US09861004B2

In one general embodiment, a server rack is provided. The server rack includes a sidewall and an aperture in the sidewall. The server rack also includes a first fixed rail within the sidewall, and a second fixed rail within the sidewall. Moreover, the server rack includes a retractable terminal configured to extend through the aperture of the sidewall.
US09861001B1

A ruggedized protective case for a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other like mobile communications or computing device may include a rigid inner housing shielding the reverse face of the mobile device and a flexible, rubberized outer housing including reinforced impact-absorbing corners. The case may include a kickstand/easel hingedly attached to the rear inner housing, positionable by a user for holding the mobile device at any desired angle to a substantially horizontal surface. The kickstand may be extended by an easel bracket to support a portable keyboard of the mobile device for vehicular use.
US09861000B2

A ventilation structure (10A) includes a housing (50) having an opening portion (50a) and a ventilation member (1A) formed of a porous resin and attached to the housing (50) so as to cover the opening portion (50a). In the ventilation structure (10A), the ventilation member (1A) is fitted to a side surface (50d) of a projecting portion (50b) provided on an outer surface of a wall portion (50g) of the housing (50), with at least one of the projecting portion (50b) and the ventilation member (1A) being elastically deformed.
US09860987B2

An electronic assembly comprises a semiconductor device that has conductive pads on a semiconductor first side and a metallic region on a semiconductor second side opposite the first side. A lead frame provides respective separate terminals that are electrically and mechanically connected to corresponding conductive pads. A first heat sink comprises a first component having a mating side. A portion of the mating side is directly bonded with the metallic region of the semiconductor device. A circuit board has an opening for receiving the semiconductor device. The lead frame extends outward toward the circuit board or a board first side of the circuit board.
US09860986B2

Circuit arrangement for vehicles with at least one semiconductor element 30 and at least one first metal carrier plate 2a and a metal circuit board 2b. A multifaceted scope of application is provided if the carrier plate 2a is electrically insulated from the circuit board 2b and the carrier plate 2a is electrically linked with at least one of the circuit boards 2b by means of at least one semiconductor device 30 so that the carrier plate 2a and the circuit board 2b form an electrical three-pole.
US09860977B1

A transparent flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) of reduced thickness but good conductivity and transparency includes an insulating resin layer. The insulating resin layer has a first surface and a second surface. At least one through hole is defined in the insulating resin layer through the first surface and the second surface. A conductive wiring layer is formed on the first surface and a wiring layer is formed on the second surface. The conductive wiring layers are made of electrically conductive resin, and have wiring openings. A cover film covers each of the conductive wiring layers, and further infills the wiring openings.
US09860972B2

An electrical connection interface is provided. The electrical connection interface includes a first ground plane layer, a second ground plane layer, a first substrate and a second substrate. The second ground plane layer is positioned to overlap the first ground plane layer. The first substrate includes a first substrate conductive lead with a first interface region connected to and electrically insulated from the first ground plane layer. The second substrate includes a second substrate conductive lead with a second interface region connected to the first substrate conductive lead and the second ground plane layer. The second substrate conductive lead is electrically insulated from the second ground plane layer.
US09860956B2

The present disclosure provides systems for generating tunable white light. The systems include a plurality of LED strings that generate light with color points that fall within blue, yellow/green, red, and cyan color ranges, with each LED string being driven with a separately controllable drive current in order to tune the generated light output.
US09860947B2

The invention proposes a driver circuit (1, 20) for illuminants, particularly LEDs, having: —a circuit (2), such as an inverter in the form of a half-bridge circuit that has a resonant circuit (3), that is clocked by means of at least one switch (FET1, FET2), —a transformer (L2) that follows the resonant circuit (3) and from whose secondary winding (L2b) the illuminants can be supplied with power, and —a control circuit (ST) that clocks the switches (FET1, FET2) of the clocked circuit (2), wherein an actual signal (ILED_PRIM) that indirectly reproduces the current through the illuminants and that is inductively output on the secondary side (L2/2) of the transformer (L2) is fed back to the control circuit (ST), wherein the control circuit (ST) is designed: —to regulate the current through the illuminants by clocking at least one switch (FET1, FET2) of the clocked circuit (2) on the basis of the actual signal (ILED_PRIM), and/or —to use the actual signal (ILED_PRIM) to record a fault state following the secondary winding (L2b) of the transformer (L2) and/or the illuminants and to take this as a basis for outputting a fault signal and/or for altering the actuation of the clocked circuit (2).
US09860940B2

Systems and methods are provided for a high performance heater. In an embodiment, the high performance heater comprises a first stackable tray comprising a first alignment pin that insulates a first heating element disposed in the first stackable tray; a second stackable tray comprising a second alignment pin that insulates a second heating element disposed in the second stackable tray, wherein a top of the first alignment pin fits in to a cut out of a bottom of the second alignment pin when the first and second stackable trays are stacked, and wherein the first and second stackable trays comprise one or more materials, an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and wherein an area between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the stackable trays comprises at least one cut out portion that allows expansion of the material(s) when the high performance heater is at high temperatures.
US09860930B2

An electronic device includes a processor and a wireless communication module, The processor transmits one or more touch link messages via at least one transmitting electrode of a touch panel device to another electronic device in proximity to the electronic device and receives one or more touch link messages via at least one receiving electrode of the touch panel device from the other electronic device to obtain essential information for establishing a wireless communication connection with the other electronic device. The wireless communication module establishes a wireless communication connection with the other electronic device according to the essential information.
US09860924B2

The invention provides for a wireless communications terminal (502), and related system and method, for wirelessly communicating with a network (504, 506). The terminal (502) is arranged to transmit, as part of a wireless connection establishment procedure for forming a wireless connection between the terminal (502) and the network (504, 506), wireless-connection establishment signalling (510) including a small-data indicator to indicate to the network (504) that transmission of an amount of data below a threshold value is required from the terminal (502) by way of the wireless connection to the network (504, 506).
US09860921B2

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving mobile data based on an ASR is provided. The mobile data transmission method of a first mobile terminal including transmitting a dRTS frame and creating an ASR list; performing channel access to a certain channel based on an ASR back-off process; transmitting an srDATA frame from the certain channel to a second mobile terminal based on the ASR list; and receiving an srACK frame from the second mobile terminal in response to the srDATA frame, wherein the certain channel is a channel to/from which a third mobile terminal transmits and receives a data frame, the srDATA frame and data frame are transmitted from the certain channel at a certain point, and the ASR list is information on a mobile terminal that does not collide with the data frame when the first mobile terminal transmits the srDATA frame and receives the srACK frame.
US09860909B2

Technology for efficient distributed scheduling is provided using tentative grants. A UE can receive a transmission request from a Tx UE, and from additional Tx UEs. Each Tx request can include a priority level of the transmitter UE sending the transmission request, to form a priority list. An incompatible list can be formed based on a signal to interference ratio of each transmitter with the UE. A grant message and the incompatible list can be transmitted for n−1 iterations from selected UEs based on the priority list and incompatible list. A tentative bandwidth grant can then be transmitted at an nth iteration to tentatively allow the transmitter UE to send a D2D communication to the UE in the bandwidth grant.
US09860907B2

According to embodiments herein a method, performed by a first base station (12), is provided for handling scheduling of Time Division Duplex, TDD, uplink and/or downlink subframes for a wireless terminal (10), which wireless terminal (10) is in dual connectivity with a first cell served by said first base station (12) and a second cell served by a second base station (13). The first base station 12: identifies a subframe in which an uplink/downlink scheduling conflict will occur between the first cell and the second cell due to a difference between a TDD configuration of the first cell and a TDD configuration of the second cell; determines a scheduling for the identified subframe based on at least one scheduling parameter; and sends, to the second base station (13), a scheduling instruction comprising the determined scheduling for the identified subframe.
US09860900B2

A control information interpretation method of a terminal and a base station in a mobile communication system, and a terminal and a base station concerning the same, respectively, are provided. The control information interpretation method of a terminal includes receiving, by the terminal, control information including transport block information and antenna port related information; identifying whether a codeword 0 is enabled and a codeword 1 is disabled, or both the codeword 0 and the codeword 1 are enabled based on the transport block information; and interpreting the antenna port related information according to a result of the identification.
US09860896B2

The present invention discloses an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) candidate determining method and device, and relates to the field of wireless communications, so as to avoid EPDCCH blocking and improve reliability of control information transmission. The method of the present invention includes: determining an EPDCCH resource set p in a subframe k, where the EPDCCH resource set p includes NECCE,p,k=q×r enhanced control channel elements (ECCEs), an EPDCCH candidate of an EPDCCH with an aggregation level being L corresponds to L ECCEs having consecutive reference numerals, and an EPDCCH candidate is capable of carrying an EPDCCH; and determining the number of EPDCCH candidates at the aggregation level L of a carrier corresponding to an index Cellindex and an ECCE corresponding to each EPDCCH candidate, where the ECCE corresponding to each EPDCCH candidate at the aggregation level L is related to the index Cellindex.
US09860894B2

Disclosed is a method of transmitting data over a plurality of wireless frequency bands between a transmitter and a receiver during one of a plurality of rounds, the method comprising: computing a target spacing in time between a start time of transmission in a first band and a start time of transmission in a second band dependent on a first data rate in the one round and in the first band; commencing transmitting, by the transmitter, a first frame of data over the first band at the first data rate; waiting for the computed target spacing to elapse, and then commencing transmitting, by the transmitter, a second frame of data over the second hand at a second data rate.
US09860888B2

A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The apparatus performs LBRM. Before performing LBRM, the apparatus reports a plurality of UE categories to an eNB. In addition, the apparatus determines whether signaling in relation to the UE categories is received from the eNB. In addition, the apparatus selects a UE category from the plurality of UE categories based on the reported UE categories and the signaling in relation to the UE categories. In addition, the apparatus determines a total number of soft channel bits to use for LBRM at the UE based on the selected UE category. Subsequently, the apparatus performs LBRM based on the determined total number of soft channel bits.
US09860885B2

According to the present invention, there is provided a base station device, a terminal device, a communication method, an integrated circuit, and a radio communication system enabling a base station and a terminal device to decide a parameter related to a reference signal and efficiently communicate. A terminal device receives a reference signal associated with a physical downlink shared channel, the terminal device including means that receives the reference signal generated on the basis of a physical layer cell identity in a case in which a predetermined downlink control information format is used for scheduling of the physical downlink shared channel, and means that receives the reference signal generated on the basis of a parameter configured by a higher layer in a case in which a downlink control information format other than the predetermined downlink control information format is used for scheduling of the physical downlink shared channel.
US09860882B2

A method of operating an end node to communicate with a central node, the method comprising: wirelessly receiving, a beacon signal periodically-transmitted from the central node; each beacon signal denoting the start of a single frame; each frame being organized to include a downlink (DL) phase which precedes an uplink (UL) phase; and a payload of the beacon signal including an offset which represents a starting time of the UL phase. The method further comprises: generating a message; selecting, unbeknownst to the central node, at least one UL logical-channel, respectively; and wirelessly transmitting, during the UL phase, at least a portion of the message from the end node over the selected at least one UL logical-channel according to a slotted ALOHA technique.
US09860881B2

A wireless communication method includes allocating physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) data in first slot to a first orthogonal cover code (OCC). The method also includes allocating PUCCH data in a second slot of the same subframe to a different orthogonal cover code (OCC). Another method includes mapping PUCCH resources to physical resource blocks based on a user equipment (UE) specific signaling parameter (e.g., a resource index) and a number of symbols in a slot of a subframe.
US09860878B2

A wireless communication base station apparatus that allows the number of times of blind decodings at a mobile station to be reduced without increasing the overhead caused by notifying information. In this apparatus, a CCE allocation part allocates allocation information allocated to a PDCCH received from modulation parts to a particular one of a plurality of search spaces that is corresponding to a CCE aggregation size of the PDCCH. A placement part then places the allocation information in one of downstream line resources, reserved for the PDCCH, that is corresponding to the CCE of the particular search space to which the allocation information has been allocated. A radio transmission part then transmits an OFDM symbol, in which the allocation information has been placed, to the mobile station from an antenna.
US09860877B2

According to one embodiment, a method for a wireless local area includes: generating a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) to be transmitted to a target station; generating a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) by attaching a PLCP preamble to the MPDU; selecting a transmission channel; and transmitting the PPDU to the target station over the transmission channel. Selecting the transmission channel includes: performing clear channel assessment (CCA) on a first channel to determine whether the first channel is idle; and only after it is determined that the first channel is idle, selecting the first channel and at least one idle second channel as the transmission channel. The PLCP preamble includes channel allocation information indicating a bandwidth of the transmission channel.
US09860873B2

Disclosed are a D2D data transmission method and device. The method comprises: determining, by a D2D data sending end, a state of each sending opportunity in a sending window in the same manner as a D2D data receiving end, wherein the sending window is uniformly divided into a plurality of sending opportunities, and the state of each sending opportunity comprises a data sending state and a silent state; and sending D2D data to the D2D data receiving end in the sending opportunity of each data sending state in the sending window. By means of the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, a D2D data sending end sends data on different resources (sending opportunities) or becomes silent, so that different D2D data sending ends are staggered on the resources, thereby alleviating the influence of “near-far” effects.
US09860872B2

An integrated WLAN/WWAN Radio Access Technology (“RAT”) architecture is described, in which signaling used to control the integration of the WLAN/WWAN architecture is performed over the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (“PDCP”) layer, and/or at other layers (e.g., a layer between the PDCP layer and the Internet Protocol (“IP”) layer). When involving the PDCP layer, non-standard PDCP packets, including variable length PDCP packets, may be used. The integrated architecture may provide a network controlled framework for performing traffic steering and radio resource management.
US09860870B2

Techniques are described herein that enhance the following: (1) how a wireless device conveys a change of its downlink (DL) coverage class (CC) to a network; and (2) how the network and the wireless device each perform a new paging group procedure to align coverage class paging groups within a given Extended Discontinuous Receive (eDRX) cycle for the wireless device. In addition, devices namely a wireless device, a radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem), and a core network node (e.g., Serving GPRS Support Node) that implement these techniques are described herein.
US09860865B2

A portable encoded information reading (EIR) terminal for incorporation in a data collection system having a host computer, a plurality of peer EIR terminals, and a plurality of interconnected networks including one or more wireless networks, can comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, an encoded information reading (EIR) device configured to output raw message data containing an encoded message or decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message, and at least one wireless communication interface. The EIR terminal can provide IEEE 802.11-conformant wireless distribution system services, including association, disassociation, distribution, integration, and re-association, to the peer EIR terminals. The EIR terminal can be associated with a home network and have a home address belonging to the address range associated with the home network.
US09860864B2

Disclosed herein are a method of performing synchronization in a distributed wireless communication system, and a terminal supporting the same. A distributed wireless communication system includes a plurality of networks. Time resources of each of a plurality of networks are divided into a synchronization slot, a discovery slot, a peering slot, and a data slot. A first terminal belonging to a first network determines whether a synchronization signal is received from a terminal belonging to a second network in the data slot of the first network. The first terminal detects whether it has met the second network that is out of synchronization with the first network if the synchronization signal is determined to have been received.
US09860861B2

A method for timing synchronization of an OFDM signal is useful for a sniffing base station (BS) to establish BS synchronization with another BS in a mobile communication system. The method comprises estimating a timing offset of the signal from a reference sampling instant. In estimating the timing offset, first determine a maximum detection range of an estimable timing offset estimated solely by an observed phase difference between two pre-selected pilot symbols in the signal. Then the timing offset is determined as an integer multiple of the maximum detection range plus a residual timing offset. The multiplying integer is determined from a set of candidate integers. According to a candidate integer under consideration, a portion of an OFDM-signal sample sequence is masked out and a resultant signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) is computed. The multiplying integer is determined by identifying the candidate integer having the greatest SINR.
US09860860B2

A user equipment (UE) may comprise a detector which is configured to detect a first sidelink synchronization signal. The UE may comprise a receiver which is configured to receive a physical sidelink channel. The physical sidelink channel may carry information specifying whether or not a source of the first sidelink synchronization signal is in-coverage. The first sidelink synchronization signal may be generated by using at least a first identity.
US09860858B2

Provided are a method and device for signaling configuration, sending or reception, the method for signaling configuration comprises includes: a base station configures the signaling describing the subframe bearing the Synchronization Track Reference Signals (STRS) for a carrier, and the base station does not send the STRS and/or the PSS/SSS in the carrier when the signaling configured is null, while the base station sends the PSS/SSS in the carrier in a predetermined manner and sends the STRS in the carrier according to the signaling configuration information when the signaling configured is not null; the base station sends the signaling to a User Equipment (UE); the UE receives the signaling sent by the base station, analyzes the signaling, and judges the PSS/SSS is not sent in the carrier when the signaling is null, or judges the PSS/SSS is sent in the carrier when the signaling is not null.
US09860842B2

A method for processing data, a terminal, a subscriber identity module card and a system are disclosed. The method includes: when a terminal is in a dormant state, keeping providing a working power supply for a subscriber identity module card and a specified electronic device within the terminal, so that the subscriber identity module card and the specified electronic device keep in a working state; the subscriber identity module card collecting working data of the specified electronic device and then storing the working data; and when the terminal quits from the dormant state, the terminal extracting the working data.
US09860836B2

A communication system capable of preventing unnecessary switching of an energy saving cell between a normal operation state and an energy saving state. An energy saving cell (ES cell) is in a dormant state that is the energy saving state. In this case, when being notified of a wake-up request message from a communication terminal device (UE), the ES cell executes access restriction control to judge whether the UE can access its own cell. If judging that the UE can access its own cell, the ES cell switches on its own cell and shifts from the dormant state to an active state that is the normal operation state.
US09860834B2

One embodiment of the present specification provides a method by which a user equipment (UE) reselects a network node in charge of a control plane. The method can comprise the steps of: retransmitting, by the UE, a non-access stratum (NAS) request message if the UE transmitted the NAS request message to a network node in charge of the control plane through a base station but has not received a response message; transmitting, by the UE, an access stratum (AS) message, which includes an indication showing no response from the network node, to the base station if the retransmission of the NAS request message has repeated by a preset value or more; and reselecting another network node in charge of the control plane instead of the network node in a disabled state if information indicating that the network node is in the disabled state is received from the base station.
US09860809B2

A Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, node and a method performed by the WLAN node for assisting a Station, STA, in selecting a WLAN connection for the STA., The WLAN node provides a first WLAN and a second WLAN with overlapping coverage, the first WLAN providing connections for a first number of STAs and the second WLAN providing connections for a second number of STAs, whereby the second number of STAs is a subset of the first number of STAs. The second number of STAs is being authorized to connect to the second WLAN. The method comprises detecting that the STA connected to or trying to connect to the first WLAN of the WLAN node is authorized to access the second WLAN of the WLAN node and sending a message to the STA comprising an indication to the STA to connect to the second WLAN of the WLAN node.
US09860799B2

Provided is a signaling method carried out by user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: starting a prohibit timer regarding the transmission of a first UE-originated indicator; and restarting the prohibit timer when a handover indication message is received from a network.
US09860783B2

A congestion state reporting method and an access network device are provided by the present invention. The method comprises: obtaining, by an access network device, an identifier of a gateway device corresponding to bearers, and reporting to the gateway device congestion state information of a cell covered by the access network device via part of bearers from the bearers corresponding to the identifier. The method mentioned above can avoid the problem in the prior art that the congestion state is further aggravated, so that the gateway device can process the problem of cell congestion more rapidly, and can reduce the processing complexity of the gateway device in the prior art.
US09860779B2

A described embodiment includes a method for managing operational components on wireless base station including providing a base station. The base station includes a software defined network (SDN) configured to support at least one virtual machine. A computing platform is provided that is in communication with the base station. The computing platform includes at least one virtual machine management unit. The virtual machine management unit configures the at least one virtual machine on the base station to perform at least one function of a base station.
US09860777B2

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving channel status information in a mobile communication system including a distributed antenna system. The channel status information feedback method of the present invention includes transmitting, to a base station, received signal strengths of reference signals transmitted through at least one of antennas distributed in a service area of the base station and transmitting, to a base station, channel status information corresponding to at least one antenna selected by the base station.
US09860769B2

Systems and methods for optimization of mobile traffic directed to private networks and operator configurability thereof are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method, which may be implemented on a system, for identifying a network accessed by mobile traffic at a mobile device, identifying an operator of the network, and/or determining whether the mobile traffic is directed towards a private or public network. In response to determining that the mobile traffic is directed towards a private network, determining whether the private network is owned by or operated by the operator. Optimization of the mobile traffic is performed based on policies set by the operator. In general, the system maintains and/or enforces different sets of policies regarding mobile traffic optimization set by different and multiple operators.
US09860765B2

Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. In one aspect, a method of wireless communication includes receiving, by a first wireless device, beamforming information from a station over a period of time, the beamforming information including a feedback signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value and compressed feedback matrix. The method also includes determining one or more SNR gradient metrics for the station based at least in part on the received feedback SNR values and the received compressed feedback matrices.
US09860759B1

A method is disclosed comprising: determining, using a processor, whether a radio model of at least one radio node associated with a data set is incomplete based on a comparison between the coverage area of the radio model of the at least one radio node and a cumulative coverage area generated out of radio models of the at least one radio node associated with a plurality of data sets, wherein a data collection comprises the plurality of data sets and the data collection is indicative to at least one indoor radio map. Further disclosed are a corresponding apparatus, a corresponding system and a corresponding software program.
US09860757B2

An analyzer resource receives usage information collected by an application executing in a roaming mobile device; the usage information indicates geographical regions (and potentially specific locations) in which the roaming mobile communication device wirelessly accesses a remote network (such as the Internet) using any of one or more different wireless access services. The analyzer resource is further operable to receive resource information indicating locations of physical network resources available to support installation of wireless access points in the geographical regions and the location of any existing wireless access points already installed. The analyzer resource then uses at least the application-collected usage information and the resource information to identify where to install at least one new wireless access point. Further disclosed embodiments herein include generating a respective map indicating in which of one or more respective geographical regions it is desirable to install a respective new wireless access point.
US09860755B2

The present invention relates to a method for setting operating channels in a white space region and to an apparatus therefor. In particular, the method for a device to set operating channels in a white space region includes the steps of: obtaining information on available TV channels from a geolocation database; and setting operating channels including multiple bandwidths in a plurality of consecutive TV channels, wherein the central frequencies of signals that are transmitted over two consecutive TV channels included in the plurality of consecutive TV channels, respectively, can be moved by as much as a first offset (m) and a second offset (n) in the direction of the center of the two consecutive TV channels, respectively.
US09860749B2

Systems and methods for verification conducted at a secure element are disclosed. In a method of verification conducted at a secure element interacting with a mobile device, the secure element receives at least one of an identifier of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) and an identifier of the mobile device. The secure element then compares each of the received at least one identifiers against a registered identifier of corresponding form stored in a non-volatile memory of the secure element. If the received at least one identifiers match corresponding registered identifiers stored in the non-volatile memory, the secure element permits further interaction with the mobile device. If at least one of the received identifiers do not match corresponding registered identifiers stored in the non-volatile memory, the secure element denies further interaction with the mobile device.
US09860742B2

A bandwidth estimation-based streaming content processing method and apparatus of a terminal is provided. The streaming content processing method includes establishing a communication channel with a network selected among a plurality of cellular communication networks and a short range communication network, detecting a playback request signal for playing a streaming content received through the communication channel, configuring a fixed bandwidth corresponding to the selected network as an available bandwidth of the streaming content, transmitting a download request for a data version corresponding to the fixed bandwidth to a server providing the streaming content, downloading the requested data from the server, and playing the streaming content of the downloaded data.
US09860741B2

An electronic device and method are disclosed. The electronic device includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication, a display unit, and at least one processor, which implements the method, including in response to detecting a request to enter a wireless communication maximization mode, controlling the display unit to display an option for configuring the wireless communication maximization mode, detecting a selection input to the option, and changing a configuration of at least one component of the electronic device to reduce noise from the at least one component generated in a wireless communication frequency band according to the selected option.
US09860735B2

Techniques for use in the communication of supplemental non access stratum (NAS) information in a network are described. In one illustrative example, a mobile device operates to send to a network an initial NAS message associated with a NAS procedure. The mobile device further operates to send to the network a supplemental NAS message associated with the NAS procedure, where the supplemental NAS message includes supplemental NAS information. Several related and alternative techniques are provided.
US09860731B1

Disclosed is a system for managing wireless transmitting devices in which a wireless transmission from a transmission device is detected within or about a set area and an allowability of the transmission device to continue transmitting is based on an identification information, of the device, a location of the device and a number being called by the device.
US09860724B2

An occurrence of an emergency situation pertinent to people presently located within a venue can be identified. Responsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinent to the people located within the venue, location specific emergency information can be automatically communicated to a first mobile device. The location specific emergency information can describe an emergency plan for exiting the venue from a present location of the first mobile device within the venue. The location specific emergency information can be configured to be presented by the first mobile device to a user of the first mobile device to safely guide the user from the present location to an exit of the venue.
US09860710B2

A system may include in-vehicle components arranged symmetrically within and delimiting boundaries of a vehicle interior; and a processor programmed to identify signal strength information indicative of distance of a personal device from wireless transceivers of each of the in-vehicle components; and compute, using the signal strength information, a quadrant and diagonal sector including a location of the personal device, and whether the location is within the vehicle interior. A method may include identifying a quadrant of a vehicle including a location of a personal device by comparing signal strength information of pairs of wireless transceivers in adjacent quadrants to signal strength information of wireless transceivers opposite the pairs; and determining a diagonal sector including the location by comparing the signal strength information from the wireless transceiver of the quadrant to the signal strength information from the wireless transceiver in a diagonally-opposite quadrant.
US09860702B1

Systems and methods are described that use anchors to correct satellite-based geographic positioning data in a network of moving things. A plurality of anchor nodes using low-cost, non-differential GPS capable receiver may be used to correct positioning information of a plurality of other nodes of a network of moving things. Nodes in the network may share correction information produced by the anchor nodes with neighboring nodes, enabling other nodes of the network to correct positioning information produced by their own receivers of satellite-based geo-positioning information.
US09860696B2

A system includes circuitry configured to: acquire first display information corresponding to a first object included in image data captured by an apparatus, determine whether second display information corresponding to a second object, which is not included in the image data captured by the apparatus, is to be provided to the apparatus, acquire the second display information corresponding to the second object when it is determined that the second display information is to be provided to the apparatus, and transmit, to the apparatus, the first display information corresponding to the first object and the second display information corresponding to the second object.
US09860695B2

Techniques for supporting periodic and other location services with Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) and other location architectures are described. The techniques can provide position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET) to a SUPL agent periodically and/or based on trigger events. A Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP) receives from the SUPL agent a request for position estimates for the SET. The H-SLP starts a SUPL location session with the SET. For each of at least one reporting event during the location session, the H-SLP obtains a position estimate for the SET and sends the position estimate to the SUPL agent. The position estimate may be derived by the SET and sent to the H-SLP. Alternatively, the position estimate may be derived by the H-SLP based on measurements from the SET.
US09860694B2

A computing platform, comprising at least one computing device including a plurality of device applications; a command server disposed at a first location and configured to provide data communication to the at least one computing device by way of a radio access point and to receive data communication from the at least one computing device; a first radio device communicably coupled to the at least one computing device and the command server, the first radio device being coupled to the radio access point to enable data communication between the at least one computing device and the command server. At least one device application of the at least one computing device is configured to transmit a plurality of data including location data and at least one of image data, text data, and voice data, the location data corresponding to a location of one or more personnel positioned at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location.
US09860691B2

The present disclosure relates to a positioning node, a core network node, a radio network (RN) node, and a user equipment (UE) of a wireless network, and to a related method of supporting UE positioning. The method comprises transmitting UE radio access capability information and/or radio network node capability information to the positioning node. The transmission of UE radio access capability information is either unsolicited or triggered by a request. The UE radio access capability information may be transmitted from the CN node, from the RN node or from the UE, and the RN node capability information is received from the RN node itself. The positioning node supports positioning of the UE based on the received UE radio access capability information and/or the radio network node capability information.
US09860689B2

In an approach for notifying a user of a location of a device, a processor receives a first location of a first device. A processor determines that the first device has been separated from a user of the first device. A processor determines a second device located at, within a first predetermined threshold, the first location. A processor sends a first notification to the second device, wherein the notification includes, at least, that the first device is located nearby.
US09860684B2

The present disclosure relates to the electronic communication field and discloses a dual-Mode device and a method for achieving the simultaneous communication therein. The dual-mode device has a dual-mode protocol stack scheduling mechanism and uniformly schedules the transmission event of the Bluetooth protocol stack and the ZigBee protocol stack. The method comprising the following steps: after matching the dual-mode device with a Bluetooth host as a slave and the ZigBee target device as a control device, the dual-mode device conducting the Bluetooth connection maintenance according to preset interval and processing the information exchange with the ZigBee target device at each Bluetooth connection interval. Compared to the prior art, the present disclosure allows the smart devices to support two types of communication protocols, achieves the interaction between the smart devices using the two different wireless standards, and greatly improves the communication efficiency of network with the Bluetooth and ZigBee devices.
US09860681B2

A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations for selecting a cellular carrier. 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 through a cellular (cell) carrier, 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; cell carrier selection logic on the IoT hub to implement a set of rules to select between two or more cell carriers through which to connect the IoT hub to the IoT service, the rules being based, at least in part, on a cost associated with connecting to each of the two or more cell carriers and connectivity data associated with cell connections between the IoT hub and each of the two or more cell carriers.
US09860680B2

A Bluetooth controller associated with a host device can be configured to automatically configure and setup a Bluetooth LE HID without the use of hidden menus or other setup options involving multiple steps (or other input devices). The Bluetooth controller executes background scan operations to detect at least one Bluetooth LE HID to connect to the host device. Each Bluetooth packet received at the Bluetooth controller is analyzed to determine whether the received Bluetooth packet is a predefined Bluetooth LE HID packet type transmitted by the Bluetooth LE HID. In response to determining that the received Bluetooth packet is a predefined Bluetooth LE HID packet type transmitted by the Bluetooth LE HID, the received Bluetooth packet is provided to a Bluetooth LE HID module of the Bluetooth controller. Otherwise, the received Bluetooth packet is provided to a Bluetooth HCI module of the Bluetooth controller.
US09860679B2

A system for determining the location of a person relative to a vehicle. In one embodiment, the system includes a first device comprising a first Bluetooth transceiver in the vehicle, a portable second device comprising a second Bluetooth transceiver and a first application program. The first application program identifies a first condition in which a link based on Bluetooth RF transmission exists between the first device and the second device when the person is in a first position close to or in the vehicle. The application program determines when the link is broken based on drop in signal level and provides notification through a network to a computer system when a determination is made that the link is broken. The notification is indicative of the person having moved farther away from the vehicle to a second position.
US09860663B2

