US09691979B2
A resistive random access memory includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a stacked structure disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The stacked structure includes a conductive layer and a resistance variable layer. The material of the conductive layer includes HfOx, the material of the resistance variable layer includes HfOy, and x
US09691978B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of first wirings, a plurality of second wirings, a variable resistance layer, a first barrier insulating layer, and a second barrier insulating layer. The first wirings are disposed at predetermined pitches in a first direction intersecting with a substrate. The second wirings are disposed at predetermined pitches in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The second wirings are formed to extend in the first direction. The variable resistance layer is disposed between the first wiring and the second wiring. The variable resistance layer is disposed at a position where the first wiring intersects with the second wiring. The first barrier insulating layer is disposed between the first wiring and the variable resistance layer. The second barrier insulating layer is disposed between the second wiring and the variable resistance layer.
US09691975B2
A Conductive Bridge Random Access Memory (CBRAM) device comprising an insulating electrolyte element sandwiched between a cation supply electrode and a bottom electrode, whereby the conductivity σ of the cation provided by the cation supply electrode in the electrolyte element increases towards the bottom electrode.
US09691970B2
A magnetoresistive device includes a substrate and an electrically insulating layer arranged over the substrate. The magnetoresistive device further includes a first free layer embedded in the electrically insulating layer and a second free layer embedded in the electrically insulating layer. The first free layer and the second free layer are separated by a portion of the electrically insulating layer.
US09691968B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory is disclosed. The magnetic memory includes a substrate, an electrode provided on the substrate, a first insulating film surrounding a side surface of the electrode. The first insulating film contains oxygen. The magnetic memory further includes a second insulating film provided between the electrode and the first insulating film, and surrounding the side surface of the electrode. The second insulating film contains nitrogen. A magnetoresistance effect element is provided on the electrode.
US09691966B2
An apparatus assembly of a medical apparatus is equipped for collision detection by attaching a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) cover assembly to at least one rigid surface of the apparatus assembly, with a resilient material between the PVDF cover assembly and the rigid surface. The PVDF assembly is composed of a PVDF foil with electrically conductive layers on opposite sides thereof. A protective layer covers the PVDF cover assembly. Electrical leads are connected to the conductive layers, and the piezoelectric property of the PVDF foil produces a voltage across the leads when a force associated with a collision acts on the PVDF foil. A detection circuit detects this voltage and initiates an appropriate response to the collision.
US09691962B2
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.
US09691944B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device of the present disclosure includes a plurality of semiconductor layers; a first inclined face having a first slope inside the plurality of semiconductor layers, which connects an etched-exposed surface of the first semiconductor layer with the surface of the second semiconductor layer and reflects the light from the active layer towards the first semiconductor layer; a second inclined face having a second slope greater than the first slope, which is provided around the plurality of semiconductor layers and reflects the light from the active layer towards the first semiconductor layer; a non-conductive reflective film formed on the second semiconductor layer, for reflecting the light from the active layer towards the first semiconductor layer.
US09691943B2
A light-emitting device comprises a reflective layer; a first transparent layer on the reflective layer; a light-emitting stack comprising an active layer on the first transparent layer; and a cavity in the first transparent layer.
US09691941B2
Optoelectric devices that comprise a semiconductor superlattice heterostructure. One or more individual layers within the semiconductor superlattice heterostructure can further comprise layers of differing thicknesses. In at least one embodiment, an optoelectric device with specially engineered layers can generate an output wavelength of between 3 μm to 15 μm at output power levels of 0.01 mW to 100 mW.
US09691939B2
A method of fabricating a device using a layer with a patterned surface for improving the growth of semiconductor layers, such as group III nitride-based semiconductor layers with a high concentration of aluminum, is provided. The patterned surface can include a substantially flat top surface and a plurality of stress reducing regions, such as openings. The substantially flat top surface can have a root mean square roughness less than approximately 0.5 nanometers, and the stress reducing regions can have a characteristic size between approximately 0.1 microns and approximately five microns and a depth of at least 0.2 microns. A layer of group-III nitride material can be grown on the first layer and have a thickness at least twice the characteristic size of the stress reducing regions. A device including one or more of these features also is provided.
US09691937B2
Provided is a method that can manufacture a light-emitting device in which quantum dot is used and which has a high luminous efficiency. A light-emitting device (1) is manufactured that includes: a cell (10) including first and second glass plates (11, 12) facing and spaced apart from each other; and quantum dot (17) encapsulated in the cell (10). Prior to the encapsulation of the quantum dot (17), a reduction step of reducing moisture adsorbed on the inside walls of the cell (10) is performed.
US09691934B2
The present invention is a photodiode or photodiode array having improved ruggedness for a shallow junction photodiode which is typically used in the detection of short wavelengths of light. In one embodiment, the photodiode has a relatively deep, lightly-doped P zone underneath a P+ layer. By moving the shallow junction to a deeper junction in a range of 2-5 μm below the photodiode surface, the improved device has improved ruggedness, is less prone to degradation, and has an improved linear current.
US09691933B2
The structure and method of fabricating a radiation and temperature hard avalanche photodiode with integrated radiation and temperature hard readout circuit, comprising a substrate, an avalanche region, an absorption region, and a plurality of Ohmic contacts are presented. The present disclosure provides for tuning of spectral sensitivity and high device efficiency, resulting in photon counting capability with decreased crosstalk and reduced dark current.
US09691929B2
A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap; a first graded interlayer adjacent to the second solar subcell; the first graded interlayer having a third band gap greater than the second band gap; and a third solar subcell adjacent to the first graded interlayer, the third subcell having a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell. A second graded interlayer is provided adjacent to the third solar subcell; the second graded interlayer having a fifth band gap greater than the fourth band gap; and a lower fourth solar subcell is provided adjacent to the second graded interlayer, the lower fourth subcell having a sixth band gap smaller than the fourth band gap such that the fourth subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the third subcell.
US09691923B2
An apparatus for and a method of forming a plurality of groups of laser beams (2, 2′, 2″) are defined. Each group (2, 2′, 2″) may comprise two or more laser beams. The apparatus comprises a first diffractive optical element (3, referred as DOE) and a second diffractive optical element (8), the first DOE (3) being arranged to receive a first laser beam (1) and to divide this into a plurality of second laser sub-beams and the second DOE (8) being arranged to receive said plurality of second laser sub-beams and to divide each of these into two or more groups of third laser sub-beams (2, 2′, 2″), the separation of the groups in a direction perpendicular to a first axis being adjustable by rotation of the first DOE (3) about its optical axis and the separation of the third laser sub-beams (2, 2′, 2″) within each group in a direction perpendicular to the first axis being adjustable by rotation of the second DOE (8) about its optical axis.
US09691909B2
A diode and a method of making same has a cathode an anode and one or more semiconductor layers disposed between the cathode and the anode. A dielectric layer is disposed between at least one of the one or more semiconductor layers and at least one of the cathode or anode, the dielectric layer having one or more openings or trenches formed therein through which the at least one of said cathode or anode projects into the at least one of the one or more semiconductor layers, wherein a ratio of a total surface area of the one or more openings or trenches formed in the dielectric layer at the at least one of the one or more semiconductor layers to a total surface area of the dielectric layer at the at least one of the one or more semiconductor layers is no greater than 0.25.
US09691907B1
A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell includes a vertical channel, a control gate, a floating gate, and an erase gate disposed on a substrate. The vertical channel extends upwards in a vertical direction. The control gate, the floating gate, and the erase gate surround the vertical channel respectively, and a part of the floating gate is surrounded by the control gate. The erase gate is disposed between the substrate and the floating gate in the vertical direction, and the floating gate include a tip extending toward the erase gate. The vertical channel and electrodes surrounding the vertical channel, such as the control gate, the floating gate, and the erase gate, are used to reduce the area of the memory cell on the substrate of the non-volatile memory device in the present invention. The density of the memory cells may be enhanced accordingly.
US09691904B2
To give favorable electrical characteristics to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer over the insulating layer, a pair of electrodes over the semiconductor layer and each electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode over the semiconductor layer, and a gate insulating layer between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. The insulating layer includes an island-shaped projecting portion. A top surface of the projecting portion of the insulating layer is in contact with a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer, and is positioned on an inner side of the semiconductor layer when seen from above. The pair of electrodes covers part of a top surface and part of side surfaces of the semiconductor layer. Furthermore, the gate electrode and the gate insulating layer cover side surfaces of the projecting portion of the insulating layer.
US09691887B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body including a drift zone that forms a pn junction with an emitter region. A first load electrode is at a front side of the semiconductor body. A second load electrode is at a rear side of the semiconductor body opposite to the front side. One or more variable resistive elements are electrically connected in a controlled path between the drift zone and one of the first and second load electrodes. The variable resistive elements activate and deactivate electronic elements of the semiconductor device in response to a change of the operational state of the semiconductor device.
US09691886B2
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing an emitter and a collector on a surface of an insulator layer. The emitter and the collector are spaced apart and have a doping of a first conductivity type. An intrinsic base is formed between the emitter and the collector and on the insulator layer by epitaxially growing the intrinsic base from at least a vertical surface of the emitter and a vertical surface of the collector. The intrinsic base has a doping of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, and a first heterojunction exists between the emitter and the intrinsic base and a second heterojunction exists between the collector and the intrinsic base.
US09691884B2
Methods of making a monolithic three dimensional NAND string that include forming a stack of alternating first material layers and second material layers over a substrate, where each of the second material layers includes a layer of a first silicon oxide material between two layers of a second silicon oxide material different from the first silicon oxide material, etching the stack to form a front side opening in the stack, forming a memory film over a sidewall of the front side opening, and forming a semiconductor channel in the front side opening such that at least a portion of the memory film is located between the semiconductor channel and the sidewall of the front side opening, where at least one of an air gap or a material which has a dielectric constant below 3.9 is formed between the respective two layers of second silicon oxide material.
US09691878B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a MOSFET, including: forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region for the MOSFET; performing etching with the STI as a mask, to expose a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and to protrude a portion of the STI with respect to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, resulting in a protruding portion; forming a first spacer on sidewalls of the protruding portion; forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; forming a second spacer surrounding the gate stack; forming openings in the semiconductor substrate with the STI, the gate stack, the first spacer and the second spacer as a mask; epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer with a bottom surface and sidewalls of each of the openings as a growth seed layer; and performing ion implantation into the semiconductor layer to form source and drain regions.
US09691871B1
Local variability of the grain size of work function metal, as well as its crystal orientation, induces a variable work function and local variability of transistor threshold voltage. If the metal nitride for the work function metal of the transistor gate is deposited using a radio frequency physical vapor deposition, equiaxed grains are produced. The substantially equiaxed structure for the metal nitride work function metal layer (such as with TiN) reduces local variability in threshold voltage.
US09691864B1
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming at least one recess in the semiconductor substrate; the recess having a bottom and a sidewall; forming an auxiliary structure on the sidewall and the bottom of the recess and forming a hollow space within the recess; filling the hollow space of the recess with a filling material for forming a filling structure in the recess; removing portions of the auxiliary structure from the sidewall of the recess so as to form at least one cavity between the filling structure and the sidewall of the recess; and sealing the cavity at the first side of the semiconductor substrate.
US09691862B2
A semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor in a semiconductor substrate having a first surface. The field effect transistor includes a first field plate structure and a second field plate structure, each extending in a first direction parallel to the first surface, and gate electrode structures disposed over the first surface and extending in a second direction parallel to the first surface, the gate electrode structures being disposed between the first and the second field plate structures.
US09691855B2
The present disclosure involves a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. A surface of a silicon wafer is cleaned. A first buffer layer is then epitaxially grown on the silicon wafer. The first buffer layer contains an aluminum nitride (AlN) material. A second buffer layer is then epitaxially grown on the first buffer layer. The second buffer layer includes a plurality of aluminum gallium nitride (AlxGa1-xN) sub-layers. Each of the sub-layers has a respective value for x that is between 0 and 1. A value of x for each sub-layer is a function of its position within the second buffer layer. A first gallium nitride (GaN) layer is epitaxially grown over the second buffer layer. A third buffer layer is then epitaxially grown over the first GaN layer. A second GaN layer is then epitaxially grown over the third buffer layer.
US09691850B2
A vertical transistor has a first air-gap spacer between a gate and a bottom source/drain region, and a second air-gap spacer between the gate and the contact to the bottom source/drain region. A dielectric layer disposed between the gate and the contact to the top source/drain decreases parasitic capacitance and inhibits electrical shorting.
US09691848B2
Semiconductor device stacks and devices made there from having Ge-rich device layers. A Ge-rich device layer is disposed above a substrate, with a p-type doped Ge etch suppression layer (e.g., p-type SiGe) disposed there between to suppress etch of the Ge-rich device layer during removal of a sacrificial semiconductor layer richer in Si than the device layer. Rates of dissolution of Ge in wet etchants, such as aqueous hydroxide chemistries, may be dramatically decreased with the introduction of a buried p-type doped semiconductor layer into a semiconductor film stack, improving selectivity of etchant to the Ge-rich device layers.
US09691839B2
Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors with insulator stacks having a plurality of metal oxide layers are described. For example, a MIM capacitor for a semiconductor device includes a trench disposed in a dielectric layer disposed above a substrate. A first metal plate is disposed along the bottom and sidewalls of the trench. An insulator stack is disposed above and conformal with the first metal plate. The insulator stack includes a first metal oxide layer having a first dielectric constant and a second metal oxide layer having a second dielectric constant. The first dielectric constant is higher than the second dielectric constant. The MIM capacitor also includes a second metal plate disposed above and conformal with the insulator stack.
US09691838B1
A chip resistor includes a substrate having first and second electrodes disposed on one surface thereof to be separated from each other. A first resistor electrically connects the first electrode to the second electrode, and a second resistor electrically connects the first electrode to the second electrode. When temperatures of the first electrode and the second electrode are different from each other, thermo electromotive force generated from the first resistor is less than thermo electromotive force generated from the second resistor, and a temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of the second resistor is lower than the TCR of the first resistor.
US09691835B2
The double-face display panel comprises a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array mode, and the pixel unit comprises an anode, a cathode, an organic material functional layer arranged between the anode and the cathode and at least one thin film transistor, wherein the anode comprises a transmission anode and a reflection anode, the cathode comprises a transmission cathode and a reflection cathode, the transmission anode at least corresponds to the reflection cathode, the transmission cathode at least corresponds to the reflection anode, and the reflection anode and the reflection cathode are arranged in a staggered mode; the transmission anode is electrically connected with a drain electrode of the thin film transistor, and the reflection anode is electrically connected with the drain electrode of the thin film transistor.
US09691833B2
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor substrate having two different types of semiconductor materials on the same substrate, and a display using the same. A disclosed display may include a substrate, a first thin film transistor having a polycrystalline semiconductor material on the substrate and a second thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor material on the substrate.
US09691827B2
According to an aspect, a display device includes a display unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix along two directions intersecting with each other. Each of the pixels includes three sub-pixels corresponding to three of four colors including a first color, a second color, a third color, and a fourth color. An area of one sub-pixel among the three sub-pixels is larger than the area of each of the other two sub-pixels. A sub-pixel of the fourth color is one of the other two sub-pixels. Pixels each including the sub-pixel of the fourth color are not adjacent to each other in at least one of the two directions in the display unit.
US09691825B2
Provided is a light-emitting device which can emit monochromatic lights with high color purity due to a microcavity effect and which can provide a white light with a broad spectrum when the monochromatic lights are combined. The light-emitting device has a red-, green-, blue-, and yellow-emissive light-emitting elements each of which has a reflective electrode and a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective electrode. The red-, green-, blue-, and yellow-emissive light-emitting elements have the same structure other than the reflective electrode and a layer in contact with the reflective electrode to selectively emit red, green, blue, and yellow lights, respectively. Red, green, and blue color filters are also provided over the red-, green-, blue-, light-emitting elements, respectively. An EL layer is commonly shared by the red-, green-, blue-, and yellow-emissive light-emitting elements, and the semi-transmissive and semi-reflective electrode covers an edge portion of the EL layer.
US09691808B2
A radiation detector may include: a common electrode; a thin film transistor (TFT) array; a photoconductor material layer disposed between the common electrode and the TFT array; and a diffusion stop layer, disposed between the common electrode and the TFT array, on a location corresponding to a connecting portion where the common electrode is connected to a bias voltage supply source, wherein the diffusion stop layer prevents a metal included in the connecting portion from diffusing to the photoconductor material layer.
US09691806B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor substrate in which a part of an analog circuit is formed between the analog circuit and a digital circuit which subjects an analog output signal output from the analog circuit to digital conversion; a second semiconductor substrate in which the remaining part of the analog circuit and the digital circuit are formed; and a substrate connection portion which connects the first and second semiconductor substrates to each other. The substrate connection portion transmits an analog signal which is generated by a part of the analog circuit of the first semiconductor substrate to the second semiconductor substrate.
US09691775B1
A semiconductor cell includes a substrate and an array of at least five substantially parallel fins having substantially equal fin widths disposed on the substrate. The array includes a predetermined minimum spacing distance between at least one pair of adjacent fins within the array. The array has a first n-type fin for an n-type semiconductor device, and a first p-type fin for a p-type semiconductor device. The first p-type fin is disposed adjacent the first n-type fin and spaced a predetermined first n-to-p distance apart from the first n-type fin. The first n-to-p distance is greater than the minimum spacing distance and less than the sum of the fin width plus twice the minimum spacing distance.
US09691768B2
An integrated circuit design tool includes a cell library. The cell library includes entries for a plurality of cells, entries in the cell library including specifications of particular cells in a computer executable language. At least one entry in the cell library can comprise a specification of physical structures and timing parameters of a circuit including a first transistor, a second transistor, and an interconnect connecting a terminal of the first transistor to a terminal of the second transistor, the interconnect comprising one or more nanowires or 2D material strips arranged in parallel. An integrated circuit including the circuit is described.
US09691767B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to a disclosed embodiment includes: implanting a first impurity into a first region of a semiconductor substrate, forming a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a trench in the semiconductor layer and the semiconductor substrate, forming an isolation insulating film in the trench, implanting a second impurity into a second region of the semiconductor layer, forming a first gate insulating film and a first gate electrode in the first region, forming a second gate insulating film and a second gate electrode in the second region, forming a first source region and a first drain region at both sides of the first gate electrode, and forming a second source region and a second drain region at both sides of the second gate electrode.
US09691764B2
A finFET block architecture suitable for use of a standard cell library, is based on an arrangement including a first set of semiconductor fins in a first region of the substrate having a first conductivity type, and a second set of semiconductor fins in a second region of the substrate, the second region having a second conductivity type. A patterned gate conductor layer including gate traces in the first and second regions, arranged over channel regions of the first and second sets of semiconductor fins is used for transistor gates. Patterned conductor layers over the gate conductor layer are arranged in orthogonal layout patterns, and can include a plurality of floating power buses over the fins in the first and second regions.
US09691763B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate extending in a first direction to define a substrate length and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to define a substrate width. A first semiconductor fin is formed on an upper surface of the substrate. The first semiconductor fin extends along the second direction at a first distance to define a first fin width. A second semiconductor fin is formed on the upper surface of the substrate. The second semiconductor fin extends along the second direction at a second distance to define a second fin width. The second distance may be different with respect to the first distance such that the first and second fin widths are different with respect to one another.
US09691754B2
A semiconductor structure comprises a well, a first lightly doped region, a second lightly doped region, a first heavily doped region, a second heavily doped region and a gate. The first lightly doped region is disposed in the well. The second lightly doped region is disposed in the well and separated from the first lightly doped region. The first heavily doped region is disposed in the first lightly doped region. The second heavily doped region is partially disposed in the second lightly doped region. The second heavily doped region has a surface contacting the well. The gate is disposed on the well between the first heavily doped region and the second heavily doped region. The well has a first doping type. The first lightly doped region, the second lightly doped region, the first heavily doped region and the second heavily doped region have a second doping type.
US09691747B1
Disclosed is a process, structure, equipment and apparatus directed to a low cost, high volume approach for the assembly of ultra small die to three-dimensional (3D) or 2.5D semiconductor packages.
