US09935573B2

Methods, systems and computer readable storage devices for a four quadrant voltage limiter that limits a commanded phase voltage to within a volt second capability of an inverter by maintaining a rotor flux and folding back a torque under both motoring and regeneration torque commands. In one embodiment: (a) in a motoring operation, an upper limit for a q-axis voltage is enforced; and (b) in a regeneration operation a lower limit for the q-axis voltage is enforced.
US09935566B2

The invention relates to a drive arrangement for the motorized adjustment of an adjustment element of a vehicle, wherein at least one drive comprising an electric drive motor and a drive control means and is connected to a supply, wherein the drive is designed in a non-self-locking manner, the drive motor operates as a generator and generates a generator voltage, wherein the drive control means has a driver unit for supplying electrical power to the at least one drive. The invention proposes that the drive control means has a switching device and has a detection device for detecting a non-motorized adjustment of the adjustment element, and that the drive control means, when a predetermined, non-motorized adjustment of the adjustment element is detected, connects the supply voltage to the supply connections of the driver unit by means of the switching device in one switching operation.
US09935563B2

An apparatus for installation within a tire for a vehicle includes a flexible arm and a power generating element coupled to the flexible arm for generating electrical energy. One end of the flexible arm is coupled to a rim of the tire. The opposing end of the flexible arm is configured to be in contact with the inside tread surface of the tire. The flexible arm is capable of deformation in response to a variability of distance between the rim and the inside tread surface during rolling movement of the tire, and the power generating element generates the electrical energy in response to deformation of the flexible arm. The apparatus may be combined with a tire pressure sensor module as a system so as to provide electrical energy for powering the tire pressure sensor module.
US09935557B2

A multi-output power supply includes: a switching element that turns ON and OFF currents flowing through all primary coils of a plurality of transformers connected in parallel at a same time; a plurality of output circuits that rectify and smooth voltages induced in secondary coils of the plurality of transformers to produce a plurality of output voltages; a plurality of feedback voltage detection circuits that detect feedback voltages corresponding to the output voltages of the plurality of the output circuits; an averaging circuit that calculates an average feedback voltage from the feedback voltages detected by the feedback voltage detection circuits; and a control circuit that uses feedback control to turn the switching element ON and OFF according to the average feedback voltage calculated by the averaging circuit.
US09935550B2

To prevent cross-conduction when switching switches in switching circuitry for voltage regulation, a dead time may be maintained between turning off a switch and turning on a switch. The dead time may be determined based on a switching transition voltage and a voltage of the switching circuitry and may be implemented using a timer.
US09935545B2

A power supply unit arrangement for an electronic device includes a first switching converter with a first control loop that provides a controlled output voltage (DC-out) at a node; a second switching converter with a second control loop that alternatively provides the controlled output voltage (DC-out) at the node; and an open-loop control circuit connected to the first control loop and the second control loop, wherein the open-loop control circuit, upon a changeover of the current supply from the first switching converter to the second switching converter, sets a predetermined control state of the first control loop and deactivates the first switching converter and, upon a changeover of the current supply from the second switching converter to the first switching converter, reactivates the first switching converter using the predetermined control state.
US09935539B2

System, especially for use in aircraft, for controlling at least one switching device (5, 5b, 5n) able to open or close the connection between at least one power source and at least one supplied device, and means for measuring the state of the power supply channel. The system comprises: at least two microcontrollers (1a, 1b) each able to emit a command intended for each switching device (5, 5b, 5n), said microcontrollers (1a, 1b) being connected to at least one portion of the means for measuring the state of the power supply channel; and a means (14, 14b, 14n) for determining the command to be transmitted, able to determine the command to be transmitted to each switching device (5, 5b, 5n) from the commands emitted by each microcontroller (1a, 1b) and intended for said control switch.
US09935534B2

An electric machine includes an outer stator having a plurality of windings, an inner stator having a plurality of permanent magnets and arranged within the outer stator in concentric relationship to the outer stator, and a rotor arranged between the outer stator and the inner stator in concentric relationship to the outer and inner stators and movable relative to the outer and inner stators. The rotor includes a mounting element which is made from a non-magnetic material and has a plurality of recesses, with a magnetically soft segment being arranged in each of the recesses. A first cooling device cools the permanent magnets of the inner stator.
US09935530B2

Provided are a method for manufacturing band-shaped stator core sheets, capable of efficiently separating the band-shaped stator core sheets having engaged magnetic pole pieces, and a die apparatus used therefor.The method comprises placing tips of magnetic pole pieces 12, 13 of first and second band-shaped stator core sheets 10, 11 on inner peripheries of yoke pieces 16, 15, a slot punching step for forming gaps of the magnetic pole pieces 12, 13, a shear-cutting step for cutting the tips of the magnetic pole pieces 12, 13 from the inner peripheries of the yoke pieces 16, 15, respectively, a correction step for returning the magnetic pole pieces 12, 13 bent by the shear-cutting step to their original states, and a separation step for separating the first and second band-shaped stator core sheets 10, 11 with the magnetic pole pieces 12, 13 pressed back by the correction step.
US09935526B2

A power module composite includes a power module (34) in which switching devices (32) included in an electric-power conversion circuit are molded, a driver module (37) that includes a control circuit (35) for controlling the switching devices (32) and is molded, a housing (39) containing the power module (34) and the driver module (37), and a heat sink (38) that is fixed to the housing (39) and refrigerates the switching devices (32); the power module 34 and the driver module 37 are mounted in that order on the heat sink (38) in such a way as to be superimposed on each other.
US09935523B2

To maximize a power consumption reduction effect in a case of using a high-efficiency induction motor, when a conventional induction motor is changed to a high-efficiency induction motor, a mechanical device including an induction motor and a speed reduction mechanism related to the present invention increases the reduction ratio of the speed reducer such that the rotation speed of the mechanical device is equal to that in a case of using a conventional induction motor and thus the output of the mechanical device is made equal to that in a case of using a conventional inductor motor; therefore, the load conditions of the mechanical device such as a pump and a fan can be made equal to those in a case of using a conventional induction motor. Accordingly, the power consumption reduction effect by improving the efficiency of the induction motor can be maximized.
US09935522B2

A base includes first to third projected portions. A sealing surface of the base is opposed to the housing and equipped with a sealing member. An attachment portion outside the sealing surface is screwed with the housing. A first projected portion projects from the attachment portion toward the housing. The second and third projected portions project relative to the sealing surface toward the housing. A recessed portion between the sealing surface and the first projected portion partially receives and fitted with a spigot protrusion of the housing. The second projected portion is located inside the third projected portion, and the third projected portion is located inside the recessed portion in the radial direction. The second and third projected portions extend along the circumferential direction. The first to third projected portions have projected tip end surfaces located in a same plane and in contact with the housing.
US09935515B2

An armature winding is configured by mounting into an armature core a plurality of distributed-winding coils that are each produced by bending and shaping a conductor wire that is coated with insulation, coil ends are configured by arranging coil end portion rows that are formed by arranging coil end portions of the coils in a single row circumferentially in n layers in a radial direction, where n is an integer that is greater than or equal to 1, and an interphase insulating material includes: a strip-shaped insulating sheet material that is inserted inside the coil end portions, and that is disposed so as to extend circumferentially between the coil end portion rows; and an insulating buffering material that is formed on one surface of the insulating sheet material, and that is fixed to the coil end portion rows by forming air bubble groups internally.
US09935502B2

Exemplary embodiments are directed to detecting and limiting power transfer to non-compliant devices. A method may include detecting one or more non-compliant devices positioned within a charging region of a wireless power transmitter. The method may further include limiting an amount of power delivered to at least one of the one or more non-compliant devices.
US09935500B2

A coil unit, a wireless power feeding device, a wireless power receiving device, and a wireless power transmission device are provided that can reduce high induced voltage on the metal part. A coil unit includes a power transmission coil, reactance circuits and that each form a resonant circuit together with the power transmission coil, and a metal part disposed on the same side as the back side of the power transmission coil. A ratio between a first reactance value of the first reactance circuit and a second reactance value of the second reactance circuit is set based on the ratio of the mean distance between the winding and the metal part in a part of the winding from the other end to the central portion to the mean distance between the winding and the metal part in a part of the winding from one end to the central portion.
US09935494B2

A power architecture includes a panel receiving power from a power grid through a breaker, a power supply coupled to the breaker to receive power from the grid, a battery coupled to the power supply through a switch, an elevator motor controller coupled to the power supply, the power supply providing power from at least one of the grid and the battery to the controller, and a charger coupled to the breaker and the battery and configured to receive power from the power grid and provide power to the battery to charge the battery.
US09935493B2

A control circuit includes a first input coupled to a power source, a second input coupled to an output of a power supply, and an output coupled to an input of the power supply. The control circuit senses current at the power supply output. If the sensed current exceeds a threshold, the control circuit connects the power supply input to the power source. If sensed current does not exceed the threshold, the control circuit disconnects the power supply input from the power source and applies a voltage to the power supply output. If the sensed current exceeds the threshold while the power supply input is disconnected from the power source and while the control circuit is applying voltage to the power supply output, the control circuit discontinues application of voltage to the power supply output and connects the power supply input to the power source.
US09935492B2

A power control system for adjusting an input power limit of a DC-DC voltage converter is provided. The system includes a microprocessor that determines an amount of output power being output by a battery pack, an amount of available power in the battery pack, and an amount of input power being input to the DC-DC voltage converter. The microprocessor determines an amount of power being provided to the DC-AC inverter based on the amount of output power being output by the battery pack and the amount of input power being input to the DC-DC voltage converter. The microprocessor decreases the input power limit of the DC-DC voltage converter if a sum of the amount of power being provided to the DC-AC inverter and the amount of input power being input to the DC-DC voltage converter is greater than the amount of available power in the battery pack.
US09935486B2

A wireless charging device capable of charging an electronic device is provided. The wireless charging device includes a supporting component, a stage and at least one electrical transmitter. The stage is used to carry the electronic device and is swingingly disposed on the platform through the supporting component. The electrical transmitter is movably disposed in the stage. When the electronic device is placed on an end of the stage which is relatively away from the supporting component, the stage swings in relative to the platform by using the supporting component as a fulcrum, and the stage is inclined to the platform. As a result, the electrical transmitter moves toward the electronic device due to gravitational pull, and thereby aligns with an electrical receiver in the electronic device so as to wirelessly charge the electronic device.
US09935475B2

An mechanism for charging an electronic device with a retractable cord reel. The device maintains a substantially continuous converted power source connection during operation, including operations adjusting the length of the retractable cord.
US09935471B2

A drive apparatus includes a first power storage, a second power storage, an electric motor, a voltage booster, an electric device. The second power storage is superior to the first power storage in energy to weight density and is inferior to the first power storage in output to weight density. The electric motor is to be driven with power supplied from at least one of the first power storage and the second power storage. The voltage booster is to boost a voltage output from the first power storage. The voltage booster includes a switch to electrically connect or disconnect the first power storage to at least one of the electric motor and the second power storage. The electric device is provided between the first power storage and the voltage booster. The voltage output from the second power storage is higher than a guaranteed operating voltage of the electric device.
US09935470B2

A system and method of wireless power transfer using a power converter with a bypass mode includes a power converter. The power converter includes a pulsed switch, a capacitor configured to supply a drive voltage to the pulsed switch, a first circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a switched mode of operation, and, a second circuit configured to charge the capacitor when the power converter operates in a bypass mode of operation.
US09935468B2

A power receiving apparatus (105) is provided with: a power reception unit (106) disposed at a distance from and opposed to a power transmission unit (104) of the power transmitting apparatus (101); a direct current (DC) voltage changing device (108) which constitutes one portion of a power receiving circuit configured to electrically connect the power reception unit and an electrical load (109) and which can change DC voltage supplied to the electrical load; and a controlling device (112) configured to control the DC voltage changing device to change the DC voltage to bring a current phase difference between current of the power transmission unit and current of the power reception unit close to 180 degrees when the electric power is transmitted and received between the power transmission unit and the power reception unit, the current phase difference corresponding to overall resonant frequency.
US09935466B2

Three or more photovoltaic cell units connected in series include a unit holding a voltage between output terminals, a first voltage holding unit group having a voltage holding unit holding a voltage between an anode-side terminal and a cathode-side terminal for each photovoltaic cell unit set with respect to each set of the (2k+1)th and (2k+2)th photovoltaic cell units connected in series to each other counted from the anode side, and a second voltage holding unit group having a voltage holding unit holding a voltage between an anode-side terminal and a cathode-side terminal for each photovoltaic cell unit set with respect to each set of the (2k+2)th and (2k+3)th photovoltaic cell units connected in series to each other counted from the anode side.
US09935462B2

A method for controlling an operation of a converter circuit adapted to regulate power transfer between a first voltage source and a second voltage source includes detecting a first voltage level of the first voltage source and a second voltage level of the second voltage source; calculating a power value based on the detected first voltage level and the detected second voltage level; comparing the calculated power value with a reference power value; and determining switching time of one or more switches in the converter circuit based on a compared result so as to regulate power transfer between the first voltage source and the second voltage source.
US09935456B2

A wireless power transmission device includes: a wireless power transmission unit, a power transmission circuit, a wireless communication unit, an interruption circuit, a communication circuit, and a control circuit. The power transmission circuit is connected to the wireless power transmission unit and wirelessly transmits power through the wireless power transmission unit to another party's device. The interruption circuit is connected to the wireless communication unit. The communication circuit is connected through the interruption circuit to the wireless communication unit and communicates with the other party's device via the wireless communication unit. The control circuit is connected to the power transmission circuit and the interruption circuit and, when the power is transmitted, controls the interruption circuit to interrupt between the wireless communication unit and the communication circuit on the basis of a power level transmitted by the power transmission circuit.
US09935452B2

A method for signaling between a controller and a driver includes receiving, at a pin of the driver coupled to the controller, a command signal generated by the controller and generating, by the driver at the pin coupled to the controller, a fault signal indicating a fault condition. The driver can be configured to drive a switch and the command signal can be configured to cause the driver to open the switch when the command signal is in a first state and to close the switch when the command signal is in a second state. The command signal being in the first state may correspond to the command signal having a voltage level above a first predetermined threshold and the command signal being in the second state may correspond to the command signal having a voltage level below a second predetermined threshold.
US09935449B1

A wire overmold device including a carrier body having a distal end and a proximal end, a wire cap configured to engage the distal end of the carrier body, at least one of a jacketed cable and one or more wires at least partially enclosed between the wire cap and the carrier body, and an overmold formed over the proximal end of the carrier body and at least portions of the wire cap and the distal end of the carrier body, wherein the wire cap and the distal end of the carrier body protrude from the overmold.
US09935447B2

Device for attaching a cable to a structure using an implement that includes a first body segment having a first end, a second end, and an inner wall, and defines a recess extending from the first end to the second end. The implement is receivable within the recess from the first end and permitted to extend beyond the second end to attach the device to the structure. A second body segment is coupled to the first body segment by a joining member, the second body segment having a first end, a second end, an inner wall, and defining a second body channel adapted to receive the cable. The inner wall of the first body segment, the inner wall of the second body segment, and the joining member define a first channel adapted to receive the cable.
US09935434B2

A cooling device for cooling a cable assembly, containing an outer pipe, which is designed to accommodate the cable assembly in such a way that an intermediate space for accommodating a cooling water layer remains between the outer pipe and the cable assembly, a connecting element for creating a water-tight connection between the outer pipe and the cable assembly, and a pressure controller for controlling the water pressure in the cooling water layer, is provided. A cable device is also provided, including an electric cable assembly, and a cooling device. A wind farm is also provided, including a number of cable assemblies for transmitting electrical power from wind turbines and including a number of cooling devices for cooling the cable assemblies A method for providing a cooling device for a cable assembly is further provided.
US09935433B2

According to the method of stripping a portion of a wire of the invention, the insulated wire including the wire core are first flattened before the insulation is stripped away. The flattening eases the stripping as the insulation is partially cracked and dissociated of the wire core, and the stripping is more efficiently applied on a flat surface. A wire stripping machine and a transponder antenna with stripped portions are also claim as being part of the invention.
US09935432B2

A housing includes a main housing body with an opening in at least one side face of the main housing body; a sealing element on the at least one side face, the sealing element surrounding the edge of the opening; a frame element on the at least one side face, the frame element surrounding the edge of the sealing element; and a cover element for closing the opening, which cover element abuts the frame element and the sealing element in a planar manner when the opening is closed.
US09935428B2

A semiconductor light-emitting element has a distributed Bragg reflector that is grown by depositing an InAlN layer and a GaN layer a plurality of times in that order on a semipolar plane of a semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor structure layer that is formed on the distributed Bragg reflector and includes an active layer. The InAlN layer has a plurality of projections on an interface with the GaN layer, and the InAlN layer has a low In region which is formed at the top of each of the plurality of projections and which is lower in In composition than the remaining region.
US09935426B2

An optical semiconductor device is provided as one achieving reduction of power in phase control. The optical semiconductor device has: a first optical waveguide having a plurality of segments each of which has a diffraction grating region with a diffraction grating and a space portion coupled to the diffraction grating region, having two ends interposed between the diffraction grating regions, and having a constant optical length, wherein at least one of the segments is provided with a phase shift structure; a first phase control device for adjusting a phase of light in each segment with the phase shift structure; and a second phase control device for adjusting a phase of light in each segment without the phase shift structure.
US09935425B2

A pump laser package may include an input fiber to send signal light on a first optical path. A first lens may be arranged on the first optical path. The pump laser package may include a source to send pump light on a second optical path. A second lens and a negative lens may be arranged on the second optical path. The first lens and the negative lens may be arranged to create a virtual image associated with the pump light. The pump laser package may include an output fiber on a third optical path. The first lens may be arranged on the third optical path. The pump laser package may include a combiner to receive the signal light on the first optical path, receive the pump light on the second optical path, and send the signal light and the pump light on the third optical path.
US09935422B2

A multi-layer laser diode mount is configured with a submount made from thermo- and electro-conductive material. One of the opposite surfaces of the submount supports a laser diode. The other surface of the submount faces and is spaced from a heatsink. The submount and heatsink are configured with respective thermal expansion coefficients (“TEC”) which are different from one another. The opposite surfaces of the submount are electroplated with respective metal layers one of which is bonded to a soft solder layer.In one aspect of the disclosure, the mount is further configured with a spacer having the same TEC as that of the submount and bonded to the soft solder layer. A layer of hard solder bonds the spacer and heatsink to one another.In a further aspect of the disclosure, the electroplated metal layer in contact with the other surface of the submount is hundred- or more micron thick. The soft solder is directly bonded to the heatsink.In both aspects of the disclosure, a temperature of a p-n junction of the laser diode remains substantially constant within a 0 to 2° C. temperature range through a predetermined amount of several hundred of repeated thermo-cycles which is indicative of uncompromised integrity of the soft solder.
US09935421B2

An improved solid-state laser for generating sub-200 nm light is described. This laser uses a fundamental wavelength between about 1030 nm and 1065 nm to generate the sub-200 nm light. The final frequency conversion stage of the laser creates the sub-200 nm light by mixing a wavelength of approximately 1109 nm with a wavelength of approximately 234 nm. By proper selection of non-linear media, such mixing can be achieved by nearly non-critical phase matching. This mixing results in high conversion efficiency, good stability, and high reliability.
US09935420B2

A laser device is provided including a surface emitting laser array configured to emit light, an optical system disposed in an optical path of light that is emitted from the surface emitting laser, a laser resonator which the light passed through the optical system enters, where the optical system includes a first optical element configured to collimate the light emitted from the surface emitting laser, and a second optical element configured to collect and condense the light collimated by the first optical element.
US09935419B2

In an optical fiber device having a configuration in which an optical fiber is joined to a side surface of another optical fiber, a joint portion is suppressed from reaching a high temperature. The optical fiber device includes a first fluoride fiber, a second fluoride fiber, and a heat dissipation member. The first fluoride fiber guides light. The second fluoride fiber has a first end on or from which light is incident or output and a second end at which an end surface of the second fluoride fiber is obliquely joined to a side surface of the first fluoride fiber.
US09935410B2

An electrical connector includes a female connector removably connectable with a male connector. The female connector includes an outer ring shield, and first and second ring insulator. The first ring insulator is spaced inwardly of the outer ring shield to define a first recess with a first female electrical contact provided in the first recess. The second ring insulator is spaced inwardly of the first ring insulator to define a second recess with a second female electrical contact provided in the second recess. The male connector includes first and second. When the male and female connectors are electrically connected, the first and second male electrical contacts are received in the first and second recesses respectively.
US09935405B2

The terminal block (10) serves for electrically connecting a connection line having at least two conductors (L1, L2) and extending externally of an electronics housing (H). The terminal block comprises a platform (100) composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material, especially a synthetic material having a dielectric strength sufficient to meet European standard EN 60947-1, a connection terminal (TI) arranged on a first side of the platform forming a first connection side of the terminal block and serving for connection of a conductor (L1) of the connection line as well as at least one connection terminal (T2) arranged on the first side of the platform, laterally spaced from the connection terminal (T1) for connection of a conductor (L2) of the connection line. Additionally, the terminal block comprises a connection contactor (J1) arranged on a second side of the platform forming a second connection side of the terminal block, e.g. especially a connection contactor embodied as a contact pin or as a contact jack, as well as a connection contactor (J2) arranged on the second side of the platform and laterally spaced from the connection contactor (J1), e.g. a connection contactor embodied as a contact pin or as a contact jack.
US09935398B2

A connector has a housing and an internal structural body. The housing has a receiving portion while the internal structural body has contacts. The housing has a second upper inner wall surface and a second lower inner wall surface which define a rear portion of the receiving portion. Each of the second upper inner wall surface and the second lower inner wall surface is formed with contact accommodation portions which individually accommodate the contacts. The contact accommodation portions are grooves extending in a mating direction and opening to a front portion of the receiving portion at least in part. Each of the contacts has a spring portion which is resiliently deformable and a contact point supported by the spring portion. The contact point is situated inside the rear portion when the connector is separated from the mating connector.
US09935392B2

An electric wire and terminal connecting construction has an electric wire having an insulation covering portion where a conductor portion is covered with an insulation material and a conductor exposed portion where the insulation material on an end portion of the electric wire is removed, a terminal including a crimping portion crimped to the conductor exposed portion to thereby be connected to the electric wire, and a seal portion covering the conductor exposed portion exposed from the terminal, wherein the seal portion has an external resin portion forming an outer surface side of the seal portion and made from a thermoplastic resin and an internal resin portion made from a thermoplastic resin of which a fusing point is lower than that of the external resin portion and forming an inner surface side of the seal portion, and is divided so as to be attached to the conductor exposed portion.
US09935391B2

A wire adapter assembly, comprising: a plug, comprising a first housing and a first male connector installed on a first end of the first housing, a second end of the first housing being equipped with a wire in electrical connection with the first male connector; an adapter, comprising a second housing and a first female connector installed at a first end of the second housing, the first female connector being adaptive to the first male connector, a second end of the second housing being equipped with a second male connector in electrical connection with the first female connector, and the first male connector being different from the second male connector; and a flexible connector, the flexible connector being of a flat strip or arc hinge structure, and connected with the first end of the first housing and the first end of the second housing respectively.
US09935385B2

A receptacle connector includes a contact assembly having a dielectric carrier holding contacts, which may be overmolded by the dielectric carrier. The receptacle connector includes a housing holding the contact assembly having a mating end mated with a plug connector and a mounting end mounted to the circuit board. The housing has first and second side walls and first and second end walls. The housing has a card slot open at the top for receiving the plug connector and a contact assembly cavity open at the bottom for receiving the contact assembly. The housing may have positioning ribs extending from the first and second side walls to position the contact assembly within the cavity and/or strengthening ribs extending across the cavity to connect the side walls at a location remote from the end walls.
US09935383B2

An assembly has a connector, a circuit board, a cable, a light pipe, and an outer casing. The connector has an insulating body with conductive terminals fixed therein. The circuit board is behind the connector, is electrically connected with two conductive terminals, and has two light-emitting elements. The cable has a plurality of wires, and the conductive terminal is electrically connected with the wire. An inside of the light pipe is formed with a first receiving cavity that receives the connector and the circuit board therein. The outer casing has first and second insulating casings which are latched to each other and are combined to form a second receiving cavity. The light pipe is received in the second receiving cavity and is partially exposed out of the outer casing. Light from the light-emitting elements emits outwardly via the light pipe. The cable extends rearward out of the outer casing.
US09935378B2

Antenna apparatus includes a system ground and an antenna sub-assembly including a feed pad and a ground pad that are configured to have a cable terminated thereto. The ground pad is electrically coupled to the system ground. The antenna sub-assembly includes a first level having a radiating trace that is electrically coupled to the feed pad. The radiating trace is configured for communication within a designated radio frequency (RF) band. The antenna sub-assembly also includes a second level that is stacked with respect to the first level and has a reflector. The reflector is vertically aligned with a portion of the radiating trace to block RF emissions therefrom.
US09935375B2

A surface scattering reflector antenna includes a plurality of adjustable scattering elements and is configured to produce a reflected beam pattern according to the configuration of the adjustable scattering elements.
US09935374B2

A multi-band antenna includes a circuit board having an insulation dielectric layer, a first ground plane and an impedance matching circuit formed on a first plane of the circuit board, and a second ground plane formed on a second plane of the circuit board. A slot antenna radiation main body, formed at a location of the second ground plane and corresponding to the exposed part of the insulation dielectric layer, includes first and second radiation main bodies. The first radiation main body includes a first impedance matching part and a first resonance part. The second radiation main body includes a second impedance matching part and a second resonance part. The first resonance part includes a plurality of first bends, a first segment, and a second segment. The second resonance part includes a plurality of second bends, a third segment, and a fourth segment.
US09935373B2

A self-grounded antenna arrangement includes a base or central portion in a first plane and a number of arm sections associated with the central portion that taper toward a respective end tip. Each arm section is adapted to form a transition from the central portion and being bent backward toward the central portion by more than 180 degrees so that its end tip approaches a first side of the central portion, at an opening in the central portion. The end tip is connected to a feeder configured to feed, via an arm-section-specific port, one specific port for each arm section. Each arm section has a mixed functionality of a curved monopole antenna and a loop antenna, and the antenna arrangement provides substantially uncoupled ports with far-field functions that are almost orthogonal in polarization, direction, or shape. The arrangement finds use in multiple-input multiple-output antenna systems for statistical multipath environments.
US09935357B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for positioning an antenna in a portable information handling system. A portable information handling system includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The portable information handling system also includes a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions. The portable information handling system also includes an antenna disposed within the first housing portion, the antenna operable to transmit radio waves. The portable information handling system further includes an antenna aperture formed within the first housing portion. The second housing portion comprises a radio frequency (RF) permeable region comprising RF permeable material, the RF permeable region located in proximity to the antenna aperture when the portable information handling system is in tablet mode, tablet mode representing the first housing portion rotated approximately 360 degrees from the second housing portion.
US09935353B2

A conductor in a laminar structure, such as a printed circuit board or thin-film stack, is closely flanked by at least one open trench filled with an ambient medium (e.g., air, another gas, vacuum) of a lower dielectric loss than the conductor's surrounding dielectric. The trench may be made by any suitably precise method such as laser scribing, chemical etching or mechanical displacement. A thin layer of dielectric may be left on the sides of the conductor to prevent oxidation or other reactions that may reduce conductivity. When the conductor carries a signal, part of an electric and/or magnetic field that would ordinarily travel through the surrounding dielectric encounters the low-loss ambient medium (e.g. air) in the trench. The effective dielectric loss surrounding the conductor is lowered, reducing signal attenuation and crosstalk, particularly at high frequencies.
US09935352B2

A composite transmission line includes a laminated insulator including insulator layers, signal transmission lines including first and second signal transmission lines and a power transmission line. The power transmission line includes a power transmission conductor pattern along the insulator layers, and an interlayer connection conductor that interlayer-connects power transmission conductor patterns. The first signal conductor pattern of the first signal transmission line, the second signal conductor pattern of the second signal transmission line, and the power transmission conductor pattern are parallel or substantially parallel to each other on the insulator layers that are mutually different from each other. The first and second signal conductor patterns interpose a first ground conductor in the laminating direction of the insulator layers. The power transmission line is in a side portion of the first signal conductor pattern.
US09935345B2

A cooling structure of a power storage device includes a cooling plate, a partition member, and a heat conduction material. The cooling plate is to cool a storage battery bank including storage batteries which are stacked. The partition member is disposed between the storage battery bank and the cooling plate and includes divided areas. At least one of the storage batteries is provided in each of the divided areas. The heat conduction material is accommodated in at least one of the divided areas and is in contact with the at least one of the storage batteries and the cooling plate.
US09935343B2

A method for cycling a lithium-sulphur cell, said method comprising discharging a lithium-sulphur cell, terminating the discharge when the voltage of the cell reaches a threshold discharge voltage that is in the range of 1.5 to 2.1V, charging the lithium-sulphur cell, and terminating the charge when the voltage of the cell reaches a threshold charge voltage that is in the range of 2.3 to 2.4V, wherein the lithium-sulphur cell is not fully charged at the threshold charge voltage, and wherein the lithium-sulphur cell is not fully discharged at the threshold discharge voltage.
US09935336B2

A secondary battery includes: a cathode including a lithium-oxygen-containing compound; an anode; and non-aqueous electrolytic solution including one or more first anions represented by Formula (1). B(XY)xFyRz-  (1) where X is one of a divalent chain hydrocarbon group, a divalent fluorinated chain hydrocarbon group, and nothing; Y is one of a cyano group (—C≡N) and an isocyano group (—N+≡C—); R is one of a monovalent fluorinated chain hydrocarbon group and a monovalent fluorinated cyclic hydrocarbon group; and x to z are integers that satisfy x>0, y≥0, z≥0, (x+y+z)=4, and (y+z)>0.
US09935335B2

The present invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the same, and more particularly, to a non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery including an ionizable lithium salt, an organic solvent, and an additive, wherein the additive includes 1,3-propane sultone, succinic anhydride, tris(trimethylsilyl)borate, and succinonitrile in a weight ratio of 1:0.5:0.5:0.5 to 1:1:1:1, and a total amount of the additive is in a range of 2.5 wt % to 4 wt % based on a total weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.
US09935334B2

An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium salt, a non-aqueous organic solvent, and an additive. The additive is represented by Chemical Formula 1, and is included in an amount of about 0.05 wt % to about 3 wt % based on the total amount of the electrolyte. A rechargeable lithium battery including the same is also disclosed. Chemical Formula 1 is as described in the present specification.
US09935329B2

Disclosed herein is an electrode group stack including a stacked structure of electrode groups, each including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, in which the electrode groups are stacked in a height direction on the basis of a plane such that the positive electrode and the negative electrode face each other in a state in which the separator is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the stacked structure of the electrode groups includes electrode groups having different areas at an interface between the electrode groups, and a ratio of capacity to area of the positive electrode and the negative electrode at the interface between the electrode groups (N/P ratio) is equal to or greater than a ratio of capacity to area of a positive electrode and a negative electrode constituting an electrode group having a relatively large area (N/P ratio).
US09935324B2

