Patents Issued in January 9, 2018
  • Patent number: 9864387
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator which is not affected by a variation in output impedance of a reference voltage circuit, that is, which is configured to output voltage with a small change due to temperature. Two reference voltages respectively having positive and negative temperature coefficients are added together through transconductance amplifiers having large input impedances, respectively, and the resultant is amplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Ogura, Kaoru Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9864388
    Abstract: A reference voltage generator may include the following elements: a first power supply terminal configured to receive a first power supply voltage; a second power supply terminal configured to receive a second power supply voltage; a reference voltage output node configured to provide a reference voltage; a first switch electrically connected between the first power supply terminal and the reference voltage output node; a second switch electrically connected between the second power supply terminal and the reference voltage output node; a first positive feedback module electrically connected to both the reference voltage output node and the first switch and configured to provide a first feedback voltage to the first switch; and a second positive feedback module electrically connected to both the reference voltage output node and the second switch and configured to provide a second feedback voltage to the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Zhu, Jie Chen
  • Patent number: 9864389
    Abstract: A delta-Vbe based bandgap reference voltage circuit generates a temperature stable reference voltage. First and second paths of the circuit each include a respective transistor coupled in series with a resistance. The collector current density of the transistor in first path is lower than the collector current density of transistor in the other path. A control path is used to generate a 2Vbe voltage that is coupled to the base nodes of the resistors in each path. A resistance that is coupled between a common node of a first end of the two paths and a circuit ground node. The circuit current is controlled by this resistance and a voltage drop of 2?Vbe is across the resistance. The output reference voltage of the circuit is 2(Vbe+?Vbe) when stack resistors in each path are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventor: Sharad Vijaykumar
  • Patent number: 9864390
    Abstract: A power supply system and a power supply method thereof are disclosed. The power supply system includes a master power supply device and a slave power supply device. When a master power detection module detects that a current value of a master power signal generated from a master power supply module increases to a first loading proportion, a master micro-controlling module will notices a slave micro-controlling module via a controlling pin to enable a slave power supply module to generate a slave power signal. When a slave power detection module detects that a current value of the slave power signal decreases to a second loading proportion, the slave micro-control module will control the slave power supply module to stop generating the power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Zih-Min Yang, Ting-Hsi Huang
  • Patent number: 9864391
    Abstract: A facility is connected to an electricity utility and is responsive to Demand Response Events. A plurality of devices is each individually connected to the electricity grid via an addressable switch connected to a secure network that is enabled to be individually switched off by a server. An occupant of a room in control of the plurality of devices provides via a Human Machine Interface on a tablet a preferred order of switching off the plurality of devices in case of a Demand Response Event. A configuration file based at least partially on the preferred order and on a severity of the Demand Response Events determines which devices which of the plurality devices will be switched off. The server accesses the configuration file and switches off the devices included in the configuration file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Corporation
    Inventors: Yan Lu, Siyuan Zhou
  • Patent number: 9864392
    Abstract: A CMOS voltage reference is disclosed. The CMOS voltage reference may include a PTAT current bias circuit including a start-up circuit, a core module implementing high order non-linear curvature compensation and an output stage supplying the reference voltage. The CMOS voltage reference may include a PTAT current bias circuit having a start-up and a CTAT feedback loop and a PTAT feedback loop and a compensating circuit summing the current from the CTAT feedback loop and the PTAT feedback loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: The University of Cyprus
    Inventors: Julius Georgiou, Charalambos Andreou
  • Patent number: 9864393
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a resistive device and an amplifier. The first transistor includes a first drain and a first gate. The second transistor includes a second drain and a second gate. The resistive device is coupled between the first gate and the second gate. The amplifier includes a first input coupled to the first drain and a second input coupled to the second drain. The amplifier is configured to keep a voltage level at the first drain and that at the second drain equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD
    Inventors: Jaw-Juinn Horng, Amit Kundu
  • Patent number: 9864394
    Abstract: In a reference voltage generation circuit, a reference voltage generation unit 1 is configured to receive, as feedback, a voltage of an output terminal 3; a startup circuit unit 2 has a depletion MOS transistor TR1, and enhancement MOS transistors TR2, TR3; the MOS transistor TR1 has one end connected to a power source 4 and is formed as a constant current connection; the MOS transistor TR2 has one end connected to the power source 4 via a resistor RST, has an opposite end connected to the output terminal 3, and further has a gate connected to an opposite end of the MOS transistor TR1; and the MOS transistor TR3 has one end connected to the opposite end of the MOS transistor TR1, has an opposite end grounded, and further has a gate connected to the output terminal 3. The reference voltage generation circuit can reduce the occurrence of a wasteful current consumption after circuit startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Torex Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Yousuke Katsushima
  • Patent number: 9864395
    Abstract: A current mirror circuit includes an input current leg and an output current leg. The input current leg includes: a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) having a collector terminal configured to receive an input current sourced at a current node and a first metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a gate terminal coupled to the current node and a source terminal coupled to a base terminal of the first BJT. The output current leg includes: a second BJT having a collector terminal configured to supply an output current and a second MOSFET having a gate terminal coupled to the current node and a source terminal coupled to a base terminal of the second BJT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, STMicroelectronics Design and Application S.R.O.
