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a drain current through the power switch. The switch controller is coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of the power switch in response to the current sense signal and a modulated current limit signal to control a transfer of energy from an input to an output of the power converter. A current limit generator is coupled to generate a current limit signal. A jitter generator is coupled to generate a jitter signal. An arithmetic operator circuit is coupled to generate the modulated current limit signal in response to the current limit signal and the jitter signal.
US09774231B2
A brush system for an electric motor, having a substantially semiannular resistor housing into which an electric flat resistor is introduced, two resistor terminals which protrude from the resistor housing and can be coupled in an electrically conducting manner to a conductor path of the electric motor, and a substantially semi-circular support plate that includes two bus bars to electroconductively couple the conductor path to the terminals and to two brush elements. The two terminals are arranged on the same narrow side of the resistor housing.
US09774228B2
A drive system in the form of a torque motor, comprising a stator (1), a rotor (3) and exciter coils (2) on the stator and permanent magnets (4) on the rotor (3), the magnets being located radially opposite one another across an air gap such that electrical excitation of the exciter coils (2) creates magnetic fields extending across the gap and rotating the rotor (3) relative to the stator (1), characterized in that, with the drive system arranged/oriented for normal operation and with the rotor (3) located on the inside, a lower half of the stator (1) has a smaller number of exciter coils than an upper half and, with the stator (1) located on the inside, the upper half of the stator (1) has a smaller number of exciter coils than the upper half.
US09774227B2
A linear electro-mechanical actuator includes a containment structure (2), a nut (5) positioned in the containment structure (2), a screw shaft (6) inserted in the nut (5) and interconnected with the nut (5) via a helical recirculating ball coupling, and an anti-rotation mechanism (9) positioned inside the screw shaft (6) to prevent the screw shaft (6) from rotating about the axis (X). The anti-rotation mechanism (9) includes a guide unit (10) fixed cantilever-style to the containment structure (2) and connected to the screw shaft by a non-rotational coupling.
US09774220B2
The present invention provides an R-T-B based permanent magnet, comprising: a main phase which is composed of the structure of R2T14B (R is at least one element selected from Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd, and T is one or more transition metal elements having Fe or a combination of Fe and Co as necessary); and a grain boundary phase which is composed of CexM1-x (M is at least one element selected from Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, In, Sn, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Hf, Ta, W and Bi, and x is within the range of 0.20≦x≦0.55), and the cross-sectional ratio Atre of the grain boundary phase to the whole magnet structure is within the range of 0.03
US09774205B2
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes an input to receive input power, a power supply circuit coupled to the input, to convert input power received from the input, a battery coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide battery power to the power supply circuit as an alternative to input power, and an output coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide output power derived from at least one of the battery and the input power. The UPS also includes a controller, supported by the housing and coupled to the power supply circuit, the controller being configured to receive, from at least one sensor coupled to the controller, information relating to one or more environmental parameters of the uninterruptible power supply and adjust one or more test parameters of a battery test based on the one or more environmental parameters.
US09774200B2
A secure mobile device charger for charging batteries of mobile devices. The secure mobile charger can include a body housing battery charging elements; a power connector; a mobile device connector; a biometric sensor that reads biometric input data; and a switch that prevents unauthorized battery charging from the mobile device connector.
US09774199B2
The present invention discloses a press-to-hide USB hand controller, wherein, it comprises a remoter body, where a lifter mechanism is configured in the said remoter body and a USB interface is configured in the said lifter mechanism, while the said USB interface connects to a charging circuit. The said press-to-hide style USB hand controller in the present invention, adds a USB charging function, which can not only fulfill the regular remoter control function, but its USB interface is able to charge almost all intelligent devices in the market, comprising almost all cell phones and tablets, thus when people are using intelligent devices while experiencing home furnishing, they will no longer worry about short of batteries. The telescopic pop-out structure makes the product save more spaces, be used conveniently and coordinate with the whole product structure, which is a more clever design.
US09774193B2
A method and/or system for charge balancing across one or more modules or cells of a large battery system is described. In one embodiment to balance the modules, the battery management system may monitor the voltage output of the one or more modules of the battery system during recharging of the modules and compare the measured voltages to a set cutoff voltage. When one or more of the modules meets or exceeds the cutoff voltage, the battery system may activate an energy dissipating device associated with the one or more modules that meets or exceeds the cutoff voltage to reduce the voltage output from those modules below the cutoff voltage before the recharging signal is reapplied to the modules. Through multiple iterations of monitoring, charging and reducing the energy from the modules above the target, the SOC of each modules becomes balanced near or at the cutoff voltage.
US09774191B2
The invention provides a method for coping with an unintentional islanding of an electrical distribution grid within a Commelec-type framework for the real-time control of micro-grids, of Resource Agents (RA) controlled by Grid Agents (GA), comprising at least maintain at any time before the unintentional islanding occurs a rating of all resource agents controlled by a same grid agent in view of their ability to be a slack resource, by computing the rating based on a power availability and on a state-of-energy of each resource, the state-of-energy quantifying an amount of energy that may be withdrawn from a potential slack irrespectively of a PQ profile, whereby the PQ profile describes bounds for active and reactive power that a resource can inject or absorb; and a shedding list of all the resources that have to be shed if a current best candidate slack resource is selected, the current best candidate slack resource being the slack resource having the best rating of all resources as determined in the step of rating all resource agents, the shedding list being obtained by computing from an uncertainty of the resources and a predetermined order of shedding priority. The method further comprises continuously monitor islanding conditions via an available real-time state estimation process, and when an islanding condition is detected, causing the grid agent to shed all resources in the shedding list and choose an initial slack based on the rating obtained before the islanding occurrence from the step of rating of all resource agents.
US09774185B2
A continuous power supply system suitable for input connection to N continuous power supply networks that are distinct and connected to a single ground potential, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Said continuous power supply system comprises means for switching/selecting one of the power supply networks, means for regulating an output voltage established by the power supply system, and a control unit for the means for switching/selecting and for the means for regulating. The means for regulating the output voltage includes N distinct buck-boost converters with shared inductance. A given buck-boost converter is dedicated to each power supply network for regulating the voltage output of the power supply system on the basis of an input voltage established by the corresponding power supply network.
US09774182B2
An apparatus comprising: a solid-state series switch positioned between a transmitter's high-voltage, direct current (DC) bus and a high-voltage DC power source, wherein the series switch is configured to establish an open circuit between the transmitter and the power source upon receiving a first trip signal; a solid-state shunt switch operatively coupled in shunt between the transmitter high voltage DC bus and a ground, wherein the shunt switch is configured to provide a short-circuit path from the transmitter to ground upon receiving a second trip signal; and a controller electrically coupled to the series and shunt switches, wherein the controller is configured to generate the first and second trip signals in the event that the controller receives a trouble signal from the transmitter, and wherein the first trip signal is sent to the series switch before the second trip signal is sent to the shunt switch.
US09774178B2
A dispenser apparatus for a curable liquid material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a flexible bag defining a first compartment for accommodating a first component of a curable liquid material, and a second compartment for accommodating a second component of the curable liquid material and adapted to communicate with the first chamber to enable mixing of the first and second components to initiate curing of the curable liquid material. A first clamp temporarily prevents mixing of the first and second components, and an elongate nozzle communicates with the second compartment to dispense the mixed curable liquid material therefrom. A second clamp temporarily prevents passage of the curable liquid material from the second compartment to the nozzle.
US09774173B2
A surge protection device includes, in one embodiment, a reversible surge responder operative to engage an inner conductor engager during a protect mode and disengage the inner conductor engager during a normal mode. The surge responder returns to the normal mode from the protect mode without the intervention of an operator or service technician to replace or re-set the surge responder.
US09774170B2
A method for manufacturing a laser diode device includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming epitaxial material overlying the surface region, the epitaxial material comprising an n-type cladding region, an active region comprising at least one active layer overlying the n-type cladding region, and a p-type cladding region overlying the active layer region. The epitaxial material is patterned to form a plurality of dice, each of the dice corresponding to at least one laser device, characterized by a first pitch between a pair of dice, the first pitch being less than a design width. Each of the plurality of dice are transferred to a carrier wafer such that each pair of dice is configured with a second pitch between each pair of dice, the second pitch being larger than the first pitch.
US09774166B2
A high-speed, single-mode, high power, reliable and manufacturable wavelength-tunable light source operative to emit wavelength tunable radiation over a wavelength range contained in a wavelength span between about 950 nm and about 1150 nm, including a vertical cavity laser (VCL), the VCL having a gain region with at least one compressively strained quantum well containing Indium, Gallium, and Arsenic.
US09774164B2
A tunable laser has a first mirror, a second mirror, a gain medium, and a directional coupler. The first mirror and the second mirror form an optical resonator. The gain medium and the directional coupler are, at least partially, in an optical path of the optical resonator. The first mirror and the second mirror comprise binary super gratings. Both the first mirror and the second mirror have high reflectivity. The directional coupler provides an output coupler for the tunable laser.
US09774161B2
A method and system for delivering laser pulses achieves the delivery of high quality laser pulses at the location of an application. The method includes the steps of: generating laser pulses, amplifying the laser pulses, temporally stretching the amplified laser pulses, and propagating the amplified laser pulses through an optical delivery fiber of desired length, wherein the laser pulses are temporally compressed in the optical delivery fiber and wherein the laser pulses undergo nonlinear spectral broadening in the optical delivery fiber.
US09774159B2
Press tools and particularly crimp tools having a C-frame tool head are described which are configured such that upon a typical use load, the C-frame head deflects to a position in which mating components or surfaces are aligned. Also described are C-frame heads that utilize a particular deflection compensating engagement connection between a piston and a ram die holder. In addition, various methods of compensating for deflection are described. The use of such configurations, engagement connections, and methods enables such tools to be formed from lighter weight materials and/or to incorporate weight optimization designs.
US09774142B1
The present invention relates to data cable and methods of installing/building data cable. The cable disclosed herein is indoor/outdoor and can be configured as 4-twisted pair, or any of the numerous other types of data cable. In one embodiment, we disclose an electrical data cable comprising a plurality of insulated wires wherein the plurality of insulated wires is coupled for a first portion of the length of the data cable so as to form at least one twisted pair of wires; the plurality of insulated wires is configured in a flat, planar arrangement for a second portion of the data cable; and the plurality of insulated wires is coupled for a third portion of the length of the data cable so as to form at least one twisted pair of wires. In an alternate method, we disclose a method of attaching a connector to the electrical data cable comprising the steps of cutting the data cable at the untwisted segment and attaching a connector to the plurality of insulated wires in the untwisted segment.
US09774140B2
A power receptacle having at least one separable plug retaining frame includes a shell body, at least one outlet element and at least one plug retaining frame. The shell body as at least one first through hole, the outlet element is fixed on the shell body and has at least one outlet, and the plug retaining frame has at least one first bending portion, at least one second bending portion and at least one first retaining slot outlet element such that at least one outlet of the outlet element is exposed to the first through hole, and the first and second bending portions are held together by the outlet element and the shell body. As a result, a plug strap can be inserted into the first retaining slot, and the color of the plug retaining frame will indicate the function or the group of the outlet element.
US09774139B1
A wiring adapter is provided which controls the shear point for a wiring system in a traffic control box and other electrical panels. The wiring adapter includes a bottom segment which is securely mounted in the control box. Incoming wires to the control box are connected to the bottom segment. The top segment of the wiring adapter includes connections for wires running from the wiring adapter to the power or control elements in the control box. The wiring adapter uses a quick release retention mechanism to secure the top segment to the bottom segment. When a triggering event occurs, the quick release mechanism separates the top segment from the bottom segment to ensure that the shear point for the wiring system occurs at the wiring adapter.
US09774136B2
A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.
US09774134B2
Modular shelving systems, magnetic electrical connectors, conductor assemblies, and mounting inserts
Modular shelving systems, magnetic electrical connectors, conductor assemblies, and mounting inserts are disclosed. A modular shelving system includes at least one shelving module, a power module coupled to the at least one shelving module, and a conductor assembly coupled to the at least one shelving module and electrically connected to the power module. The conductor assembly includes a board including a first column of apertures and a second column of apertures, a back plate formed from a ferromagnetic material or from a magnetic material, a first conductor electrically coupled to the power module and positioned between the back plate and the board, and a second conductor electrically coupled to the power module and positioned between the back plate and the board. The first conductor is aligned with the first column of apertures of the board. The second conductor is aligned with the second column of apertures of the board.
US09774133B1
A screwless terminal block allows easy insertion and removal of a wire. A housing (2) includes a fixture insertion opening (23) through which a rod-like fixture (6) is inserted to come in contact with a contact pressure spring (4) and deform the spring (4) away from a wire (5). When the fixture (6) is inserted through the fixture insertion opening (23), an acute angle of 45° or less is formed by an axis of the fixture (6) and a straight line connecting a contact point A between the housing (2) and a part of the fixture (6) adjacent to the wire insertion opening (24) and a contact point B between the housing (2) and a part of the fixture (6) adjacent to the spring (4) at a cross-section taken along a plane including the axis of the fixture (6) and parallel to a pressing direction of the spring (4).
US09774127B2
A connector includes a housing and an electric wire cover assembled with the housing. The housing includes a terminal housing portion and an electric wire leading portion. A locking rib protruding outward is formed on the electric wire leading portion. An assembling portion is formed on an end part of the electric wire cover facing to the housing. The assembling portion includes a locking protrusion and a catching portion protruding more than the locking protrusion in a mounting direction of mounting the electric wire cover on the housing. The catching portion includes a sliding face inclined with respect to the mounting direction. When the electric wire cover is mounted on the housing, the sliding face makes contact with the electric wire leading portion, thereby the assembling portion is displaced outward.