US09691743B2
An embedded component package includes an embedded component substrate. The embedded component substrate includes an electronic component having an active surface including bond pads and a package body encapsulating the electronic component. The package body includes a principle surface coplanar with the active surface. A localized redistribution layer (RDL) dielectric layer is on the active surface. A localized RDL conductive layer is on the localized RDL dielectric layer and is coupled to the bond pads through openings in localized RDL dielectric layer. A primary RDL dielectric layer encloses the entire embedded component substrate and directly contacts the localized RDL dielectric layer, the localized RDL conductive layer, and the principal surface of the package body. The localized RDL conductive layer provides additional space for routing of additional interconnects while the localized RDL dielectric layer acts as a stress buffer.
US09691727B2
A microelectronic device includes a laminated mounting substrate including a die side and a land side with a surface finish layer disposed in a recess on the mounting substrate die side. An electrically conductive first plug is in contact with the surface finish layer and an electrically conductive subsequent plug is disposed on the mounting substrate land side and it is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive first plug and disposed directly below the electrically conductive first plug.
US09691724B2
Manufacturing method and a multi-chip package, which comprises a conductor pattern and insulation, and, inside the insulation, a first component, the contact terminals of which face towards the conductor pattern and are conductively connected to the conductor pattern. The multi-chip package also comprises inside the insulation a second semiconductor chip, the contact terminals of which face towards the same conductor pattern and are conductively connected through contact elements to this conductor pattern. The semiconductor chips are located in such a way that the first semiconductor chip is located between the second semiconductor chip and the conductor pattern.
US09691721B2
A device includes an active region in a semiconductor substrate, a gate strip over and crossing the active region, and a jog over the active region and connected to the gate strip to form a continuous region. The jog is on a side of the gate strip. A first contact plug is at a same level as the gate strip, wherein the first contact plug is on the side of the gate strip. A second contact plug is over the jog and the first contact plug. The second contact plug electrically interconnects the first contact plug and the jog.
US09691717B2
A core substrate is prepared first, a bottom redistribution layer RDL1 is formed. Any warpage of the RDL1 is suppressed by the core substrate. In a later process, warpage is further suppressed by a molding compound encapsulating the core substrate. A plurality of metal pillars are formed passing through the core substrate longitudinally; a top redistribution layer RDL2 is then formed on a top surface of the metal pillars.
US09691716B2
Techniques and structure are disclosed for enhancing fracture resistance of back-end interconnects and other such interconnect structures by increasing via density. Increased via density can be provided, for example, within the filler/dummified portion(s) of adjacent circuit layers within a die. In some cases, an electrically isolated (floating) filler line of an upper circuit layer may include a via which lands on a floating filler line of a lower circuit layer in a region corresponding to where the filler lines cross/intersect. In some such cases, the floating filler line of the upper circuit layer may be formed as a dual-damascene structure including such a via. In some embodiments, a via similarly may be provided between a floating filler line of the upper circuit layer and a sufficiently electrically isolated interconnect line of the lower circuit layer. The techniques/structure can be used to provide mechanical integrity for the die.
US09691715B2
A nanowire device includes a first component formed on a substrate and a second component disposed apart from the first component on the substrate. A nanowire is configured to connect the first component to the second component. An anchor pad is formed along a span of the nanowire and configured to support the nanowire along the span to prevent sagging.
US09691704B1
A semiconductor structure comprises a first wire level, a second wire level and a via level. The first wire level comprises a first conductive feature. The second wire level is disposed on the first wire level. The second wire level comprises a second conductive feature and a third conductive feature. The via level is disposed between the first wire level and the second wire level. The via level comprises a via connecting the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. There is a first air gap between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. There is a second air gap between the second conductive feature and the third conductive feature. The first air gap and the second air gap are linked.
US09691701B2
In some embodiments, a method and/or a system may include an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include a semiconductor die. The integrated circuit may include a plurality of wiring layers. At least one metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor may be formed within the plurality of wiring layers. The integrated circuit may include a circuit. The circuit may include at least an inductor and a voltage regulator which, with the MIM capacitor, forms a voltage regulator for the semiconductor die. The circuit may be coupled substantially below at least a portion of the MIM capacitor in the plurality of layers. The circuit may be electrically coupled to the capacitor through the plurality of wiring layers. The integrated circuit may include a plurality of electrical connectors, the plurality of electrical connectors coupled to the second surface at points separate from an area of the second surface that is occupied by the circuit.
US09691699B2
A method for manufacturing a circuit structure is described as follows. Two patterned circuit layers are formed on a core layer. The patterned circuit layers are located on two opposite surfaces of the core layer. A patterned insulating layer is respectively formed on each of the patterned circuit layers. The patterned insulating layers respectively expose a portion of the patterned circuit layers. The core layer is removed so as to expose an upper surface of each of the patterned circuit layers and a top surface of each of the patterned insulating layers. The upper surface of each of the patterned circuit layers is aligned with the top surface of each of the patterned insulating layers.
US09691686B2
A device and method of manufacture is provided that utilize a dummy pad feature adjacent contact pads. The contact pads may be contact pads in an integrated fan-out package in which a molding compound is placed along sidewalls of a die and the contact pads extend over the die and the molding compound. The contact pads are electrically coupled to the die using one or more redistribution layers. The dummy pad features are electrically isolated from the contact pads. In some embodiments, the dummy pad features partially encircle the contact pads and are located in a corner region of the molding compound, a corner region of the die, and/or an interface region between an edge of the die and the molding compound.
US09691680B2
A structured substrate configured for epitaxial growth of a semiconductor layer thereon is provided. Structures can be formed on a side of the structured substrate opposite that of the growth surface for the semiconductor layer. The structures can include cavities and/or pillars, which can be patterned, randomly distributed, and/or the like. The structures can be configured to modify one or more properties of the substrate material such that growth of a higher quality semiconductor layer can be obtained.
US09691673B2
There is provided a power module semiconductor device allowing reduction in size and weight of a thin type SiC power module. The power module semiconductor device includes: a ceramic substrate; a first pattern of a first copper plate layer disposed on a surface of the ceramic substrate; a first semiconductor chip disposed on the first pattern; a first pillar connection electrode disposed on the first pattern; and an output terminal connected to the first pillar connection electrode.
US09691669B1
Described are test structures and methods for measuring silicon thickness in fully depleted silicon-on-insulator technologies.
US09691667B2
An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, and at least two transistors connected in series on the semiconductor substrate, wherein each transistor shares a source electrode or a drain electrode with an adjacent transistor. The integrated circuit also includes a hermetic cavity disposed on the source electrode and the drain electrode, between gate electrodes of adjacent transistors. The source electrode disposed at a first end portion of the series of transistors is in direct contact with a source interconnect, and the drain electrode disposed at a second end portion of the series of transistors is in direct contact with a drain interconnect.
US09691649B2
There is described apparatus and methods for transporting and processing substrates including wafers as to efficiently produce at reasonable costs improved throughput as compared to systems in use today. A linear transport chamber includes linear tracks and robot arms riding on the linear tracks to linearly transfer substrates along the sides of processing chambers for feeding substrates into a controlled atmosphere through a load lock and then along a transport chamber as a way of reaching processing chambers. A four-axis robot arm is disclosed, capable of linear translation, rotation and articulation, and z-motion.
US09691647B2
The present disclosure relates to a holding apparatus for holding substrates, comprising: a case, and a first support rod and a second support rod, the first support rod is provided with first support sub-rods, and the second support rod is provided with second support sub-rods, the holding apparatus further comprising: a first adjusting mechanism configured to control the first support sub-rods at a first position to move in a direction perpendicular to the first support rod, so as to adjust gaps between the first support sub-rods and the second support sub-rods at a second position corresponding to the first position, and/or a second adjusting mechanism configured to control the second support sub-rods at the second position to move in a direction perpendicular to the second support rod, so as to adjust gaps between the second support sub-rods and the first support sub-rods at the first position.
US09691639B2
In order to provide a process container for carrying out a cleaning process, a drying process, a deburring process, a coating process and/or a coating removal process on a workpiece in the interior of the process container, comprising a wall delimiting the interior of the process container, which is usable in a maintenance-friendly and flexible manner, it is proposed that the process container comprises at least one medium passage, by means of which a medium is guidable through the wall of the process container, at least two different process elements of different types being adaptable to at least one of the medium passages.
US09691637B2
A method of fabricating a plurality of semiconductor devices includes attaching a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) die to a substrate including forming electric connections between contacts on the IC die and contacts on the substrate. After the IC die is attached to the substrate, a first encapsulating material is placed over stress-sensitive areas of the IC die. The first encapsulating material includes thirty percent or less of filler particles greater than a specified size. A second encapsulating material is placed over the first encapsulating material. The second encapsulating material includes sixty percent or more of filler particles.
US09691634B2
A method for creating electrically or thermally conductive vias in both vertical and horizontal orientations in a dielectric material has the steps of: (a) depositing a powder comprising metallic particles on a planar surface of a dielectric material having through or blind vias; (b) drying the deposited powder of metallic particles; (c) polishing the powder of metallic powders into the through or blind vias; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) on a reverse side of the dielectric material; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until no unfilled vias are detected.
US09691624B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a fin structure. The method may include forming an initial fin on a substrate, forming a dielectric layer on the substrate to cover the initial fin, planarizing the dielectric layer by sputtering, and further etching the dielectric layer back to expose a portion of the initial fin, wherein the exposed portion serves as a fin.
US09691622B2
A pre-fill solution for application onto a substrate surface prior to a fill operation is provided, the fill operation defined by application of an electroless deposition solution onto the substrate surface to deposit a metallic material in an etched feature, the substrate surface having metallic contaminants generated from an etch operation that generated the etched feature in the substrate surface, the pre-fill solution effective for preventing the electroless deposition solution from depositing on the metallic contaminants, the pre-fill solution comprising: a surfactant, the surfactant configured to enhance wetting of the substrate surface, the concentration of the surfactant in the solution being approximately in the range of 10 ppm to 2000 ppm, wherein the surfactant is an amphoteric surfactant; oxalic acid dihydrate; and hypophosphorous acid as a pH adjusting agent configured to reduce the pH of the solution to approximately less than 2 during the application onto the substrate surface.
US09691621B2
The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and methods of forming same. A representative structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate; a nanowire structure protruding from the substrate having a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region; a pair of silicide regions extending into opposite sides of the source region, wherein each of the pair of silicide regions comprise a vertical portion adjacent to the source region and a horizontal portion adjacent to the substrate; and a metal gate surrounding a portion the channel region.
US09691618B2
Provided are a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus configured to perform an atomic layer etching process and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including performing the atomic layer etching process. The method includes loading a wafer onto an electrostatic chuck in a chamber, performing a first periodical process in which a first gas is supplied to an inside of the chamber and the first gas is adsorbed onto the wafer, performing a second periodical process in which a second gas is supplied to the inside of the chamber and the first gas remaining in the chamber is exhausted to an outside of the chamber, performing a third periodical process in which a third gas is supplied to the inside of the chamber, plasma including the third gas is generated, the plasma collides with the wafer, and the first gas adsorbed onto the wafer is removed, and unloading the wafer to the outside of the chamber.
US09691616B2
A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a step of preparing a silicon carbide substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface located opposite to the first main surface, a step of forming a doped region in the silicon carbide substrate by doping the first main surface with an impurity, a step of forming a first protecting film on the first main surface, and a step of forming a second protecting film on the second main surface, the step of forming a first protecting film being performed after the step of forming a doped region, the method further including a step of activating the impurity included in the doped region by annealing with at least a portion of the first main surface covered with the first protecting film and at least a portion of the second main surface covered with the second protecting film.
US09691611B2
A method and apparatus for fabricating two-dimensional layered chalcogenide film are provided. A catalyst gas, a metal-based precursor gas and a chalcogen-based precursor gas are ionized with external stimuli to generate energetic particles which facilitate a chalcogen-substitution reaction of a metal-based precursor gas in a reaction chamber to form uniform two-dimensional layered chalcogenide film of at least a single crystalline layer via chemical vapor deposition.
US09691608B2
A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide substrate includes the following steps. There is prepared a silicon carbide single crystal substrate having a first main surface, a second main surface, and a first side end portion, the second main surface being opposite to the first main surface, the first side end portion connecting the first main surface and the second main surface to each other, the first main surface having a width with a maximum value of more than 100 mm. A silicon carbide epitaxial layer is formed in contact with the first side end portion, the first main surface, and a boundary between the first main surface and the first side end portion. The silicon carbide epitaxial layer formed in contact with the first side end portion and the boundary is removed.
US09691599B2
An ultraviolet light emitting device comprises: a first substrate having a main surface; a second substrate facing the main surface of the first substrate; a gas in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate; electrodes directly or indirectly on the main surface of the first substrate; a dielectric layer that is located directly or indirectly on the main surface of the first substrate and covers the electrodes; and a first light-emitting layer. The first light-emitting layer is located directly or indirectly on the dielectric layer and emits ultraviolet light in the gas due to electrical discharge between the electrodes. The first light-emitting layer is thicker in first regions on the dielectric layer than in second regions. The second regions include at least part of regions directly above the electrodes.
US09691598B2
In the ionizer of the present invention, a stream of gas spouted from a nozzle (18) of a DART ionization unit (10) vaporizes and ionizes the components in a sample (25). Gaseous sample-component molecules which have not been ionized by that process are subsequently ionized by a reaction with a reactant ion produced by a corona discharge generated from a needle electrode (20). Such a two-stage ionization of the sample-component molecules improves the ionization efficiency. A needle-electrode support mechanism (21) adjusts the position and/or angle of the needle electrode (20) and thereby controls a potential gradient. Therefore, a specific sample-derived ion species can be efficiently introduced into an ion introduction tube (31) and be detected with a high level of sensitivity.
US09691589B2
A method for exposing a wafer using a plurality of charged particle beamlets. The method comprises identifying non-functional beamlets among the beamlets, allocating a first subset of the beamlets for exposing a first portion of the wafer, the first subset excluding the identified non-functional beamlets, performing a first scan for exposing the first portion of the wafer using the first subset of the beamlets, allocating a second subset of the beamlets for exposing a second portion of the wafer, the second subset also excluding the identified non-functional beamlets, and performing a second scan for exposing the second portion of the wafer using the second subset of the beamlets, wherein the first and second portions of the wafer do not overlap and together comprise the complete area of the wafer to be exposed.
US09691582B2
The invention relates to a photo-control receptacle, which comprises a base, having a power jack formed on one side and a pin holding groove formed on the other side thereof and communicated with the power jack; a mounting base, connected with the base through a connecting structure, having a plurality of pin mounting grooves arranged on one end and cable grooves arranged on the other end thereof and communicated with the pin mounting grooves; wherein, each of the pin mounting grooves has a metal pin arranged therein, which is further arranged to extend into the pin holding groove, the cable groove has a cable arranged therein and connected with the metal pin. The photo-control receptacle of the utility model achieves the tool-free installation, the assembly process is simple and saves time and labor. In addition, according to the actual situation, the orientation of the photo-control device can be adjusted by changing the relative position of the base and the mounting base.
US09691576B2
A temperature-dependent switch has a temperature-dependent switching mechanism, a housing accommodating the switching mechanism, two first connections between which first connections the switching mechanism makes or interrupts an electrically conductive connection depending on the temperature of said switching mechanism, and a heating resistor that is arranged on an outside of the housing and is connected electrically in series with the two connections. The heating resistor is a sheet-like metal part that is welded to the housing and carries a further connection.
US09691566B2
A state and operation indicator for a snap switch is provided. Presently, instrumentation is often needed in order to determine if a snap switch is malfunctioning. Information may be provided on a control panel inconveniently positioned remotely as compared with the location of the snap switch itself. This disclosure provides for an indicator of the state and operation of a snap switch, which does not require the use of instrumentation, and which is proximate the snap switch. This indicator can be used in both alternating and direct current circuits. When the common terminal of the switch is energized an associated light can provide a cue that the power is on. The state and operation indicator can also have either a light associated with the normally open terminal, a light associated with the normally closed terminal, or both. These lights can respond to indicate the state and operation of the switch.
US09691560B2
The invention relates to a single- or multi-pole switching device, in particular for DC applications, having at least one rotating switching element (2) which is connected to a drive, and also comprising switching contacts (4, 5), connection pieces (7) and connection poles or connection terminals (8) and a housing arrangement which accommodates the abovementioned parts. According to the invention, a movably guided rotary cylinder (2) is formed in the housing arrangement, said rotary cylinder being located in a body which is designed as a rotary cylinder holder (1). The rotary cylinder (2) has at least one contact pin (3) which passes radially or tangentially or eccentrically through the rotary cylinder and has, at its end, a contact piece (4) in each case. Mating contact pieces (5) are arranged in the rotary cylinder holder (1), said mating contact pieces being electrically connected to the connection pieces (7) or connection poles or connection terminals (8). A narrow, arc-influencing gap is present between the rotary cylinder (2) and the rotary cylinder holder (1), wherein, as a result of the movement of the rotary cylinder (2), the electrical connection between the contact pieces (4) and the mating contact pieces (5) can be broken by way of the contact pin (3) and the resulting disconnection arcs (11) enter the air gap subject to an extension and are rapidly extinguished there.
US09691558B2
An exemplary electric switch mounting arrangement includes a housing and a stationary contact to be mounted to an aperture in a wall of the housing. The arrangement having a compensation component within the interior area of the aperture for allowing stationary contacts of two different sizes to be mounted to the aperture, which compensation component includes one or more projections formed on the housing or the stationary contact and/or one or more recesses formed on the housing or stationary contact for receiving the one or more projections.
US09691557B2
Disclosed is a free-standing hybrid nanomembrane capable of energy storage. The free-standing hybrid nanomembrane includes carbon nanotube sheets and a conducting polymer coated on the carbon nanotube sheets. The carbon nanotube sheets are densified sheets formed by evaporating an alcohol from carbon nanotube aerogel sheets. The conducting polymer is coated on the carbon nanotube sheets by vapor phase polymerization. Further disclosed is a method for fabricating the free-standing hybrid nanomembrane.
US09691553B2
A method for producing an anode body in a capacitor, which includes making a molded body by molding a tungsten powder and making an anode body by sintering the molded body, which includes a step of bringing the tungsten powder or the molded body thereof into contact with a solution of a silicon compound before sintering the molded body so as to adjust the silicon content in the anode body to 0.05 to 7 mass %.
US09691544B2
An electrostatically tunable magnetoelectric inductor including: a substrate; a piezoelectric layer; and a magnetoelectric structure comprising a first electrically conductive layer, a magnetic film layer, a second electrically conductive layer, and recesses formed so as to create at least one electrically conductive coil around the magnetic film layer; with a portion of the substrate removed so as to enhance deformation of the piezoelectric layer. Also disclosed is a method of making the same. This inductor displays a tunable inductance range of >5:1 while consuming less than 0.5 mJ of power in the process of tuning, does not require continual current to maintain tuning, and does not require complex mechanical components such as actuators or switches.
US09691540B2
A hybrid passive device for synergizing at least one passive component which resides in at least one technology is provided. The hybrid passive device includes a first passive component and a second passive component. The first passive component resides in a first technology of the at least one technology and/or a second technology of the at least one technology, the second technology is different from the first technology, and a technology boundary is arranged between the second technology and the first technology. The second passive component of the at least one passive component is different from the first passive component. The second passive component resides in the first technology and/or the second technology, and the first passive component and the second passive component are electromagnetically coupled to each other through the technology boundary.
US09691532B2
A connection structure of a multi-layer wire includes at least a substrate, a high-temperature superconducting layer, a tape-type laminated body, a conductor layer, and a passage forming body. The high-temperature superconducting layer is formed on one surface of the substrate. The tape-type laminated body including at least the substrate and the high-temperature superconducting layer. The conductor layer covering an outer periphery of the tape-type laminated body. The passage forming body serving as a flowing path of a superconducting current generated in the high-temperature superconducting wire piece. The passage forming body is bonded by a bonding material is arranged on a side surface of the conductor layer, the side surface being located on an opposite side to the high-temperature superconducting layer with respect to the substrate.
US09691524B2
A laminated cable includes a metal laminate surrounding a cable core having first and second ends. Solder is applied adjacent the ends of the laminate, and is heated and subsequently cooled to form a metal seal. The solder can be melted in a plastic jacketing extruder as the extruder applies a plastic jacket over the metal laminate.
US09691517B2
Provided are a hydroxy compound and an ion conducting agent each having excellent electroconductivity. Also provided is an electroconductive resin composition suppressed in bleeding and excellent in electroconductivity through the use of the hydroxy compound. Specifically, provided are a hydroxy compound represented by the following general formula (1), and an ion conducting agent including the hydroxy compound.