    Inventors: Roman Prochazka, Chee Weng Cheong
  • Patent number: 9864396
    Abstract: Highly maneuverable utility vehicles having Mecanum wheels capable of traveling in a variety of different directions and turning in a zero turn manner may include one or more controllers in communication with drive units for powering the Mecanum wheels. A multi-axis interface, such as a joystick, may be connected to the controller for proportionally controlling the direction and speed of the vehicle, and for providing different manners in which the vehicle may enter zero-turn mode. The joystick may include at least one pushbutton for switching between programmed travel modes or selecting an auxiliary function. The controller may be programmed to permit the vehicle to operate in different operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Alyn Brown, Scott W. Keller
  • Patent number: 9864397
    Abstract: An operating member 3 has a shaft portion 31 and a fulcrum portion 32. A first swinging member 4 has a concave fitting portion 42. Inside the fitting portion, engaging surfaces and guide surfaces 45, 46 are included. The engaging surfaces are formed to be engageable with the fulcrum portion. The guide surfaces allow the fulcrum portion to swing with respect to the first swinging member. The second swinging member 5 includes an engaging portion 63 which includes a long hole, and which covers the fulcrum portion while passing the shaft portion through the long hole in a manner that the shaft portion is movable in the longitudinal direction of the long hole, in such a manner that the engaging portion and the fitting portion cooperate to sandwich the fulcrum portion. The engaging portion is coupled with the second swing shaft, and configured to be engageable with the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: NINTENDO CO., LTD., HOSIDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Okamura, Junji Takamoto, Mitsuhiro Asano
  • Patent number: 9864398
    Abstract: A method for transmitting a plurality of data bits and a clock signal on a return to zero (RZ) signal includes: transmitting a first voltage that is greater than a first threshold, the first voltage being decodable to first order of data bits; transmitting a second voltage that is between a second threshold and the first threshold, the second voltage being decodable to a second order of data bits; transmitting a third voltage that is between a third threshold and a fourth threshold, the third voltage being decodable to a third order of data bits; transmitting a fourth voltage that is greater in magnitude than the fourth threshold, the fourth voltage being decodable to a fourth order of data bits; and transitioning the clock signal in response to the RZ signal being between the second threshold and the third threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Robert Floyd Payne
  • Patent number: 9864399
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated circuit such as an SOC (or even a discrete chip system) includes one or more local timebases in various locations. The timebases may be incremented based on a high frequency local clock that may be subject to variation during use due. Periodically, based on a lower frequency clock that is subject to less variation, the local timebases may be synchronized to the correct time, using hardware circuitry. In particular, the correct timebase value for the next synchronization may be transmitted to each local timebase, and the control circuit for the local timebase may be configured to saturate the local timebase at the correct value if the local timebase reaches the correct value before the synchronization occurs. Similarly, if the synchronization occurs and the local timebase has not reached the correct value, the control circuit may be configured to load the correct timebase value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shu-Yi Yu, Erik P. Machnicki, Gilbert H. Herbeck, Kiran B. Kattel, Manu Gulati
  • Patent number: 9864400