US09774122B2
A single element connector includes a first cage-like structure configured to receive a wire. The first cage-like structure includes an insert end and a single contact tine coupled to a top wall of the first cage-like structure. The single contact tine extends downward from the top wall to a base of the single element connector and directs a wire inserted into the single element connector to the base of the single element connector.
US09774119B2
The connector has a housing and a retainer. The retainer is accommodated in the housing and has a base portion and a front upper beam extending forward from the base portion and positioned above an insertion passage of a flat cable. The upper beam includes a middle portion positioned in the middle of the upper beam and a forward extending portion extending forward from the middle portion. The middle portion has an engaging portion configured to engage an engaged portion of the cable, and at least a portion is positioned in the passage of the cable. A region is provided in the leading end of the extending portion above the leading end of the extending portion for restricting upward movement. The upper beam is elastically deformable so that the middle portion moves upward when the upward movement of the leading end of the extending portion is restricted by the region.
US09774108B2
There is provided an electrical connection device (100) including a male portion including a head (21) having a groove for insertion of a driver, and a body portion (24) having a spirally penetrating first guide hole (26a) formed from a lower end and a second guide hole (26b); a female portion (116) having a hole portion (118) into which the body portion (24) is inserted; an elastic portion (40) to be disposed on an outer circumference of the body portion (24) when the body portion (24) is inserted into the hole portion (118); and a movable body (30) which is disposed below the elastic portion, and engages and penetrates through the first guide hole (26a) when the body portion (24) is inserted into the hole portion (11), in which a first conductive member (50) and a second conductive member (60) are interposed between an upper end of the elastic portion (40) and the head (21), and with the movable body (30) engaged in the first guide hole (26a), as the head (21) rotates to a predetermined rotation angle relative to the hole portion (118), a biasing force of the elastic portion (40) is increased due to a rise of the movable body (30) in contact with a lower end of the elastic portion (40), and when a rotation angle of the head (21) relative to the hole portion (118) exceeds the predetermined rotation angle, the movable body (30) engages in an end portion (29) of a second guide hole (26b) leading to the first guide hole (26a), the second guide hole being provided in a direction in which the biasing force is reduced, to suppress rotational movement of the movable body (30) relative to the body portion (24).
US09774106B2
A remotely controllable grounding system including at least one movable rod element having at least one conductive and isolating sections and at least one conductor configured to be electrically connected to ground and the movable rod element. The grounding system including at least one pair of positive and negative grounding terminals arranged to be fixedly connected to electric equipment to be grounded. The grounding system includes a rod propulsion system arranged to be remotely controlled and configured to move the at least one movable rod element from an ungrounded position (U), in which the positive and negative grounding terminals are isolated from one another by the isolating section, into a grounded position (G), in which the positive and negative grounding terminals are galvanically connected with one another by the conductive section and in which grounded position the conductive section is connected to ground via the at least one conductor.
US09774104B2
A ground connection structure includes a stud bolt (11) standing on a ground surface (10A), and a non-circular rotation stopping portion (12) is formed on a base part of the stud bolt (11). A ground terminal fitting (20) is to be connected conductively to the ground surface (10). The ground terminal fitting (20) has a non-circular rotation stopping hole (25) that is fit to the rotation stopping portion (12) with relative rotation restricted. Resilient contact pieces (27) extend in an axial direction of the stud bolt (11) from an edge of the rotation stopping hole (25). A nut (15) is screwed onto the stud bolt (11) and causes the resilient contact pieces (27) to be deflected resiliently between the nut (15) and the ground surface (10).
US09774102B2
A connector for connecting to a magnetic coil wound onto a support is disclosed. The connector comprises a first resilient body formed of a conductive material and having a plurality of cutters disposed on a plurality of inner walls of the first resilient body. The first resilient body is inserted onto the support and held in an open position during insertion. The first resilient body is biased into a closed position. In the closed position, the plurality of cutters cut an insulating layer on the magnetic coil and the first resilient body retains the magnetic coil on the support while electrically connecting the magnetic coil and the support.
US09774098B2
A node in a wireless communication network, includes a 4TX/4RX triple band antenna arrangement with at least three antenna columns, each antenna column includes two sets of subarrays. Each set of subarrays has at least two subarrays with at least one antenna element each. Each set of subarrays includes antenna elements having one of a first polarization and a mutually orthogonal second polarization. For each subarray, the antenna elements are connected to a combined port of a corresponding filter device. Each filter device has a first filter port and a second filter port. For each set of subarrays, the first filter ports of each pair of filter devices that are connected to said set of subarrays are pair-wise connected to a corresponding phase altering device. The second filter ports of each pair of filter devices connected to the set of subarrays are pair-wise connected to another corresponding phase altering device.
US09774093B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for automated reflector tuning include combining high precision automated photogrammetric measurement with high precision servo actuator positioning control of a reflector surface using custom optimizing control software to produce a novel, fully automated satellite reflector alignment tuning system. Precise adjustment to the shape of the reflecting surface of an antenna reflector (reflector tuning) can be essential for a satellite reflector antenna to meet electrical performance requirements, usually requiring a shape accurate to within 0.004 inches RMS. The automated reflector tuning may include determining a set of characterization coefficients by precisely measuring the response of the reflector shape to actuator movements, and using the characterization coefficients in a mathematical analysis to determine optimal actuator movements to achieve a required shape of the reflector surface.
US09774091B2
The present invention concerns a slot antenna for an electronic device, e.g. a set top box. A printed circuit board (210) comprising a dielectric material (310, 320, 330, 340, 350) and electrodes (240, 360) extends into a rectangular slot (120) in the metal enclosure (110) of the device such that the electrodes are coupled with locations on opposite edges of the long dimension of the rectangular slot. The coupling may be capacitively in order to affect the level of coupling or to optimize the driving point return loss. The presence of the dielectric in the slot allows the use of a shorter slot for a given wavelength.
US09774089B2
A quadrifilar helix antenna includes a cylindrical support extending along an antenna axis; a plurality of spiral antenna elements wrapped helically on the cylindrical support and along the antenna axis from a feed end to a remote end; a ground plane having a diameter of about 300 mm and perpendicular to the antenna axis; and each of the antenna elements including a plurality of breaks, with the breaks having capacitors between conducting portions of the antenna elements. All capacitors a positioned higher than 60 mm above the ground plane, and capacitance value varies inversely with height. The antenna exhibits a DU(10°)=−20 dB or better at an operating frequency f0=1575 MHz. The diameter of the cylindrical support is 30 +/−5 mm. A total height of the cylindrical support is 300 +/−50 mm. A winding angle of the helix is variable.
US09774087B2
An electronic device may have a housing, electrical components, and other electronic device structures. A display may be mounted in the housing. The display may have a transparent display cover layer and a display layer such as an organic light-emitting diode display layer that is mounted to the underside of the transparent display cover layer. A flexible printed circuit with metal traces may be mounted under the organic light-emitting diode display layer. The metal traces may form coils for a near-field communications inductive loop antenna. A magnetic shielding layer may be interposed between the housing and the flexible printed circuit. The magnetic shielding layer may include a polymer magnetic shielding layer having magnetic material particles embedded in a polymer matrix. The magnetic shielding layer may also have a polymer-binder-free magnetic shielding layer.
US09774084B2
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of omnidirectional broadband antennas. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna generally includes a ground element, an antenna element, and an annular patch element. The antenna element may be electrically isolated from the ground element. The antenna element may include at least one portion that is substantially conical, substantially pyramidal, and/or that tapers in a longitudinal direction. The annular patch element is electrically grounded to the ground element. The annular patch element surrounds at least a portion of the antenna element and is parasitically coupled to the antenna element.
US09774083B2
A mobile device including a housing having a distal end, and electronics disposed in the housing configured to operate the mobile device. A connector is coupled to the electronics, and a Pi-shaped antenna has a coupling coupled to the connector to create a resonance using the connector. The Pi-shaped antenna and the connector are configured to wirelessly send and receive the wireless signals. An impedance matching network matches the impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna. In some embodiments, the impedance matching network is switchable by the electronics and is configured to match an impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna in at least two states, over multiple RF bands.
US09774081B2
A switchable antenna includes a substrate, a first antenna element, a second antenna element, a first switch element, a second switch element, a first radiating portion on an upper surface of the substrate including a first center, a first bend section and a second bend section, and a second radiating portion on an lower surface of the substrate including a second center, a third bend section and a fourth bend section. The third and the fourth bend sections extending from the second center are respectively disposed corresponding to the first and the second bend sections extending from the first center. The first and the second antenna elements on the upper surface are disposed corresponding to the first and the second bend sections. The first and the second switch elements are respectively configured to switch the first and the second antenna elements between a reflector and a parasitic radiating element.
US09774077B2
A radome having a core layer and two cover layers and method of forming the radome. The core layer is arranged between the two cover layers. Each of the two cover layers is composed of a plurality of partial layers which, by their respective dielectric constant, are embodied such that the radome provides a high mechanical stability and a high electromagnetic transparency. The dielectric constant of adjacent partial layers thereby alternates from relatively high to relatively low in the direction towards the core layer, and vice versa.
US09774074B2
A mobile device includes a ground element, a radiation element, a first short-circuited element, a second short-circuited element, and a switch element. The radiation element has a feeding point, a fixed grounding point, and a switchable grounding point. The fixed grounding point is coupled through the first short-circuited element to the ground element. The switchable grounding point is coupled through the second short-circuited element and the switch element to the ground element. An antenna structure is formed by the radiation element, the first short-circuited element, the second short-circuited element, and the switch element.
US09774073B2
A mobile device includes a ground plane, a grounding branch, a connection element, a first radiation branch, and a second radiation branch. The grounding branch is coupled to the ground plane. A first open slot is formed and substantially surrounded by the grounding branch and the ground plane. The first radiation branch is coupled through the connection element to the grounding branch. A second open slot is formed and is substantially surrounded by the first radiation branch and the grounding branch. The second radiation branch is disposed in the second open slot and is coupled to the grounding branch. A multi-band antenna structure is formed by the grounding branch, the connection element, the first radiation branch, and the second radiation branch.
US09774068B2
A filter configuration including a substrate, a primary microstrip line and a first defected ground structure is disclosed. The substrate has a first face and a second face. The second face is a ground face. The primary microstrip line is arranged on the first face and extends in a first direction. The first defected ground structure is arranged on the second face. The first defected ground structure includes a first section, a first circular section, a second section, a second circular section and a third section that are connected to each other in sequence in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second section is covered by the primary microstrip line in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first and second faces. The primary microstrip line has a width equal to a minimum length of the second section. As such, the filtering effect can be improved.
US09774067B2
A plasma power limiter fabricated using wafer-level fabrication techniques with other circuit elements. The power limiter includes a signal substrate having a first side and a second side, an input signal line formed on the first side, a signal transmission line formed on the second side and an output signal line formed on the first side. The power limiter also includes a ground substrate having a first side and a second side, and being bonded to the signal substrate to form a sealed cavity including an ionizable gas therebetween. The ground substrate includes a ground metal layer formed on the second side. A signal propagating on the input signal line at a power level greater than a threshold power level generates a voltage potential across the cavity that ionizes the gas and generates a plasma discharge, and limits power of the output signal coupled to the output signal line.
US09774064B2
A battery pack having a first battery cell, a first cooling fin, and a housing is provided. The first cooling fin has a rectangular-shaped sheet, and at least first, second, and third tabs disposed perpendicular to first and second major surfaces of the first battery cell. A first side of the rectangular-shaped sheet of the first cooling fin contacts the first major surface of the first battery cell. The first battery cell and the first cooling fin are disposed within an interior region of the housing. The housing has a first flow path within the interior region between a top edge of the first battery cell and a top wall of the housing, such that air flowing through the first flow path contacts the first, second, and third tabs of the first cooling fin to conduct heat energy away from the first cooling fin to reduce a temperature level of the first battery cell.
US09774063B2
A battery pack includes a plurality of cell assemblies each of which include one or more prismatic batteries. A frame has legs sized and configured to be positioned around the prismatic batteries. At least one leg includes a rear face, curved outer edge and a side face. A thermal transfer sheet is made from a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles. Each thermal transfer sheet is positioned to contact the major surface of the at least one prismatic battery and is bent over the curved outer edge. At least a portion of each thermal transfer sheet is secured between a heat sink and the side face.
US09774051B2
The present invention discloses a fuel supply for a fuel cell, the fuel cell including a liquid storage area that includes a liquid reactant, a reaction area that includes a solid reactant, wherein the liquid reactant is pumped into the reaction area such that the liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant to produce reaction components, a product collection area that receives the reaction components, a barrier, and a container with an interior volume that substantially encloses the reaction area, liquid storage area, product collection area. The barrier separates and defines several of the aforementioned areas, and moves to simultaneously increase the product collector area and decrease the liquid storage area as the liquid reactant is pumped from the liquid storage area and the reaction components are transferred into the product collection area.
US09774035B2
The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: A1-δM1VM2WM3XM4YM5ZO2 wherein A is one or more alkali metals comprising sodium and/or potassium either alone or in a mixture with lithium as a minor constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state +2; M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4 selected from one or more of manganese, titanium and zirconium; M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state +2, selected from one or more of magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc and cobalt; M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4, selected from one or more of titanium, manganese and zirconium; M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state +3, selected from one or more of aluminum, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, scandium and yttrium; wherein 0≦δ≦0.1 V is in the range 0
US09774034B2
To increase the amount of lithium ions that can be received in and released from a positive electrode active material to achieve high capacity and high energy density of a secondary battery. A lithium manganese oxide particle includes a first region and a second region. The valence number of manganese in the first region is lower than the valence number of manganese in the second region. The lithium manganese oxide has high structural stability and high capacity characteristics.