US09691516B2
A personal electromagnetic hygiene sleep system for calibrating a human to a baseline bio-electric homeostasis with the human and the environment via stimulus-responsive and performance textiles. These textiles possessing tested and theoretical benefits to the human organism such as: Harnessing the Earth's electrically negative potential via the Earth's mobile and free electrons to be an agent that assist in canceling, reducing, or pushing away electric fields from the body as well as serving to help attenuate oxidative stress and damage to the body from positively charged Reactive Oxygen Species (Free Radicals). Conference of these benefits are effected via a person being in direct or field contact with certain stimulus-responsive performance textiles and a plurality of adjacent conductive fibers for the transport of free electrons to the body from a greater electrically negative potential, an electrical ground, via the ground potential in a standard wall outlet. All superimposed upon a mattress.
US09691515B2
A power distribution system element formed via an additive manufacturing technique, such as applying a conductive material to a memory metal substrate, are discussed herein. In operation (e.g. in response to delivering current through the distribution system), the memory metal contracts while the conductive material expands. The result is distribution system element having reduced thermal expansion, which can be net zero coefficient of thermal expansion.
US09691511B1
A small, low-enriched, passively safe, low-power nuclear reactor comprises a core of target and fuel pins that can be processed to produce the medical isotope 99Mo and other fission product isotopes. The fuel for the reactor and the targets for the 99Mo production are the same. The fuel can be low enriched uranium oxide, enriched to less than 20% 235U. The reactor power level can be 1 to 2 MW. The reactor is passively safe and maintains negative reactivity coefficients. The total radionuclide inventory in the reactor core is minimized since the fuel/target pins are removed and processed after 7 to 21 days.
US09691510B2
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which the equipment is protected from radiation and hazardous gases by equipment enclosures. The equipment enclosures may be purged with gas.
US09691493B1
A device for generating a reference voltage includes a first non-volatile memory cell provided with a control-gate transistor and a reading transistor. The control-gate transistor includes a gate terminal, a body, a first conduction terminal and a second conduction terminal. The first conduction terminal and the second conduction terminal are connected together to form a control-gate terminal. The reading transistor includes a gate terminal that is connected to the gate terminal of the control-gate transistor to form a floating-gate terminal, a body, a third conduction terminal and a fourth conduction terminal. The device also includes a second, equivalent, memory cell. The source terminal of the first non-volatile memory cell and the source terminal of the second equivalent memory cell are connected together.
US09691491B2
An example method to track bit cell current in a memory architecture. An example method disclosed herein includes generating a first reference current dependent on bit cell temperature. The example method includes generating a second reference current dependent on bit cell voltage and supplying a third reference current of constant magnitude. In examples disclosed herein, the example method involves summing the first reference current, the second reference current, and the third reference current. The example method includes determining, with a sense amplifier, a bit cell logic state based on the first reference current, the second reference current, and the third reference current.
US09691489B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a memory cell array and a control circuit. The control circuit executes a first reading operation and a second reading operation. The first reading operation is an operation of reading a threshold voltage set in the selected memory cell by setting a voltage between a control gate electrode and source of the selected memory cell to a first value. The second reading operation is an operation of reading a threshold voltage set in the selected memory cell by setting a voltage between the control gate electrode and source of the selected memory cell to a second value lower than the first value. When executing the second reading operation, the control circuit keeps a voltage of the control gate electrode of the selected memory cell to 0 or a positive value.
US09691487B2
According to example embodiments, a table management method includes determining whether a table associated with a page in at least one nonvolatile memory device needs to be recovered, performing a block scan operation on a block in the at least one nonvolatile memory device if the table needs to be recovered, recovering the table using a time difference read from each of a plurality of pages in the block during the block scan operation, and updating the recovered table to the at least one nonvolatile memory device. The table is associated with a page among the plurality of pages in the block. The time difference is time elapsed until a current page is programmed from program time of a previous page among the plurality of pages.
US09691485B1
A storage system and method for marginal write-abort detection using a memory parameter change is provided. In one embodiment, a method for detecting a write abort is provided that is performed in a storage system having a memory. The method comprises reading a lower page in memory; determining if any data is written in the lower page; and in response to determining that no data is written in the lower page: increasing source voltage for memory cells in the lower page; re-reading the lower page; determining if a read failure exists in the re-read lower page; and in response to determining that a read failure exists in the re-read lower page, detecting a write abort. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
US09691475B2
Some embodiments include a construction having a first memory array deck and a second memory array deck over the first memory array deck. The second memory array deck differs from the first memory array deck in one or more operating characteristics, in pitch, and/or in one or more structural parameters; with the structural parameters including different materials and/or different thicknesses of materials. Some embodiments include a construction having a first series and a third series of access/sense lines extending along a first direction, and a second series of access/sense lines between the first and third series and extending along a second direction which crosses the first direction. First memory cells are between the first and second series of access/sense lines and arranged in a first memory array deck. Second memory cells are between the second and third series of access/sense lines and arranged in a second memory array deck.
US09691474B2
A memory system according to the embodiment comprises a cell array of plural cells having three or more settable physical quantity levels and operative to store a code composed of symbols expressed by elements in a finite field Zp (p is a prime), wherein a set of two cells is defined as a pair cell and a combination of physical quantity levels of the two cells contained in the pair cell is defined as a pair cell level, wherein the pair cell uses a pair cell level of plural pair cell levels, which maximizes or minimizes a physical quantity level of one cell contained in the pair cell, to assign elements in the Zp to the pair cell levels, thereby storing symbols of the code.
US09691466B1
A memory device may include: a target address generator suitable for storing one or more addresses for each time a refresh command is skipped, and for generating one or more target addresses for each of the stored addresses during a burst refresh operation; and a refresh controller suitable for refreshing a word line selected among a plurality of word lines of a memory bank based on the generated one or more target addresses during a target refresh operation.
US09691458B2
A device based on a spin Hall effect and spin-transfer torque (STT) effect is provided to include a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element including a free magnetic layer structured to have a magnetization direction that can be changed by spin-transfer torque; an electrically conducting magnetic layer structure exhibiting a spin Hall effect (SHE) and, in response to an applied in-plane charge current, generating a spin-polarized current of a magnetic moment oriented in a predetermined direction having both an in-plane magnetic moment component parallel to a surface of the electrically conducting magnetic layer structure and a perpendicular magnetic moment component perpendicular to the surface of the electrically conducting magnetic layer structure. The magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer is capable of being switched by the spin-polarized current via a spin-transfer torque (STT) effect. This device can be configured in a 3-terminal configuration.
US09691446B2
A memory device according to one embodiment includes a memory cell which transitions to a first state or a second state by a first current through the memory cell; and a first circuit configured to stop supplying the first current when a first number of cycles of a clock signal lapses from reception of write data.
US09691444B2
Memory devices and methods of making and operating them are shown. Memory devices shown include stacked memory dies with one or more buffer dies included. In one such memory device, a command die communicates with one or more downstream memory dies through the one or more buffer dies. The one or more buffer dies function to repeat signals, and can potentially improve performance for higher numbers of memory dies in the stack.
US09691441B2
Memory programming methods and memory systems are described. One example memory programming method includes programming a plurality of main cells of a main memory and erasing a plurality of second main cells of the main memory. The memory programming method further includes first re-writing one-time programmed data within a plurality of first one-time programmed cells of a one-time programmed memory during the programming and second re-writing one-time programmed data within a plurality of second one-time programmed cells of a one-time programmed memory during the erasing. Additional method and apparatus are described.
US09691437B2
A microelectronic package has terminals at a surface of a substrate having first and second half areas, each half area extending from a diagonal that bisects the first surface and a respective opposite corner of the first surface. Terminals for carrying data and address information in the first half area provide first memory channel access to a first memory storage array, and terminals for carrying data and address information in the second half area provide second memory channel access to a second memory storage array. The package may include first and second microelectronic elements overlying a same surface of the substrate which may be stacked in transverse orientations.
US09691436B2
A case of a disk drive apparatus includes a housing in which a disk is accommodated, and a top cover arranged to close an opening of the housing. The top cover includes a top cover body and a flow control member. The top cover body is a plate-shaped member arranged to extend perpendicularly to a central axis. The flow control member is fixed to a lower surface of the top cover body. The flow control member includes a lower surface arranged axially opposite to at least a portion of an upper surface of the disk.
US09691432B2
A method for generating a post-produced video from an original video includes the following. For an (i)th one of a plurality of original video segments, a number (M+1) of video data sets respectively from (k×j)th ones of original video frames of the original video segment is generated. A plurality of post-produced video segments are generated, each of which includes the video data sets for a respective one of the original video segments. A user input selects any one of the post-produced video segments. A post-produced video is generated according to the selection indicative of the user input.
US09691418B1
Systems and methods for determining a relationship between write fault threshold and temperature are described. The systems and methods include measuring an operating temperature of the storage device, determining a current operating temperature of the storage device, determining whether the current operating temperature of the storage device satisfies a temperature threshold, and upon determining the current operating temperature of the storage device satisfies the temperature threshold, modifying a write fault threshold associated with a data track of the storage device.
US09691417B1
A reader includes a bearing surface, a sensor stack and a bottom shield below the sensor stack. The bottom shield has a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure that includes a first magnetic layer that has a first width at the bearing surface and a second magnetic layer that has a second width at the bearing surface. The second width is less than the first width. The second magnetic layer has a magnetic orientation with at least a component that is substantially orthogonal to the bearing surface.
US09691392B1
A voice biometrics system adapted to authenticate a user based on speech diagnostics is provided. The system includes a pre-processing module to receive and pre-process an input voice sample. The pre-processing module includes a clipping module to clip the input voice sample based on a clipping threshold and a voice activity detection module to apply a detection model on the input voice sample to determine an audible region and a non-audible region in the input voice sample. The pre-processing module includes a noise reduction module to apply a noise reduction model to remove noise components from the input voice sample. The voice biometrics system includes a feature extraction module to extract features from the pre-processed input voice sample. The voice biometrics system also includes an authentication module to authenticate the user by comparing a plurality of features extracted from the pre-processed input voice sample to a plurality of enrollment features.
US09691386B2
A system for institutions (particularly public safety) to accept spoken information such that users can report incident details as required to convey an official incident (e.g., crime) report and to aid in the investigation of the incident. Similarly, users can employ a combination of voice or text input, media submission, [GUI menu screens] and information download to aid in the immediate analysis of incident information to facilitate a rapid response for the incident. This method of interaction with institutions enables reporting parties to more quickly and efficiently convey incident information when direct interaction by an official is not possible or is subject to delay. This helps institutions, for example, police to provide better services while using less staff and resources.
US09691381B2
An electronic device for browsing a document is disclosed. The document being browsed includes a plurality of command-associated text strings. First, a text string selector of the electronic device selects a plurality of candidate text strings from the command-associated text strings. Afterward, an acoustic string provider of the electronic device prepares a candidate acoustic string for each of the candidate text strings. Thereafter, a microphone of the electronic device receives a voice command. Next, a speech recognizer of the electronic device searches the candidate acoustic strings for a target acoustic string that matches the voice command, wherein the target acoustic string corresponds to a target text string of the candidate text strings. Finally, a document browser of the electronic device executes a command associated with the target text string.
US09691377B2
A method on a mobile device for voice recognition training is described. A voice training mode is entered. A voice training sample for a user of the mobile device is recorded. The voice training mode is interrupted to enter a noise indicator mode based on a sample background noise level for the voice training sample and a sample background noise type for the voice training sample. The voice training mode is returned to from the noise indicator mode when the user provides a continuation input that indicates a current background noise level meets an indicator threshold value.
US09691374B2
A data processing system is provided for performing processing operations upon an ordered stream of input data values to form an ordered stream of output data values. A select circuit (18) includes select interval generation circuitry (34) which determines a number (interval number) of input data values between each data value to be selected for output from among the ordered stream of input data values. This interval number varies with position within the ordered stream of input data values. The select circuit (18) can thus perform selection of input data values in accordance with an interval number which may be varied, for example, in accordance with a linear piecewise approximation of an desired curve or, in other embodiments, in a piecewise quadratic variation approximating a desired curve. The processing techniques may be used, for example, in beam forming application, such as 3D beam forming of ultrasonic images.
US09691365B2
Guitar pick uniquely designed for “variability and versatility” strumming. The apparatus shape is ergonomic and designed to optimize human factors i.e. musical transfer of energy from pick to strings in an ideal manner. The apparatus picking surface and corresponding tip(s) can take advantage of an array of material(s) while utilizing a rubber-like grip. Furthermore, the invention contains three equally spaced lobes with at least one lobe being defined with a continuous rounded edge-surface. Collectively, the guitar pick has three different lobe tips located along various radial(s) positioned at 360-135-225 degrees (reference to a 360 degree circle) with a predetermined distance from center point to individual lobe tip. Moreover, each planar lobe runs along the picks longitudinal as well as lateral axis and can utilize different material gauges. Rotation of the guitar pick i.e. moving from lobe to lobe . . . is achieved utilizing grooves that are geometrically relational to the union between each plane.
US09691362B2
A display control apparatus configured to perform display control in a manner that a first frame indicating a region to be digitally zoomed in an input image and a second frame indicating a region to be enlarged in the input image are superimposed on the input image. A display control method including performing display control in a manner that a first frame indicating a region to be digitally zoomed in an input image and a second frame indicating a region to be enlarged in the input image are superimposed on the input image. A computer-readable recording medium having an image processing program recorded therein, the image processing program causing a computer to perform the display control method.
US09691360B2
A graphics processing circuit and method for power savings in the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, a graphics processing circuit includes a number of channels. The number of channels includes a number of color component channels that are each configured to process color components of pixel values of an incoming frame of graphics information. The number of channels also includes an alpha scaling channel configured to process alpha values (indicative of a level of transparency) for the incoming and/or outgoing frames. The graphics processing circuit also includes a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to place the alpha scaling channel into a low-power state responsive to determining that at least one of the incoming or outgoing frames does not include alpha values.
US09691357B2
An information processing method applied to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device can make first multimedia data displayed synchronously on a first display unit and a second display unit. The method includes: acquiring a first parameter of the first display unit and a second parameter of the second display unit; acquiring a first operation on the first multimedia data for the second display unit; analyzing the first operation to obtain first coordinates of the first operation; transforming, based on the first parameter and the second parameter, the first coordinates of the first operation into second coordinates of the first operation on the first multimedia data for the first display unit; and performing the first operation based on the second coordinates of the first operation.
US09691356B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for providing a video clone to a display matrix. Providing a video clone to a display matrix can include utilizing a computing device to transfer video images via Ethernet to a network interface controller (NIC) device 602. Providing a video clone to a display matrix also can include utilizing the NIC device to transfer the video images to a plurality of displays 604. Providing a video clone to a display matrix also can include determining a plurality of portions of the video images that correspond to the plurality of displays utilizing a display scalar 606. Furthermore, providing a video clone to a display matrix can include associating the display scalar with each of the plurality of displays of the display matrix to display the video clone of each of the portions of video images 608.
US09691338B2
According to an aspect, the liquid crystal display device includes: an expansion coefficient determining unit that determines an expansion coefficient of each of partial areas based on a signal level of the first, the second, and the third colors; a luminance level determining unit that determines a luminance level of each partial area based on the signal level; a signal processing unit that uses the expansion coefficient to expand the signal level; and a light source control unit that controls brightness of a light source based on the expansion coefficient and the luminance level. The light source can change the brightness of the partial areas individually. The light source control unit controls the light source such that the brightness of the light source in a partial area having a luminance level equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold is higher than the brightness based on the expansion coefficient.
US09691337B2
A digital gamma correction part includes a memory and a selector. The memory is configured to store a basic gamma reference data, a first compensated gamma reference data and a second compensated gamma reference data, where respective data of the first compensated gamma reference data are greater than respective data of the basic gamma reference data, and respective data of the second compensated gamma reference data are less than respective data of the basic gamma reference data. The selector is configured to receive a luminance data determined based on a luminance of a display panel, and to output a gamma reference data by selecting one from the basic gamma reference data, the first compensated gamma reference data and the second compensated gamma reference data based on the luminance data and a gamma converted reference range.
US09691330B2
Provided is an OLED display device including a plurality of pixel each of which includes a light emitting element and a cell driver configured to drive the light emitting element. The cell driver includes: a driving switch element serially connected with the light emitting element between a high voltage supply line and a low voltage supply line; a first switch element configured to, in response to a second scan signal, connect a data line with a first node to which a gate electrode of the driving switch element is connected; a second switch element configured to, in response to a first scan signal, apply a third scan signal to a second node to which a source electrode of the driving switch element is connected; and a third switch element configured to, in response to an emission signal, connect the high voltage supply line with a drain electrode of the driving switch element.
US09691322B2
An OLED display device includes a display screen, a sensor, and a timing controller. The timing controller includes a detection unit, a test image generation unit, a data compensation unit, and image control unit. The detection unit provides a command for generating a test image. The test image generation unit generates a test image according to the command. The data compensation unit receives a decayed signal that corresponds to the test image and is detected by the sensor in order to generate a compensation signal according to the decayed signal. In response to the compensation signal, the image control unit compensates an external image to achieve normal displaying of the external image on the display screen.
US09691321B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device using split window technology and a method of controlling the OLED display device. The OLED display device includes a system configured to split a display panel into a plurality of regions and operate in separate modes including a split window mode for transmitting split image data corresponding to respective regions to display different images on the respective regions and a normal mode for transmitting normal image data to display one image on the entire display panel, and a panel driving circuit configured to drive the display panel according to the split image data or the normal image data provided from the system.
US09691316B2
Provided is a display device including a timing controller configured to output a clock synchronizing signal for a clock data recovery operation, and a plurality of source driving chips configured to perform the clock data recovery operation in response to the clock synchronizing signal, wherein each of the source driving chips includes a filter unit configured to determine whether the first and second detection signals are activated or deactivated in response to a voltage level of the clock synchronizing signal and to output an operation signal according to a comparative result of the first and second detection signals, and an internal clock generator configured to perform the clock data recovery operation in response to the activation state of the operation signal.
US09691291B2
In certain implementations, group learning may be provided via computerized student group assignments. In an implementation, student information about students registered to take a course may be obtained. The student information may comprise attributes of the students that correspond to student variables. Group criteria information associated with the course may be obtained. The group criteria information may comprise first criteria indicating that a student group is to be diverse with respect to a first variable, and second criteria indicating that a student group is to be similar with respect to a second variable. The students may be assigned to student groups associated with the course based on the attributes, the first criteria, and the second criteria such that a student group associated with the course comprises a set of students that, as a whole, is diverse with respect to the first variable and similar with respect to the second variable.
US09691288B2
A system and method for sending weather alerts to an aircraft during flight are disclosed. In one embodiment, in-flight weather information is obtained from one or more aircrafts at regular intervals. Further, weather conditions along a predicted flight trajectory of the aircraft are determined using the obtained in-flight weather information. The aircraft is preceding the one or more aircrafts. Furthermore, the weather alerts associated with the weather conditions are sent to a display in the aircraft during flight.
US09691281B2
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving an entry for a destination, a sub-destination, or a combination thereof with the sub-destination located within the destination; receiving a road obstacle image while traveling along a route to reach the destination; generating an operation direction based on the road obstacle image; and generating a destination image representing the destination for displaying on a device.
US09691279B2
Provided is a drive assist apparatus: based on signal indication information on a traffic signal installed at at least one intersection located ahead of a self-vehicle in a travelling direction of the self-vehicle, distance information from the self-vehicle to the at least one intersection, and a running speed of the self-vehicle, a recommended speed at which the self-vehicle can pass through the at least one intersection during a period in which the traffic signal installed at the at least one intersection is green is calculated and is notified to the driver. In addition, when a difference obtained by subtracting an actual running distance from a predicted running distance in a case where the self-vehicle runs at the recommended speed exceeds a first threshold value, it is determined that the road has a traffic jam and the notification of the recommended speed is terminated.
US09691264B2
An apparatus and method for determining at least one operational condition of a premises based system including at least one premises device. The apparatus includes a processor configured to perform a diagno stic procedure. The diagnostic procedure includes determining operational data of the premises based system, the operational data indicating at least one of a premises device and the apparatus is operating outside a failure range and performing predictive analysis based at least in part on the received operational data. The predictive analysis indicates whether the at least one of premises device and apparatus is likely to operate within the failure range within a predefined period of time. The diagnostic procedure includes causing a notification alert to be transmitted to at least one of a user interface device and remote monitoring center based on the predictive analysis.