A voltage detection device includes voltage detection sections that measure cell voltages in the blocks, a control section, and (N−1) or less converters that raise the voltage, which is supplied from a DC power source, to a voltage of a driving power source for the voltage detection section. In a case where a voltage detected by at least one voltage detection section among the voltage detection sections which operate by the power supplied from the respective converters, exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the control section controls at least one voltage detection section among the voltage detection sections to operate using the cell voltage of each of the blocks as a driving power source and acquires the cell voltage in each of the blocks.
US09935317B2

Provided is a lithium air battery, and more particular, a lithium air battery including a buffer layer consisting of a conductive ion-exchange resin and a mesoporous carbon formed between an electrolyte and a catalyst layer configuring a cathode to prevent a contact between the catalyst layer and a large amount of electrolyte in the lithium air battery, thereby reducing occurrence of overvoltage at the time of charging and discharging the battery. At the same time, the lithium air battery of the present invention may suppress evaporation of the electrolyte solution to improve durability, thereby preventing deterioration in performance of the battery, and extending a lifespan.
US09935315B2

Certain nickel hydroxide active cathode materials for use in alkaline rechargeable batteries are capable of transferring >1.3 electrons per Ni atom under reversible electrochemical conditions. The specific capacity of the nickel hydroxide active materials is for example ≥325 mAh/g. The cathode active materials exhibit an additional discharge plateau near 0.8 V vs. a metal hydride (MH) anode. Ni in an oxidation state of less than 2, such as Ni1+, is able to participate in electrochemical reactions when using the present cathode active materials. It is possible that up to 2.3 electrons, up to 2.5 electrons or more may be transferred per Ni atom under electrochemical conditions.
US09935312B2

Provided is a Ni—Fe battery comprising an iron electrode which is preconditioned prior to any charge-discharge cycle. The preconditioned iron electrode used in the Ni—Fe battery is prepared by first fabricating an electrode comprising an iron active material, and then treating the surface of the electrode with an oxidant to thereby create an oxidized surface.
US09935309B2

A negative electrode active material including: a particle of negative electrode active material containing silicon-based material of SiOx (0.5≤x≤1.6); wherein the intensity A of a peak in a Si-region given in the chemical shift region of from −50 to −95 ppm and the intensity B of a peak in a SiO2-region given in the chemical shift region of from −96 to −150 ppm in a 29Si-MAS-NMR spectrum of the silicon-based material satisfy a relationship that A/B≥0.8. This provides a negative electrode active material which can increase a battery capacity, and can improve cycle characteristics and initial charge/discharge characteristics when used as a negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery.
US09935296B2

A display device includes: light emitting units; a light absorbing unit that surrounds each of the light emitting units; and a low-reflection layer provided on the surfaces of the light emitting units and the surface of the light absorbing unit. The surface of the light absorbing unit is a corrugated surface that diffuses light, and the low-reflection layer is formed along the corrugated surface.
US09935292B2

To provide a novel light-emitting device with high productivity, the light-emitting device includes a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element, and a third light-emitting element. In the first light-emitting element, a first lower electrode, a first transparent conductive layer, a first light-emitting layer, a second light-emitting layer, and an upper electrode are stacked in this order. In the second light-emitting element, a second lower electrode, a second transparent conductive layer, the first light-emitting layer, the second light-emitting layer, and the upper electrode are stacked in this order. In the third light-emitting element, a third lower electrode, a third transparent conductive layer, the second light-emitting layer, and the upper electrode are stacked in this order. The first transparent conductive layer includes a first region. The second transparent conductive layer includes a second region as thick as the third transparent conductive layer. The first region is thicker than the second region.
US09935287B2

Disclosed is an array substrate and a method for manufacturing the same and a display device. The array substrate comprises: a substrate; a first electrode layer formed on the substrate; a pixel defining layer formed on the first electrode layer and having an opening for exposing the first electrode layer; and an organic material functional layer formed on a region of the first electrode layer corresponding to the opening. The first electrode layer comprises: a first region located at a central portion of the first electrode layer; a second region located between a periphery of the first region and an inner side of the pixel defining layer, the second region being formed as a first arc structure protruding toward the substrate; and a third region located outside the second region and covered by the pixel defining layer. The thicknesses, at positions of respective films of the organic material functional layer in the display device, are uniform. Non-uniform brightness of the display device is avoided, improving display quality of images of the display device.
US09935284B2

According to one embodiment, a photoelectric conversion element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a first layer. The second electrode includes a base member and a first material portion. The base member includes a plurality of structure bodies including carbon. The first material portion includes a carrier transport material and is provided between the structure bodies. The photoelectric conversion layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The photoelectric conversion layer includes a material having a perovskite structure. The first layer is provided between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The first layer includes the carrier transport material.
US09935283B2

Embodiments of the invention include a method for fabricating a semiconductor device and the resulting structure. A substrate is provided. A plurality of metal portions are formed on the substrate, wherein the plurality of metal portions are arranged such that areas of the substrate remain exposed. A thin film layer is deposited on the plurality of metal portions and the exposed areas of the substrate. A dielectric layer is deposited, wherein the dielectric layer is in contact with portions of the thin film layer on the plurality of metal portions, and wherein the dielectric layer is not in contact with portions of the thin film layer on the exposed areas of the substrate such that one or more enclosed spaces are present between the thin film layer on the exposed areas of the substrate and the dielectric layer.
US09935271B2

Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device, wherein the light-emitting layer is composed of a non-doped neutral free-radical electroluminescent material or a neutral free-radical electroluminescent material doped in a matrix material. The luminescence of the device is from the photons emitted from the transition of doublet electrons in the outer molecular orbit of the neutral free-radical electroluminescent material from an excited state to the ground state; since there is no limitation on spin-forbidden, the upper limit of the internal quantum efficiency of the device is 100%. The neutral free-radical electroluminescent material used in the device is 1,3-bis(diphenylene)-2-phenylallyl free radicals and derivatives thereof; tri(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl free radicals and derivatives thereof; (3,5-dichloro-4-pyridyl)bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl free radicals and derivatives thereof; (2,4,6-trichloro-5-pyrimidinyl)bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl free radicals and derivatives thereof.
US09935266B2

Socket structures that are configured to use area efficiently, and methods for providing socket regions that use area efficiently, are provided. The staircase type contact area or socket region includes dielectric layers between adjacent planar electrodes that partially cover a portion of a planar electrode that does directly underlie an adjacent planar electrode. The portion of a dielectric layer between adjacent planar electrodes can be sloped, such that it extends from an edge of an overlying planar electrode to a point between the edge of an underlying planar electrode and a point corresponding to an edge of the overlying planar electrode.
US09935264B2

Memory cells are disclosed, which cells include a cell material and an ion-source material over the cell material. A discontinuous interfacial material is included between the cell material and the ion-source material. Also disclosed are fabrication methods and semiconductor devices including the disclosed memory cells.
US09935263B2

An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory includes a selection element layer; a material layer directly coupled to a first surface of the selection element layer and including a conductive filament; and a variable resistance layer coupled to a second surface of the selection element layer opposite to the first surface.
US09935259B2

A hall effect device includes an active Hall region in a semiconductor substrate, and at least four terminal structures, each terminal structure including a switchable supply contact element and a sense contact element, wherein each supply contact element includes a transistor element with a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the second transistor terminal contacts the active Hall region or extends in the active Hall region; and wherein the sense contact elements are arranged in the active Hall region and neighboring to the switchable supply contact elements.
US09935256B2

The present invention aims to provide a piezoelectric composition containing a composition represented by formula (5) as the main component, wherein the composition represented by formula (5) contains a first perovskite-type oxide represented by formula (1), a second perovskite-type oxide represented by formula (2), a tungsten bronze-type oxide represented by formula (3) and a third perovskite-type oxide represented by formula (4), (K1-x-yNaxLiy)q(Nb1-zTaz)O3 (1), SrZrO3 (2), Ba(Nb1-wTaw)2O6 (3), (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 and/or (Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3 (4), (1−m−n−p)A+mB+nC+pD (5); in formula (1), 0.20≤x≤0.80, 0.02≤y≤0.10, 0.01≤z≤0.30 and 0.800≤q≤1.050; in formula (3), 0.01≤w≤0.30; and in formula (5), A represents the composite oxide represented by formula (1), B represents the composite oxide represented by formula (2), C represents the composite oxide represented by formula (3), D represents the composite oxide represented by formula (4), and 0.04≤m≤0.07, 0≤n≤0.010 and 0.001≤p≤0.020.
US09935255B2

A power generator including a converter with an electromechnical transducer and a magnetostrictive layer to convert a variation of a magnetic field into a mechanical deformation exerted on the transducer. There is a magnetic field source including a group of several permanent magnets. One of the group or the converter is movable, between first and second positions. The group has several first permanent magnets, one having an aspect ratio of between 1/10 and ten and most of the field lines that loop back do not pass through another first permanent magnet. The first permanent magnets are arranged such that the magnetic field induced inside the magnetostrictive material in the first position by one of the first permanent magnets is parallel to and in the direction opposite to the magnetic field induced at the same instant in the magnetostrictive material by the next first permanent.
US09935249B2

Provided is a light emitting device that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, a fluorescent layer that is disposed on or above the plurality of light-emitting elements, and light blocking layers that are disposed in the fluorescent layer, two of the light blocking layers being disposed, when an adjacent two of the plurality of light-emitting elements are seen, at positions each of which is closer than the center of a region between the two light-emitting elements to the center of one of the two light-emitting elements while the center of the region between the two light-emitting elements functions as a reference.
US09935248B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a light emitting device package having uniform color characteristics, wherein the light emitting device package includes: a substrate including first and second lead frames; at least two light emitting devices disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second lead frames; an integrated wavelength conversion film disposed on the at least two light emitting devices and including a first region which overlaps the light emitting devices and a second region other than the first region; at least one recess which passes through the wavelength conversion film in a region corresponding to a gap between the adjacent light emitting devices; and a lens disposed on the substrate to cover the light emitting devices and the first and second lead frames.
US09935247B2

In various embodiments, a layer of organic encapsulant is provided over a surface of an ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting semiconductor die, and at least a portion of the encapsulant is exposed to UV light to convert at least some of said portion of the encapsulant into non-stoichiometric silica material. The non-stoichiometric silica material includes silicon, oxygen, and carbon, and a carbon content of the non-stoichiometric silica material is greater than 1 ppm and less than 40 atomic percent.
US09935243B2

A method for fabricating a Zinc Oxide (ZnO) conductive film on a semiconductor material, including depositing a doped ZnO seed layer on a diode, wherein the ZnO seed layer forms an electrical contact to the diode; and depositing a ZnO layer on the ZnO seed layer, wherein the ZnO seed layer and the ZnO layer each have a thickness, a crystal quality, and a doping level such that (1) the diode comprising III-nitride material is turned on with a turn on voltage of 2.75 volts or less applied across the ZnO layers and the diode, and (2) a contact resistance, of a structure comprising the ZnO layers and the diode, is lower as compared to a contact resistance of a structure comprising the ZnO layer directly on the diode without the ZnO seed layer.
US09935235B2

The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate having a gettering layer formed by ion implanting a cluster, and an epitaxial layer; subjecting the semiconductor substrate to a heat treatment at 800° C. or more, and thereby forming a hydrogen adsorption site; forming an element isolation film at the semiconductor substrate, to be performed thereafter; implanting an impurity for forming a first semiconductor region in the semiconductor substrate; implanting an impurity for forming a second semiconductor region; and performing a heat treatment for a photodiode, to be performed thereafter.
US09935234B2

A photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructure (PAH) is manufactured by forming or providing cavities in an electrically insulating material; forming or providing an electrically conductive layer on a side of the electrically insulating material; depositing an electrocatalyst cathode layer in the cavities; depositing one or more layers of light-absorbing semiconductor material in the cavities; depositing an electrocatalyst anode layer in the cavities; removing the layer of electrically conductive metal; and forming a hydrogen permeable layer over the electrocatalyst cathode layer. The one or more layers of light-absorbing semiconductor material can form a p-n junction or Schottky junction. The PAH can be used in photoelectrosynthetic processes to produce desired products, such as reduction product (e.g., methane gas, methanol, or carbon monoxide) from carbon dioxide and liquid waste streams.
US09935229B2

A solar cell according to the disclosure includes a back electrode layer; and a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer, wherein the light absorbing layer includes an undoped region and a doping region on the undoped region, and the doping region includes zinc. A method of fabricating a solar cell according to the disclosure includes forming a back electrode layer on a substrate; forming a preliminary light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; forming a dopant supply layer on the preliminary light absorbing layer; and diffusing the dopant supply layer.
US09935225B2

Provided are novel building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) modules and methods of fabricating thereof. A module may be fabricated from an insert having one or more photovoltaic cells by electrically interconnecting and mechanically integrating one or more connectors with the insert. Each connector may have one or more conductive elements, such as metal sockets and/or pins. At least two of all conductive elements are electrically connected to the photovoltaic cells using, for example, bus bars. These and other electrical components are electrically insulated using a temperature resistant material having a Relative Temperature Index (RTI) of at least about 115° C. The insulation may be provided before or during module fabrication by, for example, providing a prefabricated insulating housing and/or injection molding the temperature resistant material. The temperature resistant material and/or other materials may be used for mechanical integration of the one or more connectors with the insert.
US09935221B1

A solar cell is provided including a substrate having a front and back side, a metallization pattern deposited on the front side, the metallization pattern including a plurality of front side bus bars each including fingers extending therefrom, and a plurality of back side bus bars deposited on the back side. On the front side, one front side bus bar is formed along an edge of the front side of the substrate, and a remainder of the front side bus bars are unequally spaced across the substrate. On the back side of the substrate, only one back side bus bar is formed along an edge of the back side of the substrate, and a remainder of the back side bus bars are unequally spaced across the substrate.
US09935220B1

A photovoltaic (PV) device having a quantum dot sensitized interface includes a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer. At least one of the conductor layers is transparent to solar radiation. A quantum dot (nanoparticle) sensitized photo-harvesting interface comprises a photo-absorber layer, a quantum dot layer and a buffer layer, placed between the two conductors. The absorber layer is a p-type material and the buffer layer is an n-type material. The quantum dot layer has a tunable bandgap to cover infrared (IR), visible light and ultraviolet (UV) bands of solar spectrum.
US09935216B2

Provided is a wafer for solar cell which can be produced using a polycrystalline semiconductor wafer cut out using a bonded abrasive wire, which wafer can be used for manufacturing a solar cell with high conversion efficiency.In a wafer for solar cell before acid texturing of the present invention, produced from a polycrystalline semiconductor wafer cut out using a bonded abrasive wire, an amorphous layer does not exist, and irregularities caused due to the cutting using the bonded abrasive wire are left in at least one surface of the wafer for solar cell.
US09935215B2

A photovoltaic device includes a substrate layer having a plurality of three-dimensional structures formed therein providing a textured profile. A first electrode is formed over the substrate layer and extends over the three-dimensional structures including non-planar surfaces. The first electrode has a thickness configured to maintain the textured profile, and the first electrode includes a transparent conductive material having a dopant metal activated within the transparent conductive material. A continuous photovoltaic stack is conformally formed over the first electrode, and a second electrode is formed on the photovoltaic stack.
US09935208B2

High density energy storage in semiconductor devices is provided. There are two main aspects of the present approach. The first aspect is to provide high density energy storage in semiconductor devices based on formation of a plasma in the semiconductor. The second aspect is to provide high density energy storage based on charge separation in a p-n junction.
US09935205B2

A nanowire transistor of the present description may be produced with internal spacers formed by using sacrificial spacers during the fabrication thereof. Once the nanowire transistor is formed, the sacrificial spacers, which are position between the transistor gate and the source and drains (respectively), may be removed. The sacrificial material between channel nanowires of the nanowire transistor may then be removed and a dielectric material may be deposited to fill the spaces between the channel nanowires. The dielectric material not between the channel nanowires may be removed to form the internal spacers. External spacers, which are position between the transistor gate and the source and drains (respectively), may then be formed adjacent the internal spacers and transistor channel nanowires.
US09935204B2

A static random access memory (SRAM) device includes a circuit element that includes a first inverter having a first load transistor and a first drive transistor and a second inverter having a second load transistor and a second drive transistor. Input and output nodes of the first inverter and the second inverter are cross-connected to each other. A first transfer transistor is connected to the output node of the first inverter, and a second transfer transistor is connected to the output nodes of the second inverter. Each of the first and second load transistors, the first and second drive transistors, and the first and second transfer transistors includes a transistor having multi-bridge channels. At least one of the first and second load transistors, the first and second drive transistors, and the first and second transfer transistors includes a transistor having a different number of multi-bridge channels from the other transistors.
US09935201B2

A semiconductor device includes a fin patterned in a substrate; a gate disposed over and substantially perpendicular to the fin; a pair of epitaxial contacts including a III-V material over the fin and on opposing sides of the gate; and a channel region between the pair of epitaxial contacts under the gate including an undoped III-V material between doped III-V materials, the doped III-V materials including a dopant in an amount in a range from about 1e18 to about 1e20 atoms/cm3 and contacting the epitaxial contacts.
US09935198B2

A vertical Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) transistor includes a substrate and a nano-wire over the substrate. The nano-wire comprises a semiconductor material. An oxide ring extends from an outer sidewall of the nano-wire into the nano-wire, with a center portion of the nano-wire encircled by the oxide ring. The vertical MOS transistor further includes a gate dielectric encircling a portion of the nano-wire, a gate electrode encircling the gate dielectric, a first source/drain region underlying the gate electrode, and a second source/drain region overlying the gate electrode. The second source/drain region extends into the center portion of the nano-wire. Localized oxidation produces a local swelling in the structure that generates a tensile or compressive strain in the nano-wire.
US09935194B2

A 3D semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. An active pillar is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and an interlayer insulating layer is formed so that the active pillar is buried in the interlayer insulating layer. The interlayer insulating layer is etched to form a hole so that the active pillar and a peripheral region of the active pillar are exposed. An etching process is performed on the peripheral region of the active pillar exposed through the hole by a certain depth, and a space having the depth is provided between the active pillar and the interlayer insulating layer. A silicon material layer is formed to be buried in the space having the depth, and an ohmic contact layer is formed on the silicon material layer and the active pillar.
US09935188B2

An insulated gate turn-off (IGTO) device, formed as a die, has a layered structure including a p+ layer (e.g., a substrate), an n− epi layer, a p-well, vertical insulated gate electrodes formed in the p-well, and n+ regions between the gate electrodes, so that vertical npn and pnp transistors are formed. The device is formed of a matrix of cells. To turn the device on, a positive voltage is applied to the gate electrodes, referenced to the cathode. The cells further contain a vertical p-channel MOSFET, for shorting the base of the npn transistor to its emitter, to turn the npn transistor off when the p-channel MOSFET is turned on by a slight negative voltage applied to the gate. The p-channel MOSFET includes a Schottky source formed in the top surface of the npn transistor emitter.
US09935184B2

An electronic device includes a semiconductor layer, a tunneling layer formed of a material including a two-dimensional (2D) material so as to directly contact a certain region of the semiconductor layer, and a metal layer formed on the tunneling layer.
US09935175B1

After forming a trench extending through a (100) silicon layer and a buried insulator layer and into a (111) silicon layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, and prior to epitaxial growth of a Group III nitride material from a sub-surface of the (111) silicon layer that is exposed by the trench, a first sidewall spacer including a first dielectric material that can effectively prevent Group III elements from diffusing into silicon of the SOI substrate during the high temperature epitaxial growth of the Group III nitride materials is formed on sidewalls of the trench, following by forming a second sidewall spacer on the first sidewall spacer. The second sidewall spacer includes a second dielectric material that provides better growth selectivity towards the Group III nitride material than the first dielectric material, thus facilitating the growth of the Group III nitride material from the sub-surface of the (111) silicon layer.
US09935173B1

Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. A method for forming a semiconductor device structure includes patterning a semiconductor substrate to form a fin structure. The method also includes forming a sacrificial material over the fin structure. The method further includes forming spacer elements adjoining sidewalls of the sacrificial material. Furthermore, the method includes removing the sacrificial material so that a trench is formed between the spacer elements. The method also includes forming a gate dielectric layer in the trench. The method further includes forming a work function layer in the trench to cover the gate dielectric layer. In addition, the method includes depositing a tungsten bulk layer with a precursor to fill the trench. The precursor includes a tungsten-containing material that is substantially free of fluoride.
US09935168B2

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a gate structure having a first conductive material above a semiconductor substrate, gate spacers on opposing sides of the first conductive material, and a first interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the gate spacers and the first conductive material. An upper portion of the first conductive material is recessed. The gate spacers are recessed until a height of the gate spacers is less than a height of the gate structure. An isolation liner is deposited above the gate spacers and the first conductive material. A portion of the isolation liner is removed so that a top surface of the first conductive material is exposed. A second conductive material is deposited in a contact hole created above the first conductive material and the gate spacers to form a gate contact.
US09935150B2

An X-ray detection panel for X-ray detectors and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The X-ray detection panel includes a substrate, a photodiode disposed on the substrate and generating an electrical signal in response to light illuminating the photodiode, a first thin-film transistor disposed on the substrate and processing the electrical signal generated by the photodiode, and a second thin-film transistor disposed on the substrate and removing a residual current component accumulated in the photodiode and the first thin-film transistor. The X-ray detection panel can improve actual sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
US09935143B2

A small semiconductor device suitable for high-speed operation is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first circuit, a global bit line pair for writing, a global bit line pair for reading, and a local bit line pair. The first circuit includes second to fifth circuits. The second to fifth circuits are electrically connected to each other by the local bit line pair. The second circuit functions as a read/write selection switch. The third circuit functions as a working memory that stores 1-bit complementary data temporarily. The fourth circuit has a function of precharging the local bit line pair. The fifth circuit includes n (n is an integer of 2 or more) sixth circuits. The sixth circuits each have a function of retaining 1-bit complementary data written from the third circuit.
US09935129B2

To provide a semiconductor device including a small-area circuit with high withstand voltage, an oxide semiconductor (OS) transistor is used as some of transistors included in a circuit handling an analog signal in a circuit to which high voltage is applied. The use of an OS transistor with high withstand voltage as a transistor requiring resistance to high voltage enables the circuit area to be reduced without lowering the performance, as compared to the case using a Si transistor. Furthermore, an OS transistor can be provided over a Si transistor, so that transistors using different semiconductor layers can be stacked, resulting in a much smaller circuit area.
US09935125B2

On a semiconductor substrate having an SOI region and a bulk silicon region formed on its upper surface, epitaxial layers are formed in source and drain regions of a MOSFET formed in the SOI region, and no epitaxial layer is formed in source and drain regions of a MOSFET formed in the bulk silicon region. By covering the end portions of the epitaxial layers with silicon nitride films, even when diffusion layers are formed by implanting ions from above the epitaxial layers, it is possible to prevent the impurity ions from being implanted down to a lower surface of a silicon layer.
US09935117B2

A single poly NVM cell includes a first N-type well region and a second N-type well region spaced apart from each other by a P-type semiconductor layer, a first active region and a second active region disposed in the first N-type well region and the second N-type well region, respectively, a P-channel floating gate transistor including a floating gate disposed in the first active region, a P-type drain region disposed in the first active region, and a P-type junction region disposed in the first active region, wherein the floating gate extends to over the second active region, a P-channel read selection transistor including a read selection gate electrode disposed in the first active region, the P-type junction region disposed in the first active region, and a P-type source region disposed in the first active region, and an interconnection line connecting the first N-type well region to the P-type source region of the P-channel read selection transistor.
US09935115B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a memory string including a plurality of memory cells connected in series with each other, and a select gate transistor connected to a first end of the memory string. The film thickness of a first hard mask on a select gate electrode of the select gate transistor is greater than the film thickness of a second hard mask film on a control gate electrode of the memory cells. The level of an upper surface of a first side wall insulating film provided on a side surface of the select gate transistor is higher than the level of an upper surface of the first hard mask film. The level of an upper surface of a second side wall insulating film provided on a side surface of the memory cells is higher than the level of an upper surface of the second hard mask film.
US09935105B2

Data hold time is controlled without excessively increasing a circuit area. A semiconductor device includes a data buffer and a flip-flop formed of fin. As a delay line, gate wirings being in the same layer as gate electrodes of the fin are provided in a data signal path from a data output node of the data buffer to a data input node of the flip-flop.
US09935102B1

A vertical fin field-effect-transistor and a method for fabricating the same. The vertical fin field-effect-transistor includes a first source/drain disposed in contact with a substrate. A second source/drain is disposed above the first source/drain. At least one fin structure is disposed between and in contact with the first source/drain and the second source/drain. A width of the first source/drain and the second source/drain gradually decreases towards the fin structure. The method includes forming an oxide in contact with an exposed portion of at least one fin structure. During formation of the oxide, different areas of the exposed fin structure portion are oxidized at different rates. This forms a first region and a second region of the exposed fin structure portion. These regions each have a width that is greater than a width of a third region of the exposed fin structure portion situated between the first and second regions.
US09935100B2

In certain aspects, a semiconductor die includes a power rail, a first gate, and a second gate. The semiconductor die also includes a first gate contact electrically coupled to the first gate, wherein the first gate contact is formed from a first middle of line (MOL) metal layer, and a second gate contact electrically coupled to the second gate, wherein the second gate contact is formed from the first MOL metal layer. The semiconductor die further includes an interconnect formed from a second MOL metal layer, wherein the interconnect is electrically coupled to the first and second gate contacts, and at least a portion of the interconnect is underneath the power rail.
US09935097B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus and a manufacturing method for the same are provided in such a manner that a leak current caused by a ballast resistor is reduced, and at the same time, the inconsistency in the leak current is reduced. The peak impurity concentration of the ballast resistors is made smaller than the peak impurity concentration in the extension regions, and the depth of the ballast resistors is made greater than the depth of the extension regions.
US09935093B2

A semiconductor device includes a voltage generation circuit configured to generate a specific voltage; a first terminal configured to output the specific voltage; a second terminal configured to receive a temperature sensitive voltage; an analog/digital conversion circuit configured to convert the specific voltage and the temperature sensitive voltage to digital values; a storage unit configured to store the specific voltage and the temperature sensitive voltage; and a third terminal configured to transmit the specific voltage and the temperature sensitive voltage to an external semiconductor device.
US09935088B2

Package structures and methods are provided to integrate optoelectronic and CMOS devices using SOI semiconductor substrates for photonics applications. For example, a package structure includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and an optoelectronics device and interposer mounted to the IC chip. The IC chip includes a SOI substrate having a buried oxide layer, an active silicon layer disposed adjacent to the buried oxide layer, and a BEOL structure formed over the active silicon layer. An optical waveguide structure is patterned from the active silicon layer of the IC chip. The optoelectronics device is mounted on the buried oxide layer in alignment with a portion of the optical waveguide structure to enable direct or adiabatic coupling between the optoelectronics device and the optical waveguide structure. The interposer is bonded to the BEOL structure, and includes at least one substrate having conductive vias and wiring to provide electrical connections to the BEOL structure.
US09935071B1

A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor device having an upper surface and a side, wherein the upper surface and the side form a corner of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor package also includes a lateral bump structure disposed on the side and implementing a lateral signal path of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor package further includes a vertical bump structure disposed over the upper surface and implementing a vertical signal path of the semiconductor device.
US09935067B2

Methods of forming connector pad structures, interconnect structures, and structures thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming a connector pad structure includes forming an underball metallization (UBM) pad, and increasing a surface roughness of the UBM pad by exposing the UBM pad to a plasma treatment. A polymer material is formed over a first portion of the UBM pad, leaving a second portion of the UBM pad exposed.
US09935066B2

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor package having a substrate structure with selective surface finishes, and a process for making the same. The disclosed semiconductor package includes a substrate body, a first metal structure having a first finish area and a second finish area, a second metal structure having a third finish area, a surface finish, and a tuning wire. The first metal structure and the second metal structure are formed over the substrate body. The surface finish is provided over the first finish area of the first metal structure and at least a portion of the third finish area of the second metal structure. The surface finish is not provided over the second finish area of the first metal structure. The tuning wire is coupled between the first finish area and at least one portion of the third finish area.
US09935057B2

An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a plurality of driver pins at a driver pin level and oriented in a driver pin direction. Each layer of a plurality of layers of metal segment arrays includes two parallel metal segments oriented in a layer direction. The layer direction of a lowermost layer is perpendicular to the driver pin direction, and the layer direction of each additional layer is perpendicular to the layer direction of a layer immediately below the additional layer. The IC structure also includes a plurality of via arrays, each via array including two vias positioned at locations where one or more metal segments of a corresponding overlying layer overlap one or more of the two metal segments of a layer immediately below the via array or the plurality of driver pins.
US09935055B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a separation trench into a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate and removing substrate material from a second main surface of the semiconductor substrate, so as to thin the substrate to a thickness of less than 100 μm, the second main surface being opposite to the first main surface, so as to uncover a bottom side of the trench. Additional methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices are provided.
US09935051B2

A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a contact structure containing a gouged upper surface embedded in at least a middle-of-the-line (MOL) dielectric material, wherein the contact structure contacts an underlying doped semiconductor material structure. A first metallization structure containing a gouged upper surface is in contact with the gouged upper surface of the contact structure and embedded in a first interconnect dielectric material. A second metallization structure is in contact with the gouged upper surface of the first metallization structure and embedded at least within a second interconnect dielectric material.
US09935040B2

A semiconductor module can be realized, which is formed by mounting an electronic component and a bus bar by solder on a lead frame including a plurality of terminals, wherein a solder flow suppressing section capable of restricting a direction of flow of solder on the lead frame is formed in the vicinity of the solder portion of the component mounted by solder, and by this configuration, positional deviation, such as rotation or movement of the mounted component, is suppressed and the size of the module can be made compact.
US09935035B1

An interposer structure including a dielectric base material, and a metal based interconnect structure extending through the dielectric base material from a first side of the dielectric base material to an opposing second side of the dielectric base material. At least one metal line of the metal based interconnect structure extends from the first side of the dielectric base material to the second side of the dielectric base material and has a first non-linear portion. A fluidic passage extends through the dielectric base material, wherein the fluidic passage has a second non-linear portion.
US09935026B2

The present disclosure relates to an air-cavity package, which includes a bottom substrate, a top substrate, a perimeter wall, a bottom electronic component, and a top electronic component. The bottom substrate includes a bottom signal via extending through the bottom substrate and the top substrate includes a top signal via extending through the top substrate. The perimeter wall extends between a periphery of the top substrate and a periphery of the bottom substrate to form a cavity. The bottom electronic component is mounted on the bottom substrate, exposed to the cavity, and electrically coupled to the bottom signal via. The top electronic component is mounted on the top substrate, exposed to the cavity, and electrically coupled to the top signal via.
US09935022B2

Systems and methods of characterizing wafer shape using coherent gradient sensing (CGS) interferometry are disclosed. The method includes measuring at least 3×106 data points on a wafer surface using a CGS system to obtain a topography map of the wafer surface. The data are collected on a wafer for pre-processing and post-processing of the wafer, and the difference calculated to obtain a measurement of the effect of the process on wafer surface shape. The process steps for processing the same wafer or subsequent wafers are controlled based on measured process-induced change in the wafer surface shape in order to improve the quality of the wafer processing.
US09935019B2

Method for creation of stressed channel structure transistors wherein at least one amorphizing ion implantation of the surface layer of a substrate of the semiconductor-on-insulator type is carried out through openings in a mask, so as to render zones of the surface layers amorphous and to induce relaxation of a zone intended to form a channel and located between the zones that have been rendered amorphous, the relaxation being carried out in a direction orthogonal to that in which it is intended that the channel current flows.
US09935013B2