US09774032B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided an active substance. The active substance includes secondary particles and a carbon material phase formed on at least a part of a surface of each of the secondary particles. Each of the secondary particles is constructed by aggregated primary particles of an active material. The primary particles of the active material includes a niobium composite oxide represented by LixM(1−y)NbyNb2O(7+δ), wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti and Zr, and x, y, and δ respectively satisfy 0≦x≦6, 0≦y≦1, and −1≦δ≦1. The secondary particles have a compression fracture strength of 10 MPa or more.
US09774030B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery of an embodiment includes an exterior member; a positive electrode housed in the exterior member, a negative electrode containing an active material and housed in the exterior member so as to be spatially separated from the positive electrode via a separator, and a nonaqueous electrolyte filled in the exterior member. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer on the negative electrode current collector. A tensile strength of the negative electrode is 400 N/mm2 or more and 1200 N/mm2 or less. A peel strength between the negative electrode current collector and the negative electrode active material layer is 1.5 N/cm or more and 4 N/cm or less.
US09774029B2
In this anode for a secondary battery, method for producing same, and secondary battery, an anode active material is laminated on a surface of a metal foil, the anode active material contains at least titanium dioxide, and the titanium dioxide contains a Brookite crystal phase and contains an amorphous phase in a ratio of 1 vol % to 20 vol %.
US09774028B2
A method for making a thin film lithium ion battery is provided. A cathode material layer and an anode material layer are provided. A first carbon nanotube layer is formed on a surface of the cathode material layer to obtain a cathode electrode. A second carbon nanotube layer is formed on a surface of the anode material layer to obtain an anode electrode. A solid electrolyte layer is applied between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode to form a battery cell. At least one battery cell is then encapsulated in an external encapsulating shell.
US09774026B2
An apparatus for preventing over-charge for a vehicle battery includes a switch disposed between an adjacent battery cell and a battery cell and closely contact the battery cells when each of the battery cells swell and to form a contact. An inflator is configured to be exploded when the switch is connected. A cushion configured to be disposed between the adjacent battery cell and the battery cell and swells depending on the explosion of the inflator to cut a lead tab which connects the adjacent battery cell and the battery cell.
US09774023B2
A battery module includes a first battery cell, the first battery cell having a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal, a first end block adjacent to the first battery cell, the first end block having a first power terminal portion, and a connection portion electrically connecting the first electrode terminal to the first power terminal portion.
US09774021B2
A separator for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery, the separator including a substrate, and a heat-resistant porous layer on at least one side of the substrate, the heat-resistant porous layer including an imide-based copolymer, wherein the imide-based copolymer includes a first repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a second repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 2:
US09774020B2
A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.
US09774016B2
A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells (1); a cell support that holds the plurality of battery cells; a connection part (6) that connects to the plurality of battery cells; and a circuit substrate (8) that is used to mount circuits for the plurality of battery cells. The cell support (2) is integrally formed with battery cell storage units (3) that store the plurality of battery cells, a base unit (4) that supports the battery cell storage units, and impact relaxation ribs (21), and each of the impact relaxation ribs is formed between an outer circumference of the base unit and an exterior surface of each of the battery cell storage units, and is configured in a shape capable of being transformed in a direction to which impact is applied.
US09774015B2
Disclosed herein is a battery module including two or more battery cells, which can be charged and discharged, arranged in a stacked state and cartridges for fixing the battery cells to constitute a battery cell stack, wherein each of the cartridges includes a cooling fin contacting the battery cells and a cartridge frame for fixing the cooling fin, the cooling fin includes two cooling plates, the cooling plates being mounted to the cartridge frame in a state of being spaced apart from each other in order to define a coolant flow channel, the cartridge frame is provided with openings communicating with the coolant flow channel defined between the cooling plates, and one side or opposite sides of each of the battery cells are sealed by a sealing member on an interface between each of the battery cells and the coolant flow channel in order to prevent gases generated in the battery cells from being introduced into the coolant flow channel.
US09774014B2
An array substrate of organic light-emitting diodes and a method for fabricating the same are provided to narrow an edge frame of product device of organic light-emitting diodes, to shorten the package process time, and to improve the substrate utilization and the production efficiency. The array substrate of organic light-emitting diodes includes a plurality of display panels disposed in an array of rows and columns, wherein at least two adjacent display panels are connected through a frame adhesive, and there is no cutting headroom between at least one side of the at least two adjacent display panels.
US09774011B2
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes an OLED layer including a plurality of OLEDs that respectively form a plurality of sub-pixels and an encapsulation layer disposed over the OLED layer. The OLED display also includes an optical film disposed over the encapsulation layer and comprising a reflection control layer, a first lens disposed below the reflection control layer, and a second lens disposed over the reflection control layer, wherein the reflection control layer comprises i) a plurality of color filters respectively corresponding to the sub-pixels, and ii) a light shielding portion disposed between the color filters. The OLED display further includes an intermediate layer disposed between the encapsulation layer and the optical film, wherein the first lens is disposed over sides of at least one sub-pixels and wherein the second lens is disposed over center portions of selected sub-pixels.
US09774009B2
A display device, including a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other and integrally attached to each other by a sealant; a display unit on one surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate; a reflective film on one surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, the reflective film including a first region inside the sealant, a second region overlapping the sealant, and a third region outside the sealant; and a passivation layer covering at least the third region of the reflective film.
US09774006B2
A radiation emitting apparatus including a substrate, at least one layer sequence arranged on the substrate and producing electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range, having at least one first electrode surface, at least one second electrode surface, and at least one functional layer between the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface, wherein the functional layer produces electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range in a switched-on operating state, and a scatter layer having a first region and a second region, wherein radiation produced by the functional layer is directly incident on the scatter layer only in the first region of the scatter layer, and the scatter layer at least partially scatters radiation incident upon the first region of the scatter layer so that said radiation enters the second region of the scatter layer.
US09774005B2
An optical layered body including: a substrate layer; a first adhesive layer disposed on one surface of the substrate layer; and a second adhesive layer disposed on an opposite surface of the first adhesive layer to the substrate layer, wherein the second adhesive layer includes particles that are capable of scattering light, and a refractive index n1 of the first adhesive layer and a refractive index n2 of the second adhesive layer satisfy 1.40≦n1≦1.50, 1.47≦n2≦1.85, and 0
US09773988B2
A compound having a structure represented by formula I: wherein each R1 is independently H, alkynyl or substituted alkynyl; each R2 is independently H, alkynyl or substituted alkynyl; each R3 is independently alkyl or halogen; each R4 is independently H, alkyl, or halogen; each R5 is independently H or halogen; n is 0 or 1; and m is 0 or 1, provided that if n is 0 then m is 0, and if n is 1 then m is 1.
US09773981B2
Composition for use in an organic light-emitting device, the composition having a fluorescent light-emitting material and a triplet-accepting material subject to the following energetic scheme: 2×T1A>S1A>S1E, or T1A+T1E>S1A>S1E in which: T1A represents a triplet excited state energy level of the triplet-accepting material; TIE represents a triplet excited state energy level of the light-emitting material; S1A represents a singlet excited state energy level of the triplet-accepting material; and S1E represents a singlet excited state energy level of the light-emitting material; and in which light emitted by the composition upon excitation includes delayed fluorescence.
US09773978B1
A mixed ionic electron conductor (MIEC)-based memory cell access device is provided. The MIEC-based memory cell access device includes a MIEC material portion located between a bottom electrode and a top electrode. A contact area between the MIEC material portion and the bottom electrode is substantially the same as a contact area between the MIEC material portion and the top electrode.
US09773970B2
A magnetic field sensor including a first plurality and a second plurality of magnetoresistive sensors, wherein each magnetoresistive sensor of the first plurality and the second plurality of magnetoresistive sensors comprises: an electrode; a reference layer adjacent to the electrode, wherein the reference layer includes a synthetic antiferromagnetic structure; a magnetic sense element; and an intermediate layer between the reference layer and the magnetic sense element; and one or more conductors configured to electrically couple the magnetoresistive sensors of the first plurality and the second plurality in various configurations.
US09773968B2
To obtain a piezoelectric film having excellent piezoelectric properties. An aspect of the present invention is a piezoelectric film having a crystal oriented in the c-axis direction and a crystal oriented in the a-axis direction, in which, when denoting the amount of a (004) component of the crystal oriented in the c-axis direction by C and denoting the amount of a (400) component of the crystal oriented in the a-axis direction by A, the piezoelectric film satisfies a formula 1 below. C/(A+C)≧0.1 formula 1
US09773957B2
Provided are a light source circuit unit that improves light extraction efficiency, as well as an illuminator and a display that include such a light source circuit unit. The light source circuit unit includes: a circuit substrate having a wiring pattern on a surface thereof, the wiring pattern having light reflectivity, a circular pedestal provided on the circuit substrate, a water-repelling region provided at least from a peripheral edge portion of the pedestal to a part of a side face of the pedestal, and one or two or more light-emitting device chips mounted on the pedestal, and driven by a current that flows through the wiring pattern.
US09773954B2
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element including electrodes on its under face, a phosphor cover attached to the light emitting element so as to cover a top face and a side face of the light emitting element, and a reflection frame including a side face holding periphery of the phosphor cover and a tilted face tilting from the side face to the outside and upward.
US09773943B1
The present disclosure provides a quantum dot light-emitting diode and a manufacturing method thereof. The quantum dot light-emitting diode, comprising a base plate, a hole transport layer, a quantum dot light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer and a cathode stacked on the base plate in sequence. The quantum dot light-emitting diode further comprises a hole planarized layer formed between the hole transport layer and the quantum dot light-emitting layer, the quantum dot light-emitting layer comprises a first quantum dot sublayer, a second quantum dot sublayer and a third quantum dot sublayer stacked in sequence, the first quantum dot sublayer and the third quantum dot sublayer are negatively charged, and the second quantum dot sublayer is positively charged.
US09773932B2
An epitaxial wafer which allows manufacture of a photodiode having suppressed dark current and ensured sensitivity, and a method for manufacturing the epitaxial wafer, are provided. The epitaxial wafer of the present invention includes: a III-V semiconductor substrate; and a multiple quantum well structure disposed on the substrate, and including a plurality of pairs of a first layer and a second layer. The total concentration of elements contained as impurities in the multiple quantum well structure is less than or equal to 5×1015 cm−3.
US09773930B2
An IC may include a substrate and a layer, and an array of GMAPDs in the layer. The layer may have trenches extending between adjacent GMAPDs. The IC may include an optically reflective material within the trenches. The optically reflective material may also be electrically conductive. For example, the optically reflective material may comprise a metal. Also, the trenches may be arranged in a honeycomb pattern.
US09773929B2
Disclosed are a solar cell and a method of fabricating the same. The solar cell includes a support substrate, a back electrode layer on the support substrate, a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer, and a front electrode layer on the light absorbing layer. The back electrode layer includes at least three layers. The method includes forming a first layer on a support substrate, forming a second layer on the first layer, forming a third layer on the second layer, forming a light absorbing layer on the third layer, and forming a front electrode layer on the light absorbing layer.
US09773923B2
Provided is a semiconductor device and a method for forming the same. The device has a substrate including one and another surfaces. A first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type is formed in the substrate. A second conductivity type, second semiconductor region is provided in a first surface layer, that includes the one surface, of the substrate. A first electrode is in contact with the second semiconductor region to form a junction therebetween. A first conductivity type, third semiconductor region is provided in a second surface layer, that includes the another surface, of the substrate. The third semiconductor region has a higher impurity concentration than the first semiconductor region. A fourth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type is provided in the first semiconductor region at a location deeper than the third semiconductor region from the another surface. A second electrode is in contact with the third semiconductor region.
US09773921B2
The present disclosure generally relates to an improved large area substrate thin film transistor device, and method of fabrication thereof. More specifically, amorphous and LTPS transistors are formed by first forming an amorphous silicon layer, annealing the amorphous silicon layer to form polycrystalline silicon, depositing a masking layer over a first portion of the polycrystalline silicon layer, implanting a second portion of the polycrystalline silicon layer with an amorphizing species, and removing the masking layer.
US09773914B2
An optical sensing device includes a thin film transistor disposed on a substrate, an optical sensor, a planar layer, and an organic light emitting diode. The optical sensor includes a metal electrode disposed on a gate dielectric layer of the thin film transistor and connecting to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor, an optical sensing layer disposed on the metal electrode, and a first transparent electrode disposed on the optical sensing layer. The planar layer covers at least a part of the thin film transistor and the optical sensor. The organic light emitting diode is disposed on the planar layer. The anode electrode and the cathode electrode of the organic light emitting diode are electrically coupled to a gate line and a data line respectively.
US09773910B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, at least a semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, and at least a fin structure formed on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor substrate includes a first semiconductor material, the semiconductor layer includes the first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, and the fin structure includes at least the first semiconductor material. A lattice constant of the second semiconductor material is different from a lattice constant of the first semiconductor material. The semiconductor layer includes a first width, the fin structure includes a second width, and the second width is smaller than the first width.
US09773908B2
A semiconductor device can include a substrate and a fin body that protrudes from a surface of the substrate. The fin body can include a lower portion having a first lattice structure and an upper portion, separated from the lower portion by a boundary, the upper portion having a second lattice structure that is different than the first lattice structure. An epitaxially grown epitxial layer can be on the lower and upper portions.