US09691263B2
Systems and methods for monitoring conditions are provided. A system can comprise a plurality of wireless transmitters and a plurality of repeaters. At least one wireless transmitter can be integrated into an alarm. The repeaters can be dispersed throughout a region at defined locations. The system can also include a computer to receive information communicated from the repeaters and the transmitters. The computer can include software for evaluating received information, identifying an alarm condition and an originating location of the alarm condition, and for reporting the alarm condition to a remote location. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
US09691256B2
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for presenting prompt information that recommends removing contents from a garbage container. The method includes acquiring garbage information and garbage decaying benchmark information of the contents in the garbage container; determining whether the contents in the garbage container have mold or odor based on the garbage information and the garbage decaying benchmark information; and presenting the prompt information that recommends removing the contents from the garbage container when it is determined that the contents in the garbage container have mold or odor.
US09691253B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for associating remote physiological monitoring with an at-risk falling condition of a patient. The methods may include receiving movement data of a patient from one or more sensors. The methods may also include determining a patient posture and a patient activity level based, at least in part, on the received movement data, and determining that an at-risk condition is satisfied by the patient posture or the patient activity level. Once it is determined that the at-risk condition is satisfied, the methods may also include issuing an alert based, at least in part, on the determination that the at-risk condition is satisfied.
US09691251B2
In a lost child search system including a parent terminal and a child terminal, the child terminal is provided with: a gyro sensor that measures the angular velocity for identifying the posture of that child terminal; an acceleration sensor that measures the acceleration of that child terminal; a positioning control unit that performs relative positioning of that child terminal based on the identified posture and the measured acceleration; a communication unit that performs data communication via near-field wireless communication using radio waves; an intensity detection unit that detects the radio wave intensity in the near-field wireless communication with the parent terminal; and an intensity decision unit that decides whether or not search for the child terminal is necessary in accordance with the detected intensity information. The acceleration sensor is made to start measuring the acceleration in accordance with the decision result (decision information) by the intensity decision unit.
US09691241B1
Methods and systems involving the orienting of video data based on the orientation of a display are described herein. An example system may be configured to (1) receive first video data, the first video data corresponding to a first orientation of the image-capture device; (2) send the first video data to a second computing device; (3) receive, from the second computing device, first orientation data indicating a requested orientation of the image-capture device; (4) cause a visual depiction of the requested orientation to be displayed on a graphical display; (5) receive second video data, the second video data corresponding to a second orientation of the image-capture device, where the second orientation is closer to the requested orientation than is the first orientation; and (6) send the second video data to the second computing device.
US09691238B2
A system produces haptic effects. The system receives input data associated with an event, identifies an element of the event in the input data, generates the haptic effects based on the element of the event, and produces the haptic effects via a haptic output device. In one embodiment, the haptic effects are generated by haptifying the element of the event. In one embodiment, the haptic effects are designed haptic effects and are adjusted based on the element of the event. In one embodiment, the input data is associated with a crowd that attends the event, and the element of the event is caused by the crowd. In one embodiment, the input data includes haptic data collected by one or more personal devices associated with the crowd. In one embodiment, the input data is indicative of a location of the one or more personal devices associated with the crowd.
US09691237B2
A system for generating a non-visual notification of a machine condition includes a machine condition sensor configured to sense a machine condition. A notification generation controller is in communication with the machine condition sensor. The notification generation controller generates a notification according to the sensed machine condition. In a feedback configuration the notification generation controller compares an integral of a rate of change of the sensed machine condition with a threshold to trigger the generation of a notification. In a guidance configuration the notification generation controller uses the deviation of the machine condition from a guidance direction determined with a steering algorithm to control the generation of a notification. A non-visual notification generator is in communication with the notification generation controller and generates a non-visual notification based on the notification.
US09691227B2
A game system and method plays an electronic game and simulates the outcome as a keno game. The game system allows a player to place a wager, plays the electronic game, and establishes an outcome of the electronic game. The outcome of the electronic game includes a payout according to a first pay table if a set of predetermined conditions has been achieved. The outcome of the game is simulated as a keno game. The outcome of the keno game is equivalent to the outcome of the electronic game.
US09691224B2
A functional transformation interleaved wagering system is disclosed, which includes an interactive controller configured to: provide a first interactive application; communicate, to an application controller, a wager request; receive a wager outcome; receive an indication to provide a second interactive application; provide the second interactive application; and communicate, to the application controller, application telemetry; a wager controller constructed to: receive the wager request; communicate the wager outcome; receive an indication; and adjust the credit meter; and the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller and constructed to: receive the wager request; communicate, to the wager controller, the wager request; receive the wager outcome; communicate, to the interactive controller, the wager outcome; communicate the indication to provide the second interactive application when it is determined to provide the second interactive application; receive the application telemetry; and communicate the indication to adjust the credit meter.
US09691221B2
Disclosed herein are one or more examples of generating a communication directed to a contact of a wagering game player account. In some embodiments, a gaming system can perform operations to determine an identity of an individual located within a given physical location and present, on a display device, a virtual identifier associated with the contact. The individual is indicated as a contact in a wagering game player account. The display device is associated with the wagering game player account. The gaming system can further perform an operation to detect a user input related to the virtual identifier presented on the display device. Further, the gaming system can perform an operation to send a communication to a device associated with the contact in response to detecting the user input.
US09691217B2
A method of playing a sporting event interactive board game is provided. A sporting event is displayed on at least one of a television, a computer monitor or other electronic device. The present invention includes a game board. The game board includes a playing surface having a plurality of betting spaces forming a path. Each player may purchase at least one of the betting spaces to play the game. The present invention further includes a chip. A position of the chip is determined randomly and placed on one of the betting spaces. The chip is then moved along the path of the betting spaces based on certain plays performed during the sporting event. When a score or an end of a period occurs during the sporting event, the player who purchased the betting space in which the chip is currently resting is paid.
US09691214B2
Embodiments include environmentally adaptive olfactory generation systems and methods and computer program products for operating the same. Aspects include receiving a desired concentration of an olfactory stimulant, receiving a detected concentration of the olfactory stimulant from an olfactory stimulant sensor, and receiving one or more environmental factors from an environmental sensor. Aspects also include comparing the detected concentration of the olfactory stimulant with the desired concentration of the olfactory stimulant and adjusting a dispensing characteristic of an olfactory stimulant emitter based on the comparison and the one or more environmental factors.
US09691184B2
According to an example, a computer may receive characteristics information of an object in a video stream captured by a first computing device, generate a signature based on the characteristics information, identify an augmented reality information associated with the signature, transmit the augmented reality information to the first computing device, receive, from a second computing device, a set of characteristics information of the object in an image captured by the second computing device, determine that the set of characteristics information from the second computing device has a second signature that matches the signature generated based on the characteristics information received form the first computing device, and transmit the identified augmented reality information to the second computing device.
US09691181B2
Systems and method for processing video frames generated for display on a head mounted display (HMD) to a second screen are provided. One example method includes receiving the video frames formatted for display on the HMD, and while passing the video frames to the HMD, selecting a portion of content from the video frames and processing the portion of the content for output to a second screen. The video frames viewed in the HMD are a result of interactive play executed for viewing on the HMD. The second screen configured to render an undistorted view of the interactive play on the HMD. In one example, the method and system enable additional content to be rendered on the second screen (e.g., second screen content, such as social interactive play with others, other non-game content, player-player communication, etc.).
US09691179B2
In an example system, a computer is caused to function as: a feature detection unit which detects a feature arranged in a real space; an image generation unit which generates an image of a virtual space including a virtual object arranged based on the feature; a display control unit which causes a display apparatus to display an image in such a manner that a user perceives the image of the virtual space superimposed on the real space; a processing specification unit which specifies processing that can be executed in relation to the virtual space, based on the feature; and a menu output unit which outputs a menu for a user to instruct the processing specified by the processing specification unit, in such a manner that the menu can be operated by the user.
US09691178B2
The claimed subject matter includes techniques for scanning and processing three-dimensional (3D) objects. An example method includes scanning the 3D object to produce depth data. The method also includes generating, via a processor, a 3D progressive mesh from the depth data. The method further includes displaying the generation of the 3D progressive mesh in real-time.
US09691175B2
In one embodiment, a 3-D model is employed as a navigable container for 2-D raster images, allowing 2-D raster images to be maintained and displayed within the context of the 3-D model. An image cloud level is provided for the 3-D model. Icons are provided within the image cloud level. Each icon corresponds to a respective 2-D raster image and is located at a position within the 3-D space of the 3-D model that corresponds to a position in the physical space of the physical world where the 2-D raster image was originally captured Upon selection of a particular icon, a combined view is shown, depicting the corresponding 2-D raster image combined with a corresponding portion of the 3-D model.
US09691169B2
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations that include receiving data representing a glyph in a font to present the glyph on a display. In response to operations being executed to present the glyph on the display, operations include identifying one or more values shared by glyphs of the font for adjusting the appearance of the glyph, from a data table stored with the glyph in the font. Operations also include adjusting a representation of the glyph using the identified one or more shared values for presentation on the display.
US09691159B2
A system (10) for quantification of uncertainty of contours includes a display (48) which displays a portion of a 4D image of at least a left ventricle over a plurality of cardiac phases. A measurement device (16) includes at least one processor (42) programmed to receive the 4D image (18) from an imaging device (12), receive a selected location on the myocardial wall of the left ventricle, cast a ray perpendicular to at least one of the myocardial wall or center of the left ventricle through the selected location, calculate a thickness the myocardial wall along the cast ray, evaluate myocardial wall motion over the range of the cardiac phases, calculate a quantification of the myocardial contractile function, and display the calculate a quantification of the myocardial contractile function on the display device (48).
US09691154B2
The invention relates to a digital optical instrument including two eyepieces and a folding bridge for adapting the eyepiece distance to the interpupillary distance of the user. In an image recorded by an image sensor, a first bounding frame which is tilted about a first tilt angle relative to the image sensor, is defined and bounds a first portion of the recorded image, wherein the first tilt angle is defined depending on the folding angle. The first portion which is bounded by the tilted first bounding frame is transmitted to the first or second display and displayed by the first or the second mechanically tilted display while maintaining the orientation of the recorded image relative to the observed scene or relative to the horizontal, that is, without rotating the recorded image or the image portion relative to the observed scene or relative to the horizontal.
US09691145B2
Automated systems, methods and tools that automatically extract and select portions of an image to automatically generate a premium finish mask specific to the image which require little or no human intervention are presented. Graphical user interface tools allowing a user to provide an image and to indicate regions of the image for application of premium finish are also presented.
US09691133B1
A method of generating super resolution image data includes receiving original image data of a low resolution at an image processing device, performing motion compensation on the original image data using a current frame of image data and at least one previous frame of image data and at least one future frame of image data as reference frames, generating motion vectors, applying noise reduction to the current frame of image data and the reference frames to produce noise reduced, current frame image data, and generating a current frame of super resolution image data using the noise reduced, current frame image data.
US09691132B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for inferring a facial composite, whereby user's designation regarding at least one point of a facial image is received, facial feature information are extracted based on the received user's designation, a facial type that coincides with the extracted facial feature information is searched from a facial composite database to generate a face shape model based on the searched facial type and an initial facial composite model having a facial type similar to a face of the facial image from a low-resolution facial image through which face recognition or identification cannot be accurately performed is provided, so that the face shape model contributes to criminal arrest and a low-resolution facial image captured by a surveillance camera can be more efficiently used.
US09691126B2
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media configured to create, process, and/or modify images are provided. Recipient image data associated with an original image captured by a second computing system can be received by a first computing system. A first intermediate image may be generated based on the recipient image data. A first viewable image for display on the first computing system may be generated based on the first intermediate image.
US09691120B2
The interface circuit is provided with: a differential output circuit in which the output of a potential level of a differential signal stabilizes after a prescribed period from a start signal; and a counter circuit that performs control in such a manner that a data processing operation of a data processing unit is not performed on a signal based on the differential signal during the prescribed period. Thus, a liquid crystal display device that is capable of preventing a distorted video from being displayed in an initial drive period can be achieved.
US09691112B2
Methods and arrangements for calculating a power budget. Data are received, the data including data relating to a current state of an electrical grid at a power-drawing location which draws at least one variable electrical load, the at least one variable electrical load being subject to variable pricing. At least one prediction is determined, the at least one prediction pertaining to a future state of the electrical grid and a future electrical load to be drawn at the power-drawing location. A power budget is thereupon calculated, with respect to the power-drawing location, based on the data and the at least one prediction. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.
US09691109B2
A method for confirming that a user interacted with a resource provider before allowing the user to submit feedback associated with the resource provider is disclosed. A social network provider can query entities that are aware of the user's interaction history before activating a feedback function. Also, non-sensitive information can be used to identify the user.
US09691098B2
A method and system displaying and managing images of consumer products with cloud computing. A layout for plural selected consumer products is selected. An N-layer digital image of a shelf layout on which consumer products are displayed is created and stored in one or more cloud storage objects. The created N-layer digital image includes an M-layer hierarchy of vector images and/or visual overlays stored in one or more cloud storage objects in progressive resolution format and allows progressive resolution display without loss of image quality on the selected plural consumer products that appear in the N-layer digital image. The created N-layer digital image is displayed via a cloud communications network. The created image provides a virtual shopping experience that emulates a shopping experience in an actual retail store.
US09691097B2
A method of providing recommendations is disclosed and includes receiving a selection of an offering via an online site. The method also includes outputting a detail page related to the offering via the online site. The detail page includes a first selectable indicator corresponding to a social network of a visitor and a second selectable indicator corresponding to unfiltered content. The method also includes outputting at least one recommendation via the detail page. Each recommendation is associated with a member of the social network when input received via the online site indicates a selection of the first selectable indicator.
US09691094B2
A customer at a customer computer system transmits a page request to a retailer computer system. The retailer computer system transmits a product page and a script to the customer computer system. The script is executable by the customer computer system to transmit a customization request from the customer computer system to a customization computer system. The customization computer system inserts controls and a save selector onto the customer computer system. Use of the controls at the customer computer system allows for customization of an image of the product viewed on a display of the customer computer system to render a compound image. Selection of the save selector at the customer computer system causes transmission of a transmission packet from the customization computer system to the retailer computer system. The retailer computer system stores the compound image in a shopping cart associated with the customer computer system.
US09691091B2
Matches for transportation services with transportation service providers (TSPs) and providing tracking are combined with an option for location tracking of the load or transportation service. Bids are accepted for transportation services and, on acceptance, a request is made for the TSP or driver “opt-in” to location tracking through a mobile device. The system automatically communicates with the driver to confirm acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) and location tracking is initiated. The location is reported according to a threshold, along with updated estimates of pick-up and of completion of delivery. The tracking provides substantially a “24/7” access to the location and updated estimated completion of delivery. Upon completion of delivery, the tracking is terminated (automatic opt-out).
US09691087B2
A method and system for use of a game with charity donations. In one example, a donation agent interacting with a merchant website can offer an online user an option to allocate at least a portion of a payment for or price of a purchase, associated with a transaction made by the user via the merchant website, to be donated by a merchant (corresponding to the merchant website), on behalf of the user, to a charity of the user's choosing. The donation agent can disburse the calculated donation amount to the charity selected by the customer. The points earned can be combined with a college scholarship award mechanism. The game encourages people to participate in the charity in a fun way, e.g., as a hobby every day, with a large user base.
US09691080B1
A third party company (also referred to as an ad server) provides an advertiser with computer code to place on the advertiser's web pages. The web page's code is configured to provide the ad server read and write access to an advertiser's first party cookie on a user's web browser. A user interacts with an ad on a mobile application or third party web page. Based on the user's interaction with the ad a URL containing a web address and ad instance information are sent to the user's web browser. The user's landing page associated with the URL contains code for retrieving the ad instance information and storing it in a first party cookie. When the user navigates to a purchasing page and purchases a product, the code contained in the purchasing page retrieves the ad instance information from the first party cookie and sends it to the ad server.
US09691074B2
Systems and methods of evaluating performance of an information resource in a computer networked environment are provided. A data processing system can obtain a request for a performance metric of an information resource. A number of visits to the information resource by an audience segment, and an aggregate number of visits to the information resource can be determined and used to identify a first metric. A global audience segment number and a global aggregate audience number can also be determined and used to identify a second metric. A performance metric associated with the information resource can get determined based on the first metric and the second metric.
US09691073B2
A social networking system provides relevant content objects at the request of social networking system users. Relevance scores are determined for content objects by matching user location, user interests, and other social information to the content, location, and timing associated with content objects. A ranked list of content objects can be provided to the user, where the content objects are relevant to them based on their interests, location, and other social information. The system provides a user interface that displays a map containing pins, where each pin represents a content object in actionable proximity to a user. The content objects selected to be presented as pins to the user are those content objects with sufficiently high relevance scores. Multiple pins for a nearby area can be clustered. The user can switch between zoom levels for the map, thereby showing pins at varying distances from the user's current location.
US09691063B2
A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks. The universal central processor is programmed to issue the stored-value cards directly to the cardholder or card purchaser by download over respective communication gateways. The universal central processor is further programmed for reporting the card activations, issuances, transactions and activities to the cardholders and the merchants thereby providing a universal management system.
US09691061B2
A system and method for making electronic payments for tolls, parking and related transactions. A customer downloads an application onto their personal electronic device and registers the customer's vehicle and financial account information with a provider. The application detects upcoming toll facilities and notifies the customer. The customer can accept the payment of the toll through the application whereupon the provider makes a payment from the customer's designated account to the toll facility.
US09691044B2
Embodiments for providing roles based system access to a user include systems for identifying an application login event and a role associated with the login event. Further the embodiments include selecting code associated with the identified role, inserting, by a processor, the code into an application shell; and providing, by a processor, the content of the shell to an application associated with a computing device of the user in response to the login event, the content of the shell comprising only role specific data. In specific embodiments, data unrelated to the identified role is not provided to the application or stored in the computing device.
US09691037B2
Methods and systems comprising receiving travel request data; retrieving schedule data associated with the travel request data, the schedule data being further associated with a scheduled travel time; retrieving availability data associated with the travel request data, the availability data being further associated with an available travel time; generating representation data representing the schedule data and the availability data, the representation data representing the schedule data and/or the availability data differently based on a whether an itinerary complies with an organization's travel policies; and sending the representation data.
US09691033B2
A quantum computer comprises of at least one qubit formed from holes created with acceptor atoms (10) in crystalline silicon (12) and a pair of gates (14, 16) located above the acceptor atoms (10) to apply direct electric field and alternating electric field for switching, manipulating the qubit such that quantum information resulting from being manipulated is stored from decoherence.
US09691028B2
Disclosed is a data processing apparatus which is connectable to a network. The data processing apparatus includes: a rule editor which edits, based on input editing information, a search rule for setting a search condition for searching for data generated according to time; a data searcher which searches for the data in accordance with the edited search rule; a visualizer which visualizes the search result; and an analysis sharing part which transmits additional analysis on an analysis of the search result to terminals of a first user and a second user through the network.
US09691025B2
A process for developing machine classification systems includes using human experts to associate expected operations with various machine states including drawbar pull, tool position, tool commands, gear, and ground speed, among others, to create a classification system that can be used in a particular machine. The classification system operates in real time to infer operations such as dig, dump, travel, and push from machine state inputs and logs the operations for use in operational analysis and maintenance of the machine.
US09691021B2
It is determined that a population of candidate solutions for an optimization problem has prematurely converged during a metaheuristic optimization run. A cause for premature convergence of the population is determined based, at least in part, on an analysis of the metaheuristic optimization run. A first cataclysm strategy of a plurality of cataclysm strategies is selected based, at least in part, on one of the cause of the premature convergence and a history of the metaheuristic optimization run. A cataclysm is simulated based, at least in part, on the first cataclysm strategy.
US09691009B2
The present invention provides a portable optical reader, an optical reading method using the portable optical reader and a computer program capable of detecting a high possibility of a reading error and notifying a user of a possibility of a reading error. A character string as a reading target is imaged and a character string is recognized based on the captured image. A plurality of reading formats defining an attribute of the character string is stored, and a first reading format matched with the recognized character string among a plurality of stored reading format is searched. Among the plurality of stored reading formats, a second reading format in which a character string matched with the first reading format as a partial character string is searched. Based on the search result, a possibility of a reading error regarding the recognized character string is notified.
