23rd week of 2017 patent applcation highlights part 60 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20170162171 | DISPLAY APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is a display apparatus including: a display configured to include a screen flexible to have a predetermined curvature; a receiver configured to receive an image signal; a signal processor configured to process the received image signal; and a controller configured to, if the received image signal has an aspect ratio different from a ratio of width to height of the screen, control the display to display a first image based on the image signal on a first area of the screen and a second image having image effects of attributes varied depending on a curvature of a second area on the second area around the first area. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162172 | FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR, DISPLAY ELEMENT, IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE, AND SYSTEM - A field-effect transistor including: a gate electrode, which is configured to apply gate voltage; a source electrode and a drain electrode, which are configured to take electric current out; a semiconductor layer, which is disposed to be adjacent to the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a gate insulating layer, which is disposed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer, wherein the gate insulating layer includes a first gate insulating layer containing a first oxide containing Si and an alkaline earth metal and a second gate insulating layer disposed to be in contact with the first gate insulating layer and containing a paraelectric amorphous oxide containing a Group A element which is an alkaline earth metal and a Group B element which is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ga, Sc, Y, and lanthanoid. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162173 | DISPLAYING IMAGES ON LOCAL-DIMMING DISPLAYS - Displays, display components, image and video processing apparatus and related methods are described. A method for driving local-dimming displays comprises generating control values for driving pixels of a spatial light modulator from one image data component and generating control values for driving backlight elements from a second image data component. The first and second image data components may respectively comprise a tone map and a ratio image. Control values for the spatial light modulator and/or backlight may be obtained using cost effective hardware. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162174 | Application latency determination method and system for wearable display devices - The present invention relates to latency determination for wearable display devices. In particular, the invention is particularly useful with regards to virtual reality (VR) headsets, augmented reality (AR) headsets or head mounted displays (HMD). It is an object to provide a system and method for determining application latency for a wearable display device. It is a further object of to provide a hardware independent system and method for determining application latency between a computing device and a wearable display device. With hardware independent systems and methods, different hardware, e.g. different wearable display devices, can be benchmarked and compared to each other accurately. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162175 | DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An apparatus capable of displaying a plurality of images while a screen is scrolled, including a processing unit configured to process an image to be displayed on a display unit, a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a plurality of images processed by the processing unit, a scroll control unit configured to set another plurality of images as display targets to be displayed on the display unit by scrolling the displayed plurality of images, and a control unit configured to control the processing unit to process the plurality of images as the display targets such as to prioritize the processing for an image disposed on an upstream side over an image disposed on a downstream side in a moving direction of scrolled images. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162176 | VEHICLE INTERIOR EQUIPMENT WITH A SCREEN, CORRESPONDING MANAGEMENT PROCESS - Vehicle interior equipment that includes a structure having a window surrounded by an edge area, and an electronic display screen placed in the window. In a standby condition of the screen, the screen displays a decorative image coordinated with the decoration of the edge area so that at least the peripheral area of the screen and the edge area coincide visually. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162177 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING PRESENTATION SECURITY FOR AUGMENTED REALITY APPLICATIONS - In some embodiments, an augmented reality system is provided that provides output security. In some embodiments, an operating system of the augmented reality system provides trusted management support for presenting virtual objects from untrusted applications executing in multiple isolated processes. With the output security mechanisms enabled, untrusted applications are still provided significant flexibility to create immersive AR experiences, but their presented content is constrained by the augmented reality system based on one or more output policies that are intended to reduce intrusiveness of virtual object presentations. Output policies may be composable, such that more than one output policy may be enforced on a given virtual object in a way that reduces intrusiveness of the presentation of the virtual object. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162178 | Multi-Resolution Graphics - Provided herein is technology for displaying, reposition, and/or formatting graphics on a display. The technology includes receiving a graphics stream in a first playout format that includes a first display resolution and first display layout. The technology also includes determining a second playout format that includes a second display resolution and a second display layout. The technology further determines an area of importance within the first display layout given the first display layout, second display resolution, and second display layout. A preferred position within the second display layout is determined so that the preferred position is a location in the second display layout that is in a relatively similar location as the area of importance in the first display layout. The first playout format is converted into the second playout format using the area of importance and preferred position. Finally, the graphics stream is displayed in the second playout format. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162179 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS - A display controller for a data processing system includes a memory read sub-system operable to read data of input surfaces to be used as input layers to be processed by the display controller. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162180 | GUITAR PICKUP DEVICE AND METHOD - A pickup for a guitar that has four (4) or more separate magnetic coils and selection means to select among the coil outputs. In some embodiments, the pickup is passive, not requiring an active pre-amplifier and voltage supply to shape the sound. In some embodiments, the selection means may be incremental or continuous, providing a wider degree to selectivity between and among the outputs of the separate coils. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162181 | ELECTRONIC MACHINE, AND AUTOMOBILE AND ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - Provided is an electronic machine including a speaker unit; a housing; and a rotating device. The rotating device rotates the speaker unit with respect to the housing, wherein the speaker unit is provided with an opening portion and a member which is supported by the housing and extends substantially in parallel to a rotational axis of the speaker unit is adapted to passing through the opening portion. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162182 | COMBINED AUDIO FOR MULTIPLE CONTENT PRESENTATION - In example embodiments, a system and method for presenting a combined audio stream from a single presentation system to a plurality of users is provided. The method comprises receiving an audio filtering signal, the audio filtering signal corresponding to unwanted audio data to be filtered from an ambient audio signal that includes a combined audio stream output from an audio output device of the single presentation system. A device filtering signal is generated based on the audio filtering signal. The device filtering signal is output by an audio device of a user (e.g., headphone). The device filtering signal is played through the audio device to filter out the unwanted audio data while allowing other audio data in the ambient audio signal to be heard by the user. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162183 | NOISE REDUCTION METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND MOBILE TERMINAL - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a noise reduction method, the method includes: obtaining an acceleration signal of a mobile terminal when an audio output device is in a working state; determining, according to the acceleration signal, a vibration waveform of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal vibrates; inverting the determined vibration waveform to obtain a noise reduction signal; and superimposing the noise reduction signal onto to-be-output audio of the audio output device. Therefore, noise generated by skeleton vibration is diminished or eliminated, so as to improve an effect of listening, by a person, to audio. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162184 | ACTIVE NOISE REDUCTION - A noise reducing comprises a first microphone that picks up noise signal at a first location and that is electrically coupled to a first microphone output path; a loudspeaker that is electrically coupled to a loudspeaker input path and that radiates noise reducing sound at a second location; a second microphone that picks up residual noise from the noise and the noise reducing sound at a third location and that is electrically coupled to a second microphone output path; a first active noise reducing filter that is connected between the first microphone output path and the loudspeaker input path; and a second active noise reducing filter that is connected between the second microphone output path and the loudspeaker input path; in which the first active noise reduction filter is a shelving or equalization filter or comprises at least one shelving or equalization filter or both. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162185 | ANC CONVERGENCE FACTOR ESTIMATION AS A FUNCTION OF FREQUENCY - A method of operating an audio system in a vehicle includes providing m number of microphones disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The microphones produce a plurality of microphone signals. Within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, k number of loudspeakers are provided. A plurality of convergence factors μ for use in performing active noise control are estimated. The estimating includes calculating an Eigen value λ(ω) of an autocorrelation matrix of a passenger compartment transfer function as | 2017-06-08 |