US09773896B2
A layer structure for a normally-off transistor has an electron-supply layer made of a group-III-nitride material, a back-barrier layer made of a group-III-nitride material, a channel layer between the electron-supply layer and the back-barrier layer, made of a group-III-nitride material having a band-gap energy that is lower than the band-gap energies of the other layer mentioned. The material of the back-barrier layer is of p-type conductivity, while the material of the electron-supply layer and the material of the channel layer are not of p-type conductivity, the band-gap energy of the electron-supply layer is smaller than the band-gap energy of the back-barrier layer. In absence of an external voltage a lower conduction-band-edge of the third group-III-nitride material in the channel layer is higher in energy than a Fermi level of the material in the channel layer.
US09773884B2
A transistor includes a buffer layer, a channel layer over the buffer layer, a barrier layer over the channel layer, a source electrode electrically connected to the channel layer, a drain electrode electrically connected to the channel layer, a gate electrode on the barrier layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a backside metal layer, a substrate between a first portion of the buffer layer and the backside metal layer; and a dielectric between a second portion of the buffer layer and the backside metal layer.
US09773877B2
A field effect transistor comprising a buffer and channel layer formed successively on a substrate. A source electrode, drain electrode, and gate are all formed in electrical contact with the channel layer, with the gate between the source and drain electrodes. A spacer layer is formed on at least a portion of a surface of the channel layer between the gate and drain electrode and a field plate is formed on the spacer layer isolated from the gate and channel layer. The spacer layer is electrically connected by at least one conductive path to the source electrode, wherein the field plate reduces the peak operating electric field in the MESFET.
US09773873B1
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having an upper surface layer of a second conduction type formed at an upper surface side, a drift layer of a first conduction type formed under the upper surface layer, a buffer layer of the first conduction type formed under the drift layer, and a lower surface layer of the second conduction type formed under the buffer layer, the buffer layer includes a plurality of upper buffer layers provided apart from each other, and a plurality of lower buffer layers provided apart from each other between the plurality of upper buffer layers and the lower surface layer, wherein the plurality of upper buffer layers are formed so that average impurity concentrations in first sections each extending from the upper end of one of the upper buffer layers to the next lower buffer layer are unified as a first concentration.
US09773865B2
A method of forming a self-forming spacer using oxidation. The self-forming spacer may include forming a fin field effect transistor on a substrate, the fin field effect transistor includes a gate on a fin, the gate is perpendicular to the fin; forming a gate spacer on the gate and a fin spacer on the fin, the gate spacer and the fin spacer are formed in a single step by oxidizing an exposed surface of the gate and an exposed surface of the fin; and removing the fin spacer from the fin.
US09773860B1
A method for fabricating a capacitor is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided, a bottom electrode and a capacitor dielectric layer are formed on the substrate, a conductive layer is formed on the capacitor dielectric layer, a patterned hard mask is formed on the conductive layer, a patterned hard mask is used to remove part of the conductive layer to form a top electrode, the patterned hard mask is removed, and a protective layer is formed on a top surface and sidewalls of top electrode. Preferably, the protective layer includes metal oxides.
US09773858B2
An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a plurality of data lines formed in a display area and a plurality of data pad portions formed in a non-display area and including a plurality of data pads and a plurality of dummy pads formed outside of the data pads. The display also includes a plurality of data fan-out portions electrically connected to the data pads and the data lines, and including a plurality of diagonal portions diagonally formed with respect to the data lines. The display also includes a plurality of voltage applying lines electrically connected to the dummy pads and insulated from the data fan-out portions, wherein at least one of the voltage applying lines intersects one or more of the diagonal portions.
US09773847B2
The disclosure relates to emissive displays and, in particular, to emissive displays that include a top surface (111) that has a diffusely reflective inactive surface (116) adjacent a diffusely reflective emissive surface (114). The emissive display further includes a polarization selective antireflection film component (120) that includes a linear absorbing polarizer (126), a reflective polarizer (124), and a quarter-wave retarder (122), and is positioned separated from the top surface. The disclosure also relates to issues arising from these antireflection film components, such as brightness efficiency loss and image degradation such as pixel blur. The enhanced antireflection stack performs well in commercial OLED displays, with a 20% or greater brightness gain, a 30% or greater ambient light reflectance gain and no visually apparent image degradation.
US09773844B2
The present disclosure includes memory cell array structures and methods of forming the same. One such array includes a stack structure comprising a memory cell between a first conductive material and a second conductive material. The memory cell can include a select element and a memory element. The array can also include an electrically inactive stack structure located at an edge of the stack structure.
US09773835B2
The present technology relates to a solid-state image sensor, an imaging device, and electronic equipment configured such that an FD is shared by a plurality of pixels to further miniaturize the pixels at low cost without lowering of sensitivity and a conversion efficiency.In a configuration in which a plurality of pixels are arranged with respect to at least either of one of the OCCFs or one of the OCLs, a floating diffusion (FD) is shared by a sharing unit including a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels including pixels of at least either of different OCCFs or different OCLs. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor.
US09773832B2
A semiconductor device including pixels arranged in a matrix of n rows and m columns, in which the pixels in the m-th column are shielded from light, is provided.
US09773827B2
An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second faces. The sensor includes a plurality of pixel groups each including pixels, each pixel having a photoelectric converter and a wiring pattern, the converter including a region whose major carriers are the same with charges to be accumulated in the photoelectric converter. The sensor also includes a microlenses which are located so that one microlens is arranged for each pixel group. The wiring patterns are located at a side of the first face, and the plurality of microlenses are located at a side of the second face. Light-incidence faces of the regions of the photoelectric converters of each pixel group are arranged along the second face such that the light-incidence faces are apart from each other in a direction along the second face.
US09773825B2
Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter formed above a semiconductor region, an amplifier transistor formed in the semiconductor region, and including a gate electrode connected to the photoelectric converter, a reset transistor configured to reset a potential of the gate electrode, and an isolation region formed in the semiconductor region between the amplifier transistor and the reset transistor to electrically isolate the amplifier transistor from the reset transistor. The amplifier transistor includes a source/drain region. The source/drain region has a single source/drain structure.
US09773822B2
The present application discloses an array substrate comprising a first layer comprising a data line; at least one second layer comprising at least one data line overlapping area on intersections between the first layer and the at least one second layer; and a spacer layer between the first layer and the second layer. The spacer layer comprises a plurality of spacer units spaced apart from each other. Each of the plurality of spacer units is in an area corresponding to the overlapping area.
US09773819B2
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a display panel, a display device and a method for manufacturing the array substrate. The array substrate includes: a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines arranged in a crisscross manner on a base substrate, so as to define a plurality of subpixels; and a common electrode arranged opposite to each of the plurality of subpixels. At least one of the subpixels is provided with a common electrode line connected to the common electrode at an identical subpixel region.
US09773818B2
It is an object of the present invention to form a pixel electrode and a metal film using one resist mask in manufacturing a stacked structure by forming the metal film over the pixel electrode. A conductive film to be a pixel electrode and a metal film are stacked. A resist pattern having a thick region and a region thinner than the thick region is formed over the metal film using an exposure mask having a semi light-transmitting portion. The pixel electrode, and the metal film formed over part of the pixel electrode to be in contact therewith are formed using the resist pattern. Accordingly, a pixel electrode and a metal film can be formed using one resist mask.
US09773815B2
In a semiconductor device including a transistor, the transistor is provided over a first insulating film, and the transistor includes an oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, a gate electrode over the gate insulating film, a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film and the gate electrode, and a source and a drain electrodes electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film. The first insulating film includes oxygen. The second insulating film includes hydrogen. The oxide semiconductor film includes a first region in contact with the gate insulating film and a second region in contact with the second insulating film. The first insulating film includes a third region overlapping with the first region and a fourth region overlapping with the second region. The impurity element concentration of the fourth region is higher than that of the third region.
US09773809B2
A multilayer semiconductor device structure comprising a first buried oxide and a first semiconductor device layer fabricated above the first buried oxide is provided. The first semiconductor device layer comprises a patterned top surface. The patterned surface comprises insulator material and conductor material. The surface density of the insulator material is greater than 40 percent. The multilayer semiconductor device structure further comprises a second buried oxide bonded to the patterned surface of the first semiconductor device layer and a second semiconductor device layer fabricated above the second buried oxide.
US09773805B1
Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a first opening extending through a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. A nitride structure is within the first opening and narrows the first opening to form a second opening. Detectable oxide is between the nitride structure and one or more of the conductive levels. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. A first opening extends through the vertically-stacked levels to the conductive material and has opposing sidewalls along a cross-section. Nitride liners are along the sidewalls of the first opening. Detectable oxide is between at least one of the nitride liners and one or more of the vertically-stacked conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated structures.
US09773795B2
Disclosed are non-volatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same. The non-volatile memory device includes device isolation patterns defining active portions in a substrate and gate structures disposed on the substrate. The active portions are spaced apart from each other in a first direction and extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The gate structures are spaced apart from each other in the second direction and extend in the first direction. Each of the device isolation patterns includes a first air gap, and each of a top surface and a bottom surface of the first air gap has a wave-shape in a cross-sectional view taken along the second direction.
US09773794B2
An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a plate line that is connected to ferroelectric capacitors selected from a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors and covers the selected ferroelectric capacitors and regions between the selected ferroelectric capacitors from above top electrodes.
US09773791B2
A static random access memory (SRAM) cell is defined by first and second boundaries disposed opposite to each other and third and fourth boundaries disposed opposite to each other and intersected by the first and second boundaries. The SRAM cell includes a first invertor including a first P-type pull-up transistor and a first N-type pull-down transistor, a second invertor including a second P-type pull-up transistor and a second N-type pull-down transistor and cross-coupled to the first invertor, and first and second pass-gate transistors connected to the cross-coupled first and second invertors. Source regions of the first and second P-type pull-up transistors are formed by a main source active region extending continuously between the first and second boundaries. Source regions of the first and second pass-gate transistors and the first and second N-type pull-down transistors are formed by different source active regions spaced apart from each other.
US09773788B1
Some embodiments include a floating body transistor which has a gate structure configured as a bracket having two upwardly-projecting sidewalls joined to a base. A region between the upwardly-projecting sidewalls is an interior region of the bracket. The interior region of the bracket has an interior surface along an upper surface of the base, and along inward surfaces of the upwardly-projecting sidewalls. The sidewalls are a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls have first and second notches, respectively, which extend downwardly into the first and second sidewalls. The first and second notches are horizontally aligned with one another. Dielectric material lines the interior surface of the bracket. A semiconductor material body is within the interior region of the bracket and along the dielectric material. The semiconductor material body has a third notch which is horizontally aligned with the first and second notches.
US09773785B2
A semiconductor device includes first and second fins on first and second regions of a substrate, a first trench overlapping a vertical end portion of the first fin and including first upper and lower portions, the first upper and lower portions separated by an upper surface of the first fin, a second trench overlapping a vertical end portion of the second fin and including second upper and lower portions separated by an upper surface of the second fin, a first dummy gate electrode including first metal oxide and filling layers, the first metal oxide layer filling the first lower portion of the first trench and is along a sidewall of the first upper portion of the first trench, and a second dummy gate electrode filling the second trench and including second metal oxide and filling layers, the second metal oxide layer extending along sidewalls of the second trench.
US09773783B2
A semiconductor device comprises a transistor device arranged on a substrate. The transistor device comprises a first metal gate stack arranged over a channel region, a source/drain region arranged adjacent to the metal gate stack, the source/drain region located on a fin, and a capacitor device arranged on the substrate. The capacitor device comprises a second metal gate stack arranged on the substrate, a spacer arranged along a sidewall of the second metal gate stack, and a first conductive contact arranged on the substrate adjacent to the spacer such that the spacer is disposed between the first conductive contact and the second metal gate stack.
US09773769B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor package including a semiconductor chip, and a connector between the substrate and the semiconductor package, the connector having opposing first and second planar surfaces, the first planar surface in contact with the substrate and the second planar surface in contact with the semiconductor package. The connector also includes a plurality of wires extending between the first and second planar surfaces to electrically connect electrodes of the substrate to electrodes of the semiconductor package.
US09773766B2
Semiconductor device including independent film layer for embedding and/or spacing semiconductor die
A semiconductor package including a plurality of stacked semiconductor die, and methods of forming the semiconductor package, are disclosed. In order to ease wirebonding requirements on the controller die, the controller die may be mounted directly to the substrate in a flip chip arrangement requiring no wire bonds or footprint outside of the controller die. Thereafter, a spacer layer may be affixed to the substrate around the controller die to provide a level surface on which to mount one or more flash memory die. The spacer layer may be provided in a variety of different configurations.
US09773751B1
A method includes forming one or more vias in a first layer, forming one or more vias in at least a second layer different than the first layer, aligning at least a first via in the first layer with at least a second via in the second layer, and bonding the first layer to the second layer by filling the first via and the second via with solder material using injection molded soldering.
US09773748B2
A bonding wire for a semiconductor device including a coating layer having Pd as a main component on the surface of a Cu alloy core material and a skin alloy layer containing Au and Pd on the surface of the coating layer has a Cu concentration of 1 to 10 at % at an outermost surface thereof and has the core material containing a metallic element of Group 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements in a total amount of 0.1 to 3.0% by mass, thereby achieving improvement in 2nd bondability and excellent ball bondability in a high-humidity heating condition. Furthermore, a maximum concentration of Au in the skin alloy layer is preferably 15 at % to 75 at %.