A transmitting device comprises a binaural circuit (601) which provides a plurality of binaural rendering data sets, each binaural rendering data set comprising data representing parameters for a virtual position binaural rendering. Specifically, head related binaural transfer function data may be included in the data sets. A representation circuit (603) provides a representation indication for each of the data sets. The representation indication for a data set is indicative of the representation used by the data set. An output circuit (605) generates a bitstream comprising the data sets and the representation indications. The bitstream is received by a receiver (701) in a receiving device. A selector (703) selects a selected binaural rendering data set based on the representation indications and a capability of the apparatus, and an audio processor (707) processes the audio signal in response to data of the selected binaural rendering data set.
US09860657B2

Systems and methods to control a plurality of multimedia players in one or more groups are disclosed. For example, in a network including a plurality of independent playback devices, an example method includes maintaining, by an independent playback device, a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes. Each zone scene identifies a group configuration associated with two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices. The example method includes transmitting, by the independent playback device via a network interface, the zone configuration to a controller device. Additionally, an example playback device is disclosed which is configured to maintain a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes, each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of a plurality of independent playback devices; and transmit, via a network interface, the zone configuration to a controller device.
US09860648B2

Improvement to a sound system for an elevator system and method for implementing the sound system for an elevator. The elevator sound system is improved by replacing at least one loudspeaker to be used in the sound system with a plate-like electrostatic actuator producing a directed sound field. The patent application also contains an independent claim for a method for implementing a sound system for an elevator.
US09860646B2

There is disclosed herein a transducer for acoustic communications through a series arrangement of fluid and solid media, the transducer comprising: —a signal processor configured to implement a communications scheme at and around a center frequency of at least 1 MHz; a piezoelectric element for activation in accord with the communications scheme; an electrode electrically connected to the signal processor, and being attached to the piezoelectric element; and a substrate, having the piezoelectric element mounted thereon, wherein an aspect of the electrode at the piezoelectric element is approximately equal to the acoustic wavelength of an acoustic wave in the substrate at the center frequency. There is further disclosed a remote monitoring device employing at least one of the transducers described, in concert with a further transducer. Still further, there is disclosed a method of communicating using the transducer described herein.
US09860625B2

A mobile device system that includes left and right earphones, and a mobile device connectable to the left and right earphones. Each of the left and right earphones includes at least one of an acceleration sensor and a geomagnetic sensor. The mobile device includes a controller that monitors a wearing state of the individual left and right earphones by a user on a basis of output from the least one of the acceleration sensors and the geomagnetic sensors, and controls a behavior of the mobile device connected to the left and right earphones according to the monitored wearing state of the left and right earphones by the user.
US09860616B1

A network appliance may include a signal splitter that splits an incoming signal into multiple portions. The signal splitter can direct one portion of the incoming signal to a switching fabric and another portion of the incoming signal to an optical switch. By monitoring the power intensity of the portion of the incoming signal received by the switching fabric, the network appliance can seamlessly switch between a bypass traffic path and a pass-through traffic path without losing network traffic caused by gaps in network connectivity. Such a configuration also enables the network appliance to maintain an accurate record of the logical connectivity state even when the network appliance is in the bypass state (i.e., when network traffic bypasses the switching fabric of the network appliance).
US09860603B2

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for managing applications of a broadcasting reception device and a companion device connected over a network. The method may include receiving a broadcasting signal, generating an application information list variable based on application information included in the broadcasting signal, receiving an application information-obtaining action from the companion device, the application information-obtaining action being indicative of a request message for obtaining information related to at least one specific application, transmitting an application information list variable corresponding to the at least one specific application in response to the application information-obtaining action, and providing a broadcasting service based on the transmitted application information list variable.
US09860592B2

A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display (such as a cellular telephone) provides a wireless remote control for an entertainment device (such as a consumer-electronic device). Based on device-state information that specifies a current state of the entertainment device (which is determined by an audio/video (A/V) hub that communicates with the entertainment device) and one or more related states of the entertainment device, the A/V hub may generate user-interface information that specifies a user interface that includes one or more virtual command icons. Note that the one or more related states are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Then, the A/V hub provides the user interface to the portable electronic device. In this way, the A/V hub device dynamically adapts the user interface.
US09860589B2

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.
US09860587B2

Methods and systems for receiving an interruption-free version of a television program for recording on a user equipment device. In one aspect, a device receives from a server a first stream including a television program. The device receives user input to record the television program. The device identifies a recording channel identifier for the first stream. The device initiates a recording of the television program based on the recording channel identifier for the first stream. The device receives from the server an instruction to switch recording of the television program from the first stream to a second stream. The device receives from the server the second stream including the television program. The device identifies a recording channel identifier for the second stream. The device switches the recording of the television program to the second stream based on the recording channel identifier for the second stream.
US09860583B2

A method and system to navigate viewable content in the context of television entertainment is provided. In one example embodiment, the system comprises a presentation module to present main content on a display screen, a communications module to receive a first request associated with a first directional key on a remote control device, a navigation mode detector to determine a navigation mode associated with the first request; a margin menu module to activate a margin menu associated with the determined navigation mode. The margin menu may be presented along one of the margins of a display screen, while permitting viewing of the main content.
US09860582B2

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting the information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.
US09860578B2

Methods, systems, and media for recommending collaborators of media content based on authenticated media content input are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: receiving a request from a content creator to initiate presentation of broadcasted media content using a media device, wherein the request invites a plurality of users to participate in the broadcasted media content; determining that a user of the plurality of users has interacted with the broadcasted media content, wherein the user has been permitted to interact with the broadcasted media content in response to providing user authentication information; determining collaborator information associated with the user based on the user authentication information; and automatically causing, without user interaction, the determined collaborator information to be presented to the content creator for associating with the broadcasted media content.
US09860568B2

Arrangement and method in which at least one server is coupled to imaging sources that obtain high resolution videos of scenic locations, a series of images constituting a video. Stream controllers are located at user sites and coupled to the server. The stream controllers are controlled, e.g., by user interfaces, to select one of the imaging sources to provide high resolution streaming video to the stream controller via the server. A display system is coupled to each stream controller and configured to display streaming video from the selected imaging source.
US09860567B2

An image processing apparatus includes an image processing unit configured to generate a plurality of processed images by performing image processing on a plurality of input images, a determination unit configured to determine, as a reference image for encoding a processed image generated by the image processing on an input image, whether the input image corresponding to the processed image is to be used or another processed image is to be used, based on a parameter relating to the image processing, and an encoding unit configured to encode the processed image by referring to a reference image according to a determination by the determination unit.
US09860565B1

An apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to transform an image block into a plurality of transform coefficients. The second circuit may be configured in each of a plurality of modes to (i) quantize the transform coefficients to calculate a plurality of quantized coefficients, (ii) translate a number of non-zero values of the quantized coefficients to a rate value, where the translation is a non-linear translation, (iii) calculate a distortion value (a) based on the transform coefficients and (b) independent of a plurality of inverse quantized coefficients corresponding to the quantized coefficients, and (iv) calculate a score of a current mode of the plurality of modes to encode the image block based on the rate value and the distortion value.
US09860564B2

According to the invention, there are provided sets of contexts specifically adapted to encode special coefficients of a prediction error matrix, on the basis of previously encoded values of level k. Furthermore, the number of values of levels other than 0 is explicitly encoded and numbers of appropriate contexts are selected on the basis of the number of spectral coefficients other than 0.
US09860561B2

Methods and modules for spatial decorrelation and recorrelation are described. A block of data values can be spatially decorrelated in two dimensions efficiently by processing rows of the data values in a particular order such that if the results of spatially decorrelating a first row will be used for column-wise spatial decorrelation of a second row then the data values of the first row are processed in an earlier iteration to that in which the data values of the second row are processed. This allows for highly parallelised processing of the block of data values. Spatial recorrelation can be performed as an inverse process to the spatial decorrelation.
US09860547B2

The entropy coding of a current part of a predetermined entropy slice is based on, not only, the respective probability estimations of the predetermined entropy slice as adapted using the previously coded part of the predetermined entropy slice, but also probability estimations as used in the entropy coding of a spatially neighboring, in entropy slice order preceding entropy slice at a neighboring part thereof. Thereby, the probability estimations used in entropy coding are adapted to the actual symbol statistics more closely, thereby lowering the coding efficiency decrease normally caused by lower-delay concepts. Temporal interrelationships are exploited additionally or alternatively.
US09860546B2

Disclosed decoding method of the intra prediction mode comprises the steps of: determining whether an intra prediction mode of a present prediction unit is the same as a first candidate intra prediction mode or as a second candidate intra prediction mode on the basis of 1-bit information; and determining, among said first candidate intra prediction mode and said second candidate intra prediction mode, which candidate intra prediction mode is the same as the intra prediction mode of said present prediction unit on the basis of additional 1-bit information, if the intra prediction mode of the present prediction unit is the same as at least either the first candidate intra prediction mode or the second candidate intra prediction mode, and decoding the intra prediction mode of the present prediction unit.
US09860538B2

An electronic device for sending a message is described. The electronic device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device determines whether a picture is allowed to be decoded on a sub-picture level. If the picture is allowed to be decoded on a sub-picture level, the electronic device generates at least one of a buffer size parameter and a buffer scale parameter. The electronic device sends at least one of the buffer size parameter and the buffer scale parameter.
US09860526B2

A temporal alignment system and method for example for detecting temporal misalignment in video frames when the frames are divided for transport using a signal divider for dividing a single signal S into portions S1 . . . SN and using average picture level in determining whether data sets within a particular frame are misaligned.
US09860523B2

The present invention provides a slit grating structure and a display device, and relates to the field of stereo display technology. The slit grating structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of alternately arranged transparent strips and switching strips, and a drawing and injecting unit, wherein the drawing and injecting unit is configured to inject non-transparent liquid into the switching strips from a cavity and draw non-transparent liquid out of the switching strips. When the slit grating structure cooperates with a 2D display panel, 2D and 3D switching display can be achieved.
US09860519B2

A method for correcting an image phase of a depth camera with a lens is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) selecting a first reference point on an optical axis of the lens and a second reference point on an object, wherein a distance between the first and second reference points is the shortest than others; b) calculating the distance in the step a) to serve as a standard distance; c) selecting sample points on the object other than the second reference point and calculating distances between the sample points and the first reference point; d) calculating offsets and angles between a line through the first and second reference points and lines through the first reference point and sample points; and e) calculating real distances between the first reference point and sample points by values from the step d).
US09860515B2

A boundary information providing apparatus may include a boundary information generation unit to generate boundary information of a video, the boundary information through which a switching point between a 2D video and a 3D video is recognized, based on a switching mode between the 2D video and the 3D video, and a stream transmission unit to transmit a stream including the boundary information to a video receiving apparatus.
US09860508B2

Image reproduction according to a display apparatus is realized by acquiring image information of an ultra-high definition (UHD) image from a playlist file or a clip information file. A data processing unit that performs a reproduction process of a disc recording data acquires a playlist file or a clip information file as a reproduction control information file corresponding to reproduction data recorded in a disc, determines whether or not an ultra-high definition (UHD) image is recorded in the disc based on recording data of such a file, and, in a case where the ultra-high definition (UHD) image is recorded in the disc, acquires image information of the ultra-high definition (UHD) image from the reproduction control information and controls output data for a display apparatus based on the acquired image information.
US09860506B2

This invention converts input color data into output color data using a table which has been created based on spectral data generated by an appropriate generation method and indicates the correspondence between an input chromaticity and an output chromaticity. To do this, an input color data acquisition unit converts input color data into input chromaticity data. An output chromaticity data calculating unit converts the input chromaticity data into output chromaticity data by referring to an LUT indicating the correspondence between an input chromaticity and an output chromaticity. An output color data calculating unit converts the output chromaticity data into output color data using a conversion coefficient calculated from the input color data. The table indicating the correspondence is created based on spectral data generated by a generation method different for each of a low chroma color and a high chroma color.
US09860501B2

A projection method includes sending an identification signal, receiving an identification response signal corresponding to the identification signal, acquiring a display information from a database according to the identification response signal, acquiring a plurality of angles of a plurality of projection devices relative to an orientation of the first device and a plurality of distances between the projection devices and the first device according to the orientation of the first device and the location of the first device, and controlling a first projection device of the projection devices to project the display information according to the angles of the projection devices relative to an orientation of the first device and the distances between the projection devices and the first device.
US09860497B2

An illumination device includes a diffusion element and a light source device that emits a beam bundle including a first unit beam bundle to be incident on the diffusion element along a first direction and a second unit beam bundle to be incident on the diffusion element along a second direction. An angle formed by the first unit beam bundle with an optical axis of the beam bundle is greater than an angle formed by the second unit beam bundle with the optical axis, and the illumination device satisfies I2
US09860462B2

A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion layer, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, and an amplifier transistor, and a control unit configured to supply a first voltage to a gate of the reset transistor when the charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element, the first voltage being set between a second voltage and a third voltage; subsequently supply the second voltage to the gate of the reset transistor when the reset transistor is turned on in order to reset the potential of the floating diffusion layer, and subsequently supply the third voltage to the gate of the reset transistor when the amplifier transistor outputs the signal based on the potential of the floating diffusion layer.
US09860461B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating an image stack. In use, one or more exposure parameters for an image stack are configured. Next, a capture command is received. Further, a pixel array is initialized within an image sensor of the camera module. Moreover, one or more ambient images are sampled within one or more corresponding analog storage planes. Next, if it is determined whether a strobe unit is enabled, where, if it is determined that the strobe unit is enabled, one or more strobe images are sampled within the corresponding analog storage planes.
US09860454B2

To more flexibly reproduce moving image data obtained by capturing a plurality of frames within the period of a single frame of display output while changing the exposure condition. For example, moving image data, which has been obtained by capturing a plurality of frames within the period of a single frame of display output while changing the exposure condition, is stored in a recording portion. When the moving image data is reproduced from the recording portion, a single frame is selected and output by a reproduced frame selecting portion for each period of a single frame of display output. If a user operation instructing to make the displayed image darker, in response to this user operation, a frame having an exposure condition of underexposure is selected and output from the moving image data to be reproduced from the recording portion for each period of a single frame of display output.
US09860451B2

An electronic device includes a camera. While in a first media acquisition mode for the camera the device displays a live preview on the display. While displaying the live preview, the device detects activation of a shutter button. In response to detecting activation of the shutter button, the device groups a plurality of images acquired by the camera in temporal proximity to the activation of the shutter button into a sequence of images. The sequence of images includes: a plurality of images acquired by the camera prior to detecting activation of the shutter button; a representative image that represents the first sequence of images and was acquired by the camera after one or more of the other images in the first sequence of images; and a plurality of images acquired by the camera after acquiring the representative image.
US09860433B2

An image building module includes an image builder, a signal-shielding flexible film, and a signal shielding cover. The image builder includes a first image capturing element and a processing chip. The first image capturing element is used for capturing a first image. The processing chip is used for processing the first image. The signal-shielding flexible film covers the processing chip. The signal shielding cover covers the image builder and the signal-shielding flexible film. The signal shielding cover has a first through hole exposing the first image capturing element.
US09860432B2

Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module includes: a lens barrel disposed in a housing to receive a lens assembly; an elastic member in at least one of the housing and the lens barrel; a driving unit moving the lens barrel relative to the housing; and a sensor unit fixed to the housing.
US09860421B2

There is provided an information processing apparatus. A processing unit receives original document data defining a design of an original document and processes the original document data so as to conform to a completion state of the original document during output. A creating unit creates output data in which the original document based on the processed original document data is disposed in an arrangement region on a recording medium having the original document formed thereon in a case where a ratio of a region of the original document based on the processed original document data to the arrangement region falls within an arrangement limitation, in a case where an amount of processing performed by the processing unit falls within a processing limitation.
US09860415B2

A method for picture-based barcode encoding and decoding is provided herein. The method for picture-based barcode encoding includes: transforming an original data into an original data bitstream; performing an error correction on the original data bitstream for translating the original data bitstream into an error corrected bitstream; selecting all or part of the picture as an encoded area; calculating a data storage capacity of the encoded area; adjusting a size of the error corrected bitstream or a size of the encoded area for equalizing a data storage capacity of an encoded data bitstream and the data storage capacity of the encoded area; and adjusting a pixel value of the encoded area according to the encoded data bitstream.
US09860408B2

An information processing system includes one or more devices configured to operate based on setting information for controlling an operation; and at least one external device configured to change the setting information of the device. The external device includes circuitry configured to: acquire the setting information of the device, generate change information obtained by changing the acquired setting information, and set the change information in the device. The device includes circuitry configured to: acquire the setting information from a setting storage and transmit the acquired setting information to the external device, acquire the change information in the external device, and rewrite original setting information stored in the setting storage to the acquired change information.
US09860399B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a path establishing portion to establish a communication path with a remote operation device; an active device setting portion to set the remote operation device with which the communication path is established to be an active device; a process execution portion to execute a process in accordance with a remote operation received from the active device; and a standby device setting portion to, in response to a communication path being established with another remote operation device, set another remote operation device to be a standby device. The active device setting portion includes a sequential setting portion to, in response to detection of an end state in which no remote operation is received from the active device, set the standby device to be an active device.
US09860397B2

A control unit in an MFP determines whether a connection request from a communication device carried by a user has been received. If the control unit determines that the connection request has been received, then the control unit issues network identification information and transmits it to the communication device. When a connection is established, the control unit automatically alters the operation screen to an operation screen related to image processing based on the information transmitted/received to/from the communication device, and accepts an operation to execute image processing.
US09860396B2

An image processing apparatus includes an image processing device and a controller configured to obtain data identification information, receive definition data identified by the data identification information, display a definition screen based on the received definition data, receive a designation operation, further obtain the data identification information defined in the screen definition data, control the image processing device to execute image processing defined in the operation definition data, when the obtained data identification information is first identification information for identifying first definition data stored in a first server, determine whether the first identification information coincides with the specific identification information, prior to receiving the definition data, and when the first identification information coincides with the specific identification information, receive second definition data identified by second identification information associated with the specific identification information from a second server.
US09860392B2

In some embodiments, a power converter circuit includes a first power converter coupled between a direct-current (DC) node and a first pair of output nodes. The first power converter may be configured to provide a first power signal having a first phase to the first pair of output nodes. The power converter circuit may also include a second power converter coupled between the DC node and a second pair of output nodes. The second power converter may be configured to provide a second power signal having a second phase to the second pair of output nodes. The second phase and the first phase may differ by an odd multiple of ninety degrees.
US09860391B1

A method for matching a first entity with at least one second entity selected from a plurality of second entities, comprising defining a plurality of multivalued scalar data representing inferential targeting parameters for the first entity and a plurality of multivalued scalar data of each of the plurality of second entities, representing respective characteristic parameters for each respective second entity; and performing an automated optimization with respect to an economic surplus of a respective match of the first entity with the at least one of the plurality of second entities, and an opportunity cost of the unavailability of the at least one of the plurality of second entities for matching with an alternate first entity.
US09860373B2

A caller identification apparatus, in order to make, with higher precision, a sharp distinction between a call from a fraud and a call from a person who is not a fraud, comprises a storage means and a voice characteristic analysis means. The storage means stores both a white list with which first voice characteristic information, which is the voice characteristic information of closely related persons of a call recipient, is registered and a black list with which second voice characteristic information, which is the voice characteristic information of frauds, is registered. The voice characteristic analysis means acquires the voice data of a call, obtains third voice characteristic information, which is the voice characteristic information of the voice data, and determines whether the third voice characteristic information matches the first voice characteristic information or the second voice characteristic information. If the third voice characteristic information matches neither the first voice characteristic information nor the second voice characteristic information, the voice characteristic analysis means determines whether the third voice characteristic information includes the voice characteristic information of any multiple persons. If the third voice characteristic information includes the voice characteristic information of any multiple persons, the voice characteristic analysis means obtains a first determination result that the call is probably a call from said frauds.
US09860356B2

The present invention relates to a method for updating software of a measuring device in a RF sensitive environment is provided, the method comprising: providing a smart computer having a radio operation mode for wireless communication and providing a measuring device that is RF sensitive and that comprises software for the operation of the measuring device; downloading software update data from a software server by wireless coupling the smart computer to the software server via the Internet; decoupling the smart computer from the Internet after the software update data is downloaded; updating the software of the measuring device by directly connecting the smart computer to the measuring device and by uploading the software update data from the smart computer to the connected measuring device. The present invention also relates to a smart computer and to a computer readable program product.
US09860348B2

In a system and method for performing message-based business processes among a plurality of applications, configuration data is stored in a data store in a gateway, the configuration data including information defining one or more simple transactions that can be performed by the gateway. A gateway message is received at the gateway, the gateway message including a gateway message header and a payload, the gateway message header including a routing slip block providing a template of a complex transaction in which the gateway message is participating, the complex transaction comprising one or more simple transactions performed in a defined order. The gateway executes at least one simple transaction in accordance with the template in the routing slip and the configuration data defining the one or more simple transactions.
US09860343B2

An event wizard server includes at least one processor that executes the event wizard server application that bidirectionally communicates event planning data with a user of a client device via a network interface. The event planning data includes: event type menu data, and event type selection data, wherein at least one event type includes a sequential task-oriented event.
US09860340B2

A system comprising a plurality of service nodes, a controller and a network device in communication with the controller. Each of the plurality of service nodes is configured to support one or more service functions to establish a service function chain that includes a plurality of service functions to be performed by routing traffic among the plurality of service nodes. The controller is configured to generate provisioning information for the service function chain. The provisioning information includes at least one condition upon which a service function reclassification or branching operation is to be performed by at least one service node. The network device is in communication with the controller, and is configured to distribute the provisioning information for the service function chain to the plurality of service nodes using a distributed routing protocol.
US09860334B2

A proxy server routes a request for online content from a user device to an origin server, which returns the requested online content to the proxy server. The proxy server passes the online content to the user device. In order to service subsequent user device requests with cached content, the proxy server, having received the initially requested online content from the origin server, parses out dynamic content specific to the user from static content common to many users within the web page content according to tags identifying the dynamic content. The proxy server stores the dynamic content within a personalized cache and also stores an association between the user/user device for the dynamic content stored. In this way, a subsequent request from the user device for the same online content may be serviced from cache, and include dynamic content specific to that user/user device by way of the personalized cache.
US09860329B2

In an approach for delivering customized messages, a computer receives a request to initiate a communication, wherein the request includes a caller and at least one recipient. The computer determines an identifier associated with the caller and an identifier associated with the at least one recipient from the received request. The computer identifies the caller and the at least one recipient based on the corresponding determined identifiers. The computer retrieves data associated with the identified caller and the identified at least one recipient, wherein the data includes personal information, Internet browsing trends, and listening preferences. The computer determines customized messages for the identified caller and the identified at least one recipient based on the retrieved data associated with the identified caller and the at least one recipient. The computer delivers the determined customized messages to one or more of the identified caller and the identified at least one recipient.
US09860322B2

The embodiments set forth a technique for providing a stateless technique for distributing uploads. According to some embodiments, a system can include various computing devices, authorization servers, and storage destinations. Within the system, an authorization server assigns weight properties to each storage destination, and generates a set of tokens for subsequent assignment to the different storage destinations in accordance with their weight properties. More specifically, the authorization server is configured to perform an initial token drafting process that involves assigning the tokens to different storage destinations. As the current health of each storage destination changes over time, the authorization server is also configured to periodically perform (e.g., at a set interval) a supplemental token drafting process that involves updating the weight properties of each storage destination and redistributing the tokens in view of the updated weight properties.
US09860310B2

A system and method for providing or maintaining data and application continuity in a computer system. According to an embodiment, the system comprises a communication interface for a client system, a network layer for receiving data from the client system, a hardware infrastructure for creating instances of the client system for replicating data, and an applications module for executing one or more applications on the replicated data. According to a further aspect, the system includes a portal and user interface configured for providing a remote user with control, audit and other functions associated with the user's system configuration. According to another aspect, the portal and user interface provides access and control based on user privileges for a multi-tenant, multi-instant architecture or configuration.
US09860308B2

Collaborative annotation of a document. A GUI is generated by a host computer that displays a document to annotate. The GUI is transmitted by the host computer to a plurality of client computers. Real time communication modes are established by the host computer between the client computers, each including communication channels between all the client computers. The host computer receives annotations entered into the GUIs at the client computers, each annotation identifying a span of words in the document to annotate and including an associated annotation type. The host computer updates the GUI to include for display the received annotations and inter-rater agreement statistics indicating the level of agreement between annotations received from each client computer and annotations received from the other client computers. The updated GUI is then transmitted by the host computer to the plurality of client computers.
US09860295B2

Internet streaming from broadcast radio may carry replacement ads for those ads broadcast terrestrially. Video ads may replace audio ads. Some Internet media players are not capable of playing video ads, and for those the audio-only portion of the video ad is streamed. Script commands are sent to compatible media players capable of video, causing them to access and play the actual video ad.
US09860287B2

In a shared change set server, a receiving section receives information on an undetermined change set and information on users sharing the undetermined change set from a terminal device used by a developer who has developed the change set. Subsequently, a shared change set management section prepares a shared change set containing the undetermined change set and information on users sharing the undetermined change set, and stores the shared change set in a shared change set storage section. A transmitting section thereafter transmits information on the shared change set to a terminal device used by a developer sharing the shared change set.
US09860281B2

Systems, devices and methods are disclosed to assist in configuring devices and policies to protect a regional network (e.g., home network) and its users. Users on the network are monitored to determine appropriate configuration settings and preferences by utilizing a combination of internally configured information and externally gathered information for each user. For example, externally gathered information may include information obtained about a user from one or more social media Internet sites. Automatically obtained information may be used to provide or augment policy information such that a user's preference relative to internet content (e.g., content blocking software configuration) may be achieved without requiring an administrator to individually prepare each users security profile and configuration.
US09860278B2

A log information collecting unit that collects log information and traffic information output from a plurality of communication devices included in a network; a normalization processing unit that normalizes the log information and traffic information collected by the log information collecting unit; a log information analysis processing unit that extracts, and analyzes according to a predetermined rule, relative log information and traffic information from the normalized log information and traffic information, and determines whether or not there is unauthorized access; and an event information notifying unit that outputs event information including information indicating importance based on a result of the determination by the log information analysis processing unit, are included.
US09860274B2

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for the operation of a threat management facility, wherein the threat management facility may provide for a plurality of computer asset protection services to a corporate computer network. The threat management facility may provide a policy management service as one of the plurality of protection services, wherein the policy management service may be adapted to provide corporate policy updates to a plurality of computer facilities associated with the corporate computer network. In addition, the corporate policy updates, and a related corporate policy, may relate to the acceptability of an operation of a computer application.
US09860273B2

A device such as a smartphone may communicate with a server or other network entity using encrypted communications, making it difficult to examine such communications for purposes of identifying communication issues that may affect user QoE (quality of experience). In certain embodiments, an application may be modified to log communication data before encryption and after decryption. For example, the application program may be decompiled and logging instructions may be inserted before portion that result in data encryption and after portions where received data is decrypted. The modified application program may then be recompiled and executed on a device to produce an unencrypted log of data. In other embodiments, elements of the device operating system may be modified to log data before encryption and after decryption.
US09860272B2

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer programs for detecting targeted attacks on compromised computer from multiple sources. An example method includes obtaining data from multiple computer systems and devices connected with one another in a communications network to determine a possibility of a targeted attack from a network resource, the data comprising information relating to the network resource and a set of parameters of each computer system or device in accessing the network resource; detecting discrepancies in the obtained data; forming and sending queries to a group of computer systems and devices detecting the possibility of the targeted attack with the set of parameters of the group of computer systems and devices in accessing the network resource; and calculating a probability of the targeted attack from the network resource based at least upon information received from the group of computer systems and devices in response to the queries.
US09860271B2

Provided are methods and systems for mitigating a DDoS event. The method may comprise receiving an indication of a collapse of a collapsible virtual data circuit associated with network data traffic. In response to the received indication of the collapse, the collapse may be attributed to the DDoS event. Furthermore, the method may comprise redirecting the network data traffic to one or more DDoS mitigation services. The method may further comprise mitigating the DDoS event by the one or more DDoS mitigation services.
US09860270B2

Disclosed are a system and method for determining web pages modified with malicious code. An example method includes: intercepting an attempt to access a website; selecting, by a processor, one or more malicious software configuration files based on the intercepting of the attempt to access the website; creating a verification web page based on one or more code fragments from the selected one or more malicious software configuration files; opening the verification web page; and determining, by the processor, whether malicious code has been injected into the opened verification web page.
US09860269B2

Website security may be managed based on known site attributes and placing limits on communication outside a site. One example may include at least one of identifying a site that is currently operating within a first process, comparing the site to known sensitive sites, and responsive to identifying the site as being a known sensitive site, enabling a data traffic limiting operation to limit data traffic in at least one other process apart from the first process.
US09860266B2

Systems, methods, and software can be used to prevent messaging attacks. In some aspects, a scanning short message is sent to a UICC associated with a mobile device. A response short message is received in response to the scanning short message. The UICC is determined to be at risk to attacks based on the response short message. In response to determining that the UICC is at risk to attacks, a notification is generated. In some cases, the notification is sent to a DMS. Alternatively or in combination, the notification is displayed on the mobile device. In response to determining that the UICC is at risk to attacks, a firewall application is installed on the mobile device. The firewall application is configured to process an incoming short message addressed to the UICC.
US09860264B2

A computer-implemented method for using multi-dimensional geometry in simulations of packet flows through network devices, is provided. The computer-implemented method includes receiving an input object for traffic simulation of network devices, comprising a source and destination host ranges and source and destination port ranges, and protocol, application and vulnerability ranges, targeted for the destination host ranges. The computer-implemented method further includes representing blocked traffic of the simulated traffic by an intersection of at least two n-dimensional cuboids in n-dimensional space. The computer-implemented method further includes subtracting an access control list shape from an input shape to obtain a concave form representing permitted host, port, protocol, application, and vulnerability combinations of ranges. The computer-implemented method further includes decomposing the obtained concave shape into multiple convex shapes that satisfy a set of predetermined input conditions.
US09860250B2

Systems and methods are provided for assigning scores to target applications, based on one or more security standards, whereby the scores are indicative of the applications' relative security maturity. One exemplary method generally includes receiving an identification of a target application, the target application associated with access to a payment network and soliciting, by a computing device, a response to at least one inquiry regarding a security aspect of the target application. The at least one inquiry is related to at least one standard for data security. The exemplary method further includes assigning, by the computing device, a score to the target application based on the response, as received from a user and publishing the score as associated with the target application to said user or a different user.
US09860249B2

