US09937018B2
A removable, thin-shell tooth positioning appliance having a plurality of tooth-clasping elements for removably engaging attachments bonded onto selected teeth, with flexible curved interconnecting elements connecting the tooth-clasping elements on nearby teeth.
US09937016B2
A biopsy device includes a lateral member; a gun mount configured to support a biopsy gun, the gun mount being connected to the lateral member and movable along a first axis with respect to the lateral member, and a sensor which detects a position of the gun mount along the first axis with respect to the lateral member and generates positional data which is provided to an interface module. The gun mount can also be reconfigured in orientations which are offset in a dimension which is orthogonal to the first axis, orientations rotationally offset about the first axis or an axis parallel to the first axis. The lateral member can be in right hand and left hand orientations. Various sensors detect these reconfigurations and provide corresponding data to the interface module for additional calculations and display.
US09937015B2
A medical drape includes a patient drape (100) and a radial drape attachment (200). The radial drape attachment can be coupled to the patient drape by way of an adhesive coupling (202). The radial drape attachment includes defines one or more fenestrations (205) or apertures through which a central line may be inserted. Some or all of the radial drape attachment (200)can be transparent or pellucid. Portions of the radial drape attachment can be opaque as well. A support layer can be configured to be absorptive, fluid impenetrable, or both. A tourniquet (1801) may be integrated with the radial drape attachment, as can one or more tool-less removal features (209). Pouches (901,902) can be added to catch fluids or hold medical implements during a procedure.
US09937010B2
A device for simultaneously identifying a plurality of surgical instruments or instrument groups includes a first detecting device having a first detection technology for detecting instruments and, if applicable, related instrument-specific information. The device also includes a second detecting device having a second different detection technology for detecting instruments and instrument information. Moreover, the device includes a comparing device for comparing the detection results of the two detecting devices. The comparing device outputs a positive evaluation regarding the correctness of the detected instruments if the two detection results are matching.
US09937006B2
A patient support for use with a foundation frame is disclosed. The foundation frame includes a first column and a second column. The patient support includes a base beam, a leg support, and a guide. The base beam is coupleable to the foundation frame to be supported by the first column and the second column. The leg support has a first end pivotably coupled to the base beam and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The, guide is coupled to the base beam and to the second end of the leg support. The guide is configured to guide the second end of the leg support along an arcuate path when the leg support pivots relative to the base beam.
US09937001B2
A therapeutic treatment apparatus includes a first heat transfer unit, a second heat transfer unit, a first heat generating element, a second heat generating element, a temperature acquisition unit which acquires a first temperature of the first heat generating element and a second temperature of the second heat generating element, a control unit and an electric power input unit. The control unit determines a first control value and a second control value concerning the electric power input to the first and second heat generating element based on a lower one of the first temperature and the second temperature. The electric power input unit inputs an electric power to the first and second generating element based on the first and second control value.
US09937000B2
Devices and methods for controlling ablation therapy are provided herein. In one embodiment, an ablation device is provided that includes an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, and an inner lumen extending therethrough. The inner lumen can be configured to receive fluid therein and to deliver fluid to the distal end of the elongate body. The device can also include an ablation element positioned at a distal end of the elongate body that is configured to heat surrounding tissue, and a heater element disposed within the inner lumen adjacent to a distal end of thereof, the heater element being configured to heat fluid flowing through the inner lumen.
US09936987B2
A locking sleeve for receiving and locking the legs of a pedicle screw includes a stop ring provided on an inner side of a locking sleeve and resting on an upper edge of the legs, limiting the accommodation depth of the legs in the locking sleeve, and a plurality of groove blocks on the inner side of the locking sleeve which can be inserted between the legs of the pedicle screw for defining a fixed distance between the legs.
US09936983B2
The present invention generally relates to bone implants. More specifically, the present invention relates to bone implants used for the fixation or fusion of the sacroiliac joint and/or the spine. For example, a system for fusing or stabilizing a plurality of bones is provided. The system includes an implant structure having stem portion and a head portion, the stem portion having a rectilinear cross sectional area. A tulip or saddle structure can be attached to the head portion, and a rod can be secured within the tulip or saddle structure.
US09936982B2
A connector assembly for translateral linking of bilateral spinal fixation rods includes first and second components. The first component has an elongated body having first and second ends, and the first end of the first component is configured to connect to a first spinal fixation rod. The second component has an elongated body having first and second ends, and the first end of the second component is configured to connect to a second spinal fixation rod. The second end of the first component is configured to be slidably connected to the second end of the second component.
US09936964B2
A retrieval device may include a sheath including a distal end and a proximal end, and an end effector at the distal end. At least a portion of the end effector may be movable relative to the sheath between extended and retracted states. The end effector may include a support member extending from the distal end of the sheath, and a movable member extending from the distal end of the support member. The device may include a handle assembly at the proximal end of the sheath, having an actuation member for transitioning the end effector between the extended and retracted states. The device may include a biasing member coupled to at least one of the actuation member and the sheath that may control a force, exerted by one of the movable members and the support member on the other, generated by relative movement between the movable and support members.
US09936963B2
Methods and apparatus for a stone fragment suction device. An apparatus includes a steerable access sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip at the distal end, and a suction conduit positioned within a central lumen of the steerable access sheath from the distal end to the proximal end, the steerable access sheath containing an outer lumen surrounding the central lumen with one or more channels therethrough, an outer circumference of the outer lumen and an outer circumference of the central lumen forming concentric circles, the steerable access sheath further including a radiopaque material at the distal end or along a length of the steerable access sheath to enable tracking with a remote fluoroscopic device.
US09936962B2
A patient-specific guide tool for guiding an object toward a glenoid face of a scapula of a patient for implantation of a shoulder prosthetic device is disclosed. The guide tool includes a guide portion that includes a guide surface. The guide surface is configured to guide movement of the object toward the glenoid face. Furthermore, the guide tool includes a patient-specific portion that is operably coupled to the glenoid portion. The patient-specific portion includes at least one patient-specific surface that is three-dimensionally contoured and that is configured to nest and closely conform to a corresponding surface of the scapula to thereby position the guide surface at a predetermined position relative to the glenoid face.
US09936958B2
A tissue closure device includes a first clip including a first longitudinal element extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and a first pair of arms extending laterally from the first longitudinal element, the first pair of arms movable between an open configuration in which free ends of the first pair of arms are separated from one another and a closed configuration in which the free ends of the first pair of arms extend toward one another, the first pair of arms being biased toward the closed configuration, and a sliding element extending from a proximal end to a distal end and longitudinally movable relative to the first clip so that when a portion of the sliding element is received between the first pair of arms, the first pair of arms is moved from the biased closed configuration to the open configuration.
US09936941B2
A suture manipulating instrument for passing and retrieving suture through a tissue includes a handle mechanism, an elongate shaft extending from the handle, and a working distal end. The working distal end includes a needle body, a lumen defined by the needle body, a tissue penetrating distal tip, and a lateral slot. A preformed inner member is movably disposed within the lumen of the needle. The handle mechanism is used to extend the wire from the lateral slot of the needle, and to retract the wire into the lateral slot, allowing the working end of the instrument to grasp and manipulate suture by pinning and/or trapping the suture against the needle.
US09936935B1
A phantom assembly for testing x-ray equipment comprising a phantom assembly for testing x-ray equipment comprising at least one image plate made of at least one image plate material, at least one base member made of at least one base material, at least one step surface formed in the base member, and at least one mesh insert. The at least one base material is selected, sized, and dimensioned such that base member yields a transmitted reference signal in addition to at least one transmitted energy test spectrum associated with the at least one step surface. The at least one mesh insert is selected, sized, and dimensioned such that the at least one mesh insert yields a transmitted energy resolution signal.
US09936930B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining a tumor ablation margin. The method includes acquiring an angiography image before tumor ablation and an angiography image after tumor ablation when tumor ablation is performed, registering the angiography image before tumor ablation and the angiography image after tumor ablation, and determining the tumor ablation margin according to the relative positions of the tumor area in the angiography image before tumor ablation and the ablation area in the angiography image after tumor ablation after registration. Using an embodiment, one directly determines the tumor ablation margin during tumor ablation, thus improving the efficiency and success rate of tumor ablation.
US09936925B2
According to the present invention, improved methods and apparatus are provided for providing cushioning and other ergonomic surfaces on devices requiring the patient or tissue to be compressed, such as radiography machines, fluoroscopy units, mammography units and the like. In particular a radiolucent pad element is provided for releasable attachment to at least one surface of a compression device to be used under x-ray, for example, during mammography. The pad element of the present invention can be disposable or constructed to be reusable and in some cases may be applied directly to the patient's breast. Furthermore, a cushioned paddle is provided wherein the compression paddle and the cushion can be separately or integrally formed.
US09936924B2
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for applying task-based performance predictors (measures of noise, spatial resolution, and detectability index) based on numerical observer models and approximations to the local noise and spatial resolution properties of the CBCT reconstruction process (e.g., penalized-likelihood iterative reconstruction). These predictions are then used to identify projections views (i.e., points that will constitute the scan trajectory) that maximize task performance, beginning with the projection view that maximizes detectability, proceeding to the next-best view, and continuing in an (arbitrarily constrained) orbit that can be physically realized on advanced robotic C-arm platforms. The performance of CBCT reconstructions arising from a task-based trajectory is superior to simple and complex orbits by virtue of improved spatial resolution and noise characteristics (relative to the specified imaging task) associated with the projection views constituting the customized scan orbit.
US09936916B2
In one aspect, the systems, environment, and methods described herein support anticipation and identification of adverse health events and/or atypical behavioral episodes such as Autistic behaviors, epileptic seizures, heart attack, stroke, and/or narcoleptic “sleep attacks” using a portable data collection device. In another aspect, the systems, environment, and methods described herein support measurement of motions and vibrations associated with recurring transitory physiological states and events using a portable data collection device. For example, motion and vibration measurements may be analyzed to identify pronounced head motion patterns indicative of specific heart defects, neurodegenerative conditions, inner ear or other balance problems, or types of cardiac disease. In another example, motion and vibration measurements may be analyzed to identify slow-wave changes indicative of temporary conditions such as intoxication, fatigue, distress, aggression, attention deficit, anger, and/or narcotic ingestion as well as temporary or periodic normal events, such as ovulation, pregnancy, and sexual arousal.
US09936908B1
A light source emits light into a first portion of a living body. Functionalized particles within the body are configured to specifically bind to a target analyte, and upon receiving the emitted light, undergo a reaction that separates a detectable label from the functionalized particle. A sensor device is configured to detect a response signal from a second portion of the living body that is indicative of an abundance of the detectable label in the second portion. A control system uses the sensor device to obtain sensor data indicative of the response signal from the second portion of the living body detected by the sensor device during a measurement interval, and determines a presence or absence of the target analyte within the first portion of the living body based in part on the obtained data.
US09936903B2
Embodiments herein provide detection of contamination at one or more contacts of a sensor system. The sensor system includes a sensor assembly and an electronics assembly communicatively coupled together by one or more contacts. The sensor assembly passes a sensor signal to the electronics assembly for further processing. The electronics assembly includes a detection contact for detecting contamination on or near one or more contacts of the sensor assembly and/or the electronics assembly. A switch selectively couples the detection contact to a bias voltage during a measurement mode and to a reference voltage during a detection mode, the reference voltage being different from the bias voltage. A method of contamination detection includes switching the electronics assembly between the measurement mode and the detection mode, and monitoring for a change in the output signal received by the electronics assembly.
US09936883B2
A biopsy needle surrounded by a peel away sheath chemically impregnated with a blood detection composition enabling a user (e.g., a surgeon) to accurately and timely determine the existence of a blood pooling or hematoma when passing an implantable (e.g., deep brain stimulation probes) or non-implantable (e.g., biopsy needle) device into a region of the subject's body (e.g., a brain) to gather tissue for further analysis. A biopsy needle may be provided wherein the needle is tightly surrounded by a peel-away sheath that is chemically impregnated with a blood detection composition. The surgeon may insert the biopsy needle into the subject and peel away the chemically impregnated sheath in order to assess whether or not a blood pooling or hematoma exists, and act immediately to address the blood pooling or hematoma.
US09936869B2
An ocular fundus camera system and an associated methodology. The system includes (a) an image sensor disposed along a fundus-image reflection path adjacent that path's downstream end, and in optical communication with light carried in this path, (b) an aperture centered on the reflection path's long axis, operatively associated with, and stationary with respect to, the sensor at a location which is upstream from the sensor, and (c), for accomplishing (1) precision fundus-image focusing on the sensor, and additionally (2) autorefraction, optical, light-content shifting structure, operable selectively for producing, within that portion of the reflection path which is disposed downstream from the shifting structure, relative trans-axial displacement solely of any non-collimated light carried in that portion of the main path which is disposed upstream from the shifting structure.
US09936856B1
Systems and methods of using a wine glass drying assembly. The wine glass drying rack assembly includes a tray with a bottom, sides, and a vertical lock. The wine glass drying rack assembly further includes a support with a locking element, stems and a top extending between the stems, where the support is coupled to the vertical lock via the locking element and where the support is rotatable about the vertical lock of the tray. The wine glass assembly also includes a rack with two wine glass supports, where the two wine glass supports define a slot for receiving wine glasses, where the rack is coupled to the top of the support via loops and where the rack is rotatable about the top of the support.
US09936851B2
A dishwashing machine is provided. The dishwashing machine may include a rack disposed in a tub to provide a washing space to receive objects to be washed, a water supply pump to supply wash water, a nozzle body disposed at an upper side of the rack to receive the wash water from the water supply pump, a discharge hole provided at the nozzle body to discharge the wash water supplied to the nozzle body to the rack, and an asymmetric impeller rotatably provided at the nozzle body to supply the wash water discharged from the discharge hole to at least two divided areas of the rack.
US09936847B2
Disclosed is a mop tool. The mop tool includes an elongated stick; and a plate-shaped cleaning head rotatably coupled to one end of the stick and having two or more mop fasteners that have different coupling types. The cleaning head is provided with a mop hanging bar from which a connecting loop of a mop hangs.
US09936845B2
A vacuum cleaner has an agitator assembly that is coupled to a motor via a belt, and a belt shifting assembly which has a belt shifter which moves the belt between engagement with a drive pulley or an idler pulley on the agitator assembly. A biasing member biases the belt shifter between engagement with the drive pulley and the idler pulley.
US09936833B2
A mail receptacle platform is configured to receive and to stack mail, and rotate to collect new mail. The mail receptacle includes a retained mail compartment, a discarded mail compartment, a video camera configured to capture video within a general mail receptacle compartment, an extendible arm including a mail grabber, the extendible arm is connected to an actuator configured to be actuated based on control signals, to place a particular piece of mail for viewing by the video camera, and to sort mail retained by the mail receptacle platform into one of the retained mail compartment and the discarded mail compartment, and a control interface configured to receive control signals and transmit video captured by the video camera. The control interface includes: a receiver, a transmitter and a power source.
US09936831B2
Disclosed herein is a beverage container holding apparatus that floats in water. More specifically, the beverage container holding apparatus is configured for being floated in water and being supported by a rigid support surface such as, for example, a countertop or table. Advantageously, such a beverage container holding apparatus is configured for limiting a potential for the beverage container holding apparatus to overturn and to exhibit floatation stability as a volume of liquid with in the beverage holding container changes such as through consumption thereof. Preferably, such a beverage container holding apparatus additionally serves to insulate the beverage container held therein.
US09936830B2
A pitcher is provided having a container body and a lid sealing assembly. The container body has a liquid retaining cavity. A pour aperture is fluidly associated with the cavity to allow liquid to be poured from the pitcher. The lid sealing assembly is removably connected to the container body. The lid sealing assembly has an actuation assembly having a push-button actuated actuator that operates a seal member. The actuator is moveable between a normal position and a use position. The seal member is positioned outside the cavity and adjacent the pour aperture. The seal member seals the pour aperture when the actuator is in the normal position and the seal member is moved from the pour aperture to open the pour aperture when the actuator is in the use position. When the seal member is moved from the pour aperture liquid can be poured from the pitcher.
US09936824B2
The invention is a container refrigeration case having at least one cooling air duct extending through a wide area of a rear wall unit and top unit, having a bottom region that accommodates a rolling container, and having side wall units. Cooling air is guided to circulate through the cooling air duct, a cooling air curtain traveling from top to bottom on the front side, and across the bottom region. The bottom region has a flat bottom structure situated under the container, an inner cover oriented toward the cooling chamber, and a floor-side duct section embodied under the inner cover which routes the cooling air duct from the front side to the lower, rear section of the cooling air duct.
US09936811B2
A novel portable bleacher/bench awning includes a first seat engaging structure, a second seat engaging structure, a first frame structure, a second frame structure, and a flexible cover The first and second seat engaging structures are adapted to engage a bleacher/bench type seat. Optionally, the portable awning is collapsible. In another particular embodiment, the portable awning is adapted to be mounted to a chair via a bag that is also used to transport the portable awning.
US09936807B2
A rack support and method of use. The support rack can include a plurality of support slats mounted to a support base. The support slats cooperatively provide a plurality of article mounting channels, and article mounts can be slidably mounted in the channels in order to provide a variety of orientations of the article mounts with respect to the support base. In one embodiment, the support channels are T-shaped, and the article mounts have T-shaped mounting ends that may slidably mount with the T-shaped support channels. Other support channel and mounting end shapes may be used. In some embodiments, the rack support may be used to store articles on a wall with increased article density, economy, reliability, safety, and/or usability.
US09936800B2
A workstation assembly configured to ergonomically, comfortably seat and provide workspace for a user, comprising a chair having a base portion on which a user sits, and at least one armrest; and a desk comprising a desk frame, a sliding assembly mounted on a desk frame, and a desktop mounted on a sliding assembly, wherein the desk is configured such that the desktop can be in a compact position with respect to the desk frame, or can be moved from the compact position to an extended position with respect to the desk frame, wherein, in the extended position, a distal portion of the desktop is positioned on the at least one arm rest.
US09936795B2
A toothbrush comprising a body comprising a handle portion, a head portion and a longitudinal axis; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the head portion; a depression formed in an outer surface of the handle portion of the body, the depression comprising a floor; a power source disposed within the body; an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source disposed within the handle portion and operably coupled to the power source, the EMR source configured to emit EMR from the floor of the depression; and a cover coupled to the handle portion so as to be alterable between: (1) a storage state in which the depression is enclosed by the cover; and (2) a use state in which the floor of the depression is exposed.
US09936790B2
An applicator comprising at least two applicator elements and one of the at least two applicator elements at least partially surrounds or encompasses other of the at least two applicator elements. One of the at least two applicator element is constructed from a filament constructed at least partially from a thermal storage material that is capable of retaining heat or cold for application to a body, and comprises at least two loops which provide a discontinuous application surface.
US09936787B1
A lightweight, portable hair dryer device including a rechargeable battery component and configured insulated structures to accord suitable protections for the user from excessive heating to the skin is provided. Such a hair dryer is configured to provide either a hand-held application or a flexible add-on conduit with a bonnet component. Additionally, the hair dryer device exhibits a small profile to reduce the overall size thereof for ease in handling and stowage during use and may also be outfitted with a proper attachment clip to allow for placement on a user's clothing. Coupled with an insulation portion to prevent heat transfer of deleterious levels to the user's skin during hands-free utilization thereof, the all-in-one hair dryer allows for user maneuverability and hands-free or hand-held use on demand with free movement unfettered by an electrical cord. Multiple devices for salon usage, or single personal use devices are thus available.
US09936786B2
The hair coloring appliance includes a flexible cap which is adapted and sized to fit against the head of the user, covering the user's hair. The cap includes a sealing band which seals the edge of the cap to the user's head. A vacuum pump assembly is connected to the cap as well as a color infusion assembly. A control system controls the vacuum assembly to create a vacuum in the cap volume and to permit infusion of color material when the desired vacuum has been created.
US09936778B2
The present suitcases only provide the service of carrying clothing and cosmetics. This Invention would carry clothing, cosmetics and bed.
US09936774B2
There is provided a slider for a slide fastener. The slider includes a body, a pull tab, a shaft member, and a coil spring. The pull tab has a base portion, a gripper and a claw portion protruding from the base portion. The shaft member is configured to rotatably support the pull tab relative to the body. The coil spring is attached around the shaft member to urge the gripper to be laid down toward the body. A claw guide portion allows a tip end of the claw portion to protrude into the guide groove. A restricting portion of the body restricts rotation of the pull tab when the pull tab is raised by a predetermined angle from the body. A restricted portion of the pull tab comes in contact with the restricting portion when the pull tab is raised by the predetermined angle from the body.
US09936773B2
There is provided a molded hook and loop fastener having at least one hook and loop fastener member which includes a flat plate-shaped base material and a plurality of engaging elements erected on a first surface of the base material in a center region in a width direction thereof, and configured to be integrated with a cushion body upon foaming of the cushion body. A flexible sheet-shaped resin material infiltration-blocking member is fixed to right and left side edge portions of the first surface of the base material and arranged along a longitudinal direction. Right and left support members are erected on the inside of fixation portions of the resin material infiltration-blocking member with respect to the base material, to support the resin material infiltration-blocking member. An upper end of the resin material infiltration-blocking member is configured to protrude above an upper end location of the support members.
US09936763B2
A wearable, portable, self-contained refrigeration/cooling garment may effectively convert the energy of human movement into heat flux. The heat flux can then used to actively control the temperature of the human body or of part of it. In one example of the present disclosure, the garment is a type of footwear powered by the wearer's ambulation.
US09936760B2
Multiple shoe types are made from a plurality of generic molded base frames including a midsole and at least one upper portion integrally molded together. A first set of upper components is provided for forming a first shoe type secured to a first portion of the base frames and a second set of upper components is provided for forming a second shoe type secured to a second portion of the base frames. The upper portion that is integrally molded with the midsole may be a forefoot panel or a quarter. The various types formed from the generic frame include sneakers, backless shoes, slip-ons, skate shoes and boots. The generic unitary molded frame construction substantially reduces the cost of manufacture.
US09936758B2
An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction with varying stitch configurations. The upper may also incorporate non-textile elements, including non-textile elements on the lateral side and in the heel region. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.
US09936753B2
A decorative mask is used as face covering in masquerade, comprising an inverted U-shaped headband with resilient and holding function configured to wear around a user's head; a covering piece positioned on and connected with the headband by a connector; said covering piece defined as a mask; the connector including a first end arranged in one end thereof and connected in a center of a bottom end of the headband; a second end arranged in the other end thereof and connected in a center of a top end of the covering piece; and an resilient part integrally connected between the first end and the second end; the covering piece tended to return to its original position by the connector after opening it, thereby wearing securely, quickly reducing its volume, and compacting for easy storage.
US09936750B2
This protective garment has: a core region having a first side and an opposite second side and two appendage regions connected to the core region. Each appendage region has an innermost layer and a metal mesh layer. The core region and the appendage regions can both include an outermost layer. The innermost layer of the protective garment is configured to have a rolling degree of freedom relative to the metal mesh layer when a clamping force is applied to the outermost layer, which allows the wearer to rotate the appendage.
US09936749B2
A midsection shaping garment for reshaping the contours of the midsection of the wearer includes a pair of pants that has a waistband. A lower edge of an annular band is coupled to the waistband. The annular band extends upwardly from the waistband and is body-shaping. The annular extends around the abdomen and lower back of the user from the waist to near the xiphoid of the user. The improvement is the annular band coupled to and extending upwardly from the waistband such that the annular band is configured to reshape the contours of the midsection of the user.
US09936746B1
Disclosed embodiments include a convertible garment. The convertible garment may be convertible between a garment in a first configuration to a plush toy in a second configuration. In some embodiments, the garment may include a main body portion and a hood portion with an interior compartment. In some embodiments the garment may be compacted and inverted through the compartment to flip into the plush toy configuration.
US09936738B2
Provided are systems, methods, and electronic vapor devices comprising a heating element casing designed to facilitate an eLiquid heating process while providing a vapor quality which yields a sensation of increased smoothness for a user.
US09936737B2
Provided are systems, methods and electronic vapor devices comprising a first container containing a first vaporizable liquid and a second container comprising a second vaporizable liquid. A vaporizer can be configured to vaporize at least the first vaporizable liquid and the second vaporizable liquid. Vaporizing the first vaporizable liquid produces a first vapor having a visible vapor cloud, and vaporizing the second vaporizable liquid produces a second vapor having a drastically reduced or invisible vapor cloud when compared to the first vapor.
US09936736B2
A system, method, and device comprising a hybrid electronic communication vapor device comprising an electronic communication device and an electronic vapor device wherein the electronic vapor device is powered by at least one of battery, charging, and power system.
US09936721B2
Provided is a composition containing an admixture of xanthan gum and konjac mannan in a specific weight ratio that is useful for making a stable aqueous hydrocolloid. Also provided is a stabilized drink composition containing an admixture of a specific weight ratio of xanthan gum to konjac mannan, protein solids, water and optionally a salt. Also provided is a method for stabilizing aqueous colloid suspensions. Also provided is a method for stabilizing drink compositions.
US09936719B2
A semi-solid animal feed block is provided to an animal as a feed supplement or as a complete feed. The feed block is formed of a liquid binder containing denatured wheat flour protein and sugar, and a nutrient mixture of at least one animal feed component. The denatured protein and the sugar bind the nutrient mixture to form the semi-solid animal feed block as a single mass. The nutrients may be formulated to promote digestive tract development of a recently weaned livestock animal, such as a piglet.
US09936718B2
A mold (1) for the production of confectionery products, comprising a top surface (2) having cavities (2a) and an opposite bottom surface (3), comprising at least one protruding element (5) at the bottom surface (3) of the mold (1) for increasing the heat transfer rate between the mold (1) and a fluid flowing along the bottom surface (3).
US09936709B2
A dough processing system for processing a U-shaped strand of dough comprising a processing head, which has two gripping means for looping the dough strand, and a shaping table, which is provided with positioning means for positioning the dough strand, wherein the shaping table is embodied as a processing table, in which various positioning means of the processing table have multiple different processing functions.
US09936703B2
An object of the present invention is to provide and develop novel agricultural and horticultural insecticides in view of the still immense damage caused by insect pests etc. and the emergence of insect pests resistant to existing insecticides in crop production in the fields of agriculture, horticulture and the like.Provided are a condensed heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (I): {wherein A1, A2 and A3 may be the same or different, and each represent a nitrogen atom or a CH group, R1 represents an alkyl group or the like, R2 represents a haloalkyl group or the like, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, R4 represents a haloalkyl group or the like, R5 represents an alkyl group or the like, and m represents 0 or 2} or a salt thereof; an agricultural and horticultural insecticide comprising the compound or a salt thereof as an active ingredient; and a method for using the insecticide.
US09936702B2
Subject matter of the present invention is a suspension concentrate composition comprising an a) isothiazoline insecticide and b) activated charcoal, wherein the composition is substantially free of a non-polar solvent. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of said composition; a suspension obtainable by mixing water, an isothiazoline insecticide and activated charcoal; and to a method for controlling undesired attack by insects or mites, where the suspension concentrate composition or the suspension is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or on the crop plants to be protected from the respective pests.
US09936701B2
The invention relates to pyrrolone compounds of the formula (I) wherein X, Rb, Rc, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for making compounds of formula (I), to herbicidal compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using these compounds to control plant growth.
US09936692B2
Nanoengineered particulate coatings (NPCs) comprise a multiplicity of particulate hosts that are infused with a nanophase comprising a surfactant and at least one guest. The particulate hosts can be clay particles, the surfactant can be a cationic surfactant, and the guest can be an insect repellant. For example, montmorillonite particles infused with hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and garlic oil form NPCs that may be used to form an emulsion or suspension for spraying on citrus trees to repel Asian Citrus Psyllid.
US09936690B2
A method and apparatus for the processing of tissue and cellular material during cryopreservation and/or processing for microscopy. The method and apparatus maximizes heat transfer coefficients by using liquid-free cryopreservation protocols and maximizing glass transition characteristics through increasing pressure during cryopreservation. Cooling rates combined with megapascal pressures reduced the required concentration of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) needed for ice-free cell and tissue cryopreservation.
US09936688B2
The invention provides methodologies and apparatus for producing devitalized soft-tissue implants where the implant retains metabolically non-viable and/or reproductively non-viable cells, and preferably retains large molecular weight cytoplasmic proteins, such implants produced both in small quantities and in commercializable quantities. Such soft-tissue implants include vascular graft substitutes. A devitalized graft is produced by subjecting the tissue sample to an induced pressure mediated flow of an extracting solution, optionally followed by inducing a pressure mediated flow of a salt solution, then washing the tissue to produce the devitalized graft. The devitalized grafts produced are uniform and non-immunogenic. The inventive method allows for the production of multiple devitalized soft tissue implants, where processing time is significantly less than prior art processes and the number of implants produced per day is increased over prior art processes. In clinical use, the devitalized grafts produced exhibit significantly improved in long-term durability and function, and enhanced recellularization post-implantation.
US09936685B2
An apparatus comprises an upper air guide hood and a lower air guide hood spaced from each other. Spray nozzles are arranged between these two air guide hoods. The air guide hoods hang above or just in the tops of the crops. During the migration of the apparatus the crop is as it were torn open by the wind and/or by contact with the apparatus, so that the spray liquid is distributed among the crop.
US09936684B2
A furniture piece including an insect control barrier comprising a plurality of insecticide strips is provided. The insecticide strips are strategically located on the furniture piece to intersect travel paths from a support surface to prime harborage or feeding locations on the furniture piece.
US09936669B1
A novel soybean variety, designated 5PPRS22 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety 5PPRS22, cells from soybean variety 5PPRS22, plants of soybean 5PPRS22, and plant parts of soybean variety 5PPRS22. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety 5PPRS22 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety 5PPRS22, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety 5PPRS22, and methods of characterizing soybean variety 5PPRS22. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety 5PPRS22 are further provided.