20170162186 | SPEECH SYNTHESIZER, AND SPEECH SYNTHESIS METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A speech synthesizer includes a statistical-model sequence generator, a multiple-acoustic feature parameter sequence generator, and a waveform generator. The statistical-model sequence generator generates, based on context information corresponding to an input text, a statistical model sequence that comprises a first sequence of a statistical model comprising a plurality of states. The multiple-acoustic feature parameter sequence generator, for each speech section corresponding to each state of the statistical model sequence, selects a first plurality of acoustic feature parameters from a first set of acoustic feature parameters extracted from a first speech waveform stored in a speech database and generates a multiple-acoustic feature parameter sequence that comprises a sequence of the first plurality of acoustic feature parameters. The waveform generator generates a distribution sequence based on the multiple-acoustic feature parameter sequence and generates a second speech waveform based on a second set of acoustic feature parameters generated based on the distribution sequence. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162187 | VOICE PROCESSING DEVICE, VOICE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, a voice processing device includes an interface system, a determining processor, and a predicting processor. The interface system configured to receive neutral voice data representing audio in a neutral voice of a user. The determining processor configured to determine a predictive parameter based at least in part on the neutral voice data. The predicting processor configured to predict a voice conversion model for converting the neutral voice of the speaker to a target voice using at least the predictive parameter. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162188 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXEMPLARY DIPHONE SYNTHESIZER - Method and apparatus for diphone or concatenative synthesis to compensate for insufficient or missing diphones. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162189 | SEMI-SUPERVISED LEARNING OF WORD EMBEDDINGS - Software that trains an artificial neural network for generating vector representations for natural language text, by performing the following steps: (i) receiving, by one or more processors, a set of natural language text; (ii) generating, by one or more processors, a set of first metadata for the set of natural language text, where the first metadata is generated using supervised learning method(s); (iii) generating, by one or more processors, a set of second metadata for the set of natural language text, where the second metadata is generated using unsupervised learning method(s); and (iv) training, by one or more processors, an artificial neural network adapted to generate vector representations for natural language text, where the training is based, at least in part, on the received natural language text, the generated set of first metadata, and the generated set of second metadata. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162190 | SPOKEN LANGUAGE UNDERSTANDING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a storage unit, a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, an analyzer, and a recognition unit. The storage unit stores first situation information about a situation assumed in advance, a first representation representing a meaning of a sentence assumed, intention information representing an intention to be estimated, and a first value representing a degree of application of the first representation to the first situation information and the intention information. The first acquisition unit acquires a natural sentence. The second acquisition unit acquires second situation information about a situation when acquiring the natural sentence. The analyzer analyzes the natural sentence and generates a second representation representing a meaning of the natural sentence. The recognition unit obtains an estimated value based on the first value associated with the first situation information and the first representation. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162191 | PRIORITIZED CONTENT LOADING FOR VEHICLE AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION SYSTEMS - A method of loading content items for accessibility by a vehicle automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. The method tracks content items requested by one or more users and prioritizes the loading of requested content items and/or selectively loads requested content items at least partially based on the interaction history of one or more users. The method may also adapt the ASR system based on the interaction history of one or more users to make preferred content items readily accessible instead of randomly accessible. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162192 | Method and Apparatus for Evaluating Trigger Phrase Enrollment - An electronic device includes a microphone that receives an audio signal that includes a spoken trigger phrase, and a processor that is electrically coupled to the microphone. The processor measures characteristics of the audio signal, and determines, based on the measured characteristics, whether the spoken trigger phrase is acceptable for trigger phrase model training. If the spoken trigger phrase is determined not to he acceptable for trigger phrase model training, the processor rejects the trigger phrase for trigger phrase model training. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162193 | BROWSER OPERATION METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Disclosed are a browser operation method and electronic device. The method comprises acquiring and parsing voice data from a microphone of the smart TV when a current interface of the smart TV is an operating interface of the browser, matching the parsed voice data and a preset voice command in the browser, and executing browser operation, which corresponds to the voice command matched with the parsed voice data. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, an operating command is transmitted by voice of a user, the condition that the browser is operated by using a remote control of the smart TV is avoided, and the operating speed is improved. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162194 | SEMI-SUPERVISED SYSTEM FOR MULTICHANNEL SOURCE ENHANCEMENT THROUGH CONFIGURABLE ADAPTIVE TRANSFORMATIONS AND DEEP NEURAL NETWORK - Various techniques are provided to perform enhanced automatic speech recognition. For example, a subband analysis may be performed that transforms time-domain signals of multiple audio channels in subband signals. An adaptive configurable transformation may also be performed to produce single or multichannel-based features whose values are correlated to an Ideal Binary Mask (IBM). An unsupervised Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) model fitting the distribution of the features and producing posterior probabilities may also be performed, and the posteriors may be combined to produce deep neural network (DNN) feature vectors. A DNN may be provided that predicts oracle spectral gains from the input feature vectors. Spectral processing may be performed to produce an estimate of the target source time-frequency magnitudes from the mixtures and the output of the DNN. Subband synthesis may be performed to transform signals back to time-domain. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162195 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain an image captured by an imaging unit, a detection unit configured to detect target sound corresponding to a detection target from audio data obtained by a sound collection unit, an area estimation unit configured to estimate a detectable area where the target sound can be detected in an area indicated by the captured image on a basis of at least one of a directionality of the sound collection unit and a distance from a position of a target sound source that generates the target sound, and a generation unit configured to generate an area image indicating the detectable area. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162196 | DUAL-MODE VOICE CONTROL METHOD, DEVICE, AND USER TERMINAL - A dual-mode voice control method is disclosed. The method may comprise determining whether a user has executed an operation of activating an operate-to-speak stop determination mode in a voice input interface. The method may further comprise, in response to determining that the user has executed the operation of activating the operate-to-speak stop determination mode, determining whether a microphone is in a busy state. The method may further comprise, in response to determining that the microphone is in the busy state, switching a voice mode from a directly-speak automatic stop determination mode to the operate-to-speak stop determination mode. Before the user executes the operation of activating the operate-to-speak stop determination mode, the voice mode is in the directly-speak automatic stop determination mode if the microphone is in the busy state. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162197 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONVERSATIONAL ADJUSTMENT BASED ON USER'S COGNITIVE STATE AND/OR SITUATIONAL STATE - A system and method is provided for adjusting natural language conversations between a human user and a computer based on the human user's cognitive state and/or situational state, particularly when the user is operating a vehicle. The system may disengage in conversation with the user (e.g., the driver) or take other actions based on various situational and/or user states. For example, the system may disengage conversation when the system detects that the driving situation is complex (e.g., car merging onto a highway, turning right with multiple pedestrians trying to cross, etc.). The system may (in addition or instead) sense the user's cognitive load and disengage conversation based on the cognitive load. The system may alter its personality (e.g. by engaging in mentally non-taxing conversations such as telling jokes based on situational and/or user states. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162198 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXECUTING VOICE COMMAND IN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An apparatus and method for executing a voice command in an electronic device. In an exemplary embodiment, a voice signal is detected and speech thereof is recognized. When the recognized speech contains a wakeup command, a voice command mode is activated, and a signal containing at least a portion of the detected voice signal is transmitted to a server. The server generates a control signal or a result signal corresponding to the voice command, and transmits the same to the electronic device. The device receives and processes the control or result signal, and awakens. Thereby, voice commands are executed without the need for the user to physically touch the electronic device. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162199 | VOICE BASED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for voice based diagnostics can include receiving a voice command from a user at a computing device, performing, by the computing device, a number of diagnostic tests corresponding to a functionality of the computing device, and sending an audio message to the user, wherein the audio message corresponds to results of the number of diagnostic tests. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162200 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ADAPTIVE RESPONDENT TRAINING IN A SPEECH RECOGNITION APPLICATION - A system for conducting a telephonic speech recognition application includes an automated telephone device for making telephonic contact with a respondent and a speech recognition device which, upon the telephonic contact being made, presents the respondent with at least one introductory prompt for the respondent to reply to; receives a spoken response from the respondent; and performs a speech recognition analysis on the spoken response to determine a capability of the respondent to complete the application. If the speech recognition device, based on the spoken response to the introductory prompt, determines that the respondent is capable of competing the application, the speech recognition device presents at least one application prompt to the respondent. If the speech recognition device, based on the spoken response to the introductory prompt, determines that the respondent is not capable of completing the application, the speech recognition system presents instructions on completing the application to the respondent. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162201 | ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE DIALOG POLICIES AND RESPONSE GENERATION - Environmental conditions, along with other information, are used to adjust a response of a conversational dialog system. The environmental conditions may be used at different times within the conversational dialog system. For example, the environmental conditions can be used to adjust the dialog manager's output (e.g., the machine action). The dialog state information that is used by the dialog manager includes environmental conditions for the current turn in the dialog as well as environmental conditions for one or more past turns in the dialog. The environmental conditions can also be used after receiving the machine action to adjust the response that is provided to the user. For example, the environmental conditions may affect the machine action that is determined as well as how the action is provided to the user. The dialog manager and the response generation components in the conversational dialog system each use the available environmental conditions. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162202 | AUTOMATED VOICE-TO-REPORTING/MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR VOICE CALL-INS OF EVENTS/CRIMES - 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. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162203 | APPLYING NEURAL NETWORK LANGUAGE MODELS TO WEIGHTED FINITE STATE TRANSDUCERS FOR AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION - Systems and processes for converting speech-to-text are provided. In one example process, speech input can be received. A sequence of states and arcs of a weighted finite state transducer (WFST) can be traversed. A negating finite state transducer (FST) can be traversed. A virtual FST can be composed using a neural network language model and based on the sequence of states and arcs of the WFST. The one or more virtual states of the virtual FST can be traversed to determine a probability of a candidate word given one or more history candidate words. Text corresponding to the speech input can be determined based on the probability of the candidate word given the one or more history candidate words. An output can be provided based on the text corresponding to the speech input. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162204 | INCORPORATING AN EXOGENOUS LARGE-VOCABULARY MODEL INTO RULE-BASED SPEECH RECOGNITION - Incorporation of an exogenous large-vocabulary model into rule-based speech recognition is provided. An audio stream is received by a local small-vocabulary rule-based speech recognition system (SVSRS), and is streamed to a large-vocabulary statistically-modeled speech recognition system (LVSRS). The SVSRS and LVSRS perform recognitions of the audio. If a portion of the audio is not recognized by the SVSRS, a rule is triggered that inserts a mark-up in the recognition result. The recognition result is sent to the LVSRS. If a mark-up is detected, recognition of a specified portion of the audio is performed. The LVSRS result is unified with the SVSRS result and sent as a hybrid response back to the SVSRS. If the hybrid-recognition rule is not triggered, an arbitration algorithm is evoked to determine whether the SVSRS or the LVSRS recognition has a lesser word error rate. The determined recognition is sent as a response to the SVSRS. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162205 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A LOW POWER VOICE TRIGGER DEVICE - Aspects of the present disclosure involve a method for a voice trigger device that can be used to interrupt an externally connected system. The current disclosure also presents the architecture for the voice trigger device used for searching and matching an audio signature with a reference signature. In one embodiment a reverse matching mechanism is performed. In another embodiment, the reverse search and match operation is performed using an exponential normalization technique. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162206 | TRANSMITTING DEVICE, TRANSMITTING METHOD, RECEIVING DEVICE, AND RECEIVING METHOD - To suitably regulate sound pressure of object content on a receiving side. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162207 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING NOISE SIGNAL - Provided is a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an audio signal. Sections which are not used to output noise components near important spectral components and sub-bands which are not used to output noise components, are determined to be encoded or decoded, so that the efficiency of encoding and decoding an audio signal increases, and sound quality can be improved using less bits. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162208 | SYSTEM FOR PERCEIVED ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION OF COMPRESSED AUDIO SIGNALS - A system for processing compressed audio includes a signal enhancer module configured to generate one or more signal treatments. The one or more signal treatments may be generated by the signal enhancer module based on analysis of the incoming audio signal. Alternatively, or in addition, characteristics of the incoming audio signal may be provided to the signal enhancer module for use in generating the one or more signal treatments. The one or more signal treatments may be added to file audio signals. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162209 | FAST COMPUTATION OF EXCITATION PATTERN, AUDITORY PATTERN AND LOUDNESS - A method includes the steps of calculating a power spectrum from an auditory stimulus, filtering the power spectrum to obtain an effective power spectrum, calculating an intensity pattern from the effective power spectrum, calculating a median intensity pattern from the intensity pattern, determining an initial set of pruned detector locations, examining the initial set of pruned detector locations to determine an enhanced set of pruned detector locations, and calculating an excitation pattern from the effective power spectrum using the enhanced set of pruned detector locations. By determining the enhanced set of pruned detector locations from the initial set of pruned detector locations and computing the excitation pattern therefrom, the computational complexity of the above method can be significantly reduced when compared to conventional approaches while maintaining the accuracy thereof. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162210 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUDIO DATA PROCESSING - Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and a device for audio data processing. The method comprises detecting a received audio data packet to determine a stream type of the audio data packet, obtaining tag data of the audio data packet when the stream type is a first stream type, determining whether the tag data belongs to preset Dolby tag information, determining the first stream type as the stream type corresponding to a Dolby DVB standard when the tag data belongs to the preset Dolby tag information, and decoding the audio data packet by means of a Dolby decoder to generate audio data. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162211 | DEVICE FOR HEARING OWN VOICE - Device for hearing one's own voice. An example device comprises a mixing chamber assembly defining a first opening and a second opening, the first opening for positioning relative to an ear of the vocalist and the second opening open to atmosphere; a tube extending from proximate a mouth of the vocalist coupled to and in communication with the mixing chamber assembly, the tube defining a third opening and a fourth opening, the third opening for positioning relative to the mouth and the fourth opening coupled to the mixing chamber assembly; and a retainer assembly coupled to and in communication with the mixing chamber assembly, the retaining assembly defining a fifth opening and a sixth opening, the fifth opening coupled to the mixing chamber assembly and the sixth opening for positioning relative to the ear of the vocalist. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162212 | POST-PROCESSING GAINS FOR SIGNAL ENHANCEMENT - A method, an apparatus, and logic to post-process raw gains determined by input processing to generate post-processed gains, comprising using one or both of delta gain smoothing and decision-directed gain smoothing. The delta gain smoothing comprises applying a smoothing filter to the raw gain with a smoothing factor that depends on the gain delta: the absolute value of the difference between the raw gain for the current frame and the post-processed gain for a previous frame. The decision-directed gain smoothing comprises converting the raw gain to a signal-to-noise ratio, applying a smoothing filter with a smoothing factor to the signal-to-noise ratio to calculate a smoothed signal-to-noise ratio, and converting the smoothed signal-to-noise ratio to determine the second smoothed gain, with smoothing factor possibly dependent on the gain delta. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162213 | SOUND ENHANCEMENT THROUGH REVERBERATION MATCHING - Embodiments of the present invention relate to enhancing sound through reverberation matching. In sonic implementations, a first sound recording recorded in a first environment is received. The first sound recording is decomposed to a first clean signal and a first reverb kernel. A second reverb kernel corresponding with a second sound recording recorded in a second environment is accessed, for example, based on a user indication to enhance the first sound recording to sound as though recorded in the second environment. An enhanced sound recording is generated based on the first clean signal and the second reverb kernel. The enhanced sound recording is a modification of the first sound recording to sound as though recorded in the second environment. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162214 | SPEAKER ASSOCIATION WITH A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF SPOKEN CONTENT - Speaker content generated in an audio conference is selectively visually represented. A profile for each audience member who participates in the audio conference is obtained. Speaker content spoken during the audio conference is monitored. Words of the speaker content are classified to have different weights according to a parameter of the profile for each of the audience members. A relation between the speaker content to the profile for each of the audience members is determined. Different visual representations of the speaker content are presented to different ones of the audience members based on the determined relation. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162215 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF TRACKING ITEM CONTAINERS AT A SHOPPING FACILITY - In some embodiments, provide apparatuses and methods to track item containers. Some of these embodiments include systems to track item containers, comprising: an audio detector positioned relative to a parking lot associated with a shopping facility and configured to capture audio signals generated at one or more predefined locations; an audio evaluation circuit to: receive the audio signals; and identify when one or more audio signatures correspond to one or more distinct predefined audio signatures that correspond to movements of a first item container relative to the one or more predefined locations; and a control circuit configured to estimate a quantity of item containers at the one or more predefined locations as a function of identifying that one or more of the audio signals include the one or more audio signatures corresponding to the one or more predefined audio signatures. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162216 | SPECTRAL RECOGNITION OF PERCUSSIVE SOUNDS - A system is disclosed for detecting and correlating percussive sounds with previously identified spectral signatures of a plurality of events so as to notify a user of an occurrence of a particular event. The system may include a sensor component which includes a piezoelectric transducer at a periphery of the sensor component for coupling with a surface and converting percussive sounds from the surface into an electrical signal. The sensor component may also include a local processor configured to produce a data signal based on the electrical signal, and a communication device for sending the data signal to a remote processor. The system may also include a remote processor configured to receive the data signal and compare the data signal to at least one reference signal, and send a notification to a user based at least in part on the data signal correlating to at least one reference signal. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162217 | TUNNEL VALVE READ SENSOR WITH CRYSTALLINE ALUMINA TUNNEL BARRIER DEPOSITED USING ROOM TEMPERATURE TECHNIQUES - In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic tunnel junction device having a reference layer, a free layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free and reference layers. The tunnel barrier layer is primarily crystalline alumina. In another general embodiment, a method includes forming a first magnetic layer, forming a tunnel barrier layer above the first magnetic layer, and forming a second magnetic layer above the tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier layer includes crystalline alumina. The tunnel barrier layer is formed at a temperature of less than 100 degrees centigrade. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162218 | TWO-MOTOR CO-LOCATED GIMBAL-BASED DUAL STAGE ACTUATION DISK DRIVE SUSPENSIONS WITH MOTOR STIFFENERS - Various embodiments concern a dual stage actuation flexure. The dual stage actuation flexure comprises a flexure having a gimbal. The gimbal comprising a pair of spring arms, a tongue between the spring arms, and a pair of linkages respectively connecting the pair of spring arms to the tongue. The dual stage actuation flexure further comprises a pair of motors mounted on the gimbal and a pair of stiffeners respectively mounted on the motors. The dual stage actuation flexure further comprises a slider mounting. Electrical activation of the motors bends the pair of linkages to move the slider mounting about a tracking axis while the stiffeners limit the degree of bending of the motors during the electrical activation. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162219 | ENCODING INFORMATION ON TAPE USING WRITE OFFSET GAPS - As disclosed herein a method for encoding information on tape using write offset gaps. The method includes receiving a request to write a dataset on a tape medium using a plurality of head groups, and identifying information to be encoded when writing the dataset. The method further includes determining a head group offset pattern that encodes the information, and writing the dataset using the head group offset pattern. Also disclosed herein is a method for decoding information on tape using write offset gaps. The method includes reading a dataset from a tape medium using a plurality of head groups, and determining a head group offset pattern used to read the dataset. The method further includes decoding information encoded in the head group offset pattern to provide decoded information. A computer program product corresponding to the above method is also disclosed herein. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162220 | MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM - The magnetic recording medium includes a support and a magnetic layer containing a magnetic powder. The magnetic powder includes at least either of a magnetic particle containing a cubic ferrite and a magnetic particle containing an ε-phase iron oxide. The magnetic powder has a mean particle size of 10 nm or more and 14 nm or less, the magnetic powder has a mean aspect ratio of 0.75 or more and 1.25 or less, and the magnetic layer has a ten-point mean roughness Rz of 35 nm or less. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162221 | Optical Information Recording/Reproduction Device and Optical Information Recording/Reproduction Method - Provided is a recording method with which wasteful consumption of the M number (M/#) of the recording material is prevented, and with which the recording density is improved. An optical information recording device that utilizes interference between signal light and reference light to record information on an optical information recording medium is equipped with: a light source that emits light toward an optical recording medium; a beam-splitting element that splits the emission light emitted from the light source into signal light and reference light; and a reference light angle control unit that controls the incidence angle of the reference light with respect to the optical information recording medium. The optical recording medium is irradiated with the signal light as a spherical wave and is irradiated with the reference light as a planar wave, and when information is recorded on the optical information recording medium, the optical information recording medium is irradiated such that there exists in the interior of the optical information recording medium a region which is exposed only to the signal light, a region which is exposed only to the reference light, and a region which is exposed to overlapping signal light and reference light. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162222 | LASER MODE HOPPING DETECTION FOR HEAT-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING DEVICE - Methods and apparatuses for detecting mode hopping in a laser diode or other optical energy source in heat-assisted magnetic recording. An output power of the laser diode or other optical energy source is measured and the output power is differentiated over time to determine a rate of change. If it is determined that the rate of change exceeds a threshold value, a fault signal is asserted indicating a potential mode hopping event. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162223 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - To determine whether or not a correct continuous reproduction disk has been attached, and perform control in accordance with a determination result in a data reproduction process including a first information recording medium and a second information recording medium. A first root certificate transform value is calculated by applying a first transform function to data constituting a first root certificate recorded in the first information recording medium and a second root certificate transform value is calculated by applying a second transform function to data constituting a second root certificate recorded in the second information recording medium. Transform values based on first and second root certificates are compared. A process under execution is continued when the first and second root certificate transform values match. However, the process under execution is stooped or a warning is output when the first and second root certificate transform values do not match. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162224 | Multi-Track Data Processor With Iterative Inter-Track Interference Cancellation - An apparatus for two-dimensional magnetic recording includes an array reader comprising a number of read sensors configured to read data from at least one track on a storage medium, a number of two-dimensional equalizer circuits each comprising inputs for receiving signals derived from each of the read sensors, each comprising an equalized output, and a number of iterative inter-track interference cancellation circuits, each operable to cancel inter-track interference in a different one of the equalized outputs from the two-dimensional equalizer circuits. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162225 | MOTION DETECTION FOR A/V RECORDING AND COMMUNICATION DEVICES - Audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices according to the present embodiments comprise a processor, a motion sensor, and a camera. In various embodiments, the A/V recording and communication devices are configured to reduce latency and/or to reduce false positive indications of motion. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162226 | DISPLAY DEVICE AND DRIVE METHOD FOR SAME - An initial current ratio calculation unit obtains an initial current ratio for each pixel based on a current measurement result by a data line drive/current measurement circuit. A light emission current efficiency calculation unit obtains a light emission current efficiency for each pixel referring to an LUT, based on a measured operating temperature and the initial current ratio. A first correction unit corrects a video signal for each pixel in view of characteristics of each pixel, based on the current measurement result and the light emission current efficiency. A second correction unit obtains a correction term for each pixel in view of a difference in the light emission current efficiency compared to neighboring pixels, based on a two-dimensional distribution of the light emission current efficiency. The correction term obtained by the second correction unit is added to the video signal corrected to obtain a corrected video signal. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162227 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE MOTION GRAPHICS AUTHORING - Methods and apparatus are presented concerning network-accessible services that provide post-production digital compositing and motion graphics authoring to users who provide their own core content, which the services supplement via a user-driven interface through the inclusion of digital still images, artwork, video, sound, and/or other supplemental content selected by the user. In one embodiment, following selection and sequencing of the various core and supplemental content components, the services automatically generate and make available to a user a finished product that integrates core and supplemental content. To simplify the compositing task, a series of pre-formatted motion graphics video templates may be made available. The end product provided by aspects of the present invention may be a professional-quality ensemble motion graphics video production that may be delivered in any popular format, such as AVI, JPEG, MPEG4 and the like to the customer and or to selected recipients via download or common carrier. To maximize user satisfaction while minimizing user learning curve frustration, the user may be directed to select from multiple skill level user interfaces. Such multiple skill level user interfaces may provide varying degrees of user control over content enhancement and automation or scripting. Other methods and apparatus are presented. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162228 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEDIA TRACK MANAGEMENT IN A MEDIA EDITING TOOL - In a media editing device for reorganizing media content and editing the reorganized media content, a plurality of tracks is obtained, where each track comprises at least one component, each component comprising at least one segment, each segment comprising one of: image content, video content, audio content, and audio/video content. A first user input selecting a plurality of the tracks is received. A second user input selecting at least one reorganization technique to be applied to the selected tracks is also received. The selected reorganization technique is applied to the selected tracks, and the reorganized tracks are displayed. Editing operations are received for at least one of the reorganized tracks. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162229 | PLAY METHOD AND DEVICE - An embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a play method and device, wherein the method specifically comprises the steps of a player receiving a calling request from an application, wherein the calling request comprises the address parameter of multi-media contents and the position parameter of the multi-media contents; the player acquiring the multi-media contents starting from a target position corresponding to the position parameter from a server according to the address parameter; and the player playing the multi-media contents starting from the target position. The embodiment of the present disclosure may improve the efficiency of playing multi-media contents from the target position for the first time, and save memory space of an information device. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162230 | INTERACTIVE DIGITAL CAMERA FOR LIVE CROP EDITING AND RECORDING OF VIDEO STREAMS - A camera device comprising a body housing an image-capturing component and a first and second encoder component and a second encoder component coupled to the image capturing component is provided. The body has a first and a second surface opposite the first surface that is arranged to pitch the body at a determined angle upward with respect to a substantially planar surface upon which the camera device is placed. The image-capturing component is to capture an input stream in a viewing direction of the camera device. The first encoder component to generate a first video stream based on the input stream and the second encoder component to generate a second video stream based on the input stream. The first video stream depicts a full field of view (FOV) of an image associated with the input stream and the second video stream depicts a cropped view presentation of the full FOV. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162231 | MEMORY DEVICE - A memory device may be provided. The memory device may include a plurality of channel areas including a plurality of cell array areas. The memory device may include power interconnections and capacitor areas extended between the plurality of cell array areas in the plurality of channel areas. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162232 | MEMORY DEVICE WITH STRAP CELLS - A device includes a first strap cell, a first data line, and a second data line. The first strap cell is arranged between a first row of memory cells and a second row of memory cells in a memory array. A first portion of the first data line is configured to transmit data to or from a first memory cell in the first row of memory cells. The second data line and a second portion of the first data line are configured to transmit data to or from a second memory cell in the second row of memory cells. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162233 | Method And Apparatus For Memory Power And/Or Area Reduction - A method and apparatus for memory power and/or area reduction. An array of memory cells may be scanned to detect faulty memory cells, if any, in the array. A supply voltage V | 2017-06-08 |