A system and method for secure authentication facilitates improving the security of authentication between a client and a target by using an innovative authentication module on a proxy. The client can connect to the proxy using a native protocol and provides client credentials to the proxy. The proxy uses an authentication module to authenticate the client and then to provide target access credentials for proxy-target authentication, thereby giving the client access to the target through the proxy. The invention facilitates connection between the client and the target without requiring the client to be in possession of the target access credentials. The proxy can optionally be connected to a privileged access management system which can provide and/or store target access credentials. Proxy-provided target access credentials facilitate preventing a client security breech from exposing target access credentials.
US09860245B2

A method of authenticating a network client to a relying party computer via a computer server comprises the computer server receiving a transaction code from a token manager via a first communications channel. The network client is configured to communicate with a token manager which is configured to communicate with a hardware token interfaced therewith. The network client is also configured to communicate with the relying party computer and the computer server. The computer server also receives a transaction pointer from the relying party computer via a second communications channel that is distinct from the first communications channel. Preferably, the transaction pointer is unpredictable by the computer server. The computer server transmits an authorization signal to the relying party computer in accordance with a correlation between the transaction code and the transaction pointer. The authorization signal facilitates authentication of the network client to the relying party computer.
US09860240B2

Disclosed are systems and methods of employing a multi-ring encryption approach to secure a data payload. Each ring of encryption may be encrypted from a key derived from a password, such that each subsequent ring of protection is protected by a key derived from the key used to encrypt the previous ring of protection. Further, hardware-based encryption may be employed in one or more of the rings of protection to bind the encrypted payload to the hardware. Such systems and methods may be used to reduce the ability to parallelize an attack on encrypted data while also permitting password-related data to be synchronized across a network.
US09860238B2

A smart remote control system includes multiple terminals and a server. Each terminal is accessible by an electronic device through use of a registered account/password set. Upon receipt of an association request and a to-be-associated account/password set, one of the terminals is operable to transmit the to-be-associated account/password set to the server. In turn, the server determines whether the to-be-associated account/password set conforms with one of a plurality of user account/password sets stored therein, and enables the one of the terminals to be accessible by the electronic device through use of the to-be-associated account/password set when the determination is affirmative.
US09860237B2

A system of λ≧2 servers is provided. The server system comprises an access control server for communication with user computers via a network and controlling access by the user computers to a resource in dependence on authentication of user passwords associated with respective user IDs, and a set of authentication servers for communication with the access control server via the network. In this system, at least each authentication server stores a respective key-share Ki of a secret key K which is shared between a plurality of the λ servers. The access control server is adapted, in response to receipt from a user computer of a user ID and an input password, to produce a hash value h via a first hash function operating on the input password. The access control server blinds the hash value h to produce a blinded hash value u, and sends the blinded hash value u via the network to at least a subset of the set of authentication servers. Each authentication server is adapted, in response to receipt of the blinded hash value u, to produce a hash response vi from the blinded hash value u and that server's key-share Ki, and to send the hash response vi via the network to the access control server. The access control server is further adapted to produce, using the hash response vi from each authentication server, an input password hash comprising a predetermined function of said hash value h and said secret key K. The access control server compares the input password hash with a corresponding user password hash, produced from the user password for the received user ID and pre-stored by the access control server, to determine whether the input password equals the user password, if so permitting access to the resource by the user computer.
US09860232B2

A method and apparatus for protecting a network communication security. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for protecting network communication security at a server. The method comprises: in response to a request from a client, determining whether a token from the client is included in a valid token queue, the valid token queue being a First-In-First-Out queue; in response to the token being included in the valid token queue, managing the valid token queue based on a position of the token in the valid token queue; and sending a response to the client based on the managing of the valid token queue. There is further disclosed a corresponding method and apparatuses at client side.
US09860216B2

A controller device may correspond to a physical access controller in a distributed physical access control system. The controller device may include logic configured to obtain access to a global database that include access control information for a plurality of controller devices. The logic may be further configured to derive a local access rules table from the global database, wherein the local access rules table relates users to access rules, and wherein the local access rules table is encrypted with a local access rules key; and derive a local credentials table from the global database, wherein the local credentials table relates hashed credentials to users, wherein the local credentials table stores, for a user, the local access rules key encrypted with unhashed credentials associated with the user, wherein the unhashed credentials are not stored in the controller device.
US09860212B2

Systems and methods for filtering unsafe content by a network security device are provided. According to one embodiment, a network security device captures network traffic and extracts a media file from the network traffic. The network security device then determines the presence of a hidden data item embedded in the media file in a machine-readable form. When such a hidden data item is identified, the network security device performs one or more actions on the media file based on a predefined security policy.
US09860207B2

A method of discovering a device to be discovered in a communication network having multiple interconnected nodes includes transmitting, by a discoverer, at least one beacon signal including an IP address to the network. The device to be discovered receives the at least one beacon signal. The device to be discovered configures the IP address located in the at least one beacon signal. Additionally, the device to be discovered transmits an advertisement to a server specified by the discoverer.
US09860202B1

A system comprises email processing circuitry and network interface circuitry. The email processing circuitry is operable to receive an email message to be sent by the email processing circuitry using simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP). The email processing circuitry is operable to parse the inbound email message. The email processing circuitry is operable to, in response to detecting that the inbound email message is intended for multiple recipients and comprises the particular custom processing rule in its header fields and/or message body, parse the inbound email message into the multiple outbound email messages, where each of the outbound email messages has a different SMTP envelope. The network interface circuitry is operable to send the multiple outbound email messages into a network using SMTP.
US09860200B1

A method implemented at least in part on a head-mountable device (HMD) may involve: for each of one or more messages that are selected from a plurality of messages from an account: (a) extracting one or more phrases from a respective selected message; (b) determining that a conversation includes the selected message and one or more other messages from the plurality of messages; (c) generating a first feature vector based on the conversation; and (d) generating one or more training-data sets that include one or more of the phrases and the first feature vector. The method also includes training a machine-learning application with at least a portion of the one or more training-data sets, and applying the trained machine-learning application to process an incoming message and to determine one or more reply messages corresponding to the incoming message. The method may display the reply message(s) on a graphic display of the HMD.
US09860190B2

Disclosed is a novel system and method for managing requests for an additional virtual machine. The method begins with operating at least one virtual machine accessing at least one computer resource associated with at least one physical machine within a computing cluster. One or more non-deterministic virtual machine requests for the computer resource are received. An over-utilization of the computer resource as a probability distribution function is modeled. In one example, the probability distribution function is a Beta distribution function to represent a one of a plurality of probability distribution functions. Next, an additional virtual machine on the physical machine associated with the computer resource is added in response to a probability of a utilization of the computer resource being greater than a probalistic bound on the over-utilization of the computer resource. Otherwise, the additional virtual machine is not added.
US09860186B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving from a plurality of publishers messages of a first channel of a plurality of distinct channels wherein each channel comprises an ordered plurality of messages, storing messages of the first channel in one or more first buffers according to the order, each first buffer having a respective time-to-live, for one or more connections, determining a respective sampling rate based on a data type of the first channel and a determined latency of the connection, receiving from a subscriber through a first connection a request for messages of the first channel, selecting messages in the first buffers according to the order and the sampling rate, and sending the selected messages using the first connection to the subscriber according to the order.
US09860183B2

A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving return data of a dataflow on a first gateway of a first wired communication trunk within a communication platform. If corresponding forward data of the dataflow was not received on the first gateway, a determination is made concerning which gateway within the communication platform received the corresponding forward data, thus defining a second gateway of a second wired communication trunk within the communication platform. The return data is forwarded to the second gateway of the second wired communication trunk.
US09860182B2

A data transmission device, method, and program therefor that effectively increase throughput even when a delay increase occurs due to a cause other than congestion in the network. The data transmission device (11) is provided with a transmission unit (60) which transmits to a user terminal (30) data requested over a network (20). The data transmission device includes a transmission rate control element (51C) which controls the transmission rate on the basis of the degree of congestion detected by a congestion detection element (51B) during delay measurement by a delay measurement processing unit (40), and a reference value correction processing element (51D) which temporarily corrects the detection criteria used by the congestion detection element; when it has been determined that the delay has increased due to a cause other than congestion. This reference value correction element increases the accuracy of detection processing by the congestion detection element, thereby improving throughput.
US09860171B2

Message routing is implemented by a computer device. A global ring is connected via a network, wherein the global ring is associated with a distributed hash table (DHT) and includes a plurality of nodes which are divided exclusively into groups in advance. A first group of nodes is determined from the plurality of grouped nodes. Using the DHT for a message to be routed, a first node is located from the first group of nodes, as a routing destination.
US09860167B2

A technique for determining a boundary IP address is disclosed. The technique includes processing a header to extract candidate IP address, locating a gateway IP address, and selecting the boundary IP address based on the location of the gateway IP address.
US09860152B2

A method is implemented by a network device in a network for monitoring a segment of the network without direct access to an internal configuration or state of the segment. The method includes receiving a request to perform a monitoring task on a monitoring zone within the network. The monitoring zone includes a subset of network devices of the network. The monitoring zone has an ingress data path that carries ingress traffic into the monitoring zone and an egress data path that carries egress traffic out of the monitoring zone. The method further includes configuring the network to mirror the ingress traffic or the egress traffic to a configurable probe in the network and configuring the configurable probe to perform the monitoring task on the monitoring zone, where the configurable probe is configured to perform the monitoring task based on analysis of the mirrored ingress traffic or the mirrored egress traffic.
US09860151B2

Some embodiments provide a method for a first network controller that manages a set of logical forwarding elements implemented in several managed forwarding elements. The method receives a request to trace a specified packet having a particular source on a logical forwarding element. The method generates the packet according to the packet specification. The generated packet includes an indicator that the packet is for a trace operation. The method sends the packet to a second network controller that manages a managed forwarding element associated with the particular source. The method receives a first set of messages regarding operations performed on the packet from a set of network controllers that receives a second set of messages regarding operations performed on the packet from a set of managed forwarding elements that process the packet.
US09860148B2

Methods and systems for segmenting traffic based on geography include assigning coordinate location data received with respect to members of a plurality of computing devices to analytics data associated with a plurality of requests for content received from respective ones of the plurality of computing devices. A geographical location of interest is defined. The defining the geographical location of interest includes designating a plurality of points defining boundaries of the geographical location of interest. Respective ones of a plurality of traffic segments are assigned to the plurality of requests for content based in part upon a comparison of the geographical location of interest to coordinate location data assigned to respective ones of the plurality of requests for content. Network traffic metrics are generated for ones of the plurality of traffic segments. The request traffic metrics describe request behavior associated with particular segments of the plurality of traffic segments.
US09860146B2

A method and apparatus for estimating available capacity of a data transfer path (16) that transfers data between data communication nodes (12, 14) of a data communication system (10). The method comprising: receiving (305) probe packets (15) that traverse the data transfer path (16) during real-time operation of the data transfer path (16); providing (310) measured data (zU, zE) indicating strain of the received probe packets for use in estimating the available capacity of the data transfer path (16); classifying (320) the measured data based on the strain of the received probe packets; filtering (325) the classified measured data into a discrete representation of a probability density function of available capacity; and estimating (330) the available capacity by using the discrete representation of the probability density function.
US09860140B2

In one embodiment, techniques are shown and described relating to dynamically adjusting a set of monitored network properties using distributed learning machine feedback. In particular, in one embodiment, a learning machine (or distributed learning machines) determines a plurality of monitored network properties in a computer network. From this, a subset of relevant network properties of the plurality of network properties may be determined, such that a corresponding subset of irrelevant network properties based on the subset of relevant network properties may also be determined. Accordingly, the computer network may be informed of the irrelevant network properties to reduce a rate of monitoring the irrelevant network properties.
US09860138B2

Bandwidth-on-Demand (BoD) as a network service (BoD-as-a-Service) is integrated into applications that end-users can flexibly purchase when and for however long they need it. A centralized Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller and distributed SDN controller agents that may be seen in a Service Provider, Enterprise or distributed computing environment with remote and mobile end-users is provided. The end-user initiates the BoD request using an application via desktop, cloud, smartphone or tablet. The BoD Service Provider, Enterprise, has a controller-based centralized view of the complete SDN service topology. On receiving the request, the BoD provider dynamically computes the optimal end-to-end path through the SDN topology that best suits the end-user requested traffic types and service level requirements. It then translates that optimal path into flow computations that are dynamically pushed down to the controller agents to provision the BoD network path in real-time. An on-demand and real-time bandwidth service for consumers are herein provided where it was previously too costly or too time consuming to set up.
US09860135B2

A method and a system for preparing a plurality of installed field devices for operation in a process control network. In some embodiments, a computing device provides a visual summary of the installed field devices to a user via a user interface. A configuration database stores predefined device preparation scopes, each scope being indicative of one or more of the installed field devices. Based on a user selection of one or more predefined device preparation scopes in the user interface, the computing device implements each of the predefined device preparation scopes by, among other things, retrieving configuration information from the configuration database for each installed field device indicated by each predefined device preparation scope and transmitting the information to each respective installed field device for updating the device configuration.
US09860134B2

An approach is provided for allowing a network computing (e.g., cloud computing) infrastructure to modify its resource allocation plan (e.g., an instance count) by using a Kth derivative vector plot, which may be generated using historical logs. Among other things, this approach enables an infrastructure to project an allocation forecast for a specified duration and adapt to changes in network traffic.
US09860130B2

Methods, apparatuses, system and a related computer program product for processing policy requests are disclosed. The method comprises receiving (410) a policy request for establishment of a session for a subscriber; determining (420) if the subscriber belongs to a group subscription; verifying (430) if a binding exists between at least one policy engine among a plurality of policy engines and the group subscription, if the subscriber belongs to the group subscription; and routing (440) the policy request to the at least one policy engine based on the binding for processing the policy request if the result of verification is positive.
US09860124B2

A system for adaptive cloud-based work routing comprising a work router for assigning work tasks and a routing configuration server for configuring operation or monitoring performance of a work router, and a graphical user interface for configuration of a cloud-based work router.
US09860119B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods, systems, and program products for dynamically managing RESTful endpoints. In one embodiment, an application server provides dynamic management of RESTful endpoint, including the ability to re-use the same resource information for multiple endpoints across multiple routers, allowing for applications aliases or sharing routing capability between applications. Yet other embodiments of the present invention can provide a high availability application server system and/or failover support for routers and resources, as well as the ability to remotely add new containers and resources to the application server.
US09860117B2

Systems, methods, and software for providing a virtualized communication networking environment are provided herein. In one example, a method includes identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address for a network interface of a virtual machine based on at least a communication network indicator in a MAC address associated with the network interface of the virtual machine. If the virtual network element has not been generated for handling IP traffic associated with the network interface of the virtual machine, then generating the virtual network element and associating the virtual network element with the network interface of the virtual machine based on at least the communication network indicator in the MAC address. When the virtual network element has been generated, then configuring the virtual network element for the IP traffic associated with the network interface of the virtual machine based at least the communication network indicator in the MAC address.
US09860116B1

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes creating a segment organization, which includes a configuration profile. The method also includes attaching the configuration profile to a server in the segment organization. The method further includes sending the attached configuration profile to a database in a physical network.
US09860110B2

Techniques are described for enhancements to Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) to support multicast only fast re-route (MoFRR) over a remote loop free alternate (RLFA) backup path in a network. This disclosure describes a modified PIM control message having a new PIM message type and an additional field to indicate an address of a RLFA network device in the RLFA backup path. According to techniques of this disclosure, network devices along the RLFA backup path are configured to forward the modified PIM control message toward the RLFA network device instead of toward a source of a requested multicast group. When the RLFA network device receives the modified PIM control message, the RLFA network device is configured to forward a conventional PIM control message towards the source of the requested multicast group. In this way, PIM can be used to provide MoFRR over a RLFA backup path.
US09860106B2

Systems and methods for data stream virtualization are generally described herein. One or more embodiments of such a system can include a stream processing node, a physical sensor stream, a management node, a virtual sensor stream, or pairing logic.
US09860092B2

An asymmetric cross-connect system, constituted of: a cross-connect circuitry; and a control circuitry, wherein the cross-connect circuitry comprises a plurality of adaptive equalizers and a plurality of fixed equalizers, wherein the plurality of adaptive equalizers are in electrical communication with a multi-purpose port of a user device and each of the plurality of fixed equalizers are in electrical communication with a respective output of a processor of the user device, and wherein the cross-connect circuitry is arranged, responsive to the control circuitry, to provide a communication path between one of the outputs the processor and the multi-purpose port.
US09860089B2

A receiver includes a continuous-time equalizer, a decision-feedback equalizer (DFE), data and error sampling logic, and an adaptation engine. The receiver corrects for inter-symbol interference (ISI) associated with the most recent data symbol (first post cursor ISI) by establishing appropriate equalization settings for the continuous-time equalizer based upon a measure of the first-post-cursor ISI.
US09860087B1

Embodiments of the present invention may provide the capability for reducing power consumption in a speculative decision feedback equalizer by powering up the speculative path that is going to take the next decision based on the previous decision, and holding other paths in a reset low-power condition. For example, a Speculative Decision Feedback Equalizer may comprise a plurality of speculative paths, circuitry to provide power to a speculative path that will take the next decision based on the current decision, and circuitry to keep at least one other speculative path in a reset state with low or reduced power consumption.
US09860084B2

Various aspects are provided for managing a sounding interval of a wireless communications device, which may include setting a timing of one or more channel sounding operations performed by the communications device. For instance, a method is provided for channel sounding management. This example method may include obtaining information regarding a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) or a throughput degradation gradient associated with one or more transmissions. In addition, the example method may include determining a timing of one or more sounding operations based on the information regarding the MCS or the throughput degradation gradient. Additionally, apparatuses and computer-readable media are provided for channel sounding management in a communications device, which are configured to perform, or store computer-executable code to perform, the disclosed example methods.
US09860059B1

A method and system for use in distributing token records is disclosed. At least one token record comprises a unique seed associated with a one-time password (OTP) token. An encryption key and a corresponding decryption key are generated for assisting selective encryption and decryption of a token record associated with a OTP token. The encryption key and the decryption key being unique to an end user of the token record. The token record is encrypted with the assistance of the encryption key. One of the decryption key and the encrypted token record is provided to the end user of the token record. The other of the decryption key and the encrypted token record is provided to the end user in response to secure receipt of the one of the decryption key and the encrypted token record by the end user. The encrypted token record can be decrypted with the assistance of the decryption key.
US09860040B2

A method and apparatus for allocating resources for a reference signal in a wireless communication system are provided. A wireless device receives a configuration including the candidates resource element set (RES)s and indexes to be mapped to the candidates RESs for the reference signal; and receives an index indicating a RES selected according to a transmission point (TP) to perform a channel estimation by the reference signal received on the RES indicated by the index.
US09860038B2

The present invention disclosed a resource configuration method for uplink control channel, The method comprises: network side equipment determines downlink carrier that exists cell specific linkage in uplink carrier set and downlink carrier set of User Equipment UE; said network side equipment configures uplink control channel resource for downlink carrier which doesn't exist cell specific linkage according to said determinate result. The method of the present invention is simple and easy to implement, it could use the method in FDD and TDD system to advance system capability of Long Term Evolution multi-carrier update system, and advancing compatibility with the present LTE system primely.
US09860037B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique of ordering sub-fields within Signal (SIG) fields of a preamble in Very High Throughput (VHT) wireless communications systems and to a technique of managing sizes of these sub-fields.
US09860035B2

A method of an RFC chip for a station, the RFC chip including a WLAN communication module to decode a DL MU-MIMO wireless signal, the method including: determining an FS layer column based on a product of a channel matrix of the station and an estimate of a steering matrix of the station; ordering columns of a sub-matrix of an effective channel matrix of the station to determine one or more SS layer columns from the sub-matrix, the sub-matrix being determined by removing, from the effective channel matrix, a column corresponding to the determined FS layer column; configuring a modified effective channel matrix based on the determined FS layer column and the ordered columns of the sub-matrix, the determined FS layer column being determined as an FS layer column of the modified effective channel matrix; and determining a symbol of the station based on the modified effective channel matrix.
US09860029B2

A wireless device transmits channel state information (CSI) fields of a secondary cell on a first cell. The wireless device receives, in subframe n, a message comprising one or more configuration parameters indicating that CSI transmission resources for the secondary cell is on a second cell different from the first cell. The wireless device stops, in subframe n+p, transmission of CSI fields of the secondary cell on the first cell. The wireless device starts, in subframe n+k, transmission of CSI fields of the secondary cell on the second cell, wherein k is a number greater than p.
US09860027B2

The network node of a cellular network assigns a first part of a shared radio resource to a first User Equipment, UE, for uplink transmissions in the cell, and instructs the first UE to apply a first UE-specific Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request, HARQ, process for transmitting on the assigned first part. The network node also assigns a second part of the shared radio resource to a second UE for uplink transmissions in the cell, and instructs the second UE to apply a second UE-specific HARQ process for transmitting on the assigned second part, the second HARQ process being separate from the first HARQ process. The network node then receives data transmitted from the first UE on the assigned first part based on the first HARQ process and data transmitted from the second UE on the assigned second part based on the second HARQ process.
US09860015B2

A system is provided that has an ECM (electronic counter measures) system and a transponder monitor connected to or forming part of the ECM system. The system monitors for a transponder signal from a remote transponder. The system determines information, such as transponder location, based on the transponder signal and makes use of the information in the ECM system and/or the system extracts encoded information contained in the transponder signal, such as information about a transponder owner, such as status of consumables, medical status. The ECM system may have a reactive jammer that is used both for a reactive jamming function, and as the transponder monitor function.
US09860012B2

A routing and wavelength assignment method for use in an optical fiber system, comprising: (i) identifying a plurality of paths between a source node and a destination node, (ii) selecting one of the plurality of identified paths, (iii) defining within the spectrum band of the selected path one or more blocks of spectral resource, in which each block comprises either: one or more unused wavelength channels, or one or more wavelength channels having the same spectral width, (iv) obtaining an entropy value of the selected path defining the spectrum fragmentation across its spectrum band, based on a logarithm of the ratio of the number of wavelength channels in each of the one or more blocks, to the total number of wavelength channels across the spectrum band, (v) iterating (ii) to (v) until the entropy value of each of the plurality of identified paths has been determined, and (vi) choosing from the plurality of identified paths a path having the lowest entropy value.
US09860009B2

The present disclosure relates to a system having a plurality of electronic devices interconnected by way of dielectric waveguides. In some embodiments, the system has a plurality of electronic devices respectively including a data element and a transceiver element. The data element has a plurality of terminals configured to respectively output and receive data. The transceiver is configured to transmit or receive the data as a wireless signal that distinctly identifies data from different ones of the plurality of terminals. A shared resource component has a shared transceiver configured to generate a shared wireless signal that transmits a shared signal to the plurality of electronic devices by way of a plurality of dielectric waveguides. Respective ones of the plurality of dielectric waveguides are disposed between the shared resource component and one of the plurality of electronic devices.
US09860006B1

A multiplexer includes filters connected to each other at a common terminal, a low-frequency filter with a first pass band, and a high-frequency filter with a second pass band that is higher than the first pass band. The low-frequency filter includes an initial-stage filter section including at least one first elastic wave resonator located on the common terminal side among at least two elastic wave resonators, and a subsequent-stage filter section that includes a second elastic wave resonator other than the at least one first elastic wave resonator. A reflection coefficient in the second pass band when the initial-stage filter section is viewed from the common terminal side as a single component is larger than a reflection coefficient in the second pass band when the subsequent-stage filter section is viewed from the common terminal side as a single component.
US09860000B2

Small changes in a broadcast version of a base media item can be identified by performing a multi-level comparison of digital fingerprints. A fingerprint of a base media item is compared to a fingerprint of a media broadcast to determine whether a media item embedded in a broadcast is likely, to a first level of certainty, to be the base media item. A second, more stringent, match between the fingerprint of the base media item and loosely matched items can be used to identify potentially-altered versions of the base media item. Potentially-altered versions can be compared against each other, and resulting matches are flagged as altered base media items, which can be fingerprinted and tested against broadcast fingerprints in the same manner as the base media item.
US09859999B2

A system for measuring the attenuation of electromagnetic shielding of an infrastructure as a function of the frequency, including a transmitter of a white noise signal with a constant power over a frequency band between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency, a signal receiver, the transmitter and the receiver being capable of sending a signal and receiving a signal across the infrastructure, the receiver including a filter module capable of applying sliding filter on the received signal between the minimum frequency and the maximum frequency, and a double synchronous detection module capable of double synchronous detection on a signal output by the filter module.
US09859997B1

A receiving circuit includes: a first receiving terminal for receiving a RF signal; a second receiving terminal for receiving an external oscillating signal generated by an external oscillator; a low-noise amplifier coupled with the first receiving terminal and the second receiving terminal and utilized for generating an output signal; a first switch element positioned between the second receiving terminal and the low-noise amplifier; an in-phase signal processing circuit for generating an in-phase detection signal based on the output signal; an quadrature signal processing circuit for generating an quadrature detection signal based on the output signal; and a calibration circuit for controlling the first switch element and capable of performing an I/Q mismatch calibration operation according to the in-phase detection signal and the quadrature detection signal when the first switch element is turned on.
US09859989B2

A method for processing interference in wireless communication at a base station, wherein at least some of a plurality of (Radio Frequency) RF channels in the base station operates at a current operating frequency point assigned to the base station includes detecting interference of one or more candidate frequency points by using at least one RF channel, wherein the one or more candidate frequency points are different from the current operating frequency point; reporting result of detecting interference of the one or more candidate frequency points to a resource manager; and in response to the resource manager assigning one of the one or more candidate frequency points to the base station, notifying a user to switch from the current operating frequency point to the assigned candidate frequency point.
US09859988B2

A versatile communications (comms) apparatus to provide a means to measure the audio (earphone) output of an electronic device (e.g. a music player in a smartphone), and/or to provide a means for wireless communications between a first electronic device (e.g. a smartphone) and a second electronic device (e.g. a hearing aid, pacemaker, etc). In some embodiments, the comms apparatus does not need power and in other embodiments, its power may be harvested from the first electronic device, or drawn from a battery that may be recharged by harvesting means or charged directly. The first electronic device typically includes an audio (earphone) output, a microphone input (with a voltage bias), a long-range communications transceiver (e.g. GSM), and where pertinent, a short-range transceiver (e.g. Bluetooth) and is internet enabled. In one embodiment, the comms apparatus provides a means where the audio output (earphone) of the electronic device is sampled by its microphone input, or by electronics in the comms apparatus. In other embodiments, the comms apparatus is an intermediary communications device between the first electronic device and the second electronic device. The communications therein may be simplex and/or duplex, via either the audio output (earphone), microphone input, short-range transceiver, and/or a combination thereof. The communications data (via the comms apparatus) may be transmitted elsewhere, including via the internet by means of the internet enabled electronic device.
US09859987B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a system, apparatus and methods for underwater voice communication between a diver and an underwater electronic device. In many embodiments, the system includes a dive computer which generates audio signals corresponding to spoken messages and a mouthpiece apparatus having an acoustic transducer that conducts sound via conduction through the diver's teeth and skull to the cochlea so as to allow the diver to hear the messages and other sounds and a microphone for sensing the diver's voice. The mouthpiece is adapted to be easily attached to portions of a SCUBA or other underwater breathing apparatus. It may also be attached or integral to a snorkel or similar apparatus.
US09859984B2

A transmitter comprises a complex mixer to generate a single I analog drive signal and a single Q analog drive signal, and a single multi-dimensional optical modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier light using the single I analog drive signal and the single Q analog drive signal to produce a modulated optical signal for transmission. Alternatively, a transmitter comprises a complex mixer to generate two I analog drive signals and two Q analog drive signals, and a single multi-dimensional multiple-electrode optical modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier light using the analog drive signals to produce a modulated optical signal for transmission. In both transmitters, the optical carrier light is produced by a single laser, and frequency components of the first data signal are located in a different portion of a spectrum of the modulated optical signal than frequency components of the second data signal.
US09859982B2

A distributed antenna system includes a headend device for generating a downlink transmission signal by combining a plurality of downlink RF signals in different frequency bands, received from a plurality of base stations, and converting the downlink transmission signal into a downlink optical signal, a main remote device for receiving the downlink optical signal from the headend device, converting the downlink optical signal into the downlink transmission signal, and amplifying the plurality of downlink RF signals included in the downlink transmission signal, and a sub-remote device for receiving the downlink transmission signal distributed from the main remote device, and amplifying the plurality of downlink RF signals included in the received downlink transmission signal.
US09859981B2

A system includes first signal processing circuitry to transmit a signal including a plurality of data streams over a link. The first signal processing circuitry generates a plurality of composite data streams by overlaying at least one first data signal of the plurality of data signals in a first data layer with at least one second data signal of the plurality of data signals in a second data layer. Second circuitry processes the plurality of composite data streams to associate with each of the plurality of composite data streams a function to provide minimization of a time-bandwidth product of the plurality of composite data streams to enable transmission of each of the plurality of composite data streams on the link at a same time.
US09859966B2

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of beamforming. For example, a first wireless station may process transmission of a first plurality of Beam Refinement Phase (BRP) frames to a second wireless station during a BRP, one or more duration fields of one or more respective BRP frames of the first plurality of BRP frames being according to an end time; and may process reception of a second plurality of BRP frames from the second wireless station during the BRP, one or more duration fields of one or more respective BRP frames of the second plurality of BRP frames being according to the end time.
US09859963B2

A system is provided comprising: a first wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; a second wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; and circuitry in communication with the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability. The system is configured such that the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability selects a channel based on one or more channel characteristics and initiates a first transmission to a first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device via the first wireless protocol, and further initiates a second transmission to a second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device.
US09859960B2

A method and system for indicating a transmission parameter are provided in the present invention. The method includes: when multi-user multi-input multi-output (MIMO) data are transmitted, using a newly-added indication signaling in a downlink control information format to indicate different joint encoded parameters when numbers of enabled transport blocks are different. Through adding new indication signaling in the present invention, different joint encoded parameters are indicated during the multi-user MIMO data transmission and the MIMO multi-user transmission based on the demodulation reference signal is supported.
US09859959B2