US09936662B1
A novel maize variety designated PH240F and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH240F with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH240F through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH240F or a locus conversion of PH240F with another maize variety.
US09936657B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH884093. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH884093, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH884093 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH884093.
US09936650B2
A securable enclosure for growing controlled plants including walls forming an environmentally isolated interior and securable entrance to prevent unauthorized access. An environmental control system regulates environmental conditions in the enclosure's interior in order to control levels of potential contaminants such as dust, mold, pollen, insects and chemical pollutants. A control unit is positioned on the exterior of the enclosure allows control of the environmental conditions without the need for physical access to the interior.
US09936648B2
A packing element having a trapezoidal front panel (1) and trapezoidal rear panel (2), wherein the front panel (1) and the rear panel (2) each have a first pair of two opposite, parallel base edges (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b), and a second pair of nonparallel side edges (1c, 2c) bridging ends of the two base edges (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b), and wherein the front panel (2) and the rear panel (1) are connected to each other at their side edges, preferably in the edge region of their overlapping side edges (1c) such that an inner edge face of the front panel (2) facing the rear panel (1) is glued to an inner edge face of the rear panel (1) facing the front panel (2) and a space for receiving an article, preferably a conical article, preferably a flower pot or a flower bouquet, can be formed between the front panel (2) and the rear panel (1) by moving the panels away from each other, thereby forming an opening at least between the long base edges at the top, characterized in that a grab formation (4), particularly a strap (4) that can be gripped by hand, is provided on the front panel (1) above a tear line (3) provided in the front panel (1) between the side edges (1c, 2c), preferably running parallel to the base edges (1a, 1b) of the front panel (1) so that an upper region (1d) of the front panel (1) above the tear line (3) can be separated from a lower region (1e) of the front panel (1) below the tear line (3).
US09936647B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for trimming product in a mobile unit.
US09936646B2
A twine delivery needle is constructed so as to include metal tip and mounting base sections or regions joined together by a relatively light weight central section having a composite structural sandwich construction comprising a low-density rigid foam core encased within a thin, high strength, skin or covering comprised of plies of woven and substantially continuous fibers disposed within a hardened matrix resin material.
US09936642B2
A pick-up, an agricultural implement, and a method for ejecting a foreign object by the crop pick-up and the agricultural implement are provided. The agricultural implement comprises a crop inlet to collect picked-up crop. The crop pick-up comprises a reel with pick-up fingers to pick up the crop from the field, an auger to transport the picked-up crop to the crop inlet of the agricultural implement, and a driver. The driver rotates the reel and the auger in a pick-up direction and a collection direction for picking up and transporting the crop, and a retrieval direction for retrieving already collected crop when a foreign object is detected in the collected crop. The crop pick-up further comprises an ejector to actively rotate the reel in an ejection direction for ejecting the retrieved crop.
US09936639B2
A harvester includes a cross conveying auger with a helical blade. An auger pan extends under and behind the auger and forms a trough portion below the auger. A lower rear quadrant of the auger pan is contoured includes one or more projections to provide resistance to radial movement of the ears of corn so that the ears and are moved longitudinally inward along the auger.
US09936638B2
A debris collection system to be attached to a leaf blower apparatus to assist in the collection of lawn debris like leaves, sticks, acorns, fruit, trash, etc. The debris collection system includes a bagging assembly with a flexible bag that collects the debris. The bagging assembly also includes a handle mechanism to allow for the emptying of the flexible bag into a trash bin. The system also includes attachment mechanisms that allow the debris collection system to be easily attached and detached from the leaf blower.
US09936637B2
A system for measuring plant attributes includes an ECU mounted on a combine, a plant attribute sensor, a ground speed sensor and a vehicle guidance sensor. The ECU is configured to use a signal from a vehicle guidance sensor disposed in front of plant attribute sensor to create a signal sampling window in which signals from the plant attribute sensor will be read and to reject signals from the plant attribute sensors outside of this signal sampling window.
US09936623B2
A plow bottom is configured to be easily reset when striking a rock while plowing. The plow operator may set the force required for the plow bottom to disengage using the adjustment switch. Once the shank strikes an object, the plow bottom will disengage. The plow operator then lifts the plow assembly using the tractor to raise the plow bottoms out of the ground. A spring then forces the disengaged plow bottom to reengage. Once the plow bottom is reengaged, the plow operator lowers the plow assembly and continues plowing the land.
US09936622B2
An applicator assembly for applying an active substance to the root zone of a plurality of plants, the applicator assembly comprising: a subsoil applicator having a cutting element for generating an incision in the ground, an injector associated with the cutting element to allow the active substance to be injected into the incision; and a positioning device adapted to allow the position of the cutting element to change position such that an incision is generated in some material in the root zone while the cutting element moves over other material in the root zone.
US09943016B2
A cooling structure for a heat-producing power magnetics device having at least two faces, includes a first cold plate having a first coolant passage and conductively coupled with at least the first face of the magnetics device and wherein at least a portion of heat generated by the power magnetics device is removed from the device by way of thermal conduction to the first coolant passage, and a coolant reservoir fluidly coupled with the first and second coolant passages.
US09943009B2
An electrical assembly includes a heat conducting housing. A conductor is supported by the housing and conducts electrical current. An electrical insulator member surrounds the conductor. A core surrounds the insulator member and the conductor so that current flowing through the conductor induces a magnetic field in the core. A transducer is coupled to the core for generating a signal representing current in the conductor. A thermal interface member engages the core and engages the housing. The interface member conducts or can conduct heat to the housing.
US09942997B2
A display device includes a front frame, a display module installed in the front frame, and a rear cover connected with the front frame. The front frame includes a plurality of securing rods connected one by one. Each securing rod defines a receiving groove and a plurality of grabs. The display module includes a plurality of limiting plates. The rear cover includes a plurality of latch blocks. The limiting plate is received in the receiving groove. The latch block is inserted into the grab.
US09942995B2
A metal core substrate is obtained as a result of outline shaping performed on a substrate including a core plate and an insulating layer provided on each of two surfaces of the core plate. An outer circumferential edge of the metal core substrate has an insulating structural portion, which includes an end surface of the core plate that is retracted from an end surface of the outer circumferential edge of the metal core substrate and an insulating covering portion covers the end surface of the core plate. Separation portions to be filled with the resin and coupling portions which are to be removed before outline shaping are formed at outline shaping positions of the core plate. At the time of outline shaping, only the resin is present at the outline shaping positions.
US09942994B2
In one embodiment, a meta-module having circuitry for two or more modules is formed on a substrate, which is preferably a laminated substrate. The circuitry for the different modules is initially formed on the single meta-module. Each module will have one or more component areas in which the circuitry is formed. A metallic structure is formed on or in the substrate for each component area to be shielded. A single body, such as an overmold body, is then formed over all of the modules on the meta-module. At least a conductive vertical interconnect access structure (vias) associated with each component area to be shielded is then exposed through the body by a cutting, drilling, or similar operation. Next, an electromagnetic shield material is applied to the exterior surface of the body of each of the component areas to be shielded and in contact with the exposed conductive vias.
US09942992B2
Systems and methods for assembling an LED connector board wherein the assembly can be provided with a metal track with an integrated recess for receiving an injection molded base, onto which a set of leaf spring connectors with extended insulating bosses for electrical wires can be secured.
US09942987B2
A coil component includes: an internal coil; a magnetic body having the internal coil embedded therein, and having first and second surfaces opposing each other in a first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction; and external electrodes connected to the internal coil and disposed on outer surfaces of the magnetic body. 0
US09942983B2
A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board, a conductor layer, a first insulating layer disposed between the metal supporting board and the conductor layer and having a first thickness, a second insulating layer having a second thickness in a portion disposed on the first insulating layer, and a pedestal disposed on the metal supporting board. The pedestal includes a first layer prepared from the same material as that of the first insulating layer and a second layer prepared from the same material as that of the second insulating layer. The thickness of the pedestal is different from any one of the first thickness, the second thickness, and the total sum of the first thickness and the second thickness.
US09942982B2
A multilayer electrical device, such as a printed circuit board, having a tooth structure including a metal layer set in a dielectric. The device includes a base; a conductive layer adjacent to the base; a dielectric material adjacent to conductive layer; a tooth structure including a metal layer set in the dielectric material to join the dielectric material to the metal layer; and wherein the metal layer forms a portion of circuitry in a circuit board having multiple layers of circuitry.
US09942980B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a wavy interconnect for bendable and stretchable devices and associated techniques and configurations. In one embodiment, an interconnect assembly includes a flexible substrate defining a plane and a wavy interconnect disposed on the flexible substrate and configured to route electrical signals of an integrated circuit (IC) device in a first direction that is coplanar with the plane, the wavy interconnect having a wavy profile from a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and coplanar with the plane. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09942975B2
An apparatus includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including a surface that has a layer of circuitry. The apparatus also includes a heat sink configured to receive heat from the PCB. The apparatus further includes a thermally-conductive post configured to remove the heat from the PCB to the heat sink via thermal conduction through a thermal path. The thermal path is substantially orthogonal to the surface of the PCB. The post includes an end configured to physically couple to the layer of circuitry.
US09942974B2
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to generators that can be used to sustain a plasma in a driven mode and in an oscillation mode and optionally in a hybrid mode. In some embodiments, the generator is configured to switch between the two modes during operation. In certain instances, the plasma may be ignited when the generator is in a driven mode and may be used to analyze samples when the generator is in an oscillation mode or driven mode or hybrid mode.
US09942971B2
Apparatus and systems are disclosed for detecting outages in an LED lamp assembly. An example disclosed lamp assembly includes a plurality of LED circuits serially connected together. The LED circuits include an LED, a first resistor and an optocouper. The example disclosed lamp assembly also includes a sense line electrically coupled to one of the LED circuits. The sense line has a first voltage value when all of LEDs in that plurality of LED circuits are operational and a second voltage value when at least one of the LEDs has failed.
US09942965B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing actions based on a determined relative composition of light. In some implementations, data representing an amount of ambient light detected within the portion of the property by a light sensor located at the portion of the property is initially obtained. Data indicating (i) a shape of an optical spectra for a natural light source, and (ii) a shape of an optical spectra for a non-natural light source is then obtained. A relative composition of the ambient light detected within the portion of the property is determined. An estimated amount of natural light within the portion of the property is then determined. In response, the amount of light output by one or more light sources located at the portion of the property is adjusted.
US09942964B2
A constant current regulator for airfield ground lighting is described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include a power converter configured to receive a signal from an alternating current (AC) mains, where the power converter includes a number of bi-directional switches, a transformer configured to isolate the AC signal from an airfield ground lighting circuit, and a rectifier configured to convert the signal from the AC mains from AC to direct current (DC), an inverter configured to convert the DC signal from the power converter and convert the DC to AC, an output filter configured to receive the AC signal from the inverter and send the AC signal to the airfield ground lighting circuit, and a controller configured to switch the number of bi-directional switches of the power converter to allow an input voltage and current of the signal from the AC mains to be in phase.
US09942954B2
The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for controlling solid state lighting. The solid state lighting is controlled by the combination of a constant current reduction approach and a dithering approaching. The constant current reduction approach is used over a high light intensity range while the dithering approach is used over a low light intensity range.
US09942945B2
An overcurrent protection assembly for an appliance includes a cabinet configured to house the appliance, the cabinet including a body and a door, the door movable between an open position and a closed position. The overcurrent protection assembly further includes an overcurrent protection circuit, the overcurrent protection circuit including a switch and a current limiter. The switch is alternatable between an engaged position when the door is in the open position and a disengaged position when the door is in the closed position. The current limiter is in electrical communication with the switch when the switch is in the disengaged position and not in electrical communication with the switch when the switch is in the engaged position. Electricity flowing through the overcurrent protection circuit to the appliance flows at a high current level when the switch is in the engaged position and at a low current level when the switch is in the disengaged position.
US09942938B2
A dual-radio access technology (dual-RAT) wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may transmit, over a cellular RAT, a registration message that includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) device identifier (ID) for a WLAN associated with the dual-RAT WTRU. A transceiver of the dual-RAT WTRU may receive, from the cellular network over the cellular RAT, assistance information that includes a security key for the WLAN. A processor of the dual-RAT WTRU may perform, over a WLAN RAT, device-to-device D2D direct discovery using the WLAN device ID and the security key for the WLAN.
US09942936B2
A mobile communication terminal includes a narrow-band communication module, a broad-band communication module, a first operating module and a second operating module, the first operating module being configured in order to establish a communication through a narrow-band communication network via the narrow-band communication module, the second operating module being configured to establish a communication through the narrow-band communication network via the narrow-band communication module and in order to establish a communication through a broad-band communication network via the broad-band communication module.
US09942935B2
A server rack includes a first component including a host processor to provide a hosted environment and a first management system to provide a managed environment separate from the hosted environment, to establish a first wireless connection to a mobile device, to process a first management request from the mobile device in the managed environment, and to detect that the first wireless connection has unexpectedly terminated, and a second component including a second management system to receive an indication from the first management controller that the first wireless connection was unexpectedly terminated, to establish a second wireless connection to the mobile device in response to the indication, to receive a second management request from the mobile device, and to send the second management request to the first management system. The first management system being further to process the second management request in the managed environment.
US09942932B2
A method of performing a terminal-to-terminal communication includes performing a terminal-to-terminal transmission via a portion of a radio spectrum licensed for transmission of wireless data. The terminal-to-terminal transmission is transmitted without performing terminal-to-terminal discovery associated with the terminal-to-terminal transmission. The terminal-to-terminal transmission is configured to be received by a terminal without being routed through a base station. The method further includes checking for an acknowledgement sequence and checking for a negative acknowledgement sequence.
US09942924B1
The present invention provides a system and a method for confirming a “QSO” between two amateur radio stations. The invention provides a unique ID code that is encoded and transmitted from one of the radio stations to the other radio station, which in turn decodes said encoded unique ID code using a previously assigned decoding key. A server is connected to both radio station to assign, encode, transmit, received, decode and retrieve the transmitted code completing a cycle (loop) between two stations validating their radio connection and the reach of each other over the radio waves.
US09942919B2
Method performed by a first communication device (101) operating in a wireless communications network (100). The first communication device (101) determines (1101) one or more parameters for transmitting on an uplink control channel in an unlicensed band to a second communication device (102). The second communication device (102) operates in the wireless communications network (100). The one or more parameters comprise an indication of a duration of a channel sensing period. The first communication device (101) then transmits (1102) on the uplink control channel to the second communication device (102), by applying the determined one or more parameters. According to a method performed by the second communication device (102) operating in the wireless communications network (100), the second communication device (102) determines (1301) the one or more parameters. The second communication device (102) then initiates transmitting (1302) the determined one or more parameters to the first communication device (101).
US09942914B2
Technology for communicating security key information from a macro eNB is disclosed. Security key information associated with the macro evolved node B (eNB) may be determined. The security key information may be used to cipher information communicated at the first eNB. A small eNB may be identified at the macro eNB to generate the security key information associated with the macro eNB for ciphering information communicated at the second eNB. The security key information may be communicated, from the macro eNB, to the small eNB for inter-Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA) evolved node B (eNB) carrier aggregation.
US09942906B1
Systems and methods are described for determining a subframe configuration for an access node based on coverage. An access node may communicate with wireless devices using a subframe configuration, however there may be a plurality of subframe configuration options. A utility function may be calculated for each of the plurality of subframe configurations based on, for example, a coverage for each subframe configuration and a number of wireless devices serviced by each subframe configuration. The utility function may provide an indication of a subframe configuration's value to the wireless system based on considerations such as coverage over wireless devices and signal quality for the covered wireless devices. The subframe configuration with the greatest utility function may then be selected to be used for communication between the access node and wireless devices.
US09942903B2
A first mobile device receives, from each of a plurality of other mobile devices, information related to the availability of at least one network resource provided by at least a first network offered for sharing by the respective other mobile device. The first mobile device also receives a request from a second mobile device to access the network resource provided by the first network shared by at least one of the plurality of other mobile devices. The first mobile device selects at least one of the other mobile devices to share the network resource provided by the first network with the second mobile device. The first mobile device communicates to the second mobile device peer-to-peer network connection information of the selected at least one of the other mobile devices.
US09942901B2
A method is provided for minimizing cross-technology interference with data transmissions from a wireless device in a shared spectrum. The wireless device obtains data to be wirelessly transmitted in a transmission burst in a first radio access technology (RAT) format over a shared spectrum. The wireless device generates a preamble comprising assistance information related to the transmission burst. The preamble comprises a first preamble portion in the first RAT format and a second preamble portion in a second RAT format. The wireless device transmits the preamble followed by the transmission burst.
US09942886B1
Wireless communications systems and methods related to transmitting uplink control information. A first wireless communication device receives a transmission configuration indicating first beam information and second beam information. The first beam information and the second beam information are different. The first wireless communication device transmits a first uplink control signal based on the first beam information. The first wireless communication device transmits a second uplink control signal based on the second beam information. The first uplink control signal and the second uplink control signal represent the same control information. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US09942862B2
The present invention is designed to control inter-cell interference adequately even when a plurality of cells are placed at a high density. A user terminal can connect with a plurality of radio base stations, and has a receiving section that receives a downlink signal from each radio base station, and a power control section that, when an uplink grant or a downlink assignment and a control signal for power control are detected at the same time from the downlink signal, prioritizes a TPC command contained in the control signal for power control, and changes transmission power.
US09942861B2
A more efficient antenna can be facilitated by accounting for the cable link loss associated with the distance from antenna base equipment to the antenna. As an antenna transitions between various link layers of a telecommunications network, the cable link loss can be accounted for to determine a compensation value. The compensation value can then be used to account for the cable link loss to allow for a more efficient antenna.
US09942857B2
The present document relates to a method for transmitting and receiving signals by controlling interference on other wireless devices based on actual transmitted power or received power information in a wireless communication system, and an apparatus therefor. To this end, STA 1 receives from STA 2 a frame comprising power information about actual transmitted power or actual received power of STA 2. Through the frame, STA 1 determines transmitted power by correcting the existing transmitted power of STA 1 by using the power information of STA 2 and, when the determined transmitted power of STA 1 is less than or equal to a reference value, transmits signals through the frame.
US09942854B2
An example computer-implemented method includes determining, by an electronic device, that the electronic device has not received a user activity for an interval of time. The method also includes determining, by the electronic device, a contextual state of the electronic device, and adapting, by the electronic device, a sleep delay value based on the determined contextual state of the electronic device. The method also includes determining that the interval of time has exceeded the sleep delay value, and responsive to determining that the interval of time has exceeded the sleep delay value, transitioning, by the electronic device, from a first power state to a second power state, where the first power state is higher or lower than the second power state.
US09942851B2
A power management device of a wireless communication assembly receives respective signals indicative of respective voltage supply levels required by respective hardware devices among a plurality of hardware devices of the wireless communication assembly, where the respective required voltage supply levels vary over time. The power management device selects a voltage supply level corresponding to a maximum voltage supply level indicated by the respective received signals, adjusts, based on the selected supply voltage level, a supply voltage supplied to the wireless communication assembly so that the selected voltage supply level is supplied to all of the hardware devices of the wireless communication assembly.
US09942842B1
An apparatus and power saving methods are disclosed. The apparatus includes a radio communication device including at least one hardware component configured to operate in a normal mode and a power saving mode. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to monitor operations of the radio communication device and to determine whether to set the at least one hardware component to operate in the normal mode or in the power saving mode. The apparatus further includes a control mechanism associated with the at least one hardware component. The control mechanism is configured to change the operation of the at least one hardware component between the normal mode and the power saving mode based on a command received from the controller.
US09942839B2
Technologies for reducing connection time to a wireless access point includes recording wireless connection information in a log, computing parameters as a function of past wireless connection information in the log, generating an ordered list of wireless access points most likely to be available for reconnection at a desired time as a function of recent wireless connection information in the log, and directly probing a wireless access point instead of initiating a wireless access point scan. In some embodiments, computing parameters as a function of past wireless connection information in the log comprises performing genetic programming operations to generate prediction programs for later prediction of wireless access points most likely to be available for reconnection at a desired time.
US09942824B2
A process for routing data frames from a first node to a second node within a network is provided. The process includes: a tree routing sub-process, a source routing sub-process, a temporary routing sub-process and a mesh routing sub-process, wherein the particular sub-process for routing a data frame from the first node the second nodes is selected in accordance with the following logic executed on a processor: if the data frame has a source route header the source routing sub-process is selected; if there is an entry for the target address in a temporary routing table, the temporary routing sub-process is selected; if the second node is a coordinator node, the tree routing sub-process is selected; if the second node is not a coordinator node, the mesh routing sub-process is selected.
US09942816B2
A method performed by a mobile device of selecting a cellular network entails activating a cellular radio transceiver, scanning a most recently used frequency list of radiofrequency channels most recently used by the cellular radio transceiver of the mobile device, scanning a likely frequency list of likely radiofrequency channels available at a plurality of locations where activation of cellular radio transceivers commonly occurs, and selecting the cellular network by identifying one of the radiofrequency channels as a usable channel.
US09942801B2
Techniques are described for wireless communication. A first method includes contending for access to a first channel of a radio frequency spectrum, and transmitting, upon winning contention for access to the first channel, a first channel reservation indication. The contending may be performed by a first node operating according to a first radio access technology. The first channel reservation indication may be understood by a second node operating according to a second radio access technology.
US09942793B2
A user equipment (UE) is configured to receive a maximum probability of accessing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for communication. The maximum probability is received via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communication link with an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (eNB). The UE is further configured to determine that there is a queued transmission for the UE and, in response to determining that there is a queued transmission, to determine whether the UE is authorized to access to the WLAN using a probability less than or equal to the maximum probability. The UE is further configured to delay contention for access to the WLAN for at least a pre-backoff duration in response to determining that the UE is not authorized.
US09942791B2
A 3GPP monitoring architecture framework provides monitoring event configuration, detection, and reporting for machine-type and other mobile data applications by configuring monitoring on a mobility management entity (MME), a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN), or a home subscriber service (HSS) node through existing interfaces, such as Tsp, T4, and T5 interfaces.
US09942786B2
At least one control message is received, from a cellular network. The at least one control message indicates a measurement band (300). A measurement of a signal quality of a signal received on the measurement band (300) is executed. The measurement band (300) differs from the bands (200) of at least one cell (101, 102, 103) of the cellular network.
US09942784B2
A vectorial network analyzer (VNA) having at least one signal generator generating a particular RF output signal, and having n measuring ports, wherein an RF coupler is assigned to each measuring port and couples out an RF signal by running into the particular port from the outside, wherein the at least one signal generator is arranged and designed in such a manner that the latter supplies a particular RF output signal to at least one measuring port as an RF signal running out to the outside. Provision is made for an amplitude and/or a phase to be stored for the RF output signal for at least one signal generator in a retrievable manner on the basis of at least one parameter in a parameter field, wherein the RF signal generator is designed in such a manner that the latter generates the amplitude and/or phase of the RF output signal in a reproducible manner on the basis of at least this one parameter.
US09942768B1
A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes requesting input from a user of a mobile device, receiving gyroscope data at the mobile device, in response to the requesting, verifying the gyroscope data, and performing one or more actions, in response to the verifying.
US09942757B2
A mobile computing device, such as a cellular telephone or cellular network capable tablet or PDA, can be identified by a phone number associated with the mobile computing device. A mobile computing device can include a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that can be used to identify the mobile computing device and to connect the mobile computing device to a communications network operated by the communications carrier or another communications carrier. The SIM card can include memory for storing an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). The IMSI can be used to identify the mobile computing device. A computing system can use the IMSI to request device authentication values and/or a phone number for the mobile computing device from a carrier associated with the mobile computing device.
US09942754B2
A system for transmitting transmissions in vehicles includes a first communication module for establishing a communication connection to a communication terminal of a supplier, which communication terminal receives authorization data by a communication network, a first identification routine for uniquely identifying a supplier, a second communication module for establishing a communication connection to a communication device of a control unit of the access assembly of a vehicle by wireless communication network, a second identification routine for uniquely identifying the system by the access assembly, a third communication module for receiving update request information of the driver, and an update routine for updating authorization data in a memory of the system.
US09942750B2
Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method to decrypt an encrypted account credential at a second device that is received from a first device. The second device may receive a first share of a master key and the encrypted account credential from the first device. The second device may reconstruct the master key with the first share of the master key and a second share of the master key stored at the second device. The second device may decrypt the encrypted account credential with the reconstructed master key. Based upon the decrypted account credential, the second device may be enabled to access an account based upon the decrypted account credential.
US09942746B2
A user equipment (UE) is capable of communicating in multiple networks including a first network and a second network. The UE sends a message to the second network to activate a data connection in the second network or to register the UE in the second network. The UE includes in the message a value of a packet-switched information element that the UE has determined is to be used as opposed to a different value of the packet-switched information element that was included in a message sent by the UE to the first network to activate a data connection in the first network or to register the UE in the first network.
US09942739B2
A system and method for generating and transmitting emergency messages and for maintaining real-time emergency communications sessions between users and emergency dispatch centers. A system receives data transmitted from a user device and constructs an emergency message related to a specific type of emergency scenario as well as the location, meta-data and background information of the user. The generated emergency message is transmitted via a communications network and delivered to an appropriate emergency dispatch center. The method enables the user to deliver a detailed request for help regardless of his or her location or, in another instance, delivers the basic emergency response related information for the user. The generated emergency message is universally compatible with emergency communications center infrastructure so long as the communications centers possess basic voice call equipment.
US09942737B2
A mechanism is provided for remotely controlling one or more monitoring devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the emergency situation.
US09942736B1
Methods and systems described in this disclosure are directed creating a profile for a user that includes information content rules and information delivery rules. Upon detecting a triggering event, a personalized set of information is created for the user based on the information content rules. The information is delivered to the user according to the information delivery rules.
US09942731B2
Various embodiments include a system and method that automatically communicate data using a nonlinear, time-varying voice channel. The system may include one or more sensors, a controller, and a radio transmitter. The one or more sensors may be operable to detect a condition. The controller may be configured to receive an indication of the detected condition from the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to generate a message including information of the detected condition based on the received indication of the detected condition. The radio transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit the generated message on the voice channel.
US09942729B2
Provided is a method of establishing communication between a plurality of terminals by a first client terminal of the plurality of terminals, the method including: receiving an initiation signaling message comprising a communication initiation tag and a terminal list of terminals from a host terminal of the plurality of terminals; determining whether to establish communication with the host terminal, based on a communication state of the first client terminal; generating connection information indicating whether to establish communication with the host terminal; determining a second client terminal of the plurality of terminals as a next priority terminal based on the terminal list of terminals; and transmitting the connection information and a trigger signaling message comprising a communication extension tag to the second client terminal.
US09942728B2
An electronic device includes a communication interface configured to transmit and receive data on a wireless network. The electronic device includes circuitry configured to detect, when the communication interface is connected to the wireless network, a configuration change in the wireless network. The circuitry is configured to determine, based on a signal strength indication corresponding to the electronic device and a signal strength indication corresponding to one or more external devices connected to the wireless network, which of the devices connected to the wireless network is a group owner of the wireless network. The circuitry is configured to control communication on the wireless network by maintaining or changing the group owner based on the group owner determination result.
US09942723B2
A tracking system for locating individuals and equipment as well as providing directions within a building includes a plurality of transmitters that are positioned and associated with specific locations within the building. The location of the transmitters is stored in a database of a controller. An individual is provided with a receiver that detects signals sent by the transmitters. Each receiver has an identification code associated with the individual that is stored within the controller's database. The receiver forwards detected information on to the controller and based upon the information, the controller displays an icon associated with the receiver on a grid of the building that shows the location of the individual within the building.
US09942713B1
An apparatus and method for tracking a large number of wireless terminals being used by wireless subscribers in a wireless network and for estimating the location of the terminals at each instant. Some embodiments of the present invention use a coordinated smoothing over time of when location requests should be issued to a location engine, for the large number of subscribers. The smoothing can be used in conjunction with a throttling of location requests, such as when the maximum rate of location request transactions that is supported by the wireless network is exceeded.
US09942709B2
Provided are a device and a method for estimating a position using a downlink access point enabling efficient indoor position measurement at a relatively low cost. The device for estimating a position using a downlink access point includes: a plurality of downlink access points 100 installed at specific positions; and one or more user terminal 200 displaying its current position, wherein the plurality of downlink access points 100 wirelessly transmit different address codes, and the user terminal 200 estimates a position corresponding to the received address code to be its current position in the case in which it is within a wireless transmission range of the downlink access point 100.
US09942705B1
A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.
US09942702B1
A base station exchanges session communications with a UE during a communication session, receives a location request for a device location of the UE, determines an amount of delay time associated with the session communications of the UE, and submits a query to a database system for a location of a wireless repeater to which the UE is connected, wherein the query includes an identifier of the base station and the amount of delay time associated with the session communications. The database system processes the identifier of the base station and the amount of delay time associated with the session communications to identify and return the location of the wireless repeater to the base station. The base station receives the location of the wireless repeater from the database system and transfers the location of the wireless repeater in response to the location request for the device location of the UE.
US09942701B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a mobile device determines a current position and direction; detects objects within an area including the current position; collects first data regarding the objects; buffers the first data; and transmits the first data to a remote system responsive to the mobile device reaching a boundary of the area. The method also comprises obtaining a map of the area from the remote device; the map includes information based on second data previously collected regarding objects in the area, the second data includes a position indicator and a direction indicator for each of the second objects indexed by the current position, and the remote device aggregates the first data and the second data to generate an updated map of the area. Navigation instructions are generated based on the current position and the map, Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09942697B2
An electronic device including a proximity recognition module configured to recognize second electronic device proximate to the first electronic device, a communication module configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data to and from the second electronic device, and a power supply module configured to apply at least one of power charged in the first electronic device and power wirelessly supplied from the second device as power for the communication module, based on the recognition with respect to the second device. Other embodiments are also possible.