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein integrate a camera with an electronic display. An electronic display includes several layers, such as a cover layer, a color filter layer, a display layer including light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes, a thin film transistor layer, etc. In one embodiment, the layers include a substantially transparent region disposed above the camera. The substantially transparent region allows light from outside to reach the camera, enabling the camera to record an image. In another embodiment, the color filter layer does not include a substantially transparent region, and the camera records the light from the outside colored by the color filter layer. According to another embodiment, while none of the layers include a substantially transparent region, the layers are all substantially transparent, and the camera disposed beneath the layers records light reaching the camera from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: David John Evans, V, Xinrui Jiang, Andrew E. Rubin, Matthew Hershenson, Xiaoyu Miao, Joseph Anthony Tate, Jason Sean Gagne-Keats
  • Patent number: 9864401
    Abstract: A multiple display system having at least two mechanical arrangements such that in one of the at least two arrangements one of the multiple displays is stowed, out of the way mechanically and visually, when only a first display is in use; and one of the other of the at least two arrangements wherein the other of the multiple displays is substantially coplanar and adjacent to the one screen when both screens are in use. The other display in the one of the other of the at least two arrangements also runs the graphical user interface of an application, permitting the multiple display system to offer at least two programs running simultaneously, each with its own visual user-interface operating on its own display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Village Green Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tina Ebey, Peter B. Bishop
  • Patent number: 9864402
    Abstract: A portable electronic device utilizes a control unit for controlling a power unit to provide electricity for an electromagnetic component to generate a first active magnetic property for magnetically repulsing or magnetically attracting a moving magnetic component with a first magnetic property, so as to drive the moving magnetic component to move to a first position when the control unit determines an included angle between a first module and a second module is greater than a predetermined angle. When the moving magnetic component is located at the first position, a pivoting mechanism disposed between a supporting frame and the second module drives the supporting frame to pivotally unfold relative to the second module, so as to support the second module on a supporting surface, which prevents the second module from falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Chen-Yi Liang, Ming-Ju Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9864403
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided having internal components mounted to a structural glass support member. The structural glass support member may have a planar front surface that forms a front surface of the device. The structural glass support member may have bent portions that form sidewall surfaces of the device. Portions of the structural glass support member may form a transparent display cover layer. A rigid or flexible display may be mounted to the structural glass support member. Additional internal device components may be mounted to the display. A thin enclosure for enclosing the internal components in the device may be mounted to the structural glass support member. The thin enclosure may be mounted to the structural glass support member using a peripheral member. The thin enclosure may be free from attachments to internal components or may be adhesively bonded to one or more internal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 9864404
    Abstract: Multiple unique configurations for a computer tablet holding device are disclosed. One of device's configurations allows for multiple viewing angles through the use of multi-configurable assembly. Another configuration is a multi-positional computer tablet holding device that can be used within a folio, with the benefit of working cooperatively with an accessory such as a keyboard or wrist rest, or removed and used independently of the folio. The holding device and other accessories may be retained on the folio by judiciously placed magnets. The folio of the invention includes a first and second flap, the first flap including a plurality of magnets arranged in a matrix, the magnets being spaced apart at a distance, the riser including a base having a pair of magnets, said individual magnets of the pair of magnets being spaced apart at the distance, the riser being selectively attachable at positions corresponding to the magnet positions of the folio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Fellowes Inc.