The present invention relates to a method for alignment of a first node with at least one secondary node in a wireless communication network. The first node includes first node antenna beams with corresponding designated pointing angles. For each such beam, the method comprises the steps of, for each secondary node: directing a first node antenna beam in its designated pointing angle; using a secondary node antenna beam where objects can generate signal reflections/diffractions; and detecting at least one signal property of reflected/diffracted signals. The method further comprises the steps: exchanging information between the nodes, regarding beam angles resulting in said signal property exceeding a corresponding threshold level; and selecting a first node beam angle and a secondary node beam angle from the beam angles for communication between the first node and each secondary node.
US09859958B2

A method and device are provided suited to estimating a frequency value for aeronautical communication between a first station and an airborne system moving in relation to the first station, the data being transmitted in the form of a succession of frames, a frame comprising at least one first header field of known data followed by one or more fields of unknown data, and having at least the following steps: Step 1: performance of a supervised correlation on the known data (300) of the header, and estimation of a first frequency range centered on a frequency ; Step 2: production of a blind correlation on at least all of the unknown data of a field of data, by looking for a correlation peak over the frequency range +/−, as determined in step 1, and by retaining of the frequency corresponding to the correlation peak.
US09859956B2

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote system such as electric vehicles. In one aspect an apparatus for use with a wireless power transfer transmitter device comprising a first inductive element for generating a magnetic field, is provided. The apparatus comprises a direct current (DC) power source having an adjustable output voltage. The apparatus also comprises an inverter configured to convert the adjustable output voltage of the DC power source to alternating current. The apparatus also comprises at least one controller configured to receive an indication of current in the first inductive element and control the output voltage of the DC power source in response to the indication of current in the first inductive element. The apparatus reduces distortion signals in the alternating current output of the inverter while maintaining current in the inductive element substantially constant.
US09859952B2

Methods and apparatus are for storing and retrieving data related to the installation, service, repair or performance of an industrial flow meter or other measurement instrument. Methods and apparatus are also for other processes associated with measurement instruments.
US09859950B2

A transmitter/receiver that includes a wireless power receiving mode and a data transmission mode. In the wireless power receiving mode, the transmitter/receiver receives wireless power through and coil and provides power to a load. In data transmission mode, the transmitter/receives drives the coil according to data to transmit data.
US09859948B2

A microprocessor includes a memory, an input/output port and a switch controller. Transmission data, a spread code and an inverted code are stored in the memory. The switch controller generates a spread spectrum signal by calling up either of the spread code or the inverted code in accordance with a bit of the transmission data. A switch connected to the input/output port is switched on and off based on the spread spectrum signal. In addition, an antenna is connected to the input/output port via a coupler. An oscillation circuit includes a reference oscillator and a BPF and inputs a harmonic of a reference signal to the coupler as a carrier wave.
US09859938B2

A smart belt system includes a belt having a plurality of holders for holding a plurality of devices including a firearm, a baton, and an electroshock weapon, a GPS component disposed within the belt configured to track the location and movement of the belt, a microprocessor disposed within the belt, logic instructions executing by the microprocessor configured to monitor and regulate the activities of the plurality of devices and location and movement data generated by the GPS component, a wireless data communications system wirelessly communicating with an external data communications system, a data storage component accessible by the microprocessor for storing activity data of the plurality of the devices and the location and movement data of the belt generated by the GPS component.
US09859928B1

In aspects of a common mode sense circuit for use at a chip's differential pins, a common mode sense circuit sums signals from a pair of connections comprising a twisted-pair cable differential connection. Differential connections are at an input of a chip, such as at an input to a receiver. Summed signals represent sensed common mode signals and may be further processed, such as summing the sensed common mode signals together, and supplied as a reference signal to an adaptive interference canceller.
US09859924B2

A transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus are provided. The transmitting apparatus includes an encoder configured to generate a low density parity check (LDPC) codeword by performing LDPC encoding, an interleaver configured to interleave the LDPC codeword, and a modulator configured to modulate the interleaved LDPC codeword according to a modulation method to generate a modulation symbol. The interleaver performs interleaving by dividing the LDPC codeword into a plurality of groups, rearranging an order of the plurality of groups in group units, and dividing the plurality of rearranged groups based on a modulation order according to the modulation method.
US09859909B1

A method and system of an analog to digital conversion having an exponential result are provided. An analog input signal is received by the ramp ADC. The analog input signal is converted into an N-bit digital signal having a linear relationship with the analog input signal. An internal gated clock signal is generated based on the received first clock signal. The gated clock signal is used as an input to an M-bit register. An output of the M-bit register is multiplied by a predetermined factor. The product of the multiplication is provided as an input to the M-bit register. The output of the M-bit register provides an M-bit output having an exponential relationship with the analog input signal.
US09859907B1

An analog to digital converter (ADC) system includes two signal paths in parallel with each other, where the signal paths include separate ADC circuits to separately operate on a same input signal and output separate digital signals. A difference signal is calculated as a difference of the digital signals output from the two signal paths to determine an error present in one or both of the signal paths. The error may be modulated in one or both of the signal paths and demodulated from the difference signal according to a same digital modulation pattern to compute an error compensation signal to compensate for at least one of the modulated error and a secondary error resulting from the modulation of the error.
US09859906B2

Methods and devices for an energy efficient digital to analog conversion are disclosed. With the achievable sampling rates and output voltage levels, high power RF signals can be synthesized. A plurality of pulses are generated and coupled onto transmission lines. On the other end of the transmission line the pulses are either reflected or transmitted to a load line depending on the status of a termination element. In one embodiment the reflected pulses are collected and sent to a load. The energy in the transmitted pulses can be recovered and reused. In another embodiment the transmitted pulses are collected and transmitted to a load and the energy in the reflected pulses is recovered and reused.
US09859899B2

A variable injection-strength injection-locked oscillator (ILO) is described. The variable injection-strength ILO can output an output clock signal based on an input clock signal. The variable injection-strength ILO can pause, restart, slow down, or speed up the output clock signal synchronously with respect to the input clock signal in response to receiving power mode information. Specifically, the variable injection-strength ILO can be operated under relatively strong injection when the input clock signal is paused, restarted, slowed down, or sped up.
US09859891B1

A MOS device may include a first logic component with a first input located on a second track and a first output located on the third track. The MOS device may include a second logic component with a second input located on the fourth track and a second output located on a fifth track. For example, the MOS device includes a first interconnect on a Mx layer that is coupled to the first input on the second track. In another example, the MOS device includes a second interconnect on the Mx layer that is coupled to the first output on the third track. The MOS device includes a third interconnect on a My layer that is coupled to the second input on the fourth track. Still further, the MOS device includes a fourth interconnect on the My layer that is coupled to the second output on the fifth track.
US09859885B2

An electronic circuit includes a first level shift circuit, a second level shift circuit, an internal circuit, a high voltage circuit, first and second transistors, and first and second protective circuits. The first and second protective circuits perform control the first and second transistors so as to make them non-conductive when at least one of a plurality of types of power supply voltages becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.
US09859882B2

There are disclosed herein various implementations of composite semiconductor devices including a voltage protected device. In one exemplary implementation, a normally OFF composite semiconductor device comprises a normally ON III-nitride power transistor having a first output capacitance, and a low voltage (LV) device cascoded with the normally ON III-nitride power transistor to form the normally OFF composite semiconductor device, the LV device having a second output capacitance. A ratio of the first output capacitance to the second output capacitance is set based on a ratio of a drain voltage of the normally ON III-nitride power transistor to a breakdown voltage of the LV device so as to provide voltage protection for the LV device.
US09859877B2

A signal processing circuit may be provided. The signal processing circuit may include a mask generation circuit configured to output a mask signal in response to an internal control signal and masking information; and a masking circuit configured to mask the internal control signal in response to the mask signal, and output a masked control signal, wherein the mask generation circuit resets the mask signal in response to an internal reset signal, regardless of a pause polarity of the internal control signal.
US09859860B1

The utility model provides a compressor system with an equalizer (EQ). The compressor system includes a signal input device in signal communication with the EQ and a compressor. The compressor system further includes a signal output device in signal communication with the compressor. The compressor includes a signal detection module. In the system, an electrical level threshold of a full-band audio signal is setup in the compressor, and the value of electrical level of the input signal is detected by the signal detection module. After comparison of electrical level threshold and the value of electrical level, the system determines whether the compressor is activated or deactivated. The system can achieve the technology effect of effectively compressing and limiting the audio signal of a different frequency.
US09859856B1

An apparatus is provided which comprises: a differential input amplifying stage including a current source and a first node; a first matched pair of transistors coupled to the first node, wherein one of the transistors of the first matched pair is coupled to an output node of a driving stage; a second matched pair of transistors coupled to a second node to bias the second matched pair of transistors, wherein one of the transistors of the second matched pair of transistors is coupled to the output node of the driving stage, and wherein the second node is to be charged according to a first bias of the current source; and a resistive device coupled to the first and second nodes.
US09859854B2

A power amplifier circuit comprising a transistor for receiving a signal to be amplified at an input and for outputting an amplified signal at an output; a modulated power supply connected to the transistor output; and a resistive element connected at the transistor output such that a low impedance is maintained at the transistor output across a range of operational frequencies.
US09859843B2

A first capacitor has a capacitance adjustable to a set point value by application of a bias voltage. A second capacitor also has a capacitance adjustable to a set point value by application of a bias voltage. The first and second capacitors are arranged to receive the same bias voltage generated by a control circuit. The control circuit receiving the set point value as an input and generates that bias voltage in response to a quantity representative of a capacitance of the second capacitor.
US09859842B2

The disclosure relates to a device and method for testing a concentrated photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of sub-modules, which comprises: light sources; and parabolic mirrors coupled with the light sources so as to reflect the light from each source in quasi-collimated light beams toward the module to be tested, perpendicular to the module. Each light source comprises: an optical system comprising two parallel lenses on either side of a diaphragm; a lamp on an optical axis of the optical system; a reflector arranged on the axis, on the side opposite the optical system relative to the lamp, and translatably movable along the axis; and a housing containing the optical system, the lamp and the reflector and including an outlet opening for the light beam on the axis.
US09859833B1

The fixed and variable speed induction motor and light controller has a dual isolated low voltage power supply including timing control that utilizes the zero crossing detector of a microcontroller (MCU) to chop the voltage. This permits quiet on the fly variable speed control. The MCU is connected to a pulse width modulation (PWM) module including two pairs of MOSFETs connected back-to-back to form two AC switches for motor control. A TRIAC phase control output controls the lighting. A reverse switch (which may be a part of the existing ceiling fan) or an on-board reverse relay is included. An RF receiver (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) is configured for remote access to the controller.
US09859832B2

A multiphase electric motor control device includes: a bridge circuit including phase circuits each including a high potential side switching element, a low potential side switching element, and a current detector, a PWM control unit that outputs PWM signals to the switching elements; a control unit that acquires phase current values at a timing synchronized with a triangle wave; and a current value estimation unit that estimates a phase current value of one phase based on phase current values of other phases. In a case where an ON time of the PWM signal output to the low potential side switching element of the one phase from the PWM control unit is shorter than a predetermined time, the control unit acquires the phase current values which are detected by shifting the timing by using the current detectors of at least the other phases.
US09859828B2

The present invention relates to method for operating a power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator arranged for supplying power to an electrical grid, at least one energy storage device arranged for supplying power to the electrical grid, and a power plant controller, the method comprises, measuring repetitively measurement sets of at least one electrical parameter from the electrical grid, and calculating, in respect the measurement sets of the at least one electrical parameter, a change in active and/or a required change in reactive power at a point of common coupling, and calculating and dispatching of a first control reference signal to the at least one wind turbine generator and a second control reference signal to the at least one energy storage device, for providing ancillary service functionalities to the electrical grid. The invention also relates to a power plant with at least one wind turbine generator for supplying power to an electrical grid, at least one energy storage device for supplying power to the electrical grid, and a power plant controller for providing ancillary service functionalities to the electrical grid.
US09859820B2

A converter having at least one converter module, which includes a primary circuit connected to a power supply, a secondary circuit connected to a load, and a DC link circuit having an intermediate circuit capacitance, is operated according to the disclosed method by controlling the primary circuit such that the intermediate circuit voltage dropping across the intermediate circuit capacitance is adjusted to a predetermined desired voltage value which depends on the direction of the power flow in the secondary circuit.
US09859819B2

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a substrate and a movable element at least partially suspended above the substrate and having at least one degree of freedom. The MEMS device further includes a protrusion extending from the substrate and configured to contact the movable element when the movable element moves in the at least one degree of freedom, wherein the protrusion comprises a surface having a water contact angle of higher than about 15° measured in air.
US09859812B2

Techniques for supplying auxiliary power to lighting driver circuitry are disclosed. An auxiliary power supply can be used, for example, to provide auxiliary power to a current source that drives an LED string. In some embodiments, the LED string is effectively used as a series resistor to charge a capacitor that provides the auxiliary voltage Vaux. As soon as the capacitor is charged to a given threshold, the LED string can be disconnected from the capacitor and the current through the LED string bypasses the auxiliary supply circuit. Thus, the current source provides a current through the LED string, which in turn may be selectively fed to the auxiliary power supply to provide auxiliary power back to the current source or to provide auxiliary power to other circuitry.
US09859793B2

The disclosure relates to a method of generating an output voltage from a high input voltage and a command signal, the method comprising: providing an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal linked to a low voltage by a capacitor, the second inductor terminal supplying the output voltage to a load, the low voltage being lower than the high input voltage; and connecting the first inductor terminal either to the high input voltage or to the inductor second terminal, as a function of the command signal.
US09859783B1

A voltage converter controller, adapted to a voltage converter circuit, includes a power switch controller and a dead-time determining circuit. The power switch controller receives a PWM signal and outputs a high-side control signal and a low-side control signal accordingly to control the conduction and cut-off of a high-side power switch and a low-side power switch respectively. When the power switch controller starts to control the low-side power switch cut-off, after a first dead-time, the power switch controller starts to control the high-side power switch conducting. The dead-time determining circuit detects a current of the low-side power switch to be larger or smaller than a threshold current when the low-side power switch is conducted, and determines the first dead-time to be a first value or a second value accordingly.
US09859780B2

A vibration motor includes a first vibrator, a second vibrator and a fixing member having a part located between the first and second vibrators. The first and second vibrators are suspended by a number of guiding members each having a guide and a spring wound around the guide. The first and second vibrators are capable of vibrating along two perpendicular directions.
US09859761B2

A rotor includes a first rotor core, a second rotor core, a permanent magnet and a resin layer. The first rotor core includes a first core base and first claw-shaped magnetic poles arranged at equal intervals on a peripheral portion of the first core base. The second rotor core includes a second core base and second claw-shaped magnetic poles arranged at equal intervals on a peripheral portion of the second core base. The first rotor core and the second rotor core are combined with each other so that the first and second core bases are opposed to each other and the first and second claw-shaped magnetic poles are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotor. The permanent magnet includes at least a main field magnet. The main field magnet is located between the first and second core bases in the axial direction, and is magnetized in the axial direction. The main field magnet causes the first claw-shaped magnetic poles to function as first magnetic poles, and causes the second claw-shaped magnetic poles to function as second magnetic poles. The resin layer covers at least a portion of a surface of the permanent magnet.
US09859754B2

A computer-implemented method includes linking a plurality of load distribution points in a power distribution unit to a plurality of electrical loads in response to user input, receiving data indicative of one or more electrical parameters associated with the plurality of load distribution points, selecting a visual indicator from a group of indicators based on the one or more electrical parameters associated with the load distribution point for each of the plurality of load distribution points, and displaying the selected visual indicators for the plurality of load distribution points on a visual display for viewing by a user. Each of the electrical loads are electrically coupled to one or more of the plurality of load distribution points. Example computer systems and non-transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for performing one or more computer-implemented methods are also disclosed.
US09859751B2

A switchable uninterruptible power supply (SUPS) system is provided. The system includes a UPS configured to supply power to a load, a plurality of battery units connected in parallel, and a controller configured to selectively supply power from a grid to the UPS and to selectively connect each of the plurality of battery units the UPS or a battery charger are connected to the grid.
US09859744B2

A dual-mode receiver is provided that includes an electromagnetic resonator having one or more inductive elements that are arranged to form a receiver coil and a network of passive components arranged to form a matching network.
US09859734B2

The present invention provides a power supply circuit and a power supply method. The power supply circuit comprises: a charge control unit, a battery and battery protection unit, a voltage stabilizing unit and a voltage boosting unit; the voltage boosting unit comprises: a consumption reducing module for, at the moment of turning on or turning off a power device in the voltage boosting unit, enabling an electric current flowing through the power device to be zero. The present invention, by arranging the consumption reducing module, enables an electric current flowing through the power device to be zero at the moment of turning on or turning off the power device in the voltage boosting unit, which realizes zero current turn-on or turn-off of the power device, and reduces consumption of the electric energy.
US09859723B2

Provided is a vehicle controlling apparatus including: an inputter configured to detect an event; a battery manager configured to check a first battery charge/discharge range corresponding to a range for preventing a decrease in a lifespan of a battery and configured to determining whether the first battery charge/discharge range is equal to a second battery charge/discharge range corresponding to a range for the event, wherein if the first battery charge/discharge range is different from the second battery charge/discharge range, the battery manager is configured to set a third battery charge/discharge range corresponding to the second battery charge/discharge range; a memory configured to store the third battery charge/discharge range; and a controller configured to control charging or discharging of the battery within the third battery charge/discharge range.
US09859722B2

A battery management method for one or more batteries in a healthcare delivery system is provided. The method includes determining when the healthcare delivery system is drawing power from the one or more batteries and controlling a display unit coupled to the controller to display an initial number corresponding to a time remaining on battery (TROB) when the healthcare delivery system is drawing power from the one or more batteries. The method also includes determining if the TROB is within a reserve range extending up to a reserve range maximum that is less than a maximum TROB, changing the TROB according to an operational state of the healthcare delivery system if the TROB is greater than the reserve range maximum, and decreasing the TROB to count down the TROB without regard for the operational state of the healthcare delivery system if the TROB is less than the reserve range maximum.
US09859720B2

In a power transmission device including a power transmission coil that is disposed to oppose an installation surface of the power transmission device on which a power receiving device is installed and that is capable of being electromagnetically coupled with the power receiving coil. A magnetic substance is disposed at least outside the power transmission coil to oppose the installation surface via the power transmission coil and to be electromagnetically coupled with the power transmission coil. A object detecting circuit detects a metal object existing at least outside the power transmission coil by supplying first AC power to the power transmission coil and detecting a change in at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the first AC power or a voltage or current of a DC component of the first AC power.
US09859716B2

A hybrid AC and DC distribution system includes a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), a DC distribution bus, an AC/DC converter, an AC distribution bus, and a DC/AC converter. The DFIG includes a rotor and a stator, and is configured to generate a first AC power at the rotor and a second AC power at the stator. The AC/DC converter is coupled to the rotor and the DC distribution bus. The AC/DC converter converts the first AC power to a first DC power at a first node for delivery to a first load through the DC distribution bus. The DC/AC converter is coupled between the first node and a second node coupled to the stator and the AC distribution bus. The DC/AC converter converts the first DC power to the second AC power at the second node for delivery to a second load through the AC distribution bus.
US09859715B2

A station-building power supply device is provided in each station building and supplies low-voltage AC power to station building facilities of each station building. There are two mode therein: a regenerative mode in which, when regenerative power regenerated by a train to an overhead wire becomes surplus, the surplus regenerative power supplied from the overhead wire and power supplied from a high-voltage distribution line are used together to supply low-voltage AC power corresponding to an amount of normal power consumption of the station building; and a standby power supply mode in which, when a power outage of the high-voltage distribution line occurs, power supplied from the overhead wire is used to supply low-voltage AC power corresponding to an amount of emergency power of the station building.
US09859706B2

A united power module having an external input and a first input is provided. The united power module includes a load block, a protection circuitry and a detection block. The detection block includes an analog circuitry. The load block and an end of the protection circuitry are electrically coupled to the external input. The load block, the first input, and another end of the protection circuitry are electrically coupled to the detection block. The load block is supplied by an external power received from the external input. The protection circuitry receives the external power and outputs an auxiliary power. The analog circuitry receives a first power from the first input under a normal power supply state, or receives the auxiliary power under an auxiliary power supply state.
US09859699B2

An electrically conductive assembly for providing a low electrical resistance contact between an antenna and the corrugated roof of a train. The assembly comprises a gel and skeletal gasket member which has an electrically conductive skeleton encapsulated in a tacky gel. Multiple foam and gel members, typically made up of compressible at least partially open cell foam, are laid in the troughs and are thick enough, such that the top surface of the foam and gel members is about equal to or slightly higher than the top surfaces of the ridges of the corrugated train roof. The antenna is then laid atop the gel and gasket member and bolted to the roof with fasteners in such a manner that the tacky flowable gel at least partially squeezes out the edges of the gel and gasket member as the antenna is compressed downward while the fasteners are snugged up. This compression allows the electrically conductive skeletal member to provide contact between the antenna and the roof, the roof typically metallic and that results in a decrease of EMI (electromagnetic interference).
US09859697B1

A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body with a chamber, a sealing section mounted with one or more sealing rings, and external threads. A sealing cap mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap and can have internal threads to be screwed onto the external threads of the compartment body. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
US09859689B1

In a cross section including a central axis, a value L/D obtained by dividing an axial length L of an overlap portion where a metal contact surface located on a metal shell and on which a packing is in contact with the metal shell overlaps a projection plane located on the metal shell and on which a contact surface located on an insulator and on which the packing is in contact with the insulator is projected in a direction orthogonal to the central axis by a difference D between a radius of an outer circumference of a tube portion at a connection position to a step portion and a radius of an outer circumference of a leg portion at a connection position to the step portion is 1.2 or more. This ensures the force of constraint in the radial direction provided by the packing on the insulator.
US09859686B2

The present invention relates to an active gain layer stack (21) for a vertical emitting laser device, the active gain layer stack (21) comprising a semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor material is structured such that it forms at least one mesa (24) extending in a vertical direction. A transversally neighboring region (25) that at least partly surrounds said mesa (24) has a second refractive index (n2)—At least part of said mesa (24) has a first refractive index (n1) and a part of the neighboring region (25) transversally adjacent to said part of the mesa (24) has second refractive index (n 2)—Said first refractive index (n1) is higher than said second refractive index (n2) and a diameter in transversal direction of said mesa (24) is chosen such that a transversal confinement factor in the active gain layer stack (21) is increased. The present invention also relates to a laser device including such a stack, further to a method of operation of such a stack, and also to a method of manufacturing of such a stack. The VECSEL comprises a IV-VI semiconductor gain material grown on the lower mirror and an external cavity mirror. A plurality of mesa (22) may be grown on a single substrate (23). Anti-guiding is prevented by the lower refractive index of the surrounding material (25) improving the single transversal mode operation.
US09859685B2

In one example, a device includes a layered semiconductor material having material defects formed therein and an optoelectronic device formed in the layered semiconductor material. The optoelectronic device includes an active region comprising an aperture formed through the layered semiconductor material. The aperture is formed in a manner that avoids intersection with the material defects.
US09859681B2

An optical device includes a semiconductor element configured to emit emission light or to receive incident light, including a first fitting part including a portion having a convex shape in a first region; an optical member arranged on an optical path of the emission light emitted from the semiconductor element or the incident light entering the semiconductor element, including a second fitting part fitted to at least a part of the portion having the convex shape, the first region being opposed to the optical member; and a joint part that joins the semiconductor element and the optical member, arranged between the first fitting part and the second fitting part.
US09859680B2

Laser modules are provided having electrical connections that are resistant to damage caused by transient or higher order accelerations.
US09859676B2

A laser device includes a light source that emits a source light having a first peak wavelength. A nonlinear optical component performs a frequency conversion process that converts the source light into output light having a second peak wavelength. A stabilization component minimizes a mismatch error constituting a difference between the first peak wavelength and a wavelength for which the frequency conversion process in the nonlinear optical component has a maximum value. The stabilization component may include a housing that is thermally conductive between the light source and the nonlinear optical component to minimize a temperature difference between the light source and the nonlinear optical component. The laser device may include a focusing optical component that focuses the source light to have a convergence half angle that is larger than a convergence half angle that gives maximum output power, thereby increasing an acceptable range of the mismatch error.
US09859667B2

A cable connector assembly includes a cable and a connector electrically connected with the cable for further electrically connecting with a power source. The connector includes: a main body; a plurality of contacts retained to the main body; a light emitting element; a printed circuit board (15) for controlling the light emitting element to emit light; and an outer case enclosing the connector and defining an indication area; wherein the connector further includes a conducting member mounted on the printed circuit board (15), the conducting member is a spring plate made of metal material pressing upon the indication area of the outer case, a front end of the outer case defines a transparent portion made of transparent material, and upon pressing the indication area, capacitance is affected and the light emitting element is turned on to emit light through the transparent portion.
US09859661B2

A connector mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided. The connector includes a mid-plate electrically connected to a ground terminal of the PCB and including a metallic material, a plurality of upper terminals situated on the mid-plate, a plurality of lower terminals situated under the mid-plate, a first insulation member situated on the mid-plate while supporting the upper terminals, a second insulation member situated under the mid-plate while supporting the lower terminals, and a pad electrically connected to the mid-plate and shielding an electromagnetic wave.
US09859658B2

An electrical connector includes a housing and a plurality of ground wafers and signal wafers. A front side is configured to mate with a mating connector. The ground wafers and signal wafers are stacked next to one another along a stack axis. The ground wafers are interleaved between adjacent pairs of the signal wafers. Each signal wafer includes at least one signal conductor held by a signal holder that is composed of a first material. Each ground wafer includes at least one ground conductor held by a ground holder that is composed of second material. The second material is a lossy material and the first material is a low loss dielectric material that has a loss tangent that is lower than a loss tangent of the lossy material. The signal conductors and the ground conductors are configured to engage and electrically connect to the mating connector.
US09859655B2

A smart plug system includes, in an embodiment, a smart plug that may be securable to an electrical outlet by way of an anti-theft device. The anti-theft device may include in an embodiment: a body securable to the electrical outlet; and a protrusion that extends from the body and which may extend into an aperture of the smart plug to secure the smart plug to the electrical outlet when the smart plug is plugged into an electrical outlet. In an embodiment, the smart plug may be configured to be customizable in appearance by including a plurality of different covers that may be secured to a face of the smart plug.
US09859652B2

Provided is a first plug connector which is constructed to be connected at its first end to a first electrical component and at its second end to second plug connector, which is complementary to the first plug connector. The first plug connector enfolds at least one first part of a bayonet-like connection and at least a first locking element for a locking mechanism, which is arranged in such a way, that it extends in the plugging direction. Furthermore, a second plug connector complementary to the first plug connector and able to be connected to it and a comprehensive plug connector arrangement are provided.
US09859638B2

A connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a housing and at least one conductive terminal received in the housing. The housing has a flange mounted on a first surface of a circuit board and a body extending through the circuit board beyond an opposite second surface of the circuit board. The body has an insertion hole. The at least one conductive terminal has a pair of resilient contact arms contacting a wire inserted through the insertion hole, a pair of solder feet soldered to the circuit board and electrically connected to the pair of resilient contact arms, and a releasing mechanism adapted to move the pair of resilient contact arms away from each other to release the wire.
US09859636B2

An example apparatus for connecting linear edge cards includes a housing to hold at least one set of conductive contacts facing perpendicularly towards a mating plane. The apparatus further includes an activator bar coupled to the housing, the activator bar to hold two parts of the housing apart via two opposing normal forces. The apparatus also includes a contact load spring coupled to the housing, the contact load spring to apply two forces parallel to the direction of the conductive contacts and against the two opposing normal forces of the activator bar. The apparatus further includes an ejector spring coupled to the contact load spring and the activator bar. The ejector spring is to apply a force perpendicular to the two opposing normal forces of the activator bar and in a direction of an opening of the housing.
US09859629B2

Embodiments disclose a contact element comprising a connector plate having a central inner opening and a conductor receptacle extending outwardly from the connector plate. The connector plate has at least one pair of connection areas including a plug area and a jack area. The plug area and the jack area of each particular pair are angularly offset by a predefined offset angle around a center of the inner opening and are vertically offset from one another in a direction perpendicular to the connector plate such that they are configured for mutual lateral engagement when arranged facing and vertically offset from one another. Further embodiments disclose a method for connecting two contact elements, and a set having multiple superimposed contact elements that are angularly offset by an offset angle. The contact elements of the present disclosure may be used to attach individual leads to a ground terminal in a vehicle body.
US09859624B2

An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrically conductive contact member and a second electrically conductive contact member. Both contact members have non-planar interface surfaces. The second interface surface is complimentary to the first interface surface. The first interface surface may include a plurality of elongated first ridges and a plurality of elongated first valleys, and the second interface surface may include a plurality of elongated second ridges and a plurality of elongated second valleys. A first ridge is received by a second valley and a second ridge is received by a first valley.
US09859620B1

Increased energy efficiency of a small cell antenna is provided. Electromagnetic energy radiated outside the desired radiation pattern of a small cell antenna is wasted. An antenna is provided which includes a circular set of antenna elements having a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) reflectors positioned within and around the circumference of the set of antenna elements facing substantially outward. Each RF reflector is configured to reflect the RF signal transmitted from the ring outwardly from a corresponding antenna element at an angle with respect to the plane of the circular set of antenna elements. By adjusting the angles of the reflectors, the signal may be reflected downward toward target areas that are nearer or farther from the small cell.
US09859611B2

Ultra-wideband dual-band cellular dual-polarization base-station antennas and low-band radiators for such antennas are disclosed. The low-band radiator comprises a dipole and an extended dipole configured in a crossed arrangement, a capacitively coupled feed connecting the extended dipole to an antenna feed, and a pair of auxiliary radiating elements. The dipole comprises two dipole arms, each of approximately λ/4, for connection to the antenna feed. The extended dipole has anti-resonant dipole arms of approximately λ/2. The auxiliary radiating elements are configured in parallel at opposite ends of the extended dipole. The radiator is adapted for the frequency range of 698-960 MHz and provides a horizontal beamwidth of approximately 65 degrees. The dual-band base-station antenna comprises high-band radiators configured in at least one array and low-band radiators interspersed amongst the high-band radiators at regular intervals.
US09859605B2

An antenna device includes a round plug having a rotation mechanism section on one end thereof, where round plug is removably attached to a round jack arranged in an electronic apparatus; and a rod antenna element. In the antenna device, the rod antenna element is connected to the rotation mechanism section of the round plug and rotatable in a predetermined direction.
US09859592B2