US09942682B2
The present invention discloses an implementation method and a device of a multi-bit Δ-Σ modulation-based digital speaker system. The method comprises, 1) digital format converting; 2) oversampling interpolation filtering; 3) multi-bit Δ-Σ modulating; 4) thermometer coding; 5) multi-channel mismatch shaping; 6) coding format converting; 7) multi-channel digital power-amplifying; 8) driving a speaker array or a multiple voice coil speaker to sound. The device comprises: a digital input interface, an oversampling interpolation filter, a multi-bit Δ-Σ modulator, a thermometer coder, a multi-channel mismatch shaper, a coding format converter, a multi-channel digital power-amplifier, and a speaker array or a multiple voice coil speaker; each portion being connected in proper order. The present invention can achieve a high-power output under a low-voltage power supply, save power consumption, implement a single-chip integration of a multi-channel reproducing system, reduce the volume and weight of the system and the implementing cost, and improve the quality of the reproduced sound.
US09942680B1
A diaphragm for a loudspeaker may include a conductive coupler, a voice coil having a voice coil lead, where the voice coil lead is positioned in conductive contact with the conductive coupler, and a terminal lead, where the terminal lead is positioned in conductive contact with the conductive coupler, and where the voice coil lead and the terminal lead are attached to the conductive coupler.
US09942678B1
Example techniques relate to voice interaction in an environment with a media playback system that is playing back audio content. In an example implementation, while playing back first audio in a given environment at a given loudness: a playback device (a) detects that an event is anticipated in the given environment, the event involving playback of second audio and (b) determines a loudness of background noise in the given environment, the background noise comprising ambient noise in the given environment. The playback device ducks the first audio in proportion to a difference between the given loudness of the first audio and the determined loudness of the background noise and plays back the ducked first audio concurrently with the second audio.
US09942671B2
A method transmits a multiplicity of digital data packets from a transmitter to a receiver arranged in a mobile device. A plurality of data packets in each case is combined to form a block. The multiplicity of data packets are sent out by the transmitter in such a manner that the time intervals between the individual data packets of the respective block vary over the blocks for a plurality of successive blocks, and/or the time duration of the blocks varies for a plurality of successive blocks, and/or the time intervals between the individual data packets in the block vary for a number of blocks. The blocks of data packets are received and decoded by the receiver.
US09942655B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a socket that comprises a socket body. The socket body forms a socket cavity for receiving a plug. The socket further comprises an acoustic device and a sound port. The sound port is disposed in the socket body for acoustically coupling the acoustic device with the cavity.
US09942652B2
A terminal device includes a detection unit that detects sound, and an output unit that outputs information regarding a position of the detection unit relative to a target apparatus which is a target to detect the sound by the detection unit.
US09942649B2
An oscillation-preventing member for a stylus-tip protector is provided with a base member and a pair of leg parts integrally formed by employing a flexible sheet material. The pair of leg parts is bent at the same angle and in the same direction with respect to the base member. This oscillation-preventing member is mounted on a cartridge body, sandwiching a cartridge case from both outer sides with the pair of leg parts to prevent oscillation of a stylus-tip protector by bringing the base member into contact with part of the stylus-tip protector. This structure allows to provide an oscillation-preventing member for a stylus-tip protector, being attached/detached easily, manufactured at low costs, and configured to reliably prevent oscillation of a stylus-tip protector according to an impact.
US09942648B2
Intra-concha earphones are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intra-concha earphone includes a housing having a rear space divided into a back volume, a bass duct, and a vent chamber between a driver and a rear wall. The vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with the back volume through both an acoustic port and the bass duct. Furthermore, the vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with a surrounding environment through a vent port, which may be a sole acoustic opening in the rear wall. Thus, sound emitted by the driver may propagate through the acoustic port and the bass duct to meet in the vent chamber before being discharged through the vent port to the surrounding environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09942647B2
The various embodiments set forth a headphone apparatus that includes a first earcup, a sensor included in the first earcup, and a controller. The first earcup is coupled to a headband, and includes a loudspeaker system and a thermal control subsystem. The controller is configured to detect an output generated by the sensor, and, based on the output, transmit a signal to the thermal control subsystem included in the first earcup to modify a temperature associated with at least the first earcup.
US09942639B2
This invention is a mounting system for a loudspeaker system that is capable of positioning and re-positioning the box-like device of the loudspeaker without requiring the use of any retaining/tensioning fasteners. A bracket facilitates constraining the positioning and repositioning for the roll and pitch axes while simultaneously providing audible feedback angular movement indication that enable vertical and horizontal orientation with respect both to the installation environment and to match its positioning to other like installed systems.
US09942628B2
A method and apparatus, the method includes a security system transmitting a beacon, a portable wireless setup device in a geographic location proximate a wireless access point of the security system reading at least a unique identifier of the security system, relocating the setup device to a geographic location proximate one of the plurality of wireless sensors and activating the one wireless sensor, the activated sensor reading the unique identifier of the security system from the setup device and the activated sensor automatically registering with the security system through the access point based upon the unique identifier read from the portable setup device.
US09942625B2
Various disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for providing sensor functionality to a wireless electronic device. The wireless electronic device comprises a sensor module disposed within and removably coupled to the wireless electronic device. The sensor module includes a sensor module electrical interface. The wireless electronic device includes a first interface configured to receive the sensor module, and a second interface disposed within the wireless electronic device configured to electrically connect to the sensor module electrical interface when the sensor module is connected to the wireless electronic device.
US09942621B2
A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, the steps of transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes, determining a first advertisement based on the first comment, and transmitting the first advertisement to the first set top box for presentation with the overlay and the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09942620B2
A method and device for controlling the rendering of digital content that is progressively downloaded on a content server in a wide-area communication network. The content can be accessed via at least one service gateway, and can be downloaded in order to be rendered on at least one rendering device that can communicate with the service gateway and that is equipped with a native remote control device. The method includes: reception, from the rendering device, of a datum relating to a command selected on the native remote control device; generation of a request for the progressive download of digital content associated with the selected command, based on the datum received; transmission of the progressive download request to the content server via the service gateway.
US09942618B2
A receiving unit 28 includes a tuner that receives a first signal that may include a satellite signal. A demodulator demodulates the satellite signal to form a second signal. The second signal may be internet protocol (IP) encapsulated to form an IP encapsulated signal. The IP encapsulated signal may be communicated through an IP network to a decoder. The decoder 144 decodes the second signal or the IP encapsulated signal. A modulator 146 modulates the decoded signal which is communicated to user devices through a network 147. In addition, IP encapsulated signals may also be communicated to various user devices through the network.
US09942613B2
A process that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, selecting a media content item and constructing a tout message based on the media content item. Information associated with the media content item is included within the tout message, which includes a selectable link. The selectable link includes instructions for directing equipment of a subscriber to access the media content item without the subscriber providing additional input. A group of communication devices associated with the subscriber is identified, and the tout message is transmitted to a communication device of the group. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09942603B2
An electronic system is presented which includes a remote control device and a first electronic device. In one embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input signifying a command for a second electronic device, as well as generate the command for the second electronic device, and an indication of the command. In another embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input that causes a mode change of the remote control device, wherein the mode identifies one of a plurality of electronic devices that receive commands from the remote control device. The remote control device is also configured to transmit the command to the second electronic device, if applicable, and transmit the indication of the command or mode change to the first electronic device. The first electronic device is configured to receive and process the indication to alter operation of the first electronic device.
US09942594B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including providing, by a processor in a dongle coupled to a display device, a graphical user interface at the display device, and transmitting a message to an authentication server in accordance with authentication information stored in a storage device of the dongle and an input via the graphical user interface. The method also includes obtaining an authentication confirmation; obtaining content from a content server; and recording the content in accordance with a second input via the graphical user interface. The recorded content is transmitted for storage at a storage server. The display device communicates with equipment of a video provider that is associated with a service area. In accordance with the authentication confirmation, the processor is authorized to obtain the content based on the location of the dongle relative to the service area. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09942593B2
Techniques are disclosed that involve the processing of audio streams. For instance, a host processing platform may receive a content stream that includes an encoded audio stream. In turn, a graphics engine produces from it a decoded audio stream. This producing may involve the graphics engine performing various operations, such as an entropy decoding operation, an inverse quantization operation, and an inverse discrete cosine transform operation. In embodiments, the content stream may further include an encoded video stream. Thus the graphics engine may produce from it a decoded video stream. This audio and video decoding may be performed in parallel.
US09942586B2
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for inserting a watermark in a media program is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the steps of receiving data comprising the media program in the receiver disposed at a subscriber station, generating a watermark, the watermark generated at least in part according to a secure data processor-unique identifier irreversibly stored in the secure data processor, processing the received data to reproduce the media program, and inserting portions of the generated watermark in the reproduced media program at locations determined at least in part according to the secure data processor-unique identifier to produce a watermarked media program provided for display.
US09942583B2
Computationally implemented methods and systems include accepting input of a request for a particular image of a scene that is larger than the particular image, transmitting the request for the particular image to an image sensor array that includes more than one image sensor and that is configured to capture the scene and retain a subset of the scene that includes the request for the particular image of the scene, receiving only the particular image from the image sensor array, wherein the particular image represents a subset of the scene, and wherein a size characteristic of the particular image is at least partially based on a property of a requestor, and presenting the received particular image to the requestor. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
US09942576B2
There is a need to provide an intuitive way for a battery-powered device to send a low battery notification to another device that can properly notify a user that the battery-powered device has a low battery. The user can be notified by the other device even after the battery-powered device has exhausted its battery to the point where it can no longer report its battery state. A second electronic device (e.g., a remote control) can send a low battery notification to a first electronic device (e.g., a set-top box) so that the first electronic device can alert a user that the second electronic device has a low battery.
US09942575B1
A method for assigning videos to multi-stream and single-stream decoders is disclosed. The method determines a ranking of each of a plurality of videos. The method further identifies a type of each video for at least part of the plurality of videos. The method also determines a configuration of a plurality of hardware decoders to decode a subset of the plurality of videos for simultaneous presentation on a screen of a user device. The configuration may define a mode of each of the plurality of decoders. The method further assigns the subset of videos to the plurality of hardware decoders for decoding according to the configuration.
US09942568B2
An apparatus for decoding a current block from an encoded bitstream includes a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to decode, from the encoded bitstream, a prediction mode of the current block and decode the current block using a transform type selected from a set that includes only a symmetrical discrete sine transform (SDST) and a two-dimensional discrete cosine transform (2D DCT). If the prediction mode is an inter prediction mode, the transform type used is the SDST. If the prediction mode is an intra prediction mode, the transform type used is the 2D DCT.
US09942565B2
The present invention provides a unique intra prediction process which improves the efficiency of video coding. H.264/AVC uses reference pixels in a horizontal boundary located immediately above a target block to be predicted and reference pixels in a vertical boundary located immediately left of the target block. In the present invention, at least some of one of an array of horizontal boundary pixels and an array of vertical boundary pixels are retrieved. Then, the retrieved pixels are added to the other boundary pixels to extend the array thereof. Intra prediction is performed, based solely on the extended array of boundary pixels.
US09942553B2
A server transmits a probe packet to a terminal, estimates a bandwidth of the network based on information returned from the terminal, calculates a rate used for performing compression coding of screen information and/or an accompanying audio signal, generated by an application on a virtual terminal on the server, so as not to exceed the estimated bandwidth, encodes the screen information and/or the accompanying audio signal at the calculated rate, stores the encoding result in a packet of a predetermined protocol to transmit the packet.
US09942552B2
Techniques related to video coding with low bitrates are discussed. Such techniques may include skipping coding of a picture of a group of pictures when an estimated coding bit cost of the picture is greater than an available coding bit limit for the picture and, when the estimated coding bit cost is not greater than the available coding bit limit, determining the coding skip indicator based on a picture type of the individual picture and a picture structure of the group of pictures.
US09942530B2
The present disclosure provides a projection system and a light screen generating device thereof. The light screen generating device includes a movable carrier module, a first light-emitting module, and a second light-emitting module. The first light-emitting module includes a plurality of first light-emitting structures disposed on the movable carrier module. Each of the first light-emitting structures generates an invisible light screen, and the invisible light screens respectively generated by the first light-emitting structures are mated with each other to form a spliced invisible light screen for increasing light emission uniformity. The second light-emitting module includes a second light-emitting structure that is disposed on the movable carrier module and that generates a visible light screen parallel to and overlapping the spliced invisible light screen.
US09942525B2
This application discloses a camera module that incorporates a camera portion, a wireless antenna, a wireless transceiver and one or more infrared light emitting diodes (IR LEDs). The camera portion is configured to capture video data. The wireless transceiver is coupled to the wireless antenna and configured to communicate in a local wireless network. The wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the video data captured by the camera portion to a client device via a remote server. The client device is remote from the camera module, and the remote server is remote from the camera module and the client device. The IR LEDs are configured to illuminate a field of view with infrared light. In some implementations, the wireless transceiver is further configured to communicate the video data captured by the camera portion while the one or more IR LEDs illuminate the field of view with infrared light.
US09942524B2
A device for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool includes a camera configured to provide an image of the object and an object carrier to which the object is connected and whose position within the machine tool is known. A first processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object which are obtained from the image. A second processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object carrier relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object carrier which are obtained from the image. A third processing unit is configured to determine a position of the object relative to the object carrier from the identified positions of the object and the object carrier relative to the camera.
US09942522B2
A camera system for a vehicle may include a control interface configured to receive an input from a driver and generate a signal, and at least one camera configured to capture video of an interior of the vehicle. The camera system may also include a display configured to output video to the driver, and a controller in communication with the control interface, the camera, and the display. The controller may be configured to receive the signal from the control interface, actuate the at least one camera to capture video based on the signal, and output the video to the display based on the signal.
US09942515B2
Pairing and configuring a computing device for use in a meeting space is provided. An appliance may communicate a broadcast to a computing device which announces the availability of a meeting space for a meeting. The computing device may establish a connection with the appliance. The computing device may then join the meeting in the meeting space.
US09942510B2
The invention provides a method for processing input image data by an image processing device, to reach a desired visual effect within an output image, wherein input image data are stored within an input memory device and the input image data are transferred based on data of a lookup table into respective output image data stored within an output memory device, the lookup table being generated based on at least one data remapping function to reach the desired visual effect, wherein further the entries within the lookup table are arranged in such a way that when processing the lookup table the input memory device is addressed in a sequential reading order; a computer readable medium having stored thereon program code to carry out the inventive method as well as an image processing device to carry out the method.
US09942509B2
A device receives a request from a controlling device, such as a remote control, smart phone, or the like, where the request is intended to have one or more target devices perform one or more functional operations. The device responds to the request by applying the optimum methodology to propagate one or more commands to each intended target appliance to cause each intended target appliance to perform the intended one or more functional operations.
US09942508B2
A remote controller setting method using display identification data (EDID) includes transmitting, by a TV, EDID information to a set-top box, when the set-top box is connected to the TV through a high definition multimedia interface cable, and analyzing, by the set-top box, the EDID information to grasp a manufacturer's name of the TV and transmitting, to a remote controller, the manufacturer's name of the TV or infrared (IR) code information corresponding to the TV manufacturer to allow the remote controller to remotely control the TV (5).
US09942504B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor and a generation unit configured to generate a signal of each of the pixels from the signals respectively read out from the plurality of charge accumulation units. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including: a photoelectric conversion unit; a plurality of charge accumulation units for accumulating a charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit; a control unit configured to control accumulation of charge in each of the plurality of charge accumulation units; and a readout unit configured to read out a signal corresponding to the charge from each of the plurality of charge accumulation units. The photoelectric conversion unit is formed in a first chip, and the plurality of charge accumulation units, the control unit, and the readout unit are formed in a second chip.
US09942501B2
Provided are an image sensor compensating for property degradation of a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) resulting from a threshold voltage shift that may occur when photodiodes and a MOS circuit of configuring an amplifier are integrated on the same substrate, and a method for driving the image sensor.
US09942500B2
An image sensor comprising a plurality of imaging pixels, a plurality of focus detecting pixels in which opening positions of light receiving sections are shifted from those of the imaging pixels, and a plurality of color filters arranged corresponding to the imaging pixels and the focus detecting pixels, wherein first focus detecting pixels in which opening positions are shifted in a first direction are arranged at positions corresponding to first color filters of the imaging pixels, and second focus detecting pixels in which opening positions are shifted in the first direction and which have opening ratios different from those of the first focus detecting pixels are arranged at positions corresponding to the first color filters.
US09942493B2
An image pickup apparatus including a pixel array including a first pixel that outputs a signal based on a light flux passed through an entire area of an exit pupil, a second pixel that outputs a signal based on a light flux passed through a part of the exit pupil, and a floating diffusion area shared by the plurality of rows adjacent to one another; and a controller that sets a first and a second accumulation periods so as to prevent them from overlapping with each other for a predetermined length of time or longer, when the first pixel read in the first scanning shares the floating diffusion area with the second pixel read in the second scanning, the first and second accumulation periods being periods for the row in which the first and the second pixel are arranged, respectively.
US09942475B2
System and method of performing various transformations between an omnidirectional image model and a rectilinear image model for use in vehicle imaging systems. In particular, a panel transform system and method for transforming an omnidirectional image from an omnidirectional camera positioned on a vehicle to a rectilinear image. The rectilinear image is then displayed to the driver for use while performing vehicle maneuvers. The panel transform system and method also provide a rectilinear image model based on the omnidirectional camera for use with existing rectilinear imaging processing systems. The rectilinear image model is determined based on a variable set of input parameters that are defined by both automatic and manual system inputs such as a steering wheel angle sensor and a user interface.
US09942457B2
An imaging apparatus to communicate with an external apparatus over a network and mount a first storage and/or a second storage includes a receiving unit, a mounting unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit can receive a first mount command to mount the first storage and a second mount command to mount the second storage. The control unit instructs the mounting unit to mount the first storage and/or the second storage. If a mount command received is a first mount command, the control unit instructs the mounting unit to mount the first storage by a first access protocol for accessing the first storage. If the mount command received is a second mount command, the control unit instructs the mounting unit to mount the second storage by a second access protocol which is an access protocol for accessing the second storage and is different from the first access protocol.
US09942453B2
Disclosed are a mobile terminal having a plurality of light emitting devices, and a method for controlling the same. The mobile terminal includes a camera; a light emitting portion including a plurality of light emitting units; and a controller configured to control the light emitting portion to emit light, such that depth information of an image received through the camera is extracted, wherein the controller determines the number of light emitting units which emit light among the plurality of light emitting units, based on a distance between a subject corresponding to the image and the camera.
US09942452B2
The present invention provides an optoelectronic module and an imaging apparatus such as an endoscope comprising such module. The optoelectronic module includes a housing and an image sensor. The image sensor's face has a perimeter S, the cross section of the optoelectronic module along the face has a perimeter H, and S
US09942450B2
A method for automatically matching video streams from two cameras of a camera network includes obtaining a video stream of frames that are acquired by each of the cameras. Each video stream includes images of moving objects. A time signature for each of the video streams is calculated. Each time signature is indicative of a time at which an image of one the objects is located at a predetermined part of the frame. A temporal offset of one of the signatures relative to the other signature is calculated such that, when applied to one of the signatures, a correspondence between the signatures is maximized. The temporal offset is applicable to video streams that are acquired by the two cameras to determine if a moving object that is imaged by one of the cameras is identical to a moving object that is imaged by the other camera.
US09942447B2
A color processing device includes a compositing unit, a modification unit, and an output unit. The compositing unit composites plural color conversion rules in a color space that includes plural color components through serial processing. The modification unit modifies the color conversion rules after being composited by the compositing unit, by applying an inverse conversion of a specific one-dimensional correlation, which correlates input color values and output color values in the color space, to the composited color conversion rules. The output unit outputs the composited color conversion rules after being modified and the specific one-dimensional correlation.
US09942445B2
An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires, from image data acquired in such a manner that a chart formed by an image forming unit is read, a line signal value from pixel values of pixels for a line arranged in a first direction of the chart and a line representative value by using line signal values respectively acquired from a plurality of lines adjacent to each other in a second direction different from the first direction of the chart, and a determination unit that determines a portion where a streak is generated in the second direction by using a difference between a first representative value and a second representative value.
US09942441B2
An information processing apparatus includes a memory, and circuitry. The circuitry acquires a plurality of images divided from original image data, the plurality of images including at least a first image data and a second image data, predicts a size of a storage-use region in the memory, the storage-use area to be used for storing the plurality of image data to be merged based on image information of the acquired first image data, secures the predicted size of the storage-use region in the memory, merges the plurality of image data in the storage-use region secured in the memory based on image information of the acquired first image data, and stores the merged plurality of image data in the storage-use region secured in the memory.
US09942440B2
Detection and identification a field's boundaries is performed in a workflow based on processing images of the field captured at different times, relative to a defined seed point. Images are clipped to align with the seed point and a bounding box around the seed point, and a mask is built by extracting edges of the field from the images. The workflow floods an area around the seed point that has pixels of a similar color, using the mask as an initial boundary. The flooded area is compared to threshold parameter values, which are tuned to refine the identified boundary. Flooded areas in multiple images are combined, and a boundary is built based on the combined flooded set. Manual, interactive tuning of floodfill areas allows for a separate boundary detection and identification workflow or for refinement of the automatic boundary detection workflow.
US09942439B2
A data communication apparatus has a transmission function of transmitting data to a pre-set transmission destination. A data communication apparatus, when importing at least one of an address book and setting information based on import data including data that has been exported by another data communication apparatus, determines data to be imported. The data communication apparatus determines, with respect to each of the address book and the setting information, if the address book or the setting information is actually to be imported. Furthermore, if it is determined that either one of the address book and the setting information is to be imported, but the other one is not to be imported, the use of the transmission function is restricted after import processing has been performed based on the import data.
US09942432B2
A scanning device includes a transparent platen which receives a sheet to be scanned. A backing assembly is spaced from the platen by the sheet during scanning. The backing assembly includes a backing plate of a fixed color and an electrochromic layer intermediate the backing plate and the platen. The electrochromic layer has a first state in which the electrochromic layer is opaque and has a different color from the fixed color, and a second state, in which the electrochromic layer is transparent to expose the backing plate through it. A sensor is positioned to acquire an image of the sheet based on light passing through the platen. A controller selectively applies a voltage across the electrochromic layer to change the electrochromic layer between the first and second states.
US09942425B2
An image processing apparatus is to execute a process selected among multiple processes. The image processing apparatus includes a storage unit to store a list in which each of the processes is associated with a type of the process representing whether the process is to use information about an orientation of a document; an objective process determination unit to determine whether the selected process to be executed is of the type to use the information about the orientation of the document, based on the list stored in the storage unit; and a display control unit to display a confirmation screen on a display unit, for prompting to confirm the orientation of the document after having received an execution command for the process, in a case where the process has been determined as of the type to use the information about the orientation of the document.
US09942424B2
A method of displaying a digital image having a high aspect ratio on a user interface screen connected to a control unit of a printing system includes the steps of determining a first part of the digital image, which part includes one end of the digital image in a longitudinal direction; determining a second part of the digital image, which part includes the other end of the digital image in the longitudinal direction; displaying the first part and the second part simultaneously on the user interface screen; and further displaying the remaining part of the digital image in a suppressed manner or a compressed manner in-between the first part and the second part at the user interface screen. A printing system includes a control unit, which includes a memory unit for storing a digital image, and a user interface screen for displaying the digital image, the control unit being configured to execute the method.
US09942401B2
A system and method for automated call center operation facilitating agent-caller communication are provided. Multiple call sessions with users are simultaneously provided for an agent on a display. One of the call sessions is identified as active and the agent is allowed to communicate with the user of that call session. Speech utterances for each of the remaining call sessions are received from the user participating in that call session. Each received speech utterance is transcribed and displayed with the associated call session while the agent is communicating with the user of the active call. During the call sessions, text messages are received from one or more of the user of the active call and at least one of the users of the remaining call sessions. The text messages are displayed with the associated call sessions while the agent is communicating with the user of the active call session.
US09942397B1
Methods and systems described in this disclosure allow customers to personalize their phone experience when calling into an organization. In some embodiments, customers who may benefit from this service are identified based on the content of the customer's previous or current phone calls to the organization. The identified customers may be invited to enroll and to provide preferences for a customized Interactive Voice Response experience. In some embodiments, the customer can elect to hear the balances of one or more of his accounts without going through a phone menu or asking a representative to look up the relevant amounts. Once enrolled, when the customer dials into the organization and upon successful authentication, the organization proactively states the customer's account balances with no further customer request.
US09942396B2
Workflows are provided that enable documents to be distributed, assented to, and otherwise interacted with on an aural and/or oral basis. Such workflows can be implemented so as to allow a recipient to receive, understand, and interact with a document using conventional components such as the microphone and speaker provided by a telephone. For instance, in one embodiment a document originator may send a document to a recipient with a request for an electronic signature. The document may include an audio version of the document terms. The recipient can listen to the audio version of the document terms and record an electronic signature that represents assent to such terms. An electronic signature server can record the recipient's electronic signature and incorporate it into the document, such that it forms part of the electronic document just as a traditional handwritten signature forms part of a signed paper document.
US09942392B1
An architecture and process flow for a system that processes event notifications from a speech analytics system for the purpose of controlling the recording of calls in a contact center for various contexts. Based on the regulatory context of the call, call recording may require requesting and receiving consent from the remote party to record the call. A speech analytics system operating in conjunction with an event handler module and a call recording application specific module can facilitate automatically recording the call and minimize agent intervention. The application specific module may provide icons and text on the agent's display to remind or inform the agent of the context and various conditions. The application specific module may also control various recording equipment.
US09942389B2
At least one user expression of a first user of a first communication device, at least one text-based electronic communication sent or received by the first user, or at least one background sound detected in an environment where the first user is located can be monitored in real time. A current demeanor of the first user can be automatically determined by processing user expression, the text-based electronic communication, or the background sound. An incoming call from a second communication device to the first communication device can be detected. Responsive to detecting the incoming call, a ringback tone indicating the current demeanor of the first user can be automatically selected. The ringback tone can be communicated to the second communication device for presentation to a second user who is using the second communication device.
US09942383B2
A method and apparatus for processing contact information, the method comprising: displaying a list of contacts on a display of a wireless terminal; determining a first contact from the list of contacts in response to a selection by a user; obtaining a web log address and an online shop address of the first contact; obtaining, from a network service, a first content corresponding to the web log address and the online shop address of the first contact; and displaying the first content on a first area of the display, the first content being dynamically updated.
US09942365B2
Separating and isolating multiple network stacks in a network element may enable a network element to simultaneously operate within multiple forwarding planes respectively corresponding to the multiple network stacks. In addition to the network stack, other protocols and routing tools may also be instantiated for each desired forwarding plane. The different instantiations of the network stacks may be executed in parallel in respective memory spaces that are distinct and separate. In this manner, each forwarding plane may operate independently on the network element from other forwarding planes.
US09942356B1
An electronic device associated with a media-providing service has one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The electronic device accesses a listening history of a user of the media-providing service. Based at least in part on the listening history of the user, the electronic device assigns a first personality trait of a plurality of personality traits to the user. The electronic device provides personalized content to the user based on the first personality trait.
US09942341B2
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for signaling optimization in a wireless network utilizing proprietary and non-proprietary protocols. A first connection is established between an application on a mobile device and a local proxy on the mobile device, a second connection is established between the local proxy and a proxy server not located on the mobile device, and a third connection is established between the proxy server and a content server. A byte stream between client and server is communicated between the client and the server via the first, second, and third connections. The mobile device performs signaling optimization to optimize traffic over the second connection.
US09942336B2
Approaches are provided for to enabling or disabling parental controls based on time or task validation using a centralized computing environment. An approach includes receiving parental control rules for one or more computing devices. The approach further includes publishing the parental control rules to each of the one or more computing devices to enable the parental control rules on each of the one or more computing devices. The approach further includes determining whether at least one of completion of a task is validated, and the current time is outside of a specified time. The approach further includes at least one of when the completion of the task is validated, and the current time is outside of the specified time period, publishing a parental control disable command to each of the one or more computing devices to disable at least one of the parental control rules.
US09942333B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that provide updates to localized software are provided. Resources are stored on a server device and may be cached or stored locally at a client device. Updates to the resources are made available at the server device. The updates include translations of the resources to several languages. The client device checks for an update of the resource and downloads the update for the server when the application is launched or downloaded by a computing device.
US09942324B2
A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising composing a first network storage entity by mapping a plurality of logical storage units to a plurality of physical storage units in a physical storage system according to a first storage metric associated with the plurality of physical storage units, arranging the plurality of logical storage units sequentially to form a logical circular buffer, and designating a current logical storage unit for writing data and an upcoming logical storage unit for writing data after the current storage unit is fully written, and rebalancing the physical storage system while the physical storage system is actively performing network storage operations by relocating at least one of the logical storage units to a different physical storage unit according to a second storage metric associated with the plurality of physical storage units.
US09942318B2
Asynchronous processing of messages that are received from multiple servers is disclosed. An example method may include transmitting, by a computer system, a search request to a plurality of search peers of a data aggregation and analysis system. The method may further include receiving a plurality of sub-application layer protocol packets from the plurality of search peers. The method may further include parsing, by a first processing thread of the computer system, one or more sub-application layer protocol packets of the plurality of sub-application layer protocol packets, to produce an application layer message representing a partial response to the search request. The method may further include processing, by a second processing thread of the computer system, the application layer message to produce a memory data structure representing an aggregated response to the search request.