A semiconductor device with an increased effective gate length or an increased effective channel width, and a method of forming the same are provided. The effective gate length or the effective channel width of the device is increased by lowering a top surface of an oxide isolation structure below the gate of the semiconductor device.
US09935004B2

A method and apparatus for processing a silicon substrate are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises providing a silicon substrate having an aperture containing an exposed silicon contact surface at a bottom of the aperture, depositing a metal seed layer on the exposed silicon contact surface and exposing the silicon substrate to an electroplating process by flowing a current through a backside of the silicon substrate to form a metal layer on the metal seed layer.
US09935000B2

A disclosed example to modulate slit stress in a semiconductor substrate includes controlling a first process to apply a first material to a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a slit between adjacent stacked transistor layers. The first material coats walls of the slit to reduce a first width of the slit between the adjacent stacked transistor layers to a second width. A second process is controlled to apply a second material to the semiconductor substrate. The second material is to be deposited in the second width of the slit. The first material and the second material are to form a solid structure in the slit between the adjacent stacked transistor layers.
US09934999B2

A NAND memory is provided that includes a memory cell region and a peripheral region. The peripheral region includes a shallow trench isolation trench disposed in a substrate. The shallow trench isolation trench includes a first top surface, and a second top surface. A difference between a height of the second top surface and a height of the first top surface is less than a predetermined value ΔMAX.
US09934997B2

An adhesive sheet is provided that is capable of inhibiting scraping up of an adhesive in the dicing step, does not cause chip detachment during dicing processing, facilitates picking up, and does not readily develop adhesive transfer. According to the present invention, an adhesive sheet is provided that comprises a substrate film and an adhesive layer laminated on the film, wherein the adhesive layer contains 100 parts by mass of a (meth)acrylate copolymer, from 5 to 250 parts by mass of a photopolymerizable compound, from 20 to 160 parts by mass of a softener, from 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of a curing agent, and from 0.1 to 20 parts by mass of a photopolymerization initiator, and the photopolymerizable compound has a weight average molecular weight from 40,000 to 220,000.
US09934991B2

A processing chamber is disclosed for planarizing material layers (for example, polymer layers). An exemplary processing chamber includes a substrate table configured to support a substrate having a material layer formed thereover and a flattening structure having a substantially flat surface. The flattening structure moves freely with respect to a non-uniform surface of the material layer, such that the non-uniform surface is flattened as the substantially flat surface contacts the non-uniform surface. In some implementations, the processing chamber further includes a pressing mechanism operatively coupled to the flattening structure, and a pivotal interface coupling the flattening structure to the pressing mechanism. The pressing mechanism presses the substantially flat surface of the flattening structure to the non-uniform surface of the material layer, and the pivotal interface allows the flattening structure to pivot with respect to the pressing mechanism and with respect to the substrate.
US09934990B2

A cooling apparatus is manufactured by: receiving a discrete module by a first singular part, the discrete module including a semiconductor die encapsulated by a mold compound, a plurality of leads electrically connected to the semiconductor die and protruding out of the mold compound, and a first cooling plate at least partly uncovered by the mold compound; attaching a second singular part to a periphery of the first part to form a housing, the housing surrounding a periphery of the discrete module, the second part having a cutout which exposes the first cooling plate and a sealing structure facing a side of the discrete module with the first cooling plate; and filling the sealing structure with a sealing material which forms a water-tight seal around the periphery of the discrete module at the side of the discrete module with the first cooling plate.
US09934988B2

Disclosed is a method for processing a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming an oxygen containing region in the semiconductor wafer, wherein forming the oxygen containing region includes introducing oxygen via a first surface into the semiconductor wafer. The method further includes creating vacancies at least in the oxygen containing region and annealing at least the oxygen containing region in an annealing process so as to form oxygen precipitates.
US09934987B2

A method includes passing a chemical solution through a metal-ion absorber, wherein metal ions in the metal-ion absorber are trapped by the metal-ion absorber. The chemical solution exiting out of the metal-ion absorber is then used to etch a metal-containing region, wherein the metal-containing region includes a metal that is of a same element type as the metal ions.
US09934980B2

A method utilizing a chemical mechanical polishing process to remove a patterned material stack comprising at least one pattern transfer layer and a template layer during a rework process or during a post pattern transfer cleaning process is provided. The pattern in the patterned material stack is formed by pattern transfer of a directed self-assembly pattern generated from microphase separation of a self-assembly material.
US09934978B2

According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a group III-V semiconductor device includes forming a gate contact that includes an electrode stack including a first titanium layer, an aluminum layer over the first titanium layer, and a second titanium layer over the aluminum layer, and forming a biased reactive capping layer over the second titanium layer. The biased reactive capping layer includes biased reactive titanium nitride. The gate contact is a gate electrode that makes Schottky contact with the group III-V semiconductor device.
US09934973B2

The invention relates in particular to a method for producing subsequent patterns in an underlying layer (120), the method comprising at least one step of producing prior patterns in a carbon imprintable layer (110) on top of the underlying layer (120), the production of the prior patterns involving nanoimprinting of the imprintable layer (110) and leave in place a continuous layer formed by the imprintable layer (110) and covering the underlying layer (120), characterized in that it comprises the following step: at least one step of modifying the underlying layer (120) via ion implantation (421) in the underlying layer (120), the implantation (421) being carried out through the imprintable layer (110) comprising the subsequent patterns, the parameters of the implantation (421) being chosen in such a way as to form, in the underlying layer (120), implanted zones (122) and non-implanted zones, the non-Implanted zones defining the subsequent patterns and having a geometry that is dependent on the prior patterns.
US09934971B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a patterned mask layer on a material layer, wherein the patterned mask layer has a plurality of first features, and a first distance between adjacent first features of the plurality of first features. The method further includes patterning the material layer to form the first features in the material layer. The method further includes increasing the first distance between adjacent first features of the plurality of first features to a second distance. The method further includes treating portions of the material layer exposed by the patterned mask layer. The method further includes removing the patterned mask layer; and removing non-treated portions of the material layer.
US09934970B1

A method of forming a structure for etch masking that includes forming first dielectric spacers on sidewalls of a plurality of mandrel structures and forming non-mandrel structures in space between adjacent first dielectric spacers. Second dielectric spacers are formed on sidewalls of an etch mask having a window that exposes a connecting portion of a centralized first dielectric spacer. The connecting portion of the centralized first dielectric spacer is removed. The mandrel structures and non-mandrel structures are removed selectively to the first dielectric spacers to provide an etch mask. The connecting portion removed from the centralized first dielectric spacer provides an opening connecting a first trench corresponding to the mandrel structures and a second trench corresponding to the non-mandrel structures.
US09934962B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a process of forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: supplying a precursor containing a predetermined element to the substrate; supplying a first reactant containing nitrogen and carbon to the substrate; supplying a second reactant containing nitrogen to the substrate; and supplying a third reactant containing oxygen to the substrate, wherein in the cycle, a supply amount of the second reactant is set to be smaller than a supply amount of the first reactant.
US09934958B2

The substrate treatment apparatus includes a first nozzle, a second nozzle, a detector, and a controller. The first nozzle supplies an organic sublimable material-containing liquid capable of displacing a rinsing liquid, to a surface of a substrate treated with the rinsing liquid. The second nozzle supplies vapor of a solvent in which the organic sublimable material is capable of dissolving, to the surface of the substrate. The detector detects a first physical amount of the vapor on the surface of the substrate. The controller controls a second physical amount of the vapor according to the first physical amount.
US09934957B2

A wafer is bonded to a support plate by cutting off, with a cutting blade, an annular portion of the bonded wafer which extends from the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer to a position that is spaced radially inwardly toward the center of the bonded wafer by a predetermined distance. Bonding is done by a method that includes a captured image forming step of irradiating the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer with light emitted from an irradiating unit and passing through a through hole, and imaging the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer with an imaging camera disposed in facing relation to the irradiating unit with the bonded wafer interposed therebetween, thereby to capture an image, and an outer peripheral edge position detecting step of detecting an outer peripheral edge position of the bonded wafer on the basis of the captured image.
US09934955B2

An incandescent lamp is provided which prevents disconnection of a coupling part between a filament and a lead wire and also which improves impact resistance. A lead wire 4 has, in a standing portion 11 inside of a bulb 2, a first zone 19a to a third zone 19c in order from a top. The third zone 19c further penetrates through a pinch seal part 3 while firmly fixed thereto. The first zone 19a and the second zone 19b are formed of materials consisting primarily of molybdenum and nickel, respectively. The third zone 19c is formed of a Dumet wire 29.
US09934954B2

In mass spectrometry, ion optics process a received ion beam into an output ion beam travelling in an output direction and having a spatial distribution in a plane perpendicular to the output direction elongated in one dimension of the plane relative to the other dimension of the plane and defines an axis of elongation thereby. A quadrupole ion optical device comprises first and second pairs of opposing elongated electrodes, receiving the output ion beam travelling along the output direction and defining an acceptance axis in a plane perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the first and second pairs of opposing elongated electrodes. The acceptance axis is an axis on which maximum acceptance of ions to the quadrupole ion optical device is attained. The first and second pairs of opposing elongated electrodes are oriented substantially to match the acceptance axis to the axis of elongation defined by the spatial distribution.
US09934950B2

A sputtering apparatus includes a process chamber in which a sputtering process is performed, a substrate holder provided in the process chamber and fixing a horizontal position of a substrate during the sputtering process, and a first sputter gun provided to be vertically spaced apart from the substrate in the process chamber. The first sputter gun is spaced apart from the substrate by a first horizontal distance during the sputtering process. The first sputter gun is fixed during the sputtering process. The first horizontal distance is a horizontal distance between the substrate and the first sputter gun when viewed from a plan view.
US09934947B2

A plasma processing apparatus includes an electrode to which a high frequency for plasma generation is applied and which serves as a mounting table for a target object. The plasma processing apparatus further includes a high frequency generation unit, a distortion component extraction unit and a waveform correction unit. The high frequency generation unit generates the high frequency by using waveform data including a set frequency component having a predetermined frequency. The distortion component extraction unit extracts a distortion component given to the high frequency in a path for transmitting the high frequency generated by the high frequency generation unit to the electrode. The waveform correction unit corrects the waveform data by combining an antiphase component obtained by inverting a phase of the distortion component and the set frequency component of the waveform data used for generation of the high frequency.
US09934945B2

A method includes forming a coating layer in a dry etching chamber, placing a wafer into the dry etching chamber, etching a metal-containing layer of the wafer, and moving the wafer out of the dry etching chamber. After the wafer is moved out of the dry etching chamber, the coating layer is removed.
US09934941B2

According to one embodiment, an etching apparatus includes a stage in an etching chamber, the stage which holds one of a first substrate and a second substrate, a plasma generator in the etching chamber, the plasma generator which is opposite to the stage and irradiates an ion beam toward the stage, a grid which is provided between the plasma generator and the stage, a supporter supporting the stage, the supporter having a rotational axis in a direction in which the ion beam is irradiated, a controller which is configured to mount the first substrate on the stage and irradiate the ion beam with the beam angle larger than 0° to the first substrate, when an elapsed time from an end of an etching of a predetermined layer in the second substrate is equal to or larger than a predetermined time.
US09934933B1

Extractors and extractor systems minimize the generation of secondary electrons which interact with and degrade the primary electron beam. This can improve the performance of an electron beam system, such as a scanning electron microscope. The extractor may include a frustoconical aperture that widens as distance from the source of the electron beam increases. The entrance into the frustoconical aperture also can include a curved edge.
US09934930B2

An x-ray target, a method of using the x-ray target, and a computer program product with instructions for carrying out a method of using the x-ray target. The x-ray target includes a substrate made from a soft x-ray producing material and a high aspect ratio structure made from a hard x-ray producing material. The hard x-ray producing material is embedded in the substrate, formed on the substrate, cantilevered out from the edge of the substrate, or any combination thereof. The high aspect ratio structure comprises a plurality of high aspect ratio structures arranged in one or more grids or arrays, and the high aspect ratio structures in one of the one or more grids or arrays are arranged to form a Hadamard matrix structure.
US09934925B2

Fuse structures and forming and operation methods thereof are disclosed. One of the fuse structures includes a dielectric strip and a fuse strip extending in different directions. The dielectric strip is sandwiched by a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip. The fuse strip is insulated from each of the first conductive strip and the second conductive strip and has a blowing region corresponding to the dielectric strip.
US09934923B2

A relay circuit includes a power supply to apply an AC input line voltage to the relay circuit, a relay coil and at least one pair of contacts actuated by the relay coil. A zero cross detection circuit and a control logic circuit for the relay circuit are also disclosed. The control logic circuit determines a zero crossover point in response to an output signal from the zero crossover detection circuit, and controls a relay coil to actuate the relay contacts to switch a load at the zero crossover point of a load current when the load is connected to the at least one pair of relay contacts, such that the voltage and current across the relay contacts is zero.
US09934914B2

A heart-shaped self-locking button includes one housing and one push rod. The push rod is slidably arranged within the housing. A heart-shaped structure is formed on the push rod. The button includes one pin and one flexible element. One end of the pin is fixed on the housing, while the other end is fitted with the heart-shaped structure. The flexible element is arranged between the housing and the push rod and presses the pin towards the heart-shaped structure to allow the pin to be in constant contact with the heart-shaped structure. The heart-shaped structure is arranged on the push rod. Also, the flexible element between the housing and the push rod is utilized to press the pin towards the heart-shaped structure on the push rod to allow the pin to be in constant contact with the heart-shaped structure when moving.
US09934907B2

An external electrode included in a laminated ceramic electronic component is formed on a ceramic body by baking a conductive paste including a glass component. The ceramic body with the conductive paste applied thereto is subjected to heat treatment under the conditions where the top temperature is 800° C. or higher, and the electromotive force at the top temperature is 600 to 900 mV. In this heat treatment, the glass component in the conductive paste penetrates into grain boundaries between ceramic grains of the ceramic body, and a crystalline substance containing elements constituting the glass component is generated which has dissolving resistance against plating solutions.
US09934903B2

A combination capacitor and inductor employ a common volume of high permeability material for energy-storing electrical and magnetic fields thereby reducing the bulk of these components with respect to separate components of comparable value. Capacitor conductors are arranged so that while proximate to the high permeability material they provide countervailing current flows to minimize parasitic inductance exacerbated by the high permeability material.
US09934887B2

An umbilical for use in the offshore production of hydrocarbons comprising an assembly of functional elements at least one of which is an electrical power cable, characterised in that at least one conductor of at least one electrical power cable comprises one or more 6000 series aluminium strands.
US09934883B2

Halogen-free flame retardant compositions comprising copolyetherester thermoplastic elastomers, melamine cyanurate and epoxy-containing compounds and cables and wires made from such flame retardant polymer composition provide good electrical insulation resistance during use.
US09934875B2

An integrated circuit may include nonvolatile memory suitable for outputting stored data during the boot-up operation, one or more registers suitable for receiving the data output by the nonvolatile memory and storing the received data when the boot-up operation is performed, and one or more internal circuits suitable for operating using the data stored in the one or more registers. In no-update mode, although the boot-up operation is performed, a data update from the nonvolatile memory to the registers may not be performed.
US09934874B2

A storage medium management device may include a non-volatile storage, an error information register, and a congenital defective block identification register. The storage stores a defective block identification indicating a location of a defective block in a plurality of storage media. The error information register stores error information indicating that an error has occurred in access to the plurality of storage media. If at least one of the plurality of storage media has been replaced, the congenital defective block identification register identifies based on the error information a replaced storage medium of the plurality of storage media, reads a congenital defective block identification indicating a location of a congenital defective block from a prescribed block of the storage medium replaced, and updates the defective block identification of the replaced storage medium, with the congenital defective block identification read out from the replacing storage medium.
US09934868B2

An apparatus, a method, and a system are disclosed. The apparatus includes a string of memory cells coupled to a select gate drain transistor that has a front control gate and a back control gate. The front and back control gates can be coupled together such that they are biased at the same voltage or separate such that they can be biased at different voltages.
US09934863B2

A NAND flash memory device detects the occurrence of Cell Voltage Distribution Disruption Events (CVDDEs), such as a Partial Block Program (PBP) and Program-Read-Immediate (PRI), and provides a way to dynamically adjust read voltage to account for CVDDEs. A read command includes extended addressing bits that are used when a CVDDE has occurred to access registers that indicate an adjustment to read voltage that is needed to accommodate the CVDDE. The read voltage is then dynamically adjusted to accommodate the CVDDE. When the CVDDE is no longer an issue, the read voltage is adjusted to its previous value before the CVDDE.
US09934861B2

According to one embodiment, a first well of the first conductivity type which is formed in a substrate. a second well of a second conductivity type which is formed in the first well. The plurality of memory cells, the plurality of first bit line select transistors, and the plurality of second bit line select transistors are formed in the second well, and the plurality of first bit line select transistors and the plurality of second bit line select transistors are arranged on a side of the sense amplifier with respect to the plurality of memory cells of the plurality of bit lines.
US09934857B2

An example ternary content addressable memory. A bit cell of the memory may include a first memristor that has a first terminal that is connected to a first data line and a second terminal that is selectively connected to a second data line via a first switching transistor. The bit cell may also include a second memristor that has a first terminal that is connected to a third data line and a second terminal that is selectively connected to a fourth data line via a second switching transistor. The bit cell may also include a first match-line transistor and a second match-line transistor that are connected in series between a first rail and a match line, with a gate of the first match-line transistor being connected to the second terminal of the first memristor, and a gate of the second match-line transistor being connected to the second terminal of the second memristor.
US09934851B2

A resistance memory includes a resistance memory cell having a resistance memory element and a two-terminal access device in series. The two-terminal access device affects the current-voltage characteristic of the resistance memory cell. The resistance memory additionally includes a circuit to apply across the resistance memory cell a set pulse having a set polarity to set the resistance memory cell to a low-resistance state that is retained after application of the set pulse, a reset pulse having a reset polarity, opposite to the set polarity, to reset the resistance memory cell to a high-resistance state that is retained after application of the reset pulse, and a read pulse of the reset polarity and smaller in magnitude than the reset pulse to determine the resistance state of the resistance memory cell without changing the resistance state of the resistance memory cell.
US09934847B2

According to one embodiment, a memory system acquires HB information and SB1 information through SB4 information on each of four pages including LOWER, MIDDLE, UPPER, and HIGHER pages from a NAND memory 100 that includes QLCs each being capable of retaining a 4-bit value. An ECC circuit 260 of a memory controller 200 decodes the acquired HB information and SB1 to SB4 information on the four pages.
US09934839B2

Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A ferroelectric memory cell may be used to store a logic state. The capacitance of a digit line of the ferroelectric memory cell may be dynamically increased prior to, and during a portion of, a read operation used to determine a stored logic state of the cell. The capacitance may be increased by leveraging intrinsic capacitance of digit lines of the array—e.g., by shorting one digit line to another digit line. Increasing the capacitance of the digit line may increase the signal on the digit line that is sensed during the read operation.
US09934835B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type, and a first logical circuit. The first transistor of the first conductivity type is connected between a first node to which a power supply voltage is applied and a second node. The first transistor is turned on in the initial stage of an active cycle, and is turned off by applying the power supply voltage to the second node. The first logical circuit is driven by the power supply voltage applied to the second node. The first logical circuit outputs a voltage which is lower than the power supply voltage in the active cycle based on an input signal supplied thereto.
US09934820B2

The disclosure includes embodiments for generating a synched video. A method includes determining a duration and a number of discrete frames of an original video. The method includes determining a type of replacement video that includes a live source or a recorded source. The method includes tracking a location of an original head in the original video to determine positioning data for the original head in each of the discrete frames. The method includes synching the replacement video to the original video based on a position, a size and a rotation between the original head in the original video and a replacement head in the replacement video, wherein the synching generates a synched video which synchs the replacement head to the original head based on the position, the size and the rotation.
US09934815B2

An optical disc apparatus includes a synchronizer that generates a reproduction clock signal synchronized with a reproduction signal of information recorded in an optical disc medium, and generates a digital reproduction signal synchronized with the reproduction clock signal, an adaptive equalizer that generates a post-adaptive-equalization digital reproduction signal, and a maximum likelihood decoder that performs maximum likelihood decoding of the post-adaptive-equalization digital reproduction signal to generate a binary signal. The apparatus also includes an expected waveform generator that generates an expected waveform from the binary signal, a phase-advance waveform generator that generates a phase-advance waveform, a phase-delay waveform generator that generates a phase-delay waveform, and a metric detector that detects a phase error. In the optical disc apparatus, the synchronizer controls the phase of the digital reproduction signal using the phase error.
US09934814B2

A system for compensating for heat induced transient phase shift in a heat assisted magnetic recording system. A heat assisted magnetic data recording system includes a near field thermal transducer that locally heats the media during writing. The thermal transducer, when activated, results in a change in size of a magnetic transition written to the magnetic media. This change in size of the thermal transition results in a transient phase shift of the data recorded on the magnetic media. The system includes circuitry for predetermining an anticipated amount of transient phase shift and adjusting a subsequent read signal to compensate for the known transient phase shift, thereby eliminating signal errors resulting from the transient phase shift.
US09934803B1

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first actuator configured to actuate a first head over a first disk, and a second actuator configured to actuate a second head over a second disk. The first actuator is controlled based on a first feed-forward seek profile to seek the first head over the first disk, and the second actuator is controlled to position the second head over a second data track on the second disk including to process the first feed-forward seek profile to attenuate a coupling disturbance from the first actuator.
US09934799B2

A bearing device includes a shaft and a roller bearing externally inserted over the shaft. The roller bearing includes an inner ring disposed coaxially with a center axis of the shaft, an outer ring surrounding the inner ring from an outer side in a radial direction, and a plurality of rolling elements held between the inner ring and the outer ring to be capable of rolling. The inner ring is divided into one half section and the other half section. The one half section contacts the rolling elements from the one side toward the other side in the axial direction, and the other half section contacts the rolling elements from the other side toward the one side in the axial direction. Preloads are applied to the two half sections in directions in which the one half section and the other half section are brought close to each other.
US09934795B1

A recording head has a near-field transducer at a media-facing surface of the recording head and a write pole on a first side of the near field transducer. A first coil induces a first flux in the write pole. The recording head includes a shield on a second side of the near-field transducer that faces away from the first side. A second coil is proximate the shield and induces a second flux in the shield that controls a field angle of the first flux.
US09934793B2

Disclosed are a method for determining whether a person is drunk after consuming alcohol capable of analyzing alcohol consumption in a time domain by analyzing a voice, and a recording medium and a terminal for carrying out same. An alcohol consumption-determining terminal comprises: a voice input unit for generating a voice frame by converting an inputted voice signal and outputting the voice frame; a voiced/unvoiced sound analysis unit for determining whether the voice frame inputted through the voice input unit corresponds to a voiced sound, an unvoiced sound, or background noise; a voice frame energy detection unit for extracting the average energy of voice frames which have been determined as a voiced sound by the voiced/unvoiced sound analysis unit; an interval energy detection unit for detecting the average energy of intervals including a plurality of voice frames which have been determined as voiced sounds; and an alcohol consumption determining unit for determining whether a person is drunk after consuming alcohol by extracting a difference value among the average energy of neighboring intervals which have been detected by the interval energy detection unit, thereby determining whether a person is drunk after consuming alcohol by analyzing the voice signal in a time domain.
US09934792B2

A method of detecting pre-determined phrases to determine compliance quality of an agent includes determining a presence of a predetermined input based on a comparison between stored pre-determined phrases and a received communication, and determining a compliance rating of the agent based on a presence of a pre-determined phrase associated with the predetermined input in the communication.
US09934787B2

A codec allowing for switching between different coding modes is improved by, responsive to a switching instance, performing temporal smoothing and/or blending at a respective transition.
US09934784B2

There is provided systems and method for a voice data processor for distinguishing multiple voice inputs. One or more merchant devices may include or be linked to a voice input and output component, where the component may be used to receive voice input and distinguish between multiple voice inputs. The component may activate in a first direction associated with the merchant to detect merchant voice input that establishes a transaction with a user at the merchant's location. The component may activate a merchant device to establish the transaction based on detecting the merchant voice input and/or through voice recognition of the merchant. Once the transaction is established, the component may then activate in a direction of the user, and may request that the user provide voice input to confirm the transaction and engage in transaction processing. The voice input may also confirm and complete a payment to the merchant.
US09934778B2

Techniques for conversion of non-back-off language models for use in speech decoders. For example, an apparatus for conversion of non-back-off language models for use in speech decoders. For example, an apparatus is configured convert a non-back-off language model to a back-off language model. The converted back-off language model is pruned. The converted back-off language model is usable for decoding speech.
US09934777B1

User-specific language models (LMs) that include internal word indexes to a word table specific to the user-specific LM rather than a word table specific to a system-wide LM. When the system-wide LM is updated, the word table of the user-specific LM may be updated to translate the user-specific indices to system-wide indices. This prevents having to update the internal indices of the user-specific LM every time the system-wide LM is updated.
US09934776B2

Method of selecting training text for language model, and method of training language model using the training text, and computer and computer program for executing the methods. The present invention provides for selecting training text for a language model that includes: generating a template for selecting training text from a corpus in a first domain according to generation techniques of: (i) replacing one or more words in a word string selected from the corpus in the first domain with a special symbol representing any word or word string, and adopting the word string after replacement as a template for selecting the training text; and/or (ii) adopting the word string selected from the corpus in the first domain as the template for selecting the training text; and selecting text covered by the template as the training text from a corpus in a second domain different from the first domain.
US09934770B2

An electronic instrument comprising an elongated member, comprising a plurality of detectors aligned in the elongated member, each detector for detecting a finger-sized object in the vicinity thereof and for providing a corresponding signal; a processing unit operatively connected to the plurality of detectors, the processing unit for receiving the signals from the plurality of detectors and for generating a signal indicative of a sound to generate and a sound generating unit operatively connected to the processing unit and wherein the processing unit is located inside the elongated member.
US09934761B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device that includes pixels and a pixel control unit. Each pixel individually includes: a display element; a first switching unit configured to sample subframe data; a first signal holding unit configured to form a static random access memory to store the subframe data; a second switching unit configured to output the subframe data stored; and a second signal holding unit configured to form a dynamic random access memory to apply output data to the pixel electrode. The pixel control unit performs, for individual subframes, operations of: after writing into all of the plurality of pixels by repeatedly writing the subframe data to the first signal holding unit for the individual pixels in units of rows; turning on the second switching units; and rewriting stored content in the second signal holding units with the subframe data stored in the first signal holding unit.
US09934760B2

A two-dimensional information code is provided. In the code area of this information code, there are formed a specification pattern region in which predetermined-shape specification patterns, such as position detecting patterns, are arranged, a data recording region in which data are recorded using plural types of cells, and an error-correction code recording region in which error correction codes are arranged using the plural types of cells. In the code area, a free space is formed at a position located outside the specification pattern region, the data recording region, and the error-correction code recording region. Data are not recorded by cells in the free space and error correction on the error correction codes is not applied to the free space. The free space has a size larger in area than a single cell.
US09934757B2

There is disclosed a method for downloading image tile data from a server to a client device, the data being organized, by the server, in a hierarchal structure, where each level of the hierarchal structure stores a subset of image tiles associated with a particular resolution level. The method comprises, where the client device requests a new image view of a larger resolution, determining an anchor point of the first image view; based on the anchor point, determining a first anchor image tile of the first-level image tiles; using the hierarchical structure, determining a corresponding four child second-level image tiles, the corresponding four-child second-level image tiles forming a second anchor image tile; sending to the client device the second anchor image tile, the sending causing the client device to: replace, in the memory and on the output device, the first anchor image tile with the second anchor image tile.
US09934756B2

A display apparatus transmits a picture acquisition request for getting picture information to an external image apparatus connected through a predetermined interface to the display apparatus from the external image apparatus at predetermined intervals and gets a plurality of pieces of picture information from the external image apparatus to be displayed. The plurality of pictures may be switched at predetermined intervals, for example, to be displayed, so that the plurality of pictures may be displayed in a so-called slide show manner. A plurality of pictures for thumbnail may be produced from the plurality of pieces of picture information and be arranged together to be displayed in one picture screen of a display device.
US09934743B2

A display drive circuit (drive device) has a signal line drive circuit that, before the display panel is turned OFF, writes prescribed data signals to a respective plurality of pixels via a plurality of source signal lines, such that the potential of the drain electrodes of the respective pixels becomes equal to the potential of the opposite electrode after the display panel is turned OFF.
US09934737B2

A display apparatus includes a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels comprising a thin film transistor connected to a gate line and a data line and a display element connected to the thin film transistor, a driving voltage generator configured to generate a gate-on voltage and a plurality of gate-off voltages, a timing controller configured to divide an initial driving period into a plurality of setting periods and output a gate-off voltage corresponding to each of the setting periods, and a gate driver circuit configured to generate a gate signal using the gate-on voltage and the gate-off voltage corresponding to a setting period and output the gate signal to the gate line.
US09934736B2

A liquid crystal display and a method for driving the same. The liquid crystal display includes: gate lines arranged in a row direction; data lines arranged in a column direction; and subpixels arranged in basic units of eight subpixels. Each subpixel is each connected to one of the gate lines and one of the data lines, and the subpixels are continuously arranged along a row and are arranged in a matrix. In the basic units, polarities between adjacent subpixels from a first subpixel to a fourth subpixel along the row are opposite to each other, polarities between adjacent subpixels from a fifth subpixel to an eighth subpixel along the row are opposite to each other, and polarities of the fourth subpixel and the fifth subpixel are the same.
US09934730B2

A computing device includes an illumination sensor which detects external illumination, a processor which sets a screen design as a first screen design when a first condition is satisfied, wherein the first condition is satisfied when the external illumination is lower than a first threshold illumination value and a current illumination, which is currently stored, is higher than the first threshold illumination value, and sets the screen design as a second screen design when a second condition is satisfied, wherein the second condition is satisfied when the external illumination is higher than a second threshold illumination value higher than the first threshold illumination value and the current illumination is lower than the second threshold illumination value, and a display which displays an image on a screen thereof based on the set screen design.
US09934726B2

A display device having at least a plurality of pixel circuits, connected to signal lines to which data signals in accordance with luminance information are supplied, arranged in a matrix, wherein pixel circuits of odd number columns and even number columns adjacent sandwiching an axis in a column direction parallel to an arrangement direction of the signal lines have a mirror type circuit arrangement symmetric about the axis of the column direction, and there are lines different from the signal lines between signal lines of adjacent pixel circuits.
US09934725B2

A system for driving a display that includes a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in an array, each of the pixel circuits including a light emitting device and a driving transistor for conveying a driving current through the light emitting device. Methods of measuring characteristics of circuit elements of pixels sharing a monitor line include the control of biasing to selectively turn off circuit elements or render their response known while measuring other circuit elements of interest.
US09934710B1