A battery chamber is formed inside a sealed container. A module battery and a charging/discharging path outside a battery are housed in the battery chamber. In the module battery, an electric cell chamber and an air chamber are formed inside a heat-insulating container. The electric cell chamber and the air chamber are divided by a heat transfer wall. An electric cell of a sodium-sulfur battery, and a charging/discharging path inside a battery are housed in the electric cell chamber. An intake path starts from outside of the sealed container and leads to the air chamber. An exhaust path starts from the air chamber and leads to the sealed container. The blower generates an air flow that sequentially flows through the intake path, the air chamber and the exhaust path. In a case where the cooling of the electric cell chamber is required, the air flow is generated.
US09859589B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a secondary battery in which water in the outer package can be removed even when the secondary battery includes an electrolytic solution containing a halogen-containing compound. The present exemplary embodiment is a method for producing a secondary battery including an electrolytic solution containing a supporting salt, a nonaqueous solvent, and a halogen-containing compound, an electrode assembly including a negative electrode and a positive electrode, and an outer package, the method including (1) disposing a first solution containing at least the supporting salt and the nonaqueous solvent, and the electrode assembly in the outer package; (2) charging the electrode assembly; (3) emitting from the outer package a gas generated by the charge; and (4) injecting a second solution including at least the halogen-containing compound into the outer package after the gas is emitted, wherein the first solution does not contain the halogen-containing compound, and the electrolytic solution includes the first solution and the second solution.
US09859584B2

Provided is a winding apparatus that is provided with a splitter that splits radiant light from a light source unit into measurement light applied to a side face part of a first sheet and a second sheet and reference light applied to a reference surface, an interference detector that detects interference light formed by interference between the reference light reflected by the reference surface and the measurement light reflected by the side face part, a position detector that detects the position of the first sheet and the position of the second sheet on the basis of the detected interference light, and a decision processor that decides the quality of the wound body on the basis of the detected positions of the first sheet and the second sheet.
US09859568B2

The present invention provides a fuel cell electrode, which has increased physical and chemical durability, and a method for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) using the same. According to the present invention, the fuel cell electrode is manufactured by controlling the amount of platinum supported on a first carbon support used in an anode to be smaller than that used in a cathode to increase the mechanical strength of a catalyst layer and maintain the thickness of the catalyst layer after prolonged operation and by adding carbon nanofibers containing a radical scavenger to a catalyst slurry to decrease deterioration of chemical durability.
US09859567B2

Disclosed is a method for producing a catalyst, wherein the method comprises: a supplying step of supplying a dispersion containing a palladium-containing fine particle from a supplying part into a reaction container; a preparing step of preparing a copper-palladium-containing complex in which at least part of a surface of the palladium-containing fine particle is covered with copper, by passing the dispersion through a reacting part and bringing the palladium-containing fine particle in the dispersion into contact with a copper-containing member in the reacting part; and a substituting step of substituting the copper in the copper-palladium-containing complex emitted from an emitting part with platinum by bringing the complex into contact with a platinum-containing solution.
US09859566B2

A rechargeable secondary battery including: a case; an electrode assembly accommodated in the case, the electrode assembly including an active material coating portion and an active material non-coating portion; a light absorbing member coupled to the electrode assembly; and a collector plate welded to the electrode assembly and contacting the active material non-coating portion.
US09859564B2

A positive electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode mixture layer that is formed on the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries is: the positive electrode mixture layer comprises a first mixture layer that contains a positive electrode active material and a reaction inhibitor which inhibits a thermal reaction between the positive electrode active material and a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a second mixture layer that contains the positive electrode active material; the positive electrode is obtained by sequentially laminating the positive electrode current collector, the first and the second mixture layer in this order; and the concentration of the reaction inhibitor contained in the positive electrode mixture layer is high in the vicinity of the positive electrode current collector in comparison to that in the surface layer portion of the positive electrode mixture layer.
US09859558B2

A primary battery includes a cathode having an alkali-deficient nickel oxide including metals such as Ca, Mg, Al, Co, Y, Mn, and/or non-metals such as B, Si, Ge, or a combination of metal and/or non-metal atoms; a combination of metal atoms; an anode; a separator between the cathode and the anode; and an alkaline electrolyte.
US09859554B2

A negative electrode material includes an active material. The active material includes a silicon core selected from the group consisting of Si, SiO2, SiOx (0
US09859552B2

An electrode material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery of an embodiment includes a silicon nanoparticle, and a coating layer coating the silicon nanoparticle. The coating layer includes an amorphous silicon oxide and a silicon carbide phase. At least a part of the silicon carbide phase exists on a surface of the silicon nanoparticle.
US09859546B2

A method for producing an electrochemical bundle of a lithium battery, such as an Li-ion battery, with a view to electrically connecting same to the output terminals of the battery, wherein it includes the combination of two steps of folding an electrochemical bundle of a lithium battery which are carried out separately, i.e. a radial folding with plastic deformation and an axial compacting, which make it possible to obtain two separate areas on at least one, and preferably both, of the lateral ends of the bundle. The invention also concerns a method for producing an electrical connection part between the electrochemical bundle and one of the output terminals of the battery, and an associated current collector.
US09859544B2

A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells aligned in one direction, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells including a terminal portion on a first surface of a respective battery cell, a bus-bar electrically connect between the terminal portions of the plurality of battery cells, and a bus-bar holder positioned on the first surfaces of the plurality of battery cells, the bus-bar holder including support portions configured to support two different surfaces of the bus-bar, respectively.
US09859534B2

A thermal expansion coefficient of a battery case may be lower than those of an insulating film and a separator. Portions of the insulating film, which are held in contact with the electrode body and the battery case, may be adhered to the separator, which is positioned on the outermost surface of the electrode body, and the battery case, respectively. A first 90 degree peeling strength of an adhesion portion between the insulating film and the battery case is higher than a second 90 degree peeling strength of an adhesion portion between the insulating film and the separator. The first 90 degree peeling strength may be 15 mN/cm or higher, and the second 90 degree peeling strength may be 5 mN/cm or higher.
US09859525B2

Disclosed is a flexible display substrate and a method for manufacturing the same which can avoid break and peeling of film layers disposed on a flexible base and further reduce degree of a warpage occurred in the flexible base when separating the support substrate from the flexible base located above the support substrate. The flexible display substrate comprises the flexible base, a first buffer layer and a second buffer layer disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the flexible base, respectively, a plurality of display modules disposed on the first buffer layer, each display module includes at least one thin film transistor and at least one electrode corresponding to the thin film transistor, and a plurality of auxiliary thin film transistors disposed on one side of the second buffer layer which is away from the flexible base, the auxiliary thin film transistors corresponding to the thin film transistors one by one, respectively.
US09859524B2

Various embodiments may relate to an optoelectronic component, including an optically active region formed for taking up and/or for providing electromagnetic radiation, at least one first contact structure, wherein the optically active region is electrically conductively coupled to the first contact structure, and an encapsulation structure with a second contact structure, wherein the encapsulation structure is formed on or above the optically active region and the first contact structure, and an electrically conductive structure formed for electrically conductively connecting the first contact structure to the second contact structure, wherein the encapsulation structure is at least partly formed by an electrically insulating molding compound, wherein the electrically insulating molding compound at least partly surrounds the electrically conductive structure.
US09859519B2

An organic light emitting display device comprises first and second electrodes facing each other on a substrate; and three emission portions arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein at least one among the three emission portions includes two emitting layers, and the first, second and third emission portions being collectively configured as a TOL-FESE (Thickness of Organic Layers between the First Electrode and the Second Electrode) structure in which thicknesses of organic layers between the first electrode and the second electrode are different from one another, each organic layer having a specified thickness that provides the organic light emitting display device having the TOL-FESE structure with improved red efficiency or blue efficiency and minimized color shift rate with respect to a viewing angle, when compared to an organic light emitting display device that lacks the TOL-FESE structure.
US09859514B1

The present disclosure relates to a method for making nanoscale heterostructure. The method includes: forming a first carbon nanotube layer on a support, the first carbon nanotube layer includes a number of first carbon nanotubes; forming a semiconductor layer on a surface of the first carbon nanotube layer; covering a second carbon nanotube layer on the semiconductor layer, the second carbon nanotube layer includes a number of second carbon nanotubes; finding and labeling a first metal carbon nanotube and a semiconductor carbon nanotube parallel to and spaced away from the first metal carbon nanotube; finding and labeling a second metal carbon nanotube, an extending direction of the second metal carbon nanotube is crossed with an extending direction of the first metal carbon nanotube and the semiconductor carbon nanotube; removing the other carbon nanotubes; and annealing the above structure.
US09859510B2

Novel ligands for metal complexes containing five-membered ring fused on pyridine or pyrimidine ring combined with partially fluorinated side chains exhibiting improved external quantum efficiency and lifetime are disclosed.
US09859506B2

A nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound having a general formula (I) and an organic photoelectric apparatus are provided. The compound of general formula (I) is: wherein A1 to A4 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a function group having a general formula (II); A1 to A4 include at least one function group having the general formula (II); R1 and R2 are independently selected from one of hydrogen, deuterium, C1-30 alkyl group, C6-30 aromatic group and C2-30 heterocyclic aromatic group; Y1 and Y2 are independently selected from substituted or non-substituted C and N, the general formula (II) being: wherein X is selected from one of oxyl group (—O—), sulfhydryl group (—S—), substituted or non-substituted imino group, substituted or non-substituted methylene group, and substituted or non-substituted silicylene group; and R3 to R10 are independently selected from one of hydrogen, deuterium, C1-30 alkyl group, C6-30 aromatic group, and C2-30 heterocyclic aromatic group.
US09859504B2

The present disclosure generally relates to diamine compounds, which may be used as precursors in preparing diazaborole compounds and phosphorescent diazaborole metal complexes. The present disclosure also relates to diazaborole compounds, diazaborole metal complexes, and electroluminescent emission materials and electronic devices thereof. The present disclosure further relates to processes for preparing the diamine compounds and diazaborole metal complexes.
US09859503B2

According to one or more embodiments, an organic light-emitting device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; an emission layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a hole transport region between the first electrode and the emission layer. The hole transport region includes a first compound represented by Formula 1A and a second compound represented by Formula 1B:
US09859500B2

A method of fabricating a carbon nanotube based device, including forming a trench having a bottom surface and sidewalls on a substrate, selectively depositing a bi-functional compound having two reactive moieties in the trench, wherein a first of the two reactive moieties selectively binds to the bottom surface, converting a second of the two reactive moieties to a diazonium salt; and reacting the diazonium salt with a dispersion of carbon nanotubes to form a carbon nanotube layer bound to the bottom surface of the trench.
US09859497B2

he present invention relates to a method for manufacturing thin films consisting of SiO2 spheres of 250 nm in diameter, packed in a simple cubic structure and infiltrated with the organic luminescent polymer Poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene] (MDMO-PPV). The thin film can be deposited onto a substrate of soda lime or indium oxide doped with tin (ITO). The manufacturing method includes the synthesis of a colloidal solution with the correct proportions of SiO2 spheres and a high-viscosity organic solvent and the subsequent treatment thereof by spin coating. The provided method makes it possible to obtain films having a controllable thickness and a good structural quality that can easily be attached as an active region in an organic light-emitting diode where, due to the film described herein, the emission of light produced by the active region is considerably improved.
US09859488B2

A magnetic memory device includes a reference magnetic pattern having a magnetization direction fixed in one direction, a free magnetic pattern having a changeable magnetization direction, and a tunnel barrier pattern disposed between the free and reference magnetic patterns. The free magnetic pattern has a first surface being in contact with the tunnel barrier pattern and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The magnetic memory device further includes a sub-oxide pattern disposed on the second surface of the free magnetic pattern, and a metal boride pattern disposed between the sub-oxide pattern and the second surface of the free magnetic pattern. The magnetization directions of the free and reference magnetic patterns are substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the free magnetic pattern.
US09859485B1

A method for packaging a thermoelectric module may include thermoelectric module accommodation, of accommodating at least one thermoelectric module in a housing having a base and a sidewall, electric wire sealing, of sealing an electric wire of the thermoelectric module with a sealing tube, bonding member interposing, of placing a cover having a top portion and a sidewall on top of the housing and interposing a bonding member between the sidewall of the housing and the sidewall of the cover, and bonding, of bonding the sidewall of the housing and the sidewall of the cover that are hermetically sealed by the bonding member, in which the bonding member may be formed of a resin material.
US09859484B2

A ceramic insulating film (150) having a heat conducting property and a light reflecting property is formed on a front surface of a substrate (100), and a light emitting element (110) is provided on the ceramic insulating film. This makes it possible to improve a heat dissipation characteristic and a light utilization efficiency of a light emitting apparatus (10) having the light emitting element (101) provided on the substrate (110).
US09859480B2

A light emitting device includes a package, at least one light emitting element, a light-transmissive resin, and a light reflecting resin. The package has a recess which includes a bottom surface and an inner peripheral surface. The bottom surface includes a light emitting element mounting region and a groove. The groove has an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge on the bottom surface to define the groove between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge. The at least one light emitting element is mounted on the light emitting element mounting region. The light-transmissive resin is provided in the recess to cover the at least one light emitting element and to be in contact with the groove. The light reflecting resin is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the recess and the light-transmissive resin to reach the outer peripheral edge of the groove.
US09859472B2

A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes: mounting at least one light emitting element on a support member with a first surface of the light emitting element facing upward; applying an adhesive to the first surface of the light emitting element by holding the support member and dipping the first surface of the light emitting element in the adhesive; and disposing a light-transmissive member on the first surface of the light emitting element via the adhesive.
US09859470B2

A light-emitting device is provided. The light-emitting device comprises: a light-emitting stack having an active layer emitting first light having a peak wavelength λ nm; and an adjusting element stacked electrically connected to the active layer in series for tuning a forward voltage of the light-emitting device; wherein the forward voltage of the light-emitting device is between (1240/0.8λ) volt and (1240/0.5λ) volt.
US09859466B2

Disclosed are a light emitting diode and a light emitting diode module. The light emitting diode module includes a printed circuit board and a light emitting diode joined thereto through a solder paste. The light emitting diode includes a first electrode pad electrically connected to a first conductive type semiconductor layer and a second electrode pad connected to a second conductive type semiconductor layer, wherein each of the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad includes at least five pairs of Ti/Ni layers or at least five pairs of Ti/Cr layers and the uppermost layer of Au. Thus a metal element such as Sn in the solder paste is prevented from diffusion so as to provide a reliable light emitting diode module.
US09859462B2

A semiconductor structure includes a silicon substrate, an aluminum nitride layer and a plurality of grading stress buffer layers. The aluminum nitride layer is disposed on the silicon substrate. The grading stress buffer layers are disposed on the aluminum nitride layer. Each grading stress buffer layer includes a grading layer and a transition layer stacked up sequentially. A chemical formula of the grading layer is Al1-xGaxN, wherein the x value is increased from one side near the silicon substrate to a side away from the silicon substrate, and 0≦x≦1. A chemical formula of the transition layer is the same as the chemical formula of a side surface of the grading layer away from the silicon substrate. The chemical formula of the transition layer of the grading stress buffer layer furthest from the silicon substrate is GaN.
US09859460B2

The present disclosure provides a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device comprises a substrate; a light-emitting stack which emits infrared (IR) light on the substrate; and a semiconductor window layer comprising AlGaInP series material disposed between the substrate and the light-emitting stack.
US09859454B2

In a thin film photoelectric conversion device fabricated by addition of a catalyst element with the use of a solid phase growth method, defects such as a short circuit or leakage of current are suppressed. A catalyst material which promotes crystallization of silicon is selectively added to a second silicon semiconductor layer formed over a first silicon semiconductor layer having one conductivity type, the second silicon semiconductor layer is partly crystallized by a heat treatment, a third silicon semiconductor layer having a conductivity type opposite to the one conductivity type is stacked, and element isolation is performed at a region in the second silicon semiconductor layer to which a catalyst material is not added, so that a left catalyst material is prevented from being diffused again, and defects such as a short circuit or leakage of current are suppressed.
US09859451B2

Photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic devices, and methods of fabrication are provided. The photovoltaic cells include a transparent substrate to allow light to enter the photovoltaic cell through the substrate, and a light absorption layer associated with the substrate. The light absorption layer has opposite first and second surfaces, with the first surface being closer to the transparent substrate than the second surface. A passivation layer is disposed over the second surface of the light absorption layer, and a plurality of first discrete contacts and a plurality of second discrete contacts are provided within the passivation layer to facilitate electrical coupling to the light absorption layer. A first electrode and a second electrode are disposed over the passivation layer to contact the plurality of first discrete contacts and the plurality of second discrete contacts, respectively. The first and second electrodes include a photon-reflective material.
US09859450B2

A method of making a CIGS/inorganic thin film tandem semiconductor device including the steps of depositing a textured buffer layer on an inexpensive substrate, depositing a metal-inorganic film from a eutectic alloy on the buffer layer, the metal being selected from a group of CIGS elements, and adding the remaining CIGS elements to the metal, thereby growing a CIGS film on the inorganic film for the tandem semiconductor device.
US09859447B2

A diode device and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The diode device includes a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a trench gate structure, a Schottky diode structure and a termination structure. An active region and a termination region are defined in the epitaxial layer. The Schottky diode structure and the trench gate structure are located in the active region and the termination structure is located in the termination region. The termination structure includes a termination trench formed in the epitaxial layer, a termination insulating layer, a first spacer, a second spacer and a first doped region. The termination insulating layer is conformingly formed on inner walls of the termination trench. The first and second spacers are disposed on two sidewalls of the termination trench. The first doped region formed beneath the termination trench has a conductive type reverse to that of the epitaxial layer.
US09859442B2

The invention provides a metal oxide semiconductor layer forming composition containing a solvent represented by formula [1]: (wherein R1 represents a C2 to C3 linear or branched alkylene group, and R2 represents a C1 to C3 linear or branched alkyl group) and an inorganic metal salt.
US09859441B2

In an active matrix display device, electric characteristics of thin film transistors included in a circuit are important, and performance of the display device depends on the electric characteristics. Thus, by using an oxide semiconductor film including In, Ga, and Zn for an inverted staggered thin film transistor, variation in electric characteristics of the thin film transistor can be reduced. Three layers of a gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor layer and a channel protective layer are successively formed by a sputtering method without being exposed to air. Further, in the oxide semiconductor layer, the thickness of a region overlapping with the channel protective film is larger than that of a region in contact with a conductive film.
US09859435B2

A display substrate includes a base substrate, a semiconductor active layer disposed on the base substrate, a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor active layer, a first conductive pattern group disposed on the gate insulating layer and including at least a gate electrode, a second conductive pattern group insulated from the first conductive pattern group and including at least a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a data pad. The second conductive pattern group includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layer to prevent the first conductive layer from being corroded and oxidized.
US09859433B1

An advanced metal conductor structure is described. An integrated circuit device including a substrate having a patterned dielectric layer. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is disposed over the set of features in the patterned dielectric. A metal layer fills a first portion of the set of features and is disposed over the adhesion promoting layer. A ruthenium layer is disposed over the metal layer. A cobalt layer is disposed over the ruthenium layer fills a second portion of the set of features. The cobalt layer is formed using a physical vapor deposition process.
US09859430B2

A semiconductor wafer is provided, where the semiconductor wafer includes a semiconductor substrate and a hard mask layer formed on the semiconductor substrate. Fins are formed in the semiconductor substrate and the hard mask layer. A spacer is formed on an exposed sidewall of the hard mask layer and the semiconductor substrate. The exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate is etched. A silicon-germanium layer is epitaxially formed on the exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate. An annealed silicon-germanium region is formed by a thermal annealing process within the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the silicon-germanium layer. The silicon-germanium region and the silicon-germanium layer are removed. The hard mask layer and the spacer are removed.
US09859427B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure disposed over the substrate and including a channel region and a source/drain region, a gate structure disposed over at least a portion of the fin structure, the channel region being beneath the gate structure and the source/drain region being outside of the gate structure, a strain material layer disposed over the source/drain region, the strain material layer providing stress to the first channel region, and a contact layer wrapping around the first strain material layer. A width of the source/drain region is smaller than a width of the channel region.
US09859426B1

According to yet another non-limiting embodiment, a fin-type field effect transistor (finFET) including a strained channel region includes a semiconductor substrate extending along a first axis to define a length, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis to width, and a third direction perpendicular to the first and second axes to define a height. At least one semiconductor fin on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate includes a semiconductor substrate portion on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, a strain-inducing portion on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate portion, and an active semiconductor portion defining a strained channel region on an upper surface of the strain-inducing portion. A first height of the semiconductor substrate portion is greater than a second height of the strain-inducing portion.
US09859422B2

A field effect transistor having a higher breakdown voltage can be provided by forming a contiguous dielectric material layer over gate stacks, forming via cavities laterally spaced from the gate stacks, selectively depositing a single crystalline semiconductor material, and converting upper portions of the deposited single crystalline semiconductor material into elevated source/drain regions. Lower portions of the selectively deposited single crystalline semiconductor material in the via cavities can have a doping of a lesser concentration, thereby effectively increasing the distance between two steep junctions at edges of a source region and a drain region. Optionally, embedded active regions for additional devices can be formed prior to formation of the contiguous dielectric material layer. Raised active regions contacting a top surface of a substrate can be formed simultaneously with formation of the elevated active regions that are vertically spaced from the top surface.
US09859419B1

A MOSFET having a stacked-gate super-junction design and novel termination structure. At least some illustrative embodiments of the device include a conductive (highly-doped with dopants of a first conductivity type) substrate with a lightly-doped epitaxial layer. The volume of the epitaxial layer is substantially filled with a charge compensation structure having vertical trenches forming intermediate mesas. The mesas are moderately doped via the trench sidewalls to have a second conductivity type, while the mesa tops are heavily-doped to have the first conductivity type. Sidewall layers are provided in the vertical trenches, the sidewall layers being a moderately-doped semiconductor of the first conductivity type. The shoulders of the sidewall layers are recessed below the mesa top to receive an overlying gate for controlling a channel between the mesa top and the sidewall layer. The mesa tops are coupled to a source electrode, while a drain electrode is provided on the back side of the substrate.
US09859409B2

Transistors and methods of forming the same include forming a fin having an active layer between two sacrificial layers. A dummy gate is formed over the fin. Spacers are formed around the dummy gate. The dummy gate is etched away to form a gap over the fin. Material from the two sacrificial layers is etched away in the gap. A gate stack is formed around the active layer in the gap. Source and drain regions are formed in contact with the active layer.
US09859405B1

An HBT includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second principal surfaces opposite each other; and a collector layer, a base layer, and an emitter layer stacked in this order on the first principal surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The collector layer includes a first semiconductor layer with metal particles dispersed therein, the metal particles each formed by a plurality of metal atoms bonded with each other.
US09859398B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a first fin-shaped pattern including an upper part and a lower part on a substrate, forming a second fin-shaped pattern by removing a part of the upper part of the first fin-shaped pattern, forming a dummy gate electrode intersecting with the second fin-shaped pattern on the second fin-shaped pattern, and forming a third fin-shaped pattern by removing a part of an upper part of the second fin-shaped pattern after forming the dummy gate electrode, wherein a width of the upper part of the second fin-shaped pattern is smaller than a width of the upper part of the first fin-shaped pattern and is greater than a width of an upper portion of the third fin-shaped pattern.
US09859395B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body with a first surface, a contact electrode arranged on the first surface, and a passivation layer on the first surface adjacent the contact electrode. The passivation layer includes a layer stack with an amorphous semi-insulating layer on the first surface, a first nitride layer on the amorphous semi-insulating layer, and a second nitride layer on the first nitride layer.
US09859394B2

Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods of employing the same for the performance of bioinformatics analysis. The apparatuses and methods of the disclosure are directed in part to large scale graphene FET sensors, arrays, and integrated circuits employing the same for analyte measurements. The present GFET sensors, arrays, and integrated circuits may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved GFET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense GFET sensor based arrays. Improved fabrication techniques employing graphene as a reaction layer provide for rapid data acquisition from small sensors to large and dense arrays of sensors. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes, including DNA hybridization and/or sequencing reactions. Accordingly, GFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis within a gated reaction chamber of the GFET based sensor.
US09859390B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure include contact structures and methods of forming the same. An embodiment is a method of forming a semiconductor device, the method including forming a contact region over a substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the contact region and the substrate, and forming an opening through the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the contact region. The method further includes forming a metal-silicide layer on the exposed portion of the contact region and along sidewalls of the opening; and filling the opening with a conductive material to form a conductive plug in the dielectric layer, the conductive plug being electrically coupled to the contact region.
US09859389B1

A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a sacrificial gate stack on a substrate, spacers adjacent to the sacrificial gate stack, and a source/drain region on the substrate. A first insulator layer is formed on the source/drain region. A portion of the first insulator layer is removed to expose portions of the spacers. Exposed sidewall portions of the spacers are removed to reduce a thickness of the exposed portions of the spacers. A protective layer is deposited over the exposed sidewalls of the spacers and a second insulator layer is deposited over the protective layer. The sacrificial gate is removed to expose a channel region of the substrate. A gate stack is formed over the channel region of the substrate. Exposed portions of the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer are removed to expose the source/drain region, and a conductive is formed on the source/drain region.
US09859386B2

An embodiment is a method including forming a first gate over a substrate, the first gate having first gate spacers on opposing sidewalls, forming a first hard mask layer over the first gate, forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer, the second hard mask layer having a different material composition than the first hard mask layer, forming a first dielectric layer adjacent and over the first gate, etching a first opening through the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of the substrate, at least a portion of the second hard mask layer being exposed in the first opening, filling the first opening with a conductive material, and removing the second hard mask layer and the portions of the conductive material and first dielectric layer above the first hard mask layer to form a first conductive contact in the remaining first dielectric layer.
US09859381B2

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming an opening in a dielectric layer, forming a recess in an exposed part of a substrate, and forming a lattice-mismatched crystalline semiconductor material in the recess and opening.
US09859379B2

A method to transfer a layer of graphene from one substrate to another substrate is provided. The method includes providing a first layered structure including, from bottom to top, a copper foil, a layer of graphene, an adhesive layer and a carrier substrate. The copper foil is removed exposing a surface of the layer of graphene. Next, an oxide bonding enhancement dielectric layer is formed on the exposed surface of the layer of graphene. A second layered structure including a receiver substrate and a dielectric oxide layer is provided. Next, an exposed surface of the dielectric oxide layer is bonded to an exposed surface of the oxide bonding enhancement dielectric layer. The carrier substrate and the adhesive layer are removed exposing the layer of graphene.
US09859376B2

A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a multi-channel active pattern including germanium and an inner region and an outer region, the outer region formed along a profile of the inner region, and a germanium fraction of the outer region being smaller than a germanium fraction of the inner region. A gate electrode intersects the multi-channel active pattern.
US09859373B2

After forming a first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region on recessed surfaces of a semiconductor portion that are not covered by a gate structure, at least one dielectric layer is formed to cover the first-side and the second-side epitaxial semiconductor regions and the gate structure. A second-side contact opening is formed within the at least one dielectric layer to expose an entirety of the second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. The exposed second-side epitaxial semiconductor region can be replaced by a new second-side epitaxial semiconductor region having a composition different from the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region or can be doped by additional dopants, thus creating an asymmetric first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and a second-side epitaxial semiconductor region. Each of the first-side epitaxial semiconductor region and the second-side epitaxial semiconducting region can function as either a source or a drain for a transistor.
US09859369B2

A semiconductor device is provided that includes an n-type field effect transistor including a plurality of vertically stacked silicon-containing nanowires located in one region of a semiconductor substrate, and a p-type field effect transistor including a plurality of vertically stacked silicon germanium alloy nanowires located in another region of a semiconductor substrate. Each vertically stacked silicon-containing nanowire of the n-type field effect transistor has a different shape than the shape of each vertically stacked silicon germanium alloy nanowire of the p-type field effect transistor.
US09859353B2

Semiconductor elements deteriorate or are destroyed due to electrostatic discharge damage. The present invention provides a semiconductor device in which a protecting means is formed in each pixel. The protecting means is provided with one or a plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of resistor elements, capacitor elements, and rectifying elements. Sudden changes in the electric potential of a source electrode or a drain electrode of a transistor due to electric charge that builds up in a pixel electrode is relieved by disposing the protecting means between the pixel electrode of the light-emitting element and the source electrode or the drain electrode of the transistor. Deterioration or destruction of the semiconductor element due to electrostatic discharge damage is thus prevented.
US09859351B2

An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a substrate and a plurality of pixels formed over the substrate, each pixel including a first region from which light is emitted and a second region through which external light is transmitted. The display also includes a plurality of pixel circuit units each formed in the first region and including at least one thin-film transistor, an inorganic insulating film formed in the second region, a transparent conductive film formed over at least a portion of the inorganic insulating film, and an organic insulating film covering the pixel circuit units and at least a portion of the transparent conductive film. The display further includes a plurality of first electrodes formed over the organic insulating film and in the first regions of the pixels.
US09859350B2

An array substrate of an organic light-emitting display device, a fabrication method thereof and an organic light-emitting display device are provided. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel units arranged in array, wherein, at least one of the pixel units includes: an organic light-emitting diode (40) and a first thin film transistor (20) for controlling the organic light-emitting diode (40) which are formed on a base substrate (10), wherein, the organic light-emitting diode (40) includes a first electrode (107), a second electrode (110) and a light-emitting layer (109) located between the first electrode (107) and the second electrode (110), the first electrode (107) of the organic light-emitting diode (40) being connected with a drain electrode (104) of the first thin film transistor (20); and a conductive layer (111) and an insulating layer (112) formed between the first thin film transistor (20) and the organic light-emitting diode (40), wherein, the first electrode (107) of the organic light-emitting diode (40), the insulating layer (111) and the conductive layer (112) form a capacitor, and the conductive layer (111) is connected with a first gate electrode (100) of the first thin film transistor (20). The array substrate of the organic light-emitting display device, the fabrication method thereof and the organic light-emitting display device can effectively increase a storage capacitance value of a pixel unit, so as to improve display quality.
US09859344B2

An organic light-emitting display device, including a substrate that includes a plurality of first emission portions that realize a first color and a plurality of second emission portions that realize a second color; a pixel-defining film that defines the plurality of first emission portions and the plurality of second emission portions; a plurality of pixel electrodes that are separate from each other and respectively correspond to the plurality of first emission portions; and a first stacked structure that includes an intermediate layer and a counter electrode on the intermediate layer, the intermediate layer including an organic emission layer emitting light of the first color, the first stacked structure further including first emission pattern portions respectively corresponding to the plurality of first emission portions, and first connection pattern portions on the pixel-defining film, the first connection pattern portions connecting the first emission pattern portions.
US09859342B2