US09942313B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, initializing a boundary estimate for an optimization of a linear programming model describing a network of media servers for servicing requests for media content items from subscriber devices, where the boundary estimate is an estimate of an infeasible solution of the linear programming model, and calculating iteratively, using an exponential potential function, additional boundary estimates for the linear programming model, wherein the calculating resolves to an improved boundary estimate that corresponds to placement of copies of the media content items at the media servers subject to a set of constraints on storage capacity of media servers and on bandwidth for communication links in the network. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09942311B2
A content distribution network, including: a content server that stores a set of content items; a plurality of gateways for storing and serving content requests to a subset of the content items, the plurality of gateways being grouped into a plurality of classes of gateways; and a plurality of class trackers corresponding to the plurality of classes; wherein each class tracker manages a placement of content items and an assignment of content requests for its class of gateways; wherein the plurality of class trackers exchange congestion signals among themselves; wherein, for each content item, each class tracker determines a fraction of gateways in its class of gateways that store the content item and a rate of content requests that are forwarded to the content server or other class trackers, based on requests for the content item entering its class and the congestion signals received from other class trackers.
US09942310B1
A system for multi-user design includes a host computer having a memory and a processor. The host computer is configured to operate a multi-user CAx environment including a part file, a plurality of local computers in communication with the host computer, a plurality of data storage systems in communication with the host computer, and a load balancing module within the CAx environment. Each of the local computers includes a local CAx environment portion of the multi-user CAx environment. Each of the data storage systems includes at least a portion of the part file. The load balancing module is configured to cause the host computer to assign edits originating at one of the local computers to one of the plurality of data storage systems.
US09942309B2
A parallel computer system includes computing nodes to execute a parallel program for generating computing processes that perform computations and monitoring processes and forming a monitoring hierarchical structure, each monitoring process monitors a monitoring process and a computing process arranged immediately lower than the monitoring process, each of the computing nodes operating as the computing process when the computing process is allocated to the computing node and operating as the monitoring process when the monitoring process is allocated to the computing node. Each of the computing nodes allocated to the monitoring process performs processing that changes the hierarchical structure based on a first target value serving as a target value for the total number of subordinate computing processes of the allocated monitoring process and a second target value serving as a target value for the number of monitoring processes and computing processes arranged immediately lower than the allocated monitoring process.
US09942298B2
Help page techniques including: (i) sending, by a customer computer, heterogeneous software context data to a central registry over a communication network; (ii) receiving, by the customer computer, from a registry server over the communication network, a set of network address information including at least a first network address information for contacting a first provider server relating to the first software product and a second network address information for contacting a second provider server relating to the second software product; and (iii) linking, by the customer computer, the first and second network address information on a single set of help page(s).
US09942295B2
Technologies for crowdsourced media streaming include a number of mobile computing devices configured to capture media streams and transmit the media streams to a media server. The media server associates the media streams with metadata describing the media streams, including metadata describing an event captured in the media stream. The media server also processes the media streams to generate additional metadata. A number of client computing devices may submit media stream requests to the media server, and the media server contemporaneously streams matching media streams to the client computing devices as the media streams are captured by the mobile computing devices. The client computing devices may transmit feedback information relating to the media stream to the source mobile computing device via the media server. The client computing devices may display the media streams alongside or overlaying other media such as a broadcast media event. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09942290B2
A system and method for effectuating channel changes in a multicast adaptive bitrate (MABR) streaming network using temporarily borrowed bandwidth from a shared progressive download ABR bandwidth pipe for downloading a requested channel's data in a recovery segment by issuing an HTTP request. A video management agent is configured to stitch the recovery segment's data with the regular channel stream during the channel change to generate a hybrid stream, which is multicast streamed toward the requesting device. Once the data from the regular channel stream is properly joined, recovery segment downloading ceases and the bandwidth consumed for sending recovery data is released back to the progressive download ABR pipe.
US09942289B2
Techniques are described above for smoothing peak load in collaborative systems. One embodiment includes, prior to a predicted peak load period, pre-staging user-data associated with one or more users of the collaborative system. During the predicted peak load period, a request from a first one of the users for access to the pre-staged user-data associated with the first user is received. And in response to the request, the pre-staged user-data is provided to the first user.
US09942281B2
In a communication system providing a group communication service and advertisement of an existing and newly created group, information on usable media types in the group is sent to group members in a message advertising the group. The message contains either a new field for the information or an existing field is extended to contain the information.
US09942280B2
A method, device, program, server and terminal are provided for monitoring a data-exchange session between first terminals belonging to a first user and at least one second terminal belonging to a second user. The method includes, after the first user receives an invitation to establish a session, creating a first group of the first terminals belonging to the first user suitable for enabling the session to be established with the first group.
US09942275B2
Communications and security policy data for two or more zones is obtained that includes data indicating allowed protocols for the respective communications jurisdiction zones. Request data indicating a desired exchange of data between a secrets data source in a first zone and a requesting resource in a second zone is received/obtained. The first zone policy data and the second zone policy data is automatically obtained and analyzed to determine an allowed type of communications security level for the desired exchange of data that complies with both the first zone communications and data security policy data and the second zone policy data. A communications channel, including the allowed type of secure communications security level, is automatically establishing between the first resource and the second resource, and at least a portion of the requests secrets and/or other data is exchanged.
US09942273B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for automatically reconfiguring a policy of a multi-tenant service is disclosed. A first tenant specific policy for a first tenant of a plurality of tenants serviced by the multi-tenant service is provided. The multi-tenant service uses a second tenant specific policy different from the first tenant specific policy for a second tenant of the plurality of tenants. An event relevant to the first tenant specific policy is detected. The first tenant specific policy is reconfigured according to the detected event.
US09942269B2
A computer implemented method for detecting, alerting and blocking data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware in one or more networked computing devices includes providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and displaying all available hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device. Next, providing a turn-on switch and a turn-off switch for each displayed hardware device interface in each networked computing device. Next, providing a turn-all-on switch and a turn-all-off switch for all displayed hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device. Next, monitoring status of each available hardware device interface and data traffic across each available hardware device interface. Upon detecting an unauthorized change of status of a specific hardware device interface or unauthorized data traffic across a specific hardware device interface providing a warning signal, turning off the specific hardware device interface by activating the turn-off switch for the specific hardware device interface or the turn-all-off switch.
US09942265B2
Denial-of-service attacks are prevented or mitigated in a cloud compute environment, such as a multi-tenant, collaborative SaaS system. This is achieved by providing a mechanism by which characterization of “legitimate” behavior is defined for accessor classes, preferably along with actions to be taken in the event an accessor exceeds those limits. A set of accessor “usage profiles” are generated. Typically, a profile comprises information, such as a “request time window,” one or more “constraints,” and one or more “actions.” A request time window defines a time period over which request usage is accumulated and over which constraints are applied. A constraint may be of various types (e.g., number of transactions, defined resource usage limits, etc.) to be applied for the usage monitoring An action defines how the system will respond if a particular constraint is triggered. By applying the constraints to accessor requests, over-utilization of compute resources is enabled.
US09942263B2
Static analysis is applied to unrecognized software objects in order to identify and address potential anti-sandboxing techniques. Where static analysis suggests the presence of any such corresponding code, the software object may be forwarded to a sandbox for further analysis. In another aspect, multiple types of sandboxes may be provided, with the type being selected according to the type of exploit suggested by the static analysis.
US09942260B2
A method securely scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to a second web page from one or more links contained within a first web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads the prefetched content from the second web page into a safe cache on the client computing device before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, wherein the safe cache is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache. In response to identifying a security threat within the prefetched content, the method displays a warning to the user.
US09942252B1
One or more proxy logs are processed in order to generate a graph of domains, wherein those domain pairs in the graph that are connected have low support and high confidence. One or more domains within the graph that are highly connected to other domains in the graph are identified. The identified domains are flagged as suspicious domains.
US09942251B1
Detecting malware is disclosed. A candidate malware application is caused to be executed using a virtual machine. Traffic analysis is performed on network traffic associated with the execution of the candidate malware application. A determination is made as to whether the candidate malware application is malicious or not, based at least in part on the traffic analysis and an application type associated with the candidate malware application.
US09942250B2
Electronic appliances, computer-implemented systems, non-transitory media, and methods are provided to identify risky network activities using intelligent algorithms. The appliances, systems, media, and methods enable rapid detection of risky activities.
US09942247B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for obfuscating a traffic pattern associated with a plurality of network traffic within a tunnel connection is provided. The method may include detecting the tunnel connection. The method may also include analyzing a connection environment associated with the detected tunnel connection. The method may then include determining a packet handling technique based on the analyzed connection environment, whereby the packet handling technique provides a way for creating a noise packet that will be discarded by a network stack at a target node or before the target node. The method may include determining a noise strategy based on the determined packet handling technique. The method may also include sending a plurality of noise packets into the tunnel connection based on the determined noise strategy to obfuscate the traffic pattern.
US09942245B2
A distributed cyber-physical system includes physical elements (15-1, 15-2, . . . , 15-n) disposed in a physical space (11). Controllers (13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-n) are disposed in a cyber space (10). Each of the physical elements (15-1, 15-2, . . . , 15-n) corresponds to a corresponding controller (13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-n). A cyber infrastructure (12) is disposed in the cyber space (10). The cyber infrastructure (12) manages a connection between the controllers (13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-n) and the physical elements (15-1, 15-2, . . . , 15-n). Control loops (14) are established via the cyber infrastructure (12). Each of the control loops (14) includes a physical element and a corresponding controller. A resilient control agent (31) is configured to monitor each of the control loops (14), determine when one of the control loops (14) is experiencing an adverse condition, reduce a sampling frequency of the control loops (14) that are not experiencing the adverse condition, and increase a sampling frequency of the control loop (14) that is experiencing the adverse condition.
US09942239B2
As disclosed herein a computer system, executed by a computer, includes receiving, from a user, a request for access to a shared system, wherein the request comprises a user identifier and a user password corresponding to the user, and determining privileges corresponding to the shared system using the user identifier. The computer system further includes requesting, from an identity manager, a shared identifier and a shared password corresponding to the shared system, receiving, from the identity manager, the shared identifier and the shared password, and using the shared identifier and the shared password to enable the user to use the shared system.
US09942238B2
According to one embodiment, a system includes a memory comprising instructions, an interface, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the interface. The interface is configured to receive, from a first user associated with an online account, a first request to allow access, by a second user not associated with the online account, to the online account, send, in response to the first request, a second request to the second user for credentials, and receive, in response to the second request, credentials from the second user. The process is configured, when executing the instructions, to generate, for the online account based on the first and the credentials received from the second user, an access profile associated with the second user.
US09942237B2
According to one embodiment, a system comprises a memory comprising instructions, an interface, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the interface. The processor is configured, when executing the instructions, to determine one or more characteristics of a user device, determine, based on the one or more characteristics of the user device, a risk level associated with the user device, and apply, to the user device, one or more access restrictions for an online account based on the determined risk level.
US09942224B2
A user, group, and device management and authentication system allows administrators to manage one or more directories with devices that are not associated with a domain of the one or more directories via a set of APIs. The system also allows applications and services that do not have direct access to a list of directory users to access the one or more directories. The user, group, and device management and authentication system may be an add-on system that works in conjunction with a centrally-managed directory service to provide such functionality. For example, the system may generate an access token associated with a particular directory that can be used by a service accessed by an administrator to call an API provided by the system. The API call may be translated into a directory-specific API call that can be used to perform an action in the particular directory.
US09942220B2
User login information submitted as part of an attempt to log into a computer system is evaluated for unauthorized or illegitimate use based on indicators of suspicious behavior. Example indicators of suspicious behavior include whether the login information is known to have been compromised, whether the login attempt originates from a network source or a physical source that has previously originated an attempt to log in using login information known to have been compromised, and whether multiple login attempts using the login information from multiple users has originated from the source. A suspicion index can be calculated based on the presence of the indicators of suspicious behavior. The system can require enhanced authentication based on the measurement of suspicious behavior.
US09942219B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided that may include one or more operations. One of these operations may include, in response, at least in part, to a request to store input data in storage, encrypting, based least in part upon one or more keys, the input data to generate output data to store in the storage. The one or more keys may be authorized by a remote authority. Alternatively or additionally, another of these operations may include, in response, at least in part, to a request to retrieve the input data from the storage, decrypting, based at least in part upon the at least one key, the output data. Many modifications, variations, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US09942217B2
Devices, systems, and methods for generating a secure token specific to an online service provider are provided. User account information of a user is transmitted to a token processor from an online service provider requesting a secure token generation. The token processor also receives exchange information for an exchange between the user and the online service provider. The token processor generates, based on the exchange information and the user account information, a secure token to be used for the exchange. The generated secure token is mapped to the online service provider and transmitted to the online service provider. The stored secure token is usable only at the mapped online service provider.
US09942206B1
A method includes accessing genomic data of from a genomic database; generating, by a processor, a first hash by probabilistically and irreversibly encrypting a first portion of the genomic data encoding the first genomic sequence, the first hash projecting the first portion into reduced dimensions such that the first portion of the genomic data encoding the first genomic sequence becomes statistically improbable to recover outside the first processor; generating, by the processor, a first cryptogram by deterministically and reversibly encrypting a second portion of the genomic data encoding the first genomic sequence; generating, by the processor, a look-up table by using at least the first cryptogram as a key and the first portion of the genomic data encoding the first genomic sequence as the value, and transmitting data encoding the first hash and the first cryptogram to one or more processors that are different from the first processor.
US09942201B1
A method for operating a network is provided. The method comprises segmenting the network into a plurality of virtual private networks, wherein each virtual private network runs on an underlying physical network; and wherein each virtual private network represents a particular context; and configuring at least some nodes within the network to send and receive traffic based on context.
US09942200B1
A user is provisioned for a Web service by supplying a user name and password. A digital certificate and VPN identifier are generated and downloaded to the user's computer. The VPN identifier and user identifier are stored into a database. The user accesses the Web service and establishes a VPN using the certificate and VPN identifier. A user identifier, user name or user password is not required. A gateway computer uses the VPN identifier to access the database previously established during the provisioning session to retrieve the user identifier. Retrieval of the user identifier validates that the computing device is authorized to use the Web service. The gateway computer stores the client IP address and a mapping to the user identifier into a database. A proxy server retrieves the user identifier from the database using the IP address and includes the user identifier in Web traffic for a remote computer.
US09942195B2
Disclosed herein is a network address translation (NAT) traversal method. A node sends a first, second, and third detection message from a local port to a first, second, and third response server, respectively, in order to receive from the response servers a first, second, and third response message, which respectively include a first, second, and third proximal external port number (EPN). The node then deduces a rule for proximal EPNs based on the received ones. Also disclosed is a system for mediating connection. The system assists a first node on a network in NAT traversal and includes at least three response servers, which receive detection messages from the first node and send back response messages that include EPNs.
US09942178B2
A method of providing a document sharing service based on a messaging service includes: receiving, by a server, a document transmission signal for transmitting a document which is displayed in a chat window of a first chat group from a first terminal application corresponding to a member of the first chat group, to second terminal applications respectively corresponding to members of a second chat group different from the first chat group; obtaining, by the server, a document identifier from the document transmission signal, searching, by the server, a database for a document corresponding to the document identifier, and transmitting, by the server, the document to the second terminal applications; and updating, by the server, shared status information of the document in the database based on a shared status of the document in the second chat group.
US09942177B1
A cloud information service provides information delivery substantially in real-time to in-network users and out-of-network users. Information delivered is formatted to appear visually as a card (a “smartcard”) for both in-network and out-of-network users. Real-time communication by way of messaging is enabled with any user whether they are in-network or out-of-network. Users of the cloud information service may employ mobile devices or desktop or laptop computers. Updates in substantially real-time are provided to the smartcards as the data sources change. The data sources may include enterprise and Internet data. The information is provided in a manner to remain current for mobile users and is efficient for mobile networks that can often experience poor connectivity and limited bandwidth.
US09942176B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for processing electronic messages and/or reply electronic messages. A contact entry associated with a user issue is created. A unique token associated with the contact entry is generated. Electronic messages sent to the user are generated with a reply-to address that incorporates the token.
US09942175B1
A sequence of packets is stored in a memory of the network device such that a current packet in the sequence of packets is stored at a predetermined distance following a preceding packet in the sequence. Lengths of corresponding ones of the packets stored in the memory are indicated in the memory. The packets are sequentially read from the memory based on the indicated lengths of corresponding ones of the packets stored in the memory. An operation is performed on the ones of the packets read from the memory. Subsequent to performing the operation, least some of the packets are written back to the memory. Ones of the packets are written to the memory beginning at a memory location following a respective preceding packet in the sequence by a predetermined distance.
US09942170B2
The present disclosure relates to a technique for configuring transmission of a multicast channel carrying scheduling information and data belonging to one or more multicast services, the scheduling information indicating scheduling of the multicast services mapped to the multicast channel. A method embodiment comprises the steps of configuring (404) the transmission of the scheduling information on the multicast channel based on a scheduling information specific transmission requirement and configuring (404) the transmission of the data belonging to the one or more multicast services based on a service specific transmission requirement; and signalling (406) the scheduling information specific transmission requirement and the service specific transmission requirement.
US09942169B1
A memory system has a plurality of memory stages in which each stage stores a respective portion of a data table. A request for reading an entry of the table is processed serially by the memory stages, and each stage narrows the range of table entries possibly storing the requested data. Based on the results of the previous stages, the final stage is able to quickly determine whether the requested data is stored in the data table and, if so, to retrieve the requested data from such table.
US09942161B1
The embodiments relate to configuring and updating quality of service (QOS) features for a router, especially for routers used in a home network or local area network. The QOS features are autonomous and do not require user configuration or intervention. The QOS features may be triggered during periods of congestion. Popular traffic services, such as voice, video streaming, and gaming, are preloaded into the router so that they are recognized automatically. In some embodiments, the router employs a programmed table to identify traffic sessions. The table may be updated remotely by an update service. The table may also be updated locally by a user via a client coupled to the router.
US09942149B2
A method and apparatus of a device that determines a match for a destination address using an exact match table and a longest prefix match table of a network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives a data packet that includes a destination address. The network element generates a key for the destination address, wherein the key represents more addresses than the destination address. The network element further performs an address lookup using the key in an exact match table. Furthermore, a match in the address lookup indicates a first transmitting interface of the network element. The network element additionally performs an address lookup using the destination address with a longest prefix match table, wherein a match in the address lookup indicates a second transmitting interface of the network element. In addition, the network element determines a resulting transmitting interface based on results from the exact match table address lookup and the longest prefix match address lookup. The network element forwards the data packet using the transmitting interface.
US09942135B2
A computer implemented method and system comprising receiving a data packet from a network source, extracting source and destination data from the received data packet, determining a user from the extracted source and destination data from the received data packet. If a label does not exist for the extracted source and destination data from the received data packet, creating a label for the data packet, the label comprising the extracted source data and historic source data for the determined user, calling a chaotic function with the label for the received data packet. If the chaotic function returns false, calling an alternative function for an output with the label for the received data packet. If the chaotic function returns true, capturing the output of the chaotic function, and updating the label with the output of the chaotic function or with the output of the alternative function.
US09942134B2
A lower level processor holds a link, in response to detecting a link down condition of the link. In response to the holding of the link, the lower level processor transmits a command to an upper level processor indicating the link down condition of the link. The lower level processor initiates a process of link recovery for the link, in response to receiving an authorization from the upper level processor.
US09942125B1
A method of detecting a fault in an Ethernet system is disclosed. The system includes multiple physical channels, each channel bounded by a pair of link partner transceivers. The method includes selectively coupling at least a first one of the physical channels to a second one of the physical channels. A test pattern is then transmitted along the first and second physical channels. Cross-channel information corresponding to the transmitted test pattern is received. An echo canceller in the second of the multiple channels is trained to generate an impulse response corresponding to the received crosstalk information. For a selected segment of the system, the generated impulse response is compared to an expected impulse response for that selected segment. The determination of whether a fault exists is based on the comparison.
US09942122B2
A storage system includes network monitoring device having NIC coupled to network and configured to capture raw data packets. The system further includes 4 data repositories. A first repository stores captured packets. A second repository stores captured packets' metadata. A third repository stores captured packets' and metadata's timestamp indexed data. A fourth repository stores captured packets' data flow. The storage system further includes a storage engine coupled to the repositories. The storage engine receives packet search criteria specifying at least a first time range. Data flow information associated with the search criteria is retrieved from the fourth repository. The retrieved data flow information is associated with a second, narrower, time range. Metadata information associated with the second time range is retrieved from the second repository using corresponding timestamp indexed data. Captured packets associated with the retrieved metadata are retrieved from the first repository using corresponding timestamp indexed data.
US09942119B2
The present disclosure relates to an adaptive jitter buffer for buffering audio data received via a network. The adaptive jitter buffer comprises an adaptive audio sample buffer, which comprises an adaptive resampler that receives a number of audio samples of the audio data and that outputs a first number of audio samples, which are resampled from the received number of audio samples according to a resampling factor, an audio sample buffer that buffers audio samples, wherein the outputted first number of audio samples are written to the audio sample buffer during an input access event and a second number of audio samples are read from the audio sample buffer during an output access event, and an audio sample buffer fill quantity controller that controls a fill quantity of the audio sample buffer based on controlling the resampling factor of the adaptive resampler.
US09942110B2
Monitoring of storage systems, including virtual tape libraries (VTLs), may be performed with automated systems. Automated monitoring may be performed through an SSH connection to a storage manager for the storage system. For example, a method may include initiating, by a monitoring server, an SSH connection to a storage manager; issuing commands, by the monitoring server, through the SSH connection to monitor a storage device coupled to the storage manager; receiving, by the monitoring server, responses to the issued commands through the SSH connection; matching, by the monitoring server, the responses to automation rules; and executing, by the monitoring server, commands based on the matched automation rules.
US09942105B2
A method includes providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays a view of the globe as from outer space. The view including a geographic distribution of beacons having one or more visual attributes. Each beacon corresponds to one or more real users who are accessing a website, web application or mobile app from a geographic location. The visual attributes include an indicator of a performance metric representative of an experience of the one or more real users of the website, web application, or mobile app. Each beacon is generated in real-time from aggregated data obtained in real-time from one or more corresponding real user sessions on the website, web application or mobile app. The beacons are periodically refreshed with the visual attributes changing in response to measured changes in the geographic distribution, a total number of real users at the location, or the performance indicator at the location.
US09942101B2
A method of providing topology information about a network to a topology manager is disclosed. The network includes a plurality of sensors each having a sensor ID, and the method includes performing the following steps at each of the plurality of sensors: receiving a stream of packets and identifying a topology trace packet in the stream of packets, wherein the topology trace packet has a destination address and an ID of a previous sensor, including the sensor ID in the topology trace packet, sending the topology trace packet to the destination address, forming a report message so as to include the sensor ID, the previous sensor ID, sending the report to the topology manager; and, providing network addresses of adjacent nodes to the topology manager.
US09942098B2
An appliance interconnection system and method. The system includes a high speed private local area network (LAN) and a logical cluster of appliances comprising a plurality of physical sub-clusters of appliance nodes. Each node of the appliance nodes includes a different generation node. The plurality of sub-clusters are interconnected via the high speed private LAN. A sub-cluster (N) of the plurality of physical sub-clusters comprises a first plurality of nodes of the appliance nodes. The sub-cluster (N) is associated with a plurality of (M) generation appliances of the logical cluster of appliances. Each appliance of the plurality of (M) generation appliances comprises a same type of appliance. (N) comprises a first cluster number and (M) comprises a first generation number of a first generation. The plurality of sub-clusters, in combination, form a single logical cluster.
US09942097B2
A switch can reduce power consumption in a switch network by disabling under-utilized links between switches. The switch can include one or more line cards each operable to transmit and receive packets over a respective link to a remote switch. The switch can also comprise a control mechanism operable to place under-utilized links in standby mode whenever possible to conserve power. During operation, the switch can receive a standby request for placing a first link to a neighboring switch in a standby mode, and determines whether one or more eligible links to the neighboring switch can accommodate traffic from the first link. If the eligible links are able to accommodate traffic from the first link, and if the local switch and the neighboring switch agree to place the first link in standby mode, the local switch proceeds to place the first link in standby mode.
US09942096B2
A tool for forwarding plane support in a distributed system utilizing a three-tiered architecture. The tool receives one or more messages, wherein the one or more messages include a plurality of state information. The tool determines a distribution scope for the one or more messages based, at least in part, on the plurality of state information. The tool determines a destination endpoint ID for the one or more messages, wherein the destination endpoint ID identifies one or more switch units to receive the one or more messages. The tool sends the one or more messages to a forwarding plane agent for distribution to the one or more switch units based, at least in part, on the distribution scope and the destination endpoint ID.
US09942094B1
The use of a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) of a user device to perform Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) update may replace the conventional use of multiple SMS messages to update the UICC of a user device. A UICC update request may be sent to a UICC update service of a wireless communication network via a communication session by a trusted update application that is executing in the TEE. Subsequently, the UICC update service may send a UICC update file to the user device via the communication session for storage in the TEE. A copy of the UICC update file is then transferred from the TEE to modem software of a modem in the user device. The modem software chunks the UICC update files into multiple UICC update data chunks. The data chunks are sent by the modem software to the UICC to update the UICC.
US09942076B2
A receiver for detecting and recovering payload data from a received signal, the receiver comprising a radio frequency demodulation circuit configured to detect the received signal, the received signal carrying the payload data as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed, OFDM, symbols in one or more of a plurality of time divided frames, each frame including a preamble including a plurality of bootstrap OFDM symbols. One or more of the bootstrap OFDM symbols of the preamble carry signalling data represented as a relative cyclic shift of a signature sequence carried by the bootstrap OFDM symbols, the signalling data providing an indication of parameters for detecting and recovering the payload data carried by the one or more frames. The receiver comprises a detector circuit configured to detect and to convert a useful part of the one or more of the bootstrap OFDM symbols into the frequency domain and a bootstrap processor. The bootstrap processor is configured to generate, using the signature sequence, an estimate of a channel transfer function from a first bootstrap OFDM symbol, and to decode the signalling information carried by one or more other bootstrap OFDM symbols using the estimate of the channel transfer function and the signature sequence. A demodulator circuit is configured to recover the signalling data from the one or more bootstrap OFDM symbols using the estimate of the channel transfer function. The bootstrap processor is configured to generate, for each of the one or more other bootstrap OFDM symbols, an updated version of the channel transfer function, to equalize each of the one or more other bootstrap OFDM symbols using the updated version of the channel transfer function for each of the one or more other bootstrap OFDM symbols, and to detect the signalling data carried by the one or more other bootstrap OFDM symbols by correlating the equalized one or more other bootstrap OFDM symbols with a reproduced version of the signature sequence. Embodiments of the present technique provide an improvement in detecting and recovering signalling data carried by the bootstrap signals by updating the channel transfer function for each bootstrap OFDM symbols.
US09942074B1
Examples described herein include systems and methods which include wireless devices and systems with examples of mixing input data with coefficient data specific to a processing mode selection. For example, a computing system with processing units may mix the input data for a transmission in a radio frequency (RF) wireless domain with the coefficient data to generate output data that is representative of the transmission being processed according to a specific processing mode selection. The processing mode selection may include a single processing mode, a multi-processing mode, or a full processing mode. The processing mode selection may be associated with an aspect of a wireless protocol. Examples of systems and methods described herein may facilitate the processing of data for 5G wireless communications in a power-efficient and time-efficient manner.
US09942069B2
A method and mobile communication device adapted for frequency synchronization with a radio access network (RAN) based on frequency shift detection in a first signal received at the mobile communication device, including: offsetting the first signal's frequency by a first value extracted from a second signal received at the mobile communication device; generating a replica of the first signal from a second value extracted from a third signal received at the mobile communication device; multiplying a component of the offset first signal with the replica to generate a product; transforming the product into a frequency-domain signal; and detecting a peak in the frequency-domain signal to determine the frequency shift.
US09942066B2
A method for simultaneously transmitting data bits and a clock signal includes converting the combination of the data bits and the clock signal to analog voltages by a digital-to-analog converter. The clock signal are the most significant bit of the digital-to-analog conversion and the data bits are the least significant bit of the digital-to-analog conversion.
US09942065B2
A wireless communication device includes a wireless communication unit and a processor. The wireless communication unit connects to relays for wireless communication and transmits and receives communication data via the relays by wireless communication. The processor determines a second relay different from a first relay currently connected to the wireless communication unit and a timing of connection to the second relay based on a predetermined connection standard. When setting are provided for switching destination to the second relay at the timing of connection, the processor instructs the wireless communication unit to send information on the second relay and information at the timing of connection to other predetermined wireless communication device. The processor instructs the wireless communication unit to switch the destination to the second relay at the timing of connection.
US09942064B2
The present application discloses a data processing method and apparatus. The technical solutions of the present application include: coding received data; distributing the coded data to multiple PCS lanes; and performing self-synchronizing scramble separately for multiple data streams distributed to the multiple PCS lanes, where the multiple data streams are in a one-to-one correspondence with the multiple PCS lanes. The technical solutions provided by the present application may be used to reduce occupied logical resources during a data processing process at a physical layer.
US09942051B1
The present invention provides systems and methods for supporting encrypted communications with a medical device, such as an implantable device, through a relay device to a remote server, and may employ cloud computing technologies. An implantable medical device is generally constrained to employ a low power transceiver, which supports short distance digital communications. A relay device, such as a smartphone or WiFi access point, acts as a conduit for the communications to the internet or other network, which need not be private or secure. The medical device supports encrypted secure communications, such as a virtual private network technology. The medical device negotiates a secure channel through a smartphone or router, for example, which provides application support for the communication, but may be isolated from the content.