Advertising is an important part of communication in a Society. People simply wish to inform others about the information they have and want to spread. At present many techniques are used for doing so. One of such methods is to place the information on the top of the cars or to attach to the cars, such as a bumper sticks. However, this method has a disadvantage, that the process of attachment to the top of the cars is difficult and needs hardware which are expensive, also there is another problem, when a flat sheet of information is attached to the sides of the holding means on the top of the car it would resist against the movement of the air and waste the energy of the moving car. The bumper sticks have their own problems, since they could not be removed or exchanged easily, for such reasons, alternative means would be beneficial. The methods and means, introduced in this application, has the advantage, that first, they can be attached to the cars, very easily, by simply placing parts of the units inside the car and closing the windows or the trunk of the car. Second, these units have the advantages which they will fly like a kite thus the unit will not resist against the movement of the air and would not waste energy. Third, in some models this invention will allow information to be placed inside a packet so that it can be exchanged easily without the need to exchange the whole information unit. Also the unit provides ornaments in order to make their use amusing and more attractive. Also the application introduces different models and units so that the job of advertisement to be easier, more versatile, interesting and economical.
US09934705B2

A lenticular label for a container, such as a curved glass bottle, is formed of a lenticular array having a plurality of lenticules on a front face and a smooth back face and a compliant base layer having first and second faces. A first adhesive is disposed between the first face of the compliant base layer and the smooth back face of the lenticular array. The first adhesive is in substantial contact with both the first face of the compliant base layer and the smooth back face of the lenticular array. A second adhesive is disposed upon the second face of the base layer.
US09934703B2

The self-adhesive label (10) produced in relief in order visually and/or in a tactile manner to simulate decorative etching of the material of a container or a decorative seal or stamp applied to the container, includes: a layer of adhesive (105); a sheet of flexible plastic (110), one face of which is entirely covered by the layer of adhesive; and an extra thickness (120) formed on the opposite face of the sheet of flexible plastic to the layer of adhesive. The extra thickness includes a flexible plastic and covers the edge (115) of the sheet to form a decorative design simulating an engraved relief. The peripheries of the extra thickness and of the sheet of plastic are cut jointly, the cut edge of the extra thickness thus coming as a continuation of the cut edge of the sheet up to the lower surface of the sheet of flexible plastic.
US09934698B2

An article of manufacture includes a body, a write on-surface provided on the body, a cover movable to selectively cover and uncover the write-on surface, a strap attached to the body, and a writing implement holder disposed on a surface of one of the strap, the body and the cover, the writing implement holder operable to releaseably secure a writing implement.
US09934697B2

A wearable device conveys information to a user. The device includes a master soft circuit cell and a plurality of actuation soft circuit cells. These cells are physically interconnected to form a garment that is worn by a user and each of these cells includes an electrically non-conductive fabric covering. Each of the actuation cells is electrically connected to and operates under the control of the master cell. The master cell is configured to wirelessly receive actuation instructions and activate a combination of the actuation cells based on the received actuation instructions. Each of the actuation cells is configured to generate a particular actuation that is perceived by one or more senses of the user whenever the actuation cell is activated by the master cell. A system also conveys affective state information to a user.
US09934692B2

A flight display system and method for generating a flight display. A method for generating a flight display includes determining a position of an aircraft with reference to an airport, calculating a distance required for the aircraft to decelerate and descend for entering a final approach gate of the airport in a stabilized configuration, comparing the position of the aircraft with the distance required for the aircraft to decelerate and descend, and generating a flight display comprising an advisory based on a result of the comparing. A flight display system includes a database, an electronic display device, and a computer processor. The database and the electronic display device are in operable communication with the computer processor for displaying the flight display on the electronic display device.
US09934680B2

An apparatus for managing the control of an electrical device controllable by infrared control signals (IR_Cmd) from an infrared remote control. The apparatus is placed opposite an infrared receiver module of the electric device so as to receive on the infrared receiver any infrared control signal (IR_Cmd) from the remote control and to prevent any infrared control signal (IR_Cmd) from the remote control from directly reacting the infrared receiver module. A controller controls the transmission to the electrical device, via the infrared emitter, of infrared control signals generated from infrared control signals (IR_Cmd) received by the infrared receiver or control signals received by the interface module, in accordance with a set of compatibility and/or priority rules relating to the execution of the received control signals.
US09934675B2

A system and method for reporting the existence of sensors belonging to multiple organizations that are proximally located to a requested location. The report includes a first list of sensors that are unauthorized and discoverable and a second list of sensors that are authorized.
US09934658B1

Building safety systems, methods, and mediums are provided. A method includes receiving a voice input by the building safety system. The method includes receiving voice data produced by a speech recognition process performed on the voice input. The method includes determining a response to the voice input based on the voice data. The method includes producing the response by the building safety system.
US09934654B2

A medium transaction device includes: a conveyance section for a medium; a customer interface attachment point; a classification section attachment point; a storage section attachment point; and a controller that controls transaction processing of the medium with the user. At least one of the customer interface attachment point, the classification section attachment point, or the storage section attachment point is configured to allow attachment of one type of the customer interface, the classification section, or the storage section from plural mutually different respective functional types thereof. The controller switches the transaction processing executable with the user according to the type of the customer interface, the classification section, or the storage section that is attached to the customer interface attachment point, the classification section attachment point, or the storage section attachment point.
US09934653B2

A system and method for aggregating results in a slot game are disclosed. In a given pull outcome of the slot game, multiple results may be determined. An order or orders for aggregating the results in the given pull outcome may be obtained. In some examples, the obtained order(s) may specify temporal sequence for applying different types of results in the given pull outcome. In some examples, the order(s) may be based on the player character(s). In some examples, the order(s) may be based on a difficulty level selected by the player. In some examples, such orders may be for purchase for selection by the players. In some implementations, the results in the pull outcome may include gameplays for implementation in a game space associated with the slot game. In those implementations, the implementation of those gameplays may be in accordance with the obtained order(s).
US09934652B2

A printed game card, sheet or ticket set can incorporate multiple individual tickets separated by perforation, scoring or folds, for example. In various embodiments, the game card or sheet is printed with at least one playable game on each individual ticket, wherein the games can be instant win games with game indicia and one or more layers of varnish or rubber-based material that is removable to reveal the indicia. Each ticket on the game card, sheet or ticket set can include individual validation and/or activation indicia. The indicia can be human-readable and/or computer readable. Further, the entire game card, sheet or ticket set can include game or sheet activation indicia, such that when the entire sheet is sold, the entirety of individual game tickets can be activated simultaneously. When the individual game ticket validation codes are read, embodiments of the present invention can operate to individually assess whether the ticket is a winner, as well as whether the ticket has previously been redeemed.
US09934642B2

A document handling apparatus for recycling documents includes an authentication unit, a first recycling storage unit, a document cassette, and a controller. The authentication unit is for receiving an input document and classifying the input document as having a class that is one of a plurality of classes. The first recycling storage unit is adapted to store documents belonging to two or more of the plurality of classes. The document cassette is adapted to store received documents. The controller is adapted to direct the input document to one of the document cassette and the first recycling storage unit based on content of the first recycling storage unit and the class of the input document. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
US09934641B2

An automatic transaction device includes: a customer service port that accumulates and holds bills so as to be accessible from a customer side; a shutter that closes a deposit/withdrawal port of the customer service port; a sensor that detects an abnormality of the shutter; a bill holding unit that holds accumulated bills, and changes a state in the customer service port from a state in which the bills can be accessed from the customer side to an inaccessible state; and a control unit that controls a change of state of the bill holding unit and an opening and closing operation of the shutter, wherein, in a case in which an abnormality of the shutter is detected, the control unit changes the state of the bill holding unit to the inaccessible state from the customer side.
US09934638B2

An apparatus comprising a money item singulator and a money item validator. The money item singulator and the money item validator may each comprise a rotatable money item conveying element. The rotatable conveying elements may rotate synchronously so that money items are singulated on the rotatable element of the singulator and fed directly to be validated on the rotatable element of the validator.
US09934631B2

A bio-implantable identification device configured for implantation in a user's body is provided. The bio-implantable identification device includes at least one memory configured to store a key, a receiver configured to receive an identification request, at least one processor configured to sign the identification request using the key stored in the at least one memory of the device, and a transmitter configured to transmit the signed request.
US09934627B1

A driving analysis server may be configured to receive vehicle operation data from vehicle sensors, and may use the data to identify a potentially high-risk or unsafe driving event by the vehicle. The driving analysis server also may receive corresponding image data, video, or object proximity data from the vehicle or one or more other data sources, and may use the image, video, or proximity data to analyze the potentially high-risk or unsafe driving event. A driver score for the vehicle or driver may be calculated or adjusted based on the analysis of the data and the determination of one or more causes of the driving event.
US09934625B1

A network computing system receives local device data from a mobile computing device of a person within a vehicle. The local device data may include sensor data from one or more sensors of the mobile computing device, and location data determined from a position-determination resource of the mobile computing device. The network computing system may detect a vehicle collision event based on the local device data. Additionally, the network computing system may determine a classification of the vehicle collision event based on the local device data.
US09934622B2

Exemplary embodiments are provided of telematics devices and exemplary corresponding methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a telematics device generally includes a controller, a wireless communication module to transmit ignition information to a remote station, a power input terminal to sense a voltage of the battery, and an ignition input terminal to couple to an ignition line of the vehicle. The controller determines whether the ignition input terminal is coupled to an ignition line of the vehicle, and when the terminal is coupled to an ignition line, the controller determines vehicle ignition turn on and ignition turn off events by detecting voltage changes on the ignition line. When the ignition input terminal is not coupled to an ignition line of the vehicle, the controller senses the voltage of the battery of the vehicle to determine vehicle ignition turn on and turn off events based on sensed voltage changes of the battery.
US09934615B2

An image processing system is designed to generate a canvas view that transitions between binocular views and monocular views. Initially, the image processing system receives top/bottom images and side images of a scene and calculates offsets to generate synthetic side images for left and right view of a user. To transition between binocular views and monocular views, the image processing system first warps top/bottom images onto corresponding synthetic side images to generate warped top/bottom images, which realizes the transition in terms of shape. The image processing system then morphs the warped top/bottom images onto the corresponding synthetic side images to generate blended images for left and right eye views with the blended images. The image processing system creates the canvas view which transitions between binocular views and monocular views in terms of image shape and color based on the blended images.
US09934613B2

An augmented reality system is described that comprises a movable object comprising an object hardware component; a control hardware component for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals via a communication link to the object hardware component; and a software component stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and in operable communication with the control hardware component. An application user interface is provided for enabling a user to provide command input for controlling the movement of the movable object via the object hardware component.
US09934605B2

There is provided a scene rendering system and method for use by such a system to perform depth buffering for subsequent scene rendering. The system includes a memory storing a depth determination software including a reduced depth set identification software module, and a hardware processor configured to execute the depth determination software. The hardware processor is configured to execute the depth determination software to determine, before rendering a scene, a depth buffer based on at least one fixed depth identified for each element of a rendering framework for the scene. The hardware processor is further configured to render the scene using the depth buffer.
US09934600B2

Techniques to configure device display are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise an image display routine operative to receive an image on a device, the device comprising a display device; receive a text segment on the device; and display a combined text segment image display; a color configuration routine operative to determine a background contrast color; and determine a background blend color based on the image; and a mixing routine operative to generate a color mixing gradient based on the background contrast color and the background blend color; and generate the combined text segment image display by positioning the text segment in a text segment display area of a mixed gradient overlay of the color mixing gradient on the image. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09934596B2

A texture repository is provided for use with an image manipulation application. The texture repository provides a canvas to the image manipulation application for use with an image filter. The texture repository may provide an existing canvas matching the request from the image filter, or the texture repository may generate a new canvas for the request. The generated canvas may be procedurally generated to match the request, or the generated canvas may be resized from an existing canvas stored in a non-volatile storage or a cache.
US09934594B2

This disclosure relates generally to augmented reality, and more particularly to augmented reality systems and methods using textiles. In one embodiment, a processor-implemented textile-based augmented reality method is disclosed. The method may comprise capturing, via one or more hardware processors, a video frame including a depiction of an aperiodic marker included in an ornamental design of a textile fabric. Via the one or more hardware processors, the presence of the marker may be identified using one or more image-processing marker detection techniques. The identified marker may be associated with one or more audio-visual content files. Finally, data from the one or more audio-visual content files may be displayed as part of an augmented reality presentation.
US09934587B2

An image localization system is described. A receiver receives visual inertial navigation (VIN) data and corresponding image data from devices, the VIN data indicating VIN states and corresponding poses of the devices. A training module generates a localization model based on the VIN data and corresponding image data from the plurality of devices. The image data includes images, the localization model correlating the VIN states and poses with each image among the plurality of images. An image localizer receives a query for a geographic location and a pose of a device. The query includes a picture. The image localizer compares the picture with images from the localization model, identifies an image based on the localization model, the image matching the picture in the query, and determines the geographic location and the pose of the device based on the VIN state and pose corresponding to the identified image.
US09934582B2

An image capture apparatus capable of identifying desired time points without using a special device is provided. The image capture apparatus 1 includes a moving image acquiring unit 53, a calculating unit 56, and an identification area analyzing unit 57. The moving image acquiring unit 53 acquires a plurality of images captured consecutively. The calculating unit 56 calculates variation values of pixel values along a time series of the plurality of images acquired by the moving image acquiring unit 53, within a predetermined region common to the plurality of images. The identification area analyzing unit 57 identifies two time points according to a predetermined standard from among a plurality of time points in the time series, on the basis of the variation values of the pixel values calculated by the calculating unit 56.
US09934579B2

The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) for inspecting an object (97) in a volume (40). The ultrasound imaging system comprises an image processor (36) configured to conduct a segmentation (80) of the object (97) simultaneously out of three-dimensional ultrasound mage data (62) and contrast-enhanced three-dimensional ultrasound image data (60). In particular, this may be done by minimizing an energy tem taking into account both the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data. By this, the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data may even be registered during segmentation. Hence, this invention allows a more precise quantification of one organ in two different modalities as well as the registration of two images for simultaneous visualization.
US09934577B2

Edges are detected in a digital image including a plurality of pixels. For each of the plurality of pixels, a plurality of different edge assessments are made for that pixel. Each different edge assessment considers that pixel in a different position of a different pixel patch. The different edge assessments for each pixel are aggregated.
US09934576B2

An image processing system includes: a background-image generation unit configured to generate an background image based on input images captured at a plurality of times; a static-area determination unit configured to detect a continued-presence area in a partial area in which an image of a plurality of persons possibly exists in an input image, based on a difference between a first background image generated based on input images captured within a first time width from a processing time and a second background image generated based on input images captured within a second time width from the processing time; a person detection unit configured to detect at least one person which exists in the partial area; and a gathering-score calculation unit configured to detect, based on a detection result of the continued-presence area and a person detection result, continued presence of the plurality of persons in the partial area.
US09934573B2

Technologies for adjusting a perspective of a captured image for display on a mobile computing device include capturing a first image of a user by a first camera and a second image of a real-world environment by a second camera. The mobile computing device determines a position of an eye of the user relative to the mobile computing device based on the first captured image and a distance of an object in the real-world environment from the mobile computing device based on the second captured image. The mobile computing device generates a back projection of the real-world environment captured by the second camera to the display based on the determined distance of the object in the real-world environment relative to the mobile computing device, the determined position of the user's eye relative to the mobile computing device, and at least one device parameter of the mobile computing device.
US09934566B2

A method for reconstructing 3-D vessel geometry of a vessel includes: receiving a plurality of 2-D rotational X-ray images of the vessel; extracting vessel centerline points for normal cross sections of each of the plurality of 2-D images; establishing a correspondence of the centerline points; constructing a 3-D centerline vessel tree skeleton of the vessel; constructing an initial 3-D vessel surface having a uniform radius normal to the 3-D centerline vessel tree skeleton; and constructing a target 3-D vessel surface by deforming the initial vessel surface to provide a reconstructed 3-D vessel geometry of the vessel.
US09934565B2

A skeleton wafer inspection system includes an expansion table displaceable relative to a camera configured for capturing segmental images of a skeleton wafer on a film frame. During segmental image capture, illumination is directed to the top and/or bottom of the film frame. Segmental images are digitally stitched together to produce a composite image, which can be processed to identify die presence or absence therein at active area die positions having counterpart die positions in a process wafer map. A composite image of a diced wafer on a film frame can also be generated, and used as a navigation aid or guide during die sort operations, or to verify whether a die sort apparatus has correctly detected a reference die prior to die sort operations. A composite image of a skeleton wafer can similarly be generated for use as a navigation aid or guide for film frame repopulation operations.
US09934564B2

Example systems and methods are described for validating a manufacturing tolerance of a structure. A method includes receiving a digital image of a cross-section of the structure at an interface of a computing device, identifying an outer boundary of the structure from the digital image, selecting a region of the outer boundary based on changes in a first derivative or a second derivative of points of the outer boundary, identifying a geometry feature of the region of the outer boundary by comparison to stored templates of geometry features of the structure, making a comparison of the geometry feature of the region of the outer boundary to a manufacturing specification for a corresponding portion of the structure, and determining whether the structure is within a manufacturing tolerance based on the comparison of the geometry feature to the manufacturing specification.
US09934561B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for exchanging images. In use, one or more images are received at a server. Additionally, the one or more images are analyzed. Further, image processing code is outputted referencing the one or more images, based on the analysis of the one or more images. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.
US09934548B2

Techniques are disclosed relating to storing primitive information for tile-based graphics rendering. In some embodiments, primitive information is stored using hierarchically arranged bins. In some embodiments, information for a given primitive may be stored at multiple levels in the hierarchy. For example, in some embodiments a graphics processor is configured to store primitive information for a primitive in a particular bin if the primitive (1) completely covers the area in screen space corresponding to the particular bin and (2) the primitive is not listed in any bins that correspond to a larger area that includes the area corresponding to the particular bin. This may reduce memory requirements because the memory needed for each primitive may be proportional to the width (or height) of the primitive multiplied by the log of the width (or height), rather than the area of the primitive.
US09934540B2

A system for use with one or more sources of patient-affiliated data corresponding with a group of patients. The system may contain a plurality of patient interface devices for interfacing with the group of patients. Each patient interface device may store a database that includes information related to each patient of the group of patients. Each patient interface device may be operable to generate a patient-specific guidance data set that may be used by the patient interface device to interface with a patient of the group of patients. The plurality of patient interface devices may be communicatively coupled to patient-affiliated data and a therapy database via a patient interface device gateway. The patient-specific guidance data sets may be automatically updated.
US09934538B2

Machine sensor inputs are received, and a set of performance metrics are calculated based upon the sensor inputs. The set of performance metrics are stored as a performance target along with one or more additional performance targets. One of the performance targets is retrieved and the machine automatically generates an action signal indicative of machine setting adjustments that can be made in order to control operation of the machine to more closely conform to the retrieved performance target.
US09934536B2

Embodiments of the invention comprise systems, computer program products, and methods for a financial and social management system that provides improved tracking and management related to how, where, when, and with whom a user enters into activities. The financial and social management system captures activity information and images from various sources of information, including but not limited to social networking accounts, e-receipts, location determination devices, and the like, and associates the activity information and images with the activities. The financial and social management system may display the activities, activity information, and images in an interactive map using markers. The markers in the interactive may be displayed as a function of the time of the activity, include images, or transaction data related to the activity. Positioning information related to the location of the user at the time of the activities may also be overlaid on the interactive map.
US09934532B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for order routing. One of the methods includes receiving a request for quote from a user, the request for quote indicating that the first user is to be anonymous during the negotiation. The method also includes selecting counterparties to receive the request for quote. The method also includes sending the request for quote to the selected counterparties absent revealing the identity of the user. The method also includes receiving prices from the counterparties, each price associated with a counterparty. The method also includes presenting the prices to the user.
US09934530B1

A system and environment to enable entities to utilize courier services provided by a service provider are described herein. In some examples, the service provider exposes the courier services to a computing device associated with a merchant, buyer, and/or others using one or more Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) provided by the service provider. The one or more APIs may enable merchants and/or others to automatically integrate the courier services into technologies used by the merchants and/or others in order to facilitate delivery of items that are offered for acquisition by the merchants.
US09934526B1

Various embodiments enable a process to automatically attempt to select the most relevant words associated with products available for purchase from an electronic marketplace from an image frame. For example, an image frame containing text can be obtained and analyzed with an optical character recognition. The recognized words can then be preprocessed using various filtering and scoring techniques to narrow down a volume of text to a few relevant query terms. These query terms can then be sent to a search engine associated with the electronic marketplace to return relevant products to a user.
US09934516B1

A system and method for communicating information relating to a network resource. A server computer and a client computer for displaying related information about another document or information requested. Guiding individuals to places of interest on a network where information is stored, and/or displaying or otherwise presenting useful information to the user.
US09934505B2

A funding source is provided by each of a plurality of users for setting up an electronic shared payment pool. A policy governing rights or obligations of each of the users is set up. The includes: for each user, a respective threshold for enabling funds to be pulled automatically from the funding source of said user. The electronic shared payment pool is created based on the respective funding sources and the policy. A detection is made that a user is requesting to use the electronic shared payment pool to pay for a prospective transaction. In response to the detection, funds are pulled from the funding sources into the electronic shared payment pool. The funds are pulled automatically without requiring an approval from each of the users as long as the pulled amount is below the threshold for that user. The prospective transaction is facilitated using the electronic shared payment pool.
US09934492B2

The invention is a system for interfacing mobile phones with an on-board diagnostic computer in a vehicle, wherein the on-board diagnostic computer monitors a set of operational characteristics of a vehicle. The information derived from this system will be processed on the mobile phone coupled with additional information and displayed on the mobile phone's screen, while simultaneously transmitting this information over the internet to be stored in a database.
US09934491B2

A network-connected server for meeting initiation has software executing on the server from a non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a function allowing a user to schedule a meeting and to configure availability conditions, a function for informing scheduled participants of the scheduled meeting, a function for receiving indications of availability for the scheduled meeting from communication appliances associated with scheduled participants, and a function for connecting the communication appliances to communicate when the configured availability conditions are met.
US09934490B2

The present invention is generally a system and method for transacting lead records and scheduled appointment records concerning business opportunities in the real estate industry. The transactions may include offering the scheduled appointment records or lead records for sale, as well as auctioning the records. Several software modules may be provided to: receive, categorize, qualify, and distribute leads that mature into transactional opportunities; determine the geographic location of real estate client users and transactional opportunities near a user's location or selected region; facilitate management of each transactional opportunity by the client user; facilitate management of each transactional opportunity by the service provider; and various other functions and services consistent with the present system and method. Moreover, an exchange platform may be implemented with the present system whereby affiliates of the service provider may introduce their own leads and sell them to subscribers.
US09934478B1

A computer-implemented method of processing items associated with a workflow includes accessing information that specifies, for each item to be processed, each of one or more primary input items that may be required under normal conditions to produce the item to be processed. The method also includes accessing information that specifies, for at least one primary input item, an alternative input item that may replace the primary input item under alternative conditions in producing the item to be processed. The items to be processed are ordered such that: (a) each item to be processed that has one or more primary input items is placed ahead of its primary input items; and (b) each primary input item that has one or more alternative input items is placed ahead of its alternative input items provided doing so is not inconsistent with the ordering of items ordered according to condition (a) and is also not inconsistent with the ordering of items ordered according to condition (b). The ordered items are processed according to the ordering using a software component.
US09934474B2

A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes detecting one of an absence of a virtual universe (VU) occurrence in a VU within a predetermined time period, a special event in the VU and a change of real world status from a previous real world status. Additionally, the method includes determining a VU asset of a VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status. Further, the method includes performing an automated asset reduction of the VU asset based on the determining.
US09934472B2

A parking reservation system for a parking lot provided with a plurality of parking spaces, comprising parking spaces for reservation to which reservation of user with reservation is set and is also available for user without reservation; and spare parking spaces which the user with reservation can use instead of the parking spaces for reservation when the parking spaces for reservation to which reservation of the user with reservation is set is used by the user without reservation, wherein a spare number setting section is provided for setting number of the spare parking spaces by using usage behavior relation information in relation to usage behavior at the parking lot of the user at least either of the user without reservation or the user with reservation.
US09934471B2

Methods and corresponding system are provided herewith that, in at least one embodiment, include the act or acts of: determining that a service provided by a restaurant is available for bidding. The service is provided for a particular time and a particular date. The methods and system also include receiving a bid for the service provided by the restaurant, in which the bid is associated with a first amount; storing the bid with a plurality of other bids in a storage device; and comparing the bid with at least one other bid that is submitted for reserving the service. The at least one other bid is associated with a second amount. The methods and system also include determining that the first amount is greater than the second amount; and outputting an indicia that grants the request to reserve the service provided by the restaurant to a highest bidder, in which the first amount submitted by the highest bidder is greater than the second amount.
US09934470B2

Production equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a machine learning system and an assembly and test unit. The assembly and test unit chooses components from component groups having different characteristic values, assembles the chosen components into a product, and tests the assembled product. The machine learning system includes a state observer for observing a test result of the product and the inventory amounts of the components grouped based on the characteristic values of the components; a reward calculator for calculating a reward based on the test result and the inventory amounts; an artificial intelligence for determining an action value based on an observation result by the state observer and the reward calculated by the reward calculator; and a decision maker for choosing components to be used in the next product assembly from the component groups based on a determination result by the artificial intelligence.
US09934465B2

Techniques for analyzing and synthesizing complex knowledge representations (KRs) may utilize an atomic knowledge representation model including both an elemental data structure and knowledge processing rules stored as machine-readable data and/or programming instructions. One or more of the knowledge processing rules may be applied to analyze an input complex KR to deconstruct its complex concepts and/or concept relationships to elemental concepts and/or concept relationships to be included in the elemental data structure. One or more of the knowledge processing rules may be applied to synthesize an output complex KR from the stored elemental data structure in accordance with an input context. Multiple input complex KRs of various types may be analyzed and deconstructed to populate the elemental data structure, and input complex KRs may be transformed through the elemental data structure to output complex KRs of different types, providing semantic interoperability to KRs of different types and/or KR models.
US09934462B1

Deep neural networks can be visualized. For example, first values for a first layer of nodes in a neural network, second values for a second layer of nodes in the neural network, and/or third values for connections between the first layer of nodes and the second layer of nodes can be received. A quilt graph can be output that includes (i) a first set of symbols having visual characteristics representative of the first values and representing the first layer of nodes along a first axis; (ii) a second set of symbols having visual characteristics representative of the second values and representing the second layer of nodes along a second axis; and/or (iii) a matrix of blocks between the first axis and the second axis having visual characteristics representative of the third values and representing the connections between the first layer of nodes and the second layer of nodes.
US09934460B2

An NFC tag includes a foldable substrate in the form of a tape; an antenna located at a first end of the tape; a capacitor connected to the antenna, located at the first end of the tape; an impedance, in particular a capacitor, located at a second end of the tape; and conductive tracks running along the tape to connect the impedance to the antenna.
US09934458B2

An IC tag unit, for an instrument, which allows an IC tag into and from which instrument information, calibration information, inspection information, and the like can be written and read to be mounted to an instrument without affecting the IC tag by a metal portion of an instrument body, hindering visibility of a scale of the instrument, and further causing degradation due to dust, raindrops, or the like, and an instrument with the IC tag, are provided. An IC tag 11 having an IC chip 12 and an antenna 13, and mounting means configured to mount the IC tag to an instrument, are provided, and the instrument has scale increments and a pointer, and a transparent cover plate 53 that covers the scale increments 56a and the pointer. The mounting means includes: a first sheet disposed on an outer side surface of the instrument; a second sheet that is disposed on an inner side surface of the instrument and that sandwiches the IC tag; and an attachment layer that allows both the sheets attached to each other to be attached to the transparent cover plate. The IC tag is disposed between both the sheets so as not to overlap the scale increments 56a and an indicator portion 55a of the pointer 55 in a viewing direction, and a developed plane of the antenna is arranged along both the sheets, when the IC tag is mounted to the transparent cover plate.
US09934446B2

An image processing apparatus acquires an image including an object and divides the image into a plurality of superpixels based on similarity of adjacent pixels. There is an acquisition, from the superpixels, of a plurality of candidate areas acting as candidates of an area of the object. A feature quantity is extracted from each of the plurality of candidate areas and checked against registered information concerning a feature quantity of object area. The area of the object in the image is output, based on a checked result.
US09934444B2

According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an interface that receives a first image and a second image. A processor extracts a first character string appearing on the first image, and a second character string appearing on the second image. The processor determines that both the first character string and the second character string correspond to a photographed subject in the first image and second image. The processor cuts out each of the characters constituting the first character string, in units of a character. The processor cuts out each of the characters constituting the second character string, in units of a character. The processor calculates a first similarity degree group and a second similarity degree group. The processor recognizes a character string of the subject, based on the first similarity degree group and the second similarity degree group.
US09934441B2

An apparatus for recognizing lane partition lines on opposite sides of a traveling lane of a vehicle based on a forward image captured by a camera mounted in the vehicle. In the apparatus, an allowable range limiter is configured to, based on a learned value of a lane width learned by a lane width learner, limit allowable ranges for the respective lane partition lines, where in the allowable ranges the respective lane partition lines are allowed to be detected in the forward image. A lane change determiner is configured to determine whether or not there is a lane change made by the vehicle. The allowable range limiter is further configured to, if it is determined by the lane change determiner that there is a lane change, enlarge at least one of the allowable ranges limited by the allowable range limiter based on the learned value of the lane width.
US09934430B2

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media related to a technique for providing handwriting input functionality on a user device. A handwriting recognition module is trained to have a repertoire comprising multiple non-overlapping scripts and capable of recognizing tens of thousands of characters using a single handwriting recognition model. The handwriting input module provides real-time, stroke-order and stroke-direction independent handwriting recognition. User interfaces for providing the handwriting input functionality are also disclosed.
US09934429B2

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores a recognition program that causes a computer to execute a process. The process includes recognizing a plurality of characters from handwritten characters in input handwritten data; setting reference positions of a specific handwritten character and an adjacent handwritten character included in the handwritten characters based on recognition results of the recognized characters, the specific handwritten character and the adjacent handwritten character corresponding to a specific character and an adjacent character included in the recognized characters, respectively, the adjacent character being located adjacent to the specific character; determining whether a space is present between the specific character and the adjacent character based on the reference positions; and generating space information indicating a result of the determining.
US09934421B1

The present invention generally relates to authenticating a user of an electronic device comprising a capacitive fingerprint sensor and an optical sensor arranged side-by-side with the capacitive fingerprint sensor. In accordance with the present invention a first image of at least a first portion of an object is acquired using the capacitive fingerprint sensor and an optical image of at least a second portion of the object is acquired using the optical sensor, the optical image and the first image being representative of neighboring portions of the object. An edge portion of the first image is matched with at least an edge portion of the optical image, where the edge portions represent the object at the border between the capacitive fingerprint sensor and the optical sensor. When there is a match, a fingerprint authentication procedure may be performed.
US09934415B1

A portable reader for performing an operation on an integrated circuit (IC) such as a printed memory. The portable reader comprises a body and a transparent head. The head is sufficiently transparent that the IC is visible through the transparent head. By detecting the IC through the transparent head, the portable reader may be aligned with the IC, and a contact module on the portable reader may be aligned and electrically coupled with contact pads on the IC.
US09934413B2

A magnetic reader for identifying an object includes a hardware processor, a memory storing multiple magnetic field profiles, and a magnetic field detector. The hardware processor of the magnetic reader is configured to detect, using the magnetic field detector, a magnetic field produced by one or more elements incorporated into the object, and to measure, using the magnetic field detector, one or more characteristics of the magnetic field. The hardware processor of the magnetic reader is further configured to compare the one or more characteristics of the magnetic field to one or more of the multiple magnetic field profiles stored in the memory, and to identify the object based on the comparison.
US09934401B2