An organic light emitting diode display that maintains a luminance distribution characteristic of each pixel at the side substantially similar to a luminance distribution characteristic of each pixel at the front of the OLED display by improving a twist of a lateral color with respect to a front color. The organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, a driving wire disposed on the substrate, a color filter disposed on the driving wire. The color filter includes a blue color filter, a red color filter, and a green color filter formed on the driving wire; and an organic light emitting diode disposed on the color filter, where a width of the blue color filter is greater than a width of the red color filter or the green color filter.
US09859338B2

Provided is a three-dimensional resistive memory including a channel pillar, a first gate pillar, a first gate dielectric layer, first and second stacked structures, a variable resistance pillar and an electrode pillar. The channel pillar is on a substrate. The first gate pillar is on the substrate and at a first side of the channel pillar. The first gate dielectric layer is between the channel pillar and the first gate pillar. The first and second stacked structures are on the substrate and respectively at opposite second and third sides of the channel pillar. Each of the first and second stacked structures includes conductive material layers and insulating material layers alternately stacked. The variable resistance pillar is on the substrate and at a side of the first stacked structure opposite to the channel pillar. The electrode pillar is on the substrate and inside of the variable resistance pillar.
US09859328B2

A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices includes following steps. A substrate having a pixel region and a periphery region defined thereon is provided, and at least a transistor is formed in the pixel region. A blocking layer is formed on the substrate, and the blocking layer includes a first opening exposing a portion of the substrate in the pixel region and a second opening exposing a portion of the transistor. A first conductive body is formed in the first opening and a second conductive body is formed in the second opening, respectively. The first conductive body protrudes from the substrate and the second conductive body protrudes from the transistor. A portion of the blocking layer is removed. A first salicide layer is formed on the first conductive body and a second salicide layer is formed on the second conductive body, respectively.
US09859320B2

A chip package includes a chip, an insulating layer and a conductive layer. The chip includes a substrate, an epitaxy layer, a device region and a conductive pad. The epitaxy layer is disposed on the substrate, and the device region and the conductive pad are disposed on the epitaxy layer. The conductive pad is at a side of the device region and connected to the device region. The conductive pad protrudes out of a side surface of the epitaxy layer. The insulating layer is disposed below the substrate and extended to cover the side surface of the epitaxy layer. The conductive layer is disposed below the insulating layer and extended to contact the conductive pad. The conductive layer and the side surface of the epitaxy layer are separated by a first distance.
US09859317B2

An optical apparatus including an optical functional layer having a high refractive index and a method of manufacturing the optical apparatus are provided. The optical functional layer includes a phase change material that has a first refractive index during heat treatment in a first temperature range and has a second refractive index, which is higher than the first refractive index, during heat treatment in a second temperature range that is higher than the first temperature range. The optical functional layer may be configured to have the second refractive index by using a micro-heater without having to be deposited at a high temperature.
US09859315B2

A radiation image-pickup device includes: a plurality of pixels configured to generate signal charge based on radiation; and a field effect transistor used to read out the signal charge from the plurality of pixels. The transistor includes a first silicon oxide film, a semiconductor layer, and a second silicon oxide film laminated in order from a substrate side, the semiconductor layer including an active layer, and a first gate electrode disposed to face the semiconductor layer, with the first or the second silicon oxide film interposed therebetween, and the first or the second silicon oxide film or both include an impurity element.
US09859307B2

A display panel and manufacturing method. The method includes: forming a source electrode, a drain electrode and a channel on a substrate; depositing a first insulation layer; forming multiple color photoresists on the first insulation layer, and the source electrode, the drain electrode and the channel are located between two adjacent color photoresists; forming a gate electrode and a common electrode by a same process, and the gate electrode is located on the first insulation layer, and the common electrode is located on the photoresist; forming a second insulation layer having a through hole communicated with the source electrode on the gate electrode and the common electrode; forming a pixel electrode on the second insulation layer. The pixel electrode contacts with the source electrode through the through hole, and a storage capacitor is formed. The storage capacitor can be increased and the current leakage of the pixel electrode improved.
US09859305B2

Provided are liquid crystal display and the method for manufacturing the same. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device, including a first substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the first substrate; a semiconductor pattern layer disposed on the gate electrode; and a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor pattern layer and facing each other, wherein a diffusion prevention pattern is disposed on the semiconductor pattern layer to prevent diffusion into the semiconductor pattern layer or to maintain uniform thickness of the semiconductor pattern layer.
US09859301B1

A method for forming a hybrid semiconductor device includes growing a stack of layers on a semiconductor substrate. The stack of layers includes a bottom layer in contact with the substrate, a middle layer on the bottom layer and a top layer on the middle layer. First and second transistors are formed on the top layer. A protective dielectric is deposited over the first and second transistors. A trench is formed adjacent to the first transistors to expose the middle layer. The middle layer is removed from below the first transistors to form a cavity. A dielectric material is deposited in the cavity to provide a transistor on insulator structure for the first transistors and a bulk substrate structure for the second transistors.
US09859300B2

To provide a light-emitting device or an input/output device with little unevenness in display luminance or high reliability and to provide an input/output device with high detection sensitivity, a light-emitting device is configured to include a first substrate, a light-emitting element over the first substrate, a first conductive layer over the light-emitting element, a first insulating layer over the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer over the first insulating layer, and a second substrate over the second conductive layer. The light-emitting element includes a first electrode over the first substrate, a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the layer containing a light-emitting organic compound. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers. The first conductive layer and the second electrode transmit light emitted from the light-emitting element. The resistance of the second conductive layer is lower than that of the second electrode.
US09859297B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate including cell and dummy regions, first channel structures on the cell region and extending in a first direction vertical with respect to the substrate, gate lines surrounding outer sidewalls of the first channel structures and extending in a second direction parallel to the substrate, the gate lines being spaced apart from each other along the first direction, cutting lines between the gate lines on the cell region and extending in the second direction, dummy patterns spaced apart from each other along the first direction on the dummy region, the dummy patterns having a stepped shape along a third direction parallel to the top surface of the substrate and perpendicular to the second direction, at least a portion of the dummy patterns including a same conductive material as that in the gate lines, and dummy lines through the dummy patterns.
US09859296B2

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of insulation patterns and a plurality of gates alternately and repeatedly stacked on a substrate, a channel pattern extending through the gates in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate, a semiconductor pattern between the channel pattern and the substrate, and a conductive pattern between the channel pattern and the semiconductor pattern. The conductive pattern electrically connects the channel pattern to the semiconductor pattern. The conductive pattern contacts a bottom edge of the channel pattern and an upper surface of the semiconductor pattern.
US09859283B1

A semiconductor memory structure includes a substrate including a memory cell region, a peripheral circuit region and a cell edge region defined thereon, and the cell edge region is defined in between the memory cell region and the peripheral circuit region. The semiconductor memory structure includes a plurality of active regions formed in the memory cell region, the cell edge region and the peripheral circuit region, and at least a dummy bit line formed on the active regions in the cell edge region. The dummy bit line is extended along a first direction and overlaps at least two active regions in a second direction. And the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. The dummy bit line includes a first inner line portion and an outer line portion, and the first inner line portion and the outer line portion include different widths and different spacers.
US09859276B2

A semiconductor device including at least one fin disposed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate is provided. The fin includes a main portion extending along a first direction, and at least one secondary portion extending outward from the main portion along a second direction not collinear with the first direction.
US09859271B2

An ESD protection semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buried layer buried in the substrate, a first well formed in the substrate, a first doped region formed in the first well, a second doped region formed in the first well and adjacent to the first doped region, a second well formed in the first well, and a third doped region formed in the second well. The buried layer, the first well, the first doped region, and the third doped region include a first conductivity type while the second doped region and the second well include a second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type. The second well is spaced apart from the first doped region and the second doped region by the first well.
US09859266B2

Presented herein is a package comprising a carrier device of a device stack and at least one top device of the device stack mounted on a first side of the carrier device. A lid is mounted on the first side of the carrier device, with a first portion of the lid attached to the carrier device and a second portion of the lid extending past and overhanging a respective edge of the carrier device. The lid comprises a recess disposed in a first side, and the at least one top device is disposed within the recess. A thermal interface material disposed on the top device and contacts a surface of the recess.
US09859251B2

A semiconductor device package includes an electronic component and an electrical interconnect. The electronic component is attached to the electrical interconnect. The electrical interconnect is configured to electrically couple the electronic component to external terminals of the semiconductor device package. The electrical interconnect has a first main face facing the electronic component and a second main face opposite the first main face. The semiconductor device package further includes a first semiconductor chip facing the second main face of the electrical interconnect.
US09859247B2

A method is provided for assembly of a micro-electronic component, in which a conductive die bonding material is used. This material includes a conductive thermosettable resin material or flux based solder and a dynamic release layer adjacent to the conductive thermoplastic material die bonding material layer A laser beam is impinged on the dynamic release layer, adjacent to the die bonding material layer, in such a way that the dynamic release layer is activated to direct conductive die bonding material matter towards the pad structure to be treated, to cover a selected part of the pad structure with a transferred conductive die bonding material. The laser beam is restricted in timing and energy, in such a way that the die bonding material matter remains thermosetting. Accordingly, adhesive matter can be transferred while preventing that the adhesive is rendered ineffective by thermal overexposure in the transferring process.
US09859233B1

A semiconductor device package includes an encapsulation layer, a die, at least one trace stiffener, and a redistribution layer. The encapsulation layer has an opening. The die is disposed in the opening of the encapsulation layer. The redistribution layer is formed above the die and the encapsulation layer. The least one trace stiffener are formed on the redistribution layer above boundaries of the encapsulation layer and the die for reinforcing a structure of the redistribution layer above the boundaries of the encapsulation layer and the die.
US09859232B1

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor package device comprising a substrate, a semiconductor device, a first electronic component, an antenna pattern and a first package body. The substrate has a first area and a second area. The semiconductor device is disposed on the first area of the substrate. The first electronic component is disposed on the second area of the substrate. The antenna pattern is disposed on the second area of the substrate and electrically connected to the first electronic component. The first package body encapsulates the first area of the substrate and the semiconductor device and exposes the antenna pattern, the first electronic component and the second area of the substrate.
US09859228B2

Provided is a device for generating an identification key using a process variation during a manufacturing process of a conductive layer. The device for generating an identification key may include a conductive layer, which is disposed between a first node and a second node in a semiconductor chip, and which has a width that is at least a first threshold value but not more than a second threshold value, the first threshold value and the second threshold value being less than the minimum width according to the design rules that can ensure that the conductive layer is patterned such that the first node and the second node are electrically short-circuited, and a reader which provides an identification key by identifying if there is a short circuit between the first node and the second node.
US09859225B2

Fabrication of radio-frequency (RF) devices involves providing a field-effect transistor (FET) formed over an oxide layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, removing at least part of the semiconductor substrate to expose at least a portion of a backside of the oxide layer, applying an interface material to at least a portion of the backside of the oxide layer, removing at least a portion of the interface material to form a trench, and covering at least a portion of the interface material and the trench with a substrate layer to form a cavity.
US09859211B2

In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a stacked body is formed by alternately stacking dielectric films and conductive films on a silicon substrate and a plurality of through holes extending in the stacking direction are formed in a matrix configuration. A shunt interconnect and a bit interconnect are provided above the stacked body. Conductor pillars are buried inside the through holes arranged in a line immediately below the shunt interconnect out of the plurality of through holes, and semiconductor pillars are buried inside the remaining through holes. The conductive pillars are formed from a metal, or low resistance silicon. Its upper end portion is connected to the shunt interconnect and its lower end portion is connected to a cell source formed in an upper layer portion of the silicon substrate.
US09859203B2

A semiconductor device structure, for example a 3D structure, and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. As non-limiting examples, various aspects of this disclosure provide various semiconductor package structures, and methods for manufacturing thereof, that comprise interposer, interlayer, and/or heat dissipater configurations that provide for low cost, increased manufacturability, and high reliability.
US09859196B2

An electronic device may include leads, an IC having first and second bond pads, and an encapsulation material adjacent the leads and the IC so the leads extend to a bottom surface of the encapsulation material defining first contact pads. The electronic device may include bond wires between the first bond pads and corresponding ones of the leads, and conductors extending from corresponding ones of the second bond pads to the bottom surface of the encapsulation material defining second contact pads.
US09859194B2

A semiconductor device 100 includes a first insulating material 110 attached to a second main surface 106b of a semiconductor chip 106, and a second insulating material 112 attached to side surfaces of the semiconductor chip 106, the first insulating material 110 and an island 102. The semiconductor chip 106 is fixed to the island 102 via the first insulating material 110 and the second insulating material 112. The first insulating material 110 ensures a high dielectric strength between the semiconductor chip 106 and the island 102. Though the second insulating material 112 having a modulus of elasticity greater than that of the first insulating material 110, the semiconductor chip 106 is firmly attached to the island 102.
US09859190B2

Provided herein is a resin structure having high heat dissipation, and desirable adhesion at the interface with a heat generating device. The resin structure is provided on a substrate to dissipates heat of the substrate to outside, and includes: a water-based coating material layer provided on the substrate and including a water-based coating material, and fillers having an average particle size of 30 μm to 150 μm; and a resin layer provided on the water-based coating material layer and containing a thermosetting resin. The fillers have a far-infrared emissivity of 0.8 or more, and an average aspect ratio of 1 to 12 as measured as a ratio of lengths along the long axis and the short axis through the center of gravity of the fillers. At least 80% of the total number of fillers has a length that is at least 1.7 times longer than the total thickness of the water-based coating material of the water-based coating material layer and the thermosetting resin of the resin layer, as measured along the long axis through the center of gravity of the fillers.
US09859188B2

A die interconnect system having a plurality of connection pads, a heat generating element thermally isolated from the die, one or more leads extending from the die to the heat generating element, each lead having a metal core with a core diameter, a dielectric layer surrounding the metal core with a dielectric thickness, and an outer metal layer attached to ground, wherein one or more leads are exposed to ambient conditions and/or are convectively or contact cooled for at least a portion of their length to minimize heat transfer from the heat generating element to the die.
US09859186B2

A heat sink for a semiconductor chip device includes cavities in a lower surface thereof for receiving electrical components on a top surface of the semiconductor chip, and a pedestal extending through an opening in the semiconductor chip for contacting electrical components on a bottom surface of the semiconductor chip. A lid may also be provided on the bottom surface of the semiconductor chip for protecting the electrical components and for heat sinking the electrical components to an adjacent device or printed circuit board.
US09859178B2

A microwave module is described. The microwave module includes a base bracket, a window plate and a lid. The base bracket is configured to contain a photoconductive switch, a radio-frequency transformer and dielectric oil. The window plate, which is transparent to optical light, covers a first portion of the base bracket in which the photoconductive switch is located. The window plate is sealed to the base bracket. The lid, which includes a cutout to allow the radio-frequency transformer to pass through the lid, covers a second portion of the base bracket in which the radio-frequency transformer is located. The window plate is sealed to the base bracket, and the lid is sealed to the window plate, the base bracket and the radio-frequency transformer to contain the dielectric oil within the microwave module.
US09859176B1

A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a System on Chip (SoC) die; an integrated passive device (IPD); and a first switch, coupled between the SoC die and the IPD; wherein the IPD and the SoC die are disposed in different wafers and bonded together, and the first switch is controlled to disconnect the IPD from the SoC die when the IPD is under a test; and the first switch is controlled to connect the IPD with the SoC die when the IPD is not under the test. A test system for testing an IPD of a semiconductor device and an associated method are also disclosed.
US09859171B2

A semiconductor device includes a first active region including at least one first recess; a second active region including at least one second recess; an isolation region including a diffusion barrier that laterally surrounds at least any one active region of the first active region and the second active region; a first recess gate filled in the first recess; and a second recess gate filled in the second recess, wherein the diffusion barrier contacts ends of at least any one of the first recess gate and the second recess gate.
US09859169B2

A method for fabricating a gate stack of a semiconductor device comprises forming a first dielectric layer over a channel region of the device, forming a first nitride layer over the first dielectric layer, forming a first gate metal layer over the first nitride layer, forming a capping layer over the first gate metal layer, removing portions of the capping layer and the first gate metal layer to expose a portion of the first nitride layer in a p-type field effect transistor (pFET) region of the gate stack, depositing a scavenging layer on the first nitride layer and the capping layer, depositing a second nitride layer on the scavenging layer, and depositing a gate electrode material on the second nitride layer.
US09859166B1

A method is presented for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a plurality of fins over a source/drain region, forming a first spacer within troughs defined by the plurality of fins and depositing a high-k dielectric layer, a work function material layer, and a conducting layer. The method further includes etching the high-k dielectric layer, the work function material layer, and the conducting layer to form recesses between the plurality of fins, depositing a liner dielectric, and etching portions of the liner dielectric to form a plurality of second spacers having a U-shaped configuration. The method further includes forming an epitaxial layer over the plurality of fins such that a gap region is defined between the plurality of second spacers and the epitaxial layer.
US09859161B2

An interconnect structure and a method for forming it is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes the steps of providing a first entity. The first entity includes a first set of line structures. The first set of line structures include a first set of conductive lines, and a first set of dielectric lines made of a first dielectric material and aligned with and overlaying the first set of conductive lines. The first entity also includes gaps separating the line structures and filled with a second dielectric material of such a nature that the first dielectric material can be selectively etched with respect to the second dielectric material. The method also includes providing a patterned mask on the first entity. The method further includes etching selectively the first dielectric material through the patterned mask so as to form one or more vias in the first dielectric material. The method also includes removing the patterned mask.
US09859158B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a device isolation layer in a substrate to define an active region, forming a gate insulating layer covering at least a portion of the active region, forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer, and forming an interlayer insulating layer on the gate electrode. The gate insulating layer includes a first portion overlapping with the active region and a second portion overlapping with the device isolation layer. The forming of the gate insulating layer includes etching at least a part of the second portion of the gate insulating layer to thin the part of the second portion of the gate insulating layer.
US09859155B1

An advanced metal conductor structure is described. An integrated circuit device includes a substrate having a patterned dielectric layer. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is disposed over the set of features in the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium layer is disposed over the adhesion promoting layer. A cobalt layer is disposed over the ruthenium layer filling a first portion of the set of features. The cobalt layer is formed using a physical vapor deposition process. A metal layer is disposed over the cobalt layer filling a second portion of the set of features.
US09859144B2

In a plasma processing process used for a method of manufacturing element chips by which a plurality of element chips are manufactured by dividing a substrate having a plurality of element regions, the substrate is exposed to first plasma, and thereby the substrate is divided into element chips, and the element chips having first surfaces, second surfaces, and side surfaces connecting the first surfaces to the second surfaces are held with an interval between the element chips on the carrier. The element chips are exposed to second plasma which uses a mixed gas of fluorocarbon and helium as a raw material gas, and thereby a protection film covering the side surfaces is formed, and a conductive material is prevented from creeping up to the side surfaces during a mounting process.
US09859138B2

Apparatuses and methods for improved substrate defect detection is provided. Substrate defects may be detected, possibly with defect detection equipment such as laser metrology equipment. Defects smaller than the detection limit of the detection equipment may be decorated with a layer of material to increase the effective sizes of the defects. The thickness and composition of the material deposited may be tuned depending on the composition of the substrate and the defects. The composition of the detected defects may be identified with defect identification equipment. The defect identification equipment may be an electron generating apparatus and the composition of the defects may be identified from the interaction of the electrons with the defect. The deposited material may be removed either before or during the defect identification phase to aid in the identification of the defect composition.
US09859130B2

A manufacturing method of an interposed substrate is provided. A photoresist layer is formed on a metal carrier. The photoresist layer has plural of openings exposing a portion of the metal carrier. Plural of metal passivation pads and plural of conductive pillars are formed in the openings. The metal passivation pads cover a portion of the metal carrier exposed by openings. The conductive pillars are respectively stacked on the metal passivation pads. The photoresist layer is removed to expose another portion of the metal carrier. An insulating material layer is formed on the metal cattier. The insulating material layer covers the another portion of the metal carrier and encapsulates the conductive pillars and the metal passivation pads. An upper surface of the insulating material layer and a top surface of each conductive pillar are coplanar. The metal carrier is removed to expose a lower surface of the insulating material layer.
US09859128B2

Methods of etching silicon nitride faster than silicon or silicon oxide are described. Methods of selectively depositing additional material onto the silicon nitride are also described. Exposed portions of silicon nitride and silicon oxide may both be present on a patterned substrate. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is selectively deposited over the silicon oxide but not on the exposed silicon nitride. Molecules of the self-assembled monolayer include a head moiety and a tail moiety, the head moiety forming a bond with the OH group on the exposed silicon oxide portion and the tail moiety extending away from the patterned substrate. A subsequent exposure to an etchant or a deposition precursor may then be used to selectively remove silicon nitride or to selectively deposit additional material on the silicon nitride.
US09859123B1

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A substrate having a conductive region is provided. A metal layer is deposited on the conductive region. The metal layer reacts with the conductive region to form a first metal silicide layer. A TiN layer is deposited on the metal layer. A SiN layer is deposited on the TiN layer. An annealing process is performed to convert the first metal silicide layer into a second metal silicide layer.
US09859120B1

A method includes providing a structure having a dielectric layer, a 1st hardmask layer, a 2nd hardmask layer and a 1st mandrel layer disposed respectively thereon. A 1st mandrel plug is disposed in the 1st mandrel layer. A 2nd mandrel layer is disposed over the 1st mandrel layer. The 1st and 2nd mandrel layers are etched to form a plurality 1st mandrels, wherein the 1st mandrel plug extends entirely through a single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrel plug is etched such that it is self-aligned with sidewalls of the single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrels are utilized to form mandrel metal lines in the dielectric layer. The 1st mandrel plug is utilized to form a self-aligned mandrel continuity cut in a single mandrel metal line formed by the single 1st mandrel.
US09859118B2

The present invention, when forming a pattern on a substrate, forms a film of a block copolymer containing at least two polymers on the substrate, heats the film of the block copolymer under a solvent vapor atmosphere to subject the block copolymer to phase separation, and removes one of the polymers in the film of the phase-separated block copolymer, thereby accelerating fluidization of the polymers of the block copolymer to enable acceleration of the phase separation.
US09859116B2

A method for preparing a sol-gel film is disclosed. The method comprises providing a sol-gel composition comprising one or more sol-gel film precursors and a crystallization aid, and processing the sol-gel composition by solution processing to form the sol-gel film. In certain embodiments, the sol-gel film comprises one or more metal oxides. A preferred crystallization aid includes triphenylphosphine oxide. A composition for making a sol-gel film, a sol-gel film, a device including a sol-gel film and a method for making such device are also disclosed.
US09859110B2

An ultrasonic wave applying liquid is supplied to one principal surface of a substrate while a liquid film of a first liquid being formed on another principal surface of the substrate. The ultrasonic wave applying liquid is obtained by applying ultrasonic waves to a second liquid. Ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the other principal surface and the liquid film, thereby ultrasonically cleaning the other principal surface. The first liquid has a higher cavitation intensity, which is a stress per unit area acting on the substrate by cavitation caused in the liquid when ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the liquid present on the principal surface of the substrate, than the second liquid.
US09859109B2

Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus, a substrate processing method and a computer-readable medium capable of recovering an extended amount of discharged solution from a processing unit thereby reducing the amount of deionized water for the processing and the cost. The substrate processing apparatus includes, inter alia, a first and second discharge solution lines each connected to a downstream side of a discharge unit, and the discharged solution from each of the first and second discharge solution lines is independently delivered to the processing solution supply unit as a recovered solution. Also, the substrate processing apparatus includes a converting unit that converts flow of the discharged solution from the discharge unit either to the first discharge solution line or to the second discharge solution line. The processing solution supply unit selectively delivers the recovered solution from the first and second discharge solution lines to the processing unit.
US09859097B2

A permanently sealed vacuum tube is used to provide the electrons for an electron microscope. This advantageously allows use of low vacuum at the sample, which greatly simplifies the overall design of the system. There are two main variations. In the first variation, imaging is provided by mechanically scanning the sample. In the second variation, imaging is provided by point projection. In both cases, the electron beam is fixed and does not need to be scanned during operation of the microscope. This also greatly simplifies the overall system.
US09859091B1

An automatic method is provided to align a semiconductor crystalline substrate for electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) in regions where an electron channeling pattern cannot be reliably obtained but crystalline defects need to be imaged. The automatic semiconductor crystalline substrate alignment method is more reproducible and faster than the current operator intensive process for ECCI alignment routines. Also, the automatic semiconductor crystalline substrate alignment method increases the throughput of ECCI.
US09859090B2

A self-cleaning linear ionizer with at least one ionizing electrode, at least one electrode-cleaner, and at least two spool assemblies is disclosed. The electrode has opposing ends and defines an axial working length with a surface that produces an ion cloud and develops degradation products with use. Although the working length of the electrode is stationary, the electrode is movable. The electrode-cleaner is also stationary and selectively engages the electrode along its working length. The opposing ends of the electrode are fixed to the opposing spool assemblies which selectively move the ionizing electrode such that the electrode-cleaner removes at least some of the surface degradation products from the electrode during movement. Methods of using the disclosed ionizer have self-cleaning and ionization modes of operation, which may occur cyclically, alternately, or simultaneously, are also disclosed.
US09859089B2

A structure for grounding an extreme ultraviolet mask (EUV mask) is provided to discharge the EUV mask during the inspection by an electron beam inspection tool. The structure for grounding an EUV mask includes at least one grounding pin to contact conductive areas on the EUV mask, wherein the EUV mask may have further conductive layer on sidewalls or/and back side. The inspection quality of the EUV mask is enhanced by using the electron beam inspection system because the accumulated charging on the EUV mask is grounded. The reflective surface of the EUV mask on a continuously moving stage is scanned by using the electron beam simultaneously. The moving direction of the stage is perpendicular to the scanning direction of the electron beam.
US09859078B2

An electromagnetic relay includes a fixed contact having a fixed contact plate and a fixed contact point mounted to the fixed contact plate, a movable contact having a movable contact plate and a movable contact point mounted to the movable contact plate, and an electromagnet device configured to move the movable contact so as to bring the movable contact point in contact with the fixed contact point, wherein a contact plate that is at least one of the fixed contact plate and the movable contact plate has a contact area, the contact area being thinner than other areas of the contact plate and having a penetrating hole formed therethrough, and the contact point of the contact plate has a head and a shaft, and wherein while the shaft is placed in the penetrating hole such that the head is mounted on a first surface of the contact area, an end of the shaft is deformed with a force at a second surface opposite the first surface to mount the contact point to the contact plate.
US09859069B2

A handle assembly and related methods for actuating a mechanism such as a disconnect switch.
US09859068B2

Circuit breakers with a rotary handle attached to an inwardly oriented shaft that connects to a gear assembly that translates rotational input to linear input also include a trip assist spring in communication with the rack gear so that, in operation, the trip assist spring applies a force to the operator slider and forces the handle to a consistent trip position.
US09859064B2

A method for producing an activated carbon sheet having high electrolyte impregnation capacity and high mechanical strength is provided. The method for producing an activated carbon sheet includes a sheet preparation step of preparing a sheet including an activated carbon, an electrically conductive carbon material, and a fibrous fluorocarbon resin binder, which fluorocarbon resin is polytetrafluoroethylene and/or modified polytetrafluoroethylene; and a light irradiation step of performing light irradiation of at least one side of the sheet such that the cumulative irradiation dose on the sheet surface is 50 to 1000 mJ/cm2.
US09859061B2

[Theme] To provide a chip capacitor capable of easily and rapidly accommodating a plurality of types of capacitance values using a common design and a method for manufacturing the chip capacitor. [Solution] A chip capacitor 1 includes a substrate 2, a first external electrode 3, a second external electrode 4, capacitor elements C1 to C19, and fuses F1 to F9 disposed on the substrate 2. The capacitor elements C1 to C19 respectively include a first electrode film 11, a first capacitance film 12 on the first electrode film 11, a second electrode film 13 disposed on the first capacitance film 12 and facing the first electrode film 11, a second capacitance film 17 on the second electrode film 13, and a third electrode film 16 disposed on the second capacitance film 17 and facing the second electrode film 13 and are connected between the first external electrode 3 and the second external electrode 4. The fuses F1 to F9 are each interposed between the capacitor elements C1 to C19 and the first external electrode 3 or the second external electrode 4 and are capable of disconnecting each of the capacitor elements C1 to C19.
US09859055B2

Provided is a method for manufacturing a rare-earth magnet capable of manufacturing a rare-earth magnet with high degree of orientation by sufficient plastic deformation while suppressing cracks at the side faces of a compact that is plastic-deformed during the hot deformation processing. The method includes a step of preparing a compact S, preparing a plastic processing mold including a die D in which a cavity Ca is provided, and punches P that are slidable in the cavity Ca, the cavity Ca having a cross section that is larger in cross-sectional dimensions than a cross section of the compact S that is orthogonal to a pressing direction by the punches P; and a step of placing the compact S in the cavity Ca and performing hot deformation processing, thus manufacturing an orientational magnet C. Let that W1 denotes a length of a short side of the cross section of the cavity Ca and t1 denotes a length of a side of the cross section of the compact S that is placed in the cavity Ca, the side corresponding to the short side of the cavity Ca, t1/W1 is within a range of 0.55 to 0.85, and from some stage during the hot deformation processing, a part of the compact S is constrained at a side face of the cavity Ca so that deformation of the compact is suppressed, but another part of the compact is in a non-constraint state.
US09859053B2

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a battery; a non-contact near field communication antenna; a wireless charging coil; and a case covering the battery, wherein the wireless charging coil is positioned between the battery and the case, and wherein one of the non-contact near field communication antenna and the wireless charging coil is positioned to surround the other one of the non-contact near field communication antenna and the wireless charging coil.
US09859050B2

A magnetic element includes a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core and a plurality of conducting wires. The first magnetic core includes a first coiling body, a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion. The second magnetic core includes a second coiling body, a third protruding portion and a fourth protruding portion. A soldering surface of the first protruding portion is parallel and next to a soldering surface of the fourth soldering surface. Since an extension direction of the first magnetic core is extended from the soldering surface of the first protruding portion, an extension direction of the second magnetic core is extended from the soldering surface of the second protruding portion, and the plurality of conducting wires can be coiled on the first and the second coiling bodies respectively, the transformer can provide more space for coiling than the prior art.
US09859043B2

Magnetic component assemblies including moldable magnetic materials formed into magnetic bodies, at least one conductive coil, and termination features are disclosed that are advantageously utilized in providing surface mount magnetic components such as inductors and transformers.
US09859040B2