US09942046B2
Cryptographic hashing circuitry such as mining circuitry used to mine digital currency may be formed on an integrated circuit. The hashing circuitry may include sequential rounds of register and logic circuitry that perform operations of a cryptographic protocol. A final hash output from the hashing circuitry may be checked using a difficulty comparison circuit to determine whether the hash output satisfies predetermined difficulty criteria. The difficulty comparison circuit may be configured as a hardwired comparison circuit having logic gates for checking only a subset of bits in the hash output. The comparison circuit may be adapted to change the number of bits that is checked based on a target number of bits for comparison set by the Bitcoin protocol. Candidate solutions found using the hardwired comparison circuit may then be fed to a host controller that checks the entire hash output to determine whether the candidate solution is valid.
US09942043B2
Techniques for enhancing the security of storing sensitive information or a token on a communication device may include sending a request for the sensitive information or token. The communication device may receive a session key encrypted with a hash value derived from user authentication data that authenticates the user of the communication device, and the sensitive information or token encrypted with the session key. The session key encrypted with the hash value, and the sensitive information or token encrypted with the session key can be stored in a memory of the communication device.
US09942042B1
A digitally signed authentication assertion is generated in response to successful authentication of a current user of a user device by using a signing key that is uniquely assigned to the authenticator process to digitally sign a document indicating that the current user of the user device was successfully authenticated on the user device. The signing key uniquely assigned to the authenticator process is stored in a key container associated with the user device, and the key container is located on a key container server that is physically separate from the user device. The digitally signed authentication assertion is conveyed from the authenticator process to an authentication service, in order to securely indicate to the authentication service that the current user of the user device has been verified as an authentic user by the authenticator process.
US09942041B1
Techniques for securely instantiating applications associated with computing resource service provider services on hardware that is controlled by third parties and/or customers of the computing resource service provider are described herein. A request to instantiate an application is received and fulfilled by selecting a computer system from computer systems that are controlled by a third party and/or a customer of the computing resource service provider. The computer system is selected based at least in part on the hardware capabilities of the computer system associated with instantiating a secure execution environment. The application is then instantiated within a secure execution environment operating on the computer system.
US09942034B2
Systems and methods are provided for confidential communication management. For instance, a server computer can include a protected server key identifier in a response message to a client computer. The protected server key identifier can include a server key identifier that identifies a server private key used to encrypt the response message. The client computer can pass the protected server key back in a subsequent request, so that the server computer can identify the proper server private key to use for decrypting the request message. In another example, a message may include encrypted protocol data (e.g., cipher suite) and separately encrypted payload data. The encrypted payload data can include a plurality of individually encrypted payload data elements.
US09942028B1
A timing error detection circuit for calibrating a serial transmitter is disclosed. The circuit includes a data source configured to provide data for serial transmission and a clock source configured to produce N versions of a sampling clock that are at N different phases of the sampling clock. The detection circuit has a first sampler configured to sample the data source by using a first phase of the sampling clock to generate a first sampled signal and a second sampler configured to sample the data source by using a second phase of the sampling clock to generate a second sampled signal. The detection circuit also includes a first comparator configured to compare the first and second sampled signals to generate a difference signal and a first low-pass filter configured to filter the difference signal to generate an average difference voltage. A second comparator in the detection circuit is configured to compare the average difference voltage with a reference voltage.
US09942025B2
Disclosed is an electrical transceiver for synchronous Ethernet, including: a first interface connected with a host; a second interface including a physical layer (PHY) transceiver connected with a serial link; and a processor connected with the first interface and the second interface, wherein the processor includes a timing control unit controlling a transmission signal transmitted to the second interface from the first interface and a reception signal transmitted to the first interface from the second interface to have the same time delay.
US09942023B2
Systems and methods for signaling in an increased carrier monitoring wireless communication environment are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a user equipment (UE) may include control circuitry to configure the UE for increased carrier monitoring; determine, based on a first signal received from a network apparatus, whether a reduced performance group carrier is configured; determine, based on a second signal received from the network apparatus, whether a scaling factor is configured; and in response to a determination that no reduced performance group carrier is configured and a determination that no scaling factor is configured, allow the UE to monitor fewer carriers than required by increased carrier monitoring. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
US09942020B1
Embodiments herein describe recovering data packets received by a plurality of wireless antennas of a radio head. In one embodiment, the signals received by the radio head are filtered using a single filter to recover at least one data packet. In another embodiment, the signals received by the radio head are filtered using a plurality of filters to recover at least one data packet. In one embodiment, a controller coupled with the radio head filters the received signals and recovers the at least one data packet.
US09942019B2
Disclosed is a method for a base station to transmit a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of: separating each resource block, of which there are at least one, into a preconfigured number of subsets; structuring basic resource allocation units for an downlink control channel as one of the subsets comprised in one or more resource blocks; configuring the basic resource allocation units, the number of which correspond to the aggregation level of the downlink control channel, as transmission resources; and using the transmission resource to transmit the downlink control channel to a terminal.
US09942013B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for hierarchical modulation and interference cancellation in wireless communications systems. Various deployment scenarios may be supported that may provide communications on both a base modulation layer as well as in an enhancement modulation layer that is modulated on the base modulation layer, thus providing concurrent data streams that may be provided to the same or different user equipments. Various interference mitigation techniques may be implemented in examples to compensate for interfering signals received from within a cell, compensate for interfering signals received from other cell(s), and/or compensate for interfering signals received from other radios that may operate in adjacent wireless communications network.
US09942008B1
Systems and methods are provided for extending the range of a transmitter by time repetition. The systems and methods may include receiving, at the transmitter block, and input of signals corresponding to data for transmission. The systems and methods may further include repeating the signals, reordering the signals, and operating on the signals in such a way that an output of signals from the transmitter block is dependent on a time-varying function and corresponds to the data for transmission.
US09941999B1
Methods and apparatus embodiments to communicate data via a digital isolator by receiving an input data stream having first and second states, generating a first pulse train for the first state and a second pulse train for the second state. The first and second pulse types are transmitted across a voltage barrier of a digital signal isolator and received by a receive channel. The first and second pulse trains are processed to recover the input data stream in an output data stream. Data/System integrity functionality can identify fault conditions from an alteration of transmitted pulses.
US09941994B2
Methods and systems are provided for wavelength shift elimination during spectral inversion in optical networks. The method includes receiving an input optical signal, and generating a combined optical signal by combining, by Bragg scattering, the input optical signal having an input wavelength with a first pump signal having a first wavelength. The method further includes converting the combined optical signal into an output optical signal, by phase-conjugation, using a second pump signal having a second wavelength. The output optical signal has the same wavelength as the input optical signal.
US09941982B2
Systems and techniques relating to beamforming testing for wireless communication are described. A described technique includes controlling a first wireless device to deactivate or activate a beamforming mode, the first device being configured to selectively use the beamforming mode to transmit data over multiple antennas; causing the first device to send a first portion of data traffic to a second wireless device via a wireless channel while the beamforming mode is deactivated; measuring first throughput values of the first portion of data traffic while the beamforming mode is deactivated; causing the first device to send a second portion of data traffic to the second device via the wireless channel while the beamforming mode is activated; measuring second throughput values of the second portion of the data traffic while the beamforming mode is activated; and producing a test result based on a comparison of the first and second throughput values, and predetermined criteria.
US09941981B2
Body coupled communication device (200; 201) arranged to receive signals via a body transmission channel (260), the device (200) comprising —two couplers (202, 204) arranged to receive a body-coupled signal from the body transmission channel (260), the body transmission channel (260) being formed by a body of a user (150) when the body is in the direct vicinity of the couplers (202, 204), —a receiver amplifier (206) coupled to at least one of the two couplers, —an inductance (220) for matching the impedance of the receiver amplifier, the inductance being arranged in parallel to the couplers.
US09941979B2
A receiver-audio-device and a transmitter-audio-device. The receiver-audio-device comprises a receiver-ultrasound-receiver, configured to receive transmitter-ultrasound-signals representative of a request, from a transmitter-audio-device, for complementary audio resources; and a receiver-processor, configured to generate a complementary-audio-output-signal based on at least the transmitter-ultrasound-signals and to provide the complementary-audio-output-signal to a receiver-loudspeaker. The receiver-loudspeaker is configured to provide a complementary-audio-output based on the complementary-audio-output-signal. The transmitter-audio-device, comprising: a transmitter-ultrasound-transmitter, configured to provide transmitter-ultrasound-signals representative of a request for complementary audio resources; a transmitter processor, configured to generate an audio-output-signal and to provide the audio-output-signal to a transmitter-loudspeaker. The transmitter-loudspeaker is configured to provide an audio-output based on the audio-output-signal.
US09941975B2
The invention relates to a wavelength division multiplexing optical receiver that is provided with a polarization splitting grating coupler and a driving method for the same, where the power consumption is reduced, and at the same time, a degradation in the receiver sensitivity is suppressed. Two monitor photodetectors configured to monitor the light intensity of a first polarization component and a second polarization component separated by a polarization splitting optical coupler are provided, and a control circuit is provided in order to allow a semiconductor optical amplifier that amplifies the first polarization component and another semiconductor optical amplifier that amplifies the second polarization component in accordance with the signal intensity ratio of the two monitor photodetectors to amplify light with different light gains.
US09941969B2
A transmitter includes a pilot loading apparatus, an optical modulator, and a pilot locking apparatus. The pilot locking apparatus is configured to determine a pilot operating point that is currently on a response curve and that is of the optical modulator, and a target initial amplitude of an electrical pilot signal. The pilot locking apparatus is further configured to control the pilot loading apparatus to adjust an initial amplitude of the electrical pilot signal to the target initial amplitude.
US09941958B2
An apparatus comprising a semiconductor chip that comprises an optical modulator configured to modulate an optical signal based on a received driver signal, a voltage-mode (VM) driver coupled to the optical modulator and configured to produce a level-shifted driver signal to modulate the optical signal, and a two-stage test interface coupled to the optical modulator and configured to receive and test the level shifted driver signal. The two-stage test interface comprises a voltage equalization stage coupled to an output-terminated buffer stage, the VM driver comprises a two-stage VM Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) driver that comprises a pre-driver coupled to a VM level-shifter (VMLS). The apparatus further comprises a resistor coupled to an output of the buffer stage, wherein the resistor comprises an amount of resistance that matches a termination resistance of a test equipment. The termination resistance is about 50 ohm (Ω).
US09941955B2
A method may include receiving, by a switching engine, an optical signal that includes a channel. The method may include applying, by the switching engine, a first beam steering grating to direct a first portion of the channel to a first output port. The method may include applying, by the switching engine, one or more second beam steering gratings to direct at least one of a second portion of the channel to a second output port, or a third portion of the channel to a photodetector. The third portion may be approximately less, in power, than 10 percent of the channel.
US09941951B2
Provided is an interference cancellation relay device. The interference cancellation relay device includes: an interference cancellation unit cancelling an interference signal from an input signal and outputting the input signal from which the interference signal is removed; a gain control unit controlling a gain of an output signal of the interference cancellation unit; and a pre-distortion unit distorting the output signal of the interference cancellation unit, of which the gain is controlled by the gain control unit.
US09941942B2
Provided are a method and device for processing Channel State Information (CSI), User Equipment (UE) and an Evolved Node B (eNodeB). The method includes: storing one or more sets of precoding codebook models the same as those of an eNodeB; determining a precoding codebook model for feeding back CSI; and sending the CSI to the eNodeB by adopting the determined precoding codebook model. By the solution, the problems of difficulty in code word selection and increase of link overhead during application of a codebook-based CSI feedback manner to massive Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) in the related technology is solved, and the effect of reducing codebook transmission overhead is further achieved.
US09941936B2
A communication device includes a pulse width modulator that is provided with an oscillator signal at a communication carrier frequency. The pulse width modulator input is an amplified reference voltage that is regulated by a feedback loop. A modulation control provides the data signal to be transmitted. The modulation control may either be provided to the amplifier mixed with the reference voltage or may be provided to the pulse width modulator. A power transistor receives the pulse width modulator output and generates a chip output signal. An external filter is connected at the chip output to filter the signal that is provided to the communication antenna and produce a carrier sinusoid with an amplitude proportional to the pulse width modulated by voltage regulation and by the modulating data input. The power source is connected to the external filter. A differential version includes differential outputs from the pulse width modulator to two power transistors and through two external filters to a differential antenna.
US09941932B2
Pick-up devices (1-9) for picking-up signals from first cables (21, 22) in electrically contactless manners comprise first arrangements (31) for picking-up power signals from the first cables (21, 22) in inductive manners and second arrangements (35, 36) for picking-up data signals from the first cables (21, 22) in capacitive manners. The first arrangements (31) may comprise inductive couplings such as magnetic cores (61, 62) with first openings for surrounding parts of first conductors (21) of the first cables (21, 22) and with second openings for surrounding parts of second conductors (22) of the first cables (21, 22). The second arrangements (35, 36) may comprise capacitive couplings such as first and second electrodes (71-74). The pick-up devices (1-9) may be pick-up and transfer devices (3) for transferring the signals to second cables (23, 24) in electrically contactless manners. Provision devices (10) provide the signals in electrically conductive manners and termination devices (11-13) terminate the cables (21-24).
US09941921B2
A modular wireless communications platform is provided. The modular wireless communications platform has a modular host unit and a modular remote unit in communication with the modular host unit. The modular host unit and remote unit include a serial radio frequency communicator configured to convert serial digital data into RF sampled data and configured to convert RF sampled data into serial digital data. The modular host unit and remote unit also include an interface coupled to the serial radio frequency communicator and configured to allow transfer of the RF sampled data from the serial radio frequency communicator to a digital to analog radio frequency transceiver module.
US09941913B2
A filtering device intended for being connected to a portable mobile terminal compatible with a PMR network having a wide range of receiving frequencies Bi, includes a fastening system for fastening to the mobile terminal, a first radio-frequency connector intended for engaging with a radio-frequency connector of the mobile terminal, a first channel including a first filter for filtering a first receiving useful band Bui included within the band Bi, and a second radio-frequency connector intended for engaging with a removable RF antenna to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals.
US09941911B2
A mixing stage includes a first modulation stage that receives an input signal from a first common node of the mixing stage, a first local oscillator input that receives a local oscillator signal, and a first modulation signal output adapted to provide a first modulated signal. A second modulation stage of the mixing stage includes a second input that receives a phase inverted representation of the input signal from a second common node of the mixing stage, a second local oscillator input that receives the local oscillator signal, and a second modulation signal output adapted to provide a second modulated signal. A current generation circuit provides a supply current to the first common node and to the second common node. A current control circuit is adapted to superimpose an offset current to the current of at least one node of the first common node and the second common node.
US09941910B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a controller that determines a radiated throughput for at least one of an uplink throughput or a downlink throughput of the communication device, reduces transmit power for the communication device responsive to the radiated throughput satisfying a predetermined throughput range, and tunes a matching network of the communication device responsive to the radiated throughput not satisfying the predetermined throughput range. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09941903B1
A method of protecting digital words traversing multiple data paths is presented. The method identifies a number of bits for a header of a digital word and determines a number of protection bits for the header. A bit value for each of the protection bits is computed, and the computed bit values of the protection bits are transmitted through one or more data paths.
US09941897B1
A higher accuracy ADC circuit (e.g., in which the number of bits of the ADC circuit is twelve or greater) may need calibration multiple times during its working life to avoid bit weight errors. Described are techniques to address DAC element ratio errors between DAC element clusters in a DAC circuit in order to maintain the linear performance of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuits and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuits.
US09941887B2
An integrated circuit includes a field programmable gate array including: (i) a plurality of memory cells (e.g., static memory cells) to store data, wherein each memory cell includes a first output, (ii) a multiplexer including inputs, an output and input selects, (iii) a plurality of poly-silicon conductors, each poly-silicon conductor is disposed in the substrate and connected to the first output of an associated memory cell, (iv) poly-silicon extensions, each poly-silicon extension is (a) connected to an associated poly-silicon conductor and (b) coupled to an associated input select of the multiplexer, wherein the poly-silicon extensions are disposed in the substrate and at least partially under a metal conductor, disposed above the substrate, in the field programmable gate array.
US09941882B1
An integrated circuit with programmable logic is provided. The programmable logic may include multiplexers that are actively used by a custom logic design or unused. To ensure that these multiplexers do not suffer from aging effects when they are not in use, the multiplexers may be provided with aging prevention circuitry. In particular, such a multiplexer may include an input selection stage that is coupled in series with a tristate buffer stage. The input selection stage may include pass transistors or full CMOS transmission gates. The tristate buffer stage may include at least two pairs of output driving transistors, with gates that are selectively shorted when the multiplexer is activated using additional transmission gate circuits. The aging prevention circuitry may include tie-off transistors that are activated to drive the gate-to-source voltages of the output driving transistors to zero volts whenever the multiplexer is not in use.
US09941872B2
An apparatus includes first and second input transistors receiving respective first and second input signals, and a feedback circuit coupled to the first and second input transistors. The first and second input transistors provide first and second nodes with first and second currents according to values of the first and second input signals, respectively, when the feedback circuit is turned on. The first and second input transistors produce a reset value on the nodes when the feedback circuit is turned off. A method includes resetting, using first and second input transistors, respectively, values of first and second nodes to a reset value, providing first and second currents to the nodes using the first and second input transistors according to values of first and second input signals, and determining the values of the nodes according to the values of the first and second input signals.
US09941865B2
A method and circuitry for generating a trigger signal based on an oscillation signal and associated non-transitory computer program product are provided. The method includes following steps. Firstly, a calibration value is obtained according to a reference frequency and a frequency of the oscillation signal, and a counting value is gradually altered from a first initial value to a breakpoint value. Secondly, the counting value is updated to a second initial value when the counting value is equal to the breakpoint value. Then, the counting value is gradually altered from the second initial value to a final value, and the trigger signal is generated when the counting value is equal to the final value.
US09941862B2
The trans-filter compresses in band AWGN, demodulates input signals and has no threshold due to applied noise. Two frequency selective networks with opposite amplitude vs frequency slopes are designed to remain 180 degrees out of phase over the signal band. Output amplitudes are equal at band center and are summed producing a monotonic amplitude vs frequency characteristic going thru zero at center frequency with abrupt phase reversal. This produces the parabolic output noise density and differentiates applied signals. Absence of nonlinear circuit components and product devices prevents generation of noise×noise products, avoiding the threshold phenomenon. Exponentially modulated digital signals produce output impulses due to the slope and abrupt phase reversal. The impulses have strong fundamental frequency components and may be recovered at baseband without frequency conversion. Cascading trans-filters increases noise reduction and impulse amplitude. The trans-filter algorithm may be used separately or in conjunction with one or more hardware trans-filters.
US09941852B1
A semiconductor device includes an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with a matched pair of transistors including a first transistor and a second transistor, and configuration units that include a first set of switches, a second set of switches, and an input transistor. Gain adjustment circuitry is coupled to adjust gain of the OTA. Measurement circuitry is coupled to measure offset in the OTA. Control logic is configured to operate the first and second sets of switches to couple input transistors of a first group of the configuration units to the first transistor of the matched pair of transistors, and to couple input transistors of a remaining group of the configuration units to the second transistor of the matched pair of transistors. Settings of the first and second sets of switches are selected to minimize the offset.
US09941850B1
A fully differential operational amplifier is provided. The amplifier has input nodes and includes a differential input stage for receiving input signals over the input nodes and providing output signals on first and second intermediary nodes. The amplifier includes a fully differential amplification stage having positive and negative inputs coupled to the first and second intermediary nodes, respectively. The amplifier includes a first compensation transistor having conduction terminals coupled to the first intermediary node and a first node, and a control terminal coupled to a negative output of the fully differential amplification stage. The amplifier includes a second compensation transistor having conduction terminals coupled to the second intermediary node and a second node, and a control terminal coupled to a positive output of the fully differential amplification stage. The amplifier includes positive and negative output stages for providing amplifier outputs and feeding the outputs back to the amplifier.
US09941847B2
A speaker driver comprising an amplifier, configured to receive a test signal that comprises a plurality of equivalent test-blocks, and provide measurement-signalling for a speaker at the amplifier output. The measurement-signalling comprising a plurality of measurement-blocks, wherein each of the measurement-blocks corresponds to the output of the amplifier for one of the plurality of test-blocks. The speaker driver also includes an output-current-sensor configured to: measure a current level of the measurement-signalling, and provide sensed-signalling that comprises a plurality of sensed-blocks, wherein each of the plurality of sensed-blocks corresponds to one of the plurality of measurement-blocks of the measurement-signalling. The speaker driver further includes a processor configured to either: (a) combine the plurality of sensed-blocks to provide a time-averaged-block; and determine a frequency-spectrum of the time-averaged-block; or (b) determine a frequency-spectrum of each of the plurality of sensed-blocks to provide a plurality of frequency-spectrum-sensed-blocks; and combine the plurality of frequency-spectrum-sensed-blocks to provide a time-averaged-frequency-spectrum-block.
US09941845B2
Apparatus are provided for amplifier systems and related circuits are provided. An exemplary circuit includes a main amplifier arrangement, first impedance matching circuitry coupled between the output of the main amplifier arrangement and a first output of the circuit, a peaking amplifier arrangement, and second impedance matching circuitry coupled between the output of the peaking amplifier arrangement and a second output of the circuit. In one exemplary embodiment, the first impedance matching circuitry and the second impedance matching circuitry have different circuit topologies and different physical topologies.
US09941842B2
A power amplifier bias circuit having high dynamic range and low memory is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes an output stage configured to generate a biased RF signal based on a first DC signal and a filtered signal. The apparatus also includes a low pass filter configured to filter the biased RF signal to generate the filtered signal.
US09941838B2
A low voltage crystal oscillator (XTAL) driver with feedback controlled duty cycling for ultra low power biases an amplifier for an XTAL in the sub-threshold operating regime. A feedback control scheme can be used to bias the amplifier for an XTAL biased in the sub-threshold operating regime. The amplifier of a XTAL oscillator can be duty cycled to save power, e.g., the XTAL driver can be turned off to save power when the amplitude of the XTAL oscillation reaches a maximum value in range; but be turned back on when the amplitude of the XTAL oscillation starts to decay, to maintain the oscillation before it stops. In addition or alternatively, a feedback control scheme to duty cycle the amplifier of a XTAL oscillator can be used to monitor the amplitude of the oscillation.
US09941835B2
A rapidly installable photovoltaic mounting system that can be manually snapped onto a first photovoltaic module and then lowered onto a trapezoidal metal roof to serve as a base for receiving a second photovoltaic module thereon.
US09941829B2
Systems and methods for controlling the operating speed and the torque of an electric motor using an operational model are described. An operational model for the electric motor, including a plot of engine performance parameters, is used for reference, and a most efficient output path, which may pass through an optimal operation region in the operational model, is selected. The most efficient output path may be determined, for example, according to locations of a current output state and a to-be-reached target state in the operational model, enabling the operating state of the motor to reach the target state from the current operating state. By selecting a more efficient output path, the operating efficiency of the motor may be optimized, the life of a battery improved and/or the operating mileage of the vehicle may be increased, without significantly reducing the driving experience.
US09941824B2
An electric working machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a brushless motor, a rotational position sensor, a detector, and a calculator. The calculator detects, when the brushless motor is inertially rotated, a difference between a detection result obtained by the rotational position sensor and a detection result obtained by the detector and calculates a correction value, based on the difference, for correcting the detection result obtained by the rotational position sensor.
US09941808B2
According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart power delivery system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a power management module that can convert mains power into an optimized voltage and limited current used to power an electronic device. In one embodiment, a power conversion unit can optimize an output voltage by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging parameters representing desired characteristics of the output voltage. In one embodiment, an electronic device receives power from a power conversion unit through a wired power conduit. In another embodiment, an electronic device receives power from a power conversion unit through a wireless power conduit. In one embodiment, an optimal voltage is selected after negotiation between multiple electronic devices and a power conversion unit.
US09941796B2
In one embodiment, a control circuit configured for an interleaved switching power supply having first and second voltage conversion circuits, can include: a feedback compensation signal generation circuit that generates a feedback compensation signal; a first power switch control circuit that activates a first on signal when a first voltage signal that represents an inductor current of the first voltage conversion circuit is less than the feedback compensation signal, a first power switch of the first voltage conversion circuit being turned on based on the first on signal, and turned off after a predetermined time; and a second power switch control circuit that activates a second on signal after half of a switching period from a rising edge of the first on signal, and a second power switch control signal to turn on a second power switch of the second voltage conversion circuit based on the second on signal.
US09941794B2
In order to reduce spurious emissions of a current converter or voltage converter having at least one power switch which is actuated with an actuating signal, wherein each actuating signal comprises switch-on pulses spaced apart from one another, and wherein pulse widths of the switch-on pulses are modulated in order to meet a specification for a current or a voltage in or at the current converter or voltage converter, the pulse widths are additionally varied more quickly and more strongly than is appropriate for meeting the specification in order to change the spectrum of the spurious emissions. In this context, changes to the pulse widths when they additionally vary compared to the pulse widths that would result only owing to their modulation to meet the specification are made on the basis of successive groups of changes which each extend over a predefined number of successive switch-on pulses and in which a sum of the changes is zero in each case. The successive groups of changes are varied with respect to at least one aspect which is selected from absolute values of the changes, signs of the changes, a sequence of the changes and an extent of the group.
US09941791B1
The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques of fast transient response for switching power regulators. In some aspects, an output voltage of a switching regulator operating in a discontinuous mode is monitored via a comparator coupled directly to an output of the switching regulator. In response to the output voltage falling below a predefined threshold, a high-side switch is activated to provide current to a load connected to the output of the switching regulator. The switching regulator is then transitioned from the discontinuous mode of operation to a continuous mode of operation to control subsequent operation of the high-side switch. This can be effective to mitigate a drop in the output voltage of the switching regulator when an amount of current consumed by the load increases (e.g., a load step).
US09941780B2
A power converting apparatus includes a rectifier converting alternating-current power from an alternating-current power supply into direct-current power; a short-circuit unit short-circuiting the alternating-current power supply via a reactor; and a controlling unit controlling the short-circuit unit in a half cycle of the alternating-current power supply. A correction amount using inductance of the reactor is set in the controlling unit, and the controlling unit changes, using at least a detection value of a power supply current and the correction amount, an ON time and an OFF time of a plurality of switching pulses, and controls, using changed switching pulses, an ON/OFF operation of the short-circuit unit.
US09941773B2
An actuator includes a circuit board having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) reduction circuit. The actuator includes a motor having a motor casing mounted on the circuit board. A portion of the motor casing contacts a surface of the circuit board. The actuator includes an electrical contact conductively coupled to the EMI reduction circuit and mounted on the surface of the circuit board. The electrical contact establishes a conductive path between the EMI reduction circuit and the motor casing when the motor casing is mounted on the circuit board.
US09941749B2
There is provided a non-contact type charger including: a plurality of power transmitting coils transmitting power in a non-contact manner; a plurality of switching units connected to the plurality of power transmitting coils, respectively, to switch power transmitted by corresponding power transmitting coils; and a switching control unit controlling power switching of the switching units, depending on coupling coefficients between each of the plurality of power transmitting coils and a plurality of power receiving coils which receive the power transmitted by the plurality of power transmitting coils to charge a plurality of battery cells connected thereto with power.
US09941748B2
Techniques for remote interactions with devices, such as charging, communications, and user interaction, are provided. Specifically, systems and methods to provide charging of devices, such as, remote charging by photovoltaic (PV) cells, infrared (IR) illumination, audio signals, and LEDs such as laser LEDs to charge devices such as watches, jewelry, car panels, headphones and phones, are presented.
US09941746B2
Provided is a power transmitting device, a power feeding system, and a power feeding method in which power loss is cut by increasing power use efficiency and power can be supplied to a power feeding user (a power receiving device) with high power transmission efficiency. Depending on a power feeding state (e.g., resonant frequency of a power transmitting resonance coil is not the same as that of a power receiving resonance coil, or the influence of their positional relation), power transmitted from a power source portion of the power transmitting device is reflected to the power transmitting coil side by the power transmitting resonance coil. Further, a power recovering function (circulation function) for power reflected to the power transmitting device is provided to recover the power reflected to the power transmitting coil side and to reuse it for power transmission.
US09941742B2
A wireless power transmission apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power reception apparatus includes a first wireless power transmission module configured to wirelessly transmit power using a first method, a second wireless power transmission module configured to wirelessly transmit power using a second method, and a controller configured to control the first wireless power transmission module and the second wireless power transmission module. The first wireless power transmission module includes a first signal transmission unit configured to transmit a first signal for detecting the wireless power reception apparatus, a second signal transmission unit configured to transmit a second signal for determining whether the detected wireless power reception apparatus is capable of receiving power transmitted using the first method and a reception unit configured to receive a signal from the wireless power reception apparatus.
US09941725B2
A method and an electronic device for supplying power to a battery are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a battery disposed inside the housing, and a power management circuit configured to control power supplied from an external power source to the battery. The power management circuit is configured to supply power from the external power source to the battery to apply a substantially constant current to the battery during a first time interval, supply power from the external power source to the battery to maintain a substantially constant voltage in the battery during a second time interval following the first time interval, sense a current value applied to the battery and a voltage value of the battery, and determine a duration of the first time interval based on at least part of the sensed current value and the sensed voltage value.
US09941719B2
A surface with various layers that provide wireless charging may include at least one of a top surface layer, a second layer, comprising a plurality of lights and a power grid, disposed under the top surface layer, a charging pad disposed on a portion of the power grid, and a third layer, comprising a power supply which provides power to the plurality of lights and the power grid, disposed under the second layer.
US09941718B2
A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.