Case management systems and techniques are disclosed. In various embodiments, a hierarchical document permission model is received, the model describing a document hierarchy comprising a plurality of hierarchically related document nodes and defining for each of at least a subset of said document nodes one or more document roles and for each such role one or more document permissions with respect to that document node. The hierarchical document permission model is used to determine and enforce permissions with respect to case management instances to which the hierarchical document permission model applies.
US09934391B2

Disclosed are various embodiments for a trust establishment application. Machine instances executed in the same computing environment generate side channel patterns embodying data identifying themselves as trusted machine instances. The side channel patterns are detected to determine which machine instances are trusted. An operational mode of a machine instance is configured as a function of whether a quorum of trusted machine instances are executed in the computing environment.
US09934385B2

In a system for facilitating distributed security and vulnerability testing of a software application, each development sandbox in a set of sandboxes receives a portion of the entire application, and the received portion may be tested based on an application-level security policy to obtain a pass/fail result. The portion of the application corresponding to a certain sandbox may be modified and rescanned (i.e., retested) until the modifications, i.e., development achieves functional and quality requirements, and a pass result is obtained. Thereafter, the scan results are promoted to a policy sandbox, where a compliance result for the entire software application can be obtained based on, at least in part, the promoted results. Other sandboxes may also perform their respective pass/fail testing using the promoted results, thus minimizing the need for synchronizing the code changes in different sandboxes before testing for security policy in any sandbox and/or during application-level scanning.
US09934379B2

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for detecting a compromised computing host are disclosed. According to one method, the method includes receiving one or more domain name system (DNS) non-existent domain (NX) messages associated with a computing host. The method also includes determining, using a host score associated with one or more unique DNS zones or domain names included in the one or more DNS NX messages, whether the computing host is compromised. The method further includes performing, in response to determining that the computing host is compromised, a mitigation action.
US09934371B2

A fingerprint recognition method and electronic device performing the same are provided. The electronic device includes a fingerprint sensor configured to perform fingerprint sensing according to a control signal of a processor, and includes the processor configured to obtain a fingerprint-unrecognizable position from a sensing area of the fingerprint sensor, to obtain, based on the fingerprint-unrecognizable position, a distance to a fingerprint from the fingerprint-unrecognizable position, and to control, based on the distance, the fingerprint sensor by adjusting a sensing operation of the fingerprint sensor.
US09934359B2

To be able to use a generally available database of predetermined apparatus configurations and parameters in medical interventions, a device is disclosed for controlling and/or monitoring at least one apparatus during a medical intervention, said device including a least one control unit for controlling and/or monitoring the at least one apparatus and at least one display unit for displaying data, wherein: access is possible to data specific to the intervention, including at least data on the parameter values to be entered on the at least one apparatus during a predetermined intervention; in addition the parameter values are predetermined at least in part depending on the user, while the parameter values can be called up by a user for display by means of the display unit, and a confirming element is provided, through whose actuation the predetermined parameter values for the at least one apparatus are incorporated.
US09934354B1

Disclosed are techniques for implementing a layout-driven, multi-fabric schematic design of an electronic design. These techniques identify a multi-fabric layout spanning across multiple design fabrics and layout connectivity information and determine a device map that correlates a first set of devices in the multi-fabric layout with respective parasitic models. The device map can be identified one or more pre-existing device maps or can be constructed anew. A multi-fabric schematic can be generated by using at least the respective parasitic models and the layout connectivity information.
US09934351B2

A method for wafer point by point analysis includes receiving first recipe parameters for a first process recipe, second recipe parameters for a second process recipe, a first plurality of measurements of a plurality of locations on a first wafer processed using the first process recipe, and a second plurality of measurements of the plurality of locations on a second wafer processed using the second process recipe. A plurality of sensitivity values are calculated using the first and second values for the plurality of recipe parameters and the first and second plurality of measurements, each of the plurality of sensitivity values corresponding to one of the plurality of locations and representing a sensitivity to one of the plurality of recipe parameters. A graphical representation of a wafer is then provided that shows at least a subset of the first plurality of sensitivity values for the plurality of locations.
US09934348B2

A method includes receiving a circuit design comprising an input scan chain comprising a plurality of latches connected by one or more scan connections, dividing the plurality of latches into one or more clusters, determining a number of scan controls for each cluster, placing the determined scan controls in selected locations; and adjusting the scan connections based on the scan control location. A corresponding computer system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09934345B2

A method of designing an acoustic microwave filter in accordance with frequency response requirements. The method comprises selecting an initial filter circuit structure including a plurality of circuit elements comprising at least one resonant element and at least one other reactive circuit element, selecting circuit response variables based on the frequency response requirements, selecting a value for each of the circuit elements based on the selected circuit response variables to create an initial filter circuit design, transforming the resonant element(s) and the other reactive circuit element(s) of the initial filter circuit design into at least one acoustic resonator model to create an acoustic filter circuit design, adding parasitic effects to the acoustic filter circuit design to create a pre-optimized filter circuit design, optimizing the pre-optimized filter circuit design to create a final filter circuit design, and constructing the acoustic microwave filter based on the final filter circuit design.
US09934339B2

A method includes obtaining information associated with a forming operation involving a manufacturing machine having a tool that contacts material. The method also includes simulating deformation of the material based on the information. Simulating the deformation of the material includes using discontinuity layout optimization to evaluate combinations of shear planes within an initial structure of the material, predict a mode of deformation comprising one or more of the shear planes along which the initial structure of the material will likely deform, and calculate a deformed shape of the material after an increment of deformation along the predicted mode of deformation. Simulating the deformation of the material also includes repeating the discontinuity layout optimization with the deformed shape of the material as the initial structure.
US09934338B2

Building models and predicting operational outcomes of a drilling operation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: gathering sensor data regarding offset wells and context data regarding the offset wells, and placing the sensor data and context data into a data store; creating a reduced data set by identifying a correlation between data in the data store and an operational outcome in a drilling operation; creating a model based on the reduced data set; and predicting the operational outcome based on the model.
US09934335B2

The present invention relates to a method for virtual assembly of a structure, the structure being supposed to be assembled from a multitude of components on a construction site, the method comprising measuring, at a multitude of locations remote from the construction site, the components of the structure subsequent to their production and prior to their transport to the construction site, wherein the measuring comprises measuring at least the shape and size of connecting elements of each of the components, creating virtual representations of the components, virtually assembling the representations of the components, determining, based on assembly tolerances, whether the structure can be assembled with the measured components, and deciding, by means of an optimization algorithm, whether one or more components are to be reproduced, one or more components are to be reworked, and/or the structure is to be redesigned.
US09934332B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for a similarity service. Multiple samplings of user accounts are randomly selected from a pool of user accounts. Interaction history data for each of the user accounts is used to determine item similarities corresponding to each of the user account samplings. The item similarity data is aggregated to determine similar items.
US09934331B2

Technologies are described herein for providing query suggestions. In order to provide a query suggestion, access may be detected at a data source. An initial query suggestion for a query of the data source may then be identified based, at least in part, on non-query data. The initial query suggestion may then be returned for display in a user-interface (UI) element. Additional query suggestions might also be provided based upon non-query data in response to a modification of the query.
US09934330B2

A query generator is operable to generate a query for retrieving data that satisfy a conditional expression from a database, and/or perform an arbitrary calculation on at least part of the retrieved data. The query generator can receive an input query and analyze the query to ascertain whether it contains a replaceable token. If the query contains a replaceable token, the query generator can replace that token with user input specifying a parameter of the conditional expression and/or the arbitrary calculation, thereby generating an output query for retrieving the data that satisfy the conditional expression and/or performing the arbitrary calculation on the retrieved data.
US09934323B2

To dynamically map nodes for locality and balance, computer implemented methods, systems, and computer readable media, in an embodiment, may compute histograms for nodes in a first partition. Histograms may be computed for nodes in a second partition. The second partition may be selected as a candidate partition for a set of nodes in the first partition based on the histograms for the nodes in the first partition. The first partition may be selected as a candidate partition for a set of nodes in the second partition based on the histograms for the nodes in the second partition. At least a portion of the set of nodes in the first partition may be mapped to the second partition and at least a portion of the set of nodes in the second partition may be mapped to the first partition based on load balancing.
US09934321B2

A method and system for distributing access to inventory items available at vendor locations includes user stations transmitting user inquiries on a communications network. Network-connected location servers access a set of inventory availability information associated with inventory items available at their respective location, for example, tables at a restaurant. The host server receives user inquiries regarding availability of items associated with at least some of the location servers and queries a cache server that locally stores a binary subset of the information from the location servers to determine if the requested item is available without having to separately query the database at each location. Particularly, a web server receives and stores information regarding only whether a requested item is available or not available from a particular location rather than how many items are available at the location. A user, therefore, can access availability of inventory items with less communications traffic.
US09934315B2

A method and system for providing personalized search results is disclosed. A computer receives input from a user to navigate to a web site (either directly or as a result of choosing a result from a search result page). The computer navigates to the web site and stores information about the web site in a file. The computer determines web sites associated with a search query of the user as the search query is being entered into a search area of a user interface. The associated web sites are sites that have been previously navigated to by the user. The determining step includes obtaining the web sites associated with the search query from a data structure previously generated from the file. The data structure includes parsed entries of URLs associated with the previously navigated web sites. Based on the determining step, web site links corresponding to the associated web sites are displayed as the search query is being entered.
US09934313B2

Methods, systems, and techniques for creating, managing, and using query templates to facilitate the execution of relationship queries are provided. Example embodiments provide a Query Template System “QTS”, which enables users, a system, program code, or other people or code to define search tips (i.e., predefined searches) through the generation of query templates that can be used by other users or code, to perform relationship searches using IQL. In one embodiment, the QTS includes a QT editor, a QT dispatcher, a QT creation and index management system, and one or more QT data repositories and indexes. These components cooperate to create and maintain query templates and to search for and retrieve matching query templates. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09934310B2

An approach for determining repeat website users via browser uniqueness tracking includes receiving browser information from a server based on a browser accessing a website. The approach includes creating a browser identifier based on the browser information. The approach includes determining the browser is one of a new visitor and a repeat visitor to the website by comparing the browser identifier to other browser identifiers associated with the website. The approach includes transmitting a message to the server indicating the browser is one of a new visitor and a repeat visitor to the website based on the determining.
US09934304B2

Systems and methods for optimizing memory in an interest-driven business intelligence system in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. A dictionary for storing values of a dataset may be partitioned in accordance with some embodiments. The partitions of the dictionary may be generated by mapping and reducer processes. The mapping processes receive a value, determine the dimension of the data to which the value belongs, and provides the value to a reducer process that handles the determined dimension. Each reducer process generates partitions of the dictionary for each dimension. The number of values in each partition is determined and compared to a threshold value. Partitions that have a number of values greater than the threshold are stored in a common memory. Partitions smaller than the threshold value can be combined with other partitions such that the cardinality of the combined partition exceeds the threshold value.
US09934303B2

A client application of a content management system provides instructions for synchronizing content items and placeholder items using a local file journal and updated file journal. The client application compares entries in the updated file journal to entries in the local file journal to determine modifications to make to content items or placeholder items stored in a shared content storage directory on the client device. Based on the result of the comparison, the client application replaces placeholder items with content items or replaces content items with placeholder items.
US09934300B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer system for optimizing data analysis. A set of analytics are received and a plurality of subsets of the set of analytics is generated. An optimization goal(s) is defined. The plurality of subsets of analytics are applied to a set of data. The output of applied analytics are recorded on a data storage device by the computer. Performance values of the computer applying the plurality of subsets of analytics are recorded and displayed. An optimal subset of the plurality of subsets of analytics is calculated, using recorded performance values and outputs of the applied plurality of subsets of analytics, being based on the optimization goal. A set of applied analytics are displayed, where the set of applied analytics includes a number of subsets of analytics of the plurality of analytics that meet the criteria of the optimal subset.
US09934296B2

The present invention provides a method of transferring content from a file and a database. In this case, the file includes content instances, each content instance being associated with a respective field, and each field having a respective type. The transfer is achieved by determining the type of each field, and then storing each content instance in a store in accordance with the determined field type of the associated field. Each content instance can then be transferred to the database in accordance with the determined field type. A similar procedure is provided for creating XML files based on content within the database.
US09934286B2

Systems and method for generating contact suggestions are provided in which one or more suggested contacts are identified from a set of contacts associated with a user. This includes identifying in historical communications in a user account associated with the user, one or more groups of contacts. Scores are generated for contacts in the identified groups of contacts, including generating a contact score for a respective contact by accumulating score contributions for a plurality of the identified groups of contacts that include the respective contact. One or more suggested contacts are identified in accordance with the generated scores. A contact suggestion is sent based on the suggested contacts for display to the user. The contact suggestion includes a suggested contact with a generated score that is above a predefined threshold.
US09934285B1

Pinnacle concepts are not amenable to detection by the use of keywords. A unit of natural language discourse (UNLD) “refers” to a pinnacle concept “C” when that UNLD uses linguistic expressions in such a way that “C” is regarded as expressed, used or invoked by an ordinary reader of “L.” A reference can have a “reference level” value that is proportional to: the “strength” with which the pinnacle concept is referenced, the probability that a pinnacle concept is referenced or both strength and probability. Pinnacle concepts can be divided into Quantifiers and non-Quantifiers. A Quantifier can modify the reference level assigned to a non-Quantifier. A concept “C,” that is determined to be referenced by a UNLD “x,” after application of its Quantifiers, is said to be asserted by “x.” Concept-based classification is the identification of whether a pinnacle concept “C” is asserted by a UNLD. Concept-based classification can be used for concept-based search.
US09934267B2

A computer-implemented method includes, in a master data management system, receiving a persistent modification request affecting a master data attribute, determining that no preexisting master record exists in the master data management system for the master data attribute, and, responsive to determining that no preexisting master record exists for the master data attribute, adding a new master data attribute and associated new ownership information for the master data attribute to the master data management system, based on the persistent modification request. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.
US09934266B2

Described are methods, systems and computer readable media for dynamically updating join operation results in a computer system. A memory-efficient computer system for dynamically updating join operation results may include multiple memory devices having different access times. A computer system for dynamically updating join operation results in real time may re-apply a join operation based on a communication received over a network interface device.
US09934264B2

A technique reduces an amount of metadata stored in a memory of a node in a cluster. An extent store layer of a storage input/output (I/O) stack executing on the node stores key-value pairs in a plurality of data structures, e.g., cuckoo hash tables, resident in the memory. The cuckoo hash table embodies metadata that describes an extent and, as such, may be organized to associate a location on disk with a value that identifies the location on disk. The value may be embodied as a locator that includes a reference count used to support deduplication functionality of the extent store layer with respect to the extent. The reference count is divided into two portions: a delta count portion stored in memory for each slot of the hash table and an overflow count portion stored on disk in a header of each extent. One bit of the delta count portion is reserved as an overflow bit that indicates whether the in-memory reference count has overflowed. Another bit of the delta count portion is reserved as a sign bit that indicates whether the value of the remaining delta count portion, which stores the “delta” of the reference count, is positive or negative. Overflow updates to the overflow count portion on disk are postponed until all of the bits of the delta count portion are consumed as negative/positive transitions.
US09934262B2

A method includes receiving a request to perform a shuffle operation on a data stream, the request including a set of initial key ranges: generating a shuffler configuration that assigns a shuffler from a set of shufflers to each of the initial key ranges; initiating the set of shufflers to perform the shuffle operation on the data stream; analyzing metadata statistics to determine whether a shuffler configuration update event occurs, the metadata statistics produced by the set of shufflers during the shuffle operation and indicating load statistics for each shuffler in the set of shufflers; and upon occurrence of the shuffler configuration update event and during the shuffle operation, altering the shuffler configuration based at least in part on the metadata statistics to produce an assignment of shufflers to key ranges that is different from the assignment of shufflers to the initial key ranges.
US09934256B2

End of retention processing is provided. Included is: creating, using a content manager (CM), an end of retention policy for a content in a database management system (DBMS; and creating, based on the end of retention policy, a stored procedure in the DBMS for managing the end of retention policy.
US09934248B2

A computer system comprising computers, each the computers is coupled to a storage apparatus storing at least one file including records, each the computers includes a file system, a key-value data management module, and a loader, each the computers holds key-value data structure information, the loader being configured to identify a file to be processed in which the at least one piece of the updated key-value data is to be reflected; and transmit a request to update the file including the at least one piece of the updated key-value data; and the file system being configured to identify the position of one of the records corresponding to the piece of updated key-value data within the file based on the key-value data structure information, and update the file by writing the at least one piece of the updated key-value data.
US09934240B2

Metadata for a set of files in a file system is stored in a client metadata database. In addition, a subset of content for the set of files in the client metadata database is stored in a client content database. The subset of content does not exceed a cache size that is less than a full size of the content in the set of the files. In response to a request, at least a portion of the content that is not already stored in the client content database is retrieved from a server content database, where the server content database is located remotely from the client device.
US09934237B1

A target storage system receives a representative fingerprint and fingerprint representations from a source storage system. Each fingerprint representation contains only a portion of a corresponding fingerprint and the representative fingerprint is a full fingerprint. The fingerprints of the data chunks are missing at the target storage system are identified based on the fingerprint representative and the fingerprint representations. A bitmap is transmitted to the source storage system, each bit indicating whether one of the fingerprints is missing. One or more fingerprints are received from the source storage system that are missing at the target storage system based on the bitmask. One or more missing data chunks are identified based on at least the one or more fingerprints received from the source storage system. The missing data chunks are then received from the source storage system to be stored at the target storage system.
US09934213B1

A method and system for generation of a customized financial document template in a financial management system, according to one embodiment. The method and system includes receiving a financial document that includes a plurality of data entries, according to one embodiment. The method and system includes mapping the plurality of data entries to a plurality of data fields of the financial management system, according to one embodiment. Mapping the plurality of data entries includes identifying characteristics of each of the plurality of data entries, and determining a relevance of the plurality of the data fields to the plurality of the data entries, at least partially based on the characteristics of the plurality of data entries, according to one embodiment. The method and system includes populating a custom financial document template, at least partially based on the mapping of the plurality of data entries to the plurality of data fields.
US09934209B2

Optimizing update instructions in hierarchically structured documents is provided. A pending update list including a first plurality of items is received. Each item of the first plurality of items describes an update to a hierarchically structured document. Each of one or more items of the first plurality of items is added to a subsumed update list having a second plurality of items. The subsumed update list is ordered based, at least in part, on a document order and on a target node of each of the second plurality of items. Subsume logic is applied to each of the one or more items based, at least in part, on the second plurality of items. Responsive to determining that subsume logic has been applied to each item of the first plurality of items, each of the second plurality of items of the subsumed update list is executed.
US09934202B1

Examples are generally directed towards managing paginated data. A server receives a page-to-identifier query from a client. The page-to-identifier query includes an identifier of a selected object instance. The server generates an ordered list of object instances corresponding to at least one ordering criteria paginated into a set of pages. The server identifies a page in the set of pages including the selected instance to form a results page. The results page includes the selected instance. The server returns the results page to the client.
US09934199B2

In order to reduce the power consumed when using FFT processing and filtering in the frequency domain together, a digital filter device according to the present invention is provided with: a first filtering means for performing a first fast Fourier transformation using a first data sorting process, first filtering in the frequency domain, a first inverse fast Fourier transformation using a second data sorting process, and overlap removal on a first input block including overlapped data; a second filtering means for performing a second fast Fourier transformation, which simultaneously processes all data in a second input block including overlapped data, second filtering in the frequency domain, a second inverse fast Fourier transformation, which simultaneously processes all received filtered data, and overlap removal; and a data selection means for selecting either the first filtering means or the second filtering means, wherein the operation of the filtering means that is not selected by the data selection means is interrupted.
US09934185B2

In an example, a programmable integrated circuit (IC) includes programmable logic, a processing system, and a network controller. The network controller includes a media access control unit (MAC), a first interface to a physical transceiver, a second interface to the processing system, and a third interface between the MAC and the programmable logic.
US09934181B2

Described are embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for PCIe tunneling across a multi-protocol I/O interconnect of a computer apparatus. A method for PCIe tunneling across the multi-protocol I/O interconnect may include establishing a first communication path between ports of a switching fabric of a multi-protocol I/O interconnect of a computer apparatus in response to a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) device being connected to the computer apparatus, and establishing a second communication path between the switching fabric and a PCIe controller. The method may further include routing, by the multi-protocol I/O interconnect, PCIe protocol packets of the PCIe device from the PCIe device to the PCIe controller over the first and second communication paths. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09934175B2

Using a storage interface circuit of a programmable IC, a first set of configuration data can be communicated between a storage circuit and the programmable IC. Using the first set of configuration data, the programmable IC can be programmed to include: a bus interface module that is designed to interface with a host device over a communication bus that links multiple devices, and an internal configuration access interface that is designed to interface between the bus interface module and programmable logic of the programmable IC. Using direct memory access (DMA) transfers through the bus interface module, a second set of configuration data can be communicated between a memory circuit and the programmable IC. Using the second set of configuration data, the programmable logic of the programmable IC can be programmed.
US09934174B2

An apparatus to arbitrate data transfer between a computing host and a storage device across an interface includes a data transfer limiter configured to track an amount of data credits used by a data transfer across the interface and an amount of accrued data credits available to the interface. The apparatus further includes a data transfer arbiter configured to selectively disable the data transfer across the interface when the amount of data credits used by the data transfer across the interface exceeds a first threshold, and to selectively enable the data transfer across the interface when the amount of data credits used by the data transfer across the interface does not exceed a second threshold. The amount of accrued data credits reduces the amount of data credits used by the data transfer.
US09934173B1

An example method of exchanging data between a remote host and a target system includes receiving at least one remote descriptor from the remote host over a front-end fabric at a controller, the at least one remote descriptor specifying a remote buffer in a remote memory of the remote host that is larger than a page size. The method includes adding entries to a table that map the remote buffer to a plurality of page-sized virtual buffers in a virtual address space managed by the controller, generating local descriptors referencing the plurality of paged-sized virtual buffers, receiving a sequence of page-sized direct memory access (DMA) requests at the controller, generating a sequence remote DMA (RDMA) requests from the sequence of DMA requests based on the entries in the table, and sending the sequence of RDMA requests to the remote host over the front-end fabric.
US09934164B2

Memory corruption detection technologies are described. A system on a chip (SoC) may include a memory device and a memory controller. The memory device may store data from an application, wherein the memory device comprises a memory corruption detection (MCD) table. The memory controller may be coupled to the memory device. The memory controller may allocate a contiguous memory block in the memory and write a MCD word into the MCD table. The MCD word may include a write protection indicator that indicates a protection mode of a first portion of the contiguous memory block.
US09934163B1

A technique for managing storage in a data storage system includes ingesting host data into a data log backed by pages in a cache. The host data are addressed to specified locations in a data object stored in persistent storage devices. When mapping pages in cache to respective target locations in the persistent storage devices, a flag is selectively asserted to indicate whether there is contiguous free space at the target locations. The cache responds to the flag by delaying flushing of flagged pages, which provides more time for the cache to aggregate pages that map to contiguous free space. Meanwhile, pages that are not flagged can be flushed more quickly, enabling the cache to operate efficiently even though flushing of some pages is delayed.
US09934159B2

What is provided is an enhanced dynamic address translation facility. In one embodiment, a virtual address to be translated is first obtained and an initial origin address of a translation table of the hierarchy of translation tables is obtained. Based on the obtained initial origin, a segment table entry is obtained. The segment table entry is configured to contain a format control and access validity fields. If the format control and access validity fields are enabled, the segment table entry further contains an access control field, a fetch protection field, and a segment-frame absolute address. Store operations are permitted only if the access control field matches a program access key provided by any one of a Program Status Word or an operand of a program instruction being emulated. Fetch operations are permitted if the program access key associated with the virtual address is equal to the segment access control field or the fetch protection field is not enabled.
US09934155B2

A method, system, and apparatus may initialize a fixed plurality of page table entries for a fixed plurality of pages in memory, each page having a first size, wherein a linear address for each page table entry corresponds to a physical address and the fixed plurality of pages are aligned. A bit in each of the page table entries for the aligned pages may be set to indicate whether or not the fixed plurality of pages is to be treated as one combined page having a second page size larger than the first page size. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09934153B2

A patch memory system for accessing patches from a memory is disclosed. A patch is an abstraction that refers to a contiguous, array of data that is a subset of an N-dimensional array of data. The patch memory system includes a tile cache, and is configured to fetch data associated with a patch by determining one or more tiles associated with an N-dimensional array of data corresponding to the patch, and loading data for the one or more tiles from the memory into the tile cache. The N-dimensional array of data may be a two-dimensional (2D) digital image comprising a plurality of pixels. A patch of the 2D digital image may refer to a 2D subset of the image.
US09934151B2

A method and information handling system configured to executing instructions of an SSD dynamic optimization buffer switching system and configured to detecting SSD storage capacity utilization via an SSD controller. The method and information handling system further configured to reallocate buffer capacity from write acceleration buffer capacity to garbage collection buffer capacity to increase buffer availability for garbage collection when SSD storage capacity utilization exceeds a threshold level.
US09934145B2

In one embodiment of the present invention a cache unit organizes data stored in an attached memory to optimize accesses to compressed data. In operation, the cache unit introduces a layer of indirection between a physical address associated with a memory access request and groups of blocks in the attached memory. The layer of indirection—virtual tiles—enables the cache unit to selectively store compressed data that would conventionally be stored in separate physical tiles included in a group of blocks in a single physical tile. Because the cache unit stores compressed data associated with multiple physical tiles in a single physical tile and, more specifically, in adjacent locations within the single physical tile, the cache unit coalesces the compressed data into contiguous blocks. Subsequently, upon performing a read operation, the cache unit may retrieve the compressed data conventionally associated with separate physical tiles in a single read operation.
US09934140B1

A method is used in allocating blocks in storage systems. A block allocation request is received for a file of a file system. The block allocation request includes a data block allocation request and an indirect block allocation request. A type of the file is determined. A cylinder group is selected from a set of cylinder groups for allocating an indirect block based on the block allocation request. A set of data blocks is reserved for allocating a data block based on the type of the file.
US09934134B2

System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating a test scenario template from runs of test scenarios run on software systems belonging to different organizations, including: clustering the runs to clusters comprising similar runs of test scenarios; selecting from the clusters a certain cluster comprising a first run of a first test scenario and a second run of a second test scenario belonging to different organizations. At least 95% of values used in the first run of the first test scenario are provided automatically by a test script. And generating a test scenario template representing the certain cluster, wherein the test scenario template identifies a transaction used in the first and second runs, and possible values for running the transaction.
US09934130B2

According to examples, software integration testing with an unstructured database may include determining a driver class file for an integration testing tool to connect to a specified unstructured database. A connectivity driver may be generated for the specified unstructured database. Dependency files may be determined for retrieval of data from the specified unstructured database and update of the data in the specified unstructured database. The driver class file, the connectivity driver, and the dependency files may be stored in a library of the integration testing tool. A connection may be established between the integration testing tool and the specified unstructured database. A query may be sent to the specified unstructured database for execution, and query results may be received based on performing a function when the query is executed. The query results may be compared to validation data to determine whether the function operates in a determined manner.
US09934126B1

Augmenting a trace with at least one reverse lookup data structure during indexing of the trace. A method includes receiving trace data observed during execution of executable entit(ies), and replaying a plurality of different sections of the trace data. The replay includes, for each trace section, executing a plurality of code instructions of the executable entit(ies) based on the section's portion of the trace data, and recording attribute(s) observed during the execution of the code instructions along with an identity of the trace section. At least one reverse lookup data structure is created. It associates each of at least a subset of the attributes observed during the replay of the plurality of trace sections with the identity of each trace section in which it was observed. This reverse lookup data structure is stored as part of one or more trace data streams.
US09934125B1

Techniques are described for providing error and trace data regarding execution of a computer program. A trace control parameter is disabled, and program execution of a computer program is initiated. The state of program execution at a first time is saved during the traced program execution and, subsequent to the first time and prior to an occurrence of a first error during the traced program execution, execution of one or more trace message instructions is suppressed based on the disabled trace control parameter. In response to identifying that an error has occurred, the trace control parameter is enabled, the saved state of program execution is restored, and the traced program execution is continued such that the trace message instructions are executed based on determining that the trace control parameter is enabled.
US09934124B2

In an embodiment, a processor includes execution logic to execute binary translated (BT) code that is translated from native architecture (NA) code. The processor also includes processor trace (PT) logic to output trace information responsive to execution of a BT direct branch instruction in the BT code when the NA code includes an NA direct branch instruction that corresponds to the BT direct branch instruction. The trace information is to include an indication of an NA outcome associated with an execution of the NA direct branch instruction. The trace information is to be based on a BT outcome associated with the execution of the BT direct branch instruction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09934120B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for updating a System on Chip (SOC) image without using direct memory access (DMA) programming. A target SOC monitors a target mailbox to determine reception of a data packet of an SOC image received from a host computer, wherein the SOC image includes a plurality of data packets. The target SOC reads the data packet from a buffer of the target SOC and writes a status message to a host mailbox of the target SOC, wherein the status message is indicative of a reception status of the data packet.
US09934112B2

Methods and systems are provided for an improved cluster-based network architecture. According to one embodiment, an active connection is established between a first interface of a network device and an enabled interface of a first cluster unit of a high availability (HA) cluster. The HA cluster is configured to provide connectivity between network devices of an internal and external network. A backup connection is established between a second interface of the network device and a disabled interface of a second cluster unit. While the first cluster unit is operational and has connectivity, it receives and processes all traffic originated by the network device that is destined for the external network. Upon determining the first cluster unit has failed or has lost connectivity, then all subsequent traffic originated by the network device that is destined for the external network is directed to the second cluster unit.
US09934110B2

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and storage server computing device that allocates monotonically increasing sequence numbers to storage operations based on an order of the storage operations corresponding entries in a log. The storage operations are sequenced including by identifying a subset of the storage operations that are parallelizable. A file system data structure is allocated and populated with data associated with one of the storage operations. A determination is made when a rollback is detected based on whether a replay ledger index field of the file system data structure comprises one of the sequence numbers that is greater than another one of the sequence number corresponding to the one of the storage operations. The another one of the sequence numbers is inserted into the replay ledger index field, when the determining indicates that a rollback is not detected.
US09934106B1

Handling backups when target storage is unavailable is described. A system determines whether the target storage is unavailable for storing any backup file for a client. The system determines whether a backup file is created for the client if the target storage is unavailable for storing any backup file for the client. The system stores the backup file in a memory of a computer if the backup file is created for the client, wherein the computer differs from the target storage and differs from the client. The system determines whether the target storage is available for storing the backup file for the client. The system transfers the backup file from the memory of the computer to the target storage if the target storage is available for storing the backup file for the client.
US09934105B2

A method for enabling a distributed computing system to tolerate system faults during the execution of a client process. The method includes instantiating an execution environment relating to the client process; executing instructions within the execution environment, the instructions causing the execution environment to issue further instructions to the distributing computing system, the further instructions relating to actions to be performed with respect to data stored on the distributed computing system. An object interface proxy receives the further instructions and monitors the received to determine if the execution environment is in a desired save-state condition; and, if so, save a current state of the execution environment in a data store.
US09934103B2