A cable includes a jacket, a shielding tape, a pair of wires, an inner and outer jacket layer, and a separator. The shielding tape includes a substrate and a plurality of conductive shield segments disposed on the substrate. The pair of wires form a twisted pair. The inner and outer jacket layers are extruded onto inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the substrate. The substrate, the inner jacket layer and the outer jacket layer are bonded together into a single layer that defines a circumference. Each of the conductive shield segments: extends only partially around the circumference of the single layer; is longitudinally spaced from each longitudinally adjacent one of the conductive shield segments; is radially spaced from, and overlaps a portion of, each immediately circumferentially adjacent one of the conductive shield segments; and is embedded in at least one of the inner jacket layer and the outer jacket layer.
US09859037B2

A downhole cable that has a cable core with an inner jacket located about it. The inner jacket has a shell located thereabout, and a pair of strength member layers surrounds the inner shell. Interstitial spaces of the strength member layers are filled with bonding layers. One of the strength member layers is at a contra-helical lay angle to the other. An outer jacket is located about one of the strength member layers, and the outer jacket is bonded with the bonding layers.
US09859030B2

A method of manufacturing a composite powder using wire explosion and a composite powder prepared by such a method are provided. The method of manufacturing a composite powder may involve coating a metal wire with a carbon-based material, and performing wire explosion on the metal wire coated with the carbon-based material in a solution. The prepared composite powder may include a metal core and a multilayer graphene film that coats a surface of the metal core.
US09859028B2

The invention concerns to a method of producing a Fresnel Zone Plate (1) for applications in high energy radiation including the following steps: supply of a substrate (2) transparent for high energy radiation, deposition of a layer (3) of a metal, a metal alloy or a metal compound on a planar surface (4) of the substrate (2), calculating a three dimensional geometrical profile (5) with a mathematical model, setting up a dosage profile (6) for an ion beam of the ion beam lithography inverse to the calculated three dimensional geometrical profile (5) and milling a three dimensional geometrical profile (5) with concentric zones into the layer (3) with ion beam lithography by means of focused ion beam.
US09859026B2

An austenitic alloy tube subjected to a cold working and an annealing heat treatment contains C: 0.01% to 0.15%, Cr: 10.0% to 40.0%, Ni: 8.0% to 80.0%, in mass %, and has a metallographic structure satisfying the following Expressions (i) to (iii). R≦f1  (i) R=I220/I111  (ii) f1=0.28×(F1118.0/(F1118.0+0.358.0))  (iii) Where, in the above Expressions, R is a ratio of an integrated intensity of {220} to an integrated intensity of {111} on a surface layer which is measured by a grazing incidence X-ray diffraction method, I220 is the integrated intensity of {220}, I111 is the integrated intensity of {111}, and F111 is full width of half maximum of {111} on the surface layer which is measured by the grazing incidence X-ray diffraction method.
US09859022B2

A memory device including: an error correction code (ECC) cell array; an ECC engine configured to receive write data to be written to a memory cell array and generate internal parity bits for the write data; and an ECC select unit configured to receive the internal parity bits and external parity bits and, in response to a first level of a control signal, store the internal parity bits in the ECC cell array and, in response to a second level of the control signal store the external parity bits in the ECC cell array.
US09859011B1

A semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cells, first and second word lines that are respectively connected to gates of the first and second memory cells, and a control circuit that executes first and second read operations in response to first and second command sets, respectively. The first read operation includes a first read sequence, in which the control circuit reads data by applying first to third voltages to the first word line, and a second read sequence, in which the control circuit reads data by applying a first read voltage that is set based on the result of the first read sequence, to the first word line. In the second read operation, the control circuit reads data by applying a second read voltage that is set based on the result of the first read sequence of the first read operation, to the second word line.
US09859009B2

There are provided a high voltage switch circuit and a semiconductor memory device including the same. A high voltage switch circuit may include a switching circuit including a first depletion transistor and a first high voltage transistor, which are coupled in series between an input terminal and an output terminal, and a control signal generator for applying, to the first depletion transistor, a control signal having the same potential level as an input voltage applied to the input terminal, in response to a first enable signal and a second enable signal.
US09858998B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor storage device including N word lines, M bit lines, multiple memory cells, and a read circuit. N is an integer of four or greater. M is an integer of two or greater. The M bit lines intersect with the word lines. The multiple memory cells are placed at positions where the word lines and the bit lines intersect. The memory cell stores binary data. The read circuit is connected to the M bit lines. The read circuit is able to detect levels of a multi-ary signal.
US09858992B2

A memory cell array is configured to have a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each of the memory cells being connected to a word line and a bit line and being capable of storing n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 3). A control circuit controls the potentials of the word line and bit line according to input data and writes data into a memory cell. The control circuit writes data into the memory cell to a k-valued threshold voltage (k<=n) in a write operation, precharges the bit line once, and then changes the potential of the word line an i number of times to verify whether the memory cell has reached an i-valued (i<=k) threshold voltage.
US09858979B1

Methods, systems, and apparatuses related to a reprogrammable non-volatile latch are described. A latch may include ferroelectric cells, ferroelectric capacitors, a sense component, and other circuitry and components related to ferroelectric memory technology. The ferroelectric latch may be independent from (or exclusive of) a main ferroelectric memory array. The ferroelectric latch may be positioned anywhere in the memory device. In some instances, a ferroelectric latch may be positioned and configured to be dedicated to single piece of circuitry in the memory device.
US09858974B1

According to embodiments, a magnetic memory includes a structure including a first magnetic layer and a conductive layer, a second magnetic layer, a first electrode electrically 5 connected to a first portion of the structure, a second electrode provided between the first magnetic layer and the second, magnetic layer, a third magnetic layer provided insulatingly from a third portion of the structure, a third electrode electrically connected to a second portion of the 10 structure and a sixth magnetic layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode is provided. In addition, the magnetic memory includes a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type electrically connected to the first electrode, a second semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type electrically connected to the third magnetic layer, and a third semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.
US09858973B2

According to one embodiment, a variable change memory includes a bit line, a word line, a memory cell array, a resonance line, a clock generator, and a write driver. The bit line extends in a first direction. The word line extends in a second direction. The memory cell array includes blocks. The each block includes memory cells including a transistor and a variable resistive element. The resonance line connects to a bit line. The clock generator is arranged in the memory cell array and applies a voltage to the resonance line. The write driver supplies a write current to the bit line. The voltage oscillates at the predetermined period and the write current are supplied to the bit line.
US09858970B2

A power supply circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor electrically coupled between a power supply terminal and an output terminal. When a first current path, in which output terminal through the first transistor, is formed, a voltage level of the output terminal may be controlled to be greater than or equal to a predetermined level. When a second current path, in which a current flows from the power supply terminal to the output terminal through the second transistor, is formed, the voltage level of the output terminal may be controlled to be less than or equal to the predetermined level.
US09858969B2

A video recording system including: a camera sensor and a controller configured to: continuously store video in a temporary file storage arrangement from the camera sensor, display a user interface including displaying the video and a record button, upon receiving an activation of the record button at a first time, recording the first time as a start location, updating the user interface to include a stop recording button, upon receiving an activation of the stop recording button, at a second time, marking the second time as a stop location, display a user interface including one or more selectable start time points that precede the first time, receive a selection of a start time point of the start time points, generate a video file from a subset of the temporary file storage arrangement, the video file beginning at a video frame associated with the start time point.
US09858968B2

A mobile terminal, including a touchscreen and a controller configured to display a playing image of a first video as a main image in a first region of the touch screen, display a video list in a second region of the touchscreen different than the first region while the playing image of the first video is displayed in the first region, the video list including a first thumbnail image representing the first video and a second thumbnail image representing a second video, display a playing image of the second video in a first size as a preview image in the second region while the playing image of the first video is displayed in the first region, such that the playing image of the first video in the first region and the playing image of the second video in the second region are simultaneously displayed, in response to a first proximity touch input to the second thumbnail image, and display the playing image of the second video in a second size larger than the first size, in response to a first contact touch input to the second thumbnail image. In addition, the preview image of the second video is larger than the second thumbnail image.
US09858967B1

Video content can be analyzed to identify particular sections of the video content. Speech to text or similar techniques can be used to obtain a transcription of the video content. The transcription can be indexed (e.g., timestamped) to the video content. Information describing how users are interacting with or consuming the video content (e.g., social media information, viewing history data, etc.) can be collected and used to identify the particular sections. Once the particular sections have been identified, other services can be provided. For example, custom trailers and summaries of the video content can be generated based on the identified sections. Additionally, the video content can be augmented to include additional information relevant to the particular sections, such as production information, actor information, or other information. The additional information can be added so as not to interfere with the important sections.
US09858955B1

An apparatus includes a microactuator controller configured to generate a microactuator control signal, a feedforward microactuator compensator configured to generate a microactuator compensation signal, and a microactuator model filter configured to filter a modified microactuator control signal. The microactuator compensation signal is configured to be injected into the microactuator control signal to generate the modified microactuator control signal. The microactuator model filter generates a filtered modified microactuator control signal and injects the filtered modified microactuator control signal into a position error signal to generate a modified position error signal.
US09858945B2

The present document relates to audio source coding systems which make use of a harmonic transposition method for high frequency reconstruction (HFR), as well as to digital effect processors, e.g. exciters, where generation of harmonic distortion add brightness to the processed signal, and to time stretchers where a signal duration is prolonged with maintained spectral content. A system and method configured to generate a time stretched and/or frequency transposed signal from an input signal is described. The system comprises an analysis filterbank configured to provide an analysis subband signal from the input signal; wherein the analysis subband signal comprises a plurality of complex valued analysis samples, each having a phase and a magnitude. Furthermore, the system comprises a subband processing unit configured to determine a synthesis subband signal from the analysis subband signal using a subband transposition factor Q and a subband stretch factor S. The subband processing unit performs a block based nonlinear processing wherein the magnitude of samples of the synthesis subband signal are determined from the magnitude of corresponding samples of the analysis subband signal and a predetermined sample of the analysis subband signal. In addition, the system comprises a synthesis filterbank configured to generate the time stretched and/or frequency transposed signal from the synthesis subband signal.
US09858940B2

In some embodiments, a pitch filter for filtering a preliminary audio signal generated from an audio bitstream is disclosed. The pitch filter has an operating mode selected from one of either: (i) an active mode where the preliminary audio signal is filtered using filtering information to obtain a filtered audio signal, and (ii) an inactive mode where the pitch filter is disabled. The preliminary audio signal is generated in an audio encoder or audio decoder having a coding mode selected from at least two distinct coding modes, and the pitch filter is capable of being selectively operated in either the active mode or the inactive mode while operating in the coding mode based on control information.
US09858939B2

Method and decoder for processing of audio signals. The method and decoder relate to deriving a processed vector {circumflex over (d)} by applying a post-filter directly on a vector d comprising quantized MDCT domain coefficients of a time segment of an audio signal. The post-filter is configured to have a transfer function H which is a compressed version of the envelope of the vector d. A signal waveform is reconstructed by performing an inverse MDCT transform on the processed vector {circumflex over (d)}.
US09858937B2

A method for transmitting sound waves using a time-varying frequency-based symbol includes the steps of: storing waveform data in a digital form; converting the waveform data in the digital form into an analog signal; and outputting the analog signal as sound waves through a speaker. Herein, the waveform data in the digital form includes a symbol the frequency of which changes with time within a sound wave band.
US09858932B2

Embodiments are directed to a method of representing spatial rendering metadata for processing in an object-based audio system that allows for lossless interpolation and/or re-sampling of the metadata. The method comprises time stamping the metadata to create metadata instances, and encoding an interpolation duration to with each metadata instance that specifies the time to reach a desired rendering state for the respective metadata instance. The re-sampling of metadata is useful for re-clocking metadata to an audio coder and for the editing audio content.
US09858929B2

A computer-implemented system and method for transcription error reduction is provided. A transcribed value is assigned to each utterance obtained from a user during a call and a confidence score is assigned to each transcribed value. An accuracy threshold is applied to the confidence scores and the transcribed values that satisfy the accuracy threshold are incorporated in a message. A grouping is generated for at least one of the utterances associated with one such transcribed value that fails to satisfy the accuracy threshold. The grouping includes the at least one utterance and related utterances from other calls. Further transcribed values for at least a portion of the utterances in the grouping are received from human transcribers. The remaining utterances in the grouping are provided to the human transcribers when the further transcribed values differ. The further transcribed value for the at least one utterance is incorporated in the message.
US09858926B2

A control device includes: a storage that stores a dialog model in which a question to a user, a reply candidate to the question from the user and a control content of each electronic device are associated with an input query from the user; an acquirer that acquires environmental data in a surrounding of the user; a calculator that, based on the environmental data, calculates environment predicted data to predict environment in the surrounding of the user after elapse of a predetermined period of time in cases where each control content corresponding to the input query is executed; and a question selector that selects a question corresponding to the control content that maximizes data indicative of a degree of comfort of the surrounding environment of the user in cases where each control is executed based on the environment predicted data.
US09858922B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for caching speech recognition scores. In some implementations, one or more values comprising data about an utterance are received. An index value is determined for the one or more values. An acoustic model score for the one or more received values is selected, from a cache of acoustic model scores that were computed before receiving the one or more values, based on the index value. A transcription for the utterance is determined using the selected acoustic model score.
US09858921B2

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving geographical information derived from a non-verbal user action associated with a first computing device. The non-verbal user action implies an interest of a user in a geographic location. The method also includes identifying a grammar associated with the geographic location using the derived geographical information and outputting a grammar indicator for use in selecting the identified grammar for voice recognition processing of vocal input from the user.
US09858916B2

A method comprising acquiring an analog first sound signal, performing analog-to-digital conversion on the first sound signal to generate a digital second sound signal, performing reverberation processing, at a system bottom layer, on the second sound signal to generate a digital third sound signal, performing digital sound mixing processing on the third sound signal and a background sound signal sent from an application layer to generate a digital fourth sound signal, performing digital-to-analog conversion on the fourth sound signal to generate an analog fifth sound signal, performing analog sound mixing processing on the first sound signal and the fifth sound signal to generate an analog sixth sound signal, and playing the sixth sound signal.
US09858911B2

The present disclosure provides a transducer support, ultrasound probe, and ultrasound imaging apparatus. The ultrasound transducer support includes a first layer having first areas in which heat transfer materials are arranged and second areas in which sound absorbent materials are arranged, the first and second areas being arranged alternately; and a second layer having third areas located below the first areas in which sound absorbent materials are arranged and fourth areas located below the second areas in which heat transfer materials are arranged.
US09858891B2

There is a display control apparatus including a dummy pixel region provided in a region different from a display region in which various images are displayed, and a temperature detector detecting a temperature of the dummy pixel region.
US09858885B2

The present disclosure discloses a method and device for reducing display brightness, and belongs to the technical field of display. Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for reducing display brightness. The method includes acquiring a first corresponding relationship between pixel values and voltages for reducing display brightness. The first corresponding relationship is determined based on a second corresponding relationship between pixel values and voltages and a ratio for brightness reduction. Further, the method includes determining a voltage corresponding to a pixel value of a pixel to be displayed based on the first corresponding relationship and at a scanning moment corresponding to the pixel, outputting the determined voltage to a data line corresponding to the pixel in a liquid crystal display screen.
US09858884B2

Disclosed is a display driver including an input pad configured to receive a supply voltage, a wiring line connected to the input pad, a digital-to-analog converter configured to output analog signals based on digital-to-analog conversion results of data, a plurality of output buffer units configured to buffer the analog signals, and a plurality of bias controllers connected to different positions of the wiring line. Each of the bias controllers independently controls a bias voltage of a corresponding one of the output buffer units based on the supply voltage supplied through the wiring line.
US09858867B2

A method for controlling a scale factor includes generating a load value corresponding to accumulated input data, providing a target scale factor corresponding to the load value, and providing a scale factor based on the target scale factor, a limit scale factor, and a moving step. The limit scale factor and the moving step are determined based on power consumption of a display panel.
US09858866B2

An organic light-emitting display device includes: an organic light-emitting panel comprising a plurality of pixel regions, each pixel region comprising a scan line and a data line crossing each other, each pixel region further comprising an organic light-emission element and a drive transistor configured to drive the organic light emission element; and a circuit configured to sense a threshold voltage of the drive transistor in a sensing interval and control a light emission of the organic light emission element within the pixel region in a display interval.
US09858858B2

A unit pixel driver circuit includes a capacitor configured to store a voltage corresponding to a desired pixel brightness and a control block. The control block may include a first, second third and fourth transistors, all of which are connected together, both in parallel and in series. The control block controls, based on the voltage stored in the capacitor, the amount of current flowing through a pixel LED. The first transistor, second transistor, third transistor and fourth transistor all share a common gate geometry size.
US09858855B2

A wearable display device comprises: a set of position sensors, wherein the position sensors provide positioning data that describe a physical three-dimensional orientation of the wearable display device in real time; an exterior display surface that comprises a continuous display with a dynamically adjusted display region; and a video display controller, wherein the video display controller displays a video content on the region directed to the user's eyes on the dynamically adjusted display region based on the physical three-dimensional orientation of the wearable display device.
US09858842B2

A display device is provided. A display device comprising, a gate voltage generator outputting a gate-on voltage and a gate-off voltage, a clock generator receiving the gate-on voltage and the gate-off voltage and outputting a clock signal, a gate driver receiving the clock signal and outputting a gate signal, the gate driver including a plurality of stages which are connected to a plurality of gate lines respectively, and a pixel unit comprising a plurality of pixels which are turned on or turned off by the gate signal to display an image, wherein the gate voltage generator comprises, a direct current (DC) converter connected to a sub-gate node and receiving a sub-gate signal which is one of outputs of the plurality of stages gate driver and outputting a compensation voltage using the received sub-gate signal.
US09858835B2

The inventive technology relates to an improved display support system that may be used to support elevated displays, and other promotional/marketing materials. The invention may be used to support, for example, helium-free balloons and/or other displays to one or more display fittings. Such display fittings may further be secured to an adjustable support such that an operator may position one or more fittings in a desired position, such as from a ceiling or other elevated surface. Additional embodiments may include an improved dual display support system that may support a plurality of support adapters each having one or more fitting supports coupled with fitting displays to more efficiently place, support, and/or retrieve elevated displays, and other promotional/marketing materials having multiple anchor positions.
US09858833B2

A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of importing data into the virtual reality welding system and analyzing the data to characterize a student welder's progress and to provide training.
US09858828B1

Embodiments can provide dynamic assessment by an expert system software (ESS) module. The ESS module may determine a minimum set of diagnostic questions to identify a student's strengths and/or weaknesses for a given subject matter. Each diagnostic question may be a unique question variant generated from a dynamic question template. The ESS module may automatically and dynamically build a personal lesson plan that includes lessons on topics of the subject matter that the student has not mastered. The ESS module may dynamically modify the personal lesson plan to change a lesson and/or add lesson(s) considered by the ESS module as necessary for the student to master the subject matter. Given the ESS module's knowledge on various components of a question such as equation(s) used to produce a correct answer to the question, the ESS module may generate image(s), customized hint(s), customized explanation(s), and/or examine student solutions in step-by-step fashion.
US09858810B2

An arrangement for controlling and/or monitoring at least one subsea device may include: a first level node communicatively, in particular electrically and/or fiberoptically connectable to an equipment above a sea surface of a sea; at least one second level node communicatively, e.g., electrically and/or fiberoptically connected to the first level node and electrically connectable to the at least one subsea device, wherein the first level node and the at least one second level node are arrangeable at a sea bottom of the sea. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
US09858808B2

A method for automatically transmitting an activation signal from a trainable transceiver to a remote electronic system, includes receiving, at a control circuit of the trainable transceiver, image data from an image data source; determining, using the control circuit, if the received image data matches one or more reference images stored in memory and associated with the remote electronic system; and determining, in response to a match between the received image data and the one or more reference images, if the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system. The method includes, in response to determining that the trainable transceiver is approaching the remote electronic system, formatting an activation signal to control the remote electronic system and transmitting, using a transceiver circuit, the activation signal formatted to control the remote electronic system.
US09858796B2

A mountable wall receptacle including one or more current sensors and power-line communications circuitry is described herein. In one exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, the mountable wall receptacle includes power-line communications circuitry, one or more current sensors, a power source, and one or more internal contacts. The wall receptacle is capable of monitoring and recording, using the current sensor(s), an amount of current or energy provided to an accessory device plugged into one or more outlets in communication with the one or more internal contacts. A user device is able to obtain the recorded amount of current or energy from various access points within a residence using one or more power lines located at the residence. The power lines enable the user device to communicate with the wall receptacle using the power-line communications circuitry therein.
US09858792B2

A smart pool maintenance monitor and alert system configured to communicate with an internet-connected device is described. The system employs a floating buoy for use within the water of a swimming pool or hot tub, and a gateway. The buoy is equipped with a variety of environmental sensors configured to accurately and expediently measure water temperature, pH, salinity, water level, air temperature, UV index, the ORP index of the water, and other environmental data. The data is conveyed via a wireless radio to the gateway, which interprets the data, stores the data in cloud storage, and relays it to a user's mobile device where it will be displayed by the applications downloaded to the respective user devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs, as well TV Set Top Boxes and wearable devices). The gateway is configured to convey alerts to the user when measurements are not consistent with those of a safe and hygienic pool.
US09858789B2

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for security and/or automation systems. The methods may include detecting an event in a home associated with a first occupant of the home, and identifying a presence of a second occupant in the home. In any embodiment, the second occupant may be different from the first occupant. The method may further include providing an alert to the second occupant of the home based at least in part on the detected event and the identifying.
US09858788B2

A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving occupancy data, identifying characteristics of the occupancy data, determining an occupant's location relative to the premises at a predetermined time, and generating a notification based at least in part on the determining.
US09858787B2

A portable device is equipped with a signaling circuit that responds to a searching signal (e.g., hand clap, light flash, RF signal, infrared light) generated to locate the portable device when it is misplaced or lost. The device generates a location signal to enable the user to find the device. The location signal may be an audible, light, vibration, or other signal that calls attention to the device to enable the user to find it. The device may also sense events which cause it to disable the sensor, render it less sensitive, or suppress the generation of the location signal. The sensed event is any event, e.g., heat, motion, which indicates that the device is not, in fact, lost.
US09858784B2

A communication device comprises a processing circuit having at least two modes, a sleep mode and an awake mode, a wireless communications circuit that can wirelessly send a message as to whether an alarm has been triggered, and a passive sensor, powered by audio signals impinging on the passive sensor, that provides at least an approximation of an audio signal to the processing circuit so as to cause the processing circuit to switch between the at least two modes. The communication device can be housed in a housing sized to fit into a battery compartment.
US09858776B1

Tamper-respondent assemblies and methods of fabrication are provided which include at least one tamper-respondent sensor and a detector. The at least one tamper-respondent sensor includes conductive lines which form, at least in part, at least one tamper-detect network of the tamper-respondent sensor(s). The detector monitors the tamper-respondent sensor(s) by applying an electrical signal to the conductive lines of the at least one tamper-respondent sensor to monitor for a non-linear conductivity change indicative of a tamper event at the tamper-respondent sensor(s). For instance, the detector may monitor a second harmonic of the electrical signal applied to the conductive lines for the non-linear conductivity change indicative of the tamper event, such as an attempted shunt of one or more conductive lines of the tamper-respondent sensor(s).
US09858770B2

A doorbell switch including a projector is described. The doorbell switch can be configured to provide a first or automated display state of the projector based on one or more rules or predefined conditions defined at a client device, state conditions of a security system, or another backend the computing system, as well as various time of day, sensor, and other conditions. The automated display state can change over time in response to changes in the operation and/or status of various systems. Additionally, the doorbell switch can be configured to provide a second or actuated display state in response to the actuation of the doorbell switch.
US09858758B2

An interleaved wagering system is disclosed. The system includes an interactive controller constructed to communicate application telemetry associated with an interactive application provided by the interactive controller. The system also includes a wager controller constructed to communicate a wager result associated with a received wager request. The system also includes the application controller operatively connected to the interactive controller and the wager controller, and constructed to: receive application telemetry; upon receiving application telemetry, determine whether to trigger a supplementary mode; when triggering the supplementary mode is determined, communicate a notification to provide a supplementary mode session. The interactive controller is further constructed to: provide the supplementary mode session upon receiving the supplementary mode notification; communicate results of the supplementary mode session. The application controller is further constructed to: receive the results of the supplementary mode session; and when the received results are successful, communicate a request for benefits.
US09858757B2

A method and device for conducting a wagering game includes receiving an ante wager. A player hand of game pieces is dealt and a final player hand is formed by selecting the game pieces with matching rank indicia from the player hand. The final player hand is evaluated by comparing the final player hand to a standard, such as a pay table, a final dealer hand, and/or final player hands of other players. Payouts are issued if the final player hand is a winning hand based on the evaluation. Optionally, side wagers may be offered on the constitution of the final player hand.
US09858753B2

Techniques for reducing electromagnetic (EM) emission in a wager-based gaming machine. A gaming machine includes one or more processors configured to generate a bus clock signal having a fundamental frequency and fundamental spectral components at harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental spectral components each have a fundamental amplitude. A signal processor is configured to generate a spread spectrum clock signal having a nominal frequency substantially equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the bus clock signal as well as nominal spectral components at harmonics of the nominal frequency. However, the nominal spectral components each have a nominal amplitude less than the fundamental amplitude of a fundamental spectral component at the same harmonic. A bus connects the signal processor with one or more elements and carries the spread spectrum clock signal to the one or more elements, thereby reducing EM emissions from the bus.
US09858752B2

A side wagering system for table games includes a table controller, a dealer interface and at least one player interface, the at least one player interface including a first wager area and at least one second wager area, which permit a player to place first, second or one or more third supplemental wagers for the opportunity to win corresponding first, second or one or more third awards, such as a first, a second or a third progressive jackpot. The table controllers or multiple tables may be linked to a common award server.
US09858749B2

A method for allowing a player to play a slot game with a gaming device is described herein. The method includes randomly generating an outcome of the game, wherein the outcome includes a first outcome and a second outcome. The method includes spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to display the first outcome, detecting an appearance of a symbol selection area in the first outcome, and responsively selecting at least one symbol for display in the symbol selection area. The method also includes displaying the second outcome including the first outcome and the selected at least one symbol being displayed in the symbol selection area and providing an award to the player as a function of the second outcome.
US09858743B2

A medium housing device includes: a frame including an internal space; a partitioning plate that partitions the internal space so as to intersect with a specific collection direction, and that forms a collection space in which the medium is collected along the collection direction; a partitioning plate moving section that moves the partitioning plate along the collection direction; a side guide that is attached inside the frame and that determines the size of the collection space in an intersecting direction intersecting with the collection direction; a positioning portion that positions an end portion of the side guide at one attachment position selected from a plurality of attachment positions; and a retention switching portion that switches between a retained state in which the end portion of the side guide is positioned, and a retention-released state in which the end portion of the side guide is not positioned.
US09858740B2

It is presented an access control communication device comprising: a short distance radio communication module; a cellular radio communication module; and a controller arranged to communicate access rights associated with a key device, using the cellular radio communication module, with an access control device over a cellular communication network, the communicating comprising sending a request for access management data associated with the lock device, and receiving access management data associated with the lock device; and the controller further being arranged to transmit the access management data to the key device for transfer to the lock device, the communicating and transmitting being arranged to be performed upon the access control device being in communication with the key device using the short distance radio communication module. A corresponding method, computer program and computer program product area also presented.
US09858731B2

A graphical user interface is provided that can be used on a diagnostic tool. The graphical user interface allows a technician to operate various functions of the diagnostic tool including searching for additional information on the Internet, receiving weather information that is relevant to certain diagnostic tests, and displaying in certain formats the retrieved vehicle data and when certain vehicles were last scanned or diagnosed.
US09858730B2

In a method of determining a remaining capacity for use of a vehicle part of a motor vehicle, a state of wear of the vehicle part is determined, a remaining distance that can be covered before the vehicle part becomes completely worn is calculated as a function of a type of the vehicle part and the state of wear of the vehicle part, and a remaining service life before the vehicle part must be changed is calculated as a function of an average distance covered by the motor vehicle annually and the remaining distance that can be covered before the vehicle part becomes completely worn.
US09858729B2

A pipette check station for checking the calibration or service status of a pipette includes an RFID reader, a user interface with a display and buttons, and a digital interface to connect the check station to additional equipment; the check station optionally further includes provisions to hold pipettes for storage and to charge electronic pipettes held thereupon.
US09858717B2

Disclosed are a system and method for creating multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images stored in a dataset. A user specifies the location of an object-of-interest. As the user virtually navigates through the locality represented by the image dataset, his current virtual position is determined. Using the user's virtual position and the location of the object-of-interest, images in the image dataset are selected and interpolated or stitched together, if necessary, to present to the user a view from his current virtual position looking toward the object-of-interest. The object-of-interest remains in the view no matter where the user virtually travels. From the same image dataset, another user can select a different object-of-interest and virtually navigate in a similar manner, with his own object-of-interest always in view. The object-of-interest also can be “virtual,” added by computer-animation techniques to the image dataset. For some image datasets, the user can virtually navigate through time as well as through space.
US09858709B2

An apparatus and method for processing a primitive in a three-dimensional (3D) graphics rendering system is provided. The primitive processing apparatus may discard a primitive or store the primitive in a memory, depending on whether a sampling point overlapping the primitive is present among sampling points in a pixel area.
US09858706B2

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can obtain a spherical media content item that captures at least one scene from a plurality of different positions. A three-dimensional shape having a plurality of faces is determined, each face being associated with a respective set of original boundaries. A respective set of expanded boundaries for one or more of the plurality of faces is determined. Respective portions of the spherical media content item are mapped to each of the one or more faces, wherein a first portion of the spherical media content item is mapped to a first face having a set of expanded boundaries.
US09858704B2

A computation for a parent node may be reused in a child node in a reduced precision bounding volume hierarchy ray traversal for graphics processing.
US09858695B2

A system and method for improving the readability of content wherein content is organized into segments which are each displayed on a respective row on the display device. Each of the segments are made up of characters such as letters and punctuation. The text in a particular row, the reading row, on the display device is displayed differently than the text in the other rows. Each row is consecutively displayed in the reading row until the user has seen each segment of the content presented in the reading row. User are able to configure the display of the reading row text and text in other rows independently.
US09858689B1