US09941715B2
A charging station includes a main body, a central emission module, a supersonic receiver, a controller, and a lateral emission module having a left infrared emitter and a right infrared emitter. The controller drives the left infrared emitter and the right infrared emitter to emit alternatively infrared signals to a first signal area and a second signal area, respectively. When the supersonic receiver receives a supersonic signal from the self-propelled apparatus, the controller drives the central emission module to emit another infrared signal to a third signal area so as to guide the self-propelled apparatus to enter the third signal area. When a distance between the self-propelled apparatus and the charging port is smaller than a predetermined distance, the self-propelled apparatus turns to have a charging-input unit thereof to face the charging port. In addition, a charging system including the charging station and the self-propelled apparatus is also provided.
US09941709B2
A novel hybrid lithium-ion anode material based on coaxially coated Si shells on vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (CNF) arrays. The unique cup-stacking graphitic microstructure makes the bare vertically aligned CNF array an effective Li+ intercalation medium. Highly reversible Li+ intercalation and extraction were observed at high power rates. More importantly, the highly conductive and mechanically stable CNF core optionally supports a coaxially coated amorphous Si shell which has much higher theoretical specific capacity by forming fully lithiated alloy. Addition of surface effect dominant sites in close proximity to the intercalation medium results in a hybrid device that includes advantages of both batteries and capacitors.
US09941708B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for power transfer including a plurality of coil structures located over a ferrite element, the plurality of coil structures configured to generate a high flux region and a low flux region, the low flux region being located between the plurality of coil structures, and a tuning capacitance located directly over the ferrite element in the low flux region.
US09941688B2
A method of operating a refrigeration system that receives power from an electrical grid includes selectively operating at least one component of the refrigeration system in a first state. The method includes selectively detecting a fault event of the electrical grid in response to a concurrent (i) increase in amount of current drawn by the component and (ii) decrease in voltage of power received by the component. The method includes, in response to detecting the fault event, switching the component from the first state to a second state. The component consumes less power in the second state than in the first state. The method includes determining a first delay period. The method includes identifying a conclusion of the fault event. The method includes, in response to the conclusion of the fault event, waiting for the first delay period before switching the component back to the first state.
US09941683B2
The device comprises at least a first part intended to detect an electrical fault occurring in a network and a second part comprising at least one switch connecting the network to a power supply source, the first part comprising at least one reflectometry detection system capable of being coupled with the network, the system detecting and analyzing the impedance changes occurring in the network, a signal being sent by the system to trigger the opening of the switch when a detected impedance change is considered by the system to be an electrical fault.
US09941680B2
An apparatus and a method are for varying an impedance of a phase line of a segment of a first electrical power line, the phase line including n conductors electrically insulated from each other and short-circuited together at two ends of the segment. The apparatus includes at least one controllable switching device for connection with at least one of the conductors. The apparatus also includes a controller for performing control of the at least one controllable switching device, the controller having at least one optical port for receiving first optical signals on which the control is based, and for sending second optical signals to adjacent switching apparatuses, the second optical signals including status information of the one switching apparatus, upon which control of adjacent switching apparatuses is based.
US09941671B2
A corona igniter assembly including an ignition coil assembly, a firing end assembly, and a dielectric compliant member is provided. The dielectric compliant member is compressed between a high voltage insulator of the ignition coil assembly and a ceramic insulator of the firing end assembly. During assembly of the corona igniter assembly, the dielectric compliant member pushes air outwards and forms a hermetic seal between the high voltage insulator and the ceramic insulation. The dielectric compliant member can have a rounded upper surface, which may improve the hermetic seal. Alternatively, or in addition to the rounded surface on the dielectric compliant member, the lower surface of the high voltage insulator can be rounded to push air outwards during assembly and provide a hermetic seal.
US09941668B2
In various embodiments, wavelength beam combining laser systems incorporate etalons to establish external lasing cavities and/or to combine multiple input beams into a single output beam.
US09941664B1
A hybrid III-V on silicon laser device includes a layer structure, with a stack of III-V semiconductor gain materials, a silicon waveguide core and a cladding structure. The semiconductor gain materials stack is along a stacking direction, which is perpendicular to a main plane of the stack. The silicon waveguide core extends along a longitudinal direction, parallel to the main plane. The cladding structure extends between said waveguide core and the stack. The device further comprises an optical coupling structure formed in the layer structure. This coupling structure is designed: 1) to allow a hybrid-mode optical coupling of radiation between the stack of III-V semiconductor gain materials and the tapered waveguide core; and 2) to favor a coupling of a fundamental transverse optical mode of said radiation over a coupling of one or more higher-order transverse optical modes of said radiation from the stack into the waveguide core.
US09941660B2
A tunable lasing device including a vertical external cavity surface emitting laser, adapted to generate a fundamental laser beam in response to pumping from a pump source, said fundamental laser beam having a fundamental wavelength and a fundamental linewidth; a fundamental resonator cavity adapted to resonate the fundamental beam therein; a first optical element located within the fundamental resonator cavity for control of the fundamental linewidth of the fundamental beam; a Raman resonator located at least partially in said fundamental resonator adapted to receive the fundamental beam and comprising therein, a solid state Raman active medium located therein for generating at least a first Stokes beam from the fundamental beam wherein said Raman resonator cavity is adapted to resonate said Stokes beam therein and further adapted to emit an output beam; and further comprising a nonlinear medium located within the Raman resonator cavity for nonlinear frequency conversion of at least one of the beams present in the fundamental or the Raman resonator cavity; said tunable lasing device further comprising an output coupler adapted to emit an output beam, said output beam comprising at least a portion of said frequency converted beam being derived from at least one of the resonating beams in said fundamental or said Raman resonator cavities.
US09941657B2
A passively mode-locking laser and corresponding method is described. The laser comprises a resonator (2) terminated by first (3) and second (4) mirrors and folded by a third (5) and fourth (6) mirror. The third mirror comprises a reflector (14) surmounted by a multilayer semiconductor gain medium (15) including at least one quantum well layer while the second mirror (4) comprises an intensity saturable mirror. The resonator is configured to provide a cross sectional area of an intra cavity resonating field on the intensity saturable mirror that is greater than or equal to a cross sectional area of the intra cavity resonating field on the multilayer semiconductor gain medium. This arrangement provides a passively mode-locking laser that exhibits increased stability when compared to those systems known in the art.
US09941630B2
A power source connector device includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first housing and first terminals. The second connector includes second terminals. The second terminals face each other at least partially with a space in between. When the first connector and the second connector fit to each other, a portion of the first housing is disposed in the space. At the same time, a portion of an outer wall of one of the first connector and the second connector abuts an inner wall of the other of the second connector or the first connector. An engaging portion is disposed on the outer wall, and a corresponding engaging portion for engaging with the engaging portion is disposed on the inner wall. The engaging portion is supported using the first housing disposed in the space.
US09941626B2
The present disclosure discloses an electrical receptacle assembly. The electrical receptacle assembly comprises a housing with a first compartment and a second compartment with at least one third opening for receiving power supply cables. The first compartment has a second opening for receiving a switch knob, defined with central axis. A base of the second compartment fitted with a switch assembly in the housing. The switch assembly defines a spindle which is required to align axially with the central axis of the slot of the switch knob. A first and a second switch assembly mounting locations on the base mounts the switch assembly. The first mounting location is used when the power supply cables are positioned to enter the receptacle from operatively below the receptacle and the second mounting location is used when the power supply cables are positioned to enter the receptacle from operatively above the receptacle.
US09941619B2
A connector includes a housing and a front holder. The front holder includes an arm portion to be exposed at a side surface of the housing. The housing includes a pair of extension walls on the side surface of the housing to cover the arm portion. The pair of extension walls has a first part and a second part. In the first part, a distance between the extension ends of the extension walls is constant. In the second part, the distance increases gradually as they extend away from the first part in the attaching direction. A distal end of the arm portion is in a position corresponding to the second part when the front holder is in a final lock position, and the distal end of the arm portion is in a position corresponding to the first part when the front holder is in a preliminary lock position.
US09941615B2
A leaf spring portion turning back at a bottom wall (first side wall portion) and coming into contact with a male terminal of a connector on the other side to press the male terminal to a ceiling wall (second side wall portion) is formed in a tubular-shaped main terminal body portion in a terminal, the main terminal body portion is formed when a metal plate is bent in a tubular shape such that a pair of end edges approaches each other to form the ceiling wall (second side wall portion), and depressed portions bending toward an inside of the main terminal body portion and extending in a longitudinal direction of the main terminal body portion are provided in a pair of respective wall portions forming the ceiling wall (second side wall portion).
US09941603B2
A metallic contact for insertion into a modular telecommunications plug includes a generally planar body defining a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, and a length extending from the front end to the rear end. The bottom end is at least partially defined by a blade for piercing an insulation of a wire positioned within the plug. At least a portion of the top end is configured to electrically contact a conductor of a jack that receives the plug. The top end is defined at least in part by a first engagement surface that is separated from a second engagement surface by a notch. An uppermost portion of the first engagement surface defines a first push surface that is generally at the same height as a second push surface defined by an uppermost portion of the second engagement surface. The notch is defined by a front vertical wall spaced from a rear vertical wall, wherein the front vertical wall is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact.
US09941602B2
A terminal that is capable of positively scraping off insulation coating of an electric wire. A wire connection portion is formed with a slit. A pair of positioning portions and a pair of supporting portions are disposed with the slit of the wire connection portion therebetween. A spacing between the pair of supporting portions is smaller than a spacing between the pair of positioning portions. Each supporting portion is formed with a corner portion in an end portion thereof toward a positioning portion associated therewith. Each positioning portion is formed with a cutout in an end portion thereof toward the supporting portion. An inner surface of the cutout is continuous with a surface of each corner portion toward the positioning portion.
US09941598B2
Described herein are technologies related to an in-band full-duplex wireless communication operation. More particularly, the technologies utilize a complementary pair of antennas for signal transmission and reception arranged in a new manner to be both compact (relatively to conventional approaches) and provide an extremely high (e.g., 60 dB or more) isolation.
US09941594B2
An antenna system includes an antenna having an aperture, and a polarizer array. The polarizer array includes a support structure, at least two polarizer elements arranged relative to the support structure, each of the at least two polarizer elements rotatable about a separate axis, and an actuator coupled to the at least two polarizer elements, the actuator operative to effect common rotation of the at least two polarizer elements. The polarizer array is arranged to at least partially cover the antenna aperture.
US09941584B2
A reconfigurable radio frequency aperture including a substrate, a plurality of reconfigurable patches on the substrate, and a plurality of reconfigurable coupling elements on the substrate, wherein at least one reconfigurable coupling element is coupled between a reconfigurable patch and another reconfigurable patch, and wherein the reconfigurable coupling elements affect the mutual coupling between reconfigurable patches.
US09941583B2
A lightning protection device for an antenna receiver includes a shield for a coaxial cable connected to the antenna, and a high-pass filter mounted in series relative to the shield and capable of limiting the low-frequency power flowing in the coaxial cable, including a capacitor and an inductor lower than 1 ohm at the lowest frequency used by the receiver, the capacitor including at least one layer of a conductive material embedded in a printed circuit. The capacitor may be made of a printed circuit including at least two floor plans, each of which is connected to the ground of a connector of the coaxial cable. The printed circuit may include at least one layer of a highly pervious material sandwiched between two layers of a conductive material.
US09941578B2
An antenna comprising: a hollow conductive chamber having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is open; a shorting strap electrically connected to the upper end; a conductive center member running through the chamber and electrically connected to the shorting strap; a conductive ground plane having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is separated from the lower end of the chamber by a gap; and a first solid insulator connected to the chamber and the top surface of the ground plane such that the first insulator fills the gap and fills the lower end and an interior portion of the chamber.
US09941574B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing having a conductive portion in at least a part of the housing, a component which is accommodated in the housing and emits noise, an antenna which overlaps the component in a thickness direction of the housing, and a conductive member which electrically connects a ground of the antenna and the conductive portion of the housing.
US09941572B2
An NFC antenna assembly is provided. One embodiment of the NFC antenna assembly disclosed herein includes: a metal plate defining a fitting aperture which penetrates through the metal plate in a thickness direction of the metal plate; a mounting sheet disposed in the fitting aperture; an insulating washer disposed in the fitting aperture and surrounding the mounting sheet; and an NFC antenna disposed on the mounting sheet, wherein the mounting sheet comprises a first through slot extended in a radial direction of the mounting sheet, and the metal plate comprises a second through slot extended from the fitting aperture to a periphery of the metal plate.
US09941568B2
The invention relates to a transition device between a printed transmission line on a dielectric substrate and a rectangular waveguide including a front face forming an inlet of the waveguide, a rear face parallel to the front face and forming an outlet of the waveguide, a lower face, an upper face parallel to the lower face, the upper and lower faces extending between the front and rear faces, the waveguide being a block of dielectric material whereof the faces are fully metallized except for the front face and the rear face, the transition device including: a three-dimensional cavity formed in the volume of the waveguide between the inlet of the waveguide, further forming the inlet of the cavity, and the rear face widening, the cavity being at an inlet height of the lower face of the waveguide and ending at a distance from the inlet of the cavity at an outlet height greater than the inlet height; an electrical connection extending from the transmission line along the front face of the waveguide up to the inlet of the three-dimensional cavity.
US09941564B2
A dielectric resonator includes: two dielectric resonant cylinders and a metal cavity, wherein the dielectric resonant cylinders are located within the metal cavity; and it also includes: a fastener and a connector, wherein bottoms of the dielectric resonant cylinders are connected via the connector to form a U-shaped structure, and the connector is fixed on the metal cavity via the fastener. With the dielectric resonator of the embodiments of the present invention, a good close contact between the dielectric resonant cylinders and the metal cavity can be guaranteed, thereby improving the resonant performance of the dielectric resonator.
US09941563B2
Disclosed are embodiments of ceramic radiofrequency filters advantageous as RF components. The ceramic filters can include a ceramic stepped impedance resonator, wherein the inner diameter of the ceramic stepped impedance resonator can vary from one end to another end. The inner diameter can be, for example, tapered, sectioned, or stair-stepped in order to provide different impedances in the ceramic resonator.
US09941562B2
A microwave-frequency filtering structure includes two dielectric layers separated by a conducting layer that is etched in the pattern of a filter, the upper and lower exterior faces of the stack being covered over the larger part of their surface by a conducting plane constituting ground planes of the structure, which are interlinked by a metallization of the periphery of the structure; two identical devices, an input and an output transition device, each allowing the passage from a microstrip mode to a stripline mode and vice versa, configured so that the geometry of the transition device is optimized to minimize the standing wave ratios at the ports of the filter, and to minimize the excitation and the coupling of the TE10 mode, two conducting pillars perpendicular to the plane of the structure and situated close to its principal axis, without being coupled with the filter, and linking the upper and lower ground planes.
US09941557B2
System and methods are disclosed incorporating a battery cooling system design that may provide for relatively uniform cooling of an associated battery system. In certain embodiments, a battery cooling system may include a central coolant delivery system configured to circulate liquid coolant through one or more coolant flow channels included in one or more cooling plates. One or more seals may be used to couple the central coolant delivery system to the one or more coolant delivery plates. Embodiments of the disclosed battery cooling system may allow for relatively straightforward manufacturing processes and/or assembly of the cooling system, provide sufficient mechanical strength to support a group of battery packs, reduce the occurrence of liquid coolant leaks, and/or provide for relatively uniform cooling of a group of battery packs.
US09941552B2
Described embodiments include a system and a method. A system includes at least two individually controllable electrochemical cells configured to output electric power. Each individually controllable cell includes an electrolyte, and a first working electrode configured to transfer electrons to or from the electrolyte. Each individually controllable cell includes a second working electrode configured to transfer electrons to or from the electrolyte. Each individually controllable cell includes a gating electrode spaced-apart from the second working electrode and configured if biased relative to the second working electrode to modify an electric charge, field, or potential in the space between the electrolyte and the second working electrode. The system includes a control circuit coupled to apply a respective biasing signal to each gating electrode of each controllable cell of the at least two controllable cells.
US09941549B2
A rechargeable battery, which can improve safety by maintaining a short-circuit state when the internal pressure of the rechargeable battery exceeds a critical pressure due to overcharge (or any other reason). In one embodiment, the rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap assembly sealing the case and including a cap plate, and a short-circuit member including a first short-circuit plate coupled to the cap plate and a second short-circuit plate on a surface of the first short-circuit plate facing toward the electrode assembly and coupled to the cap plate.
US09941548B2
A Nickel iron battery using a mono-block housing that has cells with leak-proof intercell connections. The intercell connections use compressed grommets to prevent fluid transfer between the cells. Each cell generates a charge that can be connected in series or parallel as required. The cells use an electrode plate that enables a manufacturing process which yields higher efficiency, higher throughput, and significantly lower battery cost. The anode composition of the cells has iron powder to increase cathode utilization, therefore lowering cathode material usage and lowering production cost.
US09941530B2
An object is to provide a technique of enhancing the accuracy of estimation of the water content of a fuel cell on the occurrence of localized drying of an electrolyte membrane. In a fuel cell system, until satisfaction of a second condition indicating that localized drying of the electrolyte membrane is eliminated after satisfaction of a first condition indicating that localized drying of the electrolyte membrane occurs, a water content estimator performs a second water content estimation process that estimates the water content of the fuel cell based on an output current value of the fuel cell, in place of a first water content estimation process that estimates the water content of the fuel cell based on an impedance of the fuel cell. The first condition is that an oxidizing gas stoichiometric ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference value and that a first elapsed time has elapsed since the oxidizing gas stoichiometric ratio becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined reference value. The second condition is that an accumulated current value by accumulation of the output current value for a second elapsed time since satisfaction of the first condition is equal to or greater than a reference value of accumulated current value or that the oxidizing gas stoichiometric ratio is lower than the predetermined reference value and that a third elapsed time has elapsed since the oxidizing gas stoichiometric ratio becomes lower than the predetermined reference value.
US09941526B2
A dual purpose fuel cell configuration generates electricity and oxygen-depleted inert gases. The inert gaseous outflows are then applied to fuel tanks comprising electric compartments, fuel tanks, battery compartments, storage cavities, and refrigeration containers. Due to the low oxygen concentration in the generated gas, applications for these inerted gases range from fire prevention, fire suppression, and fumigation, to preservation of perishables, refrigeration, food and beverage preparation, and oxidation prevention.
US09941524B2
Provided is an interconnector material which is chemically stable in both oxidation atmospheres and reduction atmospheres, has a high electron conductivity (electric conductivity), a low ionic conductivity, does not contain Cr, and enables a reduction in sintering temperature. The interconnector material is arranged between a plurality of cells each composed of an anode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a cathode layer stacked sequentially, and electrically connects the plurality of cells to each other in series in a solid electrolyte fuel cell. The interconnector is formed of a ceramic composition represented by the composition formula La(Fe1-xAlx)O3 in which 0
US09941523B2
Use of noble metal alloy catalysts, such as PtCo, as the cathode catalyst in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells can provide enhanced performance at low current densities over that obtained from the noble metal itself. Unfortunately, the performance at high current densities has been relatively poor. However, using a specific bilayer cathode construction, in which a noble metal/non-noble metal alloy layer is located adjacent the cathode gas diffusion layer and a noble metal layer is located adjacent the membrane electrolyte, can provide superior performance at all current densities.
US09941517B2
Provided are an electrode for a lithium battery that is capable of providing a lithium battery having both high stability and high battery properties; a process for producing an electrode for a lithium battery, in which a positive electrode plate and/or a negative electrode plate, even when coated with a thermal activation material dissolved in an organic solvent such as a pyrrolidone-based solvent, is prevented from swelling; and a lithium battery including said electrode for a lithium battery. The electrode for a lithium battery includes an electrode plate, a mix layer and a heat insulating layer in this order, wherein the mix layer includes at least an aqueous adhesive and an active material; the heat insulating layer includes at least a thermal activation material; and at least part of the mix layer is in contact with at least part of the heat insulating layer.
US09941512B2
A core-shell-type electrode material is used as an electrode active material layer of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the core-shell-type electrode material having a core part including an electrode active material and a shell part in which a conductive material is contained in a base material formed by a gel-forming polymer having a tensile elongation at break of 10% or more in a gel state.
US09941509B2
Silicon particles for active materials and electro-chemical cells are provided. The active materials comprising silicon particles described herein can be utilized as an electrode material for a battery. In certain embodiments, the composite material includes greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of silicon particles. The silicon particles have an average particle size between about 0.1 μm and about 30 μm and a surface including nanometer-sized features. The composite material also includes greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of one or more types of carbon phases. At least one of the one or more types of carbon phases is a substantially continuous phase.
US09941500B2
A conveying apparatus for a separator of an electrical device alternately laminates a first electrode and a second electrode of different polarity from the first electrode, with a separator interposed therebetween to form a laminated body for conveyance. The separator includes a melt material representing a substrate and a heat-resistant material laminated on one surface of the melt material and having a higher melting point than the melt material. The separator conveying apparatus includes a drive member which makes contact with the separator and conveys the separator; and a pressure member which, while urging the drive member via the separator, is driven by the drive member. The drive member makes contact with the melt material portion of the separator. With this separator conveying apparatus, it is possible to maintain constant feed size or dimension of the separator assembly.
US09941495B2
A vehicle mount structure for includes a stack case and a boss. The stack case accommodates a fuel cell stack. The stack case includes a bottom panel to be provided on a bracket member of a vehicle. The bottom panel includes a lower plate and an intermediate member. The lower plate is opposite to and below an upper plate in a height direction of the vehicle. The lower plate has an opening to surround a bearing surface of the bracket member. The intermediate member is disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate. The intermediate member has a thickness thicker than a thickness of the upper plate and a thickness of the lower plate. The boss is disposed on the intermediate member and includes a rib. The boss with the rib protrudes toward the bracket member to pass through the opening.
US09941487B2
In various embodiments, glassware is provided. The glassware may include a glass matrix having a surface, a first type of particles, and at least one second type of particles, wherein the particles of the second type have a higher refractive index than the particles of the first type, wherein the particles of the first type are completely surrounded by the glass matrix, such that the surface of the glass matrix is free of particles of the first type, and the particles of the second type are arranged above and/or between the particles of the first type at least partly in the glass matrix at the surface of the glass matrix in order to increase the refractive index of the glassware.
US09941486B2
Various embodiments may relate to a component. The component includes an optically active region designed for electrically controllably transmitting, reflecting, absorbing, emitting and/or converting an electromagnetic radiation, and an optically inactive region formed alongside the optically active region, wherein the optically inactive region and/or the optically active region have/has an adaptation structure designed to adapt the value of an optical variable in the optically inactive region to a value of the optical variable in the optically active region.
US09941483B2
A light-emitting element includes a stack of a first light-emitting layer emitting fluorescent light and a second light-emitting layer emitting phosphorescent light between a pair of electrodes. The second light-emitting layer includes a first layer in which an exciplex is formed, a second layer in which an exciplex is formed, and a third layer in which an exciplex is formed. The second layer is located over the first layer, and the third layer is located over the second layer. An emission peak wavelength of the second layer is longer than an emission peak wavelength of the first layer and an emission peak wavelength of the third layer.
US09941479B2
Platinum complexes suitable for use as phosphorescent emitters or as delayed fluorescent and phosphorescent emitters having the following structure:
US09941474B2
A method of manufacturing an OLED display is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing a donor substrate including a material formed on one surface thereof and heating the material so as to form a barrier thin-film on the donor substrate. The method also includes providing an acceptor substrate and a substrate attached to the acceptor substrate, forming an OLED unit over the substrate, bonding the OLED unit and the barrier thin-film together, and irradiating a laser beam on the barrier thin-film so as to delaminate the donor substrate from the barrier thin-film.
US09941470B2
The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit, which includes a semiconductor substrate and an interconnect structure disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect structure includes a lower metal layer, an intermediate metal layer disposed over the lower metal layer, and an upper metal layer disposed over the intermediate metal layer. An upper surface of the lower metal layer and a lower surface of the intermediate metal layer are spaced vertically apart by a first distance. A resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell is arranged between the lower metal layer and the upper metal layer. The RRAM cell includes a bottom electrode and a top electrode which are separated by a data storage layer having a variable resistance. The data storage layer vertically spans a second distance that is greater than the first distance.
US09941464B2
A semiconductor device includes a resistance variable element including a free magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a pinned magnetic layer; and a magnetic correction layer disposed over the resistance variable element to be separated from the resistance variable element, and having a magnetization direction which is opposite to a magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer.
US09941461B2
An electronic component element includes a piezoelectric substrate and a comb-shaped electrode located on one principal surface of the piezoelectric substrate. A support layer is arranged around the comb-shaped electrode. A cover layer is disposed so as to cover the support layer and the comb-shaped electrode. Via-hole electrodes extend through the cover layer and are connected to the comb-shaped electrode. An uneven portion is located on a principal surface of the cover layer that is opposite to a principal surface of the cover layer that is opposed to the comb-shaped electrode.
US09941460B2
An electronic device includes a sealing plate including a first surface connected to a pressure chamber formation substrate, and a second surface having a drive IC provided thereon. The sealing plate includes a first region in which a plurality of individual connection terminals are arranged, and a second region in a position different from the first region. A plurality of bump electrodes are arranged at a pitch different from a pitch of an individual connection terminals, in a region overlapping a second region, and a wiring group connecting the individual connection terminal and a bump electrode includes a first wiring of which a position of a pass-through wiring relaying the first surface and the second surface is within the first region. A second wiring of which a position of a pass-through wiring connecting the first surface and the second surface is within the second region.
US09941459B2
A technique relates to a qubit readout system. A cavity-qubit system has a qubit and a readout resonator and outputs a readout signal. A lossless superconducting circulator is configured to receive the microwave readout signal from the cavity-qubit system and transmit the microwave readout signal according to a rotation. A quantum limited directional amplifier amplifies the readout signal. A directional coupler is connected to and biases the amplifier to set a working point. A microwave bandpass filter transmits in a microwave frequency band by passing the readout signal while blocking electromagnetic radiation outside of the microwave frequency band. A low-loss infrared filter has a distributed Bragg reflector integrated into a transmission line. The low-loss filter is configured to block infrared electromagnetic radiation while passing the microwave readout signal. The low-loss infrared filter is connected to the microwave bandpass filter to receive input of the microwave readout signal.
US09941458B2
A semiconductor device package and method for manufacturing the same, includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of embedded thermoelectric couples. The embedded thermoelectric couples can be in trenches and extend partially into the substrate from the handle side of the substrate. An n-type pillar and a p-type pillar are electrically connected using a conducting contact plate to form each of the partially embedded thermoelectric couples. A series connection layer electrically connects the plurality of thermoelectric couples on the handle side. A power source provides electrical current to the series connection layer allowing current to flow through the plurality of the series connected thermoelectric couples. A heat sink is positioned adjacent to the connected thermoelectric couples for transferring heat away from the device side to the heat sink using the thermoelectric couples.
US09941455B2
Disclosed herein is a light emitting device. The light emitting device is provided to include a light emitting structure, a first electrode pad, a second electrode pad and a heat dissipation pad, and a substrate on which the light emitting diode is mounted. The substrate includes a base; an insulation pattern formed on the base; and a conductive pattern disposed on the insulation pattern. The base includes a post and a groove separating the post from the conductive pattern. An upper surface of the post is placed lower than an upper surface of the conductive pattern, the heat dissipation pad contacts the upper surface of the post, and the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad contact the conductive pattern. With this structure, the light emitting device has excellent properties in terms of electrical stability and heat dissipation efficiency.
US09941446B2
A method of manufacturing a light-emitting element includes forming a light-transmissive insulating film on a portion of an upper surface of a semiconductor layered body; forming a first light-transmissive electrode to continuously cover the upper surface of the semiconductor layered body and an upper surface of the light-transmissive insulating film; heat-treating the first light-transmissive electrode, and subsequently forming a metal film in at least a portion of a region above the light-transmissive insulating film; forming a second light-transmissive electrode to continuously cover an upper surface of the metal film and an upper surface of the first light-transmissive electrode, the second light-transmissive electrode being electrically connected to the first light-transmissive electrode; and forming a pad electrode in a region where the metal film is disposed in a top view, such that at least a portion of the pad electrode is in contact with an upper surface of the second light-transmissive electrode.
US09941443B2
There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device including a first conductivity-type semiconductor base layer and a plurality of light emitting nanostructures disposed to be spaced apart from one another on the first conductivity-type semiconductor base layer, each light emitting nanostructure including a first conductivity-type semiconductor core, an active layer, an electric charge blocking layer, and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, respectively, wherein the first conductivity-type semiconductor core has different first and second crystal planes in crystallographic directions.
US09941438B2
A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include at least one of hafnium (Hf), samarium (Sm), erbium (Er), neodymium (Nd), tantalum (Ta), lutetium (Lu), europium (Eu), dysposium (Dy), or thulium (Tm).
US09941433B2
A composite quantum-dot photodetector comprising a substrate with a colloidally deposited thin film structure forming a photosensitive region, the thin film containing at least one type of a nanocrystal quantum-dot, whereby the nanocrystal quantum dots are spaced by ligands to form a lattice, and the lattice of the quantum dots has an infill material that forms an inorganic matrix that isolates the nanocrystal quantum dots from atmospheric exposure.
US09941428B2
Provided is a detector that includes a scintillator, a common electrode, a pixel electrode, and a plurality of insulating layers, with a plurality of nano-pillars formed in the plurality of insulating layers, a nano-scale well structure between adjacent nano-pillars, with a-Se separating the adjacent nano-pillars, and a method for operation thereof.