According to certain aspects, an information management system may instruct a first secondary storage computing device in a set of secondary storage computing devices to initiate a restore of a first group of a plurality of files from a first storage device associated with the first secondary storage computing device, the first group including a first file. The computing system may instruct a second secondary storage computing device in the set to initiate a restore a second group of the plurality of files from a second storage device associated with the second secondary storage computing device, the second group including the first file. The computing system can, upon receiving notification that the restore of the first file from the first storage device has completed prior to completion of the restore of the first file from the second storage device, cancel restoration of the first file from the second storage device.
US09934098B2

A method for automatically prioritizing startup of resource groups during a migration event. The method may include monitoring resource usage of a first and a second set of applications associated, respectively, with a first and a second resource group executing on a first computing node. The method may additionally include generating respective first and second resource usage models for the first and second resource groups based on resource usage. The method may then include extrapolating, based on the first and second resource usage models, respective first and second resource group usage scores for the first and second resource groups at a second time in response to a migration event, the second time occurring subsequent to the first time. The method may further include determining, based on the extrapolating, a priority order for serially starting the first and second set of applications on a second computing node at the second time.
US09934097B2

A startup method and apparatus, and a computer system. When a CPU fails to start a system, receiving, by a startup apparatus, a backup area selection instruction, where the backup area selection instruction is used to instruct the startup apparatus to read a boot loader from a backup area of Nand-Flash; receiving a program read instruction sent by the CPU, where the program read instruction includes a primary area address of the boot loader in the Nand-Flash; acquiring a backup address of the boot loader in the Nand-Flash from a correspondence between primary and backup addresses according to the primary area address; reading the boot loader from the backup address; and sending the boot loader to the CPU, such that the CPU starts the system according to the boot loader.
US09934088B2

Uncorrectable memory errors may be reduced by determining a logical array address for a set of memory arrays and transforming the logical array address to at least two unique array addresses based, at least in part, on logical locations of at least two memory arrays within the set of memory arrays. The at least two memory arrays are then accessed using the at least two unique array addresses, respectively.
US09934087B2

A decoding method, a memory storage device and a memory control circuit unit are provided. The decoding method includes: reading a target physical unit based on a first read voltage level; performing a first decoding operation; reading an authentication physical unit based on a first candidate voltage level to obtain first assistance data and reading the authentication physical unit based on a second candidate voltage level to obtain second assistance data if the first decoding operation fails; obtaining a first estimation parameter according to the first assistance data and authentication data and obtaining a second estimation parameter according to the second assistance data and the authentication data; determining a second read voltage level according to the first estimation parameter and the second estimation parameter; and reading the target physical unit again based on the second read voltage level. Accordingly, the decoding efficiency may be improved.
US09934079B2

A system, and computer usable program product for fast remote communication and computation between processors are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A direct core to core communication unit (DCC) is configured to operate with a first processor, the first processor being a remote processor. A memory associated with the DCC receives a set of bytes, the set of bytes being sent from a second processor. An operation specified in the set of bytes is executed at the remote processor such that the operation is invoked without causing a software thread to execute.
US09934071B2

The following relates generally to computer system efficiency improvements. Broadly, systems and methods are disclosed that improve efficiency in a cluster of nodes by efficient processing of tasks among nodes in a cluster of nodes. Initially, tasks may be scheduled on the nodes in the cluster of nodes. Following that, state information may be received, and a determination may be made as to if tasks should be rescheduled.
US09934063B2

Embodiments of the present invention include a computer system for running a virtual manager scheduler for scheduling activities for virtual machines. The computer system may include program instructions to: define a schedule for one or more activities to be executed for a virtual machine; apply an adjustment to the schedule in accordance with feedback information received via a virtual machine client aggregating the feedback information from a plurality of virtual machine clients, each being related to a virtual machine, per scheduled activity type; and determine of a group adjustment for a determined group of the virtual machine clients based on a function of the feedback information of the plurality of virtual machine clients.
US09934059B2

Methods and systems for flow migration between virtual network appliances in a cloud computing network are described. A network appliances managing architecture for migrating flow between VNAs including a controller to receive performance data for a VNA and analyze the performance data to determine whether the VNA has a weak performance status, where the weak performance status corresponds to any one of an overloaded, an under-loaded, and a failed status. The network appliances managing architecture further includes a classifier to receive a flow migration request from the controller for migrating one or more flows of data packets from the VNA based on the analyzing. The classifier further identifies an active VNA for flow migration based on a mapping policy and migrates the one or more flows from the VNA to the at least one active VNA.
US09934058B2

A method performed by a physical computing system includes, with a hypervisor, receiving a first packet from a virtual machine managed by the hypervisor, the first packet for transmission to a destination, the first packet including a first queue identifier, selecting a first transmission queue from a plurality of available transmission queues to transmit the first packet, the first transmission queue being based on the first queue identifier, receiving a second packet from the virtual machine, the second packet for transmission to the destination, the second packet including a second queue identifier, and selecting a second transmission queue from the plurality of available transmission queues to transmit the second packet, the second transmission queue being based on the second queue identifier.
US09934052B1

Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems and methods for the automatic packaging and deployment of virtual machines in a virtual environment. More particularly, the disclosure involves a system that automatically packages two virtual machines, a console virtual machine and a template virtual machine, in a virtual application. The template virtual machine initiates communication with the console virtual machine to generate multiple virtual machine instances.
US09934044B2

Systems, methods and products directed toward creating device preloads via employing base and additional operating system content. One aspect includes communicating an aspect of an information handling device, and assimilating additional operating system content at the information handling device responsive to communication of the aspect of the device, the additional operating system content deriving from a repository separate from the information handling device, wherein a base operating system and additional operating system content combine to form a unitary device operating system. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09934042B2

A method for dependency broadcasting through a block organized source view data structure. The method includes receiving an incoming instruction sequence using a global front end; grouping the instructions to form instruction blocks; using a plurality of register templates to track instruction destinations and instruction sources by populating the register template with block numbers corresponding to the instruction blocks, wherein the block numbers corresponding to the instruction blocks indicate interdependencies among the blocks of instructions; populating a block organized source view data structure, wherein the source view data structure stores sources corresponding to the instruction blocks as recorded by the plurality of register templates; upon dispatch of one block of the instruction blocks, broadcasting a number belonging to the one block to a column of the source view data structure that relates that block and marking the column accordingly; and updating the dependency information of remaining instruction blocks in accordance with the broadcast.
US09934040B2

According to an aspect, virtualized weight perceptron branch prediction is provided in a processing system. A selection is performed between two or more history values at different positions of a history vector based on a virtualization map value that maps a first selected history value to a first weight of a plurality of weights, where a number of history values in the history vector is greater than a number of the weights. The first selected history value is applied to the first weight in a perceptron branch predictor to determine a first modified virtualized weight. The first modified virtualized weight is summed with a plurality of modified virtualized weights to produce a prediction direction. The prediction direction is output as a branch predictor result to control instruction fetching in a processor of the processing system.
US09934032B2

A method includes receiving a packed data instruction indicating a first narrower source packed data operand and a narrower destination operand. The instruction is mapped to a masked packed data operation indicating a first wider source packed data operand that is wider than and includes the first narrower source operand, and indicating a wider destination operand that is wider than and includes the narrower destination operand. A packed data operation mask is generated that includes a mask element for each corresponding result data element of a packed data result to be stored by the masked packed data operation. All mask elements that correspond to result data elements to be stored by the masked operation that would not be stored by the packed data instruction are masking out. The masked operation is performed using the packed data operation mask. The packed data result is stored in the wider destination operand.
US09934029B2

Techniques for annotation driven Representational State Transfer (REST) web services are presented. A platform-independent World-Wide Web application is annotated to expose the methods of the application when accessed via a WWW site. The methods are described when rendered via a WWW site in a REST compliant format (RESTful).
US09934025B2

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a updating software in a plurality of devices coupled to one another in a communicating relationship through a local network, the method comprising receiving a descriptor file for a software update at the first device from a remote source outside the local network, the descriptor file including a hash code for each of a plurality of update sub-files and an order for assembling the update sub-files into the software update, downloading the plurality of update sub-files to the first device from a remote source outside the local network until the sub-files identified in the descriptor file are present on the first device, where a presence of the sub-files is evaluated using the hash codes in the descriptor file, and broadcasting every one of the plurality of update sub-files from the first device to the number of other devices.
US09934024B2

A system and method for patching a kernel. The method includes receiving an online patch request, parsing a global kernel thread list to determine kernel threads associated with a target function, maintaining a storage data structure including identifiers of the determined kernel threads, and parsing the determined kernel threads using the identifiers in the storage data structure to determine when the global kernel thread list is free of the target function upon encountering an event associated with the target function.
US09934018B2

A computing device communicates with a different computing device over a network. The computing device and the different computing device communicate with one another in a peer-to-peer architecture such that the computing device and the different computing device are peers to one another. An agent is executed on the computing device and receives an artifact deployed at the different computing device for deployment at the computing device. The agent receives the artifact via a user-initiated command. A run-time engine is executed on the computing device at which the artifact is to be deployed. After the user-initiated command has been triggered, the agent receives and deploys the artifact without further user interaction.
US09934017B2

The huge market of smartphones demands a vast number of applications with varying capabilities. For this, it is desirable that capabilities of two or more pieces of executables will be delivered together. However, several operation systems, such as Apple iOS, do not allow downloading an application with more than one binary executable file. The purpose of this invention is to allow merging of several, two or more, pieces of binary executables, without an access to any of which source code. The merging process will handle the addressing environment required for correct code operation—creating a single virtual memory space and adapting the binding addresses, offset addresses and base addresses. This will enable executing all desired functionality from a single piece of a binary executable which can be downloaded as a single application from the app store. Problems of existing mobile OSes for application downloading will be resolved.
US09934007B2

A method for operating a tool in a working environment is provided. Firstly, a website-based working environment for operating a unified tool is provided in a browser. A software development kit is used as at least one standard interface of transmitting data and/or commands between the working environment and a unified inline frame. The software development kit is compatibly executed between the working environment and the unified inline frame. Then, the unified tool is operated in the working environment as the inline frame which is loaded with an adapter is loaded. The adapter is produced as a software module which is the integration of an original tool incompatible with the working environment and the standard interface. The original tool is executed by the working environment through the standard interface.
US09934006B2

Generating a scalable code division and workflow chart. Based on definition-and-use cases of variables in a code snippet to be represented by a graph, crossing references to the variables in the code are determined, where a crossing reference associated with a statement involves a definition of the variable before the statement and a use of the variable at or after the statement. The code snippet is divided, based on the crossing references.
US09934005B2

During a first execution of software, historical data is logged that indicates which locale objects were used. During a second execution of the software, the historical data is read, and locale objects or subsections of locale objects are dynamically built from locale source files based on the historical data in the log that indicates which locale objects were used during the first execution. Any other locale objects or subsections that are needed that are not built initially during the second execution are dynamically built from locale source files when requested at run-time. Dynamically building locale objects or subsections based on which locale objects were used in one or more previous executions saves time that would otherwise be required to build the locale objects when they are needed at run-time. The result is significant savings in system-wide resources while still allowing for access to a large number of possible locales.
US09934004B1

A computer readable medium including executable instructions that when executed perform a method for validating an optimization in generated code using an executable constraints document is provided. The medium can include instructions for relating an assumption to the optimization during code generation. The medium can include instructions for generating the executable constraints document during the code generation, the executable constraints document including information about the relating; and the medium can include instructions for executing the constraints document when the validating is performed, the validating including performing an operation based on a validation result produced by the validating, where the operation includes displaying the validation result to a user, storing the validation result, sending the validation result to a destination, or modifying the generated code.
US09933998B2

In a novel computation device, a plurality of partial product generators is communicatively coupled to a binary number multiplier. The binary number is partitioned in the computation device into non-overlapping subsets of binary bits and each subset is coupled to one of the plurality of partial product generators. Each partial product generator, upon receiving a subset of binary bits representing a number, generates a multiplication product of the number and a predetermined constant. The multiplication products from all partial product generators are summed to generate the final product between the predetermined constant and the binary number. The partial product generators are constructed by logic gates and wires connected the logic gates including a AND gate. The partial product generators are free of memory elements.
US09933996B2

An apparatus for mathematical manipulation is described allowing the selective combination of shifters to shift binary numbers of various widths. Selective combination allows on-the-fly adjustment of shifters from independent to coordinated shifting operations. Selective combination allows adjustable hardware-based shifting while saving space and resources. Multiple eight-bit shifters can be configured for a variety of operand widths, such as a 32-bit width, a 24-bit width, a 16-bit width, or an eight-bit width. Multiplexers route the appropriate input data to the appropriate shifters. Opcodes configure the shifters for the desired type of shift and a shifted result is generated.
US09933995B2

Method and system for displaying images on headphones worn by a user and/or for displaying a status of the user. The headphones include a display screen on an outward-facing surface of the headphones. The display screen can display images related to audio being listened to by the user. The display screen can also display a status of the user, such as “on the phone” or “busy.” The display screen can be a touch screen display, and the user can input commands to the headphones by touching and/or gesturing on the display.
US09933985B2

Various arrangements are presented to facilitate the handoff of presentation of content between a head mounted display (HMD) and another presentation device, such as a television. For example, based upon separate events, video and audio being presented to a user via a presentation device may be handed off to an HMD that the user is wearing for continued presentation. In response to a first reference event occurring, the HMD may initiate continued presentation of the video content that was being viewed by the user on the presentation device. At a later time, in response to a second reference event, the HMD may initiate continued presentation of the audio content.
US09933978B2

Methods, computer systems, and computer program products for processing data a computing environment are provided. The computer environment for data deduplication storage receives a plurality of write operations for deduplication storage of the data. The data is buffered in a plurality of buffers with overflow temporarily stored to a memory hierarchy when the data received for deduplication storage is sequential or non sequential. The data is accumulated and updated in the plurality of buffers per a data structure, the data structure serving as a fragment map between the plurality of buffers and a plurality of user file locations. The data is restructured in the plurality of buffers to form a complete sequence of a required sequence size. The data is provided as at least one stream to a stream-based deduplication algorithm for processing and storage.
US09933976B2

A storage apparatus has a plurality of hardware engines which send and receive information to and from a controller, which, on the condition of acquiring a request command from a host, determines identifying information of the request command, executes data I/O processing to the storage device according to the request command when first identifying information has been added to the request command and when second identifying information has been added to the acquired request command, transfers the request command to the hardware engine, acquires the data requested by the hardware engine from the storage device and transfers the acquired data to the hardware engine. The hardware engine acquires and analyzes an add-on command from the host and according to the request command, requests the controller to transfer the data based on the analysis result, and thereafter executes processing to the data transferred by the controller according to the add-on command.
US09933974B2

A method of operating a data storage device includes: receiving a single wipe device initialization command from a host, and in response to the wipe device initialization command, executing a wipe device initialization operation that during a single time period initializes the entirety of a mapping table defining logical partitions dividing memory space provided by a physical region of the data storage device.
US09933970B2

A method and system for deduplicating data for a data storage system using similarity determinations are described. A tape library is arranged in a hierarchy of tape groups and tape plexes. Tape groups are an admin visible entity and are comprised of multiple tape plexes (at least equal to the number of replicas in a tape group). Tape plexes in turn comprise multiple tape cartridges. Data files and objects received within a time period are initially staged in a disk cache where they are logically segregated into cliques based on their expected deduplication ratios. These cliques are then evaluated for the amount of duplication they have with data existing in tape plexes. Based on the number of replicas being written, the top few tape plexes are selected from within the tape group. The cliques are deduplicated with data on the selected tape plexes, compressed, and written to tape.
US09933969B2

A method includes retrieving a read threshold number of integrity check value list (ICVL) encoded data slices of a set of ICVL encoded data slices. The method further includes determining whether an appended ICVL of each ICVL encoded data slice of the read threshold number of ICVL encoded data slices substantially match. When the appended ICVL of one of the ICVL encoded does not substantially match the appended ICVL of other ICVL encoded data slices, the method further includes determining a likely cause for the mismatch. When the likely cause is missing a revision update, the method further includes initiate rebuilding of the encoded data slice portion. The method further includes generating an integrity check value for the rebuilt encoded data slice and updating the integrity check value list. The method further includes appending the updated integrity check value list to the rebuilt encoded data slice.
US09933968B2

A system and method for adapting a secure application execution environment to support multiple configurations includes determining a maximum configuration for the secure application execution environment, determining an optimal configuration for the secure application environment, and, at load time, configuring the secure application execution environment for the optimal configuration.
US09933964B2

According to certain aspects, a system can include a client computing device configured to: in response to user interaction, store an identifier associated with a first tag in association with a first file; and in response to instructions to perform a secondary copy operation, forward the first file, a second file, and the identifier associated with the first tag. The system may also include a secondary storage controller computer(s) configured to: based on a review of the identifier associated with the first tag, identify the first file as having been tagged with the first tag; electronically obtain rules associated with the first tag; perform on the first file at least a first secondary storage operation specified by the rules associated with the first tag; and perform on the second file at least a second secondary storage operation, wherein the first and second secondary storage operations are different.
US09933961B1

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for backup operations. A read request is received for a data segment at a deduplicated storage system. The data segment is determined not to be in a data cache on the deduplicated storage system. A data segment reference for the data segment is determined to be in a data segment reference cache on the deduplicated storage system. The data segment is read from a persistent storage using the data segment reference.
US09933955B1

Data from a host is received into a volatile memory of a Data Storage Device (DSD) for storage on a disk of the DSD. Data received in the volatile memory from the host is identified for inclusion in a Power Safe Write Buffer (PSWB) and an indication is sent to the host indicating storage of data received from the host and identified for inclusion in the PSWB before storing the identified data on the disk. In the event of an unexpected power loss of the DSD, the identified data is transferred from the volatile memory to a Non-Volatile Solid-State Memory (NVSM) of the DSD.
US09933952B1

Described herein are techniques for use in balancing allocated cache pages among storage devices in a flash cache. The techniques comprise determining an expected number of allocated cache pages in connection with a non-volatile storage device that forms at least part of a flash cache. The techniques also comprise performing a comparison between the expected number of allocated cache pages and an actual number of allocated or free cache pages in connection with the non-volatile storage device. The techniques further comprise selecting, based on the comparison, a free cache page in connection with the non-volatile storage device to allocate as a cache page.
US09933950B2

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for interrupting storage operations. A frequency module is configured to determine a frequency for pausing a storage operation. An interrupt module is configured to pause execution of a storage operation according to a determined frequency. A resume module is configured to continue a paused storage operation in response to a trigger.
US09933927B2

A method for providing a graphical user interface on a display of a device includes: displaying a photograph image on the display of the device; receiving a touch input made on the display; superimposedly displaying a plurality of control guides at a location corresponding to the touch input over the displayed photograph image in response to the touch input; receiving a drag input corresponding to one of the plurality of control guides displayed on the display; adjusting a display characteristic of the photograph image corresponding to the one of the plurality of control guides, in response to the drag input; and displaying the photograph image having the adjusted display characteristic on the display, wherein the display characteristic is a magnification of the photograph image.
US09933926B2

A system for efficiently displaying medical data to a user. For one or more of the image series, the system displays a thumbnail image representing the image series in a secondary segment of a display. In response to a selection of one of the displayed thumbnail images the system displays in the secondary segment a positioning grid with multiple sections, each section representing a section of a separate primary segment of the display that does not overlap the secondary segment. In response to a selection of one of the sections in the positioning grid the system updates the display to cause an image in the image series corresponding to the selected thumbnail image to be displayed in the section of the primary segment of the display represented by the selected section of the positioning grid.
US09933922B2

Disclosed herein are technologies that give a disproportionate amount of screen real estate (or container real estate) to one of a group of user interface (UI) subcontainers to which a user is giving his or her attention. More particularly, in response to an indication that the user is focused and/or interested on a particular subcontainer, the device enlarges that subcontainer to occupy more (and perhaps all) of the available screen (or container) real estate. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09933902B2

A touch panel and a touch screen display device are provided. The touch panel includes: a base plate including a display area and a border area; and a capacitive touch structure and an electromagnetic touch structure that are provided on a same side of the base plate; where the electromagnetic touch structure includes multiple first coils each extending in a first direction and multiple second coils each extending in a second direction; every two adjacent coils of the multiple first coils partly overlap each other; every two adjacent coils of the multiple second coils partly overlap each other; and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The touch panel includes a capacitive touch structure for capacitive touch detection and an electromagnetic touch structure for electromagnetic touch detection, and thus may achieve both capacitive touch detection and electromagnetic touch detection.
US09933896B2

The present invention discloses a touch panel and a method of manufacturing a touch panel, to reduce the visibility of the transparent etching line of the transparent electrodes on the touch panel. The touch panel comprises a plurality of transparent electrode disposed distantly on the transparent conductive layer and the passivation layer of a transparent substrate, where the passivation layer covering the transparent conductive layer, to make the refractive index of the passivation layer and the transparent electrodes match with each other. Oxide with high refractive index added in the passivation material is filled in the etched area of the transparent conductive layer, so that the optical refractive index of the etched area and ITO area on transparent conductive layer become closer, and the difference in refractive index curve between ITO area and etched area is reduced, therefore, the effect of making the transparent electrode pattern is achieved.
US09933885B2

A motor vehicle operating device is presented that comprises a presence-sensitive sensor device and is configured to provide, in a motor vehicle, an activated first application and at least one deactivated further application. A driver can control an activated application by means of the presence-sensitive sensor device and cannot control a deactivated application by means of the presence-sensitive sensor device. The motor vehicle operating device is configured to receive an input signal, which refers to a number of input objects with which the input is made at the presence-sensitive sensor device, wherein different numbers of input objects are assigned to the applications. OIf the input signal refers to a number of input objects assigned to the first application, control of the first application takes place and, if the input signal refers to a number of input objects assigned to the further application, activation of the further application takes place.
US09933878B2

Embodiments include methods, systems and computer program products for operating an electronic device having a touch screen display for displaying information. Embodiments include generating a designated location on the touch screen display for receiving a continuous touch contact. Based on detecting a continuous touch contact at the designated location, information is displayed on the touch screen. Based on detecting an absence of a continuous touch contact at the designated location on the touch screen display, the display of information is disabled.
US09933872B2

An input device or an input/output device with higher sensing accuracy is provided. An input device or an input/output device with higher detection sensitivity is provided. A display device or an input/output device with high visibility is provided. A plurality of conductive layers arranged in a matrix has an outline including a linear portion parallel to a direction along an outline of a display region of a display portion and linear portions of adjacent two conductive layers face each other. Furthermore, in the plurality of conductive layers arranged in a matrix, a plurality of conductive layers arranged in a line in an oblique direction to the outline of the display portion are electrically connected to each other. Alternatively, a plurality of conductive layers arranged in a zigzag line along the outline of the display portion are electrically connected to each other.
US09933867B2

An active capacitive pen including: a tip; a first electrode mechanically connected to the tip that displaces in response to a force applied to the tip; a second electrode that is isolated from the tip, where the first electrode and the second electrode are of different types (e.g., transmitter electrode, receiver electrode); and a measurement module that detects a change in capacitance resulting from displacement of the first electrode relative to the second electrode.
US09933863B2

An optical object recognition system includes at least two beacons, an image sensor and a processing unit. The beacons operate in an emission pattern and the emission pattern of the beacons has a phase shift from each other. The image sensor captures image frames with a sampling period. The processing unit is configured to recognize different beacons according to the phase shift of the emission pattern in the image frames.
US09933853B2

Provided are a display control device attachable to a human body, a display control program, and a display control method capable of performing switching among images displayed on a display device along with movement of the human body. The attachment device according to the present invention is attachable to the human body, and includes: an acceleration device that detects acceleration; and a display device capable of switchingly displaying different images. The display device performs switching among a plurality of images in accordance with the acceleration that is detected by the acceleration device. In this case, the switching among the images displayed on the display device can be performed along with the movement of the human body.
US09933851B2

There is provided a system having a feedback device including a sensory feedback element, a non-transitory memory storing an executable code and a virtual object having a virtual surface, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor is configured to execute the executable code to determine a position of a hand of a first user, determine a location of the virtual surface of the virtual object, and transmit a first activation signal to the feedback device to cause a sensory feedback to be provided to the first user using the sensory feedback element of the feedback device based on the position of the hand of the first user relative to the location of the virtual surface of the virtual object.
US09933850B2

An information processing apparatus includes an imaging unit, a display, a detection unit, and a controller. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image to acquire a captured image. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image to acquire a captured image. The display has a display surface that faces in the same direction as an imaging direction of the imaging unit. The detection unit is configured to perform imaging processing on the captured image to detect an opening degree of eye of a user in the captured image. The controller is configured to control a presentation of the display based on a result of the detection by the detection unit.
US09933848B2

There is provided an information processing apparatus that controls display of a virtual object displayed in an extended work space in which a real object and the virtual object are operable, the information processing apparatus including an operation deciding unit configured to decide an operation process to the virtual object displayed in the extended work space on the basis of a result of analysis of input information to the extended work space, the analysis being based on position information of an information terminal detected in the extended work space and display control trigger information for changing display of the virtual object, and a display control unit configured to execute a display control process of the virtual object on the basis of the decided operation process.
US09933843B2

A method for reducing a need for power in a backup mode of operation in a data center includes receiving a first alert from an uninterruptible power supply indicating that the uninterruptible power supply is operating in a first mode, wherein the first mode includes deriving power from a stored energy source, identifying at least one host server configured to receive power from the uninterruptible power supply in the first mode, suspending execution of at least one virtual machine on the at least one host server, receiving a second alert from the uninterruptible power supply indicating that the uninterruptible power supply is operating in a second mode, wherein the second mode includes deriving power from one of a mains power source and a generator, and resuming execution of the at least one virtual machine.
US09933832B2

Systems, methods, and software are described herein for operating a power management system including identifying a virtual machine load in a virtual machine environment, identifying a power state for at least one real machine in the virtual machine environment based on the virtual machine load, and modifying the power state for the at least one real machine.
US09933825B2

An example process for controlling a processor may include: (i) obtaining parameters associated with operation of a processor, where each of the parameters has a different time scale; (ii) performing an iterative process to identify ones of the parameters that achieve a particular energy efficiency in the processor, where the energy efficiency of the processor corresponds to a quasi-concave function having a maximum that corresponds to the ones of the parameters; and (iii) controlling the processor using the ones of the parameters.
US09933824B2

A centrifugal fan for an electronic device is described. The centrifugal fan includes a volute casing with an outlet; and vanes accommodated in the volute casing. The volute casing has an inner surface facing the vanes, the inner surface being formed with a plurality of air guiding channels for directing air inside the volute casing in a direction towards the outlet of the volute casing.
US09933822B2

An electronic component case includes, a lower case including a bottom plate, a side wall having a protruding portion, an engaging projection formed on an outer face of the side wall, and a screw hole formed in the side wall in a region where the protruding portion is provided, and an upper case including a top plate, a side wall in which an engaging hole is formed, and a notched hole formed in the side wall on the top plate side. The protruding portion of the lower case is engaged to the notched hole of the upper case, and the screw hole is exposed in the notched hole. The engaging projection of the lower case is engaged in the engaging hole of the upper case.
US09933816B2

A waterproof housing for a digital device includes front and rear bulkhead members for sealably holding a digital device having a touch screen. The touch screen is positioned to be viewed through a transparent surface of the rear bulkhead, which includes an aperture through which an actuator is sealably positioned. The actuator includes a shaft extending through the aperture, a control member connected to an outer end of the shaft, a stop member affixed to the control member for contacting the housing or engaging the recess, an extension member connected to an inner end of the shaft, a first probe affixed to the extension member near the shaft, and a second probe affixed to the extension member at an off-center position relative to a center axis defined by the shaft. The actuator is configured to selectively operate the first and second probes to execute touch motions on the touch screen.”
US09933813B2

An information processing apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing including an antenna, and a hinge member including a first shaft on a side of the first housing, and a second shaft parallel to the first shaft and on a side of the second housing, the hinge member coupling the first housing and the second housing such that the first housing and the second housing are rotatable 360 degrees, wherein, in a state where a rotation angle between the first housing and the second housing is 360 degrees, the second shaft is located at a position nearer than the first shaft to a free end side of the first housing, and the antenna protrudes beyond the first housing.
US09933811B2

A method for making a capacitive touch sensitive housing, comprises: forming a non-patterned active metal layer on a housing wall; patterning the non-patterned active metal layer on the housing wall by laser ablation such that the non-patterned active metal layer is formed into a patterned active metal layer including a plurality of plating portions separated from each other, and a plurality of non-plating portions separated from the plating portions; and forming a metal layer on the patterned active metal layer such that the metal layer has first portions formed on the plating portions of the patterned active metal layer, and second portions formed on the non-plating portions of the patterned active metal layer.
US09933810B2

The present invention is directed to a housing unit, which allows an electronic device such as a portable digital audio player to be substantially hermetically sealed within an audio device. The electronic device is controllable by a user while housed with the housing unit. The audio device is able to be used in a vehicle such as a car, a camper, or a boat or in other common consumer products.
US09933809B2

Pacing of a producer, operating in a producer clock domain, may be based on at least one heuristic of a credit wire that is used to return credits to the producer. The returned credits may indicate that a consumer, operating in a consumer clock domain, has consumed data produced by the producer. The at least one heuristic may be a rate at which the credits are returned to the producer. Pacing the producer based on the rate at which the credits are returned to the producer may reduce latency of the data, flowing from the producer clock domain to the consumer clock domain, by minimizing an average number of entries in use in a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) operating in a pipeline between the producer and the consumer.
US09933801B1

A voltage regulator may include an auxiliary power device having a first terminal coupled to a control line, a second terminal coupled to an input voltage and a third terminal coupled to an output voltage pad. The voltage regulator may also include a main power device electrically coupled in parallel with the auxiliary power device. A second terminal of the main power device may be coupled to the input voltage, and a third terminal of the main power device may be coupled to the output voltage pad. The voltage regulator may further include a switching system selectively coupling the main power device into and out of the voltage regulator.
US09933796B2

A building has climate control equipment which controls a temperature at different locations. Different locations may be in different control zones controlled by different control devices. An occupant of a location submits a desired location temperature through a user interface on a computing device to a networked server. Setting of a desired temperature is constrained by energy saving policies and by conditions of surrounding locations. An arbitrator device determines based on constraints a new temperature setting. The new temperature setting is accompanied by an energy saving feedback. The occupants confirms the new setting. A climate control device is instructed to apply a device setting to achieve the new temperature. A climate profile of the occupant is learned from previous temperature settings by the occupant.
US09933790B2

A method is disclosed comprising drawing air into a robotic vapor device, exposing the drawn air to a sensor to detect one or more constituents in the drawn air, determining first measurement data for the one or more constituents of the drawn air via the sensor, transmitting the first measurement data to a one or more of a plurality of vapor devices via a peer-to-peer network, receiving second measurement data from the one or more of the plurality of vapor devices via the peer-to-peer network, determining one or more vaporizable materials to vaporize based on the first measurement data and the second measurement data, and dispensing a vapor comprised of the one or more vaporizable materials.
US09933785B2