US09773741B1
An apparatus includes a first component layer. The component layer includes a first semiconductor device. The apparatus further includes a first hydrophilic layer and a first hydrophobic layer. The first hydrophobic layer is positioned between the first component layer and the first hydrophilic layer. The apparatus further includes a first contact extending through the first hydrophobic layer and the first hydrophilic layer.
US09773739B2
The present disclosure provides mark structures and fabrication methods thereof. An exemplary fabrication process includes providing a substrate having a device region, a first mark region and a second mark region; sequentially forming a device layer, a dielectric layer and a mask layer on a surface of the substrate; forming a first opening in the dielectric layer in the device region, a first mark in the dielectric layer in the first mark region, and a mark opening in dielectric layer in the second mark region, bottoms of the first opening, the first mark and the mark opening being lower than a surface of the dielectric layer, and higher than a surface of the device layer; and forming a second opening in the dielectric layer on the bottom of the first opening and a second mark in the dielectric layer on the bottom of the mark opening.
US09773737B2
An electrical contact structure for an integrated circuit device is described. A first patterned dielectric layer comprising at least one contact hole, the contact hole including a bottom surface, and sidewalls extending from the bottom surface to a top surface is provided. The bottom surface of the dielectric layer is in contact with a lower layer of the integrated circuit device. A tungsten via is disposed within the at least one contact hole, the tungsten via having a bottom surface in contact with the lower layer and a top surface. A tungsten nitride layer is disposed on the top surface of the tungsten via to repair etch damage done to the tungsten via.
US09773736B2
A method of forming a metallization layer over a semiconductor substrate includes depositing a blanket layer of a diffusion barrier liner over an inter level dielectric layer, and depositing a blanket layer of an intermediate layer over the diffusion barrier liner. A blanket layer of a power metal layer including copper is deposited over the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes a solid solution of a majority element and copper. The intermediate layer has a different etch selectivity from the power metal layer. After depositing the power metal layer, structuring the power metal layer, the intermediate layer, and the diffusion barrier liner.
US09773728B1
Some embodiments include memory arrays having rows of fins. Each fin includes a first pedestal, a second pedestal and a trench between the first and second pedestals. A first source/drain region is within the first pedestal, a second source/drain region is within the second pedestal, and a channel region is along the trench between the first and second pedestals. The rows are subdivided amongst deep-type (D) rows and shallow-type (S) rows, with the deep-type rows having deeper channel regions than the shallow-type rows. Some embodiments include rows of fins in which the channel regions along individual rows are subdivided amongst deep-type (D) channel regions and shallow-type (S) channel regions, with the deep-type channel regions being below the shallow-type channel regions.
US09773722B1
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a semiconductor package with partial plating on contact surfaces. The semiconductor package includes a top surface, a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, and side surfaces between the top surface and the bottom surface. Each of the side surfaces includes a step such that the area of the bottom surface is smaller than the area of the top surface. The semiconductor package includes a plurality of contacts that is located at peripheral edges of the bottom surface. Each of the plurality of contacts includes a first surface that is flush with the bottom surface, a second surface that is flush with one of the side surfaces, and a curved surface located at a corresponding step. In some embodiments, the first surface and the curved surface are plated, while the second surface is exposed (not plated).
US09773721B2
A lead-free solder which can reduce the occurrence of voids and a connecting member which uses the solder and has excellent adhesion, bonding strength, and workability are provided. The lead-free solder alloy contains Sn: 0.1-3% and/or Bi: 0.1-2%, and a remainder of In and unavoidable impurities and has the effect of suppressing the occurrence of voids at the time of soldering. The connecting member is prepared by melting the lead-free solder alloy, immersing a metal substrate in the melt, and applying ultrasonic vibrations to the molten lead-free solder alloy and the metal substrate to form a lead-free solder alloy layer on the surface of the metal substrate. A heat sink and a package are soldered to each other through this connecting member by reflow heating in the presence of flux.
US09773720B2
A power module includes: an insulating layer; a first metallic plate disposed on the insulating layer; a first semiconductor chip disposed on the first metallic plate; a first adhesive insulating layer and a second adhesive insulating layer disposed on the first metallic plate; a first metallic land for main electrode wiring disposed on the first adhesive insulating layer; and a first metallic land for signal wiring disposed on the second adhesive insulating layer. There can be provided a power module having reduced cost, reduced warpage of the whole of a substrate, stabilized quality, and improved reliability; and a fabrication method for such a power module.
US09773717B1
A semiconductor structure comprises one or more semiconductor devices, each of the semiconductor devices having two or more electrical connections; one or more first conductors connected to a first electrical connection on the semiconductor device, the first conductor comprising a first material having a positive Seebeck coefficient; and one or more second conductors connected to a second electrical connection on the semiconductor device, the second conductor comprising a second material having a negative Seebeck coefficient. The first conductor and the second conductor conduct electrical current through the semiconductor device and conduct heat away from the semiconductor device.
US09773716B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed in some embodiments. The device includes a substrate, and a layer disposed over the substrate. The layer includes an opening extending through the layer. A plurality of bar or pillar structures or a tapered region are arranged in a peripheral portion of the opening and laterally surround a central portion of the opening. A metal body extends through the central portion of the opening.
US09773710B2
A method for evaluating concentration of defect in silicon single crystal substrate, defect being formed by particle beam irradiation in silicon single crystal substrate, including the steps of: measuring a resistivity of silicon single crystal substrate, followed by irradiating silicon single crystal substrate with particle beam, re-measuring resistivity of silicon single crystal substrate after irradiation; determining each carrier concentration in silicon single crystal substrate before and after irradiation on basis of measured results of resistivity before and after particle beam irradiation to calculate rate of change of carrier concentration; and evaluating concentration of VV defect on basis of rate of change of carrier concentration, VV defect being made of a silicon atom vacancy and being formed by particle beam irradiation in silicon single crystal substrate. The method can simply evaluate concentration of VV defect formed in silicon single crystal substrate by particle beam irradiation.
US09773708B1
Devices and methods of fabricating vertical field effect transistors on semiconductor devices are provided. One intermediate semiconductor includes: a substrate, a bottom spacer layer above the substrate, a plurality of fins, wherein at least one fin is an n-fin and at least one fin is a p-fin; a high-k layer and a work function metal over the bottom spacer layer and around the plurality of fins; a top spacer above the high-k layer and the work function metal and surrounding a top area of the fins; a top source/drain structure over each fin; a dielectric capping layer over the top source/drain structure; a fill metal surrounding the work function metal; and a liner.
US09773707B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: providing a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of openings formed thereon by removing a sacrificial gate; filling the openings with a top metal layer having compressive stress; and performing amorphous doping with respect to the top metal layer in a PMOS device region. Thus, it is possible to effectively improve carrier mobility of an NMOS device, and also to reduce the compressive stress in the PMOS device region to ensure a desired performance of the PMOS device.
US09773697B2
According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first opening that extends from a second surface of a semiconductor substrate opposite to a first surface toward the first surface and extending to a first insulating layer in the semiconductor substrate, performing a first annealing process in a first gas atmosphere that contains hydrogen after formation of the first opening, forming a second insulating layer on a side wall of the semiconductor substrate in the first opening, performing a second annealing process after formation of the second insulating layer, forming a second opening that extends to the conductive layer in the first insulating layer through the first opening, and forming a via that is connected to the conductive layer in the first and second openings.
US09773696B2
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure having a semiconductor layer; a gate with a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) surrounding the sidewall spacer; and a nitrogen-containing protection layer, positioning at least on the top surface of the conductive portion of the gate. A top surface of the conductive portion and a top surface of the sidewall spacer are substantially coplanar. The nitrogen-containing protection layer is not covering the sidewall surface of the sidewall spacer. The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a metal gate structure having a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer surrounded by a first ILD; forming a protection layer over the metal gate structure, and the protection layer is formed to cover at least the conductive portion of the metal gate structure; and forming a second ILD over the metal gate structure.
US09773689B2
In one embodiment, die are singulated from a wafer having a back layer by placing the wafer onto a first carrier substrate with the back layer adjacent the carrier substrate, forming singulation lines through the wafer to expose the back layer within the singulation lines, and using a mechanical device to apply localized pressure to the wafer to separate the back layer in the singulation lines. The localized pressure can be applied through the first carrier substrate proximate to the back layer, or can be applied through a second carrier substrate attached to a front side of the wafer opposite to the back layer. A support structure is used to heat and/or cool at least the first carrier-substrate while the localized pressure is applied.
US09773682B1
A method of planarizing a substrate surface is disclosed. A substrate having a major surface of a material layer is provided. The major surface of the material layer comprises a first region with relatively low removal rate and a second region of relatively high removal rate. A photoresist pattern is formed on the material layer. The photoresist pattern masks the second region, while exposes at least a portion of the first region. At least a portion of the material layer not covered by the photoresist pattern is etched away. A polish stop layer is deposited on the material layer. A cap layer is deposited on the polish stop layer. A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed to polish the cap layer.
US09773678B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate may comprise irradiating a surface of a first semiconductor layer and a surface of a second semiconductor layer with one or more types of first impurity in a vacuum. The method may comprise bonding the surface of the first semiconductor layer and the surface of the second semiconductor layer to each other in the vacuum. The method may comprise applying heat treatment to the semiconductor substrate produced in the bonding. The first impurity may be an inert impurity that does not generate carriers in the first and second semiconductor layers. The heat treatment may be applied such that a width of an in-depth concentration profile of the first impurity contained in the first and second semiconductor layers is narrower after execution of the heat treatment than before the execution of the heat treatment.
US09773675B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to precision material modification of three dimensional (3D) features or advanced processing techniques. Directional ion implantation methods are utilized to selectively modify desired regions of a material layer to improve etch characteristics of the modified material. For example, a modified region of a material layer may exhibit improved etch selectivity relative to an unmodified region of the material layer. Methods described herein are useful for manufacturing 3D hardmasks which may be advantageously utilized in various integration schemes, such as fin isolation and gate-all-around, among others. Multiple directional ion implantation processes may also be utilized to form dopant gradient profiles within a modified layer to further influence etching processes.
US09773673B2
A composition for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes at least one carbon-based compound that includes at least one of an alkyne group and an azide group, and a solvent. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a feature layer on a substrate, coating the feature layer with a composition including alkyne and azide, forming a carbon-containing layer including a triazole compound by performing a heat treatment on the coated composition, forming a photoresist film on the carbon-containing layer, forming photoresist patterns by exposing and developing the photoresist film, and patterning the carbon-containing layer and the feature layer using the photoresist patterns.
US09773662B1
In a method for fabricating a fine structure, a metal oxide layer is formed by using an atomic layer deposition over a substrate, and the metal oxide layer is removed. An interfacial oxide layer is formed between the metal oxide layer and the substrate. The interfacial oxide layer is an oxide of an element constituting the substrate, and the interfacial oxide layer is removed.
US09773661B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including non-simultaneously performing forming a first layer by supplying a precursor containing hydrogen and an halogen element to the substrate in a process chamber, under a condition in which the precursor is pyrolyzed if the precursor exists alone and under a condition in which a flow rate of the precursor supplied into the process chamber is larger than a flow rate of the precursor exhausted from an interior of the process chamber and forming a second layer by supplying a reactant to the substrate in the process chamber thereby modifying the first layer.
US09773655B2
A radio-frequency voltage generator includes a first DC power supply for generating first direct-current voltage; a second DC power supply for generating second direct-current voltage; a transient alternating voltage generation circuit for generating a transient alternating voltage having a cycle shorter than a cycle of the radio-frequency voltage and having a voltage value oscillating between the first direct-current voltage and the second direct-current voltage; and a voltage switch section for switching voltages from the first direct-current voltage, to the transient alternating voltage, to the second direct-current voltage, and to the transient alternating voltage in this order, wherein the voltage switch section switches the voltages applied to the load so that the transient alternating voltage oscillates a half-integer of times starting with an initial value having the value of the direct-current voltage applied immediately before the switching, the half-integer being equal to or greater than 1.5.
US09773653B2
Provided is a ferromagnetic material sputtering target containing a matrix phase made of cobalt, or cobalt and chromium, or cobalt and platinum, or cobalt, chromium and platinum, and an oxide phase including at least chromium oxide, wherein the ferromagnetic material sputtering target contains one or more types among Y, Mg, and Al in a total amount of 10 wtppm or more and 3000 wtppm or less, and has a relative density of 97% or higher. The provided ferromagnetic material sputtering target containing chromium oxide can maintain high density, has uniformly pulverized oxide phase grains therein, and enables low generation of particles.
US09773652B2
Disclosed is an MgO target for sputtering, which can accelerate a film formation rate even when MgO is used as a target for sputtering in the formation of an MgO film. The MgO target for sputtering, which includes MgO and an electroconductive material as main components, and in which the electroconductive material is capable of imparting orientation to a MgO film when the MgO film containing the electroconductive material is formed by a DC sputtering.
US09773651B2
A high-purity copper sputtering target, wherein a Vickers hardness of a flange part of the target is in a range of 90 to 100 Hv, a Vickers hardness of an erosion part in the central area of the target is in a range of 55 to 70 Hv, and a crystal grain size of the erosion part is 80 μm or less. This invention relates to a high-purity copper sputtering target that does not need to be bonded to a backing plate (BP), and aims to provide a high-purity copper sputtering target capable of forming a thin film having superior uniformity by enhancing a strength (hardness) of the flange part of the target, and reducing an amount of warpage of the target. Moreover, the uniformity of the film thickness is improved by adjusting the (111) orientation ratio of the erosion part and the flange part in the target. The present invention thereby aims to provide a high-purity copper sputtering target, which is capable of improving the yield and reliability of semiconductor products that are being subject to further miniaturization and higher integration, and useful for forming a copper alloy wiring for semiconductors.