US09941427B2
Provided is a solar cell and a method of fabricating the same. The solar cell according to an embodiment includes a supporting substrate; a transparent electrode layer on the supporting substrate; a buffer layer on the transparent electrode layer; a light absorption layer on the buffer layer; a backside electrode layer on the light absorption layer; and a plurality of recesses formed on a top surface of the transparent electrode layer and having a first slope and a second slope.
US09941420B2
This conductive paste is such that the printing properties and sintering properties are superior and is formed such that resistance of wiring after sintering is lowered. This conductive paste is characterized by being formed from copper-based metal particles and by an aspect ratio (dmax/dmin), which is defined as the ratio of the maximum diameter (dmax) and minimum diameter (dmin) for the metal particles, being greater than or equal to 1.0 and smaller than 2.2.
US09941418B2
Provided herein is a Schottky diode including: a first semiconductor layer; an intermediate layer provided over the first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer provided over the intermediate layer; an anode provided over the second semiconductor layer; and a cathode provided over the first semiconductor layer, wherein in a sectional view, a width of the second semiconductor layer is greater than a width of the intermediate layer.
US09941416B2
A MOS transistor includes a semiconductor layer resting on an insulator and having a substantially planar upper surface. The semiconductor layer extends down to a first depth in the channel region, and down to a second depth, greater than the first depth, in the source and drain regions. In the channel region, the semiconductor layer is formed from a portion of an upper semiconductor layer of a silicon on insulator substrate. In the source and drain regions, the semiconductor layer is formed by epitaxially grown semiconductor material.
US09941415B2
Provided are: a sintered oxide which achieves low carrier density and high carrier mobility when configured as an oxide semiconductor thin-film by using the sputtering method; and a sputtering target using the same. This sintered oxide contains indium, gallium and magnesium as oxides. It is preferable for the gallium content to be 0.20-0.45, inclusive, in terms of an atomic ratio (Ga/(In+Ga)), the magnesium content to be at least 0.0001 and less than 0.05 in terms of an atomic ratio (Mg/(In+Ga+Mg)), and the sintering to occur at 1,200-1,550° C., inclusive. An amorphous oxide semiconductor thin-film obtained by forming this sintered oxide as a sputtering target is capable of achieving a carrier density of less than 3.0×1018 cm−3, and a carrier mobility of 10 cm2V−1 sec−1 or higher.
US09941412B2
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first scanning line, a signal line, a second pixel electrode, a first pixel electrode, a second thin-film transistor, a first line and a second line. The first line is connected to the second pixel electrode, and extends through a region facing the first pixel electrode to the first scanning line side. The first line and a second semiconductor layer of the second thin-film transistor are provided on a first insulating film and are formed of a same material. The second line connects the first line and a fourth electrode of the second thin-film transistor.
US09941396B2
To achieve a semiconductor device equipped with a low ON voltage and high load short circuit withstand trench gate IGBT. A collector region on a back surface of a semiconductor substrate is comprised of a relatively lightly-doped P+ type first collector region and a relatively heavily-doped P++ type second collector region. The P++ type second collector region includes, in plan view, interfaces between a first trench having therein a first linear trench gate electrode and an N+ type emitter region formed on the side surface of the first trench and between a second trench having therein a second linear trench gate electrode and an N+ type emitter region formed on the side surface of the second trench. This enables electrons injected from the surface side of the semiconductor substrate to reach the P++ type second collector region and offset, with them, holes injected from the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate.
US09941392B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a dielectric layer over fins formed in a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer includes a screen layer over tops of the fins. An etch stop feature is formed on the screen layer. The etch stop feature is patterned down to the screen layer in regions across the device. A dummy gate material formed over the fins is planarized down to the etch stop feature, a dielectric fill between gate structures patterned from the dummy gate material is planarized down to the etch stop feature and a gate conductor is planarized to the etch stop feature.
US09941390B2
The disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a vertical MOS transistor, comprising the steps of: forming, above a semiconductor surface, a conductive layer in at least one dielectric layer; etching a hole through at least the conductive layer, the hole exposing an inner lateral edge of the conductive layer and a portion of the semiconductor surface; forming a gate oxide on the inner lateral edge of the conductive layer and a bottom oxide on the portion of the semiconductor surface; forming an etch-protection sidewall on the lateral edge of the hole, the sidewall covering the gate oxide and an outer region of the bottom oxide, leaving an inner region of the bottom oxide exposed; etching the exposed inner region of the bottom oxide until the semiconductor surface is reached; and depositing a semiconductor material in the hole.
US09941376B2
Gate structures and methods of forming the gate structures are described. In some embodiments, a method includes forming source/drain regions in a substrate, and forming a gate structure between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a work function tuning layer over the gate dielectric layer, a first metal over the work function tuning layer, an adhesion layer over the first metal, and a second metal over the adhesion layer. In some embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an alloy of the first and second metals, and may be formed by annealing the first and second metals. In other embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an oxide of at least one of the first and/or second metal, and may be formed at least in part by exposing the first metal to an oxygen-containing plasma or to a natural environment.
US09941375B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first side. A trench having a bottom is formed. The trench separates a first mesa region from a second mesa region formed in the semiconductor substrate. The trench is filled with an insulating material, and the second mesa region is removed relative to the insulating material filled in the trench to form a recess in the semiconductor substrate. In a common process, a first silicide layer is formed on and in contact with a top region of the first mesa region at the first side of the semiconductor substrate and a second silicide layer is formed on and in contact with the bottom of the recess.
US09941372B2
The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a semiconductor device with an electrode. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate; an electrode over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the electrode comprises a trench in an upper portion of the electrode; and a dielectric feature in the trench.
US09941365B2
A method for producing a field-effect semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor body with a first surface defining a vertical direction, defining an active area, forming a vertical trench from the first surface into the semiconductor body, forming a field dielectric layer at least on a side wall and a bottom wall of the vertical trench, depositing a conductive layer on the field dielectric layer, forming a closed cavity on the conductive layer in the vertical trench, and forming an insulated gate electrode on the closed cavity in the vertical trench.
US09941359B2
A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate and first transistors having a first operating voltage. Each first transistor may include a first channel and a first punch-through stop (PTS) layer in the semiconductor substrate, and the first PTS layer may be at a first depth below the first channel. The semiconductor device may further include second transistors having a second operating voltage higher than the first operating voltage. Each second transistor may include a second channel and a second PTS layer in the semiconductor substrate, and the second PTS layer may be at a second depth below the second channel that is greater than the first depth. Furthermore, the first channel may include a first superlattice, and the second channel may include a second superlattice.
US09941349B2
A trench etch mask is formed on a process surface of a semiconductor layer. By using the trench etch mask, both first trenches and second trenches are formed that extend from the process surface into the semiconductor layer. The first and second trenches alternate along at least one horizontal direction parallel to the process surface. First semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type are formed in the first trenches. Second semiconductor regions of a second, opposite conductivity type are formed in the second trenches.
US09941347B2
Embodiments of systems, methods, and apparatus for improving ESD performance and switching time for semiconductor devices including metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) field effect transistors (FETs), and particularly to MOSFETs fabricated on Semiconductor-On-Insulator (“SOI”) and Silicon-On-Sapphire (“SOS”) substrates.
US09941343B2
An area sensor of the present invention has a function of displaying an image in a sensor portion by using light-emitting elements and a reading function using photoelectric conversion devices. Therefore, an image read in the sensor portion can be displayed thereon without separately providing an electronic display on the area sensor. Furthermore, a photoelectric conversion layer of a photodiode according to the present invention is made of an amorphous silicon film and an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer are made of a polycrystalline silicon film. The amorphous silicon film is formed to be thicker than the polycrystalline silicon film. As a result, the photodiode according to the present invention can receive more light.
US09941341B2
A display apparatus includes a pixel including a first area and a second area. Light is emitted from the first area and ambient light is transmitted through the second area. A pixel circuit unit is disposed in the first area, the pixel circuit unit including at least one thin-film transistor (TFT). A first insulating layer covers the pixel circuit unit. A first electrode is disposed on the first insulating layer, and is electrically connected to the pixel circuit unit. A second insulating layer covers an edge of the first electrode. A second electrode is aligned with the first electrode and is disposed in at least the first area. An intermediate layer is disposed between the first and second electrodes and includes an emission layer. An inorganic insulating film is disposed in the second area of the pixel. An organic insulating film covers the inorganic insulating film in the second area.
US09941334B2
A display device is disclosed, which includes: a pixel group including a first pixel having a red sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel; a second pixel having a green sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel; a third pixel having a green sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel; and a fourth pixel having a red sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel. The first pixel is adjacent to the second pixel in a row direction. The first pixel is adjacent to the second pixel in a column direction. The fourth pixel is diagonal to the first pixel, and the fourth pixel is adjacent to the second pixel and the third pixel. In the pixel group, the blue sub-pixels are quantitatively more than the red sub-pixels, and the blue sub-pixels are quantitatively more than the green sub-pixels.
US09941328B2
An optical device and method for fabricating an optical device. The optical device comprising: a semiconductor material comprising an active layer configured to emit light when an electrical current is applied to the device and/or to generate an electrical current when light is incident on the active layer, wherein the semiconductor material comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface, from which light is emitted from and/or received by the device, and wherein the first surface defines a first structure comprising the active layer and configured to reflect light emitted from the active layer toward the second surface and/or to reflect light received by the device toward the active layer, and the second surface defines a second structure configured to permit light incident on the second surface at an angle outside a critical angle range to the planar normal to pass therethrough.
US09941326B2
The present technology includes: bonding a device formation side of a first substrate having a first device and a device formation side of a second substrate having a second device in opposition to each other; forming a protective film on at least an edge of the second substrate having the second device; and reducing a thickness of the first substrate.
US09941306B2
To make the dimension of an electrostatic protection circuit small with the same maintained high in sensitivity. The electrostatic protection circuit is of the configuration that a first diode and a second diode are connected in series, wherein a semiconductor layer owned by each diode is configured to be sandwiched between a gate electrode and a conductive light shielding film. The light shielding film is formed to overlap with the semiconductor layer and has a wider area than the semiconductor layer. This results in having a gate covering the semiconductor layer from an upper side and a back gate covering the semiconductor layer from a lower side, so that the sensitivity can be maintained high irrespective of decreasing the electrostatic protection circuit in dimension.
US09941301B1
Methods for eliminating the distance between a BULEX and SOI and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a silicon layer on a BOX layer on a silicon substrate; forming two active areas in the silicon layer, separated by a space; forming first and second polysilicon gates over one active area, a third polysilicon gate over the space, and fourth and fifth polysilicon gates over the other active area, the second and fourth gates abutting edges of the space; forming spacers at opposite sides of each gate; removing the second, third, and fourth gates and the corresponding spacers; removing the silicon layer and BOX layer in the space, forming a trench and exposing the silicon substrate; forming second spacers on sidewalls of the trench; forming raised source/drain regions on each active area; and forming a p-well contact on the silicon substrate between the second spacers.
US09941300B2
A method for fabricating a fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) device is described. A charge trapping layer in a buried oxide layer is provided on a semiconductor substrate. A backgate well in the semiconductor substrate is provided under the charge trapping layer. A device structure including a gate structure, source and drain regions is disposed over the buried oxide layer. A charge is trapped in the charge trapping layer. The threshold voltage of the device is partially established by the charge trapped in the charge trapping layer. Different aspects of the invention include the structure of the FDSOI device and a method of tuning the charge trapped in the charge trapping layer of the FDSOI device.
US09941292B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of first electrode layers stacked in a first direction; a semiconductor layer extending in the first direction in the plurality of first electrode layers; a first insulating layer extending in the first direction along the semiconductor layer between the semiconductor layer and each of the plurality of first electrode layers; a second insulating layer covering the periphery of the plurality of first electrode layers; a resistive body provided on the second insulating layer; and a third insulating layer provided between the resistive body and the second insulating layer, the third insulating layer including the same material as the material of the first insulating layer.
US09941286B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming first and second lower structures including selection elements on first and second chip regions of a substrate, respectively, forming first and second mold layers on the first and second lower structures, respectively, forming first and second support layers on the first and second mold layers, respectively, patterning the first support layer and the first mold layer to form first holes exposing the first lower structure, forming first lower electrodes in the first holes, forming a support pattern including at least one opening by selectively patterning the first support layer while leaving the second support layer, and removing the first mold layer through the opening. A top surface of the support pattern is disposed at a substantially same level as a top surface of the second support layer.
US09941281B2
A semiconductor device, including first and second fin patterns separated by a first trench; a gate electrode intersecting the first and second fin patterns; and a contact on at least one side of the gate electrode, the contact contacting the first fin pattern, the contact having a bottom surface that does not contact the second fin pattern, a height from a bottom of the first trench to a topmost end of the first fin pattern in a region in which the contact intersects the first fin pattern being a first height, and a height from the bottom of the first trench to a topmost end of the second fin pattern in a region in which an extension line of the contact extending along a direction in which the gate electrode extends intersects the second fin pattern being a second height, the first height being smaller than the second height.
US09941280B2
According to example embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a first fin, a second fin that is separated from the first fin, and a gate on the first fin and the second fin. The gate crosses the first fin and the second fin. The first fin includes a first doped area at both sides of the gate. The first doped area is configured to have a first voltage applied thereto. The second fin includes a second doped area at both sides of the gate. The second doped area is configured to have a second voltage applied thereto. The second voltage is different than the first voltage.
US09941276B2
A semiconductor component arrangement method includes producing a trench transistor structure including at least one trench disposed in the semiconductor body and at least one gate electrode disposed in the at least one trench. The method also includes producing a capacitor structure comprising an electrode structure disposed in at least one further trench, the electrode structure comprising at least one electrode. The gate electrode and the at least one electrode of the electrode structure are produced by common process steps.
US09941271B2
A fin-shaped field-effect transistor device is provided. The fin-shaped field effect transistor device may include a semiconductor substrate having a top and a bottom surface. The fin-shaped field effect transistor device may also include a fin structure disposed on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, where the fin structure includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite of the first sidewall. The first sidewall is adjacent to a first region of the top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second sidewall is adjacent to a second region of the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The fin-shaped field effect transistor device may also include an insulation layer disposed above the fin structure and the first and second regions of the top surface. The fin-shaped field effect transistor device may also include a conductor structure disposed above and adjacent to the insulation layer.
US09941270B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a predetermined region in which a standard cell is disposed, and also includes: a first circuit connected to a first ground power line; a second circuit that is connected to a second ground power line and formed from the standard cells; and a protection circuit interposed and connected between the first circuit and the second circuit. The protection circuit includes: a resistor connected in series between the first circuit and the second circuit; and a protector that is interposed and connected between a node of the resistor on the second circuit side and the second ground power line and clamps a potential difference between the node and the second ground power line to a predetermined voltage or lower. The protection circuit is formed in a protection cell disposed in the predetermined region.
US09941260B2
A semiconductor package structure is provided. The semiconductor package structure includes a first semiconductor package that includes a first semiconductor die having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto. A first package substrate is disposed on the first surface of the first semiconductor die. A first molding compound surrounds the first semiconductor die and the first package substrate. A first redistribution layer (RDL) structure is disposed on the first molding compound, in which the first package substrate is interposed and electrically coupled between the first semiconductor die and the first RDL structure.
US09941254B2
A semiconductor device 10 includes: multi-layered substrates 12 each having a circuit board 12c; control terminals 14 whose one end is fixed on the circuit board 12c of each multi-layered substrate 12; a resin case 15 which has openings 20 and is arranged to cover the multi-layered substrates 12, through which openings 20 the other ends of the control terminals 14 extend outwardly; and resin blocks 18 which are each inserted into the openings 20 of the resin case 15 and press-fixes the control terminals 14 against the side walls of the respective openings 20. The control terminals 14 each have a low-rigidity portion 14j at a position that is further interior of the resin case 15 than a position where each control terminal 14 is in contact with the resin block 18 in the respective openings 20 of the resin case 15.
US09941252B2
A semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip including a through silicon via in the first semiconductor chip and a first trench portion in an upper portion of the first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip on an upper surface of the first semiconductor chip and being electrically connected to the first semiconductor chip through the through silicon via of the first semiconductor chip, and an insulating bonding layer between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. The insulating bonding layer fills the first trench portion.
US09941240B2
A surface mounting semiconductor component includes a semiconductor device, a circuit board, a number of first solder bumps, and a number of second solder bumps. The semiconductor device included a number of die pads. The circuit board includes a number of contact pads. The first solder bumps are configured to bond the semiconductor device and the circuit board. Each of the first solder bumps connects at least two die pads with a corresponding contact pad. Each of the second solder bumps connects a die pad with a corresponding contact pad. A method of forming a surface mounting component or a chip scale package assembly wherein the component or assembly has at least two different types of solder bumps.
US09941233B2
An electronic device includes an electronic element, a plurality of first sub-electrodes arrayed in a first direction, a plurality of second sub-electrodes arrayed in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, a dummy electrode, and a sealing resin. The sealing resin has a resin back surface from which the plurality of first sub-electrodes, the plurality of second sub-electrodes and the dummy electrode are exposed. The plurality of second sub-electrodes are located further in the first direction than any of the plurality of first sub-electrodes. The plurality of first sub-electrodes are located further in the second direction than any of the plurality of second sub-electrodes. The dummy electrode is located further in the first direction than any of the plurality of first sub-electrodes, and is located further in the second direction than any of the plurality of second sub-electrodes.
US09941213B2
An advanced metal conductor structure is described. An integrated circuit device including a substrate having a dielectric layer is patterned. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is disposed over the set of features in the patterned dielectric. A nitridized ruthenium layer is disposed over the adhesion promoting layer. A cobalt layer disposed over the nitridized ruthenium layer filling the set of features, wherein the cobalt layer is formed using a physical vapor deposition process.
US09941197B2
A strip-shaped substrate made from a film includes a plurality of units for producing chip carriers. Each unit has a chip island for fixing a semiconductor chip, electrodes for electrical connection of the semiconductor chip, and through-openings for structuring the unit. At least one through-opening forms an anchoring edge for a casting compound for encapsulating the semiconductor chip. A surface section of the film abutting the through-opening is chamfered to form the anchoring edge. The anchoring edge protrudes past the side of the film on which the chip island is arranged.
US09941193B1
A conductive clip for a semiconductor device package. In one example, the conductive clip may include a number of protrusions that extend from a surface of the conductive clip that in practice is solder-mounted to a leadframe of the semiconductor device package. In another example, the conductive clip may include the number of protrusions that each extend from the surface of the conductive clip that in practice is solder-mounted to the leadframe of the semiconductor device package, and may also include a number of protrusions that each extend from a surface of the conductive clip that in practice is solder-mounted to at least one electrical component that in turn is solder-mounted to the leadframe of the semiconductor device package.
US09941187B2
A power converter includes a plurality of power cards, a plurality of coolers and a pressure member. Each of the power cards houses a semiconductor element. The plurality of coolers is laminated with the power cards. The cooler includes a body, a gasket and a metal plate. The body is made of resin, and has an opening that is provided in a side surface of the cooler that faces the adjacent power card. A surface on one side of the metal plate is configured to close the opening through the gasket, and the other surface faces the power card. The pressure member is configured to apply a pressure in a laminating direction on a lamination unit. The opening is sealed by the metal plate by pressure applied by the pressure member on the lamination unit.
US09941183B2
A wall mountable connector assembly with an optional wall covering plate is disclosed. The wall mountable connector provides electrical connections to each of a plurality of field wires and is configured to provide electrical connections to a thermostat secured to the wall mountable connector. The optional wall covering plate is configured to fit over the wall mountable connector and provide a pleasing appearance.
US09941182B2
In a substrate, at least one lateral surface between one surface and another surface is a cut surface that is cut together with mold resin. The mold resin, which is cut together with the substrate, is provided with a surface that is flush with the cut surface. A portion of the mold resin constituting the surface flush with the cut surface has a surface that is joined to the surface flush with the cut surface and parallel to the one surface of the substrate; this portion is thinner than a portion that seals electronic parts. Consequently, the mold resin is cut with a dicing blade brought into contact with a surface parallel to the one surface of the substrate.
US09941177B2
A pattern accuracy detecting apparatus includes a stage for supporting a substrate, an optical warpage detecting unit that measures a shape of a substrate disposed on the stage, an optical pattern detection unit that detects a position of a pattern on the substrate, and a processing unit that corrects the detected pattern position based on the measured shape of the substrate.
US09941175B2
A method for forming fins on a semiconductor device includes etching trenches into a monocrystalline substrate to form first fins and forming a first dielectric layer at bottoms of the trenches. Second fins of a material having a different composition than the substrate are grown on sidewalls of the trenches. A second dielectric layer is formed over the second fins. The first fins are removed by etching. The second fins are processed to form fin field effect transistor devices.
US09941171B1
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including: forming a block layer above a well region of a first doping type in a semiconductor substrate, wherein the block layer has an opening for defining a first region in an upper part of the well region and has sidewalls at sides of the opening; implanting dopants of a second doping type into the well region through the opening of the block layer to form the first region; implanting dopants of the first doping type into the first region in the manner of large-angle-tilt dopants implantation to form a second region for a first transistor, and to form a third region for a second transistor; and forming, for both of the first transistor and the second transistor, a fourth region between the second region and the third region.
US09941167B2
The method includes a laser scribing step of forming an opening including an exposing portion, where the first layer is exposed, by irradiating the dividing region of the substrate with laser light from the first main surface side, forming a remaining region on which the second layer in the dividing region remains around the opening other than the exposing portion, and forming a first damaged region of a surface layer portion of the first layer including the exposing portion and a second damaged region of a surface layer portion of the first layer to be covered by the remaining region on the first layer of the dividing region.
US09941161B2
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a gate structure thereon, a first hard mask atop the gate structure, and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer around the gate structure and the first hard mask; removing part of the first hard mask; forming a second hard mask layer on the first hard mask and the ILD layer; and planarizing part of the second hard mask layer to form a second hard mask on the first hard mask.
US09941157B2
A method for semiconductor manufacturing includes receiving a device that includes a substrate and a first layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the first layer includes a trench. The method further includes applying a first material over the first layer and filling in the trench, wherein the first material contains a matrix and a porogen that is chemically bonded with the matrix. The method further includes curing the first material to form a porous material layer. The porous material layer has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed in the trench. The second portion is disposed over the first layer. The first and second portions contain substantially the same percentage of each of Si, O, and C. The first and second portions contain substantially the same level of porosity.
US09941148B2
In a wafer chuck design featuring pins or “mesas” making up the support surface, engineering the pins to have an annular shape, or to contain holes or pits, minimizes sticking of the wafer, and improves wafer settling. In another aspect of the invention is a tool and method for imparting or restoring flatness and roughness to a surface, such as the support surface of a wafer chuck. The tool is shaped such that the contact to the surface being treated is a circle or annulus. The treatment method may take place in a dedicated apparatus, or in-situ in semiconductor fabrication apparatus. The tool is smaller than the diameter of the wafer pin chuck, and may be approximate to the spatial frequency of the high spots to be lapped. The movement of the tool relative to the support surface is such that all areas of the support surface may be processed by the tool, or only those areas needing correction.
US09941143B2
A thin film transistor include a control electrode, a semiconductor layer on the control electrode, an input electrode, at least a portion of the input electrode being on the semiconductor layer, and an output electrode spaced apart from the input electrode, at least a portion of the output electrode being on the semiconductor layer. Each of the input electrode and the output electrode includes a wiring layer including a metal material, a dummy portion on a side part of the wiring layer, the dummy portion including an oxide of the metal material, and a protection layer on the wiring layer, the protection layer overlapping the wiring layer and the dummy portion.
US09941138B2
A method for exposing polysilicon gate electrodes is disclose. The method comprises planarizing a pre-metal dielectric on a wafer surface; performing a selective etching process to the planarized pre-metal dielectric and a multi-layer dielectric which covers polysilicon gates in the wafer according to pre-set etching parameters to expose the polysilicon gates in the wafer. The selective etching process effectively control the amount of etching, which ensures high surface flatness when exposing the polysilicon gates without affecting the subsequent film deposition process. Therefore, wafer surface defects, gate stack damages, and polysilicon gate deformation caused by the conventional CMP process or the shear stress generated during the CMP process can be avoided, and then product yield can be enhanced.
US09941129B2
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the device. The method includes: depositing a first dielectric layer on a semiconductor device; forming a plurality of first trenches through the first dielectric layer; depositing an insulating fill in the plurality of first trenches; planarizing the plurality of first trenches; forming a first gate contact between the plurality of first trenches; depositing a first contact fill in the first gate contact; planarizing the first gate contact; depositing a second dielectric layer on the device; forming a plurality of second trenches through the first and second dielectric layers; depositing a conductive fill in the plurality of second trenches; planarizing the plurality of second trenches; forming a second gate contact where the second gate contact is in contact with the first gate contact; depositing a second contact fill in the second gate contact; and planarizing the second gate contact.
US09941110B2
A method of manufacture and fluid supply system for treating a substrate is provided. The fluid supply system for treating a substrate may include a substrate dry part supplying a dry fluid to dry a rinse solution doped on a substrate; a dry fluid separation part retrieving a mixed fluid that the dry fluid and the rinse solution are mixed with each other during a dry process of the substrate from the substrate dry part and separating the dry fluid from the mixed fluid; and a dry fluid supply part resupplying the dry fluid separated from the dry fluid separation part to the substrate dry part.
US09941108B2
Plasma is generated using elemental hydrogen, a weak oxidizing agent, and a fluorine containing gas. An inert gas is introduced to the plasma downstream of the plasma source and upstream of a showerhead that directs gas mixture into the reaction chamber where the mixture reacts with the high-dose implant resist. The process removes both the crust and bulk resist layers at a high strip rate, and leaves the work piece surface substantially residue free with low silicon loss.
US09941105B2
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for mass spectrometry analysis of microorganisms in samples.
US09941101B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes supporting members, connecting members and a sliding member. Each of the supporting members is partially disposed in a disc-shaped cooling plate and configured to support an upper electrode in a direction of gravity. Each of the connecting members is partially disposed in the cooling plate and extends in a diametrical direction of the cooling plate to be engaged with the corresponding supporting member. The sliding member is configured to slide the connecting members inward in the diametrical direction of the cooling plate, thereby pushing upward the supporting member and lifting the upper electrode to the cooling plate.
US09941092B2
The disclosed subject matter includes devices and methods relating to anode assemblies and/or X-ray assemblies. In some aspects, a method of forming an X-ray assembly may include providing an anode base formed of a first material and including a first end. The method may include depositing a second material different from the first material over a first surface of the anode base to form a coated portion of the anode base. The coated portion may be configured such that some backscattered electrons do not travel beyond the coated portion.
US09941079B2
A handle switch for use on a vehicle includes a plurality of switches for operating electric devices on a vehicle. The handle switch is mounted on a switch case fixed to a handlebar of the motorcycle, wherein the plurality of switches include a composite switch having a plurality of operating directions and other switches having less operating directions than the composite switch. The composite switch is disposed on the switch in a position closer to a center of a vehicle body, and the other switches are disposed in a position between a handle grip fixed to an end of the handlebar and the composite switch. The composite switch has an operating portion is directed rearwardly of the vehicle body. The operating portion of the composite switch includes a four-way switch as a plural-direction operator projects rearwardly of the vehicle body.
US09941078B2
A touch and/or proximity-sensitive actuation element has an electrically non-conductive housing, which has a fastening portion for the stationary and non-rotational mounting of the actuation element and a substantially cylindrical detection portion, which defines a touch and/or proximity-sensitive detection region of the actuation element, at which a rotary movement of a user around the actuation element can be detected. A plurality of electrically conductive sensor elements are arranged in the housing spaced apart from one another along a lateral surface of the detection portion. A printed circuit board is provided and has a plurality of contact faces, which are each electrically conductively in contact with one of the plurality of sensor elements.
US09941075B2
A keyboard device includes a key structure, a base plate and a switch circuit board. The switch circuit board includes a soft covering element. The key structure includes a keycap and a stabilizer bar. The stabilizer bar is connected with the keycap and the soft covering element. The soft covering element is disposed on the switch circuit board. An accommodation space is formed between the soft covering element and the switch circuit board. The stabilizer bar is inserted into the accommodation space and connected with the switch circuit board. The stabilizer bar and the base plate are made of metallic material. Since the stabilizer bar and the base plate are separated by the switch circuit board, the keyboard device is capable of reducing noise.
US09941068B2
A key structure includes a pedestal with a sliding groove, an upper cover, a triggering element, and a spring strip. The spring strip is movable within the sliding groove. The triggering element is arranged between the pedestal and the upper cover, and located beside the spring strip. When a keycap of the key structure is depressed, the triggering element is moved relative to the pedestal to push the spring strip. In response to the elasticity of the pushed spring strip, the spring strip is slid within the sliding groove to collide with the upper cover. Consequently, the key structure generates sound surely.
US09941067B2
A key module has a housing and a tappet arranged in the housing. The tappet is movable in a linear manner between an upper stop position and a lower stop position in a manner limited by an upper stop and a lower stop, wherein an elastic element arranged in the housing pushes the tappet into the upper stop position, and wherein an actuating force exerted by a user pushes the tappet into the lower stop position and in the process reversibly compresses the elastic element. To reduce impact noises, the lower stop is formed by a first damping element and the upper stop is formed by a second damping element. The slip-on element has a carrier element to which a first damping element for reducing impact noises at the lower stop and a second damping element for reducing impact noises at the upper stop are attached.
US09941064B2
In an on-load tap changer (10) for controlling voltage of a tapped transformer (15) it is provided that the tapped transformer (15) has at least one regulatable phase (16) that has a first winding (20) and a second winding (30); the first winding (20) has a regulating winding (21) with even-numbered winding taps (23) and a main winding (22), and the second winding (30) has a regulating winding (31) with odd-numbered winding taps (33) and a main winding (32); the first winding (20) and the second winding (30) having the regulating windings (21, 31) of the even-numbered and of the odd-numbered winding taps (23, 33), are inductively coupled; the on-load tap changer (10) has a selector (40) for the alternating power-free preselection of the even-numbered or odd-numbered winding taps (23, 33) to be switched.