A method comprises: a preliminary phase wherein a vehicle is aligned to be engaged toward a target position; a first phase wherein a reference trajectory is generated as a function of the status and target position of the vehicle, the status defined by the current position and orientation of the vehicle; a second phase wherein the reference trajectory being divided into sections, at the start of each section and before the vehicle begins a movement whether the reference trajectory can be followed is predicted as a function of imposed overall size constraints and estimated lateral and/or longitudinal slippages; a third phase, if the trajectory can be followed, wherein the turn angle of the wheels and the linear traction speed of the vehicle are controlled as a function of the status of the vehicle and the lateral and/or longitudinal slippages, to bring the centers of the wheels onto the reference trajectory.
US09933780B2

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for providing control of an unmanned aircraft (UA). A server may receive an indication from a UA that a transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight is required while the UA is in autonomous flight. The server may select a pilot station for providing pilot controlled flight of the UA. Selecting a pilot station for providing pilot controlled flight of the UA may be based on a pilot criterion associated with the pilot station. A UA may detect a condition that requires a transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight and establish a pilot criterion for pilot controlled flight based on the detected condition. The UA may send a request for a pilot that includes the pilot criterion and information about the condition.
US09933770B2

A method and apparatus for linking an automation device to a data processing system is disclosed that creates a virtual device in the data processing system for the automation device. An identification number is generated in the data processing system as a function of a classification of the virtual device in the data processing system for identifying the virtual device. The identification number assigned to the virtual device and passed to a configuration tool that is designed to configure the automation device. The identification number is assigned by the configuration tool to a configuration dataset that is then loaded onto the automation device, stored in the automation device, and used by the automation device for the interaction of the automation device with the data processing system.
US09933763B1

A control system for providing Cloud based commands to an Internet connected device that includes one or more Cloud servers for receiving commands from at least one mobile web enabled user device. A load balancer is used for receiving communication from a server for distributing commands from at least one web enabled device to the Cloud. A server based Internet connected device activator is used for receiving commands and controlling operation of an Internet connected device from the server. The state of the Internet connected device is determined by information local to the Internet connected device such that is communicated to the server for determining the state of the Internet connected device before activation.
US09933760B2

A device to facilitate a user interface of a computer system utilizing breath includes a body, a user side inlet defined by the body to receive a fluid flow generated by a user, an exhaust opening defined by the body, a conduit positioned between the user side inlet and the one exhaust opening, at least one segment positioned inside the body and one or more contactors positioned to be intermittently in contact with the at least one segment. The contact may occur responsive to the fluid flow generated by the user. The device may include a sensor to react to a movement of the at least one segment.
US09933756B2

The invention discloses a smart watch, which comprises: a dial (10), a first and a second straps (20,24), connected respectively to both sides of the dial (10); wherein a first and a second displays (12,13) are disposed respectively on a front and a back of the shell body (11) of the dial (10), the first and second straps (20,24) are disposed with a plurality of clasps (21) and clasp holes (22) correspondingly, and the first and second displays (12,13) can have the same or different shapes and sizes, depending on whether the watch is worn on front or back, so that when worn on different side, different display is viewed to achieve complex application. Designing different appearances for the front and back of smart watch satisfies various esthetics, and manufacturing the first and second displays (12,13) monolithically simplifies the control circuit to improve smart watch quality.
US09933755B2

Example embodiments relate to a response time measurement apparatus, a response time measurement system and a response time measurement method for measuring a response output time from a facility corresponding to an input signal, and more particularly, a response time measurement apparatus, a response time measurement system and a response time measurement method in which the output display of a facility is captured through a capture device to detect an output time on the basis thereof.
US09933752B2

An electrical machine includes an exhaust fan and an exhaust port on which an optional device is mounted. The optional device includes a duct, an electric fan, and an air flow sensor. Through the duct, an exhaust gas from the exhaust port is guided. The electric fan draws in the exhaust gas flowing through the duct and discharges the exhaust gas into an atmosphere. The air flow sensor detects presence or absence of the exhaust gas flowing from the electrical machine. The air flow sensor includes an air path partitioned from an inside of the duct by a partition wall. The air path includes an exhaust gas and an exit port. The exhaust gas intake port includes an opening facing the exhaust gas. The exit port communicates with the atmosphere at a position outside the duct.
US09933741B2

A printer main body is mounted on a sheet feeding option, and the sheet feeding option is electrically connected to the mounted printer main body. The sheet feeding option has a connecting member configured to turn on a turn axis. The connecting member is disposed at a position closer to one end than the other end of the printer main body in a direction intersecting a direction of the turn axis, and turns from a connected position electrically connected to the printer main body only toward the one end.
US09933734B2

A fixing apparatus includes a tubular film and a heater in contact with an inner surface of the film. The heater includes a long thin substrate, a first heat generation resistor extending in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, a second heat generation resistor extending in the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a conductor electrically connecting the first heat generation resistor and the second heat generation resistor to each other. At least part of the conductor is disposed in an area, in the longitudinal direction, in which the first heat generation resistor is disposed. In a range of 25° C. to 900° C., the conductor has a resistance lower than a total resistance of the first heat generation resistor and the second heat generation resistor. The conductor has a temperature coefficient of resistance larger than a temperature coefficient of resistance of the first heat generation resistor.
US09933733B2

A fixing device includes a first support portion that supports an endless belt, and relatively moves with respect to a rotating body to press the endless belt against the rotating body, a second support portion that supports the first support portion to be relatively movable, a first member that is supported in the endless belt by the second support portion, a second member that is supported in the endless belt to be capable of approaching and being separated from the first support portion, a first biasing member that is provided in the first support portion, and biases the second member to a rotating body side, a second biasing member that is provided in the second support portion, and biases the first support portion to the rotating body side, and a switching portion that switches between a first state and a second state.
US09933729B2

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body, an intermediate transfer belt, a holding member, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer member, and a biasing member. The intermediate transfer belt comes into contact with and separate from the photosensitive body. The holding member holds the intermediate transfer belt. The biasing member biases the primary transfer member toward a side of the photosensitive body. The holding member is movable between a first holding position to make the intermediate transfer belt come into contact with the photosensitive body and a second holding position to make the intermediate transfer belt separate from the photosensitive body. The primary transfer member moves toward a side remote from the photosensitive body against biasing force of the biasing member in accordance with a movement of the holding member from the first holding position to the second holding position.
US09933723B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier and a charge removing portion. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the image carrier. The charge removing portion includes: a light source configured to emit light to be used for removing charge from the image carrier; a light concentrating portion configured to concentrate the light emitted from the light source on a surface of the image carrier; and a light source supporting portion formed integrally with the light concentrating portion and supporting the light source at a supporting position in which the light source and the light concentrating portion have a predetermined positional relationship.
US09933717B2

The present invention relates to a toner for electrostatic charge image development, including: a toner base particle having at least a binder resin, a releasing agent, and a colorant, wherein the following formula (1) is satisfied wherein a maximum value and a minimum value of a dielectric loss tangent tan δ, which are obtained by measuring at a frequency in the range of 1 kHz to 100 kHz under the condition at a temperature of 20° C. and a relative humidity of 50% RH, are defined as tan δmax and tan δmin, respectively. According to the present invention, a toner for electrostatic charge image development, with which the rising of the toner charge amount is improved while ensuring the low temperature fixability, and a high quality image having less density unevenness can be obtained even during the image forming at a high speed and a high printing rate, is provided. Frequency showing tan δmax
US09933716B2

The present invention relates to a toner for electrostatic charge image development, including toner base particles containing a binder resin containing as a main component a vinyl resin having a constitutional unit derived from a monomer having an acid group, and aluminum, wherein a concentration of the aluminum in the toner base particles, as measured by radio inductively coupled plasma emission spectral analysis, is from 900 to 2,200 ppm. According to the present invention, there is provided a means for improving the environmental stability of electrification, and the glossiness and the image density of the image to be formed in a good balance while maintaining sufficient low temperature fixability in a toner for electrostatic charge image development.
US09933713B2

Provided is an electro-conductive belt including an electro-conductive resin layer. The electro-conductive resin layer includes a matrix containing a thermoplastic resin having at least one bond selected from the group consisting of an amide bond, an ester bond and a carbonate bond, a domain containing an ionic liquid containing a hexafluorophosphate anion or an anion expressed by formula (1), and particles containing a silicone resin having a structure expressed by formula (2): R0—SiO3/2. Formula (1)
US09933710B2

A projection exposure method for exposing a radiation-sensitive substrate with at least one image of a pattern of a mask in a projection exposure apparatus includes using an anamorphic projection lens
US09933707B2

An optical apparatus includes an interchange mechanism and an optical assembly of an illumination system or a projection objective. At least one of the plurality of optical elements of the optical assembly is selected from among a plurality of ones selectable from the interchange mechanism which facilitates exchange of one for another in the beam path. To reduce transmission of vibration from the interchange mechanism to the optical assembly, the interchange mechanism is mounted on a structure which is substantially dynamically decoupled from the housing, and a selected selectable optical element is located at an operating position at which it is separate from the interchange mechanism.
US09933703B2

The invention relates to a photolithographic illuminator device including: a light beam source, a condenser (5), an optical homogenizing system (4) including at least one microlens array, said system being arranged upstream from the condenser, and a shutter (3) arranged at the object focal point of the optical homogenizing system, the illuminator being characterized in that same further comprises a network of aperture diaphragms (8) arranged in the Fourier transform plane of the shutter plane (3). The invention likewise relates to a photolithographic device including such an illuminator.
US09933699B2

A pellicle is disposed over a lithography mask. An acoustic wave generator is placed over the pellicle. The acoustic wave generator is configured to generate acoustic waves to cause the pellicle to vibrate at a target resonance frequency. A resonance detection tool is configured to detect an actual resonance frequency of the pellicle in response to the acoustic waves. One or more electronic processors are configured to estimate an age condition of the pellicle as a function of a shift of the actual resonance frequency from the target resonance frequency.
US09933694B2

A projector is provided which can secure long-term reliability and enable high-speed start-up through suppression of local heat generation of phosphor. The projector includes a light source device including an excitation light source emitting excitation light, a phosphor disk on which a phosphor that converts the excitation light into fluorescence is continuously formed in a circumferential direction of the phosphor disk, a motor unit rotating the phosphor disk in the circumferential direction, a light modulation device generating an image light through modulation of light including the fluorescence, and a projection optical system projecting the image light. If the number of rotations of the phosphor disk reaches a predetermined number that is smaller than a target number, the excitation light source is turned on, while if the number of rotations of the phosphor disk is increased after reaching the predetermined number, an output of the excitation light source is increased.
US09933690B2

The lens drive adapter is detachably attachable to a lens barrel on which an operation member and a lens electric contact portion are provided. The adapter includes a drive unit including a drive member configured to transmit a driving force to the operation member, an adapter electric contact portion configured to contact the lens electric contact portion to be electrically connected therewith, and two adapter coupling portions configured to couple with the lens barrel at its two circumferential locations to fix the adapter to the lens barrel. The adapter electric contact portion is provided, in a first direction corresponding to an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, at a position different from that of the drive member and between the two adapter coupling portions.
US09933688B1

An analog-to-digital converter can produce a digital signal representative of an analog input electrical signal. A continuous-wave laser can lock to a multifrequency optical signal and produce a continuous-wave optical signal. An optical amplitude modulator can modulate the continuous-wave optical signal using the analog input electrical signal to produce a first modulated optical signal. An optical splitter can split the first modulated optical signal into a plurality of modulated optical signals. A plurality of detectors can convert the modulated optical signals into respective modulated electrical signals. A plurality of comparators and a decoder arranged in a flash converter topology can receive the modulated electrical signals and output the digital signal using a timing reference derived from the multifrequency optical signal. Using a relatively high-precision multifrequency optical signal, such as produced by a photonic oscillator, can produce a relatively high-precision device.
US09933681B2

A driver for an electrochromic element is configured to adjust the transmittance of a solution-type electrochromic element to allow the element to display a tone. The element has a pair of electrodes and at least one organic electrochromic material mixed between the electrodes. The driver has an adjusting controller configured to adjust the transmittance of the element. The adjusting controller has controller A and controller B. Controller A is configured to saturate a change in the transmittance of the element to an initial state by applying the voltage which resets the element to the initial state. Controller B is configured to control the tone of the element by applying the voltage which adjusts the transmittance of the element following controller A.
US09933679B2

A main object of the present invention is to provide a birefringence improving agent that can realize a satisfactory white display even in a liquid crystal display device in which a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition is used and which can reduce the birefringence and has a large cell gap; a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display device that use the birefringence improving agent; and a compound that can be used in a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition.
US09933672B2

A display panel and manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are disclosed. The display panel includes an array substrate and a counter substrate. The array substrate includes a main region and a peripheral region, the main region coincides with an orthographical projection of the counter substrate on the array substrate, and at least one glue dispensing zone is arranged in the peripheral region or the main region. Conductive adhesive is provided in the glue dispensing zone, and is electrically connected to a grounded unit; an electrostatic conducting structure is provided on the counter substrate, and the conductive adhesive is electrically connected to the electrostatic conducting structure.
US09933667B2

A liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate, a TFT layer located on the first substrate, a color resist layer located on the TFT layer, a photospacer layer located on the color resist layer, a protective layer located on the color resist layer and the photospacer layer, a via hole penetrating the color resist layer and the protective layer, a pixel electrode layer formed on the protective layer and electrically connected to the TFT layer with the via hole and a second substrate oppositely located to the first substrate, and one or more color resist material in the photospacer layer and the color resist layer are the same, and the photospacer layer and the color resist layer are formed at the same time during a manufacture process.
US09933666B2

The invention provides a curved liquid crystal panel, including a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, frame adhesive and a plurality of holders, the space includes a central region, marginal regions and interim regions between the central region and the marginal regions, the holders are disposed in the space and between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first bearing layer is disposed on ends towards the first substrate on the holders in the central region, the first bearing layer supports the first substrate by a plane, a second bearing layer is disposed in the interim regions, the second bearing layer supports the first substrate by a supporting plane formed by a plurality of points, a third bearing layer is disposed on ends towards the first substrate on the holders in the marginal regions.
US09933665B2

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device that includes first and second substrates; a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates; first and second bumps on the first substrate; and at least one first protrusion facing the first bump, and at least one second protrusion facing the second bump, the first and second protrusions being on the second substrate, wherein the first protrusion faces one side of the first bump, and the second protrusion faces the other side of the second bump.
US09933663B2

The disclosure discloses a friction roller comprising: a friction roller body comprising an inner cylinder and a pattern-variable module wrapped outside the inner cylinder; and a controller connected with the pattern-variable module. The controller controls the pattern-variable module to deform according to step information of a surface for friction. Also disclosed is a method for using the friction roller. Embodiments of the disclosure enable alignment grooves with the same depth to be formed on the surface for friction by way of the friction roller, thereby reducing stripes on the surface for friction and enhancing the display effect.
US09933662B2

A liquid crystal display device (100) includes a liquid crystal layer (30) of a vertical alignment type, a first photo-alignment film (12), and a second photo-alignment film (22). The first photo-alignment film includes a first pre-tilt region (12a) and a second pre-tilt region (12b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD1, PD2) that are anti-parallel to each other. The second photo-alignment film includes a third pre-tilt region (22a) and a fourth pre-tilt region (22b) defining pre-tilt directions (PD3, PD4) that are anti-parallel to each other. The entire boundary (BD1) between the first pre-tilt region and the second pre-tilt region and the entire boundary (BD2) between the third pre-tilt region and the fourth pre-tilt region are aligned with each other, as seen from the display plane normal direction.
US09933661B2

A liquid crystal apparatus includes a substrate that includes a convex portion on one surface, a liquid crystal layer that is arranged on the one surface side of the substrate, an inorganic alignment film that is arranged between the substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and has a column structure inclined to the one surface of the substrate, and an organic alignment film, in which the inorganic alignment film has a concave portion of which a thickness becomes thin in at least a portion of the column structure, at a position to be in contact with a portion that does not face an inclined direction side of the column structure in a side surface of the convex portion, and the organic alignment film is arranged in the concave portion.
US09933659B2

The present disclosure provides a polarization beam splitter, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display apparatus. The polarization beam splitter comprises a second prism group and a first prism group formed sequentially from a light incidence side to a light outgoing side and meshing with each other; and a polarization beam splitting layer arranged on a meshing surface of the first or second prism group and configured to allow a first polarized light in an incident light to be transmitted through the polarization beam splitting layer to exit from the light outgoing side while reflecting a second polarized light in the incident light back to the light incidence side, the second polarized light having a polarization direction perpendicular to that of the first polarized light.
US09933657B2

A backlight unit including a frame including a bottom and a sidewall extending from the bottom; at least one substrate located on the frame, and a plurality of light sources mounted on the at least one substrate; and a reflecting sheet located on the at least one substrate. The reflecting sheet comprises a first sheet part located on the bottom, the first sheet part including a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of the light sources; and a second sheet part extended from the first sheet part, the second sheet part including a horizontal dot area located along a long side of the reflecting sheet and a vertical dot area located along a short side of the reflecting sheet, and at least one of the horizontal dot area and the vertical dot area comprising first areas and second areas. In addition, the first areas correspond to outermost holes among the plurality of holes, and the second areas are located between the first areas, the first areas and the second areas include a plurality of dot areas, each of the dot areas includes a plurality of dots, a density of dots included in one of the plurality of dot areas is different from a density of dots included in another of the plurality of dot areas in the first area, a density of dots included in one of the plurality of dot areas is different from a density of dots included in another of the plurality of dot areas in the second area, the first and second areas comprise first dot areas, the first dot areas are positioned at the same distance between a first distance and a second distance from a line, the line being an imaginary line connecting the outermost holes along at least one of the long side and the short side of the reflecting sheet, and a density of dots included in the first dot area of the first area is different from a density of dots included in the first dot area of the second area.
US09933654B2

A polarizer for use in an IPS-LCD includes: a polarizing element; and a retardation film laminate attached to a surface of the polarizing element. The retardation film laminate includes a combination of a +B film and a −B film or a combination of a +B film and a +A film.
US09933639B1

Systems, and related methods, relating generally to electro-absorption modulation are described. In a system therefor, there is a waveguide. A photodetector is configured with respect to the waveguide for detecting luminous intensity of an optical signal. An electro-absorption modulator is configured with respect to the waveguide for electro-absorption modulation of the optical signal. An integrated heating element is located alongside and spaced apart from both the photodetector and the electro-absorption modulator. the integrated heating element is configured for controllably heating the photodetector and the electro-absorption modulator.
US09933638B2

An active, transparency-controlled window comprises at least one layer of a material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light; at least one layer of photochromic material having a transparency, to the at least selected wavelengths of light, that can be controllably altered by an activating light; and a controllable source of light that activates the photochromic material to controllably alter the transparency of the photochromic material to the at least selected wavelengths of light. The material that is transparent to at least selected wavelengths of light may be a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.
US09933625B2

A head mounted display (HMD) may comprise an adjustable crown band, a crown band circumference adjusting mechanism coupled to the adjustable crown band and configured to adjust a crown band circumference to releasably secure the crown band to the user's crown, an armature including left and right arms, each of the left and right arms mounted at a respective proximal end to corresponding left and right HMD attachment structures, a display mounted at left and right sides to respective distal ends of the left and right arms, and an eye relief distance adjustment mechanism configured to move the left and right arms in a timed manner toward and away from the crown band along a substantially linear path, to thereby adjust an eye relief distance from the display to an eye of a the user when the crown band is fitted on the crown of the user.
US09933624B1

A system for providing virtual reality imagery to a rider of an amusement attraction, the system having a headgear piece for securing a viewing screen to a head of the rider. The rider rides upon an actuated motion base that moves the viewing screen behind the user until a lap bar is secured over the user's lap.
US09933618B2

A cleaning apparatus includes: an accommodation unit that accommodates a cleaning cloth; a drawing-out unit that draws out the cleaning cloth; a cleaning clot setting mechanism unit including an ascend/descend member that ascends and descend together with the cleaning cloth drawn out by the drawing-out unit; and a projection unit that upwardly projects as far as a position between an ascended position and a descended position of the ascend/descend member. When the ascend/descend member is located at the ascended position, the cleaning cloth can be drawn out, and when the ascend/descend member is located at the descended position, the projection unit engages the cleaning cloth, and a robot causes an optical device to be pressed against the cleaning cloth engaged by the projection unit, thereby cleaning the optical device.
US09933614B2

An electro-optic device includes a chip provided with a mirror and a drive element adapted to drive the mirror, a light-transmitting cover adapted to cover the mirror in a planar view, and a spacer having contact with one surface of the chip between the cover and the chip. The entire part of one surface of the chip having contact with the spacer is made of a first material such as silicon oxide film having first thermal conductivity, and the spacer is made of a second material such as a quartz crystal having second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity. The cover is made of a third material such as sapphire having third thermal conductivity higher than the second thermal conductivity.
US09933612B2

A optical device comprises a colour wheel, the colour wheel having a hub portion configured to act as a rotor for coupling to a motor and having a disk-shaped surface; an optically active radial portion, attached to or integrated with the hub portion and configured to optically process incident light; and a balancing adaptation to the disk-shaped surface of the hub portion, comprising one or more of: (a) a recess in the disk-shaped surface extending to an edge of the disk-shaped surface; (b) an annular groove in the disk-shaped surface having a non-uniform width and/or being non-concentric with the disk-shaped surface; (c) an annular groove in the disk-shaped surface, at least a portion of which is filled by a balancing mass part; and (d) a groove and/or a matrix of recesses in the disk-shaped surface arranged to define a portion of an annulus in shape.
US09933610B2

The oblique-viewing objective optical system includes a front-side lens group having a negative refractive power, an optical path converting element, an aperture stop, and a rear-side lens group having a positive refractive power. The front-side lens group includes a first lens and a second lens, and the rear-side lens group includes a third lens and a cemented lens which includes a positive biconvex lens and a meniscus-shape negative lens. The first lens is a negative lens having a concave surface directed toward an image-plane side, and the second lens is a single lens having a convex surface directed toward the image-plane side or a cemented lens, and the third lens is a positive lens. The following conditional expressions (1) to (3) are satisfied: 1.6
US09933605B2

A high-radiance broadband incoherent light source is provided by pumping a body formed from a doped material, such as a Ce:YAG crystal with one or more laser diodes. The laser diodes emit at a stimulus wavelength, which may be an absorption wavelength of the body, and the body fluoresces to emit broadband light in a wide emission band. The body is either disposed in, or forms a light-concentrating cavity, e.g., reflective surfaces, which may be dichroic surfaces, can be formed on or attached to the sides of the body to concentrate the emitted light. The light is captured by a light collector that is coupled to an output face of the body to produce a broadband illumination beam. One or more of the reflective surfaces forming the light-concentrating cavity may form a heat sink.
US09933604B1

A catadioptric telephoto lens system which: receives incident light rays in a parallel path of both catoptrics and dioptrics, where some of the incident light rays go through a reflective path involving mirrors/reflective surfaces and others of the incident light rays go through a refractive path involving lenses; or receives incident light rays in a serial path of catoptrics and dioptrics, where all the incident light rays initially go through a reflective path involving mirrors/reflective surfaces and then go through a refractive path involving lenses. The system eliminates the black pupil/iris blur disadvantages associated with conventional telescopic lens systems and may be provided in a very compact form.
US09933603B2

A zoom lens, includes, in order from an object side: a positive first lens unit; a negative second lens unit; and a rear lens group that includes at least two lens units and is positive as a whole over an entire zoom range, intervals between adjacent lens units changing during zooming. The second lens unit includes at least two negative lenses successively arranged including a first negative lens arranged closest to the object side and a second negative lens, an object-side surface of the first negative lens includes an aspherical surface having a positive aspherical surface amount; and an image-side surface of the first negative lens and surfaces of the second negative lens include a surface having an aspherical surface having a positive aspherical surface amount and a surface having an aspherical surface having a negative aspherical surface amount.
US09933600B1

The present disclosure provides an optical camera lens, which includes: an aperture, a first lens having positive refraction power, a second lens having negative refraction power, a third lens having positive refraction power, a fourth lens having positive refraction power, and a fifth lens having negative refraction power; a combined focal length of the first lens and the second lens is f12, a focal length of the third lens is f3, a total track length of the integral optical camera lens is TTL, an image height of the integral optical camera lens is IH, curvature radii of the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the third lens is r5 and r6, respectively, which satisfy the following relational expressions: 53200. The optical camera lens provided by the present disclosure can satisfy the needs on low TTL and wide angle, meanwhile reducing sensitivity of the component.
US09933589B2

A lens assembly includes a lens holder and a lens barrel that are coaxial and integrated in a unity, a cavity is defined therein to receive at least one lens, at least three guiding legs are extended from a bottom of the lens holder, and the guiding legs define a plane that is parallel to an installation plane of the lens. It can achieve an accurate optical axis alignment between the lens and the image sensor, reduce total assembly tolerances of the camera module thereby improving imaging quality, and reduce manufacturing cost to benefit the popularization in industries.
US09933588B2

Technologies are described for a fiber optic equipment chassis. The chassis may have a bottom plate and a top plate positioned such that the plates form a front chassis access and a rear chassis access. The chassis may include five module guides each having module guide channels for insertion and removal of fiber optic modules. The modules have two guide rails and movable tabs arranged in tab pairs to the front and to the rear. A tab catch on each of the tabs is configured to engage with guide catches and disengage when either tab pair is compressed toward a centerline of the module. The geometry of the modules provide a smaller total width than a distance between adjacent module guides while either pair of tabs is compressed. The smaller width can support removal of the fiber optic module from both the front access and the rear access.
US09933581B2

An optical fiber splicer includes a fiber fixing portion, a first optical fiber fixed to the fiber fixing portion, a clamp portion which is capable of holding and fixing an extending portion extended from the fiber fixing portion of the first optical fiber and a tip portion of a second optical fiber optically connected to the extending portion of the first optical fiber between a base member and a pressing member being openable and closable with respect to the base member, and a solid index matching material which is attached to a tip surface of the extending portion of the first optical fiber and is interposed between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.
US09933577B2

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to photonics chips and methods of manufacture. A structure includes: a photonics chip having a grated optical coupler; an interposer attached to the photonics chip, the interposer having a grated optical coupler; an optical epoxy material provided between the grated optical coupler of the photonics chip and the grated optical coupler of the interposer; and epoxy underfill material provided at interstitial regions between the photonics chip and the interposer which lie outside of an area of the grated optical couplers of the photonics chip and the interposer.
US09933562B2

The display device contains a base and a display unit. The display unit contains a backlight source configured to an edge portion of the display unit. The edge portion of the display unit is plugged into the base. The present invention integrates a base with the display unit so that a thicker backlight source is concealed in the base whereas the portion of the display unit that is exposed outside the base can have an ultra-thin structure, thereby achieving the superior appearance and still conforming to the ultra-thin design trend.
US09933561B2

The present invention proposes an LCD and a backlight module thereof. A combinational backlight unit is arranged on a lower portion inside a bezel. The combinational backlight unit includes sub-backlight units spliced at intervals. An optical component is arranged on an upper portion inside the bezel and placed on top of the combinational backlight unit at intervals. Dot pattern reflectors are arranged on top of the gap between the adjacent sub-backlight units for reducing reflectivity of light at the gap. The backlight module used in the LCD lessens the difficulty in bending the LGP in the display with a large curve screen, so that a QD tube is suitable for a display with an extremely large size and improving the brightness and contrast of high backlight.
US09933558B2

According to one embodiment, an illumination device includes a lightguide, a light-emitting layer, a first reflector, a second reflector, and a third reflector. A distance between the first reflector and the second reflector is greater at a second position farther from the light-emitting layer than at a first position closer to the light-emitting layer. A distance between the lightguide and the third reflector is greater at a fourth position farther from the first reflector than at a third position closer to the first reflector. An emission portion for allowing emission of light emitted from the light-emitting layer is formed between the second reflector and the third reflector.
US09933555B2

A receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing having panels defining a housing cavity receiving a pluggable module. The panels are conductive to provide electromagnetic interference shielding. The receptacle housing has a bottom mounted to a circuit board. A communication module is received in the housing cavity and mounted to the circuit board. The communication module includes a communication connector interfacing with the pluggable module. The receptacle assembly includes a light pipe assembly coupled to the receptacle housing having has a plurality of flexible light pipes each extending between a light-receiving end and a light-emitting end. The light-receiving end is positioned proximate to the bottom to receive light from a light-emitting device mounted to the circuit board. The light-emitting end is provided proximate to the front end of the receptacle housing for displaying a status indicator for the communication connector.
US09933554B2

A laser resonator includes an active material, which amplifies light associated with an optical gain of the resonator, and passive materials disposed in proximity with the active material. The resonator oscillates over one or more optical modes, each of which corresponds to a particular spatial energy distribution and resonant frequency. Based on a characteristic of the passive materials, for the particular spatial energy distribution corresponding to at least one of the optical modes, a preponderant portion of optical energy is distributed apart from the active material. The passive materials may include a low loss material, which stores the preponderant optical energy portion distributed apart from the active material, and a buffer material disposed between the low loss material and the active material, which controls a ratio of the optical energy stored in the low loss material to a portion of the optical energy in the active material. A Vernier grating and tuning mechanism can be used to tune the low-noise laser.
US09933551B2

A display includes a substrate with a light-transmitting property, a relief structure-forming layer disposed on at least one surface of the substrate and including a relief-structured region on a surface thereof opposite to its surface in contact with the substrate, a light-reflecting layer disposed on the surface of the relief structure-forming layer including the relief-structured region, and a printed layer formed on a surface of the substrate opposite to the surface on which the relief structure-forming layer is disposed, or between the relief structure-forming layer and the light-reflecting layer, or on a side of the light-reflecting layer opposite to its surface in contact with the relief structure-forming layer. The relief-structured region is constituted by recessed or protruding portions arranged two-dimensionally, has low reflectivity and low diffusibility under a normal illumination condition, and exhibits a diffracted light-emitting property under a specific condition.
US09933550B2

Disclosed is a coated metallic material having a high total light reflectance and excellent moldability. Also disclosed is a method for producing the coated metallic material. Further disclosed is a molded coated metallic article. The coated metallic material is characterized by comprising a coating layer having at least three layers composed of a primer layer, an intercoating layer and a top layer, wherein the intercoating layer contains rutile-type titanium oxide in an amount of 35 to 70% in terms of a solid material concentration by volume and also contains a polyester resin (A) having a number average molecular weight of 19000 to 28000 as a binder resin component, and wherein the polyester resin (A) is contained in the binder at a concentration of 20 mass % or more. In the coated metallic material, an interface between the intercoating layer and the top layer has a center-line average roughness (Ra) of 0.8 μm or more, so that the adhesion between the intercoating layer and the top layer can be further improved and the diffusion reflectance can also be further improved.
US09933543B2

An example method for downhole surveying and measuring may include receiving a measurement from a receiver of a conformable sensor, the measurement corresponding to a response of a downhole element to an electromagnetic signal generated by a transmitter of the conformable sensor. A parameter of the downhole element may be determined based, at least in part, on the received measurement. A visualization of a feature of the downhole element may be generated based, at least in part, on at least one of the received measurement and the determined parameter.
US09933540B2