US09691004B2
A non-transitory recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process, the process includes: imaging a given object from plural different angles, and extracting from the plural obtained captured images, one or plural captured images having a feature amount that differs from a feature amount in another captured image by more than a specific reference amount; and providing the one or the plural extracted captured images as determination-use images employable in determination as to whether or not the given object is included in a captured image.
US09691000B1
A user attempting to obtain information about an object can capture image information including a view of that object, and the image information can be used with a matching or identification process to provide information about that type of object to the user. Information about the orientation of the camera and/or device used to capture the image can be provided in order to limit an initial search space for the matching or identification process. In some embodiments, images can be selected for matching based at least in part upon having a view matching the orientation of the camera or device. In other embodiments, images of objects corresponding to the orientation can be selected. Such a process can increase the average speed and efficiency in locating matching images. If a match cannot be found in the initial space, images of other views and categories can be analyzed as well.
US09690999B2
A computerized method for intelligently distributing computer processing of mail piece scan images across a plurality of mail piece scan image processors. The method can include receiving a mail piece scan image from a mail piece scan image job requestor and selecting one of a plurality of scan mail piece scan image processors to process said mail piece scan image. The mail piece scan image can be transmitted to said one of a plurality of plurality of mail piece scan image processors and a mail piece scan image processing result can be received from said one of a plurality of plurality of mail piece scan image processors. Post-processing operations can be performed based on said mail piece scan image processing result. The mail piece scan image processing result can be transmitted to said mail piece scan image processing requestor.
US09690984B2
A signal encoding an infrared (IR) image including a plurality of IR pixels is received from an IR camera. Each IR pixel specifies one or more IR parameters of that IR pixel. IR-skin pixels that image a human hand are identified in the IR image. For each IR-skin pixel, a depth of a human hand portion imaged by that IR-skin pixel is estimated based on the IR parameters of that IR-skin pixel. A skeletal hand model including a plurality of hand joints is derived. Each hand joint is defined with three independent position coordinates inferred from the estimated depths of each human hand portion.
US09690974B2
Platelets or blood cells are detected in a fluid sample by adjusting a focal depth of a microscope through a range of values, the microscope having a mounted sample and an objective lens adapted with one or both of (a) a spherical aberration correction unmatched to a utilized cover plate for the sample, or (2) a numerical aperture unmatched to a utilized illumination source for the sample. Images are recorded at different specific focal depths and in multiple z planes of a fluid bearing the platelets, where the position of platelets may overlap on different of the multiple z planes that are recorded, the images recorded through the cover plate, thus causing the generation of a specific light-dark pattern indicative of platelets at particular positions and at multiple depths in the fluid media. The images are analyzed for the specific light-dark pattern.
US09690972B1
Computer-readable media tangibly embodying computer-readable instructions stored in a memory and executable by a processor of a computer, wherein execution of the computer-readable instructions cause the computer processor to implement a method of encoding a fingerprint. The method comprises acquiring an image of a finger of a user; identifying a set of minutia points in the image; generating a code by a transformation of the minutia points, the transformation including: (i) creating a matrix from features of the minutia points; (ii) obtaining characteristic invariants of the matrix; and (iii) the code being formed based on the characteristic invariants of the matrix; and outputting the code in association with the user or the finger. The characteristic invariants may be the eigenvalues of the matrix.
US09690967B1
This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. One combination disclosed in the description is an image processing apparatus including: electronic memory for storing an image, in which the image comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode represented therein and a first encoded signal encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the first encoded signal comprising a second plural-bit code; means for decoding the 1D or 2D barcode from the image to obtain the first plural-bit code; means for analyzing data representing the image to obtain the second plural-bit code from the first encoded signal; means for determining whether the second plural-bit code conflicts with the first plural-bit code; and means for generating a conflict map, the conflict map comprising an identification of a code conflict, and a spatial location of the code conflict relative to the image. Of course, other features and combinations are described as well.
US09690965B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a scanner with a replaceable bezel and desiccant cartridge. One embodiment takes the form of a scanner that includes a device housing. The scanner also includes a data-acquisition module within the device housing. The scanner also includes a detachable rear bezel affixed to the device housing. The scanner also includes a desiccant cartridge removably attached to the interior wall of the detachable rear bezel.
US09690956B2
A system, method and device are provided for detecting the presence of, and/or obtain information about, a replaceable component for a host system. A host system has an ultrasonic transducer or transducer pair that detects the presence of, and/or obtains information about, a replaceable component for a host system through receipt or non-receipt of an ultrasonic signal. The replaceable component includes a key or other feature that either allows the transmission or reflection of a transmitted ultrasonic signal, or which does not allow the reception or reflection of the transmitted ultrasonic signal, depending on the host configuration.
US09690950B2
The invention proposes a method for exporting data of a Javacard application stored in a UICC to a host, the method consisting in: transmitting a transfer order to the application through a Javacard API; formatting the data in a pack, wherein the formatting is realized by the application; exporting the pack to the host.
US09690947B2
Method of processing a guest event in a hypervisor-controlled system, which includes: triggering a first firmware service specific for the guest event; the firmware processing information associated with the guest event, and presenting only a subset of the information of a guest state and memory in decrypted form to a hypervisor, where the subset of the information is selected to allow the hypervisor to process the guest event; the firmware retaining a part of the information of the guest state and memory not sent to the hypervisor; the hypervisor processing the guest event based on the received subset of the information, and sending a process result to the firmware, triggering a second firmware service; the firmware processing the received process result together with the part of the information of the guest state and memory not sent to the hypervisor, and generates and performs a state and/or memory modification.
US09690944B2
Disclosed are systems and method or updating full disk encryption (FDE) software on a computer. An example method comprises: obtaining an updated version of the FDE software; blocking operations of the FDE software on a boot drive of the computer; updating one or more components of the FDE software based on the updated version of the FDE software; modifying a booting process of an operating system of the computer to allow execution of a new version of a pre-boot compatibility verification component before the booting process; executing the new version of the pre-boot compatibility verification component, without decrypting and encrypting data on the boot drive, to determine if the boot drive is compatible with the updated FDE software; and if the boot drive is determined to be compatible with the updated FDE software, performing the booting process of the operating system of the computer.
US09690939B2
A method of safe file transmission and reputation lookup is provided. As a part of the safe file transmission and reputation lookup methodology, a data file that is to be made available to a data file receiver is accessed and it is determined whether the data file needs to be provided a protective file. The data file is wrapped in a protective file to create a non-executing package file. Access is provided to the non-executing package file where the associated data file is prevented from being executed until data file reputation information is received.
US09690937B1
A computer-implemented technique provides rules for use in a malicious activity detection system. The technique involves performing evaluation operations on a plurality of malicious activity detection rules. The technique further involves ranking the plurality of malicious activity detection rules in an order based on results of the evaluation operations (e.g., sorting the rules systematically in an order based on measures such as precision, recall, correlation to other rules already in use, etc.). The technique further involves, based on the order of the plurality of malicious activity detection rules, providing a malicious activity detection rule report which recommends a set of malicious activity detection rules of the plurality of malicious activity detection rules for use in the malicious activity detection system.
US09690926B2
A device may determine that a user device should be authenticated; and determine a confidence measurement based on an established activity pattern of the user device. The confidence measurement may relate to a likelihood that an authorized user of the user device is in possession of the user device. The device may authenticate the user device based on the confidence measurement.
US09690922B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a system, apparatus, and method for providing anti-replay protection of data stored in a non-volatile memory device. Some embodiments describe an anti-replay protection (ARP) device that may protect an external non-volatile memory device from replay attacks.
US09690921B2
A processing apparatus includes a process performing unit, an operation unit, a processor and memory. The processing apparatus receives first identification information from a communication device, acquires second identification information input by the operation unit, determines whether registration of the first and second identification information is permitted, registers registration information in which the first and second identification information are associated, when the first identification information is received after registering the registration information, performs authentication based on the first identification information, and, when the second identification information is acquired after registering the registration information, performs authentication based on the second identification information. In both cases where the authentication has been performed based on the first and second identification information, the process performing unit performs the specific process by using information managed in association with the registration information.
US09690915B2
Devices, systems, and methods of detecting user identity, differentiating between users of a computerized service, detecting a possible cyber-attacker, detecting a remote access user, and detecting an automated script or malware. The methods include monitoring of user-side input-unit interactions, in general and in response to an interference introduced to user-interface elements. The monitored interactions are used for detecting an attacker that utilizes a remote access channel; for detecting a malicious automatic script, as well as malicious code injection; to identify a particular hardware assembly; to perform user segmentation or user characterization; to enable a visual login process with implicit two-factor authentication; to enable stochastic cryptography; and to detect that multiple users are utilizing the same subscription account.
US09690908B2
A method of managing a taking medicine, user terminal for the same and system therefor are disclosed. The present invention includes detecting an identification information of a medicine using a user terminal, transmitting a taking medicine information of the medicine from a sever to the user terminal using the detected identification information, setting a user's taking medicine schedule in the user terminal in accordance with the taking medicine information. Accordingly, a user is guided in taking a medicine. And, it is able to check whether a medicine has been taken.
US09690905B2
A dialysis system includes: a home dialysis machine located at a patient's home; a clinician computer associated with a dialysis center, the dialysis center located remotely from the home dialysis machine; a server in data communication with the home dialysis machine and the clinician computer; and wherein the system is configured and arranged for (i) treatment data to be sent by the home dialysis machine to the clinician computer via the server, and (ii) the treatment data to be analyzed to form a treatment prescription that is delivered to and used by the home dialysis machine to perform a subsequent treatment.
US09690894B1
This disclosure relates generally to electronic design automation using high level synthesis techniques to generate circuit designs that include safety features. The algorithmic description representation can be specified in a first language and include at least one programming language construct associated with a first safety data type. Compiling the algorithmic description may involve identifying the at least one construct, accessing a first safety data type definition associated with the first safety data type, and generating a second representation of the circuit design based on the algorithmic description representation and the first safety data type definition. The second representation can be provided in a second language and include at least one safety feature for a portion of the circuit design associated with the at least one construct.
US09690888B2
An apparatus for system design verification has a test case module for compiling a test case in a scripting language (such as TCL) and a testbench including the design under test and operating with a Hardware Descriptor Language (such as SystemVerilog). A stimulus generated by the test case module is applied to the testbench through an interface gasket based on ‘C’.
US09690877B1
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for enhancing user interaction with the Internet of Things. The system includes a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes a database having one or more options corresponding to each of the Internet of Things. The memory further includes instructions executable by the processor to share at least one of the one or more options with one or more users of the things. Further, the instructions receive information corresponding to selection of the at least one option by the one or more users. Additionally, the instructions update the database based on the selection of the at least one option by the one or more users. Further, a device for enhancing interaction with the things is also disclosed.
US09690876B2
A method is provided for providing superviews of geospatial arrangements. Users may configure a superview by providing a unit(s) and filtering criteria. Subunits belonging to the unit(s) and satisfying the filtering criteria may be displayed in a graphical superview, including additional pertinent information relative to the subunits. The graphical superview may be updated automatically to reflect the most up to date information. A server may be preconfigured to receive a superview configuration and automatically cause the corresponding graphical superview to be displayed on a client device.
US09690867B2
A server device may store information identifying multiple routes. Each of the multiple routes may identify a sequence in which pages were individually selected. The server device may determine respective time-domain functions for each of the multiple routes. Each of the time-domain functions may represent a series of data points corresponding to the sequence in which the web pages were selected. The server device may determine respective frequency-domain functions based on the respective time-domain functions; determine route metrics for each of the multiple routes based on the respective frequency-domain functions; sort the multiple routes based on the route metrics; and store or output information regarding the sorted multiple routes.
US09690851B2
Searches for content may be improved with unique reserved phrases. Reserved phrases may direct queries to specific preselected section of content. Synonyms may be generated and associated with a reserved phrase such that even when queries do not include reserved phrases, the synonyms may be used to map queries to the reserved phrases and the associated content. Synonyms may be generated and filtered such that a synonym is only associated with one reserved phrase thereby reducing search ambiguity.
US09690831B2
A computer-implemented system and method for visual search construction, document triage, and coverage tracking is provided. One or more search topics are received from a user. The search topics are positioned along a graph to generate a query. A search for resulting topics that are related to one or more of the search topics is conducted using the query. The topic results are displayed in the graph in relation to the placed search topics of the query.
US09690828B1
A search query is received from a search engine of multiple search engines. One or more search results from each search engine of the multiple search engines in response to the search query are received. Each search result of the one or more search results includes a first search score. A factor is determined for each search result of the one or more search results. A second search score is determined for each search result of the one or more search results based on the first search score and the factor. The one or more search results are displayed to a user of the search engine in an order. The order is based on the second search score.
US09690825B2
Systems and methods that enable relationship information to be carried along with the entity when serializing/deserializing entities among application tiers. A tracking component tracks information on relationships associated with an entity, and further enables users to perform subsequent change processing on the entity's relationship information. Accordingly, relationship information can be carried along with the entity such that database operation can be performed without requirement of additional information from the database (e.g., foreign key information that is part of associated graphs).
US09690823B2
A append-only data storage system that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices. When an extent becomes full, the system changes the extent from an open state, wherein data can be appended to the extent, to a closed state, wherein data cannot be appended to the extent. This change involves performing a synchronization operation by: obtaining a list of data blocks in the extent from each storage device that has a copy of the extent; forming a union of the lists; looking up data blocks from the union in a database that maps data blocks to storage devices and extents to determine which data blocks belong in the extent; and if a copy of the extent is missing data blocks that belong in the extent, performing a remedial action before changing the extent from the open state to the closed state.
US09690821B2
Described are methods, systems and computer readable media for position-index mapping in a computer data system.
US09690818B2
Systems, methods, computer program product embodiments are provided for locking retained resources of database information in a distributed shared disk cluster environment. An embodiment includes providing a request on demand for physical access to a page by a task of a node among a cluster of nodes, managing selective bypassing of waiting access requests to the page at intranode and internode levels in response to the request on demand, and handling requests for page ownership to prioritize a request on demand. Further included are determining whether another node holds a lock on the page and identifying an access type for the waiting access requests in order to coordinate transfer of the lock to the node.
US09690817B2
A method, a computer program product, and a computer system for selecting songs using a heart rate change, a blood pressure change, and a facial expression of a listener. A computer receives a song from a music source selected by a listener and determines whether the song is appropriate. The computer starts to play the song, in response to determining that the song is appropriate. A camera connected to the computer detects a facial expression of the listener. The computer determines whether the facial expression is positive. In response to determining that the facial expression is positive, the computer the song in full. The camera connected to the computer detects a heart rate change and a blood pressure change of the listener. The computer tags the song with updated information.
US09690811B1
Techniques are provided for manifesting a multiple repository system as a single repository to an application that is designed to use a single repository. According to one aspect, a particular container, which is used by the application to store data, is identified. One or more additional containers are created in one or more different repositories. Each of the additional containers is formatted to store the data that the application stores in the particular container. A construct is created. The construct is associated with the particular container's identifier. The construct causes information from the particular container and each of the additional containers to be combined to answer database commands that reference the particular container's identifier. As a result, data stored in a single repository can be distributed among multiple repositories, and the unmodified application can continue to access that data as though the data was stored in the single repository.
US09690810B2
Systems and methods for managing databases are disclosed. One disclosed system includes a processor-addressable physical memory and a processor in communication with said processor-addressable physical memory and configured to execute an environment and to allocate an environment memory to said environment. In such a system, said environment is configured to maintain a database of objects in a database memory within said environment memory. An application executes in an application memory within said environment memory, and upon instantiation of a database object, the application environment allocates memory in said database for said database object, the database providing master storage for said database object. Upon an instruction to obtain said database object from said application, the environment provides to said application a reference to said database object; and upon an access operation on said database object by said application, provides to said application direct access to data of said database object.
US09690805B1
Providing information includes identifying documents that are responsive to a query, some of the documents each being associated with a geographic feature, and providing a list of the documents in a sequence that is determined based on rank scores derived from one or more properties of the geographic features associated with the documents.
US09690799B2
Data records of a data set can be stored in multiple main part fragments retained in on-disk storage. Each fragment can include a number of data records that is equal to or less than a defined maximum fragment size. Using a compression that is optimized for each fragment, each fragment can be compressed. After reading at least one of the fragments into main system memory from the on-disk storage, an operation can be performed on the fragment or fragments while the in the main system memory.
US09690798B2
A system for determining a time that a file was created and associating an ID with the file based on the file creation time is disclosed. The system adjusts the creation time by a time zone offset. In the case of image files, the file creation time may be based on information associated with the image: (1) by the camera that took the picture (exchangeable image file data); (2) when the photo was last modified in memory (file modification time data); (3) based on the raw date and time the photo file was created (file date-time data); and (4) when the photo was imported onto a client device. The system may rename the file with this adjusted creation time to create a standardized name. As a result, the standardized name provides a filename nomenclature that is based on the actual or estimated time of when the file was created.
US09690788B2
A method and system for file type identifying and analyzing, are high in processing efficiency and accuracy, simple in parameter configuring and speedy in analyzing. The method for file type identifying and analyzing is a method for identifying file type read from a database and making an analysis, including the following steps: a loading step for loading file type and file format parameters into a memory; a file reading step for reading files from the memory; a file type identifying step for determining whether the read files are of the file type that can be identified by the memory; a file analyzing step for analyzing files and generating an analysis report in the event that the file type can be identified. The time required for file analysis can be effectively shortened and the accuracy of file identifying and analyzing can be ensured.
US09690785B1
A collaborative document editing system receives an input to a document from a first user. The collaborative document editing system identifies a portion of the document associated with the input and a set of users associated with the identified portion of the document. The collaborative document editing system applies the input to the document and transmits a notification regarding the input to members of the identified set of users other than the first user.
US09690777B1
A method and system for translating and propagating listings amongst listing websites is provided. In an embodiment, a request is received to propagate listings from a first listing website. Application server interface instructions are executed to make calls to APIs of a first listing website server for one or more listings. One or more listings in a first language are received from the first listing website and translated into one or more second languages. The translations are then used to generate one or more second listings for one or more second listing websites.
US09690763B1
A first computer may download one or more webpage files containing code that specifies webpage elements for display on a first computer and second computer (or the second computer only). The first computer may send an indication of the webpage elements to the second computer for the second computer to display, or the first computer may send an indication of certain webpage files to the second computer for the second computer to download and process for display. Also, some webpage files may contain webpage elements for the first computer to display. In some cases, the first and second computer may both display elements of a webpage.
US09690753B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for caching of a hierarchical model of a network site. Upon receiving a request to resolve a network site, a hierarchical site model associated with a network site is retrieved. A directory model associated with the network site is also retrieved. A caching process is initiated that retrieves at least a subset of page models and loads them into a cache. The caching process is executed in parallel with the processing of the hierarchical site model.
US09690750B2
An arithmetic device including: a plurality of parallel processors, and a processor configured to control the plurality of parallel processors so as to calculate an approximate solution of an equation by using a first algorithm and a second algorithm switchably, each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm being algorithms providing an iterative method, the second algorithm causing a divergence more likely than the first algorithm, the second algorithm being performed more efficiently by the plurality of parallel processors than the first algorithm, the first algorithm and the second algorithm being switched each other between at least one pair of iterative steps of the iterative method.
US09690748B1
Described herein are systems and methods providing notifications to an application in a background state on a device such as a user device. The device may be resource constrained such as having limited memory, processor, power, or other resources for execution of applications. While in a background state, notifications from other applications may be sent to the application in the background state. To other applications, the application in the background state may appear to be operating in the foreground.
US09690747B2
An array processor composed of processor cells that are programmed by a controlling unit, and that are reprogrammed when a cell has finished a current data processing operation, even while other cell continue to process data with their current programming.
US09690734B2
A plurality of data links interconnects a number (N) of nodes of a large-scale, parallel system with minimum data transfer latency. A maximum number (K) of the data links connect each node to the other nodes. The number (N) of the nodes is related to the maximum number (K) of the data links by the expression: N=2K. An average distance (A) of the shortest distances between all pairs of the nodes, and a diameter (D), which is a largest of the shortest distances, are minimized.
US09690730B2
A register slicing circuit includes first and second register circuits, a forward channel and a backward channel. The first and second register circuits sequentially store requests received from a plurality of master devices to output the stored requests toward a slave device. The forward channel is used for sending a first request from the first register circuit to the second register circuit, and the backward channel is used for sending back a second request from the second register circuit to the first register circuit.