US09941062B2
To provide a key switch structure where the outline of a key top becomes well-defined. A reflection sheet is adhered on top of a membrane sheet, so that light reflected by a back surface of a key top is reflected by the reflection sheet and emitted toward the outer side of the outer periphery of the key top. Because of this, the outer side of the key top is lighted up and the outline of the key top becomes well-defined.
US09941042B2
An electromagnetic actuating apparatus, in particular a proportional magnet or switching magnet, includes a magnet armature (4) guided for axial movement in a pole tube (2). The pole tube is at least partially surrounded by a coil winding and is adjoined by a pole core (10) via a separating region (20) forming a magnetic decoupling. On energization of the coil winding (52), a magnetic force acts on the armature (4) to move the armature (4) in the direction of the pole core (10) within a travel area. At least one insert (28) of ferromagnetic material with a preset axial thickness is between the armature (4) and the pole core (10) to shorten, as desired, the axial length of the travel area.
US09941026B2
This invention relates to the vitrification of radioactive waste products. According to this invention, a glass composition, which is suitable for low-level radioactive waste resins, and a method of vitrifying the low-level radioactive waste resins using the same are provided to significantly reduce the volume of radioactive waste products and to vitrify low-level radioactive waste products using the glass composition, which is suitable for vitrifying the low-level radioactive waste resins, thereby maximally delaying or completely preventing the leakage of radioactive materials from a glass solidified body.
US09941021B2
Methods, systems, techniques, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. Groups of cells may be operated in different ways depending, for example, on a relationship between cell plates of the group of cells. Cells may be selected in pairs in order to accommodate an electric current relationship, such as a short, between cells that make up the pair. Cells may be arranged in cell plate groups, and a pair of cells may include a first cell plate from one cell plate group and a second cell plate from the same cell plate group or from another, adjacent cell plate group. So a pair of cell plates may include cell plates from different cell plate groups. The first and second cell plates may be selected as a pair or a group based at least in part on the electric current relationship between the cell plates.
US09941017B1
An antifuse one-time programmable (OTP) semiconductor memory comprises a PN junction diode formed in an active area of a semiconductor substrate proximate metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor wherein MOS gate conductor and MOS channel region are of the same conductivity type. A vertical bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is present in each cell, comprising said PN junction diode and a semiconductor layer below said PN junction diode. In a programmed cell, BJT emitter, base and collector are connected to the bit line, word line and common collector terminal, respectively. In an unprogrammed cell, BJT is an open-base BJT.
US09941015B2
A semiconductor memory device includes first to third pages, first to the third word lines, and a row decoder. In data writing, data is written into the first page before data is written into the second page. The row decoder is configured to apply first to third verify voltages to gates of first to third memory cells in a program verify operation.
US09941008B1
The present disclosure illustrates a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) device for software defined networking and method thereof. In the TCAM device, M bits of each forwarding rule is stored as a first part into a NAND-Type TCAM, and N bits of the same forwarding rule is stored as a second part into a NOR-Type TCAM. M bits of searching data is compared with the first part to generate a first matching result, N bits of the searching data is compared with the second part to generate a second matching result when the first matching result indicates match, and comparing process for the second part is disabled when the first matching result indicates mismatch. The mechanism is help to improve flexibility of the TCAM in words length and to reduce power consumption.
US09941002B2
A memory unit is provided. The memory unit includes a resistive element, a diode, and a first transistor. The resistive element has a first terminal receiving a bit voltage and a second terminal coupled to a first node. The diode has an anode coupled to the first node and a cathode coupled to a second node. The second node receives a word voltage. The first transistor has a control electrode, a first electrode coupled to the first node, and a second electrode.
US09940996B1
A memory circuit includes plurality of bit-cells organized in a column, each bit-cell of the plurality is coupled to a first voltage supply terminal and a second voltage supply terminal. A word-line control circuit is coupled to each bit-cell of the plurality by way of a local bit-line. The word-line control circuit is configured to operatively couple the local bit-line with a global bit-line during a read operation. A first voltage generation circuit is coupled to the first voltage supply terminal. The first voltage generation circuit is configured to provide a first reduced voltage at the first voltage supply terminal during a first write operation. A second voltage generation circuit is coupled to the second voltage supply terminal. The second voltage generation circuit is configured to provide a second reduced voltage at the second voltage supply terminal during the first write operation.
US09940994B2
A circuit and method performs a write assist for a memory cell (e.g., a static random access memory cell (SRAM)). The method includes providing a lower supply voltage signal to a voltage supply node of the memory cell using a capacitor. The lower supply voltage signal is lower in voltage level than a supply voltage signal. The method further includes lowering a common signal provided to a write driver using the capacitor.
US09940989B2
A magnetic cell structure including a nonmagnetic bridge, and methods of fabricating the structure are provided. The magnetic cell structure includes a free layer, a pinned layer, and a nonmagnetic bridge electrically connecting the free layer and the pinned layer. The shape and/or configuration of the nonmagnetic bridge directs a programming current through the magnetic cell structure such that the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer of the structure is less than the cross section of the structure. The decrease in the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer enables a lower programming current to reach a critical switching current density in the free layer and switch the magnetization of the free layer, programming the magnetic cell.
US09940985B2
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing comparison operations in memory. An example apparatus can include a first group of memory cells coupled to a first access line and configured to store a plurality of first elements, and a second group of memory cells coupled to a second access line and configured to store a plurality of second elements. The apparatus can include a controller configured to cause the plurality of first elements to be compared with the plurality of second elements by controlling sensing circuitry to perform a number of operations without transferring data via an input/output (I/O) line, and the plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements can be compared in parallel.
US09940984B1
A shared command/address (C/A) bus for memory devices in a multi-channel configuration can enable reducing the number of pins and signal lines in a memory subsystem. In one embodiment, a memory controller includes hardware logic to generate commands to access a plurality of memory devices via a plurality of channels and input/output (I/O) circuitry to transmit command/address (C/A) information for the commands to the plurality of memory devices over a single C/A bus for the plurality of channels. In one embodiment, double-speed strobe signal lines can also enable reducing the number of pins and signal lines in a memory subsystem.
US09940980B2
An apparatus comprises a hybrid-memory multi-chip package (MCP) including a non-volatile memory (NVM) in an NVM die; a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in two or more DRAM die, wherein a portion of the DRAM is allocated as a cache memory for the NVM; and a hybrid controller for the NVM and DRAM. The hybrid controller includes an NVM interface to the NVM; a DRAM interface to the cache memory; a host interface to communicate data with a host processor, wherein the host interface includes a parallel data bus for reading and writing data directly with both of the DRAM and the NVM; and logic circuitry configured to interleave access by the host processor and hybrid controller to the DRAM and NVM.
US09940975B2
A computer-implemented method for automatically displaying variable image content in an image product includes automatically obtaining markers in photos or videos in a user account which includes detecting features in image content of the photos or the video frames and obtaining a marker for one of the photos or the video frames, automatically identifying a sequence of similar photos or videos if the markers detected in the photos or the associated video frames include more than a predetermined number or percentage of common features, detecting a marker in a photo product by a user device when the photo product is viewed by the user device, identifying a marked photo incorporated in the photo product based on the marker detected in the photo product, and enabling photos or videos in a sequence photos or videos associated with the marked photo to be displayed on the user device.
US09940970B2
A method comprising obtaining, by an automatic video media remixing service, at least one source of media content to be used as a reference media content; analysing the at least one reference media content according to at least one stylistic parameter; and determining, on the basis of the at least one stylistic parameter, at least one editing rule or parameter for controlling creation of an automatic media remix.
US09940969B2
Audio and or video data is structurally and persistently associated with auxiliary sensor data (e.g., relating to acceleration, orientation or tilt) through use of a unitary data object, such as a modified MPEG file or data stream. In this form, different rendering devices can employ co-conveyed sensor data to alter the audio or video content. Such use of the sensor data may be personalized to different users, e.g., through preference data. For example, accelerometer data can be associated with video data, allowing some users to view a shake-stabilized version of a video, and other users to view the video with such motion artifacts undisturbed. In like fashion, camera parameters, such as focal plane distance, can be co-conveyed with audio/video content—allowing the volume to be diminished (or not, again depending on user preference) when a camera captures audio/video from a distant subject. Some arrangements employ multiple image sensors and/or multiple audio sensors—each also collecting auxiliary data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09940966B2
Provided are an optical information reproduction device and a method therefor with which the influence of reference light reflected from the surface of a disk can be reduced, thereby enabling data to be reproduced in a stable manner in an optical information reproduction device that uses holography. The information reproduction device, which reproduces from a recording medium information that has been recorded on the recording medium by the formation of a hologram, is equipped with: a light output unit that emits laser light; an optical system that generates reference light from the laser light emitted from the light output unit; an objective lens that reproduction signal light reproduced by the reference light with which the recording medium has been irradiated enters; a light detector that receives the reproduction signal light propagated by the objective lens; a medium-reflected light reduction unit that reduces the amount of medium-reflected light (generated when the recording medium reflects the reference light) with which the light detector is irradiated; and a control unit that controls the operation of the information reproduction device.
US09940959B1
A method and apparatus are directed to providing relative movement between a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and a magnetic recording medium, and causing protrusion of a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider in response to activating at least a laser source while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium. A magnitude of at least a portion of the protrusion is measured while maintaining spacing between the protrusion and the medium.
US09940958B1
A data storage device is disclosed wherein multiple voice coil motors (VCMs) are unloaded using a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage generated by a spindle motor. A velocity and position of each VCM is measured, and a priority assigned to each VCM based on the measured velocity and position. During a delay interval, the BEMF voltage is used to apply a first brake voltage to a high priority VCM and to apply a second brake voltage to a low priority VCM, wherein the second brake voltage is lower than the first brake voltage. After the delay interval, the BEMF voltage is used to apply the first brake voltage to the high priority VCM and to apply a third brake voltage to the low priority VCM, wherein the third brake voltage is higher than the second brake voltage.
US09940942B2
The present document relates an audio encoding and decoding system (referred to as an audio codec system). In particular, the present document relates to a transform-based audio codec system which is particularly well suited for voice encoding/decoding. A quantization unit configured to quantize a first coefficient of a block of coefficients is described. The block of coefficients comprises a plurality of coefficients for a plurality of corresponding frequency bins. The quantization unit is configured to provide a set of quantizers. The set of quantizers comprises a plurality of different quantizers associated with a plurality of different signal-to-noise ratios, referred to as SNR, respectively. The plurality of different quantizers includes a noise-filling quantizer; one or more dithered quantizers; and one or more un-dithered quantizers. The quantization unit is further configured to determine an SNR indication indicative of a SNR attributed to the first coefficient, and to select a first quantizer from the set of quantizers, based on the SNR indication. In addition, the quantization unit is configured to quantize the first coefficient using the first quantizer.
US09940941B2
The invention provides an efficient implementation of cross-product enhanced high-frequency reconstruction (HFR), wherein a new component at frequency QΩ+rΩ0 is generated on the basis of existing components at Ω and Ω+Ω0. The invention provides a block-based harmonic transposition, wherein a time block of complex subband samples is processed with a common phase modification. Superposition of several modified samples has the net effect of limiting undesirable intermodulation products, thereby enabling a coarser frequency resolution and/or lower degree of oversampling to be used. In one embodiment, the invention further includes a window function suitable for use with block-based cross-product enhanced HFR. A hardware embodiment of the invention may include an analysis filter bank, a subband processing unit configurable by control data and a synthesis filter bank.
US09940928B2
A system for communication between one or more remotely controllable devices and a hearing assistance device includes a gateway device. The hearing assistance device detects voice commands issued by its wearer. The gateway device wirelessly communicates with the hearing assistance device, produces one or more control signals based on the voice commands, and routes the one or more control signals to one or more devices selected from the one or more remotely controllable devices according to the voice command.
US09940921B2
A vehicle, a vehicle control method, and a vehicle driving sound control apparatus in which a user may freely generate a requested vehicle driving sound using a user terminal and generate an additional driving sound more similar to an actual vehicle driving sound by vibrating a structure of a vehicle using an exciter are provided. The vehicle includes a controller configured to receive vehicle driving sound parameters requested by a user from a user terminal and an exciter configured to vibrate a structure of a vehicle based on the vehicle driving sound parameters.
US09940918B2
A set of two or more whistles. Each whistle of the set sounds differently from each other based on a different type of sound or a different value of a characteristic of sound common to whistles of the set. Sound characteristics may include but not limited to pitch, quality, loudness, and/or duration. Each whistle in the set may be different in appearance from each other in the set. Appearance characteristics may include but not limited to color, numbering, design, light up features, size, and/or shape. Alternatively, the whistles in a set may have a common appearance characteristic, but each whistle may have its own value of the common appearance characteristic. Additional element(s) such as lanyards or mouthpieces may be added to whistles of a set to distinguish them from each other. The set of whistles may be included in a kit having a box for removably storing the whistles.
US09940911B2
A sound post, in particular for stringed instruments, and a sound post assembly set. The sound post is composed of at least two sound post components and has end pieces which can be pivoted at the end faces of the sound post. The second sound post component has a threaded portion, and the first sound post component has an inner thread which corresponds to the threaded portion such that the sound post components can be screwed together and thus adjusted vertically or longitudinally relative to each other. The threaded portion has a fine thread. Furthermore, a scale with an equidistant graduation is arranged on one of the at least two sound post components. The graduation of the scale corresponds to the pitch of the fine thread.
US09940907B2
Virtual surface techniques are described. These techniques support the use of initialization and batching of updates, use of updates and lookaside lists, use of gutters, blending and BLT operations, use of surface optimization techniques such as push down as well as enumeration and clumping, mesh usage, and use of occlusion management techniques.
US09940904B2
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques for receiving image information for a current frame, determining an amount of change between the current frame and a previous based on the image information for the current frame and image information for a previous frame and determining an adjustment of a frame time based on the amount of change between the current frame and the previous frame.
US09940892B2
A flexible display device is disclosed which includes: a display unit; a support unit configured to selectively support the display unit; a connection unit configured to attach together one edge of the display unit and one edge of the support unit; and a driving unit connected to the other edge of the display unit and the other edge of the support unit and configured to control a plurality of operations. The plurality of operations includes a first operation, which allows the display unit and the support unit to come in contact with each other and to maintain a relatively flattened state of the display unit, and a second operation which enables the display unit and the support unit to be separated from each other for stowage.
US09940885B2
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a pixel electrode and a memory in each of pixels, a common electrode, a first drive circuit which supplies a digital signal, a second drive circuit which supplies an AC common signal to the common electrode, a storage control circuit which stores the digital signal in the memory in a storage period, and a select control circuit which selectively supplies, in a display period, to the pixel electrode, one of a display signal and a non-display signal. A frequency of the common signal in the storage period is a first frequency. The frequency of the common signal in the display period is a second frequency. The first frequency is higher than the second frequency.
US09940882B2
In the technical field of display, a source driver circuit and a display device according to the present disclosure, which can effectively reduce the heat generating efficiency of a gamma driver circuit cooperating with the source driver circuit, lower the temperature of the gamma driver circuit, and facilitate the integration of the gamma driver circuit with other driver circuits, are provided. The source driver circuit is in connection with several pixel gray scale reference voltages from the gamma driver circuit, and comprises several operational amplifiers, the number of which equals to that of the pixel gray scale reference voltages outputted from the gamma driver circuit, and the operational amplifiers each are connected with a corresponding pixel gray scale reference voltage.
US09940875B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a shift register unit and a driving method thereof, a gate driving circuit and a display apparatus. The shift register unit includes a reset signal sub-unit and a scan signal sub-unit. The reset signal sub-unit includes a first input module, a first output module, and a first control module. The scan signal sub-unit includes a second input module, a second output module, and a second control module. The first input module is connected with the first control module, the first output module, and a signal input terminal. Both the first output module and the first control are connected with the scan signal sub-unit and a reset signal terminal. The second input module is also connected with the second output module and the second control module. Both the second output module and the second control module are connected with a signal output terminal.
US09940872B2
A degradation compensating device includes an accumulator configured to accumulate stress data every pixel block, a memory configured to receive the stress data from the accumulator, and to load accumulated data from an external flash memory when a display device power is turned on, the accumulated data being a total sum of the stress data, a compensation factor calculator configured to determine a target compensation factor based on the accumulated data to compensate image data, and to apply an initial compensation factor to the target compensation factor during a wake-up period after loading the accumulated data is completed, the initial compensation factor being changed gradually during the wake-up period, and a data compensator configured to generate image compensation data based on the target compensation factor, and to generate initial image data based on a wake-up factor that is an adjusted target compensation factor based on the initial compensation factor.
US09940855B2
An illuminated display for displaying a lottery jackpot values in the range of millions and billions of dollars is disclosed. A lottery display comprises a string of three LED modules positioned next to each other, where the leftmost LED module indicates the hundreds place for a jackpot value, the center LED module indicates the tens place, and the rightmost LED module indicates the ones place for the jackpot. Conventional LED modules having seven segments may be employed for the indicia of the hundreds and tens values. A special LED module having nine segments may be employed for the indicia of units, where the LED module may be illuminated to form the numerals 0 through 9, as well as an upper case letter “B.” The illuminated display may also display indicia for currency and the day of the week for the jackpot draw.
US09940854B2
Methods of monitoring one or more electronic displays are disclosed. A method may include performing at least one diagnostic operation on at least one electronic display having at least one camera, a display element, and a display server. Further, the method may include transmitting data relating to the at least one diagnostic operation to a network remote from the at least one electronic display. Additionally, the method may include displaying the data within the remote network.
US09940837B2
Negotiating a multi-vehicle environment using vehicle-to-vehicle network tokens for intra-vehicle communication. Preliminary routing assignments are efficiently improved by available intra-vehicle communication.
US09940836B2
Transit through an area by a population of travelers may be evaluated by a number of techniques, and may be useful for routing, transit time estimation, and transit control. Some techniques involve the use of probes, such as individuals or vehicles that are tagged and trackable through the area. However, estimating properties such as transit queue volume through probe counts may be difficult, as the ratio of probes to the overall population may vary. Presented herein are techniques for estimating transit properties by evaluating transit queues to estimate the probe ratio for an area. Such techniques involve counting and tracking the probes in a transit queue to estimate a queue length change of the transit queue, and a probe rate change of probes entering and exiting the transit queue. This information may inform estimates of the probe ratio, and in turn regional transit estimates, such as transit queue volumes.
US09940834B1
Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. A computing device may receive communications from autonomous vehicles, where the communications include data for the same road segment, including an indication of a condition of the road segment. The computing device may combine the data for the same road segment to generate an overall indication of the condition of the road segment, which may include a recommendation to vehicles approaching the road segment. Additionally, the computing device may receive a request from a mobile device within a vehicle approaching the road segment to display vehicle data. The overall indication for the road segment may then be displayed on a user interface of the mobile device.
US09940831B2
A pointing device and a controlling method thereof are provided. The controlling method of the pointing device includes transmitting an identification signal to an external device that is targeted by the pointing device according to a user input, receiving a reflected signal that is generated by reflecting the identification signal from a reflective surface attached to a surface of the external device, and analyzing the reflected signal and identifying the external device.
US09940826B1
A data analysis system and approach having sensors, a collective processing mechanism connected to the sensors, and a threshold logic panel connected to the collective processing mechanism. Raw data from the sensors may be subject to collective processing and collective threshold logic analysis. The collective processing mechanism and the threshold logic panel may be situated outside of or in the cloud. Big data analytics may be performed on the data. The sensors may be homogeneous or heterogeneous. Consequently, there may be data fusion for false alarm reduction and advanced alarm detection, and application of big data analysis. Raw data may be used for determining positional information.
US09940816B2
A warning system for vehicles equipped with air brakes is provided. The present invention provides one or more warning modules in connection with a low pressure switch and a door jamb switch to provide an alert if the driver fails to apply the parking brake and opens the vehicle door. A low pressure switch is connected to an air line controlled by a cabin parking brake switch. When the parking brake switch is toggled on, air is evacuated from the air line and the parking brakes are applied; the low pressure switch is then open. When the air line is pressurized, the parking brake switch is not toggled on and the parking brakes are not applied, causing the low pressure switch to close. If the door jamb sensor registers the driver door is open, the low pressure switch and door jamb sensor complete a circuit, activating the warning modules.
US09940815B1
A system having a user configurable and sizeable planar sensor pad having electrical circuits thereon, adjacent to a trough or groove formed in the sensor pad. These circuits are energized upon the application of a conductive fluid into the trough and once activated initiates a wireless communication device to transmit an alarm to a mobile device of the user, such as a smart phone, alerting the user of the detected fluid leak. The device may be self contained, operating on its own DC power source and may not require the use of a computer, a WI-Fi signal, or the internet.
US09940809B2
A smart phone with application of preventing children from being left in a car includes a speedometer, a data processing center, a phone speaker, a micro phone, a touch screen and an application of preventing children from being left in a car (application). the application is programmed as the follows: the speedometer detects car speed and reports the car speed data to the application, when the car speed increasing from first speed to second speed the application issues a [REMINDER] of “if has children in the car” to a driver, when the car speed decreasing from third speed to 0 speed, the application issues a [WARNING] of “must bring children out of the car” to the driver.
US09940805B1
A marking and identification system and method includes a dispersing device configured to disperse marker therefrom when in an activated mode. An activating device is configured to arm the dispersing device from an inactivated mode wherein the dispensing device does not disperse marker to the activated mode. A triggering device is configured to operate the dispersing device and disperse marker when in the activated mode. The marker can be identified at a later time to positively identify a person that triggered the marking and identification system.
US09940795B2
A gaming system comprising a spheroid object, a surface of which is provided with a plurality of symbols, gaming means for causing the spheroid object to rotate along at least three separate axes of rotation, display means for displaying symbols provided on a part of the surface of the spheroid object as rotated by the gaming means in a display area of the gaming system, and win determination means for evaluating a winning condition from those symbols of that are visible in the display area along at least one win line.
US09940794B2
A video slot machine has M reels, each displaying N symbols when stopped. Above the display of the reels is a set of generally valuable replacement symbols that have been independently selected at random independent from the reel display. Each reel is associated with a particular replacement symbol in the set. If a special symbol is displayed on a reel, the replacement symbol associated with that reel substitutes for the special symbol when determining the award. Examples of the replacement symbols include wild symbols, bonus symbols, and multiplier symbols. After each game, the replacement symbols are shifted, and used replacement symbols are randomly replaced to vary the possibilities for each game. The player is incentivized to play longer due to the possibility of using valuable replacement symbols in the symbol array and the possibility of very high awards being granted by multiple special symbols being displayed.
US09940787B2
Software on a server and/or client device verifies a user as eligible to play an online game in which the wager and payout are made with real money. The software causes a graphical user interface (GUI) view for a first online game to be displayed to a user. The software then receives a first game input from the user. The first game input represents a wager or a play according to game mechanics of the first online game. The software causes a GUI view for a second game to be displayed to the user. And the software receives a second game input from the user. The second game input represents a play according to game mechanics for the second game. Then the software provides a payout for the first online game. The payout includes a promotional payout that depends at least in part on the second game input.
US09940779B2
A card game that is a variant of a community card poker game is disclosed. The card game involves presenting a plurality of sets of hole cards to one or more players. One of the sets of hole cards includes at least one card being presented face down and at least one card being presented face up. The card game further includes receiving a hand bet made by a player on at least one of the sets of hole cards. Further, the card game includes presenting a plurality of community cards to the one or more players, and subsequently determining a highest-ranked poker hand for the game based on each of the sets of hole cards in combination with the community cards.
US09940777B2
A system in a casino for playing a game, the system comprising: a network of betting terminals linked to a plurality of game tables, first players playing a first game at each of the game tables, at least one first game being a live baccarat game, wherein each of the betting terminals comprises a mechanism to display a plurality of first games occurring at the game tables in the casino so as to allow a second player at each one of the betting terminals to switch to different game tables, place bets at different first games at a same time, place a separate jackpot wager bet on a jackpot game based on the first games being played live at the game tables and select betting options, wherein the system includes a display part having a screen for showing game number and respective amounts available for betting.
US09940774B2
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a multi-touch game play system that includes a display subsystem, a sensor subsystem, and one or more computing subsystems. The display subsystem is configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface. The images include a virtual game layout having a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games. The sensor subsystem is configured to detect multiple touch gestures, wherein gestures include simultaneous touches by multiple fingers, consecutive touches by a single finger, touching and sliding of a finger, touching and sliding of multiple fingers, and combinations thereof.
US09940772B2
Chip cards are used to secure credit and debit payment transactions. To prevent fraudulent transactions, the card must protect cryptographic keys used to authenticate transactions. In particular, cards should resist differential power analysis and/or other attacks. To address security risks posed by leakage of partial information about keys during cryptographic transactions, cards may be configured to perform periodic cryptographic key update operations. The key update transformation prevents adversaries from exploiting partial information that may have been leaked about the card's keys. Update operations based on a hierarchical structure can enable efficient transaction verification by allowing a verifying party (e.g., an issuer) to derive a card's current state from a transaction counter and its initial state by performing one operation per level in the hierarchy, instead of progressing through all update operations performed by the card.
US09940763B2
An on-vehicle apparatus control system includes: an on-vehicle control device; and a portable machine. The on-vehicle apparatus control system includes: a mode switching unit that selects a permission mode or a prohibition mode; and an illegality recording portion that records transmission or reception of a response request signal as illegality history in a case where the response request signal is transmitted from the on-vehicle control device or is received by the portable machine during the prohibition mode. If the response request signal is received by the portable machine during the permission mode, the portable machine transmits the response signal. If the response request signal is received by the portable machine during the prohibition mode, the portable machine transmits an illegality notification signal instead of the response signal, and the on-vehicle control device does not control an on-vehicle apparatus if the illegality notification signal is received.
US09940758B2
A method for communicating vehicle data relating to a vehicle automatically determines whether a vehicle is in a predefined surrounding area of a service facility. If this has been detected, a predefined set of vehicle data is provided via a communication interface of the vehicle for transmission to a vehicle data collection device. The set of vehicle data received by the vehicle data collection device is at least partially made available to the service facility.
US09940751B1
An image of an environment including an object (i.e., object in reality, physical object) can be captured and be displayed by a computing device. The size of an image representation of the object can be determined. Information about a physical size of the object and about a distance between the computing device and the object in the environment can be obtained/determined. A comparison of the size of the image representation of the object and the physical size of the object can be used to calculate a scale for converting between an actual size of a real-world item and a size of the item as displayed. The information about the distance can optionally be used to determine/adjust/modify the scale. A virtual article depicting/representing a real-world article/item/object (i.e., real-world correspondence) can be displayed with the captured image. The virtual article displayed can be scaled to an appropriate size using the scale.
US09940745B2
The density of images to display can be increased, and distractions reduced, through intelligent cropping or manipulation of at least some of the images. For objects such as dresses represented in the images, the density can be increased by cropping away regions of background outside the object region(s). Locating regions representing the face and legs of the wearer can enable cropping of the top and/or bottom of the image in order to cause the dress to occupy the majority of the area of the image, and can provide for a level of consistency of the sizes of the objects across the images, regardless of the sources of the images. Representative colors of the objects can also be selected to adjust the background color, in order to provide for easy distinction between the images while not providing contrasting or unappealing colors that take away from the aesthetics of the objects.
US09940737B2
To make a user easily obtain an objective and stable analysis result of bone mineral density. An analyzer 100 of bone mineral density using CT image data of a phantom having a known bone mineral density includes: a known data storage part 105 that stores known data of bone mineral density for a phantom; a histogram production part 102 that produces a histogram of region number relative to a CT value for three-dimensional CT image data of the phantom; a correspondence determination part 106 that determines correspondence between a CT value and a bone mineral density by correlating CT values showing respective peaks of the produced histogram with the known data of the phantom; and an analysis part 109 that decides a bone mineral density for three-dimensional CT image data of a subject using the determined correspondence.
US09940724B2
In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a method and a system for detecting multiple objects from real-time images are provided. The method comprises: performing, using a CPU host, an image segmentation process to divide real-time input images into a plurality of image partitions; performing, by multiple GPUs, a fast block-wise registration process, a mark setting process, a background generation process, a foreground generation process based on a Hyper-Q computation infrastructure, and a support vector machine classification process; and generating, by the CPU host, visualization classification images.
US09940722B2
Segmentation and identification of closed-contour features in images using graph theory and quasi-polar transform are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes representing, in a rectangular domain, an image including a feature of interest. Further, the method includes determining a point within the feature of interest. The method also includes transforming the image of the feature from the rectangular domain to a quasi-polar domain based on the point. The quasi-polar domain is represented as a graph of nodes connected together by edges. The method also includes graph cutting the quasi-polar domain to identify the boundary of the feature of interest in the image.
US09940720B2
Camera and sensor augmented reality techniques are described. In one or more implementations, sensor data is obtained from a sensor of a hardware device, the sensor data being associated with the hardware device that is located in an environment, such as in three-dimensional (3D) space. Images of the environment are captured with at least one camera of the hardware device. A position of the hardware device in the environment can then be determined based on at least one of the sensor data and the images of the environment. Further, an orientation of the hardware device in the environment can be determined based on at least one of the sensor data and the images of the environment.
US09940718B2
An apparatus for extracting a peak image includes an image selector configured to select one of continuously photographed images; a base image determiner configured to determine at least one base image according to a predetermined criterion; a difference calculator configured to calculate a difference between the selected image and the at least one base image; and a peak image determiner configured to determine a peak image among the continuously photographed images based on the calculated difference.