US09773635B2
The invention relates to a device (20) for producing an electron beam (4), which comprises a hot cathode (1), a cathode electrode (2), an anode electrode (3) having an opening (6) through which an electron beam (4) produced by the device can pass, wherein during the operation of the device (20) a voltage for accelerating the electrons exiting from the hot cathode (1) is applied between the cathode electrode (2) and the anode electrode (3), and further comprising deflection means that can deflect the electron beam (4) that has passed through the opening of the anode electrode (3), wherein the deflection means comprise at least one deflection electrode (8, 12), which can reflect the electron beam (4) and/or which comprises a deflection surface (9) that is inclined towards the propagation direction of the electron beam (4).
US09773633B2
Method and apparatus for mounting fuses in switchgear and similar electrical isolation equipment provide a nonconductive fuse support that allows the fuses to be mounted separately from the transformers. Two such fuse supports may be used to support a fuse, one fuse support for each fuse terminal. Each fuse support may support two fuse terminals so dual fuses may be supported by the same pair of fuse supports. The fuse supports substantially surround the fuse terminals to provide an insulating barrier that helps prevent electrical discharge and also ensure sufficient spacing between the fuse terminals and ground or other conductors in the switchgear. Such an arrangement allows the fuses and transformers to fit within a reduced space in the switchgear and similar electrical isolation equipment while complying with industry-standard performance requirements. The fuse supports are preferably noncontiguous, thereby leaving the nonconductive portion of the fuse physically unsurrounded.
US09773632B2
Some embodiments include a fuse element assembly having a first portion configured to rupture as materials of the first portion flow to a second portion through electromigration. The assembly has a second portion configured to accumulate the materials that have flowed from the first portion. The assembly also has a control element configured to divide the flow of materials into at least two paths along the second portion. The first portion may be a fuse-link and the second portion may be a cathode coupled to the fuse-link through a narrow neck region. The control element may be, for example, a slit, a hole, a conductive contact, etc.
US09773629B1
A magnetic sensing switch includes switch body having a hollow tube and an opening. A magnetic reed switch is disposed in the tube and includes two conductive points. The plug having an elastic clamping force is fixed in the opening by interference fit. The plug including a sealant injection portion and a retaining portion communicating with the tube. The two wires are inserted in the tube, one end of each wire is connected to one conductive point, and the other end passes through the retaining portion to protrude out of the tube. A sealant is injected into the tube via the sealant injection portion to entirely wrap the magnetic reed switch and the wires inside the tube, and the sealant partially protrudes out of the sealant injection portion.
US09773627B2
A shape memory circuit breaker includes a shape memory substrate having first and second opposed substrate ends. The shape memory substrate is configured to transition from a strained conductive configuration to a fractured non-conductive configuration. An isolation housing is coupled with the shape memory substrate. The isolation housing includes first and second anchors coupled near the first and second substrate ends. A brace extends between the first and second anchors, and the brace statically positions the first and second anchors and the respective first and second substrate ends. The shape memory substrate is configured to transition from the strained conductive configuration to the fractured non-conductive configuration at or above a specified temperature range corresponding to a specified overload current range or voltage range, and the first substrate end fractures from the second substrate end at or above the specified temperature range resulting in an open circuit.
US09773625B2
Device for protecting an electrical circuit fed by an alternating current, comprising a housing and a fuse element disposed in the housing. The housing comprises a first portion and a second portion which are mobile in relation to one another, and elastic means suitable for causing the first portion to bear against the second portion and causing the housing to be set in a closed state.
US09773611B2
A chip electronic component may include: a magnetic body having a coil conductive pattern part embedded therein; and an oxide insulating film formed on a surface of the coil conductive pattern part. Even in the case that the insulating film is formed to be thinner than an insulating film, it may prevent the coil conductive pattern part from being exposed, whereby a magnetic material and the coil conductive pattern part may not contact each other. Therefore, a waveform defect may be prevented at a high frequency.
US09773610B2
An antenna arrangement for transmitting energy is described. The antenna arrangement includes a planar array of two or more rectangular loop antennas, adapted to transmit energy at low frequencies via non-radiative resonant coupling and at high frequencies via radiative coupling. The low frequencies correspond to a wavelength with half of the wavelength being larger than the longest rectangular loop antenna dimension and the high frequencies correspond to a wavelength with half of the wavelength being approximately equal the longest rectangular loop antenna dimension. The antenna arrangement also includes a feeding network connected to the planar array, which includes a phase shifting means for providing a phase difference between signals at the high frequencies to be transmitted by different rectangular loop antennas of the planar array, whereby the amount of phase difference is related to the distance of the rectangular loop antennas to a focal point in the near-field of the planar array. The antenna arrangement also includes means adapted for distributing the signals applied to the feeding network.
US09773607B2
A coil with variable inner diameter is disclosed. The coil includes a coil body consisting of a plurality of turns of winding, and a connecting terminal configured to be connected to an external device, wherein the winding is wound to form at least two different inner diameters. And an electronic module made from the coil with variable inner diameter is also disclosed. The electronic module includes: electronic components including at least an integrated circuit chip; a coil with variable inner diameter, including a coil body having at least two different inner diameters and a connecting terminal; a connector, configured to be electrically connected with the electronic component and the coil; and a magnetic conductor, configured to enclose in and around the coil body and the electronic component.
US09773603B2
A method of magnetization reversal, time stable ferrimagnetic material, a product and a domain comprising said material, a system for magnetization reversal, and information storage. Therein, a ferrimagnetic material is one in which magnetic moments of the atoms on different sublattices are opposed, as in antiferromagnetism; however, in ferrimagnetic materials, the opposing moments are unequal and a spontaneous magnetization remains.
US09773602B2
A method for operating an electromagnetic actuator (10) with an actuating pin (9) is proposed which comprises the following steps: —determining a pin actuation actual dead time (t11), during which the magnetic armature (15) is substantially immobile while a magnetic coil (12) is supplied with current, wherein the actual dead time ends with the current break-in at the magnetic coil, as a result of counter induction of the magnetic armature overcoming the magnetic force threshold; —determining, before a subsequent pin actuation, the starting time of the magnetic coil current supply, wherein the starting point of the current is advanced compared with that of the target movement start of the pin out of the actuator housing (13) and the determined actual dead time.
US09773601B2
A magnetic mounting system is provided. The system includes a device having a magnetic attachment feature and a magnetic device mount. The magnetic device mount has a mating magnetic attachment feature. The magnetic attachment feature and mating magnetic attachment feature allow specific angular, radial, and/or longitudinal alignment of the device relative to the mount without a mechanical interface. An electronic device holder and charging system with integrated charging and data transfer interface and a self-aligning, magnetic coupling and docking interface with on-demand decoupling feature are also disclosed.
US09773598B2
A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
US09773594B2
Continuous flow synthetic methods are used to make single phase magnetic metal alloy nanoparticles that do not contain rare earth metals. Soft and hard magnets made from the magnetic nanoparticles are used for a variety of purposes, e.g. in electric motors, communication devices, etc.
US09773587B1
An apparatus for measuring material properties of a material under test includes a transmission line, a tunable cavity within the transmission line having a ground plane at an end of the tunable cavity, and a voltage-tunable reactive grid adjacent a beginning of the tunable cavity.
US09773586B2
A method for forming a part. The method includes: forming a first portion of the part at a first level; forming a second portion of the part at a second level; wherein forming the first and second portions includes exposing the first and second levels to a sintering process and portions of the first and second levels to an electron beam; forming a wire in the passage formed inside the first and second portions by exposing a portion of the passage to the electron beam; applying a signal to the wire to break up sintered material in the passage; and removing the wire.
US09773582B2
The present invention relates to a conductive composition containing a conductive metal powder and an epoxy resin component in which the conductive metal powder contains a metal flake and the epoxy resin component contains a polyfunctional epoxy resin having three or more epoxy groups.
US09773575B2
A nuclear reactor includes a reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in a reactor pressure vessel. A radiological containment contains the nuclear reactor. A containment compartment contains the radiological containment. A heat sink includes a chimney configured to develop an upward-flowing draft in response to heated fluid flowing into a lower portion of the chimney. A fluid conduit is arranged to receive fluid from the containment compartment and to discharge into the chimney. A filter may be provided, with the fluid conduit including a first fluid conduit arranged to receive fluid from the containment compartment and to discharge into an inlet of the filter, and a second fluid conduit arranged to receive fluid from an outlet of the filter and to discharge into the chimney. As the draft is developed passively, there is no need for a blower or pump configured to move fluid through the fluid conduit.
US09773567B1
A method and apparatus for balancing voltage stress at a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) flash memory array is disclosed. A particular cell of the SONOS flash memory array is selected for programming. A first voltage stress associated with a first SONOS transistor is determined if the particular cell is programmed. The first SONOS transistor is included in a first unselected cell of the SONOS flash memory array. A second voltage stress associated with a second SONOS transistor is determined if the particular cell is programmed. The first voltage stress and the second voltage stress are balanced prior to programming the particular cell.
US09773562B2
A storage apparatus includes a flash memory that includes multiple blocks; and a control portion that reads data written in the block and writes the data into the block. The flash memory includes one block set having n pieces of the blocks including BR1 to BRn. A write data and a write flag are capable of being written into each of blocks BRi, the write data being written in accordance with a request, the write flag indicating that the write data has been written into a target block BRj. In accordance with a write request, the control portion performs an erasure process, a first write process, and a second write process. The erasure process erases the data including the write data and the write flag. The first write process writes the new write data into the block BRl. The second write process writes the write flag into a block BRm.
US09773557B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for programming data into a multi-plane memory device employ a multi-plane data order. To allow multiple data pages to be programmed without a need to increase the size of page buffers, in some implementations, a data transfer scheme at which the data pages are programmed can be manipulated. Specifically, data across all channels can first be programmed into a first plane of the multi-plane flash memory device in parallel. While the data transfer program operation is in progress, data to be programmed into a succeeding plane (e.g., plane “1”) can be read into and cached in one or more page buffers. After the data transfer program for the first plane is complete, data cached in the page buffers can be immediately latched and programmed into the multi-plane flash memory device.
US09773555B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a first block of memory cells that includes a first word line above a substrate, a second word line above the first word line, and a third word line above the second word line, a first control line electrically connected to the first word line, a second control line electrically connected to the second word and between the first control line and the first block, and a third control line electrically connected to the third word line and between the second control line and the first block.
US09773549B2
A storage device, apparatus, and method to write and/or read data from such storage device. The storage device, comprises a channel controller and phase change memory integrated circuits (PCM ICs) arranged in sub-channels, wherein each of the sub-channels comprises several PCM ICs connected by at least one data bus line, which at least one data bus line connects to the channel controller. The channel controller is configured to write data to and/or read data from the PCM ICs according to a matrix configuration of PCM ICs, wherein: a number of columns of the matrix configuration respectively corresponds to a number of the sub-channels, the sub-channels forming a channel, and a number of rows of the matrix configuration respectively corresponds to a number of sub-banks, the sub-banks forming a bank, wherein each of the sub-banks comprises PCM ICs that belong, each, to distinct sub-channels of the sub-channels.
US09773547B2
A non-volatile memory device with multiple latency tiers includes at least two crossbar memory arrays, each crossbar memory array comprising a number of memory cells, each memory cell connected to a word line and a bit line at a cross point. The crossbar memory arrays each have a different latency. The crossbar memory arrays are formed on a single die.
US09773546B2
Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device includes a stack of alternating gates and insulating layers. The semiconductor device includes a dummy cell region. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of auxiliary bit lines. Some of the plurality of auxiliary bit lines have different respective lengths. Related methods of forming semiconductor devices are also provided.
US09773535B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit including first semiconductor chip and second semiconductor chip that are vertically stacked, wherein the first semiconductor chip includes a first column data driving circuit configured to transmit internal data to the second semiconductor chip in a DDR (double data rate) scheme based on an internal strobe signal, and a first column strobe signal driving circuit configured to generate first column strobe signals that are source-synchronized with first column data transmitted to the second semiconductor chip by the first column data driving circuit, based on the internal strobe signal, and transmit the first column strobe signals to the second semiconductor chip.
US09773528B1
An apparatus includes a memory module socket having a base end and a branching point. The base end is coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB). The branching point is external to the PCB. A first branch extends from the branching point at an angle θ1, where 90 degrees≦θ1<180 degrees, and a second branch extends from the branching point at an angle θ2, where 90 degrees≦θ2<180 degrees. A method includes signaling between the PCB and a first memory module and a second memory module via a base end of the memory module socket. The memory module socket connects to the PCB via the base end. The signaling is branched at a branching point of the memory module socket to the first memory module via a first branch and to the second memory module via a second branch. The branching is external to the PCB.
US09773522B2
A digital information recording apparatus includes a recording circuit for recording information of a retention period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be held in the recording medium, starting with a time at which the digital information is recorded on the recording medium; and information of a playback permission period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be played back starting with a time at which the information is reproduced initially following recording of the digital information on the recording medium, permitting temporary recording or copying for the information permitted for “copy never” or “copy one generation.”
US09773513B2
A chromium oxide film is formed at room temperature. The chromium oxide film has at least one partially polycrystalline portion and/or at least one amorphous portion depending upon the substrate(s) over which the chromium oxide film is formed. Partially polycrystalline portion(s) of the chromium oxide film are exposed, at room temperature, to an electron beam that has an accelerating voltage of at least 100 kilovolts to further crystallize the partially polycrystalline portion(s). Amorphous portion(s) of the chromium oxide film are exposed, at room temperature, to an electron beam that has an accelerating voltage of more than 100 kilovolts to crystallize the amorphous portion(s).