    Inventors: Tai Hoon Matlin, Shawn Applegate, Brian Chung
  • Patent number: 9864405
    Abstract: A frame for a mobile device with a memory and a processor running an application and a system for displaying digital content, comprising a frame assembly for the mobile device, comprising a processor, a media storage memory, a first body with a recess configured for receipt of a mobile device in the frame assembly, and a second body, configured to connect to the first body to enclose the mobile device. Preferably, at least one of the two sides comprises a connector, configured to connect with a corresponding connector of the mobile device, so that the processor of the frame is configured to communicate, through said connector, with the memory and processor of the mobile device. In an alternate embodiment, at least one of the two sides comprises a communication means, configured to communicate with the memory and processor of the mobile device through WiFi, Bluetooth, or the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Videri Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Trachtenberg, Francois Gariepy
  • Patent number: 9864406
    Abstract: A strap system for a head-mounted display is disclosed. The strap system includes a rigid segment and a cylindrical structure to couple the rigid segment to the head-mounted display. The strap system also includes a flat circuit within the rigid segment and the cylindrical structure, to couple to the head-mounted display through the cylindrical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Jared I. Drinkwater, Lesley Ribble Magrath, Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9864407
    Abstract: A mobile computing device dock is described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a support structure and first and second connection portions disposed on opposing sides of the support. Each of the first and second connection portions includes a respective connection device configured to form a communicative coupling to a mobile computing device. The first and second connection portions are configured such that movement of one of the first or second connection portions causes corresponding movement of the other one of the first or second connection portions to engage to or disengage from the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kelong Zhao, Min Li Tee, Xian Ming Huang, Flen Ju, Wei Zheng, Jian Zhong Wang, Mingjie Wang, Ralf Groene
  • Patent number: 9864408
    Abstract: A docking station for a patient monitoring device and method of locking the patient monitoring device in the docking station is provided. A housing selectively supports a patient monitoring device thereon and a first port positioned on the housing receives a patient monitoring device therein. A sensor senses one of a presence and absence of the patient monitoring device within the first port. A locking mechanism mechanically locks the patient monitoring device within the first port, wherein the locking mechanism maintains the docking station and patient monitoring device in a mechanically locked state in response to sensing the presence of the patient monitoring device within the first port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Mark Risher-Kelly, Bernd Rosenfeldt
  • Patent number: 9864409
    Abstract: A flexible display device includes a flexible display panel, an outer member disposed on a surface of the flexible display panel and including an electrode layer, and a stress control member disposed between the flexible display panel and the outer member, where the stress control member allows neutral planes to be defined in the flexible display panel and the outer member, respectively, when the flexible display device is bent, the outer member includes a touch panel including the electrode layer, a flexible member disposed on the touch panel, and an adhesive layer disposed between the touch panel and the flexible member and which couples the touch panel to the flexible member, and a neutral plane of the outer member is defined in the touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kangwon Lee, Jeongheon Lee, Mansik Myeong, Sungku Kang, Hoonsik Kim, Taehyeog Jung, Suk Choi
  • Patent number: 9864410
    Abstract: A foldable device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The foldable device includes: a flexible display which includes a main display area and an edge display area; and a controller which is configured to determine, based on an angle at which the foldable device is unfolded, a range of a partial activation area of the main display area, wherein the range of the partial activation area is partially bounded by a boundary between the edge display area and the main display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin La, Yu-dong Bae, Yong-ho Kim, Jong-hyun Ryu, Yong-gook Park, Ae-young Lim, Kyung-ho Jeong, Youn-ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9864411
    Abstract: To provide a display device that gives a viewer a strong stereoscopic effect or sense of depth or a natural stereoscopic effect or sense of depth in a two-dimensional image, a display device including a display portion having a curved surface is provided. The display portion may be bent in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. Alternatively, the display portion may have a convex surface or a concave surface on a display surface side. The display device may include a frame portion. A display device including a frame portion and a display portion which has a display surface on a frame portion side, is located so as to be apart from the frame portion with a distance therebetween, and has a curved surface, in which the display portion overlaps with an opening of the frame portion, and an end portion of the display portion overlaps with the frame portion, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yuichi Yanagisawa, Hisao Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9864412
    Abstract: A flexible display apparatus includes a frame module having a sliding path to guide the winding or unwinding of a flexible display module, and a sliding shaft configured to slide along a spiral sliding path via vertical movement of the flexible display module. The flexible display apparatus makes it easy to wind or unwind a large flexible display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Dae Park, Choun Sung Kang, Yong Seok Lee, Chang Yoon Park