The invention discloses a receiver section towed by an airborne electromagnetic survey system, comprising a plurality of receivers, each receiver comprising at least one receiver coil. The invention further discloses an airborne electromagnetic survey system, comprising: (a) a transmitter section for generating a primary electromagnetic field that induces a secondary electromagnetic field; and (b) a receiver section for detecting the secondary electromagnetic field, wherein the receiver section comprises a plurality of receivers, each receiver further comprising at least one receiver coil; and a tow assembly for an airborne electromagnetic surveying system, comprising a means for suspending a receiver section from an aircraft, the receiver section comprising a plurality of receivers each receiver comprising at least one receiver coil.
US09933536B2

A marine seismic survey is performed in icy waters by initially planning a survey track traversing a survey area. The initial track is planned based on initial ice conditions in the survey area having the icy waters. After preparing the system, a seismic system is deployed into the water from a survey vessel at the survey area. This is typically done in an area relatively free of ice. At least one escort vessel escorts the survey vessel as it traverses the survey track and obtains seismic data. The survey vessel tows the seismic system under the surface of the icy water to avoid the ice. All the while, systems and operators monitor the survey area along the survey track for actual ice conditions. In this way, the escort vessel can handling the actual ice conditions along the survey track so the survey vessel does not need to halt.
US09933529B2

A layered three-dimensional radiation position detector includes two-dimensional scintillator arrays that are pixelated by optically discontinuous surfaces and stacked on a light receiving surface of a light receiving element, responses of scintillator elements detecting radiations being made identifiable on the light receiving surface to obtain a three-dimensional radiation detection position. A scintillator array lying on a radiation incident surface side has a pixel pitch smaller than that of a scintillator array lying on a light receiving element side so that the scintillator array on the radiation incident surface side has increased resolution. A layered three-dimensional radiation position detector achieving both low cost and high resolution can thus be provided.
US09933527B2

Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining the location and direction of travel of a mobile device using map vector constraints is disclosed.
US09933516B2

Apparatus and methods are provided directed to a device, including at least one ultrasonic transducer, a multi-level pulser coupled to the at least one ultrasonic transducer; the multi-level pulser including a plurality of input terminals configured to receive respective input voltages, an output terminal configured to provide an output voltage, and a signal path between a first input terminal and the output terminal including a first transistor having a first conductivity type coupled to a first diode and, in parallel, a second transistor having a second conductivity type coupled to a second diode.
US09933512B2

The invention relates to a method for surveying at least one target using a geodetic device. According to said method, a camera of the device captures a visual image and surveys an angle and/or a distance to the target with geodetic precision, the angle and/or distance surveillance being supported or controlled by the visual image. At the same time of capture of the visual image at least two distance points of a distance image are captured as the spatial distribution of discrete distance points in the area of detection. When the visual image and the distance image are correlated with each other, the target is recognized or the measuring process is controlled.
US09933509B2

Tracking systems and methods for obtaining position coordinates of transmitters are provided. One or more transmitters send multiple carrier signals to multiple receivers, where the time difference of arrival of the multiple carrier signals are used to determine the location of each transmitter. Accuracy is obtained by using phase information of multiple carrier frequencies for time difference of arrival measurements. The accuracy obtained by a receiver depends on the quality of the received carrier signal; a received carrier signal may become distorted by the presence of multipath interference. By using multiple signals with different frequencies, the system can screen or compensate for multipath effects. This screening can be accomplished either through various signal-sampling techniques or by averaging the signals received at the receiver. Because signals with different frequencies have different multipath experiences, a computer can analyze and compensate for “good” and “bad” signals.
US09933507B2

A method of determining locations of radio beacons includes: self-locating and automatically orienting electronic device hubs, determining angles of arrival of radio beacon signals at the electronic device hubs using received signal strength of radio beacons, refining received signal strength based on angle of arrival of the radio beacon signals, determining range using the refined received signal strength and antenna orientation based propagation loss models that compensate for obstacles in a deployment environment and, combining angles of arrival and ranges determined at the electronic device hubs at one of the electronic device hubs and determining locations of radio beacons within a predetermined acceptable accuracy, wherein the electronic hub devices function as receiving devices and radio beacons and radio beacon signals from a subset of the radio beacons are received at more than one electronic hub device.
US09933494B2

To provide a voltage detection circuit in which the influence on a detection voltage by semiconductor manufacturing variations is small and which is small in current consumption. A voltage detection circuit is provided which detects a voltage, based on an output signal of a detection circuit and outputs a detection signal. The detection circuit includes a first MOS transistor unit which allows a first current to flow, a second MOS transistor unit which allows a second current to flow, and a current voltage conversion unit which converts each of the first current and the second current into a voltage and outputs the same as the detection signal. A voltage characteristic of the first current and a voltage characteristic of the second current are configured so as to be crossed with each other at a predetermined voltage.
US09933485B2

Various aspects of the disclosed technology relate to deterministic built-in self-test. A deterministic built-in self-test system comprises: a decompressor configured at least to decompress one of compressed test patterns stored on chip for a predetermined number of times; and a controller configured at least to output a control signal that inverts outputs of the decompressor at one or more scan shift clock cycles based on control data stored on chip, enabling the system to output the predetermined number of test patterns based on the one of compressed test patterns, wherein the one or more scan shift clock cycles are different for each of the predetermined number of test patterns.
US09933477B2

A method is described that includes monitoring degradation of a semiconductor chip's transistors during normal operation. The method further includes raising an internal voltage of the semiconductor chip in response to the degradation. The method further includes determining that the degradation has reached a threshold. The method further includes triggering application of an elevated temperature to the semiconductor chip so that the degradation is at least partially reversed. The method further includes applying a new lower internal voltage of the semiconductor chip in account of the degradation reversal.
US09933473B2

Discussed herein are a sensor-network system and a method thereof for detecting and isolating faults occurring in sub-systems and sensors included in the network. The sub-systems and the sensor measurements are subject to noise and disturbances. A bank of Kalman-filters (KF) is used to detect and isolate the faults. Each KF is driven by either a pair of consecutive sensor measurements or a pair including a reference input and a sensor measurement. The KF residual is computed for each measurement pair and is a reliable indicator of a fault in subsystems and sensors located in the network.
US09933472B2

A process to check a connection between a battery (2) supplying a low-voltage network (1) of a motor vehicle (12), the voltage of which is less than the voltage of a high-voltage network (6) of the motor vehicle (12), and the low-voltage network (1); wherein a DC voltage converter (5), which is configured for exchanging electrical power between the high-voltage network (6) and the low-voltage network (1), connects the high-voltage network (6) to the low-voltage network (1); wherein a DC voltage converter (5) modulates the output voltage into the low-voltage network at a modulation frequency; wherein the current hereby applied and the voltage hereby applied are measured by the battery (2), and a resistance value is determined and evaluated with respect to at least one connection criterion, according to which a connection fault is determined when at least one connection criterion is not fulfilled.
US09933470B2

An environmental visualization system is provided for visualization of an energy spectrum. The environmental visualization system may include a front-end system configured to receive input from sensors configured to measure emissions within an environment of a user, and provide a corresponding sensed input that includes a at least one energy frequency of the emissions and that indicates a spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions within the environment. The system may also include an energy spectrum system configured to generate from the sensed input, a multidimensional layout that depicts the at least one energy frequency and spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions from which a significance of the emissions is identifiable, in which the front-end system may be configured to output the multidimensional layout for display by a display device.
US09933458B2

A test and measurement instrument including a splitter configured to split an input signal into at least two split signals, at least two harmonic mixers configured to mix an associated split signal with an associated harmonic signal to generate an associated mixed signal, at least two digitizers configured to digitize the associated mixed signal, at least two MIMO polyphase filter arrays configured to filter the associated digitized mixed signal of an associated digitizer of the at least two digitizers, at least two pairs of band separation filters configured to receive the associated digitized mixed signals from each of the MIMO polyphase filter arrays and output a low band of the input signal and a high band of the input signal based on a time different between the at least two digitizers and a phase drift of a local oscillator, and a combiner configured to combine the low band of the input signal and the high band of the input signal to form a reconstructed input signal.
US09933456B2

A test and measurement system including an electro-optical accessory with an electro-optical sensor configured to output a modulated output signal, a device under test connected to the electro-optical accessory with a variable input signal, and a processor. The electro-optical accessory includes two sets of electrodes in which a sensitivity of the first set of electrodes is different from a sensitivity of the second set of electrodes. The processor in the test and measurement system is configured to modify the modulated output signal from the electro-optical voltage accessory to reconstruct the variable input signal of the electro-optical voltage accessory that exceeds the linear input range of the optical sensor.
US09933451B2

A method for determining a state of credibility of measurements of an angle-of-attack sensor of an aircraft is provided. This method includes at least one coherence test between angle-of-attack measurements from said angle-of-attack sensor, and the measurements of a flight characteristic of the aircraft, distinct from the angle-of-attack. The coherence test includes determining an angle-of-attack value from said angle-of-attack sensor, determining said flight characteristic of the aircraft, determining a value of at least one indicator of the coherence of the angle-of-attack value with the value of said flight characteristic, and activating a low state of credibility, in which the measurements of said angle-of-attack sensor are deemed unreliable, or an intermediate state of credibility, in which the measurements from said angle-of-attack sensor are deemed coherent with said flight characteristic, based on the value of said coherence indicator.
US09933450B2

A mobile device includes at least one accelerometer and a mobility state determiner to utilize the variance in output of the accelerometer(s) to distinguish at least between a walking state and a driving state of a user of the mobile device.
US09933447B2

A rinse mechanism rinses reaction cuvettes with first and second detergents. An R1 reagent pipetting mechanism 8 rinses the reaction cuvettes that have been rinsed by the rinse mechanism with a special detergent. A counting unit counts and stores in a storage unit a use frequency of each reaction cuvette for a specific reagent item. A determining unit determines whether the counted use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold N1. A control unit controls the R1 reagent pipetting mechanism such that, in a case where the counted use frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold N1, the reaction cuvettes, which have exceeded the predetermined threshold N1, are soaked with the special detergent only for a period equal to or less than a value derived by multiplying a pipetting cycle time, which indicates a period when a sample is pipetted, by the total number of reaction cuvettes and a predetermined integer.
US09933436B2

The present invention relates to a method of evaluating cellulite using fibulin-3 and/or sarcoglycan gamma as an indicator in a harvested skin sample, and a method of evaluating a drug for improving, preventing or treating cellulite using fibulin-3 and/or sarcoglycan gamma as an indicator in cultured cells.
US09933433B2

The invention provides an antibody binding specifically to Cynomolgus IgG characterized by not binding to Human IgG, and a method for the immunological determination of an immune complex (DA/ADA complex) of a drug antibody (DA) and an antibody against said drug antibody (anti-drug antibody, ADA) in a sample of a monkey species using a double antigen bridging immunoassay.
US09933428B2

An immunoassay test slide for use in a dry chemistry analytical instrument includes a slide housing or case formed from two matable sections—a slide cover piece and a slide bottom piece. The slide housing defines an interior cavity in which is situated a sheet-like porous carrier matrix. The slide cover piece has an opening formed through the thickness thereof to expose a central portion of the fluid flow matrix so that a precise volume of fluid sample of blood, serum or the like, preferably pre-mixed with a conjugate reagent, and precise volumes of a wash reagent and a substrate (detector reagent), may be deposited on the matrix through the cover opening by a metering device of the analytical instrument. The bottom piece of the immunoassay test slide is transparent, and the slide is moved by a transport mechanism of the analytical instrument over a reflectometer or a fluorometer for performing reflectance or fluorescence measurements.
US09933423B2

A lateral flow assay detects and differentiates between viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In one preferred embodiment, the bacterial marker is CRP. In another preferred embodiment, the viral marker is MxA. In some embodiments, it is unnecessary to lyse the cells in the sample prior to applying it to the device.
US09933420B2

A graphene nanomesh based charge sensor and method for producing a graphene nanomesh based charge sensor. The method includes generating multiple holes in graphene to create a graphene nanomesh with a patterned array of multiple holes; passivating an edge of each of the multiple holes of the graphene nanomesh to allow for functionalization of the graphene nanomesh; and functionalizing the passivated edge of each of the multiple holes of the graphene nanomesh with a chemical compound that facilitates chemical binding of a receptor of a target molecule to the edge of one or more of the multiple holes, wherein the receptor is a molecule that chemically binds to the target molecule, irrespective of the size of the target molecule.
US09933418B2

This invention is provided for multi-unit plate with at least one unit comprised of a membrane, preferably nitrocellulose or PVDF membrane, associated with a supporting structure to allow for electroblotting of the membrane. This multi-unit plate is suited for high throughput immunoblot analysis including Zestern analysis.
US09933416B1

A method is provided for detecting a polypeptide of interest in a plant without the use of a reference standard. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a plant expressing the polypeptide of interest and a negative control plant that does not express the polypeptide of interest, and analyzing a sample from each in an information-dependent acquisition (IDA) method. A method is also provided for determining the relative expression level of a polypeptide of interest in a plurality of plants without the use of a reference standard. This method comprises the steps of obtaining a plurality of plants expressing the polypeptide of interest and a negative control plant that does not express the polypeptide of interest, analyzing samples from each in an IDA method, and determining the relative expression level of the polypeptide in each of the plurality of plants.
US09933409B2

A strip connector includes a connector housing having a housing cavity and guide feature. A strip carrier slidable in the housing cavity includes a carrier body having a strip channel slidably receiving a test strip in an insertion direction. A first biasing member biases the strip carrier in an ejection direction opposite the insertion direction. A second biasing member acting orthogonal to the first biasing member biases the carrier body in a contact direction orthogonal to the ejection direction. First and second male members of the carrier body slide with respect to the guide feature and prevent strip contact direction carrier displacement until the male members are axially aligned with guide feature branches extending orthogonally to the guide feature. A test strip conductor contacts connector housing electrical contacts when the male members axially align with the branches and the second biasing member displaces the strip carrier in the contact direction.
US09933404B2

A measuring device (10) and a measuring method measure a concentration of gaseous and/or aerosol components of a gas mixture. A reaction carrier (14) has a flow channel (42) defining a reaction chamber (46) with an optically detectable reaction material (48) to react with at least one component or with a reaction product of the component. The measuring device (12) includes a gas delivery unit (2) and detection unit (3) having a lighting device (37) for lighting the reaction chamber (46). An optical sensor (38) detects the reaction. An evaluation unit (4) evaluates data of the optical sensor (38) to determines a concentration. The gas delivery unit (2) includes a gas delivering device (28) delivering the gas mixture through the gas outlet channel (18) and a control/regulation unit (31) which controls/regulates a flow of the gas mixture through the flow channel (42) depending on at least one reaction speed parameter.
US09933392B2

An apparatus, for non-destructively inspecting a sandwich panel defining an enclosed space, has an external and internal probe. The external probe is adjacent an external face-sheet of the sandwich panel and the internal probe is adjacent an internal face-sheet of the sandwich panel. The sandwich panel has a core material that is is interposed between the external and internal face-sheets of the sandwich panel. Each of the probes includes two elements that integrally form the probe. The external probe includes and is integrally formed from one of a magnetic field emitter and a magnetic field sensor, the magnetic field emitter emitting a magnetic field, and one of an ultrasonic transmit transducer and an ultrasonic receive transducer. The internal probe includes and is integrally formed from the other of the magnetic field emitter and the magnetic field sensor and the other of the ultrasonic transmit transducer and the ultrasonic receive transducer.
US09933385B2

A method of distinguishing a control solution from a sample in an electrochemical test sensor is performed. The method includes adding a control marker to the control solution. The control solution includes the control marker and analyte. The test sensor includes working and counter electrodes, and a reagent. A potential is applied to the test sensor to oxidize the control marker and the analyte. The resulting electrical current is measured. A potential is applied to the test sensor lower than the other potential in which the potential is sufficient to oxidize the analyte and not the control marker. The resulting electrical current is measured. Determining whether a control solution or a sample is present based on the measured electrical currents. To increase the measured current, a salt may be added to the control solution in an amount sufficient to increase the electrical current by at least 5% as compared to a control solution in the absence of a salt.
US09933383B2

A moisture sensor for drying grain having a sensor block with built in ground bars, a removable electronic module having a circuit board encased in black potting compound, and a removable back plate.
US09933380B2

An EIT or differential EIT method in which measurements of voltage differences between electrodes are performed according to a measurement configuration in which at least one of the electrodes injecting a current in the medium being investigated is also used for performing a measurement of the voltage difference. The contact impedances of the different electrodes are measured thanks to a counter-electrode having a contact area with the medium much higher than the contact area of a unit electrode. The measurement of a contact impedance is performed by impedance spectroscopy by comparison with the impedance spectrum of an equivalent circuit. The contact impedances allow voltage drops in the injection electrodes to be calculated the voltage differences between these electrodes and to be corrected. Alternatively, the contact impedances can be used to correct or complete the direct model.
US09933378B2

A power feeding coil unit (a coil unit) is provided with a power feeding coil (a coil for power transmission) and an apparatus for detecting foreign matter. The apparatus for detecting foreign matter is provided with a plurality of resonators having a resonator coil and capacitor and also an excitation coil for exciting the plurality of resonators. The plurality of resonators are disposed in rows and columns to cover at least an area interlinking with a magnetic flux generated by the power feeding coil. The excitation coil makes resonators adjacent in a row direction and a column direction among the plurality of resonators to generate an alternating magnetic field with resonance frequencies different from each other within a frequency band in which the power feeding coil is not excited.
US09933373B2

A glass sheet acquisition and positioning mechanism and associated method are utilized in an in-line glass sheet optical inspection system. The mechanism includes an exterior support frame mounted in proximity to one of the glass sheet processing system conveyors, and an interior support frame operably connected to the exterior support frame such that the interior support frame may be selectively positioned from its first orientation to a second orientation whereby the retained glass sheet is positioned between the camera and the screen at a preselected position. The interior support frame is also operably connected to the exterior support frame to provide for positioning of the interior support frame to a third orientation in which the glass sheet is released from the interior support frame for continued movement on the conveyor. An in-line glass sheet optical inspection system incorporating the glass sheet acquisition and positioning mechanism is also disclosed.
US09933370B2

When a size of a block on a wafer is equal to or smaller than an optical resolution of imaging optics, room for improvement in a signal-to-noise ratio has not been sufficiently considered in a conventional technique. One feature of the defect determination of the present invention is to include a filter processing for setting a predetermined partial area serving as a predetermined matrix for a first difference image, scanning the first difference image in the partial area, and outputting a second difference image, and a first threshold processing using a first threshold value for the second difference image. As a result, highly sensitive defect detection can be achieved.
US09933367B2

The instant disclosure provides for a method of identifying and isolating pluripotent stem cells and distinguishing pluripotent stem cells from differentiating/differentiated cells, using the property of endogenous blue fluorescence emitted from intracellular lipid bodies which serves as an endogenous marker for the pluripotent state.
US09933365B2

Disclosed are calibration apparatuses for fluorescent microscopy instruments and methods of making and using them. Specifically, disclosed are calibration apparatuses with a fluorescent layer, such as photoresist, deposited on a substrate, with an optional layer of a reflective material, such as chrome. Illumination of the fluorescent and/or reflective layers, and detection and analysis of the resulting emissions allows evaluation of the instrument with respect to both reflective and fluorescent channels. Selection of appropriate fluorescent materials for the one or more fluorescent layers allows the evaluation of an instrument with respect to different fluorophores, as would be used with an instrument capable of two color detection. Inclusion of a reflective layer further allows the evaluation and calibration of all optical channels of an instrument, including the reflective channel and two or more fluorescent channels, with a single calibration apparatus for imaging criteria such as uniformity, contrast and emission signal strength.
US09933362B2

A device for determining an assay result may include a test strip, a light source system, a light detection system, and a processor.
US09933361B2

The invention relates to a method for estimating denatured serum proteins in milk that has undergone a heat treatment. The method has the following successive steps: (a) rendering a sample of the milk transparent, (b) measuring diffusion in the transparent sample in order to deduce a first denatured serum protein (DSP) index representative of the concentration of denatured serum proteins.
US09933355B2

A multipass spectroscopic absorption cell comprises at least a first reflector (40) and a second reflector (42) that are configured to reflect a beam of light multiple times through a sample volume (V). At least one of the first and second reflectors (40,42) defines a principal optical axis (A) that extends through the sample volume (V). An optical folding system (52) is located on the principal optical axis (A) between the first and second reflectors, said optical folding system being configured to fold the principal optical axis (A) through an angle greater than 0°.
US09933348B2

A device is disclosed for centrifugally driving liquid flow to sequentially dispense aliquots from a reservoir while the device rotates. Also disclosed is a method and system for analyzing a liquid to derive an indicator of sedimentation rate of the liquid using sequential aliquoting, using the disclosed device in some embodiments. A particular application is the analysis of blood samples, including sedimentation rate and hematocrit.
US09933341B2

Described herein are methods and reagents for identifying and analyzing at least one microorganism (e.g. bacteria) in a sample and reducing the background signal intensity obtained when analyzing the sample by flow cytometry. The sample is prepared by combining the sample with a background signal-reducing molecule or with a nucleic acid stain covalently linked to a quencher. A portion of the particulate matter in the sample can optionally be removed with a resin prior to staining with a nucleic acid stain.
US09933335B2

An optical sensor for sensing combustion products avoids fouling and damage to optical components by using a “windowless” design in which an air curtain through an orifice provides a constantly refreshing transparent shield protecting the optical components from corrosive combustion gases and resisting the accumulation of particulates that might otherwise foul a static window.
US09933333B2

A bearing diagnostic device senses a failure in a bearing of a machine tool including a rotation shaft device. The bearing diagnostic device includes a rotation counting unit, a temperature measuring unit, a frictional torque calculating unit, a rolling speed calculating unit, a bearing characteristic calculating unit, a storage unit, and a determination unit. The frictional torque calculating unit is configured to calculate a frictional torque of the rotation shaft device. The rolling speed calculating unit is configured to calculate a rolling speed of the bearing from the count of rotations. The bearing characteristic calculating unit is configured to calculate a bearing characteristic from the frictional torque and the rolling speed. The determination unit is configured to compare the bearing characteristic calculated by the bearing characteristic calculating unit with a reference bearing characteristic stored in the storage unit to determine a presence of a failure.
US09933331B2

The present embodiment relates to a method of directly measuring a leakage loss from a peripheral core in a MCF with a coating to the coating. In the measurement method, in a high refractive-index state in which the coating is present on an outer periphery of a common cladding, first transmission power of measurement light, which propagates through the peripheral core of the MCF, is measured. On the other hand, in a low refractive-index state in which a low-refractive-index layer with a lower refractive index than the common cladding is provided on the outer periphery of the common cladding, second transmission power of the measurement light, which propagates through the peripheral core of the MCF, is measured. The leakage loss LL from the peripheral core to the coating is calculated as a difference between the first transmission power and the second transmission power.
US09933326B2

A universal leak detection method for detecting both small and large leaks. The method includes the steps of: injecting smoke and a detectable gas into a fluid system to pressurize the fluid system, the smoke and detectable gas both being capable of passing through a large leak in the fluid system, and the visual smoke particles being inhibited from passing through a small leak in the fluid system and the detectable gas being capable of passing through a small leak in the fluid system; and detecting a leak by detecting at least one of the smoke and the detectable gas, wherein detection of smoke is indicative of the fluid system having a large leak and detection of detectable gas without smoke.
US09933322B2

Device for spatially resolved measurement of temperature, strain, or both by Brillouin scattering, with a laser light source (1) for generating a laser radiation, an optical fiber (5) used for the measurement, into which the laser radiation can be coupled in and from which Brillouin signals generated by Brillouin scattering can be coupled out, sensors for detecting the coupled-out Brillouin signals, evaluators for determining spatially resolved from the detected Brillouin signals the temperature, strain, or both of sections of the optical fiber (5), a polarization beam splitter (10, 11) capable of splitting the coupled-out Brillouin—signals into two components (12, 13) having mutually different polarizations, and an optical coupler (16, 17) for admixing a laser radiation to the Brillouin signal.
US09933313B2

A method for positioning sensors about a sensor ring includes the steps of assigning each sensor in a plurality of sensors a sensor number selected from a set of sensor numbers, where the set of sensor numbers is a whole number in the range of 0 to N, and where N is the total number of sensors in said plurality of sensors minus one, disposing a first sensor at a circumferential angular position zero on the sensor ring, and disposing each sensor in the plurality of sensors at a circumferential angular position about the sensor ring, wherein the circumferential angular position is defined by an offset from a circumferential angular position zero and the offset is equal to a base arc length between sensors multiplied by the sensor number of the sensor plus a base offset arc length multiplied by the sensor number of the sensor.
US09933309B2

A device for detecting electromagnetic radiation is provided, including a substrate; a matrix of thermal detectors disposed on the substrate; and a structure encapsulating the matrix of thermal detectors, including an encapsulating layer extending continuously around and above the matrix of thermal detectors so as to define with the substrate a cavity in which the matrix of thermal detectors is disposed, the encapsulating layer including at least one internal bearing section, which bears directly against the substrate between two adjacent thermal detectors of said matrix, said at least one internal bearing section including a sidewall and a peripheral wall, the sidewall being separate from the peripheral wall in a plane parallel to a plane of the substrate, and the peripheral wall encircling the matrix of thermal detectors.
US09933308B2

A method of determining a modified spectral content of a light emitting diode (LED) light engine includes separating spectral data from the LED light engine into at least two spectral component bands, calculating respective efficacies for each of the at least two spectral components, simulating a first LED spectral component for a predetermined peak position and intensity, modifying spectral data from an existing LED to match a predetermined peak wavelength, applying factorial design-of-experiment techniques to the simulated first LED spectral component and the modified spectral data to obtain a selection of spectra, and selecting a spectrum from the results of the applying step, wherein the selected spectrum includes characteristics of the modified spectral content. The method includes the step of producing a LED light engine/electronic driver combination having the selected spectrum. A non-transitory medium having computer executable instructions is disclosed.
US09933307B2

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a novel method and system to analyze films using plasma to produce spectral data and analyzing the spectral data.
US09933305B2

A hand held spectrometer is used to illuminate the object and measure the one or more spectra. The spectral data of the object can be used to determine one or more attributes of the object. In many embodiments, the spectrometer is coupled to a database of spectral information that can be used to determine the attributes of the object. The spectrometer system may comprise a hand held communication device coupled to a spectrometer, in which the user can input and receive data related to the measured object with the hand held communication device. The embodiments disclosed herein allow many users to share object data with many people, in order to provide many people with actionable intelligence in response to spectral data.
US09933292B2

The present invention provides a thermal flow meter 300 which reduces a stress applied from a fixing portion 3721, which is used to hold and fix a circuit package 400 with respect to a housing 302, to the circuit package 400 and has high reliability. In the thermal flow meter of the invention, the circuit package 400 embedded with a flow rate measurement circuit is formed through a first resin molding process, the fixing portion 3721 is formed along with the housing 302 through a second resin molding process, and the circuit package 400 is enveloped by the fixing portion 3721, whereby the circuit package 400 is held by and fixed to the housing 302. In order to reduce the influence of a stress, generated based on a temperature change of the fixing portion 3721, on the circuit package 400, the fixing portion 3721 is constituted of a thick portion 4714 and a thin portion 4710. Since thickness of a resin of the thin portion 4710 is small, the stress to be generated is small, and a force applied to the circuit package 400 can be reduced.
US09933291B2

An ultrasonic consumption meter includes two ultrasonic transducers for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a flow channel, an electronic circuit for operating the meter, and a housing for the ultrasonic transducers and the electronic circuit. The housing is locked in position relative to the flow channel by a locking mechanism, and the flow channel has two holes for allowing the housing to get into contact with a media flowing in the flow channel.
US09933285B2

A piezoelectric sensor assembly is for an electrical system. The electrical system includes a sensor attachment assembly and a number of electrical conductors. The sensor attachment assembly includes a sensor housing and a fastening member for fastening the sensor housing to a corresponding one of the electrical conductors. The piezoelectric sensor assembly includes a processor enclosed by the sensor housing, a piezoelectric sensor element, a wiring assembly electrically connecting the piezoelectric sensor element to the processor, an insulating member coupled to the piezoelectric sensor element and being structured to extend outwardly from the sensor housing to engage the corresponding one of the electrical conductors, and a mounting enclosure structured to mount the piezoelectric sensor element and the insulating member to the sensor housing.
US09933277B2

There is provided a test indicator with which a correct measurement value can be easily obtained. A test indicator includes a gauge head including a contact ball at a tip end, a body case which pivotally supports the gauge head, and a rotary encoder which detects a rotation displacement amount of the gauge head. The test indicator further includes a correction unit which corrects a measurement value according to an angle θ between a measurement target surface W and the gauge head. The correction unit includes an angle memory which stores the angle θ between the measurement target surface W and the gauge head, a correction coefficient calculation unit which calculates a correction coefficient according to the angle θ, and a correction arithmetic unit which multiplies, by the correction coefficient, a displacement amount of the contact ball based on a detection value by the rotary encoder.
US09933274B2

A system and method for determining location information using a location data point provided by a computing device is described. A location data point is received by a system from a client computing device. The system determines whether the location data point is within a predefined region from a plurality of predefined regions configured by a user of the system. If the location data point is within a predefined region, location information corresponding to the predefined region is transmitted to the client device. If the location data point is not within a predefined region, one or more third-party reverse geocoding services can be used that translates the location data point to a street address.
US09933263B2

A system and method for providing location information using a long baseline accelerometer/GNSS system. A first set of accelerometers is operatively associated with the first GNSS antenna while a second set of accelerometers is operatively associated with a second (or more) GNSS antenna. The multiple assemblies are separated by predefined distances and held rigid to each other. Accelerometer data is combined with the GNSS data to provide improved navigation and location information.
US09933259B1

The orthogonally aligned level tool comprises a plurality of bubble levels that measure the level of measured surfaces near walls and corners. The orthogonally aligned level tool comprises a central component, a first wing, and a second wing. The first wing and the central component are connected using a first telescopic shaft. The first telescopic shaft allows for a physical separation of distance between the first wing and the central component which allows for the level measurement of a larger surface than can be measured by a traditional level. The second wing and the central component are connected using a second telescopic shaft. The second telescopic shaft allows for a physical separation of distance between the second wing and the central component which allows for the level measurement of a larger surface than can be measured by a traditional level.
US09933253B2

The invention relates to a method for positioning a light-shaping member, for example a reflector (1), relative to at least one light source (2), comprising the following steps: a) fitting the at least one light source (2) on a carrier plate (3); b) measuring the position of the at least one light source (2) on the carrier plate (3); c) fitting one or preferably more reference positions (4) on the carrier plate (3), wherein the position of the at least one reference position (4) is dependent on the position of the at least one light source (2); d) referencing, i.e. aligning, the light-shaping member to/with the reference position(s) (4) on the carrier plate (3); and e) securing the light-shaping member on the carrier plate (3) or in relation to the carrier plate (3).
US09933252B2

The self-position calculating apparatus includes: a patterned light beam extractor extracting a position of the patterned light beam an image of an area onto which the patterned light beam is projected. The apparatus calculates an orientation angle of the vehicle relative to the road surface from the position of calculates an amount of change in orientation of the vehicle based on temporal changes in multiple feature points on the road surface; and calculates a current position and a current orientation angle of the vehicle by adding the amount of change in the orientation to an initial position and an initial orientation angle of the vehicle. If a detected condition of the patterned light beam is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the patterned light beam extractor extracts the position from a superimposed image by superimposing images.
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