US09773512B2
A write pole structure includes a write pole and a trailing shield wherein the write pole includes a high magnetic moment (HMM) material layer on a surface of the write pole facing the trailing shield, wherein the HMM material layer includes a laminated layer including a rare earth material layer and a transition metal layer.
US09773511B2
The embodiments of the present invention relates to a voice activity detector and a method thereof. The voice activity detector is configured to detect voice activity in a received input signal comprising an input section configured to receive a signal from a primary voice detector of said VAD indicative of a primary VAD decision and at least one signal from at least one external VAD indicative of a voice activity decision from the at least one external VAD, a processor configured to combine the voice activity decisions indicated in the received signals to generate a modified primary VAD decision, and an output section configured to send the modified primary VAD decision to a hangover addition unit of said VAD.
US09773510B1
Features are disclosed for measuring and correcting clock drift and propagation delay in an audio system through one or more waveforms embedded in an audio signal. A first device in communication with a speaker may be configured to obtain an audio signal and insert one or more waveforms into the audio signal. For example, the waveforms may be inserted during an interval of time. A second device in communication with a microphone may be configured to detect sound as an audio input signal. The second device may obtain a spectral representation of the audio input signal and determine a rotation based on the spectral representation at the frequency of at least one of the inserted waveforms. Clock drift may be determined based on the rotation.
US09773508B2
Systems and methods are presented for cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Multiple clip processing can be accomplished at a client end according to directions sent from a service provider that specify a combination of (i) the clips involved; (ii) the device on which the cross-fade or other processing is to occur and its parameters; and (iii) the service provider system. For example, a consumer device with only one decoder, can utilize that decoder (typically hardware) to decompress one or more elements that are involved in a cross-fade at faster than real time, thus pre-fetching the next element(s) to be played in the cross-fade at the end of the currently being played element. The next elements(s) can, for example, be stored in an input buffer, then decoded and stored in a decoded sample buffer, all prior to the required presentation time of the multiple element effect. At the requisite time, a client device component can access the respective samples of the decoded audio clips as it performs the cross-fade, mix or other effect. Such exemplary embodiments use a single decoder and thus do not require synchronized simultaneous decodes.
US09773504B1
Spectral encoding methods are more robust when used with improved weak signal detection and synchronizations methods. Further robustness gains are achieved by using informed embedding, error correction and embedding protocols that enable signal to noise enhancements by folding and pre-filtering the received signal.
US09773496B2
Apparatus for adaptively scheduling ultrasound device actions includes a probe interface, a beamer, a receiver, a processor, and a memory. The probe interface may interface with probe units to transmit signals generated by the beamer to the probe units and to receive data signals from the probe units. The processor may be coupled to the probe interface, the beamer, and the receiver. The memory may store instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate a task list that includes a timed beam firing sequence and to signal to the beamer to generate signals to the probe units associated with the plurality of task actions. The task list may include a plurality of task actions associated with probe units, and the processor may signal to the beamer in accordance with the timed beam firing sequence. Other embodiments are also described.
US09773489B2
A first control signal filter to which a cosine wave oscillating at a control frequency is input; a second control signal filter to which a sine wave oscillating at the control frequency is input; a control signal adder for outputting a control signal generated by adding an output of the first control signal filter and an output of the second control signal filter; a filter coefficient update unit for updating filter coefficients of the first control signal filter and the second control signal filter; and a frequency correction value calculation unit for calculating a frequency correction value for correcting the control frequency on the basis of the control signal and the control frequency.
US09773486B2
The present disclosure is directed at methods and systems for implementing and scoring a vocal improvisation feature in a music video game. This feature can allow players of music video games to sing improvised harmonies for a song using a microphone controller. The improvised harmonies can be musically consonant with a pre-authored melody track programmed into the music video game. The improvised harmonies can comprise pre-authored notes programmed into the pre-authored melody track, or can be generated by the music video game during run-time based on the pre-authored melody track. The music video game can also display guidelines visually showing permissible harmony tracks in relation to the pre-authored melody track.
US09773485B2
The present invention relates to control (apparatus 70). The control apparatus (70) comprises a mass of resilient conductive material (56) having an electrical property which changes in dependence on deformation of the conductive material. The control apparatus (70) further comprises at least three electrodes (74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84) in contact with the mass of resilient conductive material (56) at spaced apart locations to thereby define at least two electrical paths through the mass of resilient conductive material between different pairs of the electrodes. The control apparatus (70) is configured such that there is a change in a measurable electrical property between each of the at least two different pairs of electrodes in dependence on deformation of the mass of resilient conductive material. More than one of the at least three electrodes (74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84) move upon deformation of the mass of resilient conductive material (56).
US09773477B2
Methods and apparatuses to reduce the number of scaling engines used in a display controller that displays image content associated with a plurality of image sources on a screen are provided. A first multiplexer may receive image content from a plurality of storage devices, and select first image content from one of the plurality of image sources. A first scaling engine may process the selected first image content, wherein a plurality of multiplexers can receives an output of the first scaling engine and the image content from the plurality of storage devices, respectively. Each one of the plurality of multiplexers may output either the image content input to the multiplexer or the output of the first scaling engine depending on which image content was scaled by the first scaling engine. Additionally, a plurality of post-processors may perform additional post-processing on the output of the plurality of multiplexer, respectively.
US09773476B2
A cache memory apparatus including a cache memory including a bank, a partition configuration unit configured to divide the cache memory into partitions by allocating the bank to a texture among textures for rendering, and a controller configured to receive a partition ID, of texture data requested by a device that performs the rendering, determine whether the requested texture data is stored in a partition corresponding to the partition ID among the plurality of partitions, and output the requested texture data to the device based on a result of the determination.
US09773468B2
A display driving device includes a first source amplifier that receives first display data and supplies a first pixel voltage to a first pixel based on the received first display data, and a second source amplifier that receives second display data and first control data and supplies a second pixel voltage to a second pixel based on the received second display data and first control data. The second source amplifier has a first stage in which a first process is performed on an input signal based on the second display data, and a second stage in which a second process is performed on the first processed input signal to output the second pixel voltage. The first source amplifier may be configured to conditionally supply the first pixel voltage to the second pixel.
US09773448B2
According to an aspect, a display device includes: an image display unit provided with a plurality of pixels each including a first sub-pixel for displaying a first color component, a second sub-pixel for displaying a second color component, a third sub-pixel for displaying a third color component, and a fourth sub-pixel that has higher luminance or higher power efficiency for display than that of the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel, and displays an additional color component different from the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel; a replacement ratio calculation unit that calculates a replacement ratio, generates an output signal based on the replacement ratio, and outputs the generated output signal to a drive circuit.
US09773447B2
An array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are provided. The array substrate includes: a first electrode, a second electrode and a light-emitting functional layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The light-emitting functional layer at least includes an organic light-emitting material layer of a first color and an organic light-emitting material layer of a second color, a color decay rate of the organic light-emitting material layer of the first color being greater than a color decay rate of the organic light-emitting material layer of the second color. The organic light-emitting material layer of the first color at least includes a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer arranged in a stacking manner, and a third electrode is disposed between the first sub-layer and the second sub-layer.
US09773445B2
The present invention provides a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixel units, each of which comprises three sub-pixels in different colors, wherein, in each pixel unit, any two adjacent sub-pixels are combined into a pixel block. Compared to the prior art, the width of the sub-pixel in the present invention increases, which reduces the difficulty of the manufacturing process of the pixel array and improves product yield. The present invention further provides a driving method of the pixel array, a display panel including the pixel array, and a display device including the display panel. When driving the above pixel array with the driving method, granular sensation of the display panel including the pixel array can be reduced, and a display effect of a display panel with higher resolution in the same size can be achieved.
US09773438B1
A system configured for providing views of virtual content in an augmented reality environment may comprise one or more of a first display, a second display, an optical element, one or more processors, and/or other components. The first display and second display may be separated by a separation distance. The first display and second display may be arranged such that rays of light emitted from pixels of the first display may travel through the second display, then reflect off the optical element and into a user's eyes. A three-dimensional light field perceived with a user's field-of-view may be generated. Distances of the first display and/or second display to the optical element may impact a perceived range of the three-dimensional light field. The separation distance may impact a perceived depth of the three-dimensional light field and/or a resolution of virtual content perceived with the three-dimensional light field.
US09773436B2
A mattress age indicating device includes an enclosure and an indicating assembly contained within the enclosure. The age indicating device may be configured to present an indication related to the mattress's age and may be coupled to the mattress or other bedding or seating product.
US09773434B2
A laminate that possesses dye sublimation properties, particularly for use as tagless labels and embellishments for garments, apparel, fabric items and so forth such as sportswear fabrics, clothing and accessories is provided. The laminate includes a dye sublimation ink layer that overlies a substrate in which the dye sublimation ink interacts with the substrate's chemical make-up.
US09773429B2
A method for manual welder training that includes providing a welding training apparatus that includes both hardware and software components and that is operative to gather and process data in real time, wherein the data is derived from an actual training exercise conducted by a welding trainee; selecting training objectives from a predetermined number of predefined objectives; initializing a curriculum, wherein the curriculum is based on the selected training objectives; performing at least one training exercise, wherein the training exercise is a component of the curriculum; providing real-time feedback to the trainee, wherein the real-time feedback is based on the performance of the trainee during the training exercise; evaluating the performance of the trainee based on data gathered and processed during the training exercise; optionally, adapting the curriculum based on the trainee's performance evaluation; and awarding credentials or certifications to the trainee following successful completion of the curriculum.
US09773405B2
In various representative aspects, a method and a system that guide an incident response team to efficiently respond to an information security incident based on a roadmap are disclosed herein. A delegated incident response lead may oversee the whole process, including the creation of the roadmap, the performance of the team members, and the statuses of all tasks. When an incident occurs, incident response team members are notified, and delegated tasks in the roadmap are laid out. With a secure collaboration platform, the incident response team may work together in a secure, uncompromised environment.
US09773404B2
Described herein is a module mobile emergency notification system. This system includes a module wireless emergency alerting device for receiving a user input indicative of an emergency situation and communicating the user input with a base station, a base station for communicating with the alerting device, and a mainframe for communicating with the base station and an alert notification display. The system allows a user to notify emergency responders of their emergency situation. The alerting device acts as a wireless panic system that is tied to a user's base station. Once triggered, the alerting device sends a signal to the base station which uses the on board Global Positioning System (GPS) to calculate its location. The base station sends the GPS coordinates and a user's profile information to the mainframe. The mainframe processes the information and displays it on an alert notification display for emergency responders or others to view.
US09773403B2
According to the present disclosure, a hygiene compliance system includes a handwash sensor, a badge, an occupant sensor, and a remote computer. The sensors and the badge may communicate with the remote computer to provide information regarding hygiene events. The hygiene compliance system determines whether the hygiene events comply with a hygiene operations scheme.
US09773401B1
A wearable device may connect to a wearable device over a short-range wireless connection. The user device may receive sensor data from the wearable device, where the wearable device has sensors. The user device may determine that a safety alert parameter has been met, and in response generate an audible alarm. The device may then determine that the connection between the user device and the wearable device has been disconnected, and in response, generate a second audible alarm.
US09773398B2
A flood warning system and method are described. The system obtains localized flood depth information and, based upon alert parameter information provided by registered users, creates personalized flood alerts for the registered users. The method uses ultrasound derived localized flood depth information and alert parameter information provided by registered users to provide personalized flood alerts to the registered users.
US09773395B2
A device (10) for converting a movement of a user into a voltage comprises a neck cord (20), a piezoelectric sensor (30) and a printed circuit board (40). The neck cord is coupled to the piezoelectric sensor and provides in use a pulling force that acts on the piezoelectric sensor in a first direction. The printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric sensor. The weight of the printed circuit board cause in use a gravity force to act on the piezoelectric sensor in a second direction, which differs from the first direction such that the movement of the user (5) wearing the neck cord causes a change in the shape of the piezoelectric sensor which in response thereto generates the voltage. The voltage may be used as a supply source for an electrical component (41) mounted on the PCB, or may be used as a wake-up signal for an electrical component such as a processor (41) or an accelerometer.
US09773392B2
A portable device, for example an offender monitor, can utilize a location detector, such as a GPS receiver, to provide location information for the device. The portable device can utilize geofences in connection with managing device location and can communicate over a cellular network, for example using a radio to transmit location readings over the network. The location detector and the radio can draw power from an onboard battery. To conserve battery life, the rate of acquiring location readings can be adjusted according to distance between the device and a geofence of interest. For example, a GPS data acquisition rate can increase as the device approaches a geofence and decrease as the device moves away from the geofence.
US09773382B1
A system and method for effecting a multiple-arm wager incorporating a plurality of events, such as sporting events, includes accessing a wagering system of the type including a central computer accessible by at least one network terminal interconnected thereto and hosting an executable instruction set for computing intermediate revised odds between a minimum and a maximum as a function of bettor-selected point shades to modify the line applicable to selected individual competing event teams for determining whether the selected teams have won the games for purposes of the wager. The line for each team is individually selectively point-shaded in accordance with the wishes of the bettor, and the betting odds for the wager are calculated as a function of the total number of points shaded for the selected teams.