20170162234 | DUAL-BIT 3-T HIGH DENSITY MTPROM ARRAY - A multi-time programmable memory (MTPM) memory cell and method of operating. Each MTPM bit cell including a first FET transistor and a second FET transistor having a first common connection, and said second FET transistor and a third FET transistor having a second common connection, said first and second connected FET transistors programmable to store a first bit value, and said second FET and said third connected FET transistors programmable to store a second bit value, wherein said first FET transistor exhibits a low threshold voltage value (LVT), said second FET transistor exhibits an elevated threshold voltage value HVT and said third FET transistor exhibits a threshold value LVT lower than HVT. The MTPM cell enables two bits of information to be stored as default bit values like an electrical fuse. To store opposite bit values, the LVT transistors are programmed such that their threshold voltage is higher than that of HVT. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162235 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEMORY MANAGEMENT USING DYNAMIC PARTIAL CHANNEL INTERLEAVING - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing memory channel interleaving with selective power/performance optimization. One such method comprises configuring an interleaved zone for relatively higher performance tasks, a linear address zone for relatively lower power tasks, and a mixed interleaved-linear zone for tasks with intermediate performance requirements. A boundary is defined among the different zones using a sliding threshold address. The zones may be dynamically adjusted, and/or new zones dynamically created, by changing the sliding address in real-time based on system goals and application performance preferences. A request for high performance memory is allocated to a zone with lower power that minimally supports the required performance, or may be allocated to a low power memory zone with lower than required performance if the system parameters indicate a need for aggressive power conservation. Pages may be migrated between zones in order to free a memory device for powering down. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162236 | BUFFER MEMORY DEVICE AND DISPLAY DRIVE DEVICE - A buffer memory and display drive device are described herein. In one example, a buffer memory is arranged so that write and read address counters are controlled according to a wraparound method, and subjected to no reset in count value, which enables the avoidance of data destruction in a boundary portion of a block. In the buffer memory, block head addresses of the write and read address counters are managed centrally. So, even in the event of undesired change in count value, the influence thereof can be intercepted halfway. While reducing the memory capacity of the buffer memory which is supplied with data in blocks, the following are made possible: to prevent the deviation in read data owing to an undesired change in the address counter from lasting; and to prevent data, handled in blocks, from disappearing near a block boundary. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162237 | SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS HAVING MULTIPLE RANKS WITH NOISE ELIMINATION - A semiconductor apparatus includes a plurality of dies. Any one of the dies may be set to a first rank and another of the dies may be set to a second rank. One or more of the first and second ranks may be configured to output any one of an even-numbered byte and an odd-numbered byte through an input/output stage at a timing earlier than the other one, according to a read command. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162238 | MEMORY DEVICE FOR PERFORMING CALIBRATION OPERATION - Provided is a memory device configured to perform a calibration operation without having a ZQ pin. The memory device includes a calibration circuit configured to generate a pull-up calibration code and a pull-down calibration code which termination of a data input/output pad for impedance matching in the data input/output pad is controlled. The calibration circuit performs a first calibration operation for trimming first and second reference resistors based on an external resistor to be connected to a pad, and a second calibration operation for generating the pull-up calibration code and the pull-down calibration code based on the trimmed second reference resistor. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162239 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes a voltage hold circuit that raises a second boosted voltage with rise of an output voltage of a booster circuit that generates a first boosted voltage and then maintains the second boosted voltage at a point when the output voltage reaches a hold voltage level after that, and a first switch that short-circuits a first output terminal through which the first boosted voltage is output and a second output terminal through which the second boosted voltage is output until the output voltage reaches the hold voltage level. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162240 | SYSTEMS, CIRCUITS, AND METHODS FOR CHARGE SHARING - Systems, circuits, and methods are disclosed for charge sharing. In one such example system, a first line is configured to be driven to a first voltage representative of data to be placed on the first line and then precharged to a first precharge voltage. A second line is configured to be driven to a second voltage representative of data to be placed on the second line and then precharged to a second precharge voltage. A charge sharing device is coupled between the first line and the second line. The charge sharing device is configured to selectively allow charge from the first line to flow to the second line after the first and second lines are driven to the respective first and second voltages representative of data to be placed on the respective lines. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162241 | APPARATUSES INCLUDING MULTIPLE READ MODES AND METHODS FOR SAME - Apparatuses and methods including multiple read modes for reading data from a memory are described. An example apparatus includes a memory including a first read mode and a second read mode. The memory has a read operation for the first read mode including a first pre-access phase, an access phase, and a first post-access phase. The read operation for the second read mode includes a second pre-access phase, the access phase, and a second post-access phase. The read operation for either the first read mode or the second read mode is performed responsive to the memory receiving a read command. The second pre-access phase is different from the first pre-access phase, with the second pre-access phase having a shorter time than the first pre-access phase measured from receipt of the read command. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162242 | Method and Apparatus for Adjustment of Current Through a Magnetoresistive Tunnel Junction (MTJ) Based on Temperature Fluctuations - A non-volatile memory system includes a first circuit and a second circuit both coupled to a magnetoresistance tunnel junction (MTJ) cell to substantially reduce the level of current flowing through the MTJ with rise in temperature, as experienced by the MTJ. The first circuit is operable to adjust a slope of a curve representing current as a function of temperature and the second circuit is operable to adjust a value of the current level through the MTJ to maintain current constant or to reduce current when the temperature increases. This way sufficient current is provided for the MTJ at different temperatures to prevent write failure, over programming, MTJ damage and waste of current. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162243 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING LOGICAL OPERATIONS USING SENSING CIRCUITRY - The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing logical operations using sensing circuitry. An example apparatus comprises an array of memory cells and sensing circuitry comprising a primary latch coupled to a sense line of the array. The sensing circuitry can be configured to perform a first operation phase of a logical operation by sensing a memory cell coupled to the sense line, perform a number of intermediate operation phases of the logical operation by sensing a respective number of different memory cells coupled to the sense line, and accumulate a result of the first operation phase and the number of intermediate operation phases in a secondary latch coupled to the primary latch without performing a sense line address access. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162245 | SEMICONDUCTOR SYSTEM - A semiconductor system may include a controller and a semiconductor memory device. The controller may provide an external command, an external address and a first external clock. The controller may be configured to transmit a second external clock and receive a third external clock for receiving/transmitting external data. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to synchronize and receive the external address and the external command with the first external clock. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to synchronize and receive the external data with the second external clock. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to transmit the external data and the third external clock to the controller. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162246 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING SELF-REFERENCED READ IN A MAGNETORESISTIVE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY - A method of reading information stored in a magnetic memory. In a magnetic memory comprising a magnetic tunnel junction including a first reference layer and a free layer, and a spin orbit active (SO) line adjacent to the first reference layer of the magnetic tunnel junction, first and second currents are passed through the SO line so as to achieve two different directions of a magnetic moment of the first reference layer. Two electrical characteristics of the magnetic tunnel junction are determined, the two electrical characteristics corresponding to the two different directions of the magnetic moment of the first reference layer. These two electrical characteristics are then compared to determine the value of the stored information. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162247 | DIFFERENTIAL CURRENT SENSING SCHEME FOR MAGNETIC RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY - A circuit includes a first and second reference cells and a current sense amplifier. The first and second reference cells are configured to store a first and a second logic values, respectively. The current sense amplifier is configured to couple the first reference cell to a first node of the current sense amplifier, and couple the second reference cell to a second node of the current sense amplifier for reading bits stored in the first reference cell and the second reference cell. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162248 | SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE - A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including a plurality of memory cells; a sense amplifier reading data of the memory cell; write drivers writing data to the memory cell; a sub cell area including the cell array, the sense amplifier, and the write driver; a memory area including a plurality of sub cell areas; and a control circuit, when performing a first operation of supplying a first voltage to a selected sub cell area, supplying first write data to the sub cell area which performs the first operation, for selecting the sub cell area as a target of the first operation. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162249 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING FERROELECTRIC RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY ON PRE-PATTERNED BOTTOM ELECTRODE AND OXIDATION BARRIER - Structure and method of fabrication of F-RAM cells are described. The F-RAM cell include ferroelectric capacitors forming over and with a pre-patterned barrier structure which has a planarized/chemically and/or mechanically polished top surface. The pre-patterned barrier structure includes multiple oxygen barriers having a structure of a bottom electrode layer over an oxygen barrier layer. The bottom electrode layer forms at least a part of the bottom electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor formed thereon. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162250 | Multilevel Ferroelectric Memory Cell for an Integrated Circuit - An integrated circuit includes a ferroelectric memory cell. The ferroelectric memory cell includes a ferroelectric layer stack comprising at least one ferroelectric material oxide layer. Each of the ferroelectric material oxide layers includes a ferroelectric material that is at least partially in a ferroelectric state. The ferroelectric layer stack comprises at least two ferroelectric domains. Further, the voltage which is to applied to the layer stack to induce polarization reversal differs for the individual domains such that polarization reversal of individual domains or of a portion of the totality of ferroelectric domains within the ferroelectric material of can be attained. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162251 | ASYMMETRICAL EMPHASIS IN A MEMORY DATA BUS DRIVER - An apparatus includes an interface and a circuit. The interface may be configured to generate a memory signal that carries read data from a memory channel. The circuit may be configured to modify a read signal that transfers the read data across a read line to a memory controller. A filter may delay the memory signal to generate a delayed signal. A driver generally amplifies the memory signal to generate the read signal. The driver may modify the read signal with a de-emphasis on each pull up of the memory signal and a pre-emphasis on each pull down of the memory signal based on the delayed signal. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162252 | REDUCED TRANSPORT ENERGY IN A MEMORY SYSTEM - A memory stack comprises at least two memory components. The memory components have a first data link interface and are to transmit signals on a data link coupled to the first data link interface at a first voltage level. A buffer component has a second data link interface coupled to the data link. The buffer component is to receive signals on the second data link interface at the first voltage level. A level shifting latch produces a second voltage level in response to receiving the signals at the second data link interface, where the second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162253 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR PERFORMING REFRESH OPERATIONS - An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an address counter configured to provide a refresh address to a refresh circuit, wherein the address counter includes a plurality of counter cells coupled in series from a first counter cell to a last counter cell downstream of the first counter cell, wherein an output of each of the plurality of counter cells each correspond to an address bit of the refresh address, wherein the address bit of the refresh address provided by a later counter cell downstream of an earlier counter cell is a less significant bit of the refresh address than the address bit of the refresh address provided by the earlier counter cell. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162254 | PROVIDING POWER AVAILABILITY INFORMATION TO MEMORY - The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for providing power availability information to memory. A number of embodiments include a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to provide power and power availability information to the memory, and the memory is configured to determine whether to adjust its operation based, at least in part, on the power availability information. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162255 | LOW RESISTANCE POWER HEADER WITH REDUCED INSTANTANEOUS VOLTAGE DROP - A power header includes a first line, and a first power-enable control device that comprises a source region and a drain region. The drain region of the first power-enable control device is coupled to the first line through a silicon-only connection, and the source region of the first power-enable control device being coupled to a power supply. In one embodiment, the first line may be coupled to a logic circuit through a silicon-only connection. In another embodiment, the first line may be coupled to a buffer circuit through a silicon-only connection. In still another embodiment, the first line may be coupled to a static random access memory cell precharge circuit. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162256 | SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY WITH DATA LINE CAPACITIVE COUPLING - A semiconductor memory includes a first data line, a second data line, a first coupling line, a second coupling line, a first plurality of transistors, and a second plurality of transistors. The first coupling line is configured to be capacitively coupled with the first data line. The second coupling line is configured to be capacitively coupled with the second data line. The first plurality of transistors are configured to transmit a first voltage to the first coupling line and the second coupling line in response to a first control signal. The second plurality of transistors are configured to transmit a second voltage to the first coupling line, the second coupling line, or a combination thereof in response to a second control signal and a third control signal. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162257 | MEMORY DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a first memory cell; a second memory cell; a first bit line connected to the first memory cell; a second bit line connected to the second memory cell; a first word line connected to the first memory cell and the second memory cell; a first circuit configured to control a connection between the first bit line and a first node; and a second circuit configured to control a connection between the second bit line and the first node. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162258 | Management of Data Storage in Memory Cells Using a Non-Integer Number of Bits Per Cell - A method for data storage includes storing data in a group of memory cells, by encoding the data using at least an outer code and an inner code, and optionally inverting the encoded data prior to storing the encoded data in the memory cells. The encoded data is read from the memory cells, and inner code decoding is applied to the read encoded data to produce a decoding result. At least part of the read data is conditionally inverted, depending on the decoding result of the inner code. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162259 | MEMORY SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - A memory system includes a memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, each memory block including a plurality of word lines, each word line being coupled to a plurality of memory cells, and a controller suitable for grouping the word lines into a plurality of word line groups, wherein when receiving a read command for data stored in a first memory block, the controller performs a read operation for word lines of the first memory block, checks for read fail word lines in the word lines of the first memory block, checks for word line groups including the read fail word lines, and transmits a set command corresponding to the read fail word lines to the word line groups which contain read fail word lines. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162260 | METHOD FOR READING OUT A RESISTIVE MEMORY CELL AND A MEMORY CELL FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD - A method for reading out a resistive memory cell comprising two electrodes that are spaced from each other by an ion-conducting resistive material was developed, the memory cells being transferrable from a stable state having a higher resistance value (high resistive state, HRS) to a stable state having a lower resistance value (low resistive state, LRS) when a write voltage is applied. A read voltage is applied as a read pulse for reading out, wherein the number of ions driven through the ion-conducting resistive material during the pulse is set by way of the level and duration of the pulse in such a way, proceeding from the HRS state, they suffice for forming an electrically conducting path through the ion-conducting resistive material at least until the onset of a flow of current through this path, and thus for the transition into a metastable VRS state (volatile resistance state) having a reduced resistance value and a predefined relaxation time for return into the HRS state, but not for transition into the LRS state. In this way, it is ensured that, in all eases, the memory cell once is again in the same state after the read-out as it was prior to the read-out. This allows in particular memory elements that are composed of an antiserial circuit composed of two memory cells to be read out non-destructively, without this diminishing the option of implementing large arrays composed of these memory elements. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162261 | PRESERVATION CIRCUIT AND METHODS TO MAINTAIN VALUES REPRESENTING DATA IN ONE OR MORE LAYERS OF MEMORY - Methods to maintain values representing data in a memory are disclosed. A method may include identifying a plurality of in-use portions of the memory currently used to store data and recording which in-use portion was a last portion of the memory to be rewritten. Responsive to a trigger signal, data is read from a selected one of the in-use portions of the memory adjacent to the last portion. The method may also include storing the read data into a buffer to form buffered data, and rewriting the buffered data into the memory. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162262 | RESISTIVE MEMORY DEVICE AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A resistive memory device includes a memory cell array including a unit memory cell coupled between a word line and a bit line, wherein the unit memory cell includes a data storage material and a non-silicon-substrate-based type bidirectional access device coupled in series, a path setting circuit coupled between the bit line and the word line, suitable for providing a program pulse toward the bit line or the word line based on a path control signal, a forward write command, and a reverse write command, and a control unit suitable for providing a write path control signal, a forward program command, and a reverse program command based on an external command signal. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162263 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS INCLUDING MEMORY ACCESS IN CROSS POINT MEMORY - Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a memory cell, first and second conductive lines configured to access the memory cell, and a switch configured to apply a signal to one of the first and second conductive lines. In at least one of such embodiments, the switch can include a phase change material. Other embodiments including additional apparatuses and methods are described. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162264 | Method for Managing a Fail Row of the Memory Plane of a Non Volatile Memory and Corresponding Memory Device - A non-volatile memory is erasable by page and equipped with a row redundancy mechanism. In the case of the detection of a defective row of the memory plane, the storing of the address of the row in a non-volatile register is carried out and a redundant row having a new address is assigned. In the case of an attempt to write to the defective row, a write to the redundant row is carried out. When writing to the redundant row, the new content of the redundant row is loaded into a volatile memory and, following an operation for writing to any other row of the memory plane, a re-loading of the new content of the redundant row into the volatile memory. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162265 | PROGRAMMING A MEMORY DEVICE IN RESPONSE TO ITS PROGRAM HISTORY - A method includes determining, internal to a memory device, a number of program pulses required to program a sample of memory cells of the memory device during a first programming operation, comparing the determined number of program pulses required to program the sample of memory cells of the memory device to a target number of program pulses, and adjusting a program starting voltage level of one or more program pulses applied to one or more memory cells of the sample of memory cells during a second programming operation subsequent to the first programming operation when the determined number of program pulses required to program the sample of memory cells in the first programming operation is different than the target number so that the number of program pulses applied during the second programming operation tends toward the target number. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162266 | NONVOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD OF NONVOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE - A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a row decoder circuit connected to the memory cell array through a plurality of word lines; and a page buffer circuit connected to the memory cell array through bit lines. The row decoder circuit applies read voltages to a selected word line during a read operation. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162267 | Data Storage Device and Data Maintenance Method - A data storage device including a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory includes a plurality of pages and a plurality of word lines, wherein each of the word lines controls at least two of the pages. The controller reads a first page of the pages in response to a read command, wherein the first page is controlled by a first word line of the word lines, and the controller further writes dummy data into the pages controlled by the first word line other than the first page when a predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein the predetermined condition includes that the first word line is not close. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162268 | Reduction or Elimination of a Latency Penalty Associated With Adjusting Read Thresholds for Non-Volatile Memory - Channel information and channel conditions determined by an Offline Tracking process are used to determine whether or not an adjustment to the read reference voltage can be avoided altogether without detrimentally affecting performance, or, alternatively, to determine a precision with which a read reference voltage adjustment should be made. If it is determined based on the channel conditions that a read reference voltage adjustment can be avoided altogether, read performance is improved by reducing the probability that a read reference voltage adjustment needs to be made during normal read operations. If it is determined based on the channel conditions that a read reference voltage adjustment needs to be made with a particular precision, the read reference voltage is so adjusted. This latter approach is advantageous in that relatively fewer adjustments will be made during normal read operations. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162269 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING READ DISTURB - Apparatuses and methods for reducing read disturb are described herein. An example apparatus may include a first memory subblock including a first select gate drain (SGD) switch and a first select gate source (SGS) switch, a second memory subblock including a second SGD switch and a second SGS switch, and an access line associated with the first and second memory subblocks. The apparatus may include a control unit configured to enable the first and second SGD switches and the first and second SGS switches during a first portion of a read operation and to provide a first voltage on the access line during the first portion. The control unit may be configured to disable the first SGD switch and the first SGS switches during a second portion of the read operation and to provide a second voltage on the access line during the second portion. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162270 | NONVOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE, MEMORY SYSTEM, METHOD OF OPERATING NONVOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE, AND METHOD OF OPERATING MEMORY SYSTEM - A method of operating a nonvolatile memory device that includes a three-dimensional (3D) memory cell array is provided as follows. A first read operation is performed on first memory cells connected to a first word line by using a first read voltage level. A read retry operation is, if the first read operation fails, performed on the first memory cells so that a read retry voltage level is set to a second read voltage level. A read offset table is determined based on a difference between the first read voltage level and the second read voltage level. The read offset table stores a plurality of read voltage offsets. A second read operation is performed on second memory cells connected to a second word line by using a third read voltage level determined using the read offset table. | 2017-06-08 |
20170162271 | REFRESH METHOD FOR FLASH MEMORY AND RELATED MEMORY CONTROLLER THEREOF - A refresh method for a flash memory includes at least the following steps: performing a write operation to store an input data into a storage space in the flash memory; checking reliability of the storage space with the input data already stored therein; and when the reliability of the storage space meets a predetermined criterion, performing a refresh operation upon the storage space based on the input data. For example, the write operation stores the input data into the storage space through an initial program operation and at least one reprogram operation following the initial program operation; and the refresh operation is an additional reprogram operation applied to the storage space for programming the input data recovered from the storage space into original storage locations in the storage space. | 2017-06-08 |