  • Patent number: 9864413
    Abstract: An accessory suitable for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a display area. The accessory includes a coupling portion and a cover portion. The coupling portion is suitable to be coupled to the electronic device. The cover portion is connected to the coupling portion and is suitable for covering the display area of the electronic device. The cover portion has a plurality of light-transmitting areas, and the light-transmitting areas are arranged on the display area in an array. An image generated by the display area is projected out of the cover portion through the light-transmitting areas. Moreover, an electronic assembly containing the electronic device and the accessory is also provided. Furthermore, a control method is also provided for controlling the electronic assembly. A method is also provided for forming an accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Hung Lin, Chien-Wei Hsieh, Chun-Ta Huang, Hung-Chuan Wen, Michael Ross Massucco
  • Patent number: 9864414
    Abstract: Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device, such as an accessory to a tablet that includes a first housing. The first housing may include a retractable second housing support. The second housing support includes a stored configuration and a second housing support configuration. The second housing configuration is configured to support a second housing. A release can be is configured to release the second housing support from the stored configuration. A tension mechanism can pull the support into the second housing support configuration when the release is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas W. Oakley
  • Patent number: 9864415
    Abstract: A multistage friction hinge is described. In at least some embodiments, the described hinge enables a support component to be adjustably attached to an apparatus. According to various embodiments, a hinge includes different activity stages where movement of the hinge is based on different activity mechanisms. For instance, the hinge includes different sets of components that form different friction engines that provide resistance to rotational and/or pivoting movement of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Kabir Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 9864416
    Abstract: A portable electronic device has a device body, a hinge unit, a driving unit and a support unit. The device body has a first connecting element. The hinge unit disposes at an end of the device body. The driving unit disposes in the device body and has a second connecting element. The support unit rotates relative to the device body for a closed state and a support state. The support unit has a third connecting element and a fourth connecting element. When the support unit in the closed state, the third connecting element connects with the first connecting element; the fourth connecting element connects with the second connecting element. When the driving unit moves to a driving position, the fourth connecting element detaches from the second connecting element, and the support unit rotates to the support state due to rotation of the hinge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chen-Yi Liang
  • Patent number: 9864417
    Abstract: Methods and systems for data center management include collecting sensor data from one or more sensors in a rack; determining a location and identifying information for each asset in the rack using a set of asset tags associated with respective assets; communicating the sensor and asset location to a communication module; receiving an instruction from the communication module; and executing the received instruction to change a property of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Hendrik F. Hamann, Hans-Dieter Wehle
  • Patent number: 9864418
    Abstract: A riser card includes a main body and an inserting portion. The main body includes a lower portion and defines a power supply interface. The inserting portion is coupled to the lower portion of the main body. The inserting portion can be inserted in and coupled to different expansion slots. The power supply interface can be coupled to an external power source to supply power to the riser card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dao-Wei Li, Chun-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9864419
    Abstract: A handheld device including a circuit board including at least one electronic component, a heat pipe disposed on the electronic component to absorb heat generated from the electronic component and to release the absorbed heat in a direction opposite to the electronic component, and a heat sinking material configured to bond the circuit board and the heat pipe to each other. The heat pipe includes an evaporation section disposed on the main processor to absorb heat generated from the main processor, a connection section disposed on a side region of the main board to transfer the absorbed heat in a direction opposite to the main processor, and a condensation section configured to release the transferred heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., TTM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bongjae Rhee, Chunghyo Jung, Eugene Choi
  • Patent number: 9864420
    Abstract: A circuit, system, and method for tracking energy use in a electronic circuit. A circuit includes a DC-DC converter and a comparator. The DC-DC converter is configured to maintain a desired output voltage by switching energy to an energy storage device based on an output voltage of the energy storage device. The DC-DC converter includes an output driver configured to source current to the energy storage device. The comparator is coupled to the DC-DC converter. The comparator is configured to identify a drive state of the output driver, and to generate a signal indicative of amount of energy transferred from the DC-DC converter to a load circuit. The signal corresponds to the identified drive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Horst Diewald, Johann Zipperer, Peter Weber, Anton Brauchle
  • Patent number: 9864421