US09690724B2
A network interface device capable of communication with a data processing system supporting an operating system and at least one application, the network interface device supporting communication with the operating system by means of: two or more data channels, each data channel being individually addressable by the network interface device and being capable of carrying application-level data between the network interface device and the data processing device; and a control channel individually addressable by the network interface device and capable of carrying control data between the network interface device, the control data defining commands and the network interface being responsive to at least one command sent over the control channel to establish at least one additional data channel.
US09690716B2
A processor includes a processing core to execute an application comprising instructions encoding a transaction with a persistent memory via a non-persistent cache, wherein the transaction is to create a mapping from a virtual address space to a memory region identified by a memory region identifier (MRID) in the persistent memory, and tag a cache line of the non-persistent cache with the MRID, in which the cache line is associated with a cache line status, and a cache controller, in response to detecting a failure event, to selectively evict contents of the cache line to the memory region identified by the MRID based on the cache line status.
US09690713B1
Various systems and methods to use a plurality of linked lists for keeping track of changes to be made in data sets currently in a flash memory. To enhance efficiency of the system, the changes to be made in any particular data set are aggregated in a random access memory (“RAM”) until a sufficient volume of changes have been aggregated to justify a rewrite of the flash memory block in which the particular data set is stored. Since a flash memory may have millions of memory blocks and data sets, there are potentially tremendous demands on the memory resources of the RAM to keep track of all the changes, but the problem presented by these potential demands is avoided through the use of linked lists, in which each list links all of the changes that have been aggregated in RAM and that apply to one specific data set.
US09690712B2
Machine logic (for example, software) for cache management. comprising cache management method includes the following operations: determining, in response to a cache entry is created, a category for the cache entry; and determining a predicted time point of an invalidation event associated with the category, wherein occurrence of the invalidation event will cause invalidation of catching entries of the category; setting a valid period of the cache entry based on the predicted time point.
US09690707B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates prefetching an instruction cache line in a processor. During execution of the processor, the system performs a current instruction cache access which is directed to a current cache line. If the current instruction cache access causes a cache miss or is a first demand fetch for a previously prefetched cache line, the system determines whether the current instruction cache access is discontinuous with a preceding instruction cache access. If so, the system completes the current instruction cache access by performing a cache access to service the cache miss or the first demand fetch, and also prefetching a predicted cache line associated with a discontinuous instruction cache access which is predicted to follow the current instruction cache access.
US09690703B1
Systems and methods which implement a buffer for storing data to be written to a storage device when a data write operation of the storage device is determined to be outside of an acceptable parameter are disclosed. An elasticity buffer of embodiments may provide buffering on an as needed basis with respect to storage device cache flushing operations to thereby persistently store dirty write data from a storage device cache when a storage device data write is experiencing aberrant operation, such as when the data write is taking too long. The resources of the storage device cache may thus be cleaned and made available for subsequent data caching. The data may subsequently be written from the elasticity buffer to the storage device, such as after recovery action is taken with respect to the storage device, when the storage device starts completing data write operations in a timely fashion, etc.
US09690699B1
A method and apparatus for performing storage and retrieval in an information storage system cache is disclosed that uses the hashing technique with the external chaining method for collision resolution. In order to prevent performance deterioration due to an unrestrained growth in the length of chains, an on-the-fly record removal technique is combined with background chain-pruning processes that continually trim long chains to keep chain lengths at an acceptable equilibrium without triggering abrupt, disruptive action at the time the system senses that it is stressed. More specifically, each insertion, retrieval, or deletion of a record is an occasion to rid an entire linked list of its records that have aged out. Additionally, concurrent background processes continually navigate the hash table, trimming those chains that are deemed excessively long. The aggressiveness of chain-pruning varies dynamically as the local and global state of the system fluctuates, pruning more when chains are long and the system is heavily loaded, and pruning less when chains are short and the system load is light.
US09690696B1
Memory lifetime extension for a data storage system having a first memory and a second memory includes determining a plurality of age-adjusted access values for a data block stored in the first memory based on access of the data block and at least one aging weight, determining an overall access value for the data block based on the plurality of age-adjusted access values, and determining if at least a portion of the data block should be stored in a cache memory of the second memory based on the overall access value. The at least one aging weight can be dynamically adjusted based on an expected remaining practical usable life of the second memory.
US09690693B2
A storage system includes a storage apparatus having a first storage unit having first storage and a first storage control unit controlling access to the first storage, and a first control unit controlling storage units including the first storage unit; a second storage unit having second storage and a second storage control unit controlling access to the second storage; and a second control unit controlling storage units including the second storage unit. The second storage unit and second control unit are added to the storage apparatus. the first control unit includes a memory unit storing allocation information including an allocation state of storage areas of the first and second storage, and a processor configured to execute rearrangement control of an allocated storage area based on the allocation information corresponding to unevenness between a storage capacity of an allocated storage area in the first storage and that in the second storage.
US09690691B2
According to one embodiment, a write instructing unit instructs a data access unit to write, in a storage area of a data storage unit indicated by a first physical address, write object data, instructs a management information access unit to update address conversion information, and instructs a first access unit to update the first physical address. A compaction unit extracts a physical address of compaction object data, instructs the data access unit to read the compaction object data stored in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by the physical address, instructs the data access unit to write the compaction object data in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by a second physical address, instructs the management information access unit to update the address conversion information, and instructs a second access unit to update the second physical address.
US09690690B1
Methods for reducing storage and performing static analysis on violations across code base revisions are disclosed. An example method begins with receiving a child snapshot representing a code base at a specific revision. A parent snapshot is identified. Then, canonical representations for violations representing coding defects in the parent and child snapshots are computed. An example method determines matching violations between the snapshots, unmatched parent violations, and unmatched child violations. For matching violations that have different canonical representations, a mapping between the parent snapshot violation and the child snapshot violation is stored using their respective canonical representations. For unmatched parent violations, each violation's canonical representation is stored with an indication that the violation has been eliminated from the child snapshot. For unmatched child violations, each violation's canonical representation is stored with an indication that the violation has been introduced in the child snapshot.
US09690687B2
A processor determines a timestamp for a signal based on a number of consecutive cycles that the signal is present on a trace bus. The processor writes a first part of the timestamp to a memory that is allocated for a timestamp of a trace entry. The processor overwrites one or more identified free bits with a second part of the timestamp of the trace entry.
US09690686B1
Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method for a user of an event-driven simulator to specify breakpoint conditions in kernel modules, startup processes, shared libraries, and other automatically loaded software elements before the target environment is initialized. The virtual platform detects specified breakpoints when a file is loaded onto a virtual platform debugger during startup of the environment or initialization of the relevant processes. The virtual platform debugger may scan for specified breakpoints in all loaded source code files, in only those source code files that are automatically loaded, or in only those source code files specified by the designer as modified.
US09690685B2
A method and apparatus of a device for performance management by terminating application programs that consume an excessive amount of system resources is described. The device receives a resource consumption threshold and a detection period. The device further monitors a resource usage of an application program. The device determines whether the resource usage of the application program exceeds the resource consumption threshold for the detection period. The device further terminates the application program when the resource usage exceeds the resource consumption threshold for the detection period.
US09690681B1
A method for automatically generating executable system-level tests may include receiving scenario information for testing a device under test (DUT). The method may also include analyzing the scenario information to determine whether there is a legal order in which some or all actions included in the test are to be executed by a plurality of processors of the DUT requiring that one or a plurality of the actions be performed before one or a plurality of other actions may be performed; and identify necessary communications between the processors relating to synchronization points between them. The method may further include automatically generating a test that includes a plurality of actions performed by some or all of the processors in compliance with the legal order.
US09690679B2
An embodiment provides a system and method for transaction commitment and replication. The method includes receiving a minitransaction from a client node at one or more memory nodes, wherein each memory node includes a number of replicas. The minitransaction is a type of transaction which atomically executes any combination of reading, comparing, and writing to any of a number of memory locations. The method also includes determining, for a leader of the replicas within a memory node, whether the leader is able to commit the minitransaction and stabilizing state changes of the minitransaction within a transaction log using a consensus procedure to update the replicas. The method further includes committing the minitransaction if, at each memory node, a quorum of the replicas is able to stabilize the minitransaction, or aborting the minitransaction otherwise.
US09690678B2
Systems and methods for resolving fault detection in a control system is provided. The system includes an I/O module operably connected to a first, second, and third microcontroller for transmitting data. The first microcontroller is in an active state, i.e., in control, while the remaining controllers are in an idle state. The system further includes an event generator for generating an event indicative of a fault occurrence, and a means for detecting a fault event. The system also includes a means for reassigning a controller, wherein upon detection of a fault event in both the first and second controllers, the means for reassigning a controller changes the state of the third controller to active, leaving the remaining controllers idle or in a shutdown state, thereby effectively assigning control from the first controller to the third controller.
US09690668B2
A system and method obtain a set of data and identify successive subsets of data within the set of data. A boundary identifying hash is calculated on a subset of data and compared with a boundary indicating value. If the calculated boundary identifying hash matches the boundary indicating value, a natural boundary is identified in the set of data.
US09690664B2
The present invention provides a storage system capable of preventing data loss when power failure or other failures occur to an external power supply, by determining whether the capacity corresponding to the write data can be saved from a volatile memory to a nonvolatile memory based on a charged capacity of a battery used as an internal power supply and a non-backed-up (not yet backed-up) data capacity from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory, when storing data from a host computer or a system drive to the volatile memory of the storage system. If it is determined that saving of data is possible, an area corresponding to the write data capacity is allocated in the volatile memory and data is written to the allocated area, but if it is determined that saving of data is not possible, the writing of data is suppressed.
US09690657B2
A computing device writes data across storage devices in an erasure-coded system. The computing device computes data blocks and parity blocks from data and computes a portion of the data to be stored in the system. The computing is performed by one or more controllers included in a redundant array of an independent disks controller. The computing device provides the locations of the data blocks and the parity blocks in storage devices of an erasure-coded system. The location is determined using one or more placement nodes. The placement nodes are configured for managing placement schemes of data blocks and parity blocks on the storage devices.
US09690652B2
According to one embodiment, a search device includes a first comparison module, a determination module, a correction module, a second comparison module, and a search module. The first comparison module compares a received first key with a second key read from a nonvolatile memory. The determination module determines whether error correction is possible based on a first comparison result obtained by the first comparison module. The correction module generates a third key by applying an error correction process to the second key if the determination module determines that error correction is possible. The second comparison module compares the first key with the third key. The search module reads data associated with the second key in the nonvolatile memory if a second comparison result obtained by the second comparison module shows a match.
US09690643B2
An engine-control computer including switches wherein switch voltage type outputs are configured to control some actuators and a device for detecting internal or external failures with respect to the computer including: a circuit for acquisition of current flowing in such a switch; a circuit for acquisition of an input voltage of the switch; a circuit for acquisition of an output voltage of the switch; an electrical monitoring circuit wherein the three inputs are connected respectively to outputs of each of the three circuits, which tests current and voltage level, delivers an invalid status if the current is less than a defined limit current and if the voltage is less than a defined threshold voltage and configured to detect an external failure with respect to the computer. A method detects failures of such a computer.
US09690632B2
An application manager receives or defines a service specification for a first application that defines a set of required computing resources that are necessary to run each application component of the first application. A resource supply manager in communication with the application manager manages a plurality of computing resources in a shared computing environment. The application manager is operable to request the set of required computing resources from the computing resource supply manager, and wherein the resource supply manager determines the availability of the required computing resources within the shared computing environment according to resource allocation policies and allocates computing resources to the application manager, and wherein the application manager is operable manage allocation of the computing resources to the first application, the application manager operable to create and manage deployment of instances of each application component of the first application on the allocated computing resources.
US09690624B1
Methods and systems disclosed herein relate generally to evaluating resource loads to determine when to transform queues and to specific techniques for transforming at least part of queues so as to correspond to alternative resources.
US09690621B2
A multitasking method of changing a state of an application changed to a background program of a lower priority to a freeze state which is a sleep mode or execute the application continuously in an unfreeze state which is an operation mode according to identification information, an activation state, etc. of the corresponding application to perform a multitasking operation and an electronic device therefor are provided. The method includes changing a first application program to a background program of a lower priority and executing a second application program as a foreground program of a higher priority and determining whether to change a state of the first application program changed to the background program to a freeze state which is a sleep mode or execute the first application program continuously in an unfreeze state which is an operation mode according to identification information of the first application program.
US09690620B2
Methods and architecture for dynamic polymorphic heterogeneous multi-core processor operation are provided. The method for dynamic heterogeneous polymorphic processing includes the steps of receiving a processing task comprising a plurality of serial threads. The method is performed in a processor including a plurality of processing cores, each of the plurality of processing cores being assigned to one of a plurality of core clusters and each of the plurality of core clusters capable of dynamically forming a coalition comprising two or more of its processing cores. The method further includes determining whether each of the plurality of serial threads requires more than one processing core, and sending a go-into-coalition-mode-now instruction to ones of the plurality of core clusters for handling ones of the plurality of serial threads that require more than one processing core.
US09690605B2
Examples disclosed herein relate to associating an identifier for a virtual machine with a published network configuration service type. Examples include configuring an edge switch with a network policy in response to receiving the identifier from the edge switch.
US09690603B2
To provide a new operation verification method for an information processing flow, a central processing unit capable of building a plurality of virtual cores on a physical core includes: an element or part for executing, on an own virtual core, or causing another virtual core on the same physical core to execute, a reference instruction of directly referring to a current register value used by an arbitrary virtual core from the another virtual core without influence on an execution context of the arbitrary virtual core; and an element or part for switching a permission or authorization for executing the reference instruction of referring to the register value among the plurality of virtual cores.
US09690599B2
Various methods for determining an active input area are provided. One example method includes acquiring frame buffer data defining an image area that has been refreshed and detecting a cursor within the frame buffer data. Detecting the cursor may include determining that dimensions of the image area match dimensions of a previously acquired image area associated with a successful cursor detection, and the example method may further include directing transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area to a remote environment. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
US09690598B2
This invention includes apparatus, systems, and methods for repairing a corrupted device still in the field by sending the corrupted device a known-good configuration derived from the majority group of devices in the field. First, an initial inventory and content scan of the device's hardware and software stack is taken. The attestation server uses the collection of results to determine a statistically known-good configuration for each type of device. The attestation server groups the known good devices by devices and ideally all of the devices of the same type are configured mostly the same. The attestation server sends an alert to the device that the device is configured differently than the plurality of existing devices. Finally, the attestation server will request a known-good configuration from one of the devices in the plurality of existing devices to repair the corrupted device in the field.
US09690596B1
Approaches for firmware-based runtime operating system switch. UEFI firmware receives a request to switch an active operating system on a device from a first operating system to a second operating system. The UEFI firmware changes the operational state of the first operating state to an ACPI S3 state. The UEFI firmware performs a set of ACPI S3 resume boot path operations on the second operating system to cause the second operating system to become the active operating system. The set of ACPI S3 resume boot path operations may be performed while the second operating system is loaded into a memory area inaccessible to the first operating system and the first operating system remains in the ACPI S3 state.
US09690589B2
An instruction set architecture (ISA) includes instructions for selectively indicating last-use architected operands having values that will not be accessed again, wherein architected operands are made active or inactive after an instruction specified last-use by an instruction, wherein the architected operands are made active by performing a write operation to an inactive operand, wherein the activation/deactivation may be performed by the instruction having the last-use of the operand or another (prefix) instruction.
US09690584B2
System and methods are provided for register allocation. An original code block and a target code block associated with a branch of an execution loop are determined. An original allocation of a plurality of physical registers to one or more original variables associated with the original code block is detected. A target allocation of the plurality of physical registers to one or more target variables associated with the target code block is determined. One or more temporary registers are selected from the plurality of physical registers based at least in part on the original allocation and the target allocation. The original allocation is changed to the target allocation using the selected temporary registers. Specifically, one or more instructions are generated to change the original allocation to the target allocation using the selected temporary registers. The instructions are executed using one or more processors.
US09690579B2
A first floating-point operation unit receives first and second variables and performs a first operation generating a first output. A first rounding unit receives and rounds the first output to generate a second output if a control bit is in a first state. A second floating-point operation unit receives a third variable and either the first output or the second output and performs a second operation on the third variable and either the first output or the second output, to generate a third output. The second floating-point operation unit receives and operates on the first output if the control bit is in the first state, or the second output if the control bit is in the second state. A second rounding unit receives and rounds the third output.
US09690575B2
A cloud-based decision management platform along with corresponding method, system, and a computer program product are disclosed. At least one component of at least one computing system is selected from a plurality of components of the computing system. The selected component is configured for execution during a runtime of the computing system. The configured component is executed during runtime. The components of the computing system are stored in a catalog module based on at least one characteristic that includes at least one of the following: analytics, decisioning, identity and access management, and optimization.
US09690572B2
A system controlled by firmware includes a memory and a processor. The memory includes a first memory block for storing non-programmable code used for performing key functions, and second and third memory blocks for storing programmable code used for performing normal functions. During operation, one of the second and third memory blocks in which the programmable code is being executed is an active memory block. After receiving new programmable code, the processor identifies the inactive memory block, stores the new programmable code therein, and switches to execute the new programmable code while continuing to perform the key functions using the non-programmable code.
US09690571B2
A low semiconductor area impact mechanism for patching operations stored in a boot memory area is provided, thereby providing flexibility to such code. In this manner, current flash memory manager SCRAM, which is used for memory operations when the flash memory is unavailable can be replaced with a significantly smaller register area (e.g., a flip flop array) that provides a small patch space, variable storage, and stack. Embodiments provide such space saving without modification to the CPU core, but instead focus on the external flash memory manager. Patch code can be copied into a designated register space. Since such code used during flash memory inaccessibility is typically small, patching is provided for just a small area of the possible flash memory map, and program flow is controlled by presenting the CPU core's own address to redirect the program counter to the patch area.
US09690568B2
A method of operation of a bundle management system includes: generating a resource bundle with client-based script code based on a client device condition of a potential client device; generating a condition map correlating the client device condition to the resource bundle; generating a bundle set including the resource bundle based on a developer version of the client-based script code; uploading the condition map to a web service system; and configuring the web service system to operate a web service corresponding to the developer version of the bundle set.
US09690567B2
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of software configuration management, and more particularly to validating, detecting, and dynamically handling software configurations and updates. A computing device detects a configuration event in a first computer program. The computing device includes a plurality of executing computer programs, wherein the plurality of executing computer programs includes the first computer program and a second computer program, and wherein the first computer program has a configurational relationship to the second computer program. The computing program determines whether the configuration event affects the second computer program. The computing device generates an action in response to the determination.
US09690565B2
An exemplary system and method avoids unannounced software updates for a connected device by acquiring installation consent from the user for each software update to the connected device. Consent is acquired by leveraging an extended interface application described below, to facilitate notifications from the connected device to the user and receive user inputs indicating consent in response to the notifications.
US09690561B2
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a preinstalled application management method for a mobile terminal, where storage space of the mobile terminal includes at least one directory, and an installation package of at least one preinstalled application is stored in the at least one directory. The method includes: starting the mobile terminal; scanning the at least one directory; and installing the installation package of the at least one preinstalled application in the at least one directory to generate a preinstalled application having user-level permission. Besides, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a mobile terminal. By using the method and the mobile terminal, the preinstalled application can be uninstalled.
US09690558B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for deploying a multiple target application (MTA). One example method includes identifying a MTA for deployment. The MTA includes one or more software modules and is associated with a deployment descriptor that identifies at least one dependency associated with the one or more software modules. One or more target platforms are identified for deployment of the MTA. The one or more software modules are deployed on the one or more target platforms. Deploying the one or more software modules includes implementing the at least one dependency identified in the deployment descriptor.
US09690549B2
A GUI screen may include text fields, and a first resource file includes text strings for the text fields. A text mapping file may be generated to include a module for each text string, with each module including a text string from the resource file and a text string identification. A first screenshot of the GUI screen may include an original first text string from s first module and an original second text string from a second module. Responsive to receiving user input of a new first text string, the first module may be updated with the new first text string, and a second screenshot of the GUI screen may be provided including the new first text string from first module and the original second text string from the second module. A second resource file may then be provided including the new first text string.
US09690547B1
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a user at a local machine to access a project. One or more programming languages used in the project are identified. Resource availability at the local machine is analyzed. An integrated development environment (IDE) is selected for the project, based at least in part on the one or more programming languages and the resource availability of the local machine. The IDE is provisioned automatically, by a computer processor, for the user in response to the request to access the project.