US09773380B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a multilayer hybrid game with a real world engine connected by a communication link to a game world engine wherein the real world engine comprises a real world credit meter, a random number generator, and a real world credit pay table, wherein the real world engine is configured to receive from the game world engine via the communication link, a trigger of a wager of real world credit, determine a gambling outcome for the wager of real world credit in response to the trigger, and communicate to the game world engine via the communication link, the gambling outcome, allocate the randomly generated payout of real world credits to the credit meter, an entertainment software engine connected to the game world engine configured to execute a multilayer entertainment game that provides outcomes based upon a plurality of players' skillful execution of the multilayer entertainment game, wherein players at a same gameplay layer are engaged in gameplay subject to the same standards for gameplay progression and utilization of gameplay resources, and wherein impact of an action of a first player at a first gameplay layer on a second player's gameplay in a second gameplay layer are specified by at least one gameplay impact rule, receive input for a player's action during the multilayer entertainment game, communicate to the game world engine, the action taken by the player, generate a user interface display that depicts a representation of the multilayer entertainment game, a game world engine connected to the entertainment software engine and connected to the real world engine by the communication link wherein the game world engine is configured to monitor player actions for a gambling event occurrence where the gambling event occurrence triggers the wager of real world credits, communicate the trigger to the real world engine via the communication link, receive from the real world engine via the communication link, the gambling outcome, generate a multilayer entertainment game impact that can be used to modify the multilayer entertainment game gameplay based a plurality of players' skillful execution of the multilayer entertainment game and a sponsorship module constructed to: receive from the game world engine a sponsorship term; communicate to the player the sponsorship term through a user interface; receive from the user interface acceptance of the sponsorship term; send the command to execute the multilayer entertainment game based upon the sponsorship term.
US09773375B2
A gaming device includes a poker game where two cards are dealt face-up to at least one player and to a dealer. The gaming device enables the player to place an optional wager based on the initially dealt two card hand. A pay out for the optional wager is determined based on the probability that the final player hand will outrank the final dealer hand. The pay out is inversely proportional to the probability that the player will win. Therefore, if the player has a high probability of winning, the associated pay out will be relatively small. Also, if the player has a low probability of winning, the associated pay out will be relatively large. The gaming device enables the player to place multiple wagers after each of a plurality of community cards are dealt, where the associated pay out changes according to a revised probability of winning.
US09773369B2
Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for implementation of multi-reel symbols from prior game results on gaming devices. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to receive a first game initiation signal and spin reels on the display to show a first game outcome. The gaming device then determines if the results of the first game outcome are associated with a multi-reel symbol trigger condition. When it is determined that the trigger condition is satisfied, a multi-reel symbol is formed from symbols associated with the triggering condition by locking the symbols together. When the game device receives a second game initiation signal, it determines a second game outcome using the locked multi-reel symbol and then displays the determined second game outcome.
US09773365B2
A money handling apparatus that handles money includes an inlet for taking in money; a money storing unit that stores therein the money; an outlet for dispensing the money; a money transport unit that transports the money between the inlet and the outlet, and the money storing unit; a money recognition unit that is provided to the transport unit and recognizes the money; a check receiving port for receiving a check; a scanner that scans the check to acquire a check image; a check transport unit that transports the check between the check receiving port and the scanner; a check recognition unit that recognizes check information that includes at least a check amount from the check image acquired by the scanner; and a control unit that dispenses money equivalent to an amount of difference between a transaction amount acquired from outside the money handling apparatus and a sum of the check amount and an amount of the deposited money.
US09773362B2
The present invention is directed toward a communication device in communication with a motion sensing mechanism or other utility. The motion sensing mechanism or other utility is adapted to provide data to the communication device. The data is used to selectively allow or restrict the communication device's ability to transmit messages, which may include sensitive data, to a second electronic device. Thus, the motion sensing mechanism or other utility is utilized to limit access to data on the communication device to only instances when the utility provides the communication device with a recognized data input.
US09773357B2
A system and various methods for monitoring and evaluating the health of a shock strut assembly are illustrated. Multiple sensors, including gas temperature, gas pressure, oil pressure, and position sensor, may be used to gather data and evaluate the performance of the shock strut assembly. Various methods illustrated herein may evaluate the dynamic damping, static load support, and/or controlled stroke performance of the shock strut assembly.
US09773354B2
A control method for a terminal mounted in a vehicle includes: receiving at least one vehicle information message; extracting at least one piece of vehicle data from the at least one vehicle information message; generating a data package to be transmitted to a data center by grouping the at least one extracted piece of vehicle data into a designated unit; and transmitting the generated data package to the data center.
US09773352B2
A work machine includes: an information generation unit that generates work machine information as information on the work machine; a division unit that divides the work machine information by a predetermined data amount to generate divided work machine information; an information assignment unit that assigns attribute information indicating an attribute of the divided work machine information to the divided work machine information; and a communication unit that transmits, to an outside of the work machine, the work machine information or the divided work machine information to which the attribute information is assigned.
US09773344B2
A method for graphics processor clock scaling comprises the following steps. A percentage of idle-time is calculated, based upon an elapsed idle-time and an elapsed active time. A graphics processor clock rate is reduced if the percentage of idle time is higher than a high limit threshold. The graphics processor clock rate is increased if the percentage of idle time is lower than a low limit threshold.
US09773335B2
A display control device includes circuitry configured to acquire a movement distance of an imaging device configured to acquire a plurality of images including a first image and a second image, calculate, when a specific object is detected from the first image, a first positional relationship between the specific object and the imaging device, control a display to superimpose a specific image corresponding to the specific object on the first image based on the first positional relationship, and control the display to superimpose the specific image on the second image based on the first positional relationship, when the specific object is not detected from the second image and the movement distance is smaller than a specific value, the movement distance being from a first position where the first image is captured by the imaging devise to a second position where the second image is captured by the imaging devise.
US09773333B2
There is provided an information processing device including an acquisition section configured to acquire space position information of a terminal including a display section that displays an image in which a virtual image is superimposed on a captured image acquired by an imaging section, and a specifying section configured to specify display information for displaying the virtual image on the display section according to the space position information of the terminal.
US09773332B2
A wearable computing device comprises one or more eye pieces each of which further comprises a flexible frame surrounding a display screen and tactile elements arranged on the perimeter of the display screen. The tactile elements provide tactile feedback to the user that is synchronous with the display on the display screen. A detection system is also included in the flexible frame to monitor the movements of a wearer's eyes and the eye sockets and to execute various tasks in response to the detected movements. A visual cortex thought detector also coupled to the wearable computing device obtains information regarding the wearer's thoughts and manipulates a display on the display screen based on the obtained information.
US09773323B2
A method for calibrating a digital imager using a sequence of P input images, to which images a calibrating image is applied to obtain a sequence of P output images is provided. The calibration is performed by updating the calibrating image by estimating, in an iteration n, n being an integer higher than or equal to 1, an image representative of the calibrating image.
US09773316B2
Disclosed are a camera module and a method of measuring a distance by using the same. The camera module includes a light source to irradiate a light, a film having a pattern through which the light irradiated by the light source passes, an image sensor to acquire an image of a subject, and a distance estimating module to estimate a distance from the subject by using the image acquired by the image sensor. The acquired image includes a pattern image projected by the light passing through the pattern, and the distance estimating module estimates the distance by using the pattern image.
US09773314B2
Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation.
US09773305B2
A lesion diagnosis apparatus and a lesion diagnosis method are provided. A lesion-surrounding area determination unit is configured to determine an existence of a lesion-surrounding area from continuous medical images. A feedback provision unit is configured to generate feedback information about a presence of a lesion in the lesion-surrounding area.
US09773302B2
In one implementation, a system for three-dimensional object model tagging includes a model engine to generate a model of a three-dimensional (3D) object from a pre-scan of a 3D object; an analysis engine to analyze the model to identify a property of the 3D object predictive of a reconstruction of the 3D object; a tag engine to generate a tag that describes the identified property based on the analysis; and a display engine to display the tag.
US09773292B2
Methods and systems may provide for receiving, at a controller, a notification of a workload submission by an application lacking system level privileges. Additionally, the controller may be used to schedule a transfer of the workload submission to a graphics hardware component for execution, wherein the controller has system level privileges. In one example, the transfer bypasses an operating system and a kernel mode driver associated with the graphics hardware component.
US09773284B2
The invention provides a display interface in a social networking system that enables the presentation of information related to a user in a timeline or map view. The system accesses information about a user of a social networking system, including both data about the user and social network activities related to the user. The system then selects one or more of these pieces of data and/or activities from a certain time period and gathers them into timeline units based on their relatedness and their relevance to users. These timeline units are ranked by relevance to the user, and are used to generate a timeline or map view for the user containing visual representations of the timeline units organized by location or time. The timeline or map view is then provided to other users of the social networking system that wish to view information about the user.
US09773271B2
The present invention relates to an information processing system, method, and program which are capable of presenting a more persuasive recommendation reason. When a music CD meeting a user's preference is selected by a server apparatus, a recommendation screen is displayed onto the display of the user apparatus. The detailed information 11 including the titles of the pieces of music included in the recommended music CD and a recommendation reason 12 are displayed on the recommendation screen. A comment on the music CD (recommended music CD), which is written by a certain music commentator, is used for the display of the recommendation reason 12. Out of the comment, the words that has served for the recommendation or the sentences including that word are underlined, etc., and thus is displayed more noticeably than the other words and sentences. The present invention can be applied to an apparatus which selects and presents an item meeting the user's preference.
US09773268B2
Systems herein relate to acquiring shopper insights from home product use and influencing shoppers to make additional future purchases of products. Further, the invention relates to electronically communicating with the shopper at the second moment of truth to provide the shopper with one or more influential messages including, but not limited to product information, e-coupons, discounts, surveys, ingredients, ingredient suggestions, recipe suggestions, entertaining, consumer reports, shopping list suggestions, wish list suggestions, and inventory list suggestions.
US09773261B2
Systems and methods for providing interactive content for display in low-bandwidth communication environments are provided. A system can receive request for a web page including primary content. The system can determine that the end user computing device is communicating with the data processing system via a network connection corresponding to a bandwidth below a predetermined threshold. The system can, responsive to determining that the network connection corresponds to a bandwidth below the predetermined threshold, provide the web page including the primary video content and web page code invoking a low bandwidth advertisement rendering script responsive to the request for the web page. The low bandwidth advertisement rendering script can be configured to cause the client device to receive an ad rendering application and an ad content package, and then render an interactive ad corresponding to the ad content package.
US09773253B2
A system for providing a predetermined set of functionality to primary applications is provided. The system includes a primary application interface that receives a user identifier, primary application configuration data and an application identifier associated with one of the primary applications from a plurality of primary applications, wherein the user identifier and the application identifier for each of the primary applications are different. A feature functionality system alters one or more features to match the primary application, the feature functionality system configured to provide a feature to a user associated with the user identifier and to transfer a primary application currency amount to the primary application or to award the user a prize upon completion of the feature by the user. A billing system interface unlocks external feature functionality for a certain number of interactions or a certain time period or generates the primary application currency amount.
US09773250B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for analyzing product roles. The system receives a listing of products for classification into roles. The system receives volume data for each item, as well as demand coefficient. Elasticity of the products may be determined from the demand coefficients. Product volumes and elasticities may then be compared against one another by graphing the product by its volume versus elasticity. From this comparison the products may be classified into one or more roles. These roles include image items, niche products, assortment completers, and profit drivers. The assortment completer role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and low relative volume. Niche product role is populated with products which have low relative elasticity and low relative volume. The image item role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and high relative volume. And lastly, the profit driver role is populated with products which have low relative elasticity and high relative volume. This comparison may also include generating an “image value” for the product.
US09773247B1
The invention is directed to a method and system for providing an interface including modular customizable elements for implementation by a system user. The method and system have particular application for financial accounts, such as credit card accounts. The interface may adapt in response to user behaviors. However, the user may also customize features of the interface. Thus, a behavioral monitoring and analysis system is provided for monitoring account holder spending behaviors and analyzing the spending behaviors. Account holder customization tools may be presented to the account holders through a user interface, the account holder customization tools allowing account holders to modify a user interface display of account related parameters by inputting parameters into a computing system. An experience customization engine may be implemented by a processor for receiving input from both the behavioral monitoring and analysis system and the account holder customization tools in order to formulate the user interface display of related account parameters. User interface presentation components may be provided for presenting the account holder with a user interface display of account parameters and the account holder customization tools for allowing the account holders to modify the presented user interface display.
US09773246B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided for efficiently authorizing a transaction initiated by a consumer. An authorization can be generated before the consumer actually initiates the transaction. For example, a future transaction can be predicted, and an authorization can be generated for the predicted transaction. In this manner, the authorization can be ready and quickly used when the consumer does initiate the transaction. Previous transactions made by the consumer can be used to predict when the future transaction is likely. In various examples, the authorization can be sent to a specific merchant or to the consumer for use when the consumer initiates the predicted transaction, or saved by an authorization server for use in response to an authorization request from the merchant.
US09773243B1
A system may include a point-of-sale system that gathers payment card track data from a payment card and a payment gateway that processes the track data to authorize purchase transactions. Discretionary data in a discretionary field of the track data may be compressed to create space that may be used to accommodate additional security data. The sensitive information may be moved to the discretionary field. The compressed discretionary data and the sensitive information may be encrypted using a structure preserving encryption algorithm and a managed encryption key. The managed encryption key or other additional security data may be added the discretionary field. Track data that has been modified in this way may be conveyed to the payment gateway for processing. The payment gateway may extract the key management data, decrypt the encrypted data, and reconstruct the original track data by decompressing the discretionary data and replacing the sensitive track data.