    Abstract: A hub electrically connected to an electronic equipment and at least a portable device located in external environment is provided. The hub includes a first connector, at least a second connector, a controller, and a first DC/DC converter. The first connector is electrically connected to the electronic equipment, the second connector is electrically connected to the portable device. The controller is electrically connected between the first connector and the second connector, and the controller has a data transmission between the portable devices and the electronic equipment mutually. In addition, a signal is transmitted to the portable devices suitably by the controller so that the portable device being with rapid charge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SIMPOWER TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Dong-Sheng Li, Chia-Wei Lin, Kuang-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 9864422
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media, for reducing transitions between active and idle states are provided. In some embodiments, transition data indicating transitions between an active state and an idle state associated with a mobile device is received. Thereafter, an idle state pattern that indicates a pattern of an idle state associated with the mobile device is identified. Based on the idle state pattern, an inactivity timer update corresponding with the idle state pattern is provided to at least one communication tower. The inactivity timer update provides a time duration or time duration adjustment to be applied by the at least one communication tower for use in detecting a transition from an active state to an idle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Suryanarayanan Ramamurthy, Deveshkumar N. Rai, Saravana Kumar Velusamy
  • Patent number: 9864423
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods may provide for characterizing a plurality of similar components of a distributed computing system based on a maximum safe operation level associated with each component and storing characterization data in a database and allocating non-uniform power to each similar component based at least in part on the characterization data in the database to substantially equalize performance of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alan G. Gara, Steve S. Sylvester, Jonathan M. Eastep, Ramkumar Nagappan, Christopher M. Cantalupo
  • Patent number: 9864424
    Abstract: Techniques for generating schedule(s) specific to a merchant for managing power states of component(s) of a point-of-sale (POS) system of the merchant are described. Transaction data associated with transactions involving the merchant may be received from a POS application of the POS system. Based at least partly on the transaction data, a schedule for managing the power states of a component, such as a battery-operated payment reader device, may be determined. The schedule may indicate when to change a first power state of the component to a second power state. The schedule may be sent to a POS system. The POS system may use the schedule to manage the power states of a component of the POS system, such as a battery-operated reader device. Additionally, or alternatively, the POS system may determine triggering events and may manage the power states of the component based on the triggering events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Templeton, David Terra, Michael White
  • Patent number: 9864425
    Abstract: In one embodiment, while a mobile electronic device is in a first operation state, it receives sensor data from one or more sensors of the mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device analyzes the sensor data to estimate a current intention of a user with respect to the mobile electronic device; and transition from the first operation state to a second operation state based on the current intention of the user with respect to the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John McKenzie Toksvig, Matthew Nicholas Papakipos, Cory Rudolph Ondrejka
  • Patent number: 9864426
    Abstract: A voltage regulator and/or associated circuitry provides an indication of average current consumed or drawn by a load, level and magnitude of transient events, and regulation efficiency. A dynamic voltage and frequency scaling governor makes use of the indication of average current consumed or drawn by the load, level and magnitude of transient events, and regulation efficiency to help optimize operation of the load, with respect to power and/or performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Endura Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Taner Dosluoglu, Anatoly Gelman
  • Patent number: 9864427
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving an interrupt from an accelerator, sending a resume signal directly to a small core responsive to the interrupt and providing a subset of an execution state of the large core to the first small core, and determining whether the small core can handle a request associated with the interrupt, and performing an operation corresponding to the request in the small core if the determination is in the affirmative, and otherwise providing the large core execution state and the resume signal to the large core. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Herdrich, Rameshkumar G. Illikkal, Ravishankar Iyer, Sadagopan Srinivasan, Jaideep Moses, Srihari Makineni
  • Patent number: 9864428
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and methods for human-computer interaction are described. An apparatus for human-computer interaction may have one or more processors, multiple sensors to measure motion of a body part of a user, a communication module to communicate with a remote computing device, and an interpretation module to interpret the motion of the body part of the user to be associated with an indication of a user input to the remote computing device. The components may be encased in a body configured to be worn by the user. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Guangli Zhang
  • Patent number: 9864429
    Abstract: A method of controlling an operation of a display device using eye movements and a device for performing the method are provided. The method includes receiving eye movement information of a user; receiving blinking information of the user; generating a control command corresponding to the eye movement information and the blinking information; and controlling an operation of the display device based on the generated control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-seok Lee, Kyung-hwa Yu, Sang-won Leigh, Jin-yong Chung, Sung-goo Cho