US09690545B2
A floating-point calculation apparatus comprising: a selection part; an addition and subtraction calculation part; an output determination part; and a buffer management part configured to add, when it is determined that a buffer used to store an input value is not prepared, a buffer that corresponds to the input value, wherein when a number of significant digits of the result of performing an addition and subtraction calculation exceeds a number of significant digits of the buffer selected by the selection part, the addition and subtraction calculation part shifts right or shifts left part of the result of performing the addition and subtraction calculation and divides the result of performing the addition and subtraction calculation into values each being storable in one of a plurality of buffers.
US09690538B1
Described herein is a system in which multiple display devices may be located remotely throughout a facility. The system receives location information for a number of users within the facility. The system is able to identify a set of users collocated with a particular display device and generate a set of configuration settings specific to that set of users. Information provided by the system, either in response to an information request or automatically, may be formatted and/or filtered according to the generated set of configuration settings. In some embodiments, the set of configuration settings may be compiled from each of the users in the set of users based on priority.
US09690537B2
An information processing apparatus that transmits image data to be displayed in a display unit to a display control apparatus and comprises a capture unit configured to capture the image data to be displayed, a transmission control unit configured to perform control such that the captured image data is transmitted to the display control apparatus, and a detection unit configured to detect an operation performed on the information processing apparatus. In a case where the detection unit detects a predetermined operation for changing a display appearance of the image data to be displayed, the transmission control unit performs control such that information of an amount of change resulting from the predetermined operation is transmitted to the display control apparatus.
US09690535B2
A display apparatus including a screen layer for displaying a unified image to a viewer and an illumination layer having an array of light sources. Each light source emits a light beam. An array of optical elements, each coupled to a corresponding light source in the array of light sources, is disposed between the screen layer and the illumination layer. The display layer includes a matrix of pixlets and a spacing region disposed between the pixlets in the matrix, wherein the array of light sources emit their light beams through the array of optical elements, wherein each optical element is configured to shape the received light beam into a divergent projection beam having a limited angular spread to project sub-images displayed by the pixlets as magnified sub-images on the backside of the screen layer, the magnified sub-images to combine to form the unified image that is substantially seamless.
US09690521B2
A print control device includes an application identification executor that identifies an application, a special print function detector that detects a special print function of the application, a view generator that generates a special function settings view showing the special print function of the application, a display controller that displays a print settings screen on a display device upon instructions for printing from the application, the print settings screen enclosing the special function settings view, and a transmitter that transmits print data to a printing apparatus, the print data being in a predetermined form, the print data including print settings configured by a user via the print settings screen.
US09690519B2
Provided are a solid state drive (SSD) card and an electronic system including the same. The electronic system includes a main board to which an input device and an output device are connected. A central processing unit (CPU) and a platform hub (PH) are provided on the main board. The PH is electrically connected to a hybrid interface socket. The hybrid interface socket includes a secure digital (SD) card interface and a non-SD card interface. When the SSD card and the electronic system including the same are used, a storage capacity may be conveniently upgraded to a higher capacity. Also, since the hybrid interface socket is provided in place of a conventional SD card socket, additional space is not required and thus space may be efficiently used.
US09690510B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a memory device wherein a single memory cell array is partitioned between two or more tiers which are vertically integrated on a single substrate. The memory device also includes support circuitry including a control circuit configured to read and write data to the memory cells on each tier, and a shared input/output (I/O) architecture which is connected the memory cells within each tier and configured to receive input data word prior to a write operation, and further configured to provide output data word after a read operation. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
US09690506B2
In some examples, a local, non-tape based storage is to emulate tape storage elements at a first virtual tape library. A data structure associates first emulated tape storage elements of an emulated tape library with the storage elements in the first virtual tape library and associates second emulated tape storage elements of the emulated tape library with storage elements emulated by a remote storage in a second virtual tape library that is separate from the first virtual tape library, where the first virtual tape library is to present the emulated tape library that includes the storage elements of the first and second virtual tape libraries to a requesting entity that is separate from the first and second virtual tape libraries.
US09690504B1
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and system comprising setting a configuration of a virtual machine to boot into a replication virtual machine or a production virtual machine, booting the virtual machine to the set configuration, and upon a failover, rebooting the virtual machine into the other configuration.
US09690496B2
The invention is directed towards a system and method that utilizes external memory devices to cache sectors from a rotating storage device (e.g., a hard drive) to improve system performance. When an external memory device (EMD) is plugged into the computing device or onto a network in which the computing device is connected, the system recognizes the EMD and populates the EMD with disk sectors. The system routes I/O read requests directed to the disk sector to the EMD cache instead of the actual disk sector. The use of EMDs increases performance and productivity on the computing device systems for a fraction of the cost of adding memory to the computing device.
US09690494B2
System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate access to a memory device. A memory space within the memory device is divided into a plurality of storage bank domains. Thereafter, application interface circuits configured to access the memory space are classified into a plurality of interface groups based on one or more application usage requirements. Each interface group of the plurality of interface groups is assigned to a corresponding storage bank domain from the plurality of storage bank domains. Access between each interface group and the corresponding storage bank domain is then provided, wherein a first application interface circuit of a first interface group accesses a first corresponding storage bank domain while a second application interface circuit of a second interface group accesses a second corresponding storage bank domain.
US09690486B2
Reducing time required to write a file to tape is provided. Synchronous processing is performed in a file system implementing a Linear Tape File System (LTFS) file format, wherein the synchronous processing includes writing, to a tape medium of a tape cartridge, index information and one or more files. A type of the synchronous processing is determined, wherein the type is either an index-MAM sync type or an index-only sync type. Updated information is stored to a media auxiliary memory of the tape cartridge in response to determining that the synchronous processing is of the index-MAM sync type.
US09690484B2
Various embodiments of the present invention that include arranging a first storage device and second storage device to store data in a mirrored configuration. Upon receiving a message indicating that the first storage device is in an error recovery mode, the host processor can convey a second request to read the data from the second storage device. The storage device is selected from a list comprising a hard disk drive and a solid state disk drive, and the hard disk drive comprises a disk head having a magnetoresistive (MR) element configured to read and write data to and from the storage media, and coupled to an analog/digital (A/D) converter, and wherein the error recovery operation is selected from a list comprising changing an automatic gain control of the A/D converter, positioning the disk head off-track in order to read the data, and adjusting a bias value of the MR element.
US09690480B2
Various embodiments of the invention may be used to verify that a person being authorized by biometric techniques to use a device is a living person and not some form of recording intended to spoof the system. Some embodiments may try to cause a change in a measured biometric feature, and compare images taken before and after the change to verify the change occurred. In some embodiments, multiple stages of verification may be used, either to increase the difficulty of spoofing the security system, or to provide different levels of security for different levels of access to the device's functionality.
US09690476B2
A method includes displaying information on a display of an electronic device and detecting a gesture requesting display of information associated with an application. In response to detecting the gesture and while the gesture continues, displaying the requested information and, when a touch location of the gesture is associated with the first selection option, performing a function associated with the first selection option.
US09690472B2
The invention provides a display method for sharing information among various users. The method includes: detecting a first operation, where the first operation is associated with an object needed to be displayed; in response to the first operation, determining a first identifier from invoked usage information; displaying an interface needed to be displayed corresponding to the object needed to be displayed in a first display area corresponding to the first identifier. The invention further provides an electronic device to implement the method.
US09690471B2
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a user interface facilitating a setting of an additional function on an icon can be provided. One embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit, a user input unit configured to receive an input of a command from a user, and a controller generating a first attribute-giving icon corresponding to a first attribute on the display unit in accordance with a first input via the user input unit, the controller, if a distance between the first attribute-giving icon and a second icon displayed on the display unit is changed into a prescribed range in accordance with a second input via the user input unit, controlling the first attribute to be given to the second icon.
US09690460B2
Operations for identifying user-selectable elements are detailed in the present application, the operations comprising providing a first group of user-selectable elements having a first attribute in common, displaying the first group of user-selectable elements in a first array thereof, providing a second group of user-selectable elements having a second attribute in common, displaying the second group of user-selectable elements in a second array thereof, and displaying a visual distinctive feature in connection with a set of user-selectable elements having a third attribute in common, the set of user-selectable elements comprising at least one user-selectable element from the first group of user-selectable elements and at least one user-selectable elements from the second group of user-selectable elements, wherein the third attribute is associated with each user-selectable elements in the set of user-selectable elements irrespective of the position of each user-selectable element in relation to one another in the first array and the second array, the visual distinctive feature identifying the user-selectable elements associated with the third attribute from the user-selectable elements not associated with the third attribute. Variations thereof, non-transitory instructions and, inter alia, a graphical user interface thereof are also contemplated therein.
US09690454B2
Digital data structures of cell sites that can be reviewed, interrogated and manipulated so that users can investigate the cell site remotely. The digital data structures contain data for the elevated antenna holding structure and for each desired cell site component, such as the cellular antennas, microwave dishes. The digital data structures contain high resolution optical information about the cell site so that desired elements can be distinguished and read; relative spatial relationship data so that the relative spatial relationships between the different components can be determined to and automatically generated angular adjustment data to reduce perspective distortions of the cell site components.
US09690444B1
A method delivers a help process customized for a particular operating environment using a help system that initially has more generic content. The method includes obtaining system-specific information about a target system. A wrapper is instantiated by invoking it with the system-specific information as invocation parameters, the wrapper providing wrapper methods for modifying help content files of the help system that initially store the more generic content. The wrapper then (1) instantiates the help system, and (2) uses the wrapper methods to modify the help content files based on the invocation parameters to include the system-specific information instead of or in addition to the more generic content. The help system subsequently uses the help content files as modified in subsequent operation. In operation, the help system reflects the system-specific information, providing desirable customized functionality while leveraging automated design tools used to generate the more generic help system content.
US09690442B2
A method to receive an image to be displayed within an animation sequence. The method also including calculating position data identifying a position of the image within a display area, the position data calculated using a physics property attributed to the image. Further, the method including the transmission of the position data for use in generating the animation sequence. Additionally, a method is provided that includes making a request for an animation sequence that includes an image and position data for the image, the position data identifying a plurality of positions relative to a display area and calculated though applying a physics property to the image. This method further includes receiving the animation sequence for display in a display area. The method additionally includes displaying the image in the display area based upon the position data.
US09690433B2
The present invention provides a touch substrate and a touch screen. The touch substrate comprises first electrodes and electrodes which intersect with each other, each first electrode includes a plurality of first metal meshes, adjacent first metal meshes are connected through a connection portion, each second electrode includes a plurality of second metal meshes, adjacent second metal meshes are connected through a connection bridge, the first metal meshes, the second metal meshes and the connection portion are in the same layer, and an insulation layer is provided between the layer in which the connection portion is located and the layer in which the connection bridge is located, at least a part of edges of the first metal mesh is provided with a first side strip thereat, the first side strip is adjacent to a corresponding second metal mesh and is connected to the first metal mesh.
US09690428B2
An optical touch screen apparatus in which an oxide semiconductor transistor is used as a light sensing device, and a method of driving the optical touch screen apparatus. The optical touch screen apparatus includes an array including a plurality of light sensing pixels for sensing incident light, a gate driver for providing each of the light sensing pixels with a gate voltage and a reset signal and a signal output unit for receiving a light sensing signal from each of the plurality of light sensing pixels to output a data signal. The gate driver includes a plurality of gate lines that provide a gate voltage to each of the light sensing pixels and at least one reset line that provides a reset signal to each of the light sensing pixels and is electrically connected to the plurality of light sensing pixels.
US09690427B2
A user interface device for detecting an operation, by a finger of a user, on an operation member presented on a projection surface includes a distance detector for detecting a distance to the projection surface, and a distance to the finger, and a controller for detecting the operation based on the distances detected by the distance detector. When presence of the finger between the projection surface and the distance detector is determined, the controller calculates a normal vector of the projection surface based on distances from the distance detector to positions of at least three points on a surface of the projection surface and a distance from the distance detector to the finger, and detects, based on the normal vector, presence or absence of an operation on the operation member.
US09690422B2
Provided is a touch panel apparatus capable of easily setting a touch sense produced by oscillatory waves of plural piezoelectric elements according to a user's taste. To this end, a touch sense pattern table (51) stores a plurality of touch sense pattern values made up of plural parameter values of a voltage table (52), plural parameter values of a frequency table (53), and plural parameter values of a phase difference table (54). A vibration diving control part (18) applies a driving signal to the piezoelectric elements of first to third groups to vibrate the touch panel (12) based on the parameter values acquired from the voltage table (52), the parameter values acquired from the frequency table (53), and the parameter values acquired from the phase difference table (54), correspondingly to the plurality of the touch sense patterns stored in the touch sense pattern table 51.
US09690417B2
The dynamic adjusting of the conditions for identifying inputs as touching a touch-sensitive device is discloses. In some examples, in addition to using a signal density make threshold to identify an input patch as touching the surface, a signal density stability threshold can be used to identify the input patch as touching the surface. In some examples, a weighted average of peak signal density contributions from recent identified touches can be computed to dynamically adjust the make threshold for new input patches. In other examples, a new input patch identified as associated with the same path as an earlier touch can have its “make” threshold dynamically adjusted based on the earlier touch without computing a weighted average.
US09690415B2
Rather than crowding all functionalities into a single monolithically integrated circuit and thus causing concentration of power dissipation, there is provided a touch screen display device in which a multifunctional smart IC is separated from a simplified display driver circuit. The smart IC includes a logic unit for driving a touch screen panel and a logic unit for driving a display panel. The touch screen display device includes not only the touch screen panel, the display panel, the simplified display driver circuit and the smart IC but may further optionally include a controllable power supply that is controlled by the smart IC. The smart IC includes a first logic unit for driving the touch screen panel and a second logic unit for driving the display panel. The display driver circuit is coupled to receive pre-processed display data and a driving synchronization signal from the second logic unit of the smart IC.
US09690414B2
A touch sensor that includes a pressure detection sensor and a position detection sensor. The pressure detection sensor includes a piezoelectric film, a first piezoelectricity detecting electrode adjacent a first principal surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second piezoelectricity detecting electrode adjacent a second principal surface of the piezoelectric film. The position detection sensor includes a dielectric substrate, a plurality of first position detecting electrodes adjacent a first principal surface of the dielectric substrate, and a plurality of second position detecting electrodes adjacent a second principal surface of the dielectric substrate. In the pressure detection sensor, the second piezoelectricity detecting electrode includes an electrode non-forming section in a region where the first position detecting electrode and the second position detecting electrode overlap each other.
US09690407B2
A cover plate used for an electronic device is provided. The cover plate includes a plate and a conductive layer. The plate has two surfaces opposite to each other and a lateral surface connected between the two surfaces. The lateral surface of the plate is framed by the conductive layer which is electrically connected to a ground end of the electronic device. The disclosure further provides an electronic device including the cover plate and a main body. The main body is disposed within the electronic device and electrically connected to the conductive layer.
US09690401B2
A first computing device is provided for optimizing motion of a pointer associated with a pointing device. The first computing device can include one or more processors configured to provide a first virtual machine. The first virtual machine can be configured to obtain at least one of a first attribute and a second attribute, relating to a display area, and determine, based on at least one of the first attribute and the second attribute, at least one of a first scaling factor and a second scaling factor. The first virtual machine can be further configured to optimize a motion of the pointer based on at least one of the first scaling factor and the second scaling factor, and provide information corresponding to the optimized motion of the pointer to the second virtual machine.
US09690399B2
A signal decoding and modulation processing system for capacitive stylus is disclosed. The system includes a micro controller unit (MCU) and a digital processing unit. The digital processing unit is electrically connected to the MCU. The digital processing unit includes a decoding module and a modulating module. The decoding module is configured to decode an input signal from a touch panel, so as to generate a decoded input content. Then, the MCU generates a feedback data according to the decoded input content. The modulating module receives the feedback data from the MCU and performs a modulation process accordingly for generating a differential binary phase shift keying (DBPSK) output signal, which is sent back to the touch panel.
US09690397B2
A processing system, input device, and method are disclosed to detect an active input device. The method includes operating a first portion of a plurality of sensor electrodes to receive an active input signal from an active input device, and operating a second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes to receive capacitive sensing data corresponding to a passive input device. The first and second portions include at least one sensor electrode in common. The method also includes driving a plurality of display electrodes to update a display image, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least one of the plurality of display electrodes.
US09690396B1
A paperless blueprint drafting table system for full-scale viewing, editing, and annotating of paperless blueprints features a base having a pivoting table top located thereon. The table top features a planar table top surface. A table top aperture is centrally located in the table top. The table top is located at an adjustable angle with respect to the base. The system features a transparent window located in the table top aperture having a planar window top surface. The window top surface is located flush with the table top surface on a window ledge. The window is rigid, scratch resistant, and break resistant. The system features a display screen located in the base close to the window bottom surface. The display screen displays blueprints through the window for viewing, editing, and annotating via a stylus device.
US09690379B2
A system includes a host computer configured to generate a graphical interface that includes a graphical object, obtain at least one spoken utterance, control an interaction of the graphical object within the graphical interface based on the spoken utterance, and generate an activating signal based on the spoken utterance. An interface device is configured to receive the spoken utterance, provide the spoken utterance to the host computer, and control the graphical object within the graphical interface based on the provided spoken utterance. The graphical object includes a graphical representation within the graphical interface. An actuator is disposed within a housing of the interface device, thereby protecting the actuator from contact by the user, and is configured to receive the activating signal from the host computer. The activating signal causes the actuator to impart a force via the housing.
US09690371B2
When a hand of the user is recognized in an image pickup region of a camera, a head mounted display monitors behavior of the hand in the image pickup region. When the hand of the user in the image pickup region reaches an outer peripheral region forming an outer periphery of the image pickup region, a notification is give to the user.
US09690363B2
A method and system for optimizing a core voltage level of a portable computing device (“PCD”) and enhancing frequency performance of individual subcomponents are disclosed. A plurality of voltage values for a plurality of subsystems is determined. At least one subsystem is a multiplexed subsystem. Next, a reduced set of voltage values is calculated based on the plurality of voltage values and an optimized voltage level is determined for a shared power domain. The shared power domain is subsequently set to the optimized voltage level. If the optimized voltage level is determined to exceed a required voltage level for the at least one multiplexed subsystem when it is running the plurality of processing engines, a subset of the plurality of processing engines may be identified to process a workload of the multiplexed system at a more efficient level of power consumption than the full plurality of processing engines.
US09690362B2
The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument control circuit. The control circuit includes a primary processor, a safety processor in signal communication with the primary processor, the safety processor, and a segmented circuit. The segmented circuit includes a plurality of circuit segments in signal communication with the primary processor. The plurality of circuit segments is configured to control one or more operations of the surgical instrument. The safety processor is configured to monitor one or more parameters of the plurality of circuit segments.
US09690360B2
Technologies for discontinuous execution include a compiler computing device and one or more target computing devices. The compiler computing device converts a computer program into a sequence of atomic transactions and coalesces the transactions to generate additional sequences of transactions. The compiler computing device generates an executable program including two or more sequences of transactions having different granularity. A target computing device selects an active sequence of transactions from the executable program based on the granularity of the sequence and a confidence level. The confidence level is indicative of available energy produced by an energy harvesting unit of the target computing device. The target computing device increases the confidence level in response to successfully committing transactions from the active sequence of transactions into non-volatile memory. In response to a power failure, the target computing device resets the confidence level and resumes executing the transactions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09690355B2
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device can be in an operating state and a standby state with a choice of a plurality of standby state levels and has a CPU, an interrupt control circuit, and a hardware control circuit. The CPU makes a comparison of a first return time period corresponding to a first standby state level that is a shallowest one selected from among allowable standby state levels set for one or more tasks executed immediately before transition to the standby state with a second return time period selected from among allowable return time periods set for the one or more tasks executed, changes a standby state level of the standby state if the first return time period is judged to be longer than the second return time period as a result of the comparison, and controls the hardware control circuit.
US09690335B2
Technology is provided for a storage device storage tray for use with one or more storage devices. The storage device storage tray includes a chassis having at least one storage region and a storage frame positioned in the storage region that is pivotably coupled to the chassis. The storage frame is pivotable between a storage position and an access position whereby a plurality of drive bays can be accessed. The storage frame includes first and second substantially parallel panels and a backplane extending between the first and second substantially parallel panels. A plurality of dividers are positioned between the first and second substantially parallel panels to define a plurality of stack regions, wherein each divider includes a ledge member dividing each stack region into a pair of the drive bays configured to receive a storage device.