A computer-implemented method of performing image reconstruction with sequential cycle-spinning includes a computer system acquiring an input signal comprising k-space data using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device and initializing an estimate of a sparse signal associated with the input signal. The computer system selects one or more orthogonal wavelet transforms corresponding to a wavelet family and performs an iterative reconstruction process to update the estimate of the sparse signal over a plurality of iterations. During each iteration, one or more orthogonal wavelet transforms are applied to the estimate of the sparse signal to yield one or more orthogonal domain signals, the estimate of the sparse signal is updated by applying a non-convex shrinkage function to the one or more orthogonal domain signals, and a shift to the orthogonal wavelet transforms. Following the iterative reconstruction process, the computer system generates an image based on the estimate of the sparse signal.
US09858687B2

Systems, methods and computer-readable storage mediums relate to generating an image that includes functional, anatomical, and physiological images. The generated image may be an integrated image based on the functional image on which the anatomical and physiological images are mapped. The generated image may indicate more than one location of optimal lead placement. The generated image may be useful in pre-planning cardiac intervention procedures.
US09858685B2

A system and method determine color of skin of a subject and produce a customized cosmetic based at least in part on the determined color of skin. A region of skin is covered with a chamber having an open area facing the skin. The skin is illuminated with light caused to enter the chamber. The light is caused to be dispersed within the chamber. A camera is used to record an image of a portion of the dispersed light in the chamber and the recorded image is processed to characterize the color of the skin. The recorded image includes a plurality of colors which are mapped to the closest color recipe. The color recipe is used to calculate actuator displacements for a portioning machine that includes a cartridge having cosmetic additives that produce the customized cosmetic.
US09858684B2

An image processing apparatus and method for calibrating a depth of a depth sensor. The image processing method may include obtaining a depth image of a target object captured by a depth sensor and a color image of the target object captured by a color camera; and calibrating a depth of the depth sensor by calibrating a geometrical relation between a projector and a depth camera, which are included in the depth sensor, based the obtained depth and color images and calculating a correct feature point on an image plane of the depth camera that corresponds to a feature point of an image plane of the projector.
US09858678B2

A system and method for human motion recognition are provided. The system includes a video sequence decomposer, a feature extractor, and a motion recognition module. The video sequence decomposer decomposes a video sequence into a plurality of atomic actions. The feature extractor extracts features from each of the plurality of atomic actions, the features including at least a motion feature and a shape feature. And the motion recognition module performs motion recognition for each of the plurality of atomic actions in response to the features.
US09858672B2

A depth camera assembly (DCA) determines distances between the DCA and objects in a local area within a field of view of the DCA. The DCA includes an illumination source that projects a known spatial pattern modulated with a temporal carrier signal into the local area. An imaging device capture the modulated pattern projected into the local area. The imaging device includes a detector that comprises different pixel groups that are each activated to captured light at different times. Hence, different pixel groups capture different phases of the temporally modulated pattern from the local area. The DCA determines times for light from the illumination source to be reflected and captured by the imaging device from the phases captured by the different pixel groups and also determines distances between the DCA and objects in the local area based on deformation of the spatial pattern captured by the imaging device.
US09858666B2

A medical skin examination device configured to diagnose a skin lesion includes: a first storage unit configured to store an original first skin image related to a dermoscopy structure imaged via a dermoscope; an image conversion unit configured to apply High Dynamic Range (HDR) conversion processing to the first skin image and obtain a second skin image in which the dermoscopy structure is made clear and salient; a second storage unit configured to store the second skin image; and a display control unit configured execute control so as to display at least one of the first skin image and the second skin image.
US09858664B2

Automated islet measurement systems (AIMS) in combination with tissue volume analysis (TVA) software effectively gauges volumetric and size-based data to generate heretofore unavailable information regarding, for example, populations of islet cells, stem cells and related desiderata.
US09858655B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to method and apparatus for video anti-shaking. There is disclosed a method for use in a video anti-shaking, especially for real-time digital image stabilization, the method comprises: dividing at least one part of a current frame of a video into a plurality of regions (S301); performing a progressive local motion detection for each of the plurality of regions to determine a local motion vector for the region (S302, S303, S304); and determining a global motion vector for the current frame based on the local motion vectors for the plurality of regions (S305). There is also described a corresponding apparatus and user equipment. With embodiments of the present invention, the video anti-shaking processing can be done without any additional hardware. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention may quickly and effectively determine a motion vector and corresponding compensation.
US09858653B2

For deblurring an image, a method records both short-exposed pixels at a higher frame rate for a short-exposure region and normal-exposed pixels at a normal frame rate for full resolution. In addition, the method deblurs a normal-exposed image as a function of the short-exposed pixels and the normal-exposed pixels.
US09858651B2

The invention relates to an electronic device for performing imaging, including a camera for creating image data (ID) from an imaging target (IT), the imaging target (IT) including at least one primary image object (I1) and at least one secondary image object (I2), an image-processing chain arranged in connection with the camera, for processing the image data created from the imaging target, and a focussing unit for focussing the camera on at least the primary image object. In addition, a blurring unit is arranged in the image-processing chain, to blur at least some of the said secondary image objects in the image data, and arranged to use the information produced by the focussing unit.
US09858647B2

In one embodiment, a computing device identifies a portion of a display object to pre-generate. The device may monitor a thread to identify the next upcoming window of idle time (i.e., the next opportunity when the thread will be idle for a minimum period of time). The device may add one or more selected pre-generation tasks to a message queue for execution by the thread during the window. The device may execute the one or more selected pre-generation tasks in the message queue by pre-generating at least one selected element of a display object with content for a portion of the content layout, and then return the display object.
US09858642B2

Techniques herein are for generating geometric models. A method involves receiving a raw data set. Generation parameters include an abstraction function, a raw data set, a plurality of size pairs, and a quality interval. Each size pair comprises a view size and a portion size. The view size comprises an amount of display area. The portion size comprises an amount of raw data. For each size pair, associate a set of grid square sizes with the size pair. Each grid square size comprises a multiple of natural units. The quality interval contains a multiplicative product of the grid square size times a ratio of the view size to the portion size. Generate a set of geometric models based on the raw data set, the plurality of size pairs, the abstraction function, and the set of grid square sizes associated with the plurality of size pairs.
US09858640B1

A method for merging 3D point clouds from sparsely distributed viewpoints includes collecting a plurality of 3D point cloud data sets using a 3D sensor, each 3D point cloud data set in a local reference frame of a viewpoint of the 3D sensor, downsampling the 3D point cloud data sets, registering the downsampled 3D point cloud data sets to a global reference frame using an initial transform Tv for rotating and translating each downsampled 3D point cloud data set from the local reference frame to the global reference frame, deriving estimated transforms Tv until the last derived transform Tv converges to a stable transform Tv, registering the plurality of 3D point cloud data sets to the global reference frame using the stable transform Tv, and deriving second estimated transforms Tv until the last derived transform Tv converges to a second stable transform Tv.
US09858632B1

Systems and methods for automated check-in of controlled-environment facility residents, such as correctional facility inmates, employs at least one biometric capture device or mechanism disposed within a controlled-environment area configured to capture biometrics of residents of the controlled-environment facility within the controlled-environment area. A controlled-environment facility administration and management system, or the like, is configured to enroll key biometric identification biometric features of residents of the controlled-environment facility and compare captured biometrics of the residents to enrolled key biometric features of residents of the controlled-environment facility to identify the resident. Whereupon, the controlled-environment facility administration and management system, or the like, logs the presence of an identified resident as in the controlled-environment area at a time the biometrics of the identified resident were captured.
US09858625B2

The present disclosure provides for leveraging knowledge of one or more skipped relationships in a social network. In one example, the knowledge of the one or more skipped relationships may be utilized to change an action that would otherwise have been taken by the social network (that is, to change an action that would otherwise have been taken by the computer system maintaining the social network).
US09858622B1

A system and method to facilitate providing vehicle insurance services includes correlating vehicle information with a specialty vehicle data identifier, storing the correlated vehicle information in a memory, and associating the correlated vehicle information with one or more discrete vehicle data identifiers, wherein in response to a search request of the memory, discrete vehicle data identifiers including vehicle information that substantially matches at least a portion of a search term are identified and compiled into an output provided in an accessible format.
US09858620B2

Various embodiments of a trading screen allow a market value indicator to go out of view without necessarily triggering a command to reposition a value axis. The value axis may be repositioned to bring the market value indicator back in view when the market value indicator satisfies a threshold condition. The threshold condition is defined such that it is possible for the market value indicator to go out of view and not trigger a command to reposition the value axis. Various embodiments automatically reposition the value axis in a way that can provide the user with more overall control of the trading screen than previous trading screens. Further, the user may gain increased confidence in using the trading display, particularly with respect to single action order entry, because there is less risk of the value changing on the display during order entry. These advantages and others will be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art of the embodiments described herein.
US09858613B2

A server device includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to perform determining whether or not the residual amount of recording material in a cartridge is equal to or less than a first threshold, and determining whether or not the estimated number of cartridges is equal to or less than a second threshold. In response to determining that the recording material is not more than the first threshold and the number of cartridges is not more than the second threshold, the control unit transmits to an external device via the communication unit an order instruction to deliver a cartridge to the user of the image forming apparatus.
US09858603B2

A card reader is provided with a read head with a slot and is configured to be coupled to a mobile device and has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. A power supply is coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device. The wake-up electronics is powered by a microphone bias of a mobile device.
US09858602B2

A modular learning system provides billing for learning users who have engaged in a variety of learning services in the modular learning system. For example the learning user may engage in learning application purchases, performances, learning facility access, tutor access, and learning tool access. The purchase of these varieties of learning services are used to provide various billing items for each type of learning service. The learning service purchases are consolidated and offset by prepaid learning services as well as modified by any applicable taxes.
US09858600B2

A system for creating and using a universal tag to gather consumer data from a website for the purposes of targeted advertising is provided. The universal tag system has two main subsystems. The first subsystem is a configuration system that is used to define the consumer data to be collected from the website and to define taxonomy and transformation rules to be applied to the collected consumer data. The second subsystem is a runtime system that runs a universal tag client-side script, which is triggered when a consumer lands on a webpage of the website, for collecting the defined consumer data. The runtime system then applies the transformation rules to the collected data and updates a user profile corresponding to the consumer with the transformed data. As well, the runtime system applies the taxonomy rules to the collected data and categorizes the consumer for the purposes of subsequent targeted advertising.
US09858598B1

Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for media content management and deployment. A data store stores available timeslot information data and signage device information data. A demographic information server obtains observation demographic data; generates, based on the observation demographic data, prediction demographic data; receives a demographic request; examines the prediction demographic data; and returns locations and future timeslots that have the predicted demographics satisfying the demographic request. A deployment module obtains campaign parameters for building a campaign and including time parameters, location parameters, and demographic parameters; requests the demographic information server to obtain locations and future timeslots satisfying the demographic parameters; and examines the signage device information data and the available timeslot information data to select candidate timeslots and signage devices.
US09858595B2

According to one method, a mobile communication device determines its location and compares its location to a location associated with an automation system. If the location of the mobile communication device matches the location associated with the automation system, the mobile communication device transmits a command to the automation system. According to another method, a mobile communication device determines if it has entered wireless communication range of an automation system and determines if it has exited wireless communication range of an automation system. In response to determining if the mobile communication device has entered wireless communication range of an automation system, the mobile communication device transmits a first command from to the automation system. In response to determining if the mobile communication device has exited wireless communication range of an automation system, mobile communication device transmits a second command to the automation system.
US09858589B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for measuring lift. A method includes: receiving requests for content for which a first content item is an eligible content item; delivering the first content item along with a first pixel that identifies the delivery of the first content item to a first portion of the received requests; delivering a second, different content item along with a second pixel that identifies the non-delivery of the first content item to a second portion of the received plurality of requests rather than the first content item; evaluating searches performed by users that received the first content item as compared to users that received the second content item including using the first pixel and second pixel in evaluating search logs associated with search requests performed by users; and presenting lift data to a sponsor associated with the first content item.
US09858582B2

Systems and methods for managing inventory in an online advertising system are described herein. The inventory may comprise advertisement (“ad”) impressions. In accordance with certain implementations, the systems and methods enable advertisers to target groups of inventory (e.g., “run of” inventory groups) made available by publishers and sold at a non-premium rate, while also enabling the publishers to selectively designate certain inventory within a given inventory group as premium. Inventory so designated is automatically excluded from an inventory group to which it would normally belong both during a booking process as well as during an ad serving process.
US09858579B1

A computer implemented method for providing optimized planning is provided. Collected data is analyzed. A plan for a first period of time is created based on the collected data. For a plurality of times during the first period, data collected during the first period is analyzed. At least one tuning indicator is generated based on analyzing the data collected during the first period that indicates whether a tuning should be performed. The plan is tuned a plurality of times during the first period, wherein the tuning uses the data collected during the first period.
US09858541B2

A method for providing an energy map may include receiving an indication of status for each of a plurality of individual entities with respect to corresponding priorities defined for each respective individual entity, correlating received indications of status to respective group priorities, providing a representation of a plurality of the group priorities, and mapping an amount of energy associated with the group priorities by providing a graphical representation of a respective amount of resources associated with the group priorities based on the received indications.
US09858517B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to payment cards and methods for making payment cards. In one embodiment, a card comprises a first layer and a second layer adjacent to the first layer. The second layer comprises a plurality of particles comprising metal, and the plurality of particles comprise at least about 15 volume % of the second layer. In another embodiment, a mixture is prepared comprising polymer and a plurality of particles comprising metal. The plurality of particles comprise at least about 15 volume % of the mixture. The mixture is pressed and an outer layer is applied. The mixture and outer layer are then cut to form the card.
US09858513B2

Provided is a document file output apparatus capable of appropriately storing each document as different files depending on a difference in printing setting, even when printed materials which are to be different documents for each single sheet or every plurality of sheets are continuously read, a document file output method, and a computer readable medium storing a program for operating a computer as the document file output apparatus. The document file output apparatus each specifies the printing setting of each read printed material, for example, a layout, a difference in a size of the read printed material, presence or absence of framework printing, presence or absence of reduction printing, color/monochromatic setting, or image embedding, from the obtained image data, and outputs by dividing the document files before and after the read printed material in which the printing setting is changed.
US09858509B2

A color processing device includes a color data acquisition section and a first-relationship generation section. The color data acquisition section acquires color data of a first image output by a first image forming device on a basis of image data. The first-relationship generation section generates a first relationship that is a relationship between the image data and the acquired color data, the first relationship being generated by applying the image data and the acquired color data to at least one first relationship candidate prepared in advance in a color gamut wider than a color gamut of the color data and by performing matching on the image data and the acquired color data with the first relationship candidate.
US09858508B2

A dot recording apparatus performs multi-pass recording through which recording of dots is terminated in main scanning passes of N times (N is an integer equal to or greater than two) on a main scanning line, the multi-pass recording is performed for respective supercell regions defined as a region including pixel positions on which recording of dots is performed in each main pass, a first supercell region recorded in a first pass in the supercell regions is configured with a first concave polygon having a concave portion and a convex portion, a second supercell region recorded in a second pass in the supercell regions is configured with a second concave polygon having a concave portion and a convex portion, and shapes of the first concave polygon and the second concave polygon are inversely symmetrical shapes in the main scanning direction.
US09858498B2

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for incremental object detection using a staged process and a band-pass feature extractor are presented. At each stage of the staged process, a different band of features from a plurality of bands of features in image data can be extracted using a dual-threshold local binary pattern operator, and compared with features of a target object within the band for a partial decision. The staged process exits if a rejection decision is made at any stage of the staged process. If no rejection decision is made in each stage of the staged process, the target object is detected. Features extracted at each stage may be from a different image for some applications.
US09858497B2

Techniques are provided in which a plurality of edges are detected within a digital image. An anchor point located along an edge of the plurality of edges is selected. An analysis grid associated with the anchor point is generated, the analysis grid including a plurality of cells. An anchor point normal vector comprising a normal vector of the edge at the anchor point is calculated. Edge pixel normal vectors comprising normal vectors of the edge at locations along the edge within the cells of the analysis grid are calculated. A histogram of similarity is generated for each of one or more cells of the analysis grid, each histogram of similarity being based on a similarity measure between each of the edge pixel normal vectors within a cell and the anchor point normal vector, and a descriptor is generated for the analysis grid based on the histograms of similarity.
US09858496B2

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing fast and accurate object detection and classification in images are described herein. In some examples, a computing device can receive an input image. The computing device can process the image, and generate a convolutional feature map. In some configurations, the convolutional feature map can be processed through a Region Proposal Network (RPN) to generate proposals for candidate objects in the image. In various examples, the computing device can process the convolutional feature map with the proposals through a Fast Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network (FRCN) proposal classifier to determine a class of each object in the image and a confidence score associated therewith. The computing device can then provide a requestor with an output including the object classification and/or confidence score.
US09858493B2

A method for performing registration plate detection includes: performing image processing on image data of a predetermined region in an image to generate an edge image; and performing registration plate detection according to the edge image and the image data of the predetermined region to determine a location of a registration plate image within the predetermined region, for performing a post-processing corresponding to the registration plate image. The step of performing the image processing includes: performing gradient calculations on image data of the predetermined region to generate a gradient image, where the gradient image includes gradient data of the predetermined region; performing edge threshold estimation on the gradient data of the predetermined region, to update an edge threshold through a set of iterative calculations; and generating the edge image according to the edge threshold and according to selective gradient data of the predetermined region.
US09858472B2

The present disclosure provides a three-dimensional facial recognition method and system. The method includes: performing pose estimation on an input binocular vision image pair by using a three-dimensional facial reference model, to obtain a pose parameter and a virtual image pair of the three-dimensional facial reference model with respect to the binocular vision image pair; reconstructing a facial depth image of the binocular vision image pair by using the virtual image pair as prior information; detecting, according to the pose parameter, a local grid scale-invariant feature descriptor corresponding to an interest point in the facial depth image; and generating a recognition result of the binocular vision image pair according to the detected local grid scale-invariant feature descriptor and training data having attached category annotations. The present disclosure can reduce computational costs and required storage space.
US09858471B2

An identification apparatus has an extraction unit comprising: an extraction unit; an acquisition unit; and an identification unit. The extraction unit extracts, from an object region in an image, a candidate region including candidate points of a predetermined object using parallax information. The acquisition unit acquires a characteristic value based on image information in the candidate region. The identification unit that identifies whether or not the candidate region includes the predetermined object based on similarity between the characteristic value and a reference characteristic value.
US09858467B2

A fingerprint recognition method and apparatus are provided for quickly and accurately authenticating a user using a direction of a fingerprint. The fingerprint recognition method includes sensing a fingerprint input from a user; creating fingerprint data including a direction angle of the fingerprint input; and authenticating the user based on the fingerprint data.
US09858463B2

A barcode reader and an accessory are disclosed. The accessory may include an interface system and a wireless and/or wired interface for communication with a host computer such that the barcode reader may communicate with the host computer via the accessory. The interface system includes an authentication coprocessor such that the barcode reader may establish mutual authentication with the host computer using the authentication coprocessor of the interface system. The barcode reader may send a request for an accessory identifier, and the accessory may then query the authentication coprocessor for the accessory identifier and provide the accessory identifier to the barcode reader. The barcode reader may send an authentication challenge to the accessory, and the accessory may then present the authentication challenge to the authentication coprocessor to obtain an authentication response, and provide the authentication response to the barcode reader.
US09858452B2

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a system of information RFID tagging facilities comprising a first radio frequency (RF) tag and a second RF tag, wherein the first RF tag and the second RF tag are adapted to at least in part operate using energy received from an RF signal, wherein the first RF tag receives energy from a first RF signal from an RF device and the second RF tag is out of range of the first RF signal from the RF device, wherein the first RF tag and the second RF tag are adapted to exchange data.
US09858447B2

A laser marker enables efficient determination of an optimum condition for a printing pattern of a two-dimensional code and simplification of the evaluation operation of the printing pattern of the two-dimensional code. A printing pattern regarding a cell to be printed in each of reference cells of a two-dimensional code is generated. The two-dimensional code is printed in this cell printing pattern. The recognition rate of the two-dimensional code is calculated on the basis of the reference cells. When the recognition rate is a predetermined value or more, a present printing pattern is stored as an optimum condition (optimum printing pattern) in a database. In contrast, when the recognition rate is less than the predetermined value, the size of cells constituting the present printing pattern is changed. The two-dimensional code is printed in the changed cell printing pattern, and the recognition rate of the two-dimensional code is calculated again.
US09858443B2

A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing block extent granularity authorization model processing in Coherent Accelerator Processor Interface (CAPI) adapters. The CAPI adapter includes an authorization table and a file system authorization function to authenticate data access for a client at an extent granularity and to prevent an application from accessing unauthorized data in the CAPI adapter. Each authorization table entry provides for the CAPI client, a CAPI client identification (ID), a CAPI server register space assigning resource ownership to the CAPI client with a CAPI set of allowed functions.
US09858438B2

An approach for managing photograph metadata anonymization is provided. The approach receives, by one or more processors, a photograph file, wherein the photograph file comprises a digital photograph and a first metadata. The approach receives, by one or more processors, a rule set for modifying the first metadata. The approach determines, by one or more processors, whether at least one rule of the rule set corresponds to a datum of the first metadata. Responsive to determining at least one rule corresponds to at least one datum of the first metadata, the approach modifies, by one or more processors, the first metadata based on the rule set to create a second metadata. The approach stores, by one or more processors, the first metadata in a database.
US09858433B2

A hierarchical tree structure is used to facilitate the communication of encrypted keys to particular users having access to the tree. All users are in communication with a root node, but the information content of the material at the root node is decipherable only by the intended users of this information. Protected data is encrypted using a variety of data-keys specific to the data. These data-keys are encrypted using a combination of node-keys that are specific to particular users or groups of users. Users having access to the node-key associated with a particular encrypted data-key are able to decipher the data associated with the data-key; users without access to the particular node-key are unable to decrypt the data-key, and thus unable to decipher the data. The hierarchical tree is preferably structured based on a similarity of access rights among users, to minimize the overhead associated with providing user-specific access rights.
US09858421B2

A method comprising may include storing, in a BIOS comprising a program of instructions executable by the processor and configured to cause the processor to initialize one or more information handling resources of an information handling system, a hardware profile of the information handling system, the hardware profile comprising identifying information of one or more information handling resources of the information handling system recorded during creation of the hardware profile. The method may also include, during a boot of the information handling system in a hardware verification mode, creating a new hardware profile comprising identifying information of the one or more information handling resources, comparing the new hardware profile to the hardware profile stored in the BIOS, and if the new hardware profile differs from the hardware profile stored in the BIOS, issuing an alert indicating potential tampering with hardware of the information handling system after creation of the profile.
US09858416B2

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of protecting a computer system from malware, which malware attempts to prevent detection or analysis when executed in an emulated computer system. The method comprises determining if an executable file should be identified as being legitimate and, if not, executing the executable file while providing indications to the executable file that it is being executed within an emulated computer system.
US09858406B2

An authenticity accuracy, corresponding to a personal identification number, is determined. A device presents a correct image (or group of images) and an incorrect image (or group of images). Selections from a user are received until a sufficient number of correct images are selected to satisfy the authenticity accuracy. For example, a counter may be incremented when the correct image is selected, and the user may be considered to be authenticated if the counter reaches a sufficient level.
US09858396B2

Media content is delivered to a variety of mobile devices in a protected manner based on client-server architecture with a symmetric (private-key) encryption scheme. A media preparation server (MPS) encrypts media content and publishes and stores it on a content delivery server (CDS), such as a server in a content distribution network (CDN). Client devices can freely obtain the media content from the CDS and can also freely distribute the media content further. They cannot, however, play the content without first obtaining a decryption key and license. Access to decryption keys is via a centralized rights manager, providing a desired level of DRM control.
US09858392B2

The present invention relates to effective diagnosis of patients and assisting clinicians in treatment planning. In particular, invention provides a medical analysis system that enables refinement of molecular classification. The system provides a molecular profiling solution that will allow improved diagnosis, prognosis, response prediction to provide the right chemotherapy, and follow-up to monitor for cancer recurrence.
US09858388B1

A system for monitoring participants in a group includes one or more thermal image capturing devices configured to capture one or more thermal images of a plurality of participants in an event, and a processing device configured to receive the one or more thermal images and identification data for at least one of the plurality of participants. The processing device is configured to perform a method that includes identifying the at least one of the plurality of participants, calculating a heat profile of the at least one of the plurality of participants, comparing the heat profile to a reference profile, and determining whether a deviation exists between the heat profile and the reference profile. The method also includes, based on detecting the deviation, calculating a magnitude of the deviation and determining whether a health risk exists based on the magnitude of the deviation.
US09858378B2

A method of designing an integrated circuit, that includes receiving a first list corresponding to at least one circuit component in a layout, generating a condensed layout from the layout and performing an electrostatic discharge (ESD) check of the condensed layout. The condensed layout is generated by a processor. The ESD check is configured to verify compliance with one or more ESD design rules. The condensed layout includes at least one circuit component. The at least one circuit component includes an ESD circuit and an associated ESD current path.
US09858377B2

A computer-implemented method of performing physical synthesis in a chip design process using hierarchical wire-pin co-optimization, a system, and a computer program product are described. Aspects include providing an indication of candidate pins among a plurality of pins of a plurality of macros that may be moved, and providing constraints on a range of movement of one or more of the plurality of pins. Aspects also include performing macro-level physical synthesis at each of the plurality of macros based on the candidate pins and the constraints to generate pin locations and timing results.
US09858372B1

Disclosed are techniques for implementing formal verification of an electronic design. These techniques identify a target property for verification in a hierarchical electronic design that has a plurality of hierarchies and perform hierarchical synthesis on a hierarchy or a portion thereof in the plurality of hierarchies while black-boxing a remaining portion of the hierarchical electronic design. Cone of influence (COI) data that is relevant to the target property may be determined at least by extracting the cone of influence data from a hierarchically synthesized hierarchy or portion of the hierarchy or the portion thereof. At least the cone of influence data may be forwarded to a formal engine that uses the cone of influence data to verify the target property.
US09858367B1

A parameterizable integrated circuit (IC) and method for designing, refining and implementing a circuit including the parameterizable IC are described. The method begins with receiving information on candidate sensing sub-circuits, parameterizable ICs and user specified requirements for the circuit including physical properties to be sensed and target values for the circuit. Each of the parameterizable ICs include a number of parametric analog and digital circuit elements, and a scheduler to schedule resources of the IC according to measurement priorities, measurement rates and the available circuit elements. Next, each of the candidate sensor-sub-circuits is evaluated with reference to the specified requirements, and each of the candidate ICs evaluated with reference to the requirements and the sensor-sub-circuits. Generally, the method further includes communicating to a user a number of candidate circuit-designs within a predetermined percentage of the one or more target values for the circuit.
US09858363B2

Methods, systems, and computer programs, for estimating think times. One of the methods includes receiving a request to perform a test of one or more computing resources. The test of the one or more computing resources is performed by simulating an interaction of one or more simulated users with the one or more computing resources. Requests are submitted from the simulated user for execution by the one or more computing resources. Respective response times of the one or more computing resources to each of the requests are measured. An estimated think time of the simulated user is computed, wherein the estimated think time is computed based on at least one preceding response time.
US09858353B2

Input is received to store information to access content displayed within a browser as a bookmark. A bookmark properties form is generated to include fields in which environments are identified as corresponding to the bookmark. Input is received that includes a first URL corresponding to the label of a first bookmark within a first environment. The bookmark is stored by including in the properties form, a label of the bookmark, the first environment corresponding to the bookmark, and the first URL corresponding to the first environment. A second URL is received that corresponds to the label of the first bookmark, but within a second environment, and includes the second environment in the properties form as corresponding to the label of the bookmark, and includes the second URL in the properties form as corresponding to the second environment, wherein the first URL differs from the second URL.
US09858352B2

Input is received to store information to access content displayed within a browser as a bookmark. A bookmark properties form is generated to include fields in which environments are identified as corresponding to the bookmark. Input is received that includes a first URL corresponding to the label of a first bookmark within a first environment. The bookmark is stored by including in the properties form, a label of the bookmark, the first environment corresponding to the bookmark, and the first URL corresponding to the first environment. A second URL is received that corresponds to the label of the first bookmark, but within a second environment, and includes the second environment in the properties form as corresponding to the label of the bookmark, and includes the second URL in the properties form as corresponding to the second environment, wherein the first URL differs from the second URL.
US09858350B2

A centralized barcode system is described. The centralized barcode system includes a barcode generation system configured to create a customized barcode by creating a new barcode or enhancing an existing barcode.
US09858346B2

An exemplary geographic playlist system includes a plurality of mobile devices with global positioning systems that provide geographic location information of the mobile device to a geographic location playlist device. The geographic location playlist device has a database of geographic playlist information that includes at least a unique identifier for each one of a plurality of media content events and at least one associated geographic location for each of the plurality of media content events. The geographic location playlist device determines a current geographic location of the mobile device, compares the geographic location of the mobile device with the geographic locations residing in the database, and generates user geographic playlist information that includes the identifier of media content events that has an associated geographic location that matches with the determined geographic location of the mobile device. A geographic playlist is then presented to the user of the mobile device.
US09858342B2

A method for searching for applications respective of a connectivity mode of a user device is provided. The method includes detecting a set of applications of a plurality of applications installed in the user device that can operate in an offline mode; receiving a search query entered by a user of the user device; determining a current connectivity mode of the user device, wherein the current connectivity mode is any one of an offline mode and an online mode; searching for at least one matching application from the set of applications, when the current connectivity mode of the user device is the offline mode; and displaying the at least one selected application on a display of the user device.
US09858336B2

Electronic natural language processing in a natural language processing (NLP) system, such as a Question-Answering (QA) system. A receives electronic text input, in question form, and determines a readability level indicator in the question. The readability level indicator includes at least a grammatical error, a slang term, and a misspelling type. The computer determines a readability level for the electronic text input based on the readability level indicator, and retrieves candidate answers based on the readability level.
US09858333B2

According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for exploring a structured data set is provided. The method may include receiving a plurality of bivariate pairs and an input bivariate pair, wherein the plurality of bivariate pairs and the input bivariate pair are based on the structured data set. The method may include constructing a graph having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges based on the received plurality of bivariate pairs and input bivariate pair. The method may include constructing an adjacency matrix based on the constructed graph. The method may include calculating a centrality for each node based on the constructed matrix. The method may include constructing an orthogonal list based on the plurality of bivariate pairs and the input bivariate pair. The method may include ordering the orthogonal list based on the calculated centrality of each node within the plurality of nodes.
US09858330B2

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a system for categorizing electronically stored information without the need for user input, direction, or guidance. In an implementation, the system determines meanings of input textual data items and groups of textual data items, identifies equivalent meanings between textual data items and between groups of textual data items, and outputs user-selected information that is categorized, indexed, and searchable.
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