  • Patent number: 9864430
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that are related to gaze tracking via image data. One example provides, on a gaze tracking system comprising an image sensor, a method of determining a gaze direction, the method comprising acquiring image data via the image sensor, detecting in the image data facial features of a human subject, determining an eye rotation center based upon the facial features using a calibrated face model, determining an estimated position of a center of a lens of an eye from the image data, determining an optical axis based upon the eye rotation center and the estimated position of the center of the lens, determining a visual axis by applying an adjustment to the optical axis, determining the gaze direction based upon the visual axis, and providing an output based upon the gaze direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Dijia Wu, Michael J. Conrad, Tim Burrell, Xu Miao, Zicheng Liu, Qin Cai, Zhengyou Zhang
  • Patent number: 9864431
    Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and storage media for changing the state of an application by detecting neurological user intent data associated with a particular operation of a particular application state, and changing the application state so as to enable execution of the particular operation as intended by the user. The application state is automatically changed to align with the intended operation, as determined by received neurological user intent data, so that the intended operation is performed. Some embodiments relate to a computer system creating or updating a state machine, through a training process, to change the state of an application according to detected neurological data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Cem Keskin, David Kim, Bill Chau, Jaeyoun Kim, Kazuhito Koishida, Khuram Shahid
  • Patent number: 9864432
    Abstract: An electronic device receives a first set of one or more inputs corresponding to user interface elements displayed on the display and a first set of one or more tactile outputs, and also receives a second set of one or more inputs corresponding to one or more hardware elements and a second set of one or more tactile outputs. In response, in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more tactile outputs and the second set of one or more tactile outputs overlap, the device outputs, with one or more tactile output generators, a modified tactile output sequence that is modified so as to emphasize the second set of one or more tactile outputs relative to the first set of one or more tactile outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Brian T. Gleeson, John B. Morrell, Douglas A. Scott, Joseph M. Williams
  • Patent number: 9864433
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for enabling human-to-computer three-dimensional hand gesture-based natural interactions from depth images provided by a range finding imaging system. The method enables recognition of simultaneous gestures from detection, tracking and analysis of singular points of interests on a single hand of a user and provides contextual feedback information to the user. The singular points of interest of the hand: include hand tip(s), fingertip(s), palm center and center of mass of the hand, and are used for defining at least one representation of a pointer. The point(s) of interest is/are tracked over time and are analyzed to enable the determination of sequential and/or simultaneous “pointing” and “activation” gestures performed by a single hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SoftKinetic Software
    Inventors: Gilles Pinault, Utku Salihoglu, Carlos Souza, Julien Thollot, Laurent Guigues
  • Patent number: 9864434
    Abstract: Systems and methods for gesture control of an interactive event using multiple wearable devices are herein disclosed as comprising, in an implementation, receiving signal data indicative of at least one gesture from a first sensor of a first wearable device and a second sensor of a second wearable device, performing pre-processing on the signal data by a computing device in communication with the first wearable device and the second wearable device, performing feature extraction on the pre-processed signal data by the computing device, and determining the at least one gesture based on the feature extracted signal data and offline training data by the computing device. In an implementation, the first sensor and the second sensor comprise one or more of a three-axis accelerometer, a six-axis accelerometer, or an electromyography sensor, and can be configured to calibrate the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Huami Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Ting Chen, Mu Yu
  • Patent number: 9864435
    Abstract: Techniques are described for notebook hinge sensors. For example, a computing device may comprise a housing having a processor circuit and an input device, the input device arranged on a side of the housing, a lid having a digital display arranged on a side of the lid, a hinge arranged to couple the housing and the lid, and a sensor module coupled to the processor circuit, the sensor module arranged inside the hinge and operative to capture motion input outside of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: James M. Okuley
  • Patent number: 9864436
    Abstract: A computer capable of recognizing gesture commands is disclosed. Suppose that a user makes a gesture of swinging a hand from side to side in front of a camera associated with a computer. A camera module receives frames with shots of the gesture in order. The camera module calculates a gradation difference between corresponding pixels of each frame and a background image to generate a set of binarized differential images. The camera module then combines differential images to generate composite images. In response to a determination that any of the composite images matches a reference pattern, the camera module outputs a computer command. The computer command can be used to control the power state of the computer or start a specific application within the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Yasushi Tsukamoto, Jun Sugiyama