US09690328B2
An electronic device includes an external display layer, a shell disposed opposite the external display layer, a display module component enclosed by the external display layer and the shell, and an internal support that structurally supports the display module component and the external display layer. The internal support includes a plate disposed between the external display layer and the shell.
US09690325B2
A device includes: a main unit; a bottom placed on a surface so as to be in contact with the surface when the device is mounted on the surface, the bottom extending from one end coupled to the main unit to another end positioned at a second side of the main unit, the second side being opposite to a first side of the main unit, a display being disposed on the first side; and a support having an opening, the support has one end of the support coupled to the main unit and another end of the support coupled to the another end of the bottom, wherein the main unit has, in a surface on the second side of the main unit, an outlet being formed on a same side as the support, and an inlet being formed on a same side as the bottom.
US09690316B2
An integrated circuit includes: a source current generation block suitable for generating a source current; a first mirroring block suitable for generating first and second mirroring currents corresponding to the source current; a second mirroring block suitable for generating a third mirroring current and a reference current corresponding to the first mirroring current; a first correction block suitable for correcting a current mismatch between the source current, the first mirroring current and the second mirroring current based on the third mirroring current; and a second correction block suitable for correcting a current mismatch between the first mirroring current, the third mirroring current and the reference current based on the second mirroring current.
US09690315B2
A system includes a capacitor and a current source configured to draw a constant input current from a power source and to generate an output current. The current source includes an n-type field effect transistor that is biased to operate as a constant current source. The current source is configured to provide the output current to the capacitor and charge the capacitor during a first time period associated with operation of a load. The current source is also configured to provide the output current to the load and the capacitor is configured to provide an additional current to the load during a second time period associated with operation of the load. The load could represent an electronic device having a time-varying output power characteristic, such as a wireless radio.
US09690300B2
A gas flow regulating device including a housing assembly, an inlet tube assembly, and a biasing device. The housing assembly has a main housing, a valve seat body, and a distal plate forming an outlet orifice. The inlet tube assembly includes a proximal inlet end, a tube forming a lumen, and a flange, and is slidably disposed within the main housing, biased to an open state by the biasing device. The flange separates middle and constant pressure chambers within the housing assembly. The inlet tube assembly is transitionable to a closed state in response to pressure in the constant pressure chamber to generate a relatively constant flow rate of air exiting the device via the outlet orifice.
US09690299B2
The invention relates to a method for control of a flying wing. The flying wing is arranged to be controlled to move along a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing a wing of the flying wing. The flying wing comprises at least one control surface for controlling the movement of the flying wing along the predetermined trajectory. The flying wing is positioned in a reference frame where the x-axis is directed horizontally along a level L above which the flying wing moves, the y-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis in a vertical direction and the z-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis along the level L in a direction along the principal direction of the fluid stream. The invention further relates to a system comprising a flying wing and a computer-readable medium for use with a flying wing.
US09690298B2
A border-signal generating and wire winding device for border recognition of a self-propelled mower includes a seat; a reel rotatably installed on the seat; a lever provided at one end of the reel for a user to operate and rotate the reel; two power sockets provided on the seat or on the reel; an electric wire removably wound around the reel and having two plugs at two ends thereof for being detachably plugged into the two power sockets; and a signal-generating module provided on the seat or on the reel and electrically connected to the two power sockets. When the electric wire is connected to the two power sockets through the two plugs, the signal-generating module continuously generates a border signal that is continuously transmitted to the electric wire through the two power sockets.
US09690293B2
A system for navigating an autonomous vehicle along a road segment is disclosed. The system may have at least one processor. The processor may be programmed to receive from an image capture device, images representative of an environment of the autonomous vehicle. The processor may also be programmed to determine a travelled trajectory along the road segment based on analysis of the images. Further, the processor may be programmed to determine a current location of the autonomous vehicle along a predetermined road model trajectory based on analysis of one or more of the plurality of images. The processor may also be programmed to determine a heading direction based on the determined traveled trajectory. In addition, the processor may be programmed to determine a steering direction, relative to the heading direction, by comparing the traveled trajectory to the predetermined road model trajectory at the current location of the autonomous vehicle.
US09690292B1
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining whether a vehicle driver is ready for an associated vehicle to be transferred from an autonomous operation mode to a manual operation mode. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining whether a vehicle driver is ready for an associated vehicle to be transferred from an autonomous operation mode to a manual operation mode based on vehicle interior image data.
US09690291B2
The present invention relates to a fly-by-wire type of aircraft flight control system having a pair of sidesticks for pilot and co-pilot input, respectively, and having logic that controls the priority of input as between the two sidesticks in certain aircraft flight situations. It allows either the pilot or co-pilot to ensure that his/her sidestick is the only one issuing flight control commands at any one moment in time by first pressing a simple latch button located, for example, on the glareshield in the cockpit and then maneuvering the sidestick in the desired manner to effectuate flight control, e.g., pitch and/or roll, of the aircraft.
US09690288B2
The present invention provides a motor driving device for easily and accurately detecting an abnormal status of a motor. The motor driving device (21) includes a control circuit (100) for generating a driver control signal (S10); a driving circuit (200) for generating a motor driving signal (S3) according to the driver control signal (S10); an initial position detecting circuit (300) for detecting an initial position of a motor (22); and a rotation detecting circuit (400) for detecting a rotation status of the motor (22). Before the motor (22) starts to rotate normally, the control circuit (100) repeatedly performs a serial activation processing including detecting an initial position; applying an initial torque and detecting a motor rotation, and when the repetition number reaches a threshold value “m” (for example, m=5), the motor (22) is forced stop.
US09690282B2
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerically controlled milling machine to fabricate a machined object from a workpiece, the machined object being configured to facilitate subsequent finishing into a finished object, the method including defining a surface of the finished object, defining an offset surface defining an inner limiting surface of the machined object, defining a scallop surface defining an outer limiting surface of the machined object and calculating a tool path for the milling machine which produces multiple step-up cuts in the workpiece resulting in the machined object, wherein surfaces of the machined object all lie between the inner limiting surface and the outer limiting surface and the number of step-up cuts in the workpiece and the areas cut in each of the step-up cuts are selected to generally minimize the amount of workpiece material that is removed from the workpiece.
US09690271B2
An example implementation may involve a control device displaying (i) a prompt to prepare a playback device for calibration within a given environment, (ii) a prompt to prepare the given environment for calibration of the playback device, and (iii) a prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device. The example implementation may also involve a control device displaying a selectable control, that, when selected, initiates calibration of the playback device. The example implementation may further involve a control device initiating calibration of the playback device.
US09690270B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for cooling a device are disclosed. For example, the method sets at least one accumulator increment rate, an accumulator decrement rate, at least one threshold value, and an accumulator value maximum based on empirical data associated with the device, tracks an accumulator value up to the accumulator value maximum based upon productivity of the device, wherein the accumulator value is adjusted based on an integral of the at least one accumulator increment rate and the accumulator decrement rate and operates a fan of the device based upon the accumulator value rising above the threshold value or falling below the threshold value.
US09690269B2
A controller and processing method includes executing, using an execution unit, a plurality of processes for controlling an operation of a device, monitoring an execution sequence of the processes executed by the execution unit, storing execution sequence information regarding multiple series based on identification information assigned to the processes, outputting the identification information assigned to the processes to be executed by the execution unit, specifying, for each series, the identification information of the processes to be executed by the execution unit, based on the execution sequence information regarding the multiple series stored, determining whether or not the identification information output in the output step matches the identification information specified for each series in the specifying step, and giving notification to an error handling unit if it is determined in the determination step that there is no match.
US09690268B2
A tool, method and device for configuring a device such as a building automation device for use in a automation system is disclosed. The method includes defining a configuration file related to the functionality of the device, such that the configuration file identifies one or more standardized components stored in communication with the device, transferring the configuration file to a dynamic configurator tool operable within the device, initializing the device according to the dynamic configurator tool and the configuration file, such that the dynamic configurator tool retrieves the one or more standardized components identified by the configuration file, generating an executable file for the device based on the one or more standardized components identified by the configuration file, and operating the device utilizing the generated executable file.
US09690260B2
A method adjusting oscillation frequency of a sprung balance assembly formed at random from balance springs and balance wheels. A production mechanism is set to limit a sample standard deviation of a single batch of balance springs to a predetermined maximum value, and to limit a sample standard deviation of a single batch of balance wheels to a predetermined maximum value within a given unbalance tolerance. The mean of the balance population is classified according to the mean of the balance springs, to obtain a difference corresponding to a maximum inertia decrease value of the balances, between extreme gaussian distribution values of balances and of balance springs. A random balance spring sample is taken from the single batch of balance springs and a random balance from among the single batch of balances. The inertia of the balance is adjusted according to a torque value of the balance spring sample.
US09690259B2
Provided is an electronic timepiece, including: a step motor; a motor driver; a normal drive pulse generation circuit configured to output a normal drive pulse at a designated drive rank; a rotation detection pulse generation circuit configured to output a detection pulse; a rotation detection circuit which comprises at least a first detection mode determination circuit configured to conduct determination in a first detection mode and which is configured to detect rotation or non-rotation of a rotor; a rotation determination counter circuit configured to count a number of times that the rotation has been successively detected by the rotation detection circuit; a first detection mode determination counter circuit configured to count a number of times that a detection signal generated by the detection pulse becomes a predetermined detection pattern in the first detection mode; and a drive rank selection circuit configured to designate a drive rank of the normal drive pulse based on results of the counting conducted by the rotation determination counter circuit and the first detection mode determination counter circuit.
US09690257B2
In an annual or perpetual calendar mechanism, a lever bears a maneuvering device of a day-of-the-month wheel. A month wheel defines course beginning stops, each associated with a month and operational for controlling a course beginning position of the lever when the month wheel is in the angular position associated with this month. These course beginning stops are bottoms of slots alternating with the teeth of the month wheel. The month wheel has a peripheral edge which forms the profile of its teeth as well as the course beginning stops.
US09690256B2
The device for pivoting an arbor about a determined axis includes at least one magnetic bearing including a magnet which exerts a force of attraction on a pivot, made of magnetic material, of the arbor. Further, the bearing includes a magnetic flux centring structure arranged between the magnet and the pivot, and a support for the centring structure. This centring structure includes a peripheral portion and a central portion resiliently connected to the peripheral portion by at least one connecting element, the central portion being formed of a highly magnetically permeable material and having smaller dimensions than those of the magnet. The peripheral portion is rigidly force fitted to the support so that the central portion is centred on the pivot axis.
US09690255B2
An apparatus for producing a hologram of an object includes a light source that emits an incoherent electromagnetic wave toward the object, and a masking device configured to display a mask, receive the incoherent electromagnetic wave emitted toward the object, mask the received incoherent electromagnetic wave according to the displayed mask, and produce a masked electromagnetic wave. The apparatus also includes an image recording device configured to capture an image of the masked electromagnetic wave, and a processing device configured to convert the image of the masked electromagnetic wave into the hologram of the object. A method for producing a hologram of an object is also described.
US09690251B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main frame, a plurality of process cartridges, a cartridge-supporting body, a belt, a belt cleaning unit, a waste toner cartridge, and a collective conveying unit. Each drum-cleaning unit collects waste toner on a corresponding photosensitive drum. The cartridge-supporting body supports the process cartridges and is movable between an internal position inside the main frame and an external position outside of the main frame. The belt cleaning unit collects waste toner on the belt. The waste toner cartridge accommodates both waste toner collected from the photosensitive drums by the drum-cleaning units and waste toner collected from the belt by the belt cleaning unit. The collective conveying unit aggregates both waste toner collected from the photosensitive drums by the drum-cleaning units and waste toner collected from the belt by the belt cleaning unit and conveys the aggregated waste toner to the waste toner cartridge.
US09690248B2
There is provided a bearing member which is disposed at an end section of a photoreceptor drum for attaching a shaft member that transmits a rotating force to the bearing member, the bearing member including a tubular body, and a holding section which is disposed inside the tubular body attachably and detachably, and holds a rotating force transmission pin provided in the shaft member, wherein the holding section includes at least two swing grooves provided extending along an axial direction of the tubular body, and opposing each other, and introduction grooves, each having one end communicating with the swing groove and the other end communicating with an outside of the swing groove, and the introduction grooves in a posture in which the shaft member transmits the rotating force are disposed entirely at a position to be lower than an entirety or a part of the rotating force transmission pin.
US09690243B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.
US09690240B1
A fixing device includes a fixing member, a first roller, a second roller, a detector, and an adjustment unit. The fixing member fixes, on a recording medium, a toner image formed on the recording medium. The first roller performs cleaning of toner sticking to a surface of the fixing member. The second roller collects the toner sticking to a surface of the first roller. The detector detects a temperature of the second roller. The adjustment unit adjusts the temperature of the second roller on a basis of a result of detection performed by the detector.
US09690238B2
An image heating apparatus includes first and second rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating a toner image on a sheet; a rotatable rubbing member configured to rub an outer surface of the first rotatable member; and a contact-and-separation mechanism configured to move the rotatable rubbing member toward and away from the first rotatable member. When the contact-and-separation mechanism executes a rubbing process, the contact-and-separation mechanism repeatedly executes alternately a first process for contacting the rotatable rubbing member with the first rotatable member and a second process for spacing the rotatable rubbing member from the first rotatable member.
US09690236B1
A transfer device includes a transfer unit including an image carrier that carries a toner image to be transferred to a transfer surface of a recording medium, a transfer member disposed on a non-transfer-surface side of the recording medium, and an opposing member disposed opposite the transfer member with the image carrier therebetween; a cleaning unit that cleans a surface of the transfer member; a first application unit that applies a voltage, for transferring the toner image, to the opposing member; and a second application unit that applies an alternating voltage to the transfer member.
US09690235B2
The invention provides an intermediate transfer member for use in an image recording method including the steps of applying a reaction liquid to the intermediate transfer member, applying an ink to the intermediate transfer member so as to overlap with at least a part of a region to which the reaction liquid has been applied, thereby forming an intermediate image, and transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium, wherein an average of a surface area per unit area of a surface of the intermediate transfer member is 1.2 or more and 10.0 or less.
US09690231B2
A toner container includes a container body that is used to house a toner and that is detachably attachable to a mounting portion in a developing device; and an operating member that is used to open and close a shutter. The shutter as well as the operating member includes an engaging portion that can engage with a linking member which is disposed in the mounting portion and which can perform a reciprocating linear movement. In the state in which the container body is not mounted in the mounting portion, the shutter and the operating member are in a non-linked state with each other. In contrast, in the state in which the container body is mounted in the mounting portion, the shutter and the operating member become able to be linked to each other via the linking member.
US09690230B2
A toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus includes a memory storing identification data of the toner cartridge and parameter information including image formation process parameters dependent on toner characteristic or ambient conditions. A transceiver unit communicates with the image forming apparatus to send the process parameter information stored in the memory to the image forming apparatus when the identification data is authentic.
US09690228B2
An image processing apparatus that generates a halftone image to be used in a case where an image is formed on a printing medium by exposing a photoreceptor by intensity modulation of a light beam, having a multivalued dither processing unit configured to generate N-nary (N≧3) image from an input image by a dither method, a determination unit configured to determine whether a difference in pixel value between pixels adjacent to each other in an exposure scanning direction exceeds a predetermined limit value for each pixel of the N-nary image generated by the multivalued dither processing unit, and a correction unit configured to correct the pixel values of the adjacent pixels whose difference in pixel value has been determined to exceed the predetermined limit value so that the difference does not exceed the limit value.
US09690227B2
An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive body, a toner accommodation component, a developing roller and an exposure unit configured to emit a laser beam toward the photosensitive body along an irradiating path. The image forming apparatus further includes a sheet feed roller configured to feed a sheet toward the photosensitive body. In some arrangements, the sheet feed roller is disposed at a position closer to the exposure unit than to the photosensitive body, and the developing device is disposed at a first height range relative to the bottom of the casing, the first height range being lower than the irradiation path. Moreover, the toner accommodation component is disposed at a second height range relative to the bottom of the casing, the second height range being higher than the irradiation path.
US09690219B2
A magnetic toner includes toner particles. The toner particles contain a binder resin and a magnetic powder. The binder resin includes a crystalline polyester resin. The magnetic powder has a coating of a melamine resin. Preferably, the crystalline polyester resin has a solubility parameter (SPC) of no less than 9.5, and the solubility parameter (SPC) of the crystalline polyester resin and a solubility parameter (SPM) of the melamine resin satisfy formula (1) shown below. SPC−SPM>1.0 (1)
US09690210B2
A lithographic apparatus is provided and configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate. The apparatus has a measurement system to provide measurement data related to a thickness of a resist layer on the substrate, and a controller to control the operation of the lithographic apparatus such that a radiation intensity level in the patterned beam to be projected onto the substrate is controlled based on the measurement data.
US09690206B2
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate to light passing through liquid, and includes a stage that holds the substrate. The stage includes a substrate holder including a support member that supports a rear surface of the substrate and a first circumferential wall surrounding the support member. A second circumferential wall surrounds the substrate holder and forms a first groove between the second circumferential wall and the substrate holder, and a second groove on an outer side thereof. A plate member surrounds the substrate on the support member, and a recovery passage recovers liquid flowing from a liquid supply system to a gap between the plate member and the substrate. The second circumferential wall is under the gap so that part of an upper surface of the second circumferential wall faces the substrate rear surface and another part of the upper surface faces a rear surface of the plate member.
US09690199B2
In a first aspect, methods are provided that comprise: (a) applying a curable composition on a substrate; (b) applying a hardmask composition above the curable composition; (c) applying a photoresist composition layer above the hard mask composition, wherein one or more of the compositions are removed in an ash-free process. In a second aspect, methods are provided that comprise (a) applying an organic composition on a substrate; (b) applying a photoresist composition layer above the organic composition, wherein the organic composition comprises a material that produce an alkaline-soluble group upon thermal and/or radiation treatment. Related compositions also are provided.
US09690194B2
A method of forming a resist pattern using a resist composition containing a base component (A) which exhibits reduced solubility in an organic solvent under action of an acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates an acid upon exposure, the base component (A) including a resin component (A1) having a structural unit (a0) derived from a compound represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below and a structural unit (a2) containing a lactone-containing cyclic group or the like (in formula (a0-1), Ra1 represents a monovalent substituent having a polymerizable group, La1 represents O, S or a methylene group, R1 represents a linear or branched hydrocarbon group of 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or a cyclic hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero atom, and n represents an integer of 0 to 5).
US09690191B2
A method for repairing a defect on a substrate surface includes placing on the defect a nanoparticle that includes a conductive material. A region of the substrate surface in which the nanoparticle is placed is irradiated, the region being larger than the nanoparticle. An energy density of the irradiation is below a modification threshold for the substrate surface.
US09690183B2
A display apparatus including: an image projecting unit for emitting projection light of an image; and a screen unit including: a Fresnel lens disposed correspondingly to the projection light; and a transmitting diffuser which includes a first display section disposed on a light-emitting side corresponding to a first area of the Fresnel lens and a second display section disposed on a light-emitting side corresponding to a second area different from the first area of the Fresnel lens, a part of the second display section being separated from the Fresnel lens for a predetermined distance.
US09690174B2
A window apparatus comprises a first layer including a liquid crystal microdroplet (LCMD) display switchable between transparent and opaque states in response to a change in an applied electrical voltage and a second layer coupled to the first layer. The second layer is changeable between a light transmitting configuration and a light blocking configuration.
US09690173B1
A rotating mount includes an imaging device, a stand cover connected to the imaging device, a mounting plate configured to fix a position of the imaging device and having an insertion hole formed in one area thereof, and a pivot joint connected to the stand cover and having a protrusion inserted into the insertion hole.
US09690167B2
An angular velocity sensor detects a shake of an image pickup apparatus and a signal divide unit divides a shake detection signal to output it to each of a first drive amount calculating unit and a second drive amount calculating unit. A first drive amount and a second drive amount are calculated based on the divided shake detection signal to drive each of a first correction lens and a second correction lens. An aberration determination unit changes a limiter used in a drive amount limiting unit based on the first drive amount and the second drive amount so as not to increase the eccentric aberration of an imaging optical system generated by the movement of the two correction lenses. The drive amount limiting unit limits the drive amount based on the limiter set according to the result of the determination for the aberration to correct the image shake while suppressing the eccentric aberration.